"Or worse," Aria chimed in, surprising everyone with her participation in the jokes, "he'll come back with some crazy idea about how to make us wear 3 armors... Safety first!"
The training field filled with laughter and increasingly absurd speculations about Elio's triumphant return. For a moment, worry took a back seat, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and shared hope. Their familiars seemed to pick up on the mood, their scales and fur shimmering with renewed energy.
Lila, though still concerned, found herself smiling more easily. Her golden salamander uncurled slightly from its tight coil. "You're right," she finally admitted. "We must trust him."
Mei nodded, briefly squeezing Lila's hand in a gesture of support. Her purple salamander chirped encouragingly.
