Private Falling With You

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Unknown Regions
Tag: Aris Noble
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x

-

The sudden whack of the ground drove a sharp yelp from Zaiya's lips, sending a bright, sharp flare of white across her mottled spots, but she did her damnedest to maintain the Force shield around them. Dust and ground debris rose in a massive cloud around her and Aris Noble as the sudden sinkhole caused the two adventuring teens to fall several feet into an underground tunnel system.

It all began rather innocently on Niv Hani. They had been wandering around and looking at the Epicanthix curios and items saved from the destruction of Panatha in preparation for the upcoming Fire Festival when Aris had felt himself drawn to a particular carved puzzle box. Intrigued, the pair worked on unlocking the mechanism, only to have it reform itself into an intricate sphere with a sudden display of a star map that pinpointed to a particular world neither had ever heard of before.

Vastly intrigued, Zaiya wondered if perhaps it had something to do with Aris's people. When Aris confirmed that something seemed to be tugging him to find out more, the pair had... well... borrowed the Bastion.

Now, here they were, lost in some underground tunnel with seemingly no way of getting back out of the method they managed to fall into.

"Aris!" Zaiya coughed, a flare of worry and concern jumpstarting her heart in fright as she searched for the Epicanthix. The teenager struggled to get on her feet. Smears of dirt were on her cheeks, and a small cut trickled blood over her right eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

There was precious little that could physically harm her best friend, but their years together let Zaiya know he wasn't invincible. Sure, he had trained to push past his limitations, but things could still harm him if Aris didn't pay attention.

It was dark, only the faintest rays of light permeating the din. The jungle had already been thick with vegetation and massive trees, filtering any light on the ground to spotty at best. Now, in the underground tunnels, it was almost impossible to see, and even Zaiya's ultraviolet vision was proving ineffective.

Well, if one didn't account for Zaiya's bioluminescence activating in ripples of pale yellow in concern, the constellation of scattered iridescent glowing freckles and spots on her bare arms and neck twinkling in the dark.

 

[Aris Noble]

Everything was black for Aris.

It'd started innocent enough. With the puzzlebox actually being something he could feel perhaps he'd jumped too much into it, too eager for any real caution. Once the location was revealed? He didn't even ask for permission for the Bastion, just.. Took it. The Force had finally called to him, so there was little that was going to stop him now. Or so he thought.

No sooner did the pair step off to begin their adventure on this unknown world the ground had given out.

Aris was buried. The ground had collapsed atop him with all it's weight, leaving him completely in the void. He couldn't feel anything, couldn't see, couldn't hear. He could smell dirt, at least. And technically he did feel, just, more dirt. He'd let out a sigh if he could. Then, he just sat up. Rock, dirt, all of it moved with ease as he pushed his way back to his feet and dusted off the dirt covering his tunic.

"... you okay?"

"I'm good. You alright Zaiya? Let me-"

He reached down to his toolbelt, plucking free a flashlight to shine down the rocky cavern they'd fallen into. It was empty at the moment, but he could already hear water ahead. Running water. Underground river, perhaps? His gaze went up as he paused. They weren't getting out that way. The light eventually found it's way to Zaiya, where it paused before the much taller boy stepped over and leaned down enough to be pretty close to her face.

Inspecting the cut.

"You're bleeding. You've got the medical supplies, right?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

Relief colored Zaiya's face at hearing Aris's voice, only to have her nictitating membranes sweep over her eyes when the flashlight hit her face. Even she could be sensitive to light when abruptly shined on her in the middle of the dark.

Wincing slightly, she heard Aris's footsteps as he made his way closer. "Yeah, I'm fine. I think I bruised my -- "

Zaiya's voice cracked as the Epicanthix teen suddenly was way too close. In the past two years, Aris had, unfortunately and much to Zaiya's discontent, shot up like a stalk of corn. For every centimeter she grew during her own growth spurt, Aris seemed to double it. At fifteen, he now had a solid twenty-five centimeters on her, despite the fact that she was one of the tallest female Padawans in their section. At 1.82 meters, Zaiya had lost the gangliness of the past, and at sixteen, had become a toned willowy figure with subtle curves and distinct strength. Her time spent body hardening and increasing her strength and natural flexibility had allowed her to feel more confident in her ability to protect herself and others. While she certainly would never have the strength Aris or Ayhan possessed, she could hold her own in a hand-to-hand fight, making her previous joking commentary on becoming His Highness's personal Knight a little more of a reality every day.

