Welcome to Gaia! ::

For a long moment, there was no response. No sign that Cosmos had heard, or that she was coming at all. The night was relatively still beyond Lysithea’s world; the stars twinkled, but nothing seemed to move.

Everything seemed like it was frozen in time. But, the universe was a large place, full of many worlds, and many people.

There was only one Cosmos, though.

And, she was on her way to Lysithea.

At first, she was little more than a shooting star in the sky. As she got closer, a soft, pastel rainbow tail seemed to grow from behind her.

It took nearly a moment to cross the sky, and then, when it was just above Lysithea, it faded.

And then, an energy signature, and Cosmos stood before her only a second after that. She held her staff with loose fingers, and her eyes made a quick scan of the area before landing on Lysithea.

Cosmos was almost impossible to read; she looked tired, but resolute. Peaceful, but distant.

For a moment, she was silent. “Your starseed was calling. Are you all right?”

Cosmos looked at the food briefly, and the shadow of something like a smile seemed to cross her face. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Just busy, though she didn’t say it. She wasn’t much for small talk; she had neither time nor luxury for it. She didn’t sit, but she leaned against her staff a bit and let her eyes drift across the horizon as she took in Lysithea’s world.

“I am glad you’re not in danger. Your starseed was very loud. What questions are on your mind?”

For another moment, Cosmos was quiet. She juggled the question in a way that wasn’t easy to understand. She remained passive as she contemplated, but finally, she could only shrug.

“I don’t have the luxury of friendship in the way that you do. I care. But I don’t know if you could call it friendship. But I have known you for years. Our paths have crossed many times. You have always been passionate about rooting out the Chaos and saving others. We shared that in common. I didn’t want to lose you to Chaos, not when you’ve worked so hard to save others from it.”

She seemed peaceful, at least; she was tired, but not unwilling to speak. The gentle breeze of Lysithea danced through her hair. They were questions she wasn’t used to; there was no Chaos here.

No one that needed to be saved from it.

She didn’t quite seem unsure of herself but she did seem like she had a lot to think over while being here.

Now, Cosmos looked at her with a different weight in her expression. She was sifting through her memories, but in the end she just shook her head.

“It isn’t as simple as that.”

Her voice was soft, gentle. Tired.

“I don’t decide who is worthy, or who deserves it more. If I hear a starseed calling and can come, I do. If I didn’t come, it’s because something at the Cauldron prevented me from coming. I protect it,” she explained. “And all the starseeds within. It is my job to heal them, and return them to the cycle of rebirth. If something were to breach the walls of the Cauldron, the entire cycle could be disrupted. It could be the end of all life, permanently. I hope you don't take personal offense. I have never disguised my priorities. There is no one to guard the Cauldron but myself. And, it is very far from Earth. The distance is not easy, and I do not always have the time or energy to come when called. I do my best. Earth is important to me. But I cannot be everywhere at once. I am sorry that you were hurt in my absence.”

Now, Cosmos’ face settled into something like a frown.

“The Galaxy Cauldron. Where all life is born, and where all life returns,” she answered first. “I am not responsible for my creation, nor do I have anyone to ask these questions to. But I understand the importance of my job and I have diligently served the Cauldron. I think you misunderstand my purpose, perhaps. My trips to Earth are outside of my duties to the Cauldron. Earth is important, but if the Cauldron is destroyed, so too is all life. You cannot ask me to forsake the souls in the Cauldron.”

Her face had settled into a frown. “I cannot devote myself completely to Earth. If the Cauldron is destroyed, then there is no future for anyone. If Earth is destroyed, I can heal the starseeds and try again.”

Cosmos’ expression lost some of its warmth, and while she didn’t seem unhappy or cruel, there was something almost statuesque about her. She could see Lysithea’s anger. She could feel it.

She stood a little taller and leaned on her staff less; her position was a bit more rigid and guarded. Her eyes stayed fixed on Lysithea, no longer drawn to the world around her.

“Yes,” she answered. “There are those on Earth that have unlocked the power. You may find them easier to reach than I am. They do not tend to the Cauldron as I do, but they are more like you. Senshi, Knights. Not all starseeds can unlock the power to heal others. It is rare, but it has been done. It takes great strength and resolve.”

Cosmos nodded; she stretched her free hand out to meet Lysithea’s out of courtesy more than a need to adhere to social expectations.

“I never said you bothered me in the past. I never thought you did. I don’t want you to stop fighting for those that can be saved. I don’t want chaos to take Earth. I wish I could do more. But the Cauldron has too much energy, too much power to fall into the wrong hands. If chaos found its way into the Cauldron, Earth would not stand a chance. Nothing, nowhere, would.”

She looked up at the sky, like she could see the Cauldron from here.

Maybe she could.

“I hope you can save them. If I can come, I will. Always.”