OLD-WORLD EXTRA - C.460: Fate Never Lets Go II

Emir returned to his previous position, nodding his head.

"...Lets."

While it wasn't revealed in the 'novel,' this woman was a Seraphim Exarch, a sub-rank that was still close to a year away for him to reach.

He realized that ever since he sat across her.

The lady was an Astral, certainly not a combat-oriented Specialization, but the sheer strength her body held as a Celestial of that sub-rank made him second guess and calm any thoughts of fighting her, even though killing her was possible.

Despite her ability to see snippets of the very near future, allowing her to dodge every attack that came at her, Emir had enough to make him a formidable contender, particularly Aetheric Overload.

Regardless, she was more useful alive than dead, a conclusion that most who met her had reached.

So, instead of wasting his time threatening her, he began thinking of questions to ask. "I've got a few questions for you; mind answering them?"

She gestured for him to continue, and he did:

"First, what do I call you?"

"Purple."

This lady seemed to like purple to an obsessive degree, but Emir didn't comment on that and moved on:

"Well, let's begin with a warm-up question. Were you the one who told the four heads about the bloodbath I caused against the liberation army?"

She nodded.

"Yep. I'm sure you know, but Isidore is my biggest customer. He's the one who, more or less, funds Templar."

Emir smiled.

"Did you use today's attack to ruin the Academy's public image and keep Amon in check? Forcing the chains of the Elite and the UEF on him?"

Showing a slightly surprised face, she nodded once again.

"Exactly. From the reports I've received, your people have almost completely squashed our attack."

Clicking her tongue, she added:

"It's almost like you can see the future."

Emir chuckled, not liking how close she was to the truth.

"Don't worry, I'm no competition. Just a bit too cautious."

Shrugging her shoulders, she continued:

"Either way, I lost nothing too important. This attack had succeeded in the public front as it brought Amon's dominance to question, and while those Seraphim I cultivated would eventually get killed by him, if not by your men or hunter group leaders, it still isn't much of a loss. Templar follows whatever I say; they'd do anything as long as it gets them sacrifices for their Aether God, so I'll restock Seraphims in no time. I might even get them faster than last time; you see, I'm hoping the UEF will give me a little gift. Don't ask what it is; I won't say; it'll ruin the surprise."

Purple's words were inhumane to an insane degree, seeing those men and women under her as livestock, but that was to be expected considering her money-minded nature.

She only dealt in ones and zeros, and they were simply expendable assets in her eyes, to be managed, traded, or discarded as nothing more than numbers in a ledger.

Their lives held no value beyond their potential profit or loss, and any shred of humanity had long been discarded in the pursuit of her goals, whatever they may be.

Emir didn't care for that; it would be hypocritical of him.

He treated those not in his family in the same way, not even seeing them as humans.

"I see... Thanks for the straight answer."

"You're welcome. Anything else you'd like to ask? This one would cost you."

He thought about it for a second, then touched the link point on her desk, sending ten valora from his personal bank account.

She accepted them and gestured for him to ask.

"Before that, mind telling me something?"

Purple noticed his little trick but didn't mind, gesturing for him to speak with her chin.

"So, you saw me fading into nothingness?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she nodded.

"I did. Sometime in the future, your Star... vanished. Again, it wasn't because you died-it was as though you simply ceased to exist, no trace of your presence left in the cosmos."

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, mulling over her words.

"And you think that means something? That I should be concerned? What's so different?"

She smiled, but it lacked warmth.

"You should always be concerned when the universe no longer recognizes your existence. You're not just walking an unknown path... you're walking a path that shouldn't exist."

He scoffed, masking his unease.

"I've never cared for destiny or in Stars guiding my way. Maybe that's why my Star disappeared."

She shook her head slowly, her gaze sharp, almost pitying.

"That's not how it works, and you know it. This isn't about belief; it's about reality. One day you'll slip into something beyond fate's reach. You'll become a paradox. And paradoxes have

a cruel way of unraveling."

Emir studied her face, the playful femme fatale now replaced by a cold seer.

He didn't show it, but the thought of becoming Starless gave him an unfamiliar emotion, too alien for him to process.

He'd built his entire life on control-on planning, manipulation, and calculated risks.

But how does one path what the Astrals themselves couldn't read?

What would he even become?

Had the Oracle discovered that when he read Emir's Fate?

"...You're not the first to tell me I'm different... but you're the first to tell me that my existence was erased entirely."

Her purple eyes flickered with amusement, though her expression remained serious.

"That's because I see further than most. But know this: whatever power has made you Starless, it isn't without consequence. You've made yourself untraceable, unchained, and

free, but at what cost?"

Emir allowed himself a small smirk.

"I guess I'll find out one day..."

