Ask Tenacity for Beginners

[Kalique Baize]

Not so long ago, Kalique had found herself on Ciutric before. She had run into the Jedi Knight Leon and alongside him, she had fought to bring down necromantic cultists of the fanatic hidesnake cult. They had both assumed they had exterminated whoever had still resided there and wrecked havoc on the citizen, but as she had received the frantic message of the local mayor, she had been relatively concerned.

The incidents he had outlined had unfortunately sounded just like the ones that had preceeded the terrible terrorist attack back then, and so Kalique wasted no second before readying her ship. She had obviously messaged Leon (@Zay), but he was busy and too far away, so that a different idea had crossed the Captain's mind.

They needed to deal with the remaining cultists regardless of whether this was a new nest, or an attempt of them to gain a solid footing again, but so far, it sounded less intense than it had last time, which was why Kalique deemed it 'safe' enough to turn to her squires. She had been on a dangerous quest with Rhia before, thus, she knew that the young squire was relatively capable, but she also asked Caleb to attend, and while she had heard a bit about him from other Knights, she hadn't directly worked with him before.

Both squires had been asked to pack and come prepared and fully equipped for an off-world quest. They were supposed to meet the Knight-Captain at the hangar in the Knights' new headquarter on Raxus, and Kalique was already readying the pilot droid on the ship before they'd arrive. They had to hurry, because even if the situation didn't seem too dire yet, the mayor's call for help was something they had to take seriously.

@Xorism @Apollyon

 

[Rhiannon]

The day had begun quite early for Rhia, having woken before the first rays of light blessed the landscape below. Beginning her morning routine of running laps around the gymnasium to maintain her competitive fitness and general readiness for the day, plus, nothing could beat the triumphant sounds of the imaginary crowd cheering her on as she crossed the finish line. Next up was a quick shower back in her dorm, followed into a brief attempt at mastering something new that she had recently started doing.

Meditation was such a very important part of her training, she was told, and diligently she obliged. It wasn't like she wasn't trying, but the teen struggled with the concept of sitting down doing nothing when it felt like there were a million other things to do in a day. Still, she would do her best to commit at least some of her daily ritual to it in the hopes she could figure it out.

Naturally, the well-prepared lass had everything she would need for the adventure cleaned and ready the day before, and thus in short order she was equipped and making her way down to the hangar.

Waving to Kalique, she excitedly jogged over to see what she was doing. "Anything I can do to help?" She asked in a quiet, charming tone. The squire was of course bustling with nervous, excited energy at the prospect of meeting yet another new squire her age. She'd hope to make a good first impression, as it was also important that the knights maintained good relationships with one another. But even more importantly, she hoped that their mission went as well as the previous one.

@LadyRen @Apollyon

 

[Caleb of Spintir]

Despite being at the Academy nearly a year, Caleb still hadn't gotten completely used to his new home. Waking up to anything but the earthy scent of the farm back on Spintir was weird to him. It didn't help that the night before he had been dreaming of home and his family, the farmhands. While he missed them all desperately, the waves of homesickness he felt had been coming less and less over the past handful of months. His studies and physical training had ensured that his mind was completely off of home, save for when he dreamed. That dream had been the focal point of his morning as he went through the motions of exercise and eventually getting ready to meet Knight-Captain Demici.

Because he was lost in thought, Caleb ended up being five minutes late to the rendezvous point. He only pushed his dream aside as he rounded the bulkhead to hangar bay they had been instructed to meet in. Caleb was surprised to see another Squire there, a girl there. His eyes grew wide for a brief moment before he gave his head a small shake to regain his composure. Both women stood at the same height, both had blonde hair, but Knight-Captain Demici had longer hair than the younger girl...and also bore the signifiers of her rank on her armor.

"Hey, sorry that I'm late!" Caleb called out as he waved to the pair who had been waiting on him. "I had a-uh, weird morning." He shouted as an explanation.

