Private A Matter of Perspective [Dracken Pryce]

[Caedyn Arenais]

CAEDYN ARENAIS​

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Location: The Jedi Temple, Coruscant.
Objective: Personal Training.
Tags: Dracken Pryce .

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The day had been proceeding as well as could be expected. So far, Caedyn Arenais had finished transferring the last of his belongings to his quarters, finished up a lesson for some of the students and overall begun to get a better grasp on the who's who of the New Jedi Order. With some free time on his hands, Caedyn had spent the last hour reading within the Temple Archives before setting out for the training wing, seeking some exercise and practice.

Walking down one of the many, seemingly endless corridors of the Jedi Temple, Caedyn passed by countless other Jedi and visitors. The sheer traffic of people coming in and out of the Temple was still something he was struggling to adjust to since the Temple on Mnemosyne was dwarfed by comparison. It was difficult to imagine learning every name and which face they belonged to. Thank the Force for holonet attendance sheets, where his class students were concerned.

Given the time on his hands, the Jedi Knight decided to take something of a detour and explore some more with the training wing put aside for the sake of his coming to terms with, what was now becoming, his new home away from home. It was great to see so many Jedi of varying ages and did well to incite feelings of confidence where the Orders reach to other systems were concerned. Seeing so many gave Caedyn a better indication of how many could be sent out in response to whatever need or mission objective they might require. The Galaxy was a vast expansive ocean, yet he couldn't help but look at the numerous persons passing him by in much the same light.

His first week was coming to a close, yet he was still a stranger to so many. Over time, Caedyn sought to make some strong connections with his peers. Over the years, he had somehow maintained a professional relationship with his colleagues, whereas some spoke of forming genuine friendships. Perhaps this was a product of being trained outside of the Jedi Order, and not having the experience of growing up alongside other Padawans to make those connections. Nonetheless, the future was looking very optimistic, and he was looking forward to what lay ahead.

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Caedyn Arenais

​

The Jedi Temple was still under construction, but since its soft open there were more and more people running through its halls. Somewhere in the building he knew his son was studying or training. He still didn't know how to feel about that. Proud for sure, his son was fulfilling his call to the Force in his own way but he couldn't help but worry. The war was heating up with the Maw, and ever since the TIon Republic debacle, he'd been hearing whispers of worrying reports. Imperial assets moving, new dreadnoughts being completed, strange experiments, and more.

He was waiting for an audience with the Jedi Council. There were a few matters he wanted to discuss with them, chief among them their spending problem. He wasn't Vice Chancellor yet but even as a senator, especially as part of the Defense Committee, he had the power to move funds around. But only if they stopped spending so karking much.

Dracken tapped the Kyber crystal necklace impatiently.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

The Jedi Temple held a complex layout compared to those of the past that Caedyn had visited or served within. There were some incredible views to be admired; however, the upper floors climbing high over the surrounding distracts Coruscant's surface levels. Towers stood upon the four corners of the vast Jedi facility, as did a taller central spire. Caedyn had taken the time to ride the turbo-lift to the heights one of the outer-four, apparently consisting of a place of regular meeting for the Jedi Council, those of which he had no intention of disturbing.

Holding his datapad in one hand, Caedyn stepped out while peering over the screen displaying a mapped Jedi Temple simulation. Moving into the open corridor, he pried his eyes away from the device to look to either side with curious intrigue. "I'm starting to see why I didn't get a tour of the place when I first arrived", he mused.

Those in sight were unfamiliar to him, Dracken Pryce and several others. Unlike the others who looked busied instead, the man seemed to be awaiting something. Was he meeting with the Council? Caedyn couldn't help but wonder how he'd be received if found to be loitering aimlessly. He was off-duty, so it wasn't as though he was lax on his responsibilities, simply trying to get the lay of the land.

"Hi there", Caedyn smiled, greeting the man with a friendly demeanour, soon turning to look out one of the windows at the view. His brows lifted, looking somewhat impressed by the view of the Cityscape below. It was breathtaking for one who had not experienced life on Coruscant. Despite being the heart of the Galaxy, Caedyn had only visited once on a short-lived trip, never going higher than the ground floor.

Enjoying the small moments such as these were important. Life too often threw them into dangerous situations where the wrong move could be ones life over. Appreciating the sights and sounds of the Temple caused him instead to smile, and soon wonder what else there was to see within the Temple.

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Caedyn Arenais

​

"I'm starting to see why I didn't get a tour of the place when I first arrived",

Pryce turned to the Jedi, a warm smile on his face.

"Yes, well, the Temple is pretty large for how many Jedi there are," he said. He didn't think the Council would be with him any time soon. He looked the man up and down and squinted. He could swear he'd seen the man somewhere before.

