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"Ah, matters of the heart, eh?" he joked, giving Elio a friendly nudge. "Well, it seems your date has arrived."

Before Elio could protest, Tarec raised his voice. "Hey, miss! Your knight has arrived!"

Elio felt his face flush, Ember chirping in apparent amusement. "Tarec, it's not what..."

But Tarec was already walking away, an amused smile on his face. He gave Elio a thumbs up before disappearing into the crowd, leaving him alone to face Lila.

Elio took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. This wasn't the conversation he had planned to have this morning, but he knew he couldn't postpone it any longer. He had made a promise, even if in a moment of frustration, and he had to keep it.

As he approached Lila, Elio couldn't help but notice how fragile she looked amidst the hustle and bustle of the central building. Her blonde hair shimmered under the lights, and her blue eyes lit up when she saw him approach.

"Von Elio," she said softly when he reached her side. "You came."

There was a mixture of relief and nervousness in her voice that made Elio feel even more guilty.

"Of course," he replied, trying to sound casual. "I told you we'd meet, didn't I?"

Lila nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yes, you did. I... well, I wasn't sure if you'd come, with everything that's happening."

Elio ran a hand over his face, a nervous gesture he couldn't contain. "Listen, Lila, about that... I think we need to talk."

Lila's smile faltered a bit, but she nodded. "Sure. Do you... do you want to go somewhere more private?"

Elio looked around. The central building was full of activity, with soldiers and civilians coming and going. It wasn't the ideal place for a delicate conversation.

As they walked, Elio couldn't help but think of Zara. Where would she be now? What would she think if she saw him with Lila?

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. One thing at a time. First, he needed to clarify things with Lila. Then, he would look for Zara and try to fix the mess he had created.

♢♢♢♢

Elio guided Lila away from the central building.

The fresh morning air greeted them; it wasn't as delicious as forest air would be, but the city's air had improved greatly with the new policy of voluntary contributions from the more well-off...

Elio felt a knot in his stomach as he thought about the conversation he was about to have.

"Lila," he began, but she gently interrupted him.

"Von Elio, before you say anything, I... I want to thank you," said Lila, her blue eyes shining with sincerity.

Elio blinked, surprised. "Thank me? For what?"

Lila smiled shyly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "For everything. The training, the shared equipment, the invocations... You've done so much for all of us."

As they walked through the streets, Lila continued. "But more than that, I want to thank you for the support you've given to the poorest families who have lost men. Families like... like mine."

Elio looked at her, noticing for the first time the sadness hidden behind her smile. "Your family?"

Lila nodded, her voice becoming softer. "My father... he had four wives. We're a large family, with several houses. But then he died, and... we were left without a single adult man."

Elio felt a pang of compassion. "I'm so sorry, Lila. I had no idea."

"It's okay," she said, though her voice trembled slightly. "It's just that... There are more than 15 minors in our houses now. We were heavily in debt to the privileged families, and we barely had enough to live on."

Lila stopped, taking Elio's hand in hers. The gesture, so innocent and grateful, made Elio feel even more guilty about what he had planned to tell her.

"The mana point you give to each underage person... It has helped us so much. You have no idea how much it means to families like mine."

Elio felt a lump in his throat. "It's not a big deal, Lila. It's just fair. The previous government was too stingy and..."

Lila shook her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "For us, it's everything. But even so... My family's debt is so large that I need to reach at least level 3 to have a chance of paying it off in a few decades. But thanks to you, I'm finding a probable way out."

Elio was silent for a moment, processing the information. Finally, he said: "Lila, I'd be willing to review your case and see who you owe. Maybe we could restructure your family's debt and..."

He couldn't use the mana the city had accumulated over 100 years to pay everyone's debts... But he felt so bad about Lila for having dragged her into all this, so he could make an exception.

Lila's eyes lit up with such pure hope that Elio felt his heart tighten. "Would you really do that for us?"

"Of course," Elio replied, feeling that each word took him further from his original intention. "It's the least I can do to..."

Lila, driven by emotion and gratitude, threw herself into Elio's arms, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Von Elio. Thank you for everything."

Elio, surprised by the hug, awkwardly wrapped his arms around her. He could feel the slight trembling of her body, the warmth of her gratitude. And at that moment, he realized how much it meant to her, not just as a leader, but as a person.

As he hugged her, Elio couldn't help but notice how fragile Lila felt in his arms, how vulnerable. And yet, there was a strength in her, a determination born from the adversity she had faced. He found himself admiring her resilience, her ability to maintain hope despite the circumstances.