In the Shadow of the Ash

[Jairdain]

In an endless quest to clear away her past, Jairdain now travelled new territory. Her path had lead her to journey to Arbra and seek something here. It was a heavily forested world that held a great many wonders. If she could see on the visual spectrum, she would have been awe of the beauty around her. However her gods had deprived her of that. They had granted her a greater vision though and allowed her to see through the Force.

The life of the planet spread out in front of her. She could see through the emotions of it and everything had them.

What had brought her here remained hidden in a shroud of mystery. The Jedi part of her would say the Force drew her here, but those days were in her past. The Sith in her would say she was here to gain power. Again that part of her life was in her past. Once again, the Master sat on the fine line of grey and followed her own path.

Incorporating the codes of each path and making it her own, she followed that of her people. The last of them from Eraton now walked the surface of Arbra. There might be a sense of confusion around her. There were several things that might be noticed. If one looked at her, it might be noticed her eyes were clear, but unfocused. Another would be through the Force, she did not bother to hide her presence here. The clothes she wore weren't common in Alliance space, but were closer to what somebody of nobility might wear.

She wasn't royalty though, but the advisor of a prince. Her time spent with him and in her position with that government had allowed her more freedom to dress for her role. If that watchful eye looked though, they would see a single lightsaber clipped to her side.

Stopping to take a drink from a bottle, she sensed she was being watched. Not here to do any harm though, she was curious as to why she was being observed and who was doing it. Putting the bottle back into the small pack she had with her, Jairdain opened her hands to show she meant no harm before speaking into the forest around her.

"Come out. I know you're watching me."

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The time had come to finally admit that Jaron and the First Order were no longer walking the same path. The Knights of Ren were not the group he helped to create, betrayed long ago by his very own master. The dark knight had spent too much time trying to repay the order for his master's shortcomings that he had lost his way. There was a loneliness to the Lesan, one which he had grown accustomed to. His family had long since given up hope on him, at least it was the lie he told himself. The truth was far too much unbearable for them. The truth was Jaron liked who he had become. Darkness had claimed him, and Jaron did not wish to be free from it. The power he had always wanted was found within the desires it produced within him, desires which many in the universe would label as evil.

He had returned to his sanctuary on Arbra. It was not his, but one the family had uncovered a long time ago. Jaron had claimed it for himself since, and from the tower of his high rock, he could see the massive forest of the world below. The solitude was good for him. Time was spent assessing his path, and pondering a new one. Was there a place for him, or were his days a wanderer about to begin?

HIs mind was polluted with uncertainty for the first time since the destruction of Corellia. One thought remained constant in his heart however. No other world would suffer the fate of the broken planet. The darkness its destruction had created was what consumed Jaron. That was the darkness which drove him to destroy anything which stood in the way would allow for his desires to be reality. As he sat on top of the flat topped structure, Jaron focused his mind to that one purpose.

It was then he sensed something, or rather, someone.

Jaron's solitude on the world had been interrupted. This part of the planet was secluded, difficult to find, and uninhabited by sentient life. There was only one reason for anyone to be in this part of the planet, they were searching. Jaron's aura was muted in the force. He drew it within himself after his descent to the forest floor. The meeting which seemed inevitable would happen on his terms. Years as a scout and tracker, training to be like his uncle, a shadow, had given Jaron the skills he needed to hide from those who would come looking. He was the predator, and the intruder was his prey.

She was not hard to find. The force flowed through her in away that spoke of a dependent connection. Jaron was not schooled in the various ways the force flowed through people, just how it flowed through him. As he pursued the woman he was curious. She stopped to drink which meant her trek had taken some time and energy from her. It seemed she was stronger in the force than he gave her credit for as her voice called him out from the shadow.

For a moment Jaron thought about staying in the shadow, but decided she would come searching. Jaron stepped out from the foliage with had him hidden and came into view.

"As I would any intruder. It is rare my solitude is interrupted and I wanted to see why. You are not what I expected to find."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

Since he had muted his presence in the Force, Jairdain did not know he could use it. However, she did know he was there and where he was hiding. Her Force vision allowed her to separate him from their surroundings. He may have been observing her for a moment or since she had entered the area, that was something she didn't know. However, she felt it had only been for a short period of time rather than anything extended.

