Private Where All Journeys Begin

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The Tython sun filtered through the high windows of the Jedi Temple, casting golden light across the stone floor of the central atrium. It was quiet at this hour — not silent, but still enough to feel the breath of the planet beneath one's boots. The Force hummed softly through the ancient halls, old as the Order itself, and alive with the energy of training, reflection, and quiet anticipation.

Valery stood near the base of the grand stairway, her arms folded loosely across her chest, cloaked in the comfortable weight of her dark jumpsuit. She looked every bit the Jedi she was reputed to be — composed, watchful, but never unapproachable. Her lightsabers rested at her sides, unused for now, and her gaze was turned toward the open doorway just beyond the atrium.

She was waiting.

Auren Kah'el.

The name was new to her, but the file had come through only recently — a new Padawan, fresh to the Order but not without promise. The kind of Padawan who needed not just guidance in the Force, but real experience. There would be plenty of time for training halls and meditation rooms. Today, she intended to offer something different.

Outside, the morning breeze stirred the Temple's banners. Somewhere in the distance, a training remote buzzed to life. Valery closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself, before her senses reached out gently — feeling the new presence approaching. Hesitant, maybe. But bright.

She opened her eyes and smiled faintly to herself.

Showtime.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Lightly clutching the strap of his satchel across his chest, Auren paced his way carefully through the entrance of the Jedi Temple. Taking in the grandeur and scale of the hall he found himself in, he noticed his nerves lifting slightly, then resurfacing as he looked around. There was an energy he felt here, instantly. One he'd felt before, but not of this scale. Not overwhelmed, not shaken by, but soothed. There was no air movement yet there was a presence, shifting and flowing.

His travels had led him to this moment, right here. Leratis had never felt so distant, yet the stillness around him was a comfort he hadn't felt since home. The journey was long and at times uncertain. A sense of accomplishment settled over him suddenly, realising a new beginning was now closer than ever. Tuning his gaze from the architecture to clues on where to head next, he adjusted his satchel strap and strolled forward.

Individuals were passing from left to right, moving through the halls, each with their own intent. There were beings he had never seen before, others like himself, younglings and elders. This was a living, breathing temple on a truly impressive scale. There was purpose all throughout these halls, and he felt himself moving towards it with each step.

Up ahead, near the foot of the grand staircase stood a female figure dressed in a sleek, dark jumpsuit. He knew this was someone unfamiliar, yet the faint sense of welcome drew him in. Smiling fairly, he approached her. "My name is Auren Kah'el, I was hoping you could direct me — I've just arrived, I'm in search of.. guidance..." making sure to sound kind, yet confident.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery turned at the sound of his voice, her amber eyes settling on the young man now standing before her. He had the look of someone who'd crossed a threshold — not just physically, but spiritually. That blend of excitement and uncertainty, steadied by purpose. She saw it all the time in new arrivals. But something about Auren already felt anchored. Like the Force hadn't just nudged him here — it had carried him.

"You've come to the right place," she said with a warm, reassuring smile.

Her arms unfolded as she stepped forward, boots gliding smoothly over the stone floor with the ease of someone deeply familiar with the ground beneath her. "I'm Valery Noble," she offered, her tone calm and grounded. "Grandmaster of the Order." She let that settle for a moment — never one to wield a title like a weapon, but also not one to hide from what it meant. And then, gently, she inclined her head toward the corridor to his right.

"Walk with me, Auren," she said, already beginning a slow, steady pace beside him. "You'll have time to learn about the Archives and training rooms, sparring halls and gardens. But for now, I'd rather get to know you."

She glanced over at him, a small, curious smile tugging at her lips. "Where you're from. What brought you here. What you're hoping to find." And as they moved through the Temple's ancient halls — light filtering through murals that had watched over Jedi for generations — Valery's presence remained constant.

Steady, open, and ready to listen.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren matched Valery's pace, walking alongside her, listening carefully. He'd never met a Jedi before, he thought. He admired Valery's demeanour right from the get-go. Although he wasn't familiar with where they were headed, Auren knew he was in good hands. The Grandmasters energy felt assuring and important, and it gave Auren room to centre himself, to anticipate the path before him.

