IX: Your bakeware matters.

If there was one thing Heena knew about Serys, it was that Serys never took favors lightly. When someone asked Serys for help, she gave her all to ensure it mattered. Her sense of integrity was impeccable—if someone owed her a favor, she ensured it was repaid in full. No exceptions.

So, when Serys appeared unannounced at the House of Versare's front door, Heena immediately knew why she had come.

"Hey, nice seeing you here! It's been a while," Heena greeted warmly, her tone light as she ushered Serys into one of the many well-decorated parlors of the guild house. The air carried the scent of lavender and fresh pine, but a familiar sweetness caught Heena's attention before she even saw the package Serys was carrying.

Serys handed Heena a small box, which she carefully opened to reveal a flawless cake with cut strawberries and strawberry jam filling between two layers crowned with fresh cream, more strawberries, and garnished with mint leaves.

Heena's eyes lit up. "You shouldn't have!" she exclaimed, her mouth already watering at the sight of her favorite dessert.

"I made you something," Serys said with a soft smile.

"You're spoiling me," Heena teased, plopping into a chair and signaling to a younger guild member. "Fetch us some tea, will you?" The girl nodded and quickly disappeared to fulfill the request.

As tea was brought in and poured, the two women exchanged pleasantries, catching up on recent events. Serys's words were polite and measured, but Heena could sense an underlying purpose to her visit.

After a while, Serys placed her teacup down with deliberate care, meeting Heena's gaze. Her expression turned serious.

"So, I have a favor to ask," she said, her voice steady but purposeful.

Heena raised an eyebrow, already imagining the possibilities. Serys wasn't one to ask for help lightly. "What is it? A loan? Help clearing a dungeon? Or are we talking something dramatic, like sacrificing a limb?"

Serys chuckled softly. "Nothing quite that dramatic. I need your help—and as many of your guild ladies as possible—to promote my bakery during the summer festival."

Heena blinked, momentarily stunned. She had braced herself for a grand and grueling request. Promoting a bakery? That sounded almost… fun. But something about Serys's tone suggested this was no simple task.

"The summer festival, huh?" Heena mused, swirling her tea. "That's a big deal."

The summer festival in Eldoria was a grand affair organized by merchant guilds and the Registry to honor Solnne, the goddess of harvest, hearth, and crafts. Celebrated across Zeltharia's eastern towns, the festival spanned three days of parades, performances, and revelry. Farmers and merchants showcased their finest wares, food vendors vied for attention, and on the final day—the summer solstice—the townsfolk gathered for a grand bonfire to give thanks to Solnne for her blessings.

"It's the perfect opportunity," Serys said, her voice thoughtful. "People from across Zeltharia come to Eldoria for the parades and celebrations. If we can stand out during the parade, it'll be the breakthrough my bakery needs."

Heena smiled, amused by her friend's passion. Serys rarely asked for help, especially not publicly. This only emphasized how much the request meant to her.

"And I assume you've got a plan to make your bakery unforgettable?" Heena asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Serys nodded. "It starts with the parade. That's where I'll need your help the most."

The parade, the festival's crown jewel, wound its way from Eldoria's northern gate to its southern exit. It was a spectacle of music, color, and artistry—perfect for leaving a lasting impression.

"I see where you're going with this," Heena said, already picturing the scene. "A parade float? Or something even grander?"

"Exactly," Serys said, her lips curling into a small smile. "We need to stand out. Not just with the stall, but during the parade itself. Your guild can help create a presence that draws everyone's attention."

Heena leaned back, weighing the possibilities. Helping Serys wouldn't just be a favor; it could also showcase her guild's creativity and teamwork.

"Alright," Heena said finally, a mischievous spark in her eyes. "But you know the deal. If I'm helping you, you owe me a favor in return—and it better be something good."

Serys laughed, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Deal. I'll make sure it's worth your while."

As they sipped their tea, the two women began sketching out plans. The summer festival was meant to celebrate Solnne's blessings, but for Serys and Heena, it would also become a testament to friendship, ambition, and the magic of collaboration.

~~

Exousia had seven weeks to prepare for the parade. While the merchant guilds and the Registry spent months organizing the grand three-day summer festival, the guilds of Eldoria only had the spring season to prepare for a parade lasting at most two hours. Yet, the stakes were high—the parade wasn't just a celebration; it was the best time to showcase their skills and recruit new adventurers. For this reason, every guild sought to outshine the others, displaying talents that went beyond monster slaying.

It was no surprise, then, that one afternoon at the Enchanted Hearth, the guild leaders of three of Eldoria's biggest guilds found themselves embroiled in a heated and somewhat chaotic debate over their parade plans.

"What we do will surprise you on parade day," Heena declared smugly, tearing a piece from the coffee bun she held.

"With tunics or without tunics?" Gress quipped, grinning.

Heena's expression darkened, and in a swift motion, she looped the string of her bow around Gress's neck, feigning a chokehold. Before it could escalate further, Serys intervened with a slice of strawberry shortcake, holding it out like an offering. Heena immediately abandoned her attack to chase the dessert.

"Serys isn't even leading the planning, so it's up to me to steal the show," Gress said, puffing his chest out dramatically.

Serys rolled her eyes, turning toward the counter, while Rieze, sitting nearby, raised a hand to flash an impolite gesture at Gress.

"Hey! You don't know how talented I am!" Gress shot back.

"I doubt it," Heena muttered, already savoring her cake.

"Our guild has been taming herds of rare animals," Deimus from the Golden Sentinels chimed in. "We're planning to showcase them during the parade."

"That was supposed to be a surprise!" Agatha scolded, nudging him in frustration.

"Bards. We'll probably just have our bards play something," Rieze said casually, taking a sip from his mug.

"Rieze! That was supposed to be a secret!" Gress groaned, shaking his head in mock despair. "You're just making things up as you go."

"YOU'RE the one making things up right now," Rieze said, her eyes wide with a mix of amazement and annoyance.

"Why don't we combine our ideas?" Serys interjected, returning with a fresh platter of buttery biscuits, a savory pie, and a calm demeanor that seemed to cut through the chaos.

The room fell quiet as the leaders considered her suggestion.

"That's not a bad idea," Heena admitted, her mouth full.

"I agree," Kael added. "Your bards can provide music, Heena's guild can do…whatever it is they're planning, and the Sentinels can display their mounts."

"We're the three biggest guilds in Eldoria," Gress said with exaggerated flair. "Honestly, people just want to see us."

"You're too full of yourself, Gress," Serys said with a smirk. "You didn't even contribute to the meeting."

"Of course he did. He ate all your leftovers," Rieze quipped, earning a round of chuckles.

As the leaders of the House of Versare and the Golden Sentinels departed, Rieze and Gress stayed behind to help Serys close the bakery. Once the doors were locked, Gress leaned against the counter, curious.

"Alright, Serys. On the serious side, what's the plan? Are we really promoting your bakery?"

Serys's lips curled into a sly smile. "Of course. I've already spoken to Heena and Kael. They just didn't know about each other… until now."

Later that night, as Rieze, Serys, and Gress stepped out of the bakery and into the cool evening air, the three of them reviewed their to-do list. Costumes, music rehearsals, props for the float, and her bakery's centerpiece display—it was all starting to come together. With just a handful of weeks left, the real work would begin. And if there was one thing Serys Larkwell excelled at, it was turning plans into something unforgettable.

The festival wasn't just a celebration—it was an opportunity. And she intended to seize it with everything she had.