"Hello," he said, the man's appearance catching him off-guard now that he was looking at him. "Was there something I could do for you Master Jedi?" It was clear from the confidence in the man's step that he was no Padawan, but he couldn't tell if he was a Master or a Knight. Either way, Master was an apt title for a Knight of the Order, especially as a Child of the Force. Pryce bowed his head in respect.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

"Yes, well, the Temple is pretty large for how many Jedi there are,"

Caedyn turned with a soft chuckle, nodding in his agreement. The Jedi Temple did indeed seem a bit over the top given the number of personnel within the New Jedi Order, though he assumed that visitors and delegations from other Orders visited often, given the symbolic meaning it held, seated in the heart of the Galaxy. There were few Jedi facilities as well known as this one if any quite as famous.

"My apologies, I did not mean to disturb you my friend" Caedyn lowered his head out of respect for Dracken Pryce ; "My name's Caedyn Arenais. Jedi Knight. I've only recently transitioned to the New Jedi Order and I'm simply finding my feet, you might say" he explained, gesturing with a sweeping left hand to their surroundings as he turned to face in the direction of the Council Chambers. His demeanour would appear open, friendly and rather pleased to be sharing a few words with the man, never one to turn down time spent in good company.

"I gather you're waiting for an appointment?" He questioned, soon glancing back to the other and posing a likely offer; "Perhaps, instead, I can be of help to you in the meantime?" he suggested, seeing the opportunity to make better use of his downtime as opposed to simple sight-seeing.

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Caedyn Arenais

My name's Caedyn Arenais. Jedi Knight.

Ah, so that was it. He was Veiere's son. It seemed royalty walked in the halls of the Jedi. Pryce hadn't known the man personally, but Corellia had for a time been part of an alliance headed by Commenor. In fact, his flagship had been built to defend Commenori interests before the Sith came and shattered the Core Worlds.

"Well," he chuckled, "This is awkward. I had come to meet with the Council as a sort of peace offering. The Jedi and the Senate haven't seen eye to eye in a very long time friend. But I felt as if the Force was giving us another chance with Auteme, once a Jedi Knight, now Chancellor. But I fear they're too busy for me right now." He shrugged, but then an idea came to him.

"Since you are new to the Temple let me show you something." He started walking off in a direction. From behind two pillars, a pair of blue-clad senate guards fell in behind him now forced to stop their hiding.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

"By all means" Caedyn smiled, extending a hand in a gesture for Dracken Pryce to lead the way. He only paused at the appearance of the two Senate Guard who had stepped forth from their concealment much to the surprise of Caedyn who, with the influx of life in the Jedi Temple, hadn't sensed anyone else nearby. "My, that is impressive" he spoke under his breath with a smirk, and soon moved to keep up.

Walking alongside the Senator, Draken Pryce, Caedyn thought about the mention of relations between the Senate and the New Jedi Order. He had not been present on Coruscant long, and his experience with Politics from a Jedi perspective was marred by an obvious one-sided bias in that he only knew to live by the Jedi Code, as well as the risks that such power could have over any one person, whether gained through credits of influence.

"I have heard of Auteme, though I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to her" Caedyn voiced his thoughts, speaking casually as they walked the Temple Corridor; "I know even less about the political intricacies of the Galactic Alliance, I'm afraid. That said, I have seen both the good and the bad that can come from political influence, and while we cannot do without the Senate, I can understand where visions might not always align between the two".

Caedyn had seen many an experience where Jedi Life and Political Influence had butted heads, so to speak. From being raised on Commenor, taught and raised with the intention of being placed at the political head one day (much to his frustration), and then between the Order of the Silver Jedi and the Silver Concord. By contrast, the Jedi Enclave of Svivren had done well within the Outer Rim Territories, able to serve in any of the vast regions across the lesser policed expanse; In saying that however, when they had come under attack, they had fewer to call upon for aid.

"I certainly don't envy you" Caedyn remarked, clear attempted humour to his words as he chuckled quietly; "For the sake of the Alliance, I do hope it goes well for both parties. A compromise on both fronts for the sake of joint collaboration would do better for the Core than to see anything less".

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Caedyn Arenais

​

Pryce gave a wan smile at the young Jedi Knight's words.

"Yes, well only an idiot would envy a politician." Compromise. There should be more than a compromise between the Alliance and the Jedi Order. A Jedi's life was meant to be balance, at least that's what the ancient texts said in one way or another, and balance was not compromise. In compromise someone always lost but in balance, together they could do great things for this Galaxy.

"This way," he said, nearly missing his turn. Two massive gilded doors hissed open leading them into a dark room where an arch bridge stood over a pond that glowed from lights inlaid below the surface. The bridge or arch glittered in that light, a kaleidoscope of color. Oddly the bridge was not wide enough to walk across in pairs. In fact, it seemed that the arch wasn't even large enough to walk across single file. Pryce smiled, warmth and sadness filling his chest.

"Do you know what this is, Master Arenais?"