OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 76 Riddles II

At first, Emir thought it was a simple question about plants, but as he delved deeper, he realized that the answer was much more obscure.

'The key is to think outside the box and consider all possibilities, no matter how unlikely.' He thought.

Emir tried a few different answers, but none of them seemed to fit.

He went back to the beginning and read both the riddle and story slowly and carefully.

Suddenly, it hit him: the answer was not a physical object at all, but a concept.

'Fire... Although the part about it needing water is confusing, it does need water to be controlled or extinguished, which further limits its ability to burn and its thirst.' He thought.

'I might be overthinking this, but Arcadia won't give me such an easy riddle, would she?'

'I hope this riddle isn't a trick question. And judging by her love for fire, she might burn me to death...'

Chuckling to himself he refocused on the task on hand and said:

"Fire," his confident voice betraying his inner turmoil.

And it seems that he spoke true, as the last green light appeared above the door, illuminating the room with a bright light, marking his completion of this puzzle.

Arcadia's hologram suddenly appeared in front of him, with a wide smile hanging on her face.

"Congratulations on successfully solving all three riddles!" Her hologram praised, her silver hair swaying as she spoke.

"But as it appears to have been too easy for you, I must ask one more riddle before you can proceed."

"Ain't that unfair? Won't it go against your code? You know, to change the rules midway through?" He asked.

Arcadia chuckled.

"Oh, don't worry, I assure you, it's not in violation of my code. I simply wish to maintain a level of excitement. And it's only fair to test the limits of your knowledge and wit, don't you agree?"

"Besides, failure to answer this one correctly won't result in your immediate death, but who knows about what other traps and dangers lurk ahead? They might mysteriously get much harder than they are now." She said with a playful wink.

"Sure, sure, whatever you say," Emir replied, sounding defeated.

'I guess Arcadia really wants me to work up a sweat, both mentally and physically. This feels more like a test than her wanting me dead... There really might be something more to this.' He thought while looking at Arcadia straight in the eyes.

"The riddle goes like this," she began.

"I am a force both unseen and pure, eternal, in some ways, yet can be a mere blip, often overlooked, yet when harnessed, I ensure an allure that flows and never skips."

"I am the spark that ignites the flow, the E that drives its energy anew, the essence that animates all that we know, the bond between the old and the new."

"Without me, the spark would be lost, and E would lose its vital role to play, yet too much of me, and it's all dark, a force that one must learn to sway."

"The destroyer of worlds, the end of the day."

"What am I, you ask? The answer is clear, an omnipotent force, both friend and fear."

His mind raced as he tried to come up with the answer.

Emir repeated the riddle to himself, trying to understand its meaning.

He thought back to the previous riddles, wondering if there was any connection between them.

And then it hit him like a bolt of lightning, it was something that he read about a long time ago while he scrolled through the network, and although it was fantastical, it fit the bill to a tee.

'The answer is Aether!' He thought, sure of it.

'Aether is an unseen and pure force, eternal in some ways yet can be a mere blip. It can be overlooked until harnessed, ensuring Aether's allure—a power that flows and never skips.'

'Energy is the spark that ignites Aether's flow, the E that drives its energy anew, the essence that animates all that we know, and the bond between the old and the new.'

'Without it, Aether would have no spark, and energy would lose its vital role to play. But too much of it, and it's all dark, a force that one must learn to sway.'

'I'm sure that's the correct answer, but why Aether? What would make her ask for something so fantastical? I read some theories about its existence, but it all sounds too surreal,' he wondered.

'Maybe she's been binge-watching too much sci-fi lately and thinks we're living in a world where the force and magic crystals actually exist...'

'But what if it does? Is she telling me something here? It might even be what the Order is hiding from me.'

He let out a sigh and mumbled, "Well, that doesn't matter now. Let's focus on getting through this maze first."

Confidently, he turned to Arcadia's hologram and announced:

"The answer is Aether!"

Her smile grew wider, and she congratulated him:

"You have proven yourself to be quite the problem solver, well done. You may proceed to the next challenge."

The ground beneath him began to shake as the door opened.

"Phew, for a moment there, I thought the answer was going to be 'death by incineration' or something."

Arcadia laughed, saying, "Well, you never know what kind of surprises I have in store for you. So be careful, or you might end up regretting your victory."

"I'm not scared of a few challenges, Arcadia," he retorted with a grin.

"I'm just worried about the toll it's going to take on you to keep coming up with these riddles. You might have to take a break and recharge your 'energy.' You are quite an old piece of tech after all."

Arcadia's hologram chuckled.

"You're quite the comedian, but don't underestimate the dangers that lie ahead. Who knows what other surprises await you."

"I won't underestimate them, but I won't overestimate them either," he replied confidently.

"I'll face them head-on and come out on top."

"You are scared of me, Arcadia, not the other way around, never forget that."

Her smile turned into a sly grin.

"We'll see about that."