Eli stared at the 'Auburn-coloured ring' its shade mirroring his own hair colour.
Scarlett's intent to solidify their commitment here and now was apparent.
A weak smile played on Eli's lips as he picked up the ring. Observing his action, Scarlett's face transformed from anticipation to sheer joy. Suppressing her impulses, she extended her left hand gradually.
"You know, if you want to marry, we could have had a ceremony—"
"Yes, we will have that later, but for now, I want to have it before I give myself to you".
Her voice, stern, serious, and tinged with a hint of panic?, resonated in the room.
Eli furrowed his brows in contemplation. He was already feeling guilty towards Lilith who wore the wedding ring without a ceremony (He was at fault to begin with) and now Scarlett's desire to wear a ring, especially since she had prepared it herself.... not him.
Eli had hesitated face. Noticing this, Scarlett knew he wasn't scared to marry her instead he was worrying about the ring she prepared,
"It's Okay, Ashy~"
Her soothing words dissolved his concerns as he shifted his attention back to her. Scarlett's expression had changed, radiating warmth and gentleness, a stark departure from the previous intensity.
Eli dismissed his lingering doubts. He couldn't keep her waiting any longer as he,
Mana Breathing
Deep Inhale
Terra Arts: 2nd Form
/Elemental Derivative/
An auburn-coloured ring hovered in Eli's palm, accompanied by a red crystal material.
Luminiscale
Luminiscale, the red crystal material Eli acquired from the blacksmith workshop, was a dragon scale renowned for creating high-level armour and shields. Its exceptional properties allowed it to absorb a substantial amount of mana and expel it rapidly, making it a sought-after material for crafting shields.
Just like this material, He gathered an array of rare materials not only for his studies but also with the intention of presenting heartfelt gifts to those dear to him. Each material carried its own significance, representing the depth of his emotions and care for his loved ones.
Sunfire Orchids
A unique material that Eli carefully selected for Lilith's ring.
This golden leaf substance possessed the extraordinary ability to absorb sunlight and emit it in a radiant display, resembling the warm glow of the sun. While it might seem like ordinary material to others, for Eli, it held profound significance as the embodiment of his love for Lilith.
Eli had prepared items for his Adriana and Scylla. Yet, he refrained from presenting these tokens to them for distinct reasons. Adriana, one of the recipients, was avoiding Eli, creating an obstacle in the gifting process. On the other hand, Scylla.... Eli was waiting for 'something'.
Eli found himself in a peculiar financial situation... He was broke. While it wouldn't be accurate to say he was completely broke, thanks to Adriana's seemingly "infinite" supply of credits.
However, his own hard-earned funds were cleared, leaving his credit balance in the negative.
With a resigned sigh, Eli inwardly muttered, 'Let's not think about it....' He proceeded to melt the Luminiscale in his palm, not through heat.... but rather through a process of liquefaction... splitting or melting molecules without the need for conventional heat.
While Eli had initially acquired these rare materials with the intention of crafting gifts for his loved ones, there was an additional motive behind his actions. He aimed to use these materials to enhance his mastery over 'Elemental Derivatives' striving to comprehend the intricate properties of various substances.
Although he had achieved a level of control over solid materials, the ability to create those materials..... was out of his reach... as of now.
Witnessing Eli's determination, Scarlett gazed into his radiant emerald green eyes, her attention shifting to the red material he held. She felt an urge to intervene, to dissuade him from using such a rare and valuable material.
The ring might be costly, but its significance paled in comparison to the material capable of protecting a life. Even an idiot would recognize the importance of such a choice.
"Ashy~," she murmured under her breath, her voice carrying a mixture of concern and affection.
Scarlett observed subtle tremble in his fingers as if each finger possessed a consciousness of its own while manipulating the materials.... truly magnificent.
It was truly fascinating; Scarlett found herself completely absorbed, forgetting everything as her body gradually calmed from the heightened state of arousal.
Though the atmosphere, charged with passion, slowly settled down, both parties involved were still occupied with their respective tasks.
After a few minutes,
After a few minutes, Eli, his face drenched with effort, held a lovely crimson-patterned auburn ring. Twirled threads of auburn crimson swirled around it like a snake.... it was their hair.
The ring seemed to radiate a soft glow, capturing the warmth of their shared moments and the passion that fueled their relationship. Each twist and curve in the design whispered of the unspoken promises and uncharted adventures that lay ahead.
Scarlett's eyes never left the ring after it completely changed, she was sure it was more beautiful and more elegant.
Scarlett's eyes never left the transformed ring. She was certain she felt an overwhelming sense of beauty and elegance as if the very essence of their love had been encapsulated in its delicate form. The threads of auburn and crimson seemed to intertwine with a grace that mirrored their own connection, creating a visual ode to the intertwining of their lives.
The mere thought of holding it made her shiver with excitement as if the ring held the testimony of their bond transcending the world.
Observing her joy, Eli felt content that his efforts had borne fruit. He was about to place the ring in her hand when a clearing of the throat interrupted the moment.
"Ahem"
"???" Eli looked at Scarlett with question marks in his eyes.
"I-I want you to... you know... propose m-me," Scarlett stammered, her face turning crimson red as she spoke.