When she stopped and spoke, he stepped out from what he had assumed would have hidden him from normal senses. Hers not being physical sight, she had known where he was and was turned in his direction.

As he spoke, she assessed his words and learned he considered this location as belonging to him. Feeling his emotions through the Force in that very natural sense, Jairdain knew he was curious, but that maybe he was a little bit at a loss. In a way, she felt he was in a similar situation that she had been in a year ago. Unsure of his path, uncertain of where he was going or if it was where he was supposed to be. If her intuition was correct, perhaps she could help him figure out where he belonged. Time would tell on that issue, first they needed to get past the hurdle of introductions.

"I would apologize for intruding on your land, but I think you maybe needed it. To live a life of solitude can bring out doubts and questions at times."

Relaxing her stance from showing her open palms, she rested them comfortably at her side. Gone were the trappings of her past, no longer did she cling to her sith days. Of course, this man wouldn't know of that time, of her breaking mentally at their hands and breaking herself free from the chains they had placed on her. He might sense a surety he lacked and maybe that she could be a steadfast beacon to help guide him to where he was meant to be.

"Excuse my manners, I am Jairdain Ismet."

Placing a hand over her heart and nodding her head slightly, it would indicate how honest she was in giving her name.

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"I needed this intrusion?"

Jaron looked to the woman with even more curiosity now. She showed herself to be unarmed and not a threat. Several months ago, he would have struck her down where she stood. His conscience was not as developed as it was now. Of the twin sabers which hung from his hip, Jaron identified more with the one which showed blue rather than crimson. It was the truth, but Jaron was truly neither one nor the other. Some may call him a Dark Jedi, but in truth he was gray. His sense of balance, one thing he had inherited from his uncle's training, was the only guiding factor which he had now. Jaron was both and neither at the same time, and it was the ambiguous nature of it he clung to. It was something he craved, to be fluid.

"Manners are not required here. This forest it just you and me." He sighed knowing he was the host, and any show of manners were his to display. "Isolation doesn't bother me at all, but neither does company. I am Jaron Lesan, and if you tire of the sun and temperature my sanctuary is not too far from here?"

He could not all it a home, because it was not. Sanctuary Rock was an abandoned base which had seen its use far too long ago. Some of the equipment still worked, it was how Jaron knew there was an intruder. The rest of the base was a glorified home, but had the ability to be so much more. Jaron had always sought Santuary Rock out when he needed the isolation to refresh himself. The more he visited, the more certain it became that his path was indeed changing. Perhaps this woman had something to do with it.

Jaron took a couple of steps closer, and more out of the shadow. He canted his head as he looked to the woman. Was she seeing through the force? His aura was released. There was no reason to hide the strength he possessed. Almost a master himself, his aura was not the small light of a beginner. Jaron's raw potential mixed with what had been refined to produce a strength that rivaled his uncle. If they were to trust each other, then Jaron could not hide who he was.

"I assure you, my intentions are pure."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

"Isolation is sometimes just what a person does need, but too much of it, Mister Lesan and one can loose their marbles. I would gladly visit your sanctuary here."

This was said with some humor and a touch of something that was akin to knowing exactly what she was talking about. Her time of captivity she had been kept in seclusion, in the dark and deprived of the Force for almost a year. It had been a contributing factor in her breaking. One thing that change had brought out in Jairdain was a sense of humor.

The choosing of the word was not missed on her. This was not a place he considered home, but a location he came to escape. It was to him what Voss was to her. Her home on Iridonia was gone and she left that in her past. That had been too much a tie to her sith days and best left there.

Jaron stepped out more and for a moment he observed her further. When he released his hold on his guard of the Force, there was no major change in the demeanor of Jairdain. A small turn up of the corner of her lips and a slight nod. They were of a similar path, but had gotten there differently. His aura not showed he was at the cusp of being considered a master. He might be more dark than the light, but a form of balance was there. She was more light than dark, but also treading that thin line of being grey or neutral.

When he spoke of his intentions of being pure, she did not sense any deception in his words.

"Lead the way or we can walk together if you wish."

[member="Jaron Lesan"]