𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘

𝟎𝟎𝟖. 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦

008. THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM

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SHE KNEW THAT ACE HADN'T TOLD HER EVERYTHING ABOUT UMBARA. She knew that he was lying to her about something. Despite what her instincts told her, she didn't press for more information. However, the whispers that followed her everywhere she went still bothered her.

Arimiya shrunk further within herself as she passed yet another pair of padawans whispering to one another. If they hadn't been staring at her, perhaps she would have assumed that their topic of discussion was someone else. She knew better than that to lie to herself though.

"The nightmares are back, aren't they?"

Arimiya turned her attention back to Zeraphina. She shook her head. Just because she wouldn't lie to herself didn't mean she wouldn't lie to others. Zeraphina didn't believe her though. She'd gotten less than a week's worth of sleep free from nightmares, so it was safe to assume that the dark circles under her eyes had returned. She'd been fine up until the moment that the troops returned from Umbara. Now, those burning red eyes taunted her with visions of not one failed master, but two. R'avida and Krell stood side-by-side, arms crossed and disapproving expressions identical to one another, as if their deaths had been her fault. She knew there wasn't anything she could have done in either situation, but the fact that she had survived when they had died... Skid had said it was called survivor's guilt.

"Have you spoken with any of the Jedi Masters about them?" Zeraphina tilted her head. "I've heard that Master Lym is quite gifted when it comes to meditation and visions."

"They're not visions." Arimiya shook her head. "Just bad dreams."

"How can you be so sure?" Jacen asked as he took a seat beside Zeraphina, setting a stack of holobooks down on the table surface.

"You're such a nerd."

"And you're deflecting."

"Shut up, Plutarch."

Jacen rolled his eyes. "You need to stop pushing aside the people trying to help you. The council is growing worried."

Arimiya raised an eyebrow accompanied by a skeptical look. "The council is looking into my case?"

Jacen nodded his head. "At least that's what Master Kyd says. You do have to admit that you've put them in a difficult position. Not many padawans go through two masters, much less get considered for a third."

"Jacen!" Zeraphina hissed and elbowed him in the side.

He winced and rubbed his ribs. "What? I'm just giving her the facts. She should know about the decisions concerning her. It doesn't help that she's been acting out."

"Pellian deserved it," Arimiya protested and crossed her arms.

"It was a training session," Jacen retorted and then added with a hint of annoyance in his tone, "The two of you flirt incessantly during these sessions, it really wasn't that different than any other day."