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There was a genuineness to Wrenarias that endeared her to the Jedi Master. He eyed her curiously, though his visage was that of stone as she spoke. Her reasoning was quite similar to his own, or at least what it had been so many years ago. Before the theology, before the war, Cedric had only wanted to help. His reasoning had grown far more warped since then.

"Then you have the right attitude," Cedric offered her an easy smile. "A good Jedi is someone that, at their core, would be trying to help even if they lacked the Force. It isn't a belief at its basis, but a mindset. We sacrifice ourselves for others. It is our way."

Cedric seemed more at ease now, and it wasn't the liqour burning its way through his veins.

"You'll fit right in here." His smile grew into a grin.

 

[Wrenarias]

"There are bad Jedi?" She asked with a quirked brow.

The idea that any Jedi could be anything less than good was almost appalling. Weren't they supposed to be the defenders of the galaxy?

Then her thoughts drifted to Kelina and her avarice for violence. While the Mirialan had taught her most of what she knew, Wren was starting to see now that perhaps things hadn't been quite right with her old Mentor. A faint grimace flitted across her features, it went against her nature to think ill of someone who helped her.

There must have been some explanation, something that drove Kelina to take the path she did.

When Cedric grinned at her and assured her that she'd fit in, Wren's concerned expression shifted to a warm smile of her own.

"Well, that's comforting. It'd be a little awkward if you didn't think I'd be a good fit." She chuckled, finishing her drink and then setting it aside.

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”There are bad Jedi?”



An all too apt question. The galaxy seemed to view the Jedi as near mythical figures. The lack of them in great number had only helped to spread such legends - when they were seen, their powers were heralded as supernatural. It didn’t hurt that the Jedi had gone out of their way to portray themselves as paragons of virtue to the masses either. It often made explaining the various Jedi schisms more than a bit difficult to explain to the uninitiated.



“Jedi are people like anyone else. We all have our flaws, and some of us allow our flaws to control us,” Cedric explained as he tackled the rather sobering topic. “Any Force sensitive can utilize the Force. One can be entirely calm, detached, in touch with the Light, and still commit atrocities. It only requires that they believe in their heart that they are right. Some Jedi interpret things in a sense that they must kill all those that go against the teachings. Other may kill innocents in a quest to achieve societal ‘purity’, and others still may allow a city to be bombed to end a war more quickly than otherwise.”



He folded his arms about his chest, nose scrunching up with distaste. “We must always take care that we don’t start to believe the rumors ourselves. We are only accountable to ourselves, and so we must make sure our actions are in the right. Question yourself, question everything - it’ll keep you on the right path.”

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

She nodded politely while Cedric spoke, listening to intently to what he was telling her. All of it was important information and knowledge to keep in mind throughout her training. But, she reminded herself, this conversation had not started out as a lesson. She chewed her bottom lip and shifted her weight in the chair, seemingly a bit restless -- which was why she'd been wandering the palace in the first place.

"Speaking of questions..." She mused with a smirk, nodding towards Cedric with her chin.

"I believe it's your turn to ask one."

 

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Always one to educate, Cedric fell into the role quite easily. It was important that Wren understood the complexities of Jedi - better she see them for the flawed beings they were than something to be idolized as wholly pure.

Nonetheless, he welcomed the shift of conversation. His glass was set aside: anymore liqour could only bring belligerence, something he had little desire to aspire toward.

"S'pose it is," he scratched at the point of his chin, brow furrowing in momentary thought. He could approach her on a more philosophical level - it was Cedric's favorite sort of subject, but most weren't so inclined. He gave a mental shrug and spoke.

"What are your beliefs?" He asked, "Spiritually, I mean. Any gods you believe in?"

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

The question posed was a personal one, and it gave Wrenarias pause.

Her lips pursed briefly, and then she chewed at the corner of her mouth as she took her time to answer. Spirituality was not something the twi'lek ever gave much thought to anymore. There had been a time, long ago, that she followed the Goddess of Ryloth. That all changed after her life was torn asunder by betrayal and repeated abandonment.

