Utopian System

The thousand soldiers now patrolling the external walls had adapted to a precise routine.

Every hour, swifts transported messages confirming everything remained in order. No artromus had been sighted for three days, but tension persisted with each guard change.

"Are you sure you want to do this today?" asked Selene, watching while Elio studied one of the monumental trees. "We could wait until Lucien returns from his next inspection."

"It's been three days reorganizing patrols, establishing new training protocols, and discussing expansion plans," Elio responded, his eyes fixed on the small protuberances that had begun appearing on the branches. "I need to see now if Diana was right."

The trees they had planted quite some time ago, the first ones, rose majestic, their leaves whispering with each breeze.

Some citizens' summons that for some reason loved to wander from flower to flower, crowded the tree while watching them with curiosity.

Among the foliage, small objects had begun forming, the supposed "fruits" that, according to the god, contained the secret to multiplying trees without spending mana.

"Any idea how they're supposed to work?" Kriz approached, scratching his head while looking up.

"Diana said they fall by themselves when they're ready," Elio responded, remembering the instructions. "And then you just have to bury them."

"Sounds too simple to be true," murmured Zara, who had insisted on being present for the experiment.

As if responding to her words, one of the fruits detached from the nearest branch. Elio caught it reflexively, surprised by its weight and texture.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Now what?" asked Brok, approaching to examine the object with curiosity.

♢♢♢♢

The entire main group had gone outside one of the city's enormous gates, where they had covered the terrain with a large amount of earth elemental magic.

"Everyone ready?" asked Elio with the seriousness of someone about to perform a crucial experiment. Before him, two dozen fruits collected from the monumental trees awaited their moment.

"I don't think you need so much ceremony to bury some fruits," commented Kriz, containing a smile.

"It's very necessary," Elio corrected, beginning to dig small holes with military precision. "And considering how much mana we spent on the original trees, we need to do this right."

Half an hour later, twenty perfectly aligned holes contained the fruits. Elio stepped back, waiting with anticipation.

Nothing happened.

"Maybe they need more time," suggested Zara after several minutes of uncomfortable silence.

"Or more depth," added Brok. "What if the trees need more space for big roots?"

Elio immediately began digging deeper. Soon he had some holes reaching his knee.

Nothing happened.

"I know!" exclaimed Kriz. "They need elemental power!"

What followed was an impressive demonstration of elemental control. Elio channeled pure oxygen into the holes. Mei added controlled heat. Valeria contributed iron for nutrients.

The fruits remained obstinately inert.

"Maybe if we combine all the elements," someone suggested.

The next hour was a parade of increasingly elaborate experiments.

They tried different elemental combinations, various improvised rituals, and even Kriz proposed singing to them (an idea quickly discarded).

"What if they need pure mana?" Aria proposed animatedly.

Elio, now with dirt spots even in his hair, poured enough mana into the holes to grow a carbon house.

The fruits didn't even deign to glow.

"Oh," said Diana, who had been watching the entire spectacle with an increasingly amused expression. "I think the god mentioned something about water."

Elio froze in the middle of an elaborate elemental channeling pattern. "Water? But it's dangerous and..."

"Yes, he said they need water to grow."

With mechanical movements, Elio created a small ball of water above the holes and let it fall carefully.

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

Nothing happened.

Elio's eye began to twitch. His fists closed slowly.

"Elio?" asked Zara cautiously, recognizing the signs.

"DAMNED GOD!" the shout resonated across the place. "WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN THEY NEED WATER?! HOW MUCH WATER?! WHAT TYPE OF WATER?! WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONCE IN YOUR DIVINE EXISTENCE?!"

Somewhere, a disheveled god was probably laughing.

Diana coughed softly. "Now that I think about it, I believe he also mentioned something about patience..."

The look Elio gave her made her step back several paces.

♢♢♢♢

A few days later...

"Look at that!" Aria practically bounced while pointing at one of the new houses. "Remember when everything was exactly the same? Now each street has its own personality, I love it!"

Valeria nodded, her measured steps contrasting with her friend's overflowing energy. "People can finally afford to personalize their homes. That's what happens when you don't spend all your mana on eating and breathing."

"And on filters!" Aria did a complete turn, her arms extended. "When was the last time you saw someone using a cloth filter?"

"Speaking of changes," Valeria lowered her voice, though maintaining her casual attitude, "have you noticed how weird Lila's been lately?"

"Weird how? You mean how she hides whenever Elio appears?" Aria stopped to peek through a particularly ornate window, earning an uncomfortable look from a lady. "Or how she sighs when she thinks no one's watching her?"

"Both." Valeria leaned against a wall, crossing her arms. "Since the 'incident we don't talk about'..."

"Oh! You mean when EmberG..." Aria lowered her voice by Valeria's warning look. "Right, right. The incident we don't talk about."

"The point is," Valeria continued, resuming her walk, "she's more distracted than usual. Yesterday I saw her trying to feed her summon iron."

"Gorgita? But it doesn't even need to eat."

"Exactly."

Aria stepped ahead a few paces, walking backwards to see her friend. "You think she's like this because of... you know?"

"Because of how EmberG groped her in front of everyone?" Valeria raised an eyebrow.

"Val!" Aria looked around dramatically. "We're not supposed to talk about that!"

"Please," Valeria rolled her eyes. "Everyone already knows. They just pretend not to talk about it because Elio orders it. I'm getting bored of pretending…"

"Well..." Aria lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Have you seen how Lila looks at Zara whenever she's near Elio?"

"Like she wants to turn her into another memorial statue." Valeria smiled slightly. "Though she's not the only one. Did you notice how Mei also blushes when Elio's around?"

"No!" Aria almost tripped in surprise. "Mei too?"

"Mmhmm. Since he saved her again during the battle with the artromus she can't hide it anymore."

"He saved me there too and I'm not daydreaming!" Aria did a small turn smiling. "You think Elio has noticed those two yet?"

Valeria snorted. "Elio? The same one who thought Zara was sick when she blushed the first time he took her hand? It's more likely the trees will grow today."

"Speaking of which..." Aria looked toward where the sun indicated they should soon gather for another attempt. "You think today's the day?"