Subaru woke up, just like every chilly morning for the past week, underneath the crisp canopy that smelt of smoke. Now dressed in filthy robes, unable to clean them due to having no idea where a stream was, the Jedi laid in contemplation that his crash landing and the clones betrayal by default, was not a dream but a reality. It sucked. He spent many mornings wondering if Master Rirr and Winama had survived, or if they had perished. Such events plagued his dreams and he often pondered this like a man obsessed.

Yawning, rubbing the bags underneath his eyes, forgetting to cover his mouth with a hand whilst doing so, a lack of manners that Master Rirr would have sternly discourage. Slowly, as if his joints had frozen over, he got to his feet. The eternally cold breeze washed over what Emilia had called Elior Forest. Even though it was extremely cold, the Jedi had adapted well and chilly breeze had become a little more bearable. He now only needed the portable heater to be powered on for a couple of hours during the night, or else he would freeze to death. Due to this adaption in his body, the lifespan of the heater had doubled- maybe even tripled, if Subaru became stingy enough with its intended use.

R3-Z4, after a week of being constantly active, from assisting in salvaging anything of use from the Eta-2 starfighter to staying alert from the possible dangers of Elior Forest (there was something not quite right about it) and as a result the droid had exhausted its power cell. It was now recharging with the portable charger that Subaru had managed to save from the wreckage. After the flames had ran out of fuel (An estimated seven hours after his crash landing), the Jedi had been able to save the DC-15A carbine blaster that he kept 'just in case'. And although it smelt horribly like smoke, the power cell still functioned and thus, it was still usable. He had been able to salvage some tools, such as a screwdriver and a multi-purpose wrench, but the rest was had melted until it was unusable.

"Although, those crystal's Emilia showed me have potential to be a makeshift power cell." Those green crystals that now rested in his pocket, and were very small, only being the size of his thumb and were a little smaller than his lightsabers power cell. The woman had described them as magical, and the Jedi held back a small chuckle when she had offered them to him. Despite her claim and the way she had excitedly showed and explained them to him, Subaru knew better. Those precious stones that were thought to contain magic, instead contained the essence of the force. How the crystal did so, he didn't know and would probably never will, but those crystals did have potential to replace the limited power cells that he had salvaged from his starfighter.

His relationship with the Emilia had been going smoothly, despite the shaky foundations of whatever language the communicated with. And whilst he maintained a somewhat serious manner due to his experiences, they got along rather nicely. Those crystals that rested in Subaru's robes pocket proved such a statement, and they way she appeared every morning to have a chat. But despite their steadily growing friendship, Puck seemed to disapprove of the Jedi. The floating cat was the woman's 'contracted spirit' and after a week was still distrustful of him. He hadn't apologised for their early meeting and that alone made the large amount animosity that Puck held towards him very clear.

Although, it wasn't all that hidden to begin with, from the constant glaring and the overall vibe the spirit gave off when he was near Subaru. It was obvious that they wouldn't be able to get along in the future- but yet, he was okay with that. Within the galaxy, there was bound to be more than one person that he wouldn't be able to get along with. If Puck was such a person or 'spirit', as Emilia had told him, than there was nothing to be done about it. A relationship was a two way street, the Jedi firmly believed this. "Anyway, it's time to start the day."

Emilia often brought him berries and tea leaves to snack on, her desire to continue to be friendly had been made clear through her kind actions. And although Subaru had never had a fine taste for tea, he was indeed thankful. The warm taste of bitter water would often energise him, and acted like Caf in a limited way. The woman had told him that she was visiting the village, and almost immediately, the Jedi asked to accompany her. She had been nervous, excusing herself after hesitantly agreeing. Although he wanted to spend time with her, this trip was a way t gain a much needed insight of this planets culture and since his starfighter had went up into flames upon his not-so eloquent landing, the Jedi knew he was staying here for the long term.

It would be a little while longer until Emilia walked from the cover of uprooted trees, since Subaru always woke up earlier than her. But he waited diligently for her, sipping on lukewarm tea, the first act of kindness he received on the new world. But he wasn't without his assumptions, even before he had seen civilisation. Just from the woman's reaction, she didn't seem to understand what his starfighter was. Even people from the Western Reaches knew what a starfighter was, but to met someone who had no idea what the hunk of metal had been was odd. But yet... it was refreshing.

And yet, he was hesitant to reveal his heritage as a Jedi and the fact that he didn't belong on this world. Subaru didn't know how Emilia would react to his status as an 'alien' and revealing such a thing could possibly ruin the newly formed relationship between them. The Jedi didn't want that to happen, not when he had lost everything he had known. He wasn't a Jedi here nor was he a peacekeeper- he was just Subaru Natsuki. How... freeing did it feel to be released from the burdens of his duty and status as a hero. Did he feel lighter?

So the Jedi had kept it brief, to preserve their relationship, simply telling her that it was a item of transport that he had recently created. A one of kind product that had malfunctioned during a test and that he had luckily come out relatively unscathed. Emilia had immediately gashed over the burnt rubble and claimed him to be an inventor with a series of awe-inspired gasps. Subaru had lied, and he was pretty sure that Puck knew this too, but the relationship between himself and the woman had been preserved. He was glad for that small mercy.

