Garden of Peace

[keyz]

Cool sand curled softly across Jifo's feet on the evening breeze, as he peered up at the ancient towering doors. With an earsplitting cacophony, the entry way opened but only slightly. There was a poisonous whisper emanating from inside the antechamber inside, raking across Jifo's mind with words he couldn't piece together. He reached up to his head and clutched his hands tightly over his ears, gritting his teeth in resistance against the pain. An unseen hand began slowly urging him inside, while the incessant chattering of the whisper began to slowly unify into a single word..."Enter." All at once, Jifo was swept off his feet and pulled towards the door, his fingers desperately digging into the sand for anything tangible by which he could stop this, anything to help him escape. As he was pulled between the doors they swiftly closed, cutting off the last bits of twinkling light shown by the distant stars of the night sky.

There was a perfect darkness all around him now, and he seemed cut off from absolutely everything. Even the whispering silenced itself as Jifo stood there, looking about in every direction searching for any source of light; or any glimmer of hope. Jifo resolved to remain strong and in doing so turned to himself and sat calmly in an upright posture, centering himself in meditation; his perspective to answers he'd yet to consider. He shivered, feeling nothing but the cold around him as it cut down to his very bone. His eyes opened again and he struggled to breathe, and in an instant weightlessness took him. Falling forever through a malicious blackness, could no longer feel anything around him; either through sensation or the Force, expecting only to be swallowed up in the darkness.

"No!" he cried out, sitting up in his bed in the medical wing of the temple. Everything was quiet around him and Jifo was glad for it, the fewer people who saw his outburst the better.

Since he had returned from Dorin the nightmares had slowly waned in their frequency, but he vividly remember the awful feeling of the place. He got up from his bed and dressed himself, walking at a steady pace down the halls of the Jedi Temple. It was early morning and the night or Coruscant still poured through the windows into the chambers that he passed. He stepped into the gardens, which was a favorite spot of his to either meditate or simply sit contemplatively; thought the latter often turned into day dreaming for him. Sitting comfortably under a tree there, he closed his eyes and focused himself entirely on his breathing as he rested his hands on his knees. The garden was a perfect place for him now, the growing life around him only helping his connection to the force. It was a wonderful feeling and did well to remove whatever distraction he faced.

After about thirty minutes or so had passed Jifo felt the caress of warmth on his back, and began to feel more life around him as the residents of the temple busied themselves with their daily activities. He had consulted the Masters a few times about his dreams, but would not trouble them with it today. He was becoming rather good and steadying his unease and seeing these nightmares for what they were.

Sensing someone else entering into the garden and heading his way, Jifo opened his eyes; and with a pleasant smile said, "Good morning."

[10Tickler]

With a certain sense of normalcy, The days of the Jedi are generally highly structured. For Students, Younglings if you will, the days are filled with training, research and meditation. For Knights and Masters, contemplation, education and when needed, missions. Then there are the Healers. There was always time to learn something new, of course, but even then, if not assigned to a mission where one was required, Most of the Circle of Healers had more time in the day then they knew what to do with. They were all Consulars, and therefore Meditation came easy enough.


For Silene, however, Meditation was a Twofold sort of event. Certainly, the Zelosian woman could simply find her inner peace within the depths and confines of the temple's vast walls and corridors, however she had always found greatest peace while at work in one of the Temple's many Gardens. Fortunately enough, someone in the Jedi Order's great history had foreseen such a thing, it seemed, considering the fact that there was a garden situated perfectly close to the Halls of Healing.


Perhaps it was fate, perhaps something deeper, some mechanization of the Force that brought her to this particular garden on this particular day, however when she entered that small, sky-lit ode to nature, Silene found herself not alone on this fine morning, the sun's bright rays shining down upon another, a Youngling, it seemed, whom despite his pleasant greeting carried weight about his shoulders that one would nary expect from one of his youthfulness. Raising her brow a little, Silene recognized the youth somewhat. His quarters had recently been relocated, to be closer to the Halls of Healing, a soft suggestion passed around that he should be casually observed whenever one had the chance to, but not to actively interfere unless it was truly needed.


