Emperor's Reckoning

The crowd was stupefied as they saw the result, some actually had tears wetting their faces. The title on the monument shine everlasting and there was no sign of dimming in the slightest. This was hope, this was the sign they were waiting for, this was the coming of a new era in Kingdom Nostria or maybe even the whole Deo.

"Can we make it this time?! Can we win this time?!" a young man said while grasping his hand tightly.

"It's hard to say, even though he has the greatest title, it's only talent and not the cultivation level, not to mention that he only has about 14 days left until the competition and 9 days until the selection," said a wise old man. The mood got heavy again as they realized the reality.

*swoosh

Three distinctive old men appeared in front of Lyon like a wind.

One of the old men had a really skinny figure that looked like a skeleton. He had an oval face that had been eaten by time, very wrinkled. His eyes were tiny that it looked like he was always sleeping. He had only one hand holding a staff while the other hand of his was hidden inside his long robe. He seemed to be the smartest of the three. His name was Crux, the grandmaster of magic and alchemy in Nostria.

The middle-old man stood with a crossed arm, he had a really well-built figure for his age. The muscles on his body were really firm and hard. He had no facial hair whatsoever but his spiky white hair made it so that he looked younger than his actual age. He had a bright hazelnut-black-eyes that match his chiseled-square face. He wore a white tank top with short boxer pants and the flower pattern embroidered on it was to prove that he was a carefree guy. His name was Chun, the Supreme Commander in Nostria.

The right old man had a chocolate-milk skin and a big muscle, especially in his arms. He wore a dirty apron and thick gloves. His timeworn face and white goatee matched his strict personality. He had a crew cut gunmetal-gray hair and jaded crow's feet eyes. He was holding a hammer and a sword that was still red and emitting heat. His name was Charlie the master blacksmith in Nostria.

These three old men were popular in Nostria because of their merits and sadly also their demerits. The people called this trio 'Tri C Trouble' because all their names started with C and always made a ruckus out of random things.

"Ah, grandpa Crux, grandpa Chun, grandpa Charlie good afternoon," said Sylviana.

"Oh little Sylvi you are already here?" said Crux with a husky voice.

"HAHAHA little Sylvi you should visit grandpa often you know," said Chun in a deep bass voice.

"Have you eaten yet Sylvi? You should eat more healthy food more and stop drinking you know," said Charlie caringly.

"Just let her had her youthful life, Charlie, nobody is a workaholic like you," said Chun.

"WELL.. nobody is as carefree as you too you lazy ass commander!" said Charlie.

"Stop it you two!" said Crux.

"Shut it Crux, the only reason you wear your cape is that you are bald!"

"That's right, and what's up with your husky voice. You chant so much but no magic came out of it you stupid old man."

A shade of red grown deeper and deeper on both Sylviana and Fei's face as the crowd watching their group with black lines.

"Okay enough you three you are embarrassing little Sylvi and Fei." berated Zitian.

"Since you said it I shall give you face," said Chun.

"Me too."

"Me three."

"So who caused the recent commotion?" asked Chun

"It's this kid," pointed Zitian

"He did? hmm never seen his face before, are you new here kid?" said Charlie. Then Fei, Sylviana, and Zitian explain the situation to the trio.

"Hmm interesting," said Crux.

"Do you know magic skills? what are your elements aptitude?" asked Crux.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," said Lyon.

"You don't know magic skills nor elements?"

"No idea."

"Then I shall explain it to you."

"NO!! NO!! GOD NO!! I will explain it instead, nobody wants to fucking hear your husky voice anymore," said Chun.

With a cough, Chun explained, "Listen kid, the world resolves around Cultivation and Magic."

"There are many realms regarding cultivation that some would say that it's endless. The earliest level was Body Tempering realm, which further divided into ten levels before the next realm,

In order, the level is Body Tempering-Transformation-Heaven-Elemental-Soul then lastly, Divine, sadly, we don't have any information beyond that level, oh and, you gained more life spans as you deepen your cultivation."

Chun paused for a second as he saw that Lyon was repeatedly nodding.

"Well, that was simple enough, thank you," said Lyon.

Chun nodded, "Good, moving on, magic is not really complicated, depending on your affinities, you could perform better to a certain element than the others,"

"The problem was understanding the essence of the spell in Gaia's language. Once you do, all you have to do is absorb the heaven's and world's energy or mana for short, then focused your will and heart in spelling them with your finger before loudly chanted them,"

"Then do you have a grading system for the spells?"

"Yes, we do, but normally it won't matter since it only symbolizes one rareness, not the force contained within, a level one white might beat a level ten rainbow spells, the grade will reveal itself when the spell is successfully chanted including the realms the spell belonged to."

"If you are wondering it's, white-blue-red-green-yellow-brown-orange-violet-black-rainbow, in that order, but again, it's only for rarity. The things that you should have a careful look is the realm, basic-taboo-saint-soul-divine? Maybe in that order haha!"

"Then there is art, which you can learn from hardships, sweat, and blood differs from magic but equally devastating,"

"Did you understand that?" said Chun.

"Yes," said Lyon calmly.

"It's okay if you-.... wait, what?! You really understand that?!" gobsmacked Chun.

"I mean, it's not that complex is it?"

His answer caught the silence before Crux let out a cough to escape from this awkward situation.

"Well...what are you waiting for, let's go test your magic aptitude," said Crux.

"I will do that later but first I need to discuss with both of the girls in private," said Lyon while smiling to the girls.

"No way I'm gonna be on a date with someone like you," said Sylviana.

"But miss you are the queen you must accept this loss," said Fei.

"But-but."

"It's alright, remember I'm going to the date too, everything will be fine," said Fei.

"Okay then, but under one condition, I cannot go on a date with you because of my status, so you shall not call my title at all to avoid chaos."

"Okay I can deal with that, but you must not run away until the date is over got it?"

"Deal."

"Deal."

"Then tomorrow wait for me when the sun is directly above you, in the fountain park at the center of this city," said Lyon.

"Alright."

"By the way where are you sleeping for tonight Lyon?" asked Fei.

"I'm gonna sleep in the room where I got the bandages. I can't afford an inn I don't have any money."

"Oh alright then, I will tell the guards to clean your room later."

"Many thanks, beautiful general." wink Lyon.

"Don't mention it," said Fei.

"Are you done yet kid?" said Crux.

"Oh yeah sure, let's go," said Lyon (My revenge shall be served, cold) as he walked to the magic hall building.