Ask Stones over Sand

[Milo Corr]

With no parents, and a life far too important to live than record, the man was ignorant of the necessity or need for such a novel concept as 'social media'. Even the word 'selfie' struck the vagrant as alien, and it was easy to tell that the two of them came from wholly different worlds, and not just because one was a jedi and the other an addict.

Having never been in a photo with another person before, there was an awkward distance between them than a directly respectful one, but the vagrant's head seemed to make it into the shot without covering too much of the ruins behind it. His smile was genuine however, at least the man truthfully whenever he wasn't on guard. "I mean I've got one but- I need to connect it to terminals if I ever want to receive anything, so I guess we'll worry about it later." He pat one of his jacket's pockets, likely the location of his datapad, buried under nutrition bars.

After the picture had been taken he pulled away and turned to begin walking towards the temple, letting his curiosity take him once more as he continued to look around the ruins. "Huh. Now that is a first that I've heard of, anthropomorphism is rare. Wonder what their reasoning for that was, was it to make them both Arandu and not Arandu? Better, or greater? And why a bird and a bat, some pretty particular symbology there. Both of them are capable of flight, though typically bats aren't seen as favorably as birds. Is it different here?" He shrugged, making uneducated and ignorant guesses, especially as they had yet to enter the temple proper. "I do agree though, these ruins are pretty wizard." He strode up the stone stairs which lead to the temple's doors, worn down not only from ancient use but also the passage of tourists which had been heading to this temple since long before the vagabond was even born.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”It’s fine. We can do that after returning to the city.” Elidan smiled, after having shown the picture to Milo. It looked good, but the Knight wasn’t really an expert in photos. He still barely could understand how social media worked since he never had the chance to ask someone to help him with it.

The email was the only thing that he really knew how to use.

After he put his EZPhone back on his bag, Elidan followed Milo toward the temple. He tried to remember more of that documentary, believing that something on it could have the answer for the human’s question. “I believe that bats are seen as evil by the Arandu. They had titles for the male bat-god because they avoided saying his name. I think that they were something like ‘Lord of all Demons’ and ‘Father of the Nightmares’. Nothing good.”

“The bird-goddess was considered the incarnation of Good. She also had some seven animal servants and made the moon.” Elidan couldn’t think of anything else that he could mention about their mythology. Soon, the two would be in front of the entrance of the temple. There were carvings in the columns that held the ceilings. He could identify what seemed to be some animals.

Elidan entered, looking around the internal part of the ruins. There was a large room with dilapidated walls and columns. All of them were covered in frescos and carvings. On the opposite side to the entrance, there was a wall with two sculptures. An old man with some type of crown was in the center, while his right hand pointed to a bird of prey with a long tail. His left pointed to a broken part of the wall. Whatever was there had been destroyed a long time ago.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"Looks good," he remarked in reference to the photo as they strolled towards the temple nodding his head along with the titles. While there were plenty of oddities in the galaxy, one of the greatest was the adherence to patterns. How cultures with no communication with one another possessed similar attributes and beliefs. In many ways the various sentients of the galaxy were not so different from one another as they might expect. The Arandu disappeared because of that truth.

"It's funny how we can talk about it so plainly now, and miss the nuance," he began, pausing only to take in the sights. Almost immediately he began to stroll around the temple, staring up at the statues and following the pointing hands of the old man to the bird and what he assumed once was a bat. "To us we look at the notes as just words, but to them they likely placed great importance on the creation of the moon or those seven animals."

"And just the same these three are just figures, unimportant to modern society, yet were as real as they could be to the Arandu. Aspects of their existence. Now just statues in a dusty old ruin." He set his palm upon his side, glancing upwards to understand the full scope of the building's scale. It was large, impressive, and covered with all manners of ancient decorations. "So you said they had healers, were they aligned with the bird or the old man? I suspect they had little to do with the bat."

Pointing at the hole in the wall and then to the old man he snorted. "Bet he had trouble keeping the two of them in line. A trouble that normal parents have with normal kids, as far as I understand. Let alone ones that can transform into animals and create celestial bodies."

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan nodded, agreeing with Milo’s words. When they still lived, the Arandu had great respect for their gods. The half-Annfyn doubted that they would talk about them like how the two were doing at the moment, in a casual conversation. This would be considered a taboo. The Knight couldn’t avoid feeling a bit guilty for talking this way about a culture, even if they were already extinct.

He wondered if in the future the Jedi and Sith could suffer that same fate, becoming only footnotes in history books and people would talk about them as some curious trivia.

