Emperor's Reckoning

Lily sat inside the luxurious carriage, her expression a mix of disbelief and mild exasperation. She couldn't quite believe how Lyon and his group of friends had hijacked her meticulously planned mode of transportation. It was a situation that would have left most people fuming, but Lily's unique cultivation in the way of the clairvoyant allowed her to regain her composure surprisingly quickly.

As she settled into her seat, her mind began to work its intricate web of calculations and observations. The initial surprise of the unexpected turn of events was replaced by a calm understanding that this wasn't entirely unforeseen. Her abilities to foresee and anticipate had given her a sense of preparedness even in the face of the unexpected.

Despite the audacious hijacking, Lily's serene demeanor remained intact. Her posture was poised, and her movements were deliberate, revealing a woman who had mastered the art of staying centered amidst chaos. The carriage's interior seemed to cocoon her in a tranquil bubble, shielding her from the external turmoil.

"Are you afraid?" asked Cecile, the one sitting opposite of the seer.

Lily shook her head, "I feel no animosity radiating from any of you, thus, I have no reason to."

"Looks can be deceiving," said Cecile playfully smirking at her. 

"If they can fool a seer, then I deserve my coming unfortunate," said Lily as she smiled toward Cecile before she pondered, "Hmm, I am wondering where are you taking me?"

"The place opposite of heaven," said Cecile as she crossed her arms. 

Lily's eyes slightly widened but it didn't escape anyone inside the carriage. 

"I have quite the astonishment," said Cecile. "Seer Lily, have you ever been to that place?"

"I'm the one who should be surprised," said Lily, giving a composed smile.

"Your reaction doesn't reveal much," said Cecile.

"The knowledge of this carriage capabilities to go to hell," said Lily. "Your knowledge is truly vast, the ones who knew about this method of going to Hell is very, very small."

"I take it as much," said Selena. "You seers are always secretive, but bound by promises."

"Even that..." Lily smiled wryly, "However, I shouldn't have been surprised since you knew Mother Luce, but... nevertheless to drive a pegasus is a very rare trait to have, and your husband... my, the winged-horse turned docile and create a path to his will."

"Darling can do amazing things," said Selena.

"He is a beastmaster as well," said Cecile.

"Oh my... can a single person really have that many traits? Truly makes you wonder about the man's fate, does it not?" Lily smiled with a hint of tease.

Cecile smiled, but Karina who was on the seat near the windows couldn't help but get spectacles. They were no longer in Second Heaven, the space was calm white with no other things in sight, however, she could hear the hooves of the horse.  (This is not a spatial space... There is no storm, where are we?).

Selena caught Karina's eyes stunned by the scenery, probing her to answer. "This is the place private to the mystical beast, Pegasus. They could create a private path to wherever they want."

Karina raised her brows, "What? That's... convenient, and potentially dangerous."

Cecile began to explain, "Legend said that a Pegasus is born every time a seer is born, thus the number not only is scarce but almost impossible to find as well."

"It's a very old legend," said Lily. "However, nobody ever comes close to debunk it."

Lyon twitched his eyebrows the moment he caught the wings beginning to unfurl. "Heh," he smirked. 

"Oh, we arrived?" asked Kesya before she saw the pegasus's wings flapped once and the white space was sucked out, unveiling the sky filled with clouds. The sun was there, and below was a meadow. Nothing was different from the Mortal World or Heaven so far.

"We arrived..." Karina's eyes dilated as she was mesmerized by the view. The grass, the lake, the wind, everything was vibrant and lively.

The pegasus hooved in the air, hiding behind the clouds, stealthily descending down without a single neigh. The luxurious carriage landed peacefully under the shade of a big tree. 

Kesya jumped out and took a deep breath. The air hitting her skin was rejuvenating as she almost floated just from taking a breath. "Ah... as fresh as I remember."

Selena opened the door and got out, Cecile did the same but Lily stayed as she looked at Karina.

"I can see hesitation within you, but you bore the same power as the source of this world, are you not?" asked Lily.

Karina was astounded that Lily knew of her source of energy.

Lily leaned forward and spoke softly. "Embrace it, your newfound power will bring your cultivation to a new height, and someone might just guide you." She looked at the open door.

Karina slowly drifted, following her direction before she saw the young man who once promised to take her to this place that was full of mystery. It was impossible, it was a laughable dream, yet, he made it a reality.

Lyon extended his hand, offering her an aid to get off the carriage. Karina reached out to grab him with a smile, but... it was quickly washed by the reality. Her hand was not there to accept his offer. Her arms ended with a stump, face darkened, however...

"Just come here," Lyon extended further and grabbed the stump, pulling her out of the carriage.

Karina's heart raced with a tumult of emotions as she stood at the threshold of Hell, the realm where her long-cherished goal was within reach. The air itself seemed to carry a weight of significance, charged with the anticipation of what lay ahead.

The landscape seemed to pulse with the rhythm of anti-mana, a living testament to the incredible potential that lay before her. 

With each step she took, Karina could feel the resonance of anti-mana echoing through her being. It was a force that spoke to her on a primal level, stirring a sense of connection and purpose. The journey had been long and arduous, filled with challenges and sacrifices, but she had persevered, driven by an unwavering determination.

As Lyon observed Karina's delighted expression, a warmth spread within him, a reflection of her own happiness. It was a moment of shared triumph, a testament to their perseverance and determination. 

Yet, even amidst this heartening scene, Lyon's gaze shifted to the landscape that stretched before them. His eyes took on a serious, almost determined, expression. While the surroundings appeared ordinary, he sensed the undercurrent of power that pulsed through the very fabric of this realm.

The anticipation within him was palpable, a driving force that thrummed through his veins.

"Just wait a little bit longer, Maria," he whispered the words a declaration of his unwavering commitment. His heart echoed with a mix of longing, hope, and a fierce determination to find her, to reunite with the one who held his heart.