Ask Yavin IV Learning how to heal

[Ephiny Daivand]

Some time had passed since Ephiny, along with Jedi Master Alexandria Voran and Laeonas Tannaras, saved a group of miners in Jabiim. After these events the Jedi Master offered to find someone to train the man, so he would not fall into the darkness. She also destroyed his lightsaber, so he could build one with the Archivist’s help. But first his kyber crystal would need to be purified. For this the Jedi Master had promised to teach the Knight how to do that, so she could guide Laeo during the process.

Due to several recent events and her promotion to Grandmaster, Alexandria didn’t have time to teach Ephiny. The Archivist had even forgotten about that, until she received a message from the Grandmaster asking the Knight to meet her at the gardens of the Jedi Temple in Yavin IV, so she could teach her how to purify a crystal.

Now Ephiny was at the gardens, waiting patiently for the arrival of the Morellian. Due to not having much to do, she arrived earlier than planned. Since there was some time until the arrival of the Grandmaster, the Archivist decided to use the peaceful environment of the garden to meditate. When Alex arrived, she would find the Knight seated in the grass, deep in meditation.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex scrunched her eyes. Small words on the datapad streaming past her vision. Her hand reflectively lifted to rub the sleep from her gaze. Statistics on staffing across the Jedi’s expanding resources played out on the screen. Alex walked a careful balance. She’d sworn to avoid the Order’s past mistakes. She held that belief deeply…but the Jedi must be able to defend themselves. They needed the resources to be where there was fighting. It was a hard line to hold. The Morellian Jedi had not properly prepared herself for the administrative burden of responsibilities. There was no denying the challenge. Luckily, she had plenty of help. A small timer buzzed on the datapad.

Finally. Something she would enjoy.

Alex stood from her chair and set the datapad down. The small offices near the top of the Temple gave her some privacy. She breezed out passed the doors, stopping only a moment to pick up a small bag her desk. Falla, her extremely organized administrative Jedi Knight, stood waiting at the door. “An hour max, if you can keep everyone away.” Falla grimaced. “I’ll try…but there several rather inpatient folks waiting to hear from you.” Alex sighed. “I never should have made the speech.” Falla shrugged. “Too late now. I’ll hold them at bay until you are finished with Jedi Daivand.” The Grandmaster smiled. “Thank you, dear.” With that she off towards the gardens.

She owed Ephiny a lesson. One that was becoming increasingly important. The purified crystal in the saber that hung at her side was only possible because of such lessons. Thankfully, the crystal in the small pouch was not tainted by a Sith Lord. Their task would be much simpler. Alex made her way to the gardens as quickly as possible, finding the young archivist mediating heavily in the grass. The Morellian took a seat beside the young girl. “I’ve kept you waiting too long, Ephiny.” She lightly brushed the Jedi’s mind as to not startle her.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Ephiny was meditating when she felt Master Voran. She opened her eyes and turned to the Morellian, who was now seated next to her. “Master, it's been a long time!” she said, smiling at the older woman. “Congratulations for being promoted as Grandmaster! I know that under your guidance, the Order will persevere in these dark times.”

Ephiny wanted to talk more with Voran, to find out what she thought of being a Grandmaster. However, she knew the two had little time. So the Archivist decided to go to the point “Master, I’m prepared for you to teach me how to purify a kyber crystal. I've reread books on how to assemble a lightsaber, now all that's left is the purification. This way Laeonas will be able to make his own.” then she remembered something “Master, is it true that you found him at a hospital? Is he fine?”

Before the two started the training, Ephiny decided that it was the best moment to ask Alexandria’s opinion about her project. “Master, I've been working on a historical novel for a while now, in fact the story would be more teenager-oriented. It would be about a young padawan and his master, both fictional characters, going to their first mission together. The historical background would be the invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation. During the story, the padawan would interact with some historical characters such as Master Yoda and Finis Valorum.” she said shyly, watching the Morellian reaction “I used all historical sources that were possible to make it faithful to the facts, but of course there were some small liberties to fit the characters.”

