The roads of the Duchy of Melrose bore the marks of both use and neglect.

  At the edges, stones came loose easily. Mud was the eternal enemy of carts, and the nearby rivers caused seasonal floods that forced makeshift, dangerous detours. It wasn’t a new problem... but now, with the growing flow of trade following Elena’s arrival and the duchy's formal recognition by Queen Maple, it had become urgent.

  And that’s why Estede had come.

  The leader of the Bulletin Board Guild was known for many things: her light spear, her connection with spirits, her ever-present smile...But what surprised those who saw her in action was how people approached her. As if she weren’t some distant figure, but a childhood friend, a long-lost sister, someone who already knew you without needing to speak.

  Elena noticed it from the very first moment.

  —“Good morning!” —Estede greeted, dismounting with the ease of a seasoned traveler, waving with the same energy to peasants, guards, and even the local governor.

  One of the younger workers tripped over a stone upon seeing her. Estede simply bent down, helped him gather his tools, and said:

  —“How about we go get some bckberry juice after this? I know a pce with huge gsses. But you have to treat me, okay?”

  The boy blushed to his ears.

  Elena, waiting with Aria beneath the shade of an oak tree, crossed her arms.

  —“It’s like she glows,” she said without thinking.

  —“She does,” Aria replied, with a barely-there smile. “But not with magic.”

  —“Is she always like this?”

  —“Yes. Even when she’s hurt, tired, or upset. She doesn’t pretend. She truly wants to help.”

  —“So... is she the second kindest person in the world?”

  —“Yes. Because the first is Maple. But Estede doesn’t compete. She simply is.And that’s enough.”

  The Meeting

  The improvised meeting room was made of local wood and parchment maps. Elena led the conversation, showing diagrams of how to redistribute the most problematic road sections, better connect routes to rural areas, and use earth magic to reinforce the roadbed.

  —“The problem isn’t just building,” Elena expined firmly. “It’s maintenance. If we don’t form monitoring and repair squads, we’ll lose everything with the first storm.”

  Estede nodded enthusiastically.

  —“Perfect. I’ve already registered twenty-two craftsmen ready to help, plus three teams of mid-level earth mages. Also, I can ask Iz for enchanted tools to speed up the process without exhausting people.”

  —“That would be... very efficient,” Elena said, taking notes. “And we could organize it with Kanade’s study guild to train local apprentices. That way we won’t always depend on outside help.”

  —“That’s the spirit!” Estede replied, giving her a light pat on the back.

  Elena blinked. No one had touched her since she was a child.

  And yet, the gesture felt natural. Warm. Almost necessary.

  In Private

  Hours ter, as the sun sank and the first outlines of construction began to appear on the horizon, Aria and Estede sat together on a stone bench, away from the others. Elena watched from a bit further off, without interrupting.

  —“I didn’t think you’d come personally,” Aria said, eyes fixed on the sky.

  —“You don’t usually leave your shadows either. And look at you now. Walking among workers like one of us.”

  —“Elena pulls me into the light without me noticing,” Aria admitted.

  —“I like the way you look at her. Not with pity. With respect.”

  Aria lowered her eyes.—“She reminds me that even when the world wants to kill you, you can still build something new.”

  Estede smiled, gentler this time.—“She needs you. But you also need someone to look at you the way she does.”

  —“And you?”

  —“I already have thousands. It’s not the same... but it’s enough. For now.”

  Elena approached them without a word.Aria looked at her.Estede looked at her.

  And for a moment, under the warm light of sunset, the three women—so different, so strong, so broken and rebuilt—shared a wordless moment.

  A spear, an ash rose, and a discarded crown.