OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 282: Dragon's Tail

Chapter 282: Dragon's Tail

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"Why do you guys look so sad?"

Elijah asked as he approached the seemingly solemn duo.

Emir scoffed, while Lyra gestured for him to sit next to her.

"Come sit so we can tell you."

"...Okayyy?"

Although confused, Elijah complied and took a seat next to Lyra, feeling out of place.

At that exact moment, Emir let out a small chuckle and said:

"This bench is freshly painted."

"...What?"

"It was repainted this morning; you know how it is with the UEF; they don't spend more than they need to."

Lyra repeated, answering Elijah's question while taking a dig at the government as was usual for her.

The Academy, or rather the A-11 Sector in general, housed no protective dome, so most structures were acid rain-resistant.

But this bench wasn't, or so they implied.

Elijah soon came to that conclusion, and as a consequence, a question formed in his mind:

"But it didn't rain today? Or like at all for the past month."

Lyra nodded.

"Right, it was in terrible shape before, but with the reduction in acid rain thanks to the Aether congregation, they figured repainting the bench was a worthwhile idea."

"Wait-"

Emir stood up, causing Elijah's words to pause, his black pants undisturbed by the bench's white color.

"Ahh, yeah... We could explain why all day but you ruined the joke man. Let's just go."

...

An excited Elijah walked ahead, while Emir and Lyra followed from behind.

Their objective, the innocent one, was obvious.

They were paying a visit to Elijah's new home.

Though he wanted to live back at their mansion, Emir told Elijah to stay at the Academy...

Above all, Emir needed his little brother there to keep up appearances, acting like all was normal, it was for emergencies as well, but that wasn't much of a reason as he had others stationed in the Academy to deal with such things instead.

So other than living in the mansion, Elijah could do whatever he wanted.

'Born in Ruins' could go to hell for all he cared, its plot was of little significance to him.

And this today was the biggest evidence of that.

Emir planned to steal everything that Arthur would obtain.

This would result in changes that he truly couldn't plan for.

Why? Well, fate was involved.

While he wasn't a stranger to it, he still didn't, couldn't understand it, no one could.

But still... It didn't change how he did or would do things.

"Big Bro, this is gonna be like one of those buddy movies."

Elijah, not one to handle silence, slowed down until Emir neared him.

"I'm not sure where that applies."

"Ha? But why?"

"Just explain it."

"You know, like movies where two dudes set out on a mission, argue about something during said mission, break up, only to come back together and realize they can't do it without the other... It's simple yet magical."

Emir scoffed, while Lyra softly smacked Elijah's head.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"You forgot about me."

Before Elijah could reply, Emir cut in:

"Hm, this 'mission' is too short for that, and you won't even be there for the break-in, but if,

a big if, such a situation presented itself, it'd probably feel more like a journey of a singular

heroic extra-"

"Stop right there! What extra? And whose heroic? Last time I checked heroes didn't blackmail

people."

Emir ignored Elijah and continued:

"-Against all odds, times over adversity."

"You forgetting me too?"

He looked slightly behind his right and winked at her.

"You gotta catch up first."

That joke got a giggle out of her, but then Elijah interpreted their sweet moment with

squinting eyes:

"Something happen between you two?"

And it seemed that he caught on to their ever-advancing relationship.

The two of them didn't have much of a reaction to his question, and Emir, not one to lie, to his family at least, answered honestly:

"Yeah, but keep it at that; we've reached the gates."

Their banter ceased, and their faces turned serious, except for Emir, whose smile widened

further.

What stood in front of them was the dormitory complex for those who Ascended.

Those Aether-less lived near the Tower, while only the 'privileged' lived here.

A gated location at the far end of the Academy's Empty Marble.

It only housed two blocked-off buildings, one for the rich and pure, while the other was for

the impure and unworthy.

The named and unnamed.

Their target was obviously the building housing the pure, aptly named Dragon's Tail, not the

one where the impure lived, dubbed the Lizard's Tail.

Just as they neared the gate, a guard once relaxed in his cubicle, called out to them:

"Stop right there, impure scum!"

Well, it wasn't them exactly, but some random student in front of them.

"W-What did I do?"

"You were about to follow them inside, weren't you?"

"Ah, no, I-"

"Does he, of the Lizard, want to enter the den of green dragons?"

The guard nodded at Emir, his smile evidently bright at being acknowledged by a professor.

"Yes, Sir Emir, he's been loitering around for a while now; it's obvious that he's up to no

good."

"I see..."

Emir took another look at the kid and, after a moment, matched his face to a 'Name' in his

database.

'Oh, he's Arthur's new friend...'

[Ly.]

[Yes, he's definitely waiting on Arthur.]

[Hm, this wasn't mentioned in the novel.]

[It's no problem. If we don't interfere, he'd still be sent back into his room after a few

minutes.]

[Yeah, it ain't an issue, but I'll just expedite the process a little bit.]

"Well, can you please send him back? It isn't a good look."

"Of course, Sir!"

"But-"

Not even allowed to speak, Arthur's friend was dragged back to his room, pulled by the collar

of his uniform.

Meanwhile, another guard took the last one's place, stepping closer to the trio.

"Excuse me, Sir Emir... While I can allow you to join the student, she must not join you."

Emir tilted his head.

"Why?"

"As my scans indicated, Ms. Amanda is not family, nor does she work in the academy, so she's

not allowed in. I'm sorry."

"Even if I vouch for her?"

"No, Sir, I don't wish to make it hard for you; trust me, but I can't go against the rules."

A sigh escaped Emir as his right hand neared his head, specifically the frame of his sunglasses,

his intention evident.