Private Chambers of Counsel

[Valoria Elryne]

Jedi Temple, Tython
Council Chambers
Valery Noble

Nerves pumped through Valoria's system as she made her way towards the council chamber room.

This could be it. She hadn't been given any context as to why she'd been summoned there, but the reason seemed plain to her. She'd made the assumption before the chamber doors were even in her sight.

Her training was going to be discontinued. She knew it. Why else would she have been summoned there upon such short notice? What other explanation could there be?

Valoria turned a corner, to find the chamber doors sitting at the end of the hallway. Was she here already? She could've sworn that walk used to take longer. Her pace slowed for a moment. Her vision had begun to grow blurry at the sides.

No. She was overthinking. It'd be fine. Of course it'd be fine.

Blinking a few times to keep her emotions at bay, she approached the chamber room doors.

It's scary, passing into the unknown without knowing what to expect. It's even scarier when you know that what may be laying ahead has the potential to change the rest of your life. Valoria didn't know what was waiting beyond those doors. She wasn't entirely certain she wanted to. Because there was a high chance, whatever it was, she wasn't going to like it.

She hesitated at the entrance, not sure what to do.

There were no sentinels on duty, which meant the official council wasn't currently in session. She figured that was a good sign for her. Nothing too bad could occur. Unless they wanted to inform her without making a fuss over it.

She stood outside the doors for much too long. Eventually, she decided upon simply knocking. Her knock was quiet, gentle. Uncertain. It would be a miracle if whoever was inside heard it.

Valoria eased on of the large doors open, taking a breath before stepping into the council chambers.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The chamber was quiet, but far from empty. Valery stood near one of the tall windows, her arms resting loosely at her sides as she watched the grounds beyond the Temple. She had sensed the hesitation before the knock even came, and by the time the door opened, she was already turning.

Her expression softened the moment she saw who it was.

"Padawan Elryne," she said, her voice calm and steady. "Come in."

"Thank you for coming. I know the summons was short notice, but I just wanted to check in." Valery gave her a small, reassuring smile as she sat down and waited for the young Jedi to join her.

"You've been here long enough now that I thought it was time we talked about how you're settling in. The work, the training... how you're feeling about all of it." Her tone stayed warm and inviting. Whatever Valoria had built up in her mind, Valery was careful to set aside. This wasn't about pressure. It was about listening.

Valoria Elryne ​

 

[Valoria Elryne]

Valoria crossed the room, keeping her pace even. Her mind was still spinning, but less so now that she knew the nature of this invite. Reaching where Valery had previously stood, Valoria dipped into a respectful bow. Only once she'd risen out of that did she take the offered seat.

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before she spoke.

"Grandmaster Noble. I thank you for the gesture." Her tone was even, though it still carried a hint of the uncertainty she'd been feeling for most of the morning.

For such a simple question, Valoria found it hard to construct an answer that wouldn't sound bad. In most cases, she'd simply lie and say everything's been fine, that she's been feeling perfectly dandy. If it were anyone else, chances were she'd say exactly that.

But in this instance, she couldn't lie. Not to the grandmaster.

"Things have been... less than ideal." Her words were carefully chosen. She didn't want to make her thoughts and fears apparent.

Because if she did, she feared it could risk her position within the Order.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened quietly, her hands resting in her lap as she studied Valoria's expression. The words weren't dramatic, but they didn't need to be. She could feel the tension behind them, the way they had been weighed and measured before being spoken aloud. When the younger Jedi finished, Valery offered a small nod, her tone steady and reassuring.

"You're not in trouble, Valoria," she said, the warmth in her voice genuine. "I called you here because I've had a feeling something's been off. Nothing I could point to directly, but… enough that I felt it was worth checking in."

She leaned forward just slightly, her posture open.

"I want you to speak freely. This isn't a test, and you won't be punished for being honest with me. Jedi or not, we all struggle sometimes. That doesn't make you less capable. It makes you a person."

Her eyes searched Valoria's face with quiet understanding.

"So tell me what's been on your mind. Whatever it is, we'll address it together."

Valoria Elryne ​

 

[Valoria Elryne]

Trust the grandmaster to notice something was wrong. There was little point in Valoria saying otherwise. Because it was clear, apparently, that she had something on her mind.

At least she wasn't in trouble. That gave her some comfort, however small that comfort actually was. The worries were still spinning in her mind, but hearing the warmth and openness coming from Valery slowed them down, leaving it feeling slightly less overwhelmed.

Valoria let out a small exhale of breath as she tried to figure out where to start.

"Okay... Um... Well, I'm sure you're aware of my current situation." Of course she was. It only made sense to Valoria the she knew about most of the happenings within the order. "You know. The whole, grounded and restricted to Tython thing? Because of... Well, all that stuff?"

She didn't mention it directly. Her voice was quiet, and as she spoke she glanced down towards her hands, fidgeting on her lap.

"I can't seem to stop thinking about what happened." She admitted. "I know I'm supposed to put it behind me or whatever, so it doesn't 'cloud my judgement,' but I can't seem to do it. I could've done something, anything to help her but I just... Stood there. How can I simply move past that? Put that aside as if it's nothing?"

Valery Noble
​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's gaze softened as Valoria spoke, and she let a few moments pass before answering.

"You are not expected to simply move on," Valery said, her tone calm and warm. "What happened matters, and it matters to you. That is why it stays with you." She offered a faint smile, not one meant to dismiss the weight of it but to reassure. "Carrying it does not make you weak. It makes you someone who cares deeply."

She leaned forward just slightly. "What I can tell you is that healing from something like that is not about pretending it never happened. It is about finding a way to live with it without letting it define every step you take."

Her eyes stayed on Valoria, patient and thoughtful. "What do you feel you need to help you get through this? Is staying grounded holding you back? I want to hear your thoughts, because whatever path we take should help you, not make things harder."

Valoria Elryne ​

 

[Valoria Elryne]

To be truthful, Valoria wasn't entirely sure what she needed. It was impossible to tell, from her perspective. However, she did want to get away from the temple and all it's seemingly endless halls.

"I may not have agreed with it at the time, but I do now see the sense in keeping me here initially." Valoria said. It was true. Looking back now, The first few days, weeks after she'd returned, she'd been a complete mess. More so than she is now, that was. So she supposed it made sense why the restriction had initially been placed.

"But, I mean, it's been a while now. And sitting around all day with little to do other than let my thoughts wander isn't exactly helping me. My mind keeps going back to it. And everytime it does, it hurts." She gave a small, frustrated sigh. "I just don't understand. How can I keep it with me without letting it define the rest of my life?"

Valoria shifted slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable. Not due to the Grandmaster's presence, simply due to the nature of the discussion.

"I need to know how to live with this."

Valery Noble
​