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Despite Elio being the nominal leader of the city, it was Lucien who handled most of the daily affairs.

The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. Rain seemed to sense his stress, occasionally patting his head as if offering support.

With the tireless help of Ren, Ivan, and Tarec, Lucien had managed to implement Elio's new programs.

The mana collection, recruit training, core and mana distribution, wall organization... all of it required constant and meticulous attention.

"Ren," Lucien called, seeing the young analyst pass by with a stack of reports. Ren's rabbit perched on his shoulder, its ears twitching alertly.

"How's the mana collection going today?"

Ren stopped, adjusting his load. His rabbit helped by balancing some papers with its paws. "We're 15.15% above projections, sir. The new efficiency measures are yielding results."

Lucien nodded, satisfied. "Excellent. Keep up the good work."

As they continued down the corridor, Lucien encountered Ivan directing a group of soldiers. The man had proven to be a natural leader, capable of motivating the troops even in the most difficult moments. Ivan's swift flew overhead, its keen eyes surveying the training grounds.

"Ivan," Lucien greeted. "How are the breach trainings going?"

Ivan stood at attention, his swift landing gracefully on his shoulder. "Improving every day, sir. The new recruits are showing impressive progress."

Lucien smiled, but the concern never left his eyes. "Good, we'll need them in top form."

Indeed, despite advancements in organization and overall level, the city's defensive situation was becoming increasingly precarious.

Barrier failures had increased alarmingly.

The reset period had gone from half a second to a full one, an eternity when facing the endless horde of Locus.

Thanks to the increase in strength and number of soldiers, they had managed to defend the city without major problems so far. But Lucien knew this couldn't continue indefinitely. His frog croaked softly, as if sharing his concern.

At the end of another long day, Lucien found himself accompanying Tarec back to the central building.

Tarec's swift flew lazy circles above them, enjoying the evening air. The older man spent some nights with his family when work allowed, a luxury that Lucien made sure to grant him whenever possible.

"Tarec," Lucien began, his voice laden with guilt. "I want to apologize."

Tarec looked at him, surprised. "What for, sir?"

Lucien sighed, his frog nuzzling against his leg comfortingly. "For not letting you spend more time with your family. I know you're 48. You should be with your loved ones in your last 2 years, not on the wall day and night."

Tarec stopped, putting a hand on Lucien's shoulder. His swift landed nearby, watching the interaction curiously.

"Don't worry about that, sir. My family is proud of what I do here. Besides..." His voice broke slightly. "I would have preferred my son Aram to be with his mother. I can't afford to enjoy a lasy life instead of him. His sacrifice can't be in vain."

Lucien felt a lump in his throat.

The sacrifice of Aram, like that of so many others, weighed constantly on his conscience.

They arrived at the central building, where they found Elio's mother chatting animatedly with Tarec's wife. Lucien couldn't help but smile at the scene. At least some normalcy and warmth persisted amidst so much chaos.

"Good evening, ladies," Lucien greeted politely. His frog croaked a soft greeting of its own.

"Oh, Lucien," Elio's mother responded with a warm smile. "How's everything going?"

"As well as can be expected," he replied diplomatically. "Your son would be proud of how the city is holding together."

The woman nodded, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "I'm sure he would be."

♢♢♢♢

After exchanging a few more words, Lucien bid farewell.

Tarec stayed with his family, and Lucien continued deeper into the building, his hat still croaking in his head.

His steps led him to the central courtyard, a place that was once the best-kept secret of privileged families. His frog hopped in his head, its eyes wide with wonder at the lush surroundings.

He inhaled deeply, savoring the rich, fragrant air, so different from the sterile environment he was accustomed to. His frog seemed to relish the new scents too, its tongue flicking out to taste the air.

The contrast between the symmetrical and monochrome interior of the building and the verdant exuberance of the courtyard was striking.

Around him, trees and flowers of various colors and shapes grew in an abundance that still seemed unreal to him. His frog leaped from plant to plant, examining each with curiosity.

This place, once the best-kept secret of privileged families... Unknown to most of the population, was now a shared treasure for the entire city thanks to Elio's decision.

For many citizens, concepts like "tree" and "flower" had been abstract, known only through descriptions in the Creator's diary. Seeing them in person was an experience many had longed for all their lives.

Lucien remembered people's reaction when Elio announced he would open the courtyard to the public. The amazement and excitement had been palpable.

However, allowing the entire population to visit the place at once was impossible.

Elio's solution had been ingenious: each person would be entitled to one hour of visitation on their birthday.

"Twelve hours a day, there were always about three hundred people in each rotation," Lucien murmured to himself, recalling the numbers. His frog croaked softly, as if agreeing with the clever system.

It was a system that worked surprisingly well, allowing everyone to have the opportunity to marvel at this natural beauty without overwhelming the space.

Now, outside visiting hours, the courtyard was quiet.

Lucien appreciated the silence as he headed towards the center, where the largest and most exclusive statue in the city stood.

It was a masterpiece of white stone, representing God holding the protective shield over the city.

The base of the statue was engraved with the words: "The creator protects us, we fulfill our duty."