The City of Ghosts

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

​

A beautiful summer breeze wound its way through the once grand structures that made up the ghost town of Jassin City. Great metal buildings creaked and moaned under their ancient weight, only a partial remnant of the impressive city they once made up. Nature had already begun to reclaim it's territory. Grass sprouted up between cracks in the concrete floors, vines wound their way around massive durasteel girders, and brightly coloured flora fought between themselves for the rays of sunlight that broke through the towering skyline. With clear skies above and a bright yellow sun beating down wave after wave of heat, Elyane was hard pressed to feel frightened of the abandoned area she strolled through. As her bright green eyes traversed each skeleton she absently wondered who or what they had once housed.

It seemed an interesting choice for a session, but day after day in such a small training room was restricting no matter if they were practising the art of the force or sparring. Part of her wanted to see what they were both capable of in such an open space. At the very least they wouldn't be disturbed way out here. Nobody ever came to Jassin City anymore. Soft pink lips pursed together to form a circle as Elyane let off a high pitched whistle into the ghost town surrounding her. It echoed back and forth between the steel, never seeming to find a place to settle in the empty shells. The sensible side of her, ever present and the more dominating aspect of her personality, quickly decided that Jassin City was a little frightening. Especially considering she was walking through it alone.

Sun-kissed fingers reached into a pocket in search of her comm-device. They followed by dancing quickly across the bright screen her green eyes were met with. She knew for a fact Horus wouldn't be too long. He wasn't even late, yet, but still she persisted with the rapid taps of her fingers against the comm. At least if nothing else came out of it she'd get a small kick out of irking him somewhat. His irritated expression always did make her laugh. She finished the message with a soft chuckle shared between herself and the ghost town and a flourish of her finger as she sent it off.

Where are you?​

 

[Horus Arseneau]

Location: Jassin City
Tags: [member="Elyane Ossaki"]
{I}

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Where are you?

Horus eyed the comm device in his hands, holding a slight smirk as he looked to the message that flashed over the comms screen. Usually Elyane would arrive early, only making her wait for Horus that much longer. Horus had a knack for being late, and it was a fact that his partner was well aware of. Still, today he had been the first to arrive. He lowered his comm device, giving him a clear view of the street before him. Elyane was passing by, a few stories below him. Had he not been hidden in the shadows she may have noticed him, but he was careful to hide from her sight. Once she passed by him, he tucked his comm device into his pocket. The building he had been perched on must have been a part of an old construction project, as there was a pulley system nearby which gave Horus a way to the ground.

His hands wrapped around the thick wire pulley before leaping off of the ledge he had been on. “I'm right here!” He called out in response to Elyane's message. As the pulley screamed, Horus landed on the ground with an impressed smile on his face.

Horus was dressed modestly. A pair of jeans and old boots with a T-shirt. Even the leather jacket he wore seemed older and in need of replacement. He made his way over to Elyane and before he realized what he was doing he had pulled her into a warm embrace. Elyane was simply put, his best friend. She had been there for him for as long as he could remember. Anytime spent away from her was unsettling, to the point of distraction. Horus had always tried to rationalize his feelings, but in the end he just ended up ignoring his emotions. He smiled into the embrace and muttered softly, “I missed you.” He'd been away for some months and just now he wished to never leave again.

He said nothing and instead just pulled himself from the embrace. His brown eyes gazed at Elyane for the briefest moment before he smiled at her expectantly. “What do you think?” He asked, gesturing to the city around them. “Not a bad place to train.” Horus leaned his back against a nearby building, glancing around a bit before muttering. “Place is kind of creepy though…” he admitted before crossing his arms over his chest. It was obvious by the expression on the man's face that something was weighing on his mind. Though he said nothing, Elyane had always been able to read him like a book.

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

​

Elyane should have known. It was too peaceful in the ghost town. Something was bound to catch her off guard sooner or later, she just happened to be lucky that it was Horus. A stream of blonde hair cut through the summer air in a circle as she whipped around to face the source of the familiar voice. A bemused expression took her over as she allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. It had been months since she had seen that smile, months since she felt the sensation of home in his embrace. She loathed the time he spent away from her but it always made his return seem that much sweeter. Elyane had been friends with Horus for as long as she could remember, perhaps even longer. Often she found herself wondering if there would ever be something more behind their complicated relationship, but for now she was simply content to be in his presence.

