Echoes of Fate; The Will of the Force (Asha Hex)

[WolfMortum]

​

Decrepit Jedi Enclave Ruins​

[member="Asha Hex"]​

​

​

​

It had been over two decades since Veiere Arenais had last visited the world of Svivren to the south east of the territories of the Commenor Systems Alliance; this world the former home of the Jedi Master whom back then was far younger, less experienced and fell victim to the One Sith Empire like so many others. Being back upon this world brought those memories sweeping back in, threatening to gnaw upon his wish to remain apathetic to the sight of such great loss, a tragedy that still affected him where he slept in the late evenings.

The cries of friends, fellow Jedi and the Padawan that he thought he had lost echoed within his dreams often; as did the violence that followed and resulted in his exile to the world of Alzoc Three, remote and the polar opposite of what Svivren had meant for him growing up within the Order.

Here today, he had come to acknowledge the past, to accept it for what it meant to him and the significance in his learning since, lessons of which had come with numerous failings and having to find education behind some of the hardest experiences, those he had not fathomed nor been prepared for at times, yet always encouraged by his faith in the will of the Force, he managed to pull through. Not only pull through but succeed where he had hardly imagined possible during the times in which he had freshly come out of Exile and into the employ of one former Republican Senator, an estranged [member="Lady Kay"] whom found herself endangered all too frequently and easily.

The Enclave had been left a total ruin in the wake of the One Sith Empire's attack; The Galactic Alliance had come to the rescue of the world yet too late to save the fate of the Jedi there, it was thanks to them that any artifacts that hadn't been taken by the Sith; would be collected and salvaged. Identities of those lost souls recorded that any family members able to be tracked down might learn of the deceased; by then Veiere had left and so few had been told of his past life here since.

The natural life of the world, beautiful as it was had overgrown everything that resembled anything sentient made from the outside. The roof of the structure had caved in and through the cracks had sprouted the branches of tree's and covered the ruin in a shroud of green. Standing at a distance from the sight of his past life, Veiere looked upon the place with a heavy heart, his eyes watching over the area yet not really paying attention to it as his hues glazed and what he visualized were the memories of his younger days here as a Jedi Padawan.

Training, playing with his peers and competitions of 'who could best who in the sparring sessions of five out of five', or some such nonsense the likes of which Padawan Learners had the pleasure of experiencing away from the stresses of the real galaxy beyond the Enclave walls. They were times of bliss, times of challenge and yet too inexperience for which would lead him on to learning many many harsh realities; these were times that his Padawan [member="Tor Icehammer"] and [member="Nanna"] would too come to learn as they grew within the Enclave of Deneba.

With the future of the Jedi Order secure, Veiere began to approach the enclave of his Past. Something that he had felt a calling towards from light years away. It had been a passing thought as the place often crossed his mind from time to time, yet in his nostalgia the Force had spoken to him with an impulse; A compelling need to return for reasons unclear, though there were many here to be assumed.

 

[Lief]

It was an odd amalgamation, the sight which stood around her; a structure reclaimed by nature was always so humbling to look upon, it reminded one of how insignificant they truly were in the grand scheme of things, it showed that in time everything would return to the earth, when names and feats were forgotten... That was what remained: Life, in its most simplest forms.

Many looked upon the Force as a being of inherent 'Good', but in truth it was as chaotic and neutral as they came. It did not care for the musings of man, for the impact they had on each thing they touched, for the destruction they caused with their vapid consumerism, and reckless wars that did little more than tip scales back and forth for generations. No, the Force was nature itself. It was present in everything, it bound all that was and all that would be. With each death came a renewed strength that could be pooled into a different resource, a new state. Preservation of life, but that did not mean it favoured sentience.

She was curious, this girl who walked through ruins that had been laid bare before the elements, she had visited many war zones, tombs, entire Cities devoid of population that had been dragged back to the dirt by twisting vines and the general bowing of time. None of this was new to her, not the subtle feeling of corruption which accompanied such a violent uprooting, or the serenity of silence, yet she had been led here regardless.

The Force was a confusing Master.

For most of her life now she had listened to its whims, followed it across the Galaxy without so much as a question or doubt. She had learned from it directly, though many would call her naive for thinking as much, and it had never let her stray from her path. Not even in the face of adversity and hardship, not even aboard the Durasteel Graveyard. She had come not of her own volition, and yet in a way she had done so willingly. As a servant of the Force, who was she to defy?

Something caught her eye, a spec of light dancing against a toppled wall, and she approached its direction with nary a second thought. It glistened in the declining sun, and when she lowered herself to a knee and reached out a hand toward it she could feel what she could only explain as the very fabric of time disturbed around it. She was not psychometric, whatever fragment of the past that lingered here was unreachable to her touch, and yet just the sensation alone was enough to confirm her place here.

Once pulled from the dirt and rubble, she turned the object over in her hand and found a slither of crystal. Whether it had once been decorative, or practical, she could not say. It was too small a shard to make out for sure. Her eyes closed, and she inhaled through her nose as a scene came to mind, in a place far from here, a place plagued with death and wherein the very core of her nightmares had been borne.

A shiver traveled along the length of her spine as she recalled the Graveyard, and the one beacon of hope she had clung to during her torturous years there. The two crystals could have been twins, for all the differences she could find in them. For a moment it felt as though the heavy band of metal remained around her throat, oppressive as ever, burning with the fury of her Master. With a short exhale she drew herself back to the present, there was no sense in dwelling on what had been. He was gone.

As though needing confirmation for such, her free hand lifted to touch her throat which remained bare. She rose back to her full height, still clutching the crystal shard, and turned back to face the center of the open aired atrium she had found herself within. Had she known any of the details of what had happened here, anything at all, she might have succumbed to the strands of time, peered into the annuls history for confirmation, for answers.

Instead she held tight to the crystal, and paused in any motion she was about to make. In the nearby distance the distinct sound of cracking twigs drew her attention. What remained of this Enclave clearly was not housing anyone, and it had been quite the ordeal to actually get here in the end, what with all the reclaiming nature had done to the surrounding area, which left her with quite the pit of uncertainty in her chest. Was it friend or foe who approached? Person, or creature?

One hand instinctively reached for one of two lightsabers on her belt, and yet she refrained from grasping it.

There is no fear she reminded herself, as she regulated her breathing. "I am the revealing fire of light" she muttered under her breath, as she took one short step back toward the center of the room, her eyes trailing toward the direction of whoever or whatever was approaching.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

The grounds leading up towards the Jedi Enclave surrounded by dense forests and wild ravines were a far cry from the image of recognition and familiarity that he recalled by memory; the sounds of the worlds natural life surrounding the ruin was still as influencing and wondrous as the days that he spent outdoors as an Initiate of the Order staring up at that bright blue sky from his back surrounded by green blades of grass ticking the edges of his arms and face as he would listen to the birds, avian creatures singing their songs to one another and at times even the rare occurrence of some sort of predator causing a ruckus in some distant area of the forest landscape that flowed across the valley, mountains and all for miles.

He hadn't expected there to be many others here, if any what-so-ever; the place was rather well hidden given the Jedi Order's typical desire to remain out of prying line of sight from those that would seek to undermine or aggrieve the Jedi way of life. Subtlety wasn't a caution that Veiere carried with him today as opposed to his nostalgia for his origins as a member of the Order, there.

His appearance wasn't at all the image of the position of Grand-Master of Deneba now that he had since passed on the mantle to Romi Jade, his one successful apprenticeship of whom would carry on his legacy across the future generations of Jedi from the desert world; it wasn't as though he were no longer associated with the responsibilities of leadership yet to be wearing something more akin to the traditional garb of the Jedi that was his personal set of Jedi robes, a tunic and leather hooded over-coat, leather boots and the sashe wrapped around his waist that made up the material belt keeping it all firmly in place, carrying his two hilts that had been crafted upon this very world within the derelict building before him.

