"Let's calm down, Mr. Asher Eli," Lia suggested, offering him a comforting hug to ease the tension that lingered in the air.
Eli remained silent, his gaze fixed on the two motionless bodies lying on the ground..... their pupils flickering with bluish sparks.
"If we defeat the Overlord, that might lift the curse from them," John proposed solemnly, though his expression shifted when he noticed Lia hugging Eli, a subtle hint of jealousy flitting across his features before he masked it with a composed facade.
"I think we might need to check their bodies..." David pondered aloud, his brows furrowing with concern as he considered the potential implications of their condition, revealing a depth of understanding about the situation. as if he held deep knowledge about it.
Rubbing his hand he was just about to inspect Arlyne and Pearl when,
"sssshhh!!"
Celestria materialized before him, its sharp tips at his neck as Eli warned with a chilling edge to his voice, "Move an inch, and not even your body will remain."
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The air grew tense as David froze, realizing the severity of Eli's warning, while Lia instinctively withdrew from Eli's side, her eyes wide with apprehension.
"Forgive me, Mr. Asher Eli. He only wants to help them... He didn't mean any--" John began to explain, attempting to diffuse the tension, but Eli's steely gaze silenced him before he could finish his sentence.
"There is no need for him to touch them," Eli stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument as he settled beside his companions, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive like a hen protecting her chicks.
John, David, and Lia exchanged uncertain glances, recognizing Eli's determination to safeguard his companions. With a shared understanding, they agreed to leave Eli alone for the moment, promising to return later that night to confront the Overlord.
"We will come later" Lia nodded while David just shrugged and was about to leave when,
"Why didn't it curse you?" Eli posed a thought-provoking question that caught them off guard.
"H-Huh?" John stammered, taken aback by the unexpected inquiry, his mind racing to give a correct answer...
With an awkward expression, he attempted to provide an explanation, "I-It was like, you know, it only curses women..." His gaze briefly flickered towards Lia before he corrected himself, realizing the ambiguity of his statement, "I mean, I truly don't know... Like, see for yourself, you didn't get cursed, right?"
"Hmm..." Eli nodded before waving his hand.
"Here, some food..." John's voice echoed as he carefully arranged canned foods on the ground, a small act of kindness before he departed to their own cavern.
Left alone with Arlyne and Pearl, Eli's attention returned to them. With gentle hands, he placed his palms on their stomachs, his eyes shimmering with a mysterious reddish-black hue as he delved into their soul realm, and just like before.... he consumed the bluish-sparking figures before they could even utter a word of inquiry... same recorded question.
Now seated on the ground, Eli awaited their awakening, his mind consumed with thoughts and reflections on the recent events.
He already knew what curse they were talking about, and even in the information that Pearl had indicated, the monster was able to curse anyone. But it wasn't just any curse; it seemed to involve a soul invasion...
Anyhow,
That's not important since he could destroy that invasion.... What truly puzzled him was how the monster appeared before he could even see it.
Arlyne clenched her fists in frustration, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on her.
"However...."
Hearing that word, both Pearl and Arlyne looked up at Eli.
Eli stared at them, his expression serious, before turning his focus to Arlyne.
Though Arlyne felt a pang of shyness, she knew now was not the time to hesitate, not when Eli's determination was so palpable.
"Well... hmm..." Eli hesitated, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions.
"What?" Arlyne's voice broke through the silence, her curiosity evident.
"...."
"Eli, Ask me anything?" Arlyne said with a soft smile, though inwardly, 'Wait! Anything?' she cursed herself for saying something so open-ended.
Eli struggled to find the right words to express his inner turmoil. Should he be honest about his intentions or continue to conceal them? The weight of his decision hung heavily upon him.
Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "I..... wanted your body enhancement technique."
In truth, this admission had been the primary reason behind his interaction with Arlyne.
Ever since witnessing her remarkable body enhancement technique, Eli had been consumed by a desire to acquire it for himself.
He desired her technique... it was a crucial step towards mastering the elusive third form he had been striving to achieve.
Eli was prepared to acquire her technique by any means necessary, whether through financial means.... of course, via Adriana's vast resources or...
By leveraging the debt owed to him by Kira and Kyra.... Her Highness. He was willing to do whatever it took to obtain what he desired.
However,
If he had made this request back when they were trapped in the dungeon, Eli might not have felt as guilty about it. But after spending time with Arlyne, teasing her, and growing closer to her, he began to feel as though he was manipulating her emotions to serve his own ends.
Arlyne, like anyone in her position, would surely question Eli's intentions. "So you are after my technique?" she might ask, prompting Eli to grapple with his own conscience.
If Arlyne were to pose such a question, Eli wasn't sure how he would respond.
Hearing Eli's request, Arlyne hesitated for a moment before awkwardly admitting, "I am sorry, Eli, but that's not a technique... It's a unique trait that runs in my bloodline.
My bloodline ability is called Lioness."
"Hmm?" Eli was taken aback by her revelation.