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"Who could this captivating young lady be, with her fair skin, pink curls, figure akin to a perfect work of art, and an enchantingly mysterious presence—none other than yours truly, Elysia~"
Her slender frame resembled a willow's grace, her voice as melodious as birdsong in the forest; porcelain skin concealed delicate bones, almond-shaped eyes sparkled like silver stars—a vision so adorable, she seemed straight out of a fairy tale.
After Mobius departed, the scene transformed, revealing a cozy lounge area with sofas and a bar. Seated on one of the sofas was a girl resembling an ethereal elf, greeting everyone warmly with a radiant smile.
She boasted fair complexion, dreamy soft waves of pale pink hair, and a white blouse accentuating her exquisite figure. Black arm cuffs adorned her ivory-like arms, while her shapely legs were encased in eye-catching long boots and stockings. Adorable purple accents decorated her collar, sleeves, and waistline, just as she described herself—an alluring and enigmatic beauty.
Facing the group, Elysia flashed a mischievous grin and charmingly winked, seemingly intentionally flirting.
Zeke silently shook his head and took a seat next to her.
Elysia raised an eyebrow, smiling gently:
"Got pranked by Mobius, huh? Don't worry, I won't laugh at you. She's just such a mischievous yet adorable child; it's only natural that she excels at practical jokes more than us. Oh right, long time no see—how about I mix you a 'Fairy Charm' cocktail? Exclusively crafted for my dearest friend Zeke, courtesy of Elysia~"
A glass containing a pale red liquid materialized in Zeke's hand, which he offered to her.
"I recall during your last rant, you mentioned that a fairy lady would never refuse wine from a friend, correct?"
"Eh?" Elysia's smile froze.
She vividly remembered how Zeke had similarly handed her a drink before. After consuming it, she lost her voice for several days, unable to utter a single word, barely avoiding suffocation from holding back her speech.
However, accepting drinks was seen as a sign of charm, and casually declining would go against the grace and poise expected of a fairy lady.
Elysia broke out in cold sweat, her eyes darting around frantically. Suddenly, her gaze lit up, and she vanished from the couch, reappearing behind Fu Hua and Senti.
"Look who it is! Isn't this my very best friend, Fu Hua? But wait, why are there two of you now? One physical, one spiritual... both unmistakably Fu Hua! Ah, I knew it—you spiritual warriors are always at risk of encountering existential crises eventually! No worries though, even split like this, you remain my most cherished Huas!"
Elysia circled around Fu Hua's smiling face and Senti's bewildered expression, examining them from all angles. She even found a moment to tap her delicate, pink-tinted fingers on the Book of Fuxi's head while exclaiming gleefully.
Zeke's mild gaze remained fixed on Elysia throughout, holding up his cup as if questioning when she would finally take a sip.
Finally, Elysia covered her face with both hands and hid behind Fu Hua and Senti, evading Zeke's stare.
"I didn't see it, I didn't see it—Miss Fairy didn't witness Zeke offering alcohol..."
"Pfft!"
Fu Hua glanced back at Elysia's self-deceiving act, then looked at Zeke, whose demeanor was cold and unyielding like a robot. Unable to suppress her amusement, she stifled a soft laugh with her hand over her mouth.
Well, well, is there finally someone who can keep Elysia in check?
Zeke shook his head and handed the drink to Bronya, who had approached him.
Bronya blinked, pursed her pink lips slightly, took a sip, and her eyes lit up.
"It's sweet and delicious."
"An artisan fruit wine brought back from a specific world bubble. It has a low alcohol content but excellent taste. Enjoy it slowly."
"Ah, thank you, Zeke."
Bronya lifted her drink, and the corners of her lips curved adorably upwards.
Then Kiana's and Sin's heads peeked out from behind Bronya, one on each side.
"I want to taste it too!"
"B-Bronya, Sin... Sin also... heh-heh!"
Kiana undoubtedly loved sweet beverages, while for Sin, whether it was alcohol didn't matter; what counted was that both Zeke and Bronya had touched those glasses!
Rolling her eyes, Bronya poured a sip for Kiana, then gently patted Sin's head.
"You're still young, no alcohol for you."
