Private Ascendance

[Xian Xiao]

To test Xian and allow her some responsibility when they sent her to represent the Diarchy at a funeral for some distant noblewoman. It was an unfortunate part of life that the girl had learned about quite early in hers. With the death of her parents, she had been orphaned and lived on Coruscant for the first 13 years of her life. After that, she had joined the Silver Jedi only to leave them after a few years. When she was 18, Diarch Rellik had found her and offered her a new life, the one she was currently living.

He had taken her in, given her training, and now it was time for her to put that to the test. It would take her a few days to get there, but the viewing and funeral wouldn't happen right away. Her time would be spent in study, about the man who so recently became a widower, his people, and his world. Most of all, she wanted to learn how to present herself to him.

As it was a time of mourning, she didn't pack to show off. Instead, she was being respectful of the Diarchy, herself, and the people she was going to be visiting. This wasn't a vacation, but something far more political. A way to get her name and face known, along with the government she belonged to, more than they already were.

The navicomputer beeped, and her shuttle came out of hyperspace. The automated piloting got them into the queue to get a space on the planet. With all sorts of visitors arriving, she was quickly granted permission, and a landing spot was assigned to her. It took maybe an hour, and she was walking out of the spaceport not long after.

In a way, she was a visiting dignitary, and she silently smiled at that thought. Far from royalty or nobility, she was going to be brushing elbows with them soon. To expedite visitors, a shuttle was waiting to take some of them directly to the Royal Manse, where the body of Queen Anavi Valoren was lying in state before her burial.

Xian had no connection to this woman, so she didn't feel a great deal of sadness. However, she did feel something for the children she left behind. Much like her, they would not have a mother to raise them. Joining the line of people here to view the queen, she looked in front of her as the line progressed through the atrium.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

He wished it were him lying there. Then he'd wished that it all would end. Then he wished it had never began.

It was hard to think about everything that had come to pass without losing his mind to it. Anavi was gone. He'd loved her ever since they were children together, childhood friends from different worlds. They'd married at the request of her father, and because Caelan had wanted to protect her from being married off to someone who simply wanted to abuse her. It hadn't happened as either of them wanted. She'd never loved him the way he did her. She never would have. Now she couldn't.

He wished they would stop coming to see her. But he knew a lot of people had loved her. She was a popular queen, always good to the people of the Kingdom. He had no doubt that everyone in the kingdom, and many from without, would come through at some point in time. It meant he was forced to stand there, dressed in solemn black, holding onto Kastiel and Serenya as people came by to offer condolences. He usually offered a quiet thanks, but never really looked anyone in the eye as they spoke. It was too much.

Every so often someone would come to take Kastiel for a while, or to supply a bottle for Serenya, or take her for a change. She was so young, though, that she was little trouble, sleeping most of the time and very relaxed in his arms. He couldn't give her up very much. She was the last bit of Anavi he had, her last gift to him. It wasn't her fault, what had happened, and she deserved to be loved the same as he brother, and he would do that.

Fate hovered near his feet, keeping track of everyone that came and went so thank you notes could be issued at a later time.

"Bweep bwoo-dweep beep bloop-boop bwoo-bwoop dweep bwee-dweet."

Caelan shifted his eyes downward when Fate spoke. A representative from the Diarchy? The only time he'd ever had any dealings with them, at least that he recalled, was when he'd run into one of the Diarchs, Reign, while on a mission when he was much younger. Surely they hadn't sent someone just because of that? He lifted his gaze and scanned the crowd, but didn't recognize anyone in it outside of the few locals he saw regularly. Who was it that had come? It wasn't Reign. He'd have recognized him.

But since he didn't recognize anyone, he, for the moment, went back to his usual responses to people, allowing his gaze to once more cloud over as loss gripped his heart again.

---

ATTIRE: see image | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

Lying some flowers with the rest of the gathered bouquets, Xian didn't know how so many could be kept in one place. Examples ranged from a single bud to very extravagant ones. The one the girl placed was something simple and small. It might not be much, but it was what Xian had selected to represent her and the Diarchy. It was wrapped in a gold and black ribbon and rested on top of the pile for now.

