Chapter 68 - Return

"As you wish, my dear wife." Simon respectfully bowed his head briefly, before signalling his guards that they can now leave.

"I hope you don't mind, but these guards performed great deeds alongside me and have all sworn to become my subordinates." Simon cheerful spoke to Malece as he gazed at the leaving guards. Looking at Simon with a confused face, Malece sighed and waved her hand without worry.

"You are my consort, you can have as many of my subordinates as you wish." Malece sighed as she proceed to walk back to her throne.

"Just remember to come back here soon, you have some outstandingly difficult duties to perform which require my supervision for you to be able to properly grasp."

"I understand, I will now take my leave."

"Very well."

Simon left the throne room without another word, proceeding though the main lobby and back towards the 'portal'. Without saying anything, he quickly activated the portal and appeared at his mansion's front steps.

'Home.'

Simon quickly changed his clothes and removed his mask in a nearby bush before doing anything, safely protecting his identity.

Simon walked towards the main door and knocked three times, waiting for anyone to open the door. After a brief moment, the door opened and he was greeted by the face of his father. With a face full of sadness and regret, his father's face was drenched in tears, indicating that he had already found out about the events at the Reaper mansion.

"Son!" Karlus cried as he hugged hi Simon in relief. Seeing that his other son had come home safely, Karlus became slightly happier.

"You are so late! It is already nearing dusk, why were you outside so long? I was so worried! Did you hear about what happened?! Your brother...Jazukal is dead." Karlus began to weep again as he hugged Simon tightly, refusing to let go. Soon, Simon's other brothers arrived at scene, showing signs of being relieved but still terribly grief stricken.

"I already know. I heard such news when I visited the Blood Palace. I can assure you that the murderer died a hideous death. My twin brother did not die without vengeance." Simon announced with a grim expression.

"Pardon?! What were you doing in the Blood Palace?"

'S.e.x.'

"I was teleported by Her Bloodness, and was ordered to become her personal student. I am sorry to inform you that I will be leaving the house perhaps permanently after we finish mourning my dear brother's death. Her Bloodness is very strict about my living space and where I spend my days. I wish I could stay with my family and enjoy my childhood, but this is where it ends." Simon solemnly declared. Suddenly the scene became silent and no one said a word. Processing such a piece of information would take hours for an ordinary person, it was just that ridiculous.

"I happy that at least one piece of good news came forth today. I can only pray that Jazukal finds peace knowing that his twin brother will lead a successful life." Karlus spoke as he wiped away his tears. The once stone cold-looking father had now softened up. Upon hearing of the death of his son, Karlus had dropped his facade and revealed his fatherly love. No one could stop him from being emotional, not even his wife.

"Congratulations. Sons, please tap your horns in congratulations for your dear brother.

'This is all too depressing. Is this what happens when a family member dies? The entire family mourns and suffers? Is this what it means to lose a family member? How should I know? I died and will never know if my family ever cared. Such is life. But I believe I already know the answer.'

"Father, let us celebrate Jazukal's life and mourn his death as a family."

"As we should. My dear son would have been so joyful to see the family shed so many tears...why did he have to die? He had such great potential! How can I ever live with the shame?"

Seven days of mourning followed. The Crypts family kept silence during this time, painfully getting by while remembering Jazukal's life and mourning his death. Without a body to bury, the family felt ashamed, knowing that Jazukal would never sleep in their family grave. Such shame could only be drowned out by liquor, which Karlus indulged himself in to keep his mind away from Jazukal's death.

Simon dealt with it in a different way. Instead of drinking and sulking, he opened up his new project and began to write. His pen swiftly stroked through the pages as he began to incorporate his emotions into the text and vent his sadness into the plot. He wrote of two brothers that never really bonded, but were separated young. One died and one lived. The one that lived could only regret that he did not enjoy his late brother's company more. But at the end of the seven day writing session, Simon wrote the conclusion to these characters' arc.

'Death is a 'See you later', not a goodbye.'