After the Legion Individual Combat Competition ended, Rangers received their own official emblem for identification purposes.
With grassland green as the base color, a blade was drawn above—precisely the standard steel sword equipped by Rangers and soldiers across the territories.
Once the emblem was determined and banners made, each Ranger company added a 'standard bearer' position. They would defend the honor of Roadside Keep's Blade with their lives.
Simultaneously, they would prove to the world that this force developed over more than a dozen years was no longer the so-called "Roadside Keep's seedlings."
But rather—
"Roadside Keep's Blade"
Speaking of emblems, though...
Levi looked at the plain banner still used by merchant caravans—printed only with his name—plus the same simple emblem used by the school, feeling somewhat troubled.
This banner bearing only his name was now both his personal emblem and the factional emblem representing Roadside Keep, Riverside Keep, and even all cities of the Free Peoples.
Time to design a new one.
After gathering opinions from multiple parties, Levi selected a design plan.
With the flawless nether star as the center, surrounded by countless smaller stars representing other territories and allied parties.
This would be the Free Peoples' future emblem and banner.
Roadside Keep's emblem is derived from it, adding delicate flowers and vines at the decorative edges.
The flowers were those little red blooms iron golems occasionally gifted, and the vines were those used as decoration on Levi's castle—which he actually frequently climbed up and down through windows.
Next came the Angle's shipyard and city—its symbol was the river, the flagship, and the beacon beam rising above.
From now on, that monotonous banner bearing only Levi's name was retired from official use. This already widespread emblem truly became Levi's personal emblem—only he and those he authorized could use it.
Or those who didn't yet know and had no way to learn of these matters.
On the last page of Taber's notebook was a separately boxed frame containing Levi's name—or what had once been Roadside Keep's emblem.
That day, Levi took up his pen and drew Roadside Keep's new emblem on the final page, carefully writing his name below it.
"With this, commemorating those who have passed."
News quickly spread to other territories.
Actually, besides territories Levi had directly built, other settlements had their own banners already.
Dale and Lake-town needn't be mentioned—they were old towns established before the Free Peoples alliance even formed.
What needed a new design was the recently established Roadway Town. Of course, its symbol had long been designed—a stopped wagon, straightforward and functional, quite fitting with its overall purpose.
Dale, Lake-town, and Roadway Town all had emblems representing themselves, while the entire Dale executive district also had an emblem representing it as a whole—a crossed sword and bow over flames, carrying great commemorative significance.
The sword was the elven blade Levi wielded, and the bow was the yew longbow Bard had used.
Finally came Carl Town, where Beorn's clan lived—this place's symbol was fat bees and giant bears.
Various territorial emblems seemed quite numerous and potentially troublesome, but usually these emblems were only used internally when distinguishing territories was necessary for official documents.
Regardless, now the emblem representing the highest authority had appeared—or rather, been replaced.
It changed from Levi's simple name to the more official "Star Emblem"—the latter being an oral designation that emerged after the emblem update.
"I thought you'd use that personal emblem with just your name for life."
At Dale, Bard brewed tea—who knew how many times he had poured Levi a cup over the years?
Still the same old familiar taste.
"Alright, alright, didn't I redesign it?"
Levi sipped tea and exhaled deeply.
This could be considered settling a small administrative matter.
"This should have been done long ago," Bard said while still preparing refreshments.
After pouring tea, he fetched some pastries like cookies and cakes, plus almond-studded toffee.
"Quite a lot of food."
Levi picked up several items to taste—all flavors were quite authentic.
"These were all Bain's childhood favorites. But he's now a mature warrior—not only coming home less often but also not eating much of these previously beloved foods."
Bard picked up an almond candy, chewed it thoughtfully, and his eyebrows rose appreciatively.
"Mm, very fragrant."
Levi also took one, putting it in his mouth.
"Indeed, not bad."
He praised it, continuing to sample other pastries.
Suddenly glancing over, he noticed a single white hair on Bard's head.
"Hey, you've got a white hair there."
Bard looked where Levi pointed, stroking his hair—spotting one white and bright strand mixed in among the black.
Snap.
He plucked the white hair out.
"Gone now."
Bard raised his hand, letting that white hair fall to the ground, disappearing into the dust.
Levi smiled.
"Indeed gone."
But while smiling, the pastry in his hand became somewhat hard to swallow.
Bard... he's not young anymore either.
His son Bain is already in his thirties.
"Bain is a fine young man," Levi casually mentioned. "Last year in the East Bight battle he performed exceptionally well, receiving an excellent Ranger medal."
East Bight—a wasteland cleared by old Rhovanion humans from Mirkwood's borders, positioned dangerously close to Dol Guldur.
According to reports, when Rangers conducted investigations in East Bight's ruins, Bain was first to discover nearby orc groups and alert everyone, then led the resistance against orc surprise attacks, afterward leading his people to counterattack and sweep clean the nearby orc encampments.
"I know; that matter he handled reasonably well."
Bard felt somewhat gratified.
"He's truly grown up."
After musing on his son's growth, Bard continued to another matter.
"Right, regarding East Bight, I actually wanted to discuss something with you."
"The nearby Rhovanion Kingdom ruins—I think they can be utilized. At least we could first establish an outpost there. This would greatly help our future southern expansion."
"Also, if the coming years go smoothly, a new transport route could be established connecting Dale, Carl Town, Rohan, and Gondor safely."
Meaning once built, travelers could journey directly from Dale all the way to Gondor in the future.
"Elaborate."
Levi was quite interested.
So Bard produced a detailed map, pointing at a specific location.
"The North Undeep and South Undeep on the eastern side of Rohan's northern plateau—both located within the Brown Lands. Historically, Gondor and Rohan many times used these as military transfer points."
"They can equally serve as civilian transport transfer points."
If these two strategic places could be occupied and fortified, not only could new routes be established allowing Dale's people to safely travel overland directly to Rohan and then Gondor, but Carl Town could also ship goods directly down the Anduin to Rohan.
Moreover, they could incidentally monitor Brown Lands movements and even watch the Black Gate itself.
Levi agreed immediately. "Fine, let's do that."
However, Bard still raised a small diplomatic concern. "Both North Undeep and South Undeep are at Rohan's borders. Will they have objections?"
"As for that, their old king has already died."
"I'm quite familiar with the new king Thengel—a good person. Worst case, I'll speak with him directly and give him a heads up."
"You just handle the logistics and planning. Leave the diplomacy to me."
"As long as our intentions are reasonable, I can guarantee there won't be any serious obstacles."
Levi's confident statement made Bard feel quite reassured.