Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon didn't stand around looking at the city he had spent his entire day in. The hands that he took were soon following him along before he pulled her into his embrace and swiftly carried her like a princess. Cecile didn't have enough time to savor the fresh air and the city below before Lyon jumped out with a grin on his face. The strong wind fluttered their hair but the height almost caught her screeching as they were falling down against the ground. She closed her eyes tight as her hand reached out over his shoulder in an instinct. Expecting a loud resounding boom but what came to her was the slight unbalance of a sway.

"Don't close your eyes, Cecile, haha!" laughed Lyon before he jumped from rooftop to rooftop. The bustling nightlife was below them but none of the people there noticed their shadows. There was nothing but the wind and the two of them.

Cecile nervously opened her eyes before she could get a definitive look at the city. Her eyes gradually dilating as they landed upon the lights below, glimmering with chatters of the world that those cultivators were currently living in.

Lyon suddenly stopped on top of a good spot before letting her stood by herself. The nervousness in her body was still clearly in plain sight. However, with one light tap on her back that sent a jolt of surprise to her entire nerves, she suddenly moved forward before looking down at the city she used to live in. In particular, one corner that she couldn't be any more familiar with.

The image of her child-self peeking out from the shadow made her tightened her upper lips as it quivered.

"You know, I was always looking for food when I was a child. I never knew what to eat later in the night, let alone tomorrow...."

Lyon stood silent before he walked up to her from behind and stood beside her.

"However, I was in no danger at all, the city is quite safe, to the point that the biggest crime ever was nothing but a petty theft. However, that was me as a child. Thinking that might be one day I can become a guard and have a decent meal for once..."

"And then you were rejected by the kingdom to enter the guard's academy," said Lyon without even turning his glance against her.

Cecile opened her eyes wide before she glanced at the young man that stood calmly and brooding about the city below.

"How did you..."

"Know?" Lyon smiled before he continued, "You think I would spend my time of day sleeping? You got me all wrong, I'm not a lazy person though I looked like one, I mean... look that boutique over there."

Cecile darted her glance toward the place Lyon was pointing at. There was a clothing store nearby where a mannequin stood and beautiful dresses were adorned on their figures.

"I'm sure you are wondering why I pointed that place, but I will not spoil you," laughed Lyon as he unnecessarily put suspense in her mind.

Cecile slightly squinted her eyes before a thought made her cheeks turned a red hue. She quickly shoved that idea away with a shake of her head.

"But your sob story didn't end that way right?" asked Lyon.

Her embarrassing mood gradually vanished from her face before she looked down at the city once more.

"You were begging to be accepted, but they will not have any of it. The little girl saw this as her only hope, but sadly she didn't pass the aptitude test. Her talent was beyond shallow and she was hopeless. Having nothing, but to worry again about tomorrow," muttered Lyon.

There was a hinge of pity on his face before he turned and faced Cecile who still looked at the city.

"I still remember it like it was yesterday, though it had been years. They scorned me, despised me, having no background whatsoever, I was alone. My cry was unheard of."

Lyon noticed her hands slowly turned into a clinch as they trembled from the tension she put in. Her emotion heightened as he could see a hint of a gritted teeth escaping out of her lips.

"And then he came..." muttered Lyon.

"Seeing the little girl that you are, he wore a bright smile before he knelt in front of those people. The fatherly warmth that you thought was yours, was nothing but a facade he used. You have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep. He hired you as a maid, grooming you to be more than a homeless and lost little girl on the street. For a while you thought that you would die there, serving the family. However, you are a chess piece all along."

Lyon's sharp words sent her eyes drenched as the tears ran across her cheeks unhindered.

"You got caught in the maelstrom of power, an innocent woman like you. They were all trying to usurp the current king as his commander was famed for his loyalty. He groomed you to perfection so that you can perform in the meeting of the four kings as the server. A high honor for a woman of your status, who was below even that of a commoner."

Cecile stood silent as no word could be uttered.

"The man had his base outside the kingdom, in fact, it's in another kingdom. War is brewing, the decisive point of this place's future is approaching."

"I don't care."

Lyon raised his eyebrows whilst looking at her.

She let her tears ran without even blinking. She was a weak woman, being scorned all her life and when she thought she was walking toward a bright light of the future, it was nothing but her own illusion.

"Why... why me... what did I do...." her lips trembled as her words turned hoarse. She could only hug herself with her frail arms as she squatted down in tears. Her eyelids had dropped down to curtain her line of sight as creases could be seen from how tight they were.

"The world... is so cruel. What did I do?! What did I do to deserve any of this?! I just want a normal life, why... why... why?!"

"I tried to live an honest life, I couldn't cultivate well, I have no particular skills either. Why am I here? Why am I even born? If misery is all I ever experience."

She wailed, but no answer had come her way, not once in her life. Her heart had failed to trust anyone anymore. There was nothing but cruelty in the world that she was living in. Until...

"Living an average life? That is the most boring thing I've ever heard!"

Cecile snapped her eyelids back as the curtain opened before she glanced to the side, to the young man that brought her here.

"I'm sorry Cecile, but you can kiss your 'average life' goodbye. The world does not want you to live a normal life, why? Because you met me," Lyon smiled.

He crossed his arms as his demeanor of youth exuded out. His hair slightly fluttered from the strong wind but his eyes were looking straight at her before he pointed his index finger against himself and said.

"If you have no one to trust, then trust me, don't trust anyone but me, trust me as I trust you, Cecile Auburn," smirked Lyon.

Cecile was taken back by his words as she couldn't blink whilst looking at him straight in the eye. He approached her before kneeling down and put his hand on top of her head. He slowly rustled her hair a bit before she teared up even more. Though she didn't wail her cry, she gritted her teeth as her eyes scrunching while they were closed.

"Trust me as I trust you..."

The words lingered and echoed in her mind as she broke down into tears.

"Let's go, Cecile, this is not the place I want to show you," grinned Lyon before he took her hand once more and pulled her up with his back.

She couldn't yet grasp the fact that he gave her a piggyback ride before the latter leaped forward with one step and another. There was no stopping him as his hair that was like silk basked her face. She had never been so close with anyone let alone with a man, however, that broad back gave of a safe feeling that she had never felt before. She couldn't help herself but to leaned in and put her face against it as the lights from the streets periodically flashed them.

"We're here."

It didn't take him too long before they arrived at the original destination. Cecile opened her eyes before she noticed that they were in a fancy hallway. The tiles were clean enough to reflect their faces but she couldn't see anyone else.

Lyon's let her stand on her own two feet as he grinned toward the huge double door in front of him. One could hear softly the sound of dripping water, a fountain that was eternally pouring. He then pushed the door open as the light shimmered on Cecile's face and gradually dilating her eyes.