I Dreamed a Dream

[Aurora Blackwood]

Dreams had meaning. They spoke to the soul and the heart. The Force gave dreams truth, but even those untouched by the Force could find purpose in their dreams. They could find their path in a dream. Aurora had dreams. Not visions of the Force but things she wished to be true. Her heart and soul yearning for these truths. She remember the first time she had met Theodosia. They had talked of dreams and really meaning in those dreams. They had planned this excursion to Ilum. Theo had been her first Padawan, the one she had taken a chance on. Now, that was gone. Aurora did not know where her student had gone or why, only that she was gone. A part of her dream was dead. Gone.

Aurora had to carry on. Alys, Pho, Freyja, and and Aurelian need her. One mistake would not define Aurora Blackwood, one failure would not define Aurora Blackwood. She was not everything they thought her to be, but she would be close. She would be what they needed. Aurora stared at the entrance of the crystal cave. The polar winds of Ilum whipped through her hair. She wore nothing to protect herself from the cold. The Force was her guide, that was all that mattered. Aurora turned to the young student assembled behind her. All four were her students except for one. She would treat that one as if she was.

“Behind me is the heart of every Lightsaber, these caves are filled with kyber crystals.” She looked at each of them in turn. “I cannot do this for you…or I would. You must open yourself to the Force and listen to the soul of the kyber. Your crystal will find you.” Aurora motioned for them to go into the cave. “I will be here watching and waiting…go…make me proud.” They each were ready, she knew that. She believed in them and they would not fail. @Lazy Swordsman @Killa Ree @Cazar @Wit @Braden Drake

 

[Nikka Toren]

Even from the massive distance as they approached the planet, Nikka could See so much. If only the others could... the planet and its' star glowed with the light of the Force, humming in her veins and luring her in, closer and closer. As time pressed on, she turned her face towards the planet Ilum, letting her Vision caress over the surface distance even as they drew closer.

Her breathing deepened as they approached all the nearer, then she paced away, settling into the nearest surface she could lean upon. She needed to stop, or else she would be plastered against a wall or something equally strange, seeing with her Vision what no other that she knew of could see.

Three deep breaths in, three deep breaths out. Each one emptying the mind of all thought, of all feeling, letting her senses roam as they did, letting her Vision encompass as wide as she could test it. The ground was scarred and scored; the caves themselves seemed to sing. Did the sighted not see it? Or did they feel it as she did, brilliant and cold with the power of the Force.

This was what she waited weeks for, what she trained for hours for. She felt... at peace. Her heartbeat slowed here, her shoulders sank down slightly. Her face tilted up, oddly enough she was almost moved by the Flow of it all. There were no living things here, supposedly, but there was a great Feeling here. She could hardly explain it, but as they embarked down, she could even feel it humming through the soles of her boots.

Master Blackwood. In truth, she knew little of the fem, apart from the bright glow that surrounded her form. Even as the bitter cold winds sliced through her layers, she was so focused on the brightness of the caves in her Vision. Somewhere deep in their depths, something called to her, echoed through others. Would she be successful? So many... She was already ready, and yet...

She hesitated, listening to the Master patiently through the whirling wind, the words resonating with the call of them.

"...Listen to the soul of the kyber. Your crystal will find you."

She could feel it. Beyond her bones, deep in these caverns, something touched at her mind, whispered faintly. It was almost a voice, yet not... If the rumors were true, then she would know it by touch. As if tugged by a lure, she had taken one slow step forward, then another. Yet the others... she knew only one of them, briefly on Savareen.

She turned her face to each in turn, nodding slightly to Master Blackwood, then continued on, following the subtle pull to her mind into the caves. Everything and everybody else seemed to slowly fade from her senses as her emptied mind rang. The call of the soul was made. And maybe soon, she could answer. For once, the social Miraluka was silent, slowly descending into the gaping maw of the caves.

It was time.
@Valen Pelora @Lazy Swordsman @Cazar @Wit @Braden Drake

 

[Horus Tempest]

-Music-​

Ilum. It was cold. There wasn't much more to be said about the glacial planet. It was absolutely, inarguably the coldest place Horus had ever had the honor to travel to, other than Hoth of course. But this place had a special significance about it, it was once used by the various Jedi Knights in ancient days as both a base of operations and site of spiritual significance. It was only recently that he was tested and tried to become a Padawan, and those results were still up in the air for debate, but he was ready to learn regardless. If the Order turned him away, that was their choice, but it was his choice to continue following the path of the light whether or not any faction wished to accept him for it. He supposed that being here was acceptance enough, more than the Vahla had received in many years, and for that he was grateful. Horus' only regret was that Master Luy could not see him on this momentous occasion, one where he very well might procure his own saber crystal.

"I suppose the frozen entranceway and epic scenery does make for a good temple, doesn't it?"

