Private One With The Force [Veiere Arenais]

[Caedyn Arenais]

WolfMortum
The Astral Plane

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Through the wisdom and counsel of Thurion Heavenshield , Jedi Knight Caedyn Arenais had learned some time ago now how to delve so deeply into meditation, in communion with the Force, that he could transcend the physical realm, sending his consciousness into the ether and connect with his father's spirit, Veiere Arenais who had long since passed from the living world. During his time on Midvinter, Caedyn had scarcely believed that such a feat could be possible, and yet over the couple years since their meeting, the Jedi Knight had leaned upon his father's advice from time to time where his sight felt most clouded.

Within the Enclave of Svivren, the Jedi Knight sat motionless within the meditation chamber, his mind completely absent from the environment around him. Instead, Caedyn found himself standing within the ether, surrounded by the swirling energies of the astral plane, as though the Force itself surrounded him in visible waves, blurring the far off star-like lights that resembled a vast and spiritual universe around him. Only those who transitioned from life into the nether could truly comprehend the endless possibilities within such a place, where instead Caedyn's mind had created this mental image, an imitation of an endless expanse he could envision, limited by his corporeal body and mind.

Closing his eyes, Caedyn called out into the endless space through the Force, remembering the feeling of his father's presence and focusing solely upon it. "I'm here Dad. I've come to speak with you..." Caedyn whispered. Just as Thurion had taught him, Caedyn called upon Veiere's spirit, his memories and connection both by blood and by spirit, willing the former Jedi Master to appear before him.

 

[WolfMortum]

To commune with the spirits of the deceased was not an ability, a blessing, that all were able to perform. Sadly, many a Jedi had lived and passed into the Force without the knowledge of how to retain their physical identity after passing on into the nether.

Long ago, Veiere had been cut down by the Sith Lord Darth Prazutis, yet he was one of the gifted few who held the knowledge and the training to maintain their consciousness, retaining the knowledge and identity of who they were, passing from one world into the next.

While many passed on to become one with the Force, to find eternal peace and to leave the woes and wonders of the living Galaxy behind, it was Veiere's ethereal consciousness that was now being summoned by his son, Caedyn Arenais, a connection which acted like a beacon of light within and endless darkness that called him

"Hello Son, it's been some time. I've sensed a change in the Galaxy...-The balance has shifted, though not as some would hope." Veiere greeted his son with a simple truth. Victories and failures had come from the wars being waged, many a people afflicted by the results, some good and some otherwise. The galaxy in a true state of turmoil.

"As you know, I can provide you with guidance, however, some answers need to be discovered in life and I cannot tell you the path that you walk. Your experiences must come from your own actions, your decisions. With this in mind, how can I help you?".

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

"There's war being waged in the northern territories between...-Well, it seems like everyone who's not south of the Outer Rim Territories honestly" Caedyn replied with a sense of defeat, disappointment and helplessness both clearly evident within his tone of voice.

"The Sith Empire is being fought against on all sides, both by other Sith, by Imperials and the rest. It doesn't feel like it will take long before we will finally see them succumb to the violence after all these years of punishing the Galaxy..." he elaborated, although something about the way his words slowed at the end of the sentence sounded as though he were holding something back.

His father seemed to remain silent in this time, apparently giving the Jedi Knight the opportunity to collect his thoughts long enough to speak up once more, this time voicing what he felt rather than that which was known fact.

"I can't help but feel as though this isn't the victory that the Galaxy has been hoping for, for so long. I should be glad to see the Empire cornered and now feeling the struggle we have all felt for so long under their tyranny, yet...-There's something more that we're not seeing. I'm certain of it".

 

[WolfMortum]

"You sound as though you're disappointed in not finding pleasure in the suffering of others, but this seems very natural to me, would you not agree?".

