Emperor's Reckoning

Porealus was the next in line. He approached the fortune-teller calmly despite the immense attention he had unwillingly obtained. Due to his upbringing in a family that was so focused on strict discipline and nobility, this nerve-wracking situation was nothing of mention.

(So this is the famous, lady fortune-teller) thought Porealus. He had seen how Zet's result was. The young swordsman had more smiles than frowns from the reading that she did.

"You seem quite proper and noble," commented Vivi with a smile under her pink veil.

Porealus smiled before nodding, "Is it that obvious?"

"Quite calm too," added Vivi, "Please."

He smiled before sitting down cross-legged.

"What do you want to ask me about? I will remind you that you only get one chance. Use it wisely," Vivi smiled.

"Hmm..." Porealus pondered. (To be honest, I've never really thought that I would make it this far ahead, then again, there was hardly anything that I'm curious about in the first place. What kind of desire that I want? My parents are well, my grandfather is really well. What do I seek?)

Vivi slightly raised her eyebrows before she asked, "You seem to be quite troubled. Do you not have any desire for information? Treasure? Fate? Love?"

"Love?" Porealus raised his eyebrows before he smiled. "I rather keep love a mystery, it's more fun that way."

"I see," Vivi nodded. "I do agree with that. There is no fun in it if you know who you should love from the beginning."

Porealus nodded with a smile before he pondered some more.

"Then what do you want to ask?" asked Vivi with a smile.

Porealus shook his head, "Sorry but I need to think about it, so I'm afraid that I will waste your time a little bit."

Her driver furrowed his eyebrows, "Make it quick."

Vivi shook her head, "Please, take your time, fate cannot be rushed."

Porealus smiled wryly (But your driver seems to be on edge).

(Maybe how long will I get to live? No, scratch that! That's actually frightening) he shuddered at the thought. It would be a sleepless night from this day on, he presumed.

Minutes went by and the onlookers were getting impatient. They all had their eyebrows furrowed but only whispers of silent complaints were heard. They knew better.

His eyes slowly turned sharp before he smiled.

"Oh? Look's like you found something interesting in your mind?" Vivi smiled as she noticed the subtle expression.

"Interesting? Hmm, it's probably more accurate to say that I'm curious about this person," said Porealus as he smiled.

"Hmm, intriguing, what is this person's name?" asked Vivi.

"I think you have met him, considering what happened earlier this morning," said Porealus as he crossed his arms with a smile on his face.

Vivi furrowed her eyebrows, "This morning? Are you perhaps talking about Lyon Torga?"

"Exactly him," Porealus nodded before he let out a sigh, "Honestly that guy is so unbelievable. He came out of exactly nowhere, he had no clear trace, not even a birthplace."

Vivi raised her eyebrows, "Really?"

"Yes," Porealus nodded. (Eh? Really? Aren't you the fortune-teller?).

"Hmm," Vivi hummed as she slightly look away in contemplation.

Porealus furrowed his eyebrows, "What's wrong?"

Vivi let out a dejected sigh, "It is far better for you to ask about something else."

"Eh?" he blinked in disbelief.

"Truth to be told," she sighed. "I have tried to read that person before you even requested it."

"T-Then?"

Porealus saw the lady shake her head.

"It is better that you ask for something else," Vivi said.

"I-I see," Porealus had one of his brows twitching. (Even a fortune-teller cannot see past through him? Are you kidding me...).

Porealus smiled wryly before scratching his head, "This, this is really not what I have expected."

Vivi bowed her head, "I apologize."

"Ah?! No, please don't do that!" asked Porealus as he panicked. His ears could hear the hissing and buzzing whispers from the onlookers already.

Vivi looked at him before chuckling, "I'm sorry if I cause you any unnecessary problems."

(She is clearly aware of this!) thought Porealus as he made a harsh swallow with a dry smile.

"I will give you some advice though," said Vivi as her eyes turned sharp.

"Hmm?" Porealus realized the atmosphere surrounding her immediately shifted along as she turned serious.

"It's better to be neutral rather than his enemy," said Vivi as she nodded twice with her eyes closed.

