Never where you think you left it.

[Esis Nas]

Thyr, Thyton.​

Silent Desert.​

Qigong Kesh, ruins.​

​

​

​

​

Approximately 20 years back...

Quick fingers finished lacing up the sand boots that covered her feet, adjusting them tightly against her sheen. Her upper body then raised, bright green eyes staring directly into a mirror to see a much younger face. Her features had not yet fully sharpened, there was still an innocence clinging on to her expression, the hopeful flame of youth behind her emerald eyes. Lachesis, a name she would hide in the years to come, was fifteen years old.

The young girl stood up, walking out of the small compartment she had been occupying and into the main lounge of the transport vehicle. It wasn't her first mission, but it was the very first in which she wasn't accompanied by her Master and as expected, slight nervousness swirled its way into Lachesis' chest. At least, she wasn't sent alone and would join another apprentice of Asha Seren in searching the amulets their mentor had requested them to retrieve.

[member="Jericho"] was a couple of years older than her and Lachesis had known him for quite a long time now, albeit never personally. She knew they were very different, if not complete opposites, in their skill sets. He excelled at the physical and practical aspects of their training while her strengths resided in the sensory and mental fields. Asha had encouraged her to put her trust in him during the mission. After all, Jericho was the most experienced out of the two and the thought did bring certain comfort to the Zelosian Padawan.

Lachesis took a seat in one of the plasticast benches built into the walls of the transport. They would be arriving to the eastern entrance of the Silent Desert soon. The young girl had a large back-pack ready at her feet, holding many devices they would need but most importantly: water. Tython's desert was known to reach dangerous temperatures and even if they had the Force to aid them, water would be most definitely needed.

Eyes closed, she took one deep breath, allowing the Force to flow through her, drawing calmness and focus from it. She knew Jericho would appear anytime now, the transport had stopped its movement and was readying itself to open its doors so that they both could begin their journey to the lost ruins of the ancient temple of Qigong Kesh.

 

[Jericho]

It wasn't long before the recently knighted, Jericho to adjust to his new lifestyle, he had always been a loner due to his way of living. Asha Seren saw this dangerous potential and showed him a way outside of the order but still in helping others. His drive for knowledge and pushing his own limits this presence of mind didn't thrive in the confines of a temple. Jericho has been on more missions than padawans and even some knights. At the beginning most would say that it was a poor choice on Seren's judgement to allow him to do such a thing, going on missions at such a young age but his results said otherwise. With every mission he came out more intelligent and more powerful in the force, he had to, the eyes of Seren were upon him he had to continue to prove that her faith in him was right.

It was curious though, Jericho preferred working alone but more often than not Seren made him work with someone. Was it her way of telling him that he need have more social interaction. So of course he looked into her profiling, he would know everything he needed to know about her. As he looked over her dossier, she is an above average padawan with an exceptional ability in force sensing her intelligence was above average as well but it seemed her physical skills were....lacking or showed little interest in; as such her field experiences was just as lacking. Overall though, another high potential prospect for knighthood. The youth let out a sigh; thinking of every situation that they could be put in both best case scenario and the worst. The youth knew he had that to be prepared for both.

As he reached the destination he geared up in his appropriate attire, his jedi robes light armor barely shown from under the robes and his breathing mask, met with the one called Lachesis Nas. She was a slender but strong looking young woman standing about a half inch taller than himself. The youth bowed his head slightly to her, "I am Jericho." The youth started off. "Are you ready to go? If not we can take more time to prepare."

[member="Esis Nas"]

 

[Esis Nas]

Their mission, as had been described to them by Master Seren, replayed again in Lachesis' mind. They'd have to traverse a great distance through the Silent Desert, find the ancient temple of Qigong Kesh and enter it, retrieve the amulets and leave. Of course, everything was easier said than done and the Padawan knew this. She felt prepared, Lachesis had never been -nor would ever be- the boastful type, but she knew how to be confident of her abilities while also aware of her limits and faults.

The idea of visiting the Silent Desert intrigued her. She had studied the place in the past, it was a maze of a desert with one peculiarity that distinguished it from the others: the Silent Desert, for some reason yet to be discovered, absorbed all sounds. They wouldn't be able to hear each other, or anything else for that matter. Being attuned to the Force would be their greatest advantage, for they could always reach out to the mind of each other. But not all had been blessed with the connection they held to the living Force, and she had heard of several cases of people going mad, their thoughts drowned by the silence and solitude the desert generated.

Just as the transport was opening its doors, Jericho appeared. She stood up to greet him, offering the same respectful nod in acknowledgement. A very small smile stretched her lips, friendly and calm. The eldest apprentice of Asha Seren, or at least the eldest she knew, was known for his prowess and achievements. Esis had certainly needed more guidance in her own path, in part due to her unbalanced abilities, favoring some much more than the others, and in part because her mind had been in distress when she was taken in by the Je'daii. A mind that doesn't forget is in constant pain, and she had to learn to understand it and cope with it before she could further advance.

"Lachesis. A pleasure to meet you." She said, youthful voice flooded by a warm and serene tone. In theory she did know him from before, but since it was the first time they would be actively interacting with each other, it felt like the right thing to say nonetheless. She then offered a small nod, "I am ready." After her reassurance, they exited the transport. The sand-filled landscape in front of them was vast and monotonous, a strange beauty to its simplicity. It would be strange not being able to hear her own voice once they walked further into the desert.

[member="Jericho"]