Despite being slightly late, Caleb had come prepared. He wore his Imperial Knight Light Armor, his Vibro-sword was sheathed on his back, his blaster pistol was fastened to his waist with several energy cells to reload with, and he had a packed backpack on his shoulders. Inside the pack was a compressed sleeping bag, a few days of rations, a canteen, some rope, and a filtration straw. Really only the barest of necessities but who knew what could come in handy while out in the field.

"Hi, I'm Caleb." He stated with a smile once he finally trotted up to the pair, extending his hand in greeting.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique waited for both squires to arrive in a hopefully timely manner before she could already sense an approaching excited whirlwind of emotions. It wasn't hard to tell that in stemmed from Rhia, so that after the coordinates had been set, she walked to meet her outside.

"Squire Delevigne" she greeted the young woman curtly, starting a little chat and thus checking in on how she had been within the last few days. Sending a few more messages back and forth for the permission to departure, Kalique couldn't help but to realize that the other Squire was in a bit of a delay, but she didn't comment on it just yet.

It was a few minutes later that a taller, brown haired boy arrived, also readily equipped and apologizing for his delay, but not actually giving any reasons. She immediately motioned for both of them to board the ship, the intial wamrth fading from her features as she followed them up the ramp.

"Squire, state the precise reason behind your delay" she urged Caleb, not taking his vague excuse as an actual answer and her tone relatively neutral. Punctuality was important and even if Kalique wasn't the harshest with her training methods, she was unforgiving when it came to Squires and important values they had to have.

"There are lives at stake and fanatics will not wait for us to arrive" she gave him a warning glare. He didn't need a full blown scolding, but the first impression she gained of him was certainly not as exemplary. She gave the pilot droid a signal and the engines were immediately turned on. "Take your seats. I'll explain the details of our endeavor as soon as we're in hyperspace".

Once the squires had secured their belongings and strapped themselves into their seats, Kalique would take her position up ahead in the co-pilot chair, informing the mayor of their departure and asking for an update on the situation on the planet which would give the squires a chance to chat. The Knight-Captain exhaled slowly, taking a mental note on Caleb, however shoving it in the back of her mind for now, knowing she'd keep an eye on it but otherwise not letting the inconvenience tainting her perception overall.
@Xorism @Apollyon

 

[Rhiannon]

Speaking with Lady Demici was always a fun experience, as the Knight-Captain was often offering encouragements, helpful information or just generally being a wonderful mentor. Rhia was simply delighted that they had been paired together for the moment, and perhaps it would remain so until that fateful day in the future where she was knighted herself.

In all the dutiful conversation, she almost forgot that they were still waiting on the newbie, who by now was fashionably late. Rhia glanced over as the brown haired boy wandered up to them with all his boyish charm and introduced himself funnily. She'd almost replied before Lady Demici spoke, thus the squire held her comment back just yet, as the pair would promptly follow her up the ramp and into the ship.

After giving him enough time to speak his bit, the young blonde nodded and took her seat after putting away her things. The seriousness of their mission demanded their full concentration and there would likely be some meditation involved, she was sure of it.

Curtly, she now turned to Caleb and smiled, holding out a hand to shake. "Welcome to the team Caleb, I'm Squire Delevigne, but you can call me Rhia!~" letting out a small giggle, the girl was excited. "Would you like to be friends? I can help you stay out of trouble!~" she matter-of-factly said.

@LadyRen @Apollyon

 

[Caleb of Spintir]

Caleb's eyes darted from the Knight-Commander Demici to the other Squire. While the Knight-Commander wouldn't return his wave, the other Squire seemed to brighten at the sight of him. While Caleb was excited to meet someone his age to talk to, the stone-y reaction from the Knight-Commander caused the anxiety in his gut to bloom into maturity. This feeling was only magnified by the first words Knight-Commander Demici spoke to him. She demanded an immediate explanation for why Caleb was late, he swallowed harshly and broke eyes contact with the Knight-Commander.

