Emperor's Reckoning

"Hey, stop it! Stop it!" said Lyon as he kept being harassed by the horse. "I said stop it!"

Vivi raised her eyebrows (How peculiar, she has never been so fond of strangers before).

As Lyon was being cherished by her horse, Vivi said, "Are you here to see me off?" with a smile.

Lyon took a step back before looking at Vivi with a calm expression and then nodded. "Yes, I'm here to see you off like the gentleman that I am."

"Baha!" a short mocking laugh was heard.

The onlookers looked at each other to find out who dared to laugh at the young man but find no one. They immediately turned their glance back toward the said young man in hope that he didn't act on his tyranny.

Meanwhile, Lyon had his eyebrows twitched (That was definitely Kesya). Though he was a bit disgruntled inwardly, the horse actually pulled the carriage against the driver's will to reach Lyon's face and snuggled against his cheek.

Vivi couldn't help but chuckle before she approached him. "I humbly honored that you made your way out here just to see me off."

The onlookers immediately looked at each other with surprise on their faces. They had a hunch that these two share some intimacy behind the scene, especially after their strolling together in the open banquet last night. They share various emotions though their conversation was unheard of by the surroundings at the time.

"I hope we can meet again," said Lyon with a smile as he gently rubbed the horse's forehead.

"I will let it all to fate, however, if we do meet again..." Vivi shook her head. (The matter regarding Mother Luce will come to light on its own).

"What?" said Lyon as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Nothing," Vivi smiled.

(Goddamn it woman!) thought Lyon.

"My lady, the time is nigh," reminded the driver.

"Yes, you're right," said Vivi with a nod.

"You have a date with fate?" asked Lyon as he crossed his arms with his iconic smirk.

"I always have a date with fate," Vivi replied with a smile. "Young master, on the other hand, I still remember the words that you said to me."

"Hm?" Lyon raised his brows.

"You believe that some things are not fated," said Vivi with a smile.

Lyon smiled and nodded. "Indeed, some things are not fated."

"I wish we could have more time to spend together, I would love to hear your insight on this matter."

Lyon nodded.

Vivi smiled before she turned around as the driver opened the door of the carriage. "Until we meet again, Afurnae."

"Thank you!" the onlookers cheered even after the driver closed the door.

The beautiful horse snorted before it snuggled one last time against Lyon's cheeks. It neighed before kicking its way up to the sky.

Vivi looked through the windows with a smile as she saw the warm waves of goodbyes from the cultivators below.

"!!"

Her eyes widened as she saw a familiar figure standing on the roof with arms crossed. The auburn hair was fluttering as she smirked against the flying carriage.

(Cecile...).

"It was your doing, wasn't it," Vivi furrowed her brows.

"Excuse me, my lady, I couldn't quite catch what you just said," said the driver.

Vivi closed her eyes as she closed the curtain of the window. "Did you pass out yesterday night?"

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry for my lack of strength," said the driver with his head hung down.

"No need to apologize, no one in Afurnae managed to stand that kind of sudden and immense aura."

"S-So, it was indeed an aura?" asked the driver as his eyes widened. He could still feel his fingers trembling.

"It was," said Vivi as she furrowed her eyebrows. "That kind of aura belonged not to an ordinary cultivator."

"But, who was it?" asked the driver nervously. "Is it one of that young man's subordinates?"

"Perhaps, but I can't be sure," said Vivi. "There is a very high chance that Cecile did it, but... somehow I doubt it."

Vivi smiled, "You've never experienced something like that, do you?"

"No, my lady, I'm afraid not," said the driver as he nervously gulped. He was so powerless at the time that he lost his consciousness in an instant. It was a frightening feeling of hopelessness.

"Me neither," said Vivi as she shook her head. (That kind of aura... maybe Mother Luce knows about it).

"Do you perhaps know where Mother Luce is at?" asked Vivi as she furrowed her brows.

"I-I'm afraid I do not have the knowledge of where she is."

Vivi sighed. "This is going to itch me for months."

---

"And there she goes," muttered Lyon as he saw the carriage gradually turn into a dot.

"Good morning, young master Lyon."

Lyon turned around. "Morning, Princess Cherie."

"Oh please, just call me Cherie like you used to," she chuckled.

"Then you must call me by my name, I'm not used to that kind of honorific," said Lyon.

"Oh please, don't be like that, you are forever an esteemed guest in First Heaven," said Cherie before her face turned slightly dejected. "Although, yesterday night I was looking for you all over the street of Afurnae."

(I see, so she didn't meet Lyon yesterday night as well, before and after that odd occurrence) thought Hilde.

"Your mother did though," Lyon laughed. "However, she and the lady fortune-teller had some things to discuss, leaving me alone for a while."

Queen Wanda smiled, "Fate has been kind to me."

"Maybe so," said Lyon with a smile before he turned around and walked away from the scene.

"Young master Lyon, where are you going? We are going to depart to Alchemy Union shortly," said Cherie.

Lyon turned around, "Eh? We are? Oh right, we are."

"Big brother!"

"Hah~" Lyon sighed.

"Big brother Lyon!"

"I heard you!" said Lyon as he turned around to see the grinning face of the red-haired swordsman and the rest of the group.