Emperor's Reckoning

Seven days had passed in the blink of an eye and the day of departure had arrived. 

Lyon was leisurely walking in a long hall with his hands behind his head. He was neither looking at the ceilings nor in front. He had closed his eyes with his mouth whistling carefree.

"Hm?" Lyon suddenly came to a halt. He opened his eyes before his eyes sneered down and found a woman standing a few steps away from him.

She was a woman that had tried to kill Lyon before though indirectly. She knew she stood no chance against the monster. If only she knew what he was then, she would have done something else. 

She clenched her fist to ease her nervousness but to no avail. The man in front of him had killed both her son and her husband on the same day. Then things escalated to the point of erasure of Treas family.

"Titania," muttered Lyon as he was the first one to call out in this weird atmosphere that he felt.

"L—" Titania shook her head, "Young noble Lyon, I wanted to..."

"Don't force your feelings, if you feel like it, just say it, if you don't like it then don't say it. I don't mind either way," said Lyon as he was trying to ease her trembling hands. The woman was having a shift of emotion and she herself was confused as to what to say.

Lyon let out a sigh before he walked forward and approached her.

"You and I have a difficult relationship now," said Lyon as he stated the obvious.

"I... I don't know if I should be mad or thank you. I was supposed to die," said Titania as she looked down and not daring to face him.

Lyon shrugged, "Not my fault, it's your fault. Who told you to die bare naked. With those breasts barring out in the cold. How could I stand and watch, aunty."

Titania's mouth opened wide. She could fit a whole chicken egg inside. Her words were stuck inside her throat as her jumbled mind came crashing without a decision to be made. Her cheeks naturally turned a red hue. She couldn't believe what the young man suddenly blurted out in this sensitive situation.

"Kh! You!" Titania's eyes turned into a cold glare.

"See, at least now you don't have to be confused by your own feelings," said Lyon with a chuckle before he went past her.

Titania furrowed her eyebrows before she turned around, "Don't you want to kill me?!"

Her words reverberated inside the lone hall and caught Lyon stopping his advances. The latter let out a sigh before turning around and looking at her once more.

"What are you talking about aunty? If I wanted you to die, not even Borton's ghost could do anything."

"Then... why?"

Lyon hummed, "Well, Cecile smooched me into it I guess, hahaha!"

"Cecile..." she muttered. This niece of hers was special to the point of unfathomable. She rarely saw the light of day but somehow she got a man like this one. Never did it cross her mind the solitary woman would fall for this perverted monster.

"I don't know about your relationship with Cecile but at least her mother cared about you and your own father, more so," said Lyon.

"I've heard your stories, aunty," smirked Lyon.

"Stories?"

"How you ended up with that power-hungry Borton," said Lyon before looking at Titania hunged her head down. She clenched both of her fists as deep regret exuded out of her figure.

"It's just bad luck, Titania," said Lyon. "The more you dwell in the past the more you will be trapped with it. Use the fact that you are now breathing and find the meaning of your life. I won't tell you to be grateful because that is stupid. Do what you want to do, it's your life. Find a suitable man, you got your father now as guidance. I have twisted the fate for you, now it's up to you to live it as you please."

"Pwah~" Lyon let a long sigh as he felt his throat dry out from those many words being said in a single breath.

Titania took a deep breath before letting it out all at once. She looked at the youth in front of him. Though he was definitely younger than her he was full of mystique somehow. Mature yet not mature. Wise yet not wise. He was unpredictable. He was free.

(I can't believe I say this, but if only I met a man that was as true as you) thought Titania before she shed a blush on her cheeks. 

"Thank you... nephew," said Titania with a smile and glistening moist eyes.

"Heh, you need a hug?" said Lyon as he opened his arms with a smile.

"No, thank you."

"Eh?"

"It's because I believe you that I won't hug you."

"That's the dumbest reason I've heard," said Lyon dejectedly before he turned around and walked away.

Titania smiled before she reached out her hand toward her chest. Her eyes immediately opened wide (Where is the knife?!) thought Titania as she screamed inwardly. Then she looked forward before seeing Lyon waving his hand goodbye to her as he leisurely walked toward the exit.

Her eyes froze as she saw what dangling between his fingers. It was the knife she had kept inside. However what shivered her the most was the other item that dangled beside the knife. It was her bra.

Titania let out a smile of defeat as she looked down. The blush on her face was ever mesmerizing as she was brought down in tears.

"I was totally defeated. That man is really dangerous for women. How many faires' hearts will he break? She got one already."

She was more than sane enough to know that killing Lyon with a simple knife would undoubtedly be impossible, lest foolish. He could have countered it in many ways, it was too easy for him. Thus, the knife was not for him, it was for her.

"How did he notice it I wonder, better yet, when," said Titania as she closed her eyes in tears.

---

Lyon leisurely walked outside before Kesya greeted him with an ambush from behind. She immediately went for his right ear before nibbling it like a kid. He didn't even surprise anymore by this woman's act.

Kesya's ears suddenly twitched, "Hmm... I smell a fragrance, I wonder who is your victim, hehe."

"Don't say it like that. I'm not a bad person alright," said Lyon as he feigned ignorance toward the identity of the victim.

"Breaking a woman's heart is a crime you know," said Kesya with a smile.

"Why would I break a woman's heart?" smirked Lyon as he kept his pace and headed toward the big open courtyard. The sun immediately blessed his face but Kesya was considerate enough and dutifully made a shade for his eyes with her arm.

The huge bird that was the spoil of the war screeched before leaping up. Opening and spreading the humongous wings the shadow naturally crashed against the entire city. 

Lyon smiled as he crossed his arms. He looked up before jumping altogether with Kesya. He landed perfectly on top of the bird's head without much effort. Seven days had passed since that fateful meeting with Zelena and now it was time to head to that region where Yunesia and Garuda returned with sour faces.

"You finally here."

The one person alive that dared to say those words to him without facing any recuperation was, of course, Cecile. 

She was accompanied by her parents, Priscila and Jin. The whole tour was not Yunesia's idea but rather because of Cecile's mother.

To prove the absurd identity of what her daughter claim to be. She was willing to go down that road. The fight where the legendary War Maiden fought against Eternal Golem. The famous bedtime story that had thousands of versions already.

"Emperor," Assid knelt. "The preparations are complete, we are ready to depart at any moment. Empress Cecile had given the green light, the only thing left is just a nod from Your Majesty."

"Hmm..." Lyon overlooked Assid and looked at the various people that joined in the expedition.

Yunesia was obviously standing with excitement however, Madoku/Madoka was also with her. Garuda and Ayumu were there too. Then at the corner, he saw a jade-haired beauty leaning against the small house.

"Alright, let's go," said Lyon as he turned around with his arms crossed.

"As you wish," Assid responded before the huge bird flapped its wings.

The wind fluttered their hair as they went toward the end line of the horizon. Lyon was standing at the frontmost and his three generals were standing right behind him. The powerful image was burned inside the onlookers' minds.

At the various regions, the other three had started to embark toward the same destination as them. Treasures, knowledge, they all hope to gain something in this dangerous trip. All for the preparation of that tournament.