My Soul card was a Reaper: The Founder's Tale

Rael sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His arms were crossed, his expression a storm of frustration and sadness. He couldn't understand what was going on in his father's mind. All he did was protect the weak and teach those bullies a lesson. Wasn't that what he was taught since he was four? The so-called noblesse oblige state that those who are privileged, powerful, or wealthy have a moral responsibility to act responsibly toward the less fortunate in need.

Then why was he punished instead? Rael couldn't think of any logical reasoning.

With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "If only Mother was alive... she would've sided with me. She'd understand. Perhaps, just like Aunt Emily, Father also blames me for Mother's death."

As his thoughts spiraled, he suddenly heard a faint rustling sound. He turned his head toward the window just in time to see Eon carefully climbing in, her small frame illuminated by the moonlight.

"Eon?" he whispered loudly, startled by her appearance. "What are you doing here? Father's going to be furious if he finds out you're breaking the punishment!"

Eon landed softly on the floor, brushing her hands off with a triumphant grin. "Father's just angry," she said with a giggle, tiptoeing toward him with her little feet. "He'll cool down in no time. Besides, I couldn't leave you alone, could I? You're hopeless without me."

Rael frowned but couldn't hide his joy. His lips widened a bit, "Still, you shouldn't have risked it."

She threw herself on the bed next to him, poking his cheek. "You're worrying too much. We're a team, remember? No way I'm staying away from you for a whole month."

Rael rolled his eyes, but his mood had noticeably lightened. He lay back on the bed, letting out a long sigh. "You're impossible, Eon."

"That's why you love me," she teased, sticking her tongue out before settling beside him.

The two siblings spent the rest of the night talking in hushed tones, sharing jokes, and quietly laughing as though the punishment didn't exist. Eventually, they drifted into a peaceful sleep, cuddling each other as always, as if nothing could separate them.

Later that night, Aurelius silently opened the door, peeking into Rael's room to check on his son. His eyes softened at the sight before him: Rael and Eon, fast asleep, curled up on the same bed. Eon's hand rested protectively over Rael's shoulder, and Rael's face, often filled with disobedience, was peaceful.

Aurelius leaned against the doorframe and let out a helpless sigh, a small, bittersweet smile drawing at his lips. Despite all the trouble they caused, he couldn't deny how inseparable the two were. It was a bond that he couldn't bring himself to sever, no matter how much he wanted them to stay out of each other's chaos.

"Oh, Boy…" He shook his head and muttered under his breath, "You two will be the death of me one day."

Satisfied that Rael and Eon were at peace, Aurelius decided to check on his eldest son, Raphael. Unlike these two little rebels, Raphael was the most composed and responsible, groomed to be the next Duke since he was only three. Quietly, Aurelius pushed open the door to Raphael's room, expecting to find him sleeping as well.

"Wha…"

Instead, he was greeted by a sight that froze his expression in shock.

Raphael sat cross-legged in the center of the room; his face looked calm, and his eyes were closed in deep meditation. Around him, faint golden symbols floated in a slow orbit. "This…" Aurelius gasped as he recognized those symbols. "The runes of the zodiac. It is the Decarune Seal." But what shocked him most was the number.

Three zodiac symbols hovered in perfect harmony around the boy.

"Three seals?" Aurelius thought, his chest tightened in disbelief. In just one day? The Decarune Seal was one of the most advanced sealing techniques, requiring years of training to master even a single zodiac symbol for an average genius. Yet, his eight-year-old son had already unlocked three.

Aurelius felt a mix of awe and pride. Knowing Raphael's personality, Aurelius could see Raphael's potential was undeniable. And then, suddenly, it reminded him of his other son, and he couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh, "If only Rael is…"

He shook away his thoughts and quietly stepped back, closing the door without disturbing the boy. As he walked away, his mind swirled with thoughts. The eldest was disciplined, and the other two were chaotic. However, they have yet to awaken their Arcana spirits. And Aurelius was looking forward to that day.

One Month Later;

Rael's room had been quiet for the past month, save for the occasional visits from Eon, who would sneak in through the window every night as neither of them could barely sleep if they weren't together. But today was different. As he stood at the door, finally released from his month-long punishment, Rael couldn't help but wonder what his father wanted now. Whatever it was, he could sense that it wasn't anything good.

His personal guard—Val, an 8-star Arcana Master, was there to escort him to his father's chambers.

Standing outside the door, he took a deep breath as if he was slightly nervous. "Whatever it is, I can sense that this isn't going to be anything good for me. But, let's face it," He mumbled as Val opened the door for him.

When Rael entered his father's room, he was taken aback by the presence of another figure—a woman who exuded an almost intimidating aura. She was tall, with silver hair that flowed like a river of light down her back, and sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through everything and everyone. She carried herself like a warrior, and yet there was the elegance of what one would describe a divine being.

"This is Selene Garcia," Aurelius said, his voice echoing as it filled the room. "One of the three demigods of the Garcia family."

