Shiraya's Odyssey
The sunset over the Gallo Mountains bled across the horizon, a magnificent expanse of molten gold and amethyst that washed over the elegant stone terraces of the mansion. Not that Briana could appreciate the beauty of their mountain sanctuary as she trudged up the ancient stone steps, each footfall feeling heavier than her last.
A week ago, beneath the open Naboo sky and the silent, watchful gaze of her parents at the Ee'everwest mausoleum, Vizion had slipped a ring onto her finger. At that time, the ring only carried with it a beautiful promise. A silent vow that she would never again have to face the crushing, merciless demands of the galaxy alone, that they would look toward the future together. Vizion gazed at her with an affection so fierce, so utterly undiluted, that the chaotic universe shrank until there was only the two of them.
He'd called her his certainty, and she couldn't say that she didn't feel much the same. Saying yes had been one of the easiest decisions she'd ever made.
But now, as she crossed the threshold of the home they shared, the intricate white-gold ring around her finger felt like a damning rope against her skin, chafing enough to bleed.
Ala would have already convened the High Council. There was no doubt in her mind. By now, Vizion and the rest of the Jedi leadership would have spent the grueling day mapping out how to deal with the "problem" of Lorn’s Vanguard. Which meant he knew, down to the light of his soul, that she'd aligned herself with Lorn and the others.
A collision was coming, that much was inevitable, she could taste it in the air. The depth of Vizion’s loyalty and dedication was a deep well, traits she'd always admired about him and loved. But standing there in the shadow of their entryway, she wondered what that virtue might cost them. Would his ultimate loyalty and faith be with her, or to the organization they'd both helped build?
Perhaps it was entirely selfish to even ask that question.
The realization sat like ash in her mouth, bitter and burning. It was selfish to expect him to bend everything for her, when she'd impulsively rushed headfirst into Lorn’s crusade without a single thought of how it would impact their future or peace. It should have been her very first thought, but again she'd chosen the galaxy and it's problems over her own family, over the people she knew that decision might wound or crush.
Truly, she was
Romi Jade
's student. The heavy doors swooshed closed behind her, shutting out the mountain breeze. A long, shuddering exhale left her, doing absolutely nothing to ease the agonizing tightness gripping her ribs.
"Hey," she called out, feeling a sharp, wicked headache pulse right behind her eyes, a reminder of the stress she'd been sprinting ahead of all day. Without missing a beat, the resonance of his presence sparked against her mind in the Force, followed by the echo of his footsteps. As he came into view against the backdrop of the dying golden light, she forced a soft, tentative smile to her lips.
Her right hand crept over her left, fingers nervously twisting the ring around her knuckle. "I'm home."
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