'It seems you have an admirer, Obi Wan' quirked his eyebrow at his embarrassed apprentice, chuckling at his dark scowl. 'Come, I feel that this should be our cue to leave quietly'
The two left in quiet haste, unaware of her eyes following them from a balcony above. Jedi were so unaware, she thought to herself, blinded by maintaining the 'light'. They should have focussed on keeping the balance in the force. Not weakening the structure of the Living force by enforcing too much peace. Arec sighed. It was difficult to be near people she had once respected so highly, only to know they were bringing about their own rapid destruction.
Unmissed by anyone, as she had been uninvited anyway, she returned to her speeder and to her temporary home. She had made her safe haven a in a small inn, though she never left any of her few possessions behind. The room was quiet- soundproofed from the city outside, and in a safer part or the planet, due of course to its proximity to the Jedi Temple.
She meditated, centring on the mission, her purpose for coming here. Her thoughts drifted to Obi Wan, how delicious it had been to see him squirm with the unknown quantities of her presence. She smirked at the memory of how flushed his cheeks were the moment her lips left them. If only he were not of the Order... though, she held no code he recognised, and it would be a delightful distraction for her to seduce him.
Best not. Her moral compass came to the fore, she could not so willingly sway someone from their life purpose. Hers had already been grey, and she had left the Jedi way behind her for that reason. She regained focus, and returned to her meditation, and remained that way until the first rays of the suns light broke through the smog of the city.
'What is she?' Obi Wan broke his silence as he and Qui Gon walked the halls to the sleeping quarters
'Arec?' he confirmed, even though he already knew what his padawan implied- it was a question he had been hoping to avoid this discussion. His impatient nod irked the older man, just as her earlier question about him sensing darkness had.
'You cannot hide it from me, Master. I am old enough to know' Obi Wan began protesting
Qui Gon silenced him with a wave of his hand, nodding that he would answer. 'It is not a matter of your age, Obi Wan, but your ability to accept other ways ' he sat on a bench looking over the wide balcony, out to the city beyond 'Arec is what is known as a Grey Jedi. She follows neither the light or the dark. Instead she uses whatever means necessary to maintain the balance in the force. Knights of the Grey Jedi Order are allegiant to neither Jedi or Sith. Their path is of balance, not peace or chaos. Their moral code is much different and they do not forbid attachment the way our Order do'
Obi Wan was silent for a few moments, allowing the information to sink in. He had heard of the Grey Jedi, but only as myth. He had never thought of them as actual beings. 'What business does she have here?' he was surprisingly gruff, as though the realisation of her allegiance had offended him.
'The Kage of the Grey Jedi sent a request for his greatest student to meet with the council, to discuss matters of the universe' he explained vaguely 'I have no knowledge of the matters to be discussed'
'I cannot believe that she would betray the Jedi so' his tone was almost bitter, his expression one of disgust
'It is only betrayal because the news shocks you. Did you not enjoy her company?' his Master tried to soothe him 'Speak with her tomorrow. See if her creed still hurts you so much then'
Obediently Obi Wan rose and made his way to his room, feeling as though he would never shake this pained emotion. His old friend had turned from the only path he had ever known and he struggled to comprehend that change. Her cheeky demeanour, her attitude to him, all came clear. She had no morals or compass, no true creed to guide her, she was a wilful woman, tempting him to break from his oath to the Order.