Harabi and Aisha stood by the fountain, when suddenly a ringing, overly joyful voice came from behind.

Harabi flinched. She recognized the timbre.
'Miki…" she whispered barely audibly, and without a second thought, vanished once more into invisibility.

Aisha, on the other hand, smiled faintly and turned toward the voice.

"Michelle Blossom… Prince Redheart, " she greeted softly, bowing slightly.

Upon seeing her, Miki literally lit up with joy, forgetting everything else, and ran forward to embrace Aisha tightly.

"Aisha! I’m so glad to see you!" she exclaimed. "It’s been so long!"

Aisha felt slightly embarrassed but returned the embrace with restraint, her usual gentle smile in place.
"Quite some time," she murmured softly.

Prince Aden merely nodded shortly. His gaze was reserved, almost distant, yet polite.

"You know, I was just talking about the Dawn Petals Festival, "Miki began, her eyes sparkling. "The one you loved… Early autumn, the blooming of rare flowers… You simply must see it! Fauna at that time is magical. You’ll attend this year, won’t you? You’ll be enchanted."

"Yes," Aisha smiled warmer than before. "I’ll be there. It has always been special to me."

Miki was about to continue, but Aden lightly touched her shoulder, and she turned to him. In his gaze was a subtle reminder: it’s time.

"Ah yes, Rumiya…" as if recalling something important, Miki exhaled hastily and stepped back. "We need to cheer her up, and we mustn’t delay."

She glanced back at Aisha with a smile, but there was an unusual urgency in her words:
"We must stay positive for Rumiya! I have to run - let’s talk again soon, Aisha."

Waving goodbye, she and Aden quickly disappeared from view.

Silence returned to the fountain. Only then did Harabi dare to lift her spell.
She approached Aisha cautiously, barely breathing. The girl’s gaze was fixed into the distance, her smile a faint, almost unreal line - as if something inside had switched off.

"Aisha…" Harabi began softly, almost inaudibly. "Are you… all right?"

Aisha blinked for a moment. Then her expression seemed to turn back on.
"Yes," she replied quietly. "Everything’s fine."

Harabi nodded slightly, still feeling a touch of unease. Then she summoned the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind:
"Do you know Miki?"

Aisha frowned slightly, as if weighing her words.

"We’re not close…" she said calmly. " But Michelle Blossom often comes to the city of Soleil to visit the Sudzukawa family. And in childhood, she would often invite us for walks through the city or to attend festivals in Fauna."

"She invited you?" Harabi leaned in slightly to hear.

"Me, Sudzukawa, and many other children," Aisha smiled almost childishly. "I was one of the few who eagerly went with them. Michelle and Sudzukawa are good friends. And I… was like a lady-in-waiting to them. Still, getting out of the city was delightful."

Harabi let out a quiet laugh, understanding that the word was not a joke but a soft, almost touching metaphor. Her own thoughts unexpectedly intersected with that image.

Summoning her courage, Harabi asked a bolder question:
"Sudzukawa… Why don’t you call Rumiya by her name? I know she is the mistress of your city, but from what I understand, you’ve known her since childhood."

Aisha remained silent. She did not avert her gaze, but something flickered in her eyes - annoyance.

"But you call Miki by her name," Harabi continued gently, almost whispering.

Aisha sighed, lowering herself slightly to the edge of the fountain, unconcerned about the water splashing onto her jacket.
"It’s not serious…" she began quietly. "Simply put, in our city, the Sudzukawa family has never been considered great."

Harabi frowned, intrigued. She leaned slightly closer, ready to listen.

"But I don’t think I owe you all the details, Miss Kurosaki," Aisha continued, slightly withdrawing, but keeping her gaze fixed on Harabi. 'I may not love the Sudzukawa family, but Soleil is my homeland, and its secrets… are my secrets."

Harabi paused, a strange feeling spreading inside her. She realized it would be wrong to intrude further.
"I understand," she said softly, lowering her eyes. "I won’t ask any more."

"Still… I keep an eye on everything. Soleil is my homeland, and the fact that I’m here, even not by the Sudzukawa family’s will… matters. Soleil is far from understanding proper authority."

Aisha turned to Harabi, her eyes glinting as she spoke quietly but firmly:
"By the way, Michelle Blossom is a prime example of hierarchy in the academy."

Harabi frowned slightly, inwardly surprised. Hierarchy… even here, among students, where everyone seemed free.
"While the main families were in magic lessons, I was introduced to the hierarchy system here,"

Aisha continued, almost whispering, as if sharing a secret.

She tapped the spot next to her. Harabi slowly lowered herself onto the stone edge of the fountain. The cold stone pressed pleasantly against her palms, and the gentle murmur of water created a quiet sense of safety. Despite the weight of the conversation, the air between them felt light, almost trusting.

