Private Good company

[Aiden Porte]

Dreidi Xeraic
​

The transport descended through a thick veil of crimson mist, the atmosphere of Dathomir alive with whispers of the Force ancient, untamed, and deeply aware. As the landing struts touched the darkened soil, Aiden felt the familiar thrum of energy beneath his boots, an echo of something primal that pulsed in rhythm with the heartbeat of the world itself. He drew in a steady breath, the air rich with iron and rain. It had been far too long since he had last stepped foot here, far too long since he had seen her.

The enclave came into view through the haze: stone and vine interwoven with repurposed Republic structures, the balance between civilization and wilderness perfectly struck. Lights flickered within the courtyard, and the sound of sparring carried through the air. It wasn't just a sanctuary it was alive, thriving, built by hands that understood both the danger and beauty of this world.

As he approached, he sensed her before he ever so her. It was familiar and grounding, and bright against the dark undertone of Dathomir's energy. Dreidi's presence was as he remembered calm but fierce, a flame that refused to be dimmed by time or distance.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Dathomir
Outfit: Nightsister Outfit
Equipment: Lightsaber, Ichor Sword, Dathomir Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Aiden Porte

Dreidi was going through records of the ancestors. There were still questions on what had happened to Aileni during the labour that she might have done, hints of something darker than she had originally planned for it to be but answers were not given easily. She was probably the first Dathomir with Zorren blood and she was very likely the first to use Magick in a supposed protective manner to a baby. What she could gather, there were spells that could be linked to what she ended up doing, there were suggestions that things could be changed through Magick. People could be changed but then it was hard to say if Aileni was changed. Perhaps it was more an enhancement. Though not the enhancements that Dreidi had been planning for.

Sighing, even though she was in her thirties now, she still looked the same age when she had her son. There had not been a wrinkle added, only difference was in her eyes. There was something older, far more mature. But Dreidi had looked as youthful as she always had. It was strange to seeing aging in others, especially in her son but whenever she looked in the mirror now, Dreidi did not see any real differences. There was still the same one who had been scared of plenty years ago.

"A High Republic ship is attempting to dock, Mother Xeraic." A witch called out to Dreidi as she pondered over the notes.

Taking a moment to finish reading her sentence, Dreidi eventually looked up, "oh? Well, probably a Jedi student wishing to learn more on Dathomir. Please welcome them in. I am far too busy to be entertaining Padawans today." Dreidi stated, she knew it was not her son since that was a presence she could sense no matter where in the galaxy he was. However, Dreidi was drowning herself in the ancient texts to realise that Aiden had come all the way to her temple to visit.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Dreidi Xeraic​

The corridors tightened and twisted as he moved deeper, the architecture shifting from carved stone to living roots that braided into archways. This place remembered everything: rituals, bloodlines, mistakes. It hummed against his skin as if testing him, tasting him.

He allowed it.

When he reached the threshold of the inner sanctum, he paused. Dreidi's presence pulsed just beyond the doorway, threaded with concentration and the weight of old questions. For a heartbeat, he stood still, letting the quiet speak to him the same quiet she had often run from, and now sought in dusty pages older than most civilizations.

Aiden exhaled once, steady, and stepped inside.

"Dreidi," he said, voice carrying gently as he watched her reading her texts.

Just her.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Dathomir
Outfit: Nightsister Outfit
Equipment: Lightsaber, Ichor Sword, Dathomir Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Aiden Porte

Dreidi was gently looking over the pages and noting things down in her personal journal when she heard the voice. It was familiar and tugged at her heartstrings all the same. A part of the reason she had been reluctant to visit Naboo. The person she needed to cause some space between after their last meeting. Time had not passed enough yet but here he was, Dreidi could curse the Force, the fates, the deities out there for ensuring that she would not be able to move forward with her feelings before having to see the person that stirred them so much.

Grisial looked at Dreidi with concern since he could sense the wave of differing and complex emotions. Emotions that were very uncommon in Dreidi. She prided herself on feeling very simply about things and making things very uncomplicated. Then Aiden would come around and destroy that idea almost immediately. It was equal parts frustrating as it was impressive. Letting out a quiet sigh, she closed both her journal and the ancient scrolls that she was reading through. Placing the scrolls back where they were stored safe and secure.

Without turning around to face Aiden, still wanting a moment to process things in her mind, "Hey Aiden." Her voice was plain, no real emotions to the tone as she composed herself. It had been tough hearing Aiden reject her after the kiss. She didn't wish to blame him or hate him, the choices were his and if the feelings were not mutual then nothing Dreidi could do would change that. Instead, Dreidi just had to find ways to accept that someone she had grow more fond of than she cared to admit was unable to match her feelings.

That was something Dreidi never realised would be so difficult.

"What brings you all the way to Dathomir?" Dreidi asked, curious on why he would be here, now and without warning.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Dreidi Xeraic​

Aiden's chest tightened, not with regret, but with a quiet warmth he hadn't expected to feel so sharply the moment he heard her voice. Even with her back turned, even with the flatness in her tone, he felt nothing but relief to see her standing there, whole, alive, still herself.

He let out a slow breath, one that softened the line of his shoulders.

"I'm happy to see you, Dreidi," he said, meaning every word. There was no hesitation in his voice, only a calm steadiness that came naturally when he spoke to her. "I came because… I wanted to check on you. To see how my friend is doing."

He didn't push for more than that. Didn't reach for explanations or the past. He simply offered the truth, gentle, uncomplicated, and genuine.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Dathomir
Outfit: Nightsister Outfit
Equipment: Lightsaber, Ichor Sword, Dathomir Energy Bow
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Aiden Porte

Dreidi felt her emotions settle a little more and she turned around to face Aiden. Seeing him there, she gave a smile and walked over to him. Not sure if he would want a hug from her or if it would be too much after everything they had discussed previously. She rubbed her arm slowly, "so, came all the way to Dathomir for the first time ever to see how I was?" Dreidi raised an eyebrow, thinking there was likely more behind the reasoning than simply seeing how she was.

"But I am glad to see you here." Dreidi nodded her head, "I am doing good, just been burying my head in historical literature and doing some classes for the witches that attend this academy." Dreidi explained as she gestured around the ancient records that surrounded them, "easy to get lost with everything here, means that I am not focusing on my own thoughts and concerns so much." Dreidi confessed.

Rubbing her arm more, she could feel the butterflies and nerves that always happened when talking with Aiden, "so... How are things with you? How are things going as a Jedi Knight?"