Emperor's Reckoning

The princess of the Sverine Kingdom was obvious enough about her intention, but the one that denied her birthed some questions.

"Hilde, what are you doing?" Cherie narrowed her eyes after she turned.

"That's my line," Hilde frowned.

They immediately started their own arguments against one another and left Lyon with a wry smile on his face.

"This looks like it's not your first time seeing women fighting over you," spoke Cecile softly as she passed him by.

"I don't think that's a surprise," Lyon laughed. "However, I need to go back home."

Assid appeared behind him before slightly lowering his head, with his arm crossing his chest. "The carriage is ready, young master."

"Woah, just right in time," Lyon raised his brows and nodded at his excellence. "Though, why do I have the feeling that you wait for me to say that."

Assid smiled. "Ready where you are, young master."

"I understand." Lyon looked over the place and the steady pace of the rebuilding of the city that was once famous for its neutrality. "Will this place still be neutral as it was?"

"That's up to them," Lumina answered. "Our business is done here— I don't particularly fond of this place."

Lyon helplessly smiled as he understood her notion thoroughly. She was set to be the concubine of the late prince from the Golden Dragon Kingdom due to her parents' egocentric decision. Though, both of them were ended by his hands.

"Let's go," said Lyon. "We are going straight toward the tower."

Assid nodded before he pulled the carriage to Lyon's view.

The carriage was nothing special compared to the lucrative ones that the kingdoms had, however, the size was eye-catching. The carriage was doorless and pulled by a pair of horses. The wheels were made out of wood and had no roofs to cover their heads.

"This looks really cheap," Lyon muttered as his lips twitched.

"If we wait for a day, then I can search for better ones," said Assid.

"Nah, let's just go with this one," Lyon shook his head. "Besides, we can taste the beautiful air of nature with this one and not be cramped up."

"Ah, I can provide you with a better one!" Hilde suddenly butted in.

"No need, the Sverine Kingdom will handle this expense," Cherie stepped forward.

"You guys should look after the people that we left in Alchemy Union," Cecile crossed her arms. "There shall be consequences if they lost a limb or two."

"Eek!" both princesses couldn't maintain their cool in front of the auburn beauty. She was practically the boss around the group. One word from her could earn the dismay of both remaining kingdoms.

"Yeah, what she said," Lyon added before he waved his hand and got on the carriage with crude creaks that birthed black lines over his head.

After a short wait for the rest to get on board, Lyon nodded at Assid. "It's time to go back."

The two princesses could only stand and waved their hands as they watched the young man that set the trajectory of  First Heaven to a new path. His arrival at Afurnae had made a deep impact as well as an impression on those that didn't know him. The balance of power was forever changed.

Assid was accompanied by Graham in the driver seat as they led the horse toward the gate of the city. Surrounding people were making mixed expressions seeing their departure. Afurnae was not the same anymore, but nobody knew if it were for better or worse.

Subtle winds immediately made their hairs flutter the moment the carriage stopped outside the city. A huge field of meadow with rustling grass welcomed them. The sky was blue and the clouds were following them.

Lyon closed his eyes as he let the breeze graze his face before he darted toward the woman sitting across from him, Ivy.

The relationship with her mother was something that Cecile warned him not to stick his nose in, but it would be a lie if his itchy lips didn't want to say any word about it. He might not have questioned why she wanted to leave with him early, even at the cost of leaving the matriarch in Alchemy Union.

"Ivy, when we're back, are you going straight to your clan?" asked Lyon in his attempt to break the ice.

Ivy looked at him. "Yes, I want to see my sisters there, they must have worried sick since the matriarch and I haven't got home yet."

"What? Why would they be?" asked Lyon.

"Because none of us believed that we would win the tournament," Ivy sighed.

"Ah, why can't they believe their eldest sister to win." Lyon raised one of his brows.

"Give her a break Lyon," Cecile smiled. "After all that tournament was made to humiliate the Mortal World in the first place, they were invited but never allowed to win. Thus, I warned them about it but they didn't listen and got humiliated thoroughly in the last tournament."

"Well, she has her personal goal, can you blame her?" answered Lyon. "I would do the same if I were her."

"No you won't," said Cecile, "You would just go straight to your goals if you really wanted it."

Lyon snorted a smile as he darted away. Guilty as charged. Then he darted back toward Ivy, "Then, what would you do next?"

"Cultivate, I guess," said Ivy. "There is nothing better to do."

"Sounds boring." Lyon sighed. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

"That's actually what you're supposed to be doing," added Cecile.

"Hehe," Lyon scratched the back of his head. "Before that, can I ask you a question." He darted at Ivy.

Her hands crawled against her thigh as her pants were slightly pulled. Her fingers felt cold as her eyes locked open. Her back straightened unbeknownst to her consciousness, and her ears perked up—dreading the words that came out of his mouth.

"Where is your clan located?" Lyon crossed his arms as he had his lips pointing upwards.

"Eh?" her eyes dilated to his question before the wheel under her side climbed over a tiny rock. The carriage was raised side way before Ivy couldn't help but fall into his embrace.

"My apology, young master," said Assid as he pushed his glasses with a finger— revealing his sharp eyes and his smile.

"Are you alright?" asked Lyon who was inwardly laughing.

Ivy darted her glance up and met him eye to eye. She could see the breath coming out of his nose but she couldn't hope to see the flush creeping her cheeks.

Ivy pulled herself together before sitting back right across him. She never thought that something that wild would happen on the way home. She gulped and muttered, "Sorry."

Lyon's ears twitched twice as he heard her voice that sounded more like a whimper than an actual word. "What?"

Ivy pursed her lips together (W-Wait, why am I getting flustered over this!). She shook her head before the flush on her cheeks slowly dissipate.

"Oh, it's dissipating," muttered Lyon.

"You want to know my clan's location, what are you planning to do with that information?" asked Ivy. She had heard from his wife that he was a fiend that would likely make her hundreds of sisters his concubines. The sight of them coiling around Lyon's body made her skin crawl.

"Why are you sounding so cynical all of the sudden," Lyon furrowed her brows, "I just want to pay a visit there."

"Rejected." Ivy shook her head.

"What?! Why?!" Lyon frowned further. "Why can't I go to your clan?"

"Because of who you are," Ivy crossed her arms and shook her head. "You perhaps are more dangerous than the entirety of First Heaven."

"What?" Lyon was taken back by her remark whilst the others were chuckling.

Cecile darted to Kesya, "Kesya, did you still keep a hold of that badge?"

"Eh? You noticed?" (Again?) Kesya smiled wryly. "Well, since the First Hall was destroyed and they don't need this now do they?"

Cecile sighed, "What about after the rebuilding? Won't the headmaster need it?"

Kesya waved his hand and dismissed Cecile's thought. "No need to be worried about that, Empress, he is the headmaster, he must have a lot of these in his drawer or something."

Cecile shook her head to Kesya's proud laugh.

Thus the group went on their way toward the tower that sent them to First Heaven. The blue sky slowly turned amber before goldening the twilight for their sight. The carriage was taking its time as even the day turned into nightfall the horses still relentlessly pulled it.

Lyon looked at the starry night with his elbows outside, and his bare neck showed. He slowly closed his eyes as his thoughts shuffled inside his mind before letting out a sigh and darting against the road ahead.

"Hmm..." The village that first welcomed the group was in sight, along with the eye-catching tower.