Sabine listened to Meesei's words, glad for something coherent amongst the voices of the Hist, but still deep in thought. She looked over to the stoic and frozen face of Ariel and the Hist quietened save for the odd whisper. Ariel would have been about as old as Sabine was back in reality. Apart from a few different facial inflections, she looked a lot like Sabine at the same age.

What was important here? What was she thinking when she was here as a child?

Ariel was always someone Sabine looked up to in her childhood. At least, before the trauma. She seemed so strong and brave. She could take the older witches' words with just this face. Knowing and courageous. Even if it was not her responsibility, even if she was just protecting Sabine.

Sabine started to blink as she recollected her view of the situation. Her eyes started to burn, but they didn't quite reach the point of shedding tears. "I... wanted to be strong, like Ariel," Sabine whimpered, her voice higher and unbroken in its childish form, "Ariel could be yelled at without crying. She knew I cried when the witches punished me, so she took the punishment."

It was this moment amongst all in Sabine's memory where she had wished she could step up and be as strong as Ariel. Not taking the punishment was something she had regretted whenever she thought about memories like this. Now Sabine was as old as Ariel was in this memory, but was she as strong as she was here? The Hist started to whisper their thoughts and concepts again, conveying a sort of praise, encouragement, and, strangely enough, a feeling of cleverness. It seemed as if they were at least trying to tell her she was on the right track. It was strange enough to have her thoughts laid bare to them, but she still felt as if she needed confirmation.

Sabine slowly looked up at Meesei's ghostly face and spoke with a slow, curious, yet hopeful tone. "Meesei. Am I strong like Ariel was?"