Private A Vanguard's Dawn

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

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The rising sun cast long shadows across the training yard of Shiraya's Rest, painting the Gallo Mountains in hues of gold and crimson. Lorn, a figure of quiet strength, sat at a long, worn wooden table, devouring a hearty breakfast of bantha steak and Naboo root vegetables. His keen eyes, however, were not focused on his food. They scanned the slowly awakening barracks, assessing the movements of his fellow Vanguard members as they emerged from their slumber, the quiet rustle of their boots on the stone floors a subtle counterpoint to the chirping of unseen birds.

It had been little over a week since Lorn, a wanderer seeking purpose, had stumbled upon the Naboo Military Academy in Theed. His past, a tapestry woven with threads of hardship and experience, had unexpectedly found its perfect fit within the Order of Shiraya's Vanguard – an elite group of knights and masters dedicated to the defense of Naboo. After rigorous physical, mental, and emotional evaluations, he had been accepted, a privilege that still felt surreal.

Life at Shiraya's Rest, a secluded villa perched high in the Gallo Mountains, was far from restful. The breathtaking scenery provided a stark contrast to the grueling training regime. The Vanguard, a brotherhood (and sisterhood) of arms, pushed themselves to their limits, day in and day out. Every other day, the Elite Royal Crusaders, Naboo's heavy infantry elite, made the arduous climb up the mountain to train alongside them. These were warriors of exceptional skill, often collaborating with the Vanguard on high-stakes missions, and their presence always injected a vibrant energy into the usually secluded atmosphere.

Lorn finished his meal, efficiently scraping the last morsels into the trash before handing his plate to one of the junior members with a brief nod of thanks. He'd escaped the dishwashing duty this morning, a small victory in the day's already demanding schedule. Stepping out into the crisp morning air, he stretched his limbs, preparing for the day ahead. Already, the Crusaders were filing through the gate, their massive packs evidence of the strenuous climb. Lorn recognized several faces, exchanging quick greetings with familiar comrades. However, his attention remained focused on one specific arrival.

Master Kahne Porte , a Jedi he respected, had sent a message a day or so prior. His son, a Padawan on the path to Knighthood, needed guidance and Lorn, having a soft spot for those seeking their place, had invited him to train alongside the Vanguard. He waited patiently, extending friendly greetings to those around him, a quiet anticipation etched on his face. The Padawan's arrival would be more than just another day of training; it was a chance to share wisdom, forge a connection, and perhaps witness the spark of a similar purpose ignite in another young warrior.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Aiden was up several hours before dawn, perhaps it was nerves that nipped at him. Truth was he was quite excited to get training in, things had been so chaotic with everything, that he hadn't had any time to train. Every since he left Coruscant and returned to Naboo, marking it as his permanent residence. This is where he stayed and he knew that he couldn't ask Solenne to come with him. How could a Padawan make that request.

The Jedi Padawan had receive instruction from his father that he was to meet Master Lorn Reingard in the morning. He knew Kahne had his own reservations on why he wouldn't train him beyond a certain age that he had reached. With the ongoing threat with the netherworld and the constant thread that faced them with Sion and the Dark Exchange. He really couldn't put this off anymore, it was said time and again that he had to get better. Aiden felt he had to become more than what he was, become a better, stronger person.

Not for selfish reasons, but to do what he kept promising his friends. To continue to look after them and be that positivity in their lives. And to do that he had to take his own advice, he would have to talk to someone about what happened, get the weight off of his chest finally. He was sure at some point he would be able to do such a thing.

It seemed silly, but it was a heavy weight the Padawan carried. He played it off well enough that he would smile through it and keep moving. Yet sooner or later it would break him down, and he made the judgment call to not let it take him down a path leading to despair any longer.

The Jedi entered the training grounds and could see Lorn there already.

He showed him a smile and bowed respectfully. "Good Morning Master Reinhart, I hope I'm not too behind."

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

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Lorn's eyes finally settled on Aiden, picking him out from the throng of Crusaders. Something about the Padawan's posture, a slight slump to his shoulders, hinted at weariness beyond the usual pre-dawn fatigue. Perhaps it was the way the sunlight caught his face, highlighting the shadows beneath his eyes. Whatever the reason, a quiet empathy stirred within Lorn. Nothing a good bit of strenuous training couldn't fix.

He returned the pleasant bow, the slight mispronunciation of his surname a minor detail. He hadn't known the boy well enough to correct him. "Just Lorn will do, Aiden," he said with a smile, the lines around his eyes crinkling. "We are all more or less equals around here, friends." he added, gesturing towards Master Tato leading the Vanguard members already in their morning conditioning drills.

Lorn shed his shirt, the crisp mountain air doing little to chill his already warmed skin. If there was one good thing about training up here, it was the vibrant tan he would get. "Did you have breakfast?" he asked Aiden, before moving to retrieve a heavy training log. It didn't matter if he had; they were getting started.

He hefted the log and placed it squarely on Aiden's back, the weight settling with a solid thud. He motioned towards the others performing lunges with similar logs, a silent invitation to join the exercise. Lorn grabbed his own log and fell into step beside the Padawan.

