In the days of final approach upon the new session, the Seer of Light is drawn deeper and deeper into her plans, surrounding herself with books and charts, many of them drawn in her own hand.
The same cannot be said of the Sylph of Space. Instead, Kanaya finds herself increasingly distracted by Trollian – not Dave and Karkat's unending argumentative memos, but the tenuous link to the new world they are soon to join. They cannot yet communicate with the session's unwitting players, but much can be learned of a world through a viewport through time.
Increasingly, Kanaya is drawn to one girl: blonde-haired and sharp-witted, in so many ways the echo of the Seer who she once watched just as devoutly. Yet this girl is profoundly different to Rose: there is an openness, a warmth, an acceptance within her which the Hero of Light has never permitted herself.
But this girl will not be put on a pedestal – each time Kanaya tries, she leaps off again with a gymnast's grace, landing safely back on the ground. Kanaya cannot tear her eyes away from this dance; each leap and every stumble enthrals her.
She finds herself wondering about the girl's scent, the touch of her skin, the cadence of her voice. She wonders how the girl will react upon their first encounter. She hopes that encounter will be soon.
Kanaya knows she has a bad habit of pinning her hopes too high. But, for all her watching, she has never once seen Roxy fall without intent.
Footsteps sound behind her, and she closes the programme quickly. She turns to see Rose, squinting slightly in her light.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
Kanaya is glad that the luminescence masks her blush.
"Nothing."