lynchpin_castle | Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

Ahsoka was pleased to hear they were getting more information. When she reached the room she settled down in a chair, on her foot, and rested her hands in her lap, leaning forward a bit to pay attention. Questions? She glanced over at the boy, then back to the Steward. They had so many, didn't they?

"Well, what are the challenges? What do we have to do? And... will there be more of us here? There are a lot of rooms in this place and just the two of us so far." She could ask more but waited for now, curious.

"That is part of it, yes. The rules are to keep us in check. Or others would be scared for what we could do. There are rogue Jedi and Sith like that. But still... sometimes it's hard to follow those rules, if you are sure it will be the death of someone else."

She gave a small shrug though, and a smile once again. "Still, it's not important to me anymore. Not now, at least."

Trunks settled on another chair, towel around his neck and hair still dripping. Early morning training from lack of sleep, and he was just as eager for information as Ahsoka was. A glance at her, and a grin when she fired off a few.

That was the spirit he'd seen whenever they sparred.

The Steward inclined their head, shoulders under the robe moving in such a way that they were clearly indicating their own amusement. "I am unsurprised by your spirit. Allow me to see if I may answer them before you ask more."

The robed-head came back up, cowl deep and shadowed as the Master's was. "The being who has asked for your aid, chosen you to represent them, is a representative of the eternal force and mechanism of creation. Of existence, and life, and all that is contained with. But there is always a paradox--change being the most constant force of all, chaos always providing some order--and where there is existence, there is an emptiness, a nothing, that must exist as well."

A pause to be certain they were following.

"So as there exists a being representative of Existence, there also is a counter--a being that has only come to be because of necessity, that represents the forces of this lack-of-existence. A 'Nothing', rather than 'being'. This is not the normal and natural process where things die or fade, that new things may be born. This presents the ultimate lack of all, a void and an End." With some finality to that statement.

"The conflict between these two forces may not be waged normally, as the consequences and results ultimately have been found to be untenable and unacceptable. And so the beings have come to an agreement. They shall choose champions to represent their cause, who shall then engage in challenges. The results of these challenges shall help direct and steer the influence each Being has, upon the Multiverse."

She looked a bit bashful at his comment about trying to answer them all before she asks more. She nodded and sat on her hands a bit, under her knee and leg. He explained, and she followed, giving a nod in understanding. Once in a while she'd glance over at her companion, before looking back to this Steward.

There was Existence and Nonexistence, basically. And they needed champions, in order to influence the Multiverse... in how they fought or won or dealt with the challenges. Okay, so she got all that but...

"Ah, what kind of challenges, though? You have... a wealth of knowledge here in a library, as well as training rooms. There are a ton of rooms, which makes me think you expect more to take your offer. Will these challenges on on the large scale? Or always a few at once or...?" Or how were they done at all? Would they literally be fighting? She wasn't here for a show of fighting talent or anything. She agreed to come and help. Because it seemed like it would help many people.

Trunks was following along as well, but kept himself quieter than she did. Posture straight as he sat, hands resting against his legs. At the end of it all, his mouth twisted slightly and he bit his lip, before raising his hand. Enough to signal he wanted to speak, but was willing to be patient.

The Steward again seemed amused, and nodded to him after Ahsoka's questions.

"So, essentially we're the pieces in a game of chess, on a multiple-layered board, between two masters?" To be certain he had it correct, in its basics. "Or maybe more like Go?"

"You are both correct, in a way. We are expecting and hoping for many more over time, as this conflict shall not be resolved easily nor in a mortal's comprehension of time. Indeed it is already as old as the two concepts themselves."

That was a little alarming. "We are unsure what these challenges shall be--for the Being of Emptiness shall choose them. We have one inherent advantage over them--in that we represent creation. Ideas, and innovation. The Nothing that we seek to overcome does not create, only unmake. It is reliant upon its own ability to endure, to be the easiest path, and to overpower. Thus, it holds the right to decide the type of challenge. But it may not interfere beyond that, only choose champions of its own just as we have."

