First Reply Walk with Ashla

[Argella Gladiolus]

|| WALK WITH ASHLA… ||

~what’s a king to a God?~

TAG: Open​

JEDHA
“Look how quickly I managed to escape the corner,” a scene of a training session of me and Dad is projected in my brain. That must’ve been close to ten years ago. He still looked young and energised, and I was still a small girl. Back when everything was so easy, so simple, when I was still a Goddess, when evil hasn’t swept through anyone who dared oppose it.

“Believe in the Force, my Princess, it will lead you where you are intended to be.”

Dad wasn’t a believer. He was just a decent man, slightly gifted in the Force, and he made up for it by his sheer tenacity. If he wanted to resent the Universe for not giving him the privilege that many of his peers had, he could. Yet beyond his cynicism and ignorance, deep in his heart he know that the Force guided the good people of the galaxy.

Before the event where his life was presumably taken, Dad had sent me to an old friend, Michael Barran . My heart shattered when Michael brought the news that Dad didn’t make it out of Yinchorr. I spent days in my room, refusing to eat and avoiding people. I mean what was I supposed to do? There’s a whole lifetime ahead of me I thought I would be able to share with him. And then he was taken from me, just like that.

During my isolation, I found solace in the light of Ashla. It helped me pass the worst day, it allowed me to see all the small things that made me feel something else, even if it’s just for a bit, and it forged a connection between me and Dad beyond this mortal plane.

With time I started to accept the fact that he’s no longer here with us, and in my solace I found meaning. Ashla.

There are scriptures decrypting the nature in Ashla back in our place in Nirauan, but to achieve full understanding of Ashla, I have to discover all of it on my own.

So, with Michael’s blessing, I set on a journey to the Holy City. As soon as I touched down, I made my way to the Kyber Temple for a spiritual retreat, to reconnect with Ashla, to meet others who are walking in a similar path, to try understand the mysteries of the Universe, slowly but surely.

Preferably looking for Light Siders of any sects

 

[Brennus Faran]

He'd never seen so much sand.

In the five years as Padawan to Thoril Hwat, the Kel Dor had impressed upon Brennus just how serene and beautiful Jedha was. He'd sworn he would take Bren there one day, but that day had always been just out of reach. There had always been one more mission, one more call from the council, one more friend in need. Now that Thoril was gone and Bren had finally slipped the leash, the masters seemed intent on keeping him on; the sands of Jedha seemed like the right place to go.

Bren had never been much for the spiritual aspect of being a Jedi, his mind was always too concerned with the practical to slow down and feel all that the Force truly was. He wondered if that was what he was feeling now as he stood atop the dunes outside the Holy City, wondered if Thoril was guiding him even now through the all-surrounding force, or if it was just the wind.

Tugging the bit of cloth he'd tied around his neck up and over the bridge of his nose, Bren marched on, following the call of the Force, or the wind, whichever it was. He knew where he was going, even if he didn't know its name. The Padawan made for the temple, the storm of emotion that raged beneath the skin plain for all who could touch the force to see.

What was the point in hiding it? It wasn't like there was anyone here to chastise him for it. To engrossed in his own grief to hide it, he was equally blind to that of anyone else as he walked along the path to the temple alone.

Argella Gladiolus ​

 

[Argella Gladiolus]

|| WALK WITH ASHLA… ||

~what’s a king to a God?~

TAG: Brennus Faran ​

JEDHA
The first thing I notice upon entering the Temple is that there’s a lingering sense of hopeless dread. It was clear from seeing the somber smile of the reception upon welcoming me, or the tired faces that guard the Temple. The same sentiment that was shared by the citizen of the city I passed through earlier. There’s a lot of construction, could’ve been repair, where I passed by earlier. It seemed like the war made it to Jedha sometime not long ago. I can even still feel the lingering Dark Side tremors on a few strange corners of the city.

It shouldn’t, and couldn’t stop a believer in their path of enlightenment, however, pilgrims and children of Ashla still flock to this Temple anyway. I took a seat in one of their designated praying section, laid down my belongings on the side while admiring the beauty of the Temple. It’s not the most grand of a Temple, but in its simplicity and antiquity lies its sacrosanct charm.

Reminds me so much of him, of our home. Despite all his power and control Dad always kept everything minimalistic. He knows that, despite his limitations and the work he had to put to achieve what he did, the Force guided him to accomplish that and more. He was a man of faith in all but name.

I can feel the burn in my eyes as my thoughts drift between him and Ashla, a mix of emotions from sorrow to admiration and comfort. The proceedings continue for quite some time, memories of Dad entangled with my connection to Ashla; Her blessing and Her divinity. I became one with the Force and in that moment I was able to navigate around through what’s deep inside those other people in the Temple.

It was generally the same, dreads, of what is to become in this war and the upcoming wars to follow. But amongst all these pilgrims and believers one stood out, one that had just only made it to the Temple. It’s like he brought the storm with him, ironically reminding me of Father every time he had to deal with Dark Siders doing malicious acts, but also familiar as it felt like what I feel when I first heard that Dad passed.

Only this one feels like it’s enhanced by ten.

Another stream of tears drenched my face as I tried to connect with the grieving man. He must’ve lost someone dear recently. Touching his mind, I did nothing but try to share his emotions and elevate his burdens, jolts of painful anguish and grievances wrecked my empath heart.

Who are you and what are you seeking here.

 

[Brennus Faran]

As he entered the temple, Bren stopped cold, his feet all but rooted to the ground as he stood amidst the sea of visitors who simply flowed around him. Something, no, someone was here, and they were in his head. The touch was gentle, warm, and the voice that accompanied it kind. But it was a stranger, and they had no right to his pain.

