Emperor's Reckoning

The item Old Sean took out was the zither that Lyon once played before. The plain-looking instrument had nothing special ornament on it that you probably could find one in a regular shop.

"That zither!" Biane suddenly shouted in exclamation. Her eyes were trembling with excitement as she saw it. Even the cool Clemora couldn't help but grip her own bedsheets.

"Oh? Is something the matter?" Old Sean turned his head to look at them both.

They quickly get out of their bed and cupped their hands, "Please sir, if you can be so kind, can you give us the zither. We would compensate you well."

Their statements caught the old man's interest. For the commoners, this was nothing but a piece of wood with strings attached to it. It won't worth a silver for a secondhanded good like this.

"Young misses, what is it that makes you interested in this plain instrument?" said Old Sean with a smile. He could see that they were from a noble family from the clothing they wore. No commoners could buy that kind of silk.

"We can't tell you right now but we really need this item," said Clemora as her gaze was fixated in on the zither.

"Young miss, can one of you play the zither?" asked Old Sean with keen interest. His past experience with Lyon made him learn to not judge people by it look nor their age. Nobody knows a true master until they decided to play.

"No, we can't, we need it for something else," said Biane with a firm resolution.

Old Sean had a hint of a disappointment in his eyes that skipped their attention. "I see, then do you know the origin of this particular zither?" He couldn't afford to be impolite against them since Lyon was here.

"Yes, we know, we know it very well. In fact, it was the reason why we come to this place," said Clemora. Their reason finally unfolded to everyone in the room

"I see, but sadly I cannot grant you that request." His rejection caused the two women to grit their teeth with disappointment. Even though the two women expected this, it was harder when it became a reality.

However, before they could point out another option, "That is because this zither is not mine," the old man smiles as he glances at Lyon who looked at him with a disinterested face.

"This is my gift for you, master Lyon," said Old Sean as if he was gifting something to his own ancestor.

The way Old Sean greeted Lyon surprised everyone who was watching. The powerful hidden expert in the Mist Clan just called him master. Nobody could believe their ears and nobody would believe it even more if they were telling the people outside.

"Oh? Since when did I agree to become your master," smiled Lyon while shaking his head. The man was fearless even when talking to someone evidently stronger than him. Everyone would be delighted to be called master by such expert but this was not the case for Lyon. In his eyes, the old man in front of him already passed his prime and it would be difficult to grow even stronger.

His statements even surprised the old man himself. There were many people requesting him to be their master or protector but he always refused them since those were mundane matters, but when he decided to call someone his master, the man refused. He couldn't cry nor smile (I wonder if this is karma).

"It would be my greatest honor if maste- no, young noble would accept this gift from this old bone." No matter what he would always try to be on Lyon's good side since he wanted to listen to his plays once more. He lived long enough to know that Lyon was a man of a generation, nobody could replace him in another era.

The way he could trigger memories through his play and make the listeners experience it all over again was a godsent talent. He could leave them crying or smiling at the end of his tune.

Everyone could feel his desperation for pleasing Lyon and this made them curious about his capabilities of playing the zither.

(Is he really that good) the thought crossed everyone's mind except for Jugen. The guy kept a cool expression since he was the only one other than Old Sean that experience the dreamscape.

"Fine, I will accept this gesture of yours," said Lyon as he put the zither on top of his lap. His finger lazily plucked one of the strings on the instrument.

*ding

It was like an angel whispered to their ear in a single note. The mana was dancing as branches of the tree outside the window swayed and let the wind carried its leaves. Everyone who heard it couldn't help but closed their eyes as if something were guiding them to shut the other four senses.

Lyon didn't continue the tune and put on a grinning smile. Even though his expression didn't exude that of a master, his skill was undeniable.

Old Sean took a while before he regained his senses. "Truly a master beyond words. No one could ever do that by just a note," whispered him under his breath.

Kyoko, however, managed to glimpse the wonders of what Lyon just did. (After he plucked that string, the mana hovering in the air suddenly turned its course and create a perfect symphony with his note. That's not just some dumb luck if it were to continue I wonder what would it like)

Then Lyon suddenly grabbed the zither with one hand and shoved it to Biane and Clemora. It took a whole second before they knew what's going on.

"Eh? A-are you sure?" Biane was the first one to ask this.

"What compensation would you like? Please state the price," Clemora on the other hand, spoke straight to business.

"Compensation? Oh just take it away it's not that valuable to me," said Lyon nonchalantly. Jugen was surprised (Holy Shit big bro! The old man is still right in front of you!!)

Contrary to Jugen's thought, Old Sean only smiled wryly in respond.