"Tython… It's a fantastic, unique planet across the whole galaxy. It's as beautiful as it is terrifying. Everything in this world is filled with the Force, even the stones under your feet have at least a small background. The flora and fauna of Tython amaze with their diversity, because here you can meet creatures that physically could not have appeared naturally. And the higher the background, the more unusual the fauna there will be. All kinds of beasts run across these lands, bred by the Force itself. And those beasts don't have to be tooth-and-fang monsters; it can be a harmless cute little animal. A very, very fast animal, able to spot a predator in time and immediately make tracks.
Despite the fact that yours truly lived most of his life in a desert, the desert occupied only a very small part of the planet. Mostly the planet was covered by forests—thicker in some places, thinner in others. There were mountains and volcanoes too; one of the temples was even built among them. There were also mysterious Force points here. Like small sources, they came out of earth or water, gathered in the air like fog, or like dense clouds descending to the ground. Jedaii used them to strengthen their own connection to the Force, but it was very dangerous. Near these sources it is very easy to lose balance and fall into the Force forever. Legends said many Jedaii who went into meditation beside light energy never woke again. Near dark sources, the Jedaii were struck by true madness, with a full set of mental deviations. More than that, their trouble showed even in their appearance: such xenos could easily become walking corpses—literally living dead. The Force keeps such a body alive, but causes incomparable pain. Great prospects for immortality—just wonderful! Keep that in mind if you decide to visit one of these sources.
But that's lyricism. Tython is beautiful, yes… sometimes. In rare… exceptional cases, you might even forget where you are. Under the rustle of wind, the pleasant song of birds, the murmur of a stream… it starts to feel like the planet itself is speaking to you, like Mother Nature. But that delusion will pass quickly, because once you relax outside a safe zone, some critter will definitely crawl out of the nearest bushes and decide you're very, very tasty. And you'll have to explain how wrong that conclusion is. Then her friends will show up, and then they'll be explaining things to you.
And when it seems to you that that's it, it can't get worse, Tython will tell you outright—it can! And it will form a real Force storm right above your head. Just because you didn't watch yourself. And now you think: that's it, the limit, only the grave ahead—and you'll be partly right, because a Force lightning bolt will definitely fly into you! And even if you survive, even if you can get away from the beasts, even if you find somewhere to hide, that doesn't mean Tython has decided to have mercy on you. No. Because such caves are often already occupied by other inhabitants. Most often, some kind of plants. Carnivorous plants that will be very, very happy to see you. They will greet dear guests with open petals, with cute white teeth at the tips, and in the center an poisonous thorn will appear—resistant to the Force, but containing a nerve-paralytic toxin! And then…"
"Shade, shut up," Ramiry groaned, lying on the floor.
"Heh-heh-heh, I can't, ha-ha-ha-ha," I laughed sincerely, continuing my monologue, "and only then will you understand…"
"Shade…"
"Oh, I can't, guys, sorry, but I'm having a hysterical fit, ha-ha-ha-ha…"
"Yeah, we can tell," Zeng grunted, wrapping his brother's shoulder with a bandage.
"Ur ar-r-rg gra-a-a."
"Yes, Gris. Who could've known it would turn out like this?" Vess sighed, glancing toward the passage. A real Force storm was raging out there. In all my years on Tython I'd only seen a storm this strong a couple of times, but being in the epicenter was a first. The wind was almost tearing trees out by the roots, lightning struck as if a ship was hanging in orbit firing down, and the cherry on top was a solid wall of rain.
"Hee-hee-hee, welcome… ha-ha-ha, to Tython. The most, hee-hee-hee, kriffing 'phenomenal' planet in the galaxy! Amazing nature, gorgeous views, striking expanses—and most importantly, a Force-saturated atmosphere!" I lifted an important finger toward the ceiling. "Pha-ha-ha-ha… I can't. Here, absolutely everyone is waiting for you and will be happy to see you—especially, hee-hee-hee, if you come here with friends."
"You should become a guide," Feng snorted.
"Yeah. A Tython guide," Zeng nodded.
"Heh-heh-heh… oof. No, kriff that, guys. I didn't sign up for this g— ahem, guano," I tried to hold myself back. Swearing in front of sweet ladies… I haven't fallen that far yet. Or is it the aftereffects of what they did to me in Akar Kesh? Yeah, it's all their fault, definitely!
"Shade, why are you twisting so hard?" Ramiry glanced at me, adjusting a flower leaf under her head. A flower ripped out by the roots—the one that greeted us in this little cave and decided we were dinner.