Of course, with all that growth and experience the Lovalla teen gained, so did Aris -- just as Zaiya was reminded of it as his concerned green gaze inspected the cut at her temple. Immediately, her heart gave a skipbeat, and the blue tint of her mottled spots began to turn pink.

Aris had not only grown in height but also gained some notable brawn that had her eyes lingering a bit too much during training sessions. Figuring out how to push past his mental and physical boundaries had, uh, done him some good. It had taken all she could to tell herself that she was merely appreciating the hard work Aris had put into training. Right? Right.

Totally had nothing to do with how fascinating she found the way his muscles would flex or just now how she could feel the tickle of his breath on top of her head -- Stop it, Zaiya! She scolded herself mentally, moving her hand up to wipe the trickle of blood off her temple, only serving to smear a petal of red into her bangs. Oh, blast!

"Yeah, umm, I have them. It's fine, umm. Just a cut. You know head wounds, just bleed a lot," Zaiya rambled, glancing away in the hopes that the dark cavern would hide the heat of her face. Her nicitating membranes swept aside and she blinked a few times, forcing herself to calm down and breathe. The last thing she needed was to turn into a walking holoadvertisement in the dark.

"Is that water?" Distraction with the obvious! Ask Aris a question and he would focus on it. It had worked well several times, seemingly distracting Aris and hopefully making him unaware of her flustered state. Maybe he'll think it was alarm that they fell into this cavern and not because of just how close he was. Deciding it would be best to get more light out, Zaiya brought up her arm, the jingle of bracelets alerting Aris to her location. Feeling for the right one, she found the activation button and swept through the options before the three round decorative globes on the bangle began to glow. They popped off the bangle, tiny hovering repulsors allowing them to fly up between the pair and start a slow circular cycle, illuminating them in a soft pale blue aura of light. She could control them with the Force if needed to have them move forward and keep her hands free.

"Okay...let's avoid falling into another hole... or something... So... are you feeling anything now?" She asked, knowing he had been the one who got the tingly pull.

 

[Aris Noble]

Her voice cracked. Her cheeks darkened. Her heartrate increased. Try as he might to ignore it, Aris knew the effect he had on Zaiya now. It was a hunch before, but over time in their friendship he could see it clear as any other emotion on her skin. Concern etched his features as he looked over her wound, though. He had to focus on that, not how soft her hair looked, or how much prettier she'd gotten over these last two years. How much stronger she looked from all her training, from all her work to be his actual guardian knight.

How he needed to avoid looking into her ryes so he didn't just stay lingering there. They were beautiful, full of life and determination. And he was staring. He cleared his throat as he looked away as she did. Though, thankfully, the awkwardness of her trying to brush away the blood had given him something else to focus on. Laughter. He bit back a laugh at her flustered demeanor, letting that be the emotion he'd show than the flustered feelings he had just looking at her.

"They do, don't they."

Aris turned his attention down the path though, towards the sound. Since they'd gotten here, he hadn't actually felt any pull, not like he did with the puzzlebox. Though, maybe- A quick rummage and he plucked the cube out, glancing it over curiously. There was a pull there, in the back of his mind. He smiled as he reached down to tick a button.

It flashed a light before sending a faint beam ahead, pulsing over the ground. A guide.

".. Well at least we're not lost. Shall we?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

Aris's choked laughter was a double-edged sword. Even as he bit it back, Zaiya could notice how his voice had a rich, warm timbre, age having deepened it a bit. Every time he laughed, his green eyes sparkled with an intensity that seemed to draw her in, making it near impossible for her to look away. For Zaiya, his laughter was more than just a sound; it was an experience. The way his lips curved into a genuine smile, revealing a glimpse of his perfect teeth, and the way his shoulders relaxed as the laughter bubbled up from deep within him, all combined to create a sight that was as mesmerizing as it was endearing. She found herself instinctively mirroring his smile, her bioluminescent spots shifting to a soft, warm glow that mirrored the emotions swirling within her.

