Mare

Mare (メア) is an artificial intelligence residing in Van Arkride's Xipha unit.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
Mare is a very small, pixie-like girl with pointed ears and a vibrant blue glow. She has violet eyes and bright green hair which is tied up into platts and braids. A large circular headpiece which resembles an aerial has two long blue sashes ending in white pointed tips which give her the appearance of having twin tails. Mare wears a skin-tight white leotard with blue elbow length gloves and thigh-high stockings with silver bands. She also wears white boots, a hood like attachment round her collar and what appears to be a blue ornament in the shape of a neck tie with a long flowing diaphanous material flowing from it. Two cords with what appear to be audio jacks hang from her hood.
=== Personality ===
Despite being an extremely self-assertive type, Mare initially has no "free will" and its personality is merely a facade of its artificial intelligence. After a certain incident, Mare showed a free will impossible for an artificial intelligence. She is quite arrogant and rude, but also shows concern when something threatens Van's well-being. She does not like being called 'Princess.'
=== Background ===
MK-ESV004 or Mare is an experimental Holo Core developed by MTSC and tested by Van Arkride. After encountering the Oct-Genesis, she can occasionally manifest as a holographic projection with true intelligence and free will, allowing Van to turn into the Nightmare-clad, Grendel.
=== ===
Mare's sentient form first appears when Van is threatened by two drug-enhanced Almata members. Time appears to freeze around them as she manifests. Van doesn't question her much and simply accepts the question she asks, allowing him to turn into Grendel. Mare would continue to appear when Van found himself in pinches, giving him to option to 'Don the Nightmare'. Mare does not seem to show any sign of sentience outside of these time-stop moments.
The party soon starts to wonder about Mare's origins and nature, and make plans to question her. Experts in orbal technology are consulted but none know anything. when They bring about Mare's appearance by fighting a spider-demon in Dirke Memorial Park, they question Mare about what she really is, but cannot hear the truth of her answers due to an inability to comprehend what she is saying. Mare is suddenly brought into a lot of pain when in the presence of Gerard Dantes. Van eventually gets the ability to turn into Grendel without Mare.
Mare takes control of Yumé's body when the group take a trip to Longlai. She goes to the mountains, sensing the presence of something incomprehensible to the party. She refuses to give up the body so soon, relishing in experiencing life and plays tag, but is apprehended by Shizuna Rem Misurugi. She then gives up the body and states the party will find out what she was looking for when something is activated.
Mare tries to caution Van about going too far when he takes on his true form during the battle with Gerard. Van still cannot remember what Mare truly is but asks for the power, after Mare says she was always there, just asleep and recovering, and wanting to know if Van is truly ready. The question on this occasion are whether he will remain asleep. After this battle and Van's disappearance into the Infinite Boundary, Agnes Claudel pleads with Mare to give them a chance of getting to him, to which Mare cannot tell them, but she does give them a hint and guides them to the correct location.
== Gallery ==
=== ===
Mare - Key Visual PS5 Artwork (Kuro).png|Key visual character artwork by Katsumi Enami
Mare bust shot (Kuro).png|Bust shot artwork by Katsumi Enami
Mare (Kuro).png|Official render
Mare.webp|Finalized concept artwork
Mare concept art 2 (Kuro).png|Concept art
Mare concept art 3 (Kuro).png|Concept art
Mare (Kuro HC).png|Holo Core
Mare OP (Daybreak).png|Opening screenshot
Mare - Promotional Screenshot 1 (Kuro).jpg|Promotional Screenshot
Mare - Promotional Screenshot 2 (Kuro).jpg|Promotional Screenshot
Mare - Promotional Screenshot 3 (Kuro).jpg|Promotional Screenshot
=== ===
Mare (Kuro II).webp|Character artwork by Katsumi Enami
Mare OP (Daybreak II).png|Opening screenshot
Mare - Promotional Screenshot 1 (Kuro II).jpg|Promotional screenshot
Mare - Promotional Screenshot 2 (Kuro II).jpg|Promotional screenshot
== Trivia ==
* Mare is a malicious entity in Germanic and Slavic folklore that rides on people's chests while they sleep, bringing on nightmares.
Category:Characters
Category:Trails through Daybreak Characters
Category:Kuro no Kiseki II Characters
Category:Artificial Beings