I had the opportunity to see the streets during their festive season.

As you can imagine, dear diary (or me from the future, in case I'm reading this), I had more free time and asked what this was all about. Seeing that Taleh couldn't explain anything, I was able to find out by asking a few people I met on the streets of the central plaza. Even though some of them spoke in a way that was almost unintelligible, they didn't come close to being a disaster like Taleh.

In the streets, lovers walked around the central plaza, the youth made themselves known while the adults stayed in their homes. Some walked alone, hurriedly and with their heads bowed, showing their sadness at being alone. Some drown in insignificant problems, although I suppose it must hurt to wait a year to declare your feelings to the girl you like only to be rejected, in the same way that a girl waits for the beginning of March with one or several love requests when all they receive is a greeting and nothing else.

People were better dressed, as if they wanted to attract each other's attention or even other people, as if it were a competition to see who looks better. The only strange thing is that they gave me green clothes even though everyone, mathematically speaking, is wearing red for fashion, but I suppose they gave me some garments that they had left over.

But in summary; on the first of March, feelings are confessed or existing ones are reinforced, the next day it's the man's turn to give a gift, then on the third day of March the woman gives another present back, and finally on the fourth day, it's the last day of this event which apparently, from what someone told me, "is the most important not only for the city but also to remember that appreciation is everything."

I don't remember seeing or hearing of a four-day festival, but I suppose after so much work, many have earned it.

Seeing the central plaza go from being a place of work to a place of leisure was peculiar, but somehow, it's nice, so it serves its purpose. But I know someone who, like the guards who maintained security, was in charge of finalizing the preparations for the celebration.

"Hi Nassoumi." I said.

"Broken Forever? What are you doing here?" She ask, grabbing a log and I see she has an axe in her hand. "I didn't recognize you with your change of clothes. Are you here for the library invitation?"

"No, they explained to me that it would be a guided tour, and they will come to pick me up tomorrow. I'm here to ask you about how you became the overseer. Also, what are you doing?"

"Well, tonight is The Great bonfire of Love and Fraternity. People gather, talk about their plans, and..." She positions the log and cuts it in half. "They also come to express their feelings."

"Did you get the wood from some forest something?"

"From a bit of everything. We use wood from abandoned buildings, some from loose trees around here. The problem with the former is that it's too damp, so it takes a while to catch fire. It burns before spreading. Jah!" She exclaims as she cuts another log.

I watch her while crossing my arms.

"So... Do you want to know how I became the overseer? The answer is simple. At one time, we didn't have as many guards as we do now, and people were much more aggressive when it came to solving problems. I would bring order when they were too angry to talk things out and give each other hugs and kisses. At first, I thought I was separating fights because I was ending them instead of starting them. Then I realized; I'm just that good.

My eyes drift to her arms, I don't doubt that for a second, she was a strong woman.

However, she looked calm, as if she was happy that someone was asking about her, but my doubts were still there. So, that was a good sign that I could keep asking more in-depth questions.

"My question is, if you were good at maintaining order, why weren't you made captain of the guard?"

I was hoping for a quick answer, but apparently, she didn't know either.

"Well, I would say I was raised here and got some comprehension about it, but... it's not something the Merciful One knows for sure."

"Do you get along with him?"

"Every time he comes back to collect the tributes, I feel like I know him less."

"Why do you say that?"

"For the same reason that makes me think about why you're asking me this in the first place."

"So, we think alike then?"

"Except I knew him before."

"That reinforces my question, don't you think you deserve a better rank?"

"Look, I don't even know if the guards have a captain or if the king himself manages them. But I have my own thoughts about that."

"Don't you want to share it? I'm all ears."

She grabs another log, looks at the sky, then looks at the trunk and cuts it, apparently she had to consider it.

"I had a friend that the Merciful set his eyes on, I don't know what she did, but one night the guards came to get her and took her away."

"They kidnapped her?!"

"Hah! Please! No!" She replied as her cheekbones raised due to how wrong my observation was. "She was waiting for them in a dress she had worn when she was old enough to be the head of the household. The thing is, while I don't know what happened to her, since I haven't seen her since then, it's not the first time she's done that. I tried to warn her, but she was... in love."

"Did she talk badly about you?"

"I suppose. I think that's what people do when they love, the thing is, he looked at certain women with desire and then avoided eye contact with me or tried not to talk to me. As if it made him uncomfortable or something."

I cannot blame them for that. I though. "I don't understand your point." I inquired.

"Oh, I get the idea that you don't know much about this kind of stuff. What I mean is, I wouldn't be surprised if he underestimated me because I'm a woman and only cared about the most beautiful girls." She replied.

"Now I understand better, I think. Look, if it's as you say, a leader shouldn't see men and women as something different."

"Exactly, Broken Forever, but I'm happy with what I have. But answering your question, you know my answer now, just try not to spread what I said.".

"What if I do? I'm certainly bad keeping secrets." I joked, smiling to make it clear.

She looked at me with a poker face, but when she saw my face, she returned the smile and decided to chop a log again, this time with more force than before, without taking her sight off me.

I nodded my head.

"I got the message." I said while I shake my hand.

"Besides, I trust you. It's not usual for The Merciful to point to someone and for you to respond as if you didn't know him. At first, I thought you were just another weird creep out of your mind, but I've heard you speak and seen you write in that journal, and that says a lot about who you are. That's why I feel that whatever you do, the library will help you clear your doubts." She said.

When I first saw her, I didn't think I would see her happy and calm, but she's a little kinder than I expected, even too much, I would say she's the most cordial person I've seen in this city when she's not acting as an overseer.

And most importantly; she seems to be on my side. It never hurts to have important people on your side. In fact, can be useful and without risk at all.