"That... okay," Porealus nodded (I already know that! And why are you telling me in a whispering tone like this is some sort of gossip?!).

"Anyway, young... er..."

"Porealus," Porealus closed his eyes with twitching lips. (Damn, is she really legit? Are you First Heaven's cultivators sure that you are not being scammed?! Oh, poor Zet. But wait... Ivy doesn't seem to have any complaints.)

"Then, Young Porealus, what do you want to ask?" asked Vivi.

Porealus shrugged before he could hear a facepalm from his own grandfather from the distance.

"Tch! Alright, fine," Porealus crossed his arms before he let out a sigh, "Well, clearly there is no merit of me understanding the next realm of cultivation since I have my grandfather, so... let me ask something that is related to my family."

"Oh?" Vivi raised her eyebrows.

"The Mortal World, will it ever be united sometime in the future?" asked Porealus.

"Hmm? I thought that you wanted to ask... never mind," Vivi smiled. "I see your point."

"Ah, wait I need to add that, will it be in my time? As in, me breathing normally and not on life support or some sort."

Vivi chuckled, "Very well."

She give her hand just like before, and Porealus, albeit nervously, touched her hand. She closed her hand with a smile before the atmosphere bent under her will.

He could feel the strands of his goosebumps rose as the red jewel on her glabella started to shimmer. The flash caught his eyes before his consciousness left his body.

---

"Huh? Where am I?!" shouted Porealus as he saw nothing but darkness.

"Relax," a delicate and familiar voice was heard before his vision changed.

.

.

.

"Hmm... it's still dark?" said Porealus. (I couldn't even see my own body? Is this woman really the fortune-teller?!)

"How rude! I am still a seer!" the delicate voice had turned into a loud berating voice.

"Eh? What?" He asked (How can he hear my thoughts? Better stop I guess).

"Hmph!" he could hear a cute pout coming out of nowhere.

*Clank!

"Huh?" Porealus turned around, he knew that sound. "Crossing blades?"

*Spark!

"What the? What's going on here?"

"Hush..."

*Thump!

*Spark!

Porealus pupils shrunk before more than a hundred sparks happened at the same time. He saw grinning faces, from both sides.

"This is..." He gulped. "A warzone?!"

They were trying to devour one another with their blades and skills. Thousands and thousands of sparks ensued and the light emitted from their crossing blades was enough to make his corporeal body visible. He shuddered before he returned back to reality.

"Gah!" He bent his back down as he was panting. Cold sweat was dripping off his forehead and onto the floor. His eyes couldn't blink at the vivid image that he was in.

"Porealus?" Carius furrowed his eyebrows.

"W-What was that?" asked Porealus as he hardly straightened his back. The blades, the speeds, it was unimaginable. He could feel his goosebumps were being severed at any moment back then, even though it was not his real body.

Vivi shook her head, "Sadly, you saw as far as I saw."

"You mean that the Mortal World will be in huge turmoil?" asked Porealus as he massaged his chest with furrowed brows.

Vivi shook her head, "I cannot ascertain that the Mortal World would be in turmoil. However, was reading the Mortal Worlds's fate, so that war is going to happen, but I don't know the cause, or even when will it happen."

Porealus turned his glance away as he was catching his breath. "Shit!"

"Mind your tone!" the driver glared before Vivi raised her hand to stop him. The former immediately complied.

"Do you know where will it happen?" asked Porealus.

Vivi shook her head, "I'm afraid fate didn't let me read further from what we both have seen."

Porealus shook his head, "This is troublesome..."

"However, I can ascertain that if you can see it, then that means that you are still alive at the time," said Vivi as she nodded.

Porealus snorted with a smile, "Just my luck."

"I do have to warn you, what you see is only the tip of the iceberg," said Vivi.

"I understand," nodded Porealus before he stood up then bowed, "Thank you for your service."

"I wish you luck," said Vivi. "You are going to need it."

"We all need it," replied Porealus as he left the fortune-teller.

Vivi looked at the young noble's back before shaking her head.

"What's wrong?" asked Carius.

"Grandfather... we need to talk," said Porealus before he added, "Alone."

"Hmm..." Carius nodded before the two of them left.