"I was cleaning my equipment and noticed wax spots where I messed up on the buffing process." Caleb replied guiltily. "I stripped the plates back down to begin the process again but I took my time to ensure the job was done properly." He continued. "I must have lost track of time, I apologize Knight-Commander." Caleb finished before returning his gaze to the woman.

While he had lied, it wasn't entirely untrue. Caleb was still struggling to polish his armor properly, despite Commander Baize's lesson. The lie was a believable one, Caleb being between his first and second year of training, it wasn't uncommon for classmates to still struggle with upkeep. However, it wasn't re-polishing his armor that caused him to work slower that morning, it was dwelling on his dreams. While the Knight-Commander would likely be able to see through his deception, it wasn't without merit. Caleb hadn't hesitated with his lie, his vocal tone didn't pitch or sway when he uttered his untruth, and finally he had developed it quickly.

While a skilled practitioner of the Dark Side would be able to utilize their anxiety as a mask to hide their lie, Caleb was not experienced. As such, his tell would be in his unique force signature which was already riddled with stress and anxiety but it was blossom of fear that was the give away. It spawned in the midst of Caleb's lie and only pulsed with growth as he continued to speak. It would be a skill that he would have to improve on to deceive a force sensitive with any measure of skill.

When the Knight-Commander ushered him into the shuttle with her warning, Caleb broke eye contact once more. He moved quickly to dart by her, clearly still nervous and anxious about the situation. He quickly took his seat next to the other Squire and fastened himself securely into the seat. As the other Squire, who was named Rhia, spoke to him Caleb would grin, his fear and anxiety melting away ever so slightly.

"Hi, I'm Caleb!" He replied as he gripped Rhia's hand in his own and give her hand two shakes. Caleb's grin would only widen at the girl's giggle and offer, he could always use a new friend at the academy. "Yeah!" He replied with a childish giggle of his own. "I could use help with that for sure!" Caleb replied, his giggle intensifying into a full blown laugh.

Caleb was excited for this new adventure and nervous for what it might hold as well.

 

[Kalique Baize]

The Knight-Captain was - despite her young age - a seasoned member of the New Order and had gathered plenty of experience. She was skilled with mental fortification, dealing with mental assault and obviously experienced with deception- picking up those subtle systems through the Force simply wasn't difficult for her, but she had to admit that he was a relatively decent lier, which was definitely concerning though.

Kalique wasn't happy with his reply at all. Lying to a mentor's face - a complete no go and as anger boiled up in her, she deliberately allowed her features to change ever so slightly. It would be hard for him to place or even decipher her expressions, but he'd notice that she was aware of his lie and everything but pleased. She also didn't reply and only offered a curt nod.

She didn't react further to his attempted lie right away though. They didn't have time for this, also, she was hoping he'd come to his own realization about this terrible mistake soon enough. She took a mental note though. This was a red flag for her, but it also didn't mean that a lying teenager was a threat that needed to be defused right away.

He was young, she remembered Jonathen words specifically about how stupid cadets could be, and even if Rhia was comparatively so far in her training, so easy to work with, Kalique was well prepared for any challenges. She'd stay very cautious and wary, monitoring his every move now that she had been warned right away and would determine how to sanction the transgression later.

She was certain he was no threat to this mission, but that it was merely a matter of a lack in discipline and respect, but this was his first time working with her anyway and her assessment of him had just begun. While she remained in the cockpit for a little more, she allowed the Squires to interact and get to know each other, yet as soon as they were all set and in hyperspace, she made her way over to them.

They had a few hours ahead of them and it was time for a first briefing. "Okay. We are enroute and have 8 hours ahead of us. I've got a question for both of you before I give you some details though" she explained calmly, taking a seat across from them.

"We are going after cultists today and you'll probably have many questions, but I want to know from you why do you think we are headed outside Imperial Space today to deal with them". Perhaps the answer was trivial, perhaps they both wondered why they were doing it, but she was curious for their assumptions as they'll tell a whole deal about their core values and the understanding of their responsibility.