“I wanted to publish it as a way to make the Galaxy see how the Jedi and the Republic worked together in the past. Since we have so many books denigrating the Jedi’s image, for example the absurd things that Lîsabé Hanivel writes, I thought that perhaps we could have something positive and close to the truth.” by this point, Ephiny was already regretting having started talking about her idea. It was so stupid! But she decided to continue “Can you read it? I wanted to have your approval and maybe of the rest of the Council. I don’t want what I wrote there to be used against the Order.”

"In reality, forget about that, Master. It's a silly idea and you are already so busy. I don't want to give you more work." the Archivist said. Of course Alexandria would refuse, she was the Grandmaster and didn't had time to read silly stories.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex just smiled as Ephiny bombarded her with questions. The youthful exuberance was captivating. She’d missed the bubbly archivist. She patient until the stream of questions was complete before slowing turning over in her mind where to start. “He is not fine but in time he may be.” Vahn and Alex had done all they could for Laeonas but his mind had been badly damaged. “We must learn from our mistakes, and I should have insisted he come with us that day.” She paused for a moment to consider her next words. “Firrerre was impossible to predict…his mind was too open…” Alex shook her head. “He will heal despite how long that path may be, and he’ll need friends.” The Morellian looked into Ephiny’s eyes and smiled. Her meaning was clear.

“Ms. Hanivel could use a lesson on the truth, but I suppose that doesn’t sell very well.” She mostly the various gossip holos. As her public visibility increased, she was forced to play a more political game. For better or worse, Alex was the face of the Jedi. What the galaxy thought of her, they thought of the Order. It was not her desire, but it was the truth. “Send me what you’ve written. I’ll read it and we can plan from there. We can’t let others decide how we are seen...we must dictate that ourselves.” Now, onto the task at hand.

Alex pulled the pouch from her robes and united the strings. A soft red glow spilled from the bag. She gently removed the kyber crystal and set it on the grass before them. A faint hum of darkness pulsed against their senses. There was no mistaking the corruption. “Tell me what you feel.” The Darkside rang against the Light. Everything felt wrong.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Poor Laeonas. Even with him being a bit arrogant and aggressive, Ephiny couldn't help not feeling sorry for him. She saw that Laeo wasn’t an evil person, he only needed help. The Archivist hoped that he would get well soon. “Of course, Master Voran. I’ll go visit him as soon as I can.” she said, smiling at the Grandmaster. Even with the man seeming to have disliked her, the young Jedi would still try to be his friend.

The Archivist felt ecstatic when the Grandmaster agreed to read the drafts of her book. She hoped that this way the Council could approve what she had written so she could publish it without fear of causing more trouble for the Order. "After we finish here, I'll send you a copy. About Hanivel, she does a great disservice to the Galaxy. Everything she writes is disinformation." the Archivist said with disgust, she had read some biographies that Lîsabé had written. All of them were rubbish, nothing in it was worth being considered true. But for some reason they sold millions.

Then the Morellian decided to start the lesson. Ephiny saw her pick up a corrupted kyber crystal from her bag and put it into the grass. The Archivist closed her eyes, feeling the crystal through the Force "I feel pain. It is like the crystal was screaming in suffering." she opened her eyes, turning to Alexandria. "Being tainted by the Darkness is making it suffer. Sometimes I can't understand why the Sith do something so terrible."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She nodded slowly. “The Sith are difficult to understand.” The pain from the kyber was unmistakable. Alex knew the Sith felt it, but they reveled in the corruption. “They are not all the same.” Manat had seemed different. Caelestis at least feigned civility. Then there were ones like Xeno and Asminys. Xeno was exactly what she expected and Asminys was the monster. How could any of them hope to understand such depravity? “But the Darkness corrupts absolutely. There is no middle path. Once you begin down that road you will become what the Dark side wishes.” Her head titled towards the crystal again.