A tiny guilty pleasure that fed the desire that Aris would only laugh like that around her.

Wiping her forehead again, the teenager glanced at her hand and noticed that the blood had thickened and it was now clotting. It would be fine. She could disinfect it and take care of it later.

A ripple of awe and avid curiosity painted Zaiya's face with rich citrine hues; it was so surreal and exciting that Aris was feeling the tug of the Force. Normally, he either had to have someone else help him sense anything, like when they were holding hands or, from what she could determine, when Vera had her visions, but otherwise, the Epicanthix had only been able to use the Force when applied to his body, not without. This new development was so thrilling that it made her wonder what could the map be leading them to. Did it have to do with the Epicanthix or something else? They were an amalgam culture forged together by conquering or assimilating other cultures, adding to their own with each new addition.

"How does it feel for you?" Zaiya asked, following Aris as he led them further into the tunnels. The air was notably chillier here, and if Zaiya wasn't of a Dresh linage, she might have been cold. But her kind was made to survive brutal winters, so it was still a comfortable level for now. "Like what do you sense?" While Zaiya was able to have heightened senses, she felt that this was different. Her mind would wonder if perhaps it was bloodline related? The Force? Or both?

As the glow of Aris's light and the glowing orbs revealed the cavern walls, she could see there was a layer of moisture trickling and dripping down, with what appeared to be mossy lichen growing alongside it.

The further they got along, however, it seemed to be less jagged rocks and more cleaner lines. The sound of water grew louder, and off in the distance, the tunnel would widen into a large underwater pond of sorts. It had a glassy surface, reflecting the stalagmite's overhead and making it seem as if the water had jutting fissures pointing up. Right in the middle, however, as Aris's light would pan over, would be a dark maw of an entrance, with barely discernable etchings alongside it. The tunnel kept going, it seemed, but this would be their first obstacle.

 

[Aris Noble]

"A pull. A tug. It's.. The orb, I think, tugging me in a direction. Well, that direction." Aris's gaze was on the lighted path. There were a lot of questions on how this orb worked to literally light the way as it did with such a steady beam, but he ignored those questions for now. Right now, the only thing he wanted was to figure out was where this path was going to be. Where the ending was. Where-

He paused as he sniffed the air again. There was the scent of fresh water, but what pulled his attention? Clotting blood. Exposed blood. His gaze turned right back to Zaiya as he let out a sigh and turned the light back towards her. Concern was there now, clear in his eyes as he looked over the wound. "Okay, we're not going anywhere until you get that fixed, you know. Bandages, come on. If you're not going to wrap it up, hand it here."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

Zaiya's nictitating membranes swept over her eyes again when Aris shone his light back at her. Was this how everyone else felt when she Force flashed someone or when she glowed too brightly?

The Lovalla Padawan gave a wry twist of her mouth in mild amusement as she began, closing her eyes to the bright light, "Is this payback for all those times I blinded y --"

"Okay, we're not going anywhere until you get that fixed, you know. Bandages, come on. If you're not going to wrap it up, hand it here."

Her heart gave another skip jump, but Zaiya tried to play it cool. However, her shimmy of rippling colors over her skin was telling, from a deepening pink of growing embarrassment to a slight tint of lavender in annoyance to a flare of alarm in tones of yellow at the prospect of Aris being the one to bandage her.

Nope, nope, nope. She couldn't have him that close again.

"It's just a scratch, Aris," She added, brushing the clotting blood away from her temple. It came away in a thick goop.

Okay, that was gross.

"Are we going to stop to patch up every little injury while we are down here?" came her amused laugh, doing her best to try and minimize the flustered thought from earlier.

"Fine, I'll get the med pac out," Came her sigh, opening her eyes. She went to her belt, near her back, where a larger pouch that secured the medpac lay. Unclipping it with a jangle of her bracelets, she peered around. Deciding the ground was as good as anything, she sat.

