Private Learning To Let Go

[Everest Vale]

The hallways of the Coruscant temple were cold; colder than they once seemed, perhaps. What once offered warmth and comfort — the sensation of a new home — suddenly seemed reduced to an obscured and shadowy memory of youthful naivety.

Pale fingers traced along polished durasteel walls, delicate feet stepping with silent care and intention along equally clean floors. The temple was still, its usual busy day having long melted into the still, silent night. Many had already retired for the day, returning to their dormitories and chambers for sleep and whatever personal affairs they may have been waiting for them. But for Everest, she had been floating aimlessly for hours, like most days, unsure of what to do with herself.

Woostri hung heavy on her. The memories just wouldn't leave her. The face of Private Michael Tanners remained permanently etched in her mind as a reminder of her failures, as did the figure of the masked soldier she cut so ruthlessly through with her Master's lightsaber. A wash of emotions cycled endlessly around her, pulling her feelings towards every corner imaginable. It was exhausting, and the night terrors plagued her endlessly.

So she walked, hallway after hallway, like a ghostly figure draped in Echani white, trying to pull herself from the thoughts that always seemed to haunt the sides of her awareness.

But tonight was different.

Knight von Ascania was someone Eve had yet to properly get to know. They had met on brief occasions over the last months, around the temple, on the occasional mission, but had never really had the chance sit down face to face. It was to Eve's surprise that she had reached out to her after Woostri, and she had thus far left the invitation unclaimed, perhaps out of her own shame more than anything else.

But tonight, something apparently unseen seemed to stir in Eve that finally swayed her tender, aching heart.

// Sorry to bother you so late, but is the invitation still open? //​

It was a short and sweet message that was responded to almost immediately. A mixture of ease and apprehension immediately washed over her, and yet she steeled herself for the meeting, not entirely sure what to expect from it.

The door to her office finally stood before her. She delicately reached for the small terminal by the door and rang.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The chime of her holopad was an almost welcome distraction.

Sat in her office, Knight von Ascania was busy reading student papers. Though the traditional workday had ended, their defense of Woostri - ultimately a failure - had cut into class time. More than that, she was severely behind on grading.

Cora realized that she'd read the same dull, grammatically questionable paragraph thrice and had absorbed nothing. Perhaps a break was in order.

She placed the paper back atop the stack with the others. One hand reached for her holopad while the other raised a mug of tea to her lips.

// Of course. My door is always open to you, Padawan Vale. //

Everest was a quiet girl, but something seemed to be weighing on her, dragging the light from her eyes. Cora had extended the invitation with the expectation that it might go unanswered.

Now that it had been answered, she was worried.

A few minutes passed before a soft chime signaled the arrival of her visitor. Rather than waving her through with the Force, Cora stood and opened the door.

"Padawan Vale," she greeted warmly. "Please, come in."

Cora stepped to the side and gestured for Everest to enter. There were two chairs for guests in the small office; one directly in front of her desk and the other tucked into the front left corner. The latter allowed for more space between Cora and the occupant, but situated them so they could still see one another.

Aside from being scrupulously clean and orderly, several succulents were placed throughout the office.

"Can I get you anything to drink? Do you like tea? If so, pick out what you'd like."

There was a small electric burner and kettle on the counter. The cabinet above was stocked with several different herbal blends.

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Knight von Ascania was always very gracious and formal, it seemed. The way she held herself, it maintained an air of nobility beyond her apparent background, but was something truly worthy of a successful Jedi. In the brief moments they had encountered one another before, Eve was always so struck by how 'together' Cora seemed, her steadfast yet delicate and refined nature inspired the young Echani. But being a former Padawan of Master Noble, it did not come without its anxieties.

As always, Eve felt that constant pressure of having to live up to all those unspoken expectations of being the Grandmaster's Padawan too.

