Braze had never been one to conform to the typical schedule of the Jedi Temple. In his younger years as an initiate, he had developed
a knack for dodging early morning classes, much to the chagrin of his instructors. Even after
Jasper Kai'el
had taken him as his apprentice, Braze's punctuality remained a challenge.
The truth was, Braze's nights were often plagued by horrific nightmares. While the rest of the Temple slumbered peacefully, he would wrestle with the demons that haunted his dreams. These night terrors were not easily shaken, and they frequently left him in a state of unrest, making it nearly impossible for him to find solace in sleep.
Instead, he would lie awake in his quarters, attempting to shield his tumultuous thoughts from any fellow Jedi who might be awake at those unholy hours. It became a routine, a cycle of sleeplessness and exhaustion. He would finally drift into a fitful slumber only an hour or two before the dawn, leaving him perpetually tired and struggling to maintain his focus during the day.
Braze had always kept this issue closely guarded, a secret he dared not share with anyone. It was a problem he couldn't bring himself to discuss openly, no matter how much it tormented him. The thought of exposing his vulnerability to others was deeply embarrassing, and he couldn't imagine how he would even begin to broach the subject with someone.
Recently, he had been developing a deepening bond with
Loomi
, one where his nightmares became hers and vice versa. Their dreams had started to meld and mix, creating an odd dyadic connection. Braze found himself at a loss for how to cope with these experiences and had resorted to doubling down on his efforts to suppress them, filling his days with distractions to avoid confronting the nightmares that plagued his nights. Last evening was one of those nights where the harrowing experiences of the dream world had become amplified enough to startle him from his sleep, leaving him covered in a cold sweat.
Despite his restless night, Braze had a particularly early class scheduled for the day. He had taken to his training regimen with a renewed interest, bordering on obsession, albeit veiled with a promise of caution to his Master. Knowing the class was fast approaching, he decided not to return to sleep after his night terrors but rather cleaned himself up and readied for the day even earlier than his scheduled alarm had been set. He had tried meditation to calm his nerves, but it proved ineffective, so he turned to reviewing political news instead.
Once his waking alarm went off he turned it off and picked up his little sling and the small black critter he had taken on and tucked her neatly inside carrying her with him.
He hadn't checked who had accepted his request until now as he walked the halls, reviewing a small data pad. As he read the name, he couldn't help but recognize it—
Silas Westgard
. The name triggered a vague recollection in Braze's mind, and he had a general idea of who this person was. He frowned, feeling a sense of unease well up in the pit of his stomach.
While Braze had never met Silas in person, he had heard about him, and there was a
lingering comment he had made with regard Silas in the past that he now regretted. He wasn't sure how Silas felt about him or if he even knew about that comment, but the sentiment of anxiety swelled within Braze's heart, growing his unease. He took a slow, deep breath and tightened his hold on the data pad, unsure of what to expect from this upcoming interaction.
He reached the door to the training pools shortly after the Knight had emerged from the water's depths, having arrived a full 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Braze's somber jade-green eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on the Knight.
"Good morning," he offered, his voice soft and respectful. As he spoke, he reached into the sling to gently pet
the small black ball of fluff nestled within.
Braze
