Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon shrugged his shoulders, "So, like, how are we supposed to go there? I don't even know where it is."

"Alchemy Union is not a secret place, Lyon."

The familiar voice made his head turn and smiled. There was only one auburn woman in this city that dared enough to call him by his name.

Lyon crossed his arms as he smirked. "You two seemed to get along really well."

Cecile chuckled as she side hugged Lumina who was walking by her side. "Are you jealous?"

"Should I?" Lyon smirked.

Cecile smiled before Lumina put her arm away from her shoulder. "Wherever you're going, I will go with you."

"En," Lyon nodded at Lumina with a smile before Cecile added. "Alchemy Union is actually a public place, but..."

"But what?" asked Lyon.

"They are quite strict with how they... operate," said Cecile.

"Then it wouldn't be a problem for young noble Porealus here," the matriarch of the Yuki clan jested.

Porealus had a wry smile before he heard his grandfather sigh. (Why are you sighing!).

"So, who is going to pick us up?" asked Lyon.

*Screech!

Lyon slouched, "We are going to ride a bird again, aren't we."

"Close, but wrong," said Cecile before a beast landed in the middle of the square with a loud boom.

The wind made Lyon's hair fluttered forward with his brows furrowed. He turned around before his eyes widened at the sight of the beast that was standing before him.

It had a head of an eagle. Starking sharp yellow eyes. A pair of talons, sharper than an iron blade. Body like that of a lion, and feathery larger wings on its back. Its figure was massive. Its head alone was the size of a building.

The large size brought frightened gasps from nearby cultivators. They could feel their life threatened just by the mere presence of the magnificent cold-blooded beast.

"This is!" Lyon's eyes widened a bit. "Huge!"

The beast snorted right at his face.

"How is he calm even when standing that near?!" muttered Porealus. "Then again, his blessing powers are much more frightening."

"Are we riding this?!" asked Lyon with stars for his eyes before he crossed his arms and contemplated with his head down. "This is, this is... damn... I have it at the tip of my tongue... this beast is called... hmmm... something with a 'G'."

His eyes looked straight against the beast's eyes before looking back at the ground.

"This beast is called a griffin, you peasant."

An obnoxious voice was heard before a man stepped down. He was a young man with a blue long cloak. His eyes were full of disdain the moment he saw the young man that had his arms crossed.

However, the onlookers had their eyes widened as they heard the remark that he gave toward Lyon.

"Heh," the young man smirked. "What are you looking at? Scram!"

"P-Please, young master Lyon, I'm sure sir Renduval here is just jesting, please forgive him."

Renduval raised his eyebrows as he saw Wanda immediately approach the man he was making fun of. He could see the cold sweat on her forehead as she gently touched his shoulder to appease him.

"Princess Cherie, is there something wrong with your mother?" asked Renduval with a smile as he touched her arm.

Cherie furrowed her eyebrows as she looked down on him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"RUN RUN RUN!"

One cultivator screamed as he ran with legs between his tails.

"Ah!" The rest followed before a flock of cultivators scurried away from the town square.

Renduval furrowed his brows before his hand was slapped away by Cherie.

"Princess Cherie?" Renduval uttered. "Are you alright?"

"Please, young master Lyon, sir Renduval will now apologize."

"Bah!" Renduval scoffed, "What are you talking about Queen Wanda? Why should I apologize to someone that doesn't even know what Griffin is?"

Cecile smirked as she shook her head.

Lyon put his hand up.

"Heh, what are you doing? Trying to act cool or something?" jested Renduval.

The griffin knelt before giving its forehead to be rubbed by Lyon.

(What?!) Renduval couldn't keep his crossed arms as he saw the beast make a purring sound with a simple gesture.

"Unbelievable..." muttered Porealus and some of the rest.

"There is definitely something wrong with his charm," the matriarch chuckled.

Renduval furrowed his brows before he asked, "Are you a beastmaster?"

Hilde furrowed her brows (Now that he brought it up). The princess gulped as she made a wry smile (That's too much right).

