OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 113: Jealousy

Emir wiped the blood off his face as he said:

[Lyra, I'm done over here, let's regroup at the statue.]

[We are coming now.] She replied promptly.

Emir, feeling the adrenaline of the recent fights still coursing through his veins, found a nearby bookshelf and eased his tired back against it.

He welcomed the opportunity to relax while he waited for the rest of their group to arrive.

The excitement of the battles he had just experienced lingered in his thoughts, mingling with a sense of pride.

Taking a moment to replenish his Aether reserves, he focused his mind, circulating Aether through his body.

Using his Aether core, he harnessed the neutral Aether around him and transformed it into his Aspects, replenishing his own reserves.

After a brief period, the sound of approaching footsteps reached Emir's ears.

He looked up and spotted Lyra leading Kiera and her gang towards him.

A sense of relief washed over him as he waved in their direction, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.

"Well, we almost succeeded in our act, didn't we?" He called out to them.

Kiera, still recovering from the intensity of the recent events, stepped closer to Emir, her voice laced with confusion:

"What the hell were they talking about? It was my first time hearing that, and I've been a hunter for three years."

Her brows were furrowed, seeking answers.

"Oh, and don't worry, I didn't tell anyone about what I heard." she added.

Emir felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he heard Kiera's words.

'I don't need to kill her then.'

"Of course, it would be. Though If you want to know more about something that you shouldn't, then I can explain it to you in private... But, it would be best if you forget whatever happened today," he advised, emphasizing on every word.

"If you were caught distributing this information, hell would be a better place for you."

Kiera flinched, a hint of fear creeping into her expression.

She nodded after a moment and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper:

"I understand. I won't say a word. I know the consequences."

Emir nodded and offered a small reassuring smile.

"Don't worry about it too much. Just focus on reaching rank fifty, and then all will be revealed to you..."

Leaning in closer, he whispered, "And don't ask me how I know. Let's consider sparing you and your friends a mercy, one that I'm not accustomed to giving. Please don't make me regret this decision, yeah?"

Kiera took a step back, startled by Emir's intensity, but his words resonated with her.

She gathered her courage and approached him again.

"Why? If what you say is true, then I can have all of us killed. It would be much safer for you to just kill us."

Emir's surprise was evident in his eyes.

"Are you asking me to kill you?" He asked incredulously.

Kiera shook her head.

"Obviously not. I just want to know why you would spare someone you claim not to trust."

He chuckled softly, extending his arms.

"Don't you think we've moved past that? I've come here to help you without any personal gain. Although the trust between us may not be strong, it does exist. It's enough to warrant me not killing you over something with a low chance of happening."

'And you are worth it more alive than dead,' he added inwardly.

Kiera smiled, a mix of gratitude and newfound trust shining in her eyes.

She embraced Emir, her subconscious which yearned for dependency found solace in his presence.

Her unusual level of dependence on him increased even further.

Kiera never had anyone to depend on in her life.

Her encounter with Emir had finally shown her what relying on someone truly meant, and she unknowingly began to trust him in a quick manner, unnaturally fast for someone like her.

They held each other for a moment before releasing their embrace.

She looked at him, her voice filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Emir. Without you, we wouldn't have made it out of the ruin today."

He shrugged modestly.

"You hired me, and I did the job. There's no need for thanks, though I do appreciate it."

"Anyways, can you ask your people to get their gear? All twelve of them are dead, so there is nothing for them to worry about. I will also have to ask you to sell it on the black market, and for your services, consider taking five percent of the profits."

"Oh, and don't tell me to decrease the percentage, you deserve that much at least; I wouldn't have gotten the gear without you asking me to come here with you, so don't try to change my

mind."

Kiera looked slightly stunned by Emir's barrage of words, but she collected herself and

replied:

"...Okay, thank you really. We didn't get much from today, without your help, we would've definitely died, or maybe we would have just left the place in the red, so seriously, thank you."

Emir patted her shoulder appreciatively before walking over to join Lyra.

And as he stood beside her, he heard her playful voice echoing in his mind.

[Are you trying to make me jealous on purpose?]

[...HA?!] Emir's mind faltered momentarily, caught off guard by her remark.

[I, uh... didn't take you for the obsessive type, or at least not that obsessive, but you know

what I meant by what I did, right? So don't play around with me, Lyra.]

Giggling mischievously, she responded:

[Kidding, kidding. Although I didn't expect you to take that route with her. Are you planning

on using her?]

His brows furrowed as he replied:

[What do you mean? She's a good friend that I trust. That's all.]

Lyra teased him further, her voice laced with playful skepticism:

[Oh, so you're lying to me now? I thought you wanted us to be honest and stop with all the

trickery.]

[I do, but can't a man joke around with his woman?] He retorted, trying to regain his

composure.

[...]

Lyra's silence lingered, and Emir turned his gaze to her, catching sight of her blushing face.

[Ahahaha, two can play at this game, you know.]

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, resembling the deepest red of a ripe tomato from

any realm.

"АААААААНННННН!"

But their flirtatious banter was abruptly interrupted by a piercing scream that pierced the air, shattering the lighthearted atmosphere and sending a jolt of adrenaline through their veins.