Eventually, she shook her head from side to side with a frown on her lips.

"Not anymore, no. If there is some being out there, they certainly don't give a kriff about us." She intoned with a quiet sigh. "No one is else gonna look out for those who need help so... it falls to those of us who can do something about it to make a difference."

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Wren had the scent of a cynic about her. Cedric welcomed it - he'd been around more than a few of the more 'happy' folks for quite some time now, and he needed a bit of a shift every now and then.

He lofted a brow at her answer, and almost laughed at her outright denial of the gods. It wasn't an opinion he shared, but brazen heresy was a sign of independence, something he respect. There was also something about indignance toward the empyrean that he found almost ironically funny, given his deep connection to it.

"Interesting view," he smiled as he spoke, "One I more or less agree with. I spent a very long time searching for the gods. Decades even," his gaze traveled off as he delved into memory for a moment, the spark of nostalgia flashing in his eyes, and then dimming as quickly as it came.

"I found mine once I stopped looking."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wren arched a brow slightly at him.

"And what exactly did you find when you stopped looking?" She asked curiously, though she was clearly skeptical that he'd found much of anything. Maybe he meant more of metaphorical discovery, that seemed more likely.

The woman exhaled a quiet breath, shaking her head a few more times. "Or... was it the fact that you didn't find anything at all?"

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A light smile touched the Jedi Master's lips as the question was asked.

Faith was a topic he understood better than most. It had kept him alive in his darkest times, and had been his sole companion for many years. Faith was the basis upon which his entire life had been forged, and it had rarely faltered. How to explain it properly to Wren? He didn't wish to come off as pretentious, and so he chose to simply recount his thoughts in total honesty.

"I was held prisoner on Nal Hutta for two years. It was shortly after the First Order invaded the Galactic Alliance at Dagobah. My padawan was killed in the battle, and I was sold into slavery to the Hutts. I gave up on whom I was, and simply lived as a gladiator. I tried to do what I could, but I had very little power then to do anything but survive. The ysalamari took care of that."

He sighed, "And then one day, the ysalamari's fields just quit working, and I felt a surge in the Force. I took it as divine providence, and encouraged my fellow gladiators to rise up. We did, and found that the New Republic had just arrived. Together we defeated the Hutts - at least until the New Republic collapsed."

"The Ashla brought them to us, and it allowed me to use the Force when I should never have been able to. I've had my faith ever since, and it hasn't led me astray once."

Wrenarias

 

[Wrenarias]

Wren's expression was dubious at best when Cedric used the phrase "divine providence", but she didn't contradict the Jedi Master. She didn't make a habit of telling people what to think or feel; and the irony of that fact was not lost upon her, given her abilities as an Empath. Still, that was a conversation for another time. Cedric didn't need to know about that particular conundrum just yet.

A warm smile touched her lips and she inclined her head.

"Not many people are so devout in their faith. I'm happy for you, that you've found something like that in your life." She murmured in a quiet voice. While she didn't believe in anything like that herself, she wouldn't belittle his faith. Some people found strength in their faith and in their beliefs, it wasn't her place to take that foundation from them.

There was a natural lull in the conversation as she glanced around the library, a soft sigh escaped her. "It's getting late... I shouldn't overstay my welcome. Besides, I'd like to get an early start on the day tomorrow. Going out to explore the city, see what I can find."

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Her response was all too telling. Cedric couldn't help but crack a knowing smile; whatever faith he might have had, Wren did not share it. Nonetheless he appreciated her tact in not attacking his views. It was something he'd grown used to, and it rarely offended, but it did get a bit annoying. Wren wasn't far along in the path anyway. Her time would come.

"Faith finds us when we aren't looking for it," he grinned, setting his glass aside. "Remember that."

He waved her on.

"Go on, check out the city, don't get hurt. When you get back we have lightsaber training."

Wrenarias