The wedding ring that he wore carried with it a stronger presence within the force that strengthened his own and without the need to hide himself from the open world, most unbeknownst to him, [member="Asha Hex"] would rather easily be able to sense him now that her attention had been turned in his direction due to his rather clumsy footing.

The Path to the Atrium for which would introduce all who would find their way into the Enclave would first encompass the open courtyard that used to marvel a fountain in it's center, the permacrete floor now completely hidden by the thick overgrowth of weeds and dust, branches from aging tree's and years of neglect. Stepping across the debris, his boots would continue to carry him with sound, the odd crunch of rock or the loud snap of twigs and generic underbrush; all the while Veiere's mind was too distracted to realize that he was being expected just beyond the great wall, that of which the entrance still reflected the etching of Jedi Decor into the metal works of the great doors, an alloy that was rather more resistant to the invasion of the natural world.

Pushing his way inside, he took only a few steps before slowing to a gradual halt at the sight of the woman standing before him, her eyes locked directly with his as if she had indeed waited on him. At first, Veiere found himself completely at a loss for a response or initial reaction, a blatant look of question crossing over him as he stared back at Asha Hex, the vision of surprise in that this was the last thing he had expected to come into.

As if seeking to make sense of it, he briefly glanced about the rest of the Atrium in order to gauge their surroundings yet found no sign of others within her company, the force seemed to pool around him as he then sought to extend his reach upon the area probing for any hidden others that might be seeking to gain something from his ignorance in the moment, yet again only came up with the presence that was now hers, clear as the sight that she was before him.

"Forgive me..." he spoke finally, both in apology and explanation for his being completely caught of guard and the momentary silence that had followed until he had found his voice once more, "I had not expected to find anyone else exploring this place" His arms would slowly fall to his sides, a casual stance though too one that allowed freedom of his reach were he to require either one of the tools attached to his belt, his lightsabers in open view of the woman, his hands reaching not for them but simply digging each thumb under the fabric, looking more or less as if they were resting upon his hips while he offered her a bow of his head in greeting. "Might I be so bold as to inquire as to what has brought you to this old relic...?" he would pose the question, his tone of voice fading some as it did not come without some apprehension in wishing to know her answer, both curious and yet reluctant were this day to reflect the conflict of his last memory on this world.

 

[Lief]

When her eyes fell upon him, all of her reservations melted away.

The hand which had lingered dangerously close to her belt shifted entirely, until both hands came to a spot at her back and clasped there. A very subtle nod of her head was all that made itself known, as her gaze traveled along the entirety of the man before her, then deeper still, to his presence in the Force. There was a familiarity about him, though it was similar to how the rest of this place felt. Like an echo of the past. He was not someone she had seen before, yet she knew that their being here at the same time was no coincidence.

"The Force works in mysterious ways," she muttered to herself, under her breath. "Forgive me my doubts."

Though the urge to step forward persisted within her, she rooted her feet firmly in place and remained where she was. With a decent vantage of much of the atrium, with the slither of crystal still in her hand. Hands, now, she supposed.

He spoke to her then, with all the space between them, and the slight apology behind his words came as a surprise. Most walked around as though they owned the place, even spaces such as this which clearly belonged to no man, holding little regard for others who might be in their way. There was a sincerity behind this man's tone, despite the fact she knew that she was in fact the one trespassing on his past. She could see it in his face, the history he held here. Some things couldn't quite be shaken.

No doubt how I look on Korriban, or if I were to ever step upon the Durasteel Graveyard again... That last thought brought about the smallest of shudders in her otherwise more presentable stance. Her shoulders were squared, back straight, head slightly tipped up though there was no air of superiority about her, just a certainty that didn't quite match her appearance.

"There is nothing to forgive," she stated, a little simply, as her gaze finally fell from him to cast about the rest of the Atrium, "You have more right to the sanctity of this hold than I."

She let that sit between them for a moment, contemplating all she had seen and felt, all that had been placed before her by their guide the Force, since coming to this place. Then, with a confidence she hadn't expected to show given that she had only just pieced it all together herself, she spoke once again.

"I was expecting you, Master Jedi."

The final two words had been a complete guess, grasping at straws. His aura, paired with what little she knew of this place, had formed a puzzle of its own, and she had spoken the words without really much thought. Perhaps she was wrong, perhaps this man would take offense as she once had in some small degree when the Ren had referred to her as a Jedi. Then again, he had said it with the intent to mock and belittle, whereas Asha's tone held nothing short of pure respect.

"Do you feel it, too? The Force led us here, to this point in time and space... The question is not what, Master, but why... Why here? Why now?" Why the two of them?

Typically she was sent toward the lost, those who needed guidance, who required support and growth. The man before her? He was nothing like those she usually tended to. He had his own certainty about him, she had no doubt he walked a solid path. He did not need to hear the words of a Je'daii, least of all one who was little more than a child.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

She was an immediate curiosity, this woman of whom he looked upon. She appeared younger than he and yet she carried and spoke of her mind in a way that suggested a wealth of experience lay at her back and a keen mind for the wonders of life and the Force that surrounded all things; while Veiere Arenais knew so little about this new acquaintance, the Force carried very little sign of intimidation nor doubts of ill intentions between the pair.

"There is nothing to forgive, you have more right to the sanctity of this hold than I."​

His head lifted in response to this statement, not so much as a suggestion but a fact spoken confidently upon the whispers of what the Force allowed for her to become aware of; whether by response to his signature and presence or their environments own, he knew not. Moments in life were rare such as these, where the physical interactions of two people both learned in the study and practice of the Force, open to the possibilities that it held, could enter into a place where histories of the past blended with the present, feelings of nostalgia and familiarity, perhaps even the will of the Force itself being seen into fruition in the way that these two had felt a calling and now stood upon the precipice of reason as to "why?".

"Do you feel it, too?...The question is not what, Master, but why... Why here? Why now?"​

​

A truly justified question indeed...​

Veiere smiled in response, a warm and compassionate smile, perhaps even a little out of place given they were strangers within one anothers company and yet her awareness of self within the Force and the size of all things beyond their physical reach was most welcome. For all intents and purposes he had held for returning to this world of histories most difficult for him, she was a most enlightened light that seemed to swell within the center of his senses, drowning out all other incentives that might beckon for him to focus on the negativity that were his feelings associated with this fallen Enclave.

"Then you're grasp upon the farsight of the Force must be keen, my young friend..."

He responded to her claim in having expected to find him here, though he presumed she had been led here for reasons outside of her understanding, it wasn't impossible that she might have seen a vision of this happenstance through whatever training had come with her experiences before now.

"This place was once my home, three decades ago" He offered a small explanation as he crouched low to the floor, balancing his weight evenly upon the front of his feet while reaching down to touch the dirtied cracked permeate surface that poked through the thick of the surround forests wickets and shrubbery; "A place of knowledge and study in the Force for which it would seem you and I both share in admiration and learning..." his smile would again return to her as he glanced back up at that of the young Woman, gauging her expression for signs of response and hints of her current temperance through body languages.

"Truly, the Force does not cease to amaze me in the most unexpected of moments..." Veiere rose back to his feet and soon approached, closing the distance between them and extending a hand in less formal greeting and the invitation to exchange pleasantries in a far more casual and non-threatening manner; "My name is Veiere Arenais...-And this would appear to be my pleasure in meeting you".

