Chapter 27 : When an Emperor Walked the Capital
Zade stared at him in silence—
and for the first time, doubt left his eyes.
Henry, by now accustomed to such moments, merely continued sipping his tea in silence.
Rudravaan glanced toward Zade.
"What is this?" he asked calmly. "Why are you choking?"
Zade steadied himself.
"…I had heard the rumors," he said slowly, "but I never believed you truly still lived."
Rudravaan's gaze remained fixed on him.
"Are you disappointed," he asked, "that I stand before you alive and whole?"
Zade shook his head.
"No. But it troubles me that the emperor who has just reclaimed his throne would come here in person."
Rudravaan replied without hesitation.
"I came to meet a single brat."
Zade blinked.
"…Who?"
"You will know," Rudravaan said quietly, "when the time comes."
Zade did not press the matter further.
He lifted his cup and drank in silence.
After a brief silence, Zade spoke.
"What is it that you came to ask?"
Rudravaan met his gaze.
"Since your sect leader is absent," he said calmly, "I will have to direct my questions elsewhere."
Zade's brow furrowed.
"To whom?"
Rudravaan answered without raising his voice.
"Your emperor—Lukas."
The room went still.
Zade and Henry both froze, the weight of the name settling heavily between them.
Zade was the first to speak.
"Even if you are an emperor," he said carefully, "do you truly believe you may summon ours as if he were a common official?"
The air grew tense.
Rudravaan did not answer at once.
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
"To think you would speak so firmly for that brat," he said. "He must be ruling well."
The faint amusement faded from his eyes.
He looked at Zade.
"If I chose to go," he asked calmly, "who would stop me?"
Zade's hand tightened, a trace of unease crossing his face.
Rudravaan waved it aside.
"Enough. I was only jesting."
He leaned back slightly.
"He was once terribly wary of me. If Lukas learns that I am here, he will come on his own."
A faint curve touched his lips.
"You need not trouble yourself over it."
At the same time, Emperor Lukas sat upon his throne, listening as the elders reported on the state of the realm.
They spoke at length of trade, borders, and unrest beyond the capital.
Then one elder hesitated.
"Your Majesty," he said carefully, "there are troubling tidings. A disturbance occurred at an inn. A man struck down a disciple of the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect."
Lukas's gaze sharpened.
"Oh?" he said. "Who possesses the audacity to make an enemy of that sect?"
The elder bowed slightly.
"We are told he was not of this kingdom. Likely a wandering outsider."
Lukas nodded.
"That is as I expected. And how did the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect respond?"
The elder wiped sweat from his brow.
"…The man has already entered the sect itself."
Silence fell over the hall.
Lukas's fingers tightened slightly upon the arm of his throne.
Lukas rose slightly from his throne.
"Elder," he said, "what are you telling me? Who is this man?"
A shadow crossed his expression.
How could the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect allow such a person to walk freely within their walls? he thought. Their pride alone should have barred him.
"Learn everything you can about him," Lukas commanded. "Leave no rumor untested."
The elder bowed deeply.
"At once, Your Majesty."
At that same hour, within the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect, Rudravaan walked through the stone corridors. Zade remained a step behind him, watchful.
Rudravaan glanced back.
"Why do you follow me so closely?" he asked.
Zade did not avert his gaze.
"Because I would not feel at ease," he replied, "leaving you unattended."
Lukas rose slightly from his throne.
"Elder," he said, "what are you telling me? Who is this man?"
A shadow crossed his expression.
How could the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect allow such a person to walk freely within their walls? he thought. Their pride alone should have barred him.
"Learn everything you can about him," Lukas commanded. "Leave no rumor untested."
The elder bowed deeply.
"At once, Your Majesty."
At that same hour, within the Sovereign Bone Citadel Sect, Rudravaan walked through the stone corridors. Zade remained a step behind him, watchful.
Rudravaan glanced back.
"Why do you follow me so closely?" he asked.
Zade did not avert his gaze.
"Because I would not feel at ease," he replied, "leaving you unattended."
Rudravaan said " do whatever you want " as the walk rudravaan asked zade " hey about you bring me to you're emperor " zade through and said " I don't think I can do that " rudravaan sigh and said " then tell me I think I have go there my self " he said and looked at the palace rudravaan said to zade " hey look after henry till I come " then rudravaan laped over the sect wall zade was shocked and come out the sect to see rudravaan but there was no trace rudravaan then start walking in middle of the street zade rushed to sect inside took his swords and told henry that rudravaan going to palace henry then zade and henry cameout the sect begin to search rudravaan
Here is the clean, era-fitting refinement, preserving all events and intent while sharpening tone and flow:
Rudravaan gave a faint shrug.
"Do as you wish."
As they continued down the stone path, he spoke again.
"Tell me—can you bring me before your emperor?"
Zade hesitated.
"I do not believe I have that authority."
Rudravaan let out a quiet breath.
"Then I will go myself."
He paused, lifting his gaze toward the distant palace towers rising beyond the sect's walls.
"Look after the boy," he added calmly. "I will return."
Before Zade could reply, Rudravaan stepped toward the outer wall.
In a single motion, he leapt.
Stone and shadow blurred—and he was gone.
Zade's eyes widened.
He rushed to the edge and looked out, but the street below was empty. Not even a ripple of presence remained.
Rudravaan was already walking through the city, moving calmly down the center of the road as though he belonged there.
Zade swore under his breath and turned back.
He hurried inside the sect, seized his sword, and went straight to Henry.
"He has gone to the palace," Zade said.
Henry stiffened.
Without another word, Zade and Henry left the sect together, stepping into the streets to search for the man who had already crossed the distance between worlds.
Somewhere beyond the sect, Rudravaan was already walking through the heart of the capital—toward the throne of another emperor.
And the city did not yet know
that an old sovereign had entered its streets.