First Reply To Believe in One's Self

[Congen Rintenne]

Congen walked through Naboo's manicured park, enjoying the smell of blooming lilies and the peaceful hum of passing citizens. Knowing how fragile peace was across the war-torn galaxy, she cherished these quiet moments away from her training. She leaned down near a fountain to inspect a patch of flowers, her eyes wandering to her reflection in a small puddle.

Suddenly, the water seemed to change into her own face frowning at her as they spoke with a spiteful tone. "Are you a Jedi or a gardener?" the comment causing her to freeze, breathing becoming harder. The girl staring back at her didn't look like a hero of the Republic but someone who had spent years running from conflict.

Her hand reached down to touch the cold steel of her lightsaber hilt as a breeze rippled the water, blurring the image away. Shaken, Congen forced herself to stand despite her legs buckling underneath, as she wrapped her arms tightly across her chest, watching a pair of oblivious guards stroll past as the familiar self-doubt began creeping into her mind.

"I simply don't know..." She said softly into the wind.
​

 

[Rathir]

THE HIGH REPUBLIC

RATHIR
JEDI INITIATE • LIVING FORCE

LOCATION PARK, NABOO

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Rathir had been taking the longer route through the park when a quiet voice carried across the air. The words were soft enough that most of the people passing nearby probably would not have noticed them, but his hearing picked them out easily among the footsteps, distant conversation and running water.

He slowed on the path, blue eyes searching in the direction of a fountain until they settled on an unfamiliar girl standing near the water. Her arms were held tightly across her chest, a noticeable contrast to the otherwise peaceful gardens around her. Rathir considered continuing on his way, but something in the back of his mind nudged him to do otherwise.

The lightsaber at her side caught his attention as he drew closer. Jedi, then, or at least someone training with them. Rathir had spent a year around the Temple, but new faces were hardly unusual, and he had never met this one before.

A patch of flowers caught his eye as he crossed toward the fountain, some of their colouring carrying subtle differences beneath his broader vision that most people would never see. His attention didn't stay there long. The stranger was still standing alone, and nobody nearby appeared to have been the intended recipient of what she had said.

Rathir stopped a short distance away and glanced toward the water.

"Don't know what?" His eyes settled briefly on the fountain. "That's a fountain."

He looked back at her, keeping the straight expression for a moment before the faintest hint of a smile appeared.

"Unless that wasn't the problem."

The humour faded as he took another look at the way she held herself.

"Are you alright?" Rathir asked. His blue eyes remained fixed on her with the direct attention he tended to give people once they had caught his interest. "Did something happen?"

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TAGS
Congen Rintenne ​

FIRRERREO • FORM V • JEDI INITIATE​

 

[Congen Rintenne]

Congen turned slowly as footsteps stopped behind her, half-expecting her own reflection to step out of the water and mock her again. Instead, Rathir towered over her, her heart pounding against her ribs as she pulled her arms tighter against her chest, suddenly feeling small in her tunic.

"I'm fine," she said, keeping her voice low. "And thank you, I do know what a fountain is. I was just... looking at the flowers. They seem lovely this time of month." She pointed a trembling finger toward the nearby garden bed before her hand dropped back down to clamp around her forearm, her knuckles turning white under her sleeve. Taking a subtle step back, she shifted her weight onto her heels, ready to pull away if he moved any closer.
​

 

[Rathir]

THE HIGH REPUBLIC

RATHIR
JEDI INITIATE • LIVING FORCE

LOCATION PARK, NABOO

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Rathir flushed silver at his cheeks at her correction.

"Oh, right, I was joking about the fountain."

His gaze followed her gesture toward the garden bed, though it returned when her hand dropped back to her arm. Rathir noticed the movement backward a moment later. Not wanting to crowd her any further, and now that he was more aware of himself, he took a step back of his own.

"Sorry."

There was more space between them now. Rathir looked toward the flowers instead, studying them for a few seconds rather than continuing to stare at her.

"The flowers are nice."

Some of the petals carried shades and markings beneath his broader vision that most people would never notice, subtle differences layered over the colours visible to everyone else. He watched them for another moment before glancing back toward the girl.

She had said she was fine. Rathir wasn't sure he believed her, but that didn't mean he had to keep asking.

"My name's Rathir." He shifted his weight slightly, glancing back to her. "We can talk about other things, if you want?"

Rathir wondered what else they could talk about instead.

His eyes brightened.

"What color is your lightsaber?"

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TAGS
Congen Rintenne ​

FIRRERREO • FORM V • JEDI INITIATE​