Emperor's Reckoning



King Father Leander sat in the dimly lit library of Elyrianth's palace, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of ancient tomes and scrolls. His aged hands delicately turned the pages of a book on mystical beasts, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. The moon, casting a silvery glow through the stained glass windows, illuminated the room, adding an ethereal touch to the atmosphere.

His son's words echoed in his mind—descriptions of an extraordinary transformation, a manifestation of power and wonder. King Father Leander sought to understand, to uncover the truth hidden within the pages of the mystical bestiary.

Hours slipped by as he delved deeper into the knowledge contained within the ancient texts. His eyes scanned the intricate illustrations and detailed descriptions, seeking any resemblance to Lyon's enigmatic metamorphosis. Dragons, griffins, and phoenixes danced across the pages, each possessing its own unique qualities and abilities.

Lost in his thoughts, King Father Leander was startled by a sudden knock at the library door. He glanced up, his eyes meeting those of a guard standing in respectful attention. The guard's arrival was a reminder of the passage of time, and the duties that awaited him outside the confines of the library.

Lost in his thoughts, King Father Leander was startled by a sudden knock at the library door. He glanced up, his eyes meeting those of a guard standing in respectful attention. The guard's arrival was a reminder of the passage of time, and the duties that awaited him outside the confines of the library.

With a heavy sigh, King Father Leander closed the book before him, his fingertips lingering on the aged pages. The moon's glow waned slightly, casting a shadow across the room as he rose from his seat, his movements filled with a mix of curiosity and resignation.

"Your presence is requested in the Grand Hall, Your Highness," the guard informed him, his voice respectful yet urgent. "A grand dinner awaits, and the guests eagerly await your esteemed company."

King Father Leander nodded, his mind still mulling over the secrets hidden within the books. "Thank you, my loyal guard," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness. "I shall join them presently."

As he followed the guard through the corridors of the palace, King Father Leander couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic transformation Lyon had undergone. The book's pages, now closed, held fragments of knowledge, but the true nature of Lyon's power remained a mystery.

With each step, he resolved to seek answers, to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the kingdom's history and lore. The grand dinner in the Grand Hall awaited, but in his heart, King Father Leander knew that his quest for understanding would continue, guided by the flickering candle of curiosity that burned within him.

As King Father Leander entered the grand dinner, his eyes swept across the lavishly adorned hall. The warm glow of candlelight danced upon golden accents, casting a regal ambiance. The sound of murmured conversations and gentle laughter filled the air, creating a tapestry of merriment and anticipation.

His gaze settled upon the table, and there, seated with poise and grace, were Lyon and his companions. A sense of intrigue and curiosity flickered in King Father Leander's eyes as he observed Lyon, the enigmatic figure whose presence had ignited whispers throughout the kingdom.

Sitting beside Right in front of Selena was the mother of King Nyi. Her presence added an air of warmth and hospitality to the grand occasion. Her name, befitting her regal stature, was Queen Mother Isabella, known for her wisdom and compassion.

As King Father Leander took his place at the table, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride upon seeing his son, Nyi, seated in the master's seat. Nyi, with the confidence and charisma befitting a future ruler, met his father's gaze and offered a nod of acknowledgment.

Then he looked at who was sitting directly in front of him. He was the man that killed King Cae and rumbled the sea. He was the one that faced the rune user, Drogan face to face and live. Yet, the young cultivator in front of him exuded none of the feats he heard.

His bearing was lacking compared to his son. He was lacking the charisma, posture, and personality of his son. There was not a single regal aura exuding from the young man that made him spend hours in the library. This more than not, intrigued him more. Especially with how his mind vividly remembered, the instantaneous apocalyptic sense that almost tore his cold shoulders.

"Welcome, King Father Leander," Lyon said, his voice carrying a touch of intrigue and respect. "We are honored by your presence."

King Father Leander raised his brows and asked Lyon, "You know my name?"

His wife filled the hall with chuckles before she said to her husband, "We were talking about you."

"O-Oh... is that so," said King Father Leander, "I hope you speak of the good things I did."

"Well absolutely, Father," said Nyi by the side before the atmosphere lightened up further.

King Father Leander nodded toward Lyon with a gentle smile. "The honor is mine, Lyon," he replied, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and admiration. "Your arrival has brought a renewed sense of wonder to our kingdom."

The first set of meals progressed and the fragrance of the deluxe cuisines of Elyrianth wafted through the hall. King Father Leander glanced at the food before smiling, "Ah, what perfect timing."

As the waiters and waitresses served the dishes synchronically, King Nyi glanced at Lyon, whose eyes were glued toward the food on his plate with a faint mist blessing the garnishes around. King Nyi leaned over a bit to his side, "What do you think?"

"I have to say, this is the best reception I've had so far in Second Heaven," said Lyon before he glanced at King Nyi back.

King Nyi was slightly confused by the gaze that Lyon gave him before he remembered how he and his students got poisoned in the first place. He took no offense and was the first one to take a bite of the food. Once again, derailing from the usual custom of the royalty.

"Nyi?! What are you doing?" Queen Mother Isabella slapped his son's hand.

King Nyi swallowed food first before looking at her mother. "Don't worry Mother, I did this to gain trust from Lyon."

"Trust?" Queen Mother Isabella furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

King Father Leander stepped into the conversation. "Lyon was in fact poisoned, and the way he got poisoned was through the dishes that King— Excuse me, Cae, served to him."

"Oh my! Is that true Lyon?" Queen Mother Isabella looked at Lyon with her lips covered by her hand. Her voice was filled with pure curiosity.

Lyon nodded in acknowledgment, "It was tragic, but with great determination, we somehow prevailed."

"Oh, then you should eat well, come, come, don't hold back and eat," said Queen Mother Isabella. "We have plenty more, and I bet the chefs are eager to cook even the most extravagant ones!"

"Hahaha, calm down Isabella," said King Father Leander, "Let the young man eat with peace, his poisoned is already cured, otherwise, this meeting wouldn't have occurred."

Queen Mother Isabella took a deep sigh of relief, "Right, right, I forgot. However, you still need to eat a lot, young man, you are traveling for seven days, I've heard, and your wife too."

"Well," King Nyi extended his arms above the table whilst looking at the guests and his parents, "Let's eat."

The students were nervous, even holding the spoon without jittering was almost impossible. Selena noticed this before giving the three of them a mean glare. Their muscles immediately froze and the jitter was no more, however, it was a struggle to move and scoop the food on the plate now.

"Lyon, why don't you share your adventures as you got here?" asked King Father Leander. "Of course, if you mind, you don't have to force yourself, this is just my personal request."

Lyon chuckled, "I don't want the whole Elyrianth to hold me in contempt for not respecting your request."

King Father Leander gave a gentle smile and nodded. He was trying to pick up the hints that his son might miss, be it his voice, his expression, or his body language. A desire to unravel the mysteries of his being drives the conversation in the Grand Hall.

Lyon started to recount the event happening the moment he arrived in Second Heaven and missed some of the details in purpose. Meanwhile, under no gaze that a glass of wine was stolen from the table and dragged under. Sun's eyes glimmered as Shen judged him from the side and Bapho giggle in the atmosphere. However, Rui was sitting on top of Lyon's head with her arms crossed, listening to the conversation.

As the night wore on, laughter and conversation intertwined, forging bonds between them.