“I think that their healers were connected to the bird. Makes sense, because I don’t think that the bat seems to be the type that heals people.” Elidan signed, while approaching the statues. The half–Annfyn touched the bird and immediately felt a faint presence in the Force, as if there was something else in these sculptures beyond what their eyes could see. He recoiled his hand immediately, not because of fear, but of surprise.

The half-Annfyn turned his attention to Milo, who was still talking about the statues. “I suppose, they seemed to be opposites. Like Light and Dark. Family dinners probably ended up in fights most of the time.” Elidan smiled, before looking at the wall. He was still curious about what he had felt moments ago. “It’s sad that there isn’t much information here to help understand this place.”

After all, none of them were capable of translating these carvings.

“There is a museum in Lay Pa-Sidian city. They probably have an exhibition about the Arandu and more information about them. Do you want to go there and have a look?” they talked so much about it that even Elidan was curious to learn more. Besides, Milo was a pleasant company.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Elidan's flinch wasn't missed by the vagrant who stole a glance at the statue before acting as though he had seen nothing. Instead the sound of his footfalls echoed throughout the mostly empty temple as he traded words with the half-Annfyn, running his hand along smooth stones. "That is a common theme among many cultures influenced by the force. Dark, light, sometimes a mediator and sometimes not."

"Jedi and Sith are the greatest example of that dualism, of course. Can't say that I'd wanted to be at a dinner party between you and one of them." With a chuckle the vagrant found himself at the foot of the large statue of the old man, staring at the finely chiseled yet timeworn lines and details. He tugged at his jacket before fishing around it for something. A moment later he drew out a cigarra and held it between two fingers. His thumb tapped the edge of the worn filter as he considered lighting it. "You must have fought one before, right? Given that you've been to war and all." Perhaps he was treading a bit too freely on such subjects, not all wished to share war stories, but Jedi were as much warriors as they were peacekeepers and protectors. That whole existence was foreign to him, so foreign that he couldn't even imagine it. Holovids and historic passages always held a certain distance.

Sticking the cigarra in his mouth he looked back at Elidan and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, sure I suppose, I was hoping for something with a lot less... Tourists," he started, beginning to turn before stopping in place. For reasons he couldn't determine the man's hand reached toward the statue. As the tips of his fingers brushed against the alabaster stone he froze in an instant, unflinching and as still as the statue itself. No tabacc-scented breath filled his lungs, instead the cigarra slipped free and fell to the ground, rolling around before bumping against a boot.

Internally, it was as though he was in that moment again, falling to his death leagues above the world after having tripped over a railing. In a panic he had reached for something and- In an instant he had connected with something else, been somewhere else, and the only way home was to reach out and pull, just as back then. Yet this time it wasn't safety that he tugged at but something akin to the latch of a door, and he threw it wide open.

With a yelp the transient fell away from the statue, tripping on his own feet as he crashed upon stones. With blurry eyes he stared at the ceiling, confused and lost. Disoriented and overwhelmed as his senses struggled to find themselves again, flooding him with information.

In the near distance a flock of birds was shaken, shrieking as they took flight, disturbed by something.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan was still a bit shaken by his experience with the statue when he heard Milo talk about a dinner between the Jedi and Sith. The half-Annfyn couldn’t control himself and burst into laughter. This time it wasn’t a simple smile, but a real laughing fit. His voice would become a bit apparent among the other sounds that came from his mouth.

The laugh could only mean one thing.

He was starting to feel comfortable around Milo.

In an attempt to calm himself, the Knight brought his gloved mechanical hand in a fist to cover his mouth. “Sorry, I couldn’t avoid imagining it. This would be so bizarre.” Elidan doubted that the two Orders would be even capable of sitting in the same table together for even a few seconds without trying to kill each other.

Taking a deep breath, the half-Annfyn turned to look at the human. “I never went to battle against the Sith. I’m a healer, my job is to stay behind the lines healing the wounded.” Elidan explained to the human. “Not all Jedi are war veterans, some of us are more devoted to peaceful ways. However, I know how to fight.”

“But, I indirectly was in a battle. I was six when the Sith attacked one of our Temples. They caught us by surprise and there wasn’t much time to evacuate.” his hands started to shake while he signed, memories of that day coming back to him after a long time. “I was in the last group that was being evacuated. The Sith cornered us and killed all my friends. I was the only one that remained alive because a Knight carried me away, but I saw their deaths. I didn’t talk for many years because of it. I still can’t do it right even now that I’m an adult.”

The half-Annfyn shook his head. It wasn’t time to delve into those thoughts, everything had remained in the past now. Nowadays he could even say some short phrases in public, even if he preferred to still use sign language. It had become part of him for so many years and he didn’t want to abandon it.

