Had she known her companion's thoughts there certainly would have been more stress invading the girl's mind. More musing, more delving into pasts she didn't want and didn't want to remember. Why did the girl mourn the stallion she had loved, but did not like? For that matter, why did she love him at all? How long had it been now, since the fire? Almost two years? But perhaps her sorrow was just because Dragomir's voice was the key to open the lock-box on that part of her past and heart. Had she ever really mourned for her brother? In small moments, yes, but had she ever really stood and thought about what she had lost? After the fire, she had just run, trying to save herself like the coward she was. And after that? Months of wandering, of lost days and long nights. She had never really been scared on her own (her travels having generally been mild and without incident) but she rarely had time to remember the death that had ravaged Avalon while she was worried about trying to find a home of her own. So she had locked it away, if only out of thoughtlessness. But strong boxes only hold so long- even the best vault is not impermeable.

Perhaps none of us can be. She looked at him, her smile turning to a frown for a moment. The idea hurt her feelings, if only because she tried her very best to be good. But if the girl had stopped to look at her own past, she would know that she would never fit the bill either. Kindness now, angelic actions in the present, do not erase the wrong-doings of the past. Others may forgive, may let your actions go, but even forgiveness will not remove the Gods' knowledge of your actions. Does that mean if you are bad once, you are bad forever? The girl would have argued to the contrary, if she could, but it would be for selfish reasons. She did not want to be thought of as bad, did not want to think of herself as bad. She had been enveloped by Mirage's womb that bred peaceful beings, birthed into the land anew, an advocate for harmony amongst the denizens of Helovia.

Silly? No. His resolute answer gave the girl hope that her path in life was not futile. She blindly followed Mirage, trusting that the mysterious woman was walking down a path of salvation and glory. When her world had been shaken by Skywalker then Ktulu, she didn't know what to do and had been troubled henceforth. At least the wall had given her reprieve. But now, upon its completion, she would have to return to remembering that not everyone believed she was doing the right thing. Return to feeling the pull of these other ideals upon her own, dragging her away from the path that she walked. Dragomir's encouragement gave her some peace from the tug of evil, until he spoke again.

His metaphors, at first, left the girl racking her brain, slowly unraveling their meaning. Simple though they might seem, to most, the girl's mind was lost in their mystery for a few moments. Perhaps it was better that Kahlua was simple, though. When she finally found what she thought the words meant, it was like a new wonder of the world had appeared. And maybe he was right. Didn't she dance more gayly each day, now that the endless night had left? Didn't she revel each morning as the sun rose? And didn't she grow more complacent with each passing hour that the sun continued its trek across the sky? Would peace be such an honorable goal if there was no darkness to strive against? “I wonder what makes someone strive for evil,” she offered then, looking to him but not really expecting an answer. “Did you sleep at all? Shouldn't you rest?” The girl's questions were innocent, no hint of annoyance at his presence or sign that she wanted him to go away. She was actually enjoying his, somewhat brain-taxing, company.

OOC| So sorry for the wait! I haven't really had time to do justice to mopey, philosopher Kahlua!