Private Crazy Rich Jedi

[Xian Xiao]

Xian stood very still as the Empress spoke.

Not out of fear—out of instinctive respect.

She kept her hands loosely folded in front of her, posture careful without being rigid, dark eyes lifting only when it felt appropriate. The library felt different this close to the Empress, the air heavier, layered with something she couldn't quite name. Not oppressive. Just… present. The kind of presence that reminded you the world had teeth long before you were born.

When the Empress mentioned pheromones, Xian's brow furrowed slightly, not in discomfort but in quiet processing. It explained more than she expected. Noriko's reactions. The strange pull of the palace. The way the air itself sometimes felt charged, with nothing to do with the Force.

"I didn't realize it worked that way," Xian said honestly, her voice soft but steady. "We're taught to be aware of emotional influence, of the Force and its echoes—but not… this." She hesitated a fraction of a second, then added carefully, "It makes sense. Just not something most outsiders are prepared for."

At the mention of her master, a faint warmth touched her expression. Not amusement exactly. Something more grounded.

"Noriko has always… experienced the galaxy very directly," Xian said, choosing her words with care. "She doesn't turn away from things that affect her. She tries to understand them instead—even when they're overwhelming."

She paused, then inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the weight behind the Empress's observation.

"I don't think she'd take your words lightly," Xian added. "Being remembered across that kind of time carries meaning."

The Empress's mention of the airship drew Xian's gaze upward now, curiosity winning out over restraint. Mountains. Ancient palaces. Dragon riders. Her imagination caught and held.

"That sounds…" She stopped, searching for a word that didn't feel small. "…extraordinary."

A beat. Then, more quietly:

"Thank you. For allowing us passage. And for sharing this place—even briefly."

Xian straightened again, resolve settling back into her spine.

"I'll make sure I appreciate it properly."

Noriko Ike

 

[Noriko Ike]

Xian Xiao

She gave a nod of her head to that. "it can be, there is something to be seen in the older places... not many will remember that most have died out long ago and every empire has been built on top of the dead." The empress laughed though to that as she seemed to be remembering more but it was older foggy in some cases. "You'll see other aspects of it across Atrisia even if I rarely seat this my seat of power, the Chi-oni have discovered some of it. The hollowed world within and below... the worlds beyond the planet in the system that were pulled from places far older then most understand. The jedi are learning and I have shared a few things with them. "

Noriko arrived in the library as she slipped through the door and spoke with a smile on her face. "Empress, thank you for entertaining my padawan." She bowed when she was looking at it all her attention going to the empress but she also looked at Xian when she finally stretched out. "It is alright, you have no need to be as formal yet, I am not in official garments either." The empress said it and stood up finally as she slid the book onto a table but looked down at the pair with a wider grin on her face. "There is plenty you will still have on Atrisia and should you find yourself wanting to come back... well I think next time I will have gotten use to this position and the water palace."

Noriko said it with a nod. "I would love to come back and see a water palace... after we travel around a bit, my padawan needs training and the best place to do that might be somewhere I can put a boot to her butt to get moving." She said it with a grin though as a joke.