Emperor's Reckoning

Morning came without a cuckoo from a rooster as the group was seen strolling with Lyon hunching at the front.

"Hah~" Lyon sighed, "It turns out there was not any."

"What's not any?" Lumina asked.

"Alchemy recipes," Lyon waved his hand. "I should have invited you, instead."

"Where were you?" Lumina furrowed her brows.

"Well," Lyon scratched the back of his head before he laughed. "Hahaha!"

"Lyon!" Renduval shouted in the distance as he made haste.

"What?" Lyon raised his brows, "What do—Ho?! Haha, you've actually done it."

Renduval was not wearing his azure cloak anymore. The golden spark adorned his shoulders down. He was the trash alchemist no more. His reputation could only go up from here on out, especially with his affiliation with the kunpeng team which was a tremendous boost to his image.

"Y-Yeah," Renduval grinned as he scratched the back of his head, "This is all because of you." (in more ways than one!)

"No, this is all on you," said Lyon as he nodded. "If you were inadequate in the first place, you would never gain that golden cloak. Now you can slap that guy Ark right in the face and hogged those three women around your ar—Aw Aw Aw, ok ok, stop pinching my love handle!"

Lumina frowned as she looked at Lyon writhing in pain. The dragon's pinch was no joke, even for a man that took down a grootslang on his own.

Renduval smiled wryly as he watched the two of them. (They are really like husband and wife, oh wait, they are).

Lyon rubbed his waist as he looked at Renduval, "Surely you're not here just to thank me."

"You made me sound so unsincere," Renduval sighed. "But you're right, I want to repay you."

"Hm?" Lyon raised his brows. "What do you want to belittle me with?"

Renduval sighed, "I know our friendship didn't start with a bang."

"It does."

Renduval twitched, "But, it is against my code of honor for not repaying you. Then I heard that you are going to leave this place early also."

"Get on with it."

(At least act interested damn it!) Renduval started to regret his action. However, garnering the golden cloak, he knew that he must have the right attitude for it as well. He made a slight cough before giving him a little pouch with only a string knotting its mouth. "This is a memento from my grandfather."

"What? Are you serious?" Lyon was taken back. "This is a huge deal, are you sane?"

"I'm sane!" Renduval collected his temperament back before making a light cough. "You've changed my life, Lyon, you might not feel like it, but you did."

"True, I don't feel like it at all," said Lyon as he put his hands behind his head. "Then, what is inside the pouch."

"Something incredible," Renduval nodded before he smiled wryly, "At least, that's what my late grandfather had said."

"That doesn't sound so assuring," Lyon twitched his brows.

"Just take it, Lyon," said Cecile.

"I am going to," Lyon took the pouch out of his hand. "Why don't you put this in your spatial ring if it's so important."

"I can't," Renduval shook his head, "I can't put it inside no matter how many times I willed it so."

"Woah really?" Lyon looked at the little amulet closely before he connected his will with his wedding rings. Yet, the amulet didn't budge from his hand. "You're right."

"I told you," Renduval shrugged his shoulders.

"Interesting," Lyon rubbed his chin.

Cecile furrowed her brows, "Lyon, let me take a look."

"Huh? Sure," he gave the little amulet to her.

Cecile looked at the amulet carefully (I sense no mana at all, yet it won't go inside the spatial space of the highest grade of a spatial ring).

Lyon let her contemplate before he questioned Renduval, "Where did your grandfather find it?"

He shrugged, "He never told me, he just gave it to me."

"Are you sure that you want me to keep it," said Lyon.

"You're my benefactor, I'm sure that he won't mind me giving it to you." (Besides, I can't do shit about it).

"Well alright then," Lyon shrugged before he turned, "Have you noticed something?"

"Your grandfather might either found—" she took out the item inside the amulet and revealed a shard. "Something incredible, or something common in Hell."

"Something common in Hell?" he raised his brows.

"That's right," Cecile nodded. "This shard might either belong to Hell, or..."

"Or?" Lyon raised his brows.

Cecile merely smiled before putting the shard back and giving it to Lyon.