Rael immediately recognized the name. Selene Garcia—legendary in her own right, revered as one of the most powerful warriors and mages in the history of their family. She had lived for thousands of years and was known for being both a fierce fighter and also his collateral ancestor, a Nephilim.

He stared at her, mixed with awe and curiosity. Unknowingly, his eyes momentarily glowed and he saw a pitch-black aura enveloping her for a moment before it disappeared alongside the glow in his eyes.

Selene's voice then rang out, steady and calm, as she addressed him directly.

"I am your master from now on, Rael. And you are leaving right away."

Rael blinked, his mind racing. "Master?" he repeated, looking between his father and Selene. "What about Eon?"

Aurelius gave him a pointed look. "Eon will be trained personally by me."

Rael's eyes narrowed. "What? You're teaching Raphael because he inherited your Angelic bloodline. But Eon didn't inherit it. If that is the case, why not me too?" His voice was firm, frustration creeping in as his mind processed the reality. His earlier admiration of the legendary figure was thrown out of his head and replaced by only one thought. Why separate him from Eon?

"I don't have to explain my reasoning to you, Rael," Aurelius replied, his tone unyielding. "Just follow my orders. You will be trained by Selene, and that's final."

Rael, determined to gain some control over his situation, spoke again, this time with a firm tone and a look of stubbornness. "I don't want to be separated from Eon. If you don't want to train me, that's fine. I don't need a master. I'll train on my own. If all you want is to keep an eye on me, Val is there anyway."

Selene watched him for a moment, and then Aurelius spoke again, already with a solution, as he expected the same reaction from his son. "You want to stay with Eon? Fine. How about we make a deal? There's a tournament coming up in about six months. It's for rookies—those above eight years old but below twelve. If you reach the top 3, I will never try to separate you two, no matter how much of a mess you both cause, in the future."

"Do you mean it?" Rael's eyes sparked with determination. "Done." He didn't hesitate a second in accepting the deal.

As Aurelius smiled that everything went along with his plan, Rael turned to Selene, acknowledging her with a respectful nod. "I will greet you as my teacher, for now. But until you can prove yourself, you will not be my master. I cannot acknowledge anyone based on their stories alone, even if they are a demigod."

Selene raised an eyebrow, her lips turning into a faint smile. "Is that so?" she said, amused. "A bold claim from someone so young."

Aurelius couldn't help but sigh, rubbing his temple as he watched his son.

Selene shifted her gaze to the Duke. "Your youngest is truly a troublemaker," She commented. "But that's good, isn't it? He'll be strong and responsible if he survives the lessons by the end of this three-month-long training."

"Three months?" Rael spoke out loud, gaining their attention. "You probably won't have the chance to teach me much," he said to Selene, his tone matter-of-fact. His eyes once again glowed for a brief moment and three of his fingers were raised. "Three days at most."

Aurelius' patience snapped at once, by his son's comment. He raised his hand, preparing to slap his son for his insolence, but then seemed to catch himself, exhaling sharply. He lowered his hand. "Apologize," he ordered. "You will apologize to Grandmaster Selene for speaking that way."

Rael sighed dramatically, looking back at Selene. "I'll apologize, but it won't be heartfelt because that is the truth. Do you still want it?"

Selene looked at him, her expression unreadable. "After living for thousands of years, I don't hold grudges against an ignorant child. Do as you wish."

Rael, satisfied with her answer, didn't push the matter further. Instead, he followed her as she turned to leave the room, heading toward the northernmost part of Freyles—the frozen lakes of the north pole.

The journey to the frozen lake took several hours, but Rael hardly complained. The cold, biting air of the north felt strangely invigorating, especially as they approached the edge of the lake, where the frozen surface stretched as far as the eye could see.

Selene turned to face Rael. "This is where your true training will begin," she said. "Are you ready?"

Rael looked out across the ice, his breath coming out in visible puffs. "I've been ready for as long as I can remember," he answered calmly.

Without another word, Selene gestured to the ice. A beam of energy erupted out of her index finger, creating a small hole in the frozen surface.

Rael looked at the scene in wonder. "What was she doing? Does she want me to fish or something?"

Then, without warning, her hand struck his back and Rael flew toward the lake, screaming involuntarily.

In a matter of a couple of seconds, Rael flew into the hole and was submerged in the freezing lake, his body instantly chilled to the bone. His heart raced as the shock of the coldness hit him like a blow.

Selene flew and landed nearby with her hands crossed to the back. "Try to get out," Selene called out, her voice stayed calm. "You'll freeze if you don't move fast enough," She added.

The hole froze over almost immediately, trapping him. Rael struggled against the ice.

The cold temperature made his arms almost numb. Rael gathered whatever strength he could and punched the sheet of ice. It cracked at once, bringing joy to him.

Just as he was about to give another blow to break free, something caught his attention. His ears perked up, a shift in the water's current sending a slight tremor through his body.

Rael turned his head quickly as he instinctively pushed out the soul energy from his body, forming a layer over him. He narrowed his eyes, staring in the direction of the source. There, in the eerie stillness of the frozen lake, a shadow glided through the water—something large, sleek, and menacing: A tri-horned Shark.