Lorn was happy to have a young and eager student, it felt right to share the wisdom of his own Master. He didn't know it yet, but Aiden's presence, his eagerness to learn, was a balm to Lorn's own private grief and heartache.

"Your father said you could use some help, some mentorship?" Lorn said, his voice gruff but kind, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps under the relentless sun. He adjusted his grip on the log, muscles straining. "What do you think? Do you need guidance, Aiden?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

"We are all more or less equals around here, friends."

"Agreed, Lorn." Aiden nodded his head. The Padawan did not have breakfast, but he was too amped up to eat. He was ready to go, he was going to start putting his head down and taking care of business.

The Padawan just slightly at the weight of the log, getting settled in as he regained his footing. This wouldn't be easy, he knew that. But he wasn't going to stop. He would fight through the pain of the days continuous exercises. Aiden caught on quickly with the rest of the group, it was a good thing he was ready to go, someone being thrown into this sort of thing unexpectedly would probably collapse on the spot, Aiden mused.

"Your father said you could use some help, some mentorship?"

"Very much so, Lorn. My father gives what guidance he can. He feels as a father he wouldn't be the best mentor, for obvious reasons. He is my father, and while he trained me and my sister since we were children. He would want others to finish my training, those that he trust."

Aiden took a deep breath as he moved back in forth, in good solid succession. Surprising to say, he was enjoying this maybe it was the brotherhood bond, or maybe it was the actually physical work that he was putting in.

"And he does trust you, Lorn."

"What do you think? Do you need guidance, Aiden?"

"Absolutely...." Aiden said, while those words were said easier than ever before. More so a beacon of aid being requested from the Padawan. "It seems foolish to think about this, but there's a lot to discuss. It's silly, but its the truth. I'm carry weight from several things that have happened to me over the past years. I lost the love of my life, she died in my arms. I was nearly killed, twice. Tatooine and Tython...."

Aiden glanced over to Lorn.

"I do my best to put on a good face, but I feel broken. I'm tired of feeling like that. I've tried to let it go, but I don't know how."

Aiden knew took a deep breath as he faced forward again.

Could one build themselves back up again, after being unmade?

Lorn Reingard

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

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Lorn listened intently, he fell into step with the Padawan, their lunges mirroring each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Aiden's words, raw and honest, painted a picture of a young man battered by loss and trauma. The weight of the log on his back seemed insignificant compared to the burdens Aiden carried within. "Broken?" Lorn repeated softly, the word hanging in the air between them. A few more lunges were completed in the oppressive heat, the effort a physical manifestation of the emotional weight they both shared. "I can relate..." he finally said, his voice rough but filled with empathy.

The final lunge finished, the logs discarded, Lorn watched as the group stretched, the rhythmic cracking of joints a welcome sound in the suffocating silence. He placed a hand on Aiden's shoulder, the gesture a quiet promise of support. "Let's discuss this at lunch," he said, a hint of a smile softening his usually austere features. "We need to clear our minds first." The excruciating conditioning continued, but a new rhythm had been established, a silent pact forged between teacher and student, a shared journey through the darkness.

The shade felt blessedly cool hours later as they replenished their strength. Lorn steered Aiden towards a table, securing them a place before fetching their meals. He took a moment to greet his companions, his smile warm and genuine, before returning to Aiden's side. He placed a plate of food before the young man. "Eat," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "This day is long from over."

He took a bite of his own food, savoring the taste, the act a small rebellion against the weight of the unspoken. He paused, weighing his words carefully, searching for the right approach. "You lost the love of your life? How?" He asked, the question blunt, yet laced with genuine concern. It felt like the right place to start, the deepest wound needing to be addressed first. He sensed Aiden's need to release the burden, to articulate the depths of his pain. Lorn would listen, understand, and offer what comfort and guidance he could. He would be there, in the same way his own Master had been there for him, through the darkness, towards the light.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Aiden hadn't taken part in training such as this before. But the more they continued, he knew it was something that he needed. And most importantly he was actually enjoying. It lessened his mind, freeing up things. He was breathing easier than he normally was when it came to talking about these events.

"We need to clear our minds first."

"Eat,"

"This day is long from over."

"Good." Aiden said to his last words about the day, this training was different. But it was incredibly good. "This is good..." Aiden said with a small smile as he took a few bites, perhaps too quickly. He knew he ought to enjoy the food first before he actually devoured it.

"You lost the love of your life? How?"

"The New Way, religious fanatics that hate and despise force worship. There was a terrorist attack here on Naboo, she was caught in the crossfire and died in my arms." Aiden cleared his throat as he took another bite from his food. "I guess....I know it hit me so hard because she was my first love. I was skeptical about that feeling and emotion. I have had talks about it with my Master, if that emotion was worth it. I was afraid of losing what I didn't even have at the time."

Aiden reached for his cup and took a small drink.

"It seemed silly at first to talk about it, but now...its a small relief off my chest." Aiden glanced up to Lorn. "You know what I mean?" He said with a small smile.

Lorn Reingard