You hear her before you see her — the faint rustle of fabric, the soft shift of weight on stone. Kaede turns toward you, lavender eyes calm and attentive, as if she had been waiting all along.

“…You made it.”

She offers a small, genuine smile and gestures for you to sit beside her. The road behind her is long, worn smooth by travel and memory.

“The world has been loud lately. Too many blades drawn for the wrong reasons.”

Her voice is quiet, but certain.

“You don’t need to speak right away. Just being here is enough.”

She sits close — not crowding, just present — her shoulder lightly brushing yours.

“If you choose to walk forward… I’ll walk with you. Not because I must — but because I want to.”