Emperor's Reckoning

Under the warmth of the sun and the chill of the wind, Afurnae, the little city, had a lively atmosphere inside it. The Rookie Heaven Tournament had started its opening ceremony.

The arena had four pillars protruding against the sky with each of the four kingdoms' insignia adorned to it. They were,

the spear bequeathed by the sun, the Bolg Kingdom,

the dragon of shimmering gold, the Golden Dragon Kingdom,

the crossing of shield and sword, the Pala Kingdom,

and the oak staff of heaven, the Sverine Kingdom.

The four kingdoms also had their flags fluttering up at the top of the pillar relentlessly.

The prominent figures were sitting adjacently to the pillars that they belonged to. The king and the queen respectively, and then their descendants and relatives. The rulers had the best seat in the whole arena, and they could see what's happening on top of that wide circular plate.

Hezar was sitting under the banner of Pala Kingdom. He had a smirk on his face and crossed his arms as he looked at the arena, but the three fellows sitting beside him not so much.

Carius and Tael had their eyes closed despite the contaminating cheers from the rest of the spectators.

"Ridiculous," muttered Carius in distaste. He spared no fake smiles as he caught Hezar shrugging.

"Calm down, Carius," said Tael. "Be more like miss matriarch over here, she is calm as ice, hehe."

The matriarch of the Yuki clan snorted at his dry pun before smiling.

"Shh, it's starting," said one of the spectators.

Carius looked at the spectator in disbelief before his mouth slightly fuming with his jaws clenched. He had worked hard to become a renowned figure but nobody just told him to shut up.

Tael patted on his thigh. "Remember your nobility code."

Carius let out a big snort before looking away. He knew his life was not his own to keep now and offending Heaven in this event would bring great catastrophe. The veins on his temple could only bulge as his feet tapped against the floor rapidly.

Hezar looked at Carius's behavior before smirking away.

"Welcome everyone!! Thank you for waiting!" the host suddenly spoke with his hand raised to the sky. It was the same host that hosted the preliminary for the outsiders.

"Finally!"

"About time!"

The spectators turned up a smile.

"Perhaps the speeches from all Four Kingdoms are due? Kings, please."

The king from the Sverine Kingdom was the first one to stand up. He wore a simple white-dominant royal dress with the insignia of his kingdom being the clip of his green cloak.

"Good afternoon everyone. I.."

Whilst the Sverine King made a welcoming speech, the queen of the Bolg Kingdom showed up to her king.

"Did you find her?" asked the king.

The queen nodded before sitting right beside him. She smiled at the others that greeted her before leaning toward her husband without changing her glance. "She was eating at the inn, with someone."

"Someone?" The king furrowed his eyebrows. "Who?"

The queen was looking at the Sverine King giving a speech as she answered, "His name is Lyon Torga."

The king slightly contemplated before asking once more, "Who is this, Lyon fella?"

The queen's eyes turned sharp before she looked left and right, then, she whispered. "He is from the Mortal World."

"What? That's..."

"He is not ordinary."

"That's for sure, it's not like our daughter just invite some random person from the Mortal World to have lunch together."

"Our daughter said that Lyon was able to stand nonchalantly despite the Golden Dragon Aura, from Prince Rupert no less."

The king immediately turned his head and revealed his eyes of disbelief. The queen slowly yet firmly nodded in response.

"But even our daughter can't."

"Exactly, but that's not all, this mysterious man also wants to kill..."

"Who?"

"The Pala's Kingdom's infamous commander, Hezar."

"That's preposterous."

"I know, but like our daughter would ever lie. She also told me that he was trying to free the leaders from Mortal World from Hezar's clutch."

"Hmm..." The king slightly grunted. "This tournament won't just end with simple winners and losers."

"Cecile also makes an appearance."

"That talented girl?"

"Yes, and you won't believe this."

"He is actually, her husband."

The king immediately tightened up his upper lips. "This...*Sigh."