She continued down the line and the path in front of her. Standing closer to the king now, she could get a better look at him. The distant look on his face was one of pure sorrow and duty. He didn't want to be here, and she could see that easily. What kept him here was duty, and she respected that. In a way, it was what brought her to his world.

His age surprised her. Even though he was distressed, he was about her age. Somehow, she didn't feel he wanted the sympathy people were offering. More than anything, it looked like he needed a hug. Of course, she wasn't going to do that here, but she did feel like giving him one.

The young children were well behaved, and she felt more sympathy for them. At least, they would have a father, and that brought a small smile to her face. It didn't quite reach her eyes. Turning her attention back to the man, the kind father, she was finally in front of them.

Bowing at him, she wasn't sure how to react, so she went with what felt natural to her.

"Your highness. I am Xian Xiao from the Diarchy. You have our condolences and sympathy in your time of grief. If there is anything I can do for you while I am here, let me know.

"The children are lovely and handsome."

If the situation were different, she might have added more, but she held her tongue in check.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

He wasn't interested in conversation. Not with the majority of those that seemed to want it. People from the village, even some distant family members that he'd never actually met before. The latter he really had no interest in talking to. Them choosing to only introduce themselves in a moment of tragedy actually angered him, and in that particular moment he had trouble controlling that anger. A part of him wanted to lash out at them for being distant just because they lived outside of the Kingdom. Even his maternal grandparents received this treatment, though he did take note of the fact that something felt really familiar about them.

It wasn't too terribly long before he found himself looking at a young, redheaded Atrisian woman. This was surprising. Equally so was the revelation that she was there as a representative of the Diarchy. No small part of him wished that Reign had come himself so they could converse again. That would take his mind off of things in a good way. Instead, he'd apparently sent a subordinate. Perhaps he was too busy?

"Thank you," he said, looking into her eyes. "I appreciate the Diarc-"

He suddenly cut off because a really bad feeling washed over him. With little hesitation, he pulled Xian and as many as were near him close, and wrapped them in a protective bubble of the Force.

Just as he did so, an explosion ripped through the royal manse, originating from someone in the crowd of people. Caelan crouched down to protect his children as debris flew, pinging off the barrier. The sound of it had both Kastiel and Serenya screaming, which was echoed by the screams of people around them. Amongst the debris were bodies, people ripped apart by the explosion, the bomber likely among them. Others, the injured, screamed in pain AND terror at the whole situation. Caelan, at that moment, could only think of his kids, which he hugged close, the barrier remaining active in case it wasn't yet over.

ATTIRE: See Image | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

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[Xian Xiao]

So far, her trip and visit to Lazerian had been uneventful. That quickly changed as the king took hold of her after she spoke. Thankfully, he did, as there was an explosion nearby. Close enough that if he hadn't thought of taking action, they might not be cowering under his protection bubble. The realization that he saved her life came to her first, and then the second was that he could use the Force.

Her ears were ringing, but she didn't cry out. Maybe she had let out a eep, but she didn't panic.

"Are you and your children okay, your highness?"

The two young ones were crying loudly, so Xian could tell they were alive but terrified. Inside the bubble, nobody had been hurt, but outside of it was another matter.

The teen was not a peacekeeper or diplomat, but she tried to calm those in the bubble around her. Until such a time that Caelan could help his people. Standing next to the noble, she might try to touch his shoulder. To give him what little support she could.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

The screaming continued. People raced in from other rooms. The entry to the manse was blocked by guards, everyone outside turned away. Other personal had raced towards him and the children, but were obstructed by the barrier that remained around them. Some shouted at him, asking something or other, but he couldn't hear them over the sounds inside of his own head, and the cries of his children.

Everything was wrong. First he lost Anavi. Now they had come back for him. He'd always known they were still out there. The people who had killed his parents still existed as an organization. Worse, the mysterious force behind it, the ones that had hired that organization, were still out there. Until they were stopped, until something was done to bring them to justice, they would undoubtedly continue to come after him and his children. It was these thoughts that caused him the most grief. The same thoughts running through his mind as Xian placed a hand upon his shoulder, immediately invoking thoughts of Anavi doing something similar.

