The horrifying image of Hayato melting before him scorched itself into Harry's brain. Like a burning branding iron.

All he knew at the moment, was that he was running.

Running through the front lawn of the Academy. Past confused students jumping out of the way. Past the teachers just finishing up their grading and getting ready for dinner.

"What in the Four Nymphs? Harry?!" An older, stout woman called out to him. That was Sensei Rose, the headmaster's right hand.

Harry knew he should stop right there. Talk to her. Or he'd be getting an earful later.

He skidded to a halt. Slowly turning to the woman scowling at him.

How was he going to explain just leaving her at the village while he ran like his life was ending.

What would Lady Katayama even think? This definitely wasn't him. This wasn't the Harry that stood by his comrades even when something bad was going on.

He knew he had to stop. To come to terms with everything and get on with his life.

"Please... Please..."

Hayato lingered in the back of his mind. Reaching out for help. Reaching out for someone to save him.

Harry balled his hands into fists. Hayato should be here. He should be here. He shouldn't have been---

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He looked up at Sensei Rose, his body shaking. "Lady Katayama made a mistake..."

"Huh? What--- Mr. Sakami, come back here this instant! Mr. Saka----"

Harry was on the run again, gasping for air. He couldn't stop until he was out of everyone's gaze.

Just in case his hot tears escaped his grasp again. In case his anger got the better of him and he lashed out at Lady Katayama.

He'd only yelled at someone a couple of times in his life. Anger wasn't something he felt often. And the burning in his chest felt foreign to him still.

Not just angry at her, though that little girl had no control over any of this.

They had the most control. They were the ones Harry had every right to be mad at.

They were the ones that had to cast their judgement on Hayato all in the name of righteousness.

But in thinking so. In lashing out at that... It would go against everything he believed in. Everything he was taught.

His feet kept moving on their own as the world around him blacked out. One minute he was on the front lawn. The next he was running through the garden gate, locking it behind him. Until finally he came to the pond area on the other end.

The world came back, his senses returning. The air was cool and crisp, stinging his tired lungs. It was quiet and peaceful, the sound of fish swishing around the pond relaxing his beating heart.

Instead of making it over to the pond, he walked over to the hand carved fountain on the other end.

A beautifully shaped woman, standing with her arms outstretched around her as she closed her eyes and smiled greeted him. Her knee length locks of hair billowed around her in a breeze, giving off the impression of a graceful presence.

It seemed like her arms were outstretched to only him, beckoning for him to come closer. That she would wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace, telling him everything would be alright.

Harry took a seat beside the fountain, closing his eyes as he listened to the trickling water into the small pool at her feet.

In the morning, all kinds of birds would be there, singing as they washed themselves.

But now, as the sun slipped behind the mountain peaks wrapped around the citadel in a natural wall of protection, everything was still.

"Would you like the way it's become...?" Harry slowly opened his eyes, studying the statue's peaceful face. "Would you like the way your world has changed, dear Spring?"