She stepped into the office without saying a word, but gave a silent, timid nod to her host. The place was kept in sublime order, an obvious reflection of the calm and tidy mind of its proprietor. She glanced to the plants scattered neatly about the room. Normally, she would engage them, speak with them through the Force as she so often would on Eshan. But the cloud that pressed over her made even the joy of that become a cold and empty prospect. In truth, Eve was not herself, and hadn't been for a while. She cleared her throat.

"U-um—" She glanced to the generous selection of tea, standing awkwardly with her hands together in front of herself. Something inside of her stirred ever so gently behind the smog of her mind. She nodded to to the Knight. "D-do you have deychin?" she finally managed, her silver eyes meeting the rich azure of Cora's, before darting away again and resting on the tea collection, as if relying on it for some kind of silent comfort.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora did not look to Everest directly. Though her nerves were worn plainly in her body language, they were palpable in the Force. The curious stare of a Knight wouldn't be particularly helpful, and so she busied herself with the kettle.

At the stammered request, Cora looked over her shoulder. She smiled at the Padawan.

"I do have deychin."

With a pointer finger raised to the boxes, she searched for the floral blend. Her other hand gave a wave to the cabinet next to her.

"Pick out whichever mug you'd like. And one for myself, please."

A small, rectangular box was retrieved from the shelf. Lavender in color, with pictures of delicate blossoms.

"I'm afraid I haven't any loose leaf blends here, only the pre-portioned ones from the market." Cora retrieved two sachets and fiddled with the burner. It sparked once, twice, before settling.

"Are you partial to deychin?"

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Timidly, Eve stepped to the cupboard, reaching to open it and glance inside. An assortment of various cups of all types of designs were neatly organised, each one seemingly telling its own story. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over a stacked pair of delicate porcelain cups adorned with intricate floral patterns. She took them out carefully with two hands and placed them on the table.

She caught sight of Cora preparing the tea, her movements graceful and practised. It had been a while since she had enjoyed any tea at all, much to her own disappointment, but as Cora prepared the drink, a gentle wash of the memories of home came to her.

"Are you partial to deychin?" Cora asked her. Eve nodded, clearing and throat to speak slowly and quietly.

"Mhm. My ma— My mother taught me Echani tea ceremony when I was young, and she would always use deychin. It's not common on Eshan so we had to import it, but..." She was silent for a moment, lost in thought. "But it's my favourite."

She was suddenly surprised Cora was able to prise so many words from her with such a simple question, and she realised she hadn't spoken so much in several days.

"I..."

She didn't continue.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Well, then I am pleased that I stock your favorite blend."

Cora smiled at the timid Echani. Something deep in her ached to see the girl practically shrinking where she stood. The knight had always been protective of Padawans, but especially of other women. It was an aspect of her mindset that had the potential to interfere with her work, but it was not something that she couldn’t let go of entirely.

"I've never had the opportunity to partake in an Echani tea ceremony. What are they like?"

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

"Oh," exclaimed Eve gently, thinking about the particulars of the ceremonies she grew up taking part in with her mother and mother's friends. She didn't really have any friends of her own, and spent most of her youth in the company of the older Echani women from neighbourly farmsteads. It gave enough to understand the basics at least.

But what are they like? She wasn't quite sure how to express that.

"I think it's different depending on region... But for where I'm from, I suppose it's... kind of like meditation. It's all about respect, and trust, for the person you're drinking with... My ma– My mother always said it's a time where you can lay down all ego and notions of the world and just... experience. It's the same with when we spar..."

Albeit, Eve never felt like a 'good Echani'. The physical language of her people was never so instinctual to her as perhaps it should've been. Maybe that was why she could never make friends for herself on Eshan, aside from the rather isolated upbringing. Nevertheless, since coming to Coruscant, she found herself strangely wanting to lean more into that language of contact too.

As she dwelled on the thoughts of home, and philosophy behind the ceremonies taught to her growing up, she felt suddenly quite solemn. She gazed downward to nowhere in particular, and her voice was barely a whisper.