He watched with curiosity while Milo approached the statue and touched it. His eyes widened with how the human reacted and the brief disturbance in the Force that he felt. When he saw that the man was going to fall on the hard stone floor, Elidan rushed to grab him from behind.

The Knight sat in the ground of the ruins, with the human’s head resting over his lap. Elidan studied him, trying to identify if he was having a seizure. He was relieved that there was no sign of spasms, but the glazed eyes and the erratic pulse that the half-Annfyn registered showed that something dramatic happened.

In an attempt to calm the other man, Elidan projected an aura of comfort through the Force. “Milo, what happened? What are you feeling?” the voice came naturally from his mouth, without him even noticing. He looked at the statues, remembering what had happened with himself early.

Could Milo be a Force sensitive?

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

The genuine humor wasn't lost on the vagrant, though neither did it remain upon his face as Elidan spoke of witnessing far sadder moments than Milo ever had, though that was not to say that he hadn't lost a friend in his own way. Yet any thought to offer sympathy was lost the moment he touched the statue.

Quick to react, Elidan prevented the man's head from cracking against the floor. For a time Milo looked about in a panic, head turning this way and that, before both the aura began to take its effect and the Jedi's words, coming from an unfamiliar voice, drew his attention. Immediately he jerked upward and pushed away from the Jedi, as if his touch was suddenly harmful. "Nothing- Nothing," he breathed out, trying to stand on shaky legs. "I just... Slipped, is all," despite his incredibly poor ability at misdirection it was clear in the fading force signature between the vagrant and the statue that there had been something. For a brief moment a glimpse at the man's internal self could be sensed, a shell of sorrow, self-loathing, and defensiveness surrounding a vulnerable, yet naive, core.

Dusting himself off he turned back to the Jedi yet something was off about him, all the anxious tics of an anxious addict in withdrawal had returned. Milo his forearm while looking around, clearly perturbed. Knowing that the answer he had given in haste was unbelievable, he tried to elaborate between breaths, clutching at his chest. "I- I touched the statue, and it was like I was falling again. I couldn't breathe, or think, I just... Reached out." That was clearly the best answer he could honestly muster, but any Jedi would be able to figure out at least an inkling of what happened.

Inexperienced in protecting himself, Milo had interacted with something powerful in the Force, perhaps it was merely a font of energy, or something more. Either way it had caused him to do something. The power which emanated from the statue began to diminish, rapidly, as if fleeing though leaving a faint invisible trail that led into the jungle. Milo being sensitive to the force could explain how he triggered something, or perhaps something else was afoot, merely awaiting some sort of activating touch.

Slowly, he began to gather his wits, though by the way he rubbed his temple with a thumb it was clear that he had a migraine. He was shaken, yet not as much as one might expect, as though something like this had happened before. Milo regained his balance rather quickly. "I don't know, and I feel as though I'm about to vomit." Despite all that had happened the temple, otherwise, was unaffected. There was no dramatic rumbling or disturbance of any of the other tourists, beyond a couple of curious glances from the furthest who couldn't hear the two of them. "I'm fine, right? There is nothing wrong with me, right?"

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan stared at Milo when the human came out of his trance and pushed him away. The Knight got back to his feet and carefully watched the man's reaction. His legs were shaking and his voice was broken. He didn’t believe it when the other said that he had slipped. It was obvious that it was related to him touching the statue. Perhaps something similar would have happened with the half-Annfyn if he wasn’t trained to block his mind from external influences.

This brings him back to the big question: Was Milo a Force sensitive?

When the man started to show signs of having a panic attack, a condition that Elidan could recognize very well since he had suffered it in the past, the half-Annfyn carefully walked toward the human. “Milo, close your eyes and take deep breaths slowly. It’ll diminish the pain in your chest. I’ll help you with the Force, if you allow it.” he said, offering his hands for the other to hold.

If he accepted, Elidan would project a calming aura through the Force. It’ll make Milo breathe more easily. He learned how to do it during his own therapy sessions when he was a child.

“You are fine.” Elidan said, his eyes moving briefly to the statues behind Milo. He could feel a faint presence in the Force, like a trail that pointed toward somewhere beyond these ruins. The half-Annfyn wasn’t sure what it meant, but he felt a bit compelled to follow it. He looked back at the human’s face. “I also felt something when I touched that statue.”

