Another Stalker?

"Hmm...Hmm," Lyra hummed softly, her eyes fixed on Eli who was eating in the dining hall, the rich aroma of freshly cooked food.

"Do you like it?" Lyra asked, her voice carrying a hint of pride and anticipation as she watched Eli savouring the meal.

"Yes, Madam... Did you cook this?" Eli inquired, clearly relishing the flavours he hadn't experienced before.

"Yes," Lyra gently smiled, her orange eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

Amber stared at her mother, noting how she was acting a little different after being pushed down by Eli in the training room.

The change was subtle but undeniable, a softening in her demeanour that was uncharacteristic.

She shrugged internally. As long as Eli was accepted by her mother, everything seemed fine.

Meanwhile, Lyra still wore a surprised expression, as if she couldn't quite believe that Eli, a soulless, had managed to snap out of her illusion—an illusion even her daughter struggled with. Her mind replayed the fight, analyzing every detail.

Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "How did you manage to escape from the illusion?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed her intense interest.

Amber perked up, her own curiosity piqued. She had a hard time distinguishing between illusion and reality, and she wanted to understand Eli's method.

"Well, it's simple. As I said, I couldn't feel the pain," Eli explained before continuing to eat, his tone nonchalant as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Couldn't feel the pain?" Both Amber and Lyra exchanged glances, trying to comprehend. It was one thing if it were a sense like smell, but pain...

Lyra, who had honed her illusion magic to perfection, knew how the brain worked.

The Sensory Expectation/Nocebo effect Principle.... the concept of how powerful the brain's perception could be, even causing physical reactions based on believed truths.

So, she needed to make sure the brain was convinced by the visuals and thus it triggered a physiological response consistent with being wounded. 

'So, his brain wasn't convinced that the wound was real?' She pondered, her curiosity deepening as she looked at Eli with renewed interest, 'Now I understand why my daughter is interested in him,' she thought, nodding to herself as she continued to serve him.

"I'm fine, Madam," Eli said, trying to stop her from serving more food, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her attentiveness.

"Ara~ara, boys should eat more; otherwise, they won't grow much!" Lyra winked at Eli, her tone teasing.

He stared into her orange eyes before nodding and said, "Well if you don't mind then..." He allowed her to serve him more food.

Amber frowned, feeling a pang of discomfort. She felt she had set something in motion she shouldn't have. The dynamic between her mother and Eli was shifting, and she wasn't sure she liked it.

After the meal, everyone retired to rest.

However, Eli found himself standing in the hall, just like the previous night. The house was quiet, the ticking of a clock the only sound breaking the silence.

"Can't sleep tonight either?" Lyra asked as she descended the stairs, her presence a calming contrast to the silent hall. Her silk robe rustled softly with each step, adding to the serene atmosphere.

"Yeah..." Eli replied with a smile, not turning around, his gaze fixed on a distant point.

Lyra gazed at Eli's back before suggesting, "Why don't you come to the terrace with me?"

"There's a terrace here?" Eli asked, surprised. He saw there were no floors above 100!

Lyra smiled, guiding him towards a hidden part of the house. Eli was astonished to see a seemingly solid wall flickered before disappearing, revealing a door. 

"It's an illusion? Why?" Eli asked, his surprise evident.

Lyra giggled, leading him up the stairs, "My daughter loves to see the view from the terrace, so I used it to motivate her. She can only see the view if she detects the illusion."

Eli smiled at the thought, appreciating the clever method.

Soon, they arrived at the terrace, where a cold breeze gently flowed, bringing with it the scent of night-blooming flowers. Eli took a deep breath, a smile spreading across his face as he took in the expansive view. 

"Wow!" Eli exclaimed, impressed by the sight that stretched almost to the end of Academia. The city lights twinkled like stars, creating a mesmerizing tapestry.

"I come here when I feel tired," Lyra mumbled, her voice soft and reflective.

"I can understand..." Eli replied, feeling the soothing effect of the gentle breeze on his soul.

They stood in silence, the tranquillity of the moment enveloping them. The night was quiet, save for the distant sounds of the city settling down.

...

...

The next morning, Amber knocked on Eli's door.

"Eli?"

Knock, knock.

"..."

Amber frowned at the silence before barging in, finding the room empty. Her lips twitched in irritation as she stormed downstairs to confront her mother.

However, she was surprised to see her mother cooking in the kitchen. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, making her stomach rumble ignoring that, she asked, "Mom, what did you do again?"

"Hmm?" Lyra placed the knife on the table, frowning slightly, "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Don't you know what you di—"

Thud

Her words trailed off as she saw Eli stepping out of the bathroom, a single towel wrapped around his waist. His upper body glistened with droplets of water, each muscle defined and gleaming. The sight was both surprising and captivating.

Amber's eyes widened, and she gulped, her tail swaying faster. She blushed and averted her gaze, stammering, "O-Oh! You're awake!"

"Yes, Sleepyhead," Eli remarked with a teasing smile, noticing her flustered reaction.

"I am not a sleepyhead!! Gggrrrrr," Amber's face turned red with embarrassment and irritation. She threatened to bite him, but Eli, knowing her well, immediately ran to his room, laughing.

Amber growled in frustration before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

"Hehe..." Lyra giggled, watching the interaction. She felt that if Amber had a sibling, this would be an everyday occurrence. She shook her head, amused by the thought.

Soon, everyone gathered for breakfast.

"Like it?" Lyra asked again, her tone warmer, her guard seemingly lowered. The table was filled with an assortment of dishes, each looking more delicious than the last.

"Like it? I love it!" Eli exclaimed, gobbling the food enthusiastically. Amber, feeling her mother's affection being stolen, growled and glared at Eli, her fox ears twitching.

"Amber, I think I will be staying at Ania's house today," Eli said suddenly, breaking the pleasant silence.

Amber's fox ears twitched. She clicked her tongue in annoyance but nodded. She knew about this from following them yesterday.

Though she felt annoyed that Eli was going to another woman's house, she knew they were just friends. She couldn't complain or force him, so she simply said, "Make sure to call me every half an hour."

Eli blinked those words echoing from the previous day. With an amused smile, he said, "Okay, Mom."

Amber's face turned red as she sneered at him, "Bastard!!"

Meanwhile, Lyra watched with a content smile, though she frowned internally, 'Ania? Who is she?' she wondered, waiting until Eli left the house after exchanging numbers with both Amber and Lyra, who insisted on having his contact.

"My dear," Lyra called to her daughter, who was about to leave for the Academy.

"Hmm?"

"Who is Ania?"

Amber's face turned annoyed, "She is just a girl who works as staff in the stadium."

"I see... Thank you," Lyra smiled, but Amber felt something was off. She shrugged it off and hurriedly left for the Academy.