Eli, looking at Scarlett's baby dress and then at his own state, couldn't help but wonder, 'Now?'
"A-Ashy?" Scarlett called out, trying to break the awkward silence.
".... Now?" Eli asked, nervously looking Scarlett up and down.
Realizing the awkward dilemma, Scarlett found the situation somewhat exciting.... You know, proposing nakedly... it's kind of new. However, one thing was really strange, that was unlike Scarlett, Eli wasn't calmed down yet.
"Yes!!" Scarlett answered without hesitation, though her eyes couldn't help but glance at Eli's rather vigorous state.
"..." Eli stared at her with a disbelieving expression but feeling her expecting eyes.
'....Okay, let's make her beg for forgiveness later' Eli noted in his heart as he moved away from the bed, Scarlett following him.
As they stood facing each other, Eli's face was now a brighter shade of red with shame. He couldn't help but feel embarrassment and shamefulness.
He had never seen or heard of this kind of proposal, 'Just calm down, you jerk!!!' he inwardly cursed his vigorous state that refused to lay low until it found its resting place.
Even if it was a naked proposal, it could have been somewhat fine, but.... his current condition made the entire proposal appear different.
"Should I dress-"
"Nope" Scarlett cut him off, determined not to miss this opportunity. Excitement surged through her, especially when she saw her brother's face turn even redder, and her little sister began to tremble.
'Sigh' Eli sighed inwardly. He had hoped he could at least wear something, but it seemed his sister had some kind of kink.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and then opened his flickering pink eyes,
"My Dear Scarlett...."
'Ba-dump, Ba-dump'
Scarlett's heart raced wildly, her eyes flickering with yellow slits, anticipation and excitement coursing through her veins as if at any moment, she might jump on him.
"I, who lost my dear mother, engulfed by the darkness, in the midst of my devoid life, you came into my life like a sun, protected me like a Wonderful Big sister, Guided me like a Mother when I lost the path to move forward...."
The soft moonlight cast a gentle glow on the room, creating an intimate atmosphere as Eli spoke with sincerity.
'Drip, Drip'
Scarlett tried her best not to shed tears, her fists clenched, and teeth gritted, struggling to contain the flood of emotions within her.
"In the journey of life, A person who protected me... I want to protect her by not being selfish... I want to protect her from hurting herself for being Big sister...
I want to protect you... now... tomorrow... forever.... until the end of my life...
Not as a brother or son.... as a soulmate... a lover... a half part of me... a Husband.
I want to make you happy.... I Love You, Scarlett.
.....
....
Will you make me the happiest person and marry me?"
Eli spoke gently, the ring representing their unification in his hand,
'Thud'
Scarlett crumpled, her legs giving way as they trembled, seemingly drained of all strength. Her face was stained with tears, a cascade that broke free as if a dam had burst, the sound of her cries resonating in the room.
She wanted to rise, to accept the ring he offered, but her body refused to cooperate. No matter her efforts, only the echoing sobs seemed to fill the space.
T-This wasn't what she expected. She merely wanted him to ask her to marry him, a simple step towards the final stage of their relationship. However,
N-now, overwhelmed with happiness, a strange mixture of pain gripped her.
Yes, She was happy, so much so that the happiness felt like it could consume her to death. Her brother didn't just want to protect her as a sibling or a son..... No, he envisioned a deeper connection.... half of him devoted to her? It was beyond her wildest hopes.
Yet, beneath the joy lingered a different kind of pain...
The memory of when she thought she lost her brother.... She lost her soul to live. Everything looked devoid of colours and even in the midst of pain there was something that told her she would refuse to accept his death news....
Yes, in the end, she found her brother but.... at what cost? He lost everything, he lost his human emotions, he lost his happiness, he lost his.... wife.
Those mere thoughts haunted her till now and might be in the future because she could no way to forgive herself for leaving him alone.
Even if no one else knew his past or... his true self, Scarlett did. She understood that the pain he bore was far more profound than anyone could fathom.
If it were any ordinary person, they might have already moved on and attempted to build a new life. However, for Asher Eli, it was a perpetual nightmare that refused to fade away.
It was a beautiful nightmare, one he wished to relive again and again..... Even as he smiled and appeared to move forward, Scarlett knew that it was far from the truth.....a truth that might seem disgusting and hateful.
A disgusting truth.... to others but, for her, it was a beautiful love.
A Love that transcended everything in this universe.
.... Had she not witnessed that twisted day, she might never have understood who Asher truly was and what it meant to be loved by him.
Yes, The twisted day: The day after his mother's death. Scarlett witnessed his true, twisted self....
The night he, the 'Real' Asher, the child..... dug his mother's grave for what?.... just to hug her, uttering those poignant words:
'I love you, Mama'
Yes, just to hug her.... this twisted sense continued every day, even after his mother's body had turned into a skeleton.
It was the moment Scarlett realized her ordinary love could never reach her brother. That night marked the beginning of the twisted Scarlett, willing to do anything for her brother's love.
If Scarlett were to make a wish, it would be to see her brother's true self..... After his mother's death, he concealed his genuine emotions, only revealing a few aspects considered normal for a human.
She longed to witness the twisted side that had intertwined with her own, shaping her into the person she had become....
If possible she wanted to see him again.