Nex Academia
Just before Eli enjoyed a blissful night with his stepmother, inside the Nex Academia, within Asher Eli's house.
In the spacious living room, five figures found their places on the sofa: three on one side and the remaining two on the opposite end.
Scarlett, with an intense focus, directed her gaze toward a silver-haired girl, while Scylla concentrated on one with light purple hair.
"EELLLIIIII?" A sudden exclamation disrupted the room's ambiance as a small figure, its curious eyes flitting about, darted through the air, while circling the room it cried.
"Ms. Alysia Hill Morgan Flora" Scarlett addressed the silver-haired girl with a note of formality.
"Yes?"
"Why did my little brother want to talk to you?" Scarlett inquired.
"He wanted to discuss something important" Alysia replied with a serious expression, her silver hair cascading gracefully around her shoulders.
"Hmm? Did he ask you to come?" Scarlett's frown deepened. If her brother had summoned Alysia, there was no way he would have neglected to inform anyone in the home.
"No, Tiana wanted to see him, so I brought her. Using this chance, I wanted to discuss with him" Alysia explained truthfully, steering clear of any potential misunderstanding.
"Hmm...." Scarlett nodded before shifting her gaze to the light purple-haired girl, a playful smile forming on her lips, "It's been too long, hasn't it, Marie?"
"Y-Yes, M-Ms. Sc--"
"There is no need for formality; just call me as usual" Scarlett interjected a warm reassurance in her tone...like a kind older sister.
"Huh?..." Marie's eyes darted nervously at Scylla, who was casting sharp glances in her direction.
"Marie?"
"Y-Yes, Big Sis Scarlett" Marie reluctantly agreed.
"Hmm" Scarlett nodded as her eyes glanced at Scylla, catching the undercurrent of a disdainful expression on Scylla's face.
Returning her focus, Scarlett asked with a concerned face, "How are you, Marie?"
"I am fine, Big Sis" Marie replied with a smile, a genuine warmth breaking through her initial nervousness.
"Hmmm, How is your new life going?...Did my brother finally propose to you or not?" Scarlett asked with a teasing annoyance, revealing a 'sisterly affection?' for Asher.
"It's fine. No, he didn't--W-What are you asking!!" Marie, momentarily letting her guard down, replied with a smile, immediately taken aback by Scarlett's unexpected question.
"Of course, his puppy love?" Scarlett shrugged, her tone playful, dismissing Marie's flustered face with a nonchalant wave of her hand.
"W-What?" Mia, who had stayed silent until now, was suddenly startled.
"....So it's true....ah" Scylla muttered with lifeless eyes.
Alysia, scanning the area, suddenly flinched as her heart skipped a beat before glancing beside a flustered Marie, her perceptive gaze catching subtle nuances in the interactions around her.
The atmosphere turned more awkward, a palpable tension settling like a mist in the room.
"Oh? Puppppyyyy Looovvveeeee?" Suddenly, a cute voice echoed.
Everyone looked at the tiny figure emerging from the kitchen, holding a one-piece cookie that was half its size.
"Eli loves Puppy?" That tiny figure, Tiana asked as she sat on the table, looking at Scarlett with wide, curious eyes.
She wanted to answer this cute creature; however, responding to her could lead to disaster.
"Tiana, what's this?" Alysia frowned as she scolded Tiana for taking food from others' homes without permission.
"B-But it-t's cookies..." Tiana hid the oversized cookie behind her back, her eyes wide with innocence, evading Alysia's reprimanding hand.
"Tiana, give it back!!" Alysia tried to snatch it, but Tiana fluttered higher with her tiny wings, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"NNNOOO....." Tiana glared at Alysia, who was trying to reclaim her only sweet food.
"Eli will get angry if you stole it" Alysia declared, her lips twitching with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
"I-I didn't steal it..." Tiana's face turned into a grimace as she looked at Mia with a gloomy expression and asked, "Did I?".
But truth be told, Scarlett's method was simple: wielding her leverage over her younger brother, Asher Eli, through his photo and a few black histories. Extracting information became a breeze for Scarlett.... easy peasy.
"Small girl, my brother has tamed you more than enough...." Scarlett thought as she observed Scylla silently laying her head on her lap.
"He saved you... ah?" Scarlett inquired, shifting her attention back to Marie.
"Y-Yes" Marie answered, stealing a glance at Scylla who covered her eyes in embarrassment.
"Just a thanks?" Scarlett squinted her eyes.
"Y-Yes?"
"I mean, he saved your life, so you're just going to say 'Thanks'... that's all?" Scarlett frowned.
Marie was taken aback before saying with an awkward face, "I-I don't have anything to g--"
"You don't need to give him anything"
"T-Then?" Marie was confused, thinking, 'I only have a few credits that were enough to last this month, and if I give it...'
Scarlett stared at the confused girl and clicked her tongue, "Tsk, I heard you are avoiding him".
"Y-Yes" Marie responded, taken aback.
"Speak with him face to face is enough for him" Scarlett said seriously.
"....O-Okay, Big Sis Scarlett" Marie gulped as she nodded her head.
"Well, how is your sister?" Scarlett asked carefreely, though her heart was beating like crazy now. 'I-I hope it's not what I think it is?' she thought. She might not know what exactly happened, but in the past three years of investigation, she gathered every bit of information.
Lucca Village, where Eli was born and lived, was not destroyed by a monster breakdown; instead, someone deliberately lured the monsters towards Lucca Village.
And today, after hearing from Scylla, Scarlett understood, and every piece fell into place except for something or someone she wanted to know...She had yet to know who was Eli's first wife...
"S-She is doing fine?" Marie said with a hint of doubt.
'So, she doesn't know anything... ah' Scarlett thought as she sighed. She was hoping to hear more, but it seems Marie herself didn't know anything about her sister's death.
"When did you see your sister?" Scarlett asked.
"Hmm...F-Four years ago.." Marie answered with an awkward face.
"Sigh" Scarlett visibly sighed and asked, "Why don't you go see her now?"
"T-That's...I-I...Well..." Marie lowered her head, "I need time" she said in a mosquito voice.
Seeing this, Scarlett didn't want to corner her anymore.
"Oh? It's almost time..." Scylla suddenly stood up, took her phone and called,
'Ring~Ring~'
A mild ringing tone echoed from the ceiling...
"Master is here?" Scylla frowned before hurriedly running towards Eli's room.
"...." Scarlett stared at Scylla's disappearing back, then her eyes landed on her little sister who was coaxing the dying cat.
"His phone is here..." Scylla suddenly said as she descended hurriedly as she showed Eli's phone.
"..." Scarlett frowned before saying, "Don't worry he must be with my mother"
As she took the phone and called her mother,
"Hello?"
Hearing Eli's voice, she frowned and was about to ask when,
Scylla swiftly took the phone from Scarlett's hand and,
"H-Hello, My Master, My husband, Where are you? Did something happen? Is that bitch hurt you?...." Scylla asked with a worried and hurried face.
"..." Scarlett's lips twitched.