Utopian System

Zara stood motionless atop the wall, her eyes fixed on the spot where Elio should have fallen several hours ago.

The cold wind whipped her face, but she barely noticed it, all her attention focused on the sea of monsters stretching as far as the eye could see. Her salamander, Flare, curled tightly around her neck, offering what little warmth it could against the biting cold.

The hours had passed slowly, each minute an eternity for Zara.

The phenomenon they had witnessed last time, that disturbance in the sea of creatures that signaled Elio's progression, had not yet manifested. The ocean of beasts remained imperturbable.

Micah approached her, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. His swift hovered nearby, its wings fluttering nervously. "Zara," he said softly, "you won't jump this time, will you?"

Zara didn't take her eyes off the horizon as she responded. "I trust him. I know he'll make it." But even as she spoke these words, a shadow of doubt crossed her face. "It's just that... the level 6 challenge seems to be taking him too long."

Micah nodded, understanding his friend's concern. "It's an unprecedented challenge," he commented. "No one really knows what Elio is facing down there."

Zara bit her lip, an idea forming in her mind. "Maybe... maybe I could leave you my area of the wall," she began, turning to Micah. "I could ask Selene to teach me the corrosive technique right away. If I could find Elio's book, maybe I could..."

But Micah gently interrupted her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Zara, even if you find the book, there's nothing you can do. Elio must overcome this challenge on his own. There's no way to help him."

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Micah's words, though true, weighed like lead in Zara's heart. She knew it, of course, but hearing it out loud made the reality of the situation even more painful.

"I know," Zara admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "It's just that... I feel so helpless here, waiting."

Micah gave her a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. "I understand how you feel. We're all worried about him. But Elio is strong, Zara. He's overcome challenges that seemed impossible before. You need to have faith in him."

Zara nodded slowly, Micah's words resonating in her mind. Faith. It was all she could offer Elio at this moment, all any of them could do.

"You're right," she finally said, straightening her shoulders. "Elio will make it. He always does."

As the sun began to set on the horizon, tinting the sky in reddish and golden hues, Zara remained at her post, her eyes never leaving the spot where Elio had disappeared. Flare nuzzled her cheek, as if sharing in her vigil.

"Come back to us, Elio," Zara murmured to the wind. "Come back to me."

♢♢♢♢

The training field resonated with the sound of physical efforts and shouted orders. Kriz and Brok supervised the training of the seductress girls, who were striving to reach level 3.

The air was charged not only with sweat and determination but also with an underlying concern that seemed to affect each of them differently.

Lila, in particular, seemed to struggle to maintain her concentration. Her movements were mechanical, her mind clearly elsewhere as she executed the assigned exercises. From time to time, her eyes would drift towards the horizon, as if expecting to see Elio walk through the door at any moment. Her golden salamander mirrored her distraction, its scales flickering between hues.

Mei, though more subtle in her concern, was not in a better state. Her usual precision in the exercises was compromised by moments of distraction, her brow furrowed in an expression of unease she couldn't completely hide. Her purple salamander coiled tightly around her arm, sensing its master's anxiety.

Kriz, noticing the tense atmosphere, decided to intervene with his usual casual style. His playful rabbit hopped excitedly at his feet as he spoke. "Come on, girls," he exclaimed, clapping his hands to get attention. "If you keep those long faces, you're going to depress the monsters and make them rant about loneliness before you can start the battle."

Some scattered giggles were heard among the other recruits, but the joke failed to completely dissipate the girls' tension.

"Kriz is right," added Brok, his voice deep and firm. His muscular rabbit stood at attention beside him. "You need to focus on your training. Elio will be fine."

Valeria, who had been maintaining a steady pace in her exercises, stopped for a moment to drink water. Her steel-gray salamander flicked its tongue, tasting the air.

"Of course he'll be fine," she said with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. "We're talking about Von Elio. He probably already conquered level 6 and is on his way back."

Aria, who until that moment had maintained a stoic silence, finally spoke. Her red salamander perched alertly on her shoulder. "We shouldn't underestimate the challenge," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of concern she couldn't completely hide. "No one has overcome level 6 before."

"Oh, come on," Kriz intervened, dramatically balancing on one foot. His rabbit mimicked the gesture, eliciting a few chuckles. "I bet Elio is down there, beating up any monster that crosses his path. He's probably sleeping because it's too easy for him."

This time, the laughter was more genuine, even Lila couldn't help a small smile.

"Von Elio is practically immortal," added Valeria, resuming her exercises with renewed vigor. Her salamander puffed up proudly. "He's survived things that would have killed anyone else. A simple level 6 challenge isn't going to stop him."

Brok nodded as he flexed his muscles, apparently agreeing with Valeria. His rabbit stood taller, as if emphasizing the point. "Elio has proven to be exceptionally resilient."

But Lila couldn't fully share that optimism. "What if this time is different?" she asked quietly, almost to herself. "What if level 6 is more than he expected?"

Mei, hearing Lila's words, approached her. Her salamander offered a comforting chirp. "I understand how you feel," she said softly.

Kriz, noticing the interaction, decided to intervene again. His rabbit hopped closer, its ears twitching mischievously. "Hey, you know what? I bet when Elio comes back, he'll have so many incredible stories that we'll get bored of listening to them. We'll probably have to pretend we fall asleep so he stops showing off."

This time, even Lila couldn't contain a genuine laugh. The image of Elio exaggeratedly boasting about his feats was too funny to resist.

Brok, though maintaining his serious expression, added: "Knowing Elio, he'll probably find a way to make level 6 seem like a walk in the park for the rest of us. And then he'll complain that it was too easy for us."

"Or worse," Aria chimed in, surprising everyone with her participation in the jokes, "he'll come back with some crazy idea about how to make us wear 3 armors at the same time... Safety first!"