Emilia's phone rang, and she quickly picked it up, her eyes scanning the room nervously. Before she could even say hello, Pyris appeared beside her and reached for the device, his hand extended expectantly.
Without protest, Emilia handed the phone over. Pyris brought it to his ear, speaking out before Emberly, who was on the other side of the call, could say anything.
"Mother! What's the meaning of this? I'm supposed to be attending school, not managing businesses!" His voice carried more curiosity than anger. He knew well enough that his mother never made decisions without in-depth consideration—especially not when it came to him.
There was silence from Emberly. Not a single word. For nearly a full minute, the line remained eerily quiet, causing Pyris to feel a tinge of anxiety creep in. He waited, brow furrowed, his mind racing through the possibilities.
"Mother?" he called again, this time in a softer, almost pleading voice, one that made Emberly's heart skip a beat on the other end. Her silence broke as a chuckle slipped from her lips, surprising Pyris. Her reply was anything but what he expected.
"Well, my darling dear boy," she began, her voice affectionate but firm, "I'm going to be away for a while, and I don't know how long it will take. Hopefully, it won't be too long, but I can't guarantee that. While I'm away, I need you to take care of something for me. Not all the businesses—just Obsidian Tech."
Pyris' brow furrowed further as his mother continued, each word sinking into his mind.
"Our family carries a lot of responsibility, Pyris, and we've always handled it well. I've been doing this alone for a long time, but you're more than ready to take on some of that burden. You've matured. You're capable, and Obsidian Tech is where I need you to step in. It's a heavy responsibility, I know, but you're a genius, and I trust that you can handle this one company while I'm gone."
"But, Mother—" Pyris started to protest, but Emberly cut him off.
"I know, I know, Pyris. You have school and a life, which is why I'm only giving you Obsidian Tech. As the mother company, it requires our direct control. There's no one I trust with it more than you. Between technology and leadership, you've surpassed me in many ways! You'll do well. And while you're at it, I need you to uproot all the scum and any threats trying to take over from within. It's all in your hands now! Take care of it... and take care of yourself."
She paused, her tone softening slightly as she added, "Now, without another word, give the phone back to Emilia."
Pyris stood there for a moment, unable to find a response. He knew better than to argue with her; after all, Emberly had been training him for this role since he was five. She was grooming him for this very responsibility, and luckily for her, Pyris had taken to it like a natural.
His love for technology and his superior leadership skills had made him excel far beyond her expectations. By the age of fourteen, Pyris had already surpassed his mother in most aspects of their world—except for her expertise in anatomy and physiology.
He hadn't pursued those studies deeply, and Emberly hadn't pushed him either. She already had a better candidate for that: Anastasia.
Anastasia, with her high affinity for Life elements, had been compared to the legendary Elves. She had earned the title of the Dragon of Life and Resurrection.
Emberly had passed down her legacy to Anastasia, though the girl had little interest in the family businesses. Still, Anastasia was always ready to lend her aid if it was ever required.
____
As Emilia spoke to his mother, a gnawing sense of unease began to grow in Pyris. Something about this whole situation didn't sit right with him. His mother's reasons, her calm explanation—they were too well-practiced, too... fake. She was lying to him.
He could feel it in his gut, but the more he tried to understand why she would lie, the more his mind spiraled into anxiety.
[I don't think it's helping to overthink this,] a voice suddenly chimed in his head. It was Lia, his system's spirit. For some reason, she supported his mother's sudden request. [You should just do as she says.]
Pyris shook his head. "I'm not the type of person to blindly follow orders, especially when they don't make sense. I don't intend to go against her, after all, this is an opportunity for me, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to investigate why she's lying to me."
He paused, the wheels in his brain turning faster than ever. "There's only one reason I can think of. She's trying to get back at me for something, while also benefiting from it."
Little did he know how true his assumption was. Emberly was indeed upset after receiving a particular message from Valarie, but Pyris had no way of knowing that. At least, not yet. He'd have to dig deeper, though it wouldn't be easy putting the puzzle together.
[And why would she do that?] Lia interrupted, her voice incredulous. [You're being delusional.]
Pyris chuckled to himself, leaning back. "That's why they consider me the smartest person in the mortal realm, though it's a well-kept secret." He paused, knowing full well that Lia wouldn't see through Emberly's lies the way he did.
"My IQ isn't at 500 for no reason."
Lia groaned, a sarcasm disbelief evident in her tone. [Oh please! A 500 IQ? Give me a break! There's only so much someone can brag about!]
Pyris didn't argue. Instead, he opened his mind completely, giving Lia full access to his thoughts. Every process, every flicker of cognition, was now available for her to examine.
Gor a moment, there was silence.
Then came the scream.
[STOPPPP!!!]Lia's voice was frantic as her presence was suddenly expelled from Pyris' mind. He couldn't help but smirk. The system's notification followed quickly.
[Ding! System spirit unavailable.]
Pyris sighed. "How could she handle the thoughts of someone who can process 500 thoughtsin a single second?" He let out another sigh before closing his mind off once more, returning to his usual practice of only using a quarter of his mental capacity.
He had to be careful. Using his brain to its fullest extent wasn't dangerous for him, but for those around him. When his mind was unshielded, he viewed other people as little more than pests—insignificant distractions.
If he wasn't careful, he would lose himself completely in that state, and seclusion would be his only option.
"Until I become a Rank 20 Awakened," he murmured to himself, "I'll only use what I can control. At that level, I should be in full command of myself."
Just then, Emilia finished her conversation and disconnected the call. She turned to Pyris, bowing slightly as a sign of respect, given his position.
"I'm sorry, Pyris. We'll have to cut our time short for now. I'll send you the location of your new house shortly. See you there."
"Wait, Emilia," Pyris called out before she could leave. "What were you doing at the academy?"
Smiling faintly, Emilia answered, her eyes flashing with a secret she wasn't ready to reveal just yet.