Emperor's Reckoning



"Get up," said the old man with a slight grunt before turning around. He didn't bother to wait for Lyon to catch up to him, but the subtle walking speed being slowed was hard to miss.

"Where are you going?" asked Lyon as he dusted off his shoulders. He looked around, immersing the place he was in. "What happened here?"

"Follow me, lad," said the old man as he delved deeper into the part of the library.

Lyon frowned as his question about what happened here went unanswered. The old man remained reticent, urging Lyon to follow him deeper into the library. Lyon, feeling a sense of urgency, quickened his pace to match the old man's stride.

Deeper into the library, the destruction was even more extensive, leaving Lyon in awe. The walls bore the scars of chaos, and countless tomes lay in ruins. Despite the mayhem, the old man remained tight-lipped, revealing no explanation for the devastation.

Lyon's eyes were drawn to a towering pile of books. The old man swept his hand, and the mountain of books scattered, revealing a mystique artifact. Its presence was palpable, a profound aura that set it apart from the surrounding wreckage. Lyon's gaze locked onto the artifact, and a mix of curiosity and astonishment flickered in his eyes, causing them to widen in response.

A wondrous creation of intricate design and mysterious allure. Crafted from a material that seemed to shift in color and texture, displaying hues ranging from deep midnight blues to ethereal silver, it held an enigmatic beauty. The surface was adorned with arcane symbols, glowing softly as if imbued with a hidden power.

Its shape was reminiscent of a handheld mirror, but this was no ordinary-looking glass. The frame was adorned with delicate filigree that seemed to dance with an otherworldly energy. At its center, a smooth, oval-shaped surface captured the attention, appearing like a pool of still water that shimmered with an inner light.

As Lyon gazed at it, he felt a strange yet compelling sensation emanating from the artifact, as if it were beckoning him to delve into its depths, revealing secrets and guiding him towards a path that would reunite him with Maria. However, the mystery behind its workings remained yet to be unraveled.

Lyon asked, "What is that...?" The Old Man answered, "Soulway Scryer. I used this to locate my daughter at any moment's notice. However, I haven't used it for a while."

Lyon's surprise was palpable. "W-Wait, your daughter?!"

The old man ignored his reaction and reached out for the handheld mirror of Soulway Scryer.

He chanted, "Show me my daughter."

His eyes gleamed as the mirror was not reflecting his face anymore, but a pitch-black abyss. It seemed like an endless void, a deep space devoid of light or form. Lyon, not familiar with the artifact, was astounded. It just reflects his face.

The old man's brows furrowed, his face revealing concern and confusion. Lyon realized that the mirror was revealing something only to its true owner, something beyond his understanding. 

His eyes stopped gleaming after a few minutes and he was once Lyon eagerly asked, "What happened? S-Sir? I mean father?"

The old man turned his head and revealed a scowl. "Nothing."

Lyon knew that the old man was not telling the truth. There was something in that abyss, something related to Maria, but the old man was keeping it to himself. The tension in the air grew palpable, and Lyon felt the frustration building inside him. He had come all this way and faced dangers and mysteries, and yet he was met with a wall of silence.

"Sir, I need to know," Lyon pressed, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising frustration.

The old man sighed, releasing some of the tension. "I could not see her. The mirror should have shown me, but it remained dark, however, this is not the first time that it happened."

Lyon showed a sigh of relief, "Then it can be fixed?"

"No," the old man shook his head, "There is nothing faulty from the artifact, but the mirror is incapable of tracking her whereabouts like something is covering her tracks or..." the old man sighed, "Or because of the pseudo-reincarnation that this artifact becomes useless to locate her."

Dread settled in Lyon's chest. If the artifact meant to locate Maria was failing, then finding her became an even more daunting task. The darkness within the mirror felt like a reflection of the uncertainty that lay ahead.

"Then, do you have any idea?" asked Lyon.

"Combing the entire realm is probably the most painful and only way to do it," said the old man. "However, I'm bound to this place, bound to duty."

"What? But Father, if we work together we would have a better chance," said Lyon with his hastened tone.

"I am bound to this place, I can't walk too far away from it or I will just be teleported back here," said the old man. "I can't randomly bring this library either, you know how much they craved to gain an entry here? It will invite unnecessary problems."

Lyon could see the sadness in his eyes, the regret, and the choice he had made.

Lyon took a cold breath through his gritted teeth, "Looks like I need to go to Hell after all... oh crap, I hope the seer isn't gone yet!" he quickly turned around and rushed toward the exit. He pushed the giant double door with all his might, but it was actually light.

The door banged open and a gust of wind invited him. His hair fluttered and disturbed his sight.

"Lyon, you're already in Hell," said the old man before pushing Lyon's back.

Lyon's eyes widened in disbelief as gravity took him in. He was incapable of flight and panic surged. However, Kesya jumped and caught him in mid-air before landing gracefully. 

He looked at Kesya but soon darted in the same direction as the others, toward the dashing old man with his hands behind his back, hovering right in front of the opened double doors.