@Xorism @Apollyon

 

[Rhiannon]

The little squire watched and listened closely as Caleb made his excuses to the Knight-Commander. It was almost comical to her that he ran out of time doing something so simple, clearly the boy just needed to get out of bed more or increase his motivation somewhat.

Taking the other squires hand, she shook back with confidence. "Hi Caleb!~ I've known Lady Demici for, like, forever now. She's really firm but fair. You'll be fine if you do your best." The few months they had been working together had gone by really fast. "And if it gets scary on the mission, remember to focus your mind on hers, she's here to help you find your way, not get you hurt." Rhia herself had been a quick learner, after all, and was more than happy to share such teachings.

When Kalique finally broke up the impromptu squirefest, with news of their mission, it brought a mixture of wanderlust and concern to her face. Cultists were not usually known for their negotiation skills, and it would probably require a little head knockin' to get achieved. Knowing Lady Demici was a skilled duellist, much like herself, she saw no issues there, but they had yet to see Caleb in action.

When their mentor posed the question of why they were heading out of imperial space to deal with the trouble, Rhia shot her back straight and raised her arm to answer. "Because evil knows no boundary or jurisdiction, and to protect the Empire we must find it before it finds us, Lady Demici." It was a perfectly adaquate answer in her book, but perhaps the Knight-Commander had more thought behind such a question..

@LadyRen @Apollyon

 

[Caleb of Spintir]

Caleb grinned as the girl, Rhia, shook his hand in return. She gave him the swiftest crash-course on what it was like working with the Knight-Captain that he had ever heard. Caleb was happy to see that she was so friendly, it was a welcome change from overly serious nature that many Squires had. Inwardly, Caleb hoped that they would go on more adventures together and become fast friends, he needed someone to just be himself around. Caleb was so caught up socializing with Rhia that he had almost forgotten that he had lied to Knight-Captain Demici, that was until he something in the back of his mind tugged at him.

He sensed something vaguely familiar, an emotion that he had sensed growing up on Spintir but hadn't tasted in several months now, anger. The emotion steadily sprouted and blossomed until it was unmistakable to even the Squire. The grin on his face faltered as a momentary look of confusion washed over his face while he tried to figure out the source of the raw emotion. That grin faded completely from his face when he glanced in Knight-Captain Demici's direction. It took the Squire a moment to discern the expression that she wore, but he'd seen a similar one on his grandfather's face whenever he saw the old man, anger with a tinge of disappointment.

Somehow, she knew.

Caleb wasn't really sure how she knew that he had lied, but from the emotion that she wore on both her presence and on her face, he knew that she knew. Caleb's eyes dropped guiltily from Knight-Captain Demici's, his cheery mood died as suddenly as it was born. The smile that had crested his face mere heartbeats before was now replace with a melancholic frown and Caleb slowly retracted his hand from Rhia's own. His confidence and eagerness withered and retracted, even as he crossed his arms across his chest, Caleb's mind turned even further back to his memories of Spintir. This time however, none of what he remembered was bittersweet, it all focused on the distant cruelty his grandfather and family had treated him with.

He remembered their spiteful stares. The way his grandfather would make him work in the fields an extra half hour to ensure his exhaustions. How he was always served last when meals came for the farmhands. Finally, how the decision to join the Imperial Knight Academy was made for him, just to ship him off.

As Caleb forced himself away from his memories and back to the present, he found himself blinking back tears that were threatening to silently fall down his cheeks. He turned his head away from Rhia when the dam finally broke and quietly pawed at his cheeks until he felt confident the trails they left behind had faded. He tuned back into what was around him as Knight-Captain Demici walked back up to where he and Rhia were.

She briefed the pair of them on what their goals were, they were going to deal with cultists, outside of Imperial Space. This wasn't a concept that was foreign to Caleb, when something killed the livestock on the farm, it was common to leave the farm to hunt down the creature. What good was only reacting to a threat after all? It was often times better to be proactive and prevent further harm from occurring to the farm and the herds.

