Utopian System

"We can encourage greater participation in resource gathering," Milo finished, catching on. "People will be more willing to contribute if they believe Elio is actively working to improve things."

"Even though he's not here," Selene added quietly, for their ears only.

"That's exactly why we should do it," Lucien said. "The truth about his absence would only cause panic. But this? This gives people hope, and more importantly, gives them the means to act on that hope."

Nessa pulled out another set of figures. "With the increased mana pool, potion obtention could be accelerated significantly. We could potentially prepare a potion in just a day or two."

Lila, who had been tense throughout the discussion, suddenly focused. "A day or two?"

"Which means," Selene said carefully, "we could have you properly equipped for level 20 very soon. Much safer than rushing in unprepared."

"I can go now with no…" Lila began, but Valeria cut her off.

"Remember what Elio said about that level? Even if it was caused by the rush of that time for him, going in without a potion for you would be close to suicide."

"Besides," Ren added, "The more efficiently we handle this, the more chance we can prepare not just one person, but the whole team and conquer the second ring to maybe even get more rewards."

"Think about it," Aria suggested. "If Elio managed this while in Zahyla's custody, it means he's not just surviving, he's actively working to help us. The best way to honor that is to use this advantage wisely."

Lucien watched as the logic slowly won over Lila's impatience. "One day to organize another to get enough mana to buy it. That's all we're asking."

"Two days," Lila finally agreed, though her hands were still clenched. "But I want to be first. As soon as that potion is ready..."

"Agreed," Selene noded.

"In the meantime," Nessa pulled out more reports, "we should organize collection teams so we can gather resources more efficiently."

As they divided up responsibilities, Lucien couldn't help but marvel at how Elio, even in absence, was still bringing out the best in everyone. The city was celebrating an unexpected blessing, unaware that their supposed benefactor was missing. But perhaps that faith wasn't misplaced, after all, somehow, he was still finding ways to help them all.

♢♢♢♢

The afternoon collection was going well, the new organization already showing results, when Kriz came running toward the group, his face split between excitement and his usual dramatic flair.

"You'll never believe this!" he shouted, waving his book frantically. "Check it out… 390 points! Another hundred, just like that!"

"What are you talking about?" Mei asked, but she was already opening her book. Her eyes widened. "Wait..."
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Everyone scrambled to check their own books. Sure enough, another hundred points of mana had appeared, as mysteriously as the first increase.

"Elio?" Lila whispered, hope and worry mixing in her voice.

"Has to be," Kriz nodded, then put on an exaggerated pout. "And this time I can't even complain about being left out. He's ruining my dramatic moments!"

"You mean like every other time?" Brok rumbled with amusement.

"Exactly!" Kriz threw his hands up. "Only Elio could make me feel rich and worried at the same time. It's like back when he just arrived at the wall all over again, him sharing Lucien's sponsorship, but pushing his luck to level up and making us worry..."

His voice took on a more nostalgic tone. "Remember how he'd show up with those ridiculous amounts of resources? 'Oh, don't worry about it, Lucien paid me for this and that.' And there we were behind him, climbing levels shortly after, and way faster than we should have been able to..."

"Different situation now," Brok noted, though he was smiling at the memory.

"But same Elio!" Kriz insisted. "Always finding some way to help everyone else get stronger, always taking crazy risks..." He put a hand to his forehead dramatically. "How am I supposed to maintain my reputation as the group complainer if he keeps being so... so Elio…"

For a moment a tear formed in his eye but a blink and a pretended laugh made it go back.

"You'll find a way," Brok said in a low voice but then turned the volume up. "Now how about you help me collect some mana instead of standing there monologuing?"

"Monologuing? I'm expressing deep emotional truths about our friend and leader!"

"You're being dramatic," Brok corrected, already moving toward the collection area. "Come on, with another hundred points, we should be able to gather even more efficiently."

"That's what I mean!" Kriz followed, still gesturing expressively. "Leave it to Elio to turn even being kidnapped by a goddess into an opportunity to help everyone level up faster. It's like he can't help himself!"

But despite his theatrical complaints, there was genuine affection in his voice. They all felt it,this was so quintessentially Elio.

"The potion might be ready sooner than we thought," Mei calculated. "With this additional increase in the city's total mana people may..."

"We might not have to wait two days," Lila finished, hope clear in her voice.

Kriz paused his dramatics long enough to give her a genuine smile. "Well then, what are we waiting for? The faster we collect, the sooner we can go drag our overly generous friend back home, so he can go back to making me feel bad about complaining!"

♢♢♢♢

"Next is vanadium," Dionz began with his usual enthusiasm.

"Think titanium, but with a twist. Instead of pure hardness, it's more about small enhancement. Used correctly, it increases your metals by about ten percent, damage, defense, all your formations."

Elio nodded, understanding the basic concept.

"Oh, and it has this neat side effect, it adds 'beauty'… in the form of ten years to your lifespan! So now you're looking at seventy years total, with the ten you already had. Though that's just a bonus, really. The important thing is the buff and for it the trick again is keeping the amount just right. Too much and you lose the benefits."

"Sounds straightforward enough," Elio said. "And the challenge?"

"Similar to titanium and about 250,000 enemies to defeat this time. They're based on..." Dionz paused, realizing his predicament. "Well, they're based on these birds that... um..."

"They're like... regular birds, but with really big tails that fan out and... they're very proud? And colorful?" The god was already floundering. "They sort of strut around showing off their feathers, which are covered in these eye-like patterns..."

Elio's blank stare told him this wasn't working.