Asher Eli's POV
My eyes fluttered as I slowly opened them, greeted by an impenetrable.....darkness.
Yes, still fucking blind.
I gingerly tried to move, eliciting a pair of distinct sounds.
"Ouch!"
"HMM!"
Someone else was in the room.
"Mariel?"
"....."
"Mariel??"
"...I-I am sorry, are you fine, Eli?" Mariel's voice, tinged with weakness, reached my ears.
"Mariel, what happened?" I raised my hand, intending to touch her face.
As my hand searched, Mariel intercepted it and guided it to her face.
She spoke with a gloomy tone, "I-I am sorry. If not for me, nothing could haaaavveeeee---Wwwahhtt ddoonngg?"
Enough of the self-blame nonsense. I seized the opportunity to pinch and pull her cheek.
"Where is the woman who is always stubborn and sharp?" I teased, still holding her cheek.
"H-Huh?" Mariel was taken aback for a moment.
"You already know it was neither of our mistakes, right?" I queried. Even I understood it was something no one could have predicted, so surely this woman, stubborn and sharp, knew it too, and yet she was blaming herself and asking for forgiveness.
"...." Mariel stayed silent for a moment before nodding and saying, "Yes, I know, but... still if I didn't bring~Hmm~"
I decided to silence her with a kiss, putting an end to that self-flagellation.
Mariel was surprised, but she didn't resist or didn't push me away, closing her trembling eyes.
After a minute, I released her.
"Is Mei fine?" I asked.
"...Hmm, healers said she would wake up anytime soon" Mariel replied softly and if possible she might be blushing like little even though she was the mother of two.
"Wei?"
"He's simply waiting for her to wake" Mariel added, her voice carrying a hint of anger.
"Here..." Then I gave her a white soul crystal flickering with energy.
"Hmm?"
Then I told her to revive that person and interrogate him thoroughly. Mariel stared at the soul crystal before nodding her head.
Suddenly,
"~Ring~Ring~"
A phone rang.
Mariel flinched before taking out the phone and handed it to me, saying,
"Here...."
"Hello?"
"Yes, Scylla, don't worry. I am fine" I reassured, sensing Scylla's concern through the phone.
A subtle smile crept onto my face, and in response, I felt a playful pinch on my hips, 'Why?' I thought.
Ignoring Mariel's amused glance at my reaction, I continued the call,
"Yes, I am here for some business. I will be there tomorrow....
Don't worry, I will come. I am not doing anything dangerous, okay?...
Her hesitant voice reached my ears.
"What is it, Mariel?"
"W-Well....You...Hmmm...nothing"
It seemed like she wanted to say something but chose not to. I decided not to press her further....maybe she wanted to ask about how I removed the corruption which I didn't even know.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked as I gestured toward my eyes.
"Huh? Well, let's check the old books; I think they might have solutions" Mariel suggested thoughtfully.
"Hmm, okay" I agreed, thinking there was no harm in checking the books.
Mariel teleported to her book collection, as indicated by the thickening old book smell that filled the room.
"Wait here; I will check the books" Mariel said as she carefully sat me in a chair.
I was amused by her actions; it seemed she was starting to grow fond of me. While she checked the books, I attempted to use my arts to sense the surroundings.
"Don't do it, or it will trigger self-defense" Mariel's loud voice warned me suddenly.
Shrugging, I waited for her.
After half an hour, I was about to drift into sleep when I heard her cheerful voice.
"I found it!
"Good" I said, about to stand up when I felt someone suddenly sitting on my lap.
"..." I felt she was expressing more of herself. I slowly wrapped my hands around her slim waist, wondering at times whether she had given birth to two children.
Feeling my acceptance and gentleness, she leaned back and started to read the book.
"Hmm, Dominance. It happens when two different Phoenix races try to c-copulate..." Her voice turned a little shaky at the end.
'Well, we did try to copulate, so it's not wrong' I thought as I tightened my embrace.
She continued, "If one phoenix tries to assert dominance over another phoenix, they should be weaker and...."
She went into a lot of unnecessary details. All I wanted was to know how to cure this blindness. While pondering on blindness, a specific person crossed my mind.
'What was her name again, Kira or Kyra...?' Their names sounded similar, but I couldn't recall exactly....Well, it doesn't matter. Considering her blindness, she must have gone through a lot. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her.
Feeling her sympathy, I strangely found joy in comparing my situation with others, thinking, 'I have, but they don't' It made me feel a bit superior.
'Talk about my shitty thoughts and shameless mind' I lamented to myself.
This was also the reason I took Scylla in to feel better about myself....'I am really the worst', but I never cared because, at the end of the day, I am only responsible for myself and my family, not others.
"Ouch"
I felt a pinch on my dick again...'Why is she pinching there!! Is she still angry at me for telling those teasing words?'
"You were thinking of another woman, right?" Mariel asked in a deadly tone.
"....Woman? No" I replied after a small pause.
Mariel's lips twitched, annoyance evident in her expression, "I se---" she began to nod her head when,
"Women, Yes" I said with a large smile, intentionally teasing her.
"...Fuck you!" Mariel shouted as she was about to push me off.
"When?" I whispered in her ears, enjoying the playful banter as her body trembled.
'Snort'
Snorting, she continued with the information, and as the crucial part approached, I focused intently,
"In order to cure the frozen crystalline part for Frost Phoenix or the eternal burning part for Inferno Phoenix, they have to drink or inject the b..." Mariel's voice suddenly trailed off.
"Inject? What?" I asked hurriedly, my curiosity spiking. Like any other 'normal' man, I also held a glimmer of hope for something more.
Whether my luck or my fate,
Mariel's voice stuttered as she shared the crucial information,
"B-Bodily f-f-fluids of corresponding c-ouples who wish to C-Copulate..."
"You already said that..." I said as I indicated her angry shout and added, "So, when are you planning to fuck me?" I raised an eyebrow with a playful grin.