[Keith nodded, but then frowned a little at the lack of recognition. He considered his response for a moment.]
Quintessence is a life-force energy that's used where I'm from for... [He shrugged a little.] Well, a lot of things. But, for me and the other Paladins, it's what powers the bond between us and each other, and our Lions.
The Lions communicate with us, and understand us. But, it's not actual talking. It's more that we get feelings and ideas from them, a sense of what they're trying to get across to us. I guess they're a little more intelligent than an actual lion, but they're not full-on artificial intelligence like a sentient robot or something. More like somewhere in between.