"Alright," Elio began, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his stomach, "what did you want to talk about?"
Aria stepped forward, her red salamander pulsing with an intense glow on her shoulder. "Von Elio, we've heard whispers about your initiative to elevate women beyond level 1. We're eager to learn more."
Lila, the shyest of the group, added softly, her eyes downcast, "It's just... many of us come from desperately poor families. We need the extra mana to support our loved ones, but the idea of leveling up is... terrifying."
Elio nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "I can imagine your concerns. But I assure you, the new system is incredibly safe. According to Lucien's data, the success rate is remarkably high…"
Mei inched closer to Elio, her amber eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him want to step back. "But, Von Elio," she purred, "what if something goes wrong? What if we're not strong enough?"
