Emperor's Reckoning

The place was filled with various spectators ranging from alchemists to ordinary cultivators, though the place was not fully booked, chatters could still be heard amongst them— but not to an understandable level.

Cecile was sitting in the middle row of five with the others from the group. She was looking at the empty circular ground— which was supposed to be the main attraction —before yawning in boredom. "Not a single cauldron," she said.

"I should have just waked him up and dragged him to the library with me rather than be here," muttered Lumina before she raised her voice, "Why is it not starting?!"

The entire building was shocked by the roar that she let out. Their heart was struck with a wild thump as they palpitate instantaneously.

Cecile first had her eyes slightly widened before chuckling. (She has yet to eat breakfast).

"P-Please be patient, it will be starting soon!" said an alchemist from the ground.

"Hmph!" Lumina crossed her arms. It would be a waste of time to yell at the alchemist below, however, due to her complaint that they started to see the cauldrons being set up.

"Oh, there they go," said Kesya who had dry tears on her eyes due to the boredom of waiting. "Should have been sleeping like the young master is doing."

Princess Cherie raised her brows before she turned to Cecile, "Shouldn't we wake him up?"

"Hm? Oh, don't worry about it, he can take a rest as much as he wants," said Cecile with a smile. "We will wake him up when Renduval makes his appearance."

"Precisely, young miss," said Assid as he readjusted his glasses. "The young master is easily agitated with waiting. He is not the hermit kind even though he seemed to be lasciviously relaxed most of the time."

Cherie smiled wryly. She knew very well what Assid was talking about, especially with how things escalated in Afurnae. The city was more than half-destroyed. It would take time to recover and nobody believed that it would be the same anymore. The land of neutral of the four kingdoms had served its purpose.

"Hey, look, it's Elder Elise!"

"Yeah, yeah, I see her!"

"Damn, why is she here? I've never seen her outside, to be honest."

The alchemists were talking with each other as they looked at Elise who came out of the entrance. The figure was rarely seen in public, second only to Elder Anna, thus her presence immediately brought up a conversation.

Elise had her ears looking left and right before she recognized Lyon's group on the middle row. She turned and smiled before approaching the group. Ther was hardly anything that was going on with this matter of the world.

Princess Hilde and Princess Cherie immediately stood up with smiles. They couldn't show any discourtesy for the apparent reason that the figure was an elder in Alchemy Union. They immediately approached her to welcome her, however, the rest of the group didn't.

Cecile saw the three of them chattered before they came to her. She smiled and greeted Elise before the three of them sat on the row right below her.

"Hmm..." Elise had her ears folding and unfolding before she asked. "Where is he?"

"Please forgive us, young master, Lyon is currently asleep," said Cherie with a smile.

"Really?" Elise raised her brows. "But this is like, the afternoon."

"Indeed so," Princess Hilde smiled wryly.

Cecile looked at the tomato hairstyle that Elise had and had a slight chuckle, "Elder Elise, would you mind sharing the story of how you met my husband?"

"Huh? Your husband? Oh, that's right," Elise nodded. "Well, the story was quite unique..."

Elise proceeded to recount the story in which she had met Lyon back in Luderia. It was by coincidence that she was there, but the string of fate led them here to Alchemy Union.

"I see, so he is interested in Alchemy Union's cloak," muttered Cecile. "That's why he said that yesterday when we arrived."

"I know," Elise sighed. "However, your husband is clearly something else."

"Hmm?" Cecile raised her brows.

"As far as I recall, he was still at the Soul Cultivation Realm when I met him in that small world in the Mortal World. I doubt it has been half a year since then, it must be less."

"?!" The two princesses had their eyes widened. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. The words were atrociously overselling, however, the one that was saying it was one of the esteemed elders in Alchemy Union. ELise herself had met Lyon, that was a fact that they couldn't deny, but if what she had just said was true, then.

