Chương 39: Chapter 39: System's Reconciliation

The days passed quickly, filled with laughter, games, and family moments that Elio would cherish forever. However, as the end of his vacation approached, a growing unease settled in his heart. The shadow of his father, and the internal conflict Elio felt towards him, weighed more heavily with each passing day.

The night before his departure, Elio sat in the small backyard, gazing at the stars, blurry spots of light shining through the city's polluted air. Lena found him there, her face a mixture of love and concern.

"May I join you?" she asked softly.

Elio nodded, making room for his mother to sit beside him.

For a moment, both remained silent, contemplating the night sky. Finally, Lena spoke.

"You're still thinking about your father, aren't you?"

Elio tensed but nodded slowly. "I... I can't stop thinking about him. About what he did to us."

Lena took her son's hand, squeezing it gently. "Your father was a complicated man, Elio. Brave and defiant. But he was a good man."

"He abandoned us," Elio murmured, the old bitterness seeping into his voice. "He chose to save some... Instead of staying with us."

Lena sighed, her gaze lost in the distance. "Elio, there's something you need to understand. Something I perhaps should have clarified long ago."

Elio turned to her, intrigued.

"I knew the risks your father took every time he went to the wall, I agreed to it," Lena began. "I knew each day could be his last. Sometimes it hurt me as it hurt you, but I also understood why he did it."

"Why?" Elio asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Because that was your father, he couldn't be anything but a hero, Elio," Lena replied, her eyes shining with pride and sadness. "Not in the grandiose sense of the word, but in its purest form. He believed in protecting others, in doing what was right, even if it meant risking his own life. He couldn't go against that will."

Elio felt a lump forming in his throat. "But... How could you accept that? How were you not angry with him for putting us second?"

Lena smiled softly. "Oh, sometimes I was angry. Sometimes I was afraid. That day I was devastated, but mostly, I was proud. Because I understood that what your father did was bigger than us. He was protecting not just our family, but all families."

She turned to look Elio directly in the eyes. "And now, I see that same spirit in you, my son."

Elio felt tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I... I'm not like him, Mom. I'm not..."

"Aren't you?" Lena asked gently. "Haven't you risked your life to protect others? Despite your disagreement with your father... Haven't you worked tirelessly to improve the city's defenses?"

Elio could no longer contain his tears. They began to fall freely down his cheeks.

"I'm afraid, Mom," he confessed between sobs. "Afraid of ending up like him, of leaving you all alone."

Lena wrapped her son in an embrace, rocking him gently as she did when he was little. "Oh, my brave boy. Fear is natural. Your father felt it too, he didn't want to leave us either. But he didn't let fear stop him, because he wanted a better world for us, he didn't stop and I know you won't either. Maybe I'll be afraid, I'll be angry, even devastated, but mostly... I'll be proud."

For the first time since his father's death, Elio allowed himself to truly cry. He cried for the father he had lost, for the hero he hadn't understood, for the legacy he now carried.

"I miss him, Mom," he murmured through tears. "I miss him so much."

"I know, sweetheart," Lena replied, her own tears mixing with her son's. "I miss him too. Every day."

They stayed like that for a long time, embracing under the stars, sharing their pain and their love.

Finally, when the tears dried, Elio pulled away slightly, looking at his mother with new eyes.

"How do you do it, Mom?" he asked. "How do you keep going, despite the pain?"

Lena smiled, caressing her son's cheek. "With hope, Elio. With the hope that each act of bravery, each sacrifice, brings us a little closer to a better world. And with the pride of knowing that my son, like his father, is doing his part to create that world."

Elio nodded slowly, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For the first time in a long time, he felt at peace with his father.

"Thank you, Mom," he said softly. "For supporting me... For supporting us."

"Always, my child," Lena replied. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

They stayed a while longer under the stars, talking about memories of his father, laughing and crying by turns. And when they finally went to sleep, Elio felt renewed, ready to face the challenges that awaited him.

The next morning, as he prepared to return to the wall, Elio hugged his mother one last time.

"I love you, Mom," he said. "And I promise I'll do everything I can to come back home."

"I know," Lena replied, with tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips. "Go and be the hero I know you are, Elio. Your father would be as proud of you as I am."

