Down in the Dark (O'vala)

[Hatoful GM]

O'vala's expectations were met; the cave did not answer.

Her hands looked as they always did, free of the wounds they had seemed to receive. The memory of the pain was still there, though.

[O'vala Aeser]

"How long was I in here?" O'vala called out. She was a bit dazed, confused. Nothing seemed exactly real but her gut said that this was now reality.

[Hatoful GM]

The cave, stubborn as it was, continued to refuse to answer. If Master Chriala was still outside, perhaps she couldn't hear her.

O'vala had no real sense of how much time had passed.

[O'vala Aeser]

"Oh no." O'vala broke out into a sprint, running for whatever seemed to be an exit.

[Chriala Hulis]

It only took a few steps, and she was outside again.

Master Chriala was there, kneeling. She rose rather suddenly at O'vala's startling appearing.

"O'vala!" She spoke sharply, her voice clear. "It's okay. You're out now, it's okay." She offered a hand, giving a reassuring smile.

[O'vala Aeser]

"I called out to you. Why didn't you say anything?" O'vala stepped back, arms wrapped around herself. "You're blind, not deaf."

[Chriala Hulis]

Chriala let her hand fall back to her side, but she took a step closer. "Inside the vergence, there are different rules. Sight, sound, time... all work differently. It is possible that even if I'd gone inside, I would not have seen you." Her lips quirked. "And not only because I have no eyes."

She tilted her head, regarding O'vala. "I am here now."

[O'vala Aeser]

O'vala smirked a little at the remark about the eyes, or lack thereof, but then went back to being a grump. "How long was I even in there?"

[Chriala Hulis]

"Somewhat more than an hour." Chriala said. "Although not much more. It often feels like more, I know."

[O'vala Aeser]

"An hour, huh?" O'vala clenched her fists. "Why would you send me to such an awful place? It kept telling me that I didn't deserve to be alive."

[Chriala Hulis]

Chriala was silent for a few moments, her expression unreadable.

"All Jedi must confront the Dark Side, in one form or another. Some fight it with their lightsabers. Others with education, or with medicine. And all of them, every last one, must fight the darkness within themselves."

She gestured towards the cave. "That is what this test was. Every Jedi who seeks to become a knight has completed it."

[O'vala Aeser]

"But I'm not trying to be a knight right now." O'vala looked at the cave, more still than her ordinary self. "Within? Are you saying this is all in my head?"

[Chriala Hulis]

Chriala tilted her head, her lips pressing together. "Is being a Jedi something you only are when you try?"

A moment, and she shook her head. "Not... exactly. The vergence manifests the dark things in your... I would not even say 'head'. I would say 'spirit'."

[O'vala Aeser]

"I don't know what I'm doing," O'vala complained. She flopped down onto the cave floor and wrapped her feet close. "None of it makes sense."

[Chriala Hulis]

Slowly, Chriala knelt down next to her. "That's okay, O'vala. It is an unusual experience. You shall have time to process it. And we can discuss it, if you like. Now, or tomorrow. Or both."

[O'vala Aeser]

"I don't even know what to say at this point."

[Chriala Hulis]

Chriala gave her a gentle smile. "That is not unexpected. Take some time to think about it. When you're ready, please, talk to one of us. We are here for you."