Veiere questioned with a half-smile, looking upon his Son with a sense of pride; The Jedi Master that Veiere had once been, had lived out a good life having experienced much in his service to the Jedi Order and the Force, and many of the struggles that Caedyn felt were alike those that Veiere himself had been required to overcome long ago too.

"Both you and your Sister were taught well, by your family as well as others. Taught to know that there are no real victors in war, only pain and anguish. A cycle of violence that has repeated throughout the Galaxies history...".

Caedyn understood the teachings of the Jedi in a similar way to his father's mind, however, he also had the benefit of being trained by Lief and her Je'daii Order, knowledge and guidance that offered a significant difference between the two. Veiere's Son was not walking the same path as his father had.

"Do you recall the Sith Empire's occupation of Commenor?" Veiere asked rhetorically, knowing his Son would never forget such a time. Caedyn had been much younger then, and far more impulsive; "You chose to return and help me to gather our allies, to free our homeworld. It was a turning point in your life, and it led to your meeting Asaraa, joining the Order of the Silver Jedi" he spoke, his eyes studious upon his Son as he reflected upon their shared past.

Veiere too had been a member of the Silver Jedi Order back then, and following Commenor's freedom, he had found himself granted a place within the Silver Assembly, yet his relationship with his Son would continue to be strained for some time. A consequence of his father's failure to rise above the lure of the Dark Side of the Force.

"I cannot help but wonder what your old Master would have to say about these feelings you have..." Asha Hex had been a good friend in the eyes of Veiere Arenais, and it was the differences between the two Masters that had convinced Veiere to request that she teach his Son the way of the Je'daii. Scholars of history, followers of the Force and free of the bias of any single-sided alignment.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

"Asha would have spoken of the Bendu, the balance between the light and the dark. That there cannot be one side without the other, just as the Galaxy cannot seem to find peace as the Sith and the Jedi, Imperial and Democratic Forces continue to rise up against one another for their various reasons...." Caedyn answered, perhaps a little too simply worded but relaying the point across all the same.

"Where one side becomes too strong, the Force acts to re-establish balance through others, actions or incidents that cannot be anticipated or understood until it is done" Caedyn added, speaking from his own understanding.

What would his Master be doing during these times?

Asha Hex was a teacher and an advocate for learning. She shared her knowledge with others who wished to learn, those who chose to join her in agreement with the Je'daii Code, the old Order's philosophies and teachings of life and the Force. She had not been so quick to jump to a fight like Caedyn had when he was younger, but she bred awareness, wisdom and integrity in those regardless of their alignment in the Force.

Something the Je'daii were known for, an Order encompassed of both light and dark side practitioners, they who taught discipline and care in the use of the Force, yet did not limit themselves by fear but rather viewed the Force as one whole, respecting and mediating their use of it.

 

[WolfMortum]

"There will always be conflict within the Galaxy. This is evidenced by the fact that people have free will" Veiere responded, nodding in response to his Son's thoughts. Caedyn had touched on a subject that Veiere himself had been thinking of. Balance. The Bendu.

"It may be easy to look at your role in the Galaxy and see only endless fighting, with little hope of bringing about long-lasting peace, but to focus on such things is like asking to be discouraged, disappointed and hurt. What matters most is the here and the now, and how you choose to act with the time that you have" he explained, offering his view not on the state of the Galaxy but rather focusing on his Son and the effect that outside influences were holding over him.

"Distance yourself from things that have yet to occur, and concern yourself only with what is happening in the present. You cannot know what the future may bring, but if you focus too much on what could be, you lose sight of the opportunities presented to you in the here and now" he added, soon to fall silent in contemplation and study over his Son's presence in the Force. There within the bridge between life and death, Veiere could read the younger man clearly, and while Caedyn's mind was his own, his feelings hinted at words unspoken.

"I suspect, you did not seek my counsel to discuss the state of the Sith Empire though...-At least, not that alone. Your mind seems heavy, your presence in the Force dense in this place. There is more you wish to talk about".