'I've missed you too.' Her words were whispered into the shoulder of his worn leather jacket. Though he had been gone for far too long he still smelled like the Horus she remembered. His arms around her waist still brought that coveted feeling of comfort and safety. It was like he had never left. Bright green eyes sparkled as she pulled away a little to take the tip of his chin in between her fingers gently. 'You've come back with something attached to your face.' Sun-kissed fingers traced the line of his jaw, softly bristling the hairs that poked through his skin. The more she looked at it the more she decided it suited him. It framed his sculpted features in an extremely attractive way. A smile appeared on Elyane's face, showing a flash of bright white teeth before she caught herself in the act of admiring him. The embrace broke in a timely fashion and Elyane cleared her throat awkwardly, taking a step back as she adjusted the bright white dress wrapped loosely around her curves.

She was grateful for his question and used the motion of his hand to draw her eyes from his face. 'It's actually very interesting. Seeing it makes you really appreciate why there are so many ghost stories about this place back home.' Elyane took a step backward, dark brown boots crunching against the debris of the ruined road underfoot. Long blonde hair shifted from her shoulders to her back, cascading down the white dress like a waterfall as she tilted her head up to glance at the dizzying height of the skyscrapers surrounding them. Elyane was just about to pass a comment on exactly how creepy the place was when his tone caught her ear. Her gaze drew down quickly, passing over the old steel skeletons to find Horus. She knew him so well that she hardly needed to see the expression written all over his face to confirm it. Elyane took a cautious step forward, her calm voice engulfed in mild concern. 'What's wrong?'

 

[Horus Arseneau]

When Elyane's fingers brushed over his chin, Horus could not help but chuckle a bit at her words. Even though it was her touch that brought the smile to his face. The man eyed her for a moment before running a hand over his beard. It was a short layer of dark brown hair that covered his chin and joined closely with his sideburns, he wasn't quite sure how he felt about it. Still, he felt that she liked it, perhaps he would let it stay for a while longer. As Elyane spoke of the city, Horus raised his eyes to glance at the abandoned building for a few more moments. Illyria was a planet that had been dipped in civil war for hundreds of years. The final war had only just ended when Horus was born and the result was two-fold. While The Confederacy had taken control of the planet, claiming to put an end to the "never-ending war" they had done little to truly help the people of the world. The Nobles were paid, a new King was crowned, but in the end what had changed? It was why when Horus was asked to join the Knight's Obsidian, the Confederacy's force corp, he had declined. He was not a Knight Obsidian, he was a Jedi, which meant his allegiance was to peace, not war.

That was the train of thought that caused Horus' mood to dampen in this moment. He exhaled when Elyane gave him that look. She was painfully aware of him and that only seemed to make it worse. "How do we know if we're doing the right thing?" He asked. Growing up an orphan of Illyria, Horus had seen the results of the final war. His life had been his own only through dumb luck and his skills to survive. But what did that mean for the hundreds of others who were untouched by The Force.

"I mean...Should we have signed on with The Knight's or should we just keep doing what we've been doing." He wondered, pressing a hand to his temple in agitation. "I spent a year on Apatros and it felt like I accomplished nothing." He insisted. It was getting to the point where Horus was beginning to doubt his own skills. Sure he was a decent fighter, but when it came to his skills in The Force he was barely any better than he had been as a child. Moving a large rock was about the best he could do, on a good day.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member=Horus Arseneau]​

​

Pale golden brows knitted together in a mixture of both confusion and concern. In the silence that briefly took hold a torrent of 'what ifs' ripped through her mind like a hurricane, each passing one seemingly more concerning then the last. What if something had happened on Apatros? What if he was sick? What if he didn't want to spend time with her anymore? Elyane took a tentative step forward, the slender arms at her side twitched as if she had the mind to reach out and hold him once again. When he posed his question she paused for a minute, face twisting to a pensive stare. Everything she had learned about right and wrong seemed to tumble from her mind like leaves in an autumn breeze. The only reply she could manage didn't really seem to answer anything. 'We don't, I suppose.' Before he even spoke again her keen eyes could see the tension in his face, taste the agitation in the air.

