Carry on my Wayward... (Iella)

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

Nico spun around in her new robes and clothing with a grin on her face while she checked her sabers on her wrists. The beams deactivated but ready in a moments notice compared to others who hadd to reach. She was still living a little high on life after being called a hero as a padawan but more then that she moved checking her hair and having all tape in the proper place to make sure nothing stuck out. Then more attention to her hair.

She wasn't sure how much her master had figured out but better to be safe then sorry it wasn't like she was lying to her just not telling all of the truth a key difference compared to most but not all made such a distinction. So she would be careful while moving out of the room on her ship and then off into the temple of the silver jedi. Again not something she had been expected but a welcome change and her family had come as well most of them and it wasn't like they were all not jedi.

"Master I am ready whenever you are."

[member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

Iella found Nico. Much to her surprise she could sense a difference in her, a growth of strength coupled with a new sense of purpose and belonging. Iella was very pleased to see and feel this in her Padawan. Much they had done together from mission to more personal touch in the bowels of Coruscant attending to the poor. Nico's path toward a more gentler life .. to the lightside of the force is moving fast and she has the strength of it within her now.

Iella did wonder though just how much Nico was aware of this, if she like so many others, deem the light side to be the weaker, when in fact it is just as strong if not stronger then those that wield the darkness. Now is the time to find out.

"Good", she simply said with a smile. "Now come, we are going for a walk", she added after a brief pause.

Iella lead Nico out of the Silver Temple and into a light vehicle for transport to the edge of Voss-Ka from there they will move out on foot.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Nico looked at her master and gave a nod of her head to that. She wondered where they were going but she was willing to follow her master and see what she had planned. Iella was family somewhat, a master and student relationship was an interesting thing in time she had learned. Even more so then the relations she had used to have until she spoke and offered a smile to her master. "Thank you master and I am up for anything." Nico checked her equipment and her saber gauntlets with a grin rolling her shoulders. "Shall we head off?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"Yes lets go", she said "I think I will drive", Iella added remembering Hawk and Nico's joy riding on Tatooine and the fun they had with that. She jumped into the light vehicle and started the engines, as Nico joined her Iella pushed the vehicle forward and began their short trip the the edge of Voss-Ka, some way to the west of the mountain top city is their destination and from there to the Old Paths.

It is a pleasant day and Iella enjoy the wind hitting her face, much of the local vegetation was in bloom and she could smell the aromas from the blossoms. Soon they arrived and Iella stopped the vehicle. Before them is a forest of tall pines a wall of deep green and a refreshing smell to liven the senses. They will need to walk the forest to find the Paths.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Nico joined her master in the vehicle and gave a nod as she sat there checking herself for safety and then observing the area with a trained eyes. She wanted to make sure nothing escaped in case she had to find her way back or from if the worst should happen and then the vehicle stopped as she exited to look around. It was quite a forest with the pines and foilage while a test of the sabers brought the snap hisses and plops of the shields activating forward. Nico had a grin on her face while adjusting herself for a brief moment to make sure everything was hidden in place. "Ready when you are my master."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

They had arrived to the edge of Voss-Ka quickly, the last known location of the beginning of the Path now before them. Nature had reclaimed most of it but the well worn path still visible to the eye. Iella pulled the speeder to a halt and jumped out, and gathered her back pack for the journey on foot. Inside she had some rations and a few items that might prove handy if needed.

"Looks like we start here", she pointed to the path trodden by others in the past. Iella went first, pushing back some of the over hanging branches for trees she had never seen before. Willowy in nature and quite beautiful, their long thin leafed tendrils swaying in the breeze opening a door way to the path. Iella moved under the first one and the temperature dropped notable. It is refreshing but still it sent a chill up her spine.

This is something old something that if could talk would tell tales of mystery and a long history of events of the planet. Pushing through to the other side, the path widened slightly to reveal an avenue of these willows that winded around to the right along side a walled rock face. She turned back to see if Nico was behind her.