"Why now?" he asked, though his words weren't directed to her.

Why couldn't they have waited? Why target him when there were so many others present to be injured and killed? Why? WHY!

The barrier dropped and attendants rushed in. Nurses were quick to check him and the children before checking the others. He reluctantly allowed them to take Kastiel and Serenya to have them checked more thoroughly. It was possible their ears, young and less developed, had received damage from the blast despite the barrier, and that needed checked. He hated to see them go, but he knew it needed to be that way. The doctors didn't need him in the way.

He looked up, eyes falling on Xian among the few he had protected.

"I'm sorry you were caught in this."

ATTIRE: See image Above | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

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[Xian Xiao]

While the medics ran back and forth between their king, his children, and his people, Xian remained at his side. Perhaps she should have helped the population, but she felt he needed the support more. He was about her age, and the two of them, as young as they were, could support each other. For now, she would try to be his beacon of strength until he didn't need her for that.

He had spoken a question before lowering the barrier, but Xian could tell it hadn't been directed at her. The lot he had drawn in his life hadn't been a good one, but he was still better off than she ever could be. Their eyes met as he looked up at her, and she held a hand out to help him up if he wanted.

"I don't have an answer for you, but I can guess why. No need to apologize to me, your highness. You did not cause this, and I think whoever brought this...is no longer with us."

Taking a moment to glance behind her, the security were working on getting the living removed from the immediate area. Those who were wounded were tended to by additional medics, leaving the two of them alone for now.

"What can I do to help?"

The situation forced the girl to act like the adult she might become, and she stepped into those shoes gracefully.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

She didn’t think he needed to apologize, but he did. He’d known something like this was possible, but he’d done nothing to plan for it. Nothing. He shouldn’t have held the open mourning session. They were still out there and he knew it, but he still allowed people into his home, where his children were, which allowed them to take another chance at getting them. He’d acted like everything was normal in his life and people had paid the price for it. On top of that, a foreign dignitary had been put at risk by his complacency! It could have started a war if she’d been killed. The Diarchy could blame it on the Alliance and use that as justification to invade, putting the Alliance into a three pronged war which they would be very hard pressed to handle. All because he was a fool.

He took a deep breath and looked around, taking in the carnage. People were helping, but there was a lot of death around them as well. She was likely right that those responsible were gone, but it didn’t make it any better. They were probably someone expendable, or someone blackmailed into doing it. It didn’t matter. They’d done it. People had died. People he cared about among them. His people.

He needed out, and he couldn’t leave her there.

Instead of speaking, he reached for her hand, took hold of it, and pulled her to follow him. He would lead her out of the main hall, away from the chaos, and through the manse to the medical suites where his children were being looked over to make sure they were alright. He brought her inside, because he knew that if she was near him, he could keep her from being harmed if there was another attack, which would help avoid an incident between the Alliance and the Diarchy. That was ultimately his reason for dragging her along with him. The act of holding her hand reminded him of the comfort he’d received from Anavi, but he would never have that comfort again.

Both of the children seemed alright. Nurses were holding them while doctors examined. Serenya had calmed down and was back to sleep, while Kastiel kept trying to grab the doctors stethoscope.

“Should be safer here,” he said, releasing her hand as he walked over to pick up Serenya from the nurse that was holding her. “What did you say your name was again?”

He looked at Xian, focusing his attention on her while holding his daughter.

“Sorry, I think I blocked it out with what happened…”

ATTIRE: See First Post| WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

Perhaps Xian should focus on trying to be more empathic and understanding. It might help her understand Caelan and what he was going through. There wasn't any way for her to do that at the moment, but she could still try to be a support for the king.

She didn't know what thoughts were going through his mind, and she wouldn't unless he gave voice to them. Nothing in her life could have prepared her for the responsibility this man had on his shoulders. So when the viewing was held as it was, she didn't think it had been poorly planned. To her, this would have been normal. Not that she had been to many funerals.