"Oof…" I tried to pull myself together and looked at Ramiry. "All right, all right, I'm more or less, heh-heh… calm now. But think about it—nothing foreshadowed this! I fell for the beauty myself for a moment and relaxed."
"Shouldn't have," Vess sat down beside me. "That was our mistake."
"Gra-a-a-ak!"
"Even an idiot would know," I snorted. "Kriff… guys… I'm in shock. Just shock. First, a raptor ambush. Then fire tiggs crawled out of nowhere—how they didn't burn down the forest, I can't imagine. Before we could finish those, hydras climbed out of the river. Damn you," I covered my face with a whole hand, "what did we screw up to walk into this? Pendls flew in from the noise and racket and nearly dragged Ramiry off." I glanced at the scratched girl. "We fought them off! But it raised a Force storm. While we were hiding, I caught a lightning bolt," I glanced at the lightning stencil burned into my left arm. "Almost died. I managed to throw up a barrier at the limit of my strength, and it still clipped me—thank the Force Gris caught me," I looked gratefully at the Wookiee; he waved it off. "We ran to the cave, and then—bam!" I lightly hit the plant under me. "What's next? An earthquake? A saarl worm? I… kriff, I'm in shock. I don't even want to swear. And just a couple takeds ago I was complaining about the Silent Desert—and it turns out it's a kid's nature preserve compared to this," I gestured toward the passage.
"Quiet, Shade. It's okay." Vess hugged me. "We're alive and mostly all right, and that's what matters. And problems… anything happens. The main thing is we got out."
"Yes, Vess, you're right. But the fact itself… this… lawlessness—" I gestured actively with my good hand, trying to express it. My left arm still burned unpleasantly and obeyed poorly, but thanks to Ramiry I was recovering fast. How much light energy she ran through me, I can't even imagine, but it hit me hard. "And the worst part is I fell for it and put you at risk. It was my idea to set camp there. In the end we almost all went down…"
"Shade, nobody's blaming you." Vess pressed her cheek to me. "Everyone makes mistakes."
"I just needed to talk it out and step back a little," I calmed under the warmth and serenity she sent through the Force.
"You got that scared?" Ramiry turned to me.
"For you."
"Oh, so the lightning didn't impress you?" Feng smiled.
"Not really. If it had hit one of you, then yeah—I would've been impressed and properly scared."
"You're still an idiot," Vess sighed. "If you hadn't had time to defend yourself, what would I have done?"
"Hey! That was an accident. And anyway, I know perfectly well how bad it would be for you if I went into the Force. So maybe I'm not afraid of death, but that doesn't mean I don't care about your feelings. Especially yours," I nudged Vess with my elbow. "That alone makes me think twice before doing anything."
"Well, that's already good," Vessira smiled.
"So, where's the rest of that Tython story?" Zeng pulled my attention.
"What do you mean? I already, like, vented. That's it."
"What do you me-e-e-an 'that's it'?" the Zabrak perked up.
"What's wrong with it?"
"And I was just thinking of starting to write it down," he said; I raised a brow. "You know—for future generations. A guidebook on how not to do it."
"Hm…"
"You're serious?" Ramiry looked skeptically at her boyfriend. "There are already half a library of those guidebooks without you."
"Well… so what? There'll be one more. Might help someone. And anyway, we've got nothing to do. For now," he nodded toward the cave exit, "until the storm ends, we're not sticking our noses out."
"I suggest we make a fire and lie low," I started to rise. "I'm first watch."
"Where do you think you're going?!" Vess protested, pressing me back down. "You already got hit like a starship, now lie down!"
"Mom is definitely a bad influence on you," I grumbled with mock outrage, wincing at the pain in my arm.
"Don't like something?" she frowned, standing above me with hands on hips.
"No, the opposite—this is very good!"
"That's what I thought. I'll take watch."
"And that's how women take us guys under their wing," I shared "in secret," half-whispering to Zeng, but loudly enough for everyone in the cave to hear.
"Yeah-yeah, that's us—before you know it you'll be my slave," Vess winked at me.
"Uh…"
"Rest up, 'my slave,'" she smiled, kissed me on the lips, and went toward the exit.
"R-r-rg aru-r ar-r-r."
"Be jealous silently, Gris. This is my treasure!" I snapped—yet still lay down on the "flower" while the Wookiee piled a small stack of dry kindling he carried for ignition. With my pyromancy, it was nothing to make a good fire from that little pile. The Force solves everything!
