Major spoilers
Actually Eli IS an LI. It's stated on the author's tumblr if you choose val(the friendship route) you automatically get on their route
and you can ditch the LI whose route you are in to go after him so... uh maximum angst if you go for that on athiel's route?
Tho there is going to be two polys added next update ; Eli/Ekissa and T/Ekissa I think both are V polys so you don't always have to ditch the LIs