When he finally spoke a soft, endearing smile overtook her expression as she shook a wave of tumbling blonde curls lightly. Horus had always been his own worst critic. 'I think it's a bit too early to be asking things like that.' Nimble feet carried her two feet or so, closing the distance between them enough so that she could take his hand in hers. 'Do you think artists learn to paint masterpieces in a single day?' She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. 'This is a journey, not a race. You always have had a tendency to rush through life.' Another step took her close enough to feel the heat coming from his chest, enough to see properly into the kind, ocean blue eyes she felt so familiar with. 'One day, you'll accomplish amazing things. Things you won't have ever thought possible or even had the mind to think of in the first place.'

She knew the decision had tugged on his mind. They had spent many nights discussing the benefits of the Confederacy vs the Silver Order. What she had neglected to mention was that once had made up his mind she would have followed him anywhere. 'I can't predict the future. Nobody knows what's going to happen and we won't know if we've made the right choice until something goes wrong. But if you focus on the future so hard you'll miss what's happening in the present.' Elyane grinned and tugged gently on his hand, indicating that they should walk a little further into the ghost city eagerly waiting for them to explore. What he needed most now was a distraction, something to take his mind off the endless cycle of doubt. 'Let's go find somewhere to practice. You can tell me all about Apatros and I can bore you with my tales of normality.'

 

[Horus Arseneau]

Elyane had a way of answering Horus’ questions in a way that caused him to sigh. Not out of frustration or agitation but out of the fact that she was, yet again, right. If Horus focused in every decision he made instead of how to improve his situation, he would not do much to improve anything. How could he help others if he himself was in turmoil. He gave the woman a playful look as he took her hand into his own. She was warm, her touch reminded him that she would always be his greatest supporter. His smile turned genuine as his azure eyes washed over her. He held her gaze for a few fleeting moments before he felt her guide him deeper into the city. He followed, walking closely beside her as they moved deeper into the city.

Horus stole a few more glances at Elyane than he should have. Who wouldn't? She was beautiful. She'd always been that way, after all, even when they were in primary school together Elyane had been his childhood crush. When Horus had first started school he'd been the black sheep of the school. An orphan with a bad temper, he made friends even less then than he did now. Still, Elyane had been as warm to him then as she was now. His smile had faded, but there was still a certain way he carried himself that showed he enjoyed being around her. As they started to walk deeper into the city, Horus dipped his hand into the pouch on his waist. He pulled out a piece of smoked jerky, holding it out to Elyane before taking a piece out for himself.

“Apatros sucked. It was basically just a big ball of dirt. The only people who really live there are the miners. They all work for this big company called the Outer Rim Oreworks. They pretty much only mine Cortosis, but it's horrible Elyane. The miners work ten hours days and their pay is chit. I worked security for ORO for a while while I looked into those murders...the Miners are literally killing each other over that stuff. They can't meet their bills so they take loans from ORO so they can pay their bills. ORO keeps giving them loans because it keeps them in the mines. What's worse is when you die the debt goes to your next of kin, so these mining families have been working for ORO for hundreds of years.” The entire situation made Horus want to punch someone in the face, one person in particular.

As he bit into his jerky he contorted his face in anger as he recalled the reason for his return “I brought this all up to the regional manager and all he told me was 'It's the way things are’ like I was some kid. Anyway when I pushed it he fired me. I hung around a few more weeks to help however I could but I started to run out of credits and I'd die before I took one of those ORO loans.” Horus huffed, running a hand over his mass of curls and evening some of them out as he did. “So basically I spent a year in some hot ass mines just so I could arrest a few starving miners trying to steal mining equipment.”

“I'm a hero.” He muttered, recalling how the miners on Apatros had agitatedly dubbed him the Hero of Apatros or more commonly the Hero of ORO. When Horus arrived on the planet he had delusions of turning the world from it's corruption, when all he had done was provide a jacked up mining Corporation with a year of labor. “Once they fired me there was nothing I could do, ORO banned me from the mines and that's where the killings were taking place.” As they moved deeper into the city, they stumbled upon a large clearing. It seemed to have once been some type of park or center, but now it was nothing more than a grass field overgrown into the streets surrounding it. Horus jerked his chin at the clearing.

“This should work.” He said, before looking to Elyane with a curious arch of the brow. “What do you want to do first?” He asked, knowing what he needed most was to meditate and that was last on his list.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member=Horus Arseneau]​

Now that Horus was by her side the ghost town had gone back to feeling rather serene, though Elyane wasn't as invested in the shell of the old city anymore. She was more interested in the eyes the colour of water that would occasionally dart her way. The hot sun was definitely a blessing, something she could use to explain away the blush creeping over her cheeks. It didn't seem to matter that they had gone a year without seeing each other, everything was still exactly the same as before he had left. He still made her feel like that wild child, with no cares in the world except what their next adventure would be. A twinkle of excitement lit up her bright green eyes when he brought out the strip of jerk meat. With a grateful expression on her face Elyane nodded, took it eagerly and began to nibble absently on one end as she listened to him speak.