“I think that you are Force sensitive.” Elidan said calmly and waited for the human's reaction.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

The vagrant blinked at Elidan as though he were crazy when he told him to merely close his eyes and breathe. That seemed like the very last thing he should do at the moment with the tightening in his guts, the sandwich threatening to expel itself. As an addict he had never practiced anything like mindfulness, but Elidan was a Jedi after all. With a careful sigh the vagabond did just that, sucking a breath before slowly expelling another. The aura worked its magic, not that Milo even noticed it at all.

When his revolting stomach finally settled he opened his eyes and nodded his head, surprised that such a simple action had worked, ignorant to the unseen mechanics. He followed Elidan's glance to the statue, biting at his lower lip as he tried to comprehend just what he had experienced, only for a small laugh to escape him. "I'm- I already knew that."

As if to project a semblance of control, Milo straightened his spine and tugged at his jacket, adjusting it. That was seemingly all the reaction he was getting, Milo was well aware of his connection but didn't seem keen on elaborating. Instead, the sandy-haired human tilted his head at the Jedi, glancing between the half-Anfynn's visage and the droid which clung to him, realizing that the voice he heard was not a digital translation but the half-Anfynn's actual voice. "Wait- You're talking right now," he pointed out, motioning to Elidan with a hand. "I thought you couldn't?"

While he was no longer panicking, or worried, it was clear that there was still an edge to the man. Those earlier tells of his addiction having redoubled as his eyes were as much upon Elidan as they were exploring the room, searching for a threat, always gravitating towards the direction of the unseen trail, revealing that he innately felt it even if he didn't know it. His fingers slipped under his sleeve as he began to scratch at the arm underneath, trying to find some sort of release for his anxiety. "And what happened to me?"

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Then Milo already knows that he is Force sensitive. This made things easier for Elidan, since he wasn’t going to need to give the entire introduction about being capable of accessing the Force. After so many years, he wondered why the Jedi didn’t make a holo recording to help in these moments.

However, he wasn’t there to complain about the lack of development of the Jedi Order during their recruitment attempts.

He was there to help Milo.

“Really? Would you like to tell me when you discovered it later?” Elidan said, before a calm smile appeared on his lips. By projecting the aura of calmness through the Force, the half–Annfyn was able to help the human in avoiding the worst of his panic attack. However, he still seemed nervous.

Elidan laughed when the human finally noticed that he was talking. “Yep, It’s my voice. I hope that it doesn’t sound so bad.” the half-Annfyn tilted his head, smiling at Milo. “I have a psychological condition called selective mutism. It makes me not speak during certain situations, such as around new people.” he gestured to the human. “After years of treatment, it became easier for me to find the inner strength to break that block and say short phrases. I still prefer to use sign language though. It became an important part of my life.”

“But long conversations, like this one, are rare for me. It only happens with people that I feel comfortable around.” he walked closer to Milo, standing by his side. “Usually possible friends.” Elidan wondered if the human would want to be his friend at some point. The half-Annfyn could really use one these days.

And he was nearly sure that Milo could use one too. The way that he was scratching his arm under the sleeve and eyes moving around the room showed how much the other was anxious and perhaps a friend could help with it. “There was some type of Force presence in that statue.” Elidan pointed at it, not daring to touch the stone again. “I felt it when I touched it, but you were capable of activating it. Now I feel that a trail has appeared, going deep inside the jungle. Did you see anything when you touched it? Perhaps the place where the trail ends?”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Wind rushing passed his ears, eyes watering, and the idea of hurtling towards duracrete wasn't too distant in his mind when Elidan mentioned sharing his discovery, and as such the vagrant only offered a quick shrug in reply. As was his way, Milo wasn't committing to anything, having both learned a hard lesson of making those sorts of commitments and a certain fear of sharing such personal moments. It was his revelation, was it not?

The worst of his anxiety had passed but try as the half-Anfynn might, he couldn't simply brush away years of paranoia and caution, especially concerning his withdrawal fueled mannerisms.

"No- no, you sound fine, I suppose. Not quite how I imagined, either. I thought your voice would be a little deeper, though don't ask me why. I don't know." His eyes followed the Jedi as he not only approached the vagrant but stood by his side, something which Milo appeared to be initially against given how his body shifted but seemed to stubbornly accept. "Well I guess we're not new people anymore," he concluded, not exactly calling Elidan a friend but neither denying it. The wound from concerning his last friend still stung like a wound exposed to air, warning him of the dangers of getting too close to another, especially this soon after or this quickly.

The dregs of Empress Teta had taught Milo to rely upon himself, and while he achieved greater things in the presence of others, it wasn't worth the hurt that followed. Detachment and distance, the armor and shield of any survivor.