"A beastmaster?" Lyon raised her brows.

"He is not."

Renduval turned his head only to see a beautiful tall woman with auburn hair smirking. "W-Who are you, my lady?"

"Funny you ask," Cecile stood by Lyon's side, "I'm this peasant's wife."

"You what?" Renduval squinted his eyes as he frowned.

"Who happens to be the winner of the tournament," added Cecile. "And also, the one that destroyed the very city that you are standing."

(What?!) Renduval took a step back before he snorted. "That's impossible. Queen Wanda, is that true?"

Wanda sighed, "Yes, yes it is true."

Renduval gulped as he sized Lyon up and down. No matter how he made out of it, he didn't seem like a winner, let alone the person that was responsible for the city's current state.

"S-Sorry."

"What? I can't hear you," said Lyon with a flat face.

"Sorry, I apologize," said Renduval.

"Now, isn't that nice," said Lyon before he smirked. "I didn't even know you yet you already antagonize me for no reason. What is your problem? Do you really need that much recognition of your superior status? What's it for? Is it because you are bullied in Alchemy Union? Tell this big brother, I will punish them for you."

"Kh!" Renduval balled his fist. "I will let you know that I'm one of the best junior alchemists in Alchemy Union!"

"Alright, alright, no need to boast," said Lyon as he shrugged his shoulders.

"You! Hey-"

Lyon jumped on the back of the Griffin before picking the best spot and rested his shoulders against the soft fur.

Renduval frowned before Cecile and the others jumped without his permission.

Wanda smiled as she approached Renduval. "Sir Renduval good to see you again."

"I want to say likewise, but they are a bunch of ignorants. Are they really the winners of the tournament, and more importantly, why did Afurnae turn into this state?"

Wanda smiled. "Let's just say that First Heaven was facing a new wind, or perhaps, a tornado. And also, 'ignorance', are you really going to use that word?"

Renduval frowned but said nothing.

"Let me give you a piece of advice, sir Renduval," said Wanda as she smiled. "That young man that you called peasant, is a catastrophe, with legs."

"What do you mean? Is this a threat?" Renduval crossed his arms.

"Oh dear me, Sverine wouldn't dare to threaten someone as big as Alchemy Union, that was just a warning, but you can consider it advise as well," Wanda chuckled.

"I hope you are not planning anything funny, Queen Wanda."

"I'm not," said the queen as she shook her head, "I'm telling you this because of my kingdom's relationship with Alchemy Union."

"Hmm, is that so," Renduval furrowed his brows. "By the way, can you tell me why I don't see the other kings and queens?

"They're dead," Wanda chuckled.

"What? How come?!" asked Renduval. "What kind of change is happening in First Heaven?"

"Big change and that young man is responsible for the death of both kings from Pala and the Golden Dragon Kingdom," Wanda smiled as she saw the eyes of the young man widen.

"So be careful when you address him, we all call him young master Lyon," said Wanda with a smile. "If you get on his bad side, things will truly go really bad."

"Heh, and what? He would kill me? He would be a public enemy!" said Renduval with a hint of sweat even though he smirked.

Queen Wanda smiled. "What if he also has the protection of the Alchemy Union?

"What?! That's... He is also an alchemist?"

"No, at least not yet, but he does know an influential person there," Wanda said as her eyes turned sharp. "Someone that even you wouldn't dare to even show the slightest discourteous."

Wanda smiled seeing Renduval getting nervous. "Well, that's all I want to say, sadly, I won't be joining you, but I really do hope you are having a really safe ride."

She waved, "See you later, sir Renduval."

Renduval couldn't blink as he watched the queen of the Sverine Kingdom make her exit. He squinted with a lot of thoughts crossing his mind. (A person in Alchemy Union that I wouldn't dare to show the slightest discourteous, who could it be?)

He shook his head, "Forget it. I just need to be careful not to offend him further."

He jumped to the back of the beast and saw everyone was waiting for him.