"So, Miss Kurosaki," Aisha said, smiling slightly, "who do you think most students admire and follow here? And who is considered the leader?"

Harabi pondered. The answer seemed almost obvious: Adena Redheart. Daughter of the queen, princess, student council president. Bright, charismatic, strong magic ' most students looked up to her with admiration.
"Do you think it’s Adena Redheart?" Aisha interrupted, noticing Harabi’s hesitation.

Harabi was slightly surprised. How could it not be Adena? She was literally the symbol of leadership for all.
"I…" Harabi began, "I think so."

Aisha leaned forward slightly.
"Why do you think so?"

Harabi drew a deep breath, beginning to explain:
"She’s… radiant," Harabi said, choosing her words. "Every action she takes is noticed. She is always punctual, always confident. Students follow her because she… is strong. Because she can manage situations, and her magic is powerful - it shows. Not to mention, she’s the queen’s daughter and the niece of the Academy Principal. People trust her as if she always knows what to do."

Aisha nodded, listening intently, her eyes glowing with understanding.
"And what about her brother - Prince Aden? At first, I thought he was in charge here. But he seems to hide."

Harabi frowned.
"Even if he is a prince, he avoids that title in the academy. He says he wants to be closer to everyone."

Aisha laughed softly. She sighed again and nodded.
"I see, but still. Adena Redheart is only second in leadership. Most students are devoted to someone else. And Princess Adena… many fear her."

Aisha saw the confusion in Harabi’s eyes and continued:
"Imagine… if people obeyed someone out of fear," she began, "they would comply but not respect. They would fear punishment, fear mistakes. But if a leader cares for people, protects them, helps them… respect and loyalty come naturally. Authority and strength are good, but trust and understanding matter more."

Harabi nodded quietly. Her thoughts returned home, to her parents. She remembered how her mother commanded respect and love in the estate. People valued her for kindness, care, willingness to listen. Even when strict, she was respected and loved. Her father - a different example. Respected for wisdom and prudence, never for fear. He could be firm, decisive, yet no one feared him arbitrarily - they understood his decisions were right.

"I understand," Harabi finally said softly. "That’s the difference. People may follow strength, but respect and loyalty arise only where there is care and attention."

Aisha smiled faintly. She looked at the fountain, at the reflection of light on the water, and added:
"That’s why I wouldn’t want to see Adena in charge. She may be a fine example of strength, but a true leader isn’t simply the one everyone fears or knows. A true leader sees people, is ready to care for them."

Harabi sat beside her, listening quietly. Her thoughts gradually calmed. She realized that the conversation about hierarchy and leadership had opened a new level of understanding. Here, at the academy, nothing was obvious; nothing measured solely by titles. And that realization made their dialogue valuable, almost intimate.

"You’re right," Harabi said at last. "Sometimes strength without care is worth nothing."

Aisha nodded, and for a moment, a quiet understanding hung between them. They sat by the fountain, in the warm autumn air, aware that this conversation had become more than an exchange of opinions.

Aisha suddenly froze. Her gaze turned serious, almost stern, and she spoke quietly, yet with such assured intonation that Harabi tensed:
"Michelle Blossom is at the very top of the hierarchy… surpassing even Princess Adena."

Harabi’s eyes widened.
"Miki?"

Yes, Miki. Michelle Blossom. The girl of flowers, the one Harabi had never taken seriously. Miki was the daughter of one of the ancient families of Mistland Island - the frist daughter of the Blossom family. In Harabi’s memory appeared: long violet hair, emerald eyes like her mother’s. Bright, sweet, occasionally clumsy - and her speech often peppered with proverbs and idioms.

Yet at the top of the hierarchy… Harabi had never expected.

"Last year," Aisha continued, leaning slightly forward, "Michelle Blossom was the head of the student council."

The words fell almost like a verdict. For Harabi, it was a moment of realization: the girl who seemed light, carefree, quiet, sweet, and slightly naive - was a leader, the apex of the pyramid.

Aisha stepped back and bowed gracefully:
"Excuse me, Miss Kurosaki, I must go. I want to appear in class before the lesson ends, so the teacher isn’t too angry." Her voice softened.

Harabi watched her go. When Aisha disappeared from view, Harabi remained by the fountain, left with a sense of bewilderment, as if a door had been opened into a world she knew almost nothing about. A world where rules and hidden powers operated independently of visible order, where familiar authorities were merely the tip of the iceberg.

Harabi took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs, and gazed at the water. Every ripple seemed to reflect new secrets, new rules she was yet to comprehend. Thoughts swirled in her mind.

And then Harabi asked herself: Why did I come here, knowing nothing beforehand?