"Where it leads-" He paused, as if he were about to object, before furrowing his brow. "No, not exactly. I saw a... It's hard to describe what I saw, like I'm caught between a memory and a dream, but I saw a stone tablet. It was dark, very dark, and I felt the same- Er, it felt as though my stomach were tied into knots." The man clearly had no experience with this sort of thing but wasn't trying to withhold anything. "I remember a door, with a latch, and it felt like it was keeping me there, so I just... Undid the latch." Not exactly a great explanation, as likely his mind putting together a metaphor rather than reality, but one never quite knew with the Force.

"If I'd known I would have never touched it," he grumbled. "I can't recall anything else, beyond that it felt amazing once I was free- More so than you might think, but I can't explain quite why. As if I was stuck there for a long time, yet I only just touched the statue, right?"

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan burst into laughter when Milo described how he expected that the half-Annfyn’s voice was. “Really? I really don’t look like the type to have a deep voice.” he gestured to his own body, after his laughter finally had calmed down. He was very slim and friendly looking, a voice like this one would be very out of place on him.

Or at least that was what he thought.

He was aware how Milo reacted when he mentioned the word friend. It was obvious that something had happened to leave the human that tense. The half-Annfyn remained in silence, deciding to not ask the details. This information should be given to him by the other man when he feels comfortable enough to do that.

The half-Annfyn paid close attention to Milo’s explanations, trying to make a mental picture of what had happened. It sounded exactly like a typical Force vision. However, the description of a latch being undid sounded a bit concerning. Even if metaphorical, things being open through the Force were never a good omen.

“You only touched it for a second.” Elidan explained, before his attention went back to the trail that had appeared. It was invisible, but if he closed his eyes and opened himself to the Force, the half-Annfyn could feel how it went deep inside the jungle. “You’ll be fine. What you are feeling is only due to the shock of the experience.”

“Can you still feel something else? Like a path that appeared and points to somewhere.” he said, wondering if Milo’s attunement to the Force was strong enough for him to feel this faint presence.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Milo quickly leaned down to snatch up the unlit cigarra and stuffed it away into his jacket, best not to litter nor forget it. He had a feeling he would need it later, especially after whatever he had just gone through. He pulled on his jacket and straightened himself out as best he could and, more or less, appeared no worse for wear. The same old vagrant.

The trail which billowed from the statue began to fade, taking with it whatever power remained within. It wouldn't be long before it was just a mundane piece of carved stone. It was clearly imbued with some other purpose beyond just religious necessity, though how it had remained dormant for so long, especially in a public tourist attraction, remains to be seen. Perhaps it had been merely hibernating until the right time, what made today so special? "Shock, right," he intoned in a semi-sarcastic tone, drawing out a sigh.

The vagrant's mouth opened immediately at the Jedi's inquiry, as if he were about to reject feeling anything, yet his brow began to furrow. With a glance towards the fleeting guide, the man nodded his head slowly. "I- Sort of? Like something is there, but not much else." He didn't feel the encouraging tug or pull, either his connection was weak or he had yet to grasp the ability to look beyond himself. Both were possibilities.

"This is pretty normal, right? You've got plenty of experience with this sort of thing, right?" Elidan wasn't exactly explaining much, beyond his connection to the Force, and Milo's skittish nature was clearly displayed as he didn't quite know what came next. "You said it points somewhere? I can't really tell, but do you follow this sort of thing?”

Empress Teta didn't prepare him for this sort of endeavor, even if this was the sort of thing Milo was looking for, he likely would have bolted back to the city. With Elidan though he had at least some semblance of a guide, someone who knew something about whatever was going on. The Jedi was friendly enough that Milo had little reason to just leave the half-Anfynn without an explanation.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan listened to Milo explain what he was feeling, nodding when he finished. He was also feeling the presence in the form of an invisible trail, but not with the same clarity that the half–Annfyn. He would need to train until being able to properly see it. Of course, if he ever decides to learn more about the Force.

The half-Annfyn was still deciding if he should bring the possibility of the other man joining the Jedi Order.

Milo’s question made Elidan put a strand of red-hair behind his ear. It was going to be difficult to explain. “Well, not really.” the half-Annfyn decided to be since, rather than telling a lie that could leave the human calm, but could have terrible consequences when he learned the truth. After all, they were still in the process of establishing a friendship.

And you don’t lie to your friends.

“I never experienced this type of situation before. I don’t even know exactly what has happened.” Elidan’s eyes returned to the statues. “It seemed to be a type of beacon that once activated would show a path to be followed, but I’m not sure.” for all intentions, it could be guiding them to a trap.

