The garden sprawled beside the mansion, green and vibrant. Henri and Anna walked its winding path, their footsteps crunching lightly on the gravel.

  Henri took in the air, his long coat catching sunlight through the leaves. “When I speak of the original ancestor—”

  “The one who started the middle families,” Anna cut in, brushing her fingers over a crimson flower she’d plucked. “But what about Marquis? He’s high-tier, isn’t he?”

  Henri nodded, pausing as a breeze stirred his black hair. “The last few quests gave them a boost.”

  He bent to smell the flowers. “Valen was strong,” he added, his tone cautious.

  Anna’s eyes lit up. “Dad, everyone in the Stem knows his name—Valen…” She paused, frowning.

  “Thorne,” Henri supplied. “First commander. First guardian. First swordsman. First madman. First I—”

  “Yeah, madman,” Anna interrupted with a smirk. “There’s literally a topic at school: How Not to Be Valen Thorne.”

  Henri chuckled and leaned closer. “You say that now. But if you met him, ten thousand years ago…” He hunched dramatically, wiggling his fingers. “Boo!”

  Anna laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Stop it!”

  They strolled in silence for a while. Soon, a pond came into view, still and glassy, surrounded by smooth stones. Two chairs waited by the edge.

  They sat.

  Tiny ehsifs darted beneath the surface—flickers of silver and gold, weaving like living sparks.

  Anna leaned forward. “They’re so small.”

  Henri nodded, watching them. “How small do you think?”

  “Half a millimeter?” she guessed.

  Henri nodded, encouraging her to think further. "We don't feed them. They live using...?" he prompted, testing her knowledge once more.

  "Uh, I think... something to do with the type of water they're in?" Anna responded hesitantly, her eyes darting between her father and the pond.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Yes, it's a specific type," Henri confirmed. "They'll die without it. That's another clause in their existence."

  Anna's impatience began to show through her composed exterior. "Dad, I want to study. Elara's definitely waiting," she insisted, her thoughts clearly drifting to other responsibilities.

  Henri held up a hand, gently urging patience. "Let's just take a moment," he suggested, his voice soothing. "Breathe in the air of the garden, watch the flowers bloom. Aren't they amazing?"

  Anna followed her father's gaze.

  Henri's voice took on a philosophical tone as he spoke, his words measured and deliberate. "In the vast ocean of existence, we are but tiny ehsifs, darting between the coral reefs of circumstance. Our scales shimmer with the iridescence of fleeting moments, while the currents of time sweep us ever onward. The copies hate us. Like the clownfish seeking refuge in the tentacles of sea anemones, we form symbiotic relationships with those around us, finding protection and purpose in our interdependence. Yet, just as the lanternfish illuminates the darkness of the deep, each of us possesses the power to light the way for others, no matter how small we may feel in the grand aquarium of life."

  Anna turned to her father, her expression a mixture of confusion and intrigue. "Dad?" she said, trying to process his words.

  Henri's gaze shifted from the pond to his daughter, his eyes searching her face. "What do you think of Kokoro's death?" he asked, the sudden change of subject catching Anna off guard.

  She blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. "It was sad to an extent," she replied after a pause. "Ryuji needs help, I suppose." Then, as if remembering their earlier conversation, she launched into a rebuttal of her father's aquatic analogy.

  "That's kind of a stretch, don't you think?" Anna said, leaning back. "We're not just... floating fish. We choose things. We fight. We screw up. We make a mess of everything, sure—but it's our mess. Our relationships and impact on the world are far more nuanced than symbiotic ehsifs behaviors. Reducing life to an 'aquarium' ignores our ability to shape our environment and transcend perceived limitations."

  A smile played at the corners of Henri's mouth as he listened. "You'll pass the ascension trials with this mindset," he said approvingly. "But you still have a few years to go."

  Anna's expression darkened at the mention of the trials. "There are other ways to rank up," she said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "I don't want to have this conversation, Dad." A shiver ran down her spine, despite the warmth of the day.

  Henri's face softened with concern. "I'm sorry, love," he said gently, reaching out to pat her hand reassuringly.

  They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the distant calls of birds in the garden. The ehsifs continued their ceaseless dance in the pond, oblivious to the weighty conversation taking place above them.

  "The feeling of humanity's independence in this world is really fascinating, isn't it, Anna?" Henri mused, breaking the silence.

  "Yeah..." Anna replied, her thoughts still seemingly elsewhere.

  Henri's next words came unexpectedly, a non sequitur that drew Anna's attention back to the present. "The Squidi are going to be here in a month," he announced, his tone neutral but his eyes watching Anna closely for her reaction.

  Anna's response was subdued, tinged with a hint of wariness. "Oh, those people..." she said, leaving her true feelings about the impending arrival unspoken.