"Looks like we will need to cross that," She said with a slight nod towards the body of water, another attempt at distracting Aris with a problem to solve. Otherwise, he'd take it upon himself to patch her up. He could be stubborn and fixated in that way. Then again, was she any different when it came to him?

 

[Aris Noble]

"Scratches don't goop."

Aris actually chuckled. A laugh again, though this was more to distract the worry at the fact she was bleeding quite a bit. He trusted her. She was the doctor in training, more or less, given Shan Pavond being her Master. She knew what she was doing, right? No, she did. There was no doubt in his mind that she had this handled. "We should, probably, patch up every wound we get down here. Never know what sort of infections could be had here." Absolute trust in her, yes.

Just, also worry. He didn't bleed, not like she did. Would she be in danger? Was that cut going to be infected? Lots of information he just.. Didn't have an answer to.

Good thing she was quick to distract him. "We jump. You've learned how, right? We should jump it. Soon as you're bandaged."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

It was an impulsive reaction to stick her tongue out at him when Aris tossed back at Zaiya tht scratches didn’t goop.

Banter was good. Banter was safe. She could lose herself in the comfort with their back and forth. Normal best friend things.

“Well, if that’s the case Your Highness, I’ll be sure to treat every scratch we get down here accordingly,” she replied wrly, the mischief in her tone clearly indicating that Aris would regret his words if he was on the receiving side of a few scratches. Not that he ever really got them. The teenager’s skin seemed practically immune to harm; or at least, save for the small burn mark ok his wrist. She had grilled him on what happened, only to find out it had been the result of Darkside fire against Sithspawn. Needless to say, Zaiya spent several weeks researching in the archives about the known sith spawn and their databases just to know how to fight them and heal the injuries they inflicted.

She didn’t want to be unprepared. Not when it came to Aris.

“I can jump!” She added a bit defensively, the huff of hot air as she spoke fluttering her colorful bangs off her face as she lifted her chin in challenge. She’d been practicing; and while she may not be as prone to go the length of distance Aris did, at least she could do that now. That and swim finally.

Opening the kit, she grabbed a disinfectant wipe and opened it. Activating the serum and with a bit of the Force to activate Art of Small, she proceeded to wipe off and clean up her temple as much as she could in the dark. A tingle rose as she manipulated the antiseptic to work at the molecular level in conjunction with traditional means. Her time at Jakku with Lossa Aureus and training under Shan Pavond had allowed her to utilize both methods to grow her healing and first aide abilities.

“There, is His Highness satisfied?” She joked, but she missed a small spot just right at her hairline. Otherwise, the cut appeared better. A slip of bacta and a small bandage would do the trick if Aris confirmed it.

 

[Aris Noble]

"A proper knight should always be in tip top condition. How else would they protect their charge?" If she was going to throw out the highness again, then, he was going to double down on it. He smirked in her direction again with quite the knowing sort of meaning behind it. She'd keep up now, of that he had no doubt. If anything she'd probably already gotten more advanced in things with the Force that he'd never be able to utilize himself. She was going to overtake him soon enough.

Not in height though. That had already long passed, even if she kept trying to find ways to be higher up than him as if it proved a point. He was paying attention, he understood what she was intending. He could give her those little victories though. Even if he was very aware of them. The real question was if she was aware?

His gaze pulled from the jump as she again taunted him with the highness, his green eyes squinting and focusing on the cut. Or at least the bit she'd missed. Without a word he reached up, shifting the bandage up just enough to ensure it was all covered. Then gave a single satisfied nod. "Good, my knight is ready then. See you on the other side."

With that he turned and jumped. He needed to distract himself from thinking too much on the fact he'd just touched her forehead. Right now they were exploring the caves to find the secrets of his people. That's what he needed to focus on. A light tap as he landed on the opposite bank and he had the orb out to relight the beam like path that continued on through a natural cave.

