A Good Deed is Never Lost

[Nikolas Faselli]

Dear Mr Heavenshield,

I am Maria Natalja, a Jedi Padawan learning under the guidance of miss Grayson. You may have not heard of me, but I have definitely heard of your good deeds in the galaxy. Not all people can be deemed as worthy to hold the Jedi Master title, but you are one of these few who deserve it by all means. I myself am new to the Jedi Order and the Light Side of the Force and I am contacting you in order to purify myself, to let go of the darkness which is hiding deep in my soul from the old days. My story is long and complicated, but in order to let go of my former life, I would not quite enjoy talking of that. If you don't have anything against it, of course.

I have also heard of your Seren Sanctuary Orphanage which was opened in the Levantine Sanctum space. As a person who enjoys the good of people and helping the ones in need, I really admire you because of opening that residence for the poor children who can't be raised in the homes they were meant to be raised in.

This letter was written to ask from you - would it be possible to visit the Orphanage and help out in any way I would be needed for a day or two? I would expect no pay, I would only like to aid you and the children.

Your sincerely,
Maria Natalja

Spoiler

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Yours sincerely, Maria Natalja", he read aloud to himself. He looked over to little Nina sat at the dinner table beside him and smiled at her trying to eat her Corellian noodles by herself. How she struggled with keeping them on her fork, not to mention actually eat them. Thurion plucked the tiny plastic fork from her hand and showed her how to do it properly; swirling the fork into the bowl of noodles made them entwine with it, and soon a whole bunch of them had attached themselves onto the fork. He opened his mouth, gesturing for her to do the same before feeding her the long-awaited dish. She smacked her lips in approval and delight, ending with a wide smile.

Dear Miss Natalja,

The orphanage and I would be thrilled to have a young aspiring Jedi such as yourself come work with us. Your writing tells me that your intentions are good and true, and I do not feel hesitant towards inviting you to Laekia. In fact, it would be my honour to pay for your travels, myself. I know well the hardships associated with the life of a padawan, and if this small gesture helps in any way, I will be all the more happy for it.

Our doors will be open for you upon your arrival, Padawan.

Yours truly,
Thurion

[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

Maria was enjoying her morning coffee when the letter from mister Heavenshield arrived. She read some of it and smiled. Her own letter had been a bit awkward and she was actually really sure the man wouldn't let her come to the Orphanage. But as she read on, she was able to tell the permission would be given, and that made her heart melt. The kindness of this person was really fantastic, but that was a bit too much in her opinion. She could have easily got to the planet with her own funds. She didn't know about the standard galactic manners, but she could tell Crystalsong politeness told one to accept any gift or offer. And how she could deny her own former home planet's manners?

After the last sip of her coffee was taken, she started packing her things. She would spend a good day on the planet, but she would need something to do in hyperspace, too, so besides clothes, she took a few good books with her, just to have a variety of them.

What would I need?

She tried to think but couldn't really come up with anything besides the essentials. Maybe she didn't actually need anything else. It was just one day at the orphanage, helping others and everything. How much would she really need?

Packing things went quickly and soon she was sat behind her table again, writing a new letter to the man.

Dear Mister Heavenshield,

The kindness of yours truly warms my heart. I am eagerly waiting for the day I get to spend in the Orphanage with the lovely children in need. My only question would be the time of my visit. May I ask what date according to the galactic standard calendar would be the most suitable for you and your orphanage? I wouldn't want to arrive without anybody knowing of that; it would be a discomfort for both you and me.

Yours sincerely,
Maria Natalja

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

The date was set for [member="Maria Natalja"]'s arrival, and everything had been prepared at the orphanage; a room had been readied and furnished along with the personnel having been briefed of the temporary addition. Thurion would personally oversee her stay here, and so both he and Nina now stood awaiting her at the Space Port on Laekia. Well, he was standing; Nina was rather sitting atop his shoulders, running her fingers through his golden hair and playing with his beard. It didn't bother him in the slightest; Nina's tiny fingers hardly made themselves known as they danced across his face, and all he could do was chuckle at her playfulness. She wore her pretty dress of the faintest blue colour along with a cute bow adorning her white hair, while the Jedi Master wore his usual attire, the most eye-catching being his black leather jacket.

"Daddy, how much longer?" her mind spoke to his via the palm of her hand against his forehead. "Any minute now, Snowflake. I doubt she'll be late judging by the excitement of her writing."

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

It had been some time since the very first letter sent by the Jedi Padawan to the lovely Jedi Master Heavenshield. And the date of the meeting was set, there was no turning back now. And why would she even turn back if the good deed is a way to cleanse her own soul and make better some of the other people's lives? The woman had a dear feeling of that day and she was starting to understand the feeling of giving. Sith didn't give anything besides punishments. Jedi, however, seemed to be the exact opposite, at least that was how Maria pictured the whole Jedi Order. And that is how she was about to start living.

And the good feeling of giving was starting to feel like th best feeling one could ever have.