“The Sith seek power and the Dark side gives them that. All of them, in some form, have fallen because of their need for power. That allows them to corrupt the kyber crystals. Bleed the kyber to solidify their strength.” Her became soft. The sadness palpable. “We can’t restore the crystal to what it once was, but we can draw the corruption out…like poison from a wound.”

Alex’s mind reached out and touched the corrupted crystal. It screamed at the intrusion. Pain laced up and down her thoughts. “Reach out with the Force. You much feel what has been done so that we may understand how to end it.” Anger tried to take hold of her heart. A marauder had dropped changed this kyber. Adolescent understanding of the Darkside hammered against them. Big emotions to lead to power. “Each purification is unique but we will need the full strength of the Light.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

She was surprised for hear Master Voran say that not all the Sith were the same. Ephiny never had met one before, after all she is only an Archivist. There is no room for someone like her in a battle. "Master, I never fought against them before. But I always thought that all the Sith were monsters. Do you think that some of them are less than others?" she was curious about how the Grandmaster would answer that. Since the time she entered the Order, the Knight believed that the Sith were only capable of doing terrible things. This vision about these Dark siders became intensified after their attack on Ajan Kloss.

However, her question was soon answered. Even those that are less monsters than the others inevitably will be corrupted by the Dark side. Their thirst for power is a curse that ends up destroying them.

Then the Morellian started to explain how even after the purification, the crystal would never be restored to its original self. While she talked, Ephiny’s mind started to work on several theories and hypotheses “I read that the white color that the crystal takes is a result of that. I’m not a psychology scholar or a doctor, but I think that it’s like when someone suffers a trauma. Sometimes even after treatment, some effects can remain.” she paused, watching Alexandria’s reaction. The Archivist hoped that she didn’t bother her with silly things. However she continued so talk about her conclusion “Then the corruption is the trauma, the purification is the treatment and the white color is the effect that remains. ”

Just as the Jedi Master had said, Ephiny closed her eyes and reached the kyber crystal with her mind. She winced, feeling the screams of pain and rage that the crystal emitted. It was so different from the song that she heard coming from her crystal when she found it. The Archivist continued to use the Force to understand what happened with it. Slowly she started to find answers “The Sith that owned this crystal corrupted it by channelling all his hate on it. It fought against the violation, but it was too much to resist. Now it’s full of pain and rage.”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex reached into the pocket of her robe. Her lightsaber rested comfortably against her hip. She lifted the thin durasteel tube from her pocket. A quick flick of the Force and the casing opened to reveal the pure white crystal within. The kyber of the former Grandmaster…but no longer. “The crystals change from the experience. Just like any of us.” The song of her crystal sang against the corruption. “Our kyber crystals live just as we do. He belonged to Oota, then was taken by Asminys, and now fights with me.” Alex reached for the corruption in the Force. “That has changed his perspective on what is right and wrong…and what we must do to protect life.” Oota had never been a fighter. Her crystal was.

“No one ever completely forgets the pain in their life, but we can move on and heal.” Ephiny was correct regarding the corruption. It ran not as deep or powerfully as Asminys. Brute force cracked the venire of life. “We must draw the hate out. Remind the kyber crystal its true tune in life. Love, compassion, peace. The very essence of life.”

She pulled her mind back from the corrupted crystal. “You can do it.” She could not take this task on for the young Archivist. The crystal needed to be healed by the one who wielded it. If Ephiny was to aid Laeonas in purifying his saber, she would need to understand this task herself. Alex could not do it for her. Much as she may wish.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Ephiny watched Alex pull a lightsaber from her pocket and use the Force to open the casing to reveal the crystal that was inside it. It was pure white, meaning that at some point it was corrupted. Her eyes widened when Voran explained that this crystal was once of Grandmaster Oota and was corrupted by Darth Asminys. From what she heard about him, this Sith was a monster.

While the Grandmaster explained that to purify a crystal was necessary to draw the hate out of it, Ephiny looked at the one that was in front of her. She could feel how much suffering and rage it had. The Archivist turned to Alex “It's like the crystal hates itself.”