He took her hand and pulled her to follow him. Following in his steps, he guided them out of the vestibule and deeper into the manse. It was grander than almost any place she had ever been inside, but right now, she wasn't looking at where she was. Instead, she was focusing on the young man leading her.

Looking at her hand when he let go of it, the warmth faded quickly, and she looked at him holding his youngest child. Raising her hand to hover just under her chin, she rubbed at the dress she was wearing until he turned his attention to her. Lowering it, she took one step closer to him and looked at his face.

Seeing the signs of stress and sorrow, she also saw his strength—the fortitude to make it through this tough time and come out stronger than he had been. Giving him a slight nod and friendly smile, it wasn't anything significant, but enough to lift the corners of her mouth.

"Xian Xiao, your majesty. You don't need my sympathy, though. I asked what I could do to help before you brought us here. So, what can I do for you?"

Speaking with some confidence, she fell silent and breathed in through her nose. If it had been proper to do so, she would have closed the distance and hugged him. It wasn't, and she remained in her spot. However, she didn't keep the feeling hidden and if he tried to read her through the Force, then he would know what she was thinking.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

Xian Xiao. Sounded Atrisian. Was she from Atrisia originally? They had their own form of royalty there, which meant she could be a part of a royal family, but he didn't recognize her name. But the Diarchy had picked her to come pay respects to his late wife. That alone made her of import, as the Diarchy was a galactic superpower. He had an obligation, no matter how he looked at it, to treat her with respect lest something terrible be caused between the Alliance, of which his world was apart, and the Diarchy.

"I'm sorry, Xian, that you came here to pay your respects and were nearly killed in the process," he said, even though she'd told him not to be sorry. "I should have known they would pick now to try again. A moment of foolish weakness on my part."

It wasn't something he would allow to happen again. Individuals would be welcome to visit him at the manse, but they would have to enter after being screened and searched. No longer would he allow his children to be put in harms way, or anyone else that worked for him in the manse. If they wanted to get to him, they were going to have to work a lot harder from then on out.

He also needed to figure out more of who THEY were.

"I appreciate the Diarchy sending someone. I have not seen Reign since that time I ran into him on Sepan 8. I wish we'd gotten to finish our conversation, but I also thing I was a bit- foolhardy at the time. I was set on calling him a Sith, but I don't believe he is one. Youthful brashness, I guess."

He nodded to her.

"Are you a direct associate of his? Did he send you?"

ATTIRE: See Opening Post | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

The young woman could see some of the thoughts crossing through his eyes as he looked at her. Nothing specific, though, and she was curious to hear his answer. Instead, he apologized again, but it gave her some insight into him. It seemed like he was starting to close a piece of himself away.

"You can't read these people's minds."

Shaking her head, she wanted to object vehemently but kept herself calm. That was what he needed.

"Who did this to you and why?"

He was mourning the death of his wife and now the deaths of some of his people. She didn't know which would be harder for her to accept. Trying to put herself into his position, she couldn't imagine what it felt like.

She did her best to make her tone soothing, but she wasn't sure if it was effective. Eventually, he started to open a little. Telling her about his time spent with Diarch Reign. A man she had encountered rarely. The mistake he made was relatively common, but when he said he believed the Diarch wasn't Sith.

"Oh, certainly not. Neither is my master. That would be his brother, the Diarch Rellik. He's actually the one who sent me. Maybe at the request of Reign. I don't know."

Feeling like she was babbling, she closed her mouth and fell silent. Having answered his question, she didn't think she needed to say more. But she did shake her head again. Realizing he still hadn't responded to her question of what she could do to help.

Not giving it voice again, she figured what she said would disappoint him. Reign hadn't sent her. Her gaze softened as she looked between him and his daughter.

"She's beautiful. What's her name?"

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

Who did this? That was the ultimate question.

"I don't know who's responsible ultimately. I can only guess as to who is responsible now. Someone has been trying to kill my family and I for some time now. They killed my parents and nearly killed me a couple of times before. They hired an organization called the Obsidian Syndicate to do their work in the past. They're the ones who killed my parents and partially controlled the planet when I was younger."