He could feel the headache already. (Those two princes wouldn't stand idly by)

"Thank you for your wonderful speech King Sverine!" said the host merrily following the applause of the spectators.

"Now then, without further ado, let's welcome the past ten winners!" shouted the host as he invites the festive atmosphere to another level.

"Finished tenth place, he is the pioneer of the new generation, Devan!"

A scrawny figure came out with his hands behind his back. He looked rather ordinary at a glance but everyone would recognize him because of his prestigious tenth place. The young man basked in the light of their euphoria before standing in the middle of the arena.

"Finished ninth place, she is the plethora of tricks, Ruria!"

A slim figure came out rushing to the arena. She had a little fang peeking out from her smile as she greeted the spectators. "Hello everyone!!"

Ruria's presence was greatly welcome by the audience as the cheers mostly came from men. The effervescent girl was bright and brought.

The introduction went on with cheers from the onlookers, for just seeing her presence made them happy. She was like everyone's little sister but the Pala Kingdom insignia on her clothes was new.

"I-I see, so she joined the Pala Kingdom's banner."

"No surprise there."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Placed eight! His master in the wind, ice, and thunder department are unquestionable! Mahogani!"

King Sverine with her queen stood up and applause along with the rest.

A young man walked to the arena with a grimoire in his right hand. He wore a robe and his figure was nothing impressive compare to the tenth, however, nobody doubt his strength. He was the jewel that joined the Sverine Kingdom thus explaining the insignia on his robe.

"Seventh! His way with the sword was nothing but fascinating! A young prodigy! Sakey!"

Tael furrowed his eyebrows, "Hoho, he is quite alright."

The young man had a slim figure and a curved sword beside his waist, similar to the Argonaut's style. He had black hair and a slightly loose robe but the insignia embroidered on it brought a frown to some people.

"Pala Kingdom."

"Again."

"Sixth! This thunderous man had lightning and fire under his belt. The destructive combo of extreme element aptitudes! Eduma!"

The man was tall and had some muscle on his figure. Well-built overall he was not the type of magic cultivator anyone would see at first glance. He wore a sleeveless robe and there was a tattoo on his right delt. It was the insignia that made people frown once more.

"Another Pala."

"Crazy."

"We are entering the top five! His Kirin bloodline is limitless, Acres!"

The young man was quite the looker with his blonde hair. He had a below-average height but nobody believed the height resulted in the power one possessed. Evidently, with his aloof look, even the cheers from the spectators didn't hinder his empty thought.

"Finally, someone joined the Golden Dragon Kingdom," said one of the onlookers.

"Acres joined the Golden Dragon, that's a good move."

The onlookers had their own opinions but the fourth one was coming

"The fourth! She could reap your soul with her staff but also rip your heart! Princess Cherie Sverine!"

She was a tall woman wearing a white robe. Her eyes had a shadow of black and she walked to the arena sluggishly. She let out a sigh a couple of times before she yawned. Her shoulder was hunched forward as she used her oak staff as guidance like that of a blind person.

The spectators didn't dare to laugh at the rosy brown-haired woman. She was not only a woman of status but also a very powerful one at that. After a few seconds later, she finally stood by the rest of them.

"The third one! Her mastership is in the way of the spear! The Bolg's Princess! Hildegarde!"

Hilde came out with a smile on her face as she was greeted by the paramount cheers from the audience. She pretended to take fresh air whilst scanning the spectators before her eyes landed on Hezar.

Hezar slightly furrowed his eyebrows as he caught her glance.

Hilde acted as if it didn't happen before approaching Cherie. (Hezar is here already, and those three figures sitting beside him must be the ones Lyon was talking about).

(Was it my imagination?) thought Hezar. He didn't recall any feud with her as far as his memories went. He then rose his eyebrows as he got a conclusion (I see, the rumors of me tampering with the preliminary must have caught her ears. However, there is nothing that she can do to prove it since, I didn't tamper anything hahaha!).