When the Grandmaster said that she can purify the crystal, Ephiny nodded to her. Deciding to end it’s suffering and darkness, the Archivist placed her two hands over it and closed her eyes. How Alex had said before , the Knight started to use the Force to pour the crystal with feelings of compassion and love, all that represented the Light side. However, she could feel it resisting the intrusion, as if it was afraid that she was going to cause even more pain.

Ephiny would increase her focus in the crystal, seeking to show that she didn’t want to cause more pain, but in reality wanted to heal it. Some time would pass until she finally felt the crystal accept the feelings that she was pouring on him. Slowly the pain and rage would start to decrease, being replaced by compassion, love and for the desire to protect life. Since she was with her eyes closed, the Archivist would not notice how the red color was slowly disappearing from the crystal.


@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Yes, hate.” Alex spoke as Ephiny worked. “The Sith see us as passionless droids…chained to a life without joy.” Her mind was focused on the work the young archivist achieved. “They fail to see the Light is all things. Love, hate, joy, sadness, suffering, and healing.” She taught through honesty and so she was honest. “When Stolas killed Master Tionson, I hated him. Given the chance, in that moment, I would have tried to kill him.” That rage that tore at her heart burned brightly that day. Max’s death very nearly broke her.

“I’m still angry I never got to say goodbye.” She paused for a moment. “But we are different because we do not let those feelings define us…control us. The Sith, they are slaves to their emotions. They think there is power and freedom in such beliefs. They are wrong. Strength is accepting your feelings and refusing to let them rule you.” The work was nearly done. She could feel the crystal slowing turning white. Slowly finding itself. “Find peace, love, and harmony. That is who we are. That is balance.”

Alex reached out and put her hand on Ephiny, urging her to finish the work. “That is the Light.” The crystal was slowing turning over the edge. The Force began to sing in harmony. She smiled. That was as it was meant to be.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Even while she was focused on purifying the crystal, Ephiny could still hear Master Voran’s voice. It was calm and serene. She would remember each word that the Morellian had said. Including how she hated Darth Stolas when he killed Master Tionson. But she wasn’t consumed by the hatred, because a Jedi accept their feelings and refuse to let them rule his life.

Was with these words in her mind that Ephiny would continue with the purification process. She could feel compassion and love growing in the crystal, while all hate and pain slowly disappeared. However, these negative feelings would still leave marks on it. The white color that was now covering nearly the entire crystal was the proof that it was once corrupted.

After some time, Ephiny would feel that the crystal became totally full of compassion and love. Still with her eyes closed, the Archivist smiled. It was now full with the Light. But it was still different from the crystal on her lightsaber. Even with it now having once again found the Light, the crystal seemed to be sorrowful.

She opened her eyes and saw that the once red colored kyber crystal was now totally white. The smile on her lips grew, while she turned to Alex “Master, I did it! I purified the crystal!” Ephiny would turn to the Grandmaster, showing her the crystal. The smile on her lips and the excitement sparkling on her eyes made the Knight look like a child that was excited to show to her parents the good grade that she received.

“Thank you, Master. I couldn’t have done it without your guidance.” then she looked back at the crystal on her hand “What are we going to do with it?”


@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex smiled broadly. She radiated warmth and pride in the Force. What Ephiny had accomplished was no easy feat. Purifying a crystal took concentration, commitment, and most importantly, an unwavering faith in the Light. “I merely showed you the path. You walked it on your own.” The kyber hummed softly in the Force. Her smile grew. That was as it should be. Perfect harmony. “The choice is yours, Ephiny. You freed the kyber from corruption and to my senses it seems to trust you.” Her mind flicked out in the Force. “It may fit in a saber of your making or another if the crystal agrees.” Alex wielded the purified crystal of the Grandmaster. They were one in purpose.

“Most importantly, you can walk Laeonas through purifying his kyber…” She paused for a moment. “Although it will likely be far more difficult. He must do it himself and his crystal will carry the pain of the Sith who bled it and Laeonas’ suffering while carrying it.” The Grandmaster feared for what the crystal might carry. Asminys corruption was powerful. They would not face that level of Darkness, but years of suffering brought a heavy toll. “This kyber may help you in that respect.”