"Are we eating today?" Ramiry asked under her stomach's rumble.
We stayed in the cave for two days. The storm gradually faded, and only when it disappeared entirely did we continue toward the settlement. Now wiser—and understanding you can't relax here for even a moment—we managed to avoid the biggest problems.
Since I could hide myself in the Force, I went ahead as a scout and, through the telepathic link between me and Vess, gave the squad corrections if trouble was coming. Vess, linked to me, became the head of the squad, while Zeng and Feng acted as the front-line guards. Ramiry was the weakest link by herself, and Gris had to play the role of draft power. With his physical parameters, he could haul all our things without much strain.
Now we made camp either in trees or in caves, clearing them in advance of previous occupants if there were any.
And miracle of miracles: we reached the settlement without stepping into another puddle.
From the outside, it was a small town of about a hundred houses: rounded homes with domed roofs, standing at different heights, surrounded by an invisible Force barrier that protected the settlement from Tython's fauna. Unlike my friends, I was born and raised in one of these towns. Everyone else was an outsider. Gris came from Ska-Gora, as did Ramiry; the twins were from Kalimar. Vess was born in a colony on Malterre, the second planet of our system. Another lovely little rock—periodic natural disasters there are considered everyday normal.
Back to the settlement. They welcomed us normally, like any other wanderers. For a small fee they provided rooms for the night, with the option to replenish food supplies. There was also a livestock farm here, including mounts. That's where I had to sweat, haggling the team a cheaper deal on several raptors—planning two people per raptor. Gris is unique; he'd get his own, as would one of the twins.
Once again I thanked Irbis for negotiation lessons. When you're facing an ordinary being, you can push with the Force. When you're dealing with another Jedaii, you can only negotiate with words—no Force use. After we struck the deal, we could finally relax and enjoy a lawful rest. A warm shower, food on the table, and a sense of safety—those things are worth a lot. I discovered a new truth for myself.
Though for the first few hours we physically couldn't switch off and stayed on guard. Even Gris twitched at sharp sounds. The locals understood: it was our first journey like this, and Ramiry also told them what kind of mess we'd walked into. That changed things a bit. On the one hand, the settlement head, as the senior Order member, praised us for handling it; on the other hand, he scolded us, because the Force storm rolled even this far. And causing such anomalies—when they can arise spontaneously without us—is the last thing a Jedaii should do.
And in the evening, when everything settled and Vess and I finally were alone, we managed to shed the stress we'd piled up. The moment the door closed, she latched onto me with a hungry kiss that only broke a minute later—after she bit my lip. With a wave of my hand I shut the door and clicked the lock, while with the other I held the she-devil who'd jumped up and wrapped her legs around me.
My mind was covered again in the sweet fog of her emotions. Passion, desire, love—everything mixed into one. I didn't even have time to blink before I was without my outer shirt, with the Cathar already pulling off her own top. No. Not a chance. I've never once handed her the initiative, and I'm not starting now.
Taking her left hand and interlacing our fingers, I rolled us over and ended up on top. The pleasant impressions were spoiled by the aching pain in my left arm, which also cramped. Vess noticed the slight change in me—she couldn't miss the tremble in the hand pinning her palm to the bed.
"It's all right… just a little discomfort," I whispered in her ear, then, lightly biting, lowered to those irresistible lips.
"Oh… Shade…" Vessira exhaled, looking into my eyes. No Force influence, no words—only desire. And I heard not only her emotions, but an echo of thoughts… just as she heard mine.
"Someone's almost burning…" I thought with a hint of mischief.
"Not almost… already burning…" the answer came in the same tone, and Vess reached her gentle hands toward my belt.
I would've liked to relax and fully sink into her emotions, but the periodic burning in my arm ruined the picture. Still, even with that, the first half of that night was definitely not for sleep. Because despite all her outward toughness, Vessira got shaken no worse than I did. Just the sight of my body going down knocked her off balance. And besides… to feel in your back how someone worries for you, to feel with your skin the fear directed at you… I got goosebumps just realizing how hard Vessira got rocked. And the others got scared too.
Stroking the Cathar lying on my chest, I stared at the ceiling, trying to sort myself out—what ruled inside me, what ruled around me, and what to expect tomorrow. What happened to me recently could've easily sent me into the Force—I wouldn't even have squeaked—if I didn't know the technique of "tutaminis." And the fact that the lightning struck me specifically wasn't random. Idiot… I was actively using the Force, and I knew you can't use that much of it during storms. On the other hand, if I hadn't used it, someone else would've become the target. And I'm the only one on the team who knows advanced techniques like "tutaminis."
