Chapter 286: He must be using that disgusting technique!
"..."
The air crackled with tension as Arlyne O, Kyra Chola, and Kira Chola shot fiery glares at Eli, their bodies pressed against the comforting shadows of a nearby shop.
Kira and Kyra had yearned for another enchanting moment akin to yesterday. Yet, as the minutes ticked by without Eli's appearance, disappointment etched itself on their faces, casting a shadow that also enveloped the children around them.
Most notably, 'That Romeo boy' wore an expression of 'Very genuine' heartbreak.
Deciding to leave the orphanage, Kyra and Kira were constantly nagged by Arlyne to return to the dorms since it was unsafe to be out at night. Both Arlyne and Oliver had been assigned as guards to Kyra and Kira, with the primary objective of safeguarding their Young misses.
While Arlyne had failed to track down Kira and Kyra during yesterday's prank, she clung to them like a shadow this time, refusing to let them slip away unnoticed.
On their way, they encountered Eli, who had stumbled over a little brown-haired boy. Initially, everyone smiled, assuming Eli was offering something to the child until he unexpectedly slapped the boy.
Kyra's eyes turned cold, mirroring Arlyne's disgust at Eli's actions. The situation became even more repulsive when they learned that Eli intended to return and check on the money.
What was the fucking reason he even gave money to the child? To save it?
Kyra was on the verge of intervening to help the mistreated child by that pervert when Kira, with her blindfold, commanded,
"Stop!!"
Both Kyra and Arlyne halted, turning to face Kira, who looked at them with her blindfold with a calm demeanour.
"That slap was powerful enough to kill a 6-Star Heart Ranker"
"..."
"..."
'Come to think of it... Yeah' Arlyne mumbled, reflecting on the strength of Eli's unexpected blow.
As they lingered in contemplation, their eyes caught sight of the little boy, his voice ringing out with gratitude towards Eli. The scene left them momentarily stunned. When Eli halted his steps, casting a glance at the muttering child then the child ran away, a sense of intrigue mingled with their confusion.
Eli then turned his head, maintaining a stern gaze that seemed to penetrate the surroundings. However, a subtle smile played on his lips as he shook his head, the enigmatic expression leaving an indelible mark on the atmosphere.
'Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump'
Kyra and Arlyne's hearts skipped a beat, the rhythmic thumping resonating with an inexplicable warmth that flushed their cheeks. It wasn't solely Eli's striking handsomeness.... although that may have played a small part. The crux of the matter lay in the fact that even in that fleeting smile, a genuine emotion resonated... It truly held emotion.
While they had glimpsed him smiling before, it paled in comparison to the current expression.
Kira turned her blindfolded gaze toward her sister, seeking an explanation or a subtle signal, but Kyra remained silent, caught in a mesmerizing moment.
"Kyra?" Kira's voice sliced through the air.
"...H-Huh? Yes?" Kyra stammered, attempting to mask her surprise with an awkward smile.
Arlyne, too, snapped out of her reverie, her embarrassment evident in the deepening hue of her flushed face. She couldn't fathom why her heart had skipped a beat, but the intensity was undeniable.
Locking eyes, Arlyne and Kyra shared an unspoken agreement to leave, perplexed by the unanticipated fluttering within them. However, as Eli drew nearer, their heartbeats grew louder.
"Is he using that 'Charm' Technique?" Arlyne speculated, well aware of the charm's potency. Her brother was the one who suffered more, he had been with his wives all the time to dispel any rumours of his sexuality.
"Y-Yes, he must be using that disgusting technique!" Kyra joined Arlyne's conviction. She believed Eli was using the charming technique because no matter how they analyzed it, there was no other explanation for their pounding hearts.... Well, it was better than acknowledging something, right?
Deciding to distance themselves, they were abruptly halted.
"Kira?" Kyra exclaimed as she witnessed her sister sprinting towards Eli.
"Your Highness, Stop!!" Arlyne shouted, her concern evident as she pursued Kira, fearing Eli's charm might have unforeseen consequences.
"Arrhhh" Kyra gritted her teeth in frustration, joining Arlyne in chasing after her impulsive sibling.
"Hmm?" Eli lost in his thoughts, raised an eyebrow as a blindfolded woman charged toward him.
Eli didn't want to say this again but he couldn't help but say, 'How in the hell is she running toward me?'
"-Ha-ha-" Kira gasped as she stood before Eli, the others catching up.
"???" Eli surveyed them with question marks in his eyes.
Arlyne moved to pull Kira away when she heard Kira command, "Hand" and saw her catch Eli's hands, "Arlyne, check his hands for any red spots"
Following Kira's authoritative tone, Arlyne complied.
Eli nonchalantly swatted away Kira's hand and addressed the trio, "I'm running out of time. See you later!"
