"You're it!" Reflet shrieked as she ran away from Stahl, whom she had just tagged.

The children residing in and around the castle were laughing and playing in one of the gardens, enjoying the warm summer air.

"Not for long I'm not!" Stahl insisted, tearing off in the direction of another child. Reflet laughed as she dove behind a bush to hide, only to land on Cordelia and Sumia, who were already hiding there.

Though surprised for a moment, the three girls giggled and sat up, shushing each other and trying not to laugh.

"This is so much fun!" Sumia whispered excitedly. "I'm so glad that everyone could make it today."

"Me too," Cordelia agreed. "Everyone has been so busy with their lessons that we've hardly had time to relax!"

"I didn't think you knew the word 'relax', Cordelia," Reflet teased.

Cordelia flushed. "I can relax too!" She all but yelled.

Unfortunately for them, this gave away their position as Sully swept aside the branches.

"You're mine now!" She yelled. The three girls in the bushes scattered, fleeing before the larger girl.

"Sorry Cordelia!" Reflet and Sumia said at the same time as they scrambled away, leaving the slower girl to get caught.

"Traitors!" She yelled back. Reflet and Sumia just laughed as they ran.

"Tag," Miriel remarked from where she sat under a nearby tree. "Destroyer of friendships."

"You said it," Robin said from the tree branch above her, causing Miriel to jump.

He laughed. "Sorry, Miriel. I didn't mean to startle you. I'd better go and help Cordelia. If I don't she'll never tag anyone. She can barely keep up with Ricken and Lissa."

Miriel composed herself. "I suppose so, yes. Strange how one so otherwise athletic and competent can be such a slow runner."

Robin made a noise of agreement before dashing off.

As soon as Vaike noticed the interaction, he started to chant, "Robin and Cordelia sitting in a tree, K, S, I, wait, no, K, I, S, I, er, no… that's not it…"

"K, I, S, S, I, N, G!" Lissa sang, finishing the rhyme.

"Just for that, I'm going after you, Vaike!" Robin called from across the courtyard, and the game began again in earnest.

Things had been hard for a while after the war, but finally, Emmeryn had come into her own as the Exalt, and things were looking up. For the children, it appeared as if the hard times were over. Life was good.