Emperor's Reckoning



Lyon and the group resumed their journey walking on a primary path toward the next city.

"That's what I said, but... where are we going?!" asked Lyon.

"Eh? I thought you know where we're supposed to go next?" asked Noah.

Lyon hunched his back before sighing. His eyes seemed bleak as he started dragging his legs. "Explain to me, why are we using our two feet?"

"To walk?" answered Reinhard.

Lyon sighed as he didn't have the energy to respond to his student's foolish answer. He leered at Rayus to answer for the team.

"Because we're broke," said Rayus.

"What?!" Lyon jolted his back straight. "How the... what? How are we broke?!"

"Well you used a part of the money to reimburse the last restaurant remember?" asked Rayus.

"Yeah, but I spared some!"

"Those some were used for the family lost during the assault toward the Burgeon Swan," said Reinhard.

"Wait, what?!" Lyon's brows were petrified. "I never said anything about reimbursing those dead people!"

"Of course, you're not," said Rayus.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"It's from your higher-up," said Noah.

"My higher-up?! I don't have a higher—" Lyon furrowed his brows as Noah tried to hint to him with a point of his finger who was the one that the latter considered higher up. Lyon's eyes softened. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He crossed his arms and sighed. His eyes returned to the main road before something slipped into his closed arm.

"Huh?" He turned to see Selena's top head. She was giggling.

Lyon had his cheeks reddened by her assertive move. His nose rejoiced at the citrusy fragrance she permeated out. He was defeated but the reward was more or less equal.

"Alright."

( Wow just a minute ago he seemed so superior, suppressing an entire city, but here, he looks like a boy in love ) the three students had their lips twitching at the duality of their teacher.

Galloping horses were heard and caught the three's attention. Their eyes set upon the main path and saw four horsemen rushing toward the group. 

"Teacher!" Reinhard called before summoning his weapon. "Someone's coming!"

"Four are coming!" Rayus prepared as well as Noah.

"Uh... phrasing?" Lyon raised his brows.

Selena, who was smiling a moment ago, was found scowling at the four horsemen. She twitched her brows before all four horses had their goosebumps rise. All of their instincts ignited before they raised their hind legs and neighed a cry. The animal suddenly became uncontrollable as it tried to flee but Selena stopped. 

"Wha the..." said one of the cultivators. "What's wrong? Go..."

The horse refused to abide by the rider's will. The horse simply stayed with its head lowered.

One of them got off the horse before the others looked at each other and then followed through.

"Wait a second," Reinhard furrowed his brows and looked at the distinctive symbol of a broken rose on their outfit. "They are from the Broken Rose Kingdom!"

"Ah, one of you recognizes us," said the man who was the first to get off the horse. He stepped forward. "We are the elites of the Broken Rose Kingdom, our horses don't bear any armor and hid our weapons in plain sight. We are coming with goodwill."

Lyon raised his chin before he noticed the man reaching for something slipped under the saddle. There he found a jade shaped with the same structure as the symbol on his outfit. The man lifted it up and showed it to him.

"The Broken Rose Sigil!" Rayus exclaimed. "A direct order from the king."

"Our king wished to meet with the esteemed one, Lyon Torga," said the man.

The three students had their eyes widened. The king of the Broken Rose wanted to meet their teacher.

"It seems like the Second Heaven is finally noticing your presence, teacher," Rayus smirked. "Well deserved I'd say."

"Are we really going to be involved in something so grand, right at this age?" Noah gulped.

"I kinda excited!" Reinhard grinned.

Lyon was neither happy nor surprised. He calmly said, "I guess you four are the reason why this path is so quiet."

"As expected from the esteemed one, mind sharp and eyes wide, nothing escapes esteemed one," said the man with a smile. "Please forgive us if we are too frontal in our way, but this decision was made for the most efficient result."

"What does he want with me?" asked Lyon.

"I'm afraid the outline and the details are kept within the king's mind," said the man. "The esteemed one must come with us to find out."

( What is this, a clickbait? ) thought Lyon as he sighed inwardly. "Am I the only one invited?"