[member="Asha Hex"]

 

[Lief]

There was a moment, when the man began to speak - to inform her of the history he held within this place - that the girl seemed to zone out; her eyes became hazy, their typically brilliantly green hue paling, as the impressions left here by the Force, those which had been locked off from her due to a lack of specifics, opened themselves before her. They hit her full force, like a punch to the gut, causing her to draw a sharp intake of breath.

Around them the ruins shifted, an odd amalgamation of new and old, present and history, entwining. Though the stranger stood before her still, they no longer remained alone, countless students of the Force, of Ashla, wandered through the atrium on their way to further learning, their faces were blurred, she was incapable of focusing on specifics, but they were there regardless. She could not help but marvel, in complete awe, it had never been so vivid before, not without intense meditation.

She realized that she was clutching the crystal shard painfully tight, and as she loosened her grip the impression wavered. One foot was placed in front of the other, as in silence she glanced around them, so much life, so much activity, the Force had been strong here, light and tranquil... Yet the masquerade was not complete, and rips formed in the image through which the ruins peeked and darkness threatened to swirl and corrupt.

"I am the revealing fire of light... I am the mystery of darkness..."

Her lips moved, almost silently, as she recited the words she'd had set to memory for as long as she could remember, they had been spoken to her like a lullaby, they had soothed away her nightmares, her worries, this Code she had devoted her life to. There was nothing to fear here, Ashla and Bogan did not vie for control over her... Nor should they vie for control over this sacred space.

Turning back to face him, for a moment it might look as though she was staring right through him, before she let out the breath she had been holding and blinked. The vibrant green returned then, as the vision receded entirely leaving them back in the open air. She could feel a slight tremor coursing through her body, a weakness to her knees, yet through willpower alone she kept her stance strong.

He had approached her, hand held out, and she wondered how long he had been standing that way. Had she unintentionally slighted him? It wasn't in her nature to be rude, and never intentionally. With a small smile that collapsed any of the concern she might have been showing, she extended her own hand out to meet his.

"Asha," she informed him, "My name is Asha Hex. If I might... What brought you back here, after so many years?"

She realized that such a question might have been in poor taste, too intrusive or too painful, yet she could not help but retain her curiosity. The why of things was so frequently overlooked, yet it was the only question she had on her mind. Even now.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Something about [member="Asha Hex"] become distinctly present to Veiere's awareness within the Force that encircled the two and poised them within the structure of past tragedies, the wealth of power that had come and gone from within these halls, these walls now broken and decayed beyond repair, the only true everlasting strength in the Galaxy having overcome that which had come and gone and held the constants of time for which all things would eventually come to an end; Nature here had over taken everything and upon the world of Svivren, the vast green landscapes, running rivers and mountain wilds were awe encompassing in the evidence of the Force's Will, reminding him that all things had a natural cycle, a beginning and an End.

While the two of them were small factors in the infinite possibilities that the Force withheld from their reach, there had been some sort of a calling to draw them both in; Veiere's past history with the world was a loud lure that he could not have ignored and Asha's ? Her inquisitive mind and not only the respect but more importantly her following of the Force had led the way for which their paths would meet. How were he to asnwer for such a thing, not able to be proven fact yet open to their individual beliefs or presumptions, it was difficult not to wonder.

"The Enclave has stood as the incentive in my mind of what the Jedi Order once used to be...-Humble, admiring of the Force yet not abusive of it's gifts..." Veiere's gaze left her own, turning as he glanced about the once great hall, unable to explain himself and do the place justice without a wealth of words more than she likely required; such was often a Scholar's shortcoming. "I've sought for years now to encourage a change in those of our kind..." He paused, looking back to her momentarily and elaborating for quick conclusion "The Jedi, I mean...-So focused in their want to conquer the Dark Side of the Force" he added with clear concern and skepticism, for he knew such a thing was not truly possible.

"In my struggles, I've reflected upon this place often a day and looked to what I lost in order to hope to gain wisdom from the Force...-At times I would find the ambition and strength that I needed, sometimes it would come to me later on but lately? This world has stood brighter than all other worlds within my dreams...-I could ignore it no more".

Veiere smiled a little, his gaze dropping down for a moment in pensive recollection of thought before turning back to look towards that of Asha and gesture to her with his left hand in passing; "Tell me, am I living up to your expectations or did you expect to find a Master who might lead you into a new world, a brighter future..." Veiere's smile grew into another amused chuckle as he shook his head a little in expense of himself. "Don't answer, that's rhetorical...".

 

[Lief]

So her guess had been correct, the man before her was indeed a Jedi Master.

It made sense, all things considered, and yet knowing that made her relax ever so slightly; she had seen many callous Jedi in her short lifespan, heard of their misdeeds, seen some of them at the side of her Father, in truth it was likely what had pushed her away from them so early on, what had her embracing the more obscure sects such as the Aing-Ti, the Dai Bendu, and of course the Je'daii. No doubt the latter was also influenced by [member='Jericho'], but she did most of her own research if you didn't count the Code which had been her lullaby.

She should have been a little more wary than she was, but the opposite was true. It was held within his words, within his tone, and his presence, a genuine will to serve the Force as opposed to abuse it. The Jedi Order, the original Jedi, had come from a place of moderation and balance just as she had, they formed from the Je'daii of old, and though they could shake much of their predecessors philosophy there remained still some very real similarities which showed only in the presence of one who was genuine.

"It was a magnificent enclave," she agreed, she could sense as much from the visions which had flickered into life, even if there remained a touch of darkness here now, even if the world of Svivren had reclaimed it as its own, this had been a place of True Jedi, who stuck to their ideals. She did not find cause to correct him when he presumed her to have been a Jedi too, there was no offense to be found in his words. And besides they rang true for her too, even if their Orders were not mutually exclusive.

"Lost?" Her voice was a whisper now, run through with curiosity and wonder at that one solitary word she had pulled from his speech, "It is not lost so long as you remember, Master Jedi, it remains here even if you cannot see it with your eyes. Do you feel them, even now? The impressions which linger, as though locked within the stone..."

She took one slow step toward him, regarding him almost solemnly for a moment as once again the ruins around her came to life; one small intake of breath was all that it had taken, a gentle push through the Force, and it was for her as it had been for him. A smile pulled at her lips, though there was a hint of sadness in her misty eyes, the haze falling over them once more.

"Immortal in the Force," she recited, "All that is and all that was convenes in places such as this, areas of intensity and strife, speckled through with hope. Would you like to see?"

Was that a wise offer? She had done so only twice before, and each time she had been in complete control, the visions had been ones she had meditated on for days at an end, and both times had included the same strands of time, the same paths which led toward the history of one individual, her namesake. The reactions of those she had shown had been vastly different, where Master Heavenshield had immersed himself in the wonder, Tracyn had outright rejected it, leading to a brief flash of violence.

The man before her did not seem to be the same as the scorned Mandalorian.

"I had no expectations of the Jedi you are, though... I must admit to be pleasantly surprised. It had been quite some time since I met with one from your Order who did not seem to be motivated by self-gain."

She held out her hand toward him, the offer still lingering on the air between them should he will it.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

[member="Asha Hex"] seemed to stand amongst the ruins of the Enclave caught in a veil between times, her gaze upon the place challenging Veiere's perception of all that was around them as she spoke of how 'magnificent' the place had been and yet her expression shifted to admiration as she carried her gaze about the area. To this, Veiere studied her for a time, unfamiliar to one with such a gift for sight so hidden away from the immediate. There was a vivid interest there, a yearning to become one with the Force and a respect that radiated around her persona. What youth could portray such experience in today's galaxy was truly rare.