And despite all my jokes and my careless attitude toward death, I didn't want to die. Not only didn't want to—I wasn't going to. Now I have something to fight for and live for, and more than that—I have the very chance to live this life.
Carefully shifting my sweet darling's head—she wrinkled her nose in an adorably displeased way—I sat up. Squeezing and unclenching my hand, I grimaced. Yeah. Dispersing that kind of power in one go… that's brutal. Too brutal. But now I have a solid tattoo running up to my shoulder, covering the whole arm from my fingertips. Now I can, heh, show off—only to whom? My friends don't care, and I already have a girlfriend. Better not even tell Mom about it.
Squeezing and unclenching my fingers again, I got used to the sensation anew. When your nerve endings first burn at such speed you don't even have time to feel it, and then someone regrows them again, raw… let's just say it shook me hard. And that was after the strike, when everyone understood the main danger to life had passed. Then they piled on top of it when Ramiry started pumping industrial quantities of light energy through me—nightmare. I haven't felt that awful in a long time.
How do Sith even reach their power? Are they masochists? They live by the rule "the strongest survives," and they beat each other constantly—whether you're a brother, a student, a father. And their training is savage, turning students into cripples and invalids. At least, that's what I think, based on what I remember from canon.
Although… so much time has passed that I'm not even sure I remember it right. So many years behind me. I've already accepted that this world is my home now. Yet the knowledge of that other story remains—the story that is supposed to be in the future. I wonder—can I influence it here and now? Heh. That would be funny.
Glancing at the softly snoring Vess beside me, I switched back to her. And why would I change it? Maybe I'll change it through my indirect actions, but right now my beloved girl is lying next to me. I have friends, a home, a family… why should I fuss over canon? Because I'm a transmigrant? Yeah, sure. Some transmigrant—learning the world not from canon events, but by the fact of being present. So why should I suffer and overthink when I can just live?
Smiling at my own thoughts, I clenched my "tattooed" fist. Yeah… I have everything I want. Or almost everything. I only need to become a little stronger so I can protect what's mine. Settling back into bed, I hugged my sweet catgirl and buried my face in her hair, closing my eyes. Sleep peacefully, my sweet miracle. No one will dare hurt you. I promise.
***
"Aw…" she drew out, reaching out to touch the little light. And judging by her emotions, the Cathar really liked the new sensation.
Stopping to wait for her, I noticed the others had frozen too. Everyone stood there, looking around, enjoying this beautiful scene. And there was something to see. In the light fog, the lights glittered like stars, catching the eye, and warmth joined the serenity in the soul.
Rubbing my teary eyes, I shook my head a little, trying to calm the headache—and with it a kind of veil that covered my thoughts. Looking back at my friends, I watched their inspired faces. Something was wrong here…
Oh. And the little light flew up to me too. I didn't touch it—it felt like if I did, it would only get worse—so I examined it cautiously. Something about it bothered me. My brain tried to latch onto some suspicious detail, but it kept slipping away.
My heart prickled, my breath kept catching, and a bead of sweat rolled down my temple. Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath in and out, and, clamping the Force inside myself in an iron fist, opened my eyes.
Bad idea. My movements helped—I could breathe easier—but my eyes clearly started lying. I shook my head a couple of times, trying to dispel the delusion, but no. It didn't vanish. Instead of a light, a child stood before me. A small, cute little girl, maybe six, resembling a Cathar, but her coloring… it was like the pigments on my face. Exactly. A light jacket, pants, boots. My gray eyes, though with vertical feline pupils. Sharp long ears, even longer than I was used to on Cathar. Dark hair tied back into a tail like mine.
By rights I should have been in shock, but there was nothing in my soul besides silence and peace. I'd clamped my emotions and the Force so tightly under control that all I felt was a faint, surface-level tenderness for this child. Who stood there and simply looked at me.
"Shade," I heard Vess's voice. Involuntarily tearing my gaze away, I looked at the Cathar with her eyes closed and a blissful smile.
"Okay…" I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying to gather my brain. "Okay… come on, Shade. Pull yourself together. You wanted something. Something needed doing. Uh…" I glanced at the child. "Hey, Vess, do you see her too, or has my roof finally leaked?"
