Faction [NJO] Knighting — Corazona von Ascania

[Valery Noble]

New Jedi Temple

Knighthood
​

Valery stepped forward and looked at Corazona von Ascania with a warm smile. Even now, after so many years of having been together as Master and Padawan, Valery could remember their first meeting like it was yesterday. Together, they had gone up against a Terentatek of all beasts, and in a way, that challenge would symbolize much of their time together. At every step along their journey, they had both been confronted by challenges, some more extreme than others. Some, they had been forced to tackle alone, and others they managed to overcome together.

But despite everything that happened, Cora persevered, and Valery couldn't be more proud of the woman standing in front of her.

She had been scarred and shaped by the hardships of her life, but never once lost that warmth and gentleness that so many could rely on for strength. Now, she stood tall and strong, and Valery knew that generations of Jedi were going to look up to her.

...
​

With friends, familiar faces, and other supportive Jedi gathered around, Valery stepped closer to raise her violet blade up high above the ceremony, before carefully lowering the blade down to hover just above Cora's left shoulder. "By the right of the council.."

Slowly, the blade re-positioned to just above her head. "By the will of the Force.."

Finally, Valery lowered the blade again, hovering it over Cora's right shoulder. "I dub thee..."

"Knight of the New Jedi Order." ​

A final salute of her blade followed, before she disengaged it and returned the weapon to her belt. Her eyes were still focused on Cora, perhaps a little teary, and she offered her proudest, most warm smile. "I'm so, so proud of you, Cora," Valery said, while they still had a moment alone. Others were going to be swarming around her any moment now, eager to congratulate her and talk to the NJO's new Jedi Knight.

She deserved every bit of that recognition.

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

Ship: The Red Night
Weapons:
Tag: Open

Gatz hung back, having found himself a place away from the crowd. He was leaned up against a wall as if he needed its support—which he did. One look at him—the dark bags under his eyes, his sallowed skin, the way his clothes hung off of his frame just a little too baggy—was proof that he wasn't in anything resembling a healthy condition. How could he be? He didn't have time to eat or sleep.

That was why he was in a corner, hoping to avoid notice.

He'd come for Cora. Wanted to see her Knighted. Knew she was deserving of it, after the days they'd spent together helping the people of Ukatis. She was prissy and haughty... and also truly, wholly good. There were few individuals he liked as much as he liked Cora. And it felt good to see her receive the accolades she had earned.

But it stung, too. Watching Valery knight her... knowing it would never be him in front of her, knowing it would never be him who had made her proud, knowing it would never be her who knighted him—hell, knowing that he would never be knighted—it hurt almost as much as losing his family had.

Gatz let out an exhausted sigh. He shouldn't have come if he was just going to sour what should have been a triumphant moment for Cora. But... when he'd heard, he couldn't bring himself to stay away. His bag was packed, sitting on his bed back in his quarters. He was ready to leave the Temple—to slip out when no one was looking, and go back to his old life.

Now was the time to do it, while everyone was here. But not yet. Not until he had congratulated Cora for her achievement. She deserved that much, before he betrayed her faith in him.

And... he wanted to see her again.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil stood with the others in the circle, smiling softly as he listened. This was a proud moment. Not just for Valery, but for Kahlil as well. Cora had gone through such hardship. He'd watched her all this time, wanting to help but not entirely sure on how. His most brazen attempt had him slug her father in the face, and yet, when she was faced with the option to do the same over the same crime, she hadn't.

When she found herself on Thule, with the Sith, she still came back. Still was determined to be a Jedi. She knew the darkness now, which many Jedi simply didn't. It was both a curse and a boon, but now she had proven it was a burden she could carry.

She was a Knight now, and Kahlil looked forward to seeing where she'd go next.

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania | Gatz Derrevar

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko stood in the crowd and waited. Patience had rarely been one of his virtues and it showed. Makko shifted from foot to foot. He smiled, he grinned and he waited. He had heard Valery's voice almost break with pride. It brought a tear to his eye and he didn't even wipe it away.

Cora had been by far the most skillful of the two of them during their training. She had embarrassed him with blade work and been out fighting in the field whilst he was still struggling to lift a rock.

On the cusp of completing her training, she had been pulled back by her father and his scheming. Makko had thrown himself into his own training, if only to escape the reality of that situation.