With those words resonating in his heart, Elio departed back to the wall, carrying with him not only his family's love but also a new understanding and acceptance of who he was.

♢♢♢♢

Elio was walking back to the wall, his mind still processing the conversation with his mother. The weight of his father's legacy felt different now, more like an honorable responsibility than a burden. However, barely a minute from his house, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a familiar and unpleasant voice.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show up."

Elio stopped in his tracks, immediately recognizing Marcus's voice. Turning slowly, he saw his rival accompanied by four burly youths, all with threatening expressions.

Their equipment was complete with level 4 armor and lances, except for Marcus with both at level 5. Elio lamented having to keep a low profile. 'If only level 5 armor could be disguised like the lances,' Elio thought.

"Marcus," Elio said, keeping calm. "I don't have time for this. I need to return to the wall."

Marcus let out a derisive laugh. "You think I care where you're going? We have unfinished business, Elian."

Elio noticed how Marcus's companions began to surround him. The tension in the air was palpable.

"This is foolishness, Marcus," Elio tried to reason. "We're soldiers. We have responsibilities."

"Shut up!" Marcus shouted, his face contorted with anger. "You humiliated me in front of everyone! You're going to pay for that!"

Without further warning, Marcus lunged at Elio, his lance aimed directly at the young man's chest. Elio, with his improved reflexes, managed to dodge the initial attack, spinning on his heel and pulling one of his lances from his back, striking Marcus's face with the back end in a fluid motion.

The 100 resistance points of the lvl 5 armor would be untouchable for Elio with the 8 points of defense. But Marcus's hateful face was another story with only 3. Marcus, 25 points.

Marcus's four henchmen wasted no time in joining the fight. Two of them, whom Elio mentally labeled as Henchman 1 and 2, attacked from the flanks, while the other two (Henchman 3 and 4) stayed back, lances at the ready, prepared to exploit any opening.

Elio blocked Henchman 1's attack with his lance, the clash of metal against metal resonating in the air. Taking advantage of the momentum, he twisted his weapon, deflecting the attacker's lance and pushing him back. Without missing a beat, Elio activated his elemental control ability, covering his free hand with a layer of nickel. With a quick movement, he struck Henchman 2 in the face, the magical metal's damage ignoring the armor. Henchman 2, 27 points.

Henchman 2 staggered back, gasping, but Henchman 3 was already in motion. His lance whistled through the air, cutting Elio's arm. The resistant dress absorbed part of the impact, but Elio felt a burning sensation where the tip had struck. Elio, 28 points.

Marcus, recovered from his initial attack, launched a series of quick thrusts. Elio was forced to retreat, blocking and dodging as best he could. His mind was working at full speed, searching for a way out.

With a sudden movement, Elio managed to create a small opening. Seizing the moment, he threw his lance at Henchman 4, who was approaching from the rear. The lance flew with precision, but Henchman 4 moved, the lance impacting the attacker's shoulder, only damaging the armor. Henchman 4, 30 points / 9 points.

Elio was disarmed for a moment, trying to grab the lance on his back. Marcus, seeing the opportunity, attacked with renewed vigor. His lance found its mark, penetrating Elio's side. The pain was intense, and Elio felt his resistance drop to 25.

Gasping, Elio activated his elemental control again. This time, he combined oxygen and hydrogen, creating a small cloud of vapor around his hand. With a quick motion, he grabbed Marcus's hand and cooled the vapor, the sudden temperature change causing the hand to go numb for an instant.

Taking advantage of Marcus's surprise, Elio spun, pulling out his second lance and in the same movement, striking Marcus's weakened hand. The weapon fell, leaving Marcus momentarily disarmed.

Henchman 1 and 3 attacked simultaneously. Elio managed to block one with his lance, but the other found an opening, his weapon cutting through the resistant dress and leaving a deep gash in Elio's thigh, his resistance dropping to 23.

Grunting in pain, Elio concentrated his mana in his free hand, creating a small flame. With a desperate move, he threw the flame towards Henchman 1's face, who instinctively recoiled, from the shock and minor burns. Henchman 1, 27 points.

Marcus, now disarmed, seized the moment to tackle Elio, knocking him down.