Orion scratched the back of his neck. "Your… academy. The one you trained at. What's it called again?"
"Arvandor Academy of Arcana," she replied. "Why?"
Orion's eyes lit up with uncharacteristic seriousness. "What are the requirents to join?"
Fiona blinked, caught off guard. "You? Want to join an elite combat academy? Why? You can just study here, though."
"I want to beco strong but far away from Dad's eyes," he said quietly, his voice lower. "And maybe…" He trailed off.
Fiona narrowed her eyes, but nodded slightly. "Alright, co, let's talk."
As they walked together down the corridor, Fiona found so of her earlier devastation fading due to distraction.
*
Later that day, in his private chamber, Azzy sat cross-legged, his breathing steady, the energy within him pulsed faintly, like a steady heartbeat.
He opened his eyes, golden irises gleaming with focus. "Ti," he murmured.
Azzy walked into the Ti Corridor, a dinsional rift only accessible to him and his counterparts.
The familiar endless corridor was seen, with doors on the left representing the events of the past, and the right doors representing the future.
As usual, countless Azraels were passing by him like ghosts, most of them going through the left doors.
Azzy took a stroll in the corridor, hoping to et his future self at so point, as the future self had promised him that they would et again when he broke through the demigod. But so far, they haven't yet.
In the end, he could only exit in disappointnt.
*
The evening sun cast long shadows across the white stone walls of the Garcia Palace as the family gathered around the long dining table.
Azzy sat at the head of the table, hands folded, quietly surveying the awkward mosaic of faces.
On one end, Vesyrn, his usually stoic father, chewed slowly, occasionally grunting in approval at the food.
Leah, dressed in formal Pendragon attire with long hair cascading over one shoulder, sat a little too close to Azzy.
Her son, Zion, quietly sliced his at in perfect symtry, his eyes darting around at everyone.
On the other end of the table, Leiza sipped her juice, eyes wary.
Izora crossed her arms, not even pretending to eat.
Fiona had her chin propped on one hand, sighing occasionally.
Orion, sitting just opposite Zion, leaned back with a blank expression, occasionally stealing glances at Selene, who was tactfully seated between Fiona and Affea.
In the middle of this ss sat Affea, trying to force a smile that had long since lost its strength.
With no one intending to chat around and quietly eating their food, Leah decided to break the silence.
"So, Leiza, I heard," she began, looking at Leiza with what seed like a polite smile, "that you used to run an IT company, back in your country. Sothing about robotics? AI-based products?"
Leiza blinked. "I… yes. I ran an enterprise focused on adaptive AI and human-tech integration. The future lies with Artificial Intelligence, you know."
Leah tilted her head with curiosity, or perhaps sothing sharper. "Fascinating. So, what's next? Planning to start sothing similar here, too?"
Leiza's eyebrows rose, slightly amused but cautious. "I haven't made up my mind yet. I have to first observe how the market is."
"Leiza, where do you and my brother et? What made you think you are right for each other?" Affea joined in the conversation, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
As the kids and other adults also paid attention to Azzy and Leiza, the latter let out a slight chuckle. "It was actually, like, straight from the movie, to be honest. I was shopping with my friends. Azrael was doing the sa, with one of his teammates. We kinda fought over the dress, but I was forced to yield it in the end. You know how intense this man can be, when things don't go his way…"
"Hey, you don't have to portray as a villain, you know," Azzy complained casually. "We didn't exactly fight. You were the one who tried to snatch the dress I picked up."
"Yeah, whatever… It's not like you shopped for your girlfriend. So, I must say your reaction was over the top back then…"
*Scoff* "Oh, please… You were the one who acted all arrogant, almost sending off your bodyguards against …"
"But, I didn't, do I?"
"Ok, you husband and wife don't have to fight right now…" Affea diated between and urged Leiza to continue. "What happened next, then?"
Leiza pushed away the hair that was hanging over her shoulder and explained. "Anyways, after that, I was in a sour mood and decided to leave the mall, and then gangsters just ca out of nowhere with all guns, trying to siege the entire place. And our hero here ca to save the day…"
"Ohhh!" A collective squeal escaped from Affea and Fiona. "So, you fell for him?" Affea asked.
Leiza smiled, gesturing with both of her hands, pointing at him. "I an, c'mon, look at him. How would you not fall for this face…"
The girls squealed once again, making Azzy blush in embarrassnt. The rest of the adults were only the spectators.
"Then?" Affea and Fiona now seed quite invested in the story.
"Then, I chased after him and hired him as my bodyguard so that he could protect inside the school, too." Leiza's next set of words surprised everyone.
"Huh? But, Azrael, I heard that you were already a 9-Star Arcana Master even back then? Why did you beco a bodyguard for her?" As Fiona asked in wonder, Leah's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Of course, why else… he got to win the heart of the lady…"
"Eh?" As Azzy was montarily taken aback by Leah's sudden comnt, "C'mon, seriously, you too?"
Leah shrugged playfully with a cheeky smile. After a brief pause, curiosity filled her eyes as she asked. "So, when did this happen? After Claire's episode? Or Before?"
"Before…"
"Really?" Claire's voice suddenly filled his head, earning his attention. "Now, that's interesting. I thought I broke up with you because of my troubles. So, you were already halfway to moving on, back then?"
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