That was a lot to tell someone, to be honest. He was letting things get out to people he barely knew, but then, she had come to pay respects, and she didn't seem to have ill intentions. From what he knew of Reign, the man didn't seem inclined to just kill anyone. Perhaps, though, the Diarchy could be of use in helping him discover more about the people that were responsible for killing his parents? If they could get deeper into that organization, they could probably discover who it was that had hired them.

"I suspect they either hired the person who did this attack, or they forced them into it. Both of which are feasible for these people. They wouldn't blow themselves up."

But that wasn't necessarily true, was it? From what he understood of them, they were fanatics. It was possible that one of them would be willing to blow themselves up. Highly unlikely, but possible. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things.

She asked about his daughter and he glanced down at her. The reminder of the pain of loss was as high as the joy of having another child born. Even though he loved his daughter, he still felt Anavi deeply when he looked at her. But she wouldn't want him to do that, and so he was working really hard to bury those feelings deep inside, to push them into his mental trash can, to try and get over the loss. But it wasn't something easily done.

"Her name is Serenya," he said in response to her question. "She was born when her mother... was murdered."

He hadn't told anyone else besides the few who had determined it. The nurses who were tending to Kastiel gasped, but Caelan took a deep breath and looked at Xian.

"I haven't told people yet but Anavi didn't die in childbirth. I've wanted to keep the fact that I knew that largely a secret, let people mourn without anger. But we found a neurotoxin in her system. She was found, by me, already deceased, but the toxin hadn't transferred to Serenya so she was quickly rescued."

ATTIRE: See First Post | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

There was the briefest of hesitation from him before he started answering her questions. Xian listened, giving him all her attention and remaining quiet throughout. He gave her no reason to smile, but she couldn't help it when she looked at the baby in his arms.

Evidently, this had been going on for several years, and he was unable to entirely escape from the ruthless attempts on his life. Not just his, though. His parents and then his wife. That last piece was as much of a shock to her as it was to the others around them.

Listening to his theory, she would do her best to help put the pieces together. Then he looked at his daughter when she asked what her name was. She was learning to read Caelan after their brief exchanges and short time of knowing him. Knowing he had so recently lost his wife, she could not imagine how he felt. Nobody in her life had been a partner to her, and she was silent for a few moments.

Looking between the two people in front of her and then at the nurses nearby.

"Do you need a hug?"

Rubbing the toe of a shoe into the floor, she wasn't meeting his gaze and instead looking at his daughter again.

"It's what I could use if I were in your situation."

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

It would have pained him to admit that reality not long ago. To admit that he had failed in keeping his wife safe. It really was his fault, what had happened. As her husband, as the king, he had a responsibility to keep her safe, and he had failed in that duty. It was tough to fathom how he could possibly keep that in mind while expecting to raise, care for, and protect his two very young children. Doing that was going to require help from people he could trust, people that wouldn't abandon him and that would care for Serenya and Kastiel as much as he did.

Then she asked if he needed a hug.

Honestly, that caught him off guard. She was largely a stranger, even if she had been trusted by the Diarchy to be an envoy to his wife's funeral proceedings. Despite that, he'd shared a lot of personal information with her, which was odd, and entrusted her with the truth that his wife had been murdered. This was not like him. But maybe that was a good thing. Times were changing, and his personal beliefs were changing along with them. The more the Jedi became militant, the more he felt like the opposite was necessary. The more he was drawn into conflicts, the more he felt like he should be at home with his family and his people.

And yes, he could use a hug. It's what Annie would give him if she was there.

"Honestly?" He hesitated for a moment. Was this a good idea? "Yes, I could."

ATTIRE: | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

There was no way for Xian to know what was going on in his mind. She could only stand next to him and his daughter, wanting to get closer. Her offer for the hug was genuine and might even seem a bit childish, but sometimes those simple gestures could mean everything.

