Emperor's Reckoning

“You must be in cahoots with that new teacher,” said Niamh. “Killing you would be beneficial for us.”

“Enough, Niamh,” said Drogan. “You’re not talking to a man that could be easily threatened.”

“You know me best, old friend,” said Refl as he raised his chin a little bit.

“Tell me what you know about this teacher,” said Drogan.

“Why would I do that? You will know him soon enough,” said Refl.

“You will mobilize your own troops to aid him? Is that what you implying?!” asked Ferece. He didn’t want an answer and looked at Drogan, “Captain! We need to sever his head now!”

Drogan merely furrowed his brows and gave Ferece a glare. “This problem might have something to do with you, sit down.”

Ferece’s eyes widened. He didn’t realize that his bottom had lifted off from the seat as he was making a point. “I... sorry...” he sat down.

.....

“Well, well, never thought you could shut up a hounding dog,” said Refl.

“I learned that back in the days,” said Drogan.

“Wish you have learned to open your eyes as well,” muttered Refl. He took a deep breath, “I can’t tell you who he is, because you and I are in the same boat in this one.”

“That’s a lie,” said Niamh. “Otherwise, why would he oppose us, and you here of all times? Even a five-year-old would know something is wrong.”

“I said my piece,” said Refl.

“I’m afraid Refl, you have to tell us,” said Drogan as he leaned a bit forward. His hands clasped on the table. “I told you already, I have names.”

Refl furrowed his brows. He could see the sinister glance behind those eyes that greeted him— cold and brutal. “Are you going after them?”

Drogan let out a sigh, “You know I don’t like collateral damage. Just like you said, a waste of resources. I tend to make the collateral stays... collateral, though, one can force my hands under the right circumstances.”

Refl glared, “Drogan, you wouldn’t.”

“People call me the bandit leader, the captain, and even... an old friend, so you know the answer to that... very, very clearly,” said Drogan. His eyes were seeing straight toward Refl’s building rage.

“Don’t do it Drogan! They have nothing to do with this matter,” said Refl.

“As far as I recall, they sure do,” said Drogan.

Refl gritted his teeth. “You bastard...”

“Options,” said Drogan. “One, tell me who he is and I will let the loved ones of the names live their everyday life.”

“Tch!”

“Second, you don’t tell me, I will crush them, personally,” said Drogan. “And let you watch your painstaking hard work crumble before your eyes. They will hate you, they will curse you, and then they will betray you. You know the steps very well.”

“You son of a bitch...” said Refl.

“That sounded more like praise these days,” said Drogan. He looked at Refl, with his face darkened, “So what will you choose?”

Ferece smirked as Niamh smiled. They knew the captain got the situation handled perfectly.

Refl pacify his rage through a breath out. “He is not from Second Heaven.”

“Obviously,” Ferece rolled his eyes. “Otherwise we would know who this drunk man is.”

“Where?” asked Drogan.

“Heh, would you believe me if I told you?” asked Refl. “Who am I kidding, the backstory of me crashing your party here is already unbelievable, might as well get the cherry on top of the fluffy cake.”

Ferece was annoyed but he didn’t have time to retort before Refl answered.

“The man came from the Mortal World,” said Refl before he basked in the silence of the room. If he opened his ears wide enough, he could hear their eyes widening.

“Y-You’re kidding... right?” muttered Ferece.

Niamh was caught blinking a few times while Drogan trying to make sense of Refl’s words. The both of them had prepared the man’s amazing background. The man should be at least from the Third Heaven or above, but they never thought the weakest realm of the three would be mentioned.

“I believe that this is not the right time to jest,” said Niamh with a hint of contempt in his glance.

Drogan was taken back. He was so, with his face pulled back. His darkened face was enlightened by a shocking answer. Never in his entire life that someone from a background that was so out of the equation would play a part in a rebellion. The Burgeon Swan never even step their foot in the said realm.

Refl didn’t mind Niamh’s comment as he enjoyed the face that Drogan gave him. “You think I’m jesting too, old friend?”

“It’s impossible to believe,” said Niamh. “Someone coming from that low can’t be here in Second Heaven, besides, we never even have any business in that place.”

“That’s right,” said Drogan as he leaned forward again. His eyes of disbelief had shifted to a sharp ones. “What is his motive here? What will he gain from opposing the Burgeon Swan?”

Refl shrugged his shoulders, “You think I would know his true motive? What I know is that he is doing this because of your guy over here.” Refl nodded up to Ferece.

“Me?” Ferece furrowed his brows.

“Well, you did break their trust, and impaired one of them if I recalled correctly,” said Niamh.

“Shut up, it was a good deal,” said Ferece before taking his attention back toward Refl, “He is after me?”

“That’s certain,” said Refl.

“Then theoretically, if we gave Ferece to him, things would solve themselves,” said Niamh.

“What?!” Ferece furrowed his brows as he gave the smirking Niamh a glare. “I will cut your throat!”

“Enough!” Drogan slapped his hand against the table and lead the tension. He looked at his old friend smirking at every chance he could get. He took a deep breath before he smirked back. “This situation is awfully simple.”

Refl furrowed his brows.

“That man is mysterious but, we don’t need to fight him head-on, he might be more than willing to give us his head when we meet him,” said Drogan before he stood and smiled. He waved his hands and the bandits dragged him away from the esteemed room.

“Captain, are you planning to visit the Mortal World?” asked Niamh.

“No, not me,” said Drogan. “You will do it, not for me, but for the Burgeon Swan.”

“Me?” Niamh furrowed his brows. He looked at Drogan for a few seconds before he shrugged his shoulders, “Well, I guess I am better suited.”

“Fuck off,” cursed Ferece. “That’s a great idea and all, but we don’t know his loved ones.”

Niamh answered with confidence, “It will not be that hard, especially considering his capabilities. They might refer to him as a man beyond immortal.”

“He’s right,” said Drogan. “That won’t be an issue—” he darted his glance at Niamh, “You can approach this matter however you like, what we want is speed. We can’t predict how he will make his next step but we can outmaneuver him this way.”

“Hahahaha!” Ferece laughed, “I can’t wait to see the guy’s face when he came and saw his loved ones under the mercy of our blade!”

Niamh closed his grimoire before he stood up. The grimoire hovered with a single intent of his will, loyally by his side. He looked at the captain, “I guess I’ll get going then.”

“Good! The faster the better,” added Ferece.

“Heh, careful not to miss me,” Niamh said with an obviously sarcastic tone. He turned as he heard Ferece spit on the floor.

“Remember, Niamh, the closer they are to them, the better,” said Drogan.

“Of course!” he waved his hand before exiting the esteemed meeting room. In the corridor he snorted a smile ( Heh, the Mortal World, I guess trampling the weak is on the agenda now ) he inhaled a cold cold breath before revealing a twisted smile. “This one will be good! Haha! Hahahaha!”

Meanwhile back inside the room. Drogan leaned back to his chair with contemplation that could not be deciphered by Ferece, for the latter was still pissed by some of the words mentioned by Refl earlier.

He stood up with a scowl on his face. “I’m going...”

Drogan merely gave him a glance but worded out none as he saw him leaving the room.

Inside the prison, Refl was not guarded as usual, but he was restrained with chains hugging both of his wrists. “They are going after his loved ones... Fuck...”

...

Inside the forest. Lyon was looking at a hovering figure being encompassed by feathers of glimmering hope just like the one Yoji had experienced before. He raised his brow the moment a feather from the bottom fell.