“I’m really curious to know what lies at the end of the trail, but I can’t put your safety at risk. It can be dangerous.” he explained, while finally having the courage to touch the statue again. This time nothing happened. “So I ask you, do you want to follow it? It was to you that it revealed the secret, you should be the one to decide.”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Now that the rush had long since died the man stood there for a long moment, skeptical that the Jedi hadn't experienced something similar. Were they not the most knowledgeable on subjects of the Force? Yet what did Milo know of it? Quite little, in fact, only bits and pieces picked up from publicly available spaces and books. Observations of the insensitive. There was no how-to guide or instruction booklet. It was still a rare occurrence among the billions of lives within the galaxy, though the numbers game helped, organizations like the Jedi meant that such information did not need to be necessarily shared to all.

"A... Beacon? For what?" While initially he had been rather fearful, Milo was seemingly fine. Nothing had happened to him, beyond a small tumble. Yet rather than shirk away from the idea the vagrant suddenly grew a streak of eagerness. This was, truly, why he had come. Not exactly for this experience, but to learn.

After a moment of consideration the sandy-haired man nodded his head. "Now, I hadn't planned on admitting it, but you already know. My interest in these cultures only started with my... Sensitivity. That's why I'm here. There is nothing more that I want to do but follow it." Then he held up a hand, as if to reassure the half-Anfynn. "And don't you worry, if there is one thing I'm good at it is running from problems. We find anything and I'm gone, got it? Or I can let you handle it, I'm not much of a fighter." Rather than scratch at the underside of his forearm the transient brushed against the topside, running two fingers over an unseen scar.

"That said I'll need you to guide me as, ah... I don't really feel anything anymore." Unpracticed as he was, the trail had disappeared from his perception beyond the tiniest of points, which he mistook as the impression of memory.

Strangely, as they departed from the temple, the vagrant held his head a little higher with each. His tics and anxiousness were still apparent, but it was as if he had found that drive again. The reason for his being, it wasn't quite the quick transition his words may have implied, internally it could be sensed that he could bolt at any second, but gradually it diminished. Milo wanted to be here, had to be here, and while he wasn't one to believe in fate, the two of them had accidentally set something in motion. Might as well figure out what.

The echoes of the Force's call drew to the north east, back into the jungles that they'd spent time traveling in, growing weaker by the second but one they could generously outpace at a walking pace. Life seemed stirred, and while Milo didn't notice it, the Jedi most likely would. Birds looked around warily, watching the two of them as they passed, small critters were nowhere to be seen, and the one large beast that Milo did not perceive quickly and silently sprang away. The flora was not exactly fearful of but rather troubled by the glut of beckoning energy. Life was attuned to the Force, even without sensitivity, and could pick up on the not-so-subtle shifts which disturbed the natural ebb and flow.

As if unaware of all that was happening around him, Milo stuffed his hands into his pockets and plodded along. "You said you were given a test, right? That is how they learned you were special? I figured it out after I had slipped over a railing. Was ah... Running from some security, would have made a nice mess too hadn't I reached out in a panic." There was obviously more to the story but for the moment he left it vague, confessing as much as he had went against his ideal of detachment. Yet in his mind they had time to kill and who better to discuss such things than the first Jedi he had ever met, the cat was already out of the bag.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”I’m not sure.” Elidan said, staring at the statues with a frown. “It could be to a temple like this one or to some type of Force nexus. We would only be sure by following it.” it could be a trap, but the half-Annfyn didn’t feel any malicious intention in that presence. It was simple pointing.

He turned his attention back to Milo, hearing the man explain why he was so interested in ancient civilizations. “I see. Well, I’ll tell you if I feel something strange. The Dark Side can be very dangerous and deceitful.” Elidan remembered how he saw during his classes as a Padawan a dagger that looked like any other. However, it was completely covered by darkness.

In the Force, nothing was what it seemed.

“Besides, I’m pretty good at running too.” Elidan smiled, wondering what Milo would do when he learned that someone could use the Force to enhance their speed. “Depending on the trouble, we would probably need to flee. I’m a healer, not a warrior. However, I would cover your retreat.” the last time that he covered someone, the half-Annfyn lost his hand. He wondered what he would lose if it happened again.

“Of course, I’ll guide you.” he could still feel the trail perfectly fine, even if a bit faint. If Milo had the proper training, he would be feeling the same. “I was thinking that I could teach you how to sense Force presence later. If you are interested in that, of course.”

The two left the ruins, with the tourists outside completely oblivious to what had happened. Elidan closed his eyes and focused, discovering that the trail was going to Northeast. He gestured for Milo to follow him toward a path in the jungle. If they paid attention to it, it would be possible to see that there were some polished stones in the ground, but most of them were covered by moss.