"Well this is very different", she said looking back. And there is a sense of something waiting for them.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Nico looked at her master and gave a nod while she waited for a moment and checked everything one more time. Getting a smirk on her face at what was going to happen while she walked into the brush and the pop from the shield activating so she could push things out of the way. There was no need to slice the brush while she used her smaller stature to her advantage to get around. her lithe body moving to follow and Nico listened. "There were stories when I was a...... when I was younger about secrets on Voss master. Rituals and magics, something few really knew." Nico had almost dais it and while not sure if her master had figured out somethings she wasn't going to need to blurt it out. It didn't make her special... well some of it did but that was only for fights.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"Indeed", she simply said as Nico spoke. "Much mystery", but Iella's mind was elsewhere. Her eyes narrowed as she felt a strange presence through the force. However, she continued to walk forward and soon the pair would find a clearing, at the end of the path of willows. Odd really, this place looked old enough almost as old as Voss, the tree ancient and bearing, planted in a deliberate fashion in a circle.

Upon the ground a sign of a relief, a raised area of ground also in a circle but covered in dirt which now carpet with grasses. Yet the shape still remains visible. "Now what have we found here?", she said aloud but the question was for herself. A rhetorical question, as Iella was almost certain of what it was. She smiled and turned to Nico. "Do not set foot on this plain, until we investigate it".

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Nico focused on her master for a moment and gave a nod turning her head towards the clearing and raised section of earth. A look upon her face and her narrowing eyes while she moved slightly. To be beside her master and at the edge of the clearing. It reminded her of a battle circle but given the history more then likely this was something for seers in the force to focus.... Or maybe they secretly like everyone liked having a chance to pummel each other and had made a seer battle circle in the woods. "I don't remember this from my datapads."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]


"Much is missing from the files, but... ", Iella walked up onto the raised area. "There is only one way to find out", one thing Iella was never short on was curiosity .. her nature as Corellian.

Her boots pushed down the plush grass, a lawn almost as if manicured. As she moved toward the center of the platform, the Force became stronger with a past steeped in history of both the light and the darkness. Which was not surprising of Voss. Iella focused on the force around her, a slight breeze swirled around her disturbing the hem of her robes and disappeared as quickly as it came.

She could sense a presence .. nothing malicious or good just there and watching. Ghosts of the past, keeping vigil over a very ancient place.

Iella smiled, in acknowledgement to the watchers. "What do you sense my Padawan?".

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Nico listened to her master and moved around the area slowly feeling with the force, her energies came out while she worked on keeping her emotions in check. Everything was here allowing the force to whisper to her. She wanted to give into that feeling, that caress of the darkside in the back of her mind from long ago and oh it felt so good compared to something. Where she stood now opposite her master was quite a sight and she stopped. "I feel.... cold. The darksde is here as much as the light and it feels so old I forgot how it could feel and makes my stomach tighten with sickness from trying to reject it."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"Tell me Nico... what is your thoughts on the dark side and then tell me your thoughts on the lightside. Do you consider one above the other?", this was a test question for her, one she gives to most in these situations .. especially when once coming from darkness.


Besides Iella is always interested in the opinions of others in this regard. She continued to walk around the circle mound buried under the ground. Stopping at one point to knee and place her hand to the grass and sense the radiant history pulling up from the area.

"There is much here, still...... ".

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

What did she think of the darkside? She knew it well enough and it was many things. An allie a friend that sweet caress of power you could feel at night. So many possibilities could come from using it and it could make you stronger... Stronger then some lightsiders but that was a ruse a farce something that was only true in your mind. She had seen it and seen it fail the lightside was strong as well but in different ways.

"The darkside can be dangerous if left unchecked, usually those who let it in, choose to play around with it deceive themselves into believing they can do something many have tried be at balance using both sides of the force. Or that they can look into the dark abyss and not have ti stare back at them to consume them. Sith look for these traits in jedi to exploit and enjoy making a game of it it is why there will always be sith because there will always be jedi wanting to be fools."

