Emperor's Reckoning

Sophia had found herself back in the empress room. Her nervousness was apparent as she stood rigidly but nonetheless, she gave the empress her report.

"So an assassination attempt was made on him that early?" said the empress who sat against the window instead of Sophia.

Sophia nodded, "Yes, I'm really sorry to allow such a thing to happen. We have thoroughly investigated and managed to gain two crucial points."

Sophia took a deep breath before she explained, "Firstly was that the patch of blood found in the room did not belong to Lyon Torga but rather the assailant. Secondly, two returning jade stones were used."

Unbeknownst to Sophia, the empress puckered up a smile on her face before she said, "Knowing him, he probably doing something unpredictable again. Something crazy that common people could only shake their heads in disbelief. It's his nature to do as he please."

Sophia was startled as she heard the words from the empress. She never thought that her empress would speak highly of someone that much. She couldn't even remember when was the last time it happened.

"After all, the Abyss Tower has been calm and serene this past few years. It's about time the place should be shaken up a little. Though, I doubt it would be 'little' considering him involved."

"So it is the assassin from the Abyss Tower after all."

"Though we do not have concrete proof, it was quite obvious that the assassin came from there. Only the assassins from that tower are willing to kill a weakling from our little tournament. However, they miscalculated this time."

"Then, should we plan a strike toward the Abyss Tower?"

"Plan? No need, I can destroy them anytime I want, besides, he is probably already there to shake things up."

Sophia didn't doubt at all that the empress could flatten the tower if she willed it so. So far, she witnessed nothing that couldn't be done by her. She was her idol from when she was still a little girl.

"Do you really believe in his capabilities that much?" there was a hint of jealousy in her tone.

The empress smiled, "Believe? I know him when he was still a nobody of mention." Then her voice turned soft, "and he knows me when I was lesser than a human being."

Sophia didn't quite catch the second part of her words but the first part left her confused. She didn't remember the empress going out to a lesser world just to watch a boy nor did she ever got out of the room for that matter.

(Who is this guy to her?) thought Sophia. She remembered one time that the empress mentioned the man in the painting was her husband and that she was married a long time ago but she never exactly tell when. No matter how much she compared the two faces of which she knew face to face and the painting, it was exactly the same except for the outfit.

She couldn't accept the thought that Lyon was probably her husband. With the cultivation power difference that was sky high and the age gap that was also to be considered, it would be impossible for an empress of power that couldn't be shaken to be with a youngster that held the potential of the world. (Potential of the world huh, maybe... but, this is all so confusing, not to mention Ryona also said that she was his wife and Luna was his woman).

(That handsome thief, who is he exactly? What kind of role is he going to play) thought Sophia.

The empress stretched her arms as she yawned. "You don't need to be so confused, when the time comes, all will be revealed. However a warning, you wouldn't believe it even if you heard it. There is always a bigger world out there and even more powerful kingdoms or families than Treas and he...is one of them, and even that is still an understatement."

"Wha—"

"Well, that's it for today, I'm going to pacify myself with a soak in a hot tub."

--------------

"Ol...ther..."

"Olde...Bro..."

"OLDER BROTHER!"

"Wha what? What's going on?" Lyon's eyes were slammed open before he darted his unfocused glance against Tuey who was pouting at him. He rustled his hair, "What, what is it Tuey? You don't have to shout you know."

"I called you ten times older brother," said Tuey with a pant.

"Right, I was having a good dream you know, it was about this beautiful woman who was with her beautiful friend and her beautiful aunt, and —"

"Stoppp!!!"

"Huh, what?"

With her hands clenching she said, "We have arrived."

"Arrived? Where are we even going?"

"What?! What do you mean where are we even going?!"

Lyon chuckled as he gave her a pat on the head in which her tail wiggled in pleasure. He stood up before he stretched his back. "Alright then, let's go see this Cefralin Empire."

He opened the door before the shimmering light took a flash on his face. He raised his hand to block the sun before taking a good look at the grand city standing in front of him. He put up a smirk as the vast city was mounting high with a huge palace standing on the topmost of the land.

The ship slowly docked at the port before the knight drew a bridge. The black knight approached the bridge before gesturing with his hand, "Welcome to Cefralin Empire."

"En, let's go Tuey," said Lyon as he walked on the bridge before the little demi-human girl followed. 

Their arrival was merrily welcomed by the people but the knights soon dispersed the crowd even before Lyon was able to clearly see any of their faces. (That's odd, Tuey was in a clear view but there was no hate speech or insults being thrown) thought Lyon.

The black knight approached him before saying, "Please, follow me, I arranged the others to tend the ships."

"En," Lyon nodded before he put his hands behind his head. His lazy look often fooled everyone that he was a nobody but the people that knew his capabilities knew how ruthless he could be.

After walking up a few blocks he heard a clatter from the nearby building. The sound soon turned into banging on the door as Lyon stopped his tracks and peeked at the alleyway. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the beer mug symbol on top of the door. (A bar huh?).

Lyon shook his head with a smile, probably drunk dudes fighting.

*bang

The door was forcefully opened as a figure flew and hit the wall. His figure was slim to the bone and he had the same ears as Tuey had. There was a metal collar on his neck before a person from the bar grabbed a hold of it.

The person was a human and from the clothing he wore, he was not just anybody from the street. He had a pair of swords on his waist and the scar on his face was the experience token he had adventuring.

"You slaves are getting smug!" said the human before he kicked the demi-humans gut.

The demi-human coughed out blood from the ruptured lung but he muttered, "Forgive me, please, please!"

The other human in the bar didn't dare to look at the event as they hardly swallowed their liquor. 

The human smiled as he saw the demi-human begging before he kicked him some more. "Your race is nothing but slaves to us humans, don't you dare fight back! Else, you want your whole family involved?"

The demi-human gritted his teeth as he kept silent and accept the beating.

"Stop it!"

A Tuey ran up as she shouted before covering the demi-human.

"W-what are you doing?! Don't get involve little girl!" said the demi-human. He didn't want some stranger of his race to be involved with the terrible situation he was in. But alas, Tuey disregarded his warning.

"Heh?" the human smirked as he saw the figure that was covering the demi-human had the same features as her.

"What's this? Your daughter? Hahaha! You two are pathetic!" said the human before he raised his leg, "You should bear your father's sins while you're here!"

Tuey closed her eyes as the shadow of the human's foot getting bigger.

*boom

The black knight raised his helmet before he turned around and saw Lyon was not behind him. Only a freshly broken road was there in his place. His glance darted to the alleyway before he found him.

"You still got a lot to learn as a healer Tuey."

Tuey's ears perked before she bravely opened her eyes with a smile.

Lyon was grabbing the human by the face with one hand to the people inside the bar gaping faces. "W-what are you doing, hand's off me at once!"

Lyon's eyes turned sharp before the veins in his hand popped. He swung the guy by the face before pressing it against the wall with the momentum he built.. The wall immediately broke down with a loud boom before debris came into view.