"Of course, your friends as well."

"And my wife? I'm not going anywhere without her, well probably the toilet, but that's optional too, hehe," Lyon smirked a perverted face.

The man and the other three had black lines over their foreheads. (This is the one that could counter Burgeon Swan? Just a guy with hormones?).

"I believe his majesty meant everyone you want to come with, esteemed one," said the man.

"What is your name?" asked Lyon. 

"I'm Ifiz," said the man. "The commander of the royal knight in Broken Rose."

"Grandson, ask them if we can have an all-you-can-drink liquor," said Sun with a soft whisper.

Rui sighed, Bapho laughed and Shen rolled his eyes.

Lyon raised his brows. "Do you have liquors?"

"Liquor? Oh, of course! We have a whole dam for you if you asked, esteemed one."

"Let's go!" Sun sat at the top of Lyon's head.

"Huh?" The man furrowed his brows as he saw something on top of Lyon's head before vanishing. ( What? Am I seeing things? ).

"T-Teacher, I think it's better if you refrain from drinking," said Noah with a gulp. "Since the last time didn't go too well."

"Are you underestimating me, Noah?" Lyon asked.

"N-No, well, actually..."

"You heard none of that Ifiz," said Lyon. 

"Uh... right," Ifiz nodded nervously. ( This group is getting weirder every second ) thought Ifiz before he remembered the facts that Lyon did. ( Maybe that's the price of incredible power? ).

"Are you expecting me to walk there?" asked Lyon.

"Oh, uh... esteemed one can use my horse to return," said Ifiz. "Don't worry about me, I can go with the others."

"And what about these three?"

"This war horse is more than capable of handling three of them at once," said Ifiz with a proud nod. "They are a special breed."

"Can they run through Heaven and Hell?" asked Lyon.

"Huh...?"

"Nothing," Lyon shook his head. "Alright, Selena, which horse do you want to pick?"

"Darling, how about we walk instead," said Selena.

The eyebrows all raised. Lyon looked down to her face and she looked back at him. No words were spoken as Lyon's thoughts sink into nothingness. He smiled and looked at the four horsemen. "You heard the lady."

"B-But esteemed one!" Ifiz insisted. 

Lyon casually walked with Selena by his side. "I hope you don't want me to repeat myself."

"H-His majesty is eagerly waiting for your arrival," said Ifiz, "I'm afraid that it won't do."

"Your 'majesty' wishes to see me," said Lyon as he arrived a step away from Ifiz. "Not all wishes are granted, some delayed."

Ifiz's eyes widened in disbelief as he let Lyon and his wife walked past them. 

Reinhard gulped seeing how his teacher treated the royal knight of the Broken Rose Kingdom. The man even dared to not give a face to the king of the Broken Rose even when the sigil was clearly shown to him.

"W-What should we do?" asked Noah.

"We follow him of course," said Rayus.

"He's right," Reinhard nodded.

The three of them followed their teacher whilst looking at the four horsemen with vigilant. They didn't know if they will retaliate for not giving their king a face.

"W-What should we do?" asked one of the three at Ifiz.

"He disrespected the sigil, he disrespected the king, he disrespected the whole Broken Rose Kingdom!" added another one.

"I know that," said Ifiz before turning around and seeing Lyon and the group casually walking on the path like it was their own home. "But sheath your sword."

"But!"

"Do not escalate," said Ifiz, "His Majesty doesn't want any ill-intent to be felt on the esteemed one's side, even if that means that the esteemed one doesn't give face."

"Gh!" 

"Wipe that scowl out of your face," said Ifiz. "They are going to the Broken Rose Kingdom either way, we are just here to greet them and offered them a ride."

"Then what should we do?"

"We escort them," said Ifiz as he hopped on the horse. "By slowly cantering at the back, hya!"

The three of them looked at each other before following their leader.

Rayus furrowed his brows before stepping up close toward the couple, "Teacher, the four of them are following us."

However, he heard no response from their teacher and paused. Noah grabbed his shoulder before shaking his head at him.