"The lightside of the force is just as dangerous sometimes, things can be dangerous when you only focus on the small and protecting. You lose sight of the goal of the jedi to protect civilization because the people make peace. They can work against the darkside and beat it back but the two are like the tides. Rising and falling, good and evil whatever you want to believe. YOu can work hard to make sure the sith fall for a time but there will always be new ones coming same as there will always be jedi to fight."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"Indeed Nico", she simply said as she continue to investigate the area. "You answer is very good and many points are prudent, however, what of the power from both sides? the actually skills the side allow, what of those?".

Many times Iella had heard people refer to the lightside as weak, or weaker then it's opposite. She wanted her ideas on that. This will give a true indication to Iella on the girl and where she sits within her Jedi training.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

"The abilities are vastly different, the lightside of the force is patient allowing time and energies to build and grow. Letting the force work through you to make wonders happen. The darkside master is quick, aggressive and more akin to bludgeoning the whole of reality into what you want. Darksiders learned how to bring back the dead to a full life, how to create life, move across the galaxy in a snap of their fingers because they tear the very fabric of the force. The lightside allow the force to guide them and it can be used for powerful things as well but in its own way. Creating storms like my cousin that will wipe out armies of sith force, healing planets. You can do so many things."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"Yes there is much one can do with the light side of the force", Iella said, as Nico's answers are well enough, but not what Iella was after. But that will come with time for Nico. She has still to meet someone that can answer that question with clarity and what she is looking for.

Not that this reflected on Nico .. it is just Iella's want for more from her students.

"Now come and sit with me here on the grass", Iella moved to the centered of the raised platformed area. "Let's see what we can conjure up", never one to go unsatisified with lack of curiosity .. Iella moved and sat.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

What we can conjure up? Nico raised an eyebrow to that and looked at her master as she moved. Letting her hands go to her hair as she pulled it back with a nod of her head. "Yes master" She moved and knelt down at first and slowly crossed her legs with a bob of her hair while finding a comfortable position. "What are you hoping to find or see my master?"

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

"The past Nico", she said simply.

Iella formed the best meditation position on the ground. Not really her preferred style to meditation, but for this purpose it was more prudent. She rested her hands on her knees and closed her eyes. Allowing her breathing to lighten and become deliberate. Her mind cleared, allowing nothing but the sounds of nature enter. She pick one, a soft lilt of a avian creature captured her ears and she focused on that sound.

Finally, even that dispersed until she was alone with the force. The light side filled her every fiber lifted within her body and strengthen with a centered concentration. Deeper in her mind she walked until the void of black was the only thing in her mind's eye. She remained this way for some time, allowing nothing.

 

[Nico Ike Qarmast]

[member="Iella E'ron"]

Looking to the past could be dangerous, some sought to change it and there were powers in the force. Nico looked at her master and her body relaxed as she closed her eyes, half lidded, tongue resting against the top of her mouth, lips parted just enough and fingers lightly pressed together. She was reaching into the foce and letting her mind wonder somewhat as it sifted and danced around Voss feeling the force energies of others, feeling the creatures and the people and then going through the visions of the force into the past while she wondered what her master was wanting them to see.

Nico's visions flashed to her own past and she stood there before her master in the sith order as he held his sabers with the crimson blades activated. Shirtless and with long black hair as he attacked the slaves who were being sent into the room for his masters amusement, sent in to die as Nico attacked and moved around the room letting the force fuel his rage at his own situations. He wasn't happy in his own skin, wasn't enjoying what was happening and that made him lash out, angry and striking at the enemies there as he screams of rage came cutting into the slaves.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Nico Minuro Ike"]

Iella left Nico to her thoughts and visions, an intrusion into her mind is something Iella does not do. A lesson learned when she was a Padawan. And simply not her style.

A peace with the force now, Iella pushed her mind wider and into the area, a sense of old washing over her. Much history in bedded within the planet and now it was raising to the surface. She sensed their coming, a vision in the mind of being shrouded in yellow formed around Nico and herself. A shimmer of light neither full of malice or kindness, just being.

Four figures stood around the circle, the structure of which rose up out of the ground in the vision and showed of it's former glory. They walked around whispering words not know to Iella. Seers of the past. She watched them with a smile.