It could be a longer walk than he thought. Then again, the fact it even lit up a path given they'd fallen into this cavern said a lot about the technology.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

It was impossible not to roll her eyes at Aris as he gave as much as he took regarding the Highness/ Knight silliness they began years ago. It amused her anyway, bringing back the colorful light blue tones of mirth over her rosy golden skin.

"Yeah, yeah, ever at the read--" What she was about to say was abruptly paused when the fleeting warmth of Aris's fingers slipped over her temple and adjusted the bandage. He was quick. Too quick. Best for both of them because Zaiya felt her heart skip another beat before he suddenly darted away, sailing up and over the water with the annoying grace and ability he had ever since she met him.

Grateful that Aris wouldn't be able to see her blushing, the Lovalla did her best to clean up after herself and secure the medpack back on its pouch at her belt.

"Be careful!" She called out, fiddling with the clip until it was secure. "We don't know what sort of creatures there are around here." While she hadn't picked up anything yet, they were not familiar with this world or what sort of beasts were around. Her time researching Sithspawn had taught her enough of that.

Once done, Zaiya narrowed her eyes, observing the length of the pond. Unlike Aris, she might need a bit of a running start. Moving back a few feet, the teenager channeled the Force and let it flow down her body and towards her legs. With a bolt, she shot forward before launching herself up into the air in a flutter of colorful hair and soft, whispy robes. She landed with a slight thump, hair flurrying around her shoulders, silhouetted by the pale blue light of the three glowing orbs she'd deployed earlier. They would follow her within a few couple of feet, illuminating a small sphere around her. It was a lovely, mesmerizing sight in the dark.

Straightening, she shot Aris a rather pleased expression, flashing him a I told you so look. "Hmph!" a shoulder shimmy, and then she proceeded to walk past him.

"Alright, forward it is then... wait." Curious inscriptions were along the cavern walls now. Curiosity perked, and Zaiya tilted her head and took a step forward, amber and citrine colors painting her face with a faint glow.

"Hey, does any of this look familiar?" they were etchings in a language Zaiya wasn't familiar with. Epicanthix was an amalgam of various cultures; perhaps he knew? What they didn't know was that if Aris touched them, they would begin to activate with a pale blue light. One that would resonate throughout the tunnel and suddenly start to ignite torches down the tunnel in an eerie and surreal whoosh of power.

 

[Aris Noble]

For once he was too focused on his own fluttering heart to realize Zaiya's had too. On the other side he took a breath, stilled his mind before looking back to wait for her leap. Sure enough, she didn't need him carrying her anymore. Good. He did his best not to snort into anotuer laugh at her prideful little shimmy past. She deserved to enjoy this moment, that was for sure.

Though now interest had his mind entirely. Words? His eyes snapped to the wall, scanning it over with the focused expression he always had when he was faced with a puzzle. Everything else just tuned out while he sought the answer sort of stare. Sure enough, he did touch them before stepping back quick as they lit. Without a proper danger sense, he had to assume the worst.

Which, wasn't necessary as it seemed to light the path that the orb had already lit. The caves weren't as natural as he had thought. Perhaps something was guiding them here?

"It's ancient Epicanthi. It's.. A ritual? Hard to piece together fully, as a lot of this has worn away, but, something about the Forge of Ascension? I'm not sure. 'Hidden here from- The Forge of Ascension- Our people will.. Something return?' It's really hard to make out."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

“Whoa!” Zaiya gasped, startled enough to also take a step back, a shimmy of iridescent colors reflecting the flames of the torches like jewels.

Nothing seemed out of place in terms of danger, just… off. Not in a bad way but in a surreal sense. There was power there, yes, and when Aris confirmed about some type of ritual, that gave Zaiya a hint.

“I know there are different types of Force use… At least what the archives showed. Think maybe this might be an example of?” Zaiya asked, choosing to deactivate the glow light orbs if now the tunnel was lit with light. Best to save the power.

“Or maybe tied to your genetics and bloodline? You are a clone of your father.” And from what she understood, his father was a clone himself.

“Have you ever heard of a Forge of Accession?” Despite the fact their path was well lit, they still didn’t know of there might be traps or other creatures that made these tunnels their home in the centuries they’d been hidden. There was enough dust, damp, stale earth, and a void of tracks to confirm it had been many, many years since anyone … or perhaps anything made their way here.