Taking in the things Grandmaster Valery was mentioning, such as the Archives, training rooms and gardens, he tried not to let his mind wonder. Anticipating a question or two he continued to hear her words. As she asked where he was from, Auren's stomach dropped faintly. He wondered if such an unknown world might colour her impression of him.

"I'm from a planet called Leratis," he said, his tone even but thoughtful.

"It's quiet. Old temples, old traditions. Not much else."

A soft pause.

"I didn't come chasing anything. I just kept... listening. And eventually, the wind led me here."

He paused after speaking, as if weighing the truth of his own words in real time. There had been no grand vision, no burning purpose to set him on this path. Only moments — quiet ones — where the world seemed to hum beneath his thoughts, nudging him forward. A shift in the breeze, a whisper in stillness, the feeling that something was pulling gently at the edge of his awareness.

Where others had plans, he had patterns — subtle currents that spoke not in language, but in feeling.

It wasn't ambition that brought him here. It was trust. Trust in the wind. Trust in the Force.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smile deepened, touched by something quiet and genuine in his answer.

"Trust in the wind," she echoed softly, the words carrying a kind of reverence. "You might be surprised how many Jedi begin their journey with something just like that."

Her gaze drifted ahead as they walked, the corridor curving gently through the heart of the Temple. Murals lined the walls, some faded with age, others newly restored — a tapestry of history in motion. Their footsteps were quiet against the stone, the stillness around them not empty, but alive with the presence of the Force.

"There's power in listening," she said after a beat. "Not just to the Force, but to yourself. The quiet pull of something deeper." She glanced at him again. "That kind of awareness? That's rare. And valuable."

The pair rounded a corner where the ceiling arched high above them, beams of light filtering through skylights to cast shifting patterns across the floor. Valery slowed slightly and turned her head toward Auren.

"I'm curious," she asked, her tone light but sincere. "What do you know of the Jedi already? Philosophy, history, rumors — whatever's reached you out there on Leratis."

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Valery spoke of Jedi beginning their journeys — and of the power in listening, and awareness. Rare and valuable? Auren echoed the words in his mind, caught slightly off guard. Still admiring the elegance of the Temple's winding halls — seeing the warm sunlight filter through high stained-glass windows, casting patterns across the floor.

Valery carried on, asking Auren what he knew of the Jedi.

"The Jedi?" Auren repeated inquisitively, almost as if to stall a little.

"We heard the Jedi sought balance," watching his feet as they continued through the hallways.

"And that they are wise, and powerful." he remarked, reminding himself of the odd story offworlders would tell of them from time to time. "There were no Jedi back on Leratis." His voice softened, sounding reflective. "At least, none we ever saw. Just stories. People talked about them like these... wandering myths — travellers, warriors, peacekeepers."

Auren's eyes followed the murals along the walls as he spoke. He saw figures and symbols painted and carved beautifully among them. He wondered if he'd learn of the history behind these tapestries some day.

"I'm not sure why there were no Jedi on Leratis. Maybe it was too remote — we were quiet... hidden away."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened with the kind of patience that seemed woven into her very breath — the strength of someone used to hearing stories unfold in their own time. As Auren spoke, her expression remained open, her gaze shifting occasionally to the murals that stretched alongside them, each one casting flickers of memory and meaning across the path they walked.

"Stories can be a kind of truth," she said gently, once his voice had faded into thought. "Even when they're half-remembered or colored by myth. They carry the shape of something real." She glanced sideways at him, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Wandering myths isn't far off, honestly."

They continued through the corridor, her steps unhurried.

"You're right — we do seek balance. But not just in the galaxy. In ourselves. In every choice we make. Power, wisdom, peace..." she gestured lightly toward one of the murals — a Jedi raising a hand not in battle, but in calm between two opposing forces. "Those are tools. Goals. But the path?" She tapped her chest lightly. "The path begins in here. With awareness. Compassion. Discipline. And connection to the Force."

They passed under another archway, and Valery paused briefly, letting her gaze sweep across a section of wall that showed a Jedi helping a village in crisis — no lightsabers drawn, just presence and guidance.

"As for why no Jedi came to Leratis..." she tilted her head slightly. "Maybe we were meant to find you this way. The Force doesn't always send us where it's loudest. Sometimes, it whispers. And someone listens." Then she looked at him again — fully now, not just as a curious newcomer, but as someone on the verge of something far larger than himself.

"You've already started your path, Auren. You listened. You followed. And now you're here." A small, knowing smile touched her features. "Let's see where the next step takes you, hm?"

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren found himself reflecting on his own understanding of balance — the quiet choices he'd made, the moments he mistook stillness for peace. His gaze shifted to the mural as Valery motioned toward it, taking in the calm at its centre and the harmony it represented. As she placed her hand over her chest, speaking with effortless clarity about the Force and its deeper truths, Auren felt a quiet gratitude rise within him. There was something grounding in the way she spoke — not just of wisdom and power, but of connection. He listened closely, not wanting to miss a word. He wanted to learn more of the Jedi's philosophy.

As Valery spoke of the Force guiding him, Auren found himself tracing the thread of moments that had led him here — wondering if they had always been connected. A sudden sense of presence anchored him in the moment. Maybe there was meaning in his memories, times he would often recall that actually held real significance. He started to feel like he might belong where he found himself.

Then, Auren noticed Valery turn to look at him — this time with a greater sense of meaning. Clocking the intention of her smile, the words she spoke sunk in.

The next steps were already taking shape.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched the way Auren absorbed her words — not with blind faith, but with thoughtfulness. Reflection. It reminded her of younglings staring up at the stars, asking quiet questions they didn't always say aloud. It wasn't just curiosity. It was readiness. And she felt it settle between them now. The moment when introductions stopped being about the past… and started shaping the future.

She smiled again — warm, but tinged with something more deliberate this time. A choice made.

"Well," she said gently, stepping forward again, her voice soft but clear, "Now that we've had our walk among the murals and memories, I think it's time we make one of our own." She glanced over at him with a subtle lift of her brow.

"There's an assignment I've been preparing to take on — not far from here, and not without its challenges." Her steps echoed lightly beneath the next archway as she looked forward down the hall, then back to him again.

"I'd like you to come with me."

A pause.

"It won't be training in the traditional sense — no meditation cushions or sparring circles just yet. But you'll see what it means to walk with the Jedi. To listen. To help. To stand where others step back."

Another faint smile — one that spoke of trust already forming.

"What do you say, Auren?"

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Valery's offer stirred a warmth in Auren's chest. He hadn't known what to expect upon arriving at the Temple — but the Grandmaster's words felt as though they'd been waiting for him all along.

"I'd be honoured to accompany you," he replied, a spark of eagerness in his voice.

He didn't know what the assignment would involve — but that didn't matter. Auren gave a small nod of confirmation. He didn't need time to think. This was what he'd come for.

And perhaps, more than that, it was the first time since leaving Leratis that he truly felt part of something — not just a visitor passing through, but a participant in whatever came next.

He stood a little taller, energised and excited.

"I'm ready."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smile deepened, pleased — not just with his answer, but the confidence in it. She could feel it radiating off him now, a quiet certainty layered beneath the excitement. The kind of energy that marked the beginning of something real.

"Good," she said softly, and turned, her cloak swaying lightly behind her as she began to walk again. "Come on, then. Let's not keep the stars waiting." They moved through the hallways of the Temple, each archway giving way to open walkways bathed in the soft golden light of the late afternoon sun.

Valery led him toward the landing pads at the far end of the spire — and as their boots echoed across the polished floor, she cast a glance his way.

"So," she asked, her voice lighter now, conversational. "Have you ever been to the Outer Rim before?"

She was watching him out of the corner of her eye, curious not just for the answer, but the shape of his reaction. Excitement? Nerves? The Outer Rim wasn't just another region — it was rougher, rawer, the kind of place that tested Jedi in ways training halls never could.

"The planet's called Telaga. Dusty. Isolated. They've had some problems with old mining tech being repurposed by raiders. We're not going in sabers blazing — it's more about support and stability. Helping the locals get back on their feet."

A beat.

"But," she added with a faint smirk, "If someone does decide to start trouble, I'll let you watch me kick them through a wall."

Just to lighten the moment. Just enough to let him breathe. Because the journey was beginning — and she was glad it was with him.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren walked alongside Valery, his attention shifting from the Temple's architecture to something more immediate — the details of their upcoming journey.

Outer Rim, he echoed silently. "That's farther out than any system I'm familiar with," he admitted, a note of uncertainty in his voice. His understanding of the stars seldom extended beyond Leratis and its neighbouring planets, and the Outer Rim — by reputation alone — sounded distant, unpredictable. Not the sort of place he'd imagined for his first assignment.

"Is this somewhere you've been before?" he asked, curiosity nudging him forward.

When Valery mentioned Telaga — a remote world recently struck by raiders — Auren listened closely, trying to visualise the planet from her description. He formed a mental image of what they might encounter. From the sound of it, their visit would be careful in nature — a mission of support and diplomacy rather than direct conflict. Still, the risk of trouble didn't seem entirely unlikely.

Valery's remark about kicking someone through a wall caught him off guard. He laughed, recognising the playfulness in her tone — though a part of him couldn't help but wonder how literal she might have been. The thought was oddly reassuring. His brows lifted, a lopsided grin forming on his face, tinged with amusement and a hint of admiration.

His fingers reached for the thread around his neck, tracing it down to the small stone pendant at the end. He twiddled the stone between his fingers as they continued towards the landing pads — a quiet habit when deep in thought. He wondered what physical feats he himself might be capable of one day. When he thought of the Jedi, it was their responsibility and nature that came to mind first, not their gifted abilities. But now, more than ever, Auren felt eager to explore both — and to continue his path under the guidance of the Jedi.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery smiled again at his reaction and for a moment, she let the silence between them stretch as the Temple behind them gave way to the open landing platform. The golden sun lit the shuttle's frame in soft amber, and the hum of pre-flight systems whispered on the wind.

"I've spent a lot of time in the Outer Rim," she said finally, "The Core may have more lights and senators, but the edges of the galaxy?" A pause. "That's where people are forgotten. Where justice doesn't always reach. My path as a Jedi's taken me to warzones, refugee camps, disaster sites… to places where peace isn't a ceremony. It's something you build, brick by brick."

She glanced at him as the shuttle hatch opened with a soft hiss. "Telaga, though — that's new for me too. Every planet has its own rhythm. We'll listen to theirs."

They stepped into the shuttle, the soft lighting of the interior adjusting automatically. Valery moved through it with the ease of someone who had boarded a thousand like it, her boots silent on the metal plating. But as she walked, her eyes flicked to the motion of his fingers — the way they fidgeted over the pendant he wore like it was second nature.

She stopped, just before the cockpit, and tilted her head toward him.

"That stone," she said gently, nodding toward the pendant in his fingers, "What is it? Something from home?" Her tone wasn't prying — just curious, and respectful because she was genuinely interested.

But after a moment, she turned and led them into the cockpit. The space was small but clean, all flickering lights and ready controls. She slipped into the pilot's seat, hands instinctively checking the ignition, nav systems, flight vector.

Then she looked at him again, gesturing to the co-pilot's seat.

"Come on," she said with a smirk, "You're not just cargo. Sit there. Watch what I do. You'll be flying one of these before long." Valery powered the shuttle to life with a confident flick of her hand, then glanced sideways at him again — her expression warm, steady.

"Every Jedi has their first mission. Let's make sure yours is one worth remembering."

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren listened closely as they neared the shuttle on the landing platform. The Outer Rim was sounding pretty grim, and now he was heading there himself. Still, he was sure he was in good hands. That let him relax a little, letting the excitement creep in as he took in the scale and shape of the ship ahead. His eyes scanned over its sleek structure, impressed by the tech and the low hum of the idle engines.

Following Valery up the ramp, Auren stepped inside the vessel.

She moved through the interior with ease, clearly familiar with every inch of it. Auren trailed just behind, taking in the ship's layout. Compared to the passenger shuttle he'd arrived on, this was something else entirely. Confined, but purposeful. Compartments lined the walls, control switches and levers glinted softly, and every surface looked well-used but cared for. This ship felt lived-in — maintained, not polished.

At the cockpit threshold, Valery turned and caught Auren absentmindedly fiddling with the stone pendant around his neck. She asked about it, her voice warm. He chuckled, not having realised he'd been holding it.

"It's a charm I've had since I was little," he explained. "My grandfather passed it down to me. I don't really remember him much — I was young — but this always reminded me to stop and listen. Back on Leratis, we had these huge stone temples. When the wind passed through them, they'd hum and echo differently depending on the season. This... kind of brings me back to that." He glanced sideways, almost seeing those old temple halls as he spoke.

Valery settled into the pilot's seat and flipped a few switches with practiced precision. Auren stepped in to join her, hovering just inside the cockpit, then finally lowering himself into the co-pilot's seat. He gazed out through the viewport, then scanned the dash with wide-eyed curiosity.

"You actually know what every one of these does?" he asked playfully.

He'd never piloted a ship before. Never had the chance.

Valery's next words caught him completely off guard.

His eyes widened.

He was going to be flying one of these someday?

He adjusted in the co-pilot's seat properly now, and with pride. A grin spread across his face before he realised it. He looked at Valery with the face of someone who'd just been told the stars were his to explore.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened as he spoke, her eyes flicking briefly to the pendant, then back to his face. There was something steady in the way he described it — a memory worn smooth with time and meaning, not unlike the stone itself.

"Humming stones," she murmured, smiling faintly. "I like that. The Force does the same thing, sometimes. Not loud — just… a hum in the right moment, if you're quiet enough to listen." She turned her attention back to the controls, fingers dancing across the console with unconscious precision. Then, without looking, she pointed to a circular switch just above his left hand — glowing a soft amber.

"Go on," she said, with a hint of challenge in her tone. "Press that."

The moment his fingers met the switch, the shuttle rumbled to life.

Engines roared with restrained power, the hull vibrating with potential as the lights on the console flared from standby to active. Valery smiled, satisfied, and grasped the controls. The shuttle lifted smoothly off the platform, abd they were on their way. She handled the ascent like she was born for it — fluid, fast, and calm. As city gave way to cloud, and cloud gave way to the quiet black between planets, Valery's gaze slid sideways again.

"Alright, Auren," she said, flipping one last switch to ready the navicomputer. The target coordinates blinked softly on the console.

"You want to take us to hyperspace?"

There was that smirk again — warm and inviting.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren blinked, unsure if he'd heard her right.

"Wait—seriously?" he asked, half-laughing as his eyes darted between Valery's calm expression and the glowing coordinates pulsing on the screen before him.

She didn't answer — not with words, anyway. Just that smirk, the kind that told him she absolutely meant it.

Auren leaned forward slightly in the co-pilot's seat, hands hovering near the console. He felt the subtle hum of the ship beneath his fingertips, the weight of the moment pressing in. His eyes scanned the panel, searching for the exact control Valery pointed to. He hesitated only a second, just long enough to take a breath.

Then he reached out and pushed the lever forward, looking through the viewport.

The stars outside stretched into lines — imprisoning them briefly by brilliant beams — and then, in an instant, they were gone. Only the soft swirl of hyperspace remained.

Auren sank back in his seat, wide-eyed. "I can't believe I just did that."

He glanced at Valery, grinning proudly. "I don't think that will ever not impress me..."

He looked down again at the console, and then back up at the light tunnel they were racing through — steady, but buzzing with energy.

"Thanks for letting me do that," he said after a moment, quieter now. "I could get used to this."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Auren's reaction out of the corner of her eye, the way his fingers trembled slightly before he pressed the lever, the way awe painted itself across his face as hyperspace unfolded around them. It was a look she’d seen before — but it never got old. That quiet kind of wonder. Like the stars had just spoken your name.

"You’re welcome," she said at last, her voice warm, steady. "And you will get used to it. That’s the strange thing — even hyperspace becomes routine after a while." Her gaze slid to him, and the smile turned a little sly. "But the first jump? You never forget it."

The console chimed softly. Proximity alert. Their destination was close.

"Alright, co-pilot," she said, nodding toward the control panel. "You took us in. Want to take us out?"

She pointed to a different switch this time — smaller, tucked in beside the nav display. "Right there. Ease it back, slowly."

As Auren did so, the light tunnel began to distort, stars bending and slowing until, in a final flicker, normal space snapped back into view. A blue-and-green world loomed ahead, its atmosphere streaked with clouds and its continents quilted in dense forest and rolling plains.

Valery adjusted their heading with practiced ease, angling the shuttle toward the approach vector.

"There it is." She nodded toward the viewport. "Agricultural planet, mostly. Quiet. But there’s a reason we’re here."

The clouds broke around them as they descended, and sunlight spilled through the cockpit windows in golden slants. Below, a patchwork of farmlands and forest spread out — scattered settlements nestled along winding rivers, smoke curling lazily from chimney tops.

Valery guided them through it all like she was tracing a familiar path. But her voice had taken on a more thoughtful tone now.

"You did good, Auren."

She glanced at him again.

"Ready?" she asked, already reaching for her belt.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren let out a quiet breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, fingers slowly uncurling from around the controls as normal space solidified around them again. The sight of the planet below was mesmerizing—the patchwork fields, winding rivers, gentle plumes of chimney smoke drifting lazily upward. It felt comforting, somehow, like seeing something familiar in an unfamiliar place.

He turned slightly, catching Valery's thoughtful expression as she complimented him. A smile rose naturally to his face—soft, genuine, grateful. "Thanks," he replied quietly, meaning more than just for the encouragement.

When she asked if he was ready, he straightened a bit in his seat, quickly finding the buckle of his belt. Excitement bubbled up once more, tempered this time with cautious anticipation. He knew enough to understand that quiet planets had a way of holding their own secrets.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he said, the warmth in his voice carrying his determination clearly.

He cast one last glance through the viewport, soaking in the beauty and calm of the world below—knowing that soon enough, they would land, step out into the unknown, and face whatever awaited them.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched him as he spoke, noting the subtle shift — the quiet resolve settling over that flicker of excitement. He was steadying himself. Learning the rhythm of the unknown.

Good.

She offered him a small smile, then tapped a sequence on the controls to guide them into final descent. The shuttle hummed in response, wings adjusting to the atmosphere's resistance, engines shifting to a low, steady burn. The golden fields and clustered villages below grew closer, details sharpening: footpaths etched between farmlands, figures moving slowly along dirt roads, small transports docked near weather-worn warehouses.

Then, with a glance sideways, she asked—gently, but with intention.

"So."

A pause.

"We're landing near the northern settlement. Small, but central." She let the words hang a moment, not to pressure — but to invite.

"If you were leading this mission, Auren…"

Her gaze turned to him, thoughtful, curious.

"What would your next step be?" She didn't soften the question, didn't give hints. This wasn't about being right — it was about seeing how he thought, how he processed the unknown.

And she was listening.

Auren Kah'el ​

 

[Auren Kah'el]

Auren paused, briefly surprised by the directness of Valery's question. He knew it wasn't a test, not exactly, but still, he took a quiet moment, eyes thoughtfully scanning the approaching landscape below.

"Well," he began carefully, leaning forward slightly as though it might clarify his thoughts. "If our goal is to help, the first thing would be making sure the locals feel comfortable with us there. I'd start by speaking directly with whoever leads the settlement, maybe an elder, or someone they trust, rather than going straight into questions. Let them guide the conversation. Listen first."

He hesitated slightly, glancing back toward Valery to gauge her reaction before continuing, his voice steadying further as he spoke. "From there, we'd need a clear picture of their situation. What exactly happened, how they feel about it, and what support they need most urgently. If we earn their trust first, they'll likely be more open about what's truly troubling them."

He straightened, a touch of confidence rising with the clarity of his words, though his gaze remained respectfully cautious as he watched her expression. "But above all, I'd make sure they see we're there not just to investigate, but to genuinely help, however they need us."

After another brief pause, he added carefully, "And considering the recent attacks, we should probably stay alert. If raiders are still nearby, our presence might draw attention. So we'd need to be prepared, just in case."