Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon slightly turned and looked at Elder Tamuh, of whom he was standing by with his arms crossed.

The bald elder gave out a smile that quickly gave Lyon a distaste. He was the first one to antagonize Elder Elise back in the yard. That didn't give the latter much first impression.

"Young friend," Elder Tamuh said to Lyon, "It's very amazing of you to bring our leader here to the Third Hall even I have tried many times, but alas the headmaster had grown bored of my face."

"Haha, please don't mind his joke," the headmaster quickly denied with a shook of his head. "How can I grow tired of seeing my own student?"

"People do get tired seeing the same person over and over again, headmaster," said Lyon to their surprise before he added, "Unless they are your loved ones."

The headmaster smiled but Elder Tamuh was different. He was showing a smile but inwardly he grew more skeptical against Lyon. It may be true that the latter had hunted a kunpeng with the cleanest kill he had ever seen, but the way he used his words seemed to attack him.

"Elder Tamuh, are you a frequent visitor here in the Second Hall,"

"Third Hall," answered Elder Tamuh

"Yes, that's what I mean. You can't blame a newcomer for not memorizing your halls that quickly," said Lyon as he shrugged.

"To your question," the bald elder smiled, "I am true. In fact, my table is directly your neighbor, hahaha."

"Oh?" Lyon raised his brows, "I see."

"That's right, that's why I couldn't help but be excited to hear the headmaster was in the Third Hall," Elder Tamuh laughed as he made his way to his table.

The table was at the same size as Lyon's table but they were more packed with varying cultivators and alchemists alike.

Lyon smiled, but after Tamuh sat down right behind him, he turned his glance back to the headmaster. "I heard from Renduval on the way here."

"What is it, young friend?" The headmaster creased his brows.

"That Alchemy Union shall not, will not, and must not interfere with kingdom matters, is that true?" asked Lyon.

"Oh?" Elder Tamuh raised his brows. "Let me answer that question for you."

(I can't believe someone that doesn't know Alchemy Union even existed, even those living in a cave would have known of it!) thought Elder Tamuh despite feigning a smile.

"It is true that we must not interfere with kingdoms that were in a war, but we still do sell our goods to them but at a neutral price," said Elder Tamuh as he nodded with his arms crossed.

"Sell your goods at a neutral price?" Lyon didn't turn. "How do we know if you guys sell something at a neutral price?"

Elder Tamuh frowned as the atmosphere on the second floor turned slightly close. "Young friend, are you questioning the neutrality of the Alchemy Union? Are you questioning our pride?"

"Is it wrong to be questionable, headmaster?" Lyon asked.

"Curiosity kills the cat, young friend," answered Tamuh with a smirk. "Alchemy Union had been built from a long time ago. The reason we are making it this far is because of our etiquette in both learning the way of the alchemist and also making our own class of standards. That is true both for the pills that we made, and the deals that we gave."

"That's right!" said one from Tamuh's table

"Elder Tamuh is right!" said another.

Elder Tamuh naturally smiled back as they eased the cold atmosphere back to its normal state. "Now, now, I'm sure our young friend here doesn't mean it that way, isn't that right, young friend?"

Lyon took a glass before gulping it down. He slammed the glass against the wooden table to a loud thock. (Damn, he gave me plain water!).

"The meaning of the words is as you perceive it, not as me," said Lyon before he snorted with a smile. "Does the frog see the swan as the other swan sees the swan?"

Tamuh furrowed his brows as the others did the same. He suddenly spouted words that could be considered a quote. Layers of meaning were in that single sentence and it made them ponder.

Lumina was quite surprised as she looked at Lyon. Her eyes were slightly widened, never did she know that Lyon was able to say something like that, considering how his unlawful behavior seems to produce nothing but negativity.

Meanwhile, the auburn beauty was chuckling under her arm after she took a glance at their surprised faces. (My dearest always delivers his underlying wisdom casually and always stuns them hahaha!).