"You are the first of many, we hope, and when you wish to return to your own lives, we will wish you well and send you with what aid we may, but without interruption to your fates, your own free-will notwithstanding, otherwise."

A longer pause, and there was a sound akin to a sigh.

"As to the nature of the challenges, I can only speculate, as can the Master. It is likely however that the Being of Unmaking has become aware of who we have chosen. They may choose champions of their own you may be familiar with, or you may not. We strongly suspect the first challenge shall be the most direct of them, and the most straightforward."

Pausing and studying the two for several moments, before the Steward continued. "It is likely that there shall be physical challenges and combat, as well as tests to your spirit and will, and potentially your unity. Both of you have come from harsh situations and lives, and have had your spirits tested already. I regret that we can not do more than speculate, beyond this."

Chess? She wasn't sure what that was, but after a moment, hearing what they both said, it sounded a lot like Dejarik. Which was, in fact, a type of chess game. She stayed silent for a moment, letting the other ask things too, and hearing the Steward explain.

He was right. They had come from tough places before this. But she had lived through tougher, or so she wanted to think. She let out a slow breath though. That did answer a lot. She leaned back, back into the chair. Her posture was no where near as rigid as the others here, even for all her training. Relaxed was a good form, she felt. Even as she took all this in.

"So... we wait. For how long? Do you have control of how often or when the trials and challenges are? Will they tell us what it is before we go in for them, or do we find out when ever we start? Will we be able to prepare for them first, or will they come at a surprise?"

Believe it or not she used to rapid fire questions at Master Yoda when she was younger as well.

"That is one of the advantages of the formality of these systems. It ensures there are rules in place, even as it constrains us." The Steward replied, definitely sounding pleased. "You have a little over 2 and a half Earth-standard weeks, before your first challenge. We expect them to take place roughly within a month of each other--but the time and challenge shall always formally be named and set. There will be no surprise in this at least."

For what comfort that would be. "So you may relax, in that you shall know when the challenge takes place, and of a rough nature as to what it might be. I can tell you that your spirit, mind, and body will be tested in various ways. To that end, we have arranged for their to be 3 zones set up that will help you learn and prepare as much as we may. As for the form of the challenge itself, any rules or constraints shall be given ahead of time, but only 24 standard hours before. That is out of our control."

Another pause. "What IS in our control, is this plane upon which the Castle exists, and its immediate surroundings. Which is how we have access to the resources provided, and we hope you shall take advantage of. As we do not know precisely what you shall be facing, we offer all the aid and knowledge we can."

"So we've been here a week..." Trunks spoke up "which means that the timescale of roughly a month, was correct. And that is likely to be the schedule?" At the Stewards nods, some things fell into place. Mostly why there would need to be more champions--Entropy was their own enemy here.

They were all mortal, after all, and could tire and wear down. In some ways, it hit him just how grand a scale this all was, and how important, while also how 'personal' it was for each and every being. Seen easily in his eyes-widening, and if he hadn't been sitting up straight before, he was now.

"So how do we get to those zones?"

"Twenty four hours is more time then I have had in battles to prepare. So that seems fair enough to me." She stated lightly. She heard what Trunks said, and nodded once in agreement to his estimate of time.

It was pretty big, but she had an idea that it would be big from the invitation. To help the Multiverse. Had that really been real? maybe. maybe not. She had no idea, but she had nothing to lose either. She had already lost it all. Helping here seemed like the right way to go.

She had no questions for the moment, nodding in agreement to Trunks' question. How do they get there. As far as she can tell, they were on a floating island.

"We are in the process of linking the 3 zones to the castle or its grounds. Outside and a little ways along the path there is a teleportation pad that shall take you to the Field. We shall have linked a teleportation pad to the Mirror Gallery through the Tapestry Gallery, and to the Labyrinth with a teleportation pad in the Observation room within the next two days as well."

