She is just a kid

Aria closed the notebook after a while, muttering, "That ought to do it. It's not like we are friends anyway, and it doesn't seem like Harper wants to be."

She then picked up her book and got lost in the world of stories, forgetting everything else.

While Aria was enjoying herself in the beautiful meadow, she did not know that the whole academy was looking for her.

The last person to see her had been Mrs. Josh, and even she could not tell where Aria had gone.

Joseph had a probable idea of where Aria might be, but he didn't say anything, knowing that Aria would hate being appreciated in front of the whole academy. He was also being a little selfish, as his time with Aria at the meadow would be drastically reduced if she was brought here.

Professor Thomas had punished the four boys by expelling them from the academy. Though he himself felt that the punishment was not severe enough, the boys had not really done anything, Aria had gotten there just in the nick of time.

Professor Thomas had also planned to honour Aria in front of the whole academy for her heroism. But this plan failed, as Aria was nowhere to be found.

In the recovery ward....

As Miss Anhao had said, Joseph was discharged after lunch, and Helen and Jacob came to pick him up.

Joseph awkwardly excused himself as soon as politely possible. This had two reasons, he was anxious to meet Aria, he had a lot to talk with her.

And also because Joseph still felt a little guilty for how he had been a coward, unable to take responsibility for his own sister.

Joseph got out of the castle from the back, avoiding the crowd that had assembled in the front.

He flew into the forest and towards the meadow, wondering what was Aria going to tell him. He knew that Aria's punishment was cancelled , and was sure he would find her at the meadow.

Once in the meadow, Joseph scanned the area and easily found Aria, her hair gleaming in the sunlight.

He walked closer and was about to say something, but stopped dead.

Aria sat leaning on a tree by the lake, her eyes closed and breathing even. Her hands were on either side of an open book in her lap, which she had undoubtedly fallen asleep reading.

Joseph walked closer and sat down beside Aria, not taking his eyes off her for a moment or breathing.

He was suddenly struck by how small Aria was. She was basically a child, the youngest of them four, but seemed like she was always taking care of them. Acting like the adult.

All of that facade fell off as she slept, unaware, like a little kid. As she ought to have been.

Joseph sighed as he touched Aria's braid. The wall around her heart seemed to have disappeared, or at least temporarily retreated while she slept.

He blinked and thought that Aria looked like a princess, or rather a queen. She did not belong here, yet she looked in place, among the wild. Trees, flowers and the forest.