"Hm?" Vessira looked at me, then at the little girl. "Awww, what a cute girl. And where did you come from?"
"Something is definitely wrong…" I noted as I watched Vess squat right on the ground and try to talk to that silent child.
Looking at the others, I saw they weren't even trying to go anywhere anymore. Wait. Go! Right! But where? Hm… I looked around, trying to understand. We were going somewhere, I think. Where? I can't remember. Kriff, what's wrong with me?!
Trying to enter meditation on purpose and see what was going on inside me ended with me quietly going numb at what I saw. Only because I'd clamped my essence in an iron grip, not letting it tear, could I think at all. The light side was ripping the dark component out of me, trying with all its might, but it couldn't. Two parts of one whole had been fused inside me so securely that even if I wanted to separate them, it wouldn't be easy.
The shock from what I saw turned the gears in my head and forced me to reassess the situation.
Returning to the real world, I looked at the girl with a more focused gaze. She blinked a couple times, as if someone had called her. Turning, she ran to a blurred but very familiar silhouette—one with recognizable lightswords at the belt.
Scooping the child up, the silhouette walked away and eventually dissolved into the fog.
"All right, kriff," I shook myself. "I've had enough of these visions. Time to get serious."
Setting my hands opposite each other, I tried to summon Force lightning. It didn't come immediately, but I managed. Making sure current danced between my fingers, I grabbed my own thigh, squeezed my eyes shut—understanding what was coming—and discharged it.
"censored and censored, mother of censored, a-a-ahhh-shh," I hurriedly rubbed the burn.
The hellish pain—so strong I lost balance and dropped to the ground like I'd been felled—instantly sobered me and brought back sanity. Right: we're at a Force site, we need to get to the other side, the task is direct. I remember. Work!
Jumping up and assessing the front, I clapped loudly to draw attention.
"Everyone get up, you devils. Nobody called a break!"
"Hm?" Vess looked at me dully. "Shade, why are you shouting… It's so good here… Sit do-o-own."
"Oof… You'll remember this," I grimaced and, crouching by her, put a hand on her shoulder. A quick Force-lightning jolt, a short yelp—and Vess came to her senses too.
"Wh-what w-was that?!"
"Shock therapy. We need to wake the others up—now! Move!" I barked, and that last part worked. Even not fully recovered, Vess jumped up and ran to Gris. I took the twins.
After getting the squad back on their feet, we moved on. Everyone deliberately tried to stay angry to offset the pressure, but they couldn't keep it up for long. At some point I started catching myself thinking I was being stupid: this source was an amazing chance to power up! And most importantly—it's quiet, calm, safe. And Vess feels good here. Sure, her head hurts, but where is it perfect?
But shaking myself and grinding my teeth, I latched onto the thought of the mission like a tick into prey, clamping the shackles inside myself even tighter. Over and over, I ran the goal through my head and walked in front. A couple times I zapped myself when the mantra didn't help. The others followed my example, but Ramiry was the first to drop. She simply blacked out, falling into Force sleep—a special technique in which we can restore strength quickly. Not very useful, but effective.
Hoisting her onto the raptor, we continued. As we moved, I saw other visions. I heard Vessira's laughter. I saw her talking to some Twi'lek girl. In another vision it was me beside Mom. In a third, I saw that same girl training. I saw ruined houses where "owners" were putting things in order, as if I were walking down a street. But what I remember most was when blurred silhouettes looked after me, like they were seeing me off. And then the world seemed to dim.
The vision was so strong, so bright, so saturated with emotion that I couldn't hold myself and fell to the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping, and no self-control helped anymore. The impact was so powerful I needed someone to support me just so I could recover. Mom once told me how she saw Father off, and I could feel the entire spectrum of her emotions. And now… they were here… and with them they were seeing me off.
The source took advantage of the breach that had formed. The shackles binding the dark and the light within me began to crumble away. My head no longer hurt—it was splitting apart, and my heart felt like it was being torn in two…
"Shade, what's happening to you?" Vessira came up in fright, crouching beside me and supporting me. Leaning on my blade like a cane, I looked at the Cathar. Apparently my pain had carried over to her through the link.
"My head's spinning a little. It's fine, Vess—just let me catch my breath."
Closing my eyes, I sank into myself again. The Force is one… Light and darkness—two sides of a single, indivisible whole. Inhale, exhale… Come on, Shade. Pull it together.
"Let's keep going," I said, and with Vessira's help, I got to my feet.