Aurora Blackwood. That was her full name, or so he had been told. Another Jedi Master within the Order, another teacher with many of her students alongside her. He recognized Aurelian Keth, the Historian. He recognized Alysanne Drast, the legacy. And of course, Pho Gorcu, the young Zabrak. And then there was the last being to grace his eyes, but the one he was most comfortable with. Nikka Torrin. They had dueled together, practiced together, taught under the same Master as one. It was a relief to see that she would be with him in presence on this journey into the unknown frozen depths. Horus, of course, was in a state of complete ego-death. His meditations prior to arriving had allowed him clarity of thought and mind, here he stood. In this place, there was no doubt or frustration, there was no anger or struggle. There was peace, tranquility, and between it the whisper of the Force. Was this what it felt like to be a Jedi?

A youngling once awakened from a dream of death and fear. If he should choose to be a Jedi, his doom would then draw near.

He could not help but remember the lyrics of the song, a ballad to hardships of being a Jedi, found in an ancient book of music written long ago by a person known only as A. It had multiple stanzas, but the story was still the same; to walk the path of the Light was no easy one. It was the sacrifice of oneself for the betterment of the Galaxy. That was something that he could get behind. Even in his darkest moments, Horus was willing to sacrifice himself for his fellow man, and in his mind, he viewed this to be the ultimate test of his character. His mind wandered for a moment, wondering what color the bonded crystal would choose for him, but cast those thoughts from his mind. It was time to focus. Breathing in deeply, he would follow after Nikka and branch off in his own direction.

The courage of the simple folk can move a man to tears. Or give him the strength to face a foe and conquer all his fears.

So the young one made a choice that day that he would not regret. The omen shall be a lesson he cannot forget.

@Valen Pelora @Lazy Swordsman @Cazar @Wit

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja stood at the back of the group, not much was different here to when they were meeting in the Jedi temple, she was sperate from the group, she liked it that way and that was the way she wanted to keep it. These other 'Jedi' felt to pure for her liking, to innocent and raw. Not fit for the war that was about to be launched against them all. As soon as they announced their presence to the Sith, half the galaxy will be at their necks, vying for the chance to take their head and reap the rewards of whatever bounty the empire was likely to put on their heads. No amount of force training, wishy-washy Jedi preaching or Ice Mountain was going to protect them from this fate.

Freyja stood with a thick coat to keep out the cold, heavy winter boots and gloves to keep her fingers and toes warm, frostbite was not a pretty thing, to see or experience. She listened to her 'Master' speak about The Force and its connection to the crystals, part of this all seemed daft to Freyja, though she had well experienced the power of the force over the previous few meetings with Aurora whenever she spoke Freyja always wanted to laugh. Perhaps that lack of seriousness when it came to the aspects of the Force also set her aside from the others. Nodding her head to her master as she walked past Freyja entered into the great cavern cut into the large shelf of ice.

It appeared dark at first compared to the bright sunlight of the outdoors and its reflection in the soft snow around them, but her eyes soon adjusted to the unnatural glow from the cave inside. Something about the place sent a shiver down her spine, it felt familiar yet distant and strange. Closing her eyes she tried to centre herself and listen for this 'soul'.

@Valen Pelora @Lazy Swordsman @Cazar @Wit @TheMorrigan @Killa Ree

 

[Aurelian Keth]

Dressed in heavy clothing to protect from the cold, a long white winter coat, thick grey trousers and heavy black boots. Despite such precautions Aurelian was still cold although it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t stand it. He still preferred such weather to a hellhole like Tatooine which was too hot for any sane person to every want to visit without overwhelming need. However Aurelian felt comfortable enough despite the cold, perhaps Hoth had rubbed off on him, after all that’s where Star Base was and he’d spent an inordinate amount of time there working on his damn fighter. Glancing around the group he realised the majority belonged to Aurora herself and the Padawan had to wonder just how many students she had altogether and how many the others masters had? Why had the other masters not shown up for their students? What kept them busy? Did they all have so many students that it kept them occupied? And where was Theodosia? Where had Ayasha and Vu’thari snuck off to?

‘Great we’ve only begun and I’ve barely any clue what’s going on.’ he thought to himself with a little amusement before giving himself a mental shake. It was time to focus on what they were here for and he could ponder about other concerns later.

Aurelian walked in silence near the back of the group as he tried to refocus his attention on the now, only Freyja seemed to be hanging back further than him. Rubbing his gloved hands absently he couldn’t help but smile at the ragtag looking group. Anyone who saw them would be hard pressed to think “Jedi” in his opinion. He was still smiling with Aurora came to a stop in front of the cave and began speaking.

The scholar could feel the Light Side of the Force flooding the caverns in front of them, this was the strongest Force Nexus he’d ever sensed after Al’doleem itself of course. He silently watched as the other three went first before following a few moments later into the caverns, pausing to nod at his master as he did so. He was feeling a little too nervous to speak to Aurora but also he was also completely focused on what his current task was and strode through the entrance.

As usual the scholar’s mind was alive with ponders and thoughts even as he tried to think of only his surroundings and current circumstances. It was easier said than done however. Alone, either because he’d taken a different turn or he’d fallen far behind the others, Aurelian paused at a fork in the caverns. Glancing from one to another he closed his eyes for a few seconds and for the slightest moment he thought he heard the whistling of wind from the right hand path. Shrugging he turned and strode down that one. Hopefully he’d chosen well.