He had sensed her resolve honing to a sharp point ever since she had returned from Thule. This moment had started to become inevitable

Their relationship had been a secret before her wedding. Not a very well kept one, admittedly, but they had been cautious. Since the Golden Orchid celebration, the two of them had been more open that they were dating again. He wanted to rush forward and be the first to congratulate her, but he didn't.

It was an odd reflection of his own knighting, where Cora had hung back. Not because he didn't know where they stood, but because he wanted to let the others offer their congratulations before he suffered a complete lack of decorum and swept her into a hug.

It was not easy.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble , Gatz Derrevar , Corazona von Ascania , Makko Vyres

​

Not because he didn't know where they stood, but because he wanted to let the others offer their congratulations before he suffered a complete lack of decorum and swept her into a hug.

Jasper suffered a complete lack of decorum and went up to hug Cora.

It was a very easy decision, actually. When you didn't care much for formalities such things became easier, and nothing could stop the overwhelming pride that shone in the face of the Knight for his Sister-In-Arms. The moment he could, Jasper would give the newly knighted Ukatin a bear hug, one that was probably not out of place for a man of his character. Awkward for her? Absolutely. He didn't care. Not today.

"Welcome to the big leagues, kid," he congradulated. "I knew you had it in ya."

Jalen followed, sighing apologetically.

"You sap," he muttered with a grin. "At least he isn't crying. Uh, congrats by the way."

The hug didn't linger for too long. Jasper figured other folks would want to chat. He just wanted to get in his moment of support.

 

[Mathilde Leyweald]

Mathilde hated Coruscant. But she loved her dearest friend more.

The gentle dreamer had never left Ukatis, and never intended to let herself be taken from the cradle of her world and into the cold void of space. But her fear of the unknown, her fear of just what all those mystics might do if they sensed the truth of what she was... oh, how it paled before her joy as the news reached her. Some resentment lingered, of course: not against the greatest friend she had ever made, ever-so radiant and good, but against the Order that made it so that the two of them grew apart with time... but none of that was important now. Not today. Not on such an occasion.

Coruscant was the antithesis of everything she was. A place without trees, without rivers, without so much as dirt that did not originate from off-world: one could find, perhaps, a garden in some fancy skyrise at most. Combined with the overwhelming nature of travelling so far from home and finding herself in a place she found to be so immensely loud, the poor brunette looked just about ready to drop unconscious! At least, until the relative mercy that came with the ceremony itself, and the Jedi's preference for... some measure of privacy.

And yet, here she stood, her eyes betraying naught but warmth and kindness, her usual calm replaced by a certain giddiness as her friend was elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight. How could she do anything but smile? Here, so far away from home, her friend had defied the cruel yoke of Ukatis' archaic norms and laws! No matter how the nobility back home would scoff at the notion, Mathilde knew she would make a better knight than any of those aristocrat could ever hope to become.

There were so many people here, their dreams akin to paths in a forest for her to take, to let the soothing touch of her mind sort out what they longed for, what they feared, what they were... but, overwhelming as she had have found the presence of so many dreamers in one place at first, the kind dreamweaver only had eyes for her friend.

Corazona was a Jedi of the New Jedi Order.

Just as she had dreamed, and drawn.

Although a little hesitant to walk past the others waiting to congratulate her friend, the grovetender let out a polite "excuse me" here and a "pardon" there as she brushed her way past on over to her.

"I said it so, and I dreamed it so - and now, so it is", remarked the dreamweaver as she took her friend into a hug. To hell with decorum, with the proper form expected of them both as Ukatian nobility!

"Ever a radiant soul, Coco. I am... so very proud, to see you become a greater knight than any Ukatian has been in a long time. Congratulations, old friend."

The poor girl excused herself soon thereafter, tears welling in her eyes. It just wouldn't do to shed tears and stain such a beautiful moment. Pulling a silk handkerchief, she began to set about the task of making herself presentable once more, standing back to let others approach the truest knight she had ever seen.

Valery Noble Gatz Derrevar Corazona von Ascania Makko Vyres

 

[Ko Vuto]

It still felt so recent, Ko’s memory of Cora departing from the NJO to be married back on her homeworld. He wasn’t sure then if he’d ever see the young woman again. That her time with the Jedi had passed. Now, standing among his peers within the temple he was getting to witness her knighting, and unlike before he wasn’t late either.

