His master had rebuked him heavily over the flashy nature of his demonstration but it had been beyond effective in convincing their hosts to extend their hospitality. He sensed mostly friendly and honest emotions from them but it never hurts to hedge one's bets.
The rest of the evening had been uneventful in comparison but had progressed well into the night. Once it was finally over they had been escorted back to their chambers. Once they were inside, the guards left.
Master Hulis entered his chamber once they were out of earshot and said, "Come my padawan, you sense the nexus in the Force as well. Better we investigate on our own terms".
Josiah replied, "Yes Master. I sensed it as well".
They left their chambers, and traced the powerful energies of the Force that came from the Force Nexus. It had involved some Force enhanced aerobatics to scale the walls.
Master Hulis said, "It seems to be a sort of nature preserve of some sort. I may not have been as involved in the war as others, but I have never known a fortress to have a large wooded area inside its walls, especially ensuring that it had strong walls around it".
Josiah said, "Neither have I, Master".
He pulled out his macrobinoculars and switched on the low light image intensifier mode and reported what he saw, "There is a massive central tree, I think its the source of the Force Nexus or its right on top of it".
Master Hulis, "Then we investigate. Let's move".
Then made their way down using the tall trees near the wall to help move quickly and undetected.
When they arrived at the tree, its presence in the Force was nearly overwhelming.
Master Hulis said, "Let us meditate here. The Force shall guide us".
He replied, "Yes Master".
They knelt before the tree in between the tree and a deep dark pool of water, and began their meditations, drawing in the Force linking themselves with the powerful Force energies around them. Josiah felt it easier than it had ever been on a world save for Odessen to enter a deep meditation.
Even for a Jedi Master, it was difficult to tell how much time in the material world has passed when in a deep meditation, yet it felt as if they were able to nearly instantly enter the deep meditation once they had established a connection with the Force Nexus.
A storm came, of an almost unnatural cold and hatred. Josiah did not falter and kept drawing on the Force. The storm was not a physical storm made of clouds, thunder, and rain; but of the Force. A vision in the Force.
He saw a massive throne made of swords that had been fused together through an intense heat inside a massive throne room of red stone. Despite being composed of a manufactured material, the pattern of the melted and fused steel did not indicate a grand design beyond the steps and seat. This had been done with something primitive or natural but he did not know what.
The vision shifted and he saw a massive winged reptile with black and red scales that reminded him of the Basslik war dragons used by the Mandalorian clans in the days of the Old Sith Wars. But it was different, possessing four limbs rather than six and he could sense the power in the Force that resided in the beast. The powerful beast was perched atop a mountain with a myriad of creatures far below bowed in submission. Yet despite this dominance there was a harmony that filled the valley floor below the mountain old feuds had been silenced and peace reigned. The plain was filled with all manner of flora and fauna, thriving.
Then the dragon was replaced with two more. One a sickly beast with a deranged look. The other a magnificent black and silver creature that was nearly as impressive as the first dragon.
The vision moved on, now they were before a massive fortress and another Force Nexus. Josiah had only known three other worlds where the Force had so many other focal points of the Force. All had long histories that were tied to Jedi and Sith. Tython, Korriban, and Dromund Kaas. Before the fortress he saw a dance between a canid that he instantly knew to be female and the magnificent dragon. They danced through the surrounding forrest and looked at each with a boundless and deep love.
The sickly and deranged dragon destroyed some of the creatures, most significantly two canid, but not the one that had danced and loved the other dragon. These canids were older and male. Which led to the creatures attacking the beast. The younger but more powerful dragon hated the deranged dragon tyrant, but did not attack the other.
Josiah saw why. The sickly dragon was poised to burn a city and several eggs. Which he inferred as being the younger dragon's offspring.
An antlered creature that reminded him of kybuck. It slew the magnificent dragon after a lengthy duel that saw even the victor severely wounded. A white nexu like feline slew the deranged dragon. Saving the city, but failing to save the eggs.
The vision shifted again and Josiah was before a tower among red mountains. There he saw seven versus three. Neither side wanted to fight. One side feared death but would overcome it to complete their quest. The other, radiated only conflict. Like they were trapped between a rock and hard place.
The seven triumphed though at the cost of all but two and the remaining two were injured. One severely. The two survivors came from the tower with a corpse and an infant.
The vision shifted again. Now they were before a crossroad one indicating life and the other a frozen death.
The vision had shifted again, now they saw a massive dejarik-like board. With pieces much like the creatures in the previous vision. The pieces played out in countless wars that resulted in a variety of outcomes. Stalemates, total victory, or defeat. With one piece or another sitting on the massive throne made of swords. Yet no matter what, an unnatural cold came from the North. Creeping throughout the land until it swallowed and destroyed every piece.
The board reset with three new pieces. Two were clad in Jedi robe, but the woman was wearing a shroud over her eyes. He instantly recognized it as his master. The other had to be him, as it was clearly a Jedi knight with lightsaber held high ready for battle. The third piece was not a Jedi nor one he expected to see at all. It was a Mandalorian.
They slowed down the advance of the cold, but alone they couldn't stop it. Then a piece that had been a canid turned into a dragon. It too slowed down the cold, but could not stop it.
The board reset again This time the white canid turned dragon was working with Master Hulis, Josiah, and the Mandalorian. Together they stopped the cold and pushed it back, defeating it, forever at the cost of one of them.
The canid turned dragon now sat above all to the beasts and other symbols. Taking the place of the original dragon and ushering in a new golden age. At its right hand sat a shadow, strong in the Force, but unknowable. He did not know if it was his master or him. But together the dragon and the shadow's golden age would last long after they became one with the Force.
They were kicked out of the vision. Josiah was panting heavily. Sweat dripped down his face feeling like fresh snow melt off a mountain.
Master Hulis was the first to speak, "You saw the vision as well"?
Josiah replied, "Yes Master, it was nothing like I had ever seen before. It was clear".
Master Hulis replied, "Yes. Even with my long study of the Force and its mysteries I have never seen a vision like that. Even when I meditated in the caves of Ilum or the ruins of the Dantooine enclave. It was as if I had eyes".
Josiah asked, "What does it mean? Did we see our own deaths"?
Master Hulis answered, "It means the Force led us here for a reason. We must face a great darkness and defeat it. Though we cannot do it alone. There are two missing pieces. One is from this world and the other… I do not know how anyone will find us, let alone a Mandalorian. The future is always in motion, so do not fear what the next day brings. Remember the Jedi code".
Josiah said, "Yes, master".
Master Hulis said, "Let us recite the Jedi code and recenter ourselves in the Force. I sense we have much work ahead of us and we cannot be found lacking…" She paused, taking a deep breath before leading their chant, "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is only the Force".
Author's Note: There will be a time skip between this chapter and the next.