Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon immediately noticed the black cauldron in the middle of the room before anything else. It was superbly clean to the point that his own reflection could be seen with the right angle of lightning. His eyes wandered a little before he saw various plants on the curvy walls. Various jars on the shelves and pot of flowers alike. The room was not necessarily big but it had enough furniture to be called a mini house.

Lyon crossed his arms as he heard the door closed by the headmaster. "Do all alchemists always have dim-lighted room or is it just yours?"

"Oh? That's a really good observation from you, and yes, the dimmer the light the better for our observation," said the headmaster.

"Are you interested in alchemy perhaps?" The headmaster went and prepared a tea with a smile. "Oh and please sit down on that small chair over there."

Lyon glance around to see the chair he mentioned. The chair was small and circular, the kind of outdoor chairs one could see in a theme park, complete with the small table as well. 

"Maybe," he answered before he went and sat down on the small chair. "You know, this looks more like a hut than a proper room, are you seriously living in this place?"

"Oh?" The headmaster turned around with a tray in his hands. "This is the first time a guest had said that to me, you are really blunt, young friend."

"Heh," Lyon smirked as the headmaster served his tea. "Maybe because your status is too intimidating for the common folks? Especially if they need your favor."

The headmaster smiled before he sat down on the opposite chair. "So what do you think about Alchemy Union so far?"

"The skirts are a nice touch," Lyon nodded.

"Excuse me?" The headmaster tilted his head.

"You heard me," Lyon smiled as he crossed his arms. "I have rarely seen women in skirts, so it's a nice change of view."

"Ah," the headmaster chuckled. "Indeed, but it is for the purpose of alchemy."

"What?" Lyon asked.

"You heard me," the headmaster laughed.

Lyon squinted his eyes before he asked, "I've seen that there is another stair leading up to the third floor, but something seems to be blocking in my way."

"Ah yes, that place is quite restricted, I do apologize but only elders and above are able to enter that place," the headmaster nodded. "Whatever interest you in going there?"

"Curiosity," said Lyon.

"Curiosity kills the cat, that's an old saying," the headmaster laughed before he sighed, "but more alchemists died because of it too."

"Without the dead from those alchemists, the art might not be as far as we have now," said Lyon.

"Oh?" the headmaster was astounded. "You are far-sighted as well, hmm, how can someone be as young as you be so wise?"

"Being wise has nothing to do with age, old man," said Lyon as he chuckled. "It's merely a thought from a different angle."

"En," the headmaster nodded his head firmly. Though the young man in front of him was vulgar, there was no flaw that he minded in his words.

"Now, then how can I help you? Young friend?" asked the headmaster as he poured the tea from the teapot into his empty glass.

"I'm looking for a pill that can make my soul stronger," said Lyon as his eyes sharpened. "Something that directly enhance my soul's tenacity and made it almost invulnerable."

"Hmm..." the headmaster furrowed his thick brows as he sipped the tea. "That's a really heavy request."

"Even for you?" Lyon raised one of his brows.

"Even for me," the headmaster nodded. "You see, young friend, we create pills that directly meddle with the meridians rather than wound or anything. However, the soul is something that is hardly understandable even by the most advanced alchemists."

"Is that so?" Lyon furrowed his brows. (But Cecile knew there is indeed a pill that could help one's soul to be more robust).

"Yes," the headmaster dejectedly sighed. "Maybe the only way is to cultivate further, or train with the alchemy art using your soul flame."

"Hm... the second option might work, but is there another way?" asked Lyon. 

The headmaster pondered before he leaned forward. "Are you interested in some legends?"

"Legends? Absolutely," said Lyon.

"Ah, I see that you have the fire of an adventurer inside you," the headmaster chuckled. "However."

He let out a heavy long snort, "This legend is not a pretty one."

"Why not, all pretty things are just incomplete, everything has its fair share of shits," Lyon chuckled.

"Haha, that's the vulgar way of saying it," the headmaster chuckled. "Well... do you ever heard the term, necromancy?"

Lyon's eyes turned sharp. He remembered what happened in that village where he was planning to lodge before pursuing Legion. Everyone in that place was reanimated. They were dead before he even arrived.

"I know," Lyon nodded.

The headmaster nodded, "That's right, necromancy is one of those arts that relied on the understanding of the soul, more intensely than any other art."

"No, no, that's not how it works," Lyon shook his head. "Necromancy is nothing but the incomplete form of life element."

"Oh?" the headmaster's eyebrows rose. "Can you please elaborate your thought?"

"No," Lyon shook his head. "I still have no idea how it fully works, but that's all my thought to it."

Lyon looked at the headmaster, "There is a pill that could help enhance the soul of a cultivator, it might not be permanent but it's better than nothing, however, I forgot its name."

"Are you saying that the information might be on the third floor?" asked the headmaster with a hint of grim.

"I'm saying that you should look for such information on the third floor," said Lyon. "I'm here for a week, you can find me whenever in that period of time."

Lyon stood up, "You can either help me or not, that's your choice."

Lyon turned around and looked over his shoulder before he said, "Curiosity kills the cat, but the cat has nine lives."

He smirked as he left.