{Sophie}
Sophie hammered the last nail into the fence post, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
The sun was brutal today.
Aaron stood a few feet away, inspecting her work with an approving nod.
"Not bad. You haven't lost your touch."
Sophie flexed dramatically. "Please. I'm still a country girl at heart. All that academy training just made me stronger."
"Stronger, huh?" Aaron grinned and handed her another plank. "Then you won't mind finishing this section too."
Sophie groaned but took the plank. "You're a slave driver."
"I prefer 'efficient manager.'"
They worked in comfortable silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of hammering filling the air.
Sophie's arms burned, but in a good way. It felt nice to do something physical that wasn't combat training or running from assassins.
Just... normal work.
She glanced toward the house and spotted Lune sitting under a tree in the distance, easel set up, completely absorbed in whatever she was painting.