Caleb had opened his mouth to answer when Rhia's hand had suddenly shot up and she blurted out her answer. He gave her a sidelong glance as she spoke, only once she was finished would he interject.

"Sometimes it's better to deal with problems before they occur." Caleb started sheepishly. "When you find predator tracks around a Shaak herd, you don't wait for them to take their pickings." He continued. "You track them down and deal with them before they become a problem." He explained. "It's the same thing here right?" He asked. "We're dealing with the cultists before they have the chance to hurt the Empire." He finished.

@LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique had always been empathetic per se, but she was also someone who always monitored her surroundings and the people she interacted with closely. She sensed the little whirlwind of emotions that suddenly overwhelmed Caleb but kept herself from grimacing.

She knew she had to be careful as it was fairly obvious that Squire Caleb was unstable, but the more she gathered, the more concerned she grew. She needed help and she was grateful for receiving the chance to work with him directly, but she was also even more attentive now. First the lie, now the sudden, yet subtle outbreak and the quick eerie silence that followed.

She walked up to them and posed her question and a second later Rhia's hand shot in the air. A smirk tugged at her lips as she gave an answer that might as well stem directly from a database, carefully learned by heart and almost a little naively idealistically phrased. Her emerald gaze then wandered to Caleb, her expressions perfectly calm and her presence within the Force soothing.

He also offered a well thought out, logical reply, before she gave them both an approving nod. "Both correct. The Sith are always a threat. Beyond Imperial borders, too. It's surely strategic in terms of prevention, but we're also dealing with a cult here and the people on the surface are in need. It is our duty to deal with whatever remains of those fanatics and the cult is currently busy with attempting to establish a solid foundation ans we can't let that happen".

She let her words linger for a moment as she took a seat across from them. "We've got approximately three more hours. We'll land close to where they had last been seen and meet the authorities there. Before we arrive at our destination, I want you to take a moment to meditate, but you can choose whether you want to do it alone or together and when".

They had to find their own coping mechanisms, just like their personal motivations and aspirations as indoctrination was obviously no option. There was not one ideal way, but they had to build up a strong determination and conviction to fight for the Empire ans keep the dark side at bay and else they weren't fit. They were in training, but it wasn't just training, it was constant assessment, too. "Do you have any questions concerning the cult?" she asked the two, offering another chance for them to practice which questions should definitely be raised in such scenarios.

@Xorism @Apollyon

 

[Rhiannon]

Rhia was a bundle of empathy wrapped up in a ridiculous amount of optimism at the best of times. The contrast between the two squires was a sight to behold, but the little blonde could only see this as a positive thing. Caleb might have become used to leaning on himself entirely to solve problems, but now? He had found the right people that would help him build his own support system and reclaim himself from the past that plagued him.

The insightful Lady Demici offered more information as to their mission for the day, tending to the already brimming excitement the squire bubbled away under the surface. If they could both protect the people in need and remove the threat from its roots, the galaxy would be a much safer place, they both no doubt agreed, she nodded along. "I'm happy to help you with the meditation stuff, Caleb, if you want." she added softly before the conversation continued.

Raising her hand again, Rhia waited a short breath before asking hers. "Are they a dangerous cult? Or are we on a diplomatic mission?" The blonde glanced towards Caleb for but a moment, something Kalique wouldn't miss was her choice of words. "I only ask because, well, are we ready for such things?" Rhia didn't want to point fingers, but she was a little concerned about Caleb.

Still, Lady Demici wouldn't have invited him if she didn't have faith in his ability, she supposed.

@LadyRen @Apollyon

 

[Caleb of Spintir]

Caleb listened to the reply given from Knight-Captain Demici. A wave of relief washed over him, he had been able to answer semi-correctly at the very least. Then their instructions were given, both he and Rhia were to meditate in order to find focus on the goals ahead. The familiar sense of anxiety welled up within Caleb, meditation had never come easy to the young Squire. As such, when Rhia offered her assistance he gave her a small grin and nod in acceptance.