It had been used in the past.

“Yes, the Jedi that retrieved me in the orphanage did a test, but I had used the Force by accident to make a ball come to me. This was why the people of the orphanage contacted them.” Elidan jumped over a root, being careful to not trip on it. “I think that I was lucky to be found. I never thought of myself being the adoptable type and everyone knows what happens with children that get too old to stay in the system.” the half-Annfyn knew very well that they were sent to the streets to fend for themselves. Few are able to make a good future.

“No one ever thought that you could be Force sensitive?”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"Force Nexus and the 'Dark Side', wonderful," he returned in that same dull tone, clearly not understanding but neither seeking an explanation in the moment. Despite his obliviousness concerning everything else, Milo spotted the trail marking stones and even went as far to squat down and attempt to rub away some of the moss. A simple sigil rested atop it containing a circle by which two lines flanked shot out from either side, bending once at about the middle point. He showed it to the Jedi but made no other comment as he clearly didn't know what it could mean.

"Are you allowed to do that? As long as I don't have to wear those robes afterwards." He let out an exaggerated huff, seemingly having no interest in joining the order even with all of his reading. "Not some sort of Jedi secret?" He kicked a stone into the trunk of a tree, sending it careening into the jungle with an audible 'thunk'. Despite his age he wasn't too far from a child in some ways, likely due to possessing a neglected youth. He couldn't suffer a bored moment.

"Think of it this way, Elidan, I didn't have anyone. That isn't me complainin', nor looking for pity, mind you. It's just the truth. I was too quick to be put into an orphanage, though they tried more than once. That is how I met my best friend at the time, one of their attempts. Either way, even if I did have someone, I didn't 'do' anything as far as I know until I tripped. But," he stopped in his tracks, looking around with a furrowed brow as if he felt something, an inkling. "I don't think... I've felt anything more awe-inspiring. Leagues above the earth, wind in my ears, and just..." It was as if he was struggling to explain it completely, mentally trying words only to give up on them. "Life. Just life, a whole city of it, a planet of it." Then he started again. A hint of something more, overshadowing any high, and shed light upon just how terrible his life was.

Milo was a beggar who had tasted ambrosia.

It wasn't long before that diminishing trail they had been following began to strengthen, they were drawing near some sort of source though it wasn't quite the font of power that nexuses. Its signature also began to change, instead of just a trail of unaligned power it held two natures, both of which Elidan was undoubtedly familiar with.

The jungle trees gained sharp angles, pointing directly towards the sky rather than arcing as most in the surrounding area had. The humid air subtly increased in temperature, as though they had passed into a sauna, yet it wasn't quite so pleasant. Tiny mosquito-like bugs buzzed around their ears and sought purchase on any surface. Luckily the vagrant's industrial clothes and worn jacket were enough.

Less and less moss grew on the stones and their various sigils grew more elaborate and sharp, as if in greater reverence or warning, though Milo struggled to piece together just what exactly they implied. "I don't like the feel of this place," he remarked idly, completely unfamiliar with both the sensations and the logic behind them. He knew of the Dark Side, but only in the sanitized way that one scouring the holonet could. It was something that the ancient Sith played with, an aspect of the Force. Living it was something else entirely. His anxious tics, especially the scratching, began anew.

Despite the growing presence of it in the area the land was not exactly 'corrupted', at least not wholly. These changes were minor, its source restrained. Held in check by that second reservoir of power.

Black, avian-like creatures with six eyes watched from the canopy above, heads tilting curiously as the two of them delved further.

They were getting closer to something, two somethings.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”Yes, I can do that.” in fact, any Jedi these days could apply the test to identify a Force user. “I'll do that when we are back in the city.” Elidan raised an eyebrow when Milo mentioned his robes. What the human was wearing wasn’t a perfect example of trending fashion. However, he understood the meaning behind these words.

Milo didn’t want to be a Jedi.

Elidan listened in silence while Milo described his past and his first experience with the Force. The half-Annfyn could only imagine how difficult the human’s childhood must have been. Perhaps the Jedi would have experienced something similar if he didn’t end in the orphanage. If it wasn't for the people there, he would have never been identified as Force sensitive. He could have even ended up as an addict in the streets of Chardaan.

“I know how it’s.” Elidan said, after the human finished explaining his experience with the Force. “It’s even more amazing if you do it in a jungle like this one. You can feel everything, from the tiny insects to the great trees. You understand how the Force connects all life.” it always made the half-Annfyn feel as if he wasn’t alone, because everything around him shone in the Force.