Turning back, I didn't see any silhouettes anymore. Ten minutes later, Gris dropped out too. From that I concluded the light side's strongest effect was on those who found it easier to work with it. If I was right, Vess should be the next one to drop.
But I didn't get to confirm the theory. Tying ourselves together with ropes so we wouldn't simply lose someone if they collapsed, we finally made it beyond the source's direct influence. The things I saw on the way—kriff. Against that backdrop, the balance-temple masters had treated me humanely. But now it was clear why they needed it.
When the pressure finally eased and I could exhale in relief, we called a halt and waited for our sleeping companions to come to.
An unprecedented lightness filled my chest—like someone had finally set down a rope that hadn't snapped, but had been creaking from strain. I had no strength at all, and now I felt sick not only in my head, but in my stomach too.
"Ugh… my head…" Vess groaned. "It feels like someone pumped me full of something and now I'm crashing without a dose…"
"Got experience?" Feng asked.
"No, but I've seen an example."
"Got it."
"Ra-a-a-mi-i-i," Zeng shook his love.
"Mmm…"
"Get up. Get up before we get eaten!"
"Huh?" Ramiry pried her eyes open sleepily. Then it seemed to register, and the process sped up. "Eaten?!"
"Quiet, calm down. Ugh…" Zeng winced from pain—head pain, and pain in general. "Rami, we need your help. Especially with Shade."
"What happened?"
"Force lightning."
"Again?!"
"No, this time he did it himself. What, you don't remember? We just came out of a light-side Force point."
Ramiry turned, looked at the fog visible in the distance, checked her senses—and then it seemed to dawn on her.
No questions followed. The girl immediately snapped into motion and hurried to me to put my carcass back in order. Yeah, I'd been shocking myself far more often than the others. Had to keep the movement vector, after all—otherwise it would've been comical if we'd started walking in circles in there.
I was lying there and barely showing signs of life. It took effort just to not pass out. Funny, actually: I'm getting knocked out now, and the others inside the source. That's something—inside there, I definitely wasn't getting knocked out. Heh. It's hard to sleep when you're being torn apart.
"Shade, can you hear me?" someone lifted my head.
"I can't hear you. You're not there. And I'm a cloud. Gyyy…" Force, what am I saying? Rami, just finish me off…
"Um… okay. Just lie there and rest. You'll feel better in a minute."
Since we were already practically glowing from the light side's influence, they smeared me with ointments, bandaged me up, and gave me a small injection. Even now, pain served as medicine, sobering the mind and helping me return to my baseline. When she was done with me, Rami switched to Gris. For further work, we needed to wait until the excess dissipated from me. She treated the others the same way.
"Vess, how are you?" Ramiry looked at the Cathar—quiet and somewhat subdued.
"Strange. I can feel something inside me… broke," Vess put a palm to her chest.
"That's… the aftereffects of the tilt," I cut in, turning my head. "It's fine. A bit of meditation and everything will settle back into place."
"No…" She shook her head and looked at me. "Shade, that's not it. I… I don't know what I saw. Where did you go?" She moved closer and laid my head in her lap.
"Vess, where would I go from you?" I shifted weakly and took her hand. "You can feel me yourself—after all this constant telepathy we've already formed a connecting thread."
"I know. That's why I don't understand. And…" She wanted to say something else, but fell silent.
"What is it?"
"I… no, it's nothing." She turned away. "Later. When you can stand."
Strange. Why did that embarrassment hit her so hard that she's even hiding her face from me?
"Vee-e-e-ess? What's wrong?"
"Nothing…"
"Well?"
"There's one more thing. That girl. You already figured out who she looked like, didn't you?"
"I did."
"And what do you think?"
"What's there to think about? If it turns out that way, I'll be happy. That's all."
"Really?"
"Vess, I'm going to smack you for doubts like that," I tried to tug her ear, but missed and hit her cheek instead. Yeah… and the ground started spinning too. Could someone stop it before we miss the stop?
"Ow!"
"Sorry. I'm not feeling very good."
"It's fine, it's fine. Just lie still."
"Mm-hm."
Sighing, I remembered the silhouette the child had run to. The shape was blurred, but I couldn't fail to recognize the outlines of my own armor. Yeah… it's scary to think what trials are waiting ahead.
"Aur-r-r gharrr?" Gris cheerfully announced he was ready to move, giving our little pile an almost fatherly look.