"Now one with the Force..." he responded somewhat quietly, reserving himself and resigning to seat himself down upon a large rock surrounded by a pile of debris having fallen from the roof above in days of their absence; the sounds of the outside world had all but gone quiet and as chilled as the air was within the great enclosure, there was something stronger present between the two; the sharing of the Force that it enveloped and embraced all things around them.

Veiere was a man of faith at the heart of his service to the Force and to the people of the Galaxy; unlike many others, the path of the Consular had called to him because of his belief and adherence to the Force as a living presence as opposed to an energy field for which some simply held it to. The Will of the Force, for which he talked about frequently among his students and peers to his mind was a conscious will, though far beyond anything that they could comprehend without transcending from the physical and returning to the Force when their time here was at it's end.

"You've met a number of Jedi then?" He turned his gaze back upon the young woman, curious to discern her background for she didn't seem to carry herself like any of the Jedi he had met of late. There was something less structured about her as opposed to the training and discipline that the Jedi Order followed and yet her presence in the Force was no less in tune with her emotions that he could sense, nor sporadic as one could become before the company of the learned: "I would be amiss not to recognize the presence of the Force that walks in the path that is your own...-Though you don't strike me as one of the Jedi Order.." He was guessing though not without the whisper of the Force upon the corner of his mind telling him that in this one there was something beyond the Jedi; he could not quite put his finger to it but whatever path that she walked felt like it was...-Catered to balance, not overzealous in power and yet not incapable of it.

 

[Lief]

He did not take her up on her offer to see, not yet at least, though she wasn't at all surprised by this. Her hand settled back to her side, an idea shelved for another time perhaps, and she smiled at him as he took a seat among the debris. That, at least, was a good sign, it was not often guards could be put down after so short a meeting.

Trust was not so easily achieved, but this was a start. A start to what exactly she did not know.

She did not respond to his initial murmurings, they were private and sanctified, spoken more so to their surroundings than to her. Instead she gave him a moment to contemplate, to regard the former Enclave, until such a time as his attention was drawn back to her.

"I have met enough," she offered, with a very light shrug of her shoulders, "Most were simply hiding behind the facade, if I were to hazard a guess, a shame truly as they besmirched the good name of your cause. You, however..."

For a moment her gaze traveled over him, truly looked at him as though able to see for the first time, an intensity behind her otherwise guarded expression. "You are different."

What came next had her head tilt to one side, and a very gentle smile pulling at her lips. Her, a Jedi? It wasn't the first time she had been questioned as such, in this Galaxy most only saw the black and the white, the Jedi and the Sith, the occasional Dark Jedi which flitted between, they did not note the greyscale, nay the beautiful spectrum which ran through the Force, her eyes had been opened to it at a young age, truly she had always been set after the Aing-Tii even then.

Her interest in that most ancient of Orders had never waned, theirs was a path she followed in sincerity even if it was not truly her own. But the Je'daii? The Je'daii were her home, they were her person, their philosophy ran deep into her core, and she could not separate herself from it now even if she wished.

If the fiend Aellin had not managed to break her, then what could when she had the fury of her Order ingrained within her mind?

"Though I have spent many a day learning from the Jedi, I would be lying if I told you I belonged to their Order. No, my path is one of Balance and Moderation, one which was started long before the feuds of Sith and Jedi came to be, Master Jedi."

She inclined her head then, out of respect to not just he but the Force which swelled around them.

"I belong to the Ancient Order of the Je'daii, who seek to study and understand the Force in all its facets."

The last time she had been so open about it, she had been diffusing the situation with Connor when the man had sought to cut her down for no reason other than he thought her a harbinger of the Light. It had been foolish of him, in truth, but foolish of her also to think she could talk him down. Imagine her surprise when it had worked, when he had shown intrigue to her Order. While he hadn't forsaken the dark path he was walking along, the fact that he had spent a day among her people, that he had learned some of what it was to face Moderation, was a win in her books.

The seeds had been sewn, even if he did not yet acknowledge it.

Blinking, she brought herself back from her thoughts and offered a wry smile. "I hope such does not unnerve you, Master Jedi, truly I am here with only good intent."

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"Indeed..."

Veiere responded to her, his voice trailing a moment in recognition of the truth behind her words for the many visions of Jedi in today's Galaxy, not all of them resembling the Order that used to be in the best of lights. It was something of a difficult subject as Veiere himself had been forced to adapt with his position residing over Commenor and his dedication to the Force and to the People through reinvigorating the Jedi Enclave of Deneba.

"The Integrity of the Jedi Order is not what it used to be, I will be the first to admit this. In the Galactic Republic's final days, I sought to help to change this, however met with argument by others wishing not to fall back on our traditional virtue and ideals, the Order proved to be something of a broken shell of what it once was".

It was difficult for him to decide in these times whether the title of Jedi still honestly applied to him; spending his life living to serve the Force, he still upheld many if not all of the tenets of the Jedi Code and sought to deny want of selfish regard for the good that he might bring unto others, be that support of emotional or medical, combatant in defense or financial kind.

"The Force in all it's splendor is simply to vast for we of Sentient mind to grasp the true nature of. Whether one goes by the name of Jedi or otherwise, I do not seek to judge but take people as they are on moral standing. You might be surprised the kinds of people I've walked alongside seeing a light in their eyes beyond what might be considered a darker embodiment of alignment within the Force".

Working with those of the Sith in the past, as a Jedi (and this was something extremely rare nowadays) he did not seek to judge or place himself upon a level any higher than any other for their share differences in beliefs nor lifestyles. Cyril Grayson for example had become like a Brother to Veiere, and yet he was a reformed Sith Lord who struggled with his path that walked the line between Darkness and Light.

"The Je'daii Order?"

He questioned as if uncertain whether he had misheard her pronunciation or not. It was a name that dated far back into the origins surrounding both the Jedi and the Sith Orders if he could recall right; It had been a long time since he had delved into such historical subjects of study. Waving a hand dismissively at her notion that this might throw him off in some manner, he smiled encouragingly, shaking his head in casual decline.

"I'm not so easily startled, don't you worry....-Tell me about this Order of yours and how it fares in todays Galaxy, especially in light of the current state of the Jedi these days".

[member="Asha Hex"]

 

[Lief]

"I've found, in my studies, that Jedi go through such phases... Typically they end in a change in philosophy, becoming more lax on certain aspects, firmer on others. Numerous codes, splinter groups, attempts at keeping unified in the face of adversity. The Galaxy is more turbulent now than it has been in millennia, the very foundations have been shaken by events outside of our control, and while not ideal even the serene Jedi have been forced to adapt."

Did that make it right?

Did that change the fact that taking life indiscriminately as many Jedi these days were want to do, that creating wanton destruction, was wrong? No. Certainly it did not, because the Jedi still had a strict base of tenets that had not changed almost since their original formation, or more... Since the formation of that first great Republic.

But with the Republic gone, with their millennia long focus lost to them, it was understandable that they were lost in some regard.

Yet from what Papa has told me, the Jedi were broken even before the Republic's decline. And not the Galactic Alliance, nor the Silver Jedi, have been able to reclaim what was lost. A whole generation of Jedi have been born without any clear divide between what ought to be done, and the examples they're being provided with. See a Master or Force-Forbid a Councillor throw out whole Force Storms, and they'll see it as a precedent to follow.

She frowned at her inner thoughts, realizing that she had not dared to voice them. It wasn't that she was afraid of offending him in any way, simply that she doubted such even needed to be said, he was no fool this man before her, he had returned to this place with a purpose, and he would continue to pioneer the future of the Jedi for better or for worse.

