Emperor's Reckoning

"There is a horse nearby, use it, tame it," said Graham as he stood by the old farmer. "You don't need to escort us further, use the money the best you could, change your life, face your son, and don't speak about what you just saw."

"W-What..." the old farmer could hardly speak. His emotion was wasted entirely on his beloved mare.

"The entirety of your life shall be dictated mostly by your decision, and your decision only," said Graham imposingly. "Goodbye, old farmer, you're a good man."

Assid spared a sharp glance toward the leaving Graham before he said to the old farmer, "I don't necessarily agree with his words, but if he referenced my Emperor's words that were passed on to him, then I have to."

Graham returned to the main group a few steps away before noticing the second in command furrowing and sighing.

"Now what?" Lyon shrugged his shoulder.

"I never thought that it would be at the peak of True God realm, damn," Cecile clicked her tongue. "Now this changes things."

"Changes what?"

"Things," Cecile muttered. "True God is nearly not as good as I was expected. This is bad, you will need to actually train now."

"I mean it's fifty percent of my original power, I think this is strong enough," Lyon nodded.

"No, it's not enough, it's too far from the word," Cecile shook her head.

"Don't worry Cecile," said Lyon before he leisurely consoled her with a soft slap to her shoulder. "I mean, what do you think will happen."

"You'll die again," said Cecile solemnly. "I can't face something like that again, and I will never see that again!"

Lyon made a soft smile seeing Cecile flustered over his past death. "Alright, alright, I will train, I mean how hard it could be?"

"Oh boy, you have no idea, hahaha!" Sun laughed heartily.

"Hmm?" Lyon raised his brows. "Isn't it just absorbing enough mana and understanding the next realm?"

"Maybe for a True God," Sun shrugged his shoulder. "However, there is a limit for a mere human to ascend, and good guess! True God is the ceiling for a mere human."

"Fuck," Lyon cussed. "What do I need?"

"An item," Shen answered with his ocean-deep wise words. "Or some booster to feed the core of your meridian."

"Sounds complicated and overwhelming," Lyon sighed.

"Just take it as seconds passed by, Lyon. There is no use hovering over something that you cannot control," Bapho chipped in a smile.

"Heh, you're right, thanks grandpa," Lyon nodded before taking a deep breath. "Well, what now?"

"We stick to the original plan, Selena has to know about your condition too, her strength is needed," Cecile sighed. "Then, perhaps we would have something to help you break through to the next realm along the way."

"But what about you?" Lyon asked.

"What about me?"

"You would need to breakthrough too, right?" Lyon raised one of his brows.

"I will scourge up something, don't worry."

"WE will scourge up something," said Lyon as he crossed his arms and give her a wide grin.

Cecile smiled before she gently placed her warm hand on top of Lyon's head and then rustled his hair a bit. "Aren't you a gentleman."'

"What do you mean, I always am a gentleman, unless you want me rough," Lyon smirked.

"Okay, that's enough," Cecile turned before smiling under her hood before her eyes turned sharp as she looked up. "Alright, Assid, how many horses can we use?"

"I've checked, they have a caravan on their own to deliver goods to the nearest city."

"What kind of goods?" asked Lyon.

"Pills, drugs, components, a pot full of poison, ointments, something that we likely not see in an open market," said Assid.

"Ooohh, forbidden goods!" Kesya grinned. "Maybe we can have some?"

"We shouldn't!" said Luna. "They are forbidden for a reason."

"Spoil sport," Kesya rolled her eyes.

"Luna is right, we shouldn't hoard those kinds," said Lumina as she crossed.

"Why?" Lyon asked.

"Lyon!" both of the princesses immediately gave him a glare.

"What?" Lyon furrowed his brows before he shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, you know, a little sin won't hurt."

"We don't have to consume it ourselves," said Cecile. "It's good for the money."

"Really?" Luna sighed. "You have to side with us here, older sister."

"I was never a princess, I'm sorry," Cecile smiled. "I have to stick it in with my husband."

"HEHE," Lyon grinned pervertedly.

"I know what you're thinking Lyon, stop it," said Lumina after a grunt.

"I can't promise you that," Lyon finally gave out a laugh.

Cecile smiled before she darted to Assid, "How big is the caravan."

"It's quite spacious, Young Miss."

