Azzy took a deep breath and took a deep bow, once again in silence. If it is someone else, he would have been worried about the possibility of being lured into a trap but it is his own kin, after all.
In the worst case, all he had to reveal was his death scythe and then, later, escape from the place with an hourglass, turning back the time. He was prepared for it, before stepping on the train.
"I heard that you are the lone survivor of a beast attack. May I know the names of your parents?" The old man suddenly dropped an unexpected question.
"Parents?" In an instant, he realized that Qridus is suspecting him of something.
Thankfully, there's the Reaper by his side to help him out. A voice echoed in his head.
Azzy followed the advice and replied with a bow, "Sorry but my parents have enemies. I can't speak their names out and put my life in danger without knowing your intentions."
"Azrael…" Pandora frowned a bit. It was the Death clan's Monarch asking the question. He is the man who was a step away from becoming a Demi-God, not some stranger from the streets. Just talking in this way itself is a huge disrespect.
Before she tried to reprimand him, Qridus raised his hand, "if you wish to keep it secret, then, I won't force you but you can at least tell me this much, whether you saved someone from Hydra, during the last year."
Azzy understood what the old man was asking about. After all, he was the one that told him that back when he requested him to cancel the expulsion of his foster parents.
He nodded, "Yes, I saved a guy who's around my age or maybe, a little bit older."
"Do you know where he is, right now?" Qridus continued to question his descendant that traveled through the time.
Azzy shook his head, "we only met once. I neither knew his face nor remember his appearance properly. If you came here to interrogate me about that person, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. I apologize for wasting your time." He politely bowed again.
"Eh?" Pandora was taken aback upon hearing the conversation. After all, she brought him here as she heavily suspects Azzy is a descendant of Aelius Crescent.
But, it looked like Qridus had other intentions. What it might be? And who is that person the Monarch is talking about? She wondered.
Meanwhile, Qridus let out a sigh of disappointment and put away the matter for now. He patiently said, "One more thing. Clan Leader Pandora brought me here to take a closer look at your Arcana for she suspects your wolf isn't a dark wolf with a lightning attribute but is a wolf with a black lightning attribute. Black Lightning is a variant that hasn't been seen for several millennia. The only one in history who possessed such an attribute is Aelius Crescent.
Ever heard of the Great Massacre of Tenth Epoch?"
Azzy nodded in response, "Our teacher taught us about it."
"Then, this makes the matter simple." Qridus let out a smile and explained, "If you really possessed the black lightning attribute, then, there's no doubt, the ancestors of one of your parents hailed from the Crescent Clan. This is why it's necessary to know about your parents. But, before that, I want to confirm whether it's really true or not. My intentions are nothing simpler than that."
Ethan and Pandora were shocked to the core, seeing the ever mighty Qridus was patiently explaining to a simple brat. Even the subordinate clan leaders and Death Clan elders never received such treatment.
For him, to subdue Azzy is as simple as breathing but what they were witnessing is something else.
And if that wasn't shocking enough, the boy seemed to be unafraid of rejecting his goodwill either.
Azzy followed the advice of the Reaper and asked the old man in return, "what if it turned out to be true? Will the Crescent Clan claim my custody or something?"
"No, your life will be unchanged," Qridus promised him.
"What do you think?" Azzy asked the Reaper. The answer indeed surprised but when Azzy thought about it, he felt that it is better to be the descendant of Aelius rather than be a time traveler.
Azzy stepped back and pointed at Ethan, "Can you close the door? I have never shown my second Arcana to anyone else including Aunt Affea and Uncle Oakley."
Pandora felt like the kid is too cautious but as Qridus gestured to her, she nodded and closed the door. Meanwhile, Ethan stood outside as a guard to make sure no one eavesdrop. There were already a few clan members standing far away and looking in the direction upon witnessing Pandora's appearance. As for Qridus, no one even spotted him.
Other than Ethan, Pandora, ad Azzy, he was invisible to everyone that he doesn't want to be seen.
As the door was closed, Azzy summoned the black wolf, followed by the black lotus in its flower transformation.
"Oh, this one is also a top-tier platinum grade." Pandora's eyes lit up when she saw the black lotus. When she saw it was also black and its energy is strikingly similar to that of the wolf, she turned her head towards the old man.
At first, Qridus had a disappointing look as his 1% suspicion about Azzy being the heir was removed but then, the flower attracted his attention.
"I feel earth element but not exactly. It appeared to be a variant. What is its attribute?" he displayed his curiosity.
"It's a black crystal," Azzy informed him what the Reaper had informed him, although he had yet to see any crystal abilities.
"I see, no wonder you are so secretive about it," Pandora commented, grabbing her chin as if she was thinking about something.
Meanwhile, Qridus went down into a memory lane, remembering about Aelius, whom he had seen, talked, and sparred personally back when his father is the Clan's Monarch.
He nodded with a smile, "indeed, it gives the same feeling as Aelius' lightning sphere. Especially this wolf, the feeling was even more similar."
Pandora's face glowed in excitement. But then, she thought, "wait for a second, why am I feeling happy? It's not like he's a descendant of the Night Clan. It's only the Crescent Clan that will get stronger. No, if I can play the cards, right, maybe, in hundred or two hundred years, we can control the entire Crescent Clan through this boy. But, his love and loyalty towards Affea and Oakley must be intact. Hmm, can Avia become the key?"
As various schemes are running through this Matriarch of the Night Clan, Azzy dismissed his Arcana and sealed his soul energy once again. This is the thing that made Qridus suspect Azzy's identity for a moment.
However, he also understands that everyone has their own secrets and he also confirmed what he came for. So, he didn't stay there for very long and left the room. Pandora also followed the suit. Before she went, she said, "don't think badly of Affea and Oakley. I was the one who put pressure on them to keep it as secret as you know, anything that concerns Aelius Crescent isn't of a simple matter."
Azzy never had such a thought anyway. He didn't clear her misunderstanding and plainly nodded in response.
Once they left, Azzy collapsed on the bed, "Oh, boy, let's hope that this is the last trouble I face during this wedding."