~| The Jedi Temple on Coruscant |~
~| Day 1, 11th hour |~
Leaving the Heart of the Temple room
~| Day 1, 11th hour |~
Leaving the Heart of the Temple room
As soon as Shiri looked up from helping Xid get back to his feet, she saw Iblik’s form across the room crumple. Suddenly, it was as if the world were moving in slow motion, the sound around her fading out until all she could hear was her own heartbeat and then the soft thud of her master’s body as it hit the ground. Her mind froze, barely noticing the Sith was escaping down one of the hallways as she ran over to her Master’s side.
He was dead. Maybe not quite yet, but.. kneeling next to him Shiri could tell he wasn’t going to make it. Not unless there’s a healer nearby, or.. Cerria! She glanced down the hall leading to the Archives, half wanting to run down there as fast as she could to get her fellow Padawan, bringing her back to try and save their master. But, looking back at Iblik, she knew that he didn’t even have that much time left. She’d be abandoning him in his last moments if she tried to save him.
She took his hand, squeezing it hard to try and comfort him, in some small way. “Master, c-can you hear me?” She ignored her stutter as she tried to suppress the tears at the corners of her eyes, watching her master’s face carefully for any reaction at all. He was wheezing badly, unable to speak, but after a second she thought that maybe she felt his hand grip hers just a little more tightly. She wouldn’t allow herself to think she just imagined it. She took a shaky breath, unsure what to do now. There was so much she wanted to say, and even more she wished he could say to her. She brought the hand she was holding up to her chest, resting it and both of her hands over her heart as she closed her eyes, a couple tears escaping as she did.
“I’ll see you again, eventually. Hopefully not for a long while... so until then, I’ll never forget what you have taught me.” She opened her eyes again as she felt Iblik’s hand move up to touch her face, his fingers gently brushing her cheek before he let it fall back to his side as her eyes met his. His breathing stopped a moment later, a look of sadness now frozen on his face. Shiri stood quickly, wiping at her face as more tears fell. She glanced around the room quickly before shaking her head. She turned to walk down one of the halls at random, hesitating a moment before actually leaving.
“I can’t.. I can’t stay here right now..” She wasn’t sure who she was speaking to, but as soon as the words were said she took off running, winding her way through the halls of the temple. She had to be alone, to try and think, to try not to let her grief get to her.