Emperor's Reckoning

Kesya's purple eyes gradually turned back to blue. Her lips were squirming as her eyes glistened. The reflection of the young man in her eyes caught her heart to thump harder than it should before her goosebumps rested as one of her knees slowly dropped down— all the while maintaining her glance.

"Emperor..." Assid muttered before his eyebrows snapped to the ceiling. He immediately knelt with one knee on the ground.

"W-What's going on..." Luna muttered as she looked at how the three were behaving. She darted her glance toward the back of the young man that was only a minute ago in Graham's arms. She slightly squinted her eyes. ( Something is different about him somehow, but what is it? ) thought Luna before she caught a glimpse of Lumina gulping, for the first time in her life.

Lumina didn't have steady breathing, she was not calm despite cold blood running through her veins. Her vertical pupils trembled as her instinct caught an unusually but familiar presence exuding out of the young man who just knocked out cold from a Cockatrice's gaze.

"You really do know how to show up, are you waiting for this moment?" Cecile chuckled.

Lyon let out a sigh, "I mean, I never intended to show up in the first place—," He turned around and smiled, "But looking at you once again in that thick cloak is making me nostalgic and not feel bad."

"Your tongue has always been know how to spit sweet and harsh words on the fly," Cecile smiled. "So, what happened? Why now?"

Lyon chuckled, "I can't believe that history actually repeated itself, however, at least Graham here learned the lesson from back then, hahahaha! As for why the new soul got hurt pretty bad and needs to recuperate for a while, he is lucky that he got another soul, otherwise, you wouldn't see me— I mean him, err, us? Eating and laughing for a long time."

"I wonder if this is a happy situation or a bad one," said Cecile. "Assid is going to get you, Mana Essence, in hopes that it would do something about the injured soul."

"Woah, is this one of those times where you assume that it might help me, or is this one of those times that you know that it would help me? Cause I experienced both."

One of Cecile's brows twitched before her voice turned silvery cold, "Are you perhaps talking about my cooking skills."

"What, no, I can see you have improved magnificently, I saw you when I passed out, you bring me into town, carry me by your back—"

"S-Stop!" Cecile immediately cut his words down. "Y-You know that?!"

"What's the blush about, it was sweet," said Lyon as he chuckled.

"Tch... you're always the nectar talker," said Cecile as she tightened her lips.

Luna couldn't believe her eyes as she saw how the auburn-haired woman behave. She had always put up a strong stance and was mostly seen as lacking any weaknesses. The latter's strong point was always bright and illuminating, she was the idol of many, however, in front of him, she was acting like a maiden that knew no blood.

However, the one that was edging the most was Lumina. She had a thousand thoughts as she saw him chuckling and versing with Cecile. This was the man she had met years ago before she had her beautiful wings before she had an interest in the art of the blade. Her fangs were still thin and small then, people avoided her because of her status, until a swordsman on a wooden boat happened to cross the island.

"Hahaha— hmm?" Lyon raised one of her brows before he turned over and saw the dragon woman having a slight jolt in her body.

She pressed her lips together before she saw him smiling and took a step forward. Her hands trembled to a fist as she maintained her eye contact, there was hardly anything between them but the soft grass of the meadow. The man she was waiting for, the man she was willing to be entrapped for, was now in the presence of her reach.

"You've grown..."

The warm voice struck the cords of Lumina's heart. She was craving for it for a long time, that familiar presence, that familiar cherish, and that familiar smile. The man that was so elusive was now only an arm away. The curiosity on his face never left. She was brave because of him and he was her first ever, friend. A human that only knew how to swing a sword met a princess that was made for political reasons.

Her eyes fluttered as a tinge of warm water built at the corners of them. They slew down before coursing through her cheeks. Her lips hardly could a make a word out before Lyon opened his arms.

"Why...?" asked Lumina softly as her eyes couldn't keep up online with her tears.

"??" Lyon raised his brows as his hands stuck in the air. He gulped before he nodded. "I never forget about you, you know that?"

Lumina nodded with her dry throat. "S-She told me."

"I told her," said Cecile from the back.

"I see," Lyon made a weak smile as he looked down.

"Tell me... why didn't you return?" asked Lumina as she forced her beautiful eyes onto Lyon's gaze.

"Because I can't," said Lyon as his eyes turned sharp.

"...What..?" Lumina's eyes softened up. "Why not?!"

Lyon let out a sigh, "Because I have to choose, Lumina."

Luna raised her brows and failed to notice how Cecile and the other three turned solemn.

"Choose... what are you talking about? You have three wives! Was it that hard to visit a... a friend? A longtime friend?" asked Lumina as her thoughts conflicted. When she met him, she was still a juvenile dragon. She hardly played with anyone, and it was puppy love that spurted out when he met the youth who vigorously waved at her from the boat.

"It's complicated," said Lyon.

"What was?!" asked Lumina.

"The situation was complicated," said Lyon as he looked deep into her silver pupils.

"Tell me then," said Lumina.

"I will," said Lyon. "All will be explained, I'm sorry that I left you on that island for a very long time, I'm sorry it took this time, but I'm glad that you're still in one piece after everything."

Lumina shook her head, "I want to know the reason, now."

"Lumina! This is not the time!" shouted Cecile.

"Cecile!" Lyon glared at her before the latter immediately behaved. Lyon took a deep breath before he smiled at Lumina, "Let's take a short walk in this meadow."

Lumina raised her brows before she was offered a hand. She looked at the hand before nervously taking it.

"Assid, take care of commissioned quest," said Lyon.

"Yes, Emperor!" Assid answered rightfully.

"The rest of you, leave," said Lyon. "I will rejoin you after a while."

"Lyon..." Luna muttered before her shoulder was grabbed by Cecile from behind. The latter shook her head before they all left the two of them alone.

Lyon smiled, "Thank you..."

He turned and looked at Lumina before he gently uncovered half of her face from the hoodie. "There, I can see your face now."

Lumina darted away and her face couldn't be any redder, however, the grip on her hand tightened.

Lyon uncovered his own face from the hoodie before taking a pleasant exhale of freedom. "She outdid herself with these quality ones."

"Come," said Lyon. "Man, things have changed so much, I hardly recognize this place."

"Don't spin away the topic," said Lumina. "What do you mean by choosing?"

"It's not about women," said Lyon with a proud laugh.

"Huh...?" Lumina raised her brows. "Then what is it about?"

Lyon turned a bit solemn before he looked at his right palm.

"I have to choose how to hurt you, Lumina," said Lyon.

Lumina furrowed her brows before she saw his warm smile. "What are you... talking about..."

Lyon slowly let go of her hand before he walked up the top of the hills. "Tell me Lumina, would you either painfully wait for me, or painfully wallow in my death?"

"What...?" Lumina was confused. "What do you mean..."

"Grandson, you..." Shen revealed himself as he looked down at his grandson.

"Grandson..." Sun opened his eyes wide.

"Hmmm... you live with that knowledge in your mind all those times?" Bapho shook his head.

Lumina gulped at the sight of the three but she could see small tears in the corner of Lyon's eyes as he glanced at her over the shoulder. He turned around, and he smiled,

"Things get pretty messed up if you know your own death."

Lumina opened her eyes wide as she realized what Lyon meant by his previous words. Either choice would hurt her, but he was making sure to choose the one that was least painful, and that was for her to wait on him for uncountable years.