The more he spoke of Apatros the more pleased she was that she had the jerky to chew on. It was a helpful reminder to keep her face straight, only humming softly every now and then to acknowledge that she was listening. Under the surface, his words cut deep. Some part of her physically ached at the notion of Horus having to handle all of that alone. It was almost as if someone had reached into her chest and grabbed hold of her heart in a vice like grip. 'I should have come with you.' She tried her best to hide the ever so subtle sound of guilt. The sound of tears being held back. Elyane knew she wouldn't have made a difference to what Horus had accomplished there, but at least then she could have shared the burden such a trip must have left him with. They had shared almost everything up to now and it pained her to know that they couldn't share this. Not in any meaningful way.

Willowy fingers reached up to tuck a strand of straw coloured hair behind her ear. There wasn't much she felt she could say to make the memories sting less. Only time would heal them, only time could give him the perspective gained from experiences like his. Elyane put her best smile on, the one she used when she felt incredibly proud of him. 'At least you tried. I'm proud of you for that. You tried so hard that you almost lost everything yourself. Nobody can say you didn't try your best.' His hand directed her gaze toward a grassy field, one that held all the tell tale signs of being a park, once upon a time. Elyane nodded her head, quickly finishing the last of her jerky and licking her fingers free of the juices. 'This is perfect!' Elyane wondered forward, stepping over the wrought metal fence that used to travel the parameter of the park.

The grass was almost as tall as her. When she walked through it the blades tickled the soft skin on her cheeks. 'I suppose we could start with practising your telekinesis?' One hand reached out to stroke the blades of grass surrounding her. Elyane was rather hoping he didn't want to fight today. Where he lacked in the force he more than made up for with his fighting skills. Something he consistently reminded Elyane that she needed to improve on. 'Or maybe we could try something new?' Her heel dug into the soft undergrowth as she turned on the spot to face Horus. If she were being honest it hardly mattered what they did, she was simply pleased to have him back.

 

[Horus Arseneau]

It was the way that guilt filled Elyane's voice that caused Horus to exhale softly. He hated to make Elyane feel that way, even if there was nothing to truly apologize for he could not help but utter the words.

"I'm sorry Ely." He said while his azure eyes gazed over the woman.

Elyane's words were comforting. It meant a lot that he could make her proud, even more so when she saw him as more than most others did. Some punk who wore an old lightsaber with dreams of becoming a Jedi Knight. But it was his dream and Elyane shared it with him. When it came time for them to practice their abilities, Elyane had suggested telekenesis. Horus gave her a wry smile, but cursed inside of his mind at the thought of practicing the damned technique. He nodded before walking over to a nearby pile of stones. The stones were jagged and rough, though they seemed to be man made by the dark Obsidian color they had to them.

"Ok, we can try this again but i'm telling you I'm no good at it." Horus stood away from the stones before letting out a deep exhale. He tried, truly to clear his mind of all thoughts. He lifted both of his hands, holding them out to the stones before him. Horus looked to the largest of the rocks, tightening his hands into tight fists for a moment. When he held his hands out once again there was a noticeable strain. The vein on the temple of his head began to bulge as he struggled to move the stone. Under his power it did not so much as shiver. This maintained for a few moments before Horus shot his arms down and cursed. "Damn it! It's not working again." Horus stepped away from the stones, placing his hands on his waist as he looked to Elyane.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

Toffee coloured shoulders rolled upward in response to his apology. Elyane was more upset at the fact that Horus had struggled alone for so long. A whole year. 'You don't have to apologise.' She wouldn't say it, but it wasn't exactly like the apology helped in any way. 'You did what you had to do.' Elyane turned her head briefly to flash him a warm smile to show there was no animosity behind her words. Perhaps the best thing for them both would be to put Apatros behind them. At least now they were both part of the Silver Jedi's they wouldn't have to be separated too often. With that thought in mind Elyane turned her focus to the task they had set themselves.