The ship Maria had come with now landed in the Space Port of the planet Laekia, which was, besides being the home for this Orphanage, also the planet of the Levantine Sanctum's matters. Serving as its capital, Maria thought via this meeting, maybe she could even express her wish to join the faction. She would never betray the Republic of course, but with all the wars and everything, this adventurous faction seemed to be the safest place to be. And if there ever was a need for a place to exile at, maybe she could find a job in the Orphanage?

Stepping out of the ship, Maria sought for the Master. She had got some information of her appearance so she was not too aimless. From the people in the Port, she soon noticed a person matching what she knew of the man, so she started walking to him... and the child who she noticed later.

"Hello, do you happen to be Mister Heavenshield?" she asked with a bit apologetic voice, a real smile decorating her face after the sentence was spoken.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

A beautiful blonde woman came up to him and Nina. She had assumed correctly in him being who she thought he was, and so he graciously bowed as he introduced himself formally. "My lady, I am indeed the one you seek. Miss Natalja, is it?" he asked just to make sure. He then gestured up to the little girl atop his shoulders, looking down at Maria with wide eyes. "This little bundle of joy is Nina, my daughter. She wished to join me in greeting you and come visit the orphanage." He then reached for whatever luggage she'd brought. "Let me get that for you."

The three made their way outside, where the sun was shining bright and high atop the sky. It was a lovely day for a lovely purpose. He showed Maria to the ride he'd procured for the occasion, and soon they were off to the hustle and bustle of the centre of the city. A long ways from another Coruscant, but traffic was busy, nonetheless. It never failed to have Nina glued to he side window in awe of the many sights to behold, as well as the mere act of flying. As they arrived at he orphanage, he made sure to get out first to then open the door for the young woman. Courtesy was a lost art in these dark times, he felt.

"Here we are, then: Seren Sanctuary Orphanage."

[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

Maria didn't think too much on the way to the orphanage. She only thought of the meeting. She had thought Thurion would look different, but she couldn't even tell how she had portrayed him. Maybe a bit older? Maybe ruder? But there was something different about him than what she had thought. And Nina, the little one, was the bundle of cuteness Maria hadn't seen in a while. The duo seemed so harmonious, they looked so simple together just as if there were no worries in the world at all.

And when the three reached the orphanage, all Maria could feel was sadness. Because of the fact that these children here had no parents who would love them. They didn't have a caring father like Maria did. Only then did she notice how difficult was the life of simple people.

"It's nice," was all she said. She thought Thurion, being a Jedi Master and everything, would understand what she felt inside.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Her mood was easy enough to pick up on, even had he not been a Jedi Master. In an uncharacteristically bold move, he reached for her hand to lead her inside. "Come on", he told Maria, smiling at her. "You'll see." Nina had already gone ahead, eager to see all the children at play again with whom she'd become fast friends with. She stood practically bouncing in place at the front door, anxious to have her father open it for her as she was too short and too weak to do it herself. It was one of the few places where she felt truly comfortable among people other than her father as most were children her age, and the caretakers were all really nice.

Upon opening the front door, the first thing heard was the sound of children's laughter. As Thurion stepped into the lobby, he was soon greeted by a passing caretaker. "Master Heavenshield, how wonderful it is to see you again!" He bowed his head to the kind lady. "The pleasure is mine, Mrs Dondarrion. Just checking in on how you're all doing. I also brought someone who is interested in helping out around the place. This is Padawan [member="Maria Natalja"] of the Republic", he introduced the young woman at his side. "Oh, how lovely! I'm sure the children have all missed you terribly, both you and little Nina. Now, please excuse me, but I must return to my duties. Enjoy your stay here, all of you!" With a graceful bow she excused herself and resumed her work, disappearing into one of the many rooms. "Bust day today, it seems", he said aloud, just as a large group of young children appeared.

"Uncle Thurion! Uncle Thurion!" they all cheered, gathering around him for a group hug. "Hello, my little ones! How are you all?" he laughed, trying to hug each and every one of them. "Everyone, this young lady here is Maria. She will be staying here with you for a time, to help care for you. Can everyone say 'hello' to the nice woman?" They shyly replied in unison, some trying not to look directly at her while some felt more brave towards having new people around.

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

Maria felt relieved when she saw all of the kids greeting her. It was an amazing experience -- something she had never experienced before. All of this shyness, yet innocence gleaming from the little ones. It made her heart melt, it was a fantastic thing to see. "Hello!" she said, trying to use the nicest voice she had. It was quite high-pitched, yet not a scream, but something more like as if she had sung that word.

"They're so adorable!" she whispered to Thurion, then eyed all the children again. They were all different, and that was what made it feel like an orphanage. It was a noble place, one which didn't feel like a barren place where all cared about discipline. It was like a fun place she herself would love to be in.

"What's your name?" she asked from one of them. It was a girl, one of the braver ones who dared to look her in the eyes.

[ [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] ]​