"Good-Morning" she replied, quite simply, turning her focus from the male, instead finding and focusing upon the Garden proper, retrieving a small vessel of water from a hidden storage area and moving through the small area, tenderly watering and humming as she went, all the while feeling the sun against her paper-like skin, it's warmth flooding her form and kick-starting her body's basic functions into a higher gear. Leaving the boy to his Meditation and contemplation, Silene instead would move around him, careful to avoid disturbing him much as she flitted about the confined space, kneeling at times to whisper to plants that were doing poorly, and if Jifo were to listen closely, he'd hear her encouraging them.


When she finished with the watering, Silene returned towards the Center of the room, reaching into one of the deeper pockets of her robes as she joined the Youngling in actual meditation, crossing her legs and depositing a small, hard candy onto his lap before popping one into her own mouth, suckling at the sugar-free sweet for a brief moment before she finally spoke again, the sound of her voice high and clear, like the ringing of tiny bells. "You know, you really shouldn't worry about things so much" the Zelosian Healer told him, not in an instructing sort of way, but rather a soft, more caring fashion that seemed to bear the character of her words as they were uttered. "I've found that worrying too much just makes problems bigger than they really are, and hides the obvious answer in doubt, you see". At that, she fell silent again, closing her eyes and simply enjoying the sensation of the Sun's warmth above, recharging her body as she Meditated with an open ear.

[keyz]

Jifo noticed her pleasant voice as she sat down beside him offering him a small piece of candy. Upon opening his eyes he found that morning no longer crept over the window sills touching the garden with orange hues, but instead filled it up with a full expression of day. The warmth spilling over his shoulders as the daylight poured in from the skylight above, and he reached in his lap and freed the candy from it wrapper. Popping it in his mouth, he smiled and reflected on the gesture. He reached down with his hand and shaded a small group of mushrooms, looking with inquisitive eyes at the light they produced when not in direct light. Sitting up straight once again, he rested his hands on his knees. and closed his eyes. "You're absolutely right." he confirmed in response to her advice. "I've been having these nightmares recently, and I know it is just because a place I went recently was home to a dark presence that made it sick." He began, putting on a smile as he continued. "I guess it was still contagious." his smirk grew.

"I know those dreams are simply a distraction and lately they haven't done much to interfere with my study or meditation." he said with a rare confident turn in his voice. "Which is good because there is enough going on as it is. I have only recently learned on the severity of the situation our galaxy is in, given the war and the multiple political powers. As well as the contention between the Jedi in the 'Blades' and those without. Tell me, are their philosophies really so different that it forces behavior so unbecoming of a Jedi? I mean....well, you must have heard how they talk?"

Jifo thought for another second, "Perhaps it's best if I don't dig too deeply on the matter. If I judged my calender correctly, I should be on my way to the agricorp in two weeks anyway. So I'm spending as much time as I can in the more peaceful, quite places around the temple." He opened his eyes again, looking around the garden. "It seems no matter how things are, or might become; there with always be a way to find a few moments peace." Jifo wouldn't have been talking so much, but she felt as those she had a very positive presence; ripe with good intention and affirming energy. Perhaps it was why she was in the garden to begin with or was tasked with its care. There was so much life in around them now. He laid back on the ground and inhaled deeply and held his breathe for a brief moment, before exhaling slowly from his mouth. Somehow in spite of his impending departure from the temple he felt fine. What had bothered him so much in the previous months, now didn't seem even remotely to be a big a scare as he had created in his mind. He smiled again, satisfied that this was personal growth.

He turned his head to look over to where she was, "I'm Jifo." He said leaning back upright and dusting off his back.

[10Tickler]

The open ear was a good idea it seemed, because apparently the Youngling's thoughts had all collided at one perfectly inopportune time. As she considered the young man's words, it seemed like the weight of it all had bowled her over, because the Woman simply fell back, onto her back on the ground, seemingly completely uncaring about the fact that her once-pristine robes were now covered with russet earth. Sighing a little, the Zelosian opened her eyes and smiled again. "I Suppose sometimes, life does this sort of thing" she said simply, not looking at Jifo, but speaking all the same. "You're clearly a bright, curious young man, who just...hasn't found his place quite yet. You want to know things that most among the Jedi themselves don't really understand." she continued, finally sitting back up, leaves sticking to her hair as she looked at him.


