My Soul card is a Reaper

Giving a pause, Azzy further said. "If they waste it, or if they take it for granted, then yes, you should walk away."

His tone was no longer pleading or soft. It was now more certain and carried a heavy weight this time.

"You were not in the right state of mind back then. Whatever you were feeling was influenced by Protos energy. But you're not sick anymore, Mom. Your emotions are your own. And now you can think straight. It's not like you had an outside world upbringing, Mom. As someone who was born in the Crescent Clan and had a political marriage to the successor of the Death Clan, you were even prepared for polygamy. If not for your condition back then, I'm sure Dad would have properly married Flora and brought her into the Clan, and you would have accepted it. Wouldn't you?"

Izora looked at Vesyrn, then at Azzy, and then looked down. She quietly admitted. "Yeah, probably." However, she suddenly raised her head and said. "But even if you call it a mistake, you cannot change the fact. A wound can be healed, but the scar left by the wounds, some scars, not even time could erase them. They will be there with you for the rest of your life. I'm afraid I can never forgive your father."

Azzy responded with a question. "How would you know whether it is a scar that can be healed over time or not? You were healed just a while ago, Mom. But the least you could do is to give Dad another chance to repair the relationship, right? Perhaps, no child in the world would want to say this, but if you still couldn't forgive him despite his efforts, I, myself, would see the divorce proceedings."

Izora and Vesyrn could only stay quiet, but for some reason, they felt the need to look at one another, and their gazes met briefly before Izora hurriedly averted hers.

Azzy didn't pay attention to his parents anymore as his eyes shifted to the one who was affected by his words the most. "Fiona Garcia."

Fiona, who stood with her arms crossed, her face was quite brimming with seriousness, and she glared directly at him.

"You want your father to be respected," Azzy said softly. "To not be looked down on. Not to be seen as some outsider or mistake. You don't care about this clan. You don't like it. You just care about him. And that's fine, Fiona. That's love. That's loyalty. But our father's happiness... lies with this clan."

That made her blink.

"You think it's enough that just you and he are fine? That's not love. That's immaturity. For whom do you think Dad left his wife, his daughter, his clansmen, and even his duty to protect his clan, and lived alone? It's for your sake, Fiona. Honestly, we had every right to hate you and your family, Fiona. Affea had even a greater right to hate you the most. But Affea gave you nothing but love, while you keep on increasing your hatred for the clan. You were now best friends with each other. Yes, there are those who tried to manipulate you for their own purposes, and if you give the names, I will investigate, and if they are truly culprits and you haven't misunderstood, I will punish them according to Clan rules. Yes, my mother hated you and your mother. She might have hurled some abusive words, but I was there too. She might be in the wrong, but the way you acted isn't right either. You acted as if you were the only one who had the right over our Dad. You dragged him away in our presence. You had every right to stay away from the clan, but you didn't have any right to force our Dad to do bidding for your hatred."

As Fiona clenched her fist and was about to speak, Azzy continued. "When we met last time, I promised you something. I will acknowledge Flora as the daughter-in-law of the Garcia Family. I will abide by that promise. If you wish, we will move her gravestone to the Family Cemetery. If she is buried, we will be moving her coffin to the Family cemetery. But that has nothing to do with you.

You are yourself, Fiona. And you have to make the choices by yourself. And today, I will give you the choice as the Monarch of Death Clan and head of the Garcia Family. Do you really wish to enter the Garcia family or not? If you do, then you must abide by our clan rules. If not, we will still be your family. I'll still be your brother. Affea is still your sister. And you are still the daughter of Vesyrn Garcia. But, you have to abolish the surname of ours, for you will not be treated as a Garcia Clan descendant, and you will not be allowed into our clan village without permission. Because of your 9-star rank, you will have to need my permission to enter this place or later visit your mother's grave. I will give you the time until the Tournament of Power is over. I hope to receive the answer by then. So, think and make the decision. Since you are an adult, I believe you are mature enough to make the decision and own the consequences or the rewards of that decision."

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. But she couldn't speak. Azzy's words hit the core too much. They were filled with decisiveness, warnings, and affection. And she doesn't know how to react.

Then, Azzy turned to his wife at last.

Leiza met his eyes immediately, wondering what her husband would say to her now. Is it going to be about Orion or Leah or what? His words, so far, after all, hit the nerves of everyone.

But to her surprise, Azzy said quietly. "You gave up everything for me. Your world. Your career. Your friends. Your identity. You left it all behind just to stand beside me. And I'll never forget that sacrifice."

She blinked, eyes glinting.

"But as I have been giving everyone a choice, I will give you the same. Whatever you do, I'll support your decision. You can either stay here to oversee the matters of the clan or start your own business outside. I just want to say that, just don't think that which might lessen my burden or something. Whatever you do, it is going to be your choice."

Leiza quietly nodded.

Azzy let out a deep breath after such lengthy monologues. "I've said everything I needed to."

He looked across the hall and added. "Whether you accept my words or not… that's up to each of you. I won't force anyone. I won't interfere anymore. As I have said earlier, just make your own choices."

He straightened his posture and waved. "You're all dismissed."

One by one, the family members stood in silence and began to file out of the throne room. No one dared to speak. Eventually, only one man remained.

It's Vesyrn.

Once everyone was gone and Azzy leaned back to relax, he walked forward and gently placed a hand on Azzy's shoulder.

"Hmm?" Azzy saw that. "Dad?"

"You did well today," he said in a low voice. "Better than I ever could've imagined. And thanks for not revealing the Curse."

Azzy replied seriously. "Of course, I won't say it. It will only cause Fiona more pain, and it will destroy your relationship with her. I would rather want her to hate me and other clansmen than the only family she had for 18 years."