There Is No Lie In This World Chapter 36: The Archive

Cassian’s voice was already waiting when I entered the office.

"Good morning, Miss Roen," he said, setting a neatly stacked folder on my desk. "Today’s itinerary is lighter. A few review sessions in the morning, but nothing you should feel pressured about. Until you are fully ready, you are not expected to make big decisions. It’s not a bad thing. If anything, it paints you as soone mature and cautious."

Cautious I was, for sure. Mature? I wasn’t so sure.

"Thanks," I replied, feeling much better after the dream I had. "Did you sleep at all?"

His smile was automatic. "Rest is allocated as needed."

I sighed and opened the folder. Numbers, summaries, nas I didn’t recognize. A familiar fog settled in. I stared, not reading.

"Cassian," I said suddenly, closing the folder. "Can I ask you sothing?"

"Of course."

"Where do the records go? Not the reports I see every morning. I an - older things."

"Such as?"

"I want to gain a deeper understanding of the history - the history of the Roen Group."

I was literally planted at the top with no background knowledge or understanding at all. There were just far too many mysteries in this place. I felt if I learned about things like how Senior Council ca to be, background history of each ’families’ that made up the council and served the Roen Group for centuries... perhaps I would feel a little less lost here.

His posture shifted almost imperceptibly. "Are you referring to the private archive?"

My heartbeat ticked up. "So there is one."

He considered for a mont. "There is. It’s below. Restricted access. Not many people know it exists."

"Can I go?"

Cassian raised an eyebrow, but quickly recomposed himself.

"Of course, Miss Roen. There is no place in this tower that is off limits for you."

A pause. Then he continued, "If you’re looking for context - history, decisions that shaped this place - yes, you are right. The archive may help. A wise choice actually."

He turned, pulling a secondary keycard from his inner jacket.

"Councilor Zhen oversees the archive. I’ll inform her of your visit. Her n will accompany you - it’s protocol."

"Councilor Zhen?"

"Yes, she is in charge of the archives."

A mory of their silent, imposing presence during the tea house visit returned to . Still, Zhen had offered her help. I couldn’t turn back now.

"Cain and Abe won’t be allowed, Miss Roen," It felt like almost everyone around here could read my mind.

"Right, I suppose that’s how it will be then."

–––

Councilor Zhen’s n - the sa two n who brought the invitation card over last ti, said nothing as we descended.

We left behind the halls I’d co to know, entering a part of the building that felt like an entirely different place. Colder. Older.

The elevator we entered bore no floor number. Just the faint symbol of three interlocking circles etched above the doorfra - familiar, but not from anywhere I could na.

As we descended, my ears popped. The ride felt too long.

"How deep are we traveling?" I asked, hoping that either one of them would answer.

"Very deep, Miss Roen," the one on my left answered.

"Does anybody ever co down here?"

"Only a mber of the Roen family and Councilor Zhen’s approved personnel can enter."

"How about Luc?"

My question was only t with silence.

–––

When the doors opened, cold air rushed in.

The hallway was long, dimly lit by recessed lights flickering in tired sync. The walls were brushed steel. No signs, no people. Just silence.

After we walked down the long hallway, there was a small reception behind which an old lady sat. She stood slowly as she saw and her wrinkled face gradually blood into a full smile.

"How nice for you to visit the archive, Miss Roen. I am the Archivist."

"Thank you. Nice to et you too," I bowed politely, which the old lady reciprocated with a deeper bow.

"A worthy heiress - a wise one. There is no future for those who forget the past," the lady spoke softly.

The two n who brought down and the lady nodded to each other, and the Archivist waved them off and led past the reception.

"We will wait here, Miss Roen," was what the two n said.

–––

We walked in silence down the corridor. Rows of sealed doors lined the walls, each marked with a nuric code. I stopped in front of one. No window. Just a keypad.

"What is this place?" I asked. This wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting a library like place, but to this place seed more like a prison of knowledge.

"Records. Experints. Projects Luc sealed. The archive keeps the Roen Group’s most inconvenient truths," the Archivist had a smile on her face that I found sowhat unsettling.

"Why... bring here?"

"Because you’re seeking questions that won’t be answered in daylight."

I was starting to wonder if it was a wise choice for to co down here in the first place, but her ntion of Luc intrigued . There was no turning back now.

We stopped in front of a plain tal door. The Archivist tapped the keypad and it slid open.

Beyond it, a narrow spiral staircase curved down into darkness.

"There’s more?" I asked, unable to hide the nervousness in my voice.

"There’s always more," she said.

I swallowed and descended.

–––

The stairwell was tight. Cold. With each turn, the light grew dimr. When I finally reached the bottom, I found myself in another corridor—but this one was lined with mirrored glass. Not transparent. Reflective.

Every footstep echoed back, unnaturally loud against the glass.

"What is this?" I asked.

The old lady’s voice echoed softly beside . "A passage to the truth."

"Why show this part of it?" My heart started to beat louder.

"Truth isn’t always written on paper, Miss Roen. The Archive is a library of knowledge, not books."

We stopped at the far end. A door was cracked slightly open. Pale blue light glowed from within.

"I’ll let you walk the last step alone," she said.

I turned to her, suddenly unsure. "What happens after I open it?"

"That depends on what you see - or what sees you."