The Bellandis were known for something far less predictable.
Wind.
It could whisper.
It could sing.
Or it could throw you off a rooftop if you weren’t careful.
Which was exactly why most people in Valdoro had learned not to question the Bellandi twins when they were seen running across the tops of buildings.
This morning was no different.
A burst of laughter echoed across the narrow street below as a sudden gust of wind swept between two rooftops.
Giulia Bellandi landed lightly on the edge of a tiled roof, her boots barely making a sound as the wind settled around her.
She turned immediately, grinning.
“You’re slow today.”
A moment later, another gust of wind lifted from the alley below.
Valentina Bellandi rose with it like a feather caught in an updraft, landing beside her sister with surprising grace.
“I’m not slow,” Valentina said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I’m careful.”
Giulia snorted.
“Careful is just another word for slow.”
Valentina crossed her arms.
“You pushed me off the bell tower last week.”
“You landed perfectly.”
“I almost landed on a baker.”
“But you didn’t.”
Valentina sighed.
“You’re impossible.”
Giulia leaned back slightly, letting the wind tug playfully at her hair.
“And yet here I am, winning again.”
Below them, the streets of Valdoro were already filling with people beginning their day.
Merchants opened shop doors.
Children ran across the plaza.
No one seemed particularly surprised by the sight of two Bellandi daughters standing on a rooftop.
It had become a fairly normal sight over the years.
Valentina looked across the town thoughtfully.
“You know Father is going to complain if we’re late again.”
Giulia waved a hand dismissively.
“He complains if we’re early, too.”
“That’s because you interrupt him.”
“He talks too much.”
Valentina shook her head with a small smile.
“Ready?”
Giulia’s grin widened.
“Always.”
Valentina lifted her hand slightly.
The air shifted.
A steady current of wind formed beneath them, swirling gently at first before strengthening into a powerful upward draft.
“First one to the plaza fountain,” Giulia said.
“Giulia—”
But it was too late.
Giulia had already jumped.
The wind caught her instantly.
Instead of falling, she surged forward, carried across the open space between rooftops as easily as if she were running across solid ground.
Valentina groaned.
“She cheats every time.”
But a moment later, she jumped too.
The wind rushed beneath her feet, lifting her gracefully through the air.
For a brief moment, she hovered above the street below.
Then she shot forward.
The two sisters moved across the rooftops like streaks of wind itself, leaping from building to building while currents of air carried them effortlessly across the gaps.
Giulia laughed as she landed on another roof.
“You’re still behind!”
Valentina landed moments later.
“Only because you started early!”
“Excuses!”
They launched forward again.
The wind followed them eagerly, swirling around their feet and lifting them higher with each jump.
People below glanced up occasionally, shaking their heads with amusement.
“Bellandi girls again,” someone muttered.
At the edge of the town square, Giulia landed beside the fountain first.
She raised both arms in triumph.
“Victory!”
Valentina dropped beside her seconds later, slightly out of breath.
“You jumped early.”
Giulia grinned.
“You should have jumped faster.”
Valentina leaned against the stone fountain, laughing softly.
“Sometimes I think you enjoy annoying people.”
“I don’t enjoy it,” Giulia said.
She paused.
Then added thoughtfully,
“I excel at it.”
Valentina rolled her eyes.
“You especially enjoy annoying Marco.”
Giulia’s grin returned immediately.
“Well, someone has to.”
Valentina tilted her head.
“You know he’s not actually as terrible as you pretend he is.”
Giulia scoffed.
“He’s arrogant.”
“He’s confident.”
“He’s insufferable.”
“He’s grieving.”
The playful energy between them faded slightly.
Giulia leaned against the fountain edge, her expression becoming more thoughtful.
“Everyone’s grieving,” she said quietly.
Valentina nodded.
That much was true.
The deaths of Isabella DeLuca and Vittorio Marino had shaken the entire town years ago.
But the Pillars had felt it most.
Giulia kicked a small pebble across the ground.
“Still doesn’t excuse his attitude.”
Valentina smiled slightly.
“You like provoking him.”
“Of course I do.”
“Why?”
Giulia shrugged.
“Because he reacts every time.”
As if summoned by the conversation itself, a familiar voice echoed from behind them.
“You two realise the entire town can hear you when you argue like that.”
The twins turned.
Marco Marino stood a few steps away, arms crossed.
Giulia’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Speak of the arrogant devil.”
Marco sighed.
“Good morning, Giulia.”
“Good morning, future ruler of the universe.”
Valentina hid a smile.
Marco ignored the sarcasm.
“What were you two doing on the rooftops this time?”
“Training,” Giulia said proudly.
“Racing,” Valentina corrected.
“Winning,” Giulia added.
Marco glanced up at the rooftops before looking back at them.
“You’ll break your necks one day.”
Giulia smirked.
“You’re just jealous you can’t fly.”
Marco raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t need to fly.”
“Right,” Giulia said.
“You just need to glare at rivers until they obey you.”
Valentina laughed softly.
Marco shook his head slightly.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet you came over here anyway.”
Marco hesitated briefly.
Giulia noticed immediately.
“Oh?” she said slowly.
“What?”
“You were looking for someone.”
“I was not.”
“Chiara?”
Marco’s expression hardened instantly.
Valentina winced slightly.
“Giulia—”
“What?” Giulia said innocently.
“They used to be engaged.”
“That was years ago.”
“And yet you still compete with her.”
Marco crossed his arms again.
“That has nothing to do with the engagement.”
Giulia tilted her head.
“Then what does it have to do with?”
Marco didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the distant rooftops where the DeLuca estate stood beyond the plaza.
His voice was calm when he finally spoke.
“The Pillars need strong leaders.”
Giulia leaned against the fountain again.
“And Chiara isn’t strong?”
Marco didn’t hesitate this time.
“She hesitates.”
Valentina frowned slightly.
“Everyone hesitates sometimes.”
Marco shook his head.
“Not when the safety of Valdoro depends on you.”
The wind shifted slightly around the plaza.
Giulia watched him carefully.
“You really believe that.”
“Yes.”
Giulia’s voice softened just a little.
“Maybe strength isn’t what you think it is.”
Marco looked back at her sharply.
“No,” he said firmly.
His voice was steady.
Confident.
Almost cold.
“The Pillars need strength.”
He paused briefly.
Then added,
“No hesitation.”
“Well, Chiara probably hesitates because she knows what she can do,”
Valentina adds, looking towards her sister and back at Marco.
“She probably doesn’t want to lose control.”
“We’ll see about that”, Marco mumbles