CHAPTER 303: CHAPTER 302-THREADS MOVING.

Azrail stood, stretching his hands high above, the morning already past, he could feel the long hours of talk still buzzing inside his skull, his body tired but his mind sharper than ever, it was like fire running in veins, too much to stop, too much to sit down and rest, no, not now, he had too much in his hands.

’We planted the seeds... now the water must flow’

His lips twitched with a grin, he walked out from the courtyard, the flowers still moving from the night breeze, Valencia had left back to her room, Raena lingered for a moment before slipping into the shadows, she had her ways of moving, seductive and dangerous, he didn’t stop her, let her work her bat shit craziness.

The manor was silent but not dead, servants moving with eyes lowered, guards at posts, but everyone now kept space when Azrail walked by, respect and fear mixing in their eyes. It was something he had dreamed in his past life, not just respect, but power that forced respect.

He reached the long hall, the room where meetings would be held, and there Lan was already waiting, her eyes sharp as blades, his mother, that icy woman who now let her blood sing with vengeance. Beside her, Xuanyin sat, her small frame still radiating cold, frost drifting from her hair, her eyes blank to others, but Azrail could see the storm in them, always hidden, always only for him.

"You came later than I thought," Lan spoke first, her tone calm but with the chill that cut.

Azrail smiled, moving to sit, cloak wrapping around. "I had things to arrange. And besides, time is different now, isn’t it? We’re not the weak branch anymore."

His mother’s lips curved, not quite a smile, not quite a frown, but she accepted. Xuanyin just kept staring, her lips parting slightly, the cold mist curling, her voice barely a whisper.

"Brother... you look tired."

Azrail turned, his smirk softening when he saw her. He reached out, letting his fingers brush her hair lightly. She leaned ever so slightly toward him, the only touch she ever accepted.

"I’m fine, little ice, more than fine actually. Things are falling into place."

Lan’s gaze narrowed, sharp, and she leaned forward, "What things?"

And Azrail explained. Not everything, not yet, but enough. He spoke of Seraphel, of Oblivion’s Embrace, the empire of whispers beneath Thanatos, the divisions and the Chaos makers, the Obscura that pulled strings so large that kings didn’t even see. He spoke of the All-Realm, the river of data, how easy it was to make fools open their mouths, how Lyx guided him through it, how he saw it with his own eyes.

His mother listened, not interrupting, but her fingers pressed against the chair, ice forming tiny cracks. Xuanyin’s eyes widened slightly, mist flowing stronger.

"And you made a deal?" Yun Lan asked, voice colder now.

"Yes," Azrail replied without hesitation, "equal ground, she holds two of my weaknesses, I hold hers. It’s dangerous, but it’s leverage, and with it, I can push."

Yun Lan didn’t like it; he saw it in her eyes, but she didn’t scold him, not now, not when his power was rising. Instead, she leaned back, sighing, "You play a dangerous game, son, but perhaps that’s the only kind left for us."

Xuanyin finally spoke again, her voice firmer, even if still low. "Will it hurt you?"

Azrail looked at her, his eyes softening just for a second. He reached, touching her hand, her ice didn’t hurt him, never did. "Not if I play right. And I always play right, little ice."

She nodded, the faintest relief in her cold face.

The talk moved, Lan asked about the phoenix girl, Yurou, her flame mark, and the bond that was already tied. Azrail explained a little, leaving out the dangerous details, but Lan already knew, her eyes shining faintly. "Then use it, use every bond, every chain, turn them into weapons."

Azrail agreed, his grin back, "I intend to."

Hours passed, plans drawn, lines traced. Xuanyin just sat close, listening, her presence calm but grounding, her eyes flicking to him always, like she was memorising every word, every plan, like she wanted to carry them for him.

Later, as night fell, Azrail walked alone to the training courtyard, the stars above the manor sharp and bright. He stood in the open, cloak swirling, two blades appearing at his side, flames flickering, black and purple, Persefone and Astrid. He breathed deep, the energy rolling.

’Seraphel, Valencia, Adria, Raena, mother, sister... so many pieces, but the board is mine, it has to be mine’

He slashed, the blades cutting air, black fire roaring, purple rebirth flame swirling, the ground cracking under him. His eyes glowed, cold and sharp.

From the shadows, a voice stirred.

"You’re restless."

It was Valencia, stepping forward, her pink hair glimmering in moonlight, her golden eyes watching. Behind her, faint again, Adria’s phantom shimmered, arms folded, gaze heavy.

Azrail smirked, lowering blades, "Restless is another word for alive."

Valencia chuckled softly, her steps echoing. "We’ve gone through the information, me, Adria, Raena, even Hera, and the path is clear, but we need something more, Azrail."

He tilted his head, "And that is?"

Adria’s phantom stepped forward, her moonlight heavy, her voice like judgment. "A foothold. Information without a base is wind; it vanishes. You need a centre, not just in Seraphel’s halls, not just in All-Realm. Here. In the Yun territory. Build your own data web, hidden, feeding into theirs, but serving only you. That is how you turn shadows into empire."

Azrail’s grin widened, his teeth flashing. "And who better than me to do it?"

Valencia nodded, her golden eyes glowing. "I’ll see patterns, I’ll weave predictions. Raena will charm and bend, and Hera can run cover. Yun Lan can shield, Xuanyin can freeze anyone who gets too close. You’re not alone in this, Azrail."

For a moment, just a moment, Azrail felt the warmth, a dangerous thing, but real. He looked at them: the moon, the stars, the blades at his side.

’Not alone... not this time’

The thought echoed, burning in his chest, a vow heavier than steel.

He lifted his swords again, flames roaring, shadows dancing, Valencia watching, Adria silent but approving, the night carrying his vow.

"This is just the start," Azrail whispered, eyes blazing. "From whispers to kingdoms, from shadows to heavens. They’ll all fall. One by one."

As Azrail finished saying this, his mind running through a certain awakening he had kept himself, a blaze in Azrail’s eyes as he spoke.

"Let’s gather the family and have some bonding training time."

A certain spark in Azrail’s eyes as he said this.