Utopian System

Lila's Perspective, a few hours earlier...

Lila watched Elio as he spoke, her heart teetering between admiration and guilt. Her golden salamander, sensing her inner turmoil, nestled closer to her neck, its scales flickering between warm hues.

Every word Elio uttered, every gesture of genuine concern for the city and its people, only intensified her internal conflict.

'He's so good,' Lila thought, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. 'So worried about all of us. How can he shoulder so much and still find time to care about my family?'

Elio continued explaining the problems facing the city, his brow furrowed with concern.

Lila found herself wanting to reach out and smooth those lines of tension, to offer some kind of solace. Her salamander chirped softly, as if encouraging her to act on the impulse.

'No, Lila, focus,' she chided herself. 'Remember why you're here. Remember your mission.'

But as Elio kept talking, sharing his worries and his plans, Lila felt her resolve crumbling. Each sincere look, each kind word, was like a crack in the armor she had built around her heart. Her salamander's scales began to shift, mirroring her conflicted emotions.

'What if I told him the truth?' she wondered. 'If I told him everything... Would he understand? Would he forgive me?'

The idea of seeing disappointment in Elio's eyes if he knew the truth caused her physical pain. She didn't want to see that warm, trusting gaze transform into one of betrayal and disillusionment.

But then Elio mentioned his plan to enter the sea of monsters, and Lila felt her world tilt on its axis. Fear gripped her, not just for the mission she had been entrusted with, but for Elio himself. Her salamander's scales paled, reflecting her sudden anxiety.

'He can't go,' she thought desperately. 'It's too dangerous. He can't... he can't leave us.'

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The thought surprised her with its intensity. When had he started to matter so much? When had it stopped being just a mission and become... something more?

Looking at Elio, Lila realized she could no longer deny it. It wasn't just his kindness, his compassion, or even his appearance (though, God, those eyes...). It was all of him. His strength, his determination, the way he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and still found time to care about a girl like her.

'I'm falling in love with him,' Lila realized, the thought filling her with joy and terror in equal measure. 'Oh, God, I'm falling in love with Von Elio.'

The realization hit her hard, and she knew at that moment that she couldn't keep lying. Not to him. No matter the consequences, no matter what the others would say. She had to tell him the truth.

"Von Elio," Lila began, her voice barely a whisper. "I..."

But at that precise instant, the air filled with the shrill sound of the alarm. Lila saw the immediate change in Elio's expression, shifting from warmth to concern and then to determination. His salamander, Ember, bristled on his shoulder, ready for action.

"I'm sorry, Lila," Elio said quickly, already backing away. "I have to go. I promise we'll sort out your debt situation another day, alright?"

Lila nodded, words catching in her throat. She wanted to shout for him to stop, to listen, that she had something important to tell him. But she knew she couldn't. The city needed him. Her salamander chirped anxiously, sensing her inner conflict.

"Be careful," she managed, her voice thick with emotion. ɗ%іѕ-ϲ%оν?ε-г#-σп-

As she watched Elio run away, Lila felt as if a part of her was leaving with him. She stood there, in the middle of the street, the sound of the alarm mixing with the beating of her heart. Her salamander curled its tail around her neck, offering silent support.

'When you come back, I'll tell you the truth. The whole truth. I promise.'

With that resolution in her heart, Lila turned to seek shelter in the central building as he had asked, praying for Elio's safety and for the strength to face the consequences of the truth she was now determined to reveal.

Lila entered the central building, her heart still pounding after her encounter with Elio.

The chaos from the alarm had subsided, but the tension in the air was palpable. Her salamander's eyes darted around, alert to any potential danger. As she searched for a quiet place to process her emotions, a man approached her. She recognized him as one of Saren's mana transfer officers.

"Miss Lila," he said in a low voice, "Lady Cassandra is looking for you all. She says it's urgent."

Lila felt her stomach twist. With everything that had happened with Elio, she had almost forgotten her other... obligation. Her salamander tensed on her shoulder, sensing her sudden unease.

"I understand," she responded, trying to maintain her composure. "Where is she?"

The man indicated a room, and Lila nodded, thanking him briefly before heading in that direction. As she walked, she couldn't help but think about her companions. Mei, Valeria, and Aria are still training with Kriz and Brok.

Mei and Valeria were usually the ones who would talk to Cassandra...

But today she had something to do, Kriz and Brok allowing her to skip training because Elio had promised to talk to her. Now, she was the only one available to report to Cassandra.

Reluctantly, Lila pulled up the hood of her tunic, trying to blend in. She didn't want anyone to see her heading to this secret meeting in the inner rooms that the families still hadn't relinquished.

However, she failed to notice the pair of eyes following her from a distance.

Zara, who had just left her new room in the central building with a dejected expression, saw Lila moving furtively through the corridors.

Intrigued and a bit suspicious, she decided to follow her. Her own salamander, Flare, perched alertly on her shoulder, ready for any development.

Lila reached a small room in a very internal and little-traveled part of the building. She took a deep breath before entering, mentally preparing herself for what was to come. Her salamander nuzzled her cheek, offering a last bit of comfort before the confrontation.

Cassandra stood by the window, her elegant figure silhouetted against the light. She turned when Lila entered, her cold eyes assessing her. A small frog sat on her shoulder, its bulbous eyes unblinking as it stared at Lila.

"Ah, Lila," Cassandra said, her voice soft but with a dangerous edge. "How strange, I expected to see Mei or Valeria again. I was beginning to think you'd never come."

"I'm sorry, Lady Cassandra," Lila responded, lowering her head. Her salamander mimicked the gesture, shrinking down on her shoulder. "There's been so much commotion with the training, and I..."

"Excuses," Cassandra interrupted, making a dismissive gesture with her hand. Her frog croaked softly, as if in agreement. "I'm not interested in excuses. I want results. What do you have for me?"