"What was that?" Lila whispered, her eyes wide with surprise. Her elephant moved closer to her protectively.
Before anyone could answer, a section of the wall began to move.Someone was opening the tunnel from the outside.
The opening in the wall grew larger, and a figure began to emerge from the darkness...
However, the tension quickly dissipated when they saw a young man struggling to enter through the opening he had created.
"Careful with the cores!" Micah warned, moving quickly to help the newcomer. His elephant followed, its trunk extending to assist.
With a final effort, the young man managed to enter the tunnel, quickly sealing the opening behind him. He leaned against the wall, clearly disoriented. The elephants' trunks reached out curiously, sniffing the newcomer.
"Welcome," said Elio, approaching the new arrival. "I'm Elio. And you are...?"
"Milo," the young man responded, straightening up. "Milo Elarian. It's an honor to meet you, sir."
Elio smiled, extending his hand. "The honor is mine. You can call me Elio, Milo. Thank you for joining us on this mission."
As Milo shook Elio's hand, Kriz approached, a mischievous smile on his face. His elephant trailed behind, mimicking its master's playful demeanor.
"Hey, is it just me or do you two look a bit alike?"
The group moved closer, examining Milo and Elio with curiosity. Their elephants crowded around too, adding to the sense of scrutiny.
"You're right," said Zara, squinting her eyes. "There's something about the jawline..."
"And the nose," Valeria added.
Milo blushed slightly, uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "Must be the darkness," he muttered.
"Probably," Micah agreed. "It's hard to see clearly down here."
Despite Kriz's humor, the gravity of the situation was not lost on anyone. Each new recruit understood the importance of their mission and the dangers they faced.
Elio observed everything with pride and concern. He was impressed by the bravery of these young people, willing to risk everything for the good of the city. But he was also aware of the enormous responsibility they had on their shoulders.
As the tunnel hummed with activity, Elio noticed Milo watching him with admiration.
"Is something wrong, Milo?" Elio asked, approaching the young man.
Milo seemed surprised to have been noticed. "I... I was wondering what it's like," he finally said. "Leading everyone, having the fate of the city in your hands."
Elio considered the question for a moment. "It's a great honor," he said finally, "and a great horror... But I don't do it alone. Every person here, including you, Milo, is an enormous support."
Milo nodded, absorbing Elio's words. "I'll do everything I can to help," he promised.
"I know you will," Elio replied with a smile and shook his hand.
As the conversation continued, a familiar figure emerged from the last opening in the tunnel. Selene, with her characteristic stoic posture, entered the crowded space. Her elephant followed, its presence commanding respect.
"Selene," Elio greeted, approaching. "It's good to see you."
Selene nodded, her eyes scanning the tunnel full of activity. "I see everyone arrived safely," she commented. "Well done."
"They couldn't have done it without you," Elio replied. "Your training prepared them well."
Selene gave a small smile. "I did what I could to pass on your knowledge. After that, it's up to them..."
With Selene's arrival, the team was complete. The tunnel, once Elio's solitary project, now buzzed with energy.
Elio looked around at the young, brave faces who had answered his call. He saw determination in their eyes, hope in their smiles. Despite the darkness surrounding them, there was a palpable sense of purpose and unity.
"All right, everyone," Elio announced, his voice resonating in the tunnel. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."