Chapter 161: Chapter 161: System's Spy

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.'

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?

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?"