The hesitation was written on his face in a crystal clear expression. Telekinesis wasn't exactly his forte. 'Just try...' She coaxed him gently, voice as soft as the summer breeze. No matter what Horus said, she knew he could do it. More often than not the only reason he failed at anything was because of the immense pressure he placed on his own shoulders. Elyane's bright forest eyes narrowed as she watched him attempt the force move. The strain on his face made itself plain almost instantly in the form of fine lines creasing over his brow and the steady throb of a vein in his head. 'You're trying too hard, Horus.' Elyane picked her way through the grass toward the stones, choosing a spot just beside Horus. 'Don't tense your whole body like that.' Sun-kissed arms raised from her side as she drew in a deep breath of the refreshing air. As she did her shoulders and stance visibly relaxed. Turning her head to face Horus, one of her pale blonde brows raised slowly.

'You can't just think really hard about moving them, you'll only end up giving yourself a headache.' Elyane motioned for Horus to try again with the tip of her slender fingers. 'Take a deep breath, relax. It's not the same as swinging a lightsaber or dodging an attack. It comes from the soul.' One of the stones shifted from its place, making a few sharp cracks as it disturbed the pebbles underneath it. It hovered in position for a moment before mapping a slow course toward Elyane's outstretched hand. Once it had nestled in her palm she turned on her heel, catching Horus' hand in her own and turning it up to face the sky. With a little flourish she pressed the grey stone firmly into the centre of his palm and held it up for him at eye level. 'Try again.'

 

[Horus Arseneau]

Elyane said that Horus was trying too hard. That sentence alone made no sense to the man. How could you try too hard?! Still, she joined him, hoping to explain it a bit more to the man. When she came to his side, he watched her with an expression of uncertainty. She motioned for him to try again and he sighed before raising his hands again. Horus could not feel the subtle change that had occured. It happened everytime Elyane tapped into The Force, yet he did not notice it, he never did. His mind was focused purely on the physical aspect of it all. Tightening muscles, straining and tensing, however it always amounted to the same thing, nothing. He looked to Elyane's form, she was loose and relaxed where he had been as rigid as the rocks he was attempting to lift. As the stone flew in the air towards her, he smiled at her success. "Good job." He told her before grimacing, considering that it was now his turn to try again. He looked to the stones with an uncertain look, his hands coming back down to his waist.

He shook his arms, freeing some of the tension in them before leveling them against the stones. Still, he was tense.

"I hate this..." He muttered.

Closing his eyes, Horus exhaled as he focused on the stones. He thought about one of the smaller ones, trying to imagine him lifting the stone. He felt as if something had come over him, washing through him and allowing him to levitate the rock a few meters from the ground. One of his eyes cracked open and he saw nothing of the sort had happened. Cursing softly to himself he closed his eyes again, this time not using his mind to imagine himself lifting the rock. No, this time he thought of Elyane. He had not tried to, it had simply ended up that way. As he tried to relax his mind naturally flooded with thoughts that helped to calm him, these thoughts led to Elyane. He imagined her laugh, her smile, the feeling of her hands in his. His eyes were closed, his muscles were loose, and the stone floated a few inches from the blades of grass that had grown around it.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

Elyane smiled in his direction. He was always so sweet, even when he wasn't in the mood to be. She knew practising his Telekinesis irked him, she knew he felt like a failure when his efforts amounted to nothing, but she also knew he could do it. He was powerful. An untapped mine of potential that had yet to realise his true worth. Elyane only hoped that they could uncover the extent of his abilities, together. One day they would make a break through and she wouldn't be the only one who saw it. One day he would realise too. 'Thank you.' She finally spoke in response to his praise. He might have complimented her and succeeded in making the pale pink blush crept across her cheeks, but he wasn't getting out of this one. 'Go on.' She coaxed again as the sun kissed hand containing the obsidian black stone dropped carelessly, a soft thump sounded out as it disappeared noisily into the overgrown grass.

Elyane grimaced as she responded to his simple, yet powerful statement. 'I know.' She disliked hearing him say he hated anything. Every time he did his tone seemed to change to someone she had no recognition of. Someone who was not familiar but still drew out the intense protective and supportive emotions from Elyane. He was still the same Horus, it was just that words like hate and sadness did not belong on his tongue, nor did they suit his face. The moment passed and Horus finally shook himself free of any strain, in order to give it another shot. Forest green eyes watched him, anticipation and excitement written on the face they made their home on.