"Never thought that you would leave me hanging," Lyon squinted his eyes as he get a grasp of the amulet. "Well, that's that, I'm going home earlier than planned, and you are going to drive us back."

"Eh? Why me?"

"Because I said so."

"Alright, prepare the griffin we are leaving now."

"What? You're not even completed yet."

"Yeah well, I'm leaving them," said Lyon as he nodded. "They can stay here until the appointed time, but I'm not."

"But then I would make two trips!"

"You are," Lyon nodded before he turned Renduval's shoulders and pushed his back. "Chop chop!"

"Alright, alright, ALRIGHT! Stop pushing! Wait for me outside," Renduval fixed his clothes as he mumbled away from the group.

"We are going to leave already?" asked Lumina.

"Yeah, I'm getting bored, but you can stay here if you want," said Lyon.

"No," she squinted her eyes.

Lyon smiled. (I know you would say that) thought Lyon before he put away the little amulet inside his pocket and took a deep breath.

"Young master Lyon..."

"Huh? Princess Cherie," Lyon smiled. "Good morning."

"G-Good morning, I've heard that you are leaving early."

"Yeah, this place already bores me," said Lyon before he sighed. (Despite, waiting for that old man was a waste of time anyway).

"Then, I'm coming with you," said Cherie. "I will leave the rest of the winners to Hilde."

"What?" Lyon raised his brows, "Are you allowed to make that decision?"

"En!" Cherie firmly nodded. "She won't mind, I'm sure."

Lyon was skeptical before he noticed Hilde rushing from a distance. (Oh crap, here comes trouble).

"Young master Lyon! Why are you leaving so early?" asked Hilde the moment she was in earshot.

"I have enough of my time here," Lyon nodded. "I need to go back."

"What? Afurnae is still recuperating, it would be best if you stay here for a little bit longer," said Hilde.

"What does Afurnae has anything to do with me?" Lyon raised his brows.

"Aren't you staying in First Heaven?"

"No?"

"No? Are you going back to the Mortal World?"

Lyon nodded. "I am."

"Ah?" both princesses gasped. It was a major step back for any cultivator to return to the Mortal World once it tasted the purer more dense mana in First Heaven, but the young man that had conquered the tournament and devastated the two great kingdoms actually wanted to go back.

"It might seem counterintuitive, but it's not," said Lyon as he understood the looks on both of their faces.

"Then what about your promise with young master Mavis?" asked Cherie.

"Did I promise him anything? I just said that I will visit that place one day, though, it might be very long from today," Lyon sighed.

"Then, I will go to Afurnae with you," Cherie nodded.

"That's what you just said," Lyon muttered.

"Hilde I will leave the rest up to you," said Cherie as she made haste to pack her stuff.

"O-Oi! That little bitch! Wait for me!" Hilde gritted her teeth as she buried her fingers into her palm to a tremble.

"See you later, princess Hilde," Lyon waved his hand as he saw both princesses race each other.

Lyon snorted a smile before he shook his head. They continued to make their way outside the gate of the Alchemy Union with wondering glances from the passerby landing on them. The kunpeng team had already sparked their interest since day one, especially the young-looking leader.

Lyon could see Renduval's figure waving at him from the distance before he was met with an unlikely woman.

"I'm coming with you," said Ivy.

"No you're not," said Lyon.

"Huh?"

"Caught you off guard, didn't I? Heh, don't be so cold, Ivy," Lyon laughed as he went past her. "If you want to go home then let's go, I'm not waiting for anyone."

(What is he talking about..?) Ivy furrowed her brows before she felt a cold chill in her spine for a reason she didn't know. She shook her head before she followed behind them anyway.

"Renduval is everything ready!" shouted Lyon with a grin on his face.

"It is, just don't steal my repellent!" answered Renduval.

"Hahaha!" Lyon laughed it off before he got on the huge griffin. "We are going back to Afurnae."

"And then, the Mortal World," added Lumina.

"En!" Lyon grinned before the huge Griffin flared its wings and leaped to the sky with a deafening screech.