She was certain Laeonas needed to purify the corruption on his own. It would be a test to his ability to truly join the Jedi. The Force hummed affirmation in her mind. Yes, that was the right path. However, that did not mean the young man would succeed. She had given Ephiny all the tools to aid Laeonas but it was up to the two of them to complete the task. Alex could not it perform the purification for them. She could only hope she was setting them on the right road.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Ephiny became red with the compliment, but she continued to smile at Alex "But your guidance was very important for my success." she looked at the white crystal on her hands, looking at how it hummed with peace. The Darkness had dissipated and now it was full with the Light.

"I'll make another lightsaber for it." she said to the Grandmaster. The Archivist could feel how the crystal radiated love and protection for life. It would only be fair to use it to fight against the Darkness that threatens what it now seeks to protect.

The Archivist paid close attention to what Alexandria said about Laeonas' crystal. One thing was the Grandmaster, who was full of wisdom, helping her do it. The other was she, teaching the dark-haired man to do it. Ephiny hoped to be able to do it.

"I'll help him with the purification. Master, I also want to take Laeonas as my Padawan." she said to the Jedi Master. "I know that it will be an arduous path for the both of us, but I saw how he acted in Jabiim. There is still goodness in him, I felt it there. But I fear that other Jedi that didn’t see him in Jabiim will not understand it. This is why I want to teach him myself."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Excellent.” Alex nodded in satisfaction. “The crystal seems to agree.” Not all purified kyber wished to return to the war. Some sought peace that had been ripped away from them by the Darkside. The Temples had special rooms reserved for those kyber crystals who wished to rest. It seemed this one agreed with her blade, their time was not yet finished. Ephiny’s second question was more difficult. Alex scrunched her forehead in thought for half a moment. The Force was silent in this decision. “A difficult path, Ephiny.” She had planned to assign a Master to Laeonas. The young man was deeply troubled and the Darkside writhed within him…but Ephiny had a good heart and a bright soul.

She hummed in thought. “But you are right. There is good in him, and we saw that on Jabiim. The Force brought us together. It is only right you continue that journey.” Alex stood and brushed the dirt from her robes. Her eyes locked onto the young Knight. “Laeonas is not your responsibility alone. He is your Padawan learner…however I am here on moment’s notice if you need me.” She raised an eyebrow.

“He has had a difficult life made harder by gifts he did not understand. I know you will treat him kindly as he deserves.” The Grandmaster debated her next words. “There is Darkness in him that you must gently defeat so that the Light may shine through.” She smiled softly again. Finally, the Force spoke. “You are the one to do it and I believe in you. Go find your Padawan.” She motioned for Ephiny to pick up the crystal and get moving. “And find me if you require anything.” Alex would keep a close eye on the training. Laeonas deserved that.

@LouJoVi

 

[Ephiny Daivand]

Ephiny noticed how Master Voran’s demeanor changed after she mentioned her desire to teach Laeonas. While the Morellian was thinking about this possibility, the Archivist was apprehensive with the possibility of the Grandmaster refusing.

She never had a Padawan before and an adult is even more difficult to teach than a child. However, after they meet in Jabiim, Ephiny had decided to help Laeonas. She was afraid that the other Jedi would not be able to understand what she saw on him. Behind his annoying accent and rage, the Archivist saw a man that was afraid of becoming a monster.

Was if great happiness that she accepted Alex's decision of allowing her to train Laeonas. "Thank you, Master! I'll do my best to help him overcome the darkness that exists inside him." Ephiny said, with a smile on her lips. She couldn't wait to start training the man soon. It would be a long and arduous journey.

"I'll go talk to him immediately. Thank you for being so helpful, Master Voran! I'll ask your help if I have any problem." Ephiny said, before getting up from where she was seated. Then she started to walk toward the medical bay, hopefully Laeonas would be awake for her to talk with him. She felt that it was the beginning of a long and wonderful journey for the both of them.


@Valen Pelora