- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 295
- Reaction score
- 0
(OOC: this story ties directly into my character's origin story. Some characters and details that are mentioned here were explained there)
Cael gazed in wonder at the ceiling above her head. Even in its ravaged, torn state, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was something to look at. She was no stranger to massive buildings - hell, Coronet was just as bad as Coruscant, with the majority of the planet covered by skyscrapers - but there was something mystical, something elegant about the gracefully-arching doorways and tall spires, damaged as they were from the recent Bogan attack.
She profusely apologized as she almost walked into a Qel'Dor, then quickly walked to another part of the grand foyer, trying to avoid people until the Jedi she had spoken to earlier came back to take her before the Council. It had only been six hours since she'd left Coronet, and her old life, behind, and she hadn't slept at all. Though she couldn't really blame her clumsiness on a lack of sleep. She felt more awake than she had ever been, memories of a past lifetime - or was it a current one? - swimming in her mind. She could see herself walking into the great chambers for the first time, holding Ren's hand tight - and then running out, eleven years later, lost and alone.
"You are not a tourist."
She turned, gaze falling upon a robed female Jedi. Cael was immediately breathtaken; the Jedi, some sort of unfamiliar race, was the most-beautiful woman Cael had ever seen. Her white hair shone with radiance, and, though there was no direct sunlight in this chamber, her jet-black robes seemed to shimmer with an aura of power. But Cael was not afraid - she felt calmed, her mind clearer, as she gazed in awe at the Jedi. Suddenly, she realized; this was no ordinary Jedi. The robes bore the weave of a Grandmaster. Cael broke her awkward stare, sinking to the ground on one knee.
"Forgive me, Grandmaster. I did not mean to be so rude."
The Grandmaster smiled, a true, warm smile, and bowed. "Talzea Keldroma. What brings you to our halls?"
Cael stuttered, still regaining composure. "Uh, Cael Scythe. I'm just here for an audience with the Council. Ma'am."
Talzea started walking, but Cael got the impression that she was to follow. She quickly picked up her napsack and fell in step alongside the Grandmaster as they walked through an archway into a massive chamber, filled with beautiful plant life - seemingly, a garden within the Temple walls. The place stretched for a good kilometer, a central path with offshoots into the lush, green surroundings. Cael, for the second time in five minutes, was awestruck with the magnificence. She could see multiple Jedi meditating in the clearings between trees and exotic plants. But something felt wrong - there was a horrible dread feeling, gnawing on the back of her mind.
"The plants are still recovering from the attack," spoke Talzea, her voice melodious as they slowly walked down the central path. "They have healed on the outside, but they are not without memory, without life. They have felt loss of kin, pain, suffering. As with all living beings, they exist in the Force just as much as you and I. Their cries echo through the night, aching to be soothed by the whisperings of others - but they can be healed by no expert's hands, no loving touch. Only through the Force may they restore their full beauty."
Cael closed her eyes, her mind filled with cries of pain uttered in languages unintelligible. She could almost see the past; the bombing run, the devastation in the Temple, the feeling of loss and despair that befell those who had never felt pain, never grieved. The torrent of emotion flowed around Cael, a million voices crying out in unison - but the voices quieted, respectful, attentive. She was not the only one who was reaching out with her mind - she felt the life of the chamber envelop her, welcoming and warm. Cael's eyes snapped open as she realized she had stopped walking. Talzea was standing a few paces ahead, looking over the plants in the chamber. She turned to look at Cael, smiling.
"I suppose you came to Coruscant with a reason?"
Cael blushed and nodded, focusing her mind. "Yes. I... I was a Jedi, once. I left the Order... out of anger or disillusionment, I don't know. But it was not the right action, it was rash. I'm... I'm just tired of feeling lost."
Talzea turned back to the plants, running a hand down the side of a rough, but beautiful, tree. "The Jedi Council does not convene on the matter of apostate Jedi. They may listen to your cause, but they will not deliberate the fate of one's life."
Cael looked down, crestfallen. "I... I suppose I should have known better. My apologies, Master Jedi." She knelt to the ground, then turned to leave, stopping as Talzea spoke again.
"There are caves on Dantooine. Our scribes speak of mystical crystals and powerful knowledge. The Order does not venture into them, only those who wander do. But within, the answers to this galaxy are said to appear clear, just like the crystals."
Cael turned, peculiar, as Talzea started walking away, trailing her hand along the tree's trunk. "The plants, their lives have been damaged - but they will rediscover their youth and overcome their loss. Before they blossom, they must grow. For how long, only they can know; be it five months or five years." The Grandmaster looked back, smiling. "Not all who wonder are lost, Padawan Scythe. May the Force be with you."
