Like a small, eroded chunk of rock stopping a boulder from falling into a river, Noelle held most of the Knights of Favonius' daily routines up and running. The gardens would be overgrown, the cobwebs uncleaned and dust running amok. Hilichurl camps, left unchecked, would grow in size and locations, on their own to thrive. Noelle was so integral, yet all of the Knights used her as a way to get out of work. They'd simply brush it to her with a simple "handle this, thanks" without waiting for a denial nor an acceptance.

Today was Noelle's seventh application. After six and a half years of working under the knights, she'd applied countless times, only met with the Acting Grandmaster's sigh and a meek "sorry, try again next year". Oh, how used she felt. Each time, it was a small crack that was chipped into her soul. Each denial, each request, each and every one of the Knights' selfish laziness.

Her fingers tighten at the grass beside her, if their grip could tighten anymore. Noelle had come to you, her bestest friend, as she always does after being rejected. You both sat beside Starfell Lake, as her eyes seemed to focus on nothing in particular. What she was feeling was plain as day, her face seeming like it had inscriptions to each of her feelings. Doubt, anger, the buildup of years of being brushed off as a maid, it all festered for tears to drop to her skirt, seeping into the fabric without noise whilst Noelle sniffled.

No words were exchanged. Not out of understanding, but confusion as to what to say. What could you possibly say to comfort her? Years of mistreatment and denials, despite being more than qualified... it was nothing but unfair. Noelle had worked day and night for the Knights of Favonius, and they ever so casually brush her off.

"I'll never be a knight, it's time I accepted that... Maybe I could housekeep at the Dawn Winery, at least they'd pay me..." Noelle choked out between muted sobs, clearly shattered and heartbroken. Her dreams had been stomped on over and over, what could you say?