"Oh..." Sin momentarily looked crestfallen but quickly brightened with a sweet smile, not taking it seriously.
At that moment, Ellie popped up from behind Fu Hua, pouting as she glared resentfully at Zeke.
"Sneaky!" she muttered.
Instantly, another glass appeared in Zeke's hand.
"For you, go ahead and enjoy."
"Yes, yes... Wait! I want their exact cup!"
Elysia returned to the couch, bypassing Zeke's offered drink. Instead, she snatched Bronya's half-empty glass and eagerly gulped down its contents.
"Mm-hmm, it's delicious!" Elysia touched her cheek with one hand and giggled adorably.
Meanwhile, Zeke produced small pills, popping them individually into Bronya and Kiana's mouths.
The sudden intimate gesture caught both girls off guard, their faces flushing as they covered their lips instinctively.
Elysia's antenna-like hair stood straight up as she eyed the drink in her hand, swallowing nervously.
"Gulp! Wh-what did you just give them?"
"Obviously, it's the antidote for the voice-stealing drug," Zeke replied matter-of-factly.
Elysia's eyes widened, her hand trembling slightly as she held the glass.
"What?! Seriously?!"
"I'm kidding; they're just candies."
Relieved, Elysia let out a long sigh. She promptly downed the drink, then pouted, half-complaining yet sounding somewhat playful: "Zeke, you're such a tease, always picking on me! Your fairy lady's affection points are about to drop from max, watch out!"
"Can they drop low enough that you'll stop talking to me? Honestly, you can be quite loud sometimes."
"...With an attitude like that, no girl will ever like you, dummy!"
"Allow me to introduce you: These three ladies here are my fiancées." Zeke pointed at Kiana, Bronya, and Sin beside him, debunking Elysia's outrageous claims with cold hard facts.
The girls blushed modestly but clearly showed no intention of disputing his statement.
Elysia opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward indignantly, her shapely derrière noticeably sticking out as she excitedly pointed at Zeke. "Meanie! Womanizer! Scumbag! Treating adorable girls like this is so unfair!"
"Hmm, I know. Does that mean you're okay with losing your finger?"
Under Zeke's icy gaze, Elysia hastily retracted her finger and protectively covered it with her other hand.
She was well aware that Zeke wouldn't hesitate to snap someone's finger without warning if provoked.
In the past, the most challenging individuals for Elysia were Kevin, Su, and Fu Hua. The first one was too indifferent, showing no reaction regardless of what she did; the latter two were overly composed, only responding with patient, gentle smiles, treating her like a mischievous child.
Nowadays, Zeke was the toughest nut for Elysia to crack. He reacted to her taunts and mischief, but his responses were far too brutal, leaving the fairy maiden deeply frustrated yet helpless.
Pouting, Elysia held the standoff with Zeke for quite some time before bursting out laughing.
"Haha! That's enough joking around. So, what brings you back to the World of Elysium after two years? Let me guess—with so many adorable guests in tow, could it be for more Engravings?"
"That's part of the reason."
"I knew it. Since you're bringing them, I'm fine with it, but others might not be as welcoming toward Herrschers... Are you sure you want to try?"
"It's alright; they're exceptional."
"Then I have no objections. However, if you plan on causing trouble for Mobius, this fairy won't be able to help you! After all, she's my best friend!"
"Who isn't your 'best' friend?" Zeke replied dryly, giving her a sidelong glance.
Zeke glanced sideways and replied mildly.
Ignoring Ellie's playful tongue-out reaction, he turned to survey the girls other than Fu Hua's trio. "As you can see, this pink-haired guide with long ears will lead the way—just follow her. Whether it's food, drinks, navigation tips, or any other questions, feel free to approach her. The rest of your time here is yours to spend as you wish. Your progress depends solely on your determination and effort; I won't interfere."
Engravings enhance combat capabilities significantly, and this realm facilitates their seamless integration into one's body. However, beyond engravings, each hero possesses abilities, experience, and insights that form an inexhaustible treasure trove. How much they can glean truly lies beyond Zeke's control, relying entirely on their own efforts.
With Zeke's words echoing, the girls exchanged glances before breaking into smiles and nodding collectively.
And so, a brief yet crucial trial began.