Emperor's Reckoning

*ptak

*ptak

Their eyes were locked at each other. This crazy event had left the woman petrified. She didn't know what to do or what was going to happen.

She just pulled this guy from the outside and somehow they kissed each other already.

"hah, hah, HAC-"

*berg

Before Lyon could sneeze, she closed his mouth and pinch his nose to cancel it.

"Please change your shirt first, I will get you a new bowl," said the woman with a red hue on her cheeks.

"En," nodded Lyon

Then the both of them got up from the ground and do their things.

"Hmm?" Lyon was trying to absorb the heaven and world energies to prepare a spell to dry himself up, but it seems he couldn't do so.

"The energies seem to be locked outside this room," said Shen.

"There is such a thing?"

"Yes, and there is much more than you imagine. The world is a vast place, so it wouldn't be weird if something like this exists."

Then Lyon changed into the clothes the women provided. The lower garment was a golden fabric with black spots along with a white thick robe to adjust its size. The top garment was a black compression shirt with unknown materials but still as soft as regular shirt.

After changing the clothes he looked at the woman which was staring at him with a bowl of soup in her hand.

"Y-you never cover yourself when you change in public?" asked the woman nervously.

(Ah, right, I forgot!), thought Lyon.

"Thank you very much for the soup," said Lyon hurriedly as he grabbed the bowl in her hand to avoid the topic.

*slurp

"Wow, this is really good!" said Lyon after the first sip.

*tap

*tap

*sit

Lyon sat near the fireplace, to enjoy the soup even more. With a warm soup in a chilling place and beautiful woman, it was a great day for Lyon.

"Second please," said Lyon while handing over the empty bowl to the woman.

The woman instinctively took the bowl and filled it again.

As she handing over the bowl she sat down opposite of Lyon, the two sat opposite each other with the fire standing in between.

"Who are you?" asked the woman.

*slurp.

"Ah, this is so good, ehem, my name is Lyon, what about you beautiful woman," asked Lyon.

"My name is... Elize," said the woman before continuing, "How did you find your way here? This place was covered in heaven and world's energies, even experts couldn't detect this place."

*slurp

"Really? but I just dived into the lake go to the centre and bingo, there was a huge turtle shell with a door," said Lyon.

"That's because of your sensitivity with the elements in the world," intruded Shen.

"Hmm, I guess you are special in some way," said Elize.

"Are you not afraid of me?" asked Lyon.

"Why should I? You are definitely weaker than me."

"Then why did you save me?"

"Well my mom used to help people a lot, I guess I got that from her and if somehow you turned against me for some reason then I'm just clumsy." sighed Elize.

Judging from her expression Lyon concluded that something complicated must have happened.

*ptak

*ptak

"So about just now... I,"

"No, just don't talk about it," said Elize.

"Let me help you cleaned up the mess then."

Elize face was full tomato red seeing the condition of her room.

Together they started to clean up Elize's room until it was spotless.

"Haha cleaning up like this makes us like a newlywed," said Lyon while he was wiping a puddle on the floor.

Elize got more and more embarrassed.

*wipe

"By the way, how do you differ day and night if you live under the lake?"

"I don't know, I just sleep whenever I wanted to."

"Seriously? I want that kind of lifestyle," sighed Lyon.

"But I wish I could enjoy the outside world longer," spoke Elize softly.

"What's that?" asked Lyon.

"N-nothing."

.

.

.

.

*tap

*tap

*pat

Lyon suddenly stopped his wiping and approached Elize which was collecting the spices and pat her shoulder, "What did you say Elize? You need to speak it out!"

The two came face to face once more, but this time Lyon's stare was too intense which made the strong Elize nervous.

"I..I." Elize became stuttered.

"Speak it out loud! What is it that your heart desire!!" shouted Lyon.

"I.. I.."

"Let the world hear your wishes!"

"I WANT TO LIVE LONGER! I WANT TO LIVE IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD LONGER!" Elize cried her heart out.

.

.

.

*ptak

*ptak

"Good job!" said Lyon with an assuring smile.

*pant

*pant

Elize's breathing became hurried, but her mind was clear somehow. Like there was a light in the lonely darkness.

"Let me help you, but first explain to me what is your situation."

(I doubt he could help me, but somehow seeing the confidence in his eyes. He might change something.), thought Elize.

Then Elize explained what was her situation.

Elize was cursed to not be able to walk outside of the world for more than three hours if she does she would explode. This curse was special made and not ordinary cultivators or magic users could undo it with a simple spell.

It was called a 'chain curse'. It means that the curse was layered by a bunch of other curses. Lyon's Holy Panacea could only undo one curse but if he did that, the other curse would incite a 'spell failure' which means it would explode the bearer of the curse.

Lyon, of course, had another spell to use against such a curse spell. However, three hours was not enough to accumulate the energy necessary to chant it even if the whole kingdom of Phantera and Nostria unite to gather the energies.

"Hmm, this is hard," said Lyon.

"Don't worry Lyon, I never hoped to be saved anyway," said Elize.

"No, don't say that I'm sure I will find a way," said Lyon while biting his thumb.

*glow

*glow

Lyon was unaware that the thing he bought from the auction was flashing right now in his chamber inside the Phantera Kingdom.