"I see, it seems like they are used to bringing big bulks of goods to their clients," said Assid.

"How about the scent?" asked Lyon.

"It's not that dirty, Young Master," Assid bowed. "However, it's not what I would say clean."

"Then that's good enough," Kesya nodded repeatedly. "Assid approves that it's not dirty."

"I can further clean it if you want to, just say the word," asked Assid.

"Nah, too clean is not exactly enjoyable," said Lyon as he chuckled.

"Lyon," Lumina sighed.

"Hey it didn't even cross my mind this time... well now it did, hehe," Lyon grinned mischievously.

Cecile smiled, "Alright, how is the old farmer?"

"He wants to bury the horse," said Assid.

"Then we will bury the mare, I mean, Dora," said Lyon. "At least we can do that, right?" he glanced at Cecile.

Cecile nodded.

"Great! We might as well spend the night here, after all the inn is free."

Cecile firmly shook her head, "That's a great idea, for beginners that is."

"What? What do you mean."

"Trust me, Lyon, you don't want waking up to the smell of dead bodies and buzzing flies," said Cecile. "We did that in our tough times, and every morning you cursed and sometimes burned the entire thing down, only to bring us more trouble than it should."

"Heh, I guess so, I never thought about the pungent odor that came out," Lyon scratched the back of his head.

"Just look at the bloody mess," said Cecile as she turned. "The tavern looks horrid now."

"It's horrid then too," Lyon shrugged. "What kind of tavern serves juice, what the hell was that."

"I don't think that they have juice on their menu, but that doesn't mean they can't crush fruits, put it inside a glass, and pour water in it," said Luna.

"Well..." Lyon sighed.

"Let's get that mare buried," said Cecile.

"Oh before that, I found this, Young Miss," said Assid before showing her a piece of paper.

"Hmm?" Cecile grabbed the paper before looking down at the content. "This is an order for the goods?"

"Yes, and I think Young Master's karma has a lot to do with it."

"Oi, what's this about my karma?" said Lyon before standing by Cecile's side and reading the content of the paper. "Wow, hahaha!" Lyon put his palm on his own forehead.

"What is it?" asked Luna.

"The order for the goods, destination, the city of Ahkam, Dark Continent."

"Wow," Kesya pursed her lips and nodded while glancing at her emperor. "This is something else."

"I know right, hahaha!" Lyon laughed.

"Well, how did they get there?" asked Lumina. "I don't think these people can head for the wilderness and face the monsters living and breathing there."

"Well, a kind of silk road," said Assid. "They even included the map, with a pouch of coins."

"Coins?" Lyon furrowed his brows. "You mean like an actual coin?"

"Yes, young master, the circular object used fo—."

"I know what a coin is," Lyon rolled his eyes.

"Maybe the dark continent used a different currency than the rest?" added Luna.

"Most likely, I mean, we use golds in Nostria, if I recall correctly," Lyon shrugged. "I but I grew so fast it's now benign to me... Oh, wait a minute. So that's why even Heaven used beads as currency, it's because after reaching True Gods, they don't really necessarily need to pile up beads? They need other items instead.

"Alright, let's hold your conclusion for another day," said Cecile before she darted at Assid. "Can you handle the burial?"

Assid nodded, "Yes, young miss."

"Alright, then get Kesya to help you."

"What?!" Kesya exclaimed before she wailed at the sky, "Hahhh~"

Assid immediately grabbed Kesya by the back of her collar and dragged her with him. With Kesya's strong hands, the soil was nothing but butter for her. She dug with a monotone grunt, however, the job was well done, and it was big enough for the mare.

Lyon and the others joined the old farmer before they put down Dora the mare, including her lost hind legs.

"Thank you, young master Lyon," said the old farmer.

"Huh?"

"Fate is kind for letting me meet young master, this furious encounter might at the cost of Dora, but I'm sure she wanted the best for me."

Lyon was speechless and could only nod.

The old farmer smiled. "Then I'll be going first, young master, thank you for everything."

The old farmer immediately left without another word but Lyon with his brows furrowed.

"Some people's lives are just not at what they wanted to be," said Lumina as she watched the departing old man looking for a horse in the stable.

"I think he fucked the mare."

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Lumina didn't even leave a breath. She just turned around and then walked away from him.