"It's not safe for you to stay there without any protection, my descendant. Return to the clan village. I'll make sure to send you back to your timeline." Unlike their previous meet, Qridus' voice appeared soft as looked at the blurry figure with affection.
The fact that the person before him is the clan heir, not a clan member, tells that he's most likely his descendant. After all, the boy possesses the founder's unique Arcana spirit, the Reaper, which is the only humanoid Arcana spirit ever existed to date.
The second warning from the heavenly messenger also implies that he was meant to guide Azzy.
With so many others probably going towards Northern Qudour where the timeline shift had happened, Qridus was now worried about Azzy's well-being, more than ever.
However, before Azzy gave his reply, his body was taken over by the Reaper. "Child of the Death clan, I don't know how you managed to locate this child and found out the truth, but, I think you and your clan should stay away from the boy."
Suddenly, as the voice deepened, Qridus realized that it's possession. Despite not being able to see the person, he still bowed in respect. "You must be the Reaper. Accept my greetings, Oh Servant of the Death."
The Grim Reaper knew that Qridus was probably misunderstood that he was like any other Reaper, who is a servant of death as depicted in the historical books.
Only he knows that they weren't spirits as everyone thought. They were actually the avatars of the Death God who will descend onto earth and claim the souls that are wandering on the planet instead of going to the spirit world.
Not intending to clarify the matter, the Reaper further warned in response to his greetings, "This boy is destined to do great things. Don't try to trap him in that little clan village of yours."
It made Qridus remember the words from the fairy once again. It clearly said Azzy's path affects Gaia, not just the Death clan. He wondered whether this is what the Elven deity Sashelas was trying to say to him.
Putting away the distracting thoughts, Qridus told the Reaper about incoming doom if Azzy were to stay there, to which, the Reaper suggested that Qridus can deploy a few people to protect him from danger.
Even though the Reaper agrees that Azzy's journey will be smooth will be protected if he returned to the clan, still, he was against it as it wouldn't help out Azzy in becoming the way he wanted him to be.
After showing his stance on this matter, the Reaper snapped his fingers and forcefully kicked out Qridus from the dream.
Even though the Reaper cut off the connection, Azzy didn't wake up right away. He continued to sleep peacefully until the next day morning where he woke up abruptly while remembering the dream.
"Chronos, tell me. Is that a real dream or did my identity just got exposed to the ancestor?" He immediately asked the Reaper as he had this fear for a while.
"It's indeed true. Your ancestor seemed to be found it somehow." The Reaper didn't try to hide this matter either.
"What now?" Azzy asked his advice while wondering whether he should return to the clan village or just escape. He had no one but to rely on the Reaper.
Feeling his thoughts, the Reaper suggested continuing his life as usual and not to worry about the matter.
Azzy was really surprised to hear it. "So, it's nothing to worry about?"
To ease Azzy's nervousness, the Reaper reminded him that they can always rewind the time at any time and run away to Arcana world and train there.
Before Azzy comment on it, the Reaper further said, "And also, you have a family here. So, there's no need to go anywhere else."
"Family?" Azzy was once again taken aback. "You mean Barbara?"
Instead of telling him the answer, the Reaper suddenly started to count. "30, 29, 28… 15… 10… 5… 4, 3, 2, 1…"
At first, Azzy wondered what's going on with this deity. But, then, as soon as his countdown ended, a bell rang inside the room, followed by knocking on the room's door.
"There you go…"
"Hmm?" Feeling suspicious, Azzy step down from the bed and walked towards the door. Meanwhile, Gideon was still sleeping soundly without being disturbed by the bell.
When he opened it, he saw the dormitory's warden was standing outside. "Student Azrael, you have guests outside."
"Guests?" Azzy looked at the window. It was still a bit dark on the outside. He wondered who it might be.
Then, suddenly, he remembered the Reaper's last words before he started to count. "Family?" A picture of three appeared in his mind.
"Where are they?" He asked the warden, to which the latter replied that they are waiting downstairs.
Azzy immediately hurried without changing from his pajamas. The warden was taken aback to see such a strange reaction from this blank-faced boy.
Even though he knew that he shouldn't develop an attachment with those two once again, Azzy couldn't help himself anymore. He wanted to see the first two persons who treated him kindly and gave him the warmth of a family.
In his eyes, those two are the only ones who never expected anything from him and always let him be himself.
So, he could care about things like attachments or leaving. All he wanted to see his family once again.
As he reached the downstairs entrance hall filled with expectations, he saw a couple was standing at the entrance of the door facing their back towards him while watching the snow.
They were indeed the persons who he thinks they are. It's Oakley Night and Princess Affea Snieca.
"Grand…" Azzy quickly swallowed the word as he about to call Oakley his grandpa before readjusting his tone and called out to them calmly, "Aunt Snieca, Uncle Oakley…"
Upon hearing a familiar plain tone from behind, they turned around at the same time.
"Hey, Azzy." Snieca smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. They have only been together for a few months, yet, Snieca always considered Azzy as her child. She doesn't know why but she always felt that way.
Oakley, although smiling on the surface, his heart wasn't present here. He was constantly thinking about Avia whom he left there at the Death clan.
Of course, Azzy didn't know that. So, he wondered whether his master was left at the house.
As he reached them, Snieca, who was also missing Avia, became even more emotional as she hugged Azzy and caressed his hair. "I'm sorry for leaving you behind like that…"
Backing away, she looked at his face, "look at you. You have grown up…"
Azzy who never had the love of his parents felt warmth and felt like he was going to cry too but alas, no tears came out due to the lack of his emotions in the current state. He slowly spoke, "I miss you…"
Ruffling his hair, Oakley also showed a bit of affection and commented, "it looks like you became stronger, Azzy."
Azzy nodded in response, "I worked hard."
After a while, as they walked together outside, Snieca explained briefly that they had a bit of enmity with a certain kingdom. So, they had to hide until now. She then further said that everything has been taken care of and they will be moving back to Aclein.
When asked about Avia, Princess Snieca's face turned dull all of a sudden and Oakley covered it up by explaining, as she's awakened, they sent her to her grandparents' house to get her admitted into Freyles academy.
Azzy immediately understood that she's probably sent away to the Death clan against her wish just like how he was sent away when he was eight years. He felt that no wonder the grownup talked to his grandpa rudely like that, back then...
As a thought developed in his mind, the Reaper's voice echoed in his head, "No, it's better if you don't do that, Azrael."
"Hmm, why? Does it cause a huge timeline shift?" Azzy asked him. If it is bad, then, he won't do the thing that he had in mind.
To his surprise, the Reaper replied with a NO. However, just as Azzy about to ask the reason why the Reaper is against his idea, suddenly, the Reaper changed his words and told him to proceed with it. As for the reason, only this specter knew it.
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