However, when the Knight-Captain asked if her Squires had pause, the question Rhia voiced assured Caleb of how he was viewed, dead weight. Any questions that he might have had died in his throat, his mouth felt dry, and he felt a little sick. Caleb would simply respond by taking a deep breath, holding it to build faux confidence, and then speaking.

"No Knight-Captain, I don't have any questions."

What else could he say? Caleb was viewed as the weak link in the chain, it was something Rhia had voiced and it would have to be something he proved otherwise. However, with that, Caleb would leave his seat to try and find a quiet place to meditate.

Many Squires focused on happy memories when trying to find their center, to refocus themselves. However, Caleb's instructor had taught him to turn to darker memories. He had been told by holding those memories the closest that he would be reminded of ways he never wanted to feel again and through that manifest power. This was how Caleb meditated.

His presence was stained with the turmoil of betrayal, loneliness, and suffering. While the instructor was correct, these emotions were strong and could be powerful if channeled properly, Caleb had never been taught that last key part. So, instead of harnessing these harsh emotions and using them as motivation, he was simply left in a mire of self-doubt. To an outside eye it would seem like the boy's training had been sabotaged, whether witting or unwitting. Ultimately, it didn't matter, without assistance to guide him through this gloom or teach him how to channel what he wrestled with Caleb would find no relaxation and no focus.

 

[Kalique Baize]

After having offered them a chance, like always Rhia was the first to voice concerns, thus ask for more information she needed to place that whole mission in her hand and so Kalique wasn't surprised. Even if her face remained fully impassive, she was surprised the new squire wasn't striving for any additional information and instead just gave the most simple answer that at least internally made Kalique flinch.

"They are indeed dangerous and a force to be reckoned with, also, it's very unlikely they'll talk" Kalique replied, her gaze shifting from Caleb to Rhia, her expressions softening at the Squire's concern. "Yiu are ready, yes" she was completely certain about it as whoever still remained on Ciutric was weakened and alone. Still, the necromancer had to be dealt with quickly and it was a great chance for the two to learn.

Kalique was still more worried about Caleb and his struggles than about finishing of what she had started a while back. "You are not alone" she finally reminded Rhia, but it wasn't just directed at her before her whole posture relaxed and she leaned back against her seat.

"I'll leave you to it then" she finally set, getting up unless someone had raised another question. They had a task, otherwise Kalique would leave them for the rest of the quick flight. "If you need any help, you know where to find me". It was pure calmness radiating off her through the Force as she made her way back to the cockpit.

They had to get to know each other and Kalique was confident that Rhia had a positive effect on the new Squire. The two had their task and Kalique monitored whatever simmered inside through the Force in case she had to step in. Rhia's progress had been admirable and so Kalique was hoping that if they chose to meditate alone, her guidance would help Caleb for now.

@Apollyon @Xorism

 

[Rhiannon]

The blonde squire was content with the answer offered to her question, but she did catch the disheartened radiating off Caleb. She hadn't intended in any way to cause offence, and thus when he waltzed off to meditate alone, she felt a little responsible. It simply wouldn't do to make a poor impression on their first mission together, and she hoped that perhaps some parts that she had already picked up could be of benefit to him.

Making her way near where Caleb was meditating, Rhia plonked herself down and stretched out her mind and began meditating in the ways that she knew. More importantly, she imitated a technique that Lady Demici had done for her, broadening a figment of the force in lieu of a peace offering that Caleb would sense. If he chose to do so, he might find a calming presence attempting to provide an anchoring point in a storm, flounding no more.

In either case, they would soon arrive at their destination and the difficult task that lay ahead would require the full attention of all three. And no matter how Caleb felt, fate had brought them together for this mission.