There was also the scare back on Thule as well. Where he got to relive the worries of never seeing his friends again. But worse since she was in the malevolent clutches of Sith despots… as opposed to normal despots.

Now Cora was legit, someone who could truly call herself a Jedi and not an apprentice training to become one. The princess was her own knight in shining armor. Sensing and observing the congratulatory atmosphere was very moving for Ko. This was also the first knighting ceremony for someone he was more friendly with. Soon enough a bit of “excess moisture” began to leak from his goggles, and whipped it away off his face. He wasn’t crying though. Most certainly not.​

 

[Andromeda Demir]

​

Andromeda was very fond of the young woman she had, until recently, known only as "Cora."

Her own tumult had prevented Andy from putting together the puzzle pieces that Cora was really Corazona von Ascania famous (or infamous) aristocrat from Ukatis, but when they had all fallen into place, she had understood the young lady's not-quite-duplicity. One's past was not always easy to reckon with, and particularly the Lady Cora's. Yet, despite that past, the struggles facing her, Cora had shown Andromeda kindness and grace.

Turns out the grace was highly undeserved, but Cora wasn't to know.

Still, it meant a lot to the mining girl from Irvulix V. So she had come to show her support and, if the opportunity arose, offer her congratulations to the newly-minted Jedi Knight.

​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

K N I G H T I N G

Valery Noble | Kahlil Noble | Makko Vyres | Gatz Derrevar | Jasper Kai'el | Mathilde Leyweald | Ko Vuto | Andromeda Demir | O P E N

Cool violet hues reflected onto pale skin as Valery's blade hovered just over Corazona's shoulder. Clad in the nicest pair of robes she could find – because looking the part was important – the Padawan stood before her Master, hands clasped behind her back and chest sitting even.

She faced the knighting ceremony with a firm, solemn presence. It was the noblewoman, the Ukatian in her that kept her lips in a solid line even though she wanted to smile. Much had changed about Cora, but austerity was a virtue one displayed during such important events at home; coronations, baptisms, even their own ancient version of knighting.

The last event in her life that had been this important was her wedding to that horrid man. She'd played her part perfectly in the chapel; a young, blushing bride who forced a smile exactly when it was scripted to happen.

Cora had been in the presence of many strangers then, but here, she was surrounded by friends and loved ones. People who'd taught her, supported her, even fought alongside her. The sheltered, arrogant child from a backwater world had lived another lifetime, gained a relative galaxy's worth of knowledge and ability by taking on the role of a Jedi. It had been a long, meandering path that had zigged and zagged all over the galaxy.

Even when her own father had denounced her, even when she'd been forced into a corner and had done something terrible to escape, the Jedi had welcomed her back with open arms. It was through them that she not only learned to fight and empathize with others, but to build relationships and allow herself to lean on those around her for support.

"Knight of the New Jedi Order."

Valery's blade winked out, and Cora finally allowed a hint of enthusiasm to touch her eyes. Her heart had been full, but it swelled even more with her Master's earnest words.

"Thank you, Master Noble." The newly knighted Jedi bowed deeply, creasing at the waist before her teacher then rising. "For everything. Truly – I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, and I mean that."

The warmth she'd been holding back seeped further into her expression when she looked over those who'd gathered. Kahlil was in the circle of Masters, of course, and she regarded him with a smile and a slow nod. There was a familiar presence lingering at the edge of the room, one that she couldn't quite pin down in her flurry of excitement.

Her lips finally broke into a grin when her gaze landed on Makko. He knew, in excruciating detail, what she'd gone through. Despite dealing with his own pain, he had helped her find her path when she'd been lost. He also listened to her for a solid hour while she fussed over her ceremony outfit.

"Oh-!" Surprise dissolved quickly into laughter as Jasper swept her into a hug. "Thank you, Jasper. And Jalen." She offered each a nod, tickled by their brotherly interaction. Jasper particularly had been close to her situation, and she regarded the Knight as she would an older brother. "Your support means…so much to me, really. We're like family." As they disengaged from the embrace, she gave the pair a watery smile, forcing back joyful tears.

A flash of brunette locks, and Cora found herself pulled into a gentle hug. She blinked, hard. Once, then twice.