"Our connection to the Force is a very sacred and personal thing, no two people experience it the same way, our relationship with it is shaped by our experiences, by the path we take through life, and so judging one on their presence within it alone would be folly. I have met Sith with more morals than Jedi, Jedi filled with unmatched rage... I am fortunate in that I am not held to any higher standards by society, by the Galaxy at large, who have eyes only for the black and white of things. I understand that such is not quite so easy for those who sit on either side of the great spectrum."

That was food for thought if nothing else.

The Je'daii had those who walked the path of the Jedi, and even the odd Sith, who had come to them seeking moderation, control over their emotions, none had been turned away if they stood in sincerity. Only one had revoked their desire, [member='Connor Harrison'], though she daren't say she was surprised, the circumstances around their coming together in the first place had been rocky, dangerous even, but he had tried. At least he could say that much.

It was enough to respect, even if he had returned to his former path. Most were too stubborn or prideful to look over the hedge that flanked their path, into what lay on the other side.

"Je'daii, yes, forefathers of the modern day Jedi and Sith. We play no part in the politics of the Galaxy, Master Jedi, we exist to learn, strive to be the best form of ourselves that we can become, both physically and spiritually, and while we avoid the major conflicts we won't hesitate to render aid in the aftermath of the battles which rage so rampantly these days. Do you know the story of the founding of Tython, and the Tythans, Master? How our Order came to be, and how - after Millennia of peace and prosperity, of furthered insight into the Force - the schism that brought about the first Jedi came about?"

Most did not appreciate a random history lesson, but Asha had always been intrigued by what information remained from those formative years, with the Galaxy on the brink of Hyperspace Discovery, and far off systems little more than a dream in the minds of scientists.

Back before the greater divides, when wars were fought on continents not in the void of space.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

The origins of the Jedi and so too the origins of the Sith, it was a subject of great study within the Jedi Order, to acknowledge the history and heritage of their dedication to the Force. Veiere had read about the Je'daii Order once long ago within the Archives that filled this very Enclave, once upon a time alight with the luminescence of power and life within the flow of the natural world.

"Much of our history has been lost over the years, locations such as Coruscant battered by war and changing between the Jedi and the Sith who have fought for the heart of the Core Worlds...-It's been a great deal of time since I'd studied our makings, thus please forgive me if I mistake a few things but as I understand it, the Jedi and the Sith were once of the same Order".

The concept today seemed hard to believe by all accounts though such were the retellings of history, often considered with skepticism for the myth that they sounded to many of a more black and white view as [member="Asha Hex"] knew well. Veiere however was too, like her, a believer and man of optimistic creed; that gray area in between he still had hope could flourish despite the things he had seen committed by both Jedi and Sith over the years of war the two had struck upon one another.

"Ashla and Bogan, names for which they considered the two behaviors noted by those of Force Sensitivity; much like our understanding of the Dark Side and the Light Side today. Though I admit, I am rather hazy on the details around these, they always sounded to be more spiritual, as if deities of the Force...".

He was a man who believed in that very spirituality within the Force, treating it not as a field of energy but a living will that guided them all. The very essence of life, the energies of the natural worlds and space around them, how after all could this presence not be conscious. Deep down, such was a conversation that he had shared with few others and even fewer Jedi. He had spoken to [member="Lady Kay"] about such things though her views of the Force were far smaller due to her difference in livelihood, a Politician and Woman of the people rather than the faith that he carried, she was practiced yet not on the same level one might say.

"These ideals splintered the Order they had created and gave way for the first Force War, one that we still see carried on into this and other generations to come no doubt...".

How many lives would have been spared were such a war and a divide able to be halted. A fleeting thought, unrealistic and overshadowed by the truth in today where even the Jedi were so often opposed to one another and the differences within themselves, let alone the ways of the Sith.

In some way however it made him feel far more justified in his indifference to the other Orders, in that he did not treat those of the Darkside with instant hostilities. It was easily forgotten the stories of their origins and such knowledge and learnings from those times escaped him well into today, ancient philosophies of an organization of Force users he was certain had all but been extinguished from the Galaxy. And yet before him, one very person stood to echo such possibilities

He had been convinced that his path in the Force was to re-establish integrity within the Jedi Order, a goal that after many many years had finally been fulfilled yet the Force was ever so vast and difficult to understand in any simple certainty. Now within the ruins of the old ways of the Jedi, an even older voice seemed to be whispering to them both. Be it fate or the will of the Force; Veiere could not wonder if his interpretation of his life's work had not been miscalculated by a margin that could now be laid visible between them.

 

[Lief]

"Ashla and Bogan were the names of the moons which orbited Tython, the original homeworld of the Je'daii Order, and battleground of the Force Wars which waged in the Order's twilight," she gracefully corrected, with a small smile, "One, Ashla, was noticeably lighter than the other, and when a Je'daii strayed too close to the light, to walking exclusively beneath it, they were sent to meditate on Ashla, with only a view of Bogan - the darker moon - in hopes that they would realize the beauty and necessity of Balance. And vice versa, of course."

An odd practice in the eyes of the Galaxy which had developed today, no doubt, and one which at times had not at all been effective, but still that had led to the Je'daii branding the different facets of the Force Ashla and Bogan, terms still readily utilized these days. And then of course there was Bendu, the equilibrium, the Balance between.

"The Je'daii were a peaceful people during their conception, Force Sensitives from all across the Galaxy were transported to Tython in great ships known as Tho Yor, first of their kind - and something wondrous to behold. This was back before hyperspace travel, you must understand, doing this was no easy feat... And yet they came, and settled as the first Tythans, in pursuit of knowledge where the mystical energy we know to be the Force is concerned. They did not grow outside of their system, those born in the vast generations which followed who were not sensitive to the Force were sent to Kalimahr, a sister planet of Tython, and a few of the other planets were settled or mined for resources... Beyond that, there was no expansion. They did not seek to dominate the Galaxy as many Orders which followed have attempted, they were happy to remain as they had always been."

This was something that they were attempting to mirror today, the Order of the Je'daii, to take no part in wars unless it was unavoidable, to take no part in the domination of the Galaxy, and the spheres of influence which perpetually rose and fell. They would render aid to any and all, they would promote prosperity and good health as could be seen on Aurum, but the politics and throws of the Galaxy were not for them.

"For over ten thousand years the Je'daii existed in this way, and during that time they perfected their way of life. The Great Journey each undertook had become a staple trial, the Tho Yor which had transcended the depths of space had flourished into Temples to appease their every need, to grow their minds and their connection to the Force. Ten thousand years of relative peace, though there will always be conflict in any civilization. But that was before the Schism, and the Force Wars which followed."

Someone else might have realized that they were talking too much, that this was far more than had been required of her to say, and yet Asha found herself lost in the moment, her eyes had glazed over again, a mist covering the stark green hue that typically fluttered within her iris', and with each word she spoke it came to life before her, the Enclave and the man were gone, until just the glory of Tython in its prime could be witnessed by her.

"There were some within the Je'daii who viewed the lightside of the Force - Ashla - as superior. Not content to simply break away from the Order and go their separate ways, they subjected the entirety of their people to a long and bloody civil war, and in the end any who had stuck to the old ways of Balance, any who still adhered to even a touch of Bogan as tradition bade them to, were wiped out. The Je'daii became the Jedi Order, and practice of Bogan was outlawed entirely. Thus came the end of the Je'daii, and the peace they had clung to for so long. From there... Well, from there the blood continued to flow. One of the founding Masters of the Jedi gave in to the whims of the Darkside, something he could no longer contain and hold in moderation as they once had, and he took with him several of the Jedi he had corrupted, dubbing themselves the True Dark Sons of Tython. The Force Wars were reignited, and for a decade Ashla and Bogan were at odds, until the Sons were defeated..."

