Azure Phoenix
Braze was beginning to find his way around the New Cov temple, growing familiar with its winding halls and quiet alcoves. Much of his time was spent in the library, poring over holopads filled with data on cultures and planets in preparation for an impending mission that would soon take him far away from here.
Adjusting to life as a Jedi Knight at the green age of fifteen was no small feat. It was a monumental responsibility, one he was determined to shoulder well. The weight of duty pressed upon him—not only had he stepped into the role of a Jedi Knight, but he had also begun training as a Jedi Shadow with
Drystan Creed
and
Valery Noble
as his teachers. There was so much to learn, so much to do, and never enough time.He had changed—markedly so. The reckless energy of his Padawan days had tempered into something quieter, more disciplined. Knighthood had demanded a stark seriousness from him, and he had met that demand without hesitation. He wanted to do right by
Jasper Kai'el
, to prove himself worthy of the trust placed in him. Perhaps that was why he had become more withdrawn, more contemplative, absorbing everything he could to fulfill his new role. Observing. Studying. Learning. The percieved expectations placed upon him were vast, and failure was not an option.His thoughts drifted to
Aadihr Lidos
' words at the ceremony. Seated at a quiet table, a holopad glowing softly before him, he let the memory surface. He wasn't sure how to address what had been said. Discussing something so personal in a public space seemed unwise, and yet... it lingered in his mind, reinforcing concerns about the relationships between Knights and their Padawans. Braze wanted to be careful about expressing negative emotions in group settings, often assuming others preferred to be treated as he wished to be—given space to process rather than forced into difficult conversations.A flicker of something.
The glow of the holopad pulsed dimly, but for a split second, his vision swam—warped.
Too many legs. Too many eyes.
A shadow loomed, vast and suffocating, shifting in the periphery of his mind like something stirring beneath ice. He was small, far smaller than he was now. The scent of damp, of cold stone, of something far more cloying and saccharine coiling thick in the air. A voice—soft, warm, loving—whispered something just beyond his grasp. It should have been comforting. But the sickening, sinking feeling in his gut said otherwise.
Braze inhaled sharply. The library snapped back into focus.
His hands had clenched into fists. Slowly, deliberately, he exhaled and released the tension, fingers uncurling as he forced himself back to the present. It was nothing. It was old. Something buried. Something with no place in his mind now.
He reached for his tea, grounding himself with the warmth of the cup before setting it down with forced nonchalance.
Diogo Talon
. He focused on that instead. He wasn't sure if his advice had been too much, too soon. He had spoken with conviction, believing that the decision of a Master warranted careful thought. But had he overstepped? Regardless, he stood by the core of his message—it was not a choice to be made lightly.And then there was
Kaelos Vryn
… Braze's interactions with him had been favorable so far. His approach to teaching was far from orthodox, but he had a good feeling about their dynamic. He wasn't certain what the boy would ultimately decide for himself, but he believed he had at least helped him see things from new perspectives.Only time would tell.