@LadyRen @Apollyon

 

[Caleb of Spintir]

Caleb had wandered off and found a quiet place within the ship to try and meditate. Once he had sat down and crossed his legs, his mind wandered back to Spintir, just as Knight-Instructor Crow had taught him. He remembered how he was alienated and mistreated. He tried to find a way of weaving that into something that mattered, something he could use. But that effort was for naught, instead the same melancholy fell over Caleb as pain, hurt, and loneliness settled back over him.

Then he heard the door to the room he was sitting in slide open and light footsteps entered the room. Someone sat across from Caleb, in mere moments there was another sense at the edges of him mind. It was a warm, soothing sensation that reached out to him. Caleb hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to react to this new presence, and then he mentally reached out and grasped the “hand” that was offered to him.

In the moment the two presences intermingled, Caleb felt all his fear and anxiety wash away. A gentle sigh escaped his lips, Rhia had created an eye to his storm. I’m return however, she would feel the storm surge of chaos and insecurity that dominated Caleb’s mind. And within it she would see what laid at it’s center, an idyllic farm was the cause of all this suffering.

This exchange of emotion and intent would last only for a moment. However in that moment, Rhia would create an anchor point in Caleb’s mind. He wouldn’t be able to truly meditate but the tension he felt would ease and he would know that he wasn’t alone.

@LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Kalique Baize]

After Kalique had left the two to themselves, it had gotten relatively quiet on the ship. She had sent some messages back and forth with Jon and Guin, but after having rested a little, she had done just what she had advised her squires ro do. She had settled down in her own quarters and meditated, and shortly after she left her cabin for the cockpit again, she noticed the shift in the Force as the Squires did the same.

She leaned back in her chair, studying the ship's reports and double checking on whether the Governor had hit them up with any news while she monitored their presences within the Force. Caleb was a raging storm, desperately searching for anything the calm the chaos, but even if Kalique was more than tempted to interject, she refrained from doing so as she was well aware of the huge contrast Rhia posed.

The blonde Squire was perfectly calm, even reaching out to Caleb and doing exactly what Kalique had shown her. Kalique didn't mingle with them, but what radiated off her still was pure calmness as well which would keep serving as an amplifier if Caleb chose to let it.

It felt really amazing to see how Rhia had learnt, moving even, and a wide, warm smile spread across the Knight-Captain's lips. She was making progress so fast and it had been relatively easy to teach her and foster her progress, but as for Caleb, Kalique gainer more clarity on where he stood.

His sails weren't fully set within the storm that raged inside the boy's mind, but it wasn't too late to do so and Kalique felt confident to take on the challenge. For now though, she let Rhia continue as she was apperently offering just the right thing. With the Squires meditating and Kalique already preparing their landing, the flight was already soon to be over and before they did pull out of hyperspace, she informed the two Squires in the back.

By then, it seemed like they were done with their meditation which was just the right timing. They began their descent toward the capital's spaceport where aides of the governor where supposed to bring them into the affected district. "Gather your necessities and prepare to disembark" she called back after a moment after they had entered the planet's atmosphere. Whether they still had any questions or needed to fetch equipment, it was time to do so right now.

@Xorism @Apollyon

 

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon bravely held herself together as the shocking feeling emanating from Caleb reached her. The terrible difficulties and weight worn by the young man like a shackle around his neck only briefly touched her mind. But such things were not easily forgotten, merely packed to one side for when a more appropriate time arose. For now, she would sit there and meditate with him, focusing on her own training to guide the pair.

Some time passed before the blonde opened her eyes, flashing a quiet smile toward him. "I think you're braver than you give yourself credit, Caleb." Plucking herself up from the floor, Rhia held out a hand for him to take if he so chose, before nodding toward the door. "I was once on a terrifying mission and I almost freaked out." The images floating about inside her concious still weirded her out a little, too. "But Lady Demici helped me see my inner strength, and I think you will too."

Together they could rendezvous with their gear and mentor, ready for the day's events to unfold.

@LadyRen @Apollyon