Holding her finger to her lips, Silene motioned for Jifo to come a little closer before speaking again. _{"This is what they never tell you, I'm sad to say, but Most of the time, adults don't really know what they're doing either. The Blades feel their cause is just, the Council feels that their feelings are flawed, I feel like people shouldn't hurt each other for any reason whatsoever. None of us are wrong, but we only have ourselves, and the Force to guide us, and everyone has their own different path"} the woman reassured him, giving a slight bit of a shrug. Silene hoped that what she was saying made sense, but in the end, she supposed that everything said by anyone ever could be pretty nonsensical, so it wouldn't matter too much.


Either way, the woman was at a bit of an impasse. She was a healer, not the sort to go out and about on missions around the Galaxy, and in all honesty, a bit of a homebody as it were. Yet, she felt for Jifo's internal plight, most of it seemingly sprouting from the stress of his upcoming introduction to a life of servitude in the Corps, or sent back home to a family that didn't even know him. Pursing her lips some, the Pale-green skinned woman considered her thoughts, his thoughts, and simply tried to feel...to feel the Force flowing around her, to try and find guidance within it. She never felt a solid answer, not once in her life, but gentle emotional Nudges? That was a sensation she was familiar with.


Here, Silene didn't actually feel much of anything special, just...a simple urge to talk to the youth, and perhaps make his day a little bit better, if nothing else. "My Name is Silene, I'm one of the Healers here" She told him by way of introduction

[keyz]

Jifo listened very carefully as she spoke to him. Her words were sincere and heartfelt, not like the practiced advice of some of the other Masters in the temple. As she drew closer and softened her voice, she shed light on the fact that the older Jedi in the temple weren't perfect, and had their own questions that lacked answers. In her words Jifo found a deepened respect, not only for the living force itself, but for those who spend their lives interpreting its ebb and flow as a guide in their journey. After hearing her carefully he took a long moment to consider what she said. While she offered no certainty, there was honesty; and after all the Force itself was quite a fluid thing, so the will of the Force must be hard to interrupt even for a Master.

He turned to her with a surprising and almost blissful smile, "I guess your are right Master Silene. I guess the pursuit of nature of the Force is what has led Jedi of our same order to different conclusions and outlooks. I think that's what interests me so much about the Force itself." Feeling the warmth of the sun growing higher overhead, he stood up and stretched, dusting himself off. "I'm Jifo by the way. It has been a wonderful pleasure meeting you. I can't thank you enough for your wisdom."


Jifo wasn't really sure how to be spending his day. He had completed his usual morning meditation, and now he would normally spend time in the library studying light saber forms or specific histories, and follow with his saber training. There didn't seem much point in that really. He was a week away from his birthday and that would exclude him from padawan eligibility. It was disappointing but almost freeing. Not to stray from his schedule, he decided to go through his day as though it were any other and proceed. "If you'll excuse me Master Silene, I should be on my way to the library for my studies. I haven't been back in my schedule long and need to brush up." He admitted with a smile, starting for the entrance he continued, "I'm certain my forms have gotten rusty in the time I was resting."

He took a long lingering look around the beautiful garden before turning to the door. He stepped a few paces and turned his head back, "It was great talking to you Master Silene, I hope I see you around soon." As he turned back he waved, and headed out the door moving in a hurried pace down towards the library. He was unsure of how he felt, and hoped getting into his routine again would give him the proper perspective to be mindful of such things.

[10Tickler]

Watching as the Youngling...well, not quite so young, considering his personal concerns, turned, Silene could almost remember the tension that she'd seen among her clanmates when they had approached that age, the stress that they felt at the hope that would rise with each visit from the Knights and Masters, and the hush that fell over them all when one was chosen, leaving the only family they'd ever known behind. Standing, she waited until Jifo was almost completely out the door before speaking again, holding her Jade-tinged hand up and taking a deep breath.


"Wait" she said, closing her eyes and wishing that she'd spoken sooner when she realized that Jifo was already halfway down the hall. Sighing exasperatedly, the Healer rolled her eyes as she hiked her White robes up around her ankles, hot-stepping her way out into the hallway where Jifo continued to advance. "Initiate Jifo. Wait for a moment more before you rush away" she called out, half-scoldingly, although the grin on her face seemed to say far more than her words could at that moment.


