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"What?" Kriz replied, rubbing his side and adopting an expression of exaggerated innocence. "I'm a serious businessman, a visionary! Right, Mirror Shot?" His ice rabbit nodded vigorously, creating a small shower of snowflakes.

Brok, who had been silently observing, let out a booming laugh. "Yeah, right. And I'm the King of the Walls."

"Your Majesty!" Kriz exclaimed, dropping into a bow so low and dramatic that he nearly toppled over. Mirror Shot, ever the faithful companion, created a tiny ice crown atop its head.

Despite the situation, Elio couldn't help but laugh. The sound was warm and genuine, a brief respite from the weight of leadership. However, the persistent worry on his mother's face quickly sobered him.

"Mom, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice laden with remorse. "I never realized this would become such a problem. I promise we'll find a solution."

"How about an appointment system?" suggested Ren. "We could set specific times for people to meet Elio without disturbing the neighborhood. Maybe even set up a dedicated office for public meetings."

"Oh, oh, I've got it!" Kriz exclaimed, bouncing on his toes with excitement. "Let's make a life-size nickel statue of Elio! Mirror Shot can help. People can worship the statue, and we can leave the real Elio in peace."

To everyone's astonishment, Mirror Shot immediately began forming a small, intricately detailed nickel statue of Elio on the ground, its tiny paws moving with surprising dexterity.

"Kriz, if you don't have anything useful to say..." Zara began after taking the small statue for herself, but was interrupted by Lena's laughter.

"Oh, my," said Elio's mother, wiping away a tear of laughter. "Now I understand why my son appreciates you all so much. Never a dull moment with you around, is there?"

"Thank you, Mrs. E," Kriz replied with an exaggerated bow. "We strive to keep the level of madness at its peak."

Lucien, who had been watching the exchange with amusement and exasperation, finally spoke up. His voice, calm and measured, cut through the jovial atmosphere. "Elio, I believe I have a solution that could address several issues simultaneously."

The group fell silent, all eyes turning to Lucien with curiosity.

"How about we move your family to the central building? As the new leader of the city, it would be the most logical thing," suggested Lucien. "In fact, we could move the families of all your friends, even Tarec and your other neighbors. There's ample space in the section we've been clearing out."

Elio frowned, considering the idea. His eyes darted from his mother to his friends, then to the looming silhouette of the central building. "I don't know, there are many who oppose us in that building, and besides... I don't want to separate myself from the people. I don't want to be like Fathoran, living away from everyone."

"You wouldn't be doing that at all," Lucien argued, his voice gentle but persuasive. "On the contrary, you'd be bringing ordinary citizens into the heart of power. Think about it, Elio. You'd be dismantling the very barriers Fathoran built. Moreover, as summoners facing potential opposition from non-summoners, you'd all be safer together."

"Hold on a second," Micah interjected, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you actually offering to move us, all of us, into the central building?"

"Fantastic!" Kriz exclaimed, leaping with joy and causing Mirror Shot to cling desperately to his hair. "I've always dreamed of living in a palace! Do you think I could have my own throne room? Or maybe a tower where I can dramatically shout, 'The king is dead, long live the jester!'?"

Zara, though exasperated, couldn't entirely hide the amused twinkle in her eyes as she elbowed Kriz yet again. "Nobody's giving you a throne room, Kriz. And you're definitely not getting a tower."

"Party pooper," Kriz muttered, but his irrepressible grin never faltered. "Fine, I'll settle for a royal bed."

Ignoring Kriz's antics, Elio turned to his mother.

His eyes sought hers, searching for guidance as he had so many times before. "What do you think, Mom? Would you be comfortable moving to the central building?"

Lena took a moment to consider, her eyes sweeping over the group before returning to her son. "Well," she said slowly, "it would certainly be quieter than our current situation. And if our neighbors come too... Although..."

Tarec scratched his chin, thoughtful. "I don't know, Von Elio. It's a generous offer, but... wouldn't it look like favoritism? What will the rest of the city think?"

Tarec's wife, however, seemed more enthusiastic. "Darling, think about it. Our children would be so much safer there. And maybe we could even have extra rooms for when my mother's family visits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Oh, fantastic," Tarec muttered under his breath, but a warning look from his wife quickly silenced any further objections.

Elio rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Okay, let's do it Lucien... But bring your loyal soldiers to the area too."

Lucien nodded, satisfied. "Good, then it's decided. We'll start preparations for the move."

♢♢♢♢

As the group laughed and animatedly discussed the details of their impending relocation, imagining how their lives would change in the central building, Elio noticed that the four mysterious young women had stayed on the sidelines of the conversation.

They were whispering among themselves, casting glances in his direction.

Finally, Aria, the redhead of the group, seemed to steel herself and stepped forward.

"Von Elio," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We're sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk to you. In private, if possible."

Elio felt Ember tense on his shoulder, reflecting his own unease. The other three girls, Mei, Lila, and Valeria, approached, their expressions determined and… something else that Elio couldn't identify.

"It's about Fathoran's promises to us," Mei added, her amber eyes fixed on Elio with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. "And about the future of many young women in the city."

When Aria suggested speaking privately, Zara stepped forward, her posture tense and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Flare, her salamander, hissed softly from her shoulder, its scales glowing with a reddish hue that reflected its owner's agitation.

"Why do you need to talk alone? Anything you have to say, you can say it here."

Mei, with a soft but calculating smile, looked at Zara. Her amber eyes glinted with a flash of malicious amusement. "Oh, I do apologize. We weren't aware that the leader required his wife's permission to speak with others. Or are you perhaps afraid we might steal him away?"

Zara's face flushed a deep crimson, rivaling the color of her salamander. "I'm not... we're not..." she stammered, struggling to find the right words.

Elio, sensing the escalating tension, quickly intervened. He placed a hand on Zara's shoulder, a gesture meant to be reassuring but which only seemed to intensify her blush.

"Zara isn't… my wife," he clarified, his voice firm but kind. "She's a close friend and a trusted advisor. One of the most important people in my life."

"Ah, I see," said Valeria, her tone suggestive. "Then there's no problem in us talking in private, right?"

Lena, noticing Zara's discomfort, approached and put a hand on her shoulder. "Zara, dear, why don't you let Elio handle this? I trust my son will make the right decisions."

Zara looked at Lena, then at Elio, and finally nodded reluctantly. "Alright, but don't take too long… And remember, we're all here if you need us."

Elio gave Zara a reassuring smile before turning to the four young women. "We can talk right here, just a little apart from the group. Is that okay with you?"

The girls nodded and moved a few meters away, far enough to have privacy but still within sight of the others.

"Alright," began Elio, "what did you want to talk about?"