"Ma…Mathilde? What are you? And now you're…" Stunned to see her oldest friend in the Coruscant temple, and so far from the quiet forests of Ukatis she called home, Cora wrapped her arms around the girl and pulled her in tight. "And so it is." She repeated with a whisper, blinking back another swell of tears into the corners of her eyes. "I will do my best to live up to that, Mathilde. Thank you for coming, it means the galaxy that you're here. I must show you around later." Perhaps, even convince her friend to stay for a bit and speak to the other dreamers.

As they pulled back, Cora's smile touched every corner of her face. The fact that her friends and loved ones had gathered here for her – taking the time out of their day, coming from near and far – made her feel loved and appreciated in a way that she'd never experienced.

 

[Amani Serys]

Corazona von Ascania - Valery Noble - Kahlil Noble - Makko Vyres - Jasper Kai'el - Mathilde Leyweald - Gatz Derrevar - Ko Vuto - Andromeda Demir​

---

As one of the Council Members, Amani was fully expected to take part in today's ceremony; Not that she would have missed the event anyway. Corazona von Ascania had been on quite the journey from Padawan to Knight. Trials and tribulations that few could understand, and fewer still could overcome. But through it all she never lost that which made her, her. The best had broken through superficiality, to reveal one of the next great Jedi of the Order.

Many had come to offer well wishes and congratulations— Just a shred of evidence as to the impact Cora had made throughout her formative years. Amani stayed mostly along the edge of the gathering peers and mentors, not wanting to interrupt moments with those who the newly-minted Knight would likely consider closer. But should Cora look her way, Amani would offer the girl a single nod, and a proud smile that said more than an exchange of pleasantries ever could.

If Cora was any indication, this generation of the NJO would only burn brighter.

 

[Maeve Linahan]

Shadows couldn't smile, but today, one did.

Melded to the dark in the corner of the room, Maeve watched Cora receive one of the greatest honors a Jedi could earn: Knighthood. It was hard to imagine. Years had gone by, and the former Padawan was no longer the bright-eyed and hopelessly naive girl Maeve had met on a secret mission to some arts university, but a young woman ready to fight.

She couldn't help but feel proud.

As the ceremony came to an end, Maeve watched as one Jedi after another descended on Cora, offering eager smiles and congratulations. Pleasantries were shared. Hugs given. A few were even crying. Normally, Maeve would've found it all too dramatic, but on a day this monumental? She supposed she could forgive them for their weakness.

Maeve would not cry, of course. Certainly not. Absolutely not.

She cleared a bit of phlegm from her throat and smothered the joy that stirred in her chest. That feeling had been particularly bothersome as of late, and she would have none of it. Instead, she kept on a stone face and, approaching Cora, offered a rare nod of respect.

"Cora," she said. "It's been a while. You've changed, and for the better, it seems. I only wish I had been here to see you develop, but I am honored to witness you become the Jedi Knight I know you were born to be." Maeve attempted a smile. "Congratulations."

Corazona von Ascania​

​

 

[Ryana mina]

Ryana smiled as she watched cora being knighted pip was behaving himself sitting next to ryana in jedi robes himself as he Sat there eating grapes to keep himself calm. Sure ryana didn't know cora as well as most of the others here and she didn't have as storied of history with cora. But pip wanted to be here and ryana wasn't going to let him be here alone during her knighting force only knew what he would try and do.

Looking down at the small racyon ryana was glad she met cora and pip she was worried when she heard cora was captured by sith as cora was one of the few beings ryana considered a friend in the new jedi order. As was ko who she had seen she refrained from approaching. Not wanting to take from those who wanted to congratulate cora on her achievement at becoming a knight. If cora wanted to meet people ryana would then congratulate her.

 

[BB-610]

| LOCATION: Jedi Temple, Coruscant |
| TAG: Open! |


To say that Corazona von Ascania had become one of his closest friends was an understatement. Never would he have imagined it, musing back on their first encounter amidst their mission on Xa Fel, but their paths had intertwined and steered BB-610 on a course he was so very thankful to walk down. From fighting Sith to makeshift sleepovers for gossiping about nothing, Cora's impact on his life hadn't gone unnoticed. Over the years, as wars ended and new battles roared to life, BB-610 had grown to depend on her, and after all their time together, both mutually thriving under Valery's wing, it was only natural for the astromech to see her as something of a sisterly figure.

Now, he stood proudly among his friends and associates, not willing to miss her knighthood for the galaxy. BB-610 watched with nothing but joy, excitement far too overwhelming for his little chassis to handle as he wobbled with childlike giddiness. Cora deserved this and so, so much more - after the hardships she had faced, no Padawan had earned this stepping stone more than her as far as BB-610 was concerned.