Blinking, she finally saw him there before her again, and though a deep blush worked its way over her cheeks as she realized how much she had been talking, she could not bring herself to leave the tale where it was, incomplete. And so, with an apologetic smile, she resumed, her hands settling at her back. It was strange, truth be told, to be the one telling this tale. She had never heard it aloud, she had done a lot of research on the matter but she'd never told it back to anyone, she'd never had cause to, and yet even so she was finding it came to her rather effortlessly.

"Tython, however, is a world that dislikes changes to the Force. It is very sensitive, perhaps less so these days but back then? Whole Force Storms raged, not at the hand of some wayward Force User but from the core of the planet itself... The impact was devastating, and rather than see Tython tear itself apart the Jedi left it to recover, moving closer to the Core to establish themselves. Further schisms presented themselves, of course, eventually leading to the Sith as we know them today, alas... I fear I have spoken on this subject too much already. Forgive me, Master Jedi."

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

In the ease and flow of her words offered to him, enlightenment and learning over the better spoken histories of both of their Orders were given that he might gain a better understanding of who she was. Such a discussion was by no means insignificant, it foretold the foundation of what all Force Users had once been established.

The fact that those of the light-side of the Force had initiated the first civil war and ultimately led to the great Force Wars that would ripple out across generations upon generations, it was not information that everyone would be willing to acknowledge upon first being introduced to it. For years, Veiere had imagined that the Sith had started the fued, their aggression easily justified in his presumptions though [member="Asha Hex"] had clarified the truth in the matter of their past for which Veiere's brows furrowed a little, wishing that he couldn't see the irony and the twisted humor of fate beneath it all.

"You need not apologize, my friend. It has been a great many years since I read up on the subject, not since I was a student myself..."

He offered a warm hearted smile in response to her look of embarrassment, for he truly welcomed the conversation and found it nice for a change to be the one on the receiving end of learning as opposed to watching over the students back within the Enclave of Deneba. "It seems I'm not nearly as learned on the Je'daii Order as I thought I was" he soon chuckled and this time dipped his head sideways to her in an apologetic glance of his own; "You would think a Master of the Jedi Order would be more in tune with the origins of his own...".

With the suggested ideals and traditions of the Je'daii that Asha had spoken to him of, Veiere had come to wonder if he wasn't perhaps born into the wrong Era. In all truth there didn't seem to be a great deal that would separate her people from his own. The Silver Jedi Order soon came to mind and how even they differed from the Jedi of Deneba that Veiere had led back into it's establishment once more.

'Perhaps this was the true nature between what separated the Jedi and the Je'daii'

The thought wasn't one he quite knew how to feel about, had those on Deneba been guided back to the old ways of the Je'daii state of virtue, so to speak? Was the aggression and assertiveness of the Silver Order justified and truly the face of what the Jedi Order had become over the centuries passed? The Force had pulled Veiere's entire life into a single direction for which he had achieved recently, now with the Order strong enough to walk on it's own feet without him at the head any longer; but that there might be a chance he had misinterpreted the will of the Force and heard the calling of the path of the Je'daii, not knowing different from the Jedi Order that he had been raised within as a child...

"Do you believe that the Jedi ought to be more assertive in their means to defend the galaxy from the likes of the Sith?" He asked, looking back to Asha Hex with an expression that whispered of self consciousness now suddenly questioning whether or not he had achieved what he had believed he was guided to do. "Everything that I have done, I have done with the faith that the Force has guided me through the many trials and tribulations of life as a Jedi. I had come to the conclusion that it was to reform the Order and so, like this place used to be, I set into motion the renovations of the Jedi Enclave upon the world of Deneba...".

"The things that you describe however align with my core beliefs and principles to the point that it almost reflects the care and consideration I take in with dealing with others. Some Jedi question my ways, my willingness to work with those of the Dark-side of the Force were they amicable and doing no wrong. They struggle to see the virtue in all peoples as opposed to falling upon prejudice at the mere mention of the alignment that conflicts with their own. It troubles me greatly as all life in my eyes is to be respected, for the Force flows throughout all living things..." Criticism and self righteousness had seen to the decay of virtue within the Jedi of today's Era; those that felt they were better for their deeds taken against the Sith only treated with the same superiority complex as those whom opted out for pacifism and claiming to be the true embodiment of the Code for which they had all been taught.

The judgments over the years had weighed Veiere down greatly, many of these perceptions more than anything, assumed by those who had a lack of communication to be informed otherwise and though Veiere had tried to encourage his own people to be open and respect all for who they were, the integrity that they showed...-His faith in the Order continued to rise and fall; never able to take one step forward without seemingly taking two in the opposite direction when it came to progress.

"I too am a believer in Balance of the Force, that there cannot be light without darkness and vice versa...I only wish that other Jedi had realized this before going their ways before the fall of the Galactic Republic. Deneba has proven to be a place of integrity, though now I wonder if it hasn't truly been shaped in the image of the Je'daii rather than that of the Order I once knew...".

 

[Lief]

Surprisingly enough, he did not seem to mind the little trip through history, in fact she could see it in his eyes that he had genuinely learned something from it. There was a certain irony in that, not one she would voice of course, but it was humbling to realize that even a great Jedi Master had things to learn, ways to go in their training. Age and experience didn't trump the fact that there was so much to know, infinite swathes of knowledge, and only a finite amount of time in which to study it.

"I think that the Jedi should be a little less zealous, in truth; hunting down a follower of Bogan simply for that fact, because they harness what they consider to be the darkside, is intrinsically wrong. True there are some who believe that utilizing it is twisting the very nature of the Force, and perhaps this is my upbringing and Je'daii learning that is making me more biased against that idea, but the Force is not black and white, Master. There isn't just two sides to it, it is a sliding scale, a whole spectrum, and those lines get blurry the more you look. How many times in recent history have the Jedi aggressively used the Force, even if they draw upon the Light? It is not the powers they wield that are inherently good or bad, it is the way in which they are used, it is the intent behind it. And if the Jedi wish to go on a crusade against the Sith simply because of what they are, and not because of what they have done, then it is they who are in the wrong."

Not a very popular opinion, of course. But Asha had studied past the initial Schism, past the Force Wars, she knew what had led to the Sith becoming the way they were today, and it wasn't the darkside of the Force.

"Did you know that when Darksiders sprung up on Lettow, men and women who had broken away from the Jedi Order, even though they posed little threat to the Order who was in an entirely different system, it was the Jedi who were the first to draw blood? Rather than leave them to their studies, they eradicated the Legion... And again, when further sects who studied Bogan arose, over and over, until they founded Korriban, until they found the Sith Species and their philosophy mixed with the Sith Society... They were forced to fight back, or face eradication once more. That makes me wonder, Master Jedi... If those first few darksiders, be they the True Sons or the Legion, had been left to their own devices, would the Galaxy have turned out the way it is today? Would the raging wars and the thirst for domination even be a thing? I do not believe that Bogan is as inherently evil as many paint it to be, nor Ashla as benevolent."

As an addendum, she held up on small hand before he could balk at her words, if he took offense to them at all, and offered him a wry smile, clearly a little anxious about where this might lead, yet sure enough in her beliefs which were borne from years of study on this very subject.

"Do not mistake my words, Master Jedi, the Jedi mean well, and in this day and age the acts of many Sith are horrendous, all I mean to say is... A crusade against practitioners for simply being practitioners is wrong. If there was more of a focus on cleaning up after these wars, than plotting the next one, perhaps some ground could be made. Alas... Dark times breed harsher men."

Surprisingly enough Asha moved then, something she hadn't consciously done in some time, and found herself a larger piece of rubble to settle upon, sitting across from him as she listened to his words, to the uncertainty and complications he was unearthing throughout this conversation. It had not been her intentions to make him doubtful of his own path. Far from it.

