Private Where All Journeys Begin

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened without interrupting, her eyes fixed not on the terrain below, but on Auren. She could see the tension in his shoulders slowly unwind, replaced by something firmer. Not arrogance — awareness. Responsibility. When he finished, she let a small smile play at the corner of her lips.

"That is exactly the kind of approach I'd take." She turned back toward the viewport, eyes tracing the golden curve of a hillside, then glanced back to him.

"Listen first. Show them we're here for them. Not to take over. Not to judge. Just… to help." She nodded, approving. The shuttle gave a soft lurch as it settled onto the dirt landing pad outside the settlement, its engines beginning to power down. Outside, a few locals had started to gather — cautious, curious, waiting to see who had come down from the sky.

Valery unbuckled her harness, then stood, her cloak catching the breeze from the still-cooling vents.

"I think you should lead the approach."

She didn't make it sound like a test. Because it wasn't. It was trust.

"I'll be right there with you. I'll step in if you need me — but I want you to guide the conversation. Learn by doing. You'll get more out of this than just watching me do it all."

She paused as she clipped her saber to her belt, and offered him a quiet, more personal look.

"If there's anything you're unsure about, anything you want advice on… just ask. This isn't about doing it perfectly. It's about doing it together."

She reached for the ramp controls.

"Ready?"

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren met Valery's gaze steadily, taking in her words carefully. He felt a quick pulse of nerves, the realization that he was being trusted to lead. But beneath that was something deeper. A quiet gratitude, a determination to prove he could handle it. He nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful but resolute.

At a glance through the viewport Auren saw the gathering locals watch their shuttle cautiously from a distance. They seemed wary, yet curious. Approaching them respectfully and gently would be crucial.

"Ready," he confirmed, the single word steady and clear. He unclipped his own harness, standing up to join her by the ramp controls. Before the ramp lowered, he paused, drawing a careful breath. He fidgeted with his pendant one last time out of pure habit.

"Thank you," he said softly to Valery, genuine appreciation filling his voice. "I'll do my best."

As the ramp lowered with a soft hiss, he squared his shoulders and began to walk down, trusting that Valery would indeed be right beside him, but confident enough now to trust himself as well.

Auren descended the ramp steadily, keeping his pace deliberate but unhurried. Each step felt more significant than the last, echoing softly on the shuttle's metallic surface as he transitioned onto the packed earth of the landing area.

He paused briefly at the bottom, allowing his presence to be clear without imposing. Looking toward the small group of locals, he offered a respectful nod, making eye contact as he spoke, his voice calm and reassuring.

"My name is Auren Kah'el. This is Master Valery Noble ," he gestured gently toward Valery beside him. "We're here from the Jedi Order."

He paused again, gauging their reactions before continuing carefully, "We heard your community faced some recent troubles. We're here to listen and to learn from you. If you'll allow us, we wish to offer whatever help we can provide."

He held his hands open at his sides in a quiet gesture of openness and sincerity, watching their faces closely. Auren allowed the silence to linger, not pushing or rushing them but simply letting them decide how and when to engage. It was important they understood he genuinely meant what he said: they weren't here to control or dictate, just to assist.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery walked at Auren's side, her boots soft on the packed earth, her presence calm but solid. The breeze carried the scent of dry grass and woodsmoke, whispering through the low scrub around the landing pad. Beyond the ridge, the afternoon sun cast long shadows from the settlement's modest buildings. Circular homes with domed roofs, each painted in soft earth tones that blended into the land.

The locals stood in a loose cluster, mostly older men and women, with a few younger adults watching from behind. A child peeked from behind someone's cloak. Their clothes were handwoven and practical, layered against the mountain wind, and their faces bore the lines of a life lived close to the land.

Auren's words carried clearly through the still air, and Valery watched the way the group responded. No one stepped back. No one shouted. They simply listened.

Then, one of them stepped forward.

A woman, perhaps in her fifties, with gray streaks in her braided hair and a weathered face that had clearly seen more than her share of struggle. She wore a long coat made from tough hide and a string of carved bone charms around her neck. Her eyes settled on Auren with quiet scrutiny.

"You speak plain," she said after a long pause, her voice rough but not unkind. "That's good. We've had offworlders come before, dressed in promises and soaked in pride. You don't sound like one of them."

She studied him a moment longer. Then her gaze shifted to Valery, lingering on the lightsaber at her belt, before returning to Auren.

"Name's Lirah. I speak for this village."

She gestured toward a stone path that led between two homes and deeper into the heart of the settlement.

"If you came to listen, then come sit by the fire. You'll hear what needs hearing."

Valery gave Auren a slight nod, the kind that said: you're doing well. Keep going.

She didn't speak yet. This was his moment. She was here to support, to steady the ground beneath his feet, but he was the one making the path forward.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren met Lirah's gaze with quiet respect, nodding gently as she finished speaking.

"Thank you, Lirah," he said clearly, allowing genuine gratitude to shape his words. "We're honoured by your welcome."

He began walking slowly along the stone path, matching his pace with Lirah's, careful not to rush ahead. Valery Noble stayed at his side, a reassuring presence he deeply appreciated. As they moved into the settlement, Auren took in the details of village life. Woodsmoke drifting gently above modest homes, the distant rhythmic sound of work being done and a few curious glances from those tending gardens or repairing equipment.

Arriving at the central firepit, flames crackled softly, the scent of burning logs mingling comfortably with the crisp air. Lirah gestured to seats around the fire, rough-hewn logs, smoothed from years of use.

Settling down slowly, Auren felt the subtle warmth on his face and took a steady breath, composing his thoughts. He allowed a moment of comfortable silence to pass, knowing that silence could speak as clearly as words.

Then, meeting Lirah's eyes, he asked gently, "Could you tell us what happened here? Take all the time you need, we're here to listen."

He paused briefly, then added, "And to help, in whatever way that suits you."

He glanced briefly toward Valery, drawing comfort from her quiet support, before turning back to the villagers gathered around them. He was ready to hear their story, prepared to hold space for their words, and hopeful he could begin to ease whatever burden they carried.

Lirah took a moment, staring thoughtfully into the flames as they reflected warmly against her lined features. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet yet firm, carrying the steady weight of someone who had held responsibility for a long time.

"They came from the hills," she began slowly, nodding toward the distant ridge. "Raiders, yes, but different from what we've seen before. More desperate, more organized. Usually, it's small thefts, a few crops, a broken fence, livestock gone missing. This was something else."

She leaned forward, elbows resting heavily on her knees. "They arrived just before dawn. Caught us when our guard was down. They were quick, too quick. Set fire to our storage buildings, took what they wanted. Supplies, equipment, food. And then, almost as quickly as they'd come, they left."

Her gaze moved between Auren and Valery, as if measuring their reactions. "No lives lost, thank the stars, but our livelihood took a heavy blow. Without those supplies, we won't last the next season." She paused, clearly weighing her next words carefully. "Some here are angry, wanting revenge. Others just frightened, afraid they'll come again. We're not warriors, we're farmers and craftsmen, folk who want peace and little else."

She straightened slightly, her voice lowering to something gentler, more vulnerable. "We don't ask for violence or vengeance. But if you're truly here to help us... then we need to know how to protect ourselves. To understand why this happened, and how to prevent it."

Lirah's eyes, wise and watchful, settled firmly back on Auren. "That's what needs hearing."