The sun dipped lower as the trio approached the quiet residential side of Egrein City in Northern Qudour nation. Compared to the dieval world of the Death Clan's lands, this place was as modern as it gets.
Azzy walked with purpose, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. Orion and Affea followed, both silent for a ti.
Egrein's skyline lood ahead, glass-paneled buildings, concrete mid-rises, and traffic of motor vehicles flowing around.
"This world looks a lot like ours," Orion finally spoke, glancing down from the flying card. "Just… slower. Like it's stuck fifty years ago."
Affea blinked. "What do you an by your world?"
Azzy cut in quickly. "My wife is from another place, and Orion grew up there, too. Their city is more advanced, that's all. Long story."
"Oh, from the southern countries, huh?" Affea nodded in understanding.
Orion looked at him sideways but didn't comnt. He figured out that Azzy hadn't told his sister the full truth. "So, it wasn't just our family he kept things from…" Orion thought.
Soon, they stood outside a humble two-story building with a wooden sign that read: Oakley Clinic – Holistic Healing & Spirit Diagnostics
Azzy gave the door a light push. The chi above rang gently.
Inside, the air slled of herbs and antiseptic oils. White walls, wooden furniture, charts of acupuncture points, and mana flow systems, it looked like a typical traditional healing center.
"Next," ca a warm voice from behind a half-curtain.
The voice fell silent as Vesyrn stepped into view.
He looked a bit aged than the person he rembered. Previously, he looked like a young man in his 30s. Now, he looked more middle-aged. He seed like an approachable, gentle soul. The patient looked like he was at peace as he healed her.
Suddenly, Vesyrn's eyes fell to the door as people entered. For a mont, his eyes didn't believe what they saw.
"Azzy?"
"Hey, Dad." Azzy waved his hand, forcing out an uncomfortable smile.
Then the older man rushed forward, arms open.
Azzy awkwardly embraced him but tried to act like he was fine.
"When did you return?" Vesyrn asked, breath catching. "Where have you been? Why didn't you…"
"We'll talk," Azzy said calmly, pulling back. He turned slightly and pointed at the boy behind him. "This is Orion Garcia."
Vesyrn looked at the boy, blinking.
Azzy continued, "My son."
Emotion flashed through the old man's face: shock, joy, disbelief, all at once. "He's… he's really my grandson? I have such a big grandson?"
Azzy nodded. "Stuff happened when I went on a journey. I was married, and he was born to us. Yes, he is the descendant of Garcia." He then aningfully glanced at Orion. The latter knows what to do.
Orion went to one knee, "Greetings to Grandfather."
Vesyrn walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "Co on, kid. No need for all that formal stuff. Give your old man a hug."
Orion rose imdiately and gave a hug. "Grandpa…"
The mont was heartfelt but brief.
"Dad," Azzy said seriously. "We need to talk. It's about Mom."
The joy in Vesyrn's eyes dimd at once. "You must hate ."
Azzy didn't speak. He just looked at him.
"I destroyed everything," Vesyrn murmured.
"Why?" Azzy finally asked. "The Dad I know wouldn't go as far as establishing an affair with another woman, even if he fights with my mom. So, what exactly happened, Dad?"
Vesyrn glanced at Affea and Orion. "Affea… could you take him outside? There's a waiting room just next door."
Affea understood without asking. She took Orion's hand and gently led him out. Orion felt like this family loves to have secrets. Always intends to talk alone… every ti…
As soon as the door clicked shut, Vesyrn walked to his desk, pulled a small card out from the drawer, and activated a Noise Cancellation Seal.
He then turned around slowly.
"Before I say anything," he began, "I want to ask sothing. Azzy… is your wife, your first love? Not the crush I ant. Was she the first woman you loved by the ti you crossed the age of 16?"
Azzy blinked at the odd question. But he answered honestly. "No. My first love died… Later, I fell in love with Leiza and married her."
Vesyrn exhaled, visibly relieved. "Then it's fine…"
Azzy narrowed his eyes. "What do you an?"
"There is a curse," Vesyrn said quietly, "that runs through the veins of Garcia blood. A punishnt passed down from the Gods to the founder."
Azzy's brows furrowed. "The Curse of Eros, right?"
Vesyrn froze. "You… know?"
Azzy nodded slowly. "I knew it for a long ti. It ensures that the purer your love, the more dood it becos. It never lets your true love survive for long. And the curse was also stronger in the direct descendant."
Claire then spoke inside his head, her tone appeared worried. "Please don't bla yourself or the curse for my death, alright? It was caused by my own decision to give up my soul for the Supre Angel."
Azzy sighed inwardly as he replied to her. "I know."
anwhile, Vesyrn sank into his chair. "When I learned about the curse, I left Izora to save her. If I kept loving her purely, as I always had, she would have been taken from by fate. I couldn't watch that happen. So I… I tainted that love. I made it impure."
His voice trembled now.
"I committed the worst betrayal by finding soone else. And I let that love happen. So that my love for Izora would be corrupted by guilt. I hoped… that would be enough."
Azzy stared in silence.
"But I never expected Flora to get pregnant. It was this stupid drunken night, we were both drunk and… sigh…" Vesyrn continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "And your mother found out. She went mad. Just like Aelius Crescent had when he lost his wife and children. I had to disappear from her life to keep her away from that rage. Fortunately, Affea was the clan head and not Lord Qridus. She resisted the clan lords' urge to execute Izora as, in her state, she would cause massacres."
Azzy stayed silent. Inside his head, he cursed Affea. "Damn you, Affy. You didn't tell about this matter. Now I understood why those clan lords were too quiet. They are afraid of my wrath."
Vesyrn continued. "Flora died giving birth. I stayed to raise Fiona alone. But even with Affea, I never had experience with how to raise a child alone. That's when Oakley took in. And now she's in boarding school for higher studies. She visits sotis… we live simply. And I make my penance by attending to the poor and the unfortunate."
"Flora," Azzy muttered, his thoughts drifting. The na echoed in his mind.
There was soone… soone he once knew who went by that ti.
"Do you have a picture of Flora?" he asked suddenly.
Vesyrn nodded and pulled open a drawer.
He took out a frad photograph.
Azzy's breath caught in his throat. "Shit, it was her."
The girl with the soft brown hair and tearful eyes. The one who used to call him big brother.
"What kind of fate is this?" he whispered.
Vesyrn looked up. "You knew her?"
Azzy gave him a silent nod.
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