Welcome to Gaia! ::

The chill in the air had Hestia gently buttoning the old man's jacket against the cold, his head nodding, barely conscious. She'd taken rather a lot from him, but needs must. While energy gathering as part of quota was certainly an important duty, she found herself gathering more and more recently, to have treats on hand for youma such as Ethe and Headache. The former much more appreciative than the latter.

The man would be fine, though, with a bit of rest, and the maid senshi laid him out on the bench with care, even letting his rest on her lap. She'd guard him for the rest of the night and make sure nothing worse came along to pick up her leavings, such as a thief, or a youma, or a Borax. The show of care and concern for the civilian did not, of course, mean she was done with him.

Gloved hands, deft and delicate, sunk into his chest and lightly pulled out the starseed for just the barest moment before returning it. Hestia had yet to take one, but it was an inevitability, and she would so hate to waste something of such sacred importance though unpracticed handling. Seeing no ill effect, the corrupt senshi dipped her hand down once more.

She hadn't expected the basic in the area to approach, but then, maybe that sort of rash bravery was unavoidable in the inexperienced. She looked young. And she was indeed brave, to threaten a corrupt eternal by herself. Perhaps there was a cat somewhere near, acting as an out-of-sight escort and safety measure. Hestia hoped so, and knew that likely wasn't the case.

Letting her hand slip out of the man's chest, Hestia slowly stood up, rearranging him to lay down in some semblance of comfort. Dusting her skirt with her hands, she sighed, and for a moment it almost seemed like she was simply going to leave at the senshi's request. Afterall, standing at a whole 5'3" and bearing petite features, she wasn't of a particularly impressive or intimidating build, whatever her uniform's wings may indicate.

But then, as she stepped away from the civilian, the corrupt solemnly intoned, "Please explain how you intend to make me do anything."

Hestia waited, patient and attentive, to hear the explanation. But it sadly wasn't much of one. There was a certain sense of disappointment in the tilt of her head, even if her expression remained neutral. And then, she was gone.

And then, horribly, she was not.

Having only a small difference in height meant Hestia didn't have to either bend down or reach up when she appeared directly in front of the girl. All she had to was reach out with vicious speed and...there it was. Her hand at the girl's chest, hovering over that sweet spot of the soul. "First," she said calmly, "shoving my hand where hands shouldn't go, is the primary danger you face right now."

She considered removing her hand for a moment, but decided it was a particularly good motivator. Besides, she'd like to see the senshi's next step.

"Second," Hestia continued, "the youngest and least experienced lieutenant has this ability. Toughness is no shield against it. So, I will give you a second chance to explain yourself."

The punch landed, and the corrupt watch the fist hit and...nothing. After a short pause to emphasize that particular sort of nothing, Hestia lifted her hand just enough to flick the girl's brooch. A chibi senshi then. "So you know you're ignorant, that you've remained ignorant for four...five years now? More?"

She took a step back and clasped her hands very properly in front of her.

"No matter what the cat said, you are not required to power up and fight. You do not have to come out at night alone. You do not have to face those stronger than you without help. You've been making choices."

Hestia's eyes shuttered and the timbre of her voice shifted, "Bad ones." And then, flatly, "The Sparkling Finish."

The area around the chibi lit up.

Hestia no longer even remembered being seven years old, and beyond that didn't feel much fondness for the concept of children, let alone the reality. But she did still feel sympathy and attachment for the young senshi and knights of order. The ones who ran out night after night, determined and directionless, relying only on their instinct to do something right and true.

They were all little fires in the night, burning resolutely until...

She looked on through the glare as the girl fell to the ground and there was still a part of her that wanted to pick the teen up and dust her off. To tell her that she was brave and amazing. To tell her about all the allies who were only a call away. To give advice and encouragement.

But that sort of thing was no longer her role and would simply undermine an equally important lesson. Counter to that softer urge was the idea that maybe she was still being too gentle. That maybe a stronger magic, more painful and lasting, would make the lesson stick.

I'm going to die, aren't I?

"Maybe." The corrupt's voice remained calm and uncaring, and when the glare dimmed and magic faded the senshi was gone. The man on the bench remained sleeping, but there was now something vaguely different about it. He wouldn't be waking up again.

Within the Castle halls, Hestia looked at the starseed in her hands, glowing with the gentle remains of a life, and sighed. It was the first she'd taken and kept, but some lessons were worth the cost.