OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 157: Parting IV

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As if anticipating his question, Lyra answered in a heartbeat:

[Yeah, they never did, but you know this too, don't you? You simply can't believe that what they said was real, I almost didn't myself...]

[No, I get it... In the novel Arthur didn't even go to the frontlines as the fight came to him, to the academy, but still, how did the novel fail to mention that?]

Letting out a chuckle, Emir added:

[And here I was thinking that I might've stood a chance, maybe even make a slight dent in the war... Though I should've expected it, it makes sense really, but the situation is bleaker than I ever imagined...]

Everyone knew that those who went to the front lines rarely made it back.

But the reason for it was usually presumed to be either death by not being able to withstand the Aether core Implant or...

Simply dying in their mission, overwhelmed by the number of enemies.

But no, they were being used as body bags, to simply slow down the enemy...

However, what surprised Emir the most was that both of them survived that whole ordeal.

[...I guess it's a good thing to have them on the team.]

Lyra gave him a few taps on his shoulder.

[Yes, we got lucky with those two, Jake is an arcanist as well... Although he would be useless for some time, if he lives long enough and is groomed correctly, he would become a great captain for our elite team.]

[And adding to the already great news, they've got connections with the Ebonfyre family, which would make spying on Arthur so much easier.]

Emir nodded.

[True, true, Ava's kidnapping attempt was a blessing in disguise for all of us, they reaped most of the rewards since they were established as hunters already, but it doesn't matter much, we've got our own company to focus on.]

[That's right... Make sure to meet up with Nathan tomorrow, alright? I already told him the IDs of those who will join our hunter group.] She said.

[Yeah, I will. It's just too bad that we can't have Jake and Emma work for us already. They won't be of much use for now...]

After all, they needed to solidify their connections to the family and the UEF, and if they were spotted to be in cahoots with Emir, then it would destroy their chances of making it up the ranks.

Lyra let out a small sigh.

[Yep. Don't worry, I already told you, didn't I? The one who I'll be tracking is most definitely the man we are looking for, all of the data around him is fake, I checked his daily routine and compared it to the camera footage, but he was nowhere to be found.]

[I even attempted to track his Aether Core ID, but the signal was spazzing out, and you know what that means...]

He slowed down and asked:

[Right... and speaking of... When are you leaving?]

Lyra paused her steps, and soon after, Emir did the same.

Turning around, he now faced her, and they silently looked at each other for a while.

Said silence was broken as Emir spoke:

[I know that you don't want to leave my side again. I can easily guess how much you've missed me during all that time I've been away and that you don't want a repeat of that, but it's something that you have to do...]

[With the automata, you will be the best at espionage, and you're the only one I can trust with such an obvious suspect, as you said, he is the one we're looking for, he is on another planet after all.... So we both know that this is something that must be done.]

Lyra's eyes began to well up with tears, but she fought to keep them at bay as she walked over to Emir and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

He responded by gently pressing her head against his chest, allowing her to feel the warmth she had yearned for, the steady rhythm of his heart that brought her comfort, and the soft sound of his breathing that resonated in her ears.

It was a moment of connection, a shared sense of longing, and a reunion.

For Lyra, this embrace was a respite from the loneliness she had endured in Emir's absence.

Every sensation, every heartbeat, felt like a reminder that he was truly there, with her.

And Emir understood this well-he wanted to envelop her in his warmth, to make her feel cherished before they parted ways again.

And when the time came for them to separate, Emir leaned down to kiss her forehead tenderly.

With a blush on her cheeks, Lyra reciprocated by planting a quick kiss on his cheek before leaving.

It was a simple yet heartfelt gesture, a silent expression of her emotions and the love she held

for him.

The intensity of her emotions, the unspoken words lingering in the air urged her to leave, to part ways before the weight of the impending departure grew too heavy to bear.

[I'll miss you... And stop being so nice to me, you're only making it harder for me!]

[Sure sure, just say hi to Silent for me, won't you?]

[I will. Love you...]

Emir lingered for a while, watching as Lyra walked away, a small wave of his hand bidding her goodbye.

His gaze followed her until she became a distant figure, a mix of emotions swirling within

him.

Chuckling softly to himself, he turned around and began walking back home, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders.

'That commander, though, Jake might've exaggerated it, but still... He was impressive,' he

mused.

'It's too bad that he's dead now, I'd like to have someone like him on my roster...'

'Though I guess it would've been a mismatch.'

Xavier...

A man of pure conviction, someone Emir could never manipulate as he did with others.

Jake and Emma, though, are different.

He could work with them, bend their ambitions to his own, corrupt them.

'Turn them into selfish pricks like me...'

But that commander, he was a force of nature, untamed and unyielding...

'Maybe that's why he's six feet deep and why I'm still standing.'

Emir's thoughts churned as he walked, the events of the day playing over in his mind.

'But who knows?' He added inwardly.

Maybe one day he'll find someone who can match that kind of purity-someone who can

bring light to the darkness he has embraced.

Until then, he'll keep playing his part, weaving his web of influence...