0-7
Braze practically lit up at her recognition of his handiwork and crafting skills. "Yes~ I love getting intensely involved in creating new things. The trial-and-error process teaches me so much; the feedback loop until I get something just right. It gives my mind somewhere to go… somewhere useful. I also like being able to solve problems for people with the things I make, or gift them something practical they'll actually use. I don't always know how to be supportive with my words, or emotionally available in a healthy way, but I like to think useful gifts help bridge that shortcoming."
He warmed as he spoke, almost akin to a puppy that had just heard the delighted squeak of its favorite chew toy.
"I'm supposed to be in exile from the Jedi after what I did on Coruscant… Most Jedi would expect me to take the Barash Vow."
He shifted slightly, settling into the explanation as he recalled what
Eloise Dinn
had said.
"It's named for Barash Silvain, a Jedi Master during the High Republic. After a disastrous mission she believed she had mishandled, she publicly renounced her place in the Order. She stepped away from her rank, her authority, and her duties, and declared she would answer only to the Force. She chose seclusion and contemplation as penance.
"She was the first to formalize it. She removed herself from the Jedi Council, withdrew from active assignments, and lived apart in reflection. Her decision set a precedent; afterward, any Jedi who declared the same withdrawal invoked her name. That's why it's called the Barash Vow. It honors the first one who stepped away."
His voice carried steady certainty of what he was talking about...
"The vow is a formal withdrawal from the Jedi Order. A Jedi who takes it relinquishes command, missions, and representation of the Order. They live quietly, often in isolation, dedicating themselves to meditation and reflection until they feel reconciled with the Force. Some return. Some never do."
He glanced at her offering a wary look.
"It is an act of humility and atonement. It is also a complete removal from active service."
A soft sigh of a breath passed through him s his shouldrs relaxed...
"I've chosen something else. I've committed myself to disciplined work with the Force. I build. I shape stone and structure through focus and precision. I'm constructing a rather ostentatious home, carving beauty into every available vista—arches, corridors, foundations formed through will and careful guidance."
His expression softened into thoughtfulness.
"When I finish, I intend to expand that work. Training grounds. Purpose-built locations designed to teach the moment someone steps inside. Architecture that directs attention. Space that tests awareness. It keeps me accountable. It keeps me practicing and it serves others."
He looked out past her, toward something only he could see.
"I used to wander in search of old temples and tombs built by people long gone. I would stand inside them and study the lines, the symmetry, the intention. Someone shaped those places with care. Someone believed meaning could be carved into stone. I understand that instinct now. from everything I've been building up"
