Emperor's Reckoning

The woman leaped forward under everyone's gasps as they saw four golden tails sprung out of the bottom of her spine. Her eyes had a shadow of red as four banners menacingly fluttered behind her back. The glare only intensified as the headdress of a mighty god of war formed neatly on her head.

(What is that?!) thought Ayumu as she saw the current transformation her idol had. However, it only took her a blink of an eye before an explosion occurred and the whole island rumbled from its might.

As the cloud of dust settled, the guests and even Luke were slack-jawed. The one side of the entire palace walls cracked from corner to corner. A figure they all knew well was embedded right in the center as his arms and legs were crossed. The uniform he had on was shredded and torn, but the one that sent chills to the guest's heart was the imprint of a knuckle right in the middle of his chest. The burning sensation could be felt as steam coming out of it.

"Guha!"

He coughed out blood as his blonde hair disheveled. The sensation of pain was torturing as his meridians still trembled from the shock. The terrible damage was not just for the outside but also his core. The untouchable, the cold-blooded empress showed no mercy even against her own kin even though it was by law.

*Tap Tap

The footsteps were heard as the woman that wore a set of armor that was built around her figure presented herself once more. Her auburn hair slightly swayed as her arms swung when she walked. Before Borton did she stood stall, crossing her arms with her sharp golden eyes. A war goddess, the woman blessed with the peak physique of a mortal. The sword tattoo on her nape was the proof of this. 

Priscila put her hand to cover her surprised mouth. She had never seen her daughter in a full set of armor before, not to mention she couldn't recall having those sets in their own treasury. 

(Ah! That transformation!) Ayumu's eyes opened wide as she realized what's happening.

(Curious, curious! How did the empress manage to copy Lyon's devastating transformation?) thought Yunesia who watched Lyon doing the same back in the East City right before it turned to a jumbled mess. However, his transformation didn't last long before he reverted back to normal and passed out, but that single instance made his image known right to the witnesses' hearts, it burnt right inside their souls. 

"Cecile?" muttered Luke as he made a harsh gulp. He was still second-guessing even when he recognized that iconic auburn hair of hers. 

Cecile didn't answer as her sharp eyes still looked at the man that was at her mercy.

(I guess it was not just a rumor, that young man, Lyon Torga is definitely her husband! I've never seen her so mad before) thought Luke as he looked at the lass that used to be against kneeling to the old bone when she was still a young teen.

"You must have a death wish, Borton," said Cecile as she sharply let out those threatening words that were infused with mana.

Borton's meridian was once again hit then trembled the moment those words went through his eardrums. The mantra shook his soul before the blood rushed to his throat as he puked it out in disbelief. His pupils constricted as he couldn't believe that the young maiden was able to do such a feat.

"Mantra... since when did she learn that?" muttered Priscila to Jin's laughter.

"Borton!" Titania ran frantically to her husband before a golden tail that was lighter than air but heavier than a mountain stopped in front of her path. 

"Cecile! What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?" Cecile glanced over to the side before she continued, "I have shown mercy to you yesterday when you try to occupy my father's house. Yet tonight when I was in search for my missing husband I found your husband trying to kill him."

"Wait a minute... what?"

"Did she say what I think she said?"

"The empress has a husband?!"

"And that husband is... that young monster! Lyon Torga!"

Tusak shook his head along with the old master but a smile was present. This was one assertive woman amongst all women. 

Priscila let out a sigh before she said, "Dear guests, this is the true reason the banquet is being held here in my palace..."

(You mean ours right?).

(Shut up Jin).

(Hahaha!).

"To announce to you that my daughter has chosen her man. The husband of Cecile is none other than Lyon Torga."

The declaration caught a gasping noise from the guests. The words came out from her own mother and Cecile didn't seem to mind it. The woman stood stall without denying what her mother said. They started to understand then, how could Lyon dare to act brazenly from the start. However, some of them knew that he was like that even before the declaration of their marriage. 

Luna slightly furrowed her eyebrows before she looked at her man standing with his mouth slightly gape.

He stood there as if he forgot how to breathe and his eyes locked against Cecile's back. His adam's apple slowly moved up and down as his throat turned dry. The noise of the world had suddenly shut down as his pupils slowly dilated. He didn't blink, he couldn't blink. All of his senses were pointed out toward this tall woman with auburn hair that was vaguely familiar. His soul trembled as the storm outside gradually stopped. 

He didn't realize that the crowd's gaze was upon him the moment Priscila declared their relationship. He didn't care how the woman in front of her could utilize Devil Ape's transformation to such extent with ease. All he cared about was who she is to him. His fingers fidgeted as no word could escape his mouth. He felt as if more than a million sentences could be said about this feeling he had but not a single one could justify it. Only silence, only his heartbeat could. 

Cecile...

Cecile...

CECILE!!!

*Thump!

The name rang inside his mind as his soul was taken to a scene where he stood under a pillar of light against a woman who had chains on both wrists and ankles. Her hair was disheveled and her figure was a head shorter than him. She wore nothing but an ugly fabric that had holes in it. Fireflies could be seen fluttering around her as behind her was nothing but darkness and the bar of the cell they were confined to. 

His hands were tied together as he stood behind a wall that was occupied by green moss. His nose picked up the bitter smell that came out of her figure. He didn't know how long this woman had last taken a bath. However, the smile on his face was eternal as it shone brightly to the glimmer of the woman's eyes.

"My name is Lyon, Lyon Torga. What's yours?"

*Clank

The sound of the chain moving was heard as Lyon saw the woman took a step back. Her petite figure was worrisome as Lyon furrowed his eyebrows. Those arms of hers were thin as if bones were left but her agility was still sharp.

Lyon let out a sigh before he sat with his legs crossed under the pillar of light. 

"Looks like we are going to be cellmates for a while hahaha."

"Cecile..."

"Hmm??"

"My name is Cecile... Auburn."

"That's a nice name... so what are you here for?"

"Hm?...." The woman slightly opened her eyes wide.

"Well, I stole the queen's underwear..."

The atmosphere instantly turned dead silent before a knock on the cell was heard.

"Oi! Come back here, I put you in the wrong cell!"

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows before he shouted, "Nah! This is the right cell!"

"What?! You perverted beast! You can do this the hard way or the easy way, your choice."

"I won't choose then."

"What?!" the guard was clearly fuming.

"Heh, I'm just joking with you," said Lyon as he stood up before walking past her.

"Nice meeting you here, I'll see you around," Lyon grinned.

"You better watch your tongue boy, that lass is no ordinary lass," said the guard as he opened the gate.

"Yeah, I know."

"No you don't, you're not the locals, what do you know? That orphaned lass instigated the war between kingdoms."

"No, I'm not! I was framed! I was..." the woman refused to repeat the word once more. No matter how much she said it, nobody believed in her. She was a nobody, a street beggar, who would believe in her. She walked back as she leaned her back against the green mosses and hung her head down between her knees.

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Cecile's act.

"You know what sir, I think I am in the right cell."

"Hmm?"

Lyon smirked before he closed the rustic bars and locked them with the key that was still hanging on the keyhole. He pulled it out right in front of the guard's eyes, but before the latter could say a word, he pinched the keys with his two fingers as the item turned into dust right under his watchful eyes.

"You!... KH?!"

"Don't risk your life over this," Lyon's eyes turned a menacing red glow as he looked at him.