He could hardly wait for Valery to finish her words, counting down the seconds. With exchanged thanks and polite bows concluded, BB-610 didn't miss a beat as he sped over to the newly knighted Jedi, his motors whirring loudly. The astromech chirped, arriving at Cora's feet with his head peering up at her, as he bounced and wiggled like a pup excited for walkies.

He bweeped and bwooped, clicking and clacking in a flurry of binary that tripped over itself in its own eagerness, all the while the droid circled around the Jedi Knight's feet. Finally, BB-610 stopped before her, brushing the flat of his head against her leg for an affectionate nuzzle, cooing oh so gleefully about how happy he was for her.

 

[Colette]

Corazona von Ascania

Funny to think Cora was being knighted. Not that she didn't deserve it. Colette just shared the same thought as many others who didn't really realize how fast time passed: hadn't she just come back? Had she ever been gone?

"Congratulations," Colette said as she got her moment to approach her friend. "I told them you didn't deserve it, but it seems they didn't listen, hm?"

Colette put her hand on Cora's shoulder, gave it a squeeze, and then let go.

"See you at the afterparty."

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Corazona von Ascania Valery Noble Kahlil Noble Jasper Kai'el Amani Serys et al.​

---

Master Noble's lightsaber ignited and the galaxy's newest Jedi Knight was bathed in amethyst radiance. Comrades gathered around her to attend the ancient ceremony. These traditions were passed down by an unbroken line for thousands of years. Each time he witnessed a padawan complete their Jedi Trials it reminded Zark of his own ascension. Had he ever been that young?

"Lady von Ascania."

Once her most eager friends shared this moment, the old Jedi Master bowed before Cora. Although he had only ever known life as a monk, Master San Tekka understood something about how a powerful lineage could make life complicated. He could not help but see in this young knight the road not traveled.

"It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness," a rare smile appeared on his lips, "We will watch your career with great interest."

This was the miracle of their faith, one Zark had beheld many times. When she first joined the Order he'd sensed much doubt, but now Corazona was no longer that scared child. The Force was her ally.

 

[Ariana Du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple
Outfit (Minus the Right Arm)

Knighthood within the Jedi Order brought an aura of not just importance, but the weight of responsibility of being a Jedi Knight. Ariana knew the history of the Jedi, tens of thousands of years that accumulated to this moment. And each and every moment afterwards that we carry as members of the Jedi Order. The young Du Couteau heir smiled happily seeing another Knighthood, these events brought a sense of pride and joy with everyone here, like seeing someone climb an incredibly daunting mountain. One that challenges you with every step, each breath measured and your mind tested.

Ariana watched as Master Noble completed the ceremony and raised Knight von Ascania, who in the next few moments was quickly surrounded by her friends and family. She smiled and chuckled into her left hand as she watched the next few moments with cheerful eyes. This was what the Jedi Order supposed to be, a place to grow and become better, But most importantly to have others by your side that also grow with next to you. Ariana nodded along, memories back home and words spoken to a younger Ariana who couldn’t make sense of them, but whenever she watched a Padawan become a Knight she finally understood those words.
​

 

[Rik Perris]

Location: Hall of Knighthood - New Jedi Temple - Coruscant
Tags: Corazona von Ascania • Valery Noble et al.

It wasn't even close to every day, not even every month, that another padawan was invested with the sacred mantle and duty of knighthood - he supposed that was as true now as it was when he had been a padawan - so it was always sure to draw in many members of the Order, beyond even those that had befriended the to-be Knight.

For his part, he had only very recently met the girl and barely so, having just gleaned her name and those of others from an unexpected gathering that he'd inadvertently gotten caught in, and excused himself from just as quickly. That he'd not introduced himself then was a matter of circumstance, and other factors.

Catching word of the ceremony, Rik had slipped into the hall and hung towards the back, thumbs hooked into front pockets, a lean effected against a sturdy rear wall, one ankle crossed over another. He was content to simply watch as Master Noble conferred knighthood upon Cora, and remember his own ascension, roughly a decade before; to observe the Jedi that had gathered to honour the young woman, and to see and once again recognise the warmth that passed between them all - a thing he had well and truly forgotten over the years - as they proceeded to congratulate the new Knight.

