Emperor's Reckoning

Selena gritted her teeth and sharpened her eyes before she burst out of the male dorm with an unstoppable gale. Her eyes looked all over the courtyard, to the left, to the right. She was looking for that chuckle, that laughter, that smirk. The one that filled the emptiness in her time. The one and only of her peers that could beat her in the way of the sword. The best in class was looking for the worst in class.

Everyone noticed Selena's odd movements but she was empty in her steps. The elders that caught the glimpse of this nodded, thinking that she was training even in the midst of the final exam.

( Where are you?! ) thought Selena before she raised her brows and then left the courtyard.

Rustles of the waving branches were heard as she traversed the forest. Her steps were hidden and no beast could even be caught her with their eyes.

( He is not here! )

Selena gritted her teeth before changing her location. One place shot her mind. It was the lone oak tree in the meadow. The place where she first met the young man. The very same place where she rejected him. The very same place where they shared their first memory together.

Her feet were hugged by the dancing grass. Her hair fluttered and covered her face before she tugged it back to her earlobe. Her eyes turned sour as she saw no one present near the oak tree. It was the last place she could ever think of. Her heart slowly sunk as well as her face. She turned without a word before vanishing as a piece of grass fluttered away.

"She's back," said one of the students with a gulp. None of them dared to approach her, not after the fierce movement that could prick their goosebumps.

She stepped up to the ring with her emotion covered by the bang of her hair. She didn't even look at the opponent she was up against before the whistle of battle started. A flash of movement, then her opponent's body slumped down.

Not a single soul managed to record what just happened with their mere brains. There was no blood, yet her opponent had lost consciousness. Everyone gasped even the elders, few with admiration, most with terror in their eyes. She was a different existence then, a class of her own. She was unequaled and crushed the entirety of the final exam and was heralded as the best in history. However, her smile was rare, and when they showed up it was vacant.

"Congratulations! Selena come with me, I will show you the scripture of the Void Art," said the supreme elder known as the Ancient One.

Selena nodded before she headed into a warm room. There was a small altar between two candles on tall candlesticks. On the middle of the altar was a plain scroll and one could see the test of time against it.

"This is the single scroll that you've been waiting for, the jewel of the Void Sword School, the Void Art Scripture," said the Ancient One. "I have both cultivated and safeguarded this place for a long time, finally, it is time for the new generation to take over."

Selena didn't show any emotion as she approached the altar. The scroll in front of her was the fruit of her labor. With this in her hand, she wouldn't face another misfortune. Her life was set.

"I wonder how deep can you go," said the Ancient One with a smile before turning around. "I will leave, you can have as much time as you want, or, just visit your friends first. There is no rush, you can go here anytime you like."

Selena bowed at him, "Thank you, supreme elder."

"Hahaha, it's me who shall thank you later," the Ancient One left.

The silhouette of the supreme elder gradually vanished. Selena turned and took the scroll away from the small scroll holder. She rolled it open and read the scripture. Her brows furrowed but no matter how much she muttered the words on the scripture, her mind refused to collab. She shook her head before putting it away.

( It's no use, I can't concentrate for now ) thought Selena before she exited the room.

She eventually found one elder who was passing the courtyard with a smile on his face. She bowed as a formal greeting before her brows raised the moment the elder passed by her.

"Elder, can I ask you a question?" asked Selena.

"Oh? You have seen the scripture, is there something you want to ask about that? That's rare, I never thought that you would ask on the first day," the elder chuckled.

Selena shook her head, "No, I'm sorry elder but that's not what I'm here for."

"You're not?" the elder raised his brows.

"I want to ask about a rumor I've heard that Lyon got expelled," asked Selena.

"Oh, I see, you've heard about that too, huh? Though, it's a surprise that you would care for such a thing," the elder chuckled.

Selena was stunned by the elder's words but what the latter had bespoken was true. She had never asked about someone else but now she broke that stigma. "I-I..."

"Hahaha, it's alright," the elder shook his head, "It's very normal to have piqued interest in something like that, after all, expelling a student is not a feather-light matter, though I have to say this one is probably the exception."

Selena raised her brows, "What happened? Surely he can't be expelled for scoring the worst all the time?"

"He can, but that's not why he was expelled," the elder sighed. "He was caught trying to steal the scripture."

"?!" Selena had her brows on the ceiling as she heard the elder's words. That smiling boy that always sparred her actually trying to steal the most prized possession that the school had. It was belying the sincere antic that Lyon usually gave. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, very much so, the Ancient One— errr, I mean the supreme elder was the one that caught him red-handed. However, this information is rather classified, for now, I will tell you because you will join the elder ranks soon enough, I can feel it! No! I know it!"

"Stealing the scripture..." Selena muttered. ( That doesn't make sense, he has every prowess to face me in the final exam, and it would fall into his hand if I were to lose... I... ).

"Hmm, that's not one of the expressions I would expect coming out of you," the elder chuckled. "Do you need something from the thief? Wait a minute, don't tell me that he stole something from you?"

Selena take a deep cold breath through her nose before answering, "No, he didn't steal anything from me."

"Oh, good," the elder nodded before frowning and seeing Selena. "What's wrong? I've never seen you like this before. You're the brightest star in the vast sand! Are you facing a bottleneck right now?"

Selena shook her head, "No, but I will have to excuse myself, it has been rather a tiring day, I want to return to my dorm."

"Ah yes, yes of course! You've been fighting your opponent nonstop. "To be honest it is rather brutal— however, you still came out on top and have that deadly snare in your eyes."

Selena bowed, "Thank you for your compliment, I have to leave."

"Yes, be careful and have a good rest," said the elder before he saw her going toward the girls' dorm. He furrowed his brows before shaking his head, "Don't tell me that girl fell in love with him? A thief? Heh, how funny, there is no way that such a talented girl would fall for someone like that brat."

Selena closed the door inside her room where she found herself alone. Her back was sliding down against the door before she slumped on the floor. The battle didn't even manage to break her sweat. She was conquering the final exam with her mind elsewhere, however, her eyes now were glistening.

"He, he didn't need to do that, that idiot..." her voice started to hoarse. "Why would you do that, why would you run away? You can lose or win it fair and square, why do you have to do THAT!!"

She slammed her fist against the ground. "Why, why, why, why!"

The sound inside her room only added a layer of fear toward the others that heard it. The others immediately stay away and keep their mouth shut.

She was panting with one of her arms resting on top of her head. Her face was red as an apple and her eyes were begging for moisture.

"Is this... your last gift for me? Lyon...." her lips quivered before she got up and hugged her knees. She sobbed silently inside her room, alone.

...

"Selena, are you alright?" asked the king. "We are about to start the ceremony."

"Hm?" Selena raised her brows. "I-I'm alright."

Suddenly a loud bang was heard and stunned the entire crowd inside the throne room. All of their attention shifted toward the huge double door before their eyes widened in horror. A massive dent was made.