"The Jedi grew from the Je'daii, it only makes sense that you find similarities between the True Jedi you are building up on Deneba, and the Je'daii from the annuls of time, many of the core tenets are actually rather similar, just the philosophy has changed over time. There is no Ignorance, there is Knowledge... That line was taken from the Je'daii Code, and yet even now it lives on in the Jedi's own. The Three Pillars, the Codes of Responsibility, Public Service, and Self-Discipline, Respect for all Life Forms... These are things our Orders share, Master Jedi. It simply stands that we do not shirk from the wonderful possibilities of the Force, we study it in all its forms, and we do not restrict ourselves from emotions or attachment. All that such restriction does is breed contempt. Instead we remain mindful and moderate, learn how to utilize them in the correct manner, and not allow them to rule us."

Settling her hands into her laps, she regarded him from across the courtyard, a ponderous look in her eye.

"It could be true, of course, you could be walking a closer path to the Je'daii than to the Jedi Order... But that would have to be a conscious decision to make, and I'm not going to pretend to have the answer. I will offer you this, however. If you wish to learn more, if you wish to try a life of moderation, learn the philosophy of balance... The way of the Je'daii, even for a short time... Then you seek me out, Master Jedi. We don't expect exclusivity, our Order carries men and women from all walks of life, so long as they are sincere in their desire to at least try and learn. After all, we began as mere scholars... We strive for Knowledge and Understanding above all else. Just something to think on."

Her gaze drifted around the courtyard in silence then, feeling the swirling of the Force which lingered here even now, stronger than perhaps it ought to, truly to Asha it was like a window through time, a small tear which yearned to be opened and explored. But there was more to it than even that, the Force congregated here, a focal point that was rare among the Galaxy, and yet while she expected it to be dark, after all so much life had been lost, there remained prickles of light throughout. It was... Odd, and as she sat there a small frown played over her lips.

"Do you feel it?" she whispered, wonder in her gaze as she glanced all around, "This place is sacred, even beyond the memories it holds... The Force flows more freely here. A vergence, perhaps..." She hadn't come across such before. Of course there were Darkside Nexuses, they were impossible to ignore, and Lightside Nexuses... But to have one which seemed to be held to neither side?

The very thought of it sent a tremor down her spine.

"Tell me, Master Jedi, what exactly happened here?"

She rose from the rubble, and took a few steps toward him. Her hand was offered down to him, and her gaze met his directly. There was an odd look behind them, one which seemed to speak a promise of more if only he took her hand, if only he spoke on what he knew.

"Do you trust me?"

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"Perhaps it's better to say that our views correlate with one another better than I'd have imagined rather than to suggest that I am in doubt of the Jedi Order; If what you say is true then the Order really did fall in to decline far earlier than I had suspected, though it changes little in what I have sought to start upon the world of Deneba...-We're considered pacifists because we share this same sentiment, a wish to treat people upon the standing of their personal virtue and integrity rather than the "side" of the Force that they seek to follow. The Dark-Side of the Force, Bogan if you will, it is extremely influential over ones emotions just as much so as the Light or Ashla as you see it. It is the differences in both groups that maintain differing levels of reserve in how they seek to use or restrain themselves from such practices that had led to their impacting society around them...".

Like [member="Asha Hex"], his views were very much the controversial stance among the many Jedi Orders of today's Galaxy. The fact that there was considered to be more than one Jedi Order was in itself, ludicrous though he had done all that he knew to seek to bring them closer together. He had not voiced it to any other before, but in those times his frustrations slowly led him astray, seeking just how stubborn and judgemental those who claimed to follow the very same path could become; and in turn, how much it influences his own biases for which today he sought to distance himself from. It was a slow learning curve, that old saying that 'for every time you point the finger at another, two are pointing right back at you'. In the end he had fallen upon the conclusion that the time for the younger [member="Romi Jade"]'s entrance into leadership had come. He had spoken most encouragingly to her in the times of her initial doubts to the decision, she had not felt ready and yet her capabilities toppled Veiere's own at the time. Her whole life lay ahead of her where as Veiere had grown up here on Svivren, watched as the Sith crushed everything he had once held dear and then fallen into Exile for twelve long years before his eventual return to the Republic; only then to see that fall apart and the Jedi crumble with it.

Do you trust me? ​

​

It seemed a strange question to ask given how little time they had spent in one another's company, though her words came accompanied by a look that reflected more than her hope and intent; around them the Force swirled, ever present here as it had always been in the memories that he held over his former home, yet now coming to swell within the courtyard they shared; the kind of feeling that came with a sense of belonging or fate were one not already faithful in the ways of the Force. There were several possibilities for why she sought his hand, reaching out to take hers into his gentle hold, he focused upon the question and the memories that so easily come to mind, images of fluent recollection of his life within the Enclave that now remained nothing of it's former stature.

"I was but a boy when I first wound up here, inducted in my very early years as an Initiate of the Jedi Order and slowly working my way through the introductory stage of my learnings to one day become a Jedi Padawan. I made many long term friendships that would later work alongside me well into my knighthood. Attended off-world missions that would see me learn the ways of the Force but most importantly too the ways of different societies the Enclave walls can so often neglect for the comforts and security of such a place..."

Veiere smiled to himself in fond retelling of his childhood past, meanwhile with his hand within her own, Asha Hex would feel the flow and warmth of his emotions as the Force carried them in residual effect, much against his own acknowledgement for it was not at all intentional but such memories were powerful and a strong part of what contributed to the aged man sitting before her today. Life itself seemed to pour into the courtyard for which the Enclave centered around, it could be seen in the way that the flora had overgrown and come to meet within the center of the cobblestone floors, tiles pried with the makings of new and old shrubbery, the plant life around the structure having removed it of it's former immaculate state yet given rise to the evidence that the Force here was unusually strong and chained the course of nature in the wound, binding it to this ground in such a way that it carried a beauty and serene feeling that few words could give credit for.

"The One Sith came to power around three years into my Knighthood. The larger branches, temples of our Order called for reinforcement in order to protect the core-worlds yet our Council at the time recognized the threat and felt the fewer numbers of Svivren would leave the world vulnerable. Clearly they had seen something that we had not..." his words faded off for a moment, that fond smile of his turning placid and his expression shifting as he felt the rise of remorse and the recognition of his past mistakes come to prey upon his mind. "I and a number of others felt this was a mistake. Perhaps neither side was wrong with how many worlds the One Sith overcame in the end yet we went against the Councils guidance and left Svivren to heed the call of our fellow Branches. We hadn't even reached the Core when word came to us that Svivren had been attacked...".

"When we returned, we found the Enclave in ruins...-The people we had spent our lives training alongside, coming to know and regard as brothers and sisters of the Order..." He glanced back to Asha Hex with a ginger nod of his head as if to suggest she knew where he was going with the statement. Moving on, he continued "Those of the Sith that remained behind were mere stragglers, some injured and others who sought to gain something from the enclave perhaps, I'm not entirely sure what their motives were but when we found them...-The restraint that we were taught to preserve was lost at the sight of such horrors...-Blood was repaid in blood and I would come to start my twelve years in Exile...-Not expecting to return to the Order having turned my back on the teachings of my Master that day".

Looking away from his new found friend, his gaze would take in what remained of the Enclave. He wouldn't go into discussion around the subject of [member="Caehl Ren"], he of whom once went by the name of Brennan Cabrol, Veiere's first Jedi Apprentice; though he did come to mind and perhaps Asha would see his face if her mind was not already clouded with the images of death and the fight that had occurred in these very grounds. Brennan had been a certainty back then, his death Veiere had been convinced of though somehow he had later found himself within the hands of the First Order and now a Knight of Ren. He had shown up much later on Commenor and threatened his wife to try and bait Veiere, yet there had been no trace since and nothing but silence followed in the years that passed...

