The psychic reverberations from the artifact slowly receded, leaving Perun more in tune with the here-and-now once again. Turning, he watched as Caeli, his Jedi Padawan, stood, a bit worse for wear but undefeated. A sense of pride welled up within him. The trials of the day had tested her, and she had proven herself admirably.
"Good work, Padawan," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a genuine smile. His voice resonated in the echoing chamber, filling it with his respect and affirmation. "You handled yourself well in the fight. It was a challenging confrontation, and you showed great courage."
Turning his gaze away from the pedestal, he scanned their surroundings. It was time to return to the upper levels of the temple. As he approached an unremarkable door, he grasped the large stone handle, feeling the cool, smooth texture beneath his hand, and began to ascend the spiraling staircase behind it.
The journey upward was marked by a shift in their surroundings. Vegetation encroached through cracks and crevices in the ancient stone, and debris from centuries of disuse lay scattered around. Upon reaching the uppermost level, they were met by a false wall. With a gentle push, it gave way, revealing a hallway leading to the main entrance of the temple, now overgrown and littered with rubble.
A soft sigh escaped Perun as he surveyed the scene. This was a shadow of the grandeur that the temple once held, a reminder of the transience of all things. But the Jedi Order was defined by resilience, and they would restore some semblance of order to this hallowed place.
"Caeli," he called over his shoulder, his eyes still on the cluttered entrance. "It appears we have a new task at hand. We need to make this place habitable before nightfall. Let's start cleaning up."
The words hung in the air, a new challenge to surmount. But Perun knew they were up to the task, and he looked forward to seeing the temple reclaimed from the ravages of time.
@Marianne
"Good work, Padawan," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a genuine smile. His voice resonated in the echoing chamber, filling it with his respect and affirmation. "You handled yourself well in the fight. It was a challenging confrontation, and you showed great courage."
Turning his gaze away from the pedestal, he scanned their surroundings. It was time to return to the upper levels of the temple. As he approached an unremarkable door, he grasped the large stone handle, feeling the cool, smooth texture beneath his hand, and began to ascend the spiraling staircase behind it.
The journey upward was marked by a shift in their surroundings. Vegetation encroached through cracks and crevices in the ancient stone, and debris from centuries of disuse lay scattered around. Upon reaching the uppermost level, they were met by a false wall. With a gentle push, it gave way, revealing a hallway leading to the main entrance of the temple, now overgrown and littered with rubble.
A soft sigh escaped Perun as he surveyed the scene. This was a shadow of the grandeur that the temple once held, a reminder of the transience of all things. But the Jedi Order was defined by resilience, and they would restore some semblance of order to this hallowed place.
"Caeli," he called over his shoulder, his eyes still on the cluttered entrance. "It appears we have a new task at hand. We need to make this place habitable before nightfall. Let's start cleaning up."
The words hung in the air, a new challenge to surmount. But Perun knew they were up to the task, and he looked forward to seeing the temple reclaimed from the ravages of time.
@Marianne