Children laughed as they played in the snow. Merchants called out cheerfully from decorated stalls. People greeted one another not with hurried nods, but with familiarity. Warmth in the middle of winter.
Connel had brought Lira with him not only to visit Chrysa, but to finally let her see “Father.”
The outer courtyard of the castle was quieter than the rest of Heavenheim. Respectful. Lionguard stood watch beneath crimson banners dusted in snow while the towering statue overlooked the courtyard itself.
Lira Voss… Caltin Vanagor… Caltin Vanagor… Lira Voss.
Now obviously they were face to face with a statue. The one his uncle, Thurion Heavenshield, had commissioned years before. However, for Connel, it had long since become something else entirely. A standing cathartic therapy tool.
https://i.imgur.com/ErnKwxF.png[/img]
It surprised the Jedi to see Lira actually look a little intimidated standing in front of “him.”
Perhaps it was because of what the statue represented. Perhaps it was the Lionguard nearby. Perhaps it was simply the scale of the legacy standing before her.
Whatever it was, she folded her arms against the cold slightly and looked up at the monument.
“It’s an honor.”
She meant it.
That surprised him. Not in a bad way. He knew she cared, but he had expected a joke first. Something about how absurdly huge the statue was. Though technically… it was to scale.
Maybe she was just cold.
You okay?
Lira looked over at him and smiled softly. “Yeah.” Her eyes drifted back toward the statue. “Just… understanding you a little better now.”
That caught him more off guard than he expected.
It had surprised her how highly regarded he was here. Even now people occasionally stopped and stared for half a second too long before realizing who he was. Some nodded respectfully. Others whispered. One older woman near the courtyard entrance had actually looked emotional seeing him there.
He wasn’t used to being recognized like this, especially with such reverence. Yes, this was Midvinter, and was a second home to him, but it made him feel both proud and slightly uncomfortable, as if he didn’t fully deserve the respect. He glanced at Lira, wondering if she now saw him differently, and felt a strange mix of curiosity and unease. the strange thing was Connel genuinely never seemed to understand why.
I mean, who am I? You know?
It was never false humility either. He truly believed it. They spent some time there quietly. Snow drifted lazily through the courtyard while Lira eventually stepped closer to the statue itself.
And then she started talking to him.
Which probably looked incredibly strange to anyone who did not know the story. But somehow… it felt right. She introduced herself properly. Talked about where she was from. Mentioned Buster. Mentioned how difficult Connel could be sometimes. Mentioned how fiercely he protected people even when he pretended not to care about himself at all.
Connel stood there listening quietly while winter winds rolled through the courtyard. It was nice. Not dramatic. Not grand.
Just… nice.
The statue stopped feeling like a monument for a little while. It felt like family. I just wanted you to meet her, Dad. His voice was quieter now. I know you’ll show up and do so officially someday, but… yeah. I just wanted you to know all that stuff you passed on… all the things you thought I wasn’t paying attention to… I get it now.
A faint smile crossed his face. I know you’ll always show up. You always do. But… you don’t have to worry about me anymore.
Lira’s expression softened immediately at that. She stepped over and gave him a tight squeeze around the arm. Which of course meant Buster came barreling into the scene immediately afterward because the Lionguard had apparently finished giving him belly rubs and treats.
The massive dog trotted proudly across the courtyard carrying what suspiciously looked like an entire pastry in his mouth.
Connel snorted softly.
Then his eyes drifted toward the inscription at the base of the statue.
“Just Another Jedi.”
His thumb brushed some snow from the engraved words. It’s too big.
“What do you mean?”
This. The statue. It’s too much. He’d look at this and be mad.
Lira glanced back up toward the monument again.
“I get that.”
Connel looked genuinely surprised by the response. No lecture. No speech about legends. No dramatic insistence that Caltin deserved worship, because she understood now.
He would have hated being mythologized like this. He would have seen the statue as an exaggeration of his accomplishments instead of what Thurion intended it to be: gratitude. Love. Memory carved into stone.
Connel understood that instinct because he carried the exact same one.
“You’re annoyingly humble.” she said with a smirk. “I can see where you got it from. He really believed that inscription, didn’t he?”
Connel chuckled softly and nodded.
Yeah. When he died, some Padawan organized a gathering for him on Alderaan. So many Jedi showed up. He would’ve hated it. He folded his arms against the cold. Honestly? I felt uncomfortable too.
“Even Jedi can care about someone, Connel.”
Yeah… I know. His voice dropped slightly. Just never really looked for it, you know? Still don’t, I guess.
“Oh stop.” Lira wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her chin lightly against his shoulder. “People cared about him. Let them.”
She squeezed him tighter. “Same goes for you.” A kiss against his cheek. “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be standing out here freezing to death, would I?”
Connel laughed quietly through his nose. “Now stop acting like a Youngling.” She finally stepped away from him and walked back toward the statue again, folding her hands awkwardly.
“I don’t really know how to do this…” She looked up at Caltin. “Hello, sir? Master Vanagor? Father? Honestly I have no idea.”
That earned an actual laugh out of Connel. Lira smiled faintly before continuing. “I just wanted to meet you.”
Her voice was gentler now. “Your son here? He’s a really good man. Treats me well. Stands up for people even when it costs him. And even if you weren’t his dad… even if he wasn’t a Jedi…”
She looked back toward Connel. “I think you’d still be proud of him.”
For a moment, Connel said nothing at all. The winter wind rolled softly through the courtyard. Snow drifted around the statue, and somewhere nearby Buster sneezed pastry crumbs onto a Lionguard.