Waiting until the youth would turn to acknowledge her request, Silene's sure and hurried steps took her towards the young man, where her hand would find his shoulder, resting upon it gently before she would speak again. "I know what you are feeling, trust me, I do" she began, reassuringly, a wane smile crossing her lips. "Just Like I know to Trust in the Force when it speaks, no matter how Subtly... I'm no fighter, I don't travel out into the Galaxy and engage the Sith, or Forestall the Forces of Darkness, all I do is all I can do, my own part in my own Lot in life." she continued, her tone simple and humble. "I cannot promise any sort of life of Adventure...what I can offer, with the Blessing of the Council, however, is a chance to move forward, to overcome your own self-doubt and learn to look within to find your own inner strength, and that which the Force can offer...I'm probably not most Initiate's First choice in an Instructor, but I can promise my very best to give you what I know, and let you make your own mistakes and have your own causes to Celebrate...If you will have me"


Stopping and simply staring at Jifo, her eyes seemed to reflect his worries, his concerns, right back at him as she waited, watching his expressions while she spoke, and in the silence that followed. Silene didn't expect an immediate answer, nor something amazingly eloquent, but...given time to think, she, for some reason deep inside, she hoped that he would accept her offer.

[keyz]

Jifo froze in place as he heard Master Silene come out of the room behind him, calling out to him. He turned to face her and his own smile crept across his face when he saw her's. He listened with exact direction to her every word, and could hardly believe what he was hearing. He was quickly overcome with a myriad of thoughts he could hardly sort through in the instant that they washed over him. 'Could this be a second chance? Is this the will of the Force?' he thought to himself beginning to quiver in place from his excitement. Surely he was right to pause, but only for a second. He immediately approached her, silent but with excitement and appreciation in his eyes.

"I could never begin to thank you enough for this offer Master Silene. However, I can promise to be the best padawan that I can be, and do my best to learn from your tutelage." He kept his words reserved, partly in respect, and partly due to shock; but the validation he felt resonated in the Force in a powerful way. Sure every Knight or Master for some distance around them felt his joy and determination to show his new Master that she had not made a mistake. The bright even lighting in the cool walkway showed that his earlier grin was now a smile that nearly reached off his face with childlike delight. Taking a deep breath, he cemented his composure and awaited what she might say, or what he should do next, now that he was a padawan; semi-officially anyway. He knew this arrangement would still have to be approved. He felt so confident and sensed such a positive energy in the Force that he was certain it was to be; though admittedly the positivity could simply be his own.

He had never undergone training under a Master as a padawan. One on one lightsaber and force training would be new to him, and learning about higher difficulty Force techniques is something he was starting to mentally prepare for already. He had only read about other saber forms as well, and was unsure of their training methods. For all of his uncertainty, he seemed ready to meet it with a cheerful confidence. For this moment anyway he felt untouchable.

[10Tickler]

{Following this Here post, the thread's occupants shall be moving to the Council Chambers}


Smiling a little, her lips making a thin line across her face, Silene couldn't help but chuckle ever so gently at the youth's excitement and glee at her proposal, shaking her head a little, the Zelosian would rest her hand on the Initiate's shoulder before speaking again, reassuring him with her gentle tone and presence. "Of course, this means that we must go to the Council for acceptance before anything else, and I warn you, I may have to ask a favor of a Friend of mine to help you learn your saber skills, as I'm honestly not fond of using them" she explained, Turning and guiding him as she spoke, Towards the hallway that would lead out of the Healer's areas and into the Jedi's temple proper.


Starting to walk, to direct the young male in the right direction, although he most certainly would have known the way, she continued to speak as they went. "I only say this so that you know, from the beginning of your training, should the council approve, but I am a Pacifist, I believe strongly in the Sanctity of life, and using one's power to protect it, in all forms...I'm no master of a Saber style, but I know Shii-cho, of course, and have been taught in some Soresu...if the Force guides you towards another style, then I will support you completely, and be more than happy to assist you in finding someone who will be capable of instructing you where I cannot" she explained, the corridors twisting and turning before them, stairs taking them upwards and hallways further into the depths of the Temple itself.

Until, that was, they found themselves reaching their destination, standing outside of the Council Chamber's heavy doors, the Turbolift behind them closing, sealing them in the small antechamber, where Silene sat, crossing her legs and closing her eyes, simply letting herself relax, forcing herself to calm down and squash any nervousness that she might have felt, awaiting their presence to be requested by the highly-perceptive masters within the Chamber ahead.