"I... miss home..."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

With her hip leaned against the counter, Cora listened intently as Eve spoke. Having grown up sheltered in her family manor, the knight found fascination in the cultural differences between her and other Jedi. The similarities were just as intriguing.

Beside her, muffled pings sounded from within the kettle as the water began to roil. She offered Eve a small, sad smile for her admission. The girl may not see it, given how her gaze lowered.

"I do too, sometimes."

The Jedi of old - and even some minor sects that still existed today - removed children from their home at a young age. Now, young adults were accepted into the Order. It was a double edged sword; attachment to one's homeworld was difficult to overcome, but they brought unique perspectives that gave the Jedi a better understanding of the people they served.

"How have you been settling in, Padawan Vale?"

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

"Just Eve is okay... i-if you prefer, but... Padawan Vale is okay too..."

She thought a little on the question. It felt like an unusual one to be asked now, after so much had happened already since Eve came here. It felt already that the temple had become a refuge against all the darkness in the galaxy, which she supposed was partly the reason it existed in the first place. She had started to find what felt like a place here, and amidst the Jedi in general, despite her lack of knowing her own purpose amongst then. Nevertheless, recent events had made her yearn for home again just like she once did.

"So much has happened already," she laughed awkwardly. "I suppose I've settled in fine... I've made a lot of amazing friends, and..." She suddenly shrunk bashfully, her face becoming bright red as she thought of Tigris. "...more..." As she hung on her thoughts of her for a moment, it was like her demeanour completely changed briefly, her eyes smiling in a way it hadn't until now. She cleared her throat.

"Master Noble has been so kind to me too..." Truthfully, if it wasn't for her, she would probably have run away back to Eshan within her first week. But her kindness and love had given her so much of what she didn't realise she needed, more than she could express.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Little clouds of steam began puffing from the kettle's spout. A moment later, it started to whistle.

Cora shut the burner off quickly and removed the kettle. Without a heat source, the sharp trilling died away. As Eve spoke, she poured hot water into each tea cup. One brow went up at the mention of something more.

"I'm glad to hear that, Eve." Cora slid one cup by its saucer closer to the Echani. Steam curled from its surface in lazy wisps. "Master Noble was my teacher, too. Like a mother to me, in a way."

The Grandmaster of the Order was an experienced instructor. More than that, her students were treated like family. Many of them needed that, Cora included.

"Transitioning into the Order can be very busy," she acknowledged with a nod. "It sounds like you've experienced good things during your Jedi training - but if anything bad ever happens, I'd encourage you to try and talk about it. With your friends, your Master - or anyone you feel comfortable with."

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve gave a smile and sheepish nod as the cup was moved to her, but decided to let it cool for a while. Nevertheless, she could smell the familiar floral scents that gave her comfort even in the most challenging of times.

Seated now opposite the knight, her thoughts drifted to Master Noble. Truly, she had been like a mother to Eve too, something she was desperately in need of. She would have made a light jest about her and Cora being sisters, but she lacked the confidence to even bring it up.

"Mhm, I know. Thank you..." She wasn't too sure how to formulate the right words in response to the knight, and instead let the silence hang between them for a moment. She reached for her cup with both hands and blew gently and regularly along the surface, the curling steam dissipating immediately into the air. She took a cautious sip and let the heat work slowly through her body. Eventually, she mustered the energy, or nerves, to speak some more, placing the cup back down again.

"I've, uh... It's- It's been... hard..." She wouldn't let herself cry, but speaking it out loud in such a quiet setting felt almost deafening to herself, and she was unsure why she was saying this suddenly to someone she didn't know so well.

"Woostri... It... I..."

She forced an exhale and went back to her tea to instead distract herself. Her hands trembled a little in response to her trying to drudge the memories up again. By the time she finished some more sips, she felt another gentle wave of relaxation come to her again. Her gaze drifted a little, somewhat too bashful to meet Cora's.

