Blood Weaver

The skies of Iliya were hit by the first light of dawn, shimmering a vibrant silver that reflected oceans of skyscrapers, reaching clouds. The winds were a cooling breeze that kissed the nape of anyone awake to gaze upon the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern suns, rising in their respective position. Slowly reaching high into the skies, each Sun met behind the other's shadow, marking the beginning of the afternoon.

"It's always so beautiful to watch," Azalea softly mentioned, in a meditative state. Finding a loving smile, she tilted her head to a smiling young man staring at her.

The second prince chuckled, "Now, how did you get to the top of the Imperial Palace?"

"It's been a while, little prince. How've you been? Last we met, I was saving you from a horde of wild Vermillion Dragons." Azalea said clearly, ignoring his earlier question, feeling it was beneath her to respond to such an obvious question.

Anyone who wished to enter the Palace of House Lazarus was to heed the call of death. It didn't matter if they were Chaos or Blood Lords; entering the Palace by force was a testament to death.

Neo gave a sly nod, "I see, so did father invite you, or has my brother taken up a lover?"

"Surely you jest, little Neo." Azalea said, pulling herself up; she placed her hands over her hourglass figure and smirked, "Your brother is notably known as a gay."

Neo sighed, "Prety sure he's just asexual. Still weird, though."

"So, where is your father? Aldwyn led me here, and I've been waiting for ten minutes. You know I hate waiting."

"Quite the attitude for a no-name God," Neo remarked with a sly smile. He had long since tried to probe into the woman's background who had just popped out of nowhere—saving him from not just Zariels alterations of Heavens Law but the Vermillion Dragons hunting him down. Back then, everything had happened so fast, one after another, he could only recall the torment of his skin peeling away like an onion, followed by Azealea's harsh words to keep everything together.

"I'd heard you were looking into me? Now have you fallen for me?" She asked, and Neo touched his chin.

"Maybe."

"Kid, you're not even five hundred years old. Not to mention, I'm a kept woman."

"Oh really!" A booming voice that made Neo's expression flicker between dark and a bright reflected through Azealea's magnificent sky blue eyes. "And who would that be?"

"My master, of course," Azalea said as Titus appeared.

"Master?" Titus repeated, and a profound realization overcame him.

"Blood Weaver, Aldrich is back?"

"That he is," Azalea confirmed, pulling out the letter her master gave her. "And he referred to you as a particular title," She added, glancing at Neo, listening carefully, and then Titus carrying a particular frown.

"Leave us, boy."

"But—"

"You will do well to listen, Second Prince." Titus calmy said in an overly calm tone that sent a chill down Neo's spine.

Startle by the graveness of his tone, he bowed his head, "Then I shall be on my way, Father. Good seeing you again, Azalea."

Waiting for Neo's presence to vanish, a smile slipped onto Titus' lips, "So he told you who I am?"

"Only a title, but one that every Chaos Lord knows. I was hoping you would explain."

"Then you'll be waiting forever; I've no intention of revealing myself to you, little girl." Titus calmly said, not batting an eye.

Azalea shrugged, "Whatever, no skin off my back. I've more important things than to play this back and forth with you."

"Oh, I'm sure that's not true. I think you're just trying to return to your loving master." He said, lifting his lips as she handed him her master letter.

Blushing a little, Titus smirked at her expression and opened the letter. "Hmmm. So he's on a planet called Alos?"

"Will you burn that world?"

"Do I look like a monster?" Titus asked; his lips grew arched, and a single brow lifted.

"If you have to ask, then yes."

The Fool chuckled, turning the letter to ash, "You've come a long way, but you've still got a ways to go, maybe in a dozen chaos cycles, you'll become a threat, but for now, I would not worry about love. I'm sure Aldrich isn't. There is a reason why he was closest to becoming a chaos lord."

"What are you—"

"I will not be getting involved. I may send a secret letter to the black hand for shits and giggles, but with this oddity surrounding my bastard son, I will play my part as 'Titus' and continue like I've not read this letter."

"I thought you would rush to kill Zariel," Azalea said.

"Then you'll be right and wrong." He replied, shaking his head. "I'll deal with that ungrateful brat later, but there are many things to do, especially since we've been getting chatter from the Nine Hells."

"Chatter?"

"Hmm," Titus hummed, tossing a bronze coin with the omega symbol etched into its side to Azalea, "Give this to Aldrich. I will support him the best I can, but it goes without saying that I expect something in return."

"I expect nothing less from a man, my Master respects," Azalea uttered, in a cold tone, vanishing where she stood.

Cracking a smile, the King of Iliya chuckled, "I may have to kill her. Let's hope she doesn't have a large mouth. The Gods around the Sea of Chaos should know when to keep their mouth shut."

Returning to his throne room, Neo stood near his throne, with a dark expression, 'Aldrich? As in the Aldrich from the—"

"You got a big mouth, my boy!' Titus coldly said, transitioning seamlessly into his authoritative persona.

"Oh, father, must you always be so serious?'

"This is my throne room. So yes."

Neo rolled his eyes, "So?"

"So?'

The Second Prince's eyes narrowed; having heard enough, he spoke without beating around the bush, "Father, is it the same Aldrich who once ruled Elysium?"

"If you know who Aldrich is, do you think it's wise to speak his name aloud? Like your bastard brother, his name is cursed by the Laws of Karma, and a weak little shit like you has no way getting around such spells."

Neo smirked, "So he is back, good."