OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 91 Awoken From Lies

Lyra's heart swelled with emotion as she looked into Emir's eyes.
"I understand... And you know that I'd do it all over again..."

"I'll always be here for you."
They simply went quiet after that, as they remained in each other's embrace.
Tears continued to flow freely down her cheeks, but Lyra didn't care.
For once, she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of someone else.
Emir held her tightly, feeling her body tremble with sobs.
He didn't say anything, but his embrace spoke volumes.
He now understood how much she cared for him, and though he couldn't reciprocate those feelings, he still wanted to be there for her, after all...

She was the one who saved him.
After a few more moments, she pulled away from him and wiped her tears.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Emir gave her a small smile and replied softly: 
"Anytime."
Once they had finished tidying themselves up, he motioned towards where Arcadia was and began walking towards her.
Lyra's ruby eyes shone as she nodded while marching alongside him.
They soon arrived beside Arcadia, who greeted them with a raised eyebrow and a sarcastic comment:
"Done with your lovers' quarrel, I presume?"
Emir simply nodded, not in the mood to entertain any more bickering.
"Yeah, we're done, now let's talk about what's coming next."
Lyra wasn't taken aback by his response, as she knew him better than anyone else in the world.
And though she didn't show it, a tiny glimmer of hope stirred within her that perhaps...

Just perhaps, there was some truth to what he had implied.
She quickly put aside her conflicting emotions and focused on the task at hand.
Turning to Emir, she asked: 
"Would you like to unlock the novel to its entirety?"
"Yep, I might as well know what the Order had in store for me," he answered.
"The auction house ordeal can be explained as simply manipulating me into going there and selling something that the Order wants me to get."
"Some other things I can guess are similar in explanation, but what about Evelyn? Was she also involved in the Order's schemes?"
"No, actually, I'm sure she wasn't, it all might've been just a coincidence—a sweet girl that you met, or maybe, her involvement could relate to another organization." Lyra replied.
Emir nodded, his expression serious, as he asked the next question:
"Is the Order connected to my father's death?"
Lyra shook her head and spoke, her voice tinged with regret:
"I'm sorry, Emir..."

"Back then I didn't have the necessary clearance to access that information."

"Even when I was at the base."

"So I don't know if the Order was involved or not..."

"But I do know that someone named Johnson was involved in your father's death in some way."
'…'
'Johnson… That name rings a bell, why?'
'Hmmm… Johnson... Johnson!'

'Was it not the name of that lawyer?' 
'Oh wait…'
Emir found himself unable to move his legs as if they were stuck in the thickest of concrete.

He finally realized something that had eluded him even after Lyra's revelation. 

'Fuck...'
'FUCK!'

'FUCK THEM ALL GOD DAMMIT!'

'Damn it all...'
'…It's just so obvious, isn't it?' 
The lawyer that visited them way back then...

Emir didn't remember how he looked but there was something that happened that day that he would never forget.
That man disappeared right after leaving the room, exactly like how Lyra usually does.
'No, I can't jump the gun like that, he could've been using an invis augmented suit.'

'Lyra... she'll know.'
Emir then decided to ask Lyra a question.

One that would determine if she really spoke the truth.

But if she lied then… 
'I'll do everything in my power to kill her.'
"...What do you know of Johnson?"
He was now most attentive to Lyra's response, looking for any signs of hesitation or evasion, observing her every move and expression.
"All I know is that he once visited your mother regarding the inheritance your father left behind, and I noticed him disappearing after he left the room, so I attempted to track him, but I lost him soon after. Later on, I tried to search his name on the network but found nothing." She answered without missing a beat.
This caused relief to flood through Emir, because while he was determined to do what he decided, he still secretly hoped that she was being true to him.
"I see… But now comes the main thing that I want to confirm..."

"Is the whole thing about me and my family dying a lie?"
Lyra answered with a nod: 
"It isn't necessarily true that your family will die, but it also isn't guaranteed that they will live through the academy."
"Mind you, it isn't because of the protagonist of that shitty novel, but because the Order will mount attacks further and further beyond the frontlines in the near future."

"And that combined with the information I'll soon show you will cause the survival of most on Earth to be virtually insurmountable."
"I say that while disregarding your interference, of course. But let's discuss that in length when you are strong enough, for now, let me show you the memories."

"Sure."
"The information might disorient you a little bit, so get ready." Lyra warned as she accessed his neural network.
Just as he nodded, his head throbbed with pain—a headache that grew by the second.
But soon he stretched his lips wide, revealing a grin of sheer delight as the entirety of the fabricated tale flooded his mind in a single, satisfying rush, dispelling the headache that had plagued him mere moments before.
Emir closed his eyes as he took some time to organize his thoughts.

His mind was racing as he processed the wave of information that had just been unlocked.
He couldn't believe how much he had been missing out on all this time.
But as he delved deeper into the memories, he began to feel a sense of unease.
The more he learned about the world around him, the more he realized how much danger they were in.
He understood that he had to become stronger, and quickly.
Emir's eyes slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black hue that could send shivers down even the bravest of hearts.
"I see," he said, his voice as cold as ice.
"I think I understand everything now."
Lyra nodded. 
"Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Emir shook his head.
"No, I think that's enough for now. Thank you, Lyra."
She smiled softly.
"Of course, Emir. If you need anything else, just let me know."
With that, Lyra and Arcadia left the room, giving him some time alone.
Emir then sat on the ground with his back pressed against the rough stone wall.
He gazed absently into the distance, his pitch-black eyes seeming to grow even darker with every passing moment.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, a wide, twisted smile tugged at the corners of his lips, revealing his pointed teeth.
The rush of knowledge from Lyra's memories had filled him with a newfound sense of power and purpose.

Emir relished that feeling.
"I know what I have to do now, and I'll show them all."

He whispered to himself, his voice low.

Emir then announced a vow that dripped with venomous intent:

"Arthur, you'll have it all… your harem, wealth, rise and fall.

But you're undeserving, unworthy, naïve…

You only survive because of the Order.

But don't think that you're safe, not even for a moment."

His voice grew louder with every passing moment as the words flowed from his lips with natural ease.

"One day you'll face me and all that I raise...

And to make it interesting, a flip of a coin will decide your fate.

It isn't your fault, I mean it kind of is but still...

You now exist as my obstacle.

So I'll make sure that you'll regret the day you cross my path.

You'll lose everything...

I'll take it all and leave you with nothing.

Not only you but those after you, those above you...

Above all of us.

I swear this Oath on my family."

"…"

"…"
Emir didn't know what came over him.

Why exactly those words left his mouth.

Maybe it was due to him thinking that Arcadia was still listening...

So he provided her a taste of what she appeared to enjoy so much.

But what Emir was sure of was that everything would change.

He knew that the world would not be the same for him, not after this day.

As he had said those words to himself.

A reminder of what was ahead and the lengths he'd have to go to achieve this promise.

Emir also knew, that if those people up there were listening to him.

Watching him.

A few of them would've laughed.

A few would've cried, some might've cringed even, but most…

Most would stay silent.

After all...

He had now vowed to become a Harbinger of Chaos.

A being above the Celestial Hierarchy.

A god above gods.

A Cosmic Emperor.

[Volume 1: Awoken From Lies]

[End]