Chapter 392: They have one thing common
"You look just like Alysia, you know," Eli muttered softly as he gently tugged the strands of silver hair behind Morgan's delicate elven ears, his fingers brushing against her skin with a feather-light touch.
"Hmph, it's not just that I look like her... She resembles me, son-in-law!" Morgan retorted with a mixture of annoyance and amusement dancing in her eyes.
As much as she adored Alysia, there was pride in Morgan's heart when it came to her own unique beauty. She was the original, the archetype from which her daughter inherited her striking features. It was a subtle point of contention, one that she couldn't help but feel defensive about when compared to the younger generation.
"Hmm..." Eli couldn't help but wear a wry smile as he studied Morgan's face anew, a twinkle of mischief playing in his eyes. There was an undeniable allure to her, an inexplicable pull that drew him in like a moth to a flame.
"So, Morgan—ouch!" Eli's attempt at a more serious inquiry was interrupted by a sudden pinch on his hand, courtesy of Morgan's swift and admonishing gesture, "Respect, young man. Give due respect to your elders," she chided him, though a small smirk betrayed her feigned sternness.
"I see... Morgan, dear—ouch!"
"I-I am not your dear, you silly man!" Morgan's cheeks flushed a rosy hue as she protested, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement flickering across her features.
"Well, then tell me, what is this inexplicable feeling I have for you?" Eli's voice took on a softer tone as he reached out, his fingertips tracing the outline of her lips before daring to steal another fleeting kiss.
"~hmm~"
"S-Stop it!" Morgan's protest was half-hearted, her resistance melting away as Eli enveloped her in a warm embrace, his closeness filling her with a sense of longing she couldn't quite deny.
"Hmm?" Eli's curious tilt of the head belied his mischievous intent as he held her close.
"W-Well, perhaps it's fate that has brought us together...?" Morgan's voice wavered slightly, a mixture of uncertainty and longing colouring her words.
"Sigh... I confess I'm rather baffled by all of this," Eli admitted, a furrow forming between his brows as he struggled to make sense of the inexplicable connection between them.
"Don't fret, Eli... Everything will fall into place," Morgan reassured him, her eyes reflecting a quiet sadness as she tried to ease his troubled mind.
"Would you mind telling me what is that door I just entered?" Eli's inquiry was tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern as he changed the topic.
"That, My dear son-in-law, is one of the ancient sealed doors"
"Really? But isn't that brok--" Before Eli could voice out, Morgan said with a gloomy face,
"Within....lies only death and decay... The once-mighty Norse gods have all but perished within its confines, save for those few who managed to escape or were ensnared by other powers," Morgan explained, her words carrying the weight of centuries-old sorrow.
And continued,
"What you beheld was but a fragment of the awakening of the Jormungandr... So, Once you wake up... the world shall know of the rebirth of the Ruler of Oceans," Morgan warned, her voice tinged with a solemn urgency.
"Sigh... Why me?" Eli asked the important question that had been bugging him ever since he summoned the Megalodon.
"..... Because she chose you" Morgan muttered.
"Lilith?" Eli frowned, thinking that was a plausible explanation considering she was also the ruler of the elements.
However, Morgan didn't offer a direct response; instead, she simply smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes.
After a few moments of silence, both of them turned their gazes skyward, watching the vast expanse above them with a shared sense of wonder.
"So, when can I expect to return?" Eli's question carried a hint of concern as he pondered the passage of time outside their current setting.
"Hmph, it appears my son-in-law isn't eager to linger in the company of his mother-in-law," Morgan pouted playfully, her tone light despite the underlying affection.
"Haha... I love spending time with you, Morgan," Eli replied sincerely from the depths of his heart.
Morgan's face flushed deeply when saw his genuine expression.
"You know, Alysia once mentioned how deeply in love you were with your husband, Alden Evergreen," Eli ventured, curious about Morgan's past.
"Hmm..." Morgan nodded thoughtfully before prompting, "And?"
Eli's brow furrowed slightly as he reached out to her hips and asked, "You don't mind my touch, do you?"
"Hehaha..." Morgan giggled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she replied, "No, I don't mind at all. Though my heart once belonged to Alden, those feelings have long since faded..."
"So?" Eli tilted.
"So?" Morgan also tilted.
'She's toying with me, isn't she? She knows exactly what I'm asking,' Eli mused, his gaze softening as he leaned in closer to her.
"Are you planning to kiss me?" Morgan teased, her smile turning mischievous as their faces drew nearer.
"Will you stop me?" Eli's voice was a whisper, his lips tantalizingly close to hers.
"W-Well...~Hmm~.... W-Wait! I am yet to say~Hmmm~" Morgan's protest wavered as Eli's breath mingled with hers, their closeness igniting a familiar spark between them.
"~Hmm~"
As their lips met in a tender yet passionate kiss, Morgan's hands found their way to Eli's neck, pulling him closer in a silent invitation to deepen the connection between them.
"I'm truly grateful to you, Eli... for saving my daughter," Morgan whispered between kisses, her words filled with genuine appreciation and warmth, "I'm so grateful..."
"So, you were the voice I heard as I was leaving—"
"Yes, I witnessed it all," Morgan admitted, her expression shifting to one of sombre reflection as she referenced the Dungeon Walker incident.
"So, thank you!" Morgan mumbled gratefully before pressing her lips to his once more, her touch conveying a mix of affection and appreciation,
"I am truly happy that my daughter found such a wonderful husband.... Just please, don't ever come to hate her. She needs someone who can love her unconditionally, and understand her complexities. She deserves all the love and understanding in the world... all she wants is love, nothing more."
As Eli's heart raced with affection for Morgan, his chest filled with warmth at her words.
'Ba-Dump, Ba-dump'
His heart echoed her sentiments, skipping a beat at the sight of her lovely and tender expression. Without hesitation, he kissed her again, but this time, with a hint of passion, biting her lips gently before pulling away.
'sssshhhhh'
The sound of his departure filled the air as Eli slowly vanished into particles, leaving Morgan standing alone in the vast expanse of the grassland.
"I kind of liked the taste of his sweet lips..." Morgan murmured, her fingers tracing the outline of her swollen lips where Eli's bite had left its mark, a lingering reminder of his presence.
"Hehehe..." Morgan chuckled softly, a mixture of amusement and fondness in her tone. "You've certainly chosen quite the remarkable husband, my dear daughter..."
However, her amusement quickly faded as she sighed, her gaze shifting to the undulating grassland that seemed to warp and distort like an old television set on the fritz.
"You've made your pact, my daughter... Now, it's time to fulfil your end of the bargain," Morgan muttered, a sly smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she spoke, "I hope you're prepared to pay the price."
Suddenly, a voice cut through the distorted space, breaking the eerie silence that had settled over the landscape.
"You certainly took your time," the voice remarked, its tone dripping with impatience.
"Tsk, as if you have anything better to do, Bitch!" Morgan retorted, her voice tinged with annoyance as the entire space around them shifted and twisted, dissolving into a void of nothingness.
....
...
"Eli!!"
"Ugh!" Asher Eli groaned as he opened his eyes and found himself face-to-face with Alysia once again.
"Thank goodness what happ--- HIkkk!!" Alysia's words were cut short as Eli pushed her down abruptly, his actions surprising her.
'Not busty... It's true Alysia then' Before she could voice her concerns, Eli's hands moved without hesitation, and Alysia gasped as he touched her boobs.
"Y-YOU!!" Her face turned crimson with embarrassment and anger, but she found herself unable to resist his advances.
'I guess, both mother and daughter have this one thing in common!' Eli smirked as he leaned and kissed her before Alysia's mind could process anything.