Night lay heavy over the mountains, the world outside washed in silver light. The office was quiet but for the faint scratch of pen on parchment, and the occasional soft clink as she set her teacup down. Isari slept at her feet, the slow rise and fall of her breathing matching the hush in the air.
Eve leaned back in her chair and let her eyes drift over the shelves — philosophy, martial theory, the histories of Eshan — titles she once would have walked past without thought.
Two years.
Two years since she'd stepped into the Order's halls for the first time, a girl in too-big robes who kept her voice low and her eyes down. She hadn't known the shape of the galaxy then. She'd barely known herself.
Now Snowpeak Sanctuary rose around her. Her enclave. The people here — Jedi, rebels and Echani locals — all looked to her for direction, for leadership. A Knight of the Jedi. The words still felt strange in her head. Was she ready?
Her gaze found the holo-frame on the desk. Scarif, she and Tigris caught mid-laugh, wind whipping through their hair, sun breaking on the water behind them. The memory softened something in her chest and she smiled softly, finding her confidence again. Their wedding was close now. Another new step, another thing she'd once thought belonged to other people's lives, never hers.
But the smile faded slightly as her idle musings continued.
The war never strayed far from her mind. The Empire's shadow reached further each day. Reina was missing. Azzie had gone home, retreating into her pain. The ache of it all settled deep and constant, like a bruise she couldn't see.
She didn't know how to fix any of it.
But the Force had put her here. It had given her this duty, this place, these people, and even her first Padawan already. Whatever the war was taking and had taken from her, she could still choose to protect what was left.
Eve pushed back from the desk and stretched, rubbing at her eyes.
"Come on, Isari."
The fox stirred sleepily, shook herself once, and padded to her side. Together they stepped out into the corridor, the marble cool beneath her feet, and turned towards her chambers.
