My Soul card is a Reaper

"She gave up everything for me. Her world. Her home. That wasn't just love. That was faith. A kind of leap only someone who truly loves you would take." Azzy's voice dropped to a whisper. "And for her? I would go to war with gods."

Orion stared at him, silence thick between them.

Azzy finally turned to him again, his voice low but firm. "When you find a girl like that, Orion… don't let her go."

Orion let out a soft sigh, leaning against the balcony railing. His eyes drifted to the bustling streets in the Clan. "What is even love, Dad?" he asked quietly. "How would I even know if a girl's right for me?"

Azzy smiled, his gaze following his son's. "Love," he began, "is beautiful. It doesn't always make sense, but it changes you. It feels like the world shifts a little, just for you. Like the first rain after a dry summer, suddenly, everything feels softer, cleaner. Even if the air's thick and heavy, just thinking about her makes it feel lighter."

Orion glanced sideways at him, listening.

"Every small thing becomes exciting," Azzy continued, a nostalgic tone creeping into his voice. "You could talk for hours and still feel like you barely said anything. When you're apart, it's like part of you is missing. You just want to share everything with her, even the stupid little things that don't matter to anyone else."

He chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "And you don't feel embarrassed acting childish in front of her. In fact, you enjoy it. Love makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Not because she completes you, but because she sees you all of you and still chooses to stay."

Orion stared at him, slack-jawed. "Dad… you sound like you're quoting from some romance novel or cheesy movie. You're telling me people actually feel that in these modern times, too? Don't tell me, people are like that in the outside world."

Azzy burst out into laughter. "No, people here are just the same as the ones you found in Irth. But it's real, Orion. Most people don't believe in such love because they've never felt it. Or… they stopped looking. They got caught up in life, career, responsibilities, and fears. And sure, a lot of marriages don't last. That's true. But that doesn't mean such love doesn't exist. It just means some people settle, or they change, or they never understood what love truly was."

Orion frowned. "Then what's the point? Even if you fall in love, what if it fades?"

Azzy leaned on the railing beside him, the moonlight catching the lines in his face. "That's the thing about adults. You don't need to worry about it. At your age, love is purer. You're just starting to understand the world, but you don't have the weight of it on your shoulders yet. No job deadlines. No political responsibilities. Just you… and your feelings."

He looked at Orion seriously. "You don't have to search for it. You'll know when it happens. One day, you'll look at a girl and suddenly… You will feel like the world isn't the same anymore."

Orion stared at him silently.

He had slept with many women during the past year, like seriously, his body count is more than 40 or 50 or something. Those feelings of love he never had. With his father missing and his mother just focused on business, Orion never properly believed in love.

But listening to his dad's words in person, Orion suddenly wanted to believe in it, and he couldn't help but question himself, whether he felt that way for Selene.

When he thought about it, Selene with the glasses appeared in his head. Orion felt his heartbeat slightly increase for some reason. "Do I have a fetish for glasses or something?" As he wondered in his head, a familiar voice rang out from the hallway.

"There you are!" Leiza's voice echoed, a mix of frustration and worry. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? You both just disappeared like that!"

She stormed toward them, elegant in her evening gown but clearly irritated. "You left me surrounded by those political hyenas! All of them looked like they wanted to eat me alive!"

Azzy chuckled and nudged Orion lightly. "See? Your mom couldn't bear to stay apart for even a few minutes," he whispered with a teasing grin. "She gets worried the second I vanish."

Leiza reached them and folded her arms with a huff. "What are you whispering about now?"

"Nothing," Azzy said, stepping closer and giving her a smile that softened her glare. "Just father-son talk. You know how it is."

"I know how it is, alright," she grumbled. "But father-son talk can wait. Orion isn't running away anywhere. The guests were waiting for you two to start the ball."

Azzy offered a guilty smile. "Sorry about that."

Leiza sighed and slipped her hand into his. "Let's go, before they start gossiping."

As the couple walked back into the brightly lit ballroom, Orion lingered for a second longer on the balcony. His gaze trailed after them, watching the way his mother's expression relaxed around Azzy. She was smiling again. He saw her smiling before, but never thought too much. When he saw genuineness in her smile and the smile on his father's as they talked while walking away, a soft chuckle escaped Orion. "Now I feel like a fool," he mumbled, shaking his head. "Thinking he came back to us just for money or power, trying to manipulate my mom."

Back inside, the party was in full swing.

The chandeliers sparkled above as music floated through the air, weaving around couples gliding across the marble floor.

The ballroom had transformed into a sea of graceful movements, elegant dresses, and tailored suits. It wasn't some formal circle dance, though. It was one-on-one, although among many couples.

Orion stood off to the side, a glass of juice in hand, feeling awkward. He scanned the dancers. His parents were among them, locked in rhythm, moving effortlessly together. Like they had been dancing all their lives. His mom even laughed at something Azzy whispered.

He suddenly felt like a stranger watching a movie about someone else's life.

Then came the ambush.

With her usual energy, Affea appeared out of nowhere, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward the dance floor before he could react. "Let's go. You look like a sulking statue."

"Wait… what?" he stammered, nearly dropping his drink.

"Relax, it's just thirty seconds of glorified walking in circles," she said, rolling her eyes. "You won't die. Come, dance with your aunt."

And true to her word, it was simple. Slow turns, easy side steps, back and forth. Affea was guiding him, chatting casually about how stiff the guests were.

Then, with perfectly subtle timing, she maneuvered them toward the edge of the dance floor, right near where Selene stood, watching her mother dance with one of the guards.

Orion's eyes flickered to Selene, but she didn't glance their way. She was still, poised, and her arms were crossed. She was just watching, and no one was approaching her.

Affea let go of his hand casually and stepped aside with a smirk. "There. Mission complete."

"Huh?" Orion blinked at her. "What?"