Eli hurriedly left, and Kira followed. Sighing, both Kyra and Arlyne ran after them, thinking, 'She really does whatever she likes... ah!'
While running, Eli glanced at the back of his hand, where a bright red mark seemed to have appeared due to the collision of his slap. He used his water healing method to alleviate the burning sensation before disappearing into the distance.
After arriving at his destination, Fiana, the mother of the orphanage, remained silent, allowing Eli to enter while the children erupted in joyful shouts at the sight of him. Just like the day before, Eli engaged with them, teaching, playing, and sharing meals. As he prepared to depart, however, a chorus of disappointed voices rose:
"Big brother, you didn't sing!"
"Hate you, big brother!"
"How could you lie to us!"
Eli chose to ignore their pleas, steadfastly refusing to sing despite their persistent requests. The children, particularly the 'Romeo boy' expressed his resentment, clenching his fists in frustration at Eli's unyielding stance even after Oscar award acting.
Fiana observed the scene with dissatisfaction, feeling as if her chicks had been lured away by some other duck. Eli, satisfied with the outcome, was about to take his leave when Fiana dropped a bombshell:
"Oh, I forgot to inform you, since you came late, this will not be considered attendance" she stated matter-of-factly before closing the door.
"...." Eli's eyes twitched when he heard, 'So, I just wasted my time!' He sighed, well aware that he was three hours late. Nevertheless, frustration lingered as he thought, 'At least you could have told me that earlier; I would have happily left this place' Eli shouted inwardly as his gaze landed on a blindfolded honey-haired woman who was diligently cleaning the yard.
'Hmm, I haven't seen her today peeking at me...' Eli thought, puzzled. Whenever he visited, she had a tendency to peek at him like a stalker.
"Come earlier tomorrow," Brynhildr, the blindfolded honey-haired woman chimed in with a smile and a wave.
"Yeah" Eli nodded, noticing the red dirt on her dress and hands even though the place didn't have any dirt... but choosing not to dwell on it.
Leaving the orphanage with a nonchalant expression, Eli asked,
"So?"
"Hmph, now you can see us!" Kira declared with annoyance evident on her face.
The trio had been with Eli throughout his time at the orphanage, and Eli's dismissive behaviour had irked them.... He treated them like air.
"Y-You could at least respond to us!" Arlyne was the most annoyed by Eli's antics. While they were the ones approaching him, witnessing how he treated them like insignificant nuisances couldn't help but fuel her anger.
"Well..." Eli paused, looking back at the trio with a frustrated expression. He felt a hint of satisfaction before asking, "What do you guys want?"
"I wanted to see those sparkling birds"
"I-I wanted to hear that song"
Both Kira and Kyra responded simultaneously without hesitation.
"...." Eli regarded them with a strange expression, thinking, 'What are you, children?'
"...." Arlyne facepalmed, realizing her Misses had forgotten to explain.
Yesterday, Arlyne persistently pestered the sisters to reveal what they had been up to. The sisters, eager to avoid any potential reports to their mother, decided to confide in Arlyne and shared every detail asked to keep secret.
Arlyn turned teary-eyed as she hugged them tightly. In that moment, she felt a surge of happiness for them, assuming a maternal role that transcended her usual duties.
"Kira saw your Lightning Bird...." Arlyne stated with a serious tone, capturing Eli's attention. He nodded, signalling for her to provide more details.
However, Kira interrupted, catching Eli's hands once again,
"I-I saw, I saw those flying birds. It was amazing, you know? It was truly amazing to see. That was the first time I saw it. I-It was truly wonderful... Kira's hand body trembled as she continued, "P-Please, I-I wanted to see again".
Eli frowned, 'She can see... my powers? Or what?' he thought, not fully comprehending Kira's experience. Witnessing her trembling body, Eli, well aware of the isolation that comes with navigating a dark world alone, couldn't help but empathize.
Even though he had lost his vision for just one day, Eli vividly remembered the overwhelming joy that flooded him when he could see everything again.
'Sparkle, Sparkle'
Hearing the enchanting sound, Kira's heart raced once more.
Eli, in response, crafted the Lightning Bird, and the ethereal creature gracefully ascended, hovering in front of Kira.
"I-I can't s-see..." Kira uttered in a trembling and taken-aback voice, eliciting frowns from Kyra and Arlyne.
Eli maintained his gaze on Kira, observing her closely before conjuring another Lightning Bird.
'Sparkle, Sparkle'
This time, Kira's joyous exclamation filled the air, "I-I can see that!!!" Her happiness echoed, leaving Kyra and Arlyne bewildered, unable to grasp the unfolding mystery before them.
Kyra and Arlyne frowned even more as they couldn't understand what was happening.
'Interesting...' Eli muttered under his breath, a subtle smile playing on his lips as his gaze remained fixed on his two creations.