"Young friend, that's..." the headmaster smiled wryly. "You are pretty articulate."

"Nah, it's just bullshit that I just muttered out," said Lyon as he shrugged.

"Big brother!"

"Hah!" Lyon let out the heaviest sigh in the room that fog almost came out of his lips like dry ice. His eyes refused to open for the longest time as he knew who the voice belonged to. The sword maniac with red hair. He still hardly believe that Martis and Zet are siblings. Pointed a gun to his head he would answer Jugen to be his older brother and got shot with a smile.

"You guys are finally here," said Kesya, "We are all starving."

"Please, forgive us, hehe," Porealus smiled wryly. (Were it not for these old men acting like they're three years old, we would have gotten here sooner!).

"Uhmm, young master Lyon," Cherie called out.

"Hmm? What is it, Princess Cherie?" Lyon raised his brows.

"Where is Hilde?" asked Cherie with a smile. "She should be accompanying you, young master."

"Accompany?" Lyon smiled. "That is an amusing word to use."

Cherie smiled wryly.

"But you're right, I forgot that she is still asleep in the library," said Lyon as he grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, my, she must have been exhausted, I hope you didn't do anything wild to her," said Cherie with a chuckle under the cover of her hand.

"Phrasing," said Lyon as he snorted with a smile. "Someone should wake her up."

"Renduval!" Lyon shouted.

"What?!" Renduval had just done taking the stairs.

Lyon furrowed his brows before he smiled, "You know what, never mind."

Lyon stood up with a smile, "I need to go."

A gentle hand suddenly grabbed one of his shoulders before slowly pushing him back down to his seat.

"No," said Lumina without even looking at his face.

"Alright," Lyon nodded.

"If you're looking for me, I'm already here."

Hilde suddenly showed up with a sigh; Her eyelids still covered half of her eyes and she yawned not long after she answered his call.

"Oh, then that's all of us then," said Lyon with a smile. "C'mon let's eat."

Hilde twitched her eyebrows but she was too thirsty to complain even inwardly.

The headmaster smiled but frowned afterward as Lyon didn't even wait for him to take the first meal. Lyon immediately grabbed whatever he wanted and put it on his plate, Lumina's, and Cecile's as well. The gentle gesture immediately brought more radiant to the two of them. 

"Young master, my plate is still empty," said Kesya as she outstretched her arms with a grin.

"Hmm," Lyon squinted his eyes but stood up and grabbed the tong. He clapped it as a matter of course before picking up the food as if he was the one who cooked it himself.

"There," Lyon gave the last piece of condiment before he sat down. 

"Ah~ This food is given from young master's hard-earned love, I will cherish this till the end of eternity, which is never!" said Kesya before she began to eat as calmly as possible.

"What are you doing, haha!" Lyon chuckled seeing Kesya eating slower than a princess.

"C'mon, everyone, eat," said Lyon with a bright smile before the rest of the groups joined his table. 

Chatters and a beautifully serene atmosphere adorned the dining. The headmaster was still uncomfortable sitting between Kesya and Graham, but regardless, he still tried to enjoy the food.

It was pretty festive, at least for Lyon's table. There was hardly any sorrow on their faces. Zet was having a good time and his grandfather Tael was also having a good time with his best friend, Carius. Porealus didn't even spare a glance as he drank his tiredness away. Assid was carefully checking the drinks before they reached his master, and Graham calmly ate like the silent powerhouse in the room.

However, one figure was apparently not enjoying the festive.

Cecile randomly took a glance at the ice beauty, Ivy. The appearance of Elder Anna brought a huge mental shock that she and Lyon couldn't help but notice. There was a deeper bond between the two of them that they didn't know existed. It was more apparent with how the matriarch of the Yuki Clan reacted.

Cecile smiled before she passed her a drink, "Don't be so chilly, relax once in a while."

Ivy squinted her eyes but received her gesture before gulping the warm wine.