Thoril’s saber flew to his open palm, and his knuckles went white as they tightened around the weapon. He didn’t ignite the blade, he called no attention to himself, he only stared out into the crowd.

Get out of my head.

The thoughts were sharper than his words would've been, like shattered glass. It wasn't like him, Bren was the sort who made friends as easily as he breathed, or at least he had been. It was like that part of him had been torn out and blown to pieces just as his master had been. Bren's mind raced as he scanned the crowd, trying to find the interloper as his mind replayed Thoril's end again and again.

Show yourself.

He forced in a deep breath, drawing in the incensed temple air, letting the heavy scent force his heart to calm. One hand still gripped the saber as though his life depended on it, but the Padawan began to move deeper inside the temple towards who or what he did not know.

Argella Gladiolus ​

 

[Argella Gladiolus]

|| WALK WITH ASHLA… ||

~what’s a king to a God?~

TAG: Brennus Faran ​

JEDHA
The tortured soul is resisting my advances, as anyone would expect. Of course, he has every right to do so, his pain is his own and his alone. I recognised it from the start yet I still tried to rummage where I shouldn’t. Was it his immense pain I was attracted to? Did I just indulge in my saviour complex, trying to alleviate his pain and take it on my own? Or was the grief still remain in me, even if just a tiny bit, and I was looking for someone who just went through a similar tragedy. Either way, the boy asked me to leave, so I will.

I will leave, promise.

Yet he was also asking me to show myself. I know that there’s a risk of him losing it at the sight of someone who has just intruded his mind without permission. Especially with me technically being in the enemy's territory, it’s a risk big enough to get me arrested or worse, killed, but the anguished heart seeks for a random chance of connection.

So I strides away from the private praying room, to the slightly merrier common room, where I took a seat in front of a long, study table. Taping into his mind once again, I revealed my location and called him to come.

I’m here, find me.

 

[Brennus Faran]

The stranger does not mean him harm, not here at least, not yet. Brennus swept the crowd with his silvery gaze before finally, carefully, returning the saber of his fallen teacher to his hip. An Ithorian child had been staring, watching him with wide, dark eyes, filled with fear. These people were not all simple devotees, some were refugees, others simply weary souls desperate for some sort of relief. Where had the child seen a lightsaber before to be filled with such dread at the mere sight of one? Who had wielded it?

Bren found a smile for them, soft and kind, even when forced. He gave a small wave to the young Ithorian, soothing its fears with nothing more than the simple gestures. He remembered the world seeming that simply, where seeing kindness was all it took for him to trust someone. He missed it, as he did so many things. Then, in spite of her promises, the stranger touched Bren’s mind again.

Anger flared, hot as the surface of the sun, only to cool in an instant at the thought of the child, and any others like them.

It does not take him long to find her, what with her showing him where to look. She’s of a height with him, perhaps slightly taller, with an austere look that spoke to the possibility of noble origins. And she was strong, strong in a way he hadn’t sensed until now. Casting a glance at the crowd of visitors, Bren quietly prayed that the benevolence was not deception.

“You,” Bren calls, loud enough for her to hear, but not so loud as to make a scene. “What do you want?”

Argella Gladiolus

 

[Argella Gladiolus]

|| WALK WITH ASHLA… ||

~what’s a king to a God?~

TAG: Brennus Faran ​

JEDHA
The first thing I noticed about the guy is that he is short. Probably an inch or so shorter than me. I didn’t expect that from the emotions and energy I felt earlier. He is not small, however, seemingly quite built despite the very child-like face.

A face in which I can read his annoyance, which is also validated by the voice that comes after questioning what I just did.

“Your emotions really stood out when you arrived here,” I answered truthfully, maybe a little too nonchalant coming from someone who had just disrespected someone else’s boundaries. “Like a storm, reminded me of my Dad…” Although from what it seems so far, he is far from it.

“I’m Argella,” I introduced myself to the white-haired boy, carefully not mentioning my last name. It’s almost impossible for him to recognise the name, even if he is an Alliance Jedi, yet it’s better to be safe than sorry. Besides, who knows if there are people listening beyond the shadow? I looked around again just to calm my slight nerves, eyes dragging through the sparse crowd in the area.

“Are you here to heal…, ?” Shifting my gaze back at the boy, I asked the question, dragging the words heal, since I haven’t catch his name, not even from the memories I pried earlier.

 

[Brennus Faran]

“Do you usually shove your way into storms or-, Oh.” The venom in Bren’s voice rose with every word, only to drain entirely at the mention of a father. From the way she spoke of him, whoever he was, it seemed likely he wasn’t around anymore. His own father had apparently died two years ago, but his death had barely been a drop in the ocean compared to the outpouring of grief he felt now.

Did that make him a bad person? Or was it okay? He’d never really known his father, the Order had raised him for so long, but Thoril had been his guide, his mentor, his brother. Bren had to imagine the losses were comparable. The tight scowl he’d worn loosened as the young Jedi looked the girl over and found no sign of danger.

She wasn’t here to harm anyone, she was just nosy. Or she’d just been able to hear the cacophony of emotions roiling off him where others could not. Bren supposed that wasn’t her fault.

“Brennus,” He introduced himself awkwardly, unsure what to do with the conversation now that the irrational anger had subsided. “And no, I-,”

What was he doing here?

“This place was important to someone who was important to me. Just wanted to see it.” Nothing in these walls could heal the wounds he bore, not yet anyway. “What about you, why are you here?”

Argella Gladiolus