Chapter 157: Chapter 157: System's Arrangements - 3

When bedtime came, Elio retired to his room, but sleep eluded him.

He tossed and turned in bed, his mind filled with thoughts about the challenge ahead and... other things. Ember, sensing his restlessness, curled up closer, offering silent comfort.

After a couple of hours of insomnia, he decided to get up for some water. To his surprise, he found his mother in the kitchen, sitting at the table with hot tea between her hands, her salamander dozing peacefully nearby.

"Can't sleep either?" Lena asked, offering him an understanding smile.

Elio shook his head, pouring himself some water before sitting across from his mother. "Too many things on my mind, I guess."

Lena observed him for a moment, her eyes penetrating in a way only a mother's can be. "There's something else bothering you, isn't there? Something that has nothing to do with the sea of monsters or level 6."

Elio lowered his gaze, surprised by his mother's insight. "How do you know?"

"I'm your mother, Elio. I know you better than anyone," Lena replied with a smile. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Elio hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. "It's... it's about Zara."

"Ah," said Lena, her smile becoming a bit more knowing.

"We had a... a disagreement. I said some things I regret."

"What happened?" Lena asked softly, her salamander perking up, as if interested in the conversation.

Elio told his mother about the argument, about how Zara had questioned his decisions and how he had reacted defensively and aggressively.

"I feel terrible," Elio concluded. "I didn't mean to overreact, but I was so frustrated and angry at that moment..."

Lena listened attentively, without interrupting. When Elio finished, she remained silent for a moment, thoughtful.

"You know, Elio," she finally began, "you remind me a lot of your father right now."

Elio looked at her surprised, Ember chirping curiously. "Dad? Why?"

"Because he also had trouble handling his emotions sometimes," Lena explained, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Especially when it came to people he cared about. He was brave in front of monsters, but when it came to matters of the heart... Well, let's just say he preferred facing a horde of monsters over a difficult conversation."

Elio couldn't help but smile at the image. "And how did he handle it?"

"Son, this is too much," Lena protested weakly. "We can't take so much of the city's mana and..."

Elio shook his head, determined. "Please, Mom. I know it's a lot, and I feel a bit bad about using it 'selfishly', but... I trust you. I know you won't use it wastefully. And I prefer you to have too much than not enough."

He saw the doubt in his mother's eyes and added softly: "Think of your neighbors, your acquaintances, how you could help them too if necessary. This gift isn't just for you, it's for you to make a difference in others' lives as well."

Finally, Lena nodded, tears shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Elio. We'll use it wisely."

♢♢♢♢

After a round of hugs and emotional goodbyes, Elio left the family room, his heart full but his mind already focused on the tasks ahead.

In the hallway, he encountered Tarec. The older man greeted him with a respectful nod.

"Von Elio," he began, but Elio interrupted him with a friendly gesture.

"Just Elio is fine, Tarec. I have an important task for you."

Tarec straightened, attentive. "Whatever you need."

"I need you to go to the wall with Lucien and Selene," Elio explained. "Tell them you're there on my behalf to cover for one of them. Whoever is covered should come with me to practice the corrosive attack and receive cores and mana."

Tarec nodded, memorizing the order. "Understood. And what will you do in the meantime?"

"I'll be with Ren, giving more cores and mana to the others," Elio replied. "There's much to do and little time."

Tarec seemed to want to say something more, but held back. Instead, he simply nodded again. "I'll get on it right away."

As Tarec turned to leave, Elio felt a pang of guilt. There was a pending conversation he needed to have, a promise to keep.

"Zara," he murmured to himself. "I need to talk to Zara."

But just as he was about to ask Tarec to tell Zara he was looking for her if he saw her, something caught his attention.

Or rather, someone.

There, at the entrance of the building, was Lila. Her delicate figure seemed out of place among the coming and going of soldiers and officers. She stood with her hands nervously intertwined in front of her, her eyes scanning the crowd.

"Oh, no," Elio muttered. "I had completely forgotten about that."