It happened suddenly, one minute his shoulders looked like they would snap in half under any pressure, the next Elyane felt that familiar sensation of power. Though small in stature she could feel it winding through the grass, caressing her bare flesh, exploring every inch of the space between the two friends. The same eyes that had moments ago been watching Horus intently flickered to the pile of stones. One wobbled dangerously, as if to suggest something had knocked it. A bright smile broke over Elyane's expression as she watched the stone rise slowly into the air. This was followed quickly by a loud shriek of delight as Elyane threw her weight over Horus' frame. 'YOU DID IT!' There was little thought put into the idea that doing such would disturb his concentration. Elyane didn't think that way. She simply wanted to congratulate him, to prove to him that he was worth more than he led himself to belief.

She pulled away from the rapid embrace, arms draped gracefully over his chiselled shoulders. Shimmering white teeth presented themselves to Horus behind plush red lips. The smile seemed to be so wide on her face that it brought her cheeks up and crinkled the corners of her eyes. 'I'm so proud of you! How did you manage it?!'

 

[Horus Arseneau]

The loud shriek in Horus’ ear caused his eyes to snap open. His concentration broken, the stone fell back to the land beneath it with a soft thud. Still, he did not need to see it to know it had happened. He felt it, but not through his own ability. He felt it through the warm embrace that came around him. It was so welcomed that the man did not even notice his weight had shifted past his control. They were falling, uh oh. As his backside slammed into the grass with Elyane still wrapped around him, he couldn't help but curse while stifling a chuckle. Elyane had fallen to where her lips were only a few inches from his own. He did not notice it, but his cheeks had a crimson flush to them. Her lips were full and welcoming, coated in a lipstick that he loved to see the woman wear. When she asked just how he had lifted the stone, he stumbled a bit as he tried to respond.

“Oh I….you know … focused.” Not entirely a lie, though the truth was what he had been focusing on. Horus took a moment to admire her expression before he felt something flow through him. It was as if he felt his heart beating, pulsing so loudly that it made his own body quake. The odd thing was...It was not in his chest. It felt as if it was elsewhere, but no less real. He turned from Elyane, glancing around before he looked to her with a questionable look. “Do you feel that?” He asked, not sure if his mind was making this up or not.

“Elyane…” He'd planned to say more but instead he stood up, his crystal blue eyes gazing at the buildings surrounding them. What was this feeling?

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

Elyane didn't realise just how hard she had thrown herself at Horus, nor did she come to the conclusion that he wasn't prepared to catch her properly. The couple tumbled almost instantly, the toffee coloured woman only managing a squeak of surprise as the floor came rushing up to meet them. One disoriented grunt and a soft shake of her golden curls later, her sea-foam eyes looked up at Horus. She was almost taken aback by how close he was, and she could feel the instant seizing of her lungs, preventing her from taking even the smallest of breaths. When the blush on his cheeks steadily grew Elyane found herself smiling. It was so pronounced it caused fine wrinkles to form in the corners of her eyes. They might not have been ready to express their feelings to each other in words just yet, but actions spoke louder and stronger than any sentence could.

Her painted lips parted as if she were about to speak, but the notion of a response did not linger long in her mind. Like an animal suddenly alert to the presence of danger Elyane shot up, pressing her hands against Horsus' chest for balance. A force, imperceptible to those who did not have the mind for it, wound through the tall grass and encased the willowy woman. Olive green eyes closed quickly as she inhaled the fresh air, drawing on the power to truly feel. 'I can feel it.' Her sweet voice was almost a whisper, nearly loosing itself entirely on the summer breeze that rolled through the ghost city. Elyane scrambled up to a stand, only allowing herself a brief moment to adjust the hem of her slightly grass stained dress. It seemed she wasn't willing to wait to discuss it. Like a bloodhound catching a scent she turned to Horus and snatched up his hand in her own.

What was supposed to be an ordinary training session had turned into an adventure, and Elyane wasn't about to let it pass them by. 'Come on...' A tempting grin filled her expression with a look that could only mean one thing. Without any ceremony to it she turned on her heel and dragged Horus into the long grass toward the intense call of something mysterious.

