The Systems Challenge-Chapter 405: Elysia’s Question

Elin couldn't say what she had expected to hear from the announcer when she first woke up in the morning. Though, she did enjoy having Elysia's body pressed against hers, even though Kim's was missing, but she was confident that there'd be reasons for that.

"You had that same look again," Elysia complained as she started to look for her clothing while still under the blanket.

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"What look?" Elin asked, unsure what Elysia was getting at.

"You have a look you get every evening and every morning. I've never been able to tell what it's about or anything."

From the times that Elysia mentioned, she suspected that apparently she looked a certain way when she listened to the announcements. Yet, if she admitted to that, then she would have to explain everything about the competition and she wasn't really sure if she should do that. Even though Elysia was clearly a friend to them. As Elin couldn't be sure how Elysia would take that.

Besides, she was pretty sure that Elysia and her family were taken out of their world and brought to this one to be the challenge. Which meant they likely didn't have a way back to their own world and were stuck in this one, meaning there wasn't a chance that they'd be able to leave this world. Leaving Elin to worry that Elysia and her family would blame them for getting stuck here.

So, Elin merely shook her head. "Sorry, I get like that sometimes. It's nothing to worry about."

Elysia paused in putting her shirt on, given Elin a nice view of her breasts in the morning light. Elin thought she might say something, but then Elysia merely finished putting her shirt on and shook her head, looking a little hurt.

As she started to get up, Elin quickly grabbed her hand, afraid that she might have built a rift between them. Like with what had happened between her and Kim.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't talk about it right now," Elin said, hoping that her statement would at least help put a salve on Elysia's hurt feelings.

Elysia regarded Elin for a minute before shaking her hand loose. "I just thought you might have trusted me a little more."

Then before Elin could say anything, she was already walking away, leaving Elin clutching the blanket to her own naked body, unsure what to do about the situation she was suddenly put in. One where she feared losing Elysia's trust completely.

However, at the same time, she couldn't think of how else to fix the problem. She'd have to tell Elysia about how she herself had gotten here, but that wasn't something that would just affect her, but rather everyone in their combined group. As such, it wasn't really her secret alone to share.

Elin wasn't sure how long she remained like that, but when the smell of cooking food reached her, she started reaching for her dress, even though she really needed someone else to help her lace it up in the back. Which she wasn't sure who she'd be able to get to do that, since Elysia was mad at her and Kim was who knew where right then.

As Elin started to fumble with the laces in the back of the dress, hands that came out of nowhere startled Elin.

"Come on," Elysia complained. "My hands aren't that cold yet."

"You just surprised me," Elin replied quietly. "I didn't know anyone was there."

"Yeah, well I remember how you have difficulty with this dress on your own, so I had to come back to help you." Elysia paused in her securing the laces and Elin felt Elysia's head get closer to her ear. "As I did help remove it last night," she whispered in Elin's ear, sending goosebumps all over her body.

Elin wanted to say something, even if it was just thanks, but before she could collect herself to it, Elysia continued as she also continued with Elin's dress. "While I'm not happy that you're keeping things from me, I guess it is only fair since I did keep things from you. Things that I wasn't sure if I could trust you with and not because I didn't trust you, but rather because they were just too sensitive. So, I'm willing to trust that whatever it is that makes you like were earlier is something like that.

When Elysia finished, she then hugged Elin from behind, Elin enjoying the feeling of her body pressing against hers. It wasn't much, but it was at least something.

"I'd like to tell you," Elin said quietly, not sure how Elysia would take this, "but it's not just my secret to share. I would need to talk to everyone involved first and get them to agree."

Elysia sighed. "I understand that, even if I still don't like it."

"It'll be a while before those I'm with will be able to move, since Sonya still can't change back, so I should be able to talk with them quickly enough," Elin said, hoping that it would at least cheer Elysia up.

Elin figured she could talk to Kim who could also talk to some of the others and eventually they'd all be able to have gotten everyone. Not that she expected it would take very long. Kim could talk to Jonas, Bart, Owen, Elwin and Patrick while Elin could talk to Heather, Sonya, Elmo, and Patricia. Or maybe some combination of them. It was even possible that Jonas and Elmo would offer to help, but she wasn't really that confident about it. Especially since they weren't the ones invested in being able to tell the firebird family about the competition and everything involved.

"How long do you think it'll really take?" Elysia asked, nuzzling Elin's neck, making it hard for Elin to think and wonder why they'd even gotten dressed in the first place.

"I- it would- uh," Elin stammered as she struggled to think of even what they'd been talking about.

Suddenly Elysia stopped her nuzzling and just laughed. Elin wasn't sure why she was laughing, but she felt it was directed at her, though not in a bad way. Just a way that she couldn't help but feel confused about right then.

"I'm sure you'll get it done as quickly as you can," Elysia said, giving Elin a quick peck on her cheek before starting to move away.

As she watched Elysia walk away, Elin felt like she should remember what they had been talking about, but her mind remained blank on that. In fact, she couldn't even remember what she had been going to do when she'd gotten up. Instead, she stood there feeling rather confused and unsure what to do.

Fortunately for her, Kim returned at some point and smiled at her. Which Elin felt immense relief. Surely Kim would be able to help her out.

Thinking of Kim so suddenly triggered the memory of what she had been thinking of talking with her about as well as what she had been talking with Elysia about before her mind had gone blank from what Elysia had done to her to short circuit her brain.

"There you are," Kim said. "I was wondering if maybe you'd decided you'd gained some weight and so weren't going to eat."

Elin stared at Kim in shock. She hadn't gained any weight! She couldn't understand what Kim was talking about and she certainly didn't plan on missing breakfast!

However, as Elin opened her mouth to protest, Kim put her finger on Elin's lips and laughed. "Easy there. I was only teasing you."

When she removed her finger, Elin couldn't help but huff, "That wasn't nice."

"I'm sorry, my gem," Kim said, giving her a light kiss on her lips. "I just felt like having a little fun with you. I didn't mean anything by it."

"I still didn't really like it," Elin replied, kissing Kim back before wrapping her arms around Kim and leaning against her, feeling comforted by the familiar contours of her body.

"Well, do you want some exercise in the sack or do you want breakfast?" Kim asked, sounding rather amused.

"Breakfast," Elin answered without hesitation. "Though, I was wondering if maybe you'd be willing to help me ask around if anyone had any objections to letting the firebirds know about the competition, since they did get pulled into it, even though we didn't have anything to do with them becoming part of the challenges."

"Why do you want to let them know?" Kim asked, caressing Elin's cheek.

"Elysia asked, but I couldn't tell her because it's not just my secret to tell," she mumbled, not sure how to take this reaction to her request.

"Well, why don't we ask everyone at once?" Kim suggested. "I doubt anyone will object, but they will all be there having breakfast. So, if they agree, we can then tell Elysia and her entire family right after."

Elin thought about that and couldn't think of any issues with it, other than the fact that it'd be in front of everyone, instead of maybe one by one. As the way Elin imagined doing it, it would be less intimidating. At the same time, though, she had to admit that Kim's suggestion was faster.

Besides, it's not like anyone would be less likely to say anything different on the matter than they would be if they were asked individually anyway.