Utopian System

Diana never truly felt part of her family.

From her earliest childhood, she had been painfully aware that, no matter what she did, her mother, Angela, only had eyes for her brother, Varick.

"Men are the ones who must be cultivated," Angela used to say, her voice laden with a conviction Diana could never understand. "Women only need to worry about being good mothers."

These words had embedded themselves in Diana's heart like thorns, feeding a resentment that grew with each passing year. She tried, time and time again, to earn her mother's approval.

She studied diligently, strived to be the perfect daughter, but nothing seemed to be enough.

She vividly remembered her childhood years, the countless times she had tried to catch her mother's attention. But each achievement was met with an indifference that hurt more than any reprimand.

Diana felt invisible in her own home, a shadow eclipsed by her brother's brilliance.

Her aunt Selene had always been a complicated topic in the family. Diana secretly admired her, fascinated by the woman who dared to defy expectations, who reached the same level of power as the other summoners.

But even mentioning her name at home was enough to provoke Angela's wrath.

She was a taboo subject in the family. "The madwoman who wanted to be a man," that's what they called her behind her back.

Diana vividly remembered the countless times her mother had reprimanded her for showing the slightest interest in following Selene's footsteps.

"That's not the way, Diana," Angela would tell her, her voice a mixture of frustration and what Diana could only interpret as fear. "You'll be unhappy and they'll call you crazy if you keep this up. Is that what you want? To be an outcast like your aunt?"

But these warnings only fueled Diana's determination. In the solitude of her room, she dreamed of a world where she could be more than just a future mother.

Everything changed when Fathoran fell and Elio took power.

Suddenly, the world Diana knew transformed. Selene and Lucien, the only original summoners left, became central figures in the new order. And most surprising of all: now everyone was a summoner.

Everyone except her.

Diana watched with amazement and envy as the city transformed around her. She saw people in the streets, with their summons by their side, living in a world that seemed better, fairer.

A world to which she didn't belong, trapped in antiquated times because of her family's beliefs.

Every day, without fail, Diana visited her mother. And every day, without fail, she left that visit with a heavy heart.

Today had been no different.

♢♢♢♢

Diana walked through the corridors of the central building, her steps echoing in the silence. She had just left Angela's room, and the weight of another fruitless visit weighed on her shoulders.

Every day was the same, a painful routine that repeated endlessly.

The soldiers guarding the entrance felt sorry for her.

She closed her eyes, remembering today's visit to her mother. As always, she had tried to tell her about the positive changes, about how Varick's sacrifice had helped create a better world.

"Mother," she had begun, her voice soft but firm. "Don't you see how everything has improved? People have more opportunities now, there's more equality. Varick helped make this possible. His sacrifice meant something."

But Angela, as always, had reacted with fury. Her eyes, once full of maternal love, now only showed contempt when they looked at Diana.

"Shut up!" Angela had shouted, her voice hoarse with anger. "You don't understand anything about your brother. How dare you talk about his death in front of me? You were never worthy of being his sister. You don't deserve to be part of this family. Get out!"

Her mother's words echoed in her mind, each syllable a blow to her already fragile self-esteem. As always, she had risen silently and retreated, the weight of years of rejection bearing down on her shoulders.

Now, as she walked down the hallway, she wondered, not for the first time, if she would ever be enough. If her mother would ever see her as anything more than a disappointment, a pale shadow compared to the idealized memory of Varick.

She closed her eyes, remembering the last conversation she had with Varick before his sacrifice. Her brother had always been kind to her, in his distant way.

"Diana, I used to think I was something I'm not now," he had told her, his voice unusually soft. "Promise me you won't let anyone tell you what you can or can't be. Not even mother."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar figure approaching: her uncle Lucien. The man who had always been a respectable figure was now also one of the most respected leaders in the city. His frog alongside him as always, its large eyes seeming to study Diana curiously.

"Uncle Lucien," Diana greeted, slightly bowing her head.

Lucien stopped, observing her with concern. "Diana," he responded. "How are you? Did you just visit your mother?"

Diana nodded.

Lucien seemed to understand, his expression softening.

"I understand," he said gently. "It's not easy, is it?"

Diana shook her head. Suddenly, a question that had been lingering in her mind for weeks surfaced.

"Uncle Lucien," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you think... do you think I could be a summoner too?"

Lucien fell silent for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. Diana held her breath, waiting for his answer. His frog looked at him, as if also curious about what he would say.

As Lucien considered his response, his mind went over everything he knew about Diana's situation. The soldiers had informed him about her frequent visits to Angela.

He also knew of her efforts to convince Angela to accept Varick's heroism.

Lucien was painfully aware of how things had changed since the incident with Cassandra. Families, especially the old privileged families, were now under stricter control when it came to summons. Each potential new summoner was carefully evaluated.

Looking at his niece, Lucien felt a wave of sadness. Seeing her now, trapped between the old world and the new one, broke his heart.

"Diana," Lucien began, carefully choosing his words. "The possibility of becoming a summoner is something that..."

But before he could finish his sentence, a strident sound filled the air. The wall alarm had begun to sound, its piercing howl cutting through the conversation and filling the hallway with its urgent call.

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