Under the radiant moon, Remi and Flan leaned into each other, two shadows stitched together by silver light.

"Hey, Sis, when was the last time we sat this peaceful, like still water?"

"Feels like... fifteen years ago," Remi murmured, like counting rings in old wood.

"Really? It feels so good," Flan breathed, like warm tea in winter. "I wish we could just stay, no more running, just the moon’s blessing forever."

Remi’s small hand slid to Flan’s head, ruffling her hair like a breeze through soft grass.

"Mm. We won’t chase those things anymore," she said, voice calm as a lake. "Let’s stay like this, right here. Okay?"

Under the moon, the two little girls looked almost sacred, like incense curling before a shrine; then a fool’s step rippled the quiet pond.

"Hey, Remi, Flan, what are you talking about?" Alicia’s voice floated from behind, like a bell through mist.

Remi startled like a sparrow from a branch. She smoothed her breath like water and answered, steady, "Just talking about the past. No need to worry, Miss Alicia."

Alicia shook her head, hope bright in her eyes like lantern fire; she wasn’t letting go unless they spoke.

"I see," Remi sighed, the sound thin as wind in bamboo. "I hope Miss Alicia won’t get bored."

A thought flickered in Alicia; she stood and left like a swift cloud. Remi guessed she’d lost interest, but Alicia returned in under two minutes with a blonde girl in tow.

The girl’s face wore helplessness like rain-soaked sleeves; she was taller than Remi, and it screamed that she’d been dragged here.

Alicia sat right down, gaze bright and expectant, like a cup tilted to catch rain, fixed on Remi.

"Start already!" Her impatience hopped like a sparrow on a windowsill.

The childlike look made Remi want to laugh, a chime in a quiet courtyard; still, she began.

"Long, long ago," she said, the years drifting like petals, "I was six. Flan was five..."