While they continued to walk, Elidan felt how the atmosphere around them changed. The trail had become stronger and he believed that by this point even Milo could feel it. The Force also became clear, with the half-Annfyn feeling the oppressive coldness of the Dark Side. However, it was being strangled by the warmth of the Light Side.

It was strange.

When he noticed Milo shaking, Elidan projected an aura of calmness around the human. “Me either.” the Knight said, they were getting closer to it. “Do you want to return?” there was no judgement in his voice. He would follow any decision that the man made.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

There was nothing else Milo could feel but those two faces of the same coin, surrounding the area like a dreadful miasma, yet for as much as he looked ready to bolt something else tugged at him. Ceaselessly Milo had run at the drop of a hat, quick to bolt whenever anything went south, but had it ever gotten him anywhere? And what was this second feeling, urging him onwards?

"I'm not scared," he said, feigning confidence which was immediately undermined by his anxious twitching and scratching. That familiar ill-tempered expression crossed his face as he pressed onward. Ignorance would be his shield. The birds up above continued to gather, head's shifting erratically as they eyed the two as they pressed onward.

The path eventually broke, leveling out on a rather small clearing with a strange out of place mound in the center of it. The ground was muddy and barren, the only flora was withered and desiccated, foretelling that this was the source of it all. The stone markers which had lined their path were now scattered about all with the exact same marking. Twin circles, one atop the other, flanked by two jagged shapes. Wings.

As though he were cold, despite the evident warmth, the vagrant tugged on his jacket to ward off a shiver.

What at first appeared to be a flat stone was in fact a slab which had been pushed aside, somehow, having turned some dark soil. Was this perhaps the latch that Milo was referring to? Unlike the tablet he had referenced earlier this stone bore few markings, but rather smoothed indentations that had been worn away by erosion and the passage of time. The trail began to split here, a small portion of it seeping into the stone as it exuded something other than the Dark Side. This was a deliberate creation, an old infusion that had somehow survived both discovery interaction for millennia, a ward against the dark.

It was likely not the only one as the trail led beyond the slab and down a set of surprisingly pristine stone steps into a pitch black corridor beyond.

Milo ran his hand along the slab, thumb rubbing against the grooves of worn words, though he dared not press any further in part due to the knots in his stomach. If he wasn't scared before he was now, the cold hand of the Dark Side gripping at his heart, in this moment not an alluring whisper but a chilling unknown. "What kinds of things could be down there, do you think? You're the expert on all this."

"Spooky ghosts and skeletons," he lifted his hands and shook them slightly, feigning humor as though such things were the subject of a fairytale, not reality. "Thing has been shut for so long that, unless an animal just walked on in while we approached, it should be empty. Right?"

Now it was Milo who was looking to the knight, not quite stating it aloud but if the half-Anfynn advised that the two of them depart he would in an instant. Suddenly the prospect of exploring old ruins wasn't all that enthralling, if anything it was revolting... Yet there was something else down there which pierced the suffocating and oppressive darkness, though given the influence the darkside had exerted upon the area it was likely slowly fading at a glacial pace. It may not fail today, or even in a few years, but it will eventually. Whatever it was.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan raised an eyebrow at Milo’s answer. “I never said that.” he smiled, leaving clear that he didn’t think that the human was afraid. He turned his eyes to the birds that were gathering on the trees. Each step forward, more of the animals arrived. It looked as if they were waiting for some great event and the two men were going to have some participation in it.

“But I’m apprehensive about what we are going to find.” the Jedi said, while they continued walking. When they arrived at the clearing, Elidan was hit by a wave of cold. The Dark Side was strong on this place, with it having been responsible for the dead plants. However, he could still feel the Light holding it at bay.

The half-Annfyn stopped on his tracks when he saw where the trail was going. Deep inside a dark corridor. “I’m not sure.” Elidan said, his eyes not leaving the darkness that laid in front of them. He had flashes from Jakku, of the moment that he lost one of his hands in a place that should have been empty for many years.

He didn’t answer Milo’s last question, because he was sure that the human would not like it. Spirits and beings that could live centuries without being disturbed inside ruins were very real in the Force. Especially in places that oozed Darkness like this one.

“I’ll take some pictures of the carvings in the stones. I’m sure that someone in the museum will be able to explain it to us.” Elidan said, turning away from the dark corridor. He could feel that whatever was down here was fading, but the half-Annfyn didn’t want to seek it with Milo. The human would be in danger there without any training. Perhaps they could go back there later.

@Cartoonkarl