She had asked and even told him it would be something she could use if she were in his situation. After a few moments' hesitation and maybe some doubt, he said yes. Even if she had been nervous moments ago, a hug was a comfortable notion, and she took that small step to him to close the distance.

He was considerably taller than she was, but it put her head level with his chest. Standing slightly to his side, she wrapped both her arms around him, leaving enough room for his daughter to breathe, and gave him a gentle hug. If she could put some care and empathy into it, she would.

At the moment, Xian seemed to be straddling two different stages of her life. One part of her was still a child, and the other was a woman. Was she doing the right thing? She felt she was and wanted to turn over a new leaf for herself. Feeling a bit of humor as she remembered a conversation she had had a few years ago, she never thought she would find herself liking a boy.

This time, it just wasn't some random male but a king and a widower at that. But something told her to keep close to him and not let go. Of course, the hug would have to end, but she didn't have to leave him. Not yet.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

She stepped to him, wrapped her arms around him, and laid her head against his chest.

At that moment, Caelan felt at peace. It was a strange sensation to feel given everything that had been going on around. He didn’t even remember the last time he’d been hugged. Anavi never did it because she didn’t love him that way. Even though they had created children together, it had been out of a desire to provide for the kingdom, not out of mutual love. That had pained him as well. Even though he’d loved Anavi, the longer they were together, the more he’d drifted away from her and she him. He supposed that was a downfall of arranged marriages where one of them couldn’t get past the friendship stage. In the end, though her passing grieved him, he knew it would have been worse if they had truly been in love.

But now he stood with Xian, a woman he barely even knew, giving him a hug, and he didn’t feel guilt, even as he wrapped his free arm around her to hold her in return. He doubted she needed it, she didn’t seem too shocked by what had happened, but it felt right to do. Serenya stirred a tiny bit, but she’d fallen asleep as the shock and trauma had worn her out quickly. She slept a lot anyway at this early stage of life, mostly being awake to eat.

The hug lingered likely longer than it should have, but no one said anything about it. Eventually, he withdrew his arm. There was still a longing there to continue, but it wouldn’t be appropriate, not now.

“Thank you,” he said after their quiet moment. “That gave me a moment of comfort and time to think, which I haven’t had much of lately.”

He didn’t want to delve too deep into that, but perhaps if they were to see each other again sometime, he’d have a chance to discuss it further. Sometime in the future, perhaps?

“You asked me earlier if you could help, and I didn’t answer. If you and the Diarchy wish to help me, I could use help in figuring out where the Obsidian Syndicate is based out of, and subsequently, find in their records who hired them. With that information, I feel like I could resolve this whole thing.”

ATTIRE: | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

Listening to his steady and solid heartbeat, Xian found some peace she hadn't known she was missing. Ever since that explosion had happened, neither of them had freaked out, screamed, or overreacted. Not that she expected him to, but she surprised herself by keeping her composure. Maybe she needed this hug as much as he did.

Staying next to him, he lifted his arm from around her, and she hadn't noticed that it had happened. Gulping slightly, she didn't look at him again yet. Instead, her dark eyes looked at his baby. Serenya and she smiled at the innocence she was gazing at. What life would she have now? It wasn't a question Xian could answer. Taking her eyes off the child, she met his when he broke the calm silence they had shared.

A silence that didn't last, but she didn't break it; he did by thanking her. He admitted it had comforted him, and that brought a little, shy smile to her lips.

"You're welcome, your highness. I will offer my help, but I can't speak for the Diarchy. I'm the apprentice to one of the Diarchs, so I might carry some weight, but I can't promise their help for sure."

In just a few words, she had told him she could use the Force. Without a second thought, it hit her. Drawing in a sharp breath, she didn't know how he would react to that. She also didn't know he was a Jedi, and she wasn't one anymore.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

"Any help is better than what I have now," he admitted as Kastiel waddled over to him and grabbed his leg.

The nurses indicated that everything was fine with him, so he nodded in dismissal. They were fine now. When the staff left them alone, Caelan breathed an audible sigh of relief. Keeping up such a calm, strong exterior around the people who looked up to him was difficult. All he wanted to do was have a few moments with everything that had happened. He couldn't be alone, probably not ever again under the circumstances, but at the least the people who relied on him that were capable of understanding his emotions weren't around to worry.