"S-Sorry," she finally said, shrinking a little in her seat. She didn't want to accept an invitation just to make it all about her and her woes. She did that too often already.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora allowed Eve silence and space to organize her thoughts. As the Padawan stumbled over her own tongue, she realized that her open invitation to speak of her troubles might've been too daunting.

Woostri had been hard on them all, but it had been downright devastating for some.

"It's alright, Eve." As Cora spoke, her words were soft and unobtrusive. "You do not need to force yourself to talk. Here, we can speak of everything or nothing."

From across her desk, she offered the young Echani a placid smile. Even silence could be enjoyed in company. She let her words settle between them while lifting the tea cup to her lips for a cursory sip.

Cora pulled back. Still too hot. She place the cup back down into its saucer and waved a hand towards one the little pots that sat at the corner of her desk. A small, plump succulent with thickly blunted thorns and little purple flowers.

"Do you like plants, Eve?" She'd seen the way silver eyes had glanced to her verdant decorations earlier.

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve didn't say anything in response to Cora's assurance, but she did give a shy nod of acknowledgement. It was appreciated, not having the pressure to say anything, even if a part of herself wanted to. Perhaps above all, she just wanted to have some company. Cora was nice, warm, and the young Echani could feel the space she offered to her; a space she didn't realise she was in dire need of. But that space, silent or otherwise, was enough for now.

But her mood perked up somewhat at Cora's next question.

"O-oh. Yes." Her eyes shifted to the succulent and she couldn't help but let a tiny smile surface. Already, she could feel the low hum of the plant emanate outward, as if the lens into such awareness tuned in automatically, as it so often did around nature. She leaned forward a little, suddenly entranced with the plant, and let a tiny ripple her own inner Light shift silently through the Force towards it. A simple gesture, and one she so often relished with any plant she could find.

"She's pretty." She looked up to Cora again, the smile still on her face. It was as if, for a moment, she had become a completely different person. But

But self-awareness hit, and she cleared her throat, suddenly embarrassed by her display.

"I, uh... Yeah... I like plants..."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's features warmed as Eve came alive. A faint ripple of energy passed between the Echani and the succulent, a testament to her appreciation and aptitude for nature.

Then, she retreated a little into her shell.

"I grew up on an agricultural world, in a home surrounded by forests and rolling fields. I suppose this is my little way of keeping home with me in a place like Coruscant."

Cora's gaze passed from the plant to Eve. For all her Jedi training, she still missed her home at times, too.

"We're always looking for more help at the biodome."

The knight raised the teacup to her lips for a short sip. She hummed. Hot, but not scalding. The delicate floral scent settled over them easily now, like a warm blanket.

"Most of my help comes from unruly students. A temporary punishment of sorts." There was a thread of amusement woven into her tone. "But - ah - most of them are not there because they want to be. If you have the time, I would love to have you there in a more involved role. Are there any particular tasks that would interest you?"

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve's eyes widened, her mouth hanging slightly open in surprise at Cora's words. She didn't 'gasp' as such, but rather took in a slow inhalation that denoted the kind of excited shock that slowly unfolds from within. A gentle flush of pink came to her cheeks, and she really couldn't help but smile.

"O-Oh my. Wow." It was all she could manage for a while. She couldn't quite believe what she had just said to her. Working in the biome? Gardening to her heart's content? It sounded like a dream come true.

"Um— Y-Yes please," she finally forced herself to say, after realising she had just been sitting there in stunned silence for a while.

"Uh, I don't know about specifics..." She furrowed her brow a little in thought. "I guess just... whatever is most important, whatever needs doing." To Eve, personal preference was never as important as simply helping others for the sake of it.

"Thank you for asking me," she finally added with a gentle smile, before taking a sip of her tea.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

With the cup raised to her lips, Cora closed her eyes, feeling the wisps of steam as they curled into the space just beneath her eyelashes.

