EMPEROR'S RECKONING

Chapter 36: I'm Here

(Should I turn around or not.) thought Lyon. He was tense because he knew that the person behind him was stronger.

*grug

*grug

The three women rushed to the scene.

"What's happening here?" asked Karina wearing her regular clothes. Seeing the butt, she seems to forget that there was a person wearing a bamboo hat in front of her.

Kyoko only shook her head.

*tip *toe

*jump

Ryona suddenly jumped at Lyon's back pushing him down while shouting: "Me First!"

*thud

The thud woke up the rest of the girls from their stupor. Slamming her eyebrows, Karina asked: "Who are you?".

With a red shade on her cheeks, she tilted down her bamboo hat out of embarrassment and spoke softly: "I..I... I want to seek the person who killed the three old men on the street. NO-no I'm not here for revenge." said Riku.

"What are you going to do to the killer then?" asked Kyoko.

"I want to seek an advice about the technique he or she used," said Riku while her index fingers keep bumping with each other which made her more lovable.

"Oh you want to seek my advice?" said Ryona after Lyon wore a black robe.

Looking at Ryona, glimmering stars of hope appeared on Riku's eyes. She took off her bamboo hat and revealed an astonishing beauty.

She had a bright-green-leaf hair perfect for her oval face. Her pointy ears described her identity as a proud high elf. The ocean coloured eyes and cute little nose belied her deadly rumours and ascertain her cute personality. The surrounding people would have thought this girl was a flower seller type girl. Combined with the cupid pink lips, every time she talked nervously, people just want to adore her even more.

"C-c-can you teach me how to slash like that?" asked Riku nervously.

"Oh that's an easy trick," said Ryona innocently.

Riku didn't know what to say, even her master could only comprehend 'one as if it was two' concept.

"C-c-can you show me?" asked Riku.

"Sure, where is your axe?"

"A-a-axe?!"

"Yes, an axe," smiled Ryona.

"You made that slash with an axe?!"

"Yes, what's wrong?" asked Ryona confused.

(Is it even possible to achieve that feat with an Axe?) thought Riku.

*tap

*tap

"Big brother, I bought the wine ... Eh? what's going on?" said Jugen while holding a bottle of red wine 'Lecryst Exclusive' looking at everyone in the room and one other person. Then Karina proceeded to explain the situation.

"So what's her name?" asked Jugen.

.

.

Everybody was silent.

.

.

"Ss-s-SORRY, ... my name is Riku from the Mist clan," said Riku hurriedly with a bow.

"Oh I know you, you are that famous Riku, I never thought you would be her," chuckled Karina.

"Y-yes," shade of red printed on her cheeks.

"Well anyway, I can only show you tonight, tomorrow we have to depart to the Phantera Kingdom," said Ryona.

"Oh, can I tag along with you?" said Riku.

"Hmm, since your Mist clan always been neutral, why not?" said Karina.

"Oi, are you sure? This might get political you know," whispered Lyon.

"Don't worry, with her tagging along, everything will get smoother," whispered Karina.

*clap

"Alright then, let me show you how I do it, watch and learn," said Ryona.

*flash

*slash

*thud

Feathers from inside of two pillows exploding out along with a chair which cut in half diagonally. The amazing part was that the two pillows and the chair had parallel positions but they had the same cut.

*woah

Riku's eyes were glimmering as if all the stars in the night sky gathered inside. Nobody noticed when did she pull out the axe or when did she return it, there was no axe at all in the motion they saw.

*clap

*clap

"Alright good job, now I want to sleep. Jugen, ask the receptionist for more pillows," said Lyon.

"OK," said Jugen as he rushed out again.

"Alright ladies, this young master want to sleep, if you don't want to join me then please go back to your room," said Lyon as he tried to approach the bed.

*thud

The robe Lyon wore was cut in half diagonally and dropped down, revealing his dragon stick to the women.

.

.

.

.

"Te~hee <3," chuckled Ryona.

The rest of the women had red hue on their faces, but they were not even trying to cover their eyes.

*clap

"Alright that's enough of staring, my hubby needs a rest <3," said Ryona as she pushed the other woman outside the room.

.

.

.

"That woman!" gritted Lyon.

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Early in the morning, many guests from the auction started to go home or whatever the place they want to go. One red chariot was heading to the Phantera Kingdom on the north, in front of them was a white chariot with Phantera Kingdom's symbol on it.

Apparently, Riku was on foot to get to the auction, so transportation was not an issue.

"Big bro, make sure the map is not upside down," said Jugen while holding the rope.

"Don't worry, we just have to follow the chariot in front of us," said Lyon.

It took only half a day before they arrive at the Phantera Kingdom.

Along the way, there were tiger statues on both sides of the road leading to the gate. Unlike the city of Lecryst, the entry didn't require a fee.

On a bird view, the Phantera Kingdom had a hexagonal shape with a huge white castle in the centre, however, its only has two gates, the north and the south. There were rivers flowing from each angle of the hexagon, the current went from the west to the east which indicates that this river was not a natural phenomenon. The source of the water was from the Undine Lake nearby.

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

Inside one of the chamber sat a young princess. She was wearing a red gown which brought the fiery-noble aura of her origin. Her braided hair had hairpin embroidered in tiny diamonds which enlightened her purple hair.

At this moment a magic brand which only she could see flashed on her right arm. She had a confused look, she never thought that he would come in less than a week.

*zing

*zing*zing

*zing*zing*zing

Six red magic brands appeared on each angle of the hexagon.

"LUNA, LEAVE IT TO ME!!!"

"LUNA, LEAVE IT TO ME!!!"

"LUNA, LEAVE IT TO ME!!!"

"LUNA, LEAVE IT TO ME!!!"

"LUNA, LEAVE IT TO ME!!!"

A shout so loud every person inside the kingdom could hear it.

The princess was stunned for a while, then she said: "Would it kill him not to show off, idiot". However, both of the edges of her mouth raised upward a little, revealing something beautiful that had been hidden so long from the world.