 

[Horus Arseneau]

When Elyane perked up, her eyes focused on the distance Horus placed a hand on the blaster pistols that hung from his waist. It was a simple blaster pistols he had been issued when working for ORO. Technically he should have turned it in when he left the planet, however he conveniently forgot about that factor. Perhaps there were some aspects of being a Jedi that the man still struggled at. As Elyane pushed herself up, Horus rolled over so he could see the direction she was gazing out at. The feeling that had come over him was vaguely familiar, yet he could not remember a time he'd felt it.

Horus rolled back, hoping to discuss the feeling with Elyane. Instead her hand took his and in the next moment she was pulling him to his feet. Horus chuckled. He chuckled because he knew exactly what this meant. Her hand in his own, they began a jog deeper into the city. Horus could not feel it the way Elyane could. For Elyane it was less ambiguous, less vague. Horus felt it all around him, to the point where it would be damn near impossible to narrow it down to a single direction.

“Elyane! Where are we going?!” He called out. This was a part of the woman that he loved. She was always so ready for an adventure.

“What is it?” Horus still could not identify the Force. No, it still felt like something that had always been there, but he'd never noticed. This was even different from when he lifted the stone. It was more illusive.

They continued on their path for some time, until they found themselves staring at a part of the city that had fallen to ruin. Two large buildings seemed to collapse onto each other, creating an arc that led into an underground rail system. Horus gazed up at the two buildings, cursing softly at what he saw. “Damn those don't look stable.” He muttered before looking to Elyane with a warm expression. “Are you sure about this?” He asked, his uncertainty bleeding through his words.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

Slender legs easily navigated the tall grass, weaving their way through the debris that hid behind almost every blade. 'I don't know where.' She spoke simply in response, but her tone revealed more than her words. It was filled with excitement, anticipation and just a hint of nervousness. Elyane genuinely had no idea where they were going, she was simply following. Following this feeling that had grabbed hold of her gut and pulled so strongly it was almost uncomfortable. When they finally reached the other side of the park Elyane turned to face Horus with a wild look in her eyes and an eager smile that saw her bright white teeth sink into her lower lip. 'Trust me, it's an adventure.' The words formed quickly. 'Just like old times.'

For the most part she ignored his other question. Not because she was trying to be cruel but because she didn't have an answer. All she knew was the intensity of it, like a magnet drawn to metal the only thing she could do was obey. When they reached crumbled buildings that formed the entrance of the ruined rail system, Elyane stopped dead. 'Of course I'm sure.' She finally released her grip on his hand. 'It's like this... this thing calling out to me, as if it knows me intimately.' A golden waterfall of hair shifted as she turned to catch his gaze with shimmering green eyes. 'It's too hard to put into words, but I'm not going to let a city of ghosts stand in my way.' A brief grin claimed her expression as she walked away, hips swaying confidently in time to her step.

The silence of the abandoned railway was deafening, as was the darkness that encased Elyane as she took her first gingerly placed steps through the archway. Her muscles tensed as the crumbling structure groaned, echoing the sound through the once lively station, resembling some creature calling in the deepest of tones. Despite there being no chance of any sunlight breaking through the makeshift archway, her eyes adjusted quickly to the dark. In the dimness she could make out two paths, both leading down the stairs into the depths below. 'It would be the creepy staircase, with force knows what down there.' Elyane tilted her head back to glance up at the tall ceiling. With each step she made toward the staircase the sound of her boots clicking against a dishevelled tiled floor repeated itself back to them, over and over again. 'Perhaps we'll get more of a training session than we thought?' As the top of the staircase approached, Elyane paused.

There was no way she was going down there first.

 

[Horus Arseneau]

By the look on Horus' face he was still unsure if going forward was the best idea. The twin buildings that had collapsed onto each other were a glaring example of the cities stability. As Horus eyed the buildings, he wondered whether they had fallen before the abandonement or after. He said nothing onthe matter and merely looked back to Elyane. She did not know exactly where they were headed? That was a disturbing thought. Still, the light in the woman's eeys as her lips spread to a wide smirk caused Horus to chuckle a bit, albeit rolling his eyes as he did. When Elyane spoke of the feeling, Horus was not sure of how the woman felt, but still there was some small part of him that believed he understood. As they turned into the railway tunnel it let out a loud moan that caused Horus to stare up at it uncertainly.

"Elyane...?" He asked, glancing over at the woman with an unsure expression.

Elyane led the two of them to a stairwell that led down into a pit of darkness. Horus stared down as Elyane spoke, gazing out into the pit of shadows that laid before them.

Oh hell no.