"I guess just... whatever is most important, whatever needs doing."

"A fine answer."

The knight opened her eyes and smiled.

"Thank you for assenting. You'll begin with caring for the plants in some of the more…welcoming biomes. Sorting seeds and cuttings, cataloguing samples, that sort of thing. As your experience grows, so will your responsibilities."

There was a pause as Cora placed her teacup back into its saucer. Her gaze shifted to the succulent perched on her desk, a focal point between her and Eve.

"And, if there is something that you wish to learn - do not hesitate to ask. Questions help us grow."

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve's face visibly changed, lifted, as suddenly all that was plaguing her melted behind her, replaced with the excitement at the promise of something new and nourishing. Her deep quartz eyes sparkled with an eagerness she hadn't felt in what felt like a long time.

"Oh, th-thank you." To her own surprise, a smile came to her for but a moment.

She thought a little on what Cora offered next, but something came to her quickly; something she had almost forgotten about entirely, the initial idea of which seemed like a lifetime ago, bu was evidently still buried within her desires.

"I would love to learn more about plants and the Force..." Her eyes drifted again to the succulent. She could still hear its primitive hum, consistent and quiet, spread out to her like a tiny ripple. "I discovered a power... a while ago now... that helps plants to... grow? But I don't know anyone who knows it."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Plant surge," Cora supplied. "Sometimes referred to as Consitor Sato in certain texts."

The somber mood seemed to evaporate from Eve's demeanor. The girl's appreciation for nature was clear, and perhaps that could be channeled into an affinity for alter abilities. Changing your natural environment was a powerful tool for the Jedi, but one that demanded an ardent respect for nature.

As in most things, it was a delicate balance.

"Plant surge can help us to navigate tricky terrain. It can also be used to restrain combatants."

Cora pushed the pot forward until the succulent sat between her and Eve. She traced a finger along the plant's rounded body, taking care to skim around the thorns. As she did so, a few pale lavender buds sprouted along the plant's midsection. They slowly unfurled, darkening into violet petals.

"Or, in certain cases, it can be helpful in restoring blighted crops."

Cora lifted her touch from the succulent, then gestured towards Eve.

"Would you like to try? I can guide you through it."

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

Eve listened with eager excitement, transfixed on Cora's words. Her expression had been completely replaced now, the shy manner and almost vacuous expression that filled her before seemingly becoming a distant memory, replaced by something more real and wholesome. A soft, quiet smile rested on her face.

As the plant grow before her eyes and sprouted its flowers, Eve audible gasped in awe. It was amazing to see in-person, and the very thought of helping a plant to grow in such a way an in such a short space of time had pulled her immediately back to how she was when she first came to Coruscant, full of the anticipation of learning such a skill. She remembered now, it was Shan's class that lead to her learning of such a power, and then she had looked into the power herself later in the Archives. Much of that early memory had been torn from her, it seemed, but now it was apparently coming back.

"M-Me?" The offer caught her off guard, but excitement rose within her, sending a buzz up her spine. "I... I would love to, yes. W-Wow." The quartz of her eyes shimmered with anticipation.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Ah, there it was.

Cora couldn't help but smile. There was a certain spark in Eve, the sort that drew one towards nature. Though the blonde had grown up pampered as the daughter of planetary nobility, Ukatis was an agricultural world. Many of the denizens in Ascania Provence were farmers.

"I don't believe I need to give you the speech about using this power responsibly," she began. "So I'd like you to start by placing your hands on the plant. Anywhere is fine. Close your eyes, and feel the way the Force moves in every stalk, every petal, every cell. Think of what you're feeling as life."

Cora spoke soft and slow, her words careful and measured. Plant surge was a favored ability, particularly when it came to teaching as she felt that it highlighted proper Jedi behavior; a steady hand was required to maintain the delicate balance between growing a plant and bending its form to one's will.

"The Force resides in all living things - feel the life within the buds, and encourage their natural path."

Everest Vale