My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 964: The Dream of the Past (Part-2)
The Duke’s thoughts turned inward, and a twinge of guilt gnawed at him.
He glanced at the family portrait on his desk, his eyes lingering on Cathy’s image. "Emily is too passive with them. She doesn’t care about them as she does with Raphael." He shook his head, blaming her for not stepping up as a mother to the twins after Cathy’s death. "She never took responsibility for these twins, as she blamed them for her death and showered her love only on Raphael. I, too, never took the time to spend time with them either. I can’t blame them for what they’ve become."
His thoughts drifted to his own neglect. For the past few years, he had been consumed by the wars to the east, fighting against the Jotnar race of Jotunheimr and their alliance with the ice elves. The constant conflict with these fierce enemies had kept him away from home for long stretches of time, and his children, especially Rael and Eon, had only grown more unruly in his absence.
Aurelius clenched his fists. "What will happen when they awaken their powers?" he thought grimly. What if they become Arcana Masters before they’ve learned to control their impulses?
A sense of unease settled in his chest. The twins’ abilities were dangerous enough without their violent tendencies. Rael, especially, showed potential for destruction. He needed direction, someone who could teach him discipline, someone strong enough to harness his abilities.
Aurelius took a deep breath and activated the communication scroll on his desk. His hands moved with purpose, knowing this would be the only way to ensure that Rael’s reckless nature would be contained.
He wrote the message with a decisive hand, his thoughts clear.
"Grand Master, I think Rael is ready for some serious training."
As he sealed the scroll, Aurelius let out a heavy sigh.
Meanwhile, in his room, Rael sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His arms were crossed, and his expression looked like a mixture of frustration and sadness. He couldn’t understand what was going on in his father’s mind.
All he did was protect the weak and teach those bullies a lesson. Wasn’t that what he was taught since he was four? The so-called noblesse oblige states that those who are privileged, powerful, or wealthy have a moral responsibility to act responsibly toward the less fortunate in need.
Then why was he punished instead? Rael couldn’t think of any logical reasoning.
With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "If only Mother were alive... she would’ve sided with me. She’d understand. Perhaps, just like Aunt Emily, Father also blames me for Mother’s death."
As his thoughts spiraled, he suddenly heard a faint rustling sound. He turned his head toward the window just in time to see Eon carefully climbing in, her small frame illuminated by the moonlight.
"Eon?" he whispered loudly, startled by her appearance. "What are you doing here? Father’s going to be furious if he finds out you’re breaking the punishment!"
Eon landed softly on the floor, brushing her hands off with a triumphant grin. "Father’s just angry," she said with a giggle, tiptoeing toward him with her little feet. "He’ll cool down in no time. Besides, I couldn’t leave you alone, could I? You’re hopeless without me."
Rael frowned but couldn’t hide his joy. His lips widened a bit, "Still, you shouldn’t have risked it."
She threw herself on the bed next to him, poking his cheek. "You’re worrying too much. We’re a team, remember? No way I’m staying away from you for a whole month."
Rael rolled his eyes, but his mood had noticeably lightened. He lay back on the bed, letting out a long sigh. "You’re impossible, Eon."
"That’s why you love me the most," she teased, sticking her tongue out before settling beside him.
The two siblings spent the rest of the night talking in hushed tones, sharing jokes, and quietly laughing as though the punishment didn’t exist.
Eventually, they drifted into a peaceful sleep, cuddling each other as always, as if nothing could separate them.
Later that night, Aurelius silently opened the door, peeking into Rael’s room to check on his son.
His eyes softened at the sight before him: Rael and Eon, fast asleep, curled up on the same bed. Eon’s hand rested protectively over Rael’s shoulder, and Rael’s face, often filled with disobedience, was peaceful.
Aurelius leaned against the doorframe and let out a helpless sigh, a small, bittersweet smile drawing at his lips. Despite all the trouble they caused, he couldn’t deny how inseparable the two were. It was a bond that he couldn’t bring himself to sever, no matter how much he wanted them to stay out of each other’s chaos.
"Oh, Boy..." He shook his head and muttered under his breath, "You two will be the death of me one day."
Satisfied that Rael and Eon were at peace, Aurelius decided to check on his eldest son, Raphael.
Unlike these two little rebels, Raphael was the most composed and responsible, groomed to be the next Duke since he was only three. Quietly, Aurelius pushed open the door to Raphael’s room, expecting to find him sleeping as well.
"Wha..."
Instead, he was greeted by a sight that froze his expression in shock.
Raphael sat cross-legged in the center of the room; his face looked calm, and his eyes were closed in deep meditation.
Around him, faint golden symbols floated in a slow orbit. "This..." Aurelius gasped as he recognized those symbols. "The runes of the zodiac. It is the Decarune Seal." But what shocked him most was the number.
Three zodiac symbols hovered in perfect harmony around the boy.
"Three seals?" Aurelius thought; his chest tightened in disbelief. In just one day? The Decarune Seal was one of the most advanced sealing techniques, requiring years of training to master even a single zodiac symbol for an average genius. Yet, his eight-year-old son had already unlocked three.
Aurelius felt a mix of awe and pride. Knowing Raphael’s personality, Aurelius could see that Raphael’s potential was undeniable. And then, suddenly, it reminded him of his other son, and he couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh, "If only Rael were..."
He shook away his thoughts and quietly stepped back, closing the door without disturbing the boy. As he walked away, his mind swirled with thoughts.
The eldest was disciplined, and the other two were chaotic. However, they have yet to awaken their Arcana spirits. And Aurelius was looking forward to that day.
One Month Later;
Rael’s room had been quiet for the past month, save for the occasional visits from Eon, who would sneak in through the window every night as neither of them could barely sleep if they weren’t together.
But today was different. A
s he stood at the door, finally released from his month-long punishment, Rael couldn’t help but wonder what his father wanted now. Whatever it was, he could sense that it wasn’t anything good.
His personal guard—Val, an 8-star Arcana Master, was there to escort him to his father’s chambers.
Standing outside the door, he took a deep breath as if he were slightly nervous. "Whatever it is, I can sense that this isn’t going to be anything good for me. But, let’s face it," He mumbled as Val opened the door for him.
When Rael entered his father’s room, he was taken aback by the presence of another figure—a woman who exuded an almost intimidating aura. She was tall, with silver hair that flowed like a river of light down her back, and sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through everything and everyone. She carried herself like a warrior, and yet there was the elegance of what one would describe as a divine being.
"This is Selene Garcia," Aurelius said, his voice echoing as it filled the room. "One of the three demigods of the Garcia family."
Rael immediately recognized the name. Selene Garcia—legendary in her own right, revered as one of the most powerful warriors and mages in the history of their family. She had lived for thousands of years and was known for being both a fierce fighter and also his collateral ancestor, a Nephilim.
He stared at her, mixed with awe and curiosity. Unknowingly, his eyes momentarily glowed, and he saw a pitch-black aura enveloping her for a moment before it disappeared alongside the glow in his eyes.
Selene’s voice then rang out, steady and calm, as she addressed him directly.
"I am your master from now on, Azrael. And you are leaving right away." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Rael blinked, his mind racing. "Master?" he repeated, looking between his father and Selene. "What about Eon?"
Aurelius gave him a pointed look. "Eon will be trained personally by me."
Rael’s eyes narrowed. "What? You’re teaching Raphael because he inherited your Angelic bloodline. But Eon didn’t inherit it. If that is the case, why not me too?" His voice was firm, frustration creeping in as his mind processed the reality. His earlier admiration of the legendary figure was thrown out of his head and replaced by only one thought. Why separate him from Eon?