Drinking his tea, noting that he had very little left and that he'll have to ask Emilia for more, Subaru rested beneath the burnt canopy, his faithful companion during the war re-charging. And for the first time since he had become a Jedi Knight- since he had become a General of the Grand Army of the Republic, Subaru felt at peace. And could only think that it was a blissful feeling. He sincerely hoped that Master Rirr and Winama felt this too, wherever they are.

Emilia walked at a slow pace, the recent bounce in her step now gone. Unlike during the past week, where she had hurried through Elior Forest to talk with Subaru, the half-elf could only walk slowly with her heart beating rapidly. She was hesitant and the fear of being rejected was strong in her heart. She was scared that her new friend would curse her when her heritage would undoubtedly be revealed.

The past week had felt like a dream! A breath of fresh air. Subaru seemed so intelligent... and otherworldly. He seemed to be from another plane of existence, from his 'lightsaber' to the transport that he had led to their almost fated meeting. He was also pleasant to converse with, although a bit reserved. To met such a person who didn't curse her when the saw her, the half-elf had thought it to be an impossibility. Emilia didn't want to loose such a nice person, she didn't want to wake up. Unfortunately, she had made the mistake of speaking about her bi-monthly trip to the local village and accepted his request to join her. How badly did she mess up?! She should have refused him, to preserve the only friend she had ever had. She would be lucky to just receive a look of scorn from him when he discovered the resemblance!

Emilia made her way through the rubble of tree and rocks that Subaru's transport had uprooted in his crash with practiced ease. Whilst the sight had frozen her heart when she had first saw it, for the past week, the half-elf normal felt giddy when she hurriedly climbed over the uprooted trees to talk to her friend. But now, her movements were slow and nervous, the fear that made her heart move as fast as a ground dragon multiplied when Subaru stood up. He always seemed to know that she was near, as if he could detect her presence despite not being within his sight. It was surreal, and despite her ability to sense mana could never be so refined to the point of pinpointing somebodies exact location- it was a feet that Emilia knew that she could never hope to achieve.

"Good morning, Emilia." He turned, a small smirk on his face as he straightened his brown robes. His 'lightsaber' hang over a leather belt and a large metal contraption was slung over his shoulder, hanged across his back. A blaster, he had called it- another one of his inventions, but unlike his laser sword, he did not demonstrate the 'blasters' power. But if he called it a weapon, than Emilia hoped to not be on the receiving end of it. His robes soiled with dirt and without a water source that hadn't been frozen over to wash them- he couldn't clean himself.

The half-elf felt guilty at this, for she couldn't help him. She could only wash herself because of Puck's use of water magic and she doubted that her father would show such a small mercy to the man. He didn't like Subaru that much, refusing to leave his crystal when she visited him. And despite her want for them to get along, it seemed to be nothing short of a fantasy. She waved half-heartedly, her heart rate seemingly picked up speed, beating faster than it did in her short walk to the recent clearing. If she hadn't been scared before, she was now.

So very scared of waking up.

"Y-yeah, good morning."

"Well, are we ready to go?" Subaru hadn't asked what was bothering her, and Emilia was grateful for it. She wanted to keep experiencing this dream for a little while longer. Even when she knew it was about to end.

".. Yes."

"Lead the way- I'm afraid I'll get us lost."

Puck had once told her to be brave, to face something she didn't like with a smile and edge spite her immense fear, Emilia would follow his advice. Even if she wanted nothing more than to flee from what would come, to hide in a corner and cry. She didn't want to shame her father anymore than what she had already did.

It took around two hours to get to what Emilia called Arlam village. The buildings were made out of wood planks, and despite the snow covered forest that was a few clicks away, Arlam village was as dry as any settlement was in the summer. It was strange, abnormal even when compared to the frozen wasteland that was Elior Forest- didn't this planet have a set seasonal change? Why was the forest cast in snow when this village seemed to be in early summer? Abnormal didn't describe it, but the Jedi placed it to the back of his mind, to forgotten such a useless thought.

Emilia carried several small crystals in her hands- which Subaru assumed was for trading for clothes and food she couldn't attain in the forest. Although, just from the villagers attitude towards the woman he called a friend by just being within her presence, he knew that she wasn't welcome. Racism? The Jedi wasn't a stranger to such a thing, many species were gazed with disdain and were often rejected because of their history or looks. Many citizens were wary of the Jedi, due to their 'mystical abilities' and were segregated to a small extent. Although, that had changed somewhat in the past couple of years,- they had been referred to as heroes during the war. The peacekeepers. What a heavy title to carry.

"The devil's here again."

"Yes. It's that time of the month again."

The villagers glared, muttering to themselves just loud enough for Emilia to hear each awful word. With his hands clenched into fists, Subaru contained the anger inside of him. Whilst he didn't have enough of that warm, bubbling feeling of red-hot fury to do something violent- the treatment his friends was receiving made him feel uncomfortable. He was a Jedi, a master over his own emotions- he could no be tempted by the dark side, even for the briefest of moments. "... Subaru, I'm going to get some clothes- can you stay in this area?" Emilia seemed small, hesitant to met his gaze, as she asked this small favour of him.