Purple leaned back once more, her lips curling slightly as if she was entertained by the entire

conversation.

"Perhaps. But just remember, you and I-we're more alike than you think. We both manipulate the unseen. The difference is, I work with the Stars, while you, my dear... well,

you'll be abandoned by them."

Letting out a sigh, he put everything that was revealed behind him and shrugged his

shoulders.

'Eh, whatever happens will be nothing new. I was walking blind since day one.'

He chuckled and looked down.

"I'm a fair guy; as thanks, I'll 'tell' you something."

Purple's smile died down.

"You chose a name like Azazel to catch the attention of something bigger, didn't you?

Something divine or..."

She paused, the faintest trace of amusement creeping back.

"Perhaps unholy?"

Emir snorted.

"I chose that name because I wanted to send a message to the Order, nothing more. And yes, I

wanted attention. Just not yours."

Her eyes twinkled with a knowing gleam.

"Oh, you did want mine. Even if you didn't realize it at the time."

"...Sure. What do the Stars say about you, then? You've read mine, but what's yours?"

That question seemed to strike her deeply, but she masked the solemnity displayed on her

features before he could notice.

Unfortunately, Emir wasn't looking at her then, because if he was, he would've easily picked

up on that switch.

"I have a Star, of course, everyone does, but I try not to follow it. I'd rather walk in the

shadows between them, use them to my benefit."

"That makes two of us, then."

"Perhaps, but you're still searching for something in the light, aren't you?"

Emir remained silent, refusing to give her any ground.

He wasn't about to reveal anything, especially not to someone like her.

"Enough philosophy. I didn't come here to talk about Stars. I came for answers."

Giggling, she clapped her hand once, wordlessly agreeing to his words.

"Where will I die?"

Purple paused for a moment, then tapped the link point, silently asking for more coins.

Emir didn't mind her greed, sending her ten more.

Satisfied with the amount, she blinked, looked at him, and spoke:

"Astral Whisper... Show me the Fading Star."

A soft glow enveloped her, and her eyes glimmered with Aether as she peered into the threads

of fate.

The room seemed to darken as if every light was being drawn into her.

For a few long moments, nothing happened, and then she closed her eyes.

"In a place far from here, beneath a sky that knows a rising dusk..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke, yet it carried an undeniable weight.

"Surrounded by uncountable shadows that scream your name, you'll fall alone where the Stars you

belong to cannot reach."

The poetic words seemed carved in stone.

"A place called Kar Babel."

She leaned back in her chair, the glow fading from her eyes as she added quietly:

"That's where your path ends. The place of the grave. But the exact moment? The day? The

month? Even the Stars hesitate to reveal."

Emir was lost in thought for a while, many thousands of things going through his mind.

Once a few minutes passed, he finally turned his gaze away from her and nodded.

"Hm, worth the twenty billion credits."

Purple giggled. "I bet... You're not the first to complain about the cryptic words you know-. There's nothing I

can do about it; it's all I get."

Flicking his hand, he ignored her teasing and asked:

"Can't deny. You're good. Really useful. So I have to ask, though I don't care whether Earth

survives or not after I accomplish my goals, why don't you try and help Earthkind? I—" She raised her hand, interrupting him with a furrowed brow:

"We can't win. Can't you see? Whether against that one Throne from the Order or a higher

being. This universe of ours, the entire realm, it's nothing but the creation of the devils up above, a playpen. Nothing is real; we can only do what we are designed, fated, and written to do. Lifeless puppets dancing for the sick pleasure of Gods, of Observers, in this land of ignorance. Our souls are bound to be cloned and molded, creating new, slightly different variations; their intention is not to bore those who watch... And yes, they're watching us, even now. Listening to, or reading this very conversation, thinking of me as nothing but a crazy woman, or maybe just a creation written to be out of control, I don't know; only they know

exactly what I mean."

Emir stared at her, flabbergasted, not knowing what to say or how to react.

She glanced at him, then slowly looked away.

"Or so I would say if I had loose screws inside my head, but that was just a joke; I'm a normal

Bishop. I just like money more than my life."

"Aha..."

Acting like he didn't hear anything, he asked one last question:

"Where's the teleporter at? I have to go to the ruin now."

She pointed in the direction of the altar.

"Consider it a gift alongside your purchase. To activate it, you just have to clasp your hands,

prey to it."

"I ain't doing that, you know."

"Oh, you'll have to. My people don't listen to anyone but me."

"We'll see about that."

He stood up from his chair and headed towards the door with relaxed steps.

"Move quick before all your friends die. While my Seraphims are third-rate, they might still

kill a few."

Emir didn't need to be told, as he was already at the door, waving his middle finger goodbye.