Welcome to Gaia! ::

The youma had been dispersed just before her arrival. A Squire, by her estimation, had thrown a small fawn-like youma against a tree, breaking its back and causing its body to melt away. Kallichore had approached through the main road into the park where the youma signatures had flared to life. Somewhere near the playground was where she had estimated the youma had appeared. In the clearing, between the trees, stood a redheaded Squire who was dusting himself off after the battle.

Kallichore approached quietly, so as not to startle him.

"Excuse me? I apologize for interrupting. I felt the youma and made my way here as quickly as possible, but you've defeated them with ease, it seems. Thank you." It might be rude to suddenly ask for assistance, especially since the two did not even know one another's names. She opted for beginning with good rapport instead.

"My name is Kallichore. Are you injured? I may be of assistance there."

Hopefully the eye-like markings that glowed upon her skin wouldn't be too off-putting.

Kallichore wasn't prepared for that.

Eyebrows retreated into her hairline and she cleared her throat, smoothing out the layers of her tiered skirt instead of pondering who Methone was and what sorts of nefarious deeds this Squire might have planned. Shaking her head, this was all the stuff of steamy romance novels - not that she would know anything about that. The Squire's hand was grasped and professionally shaken as best as the senshi could manage.

I'm no Methone, but he or she must be quite satisfactory.

Ahem.

"Okolnir. It's a pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind," With a flick of the wrist, a pad of paper and a pen appeared in her hands. "I'm on a bit of a mission. It's come to my attention that someone named Alya has developed a way for senshi and knights to communicate across distance while in powered form. As I understand it, Knights are in possession of a ring that allows them to communicate with each other?" Brown eyes drifted to watch Okolnir's fingers. Was this ring like any other piece of jewelry? Or did it look like something specific, like senshi cellphones did?

So much to learn. "I wrote up a primer many years ago to assist new senshi, and was hoping to create something similar for Knights now that cross-communication seems possible. If you wouldn't mind, could I pick your brain? What would you tell a brand new Page, Okolnir?"

Maybe that was a bit much. Oops.

She hadn't even gotten started on any notes aside from his name and rank when his disdain for magical nonsense became quite apparent. Holding the pad of paper against her thigh, the senshi nodded once, firmly. "It hasn't treated you well, has it? How long have you been involved, if you don't mind me asking?"

One's rank didn't always have a bearing on their tenure. For all Kallichore knew, Okolnir had been doing this for years and may have lived through one too many close-calls. Still, there was something to be said for being out and about in the dead of night, defeating youma before they could devour innocent civilians. "I've seven years now under my belt, and sometimes I still wonder why I power up."

It took quite a bit of soul-searching to find a reason, small or not. The city needed them, but Kallichore understood that, for some, their own lives took precedent. And she couldn't blame them for that.

"I'm glad you have that choice. I think that's more important than many realize."

Not everyone was interested in, or cut out for, war. Okolnir was right on the oney - there was no end in sight, and Kallichore wondered if an end would ever come, or if the scales would simply tip from one direction to the other. That is the message the cosmos had presented to her when the markings appeared on her skin. If she was to fight forever, then so be it.

But people like Okolnir shouldn't have to.

"It's not a waste. I appreciate your position. We're still on the same side, aren't we? Not everyone should have to have seven years under their belt, especially if they have lives to live. And you have a life to live. Some of us have seen too much, and I hope you haven't gotten to that point yet, Okolnir." The pen and paper were dismissed, as the information Okolnir possessed wasn't the kind that needed logical cataloging.

"If you don't mind me asking, who are some of your allies? What have you seen, thus far?"

Kallichore lowered her head in respect for those Okolnir had lost, even if they were indirect. "Perhaps it's not as meaningful, given that the lost friend may not remember everything and return to being who they were, but there have been people - senshi and knights - who have returned from darkness. I don't know of many personally, but it is a possibility, and I would more than willing to assist in what way I can, should it come to that."

Okolnir hadn't had an easy time. Who did? Who asked for this?

Though destiny had chosen them, not all wished to walk this path.

She nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I've about the same, give or take. From what I can tell, the pendulum keeps swinging back and forth ceaselessly. Perhaps we have not yet found what would keep things in our favor, but... I will keep working so that people like you and your friends, Okolnir, can rest." Kallichore wasn't interested in tooting her own horn, as it were. Moreover, it was a sense that this was her one and only purpose. Others had fulfilling lives to lead, and they should be allowed to do just that.

"From what I understand, we can now register each other on our communication devices... Would you mind?"