"Certainly," he smiled, but the Jedi was sure that even Emilia could tell that it was strained. The woman walked off and for the first time in a long time, Subaru was left truly alone without a companion, whether robotic or a living being. He could feel the villagers eyes linger on him- his DC-15A carbine blaster and lightsaber must have stood out from the common citizen of whatever country he found himself in.

"Who are you mister? Are you an adventurer?" A group of six children, white skin and a mixture of black and brown hair, the stood a few metres away from the Jedi. They were small, yet to be fully grown and were just like any child in the hundreds of planets he had visited. But yet the force surrounded them, more specially, a young girl with brown hair with a red bow.

Subaru knew that the force was strong in this planet, since the dark side seemed to swell and grow within Elior Forest with each passing day, but it was the first time he had seen a force sensitive child who hadn't been hidden behind the Temples walls. It almost sent him reeling in surprise, but the Jedi smiled and began to converse. "My name is Subaru Natsuki, a lone soul walking the path of life." That was what he had now taken to referring his current occupation to other people. They would not know what a Jedi was, and he needed to have a backstory other than 'I was a general of an intergalactic war'. A chubby boy spoke up with a hearty laugh.

"Isn't that another way to call yourself a wandering hobo?"

"Well, I guess that's true." He scratched his cheek, remembering his current living situation. He now lived in a forest surrounded by the dark side, underneath a canopy that smelled like charred metal. Not the best living conditions, Subaru relented mentally, but he did enjoy the serene environment of the forest. Whilst it wasn't as comfortable as his quarters in his Republic Cruiser, it did have a surreal feel to it, if one ignored the instinctual sense of danger that the dark side brought to his nerves.

"What's that strange metal thingy on your back."

"Oh, this? Its a dangerous weapon. Top secret.." He put a finger to his mouth, the universal signal to be quiet. He didn't want them to know that the 'metal thingy' could literally silence them with only a small twitch of a finger. To avert the fear that would come from such knowledge, Subaru made a joke out of it, and where he was normally serious, he could make an exception to ease the minds of those he talked to. The children laughed at his expense, seemingly enjoy the conversation more than he was. "Anyways, I guess we're neighbours- I live in the forest over there, so I'm not a wandering hobo at the moment."

"With the half-elf?! Is it dangerous living near her?"

Subaru frowned at that, his eyes narrowed slightly. Although, the term half-elf confirmed that Emilia wasn't human, but to be so surprised to hear that he was living near her, it confused him greatly. "How come?"

"My mother said that she's the incarnation of evil?" A boy spoke up, confused about Subaru's current living predicament and why she would want to live near her. Andhe felt a brief moment for anger, not at the children- they didn't know any better. But at the parents, for encouraging such racism. To ostracise someone because of their race, of something that they couldn't control made the Jedi angry. "Don't say that about her. She had been nothing but kind to me." The children seemed surprised, and were silent for a few moments, pondering on his words and by default, their actions. The air around the group had become awkward, and wanting to still socialise with them, Subaru smiled as he outstretched a hand. "Do you want to see a magic trick?"

"Magic? Like real magic?" A young girl spoke, not the one that was attuned to the force but a young girl with blonde hair. She seemed interested, and so did the rest of the children- the air around them had become full of energy and excitement. This was much better than a few moments beforehand, where they gazed at him with an uncomfortable look.

"Well... yes." The force was as close to be magic as anything else, so he was lying. He was only telling the half-truth. Reaching into his pocket with his spare hand, he threw a couple of credits (now useless in this new planet) into the air and used the force to move them around with his mind. The children looked at it for a few seconds, before dismissing him. "Magic? Petra can do that too you know and she's no mage. I thought I would finally see a fireball!"

The Jedi assumed that the brown haired girl with the red bow was Petra, since she was the only one the force was drawn to in this group. He felt a sense of duty, to refine her talents- just like Master Yoda and Master Rirr had done for him. Subaru felt the need to teach, to pass on the knowledge he had accumulated throughout his life. It felt like he had to- for the Jedi that had been murdered in the clone wars, by separatists and clones alike. But a student is only as good as how much their willing to learn, that was what Master Yoda had told each younglings during their first lesson with both the force and the lightsaber. The Jedi needed Petra to desire to learn, to want to become a pupil. To desire to unlock the latent power that was the force.

"Well, do you want to see something... a little cooler?"

"Well, of course- but anything can be better than floating several coins." Nodding his head, Subaru raised his hands towards the sky, willing the force to follow his call- three seconds later, a medium turret if flames lit up the air. The children looked at it in absolute awe, before the flames fizzled out after a few seconds. Subaru felt tired, after all, he wasn't all that skilled in pyrokinesis- but he hoped that Petra would seek him out the next time he visited. The group continued to converse, although Petra had a clouded gaze, deep in thought.