"I'm sorry, Elder Elise," said Hilde with a wry smile, "What did you say his cultivation was."

Lumina furrowed her brows as she looked at Cecile, but the latter smiled in response almost immediately. She refrained to speak further. Lyon's identity was something that they must not casually reveal to random people, though, it was being hinted at because of loose lips in calling him emperor.

"He was at the Soul Realm, no doubt about it, he was not even a Divine Realm yet, at the time— though he was close," said Elise as she nodded.

"Big brother is amazing!" Zet nodded whilst Porealus frowned. The latter then took a glance at Ivy who had the same expression as his.

Porealus pondered (This doesn't make any sense... I don't think even a fortuitous encounter would do something like that...).

"He is really mysterious, huh," muttered Carius. (Furthermore, what Cecile said back then still bugged me. What kind of matter do they have to face that Purgatory and Paradise would know? His origin has been bugging me).

"We are too old to understand this, hohoho," said Tael

Carius dismissed his thoughts immediately. Sharing his words with Tael would only be wasting his energy. He knew better.

"Hahaha, fancy meeting you here, Elise— and of course, Lyon's friends."

Elise didn't even turn, she just sighed. "What is it Tamuh."

"Hahaha, hey, don't be so cold to your fellow elder," Tamuh laughed before he smiled. "Then again, never thought that I would see the day to see you here. After all, Renduval is not even your student."

"I'm here because I want to be here, why are you being so cynical about it?" said Elise.

"Cynical? Oh no, don't get me wrong. I'm in fact excited to see you here. I hope to see you here more often even!" said Tamuh with a bright grin. "Your presence here would surely boost up the morale of the newcomers and veterans alike."

Elise rolled her eyes blatantly.

Tamuh didn't mind her response for she was not the one he was after. He averted his glance toward the two ladies in the middle row with a smile, "Excuse me, madams."

Lumina frowned while Cecile chuckled. They hardly ever being called madam until now.

Tamuh furrowed his brows, "I see no presence of the young friend, may I know where he is?"

"He is still snoring," answered Lumina.

"Really?" Tamuh said so excitedly before his face turned slightly dejected. (The plan is not ready but the chance is).

The slight difference in his emotion was easily picked up by Cecile and the three generals. It was subtle but it won't escape their countless experiences.

"Oh look, that's Renduval," said Kesya as she pointed down.

"Hm?" Tamuh turned around and looked below before smiling. "He is relentless."

"That's the star of our show," said Cecile, "Assid, can you go wake him up please?"

"Certainly," said Assid before he stood up.

"No, Assid, he is already here," said Graham. "I can sense him."

"Hm?" Kesya raised her brows before she grinned, "Oh right, he is here."

Cecile chuckled, "Look's like giving that curtain a little leeway for the sun to shine through was enough— Assid, you can stay, he will come here."

Lumina frowned, "Does he have the money to pay for the ticket?"

"He don't," Cecile chuckled. "But, does he even need any? This is him we are talking about."

Tamuh raised his brows, "Oh my, sneaking in is harshly forbidden here."

"Nah, I will pay for his ticket later," said Elise as she shrugged.

"Then, if you say so," Tamuh smiled before he looked down. "Hmm??"

"Quickly we need one more cauldron!" said one of the alchemists below.

Renduval frowned. "Looks like there is a latecomer." He looked at the surroundings and noticed cultivators who were applying to become a student were each standing behind one cauldron. He looked up at the spectators before he cursed inside his heart. (That bastard! After all that build-up and he didn't even show up, damn it, my nose still hurts!).

"Hmmm," Tamiuh rubbed his chin. "This is a really bad impression— being late that is."

One cauldron was immediately carried by an alchemist and placed parallel to Renduval.

"Huh?" Renduval squinted his eyes as he noticed a familiar figure was entering. "?! That smirk?!"

"Heh," Lyon came out of the shadow before he was basked by gawks and eye-widened spectators.