"Kind of, but I'd take a nap," Zeng answered sluggishly, rubbing his temples. "I've had an experience once—Feng and I stupidly breathed in some stupefying herb in the catacombs—but even after that we weren't this wrecked."
"Shade won't wander off on his own," Ramiry cut in. "His whole body's gone crazy."
"Put him on a raptor?" Feng suggested.
"Could work. Shade?"
"Let me die…"
"Nope."
"Despots…"
"Yeah. All right. Zeng, help me out. We'll load him up and we move. Everyone agreed?" Uneven nods answered.
So they hoisted me onto a raptor, secured me, and Vess sat behind me to hold me in place. To my surprise, riding raptors handled the Force point much better than we did and apparently felt no discomfort at all—if you don't count a touch of phlegmatic behavior.
The next day, when I'd more or less recovered, we ran into adventures again, though smaller ones. A pack of wild raptors decided we were prey, but this time we were ready and dealt with the predators with almost no Force use, except for augmenting ourselves.
After that, it was a short march to the Bodhi Temple itself. The arts temple was built in the shape of a plus sign, with four yellow buildings capped by red roofs at the ends. Looking at the complex, it felt like each building had been assembled from several smaller ones.
In the center, on a broad, open plaza, stood a gigantic fountain with a breathtaking statue. Two Force-gifted beings—a man and a woman—stood side by side and, holding their hands palms-up, supported a single sphere of the Force recreated in the style of yin-yang.
And inside, there was a special atmosphere. Somewhere music was playing; somewhere a group of students discussed a painting set outside; somewhere a group of wanderers used the Force to unload heavy monolithic stones that would someday become masterpieces.
The spirit saturating this place felt special, unique. I'd already understood that every temple is different, each with its own atmosphere. In Qigong Kesh, it was a bit mischievous, spirited, and generally quite emotional—some students shouted with joy, others groaned in pain, others simply had fun. In Akar Kesh everything was gray, and… if not bleak, then calm. Minimal emotion; everything at rest, as if the temple itself, like an old monk, had gone into deep meditation and wasn't in a hurry to return.
Here, the atmosphere wasn't turbulent or bright. It was simply light—saturated with a kind of creative energy you just want to channel somewhere or pour out.
And that girl understood it too. A rather pretty Mirialan woman, with green skin and the characteristic tattoos of her people on both face and arms. Dressed in a simple sleeveless top, she sat on the fountain's edge and quietly sang about those who had gone into the Force. The song was sad—after all, it praised the dead—but at the same time it carried warmth and serenity, stirring up those dear and precious moments of life in your memories.
"Shade?"
"…"
"Shade!" someone shoved my shoulder.
"Huh—yeah?" I turned to Vess. "Sorry, I spaced out."
"And no wonder," a new voice joined the conversation. I'd been so absorbed I'd completely forgotten to watch my surroundings. Turning, we saw a Selkath beside us, dressed in robes, hands clasped and hidden in the sleeves. "Here, within these walls, we touch the very strings of the soul. Welcome to Bodhi, the Temple of Arts, young wanderers. I am Master Laniron," the master bowed courteously.
"Shade Aero," I bowed in return.
"Zeng Bazeks."
"And Feng Bazeks," the twins bowed.
"Gra-u-rr-a."
"Vessira Rova."
"Ramiry Runa."
"Glad to see new wanderers as our guests," the Selkath said with complete sincerity. And he didn't even try to hide his feelings—which for a Jedaii is nonsense.
"Forgive me, Master—when you said you touch the strings of the soul here… is that a Force technique?" Ramiry leaned forward.
"What? No, no, not at all. Everything is much more prosaic and simple. Yes, through art we comprehend the Force. But the main feature of this place is that the Force only complements one or another form of art. Music, for example. By laying meaning and emotions into words and melody, we anchor and amplify them with the Force, resulting in something greater. For us, the Force is like a special set of paints or tools that can harmoniously fit into absolutely any creation."
"Sounds interesting," Feng glanced at the girl by the fountain, who had already stopped singing and was now studying our group with interest.
"You can't even imagine how much. And regarding your question, young lady," the Selkath turned to Ramiry, "there's a saying: 'Music is the reflection of the soul.' It's like a mirror—reflecting what's inside you right now. And if you have a wound, it can heal it, or at least ease it. And note that even the Force is not capable of that."
"Too bad not everyone understands that," I finished for the master, and at his surprised look I explained, "I noticed there aren't many people in the temple."
"Yes… more and more young Jedaii are interested in Qigong Kesh and Akar Kesh."
