Chapter 163: Chapter 163: System's Enemies

The day Zara walked away from Elio... welcome-to-MVLeMpYr

'I guess this is it,' Zara thought, bitterness mingling with her pain. 'The Elio I knew, the one who promised me so much... He wasn't mine.'

With each step that took her away from Elio, Zara felt a part of herself being left behind. The young girl who had found her strength in the words of a skinny boy... it all seemed to be fading away.

But even in the midst of her pain, a part of Zara refused to give up. The strength that Elio had once awakened in her was still there, dormant but unbreakable.

Flare sensed her resolve, its scales shimmering with renewed strength.

'No,' she told herself, straightening her shoulders. 'I won't let this destroy me. I'm Zara. And I'll continue to be myself, with or without Elio.'

♢♢♢♢

Zara's fury was a living, pulsating thing.

She could feel the power coursing through her veins, the level 3 strength that allowed her to hold Lila against the wall as if she weighed nothing. A distant part of her mind marveled at how easy it would be to just...

Squeeze a little harder.

Flare, perched on her shoulder, blazed with an intensity that matched Zara's rage, keeping Lila's smaller salamander at bay.

Lila, for her part, felt completely defenseless.

Her level 1 was insignificant compared to Zara's overwhelming strength. With each passing second, she felt life slipping away a little more. Her golden salamander chirped weakly, unable to help against Flare's control.

With one last desperate effort, Lila managed to gather enough air to speak:

"Zara," she gasped, each word an agony. "If you want... to kill me... do it. But please... help my family.

And Elio."

"Why didn't you tell Elio?" Zara asked, her voice still hard but with a touch of genuine curiosity.

Lila shook her head. "I'm afraid, they could find out somehow, they have her captive. Afraid of what Cassandra might do to her and... Afraid that Elio would hate me. Now... I started to really get to know him, and everything became even more complicated."

Zara felt a pang of something she didn't want to identify as jealousy. "You fell in love with him..."

It wasn't a question, but Lila nodded anyway. "I didn't want it to happen. But Elio is... he's special."

Zara released Lila completely, taking a step back. The fury she had initially felt had transformed into a complex mix of emotions. Although she still distrusted Lila, she couldn't deny the sincerity of her pain when speaking of him. Flare, mirroring Zara's conflicted state, flickered between warm and cool hues.

"Listen," Zara finally said, her voice softer. "What you're doing is wrong and puts us in danger. You, your family, and Elio... In the end, the city too."

Lila nodded miserably. "I know. But I don't know how to get out of this."

Zara pressed her lips, frustrated. Part of her wanted to simply turn Lila in and end it all. But another part, the part that understood sacrifice and family love, hesitated. Flare chirped softly, as if offering its own opinion.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this," Zara muttered, more to herself than to Lila. Then, looking directly at the trembling girl in front of her, she said: "I'm going to help you fix this."

Lila looked at her, surprised. "What?"

"I'm not doing it for you," Zara quickly clarified. "I'm doing it for Elio, and because I know what it's like to want to protect someone at all costs."

"Thank you," Lila whispered, gratitude evident in her voice. Her salamander chirped softly, a tentative sound of appreciation.

"Don't thank me yet," Zara warned. "This isn't going to be easy. And if I find out you're lying to me or that you really want to hurt Elio..."

She left the threat hanging in the air, but Lila understood. She nodded vigorously. "I understand. I'll do whatever is necessary."

Zara studied her for a moment more before nodding. "Good. Now, let's go somewhere more private. We have a lot to plan."

Zara couldn't help but think about how strange all this was. Just a few minutes ago, she had been ready to seriously hurt Lila. Now, they were about to become unlikely allies. Flare and Lila's salamander exchanged cautious glances, as if unsure how to react to this sudden change in dynamics.

'The things I do for you, Elio', Zara thought, a mix of exasperation and affection in her mind. 'I hope you know how much you don't deserve this...'