 

[Aris Noble]

"It could be? I've never heard anything on a Forge of Ascension or the like. We've our gods, of course. That's.. All I can think that'd line up with Ascension. I'm sure we'll find more as we head in, but.. If this is something like that, with the gods?" He wasn't pious in the slightest. From all his learnings and teachings, everything had basis in the Force. He was a Jedi, through and through in that regard. The fact he was a clone though had his eyes narrow slightly on the wall.

"I hope it's nothing to do with my bloodline."

The godking that was his Grandfather? He didn't want this to do anything with that. If it did, would that mean- No, he didn't want to think on that. Instead he nodded once to Zaiya. They'd figure it out as they went.

"If we keep going we'll figure it out. But, there's a pretty big chance there'll be some sort of guardian. Warrior culture and all. Especially in the days this would've been written. We be careful, yes?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

At the sudden revelation that there might be a guardian, Zaiya's eyes went wide, and she stepped a little closer to Aris in intrigue. Her eyes shone with equally excited and curious light, an ombre of citrine and teal jewel tones blooming over her mottled spots.

"Whoa, wait, guardians? Like what kind of guardians?" Now, she was a mass of questions. Also Gods? What sort of Gods?

Showing her resourcefulness, Zaiya decided to scan ahead as much as possible. Her arms gave a small jingle as she switched to a diagnostic bangle she had created. This bangle had a diagnostic hover beads that could scan ahead, providing them with more information and ensuring their safety.

"I'll get these to scan ahead just in case so we can be safe about this."

While the Force could let her sense life or Force auras, she couldn't quite pick up on that when it came to inanimate objects or anything else. Better to be prepared just in case. She gave a thoughtful hum as she watched three small bead la pop out of the bangle.They hovered up towards her face level, its repulsers allowing them to float and move quickly. They had a small ocular sensors and lasers scanners to try to identify minerals, compositions, and mapping. The mapping would only go so far, but once it began scanning, it would display a small holographic map on her cuff.

A wave of concern washed over Zaiya, casting a muted dove grey swash with yellow spots over her skin. With a slight furrow of her brows, she turned towards Aris, tipping her head up, "Aris... why do you hope it has nothing to do with your bloodline?" Her concern for Aris's well-being was discernible.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Trial guardians, maybe. Or just, eliminate intruder guardians. Hard to tell, this is far older than a lot of the records on Niv Hani. A lot was lost when Panatha was, or at least, we don't have access to them." He was certain if he went to Malsheem he'd likely be able to get ahold of more information. But that wasn't going to be a feasible path, not if it meant being near his grandfather.

"Good idea."

Scanning ahead would be ideal. He could hear a lot in the caves, but if the types of guardians they might face were just inert stone or the like he wouldn't hear them until they activated. Which would be a problem, he imagined. For both of them. He followed after the scanning, his flashlight now ahead as he lead the way deeper, following the floating light from the orb that acted as their path.

"My grandfather is Darth Carnifex , and currently king of the Epicanthix he decided to save from Panatha. Those with him view him as the God King, a living embodiment of one of our gods. Those in Niv Hani don't. I don't like the idea that something this old would recognize my blood line."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"Okay...so... likely big guardian guys that hit hard." Zaiya should have known that would be the case. If Zaiya remembered correctly, Vera even created a few stone golems herself a while back. Not the type of fight Lovalla was looking for.

As they walked, Zaiya studied Aris from the corner of her eyes, noticing the slight tension in his expression when he elaborated on his grandfather, who named himself God-King of the Epicanthix saved from Panatha's destruction that went with him.

"Do you think it bothers you because it would mean that perhaps there is something there this ancient that would recognize your bloodline to be... I guess, akin to the pantheon embodiment of Gods?" There was a mischievous dance of color that indicated Zaiya really wanted to tease Aris about his potential upgrade from Your Highnessto... wait, what would one call an embodiment of a God?

No, no. Leave this one be, Zaiya told herself.