"Well, you can blow off steam there," I shrugged.
"You don't have to blow it off. You can channel it into creation," the Master corrected. "But we've talked too long—you must want to rest."
"No, Master—what are you saying? Just somewhere to drop our things," Vess answered immediately.
"Oh! Then please, follow me. I'll show you the free rooms—take any you like. Then I'll give you a brief tour of the temple."
"Argu-r-r-a?"
"Not at all—you're not distracting me from lessons. My students are in a creative surge right now, and they won't come out of it anytime soon. That's why I decided to take a walk."
After settling the raptors in the stables set aside for them, the master led us through the temple. Of the four buildings, two were residential, while the other two housed work halls. Walking corridors with high ceilings, I was struck by the contrast between the arts temple and the balance temple. Here, entire images were carved into the walls. At corners and intersections stood statues and plants I'd never even seen in a botanical reference.
And the rooms. We were also given individual quarters, but here they looked far more presentable. Walls with good sound insulation in case someone decided to play music, a big bed you could fit three on, a couch, a table, an armchair, two wardrobes, plus two nightstands. In the desk we found supplies, and in one of the wardrobes there were tools. The hated meditation cushion was here too.
But most importantly: everyone had a refrigerator. Yes, small. But personal. Your own. And a special heating device like a microwave. Isn't it beautiful? I'd been here for maybe two hours and I already loved this place.
After we put our things away, the tour continued. Master Laniron was a true enthusiast—and also loved to talk. Peeking into training halls, he explained the instruments to us in detail, clarified subtleties of interacting with the Force, and willingly answered every question we had along the way. But when we ran out of questions, he still had answers left.
Can't say we disliked it. No. It just turned out that Master Laniron explained what we needed, in the way that interested us. You could tell he was experienced—he knew what to load newcomers with, and what could wait.
During the tour we watched students working, and in parallel we were offered to try our hands at things. So today I was a sculptor and a clay-kneader, and the next day I tried to become a painter. Tried being the key word—because my scribbles are pure trash.
I also tried myself as an architect. Just for fun. I drew better—rulers carry hard—but the blueprint itself was judged not only strange, but unworkable. After that came an attempt to turn us into writers. That's where we lost Gris, because the Wookiee flatly refused to leave the circle of pen-and-paper maniacs. Personally, I realized just how terrifying writers, poets, and other paper-scratchers are. Talk to one for five minutes and you instantly feel like the biggest idiot alive—nightmare. And they're all crazy. Absolutely crazy, I swear it on the Force!
The point of all this wandering was to help us find what spoke to us. So to speak: see, listen, touch, and get interested. Vess latched onto music. In her paws—a stringed thing like a guitar; instead of a pick, a claw. She sat there strumming, glowing with happiness. And with her unusual, slightly growling—or rather, purring—voice, the songs came out with a special twist.
Ramiry, surprisingly, became interested in sculpture work. It's surreal watching a tiny figure with a huge hammer and chisel knock chunks off granite. She already knew how to draw and loved it, so making a design for a statuette wasn't a problem.
That was it. Me, Zeng, and Feng turned out to be unfit for art. Whatever we touched didn't move us—and it slipped out of our hands. Master Laniron, who took our group under his wing, was somewhat disappointed by that, but he was pleased with our enthusiasm and curiosity anyway, since we kept pestering him regardless. It's interesting to learn how the Force affects paintings—and then affects sentients!
So the lack of formal lessons didn't stop us from walking around and enjoying other people's work. And besides, even if I'm a kriffing bad artist, since we stopped here, I decided to take a few drawing lessons. I'm still ashamed of the fact Irbis kept redrawing my own sketches for me.
But overall, I liked Bodhi. It was like a resort you come to in order to rest your soul. Students, for the most part, lowered their emotional barriers, as did the masters. And you could easily forget where you were, like you weren't on Tython at all, but in some other world where everything is quiet, calm, and just plain nice.
And compared to Shikaakwa, this was an offworld paradise, where people are reasonable and, instead of gnawing at each other, simply create—because it feels good to them, without chasing fame or recognition. The money earned from selling works is more than enough for living, and after graduation, on Kalimar, creators like these will be in huge demand. Especially since there are few of them at all, and there's not even a whiff of competition here.
So we got stuck in Bodhi for a solid two takeds. Just because we were resting. Just because we could. And nothing foreshadowed trouble, but alas-alas—apparently I want too much from life. And if we don't go looking for adventures, they find us themselves.