Cael gazed in wonder at the ceiling above her head. Even in its ravaged, torn state, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was something to look at. She was no stranger to massive buildings - hell, Coronet was just as bad as Coruscant, with the majority of the planet covered by skyscrapers - but there was something mystical, something elegant about the gracefully-arching doorways and tall spires, damaged as they were from the recent Bogan attack.
She profusely apologized as she almost walked into a Qel'Dor, then quickly walked to another part of the grand foyer, trying to avoid people until the Jedi she had spoken to earlier came back to take her before the Council. It had only been six hours since she'd left Coronet, and her old life, behind, and she hadn't slept at all. Though she couldn't really blame her clumsiness on a lack of sleep. She felt more awake than she had ever been, memories of a past lifetime - or was it a current one? - swimming in her mind. She could see herself walking into the great chambers for the first time, holding Ren's hand tight - and then running out, eleven years later, lost and alone.
"You are not a tourist."
She turned, gaze falling upon a robed female Jedi. Cael was immediately breathtaken; the Jedi, some sort of unfamiliar race, was the most-beautiful woman Cael had ever seen. Her white hair shone with radiance, and, though there was no direct sunlight in this chamber, her jet-black robes seemed to shimmer with an aura of power. But Cael was not afraid - she felt calmed, her mind clearer, as she gazed in awe at the Jedi. Suddenly, she realized; this was no ordinary Jedi. The robes bore the weave of a Grandmaster. Cael broke her awkward stare, sinking to the ground on one knee.
"Forgive me, Grandmaster. I did not mean to be so rude."
The Grandmaster smiled, a true, warm smile, and bowed. "Talzea Keldroma. What brings you to our halls?"
Cael stuttered, still regaining composure. "Uh, Cael Scythe. I'm just here for an audience with the Council. Ma'am."
Talzea started walking, but Cael got the impression that she was to follow. She quickly picked up her napsack and fell in step alongside the Grandmaster as they walked through an archway into a massive chamber, filled with beautiful plant life - seemingly, a garden within the Temple walls. The place stretched for a good kilometer, a central path with offshoots into the lush, green surroundings. Cael, for the second time in five minutes, was awestruck with the magnificence. She could see multiple Jedi meditating in the clearings between trees and exotic plants. But something felt wrong - there was a horrible dread feeling, gnawing on the back of her mind.
"The plants are still recovering from the attack," spoke Talzea, her voice melodious as they slowly walked down the central path. "They have healed on the outside, but they are not without memory, without life. They have felt loss of kin, pain, suffering. As with all living beings, they exist in the Force just as much as you and I. Their cries echo through the night, aching to be soothed by the whisperings of others - but they can be healed by no expert's hands, no loving touch. Only through the Force may they restore their full beauty."
Cael closed her eyes, her mind filled with cries of pain uttered in languages unintelligible. She could almost see the past; the bombing run, the devastation in the Temple, the feeling of loss and despair that befell those who had never felt pain, never grieved. The torrent of emotion flowed around Cael, a million voices crying out in unison - but the voices quieted, respectful, attentive. She was not the only one who was reaching out with her mind - she felt the life of the chamber envelop her, welcoming and warm. Cael's eyes snapped open as she realized she had stopped walking. Talzea was standing a few paces ahead, looking over the plants in the chamber. She turned to look at Cael, smiling.
"I suppose you came to Coruscant with a reason?"
Cael blushed and nodded, focusing her mind. "Yes. I... I was a Jedi, once. I left the Order... out of anger or disillusionment, I don't know. But it was not the right action, it was rash. I'm... I'm just tired of feeling lost."
Talzea turned back to the plants, running a hand down the side of a rough, but beautiful, tree. "The Jedi Council does not convene on the matter of apostate Jedi. They may listen to your cause, but they will not deliberate the fate of one's life."
Cael looked down, crestfallen. "I... I suppose I should have known better. My apologies, Master Jedi." She knelt to the ground, then turned to leave, stopping as Talzea spoke again.
"There are caves on Dantooine. Our scribes speak of mystical crystals and powerful knowledge. The Order does not venture into them, only those who wander do. But within, the answers to this galaxy are said to appear clear, just like the crystals."
Cael turned, peculiar, as Talzea started walking away, trailing her hand along the tree's trunk. "The plants, their lives have been damaged - but they will rediscover their youth and overcome their loss. Before they blossom, they must grow. For how long, only they can know; be it five months or five years." The Grandmaster looked back, smiling. "Not all who wonder are lost, Padawan Scythe. May the Force be with you."
Last edited by a moderator: