Gardens

Achiira couldn't help but stand back and look at the two children immersed in excitement at the wonder and joy of this garden, it gave her true happiness, but as she felt this she could sense that the mother was conflicted. Achiira could see that there was a happiness on the woman's face, especially towards her children, but there was still that feeling of frustration and isolation present in her mind that she picked upon in the hangar. These children were special, no doubt about it and Achiira could feel how great they were, yet she wondered if the mother truly knew, to be able to see is one thing, but to be able to feel it is another. Her eyes saddened slightly despite the beauty she stood before.

She brought herself from the sadness and centered herself back into the calm of her surroundings, making a mental note to speak with the mother at a convenient time. She turned her attention to Alexia who was suggesting to continue further.

"Yes, lets continue. I am eager to find the perfect spot for some meditating, though the waterfalls seem perfect."

Having fallen deep into meditation with Mark Shadows Sorrows by her side, Kalli sensed the comings and goings of new life within the gardens. At first, she held her focus on the task at hand and waited for the young student to sink back down into meditation as well. Soon enough, though, she was drawn back into the present by the exciting squeals of children approaching, paired by two voices she didn’t recognize. One, however, she did. Although she was reluctant to leave Mark’s side, the sound of all those unfamiliar voices could only mean one thing -- new arrivals. Kalli smiled to herself. She was sure that Alexia was doing superbly, as the young woman exuded a natural sense of serenity and warmth from what she had seen. With Master Calmcacil out on a mission, however, she felt compelled to meet with new arrivals personally.

“I want you to meet me here at this spot tomorrow, Mark. We’ll continue with the next lesson then.”

Offering a farewell smile towards the young one, Kalli stood to her feet and returned to the natural pathways carved within the gardens. With Alexia’s party heading her way, she stopped to greet the young knight and the new arrivals with a quiet smile, her eyes meeting each one, including the children, momentarily before finding the next.

"Alexia, I heard your voice, and I was almost certain that Vivikayl would have been with you and your entourage," she laughed. Looking up towards the Lemep family and Achiira, she introduced herself, "I don't believe we've met. My name is Kalli Caelum Starflight, a Master here at the Temple."

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Kalli reassured to Alexia. “New arrivals are those to be celebrated. Thank you for welcoming them and ensuring that they become familiar with the Temple.”

Brushing past Alexia, she placed a reassuring hand on the girl’s shoulder, smiling one final time towards her to wash away the doubts she might have held regarding interrupting her meditations. However, she moved one step closer to the new arrivals before clasping her hands in front of her. With each introduction, Kalli smiled, her attention trained on the speaking party. Although she didn’t appear overly elated, she still exuded a genuine joy to meet them all. From a caring mother to two so young to another who no doubt had some experience already in some way shape or form -- they all would be a welcome addition to the Temple, each in their own ways. However, there was a particular choice of words that melted away her smile, although the woman still stood as composed and serene as ever.

“Melia… Titus… Ivy… Achiira…” Kalli repeated each of their names as though instilling them in her mind so that she would not forget them at a later time. “It's truly a pleasure to meet you all. I assure you that we are the ones honored to you for coming here to Felucia to call it your home, be it only for a night or for the next many years.”

Her gaze glanced once more towards Achiira as she impressed a very faint connection with the girl. Although no words were shared through the Force, it was something closer to a feeling. Certainty, confidence, humbleness, and wisdom beyond her years. Kalli was sure it was disorienting being in a new place. New faces. A goal, perhaps, but no certain path carved to no certain future. In some way, many new arrivals shared that, and if it resided anywhere in the girl, she hoped to relieve some of it. Achiira couldn’t have been much older than she was when Kalli had first arrived on Felucia, at that. She felt a bond shared with her, if by that sole reasoning alone.

“I look forward to watching your growth within the Temple, Achiira. If there is anything at all you need assistance with, I’m just a wave away.”

Kalli then turned the children and knelt to be eye-level with them. Asking them quietly, she whispered, “Have either of you spotted a favorite flower yet?” even despite the boy’s coverings over his eyes. She needn’t feel his presence within the Force to know if he could use it. With the way that he excitedly looked about, she knew he was overwhelmed with the beauty of the gardens. “There’s many to choose from, so you mustn't be too hasty in such a decision.”

It was only then that Kalli’s composure seemed to crack, her smile brightening up her face to the point that her age wrinkled around her eyes and nose. Although she bore no children of her own, she welcomed the chance to work with the younger Padawans. There was an innocence yet recklessness about them at their ages. In due time, their training and discipline would slowly mellow them to being fine Knights and Masters, but one mustn't rush their growth. They were only so young for so long.

Standing to her feet, she last but not least addressed Melia. Her smile fading back to its usual warmth, she gracefully stepped past the children to stand next to the woman and turned to face the rest of the group.

“I’ll be sure to pass along your praise to Grand Master Calmcacil. I’m sure it’ll only be a few more days before his return, though, and you can be sure to pass that praise onto him. He had this Temple built so many years ago, and I believe he did a wonderful job.”

For now, Kalli left the specifics and reasons for the Temple to be built in the dark. She needn’t worry Melia or the children with the nightmares of the past. Since that day, they grew, rebuilt, and became stronger than before the devastation of the Jedi Base. The Temple itself became a much more welcoming atmosphere than a militaristic base, as well. In due time, such things would come to light for the mother and her children, but all things had a time and a place. Their first day here was not such a time.

"If you don't mind my asking," Kalli continued, inquiring, "have your children started any kind of training?"

"NYoepse," came the replies in unison. Ivy looked up at Kalli with a slightly more comfortable grin that held genuine pleasure. Titus barely moved a muscle, his poise still turned fully to the garden. Melia pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Apologies. Titus has started the basics but Atuna won't train him. Ivy has no interest in becoming a Jedi." She glanced down at her children and grimaced. "I promise they're more lively when they're apart. They only act like one person when they're in proximity. Apparently their bond has gotten unprecedentedly strong in the last year or so. Even Atuna claims to have never seen a Force bond as innately strong as theirs."

"My favorite are the magnus violaceus boletus." Ivy's grin turned into a full, toothy smile.  "I love fungus. They're super interesting."

Glancing down at the children, Master Starflight laughed quietly to herself. The two seemed to have a strange magnetism towards the other within the Force, which was only confirmed by Melia and their Force Bond. Her expression shifted to that of a sudden understanding. While the two children had their differences, it was an indescribable, ever-shifting sway within the Force. Their opposite answers like a magnet drawing them closer, yet the similarities that linked the two indisputable.

“...and Atuna is their father?” Kalli asked although it resounded in the air as more of a confirmation. “Has he come with you?”

Far more questions bubbled to the surface in Kalli’s mind. She had just joined the group and would need some time to catch up on things that were probably already discussed and common knowledge within the group. Others, though, were not. Although concern was evident within Kalli’s eyes, and she dared not want to overstep the comfort or decisions of the children’s parents, she felt compelled to gently press deeper into the matter of their training.

“I must applaud you for allowing your young girl to make her own decision. At the Coruscant Temple, my mother had decided for me to train as a Padawan. I was younger than Ivy. Unfortunately, it led to some strife between us when I was around her age.” For now, Kalli would leave it at that, but then came the matter of Titus and why Atuna refused to train him. “Is your husband simply against training family, or is there deeper reasonings as to why Titus hasn’t received any training?”

Kalli’s gaze fell to the children again. Titus and his training would remain a mystery for the time being, but then there was Ivy. She had no desire to be a Jedi, according to her mother, and it was something she wanted to delve a little bit further into. With all respect towards Melia and the rest of the family, Kalli wanted to hear those reasons from Ivy, without the influential presences of her family around her. Bending down again, Kalli addressed the girl at eye-level.

“Well, if you ask your mother nicely and gain her permission, perhaps I could show you some of the radiant and glowing mushrooms outside the Temple once you’re all settled, hmm?”

Still bent down towards Ivy, Kalli glanced over towards Achiira and smiled warmly. She stood to her full height then and nodded encouragingly towards the young woman.

“Excellent... but tell me, young one. I can tell you’ve already had some training. If you don’t mind my inquiring, whereabouts, and how far along has your training come before arriving here?” Kalli laughed as she interjected apologetically and compassionately before Achiira could answer, “I’m sure picking back up with your training is the last thing on your mind currently. Perhaps we could meet when you're ready and after you’ve settled. We can begin making some arrangements, if that’s what you desire to do, of course.”

Kalli lastly nodded in acknowledgment towards Alexia. Knowing the young woman, she had already taken the proper steps in ensuring that they were fully welcomed. She had attention for detail that rivaled many others. From rooms being arranged to their personal belongings being taken up to those rooms being prepared, and now, a tour so that they could sooner rather than later familiarize themselves with where they would soon call home -- that is if they didn’t call it home already. Only the Force knew what drew them all here today, and sure enough, their stories would soon come to light. There was no sense in pushing such things now. They were all probably weary in their respective ways from the travels they all endured.

“I take it that you haven’t taken them to the Archives yet?” Kalli inquired with a thoughtful tilt of her head in Alexia’s direction. “Vivikayl should be there. ‘Should’ being the operative word.”

Kalli laughed quietly in genuine amusement. If there was anyone who knew that mischievous Echani girl better than Kalli, it was Alexia. Vivikayl made it a habit to keep everyone on their toes. Telling everyone one thing and doing another. For her own sake, though, Kalli hoped that the young knight had stuck to her word this time around, else she would be missing out on an adventure she had complained about in the past: never being involved when new people came to visit the Temple.

“If you would like her to join you, I’m sure she’ll be eager to meet new arrivals as well. Please, don’t let my sudden and unexpected arrival delay your tour.”

"Yes, Atuna is their father, and my husband. It's not a private affair, per se, more that it... Titus still doesn't understand why."

Titus shifted uncomfortably toward his mother, leaning into her hip with his shoulder.

"We both want our children to choose their own path with their lives, but Titus is unusually fixated on his father and becoming like him. Neither of us want that. Titus is still too young to understand what his father endured to become what he is, and how it still haunts him daily; how it impacts our marriage; how it has left him bereft of his humanity." She gently ran her palm up and down Titus' back as he continued to lean against her. "If his desire is to be strong like Atuna, then Titus needs to find someone else to teach him."

"Dad could teach me if he wanted to," Titus murmured indignantly.

"You want to be a Jedi, don't you? You must learn from a Jedi to become one." When Titus did not reply immediately, Melia put her entire arm around him and squeezed him affectionately. "Perhaps one of the masters here will train you. Would you like that?"

"Mmm."

"We're all tired, sweetie. The tour will be over soon, okay?"

"They GLOW?!" Ivy chirped. Her eyes widened suddenly. "How did I not know that?!"

Melia stifled a laugh before turning back to Kalli. "But... Yes, he's here, though I'm afraid I have only have a faint idea as to where. He stepped outside when we landed, having mentioned wanting to check something. He's probably on the landing pad meditating; that's usually what he does when he "checks something." Though it wouldn't surprise me if he was on the other side of the planet or some nonsense. He gets around quickly."

Still standing nearest to Melia than the others in the group, Kalli nodded towards Alexia and elicited a gentle laugh at the mention of her old apprentice.

“It would be nice to see her doing as she stated she would,” the woman murmured in amusement. “I would be happy to come along. Thank you for the invitation, Alexia. Please, continue forward with your tour.”

Kalli then listened closely to the woman’s explanation regarding their marriage, their father, their training. There was only so much a stranger could understand and pick up from the rather cryptic mentionings of Atuna’s past. Nonetheless, Melia provided enough explanation to satisfy her questions. However, those reasons left a stinging concern within her chest. Although her expression remained as gentle as she had been conditioned, there was a hint of sadness within her smile as she looked down at the boy who leaned against his mother’s hip and hummed in his exhaustion.

“I don’t mean to give advice where none is due nor asked, but if I may…” she stated first with quiet confidence. “Although my history runs quite contrary to your concerns with your own, there was a lesson I learned about one’s life and their future. The circumstances of my mother and her mother before her were not the same, nor was mine the same as my mother’s. My mother pressed for me to follow in her footsteps, as her mother pushed for her to do the same. However, we all walked different paths, the Force guiding us in different directions. Life isn’t so black and white. Titus may desire to walk in his father’s footsteps, but his path will remain his own.”

Kalli had a feeling she was far from easing Melia’s concerns. Knowing that they were all tired from their travels, she would leave it at that for now. There would be plenty of time to get to know the Lemep family and gain a better understanding of the trials they faced individually and together. Where there were trials, though, there was the chance for significant growth. There was still plenty to be seen within the Temple, and a limited amount of time before their rooms would be ready for them. She had no desire to put any more of a strain on the poor woman or their family.

Pressing onward, Kalli reassured, “If he wishes to train as a Jedi, though, we have plenty of knights and masters who I’m sure would be delighted to take him on as their apprentice.”

Kalli’s gaze shifted from Melia to Alexia then, with a knowing glimmer in her eyes. She then nodded affirmatively towards Achiira. The young woman was probably exhausted as well. All things could be handled with a better time and place.

Rest up, young one. When you are feeling up for it, seek me out in the training wing. If Alexia has yet to show you where it is located, we’ll remedy that shortly.

Offering a final smile of encouragement, Kalli nodded towards Achiira. She would need her strength. However, if there was one who didn’t seem at all exhausted by their travels, it was Ivy. At the mention of the glowing mushrooms, her face had gone alight with such a childish innocence and excitement. For a split moment, Kalli could see the face of her young apprentice years ago when Kalli revealed that same piece of information.

With a laugh, Kalli encouraged, “Yes, they do, and it’s a magical sight. Like I said, though, you’ll need to get your parents' permission first if you want me to take you to see them. The terrain outside the Temple can be dangerous, so you’ll have to be on your best behavior and get plenty of rest first.”

It took nearly ten seconds before Melia's left eyebrow finally arched. Her mouth was slightly ajar, and she could feel the corner of her cheek pulling in a twitch. "A-ah. Yes. Wise words. I'll... definitely take that to heart."

"Can I, mom?"

"...Huh? Oh. Tomorrow you can."

"Cool."

"But I have, um... taken enough of everyone's time. Let's continue the tour, shall we?" Her hand drifted away from her son's back and up to her opposite shoulder, which she squeezed firmly to loosen the cramp she thought she was feeling. Melia took a moment to compose herself, to collect her thoughts, but as she did her gaze fell to Titus, who was still standing beside her. He had righted himself, no longer leaning against her, and had his head tilted up to give the impression of looking at her face. It was rare that Titus gave any kind of indication as to where is attention was, and she smiled down at him to affirm the gesture. "You okay, sweetie?"

"Mm."

"Okay."