"Once upon a time this was a place of discovery in the Force, scholars of the Consular's path would study here...-The Force ever present, vibrant in the flush life of this land. Were you to see it before the enclave fell, you might have truly admired how calm and comforting it would be to sit where we are and listen to the sounds of nature around us. Perhaps this was our mistake...-Our minds forever questioning what could be, distracting us from what was coming our way beyond this world. This Enclave...One can only speculate these days...".

 

[Lief]

"The Jedi have gone through phases since their creation, the foundation they built themselves upon was admittedly not the strongest, schism after schism proved that, but there have been times in history when they have worked towards fixing such. Of course, much of that was lost."

The only reason Asha knew as much as she did was due to the fact that she had seen it. Meditated for hours, nay days at an end, locked within a dreamlike state as she tread along the paths of time. All that was needed was just the right snippets of information, and then it came to life before her. Thankfully her namesake had done enough of the research to provide her with that window.

"Forgive me, Master Jedi, I was not trying to presume your path or your faith... I was simply in agreement over the similarities."

For a moment she wondered on whether or not he would accept her unspoken invitation. It was true, Asha was asking much of this man that she barely knew, a man who knew as much about her as she did of him, and yet what harm could a touch of the hand possibly bring?

The touch, brought with the words he spoke, had her eyes close. Her hand curled around his, though the grasp was not rough or tight, simply settled there enough that the contact was palpable, but not overwhelming on the senses. All at once her breathing regulated itself, as though she were asleep and her body could act purely on instinct, yet her grasp did not loosen or tighten, it remained as it was, she remained as she was, listening, breathing, reaching...

Slowly but surely the world around them both began to shift and change. Not just in her mindseye, but his too. Only now did her hand subtly tighten, moreso to ensure that he didn't pull away in surprise of what was happening - though if he tried hard enough he could of course break free. It wasn't her intentions to make him see or make him stay, just to offer a glimpse into something he might not have fully remembered.

To give him a chance to reflect, and she a chance to understand.

For a moment it was as Asha had seen it earlier, through the tear in time. The walls of the Enclave were built back up, and they found themselves within the great foyer that this had once been. Men, women, and children, all clad in the tell-tale robes of the Jedi Order, bustled through the chamber, some had their noses in books, others strode with a confidence, most were silent but several were talking off to one side.

Among them, somewhere - though Asha had not tried to look for him yet - Veiere would see a reflection of himself, only much younger, during his earlier stages within the Order. Initiate, or perhaps a fresh faced Padawan... But the image was fleeting, all of it was, as his story led on from youth to Knighthood. Though the faces and activities changed, the Enclave remained as strong and unchanging as it always had.

She paused, no longer walking along the strands she allowed them to be suspended in this moment in time, and finally opened her eyes. The sight which graced her was the same which had been in her minds eye, and now she turned her gaze toward Veiere, to study his response to what was happening around them.

Still holding his hand, to ensure the connection did not break before he wished it to, she attempted to lead him toward one of the doorways which now existed, allowing him a chance to walk back through the Enclave as it had been intended to be, and not how it had become.

She ought to have said something, to reassure him, but she didn't. She waited, to see what he might have to say, so as not to break the spell or the memories which might be drifting over him.

There was much more to see, though, if he allowed her to continue.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

The sudden empowerment of the Force to the area around them startled Veiere, his eyes widening as the very cracks in the Enclaves walls, the crumbled portions of the stone floor and the overgrown wildlife all receded from before them, withdrawing to the outside while the courtyard seemed to act of itself, recovering and returning to the once immaculate state that only his memories could want to recall, the nature of this vision or whatever it was that they were seeing unfold before them was nothing alike anything that he had experienced.

Even Visions of some degree were received through meditation and he was no seer, everything came with cryptic messages in the force and a struggle to decipher their meaning but this...-He could hear the voices of life around him, the younglings playing with one another and running around the older members of the former order while the younger of mentors tried to call for their restraint and mentor them into more fitting behaviors.

A curious smile tugged at the side of his mouth, trying to deter his shock and awe. For a moment he sought to look for his former Padawan, the young Brennan Cabrol though to his further astonishment he found himself looking upon a very timid version of himself, a very very young boy in his first day being received by the Jedi Order. Entering into the courtyard, there was movement from both sides. An older woman leaving the interior of the Enclave to meet the young boy and his later Jedi Master, the three standing in the center before him and [member="Asha Hex"] to introduce the child to the life for which he would spend the next three decades dedicated to.

His brows furrowed, Veiere's gaze lingering on his former self. Everything would change from that day and not all of it for the best though such was the way of the life of a Jedi, to be graced with such woundrous knowledge only to burden the harsher attitudes and most conflicting of times that others might be spared such turmoil.

Choosing not to make a fuss of the recollection, his memory seeking out this imagery through whatever connection Asha had established over them both, he would soon be greeted by her encouraging them forwards and Veiere choosing not to fight or argue it any, began to walk alongside her, that his former self be swept on by and the pair of them be brought into the next scene, all of which left the Jedi Master feeling at a loss for this girl's ability to wield such a power.

 

[Lief]

She had seen him, how could she not when Veiere's own gaze lingered so stubbornly upon it, the visage of himself, only younger. Filled with the same look of awe and shock as his older counterpart now held. Truly, this Enclave had been a wonder to behold, but there was so much more to it than that, the Padawan was seeing his future laid out before him, while the Master saw only the past he had come from.

Asha had never really looked along her own path.

There had been that one time, on the Graveyard, when she had attempted to go forward, into her future, to leave an impression for her Father to find her... Dangerous, folly-fooled endevour though it had been, and fruitless in the end given that [member='Jericho'] had never actually found her, after all how many infinite futures were there? No... If the void had not taken her, or the strands forced her down a path she could not return from, then Aellin might have made her life that much more of a nightmare were he to find out.

She hadn't earned the right to leave the Graveyard, much less speak to her Father, at that point.

You haven't earned that right even now. Every so often she could not shake the feeling that he was still there, watching her progress with displeasure. But he hadn't done anything, not when she had sought out her Father, not when she had removed the collar. Not once had he stepped forth.

Of course, her mind was on the present now, not her past; the Enclave which had blossomed before them only grew in its magnificence as she led the Jedi Master by the hand through the great entrance, and into the hallway beyond. Again Jedi of all ages, ranks, and professions, could be found pottering about. A child was receiving a quiet talking to in one corner of the room, and despite the fact that they had only stepped through a door, Veiere more so than Asha would get the feeling that time had shifted.

Several years? Longer? Who knew, but any familiar faces he might have recognized would not be as they had been during his first few days in the Enclave. Asha knew of course, she had intentionally done so, and yet she did not know to look for the signs that made it obvious.

"There is a Vergence here," she finally said, as she glanced around the foyer with an odd misty look in her eyes, similar to ones she had displayed earlier when they had first met with one another, "The Force is particularly strong, the cause of it has not shown itself yet... But it will."

Of course, Asha did not need a Vergence to walk through the past... That being said, it acted as an anchor which allowed her to truly focus on what was happening around them, more so even than usual. Typically she saw flashes, every so often with something she had studied long and hard on she could walk through it as they were doing now, but the Enclave was not a place she was familiar with, she had not studied it, and she knew only what this Jedi Master had told her.

And yet, despite all of that, the amount of detail she was able to pull forth from the strands of time surprised even her.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]