@[member="Syn"]
Iella began to walk slowly toward the doorway where the old man had disappeared. It was strange, she knew the way as if she had been here before, but she had not. He was right no light was needed as she let her feet guide her, she was not even using the force for this. She could sense Syn close .. and wondered if he felt the same. The passage did not cut deep into the rock and soon she walked into an antechamber, much smaller than the last. Inside is an alter, simple rock alter smooth on the surface, she assumed from much use over the eons. For what purpose she could not tell. There is no designs on the walls in this chamber, save for a simple interlinked circle pattern behind the alter.
She approached, the old man standing on the other side of the alter beckoned her forward. Iella complied .. "Who are you?", she asked in a whisper.
"I am the last of my kind, a Priest of the Red Nebula and keeper of this Temple. My name is Duran Vos, guardian of the last Great Life Jewels". he replied in a grated voice. "I know why you are here ... I have foreseen it", to Iella's surprise he smiled at her as he said this. However, he raised his hand and waved it through the air, then behind them the door they just came through closed, again they are trapped, or so it seemed.
Iella's head turned slightly as her ears picked up the sound of the stone door sliding into place. "You wish to prolong your life child. The visions I have seen of a woman fair and with a good heart, although not perfect, comes to take the crystals. Over the years .. hundreds of years, many have come to do what you do now, and failed, some simply did not find this place, others did but did not have stomach to achieve their prize, falling at the last hurdle as doubt filled their hearts. However, I do not see this in you, in fact the force has willed this and you are to be the new keeper of the Great Life Jewels, I grow tired and wish to depart this world", he said as he reached down for a small box.
He placed the small box on the stone alter and opened it, inside is a red cloth which he opens and lays to the side revealing the two crystals. Iella's eyes look upon them, then she looks away. She is confused by his words .. that she is this new keeper, after she had come here to take them, in reality steal them and now this old man is giving them to her, to be guardian.
"The motivation for people to come here are always selfish, and you are no different, I also know your reason and it is as good as any", he looked toward Syn now. "My purpose for taking them was just as selfish and in so doing I lived a long life full of all the things that you have doubted about, questioned yourself about. A long life you shall have, but it comes at a price ... are you prepared to pay this price?", he asked her.
"My life is not the life that is important", she barely whispered and placed her hand on her unborn children. "I wish to live to protect the ones I love and care for, it is a price I am willing to pay".
The old man raised an eye brow but smiled in return. "Then take them", he simply said as he pushed the box toward her. "The responsibility is now yours, you are the Guardian of the Great Life Jewels .. when the time comes and you stand as I do now choose one that is worthy to continue the Guardianship .. .. .. Go Jedi and live a full life, I now prepare to depart this moral body".
Iella looked down at the crystals in awe, her hand reached out and covered them with the cloth and closed the box. She took it up with trembling hands and placed them in a deep pocket of her cloak. The old man stood and watched, knowing that when she walked away he would receive the fatal disease known as Crimson Forever. He waved his hand again and on the side wall a new door opened revealing yet another passage. He indicated for them to leave .. he would wait here for his fate, and it would be swift.
"Syn .. it is time to go", she took his hand and moved toward the passage, she turned once more to look at the old man., and bowed her head with respect. The walk through this passage, took longer but finally they reached the end. As they approached a stone moved sideways to show the light of day. "I don't know what say", she whispered again to Syn.