"Or perhaps because then there might be a valid reason why your grandfather should be recognized as God-king... or you and your father?" The Lovalla had heard plenty of times and seen how the locals at Niv Hani hand wanted Aris's father to take charge and lead. Many of them still believed that the Noble's, through Kahlil's lineage, had a right to be considered royalty. The chaos that could potentially ensure if it ended up a valid statement and documented proof that these ancient Epicanthix considered their bloodline to be Gods would be.. Well, it's likely an argument-worthy one.

More inscriptions would glow in a soft blue light the further they went in, the scanner showing that it wasn't just one massive tunnel, but as it explored a series of them. Nearby, there would be a section where it widened into a larger cavern, but the sound of rushing water also grew louder. Could it be an underground river or waterfall?

The temperature seemed to be dropping, and while for Zaiya it felt fine, she wasn't sure how Aris would take it. Then again, he could practically turn himself into a living candle if he wanted to.

Which made one wonder how his clothing didn't burn off.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Yeah most likely."

It was a reasonable guess. He looked about, his ears guiding him to try and find the source of the water. Sure enough, he crashing of water on stone caught his attention. A waterfall, off to the side if he followed the beam. An underwater pond. No, a lake. As the pair exited the tunnel, the sight was clear as day. Across the center of it was the subtle beam of light, reflecting over the dark pool of water that didn't seem to have a bottom by this low level of light.

"I don't wish to be a god."

The honest truth came out pretty easily. He was already above what people should be, but did that make him a god? Hopefully not, but the idea that this cave might some how recognize as much by his bloodline? His expression was blank with thought, but Zaiya knew better by now. She could see it in how his jaw tensed, how his eyes narrowed briefly.

He was uncomfortable with the idea of being a god, completely.

"We'll have to make a way across. Or swim, but who knows what might be in the waters."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Nakbe
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

This bothered him a lot. It was there in the flex of Aris's jaw, in the way his brow furrowed over his tanned face. Zaiya knew that Aris took a lot on himself regarding his studies, training, and the goals he had set for himself, but he also struggled with his differences from others. His extreme strength, speed, and physical abilities, in comparison, could very well be considered supernatural beyond what the Force could provide.

A pause, and then Zaiya took the risk to reach out to curl around his upper bicep. Braze had taught her to ensure mental and empathic blocks were set in place. As a Zeltron, Lossa provided guidance on methods that could help her refine those skills. So, while Zaiya could try her best to not overwhelm Aris with her emotions or to resonate with his, she could at least relay the level of understanding and empathy regarding what was bothering him. No matter what confusing emotions Zaiya felt about Aris, he was still her best friend, and she cared about him deeply.

"Hey... whatever we find down here... we don't have to let anyone know." Zaiya offered softly, looking at his tanned face with compassion and empathy. Soft bronze and golden iridescent color tones would gently bloom over her mottled spots and stripes over her rosy golden face.

"Whatever you decide, I'm here with you. All the way," she added, the corner of her mouth quirking up in an encouraging smile.

Now as for getting across...

"Umm..." She attempted to pull back her hand, turning to look towards the lake. Honestly, it had an ethereal beauty to it. She should have known Epicanthix would have picked a site that was both functional and beautiful.

"We don't know if there are fast currents that we don't know of under the water...but maybe I can check? Also, make sure nothing is in there that could take a nibble at our toes." She could swim now. That had been a struggle, but at least she could do it.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris paused as he felt Zaiya hold his arm. Empathy. This was the only real way he could feel the emotions and intents of others. Them reaching out, either literally or through the Force. It was still odd to him, sharing emotion like this, but with Zaiya he couldn't help but give her a brief, small smile regardless. Whatever they found, they didn't have to tell anyone. She was right on tat. But, would he want to keep it a secret?

That was the difficult choice, he imagined.

"Okay. When we find this Forge, whatever it is, we'll decide."

That would have to be enough for now, the option being there.

He raised a brow though as she mentioned checking. She'd gotten a lot better with swimming, thankfully, but how was she planning to test it?

"Do you have a bangle for that or..?"

Zaiya Ceti