"Where are the others?" Alysia's curiosity was evident as she spotted Eli emerging from his designated room.
"Hmm... Well..." Eli paused for a moment, considering his response. Slowly, he opened the door, allowing Alysia to witness the aftermath of the previous night's activities.
"Hmm?" Alysia's confusion was interrupted by a peculiar scent in the air.
'Sniff, Sniff'
"What's this funny... sme....ll....?" Alysia's voice trailed off as she took in the scene before her: a broken bed, a damp floor, and two women sound asleep—completely naked.
Alysia's innocent heart.... Shattered.
'Gulp'
Alysia closed the door with a small smile, maintaining a composed demeanour as she faced Eli, "It seems you had a very busy night," she remarked with a hint of amusement, though internally, she was flustered, thinking, 'Shit! Shit! Shit!! He's a beast, he's the fucking beast!' Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly excused herself, leaving Eli alone.
"Hehe..." Eli chuckled softly, amused by Alysia's reaction, before securely locking the door and proceeding with his plans for the day.
Making his way to the Elder's home, Eli observed that the soil had been diligently fertilized. He took it upon himself to remove the worms and froze them for later use.
"Here..." Eli handed the Elder a packet of seeds, instructing him to nurture them until they grew into thriving plants capable of yielding vegetables and fruits.
The Elder nodded in acknowledgement, though inwardly he grumbled about the expenses he would incur. Eli repeated the same process with another Elder's land.
"Hold your crown until the end of this month, after that, the other Elders will swarm to you like bees," Eli advised, his gaze drifting towards the towering tree that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.
"Hmmm," Alysia responded, her attention fixed on the colossal tree.
"Is something wrong?" Eli inquired, enfolding her in a gentle embrace from behind, causing her body to stiffen.
"W-We are outside!!" Alysia whispered in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing crimson as she attempted to extricate herself from Eli's embrace.
"So, it's fine if we are inside?" Eli teased with a playful smile before releasing her.
"Ugh," Alysia groaned, refusing to entertain Eli's question. Instead, she diverted the conversation, her gaze returning to the world tree,"No, it's just that this is the place where my mother was laid to rest..."
"...." Eli's gaze briefly flickered towards Alysia before settling on the majestic.... World tree.
Both of them stood in silence, contemplating the significance of the world tree. Their reverie was interrupted by the arrival of soldiers, who sought Alysia's attention. She hastily excused herself, leaving Eli to wait alone.
Eli stood there, his gaze fixed on the seemingly endless world tree, lost in contemplation about its origins and how such a colossal structure could exist. He paced around the tree, observing the fluttering fairies that danced in its vicinity.
"Come to think of it, have I forgotten something... or someone?" Eli mused to himself, his thoughts briefly interrupted by the sight of a small cave nestled under the roots of the world tree.
"Hmm?" Eli's curiosity was piqued as he noticed Alysia still engaged in conversation with a soldier. Seizing the opportunity, he ventured into the cave.
"This is Weird..." Eli muttered as he surveyed the small cave, its walls adorned with intertwining roots, plants, flowers, and other vegetation.
Clearing away the obstructing roots and plants, Eli reached the end of the cave and encountered an unexpected sight.
"Yes, though I can't confirm it, as it's merely a story passed down by my mother," Alysia added as she closed the door, ending their brief exploration.
"Hmm..." Eli nodded, his mind still lingering on the possibilities hinted at by the ancient tale.
"Let's move on," Alysia suggested, ready to depart the cave, but before she could leave,
'Thud'
Eli swiftly caught her hand and pinned it against the wall, his movements assertive as he cornered her, their bodies close.
"W-What are you doing?" Alysia asked, though her tone betrayed a hint of anticipation.
"It's been days since I've kissed my dear darling~," Eli whispered, his lips drawing closer to hers.
"N-No... N.... oo....." Alysia's initial resistance gradually faded as she closed her eyes and puckered her lips, her anticipation was evident!!
However, instead of the awaited kiss, Alysia felt Eli's teasing gaze upon her when she opened her eyes.
"Argh!" Alysia's cheeks flushed crimson as embarrassment flooded her, prompting her to flee from Eli's playful antics.
"Hahahaha...." Eli chuckled happily, while licking his lips when he saw her swaying ass but then,
"DUMFFF!"
Amidst his laughter, Eli's attention was suddenly drawn to a muffled sound.
"???" Eli's expression shifted to one of doubt as he turned his attention to the door.
"DUMFF!"
The door trembled slightly as if something powerful were trying to break through from the other side.
Without hesitation, Eli grasped the door knob firmly, taking a deep breath to steady himself. With a swift motion,
'Thud'
As the door swung open, instead of revealing a mere stone wall, Eli was met with a gaping void of darkness that seemed to stretch infinitely.
"What is happening?" Eli questioned, his heart beating so fast that he knew it was telling him not to enter.
However, against his instincts, Eli was drawn to the unknown, taking a step forward toward the abyss.
'ssshooooossss'
A sudden rush of cold wind surged from the open doorway, enveloping Eli in its icy embrace. He frowned, shielding his face from the biting chill.
Before he could react further, Eli felt his consciousness slipping away as if the very air around him was draining his strength.
'Thud'
His body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, tumbling into unconsciousness within the dark cave. Simultaneously, the door crumbled into dust, leaving behind nothing but a void of emptiness.