He could hope they would never lose sight of that: what they had here, and with each other. He could attest to that loss of faith being a struggle... but still, it was hard to not be infected with a smile at events like this, even so.

"Might be alright, here," he mused quietly to himself, "Just maybe."

 

[Braze]

LOCATION: New Jedi Order Temple: Training hall
TAGS: Jasper Kai'el Ko Vuto Corazona von Ascania
OOC: Feel free to skip reading - it's sad.

In the grand halls of the Jedi Temple, the air was thick with anticipation and pride. Today marked another knighting ceremony, a momentous occasion celebrating the transition of a Padawan to a Jedi Knight. Among the attendees, Jedi Masters and Padawans alike shared whispers of excitement and admiration. However, one face was notably missing from the crowd, a young Padawan known for his snowy hair and somber jade green eyes.

Braze, the Padawan in question, was absent. This wasn't the first time he had chosen solitude over celebration. Even though today's ceremony honored Corazona von Ascania, someone he held in high regard, almost like a sister, Braze couldn't bring himself to join the festivities. His mind was elsewhere, tangled in a web of incessant determination and self-imposed duty.

In a distant training hall within the Temple, far removed from the joyous ceremony, Braze was engrossed in his training. The room was dark and silent, save for the hum of his lightsaber and the rhythmic cadence of his movements. He was practicing Faalo's cadences, a series of complex and demanding lightsaber drills known for their difficulty. To many, these cadences were an ancient art, a discipline few chose to master. But for Braze, they were an obsession, a relentless pursuit of perfection.

As he moved through the sequences, each strike and parry was precise and fluid, a dance of light and shadow. His expression was one of intense focus, his snowy hair clinging to his forehead, damp with exertion. He was alone here, by choice, driven by a belief that there was still so much to learn, so much to improve upon. In his heart, he felt a restless urgency, a constant need to push himself beyond his limits.

Corazona's knighting ceremony represented a joyous milestone, a celebration of growth and accomplishment. Yet, for Braze, it was a reminder of the path he still had to travel, the journey ahead that demanded his every waking moment. He couldn't allow himself the luxury of pause, not when there was still so much to be done.

The intensity of Braze's training session in the secluded hall, far from the eyes of the Order, was more than a mere quest for improvement. It was a refuge from a haunting guilt that clung to him like a shadow. The recent events, a sharp and painful memory, played over in his mind, fueling his relentless drive.

As the ceremony reached its crescendo, with Corazona being officially knighted, a part of Braze wished he could be there to witness it, to share in the joy of his friend's achievement. But he knew his place was here, in the solitude of the training hall, honing his skills, preparing for the challenges that lay ahead. For Braze, the journey was never about the destination; it was about the endless pursuit of becoming more than he was yesterday.

And yesterday... he just wasn't enough.
​

Yet, beneath this veneer of unyielding discipline and focus, there lay a deeper, more turbulent sea of emotions. Braze's rigorous practice was not just borne out of a desire to excel but also from a well of sorrow and self-reproach, rooted in a painful incident that had left a mark on his spirit.

In the depths of the Jedi Temple's training hall, where the echoes of distant celebrations barely reached, Braze moved with a ferocity that bordered on desperation. The ceremonial lights of the knighting seemed worlds away, irrelevant to the storm of emotions raging within him. His usual dedication, now fueled by a torrent of guilt and self-reproach, had intensified his training to an obsessive level.

Braze's movements were more than just practice; they were an expression of deep-seated anguish. The recent events played over in his mind like a cruel holovid stuck on repeat. The memory of his friend Aliris Tremiru , lying comatose, her fate hanging in the balance, was a constant, piercing reminder of his perceived failure. He had promised to protect her, and in his eyes, he had failed spectacularly.

The Sith woman, the one who had effortlessly bested him, leaving Aliris unconscious and himself with a broken wrist, haunted his every waking moment. That defeat was more than a physical setback; it was a blow to his very soul. He had been trained to be a protector, a guardian, yet when it mattered most, he found himself lacking.

Each strike of his lightsaber against the targets was laden with frustration and a sense of inadequacy. Why hadn't he trained harder, pushed himself further? If only he had been stronger, faster, more skilled – perhaps then, Aliris would be walking beside him instead of lying in a healing chamber, her condition a constant weight on his conscience.

