Emperor's Reckoning

The explosion left a dark stain on the hard floor as pieces of the black cauldron scattered across the room. Some of the ingredients even got burned up and the rest of them barely usable anymore.

The thudding sound of debris and broken walls filled the area. Luckily the walls were thick enough to not make a new window for the third floor.

Embracing the beautiful woman tightly, Lyon glanced down at her divine face before asking with a smile, "Aelina, are you alright?"

"E-En," replied Aelina as she shied away from his stare. Her cheeks gradually turned red as she could feel his heartbeat.

(This feels really nice!) thought Lyon as his senses concentrated on the beautiful woman in his embrace. The smell, the touch, the vision, everything was a check on his list, all that was left was the taste.

"Um, you can let go now," requested Aelina softly.

Suddenly his eyes turned sharp. (Ah, I know this type of situation, the right reaction would be to back off while fidgetingly apologize with a red face then the girl would shy away while saying 'it-it is fine') thought Lyon.

He laughed inwardly as he continued (Well sorry I'm not that dumb, I mean, when the gods give you a chance will you forsake it? NO! just like the saying, when life gives you a lemon, you make a... well I forgot the rest of the idiom).

Lyon tightened his embrace as he felt that the nice slim waist was designed that way. "Please, let's stay like this a while longer," said the young man as his starry eyes stared at the dumbfounded princess.

"Wha-" the princess's mouth was sealed with a finger.

"Feel my heartbeat against yours, racing to find the same rhythm," spoke Lyon softly as his finger still planted on her mouth.

*thump *thump

She clearly heard their heartbeat as her eyes gradually blurred with a deep shade red. (What, what is this feeling) her eyes made an illusion that they were standing on a vast yellow field with blooming rapeseeds.

Their hair flutters with the winds as she gently tiptoed before she closed her eyes while ducking her beautiful lips.

Lyon knew what was going on, and slowly approached the maiden's holy grail.

"Guha! Kid! Help me stand up!" a shout was heard from the third floor as an old figure struggled to get up. He spouted blood as the impact appeared to be too much for his old bones.

*crack

(Eh?) Her visionary of the yellow field scene cracked like glass before coming back to reality. She noticed that the man who was embracing her was looking at an old man on the floor. He gritted his teeth as veins appeared on the side of his forehead.

"?!" Her eyes opened wide as suddenly something moist and warm was touching her lips. Her consciousness realized what was happening yet her body cannot react, as if she was a doll. She stared at the closed eyes of the young man as their lips connected, it was only a quick kiss but it felt like an eternity for her.

Lyon let go of his embrace leaving the princess stood like a statue. His steps were heavy as the mountain falling from the sky. His expression shifted from 'kissing a princess' to a 'demon bringing hell judgment for humanity'.

*tap *tap

He stopped right in front of the struggling old man, standing with his feet spread as wide as his shoulders.

"Heh, not bad kid, I fell right into your trap, my pride eluded me from something basic, it is your win, I admit defeat, now help this old bones get up." said the old man with a smile while laying on the floor.

Lyon flicked his finger as he retrieved a zither from his spatial ring. The size overshadowed the old man's face as he looked from below. His eyes opened wide, "Huh!"

*swoosh

*boom

Lyon smashed the zither right on the old man's face, as the sound of snapped strings was heard. The zither broke in half with few cracks on each half.

He lifted up the broken zither before the old man's face revealed himself with his eyes spinning in a spiral movement.

"Hmph! That's for interrupting my romantic session!" said Lyon while patting his hands to remove dust that was not even there. He knew that the old man would still be alive from such hit, he could roughly gauge his cultivation level.

"But to think you would pass out from that is a kinda disappointing, old man. Well, I guess I have to help myself then, excuse me," continued Lyon with a shrug.

He rolled the passed out old man with his foot before stripping the azure cloak.

Fluttering it in the air he quickly put it on top of his clothing.

"Hey Aelina, what do you think?"

"Huh?" the princess woke up from her stupor with the call from the young man. It was amazing to think that she didn't wake up from the loud impact the zither made against the old man's face.

The princess opened her eyes once again as she saw the young man's figure.

The azure cloak covered his entire body as the hood managed to hid his eyes from prying individuals.

"Well speechless aren't you? Hahaha!" said Lyon with hearty laughter as he stroke different poses.

"Hahaha!" The princess laughed at his ridiculous poses before finally sighing. (With you it's just a roller coaster of emotion isn't it, I cry, I smile, I laugh... wait a minute... we-we... awawawa...) her face turned red as she remembered the warm feeling on her lips.

"Grr! Lyon! Come here!" shouted the princess while stomping her right foot, she was happy, embarrassed and angry at the same time.

"Aw, crap she remembered!" said Lyon as he thought (Topic distraction plan failed, time to retreat from the deadly pincher!).

*tap*tap

Suddenly a figure came out from the stairs as with his gasping breathing. "L-Lyon I found us an appraiser! Huh? Do you always wear that azure cloak?"

"Huh? Rowland did you just say an azure cloak?!" a different voice came from downstairs as the source hasten its footsteps.