The man turned back to Elyane with an agitated expression. He could not turn from the path before him when Elyane was watching. It wasn't his nature to turn down a challenge anyway and this darkness reminded him of a challenge. He huffed before dropping a hand to his belt and taking a small flashlight from it. Even with the flashlight on, Horus could not pierce much of the darkness before them, once again he glanced at Elyane before leading the way down the stairs. He was not quite sure when his hand ended up pressed against his blaster pistol, however by the time they were halfway down the staircase, his hand was wrapped around the grip of his weapon. "You know. Some friends go out to eat, go see swoop races, but not us. Nope, we go into deep pits under giant broken buildings. We lead a charmed life." He cut through the silence, hating the sound of nothing but the darkness around them. As they continued a thought came to mind, he and Elyane out to dinner. It was a thought that caused him to smile for a moment.

"You know, if I die down here I'm haunting you." As they finally descended on the ground floor, Horus found himself staring at a peculiar sight. Where once there had been walls of permacrete and durasteel, they were now parted. A massive hole gaped the side of the tunnel, where it seemed construction was once taking place. It was now that Horus felt a warm breeze flow over him, through him. It called out to him, speaking to his very being. Horus glanced back at Elyane, this time showing a slight smile. "I sense it." He confirmed, before leading the way through the cave. Horus flashed his the light through the caverns. The deeper they went, the more he could feel the subtle pull of The Force. The cave continued, feeling as if it was going on endlessly. Finally, they came to the end of the tunnel. It was colder, even more cut off from the surface above. Horus pressed his hand to the wall of rock before them. Horus could feel it. It was so close, but there was still this wall keeping them from the true end.

"Something is behind this wall..." He muttered.

[member="Elyane Ossaki"]

 

[Neina Raethi]

Illyria | Jassin City | [member="Horus Arseneau"]​

Her eyes lit up with her lips as they formed a gently coaxing expression. They were rarely afraid to do anything, so long as they tackled it together. She drew her gaze down to the flight of stairs as the torchlight did its best to break the shadow. It was crazy, utterly crazy. Two people just grazing the edge of adulthood, wondering through an abandoned railway to follow a gut feeling? In ordinary circumstances it wouldn't have felt right, but Elyane was confident they were capable. She also knew that if they didn't take the plunge, whatever it was that had called them there in the first place would be left undiscovered. It was notion that just didn't sit right with her, and she could imagine it was the same for Horus.

Elyane wrapped her slender fingers around his bicep as they began the descent, the other hand reaching out to find the rusted banister for balance. With each step that took them lower into the impenetrable blackness she could feel her chest tighten. Not only was the draw of whatever had brought them there in the first place growing stronger, but fear was also taking hold. The tension was only raised when she heard the telltale sounds of blaster being gripped. She knew she was supposed to be brave, and what's more she knew Horus wouldn't allow them to be hurt, but the emotion still stood her hairs on end. Her only saving grace was the soothing baritone voice that reached out to her in the darkness. Elyane let out a timid chuckle. 'Don't we just?' Though there was no light to see her face by, the smile on it was obvious. 'At least nobody can say we lead boring ones.'

After what felt like an age the stairs finally levelled out onto a half-constructed platform, with a gaping hole in the middle where most of the work seemed to have been taking place. The torchlight was finally doing a better job of illuminating their path, so Elyane released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding in. 'If you didn't haunt me I'd be disappointed and offended.' She quipped in regard to his earlier comment. With the strange sensation completely dominating everything else, she quite forgot to feel afraid. Horus' eager tone and leading stride only put a smirk on her face. It brought her no end of joy to feel the excitement rolling off him, something that brought the fond memories of their childhood back to the forefront of her mind. Not wanting to get left behind, Elyane followed, sticking close to his heels as they navigated the winding tunnels.

Before to long, they hit a wall. By now Elyane was feeling the sharp chill that lazed through the underground maze. A shudder travelled the length of her spine, bringing along goosebumps that littered her tanned flesh. The beam of light bobbed up and down as Horus lent forward to press his hand against the wall. Her head nodded at his words, she could feel it too. 'How do you suppose we get through it?' Elyane took a step forward to examine the wall herself. One hand ran along the length of it, feeling for any kind of crack that might indicate a doorway. Elyane stepped back, puffing out a sigh of air at the lack of anything. 'I just don't understand it. Why would the force send us here... It's literally a brick wall.'