Xian was there, and technically she was under his protection while she was there because of her diplomatic status, but she wasn't one of his citizens. That made it different with her.

"Though I would appreciate it if you took it to the Diarch's. They may have more information."

It took a few moments before her comment about being apprenticed to Rellik caught up to his mind. That meant she was capable of utilizing the Force, and it meant that she wasn't a lightsider by nature. A small part of him wondered if that meant she was openly willing to kill, or if it just meant she didn't feel called to follow any particular code.

"I'm a Jedi Knight, myself, but you'll find no opposition here in regards to your status. I don't judge based on stereotypes if I can avoid it."

ATTIRE: | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​

 

[Xian Xiao]

The medical team indicated the children were fine and then left them alone. Xian looked at his son as he clung to his father's leg. Lowering herself to be closer to his level, she introduced herself as if he were an adult. It didn't matter if he wouldn't remember this as he grew up, but she hoped it would leave a calming impression on him now. Once that was done, she stood up again and looked at the king.

At the moment, he looked, well, human. His facade was cracking, and he was starting to show some of the stress he was feeling. She didn't hold that against him, and the teen appreciated it. Shaking her head at him, unless he pulled away, she would rest one of her hands on his arm, just for a second.

"You don't need to be so strong all of the time. Here and now. Be you. The one you don't allow to be seen by your people."

Maybe she had said too much, but she didn't regret her words. Right now, it was just him, his children, and her. They were alone, and she was in no position to judge him, nor would she even if she could. Hearing his words, she nodded, and a look of certainty came into her eyes.

When he finished, it was clear that it took him a few seconds to register that she could use the Force.

"I was a Jedi, but every person who said they were going to train me...all left me. So I left the Order and returned to the planet I had been born on. It was there that Diarch Rellik discovered me and offered me a place to learn on Bastion. He then apprenticed me. I am not light or dark, your highness. I am just me."

Taking a step back, she lifted the hand that had been on his arm and held it in front of her. A small ball of fire appeared in it, and she juggled it around to entertain his son. Noticing there was some water in a glass, she pulled just the water from it and floated it between them before dropping it back into the glass.

"That might not be very impressive, but I'd like to see you try and do that with water and not drop it. I'm strongest in air. Its attack is invisible, and nobody sees it coming. I can also move eart,h but didn't think you'd want me tearing up your home."

Extinguishing the fire, she let her arms fall and rest at her sides.

Caelan Valoren

 

[Caelan Valoren]

When she spoke, he sighed and nodded his head. She was right, he didn't always have to be the strong person he portrayed, but honestly, he'd already shed enough tears for the loss of Anavi that he didn't think he could cry anymore. Instead, he allowed his eyes to drift closed and take a few moments of peaceful meditation while she offered a polite introduction to Kastiel, who smiled at her, and babbled a few words as if trying to return her greetings back to her, though he wasn't talking yet.

She mentioned that she had been a Jedi at one point herself, but that she had been ignored.

"That doesn't speak well of the Jedi that they kept leaving you," he said with a sigh. "I wish people hadn't done that to you. It's not becoming of the Jedi to be so wishy washy. It's another of my dislikes of the current orders."

But instead of commenting on that, she proceeded to make a ball of fire appear above her hand. And shortly after that she was making water dance from a cup. He'd heard of people capable of doing this, but never seen one in person. Watching someone manipulate the elements was worthwhile. Kastiel was enthralled by it. Serenya was still asleep or she'd probably have at least watched.

She indicated she was strongest with air, and that she could manipulate earth as well, but she didn't want to tear up his home. He was glad for that. It had already been partially blown up that day.

"I've never seen anyone manipulate the elements like that before. Did you learn that in the Diarchy, or does it just come naturally to you?"

ATTIRE: | WEAPON: Lightsaber | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace), Prosthetic Left Arm

TAGS: Xian Xiao ​