Emperor's Reckoning

In a room where the Treas family gathers, one woman was sleeping on top of a giant beautiful lotus. Titania, the woman that was on the brink of death suddenly twitched her closed eyes. She heard not the gasps from her surrounding. Her eyes felt heavy like they refused to be open but the woman tried anyway. 

The first light came to be and her view was blurred. Regaining her focus took sometimes but when she could finally saw it clearly, she realized that it was not her ceiling. Her breathing was heavy and controlled but not by her consciousness, instead of by the pace of her healing capabilities. She couldn't force herself to take a large breath of air no matter how much strength did she put on.

Her skin started to feel her surrounding. It was the softest and most comfortable bed she ever slept on. The world seemed mundane and the word 'problem' escaped out of the dictionary. 

She tried to turn her neck right but the strength was not there. She tried to the left and the same thing happened. She felt weaker than a toddler who had learned how to walk. 

"Nia..."

(Huh? Who is that?) thought Titania as she thought she heard a voice calling out to her. However, she couldn't turn her body around to see who it was. 

"Nia.."

(There it is again... Who are you?) thought Titania as she helplessly blink. She felt a little feverish on her feet before the sensation crept up toward her thigh. Her navel, her breasts, and then her cheeks. She could feel it but she can't do anything about it. She wanted to scream but not a word could even get to her throat.

"Tit...nia."

"Tit..."

"Hehe tit."

"Jin! Stop kidding around!" shouted a woman loud and clear.

"Eh?" Titania's eyes snapped open before she saw a man was flying over her body and went on before a loud boom ensued. The wall crack before a fuming heave of up and down could be heard.

"Big sister? muttered Titania.

Priscila already had her hands on her waist as her breast moved up and down but her changed immediately shifted as she heard those two words. She turned around and looked at Titania. Her throat suddenly felt hoarse as tears running down her eyes. She sat down and her trembling hand reached out to her cheek.

Titania could only see the incoming hand with her eyes. Lifting a finger was still an impossible task. However, the tears of her older sister brought her pupils to a slight dilate.

Priscila let out a sigh under her tears, "You know, I thought I lost you for good."

"But... why..." muttered Titania.

"Because you are my sister. The reckless, stupid, and moody sister of mine," said Priscila before she leaned in and put her forehead against hers. She closed her eyes as her entire figure shook from the erupting emotion that drowned her soul.

Titania looked at her sister dumbfoundedly. She felt her tears dropping against her cheek before her ears twitched as she said, "S-Sorry... I'm so sorry... I failed you as an older sister... I, I..."

"What... are you... talking about?" asked Titania.

Priscila pulled her face back and let go of the contact. She sat beside her before letting out a sigh. Grabbing a tissue next to her she wiped out her tears before looking at her sister. "I've heard father's regret."

Titania's eyes opened wide but she didn't utter a word.

"If only I gave you more guidance, be closer to you then, maybe you will have a better life and won't hate me that much," said Priscila as she had her head down.

She could feel the regret in her tones. It was the first time since ever did she saw her older sister cried. There was a genuine ache in her heart as she looked at her like this. However, even if she tried to laugh it off, she was too weak to do so.

"It's not your fault, big sister," said Titania before she averted her gaze toward the ceiling. "I am weak, both mentally and physique. I'm... always trying to seek the approval of others. To show them that I'm strong. Heh, I can't even laugh at it right now. All the mistakes that I did, they were foolish."

Priscila shook her head whilst stiffen up her upper lip.

"You won't be led astray if I was there for you... I have the world, but I lost a sister. No more..."

"I should have been more adamant and strict with you," said Luke before making Titania looked at him.

His eyes were closed but she could feel his figure was trembling, especially with how he crossed his arms.

"I'm an ignorant big brother for you, I'm sorry," said Luke as he had his head hung down.

Titania looked at her older brother apologizing to her and her eyes dilated as she saw his face was crying. Every crease on his face symbolized his regret and she could very well notice it. He was a man of many words but when blue feelings like this happening, he always had the least. 

"Our father," uttered Priscila. "He is currently drowned and swayed by regret. He told us the moment that you tried to ask his opinion about a man. The day where he was last seen."

A shiver ran to her spine as Titania immediately remembered that day. The turning point of her life. The pivot where everything turned for the worse.

"He regretted it. I never see him crying before but when he touched your cold body, even the proud lord Var kneel in defeat," said Priscila.

"That's right," uttered Noark as he suddenly came to her view.

"FA-..." Titania lost her word. She could see his dry face. There were traces of dry tears from his cheeks, creating a pathway. His eyes were red and had black bags under them. He looked several years older but she knew that he was her father.

"I regret it, I regret I didn't hear you through and through," said Noark as his eyes glistened. "When I came to this world for the second time, I've heard that you are planning to take Priscila's treasures and lands but he stopped you. From the stories, I thought that you are corrupted just like your grandfather. Willing to sacrifice even your own family to your personal desire."

"However, I was wrong. How could my daughter with that look in her eyes then, be corrupted.

"If only I stopped back then. If only I didn't pursue it back then. I would have been able to be there for you. Sorry... I'm so sorry..." his tears dropped once more.

He had pursued his father for becoming corrupted with greed but unbeknownst to him, he was too corrupted by vengeance. Being blind to his surrounding then, not even the silent cry of her daughter did he hear.

He reached out to his daughter's hand before clasping it with both of his hands. His eyes were undoubtedly drenched but the warmth that he felt brought him to kiss the hand that long ago was so little it could only grab one of his fingers.

"Father... I..." muttered Titania. 

Noark noticed her fatigue breath. "Titania, rest for now when you are well," he smiled, "I will have an earful of your complaints, and this time... I'll be there."

"B-But."

Noark shook his head, "Rest."

She was too weak to even protest. Her eyes slowly closed as she saw her entire family gathered. Her lips pointed upward as she immediately entered deep sleep due to the quality of the ground she was on.

"Father, we will go to that place in a week."

"Huh? Oh, you're back," said Jin who was standing right at the entrance of the door. "Where is he?"

Cecile smiled, "He is downstairs."

Jin was slightly confused by her answer but the latter yawned before she walked the hall with no care.

Meanwhile, downstairs.

Lyon was sitting in front of a man. He crossed his arms as his three generals stood behind him. The intense atmosphere brought the man to make a harsh swallow.

"R-Revered one, h-how may I help."

He was one of Legion that Lyon decide to save back then.

"First, you can show me where you're to headquarter is located. Lead," said Lyon. "Assid, I have a favor, please take care of Karina while I'm away, she is the.—"

"The blonde woman with anti-mana. Understood," said Assid before he bowed and just vanished to thin air.

Lyon's eyebrows slightly twitched (Damn he did his research well). He smiled before looking at the man in front of him. The latter was still dumbfounded by the insane magic-like speed that Assid had just performed right before his very eyes.

"Lead," said Lyon as his eyes turned sharp.

"Y-Yes! Right away!" the man stood up.

(With these three I can rest assured that they would be safe) thought Lyon as he stood up. "Let's go."

"En!"

"Yes, master!"

Graham and Kesya tagged along.