Braze's absence from the recent knighting ceremonies, including that of Corazona von Ascania, was becoming common place marked by his inner turmoil. Once, these ceremonies were a source of inspiration, a celebration of the path he had chosen. But now, they only served as a symbol of what he hadn't achieved, of the protection he couldn't provide.

As he paused between drills, his chest heaving with exertion, Braze's steely exterior cracked for a moment. The floodgates opened, and a wave of emotion washed over him. His hand trembled slightly as he deactivated his lightsaber, the room suddenly feeling colder, emptier.

He sank to his knees, the weight of his guilt and sorrow bowing his head. Tears, unbidden, trailed down his cheeks, a silent outpouring of his pain and self-reproach. He fell vulnerable and let his soul lay bare in his solitude. Braze was no longer the stoic Jedi Padawan; he was just a young man grappling with a harsh truth – that sometimes, despite one's best efforts, the galaxy demanded a price too steep to pay.

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko had shifted his weight from one foot to the other and back enough. The way he felt about Cora had often pulled him in different directions. He'd been unsure of himself, hesitant. Just as Cora had been at his Knighting.

This was just a matter of patience. Even knowing that that she'd find what came next embarrassing, there wasn't a single doubt in his mind as he walked forwards.

“Excuse me,” he muttered as he stepped through those he knew, those he didn't know. He accelerated the last few steps, pure joy in his expression.

He passed Colette, ignored the Jedi master standing before Cora and Bee by her feet. Before Cora could offer protest he grabbed her by the waist, lifted her briefly from her feet and pulled her into a hug. Heedless of the crowd, he placed a single kiss on her lips.

Makko made a show of pretending to straighten out her formal robes as he released her.

“You earned this. Never doubted you. I believe in you,” he whispered just for her.

 

[Avin Starfire]

Location: Temple
Tags: Gatz Derrevar

The ceremony was much like he remembered. The circle of masters surrounding the new Knight to this order. Avin stood apart from the watching on. In truth, he had little clue who most of them were just yet including the star of the show herself. But that did not matter. Such events were a celebration for a day this one had worked so hard for and would likely never forget. To witness it was his honour. He felt his eyes wrinkle somewhat as a small smile ran across his lips. The start of a path only the force could know the end of especially so now that the real work would begin for them. Still, the old sentinel took in the moment for what it was and then moved on to old habits. His eyes worked the recesses of the room for anything out of place. He tried to note the entrances and exits, vantage points or hideaways.

He let his smile die as something played at the edge of his senses. A feeling that stood out among the others with that ever-familiar sour taste. It was acute but after almost forty years of slinking around one developed a certain refining of the senses. As a starship slews its guns on a sensor lock so now did Avin move his eyes to where one stood apart from the others.

His footsteps were gentle and methodical as the Jedi worked his way across the edge of the room. Even without the senses of a force user, the eye had a way of detecting even the slightest of movements on its periphery. There was no hiding in an open place like this and even out of the main grounds light trickled its way through. Then again the idea wasn't so much as to sneak up on the boy but rather avoid coming across as too forward.

Approaching a little closer the sentinel was able to get a better look at the young man and with such a look he felt a certain sense of empathy. The sullen expression and darkened eyes were hardly a trait befitting most his age but then again some weren't born with the luxury of an easy life and such scars could be found just as much on the inside as they were on the out. Avin moved sidled up alongside and leaned himself along the wall a few feet over and folded his arms across his chest. Avin was a little cleaner than when he had first met with the order and his outer robe had been patched up as well as could be, yet there remained a certain lack of refinement upon the Jedi's outfit. The threads showed signs of wear and tear and his boots had definitely seen better days. Even Avin's own face wasn't much better than the youngster he perched across from. Slightly less tiredness perhaps, but the scars across his cheek and forehead teamed up well with the greying edges of his hair as well as the skin that had started to wrinkle somewhat around the edges.

"You look like a sack dwang son. Long night in the sparring cage? Or was there a good party no one thought of inviting me to?"

Avin kept the volume of his voice low enough as not to resonate out and draw any other attention but loud enough for the other man to hear the chuckle at the end of it. There was a rough timbre to it, somewhat out of place for the usually rather proper and put-together Jedi of his age group. Nevertheless, the blunt joke was well-meant and Avin turned his attention from the ongoing proceedings to focus on Gatz with an apologetic look in his eye.