"We expect the first challenge to take place on a plane similar to the Field, and to be one dealing primarily with combat, to be primarily physical, and again to be the most direct. As this is new to both of the Beings, it is likely that our opponent shall...take some notes from us, as it prepares, so to speak." There was a wry tone in the Steward's next words. "It is not capable of creating, after all. Only of unmaking."

That seemed to put Trunks a little more at ease, even if part of this was still unsettling. He had said yes though, and he still believed in how important this was. He would rise to the occasion or die trying.

"Well, now I know what I'm doing after I grab a bite to eat." There's a smile, and he glanced at Ahsoka. "Up for some exploring? We can finally cut loose..."

Ahsoka soaked all that in, rubbing a hand over her chin thinking. That was a lot to take in but it did help. There put a lot of things to rest, as well as some questions. They had some time to train still, and a physical fight she can handle. So that wasn't too terrible a thought.

"Sure. I think exploring a bit more might be good. I want to know all the ins and outs if I can." She dropepd her foot to the ground, but didn't stand yet, looking up to the Steward. "One more question though..."

It's a big one. She paused then said carefully. "What... happens to those who lose a challenge? If we fight and are bested... or even, what happens if we lose the challenge? What is... lost? What are our consequences for taking part in this."

"I could attempt to explain the large scale consequences, but I do not believe they would matter as much as your own personal stakes." There was no judgement in the reply, only approval.

"First, you are free to stop being a champion of your own choice at any point. Where you will then resume your life, as if you had never left it save perhaps brief imaginings as if this were a dream. No champion is coerced--indeed no champion of either side can be coerced as it depends upon free-will."

A pause to be sure that made sense.

"Secondly, as to your own personal consequences--we are capable of healing you, even of restoring you to life should you die. While you are a 'champion' you are...protected in some senses. But if you fall, then there are consequences. Your next challenge maybe more difficult--as you may be restricted beyond any that the challenge itself holds. There shall be shifts of tone and of atmosphere, symptomatic and representing the larger shifts of apathy and entropy that shall take place across the multiverse if you fail."

"That's quite a burden..." Trunks commented, a hint more frustration than he wanted, shown in the tone. Crossing his arms over his chest, he didn't move to rise yet either. "But...I think I get it." Glancing at Ahsoka. "Essentially, the same thing happening on a larger scale, happens to us. We lose, then we find it harder to try next time. We lose a lot, and we start to think 'why bother?' which just leads to more of that 'nothingness'."

The Steward said nothing, but there was a hint of approval in the cant of their cowl.

Ahsoka too seemed to take that all in with a little bit of a disapproving frown. But, she also supposed the small protection, or at least healing, was a plus. Also, going home when she wanted was gpood, but not remembering? How does one grow if they don't remember?

She said nothing on that for now though, just gave a serious nod of consideration to the Steward. And as Trunks explained his own thought on it, she gave him a stern nod as well. "Then I guess we better not lose, huh?"

Simple as that, yes?

She rubbed a hand over the back lekku at her head and sighed. "It is a lot to take in, but there is no way I am backing out of it right now. At least not yet. And if we return home as we once were, then I suppose nothing is stopping us from doing as much as we can here and now."

She gave a small bow of her head to the Steward. "Thank you. I think for now that is all the Questions I had ready, but if we have more, is it safe to assume we can find and ask you again?"

"I am ever at your services here. Provided I am able to answer your questions, I will." The Steward inclined their cowl in turn to her, before their cowl turned to Trunks. Who nodded, murmuring a quiet "I'm not leaving either."

Then the Steward inclined their cowl towards him, before gliding out of the room.

Once the steward was left, Trunks took a deep breath, but still had his arms crossed. "I'm not sure whether to be honored or worried, that we're the first chosen and they are new at this." But there was a hint of grin at his mouth, and a shine in blue-eyes that showed he was more than willing to give this his all.

"So yeah, quick snack, then meet you at the entry?"

"Well, who better to be the first to give this a test then the two of us?" She said and gave him a wink, moving to stand and stretch a moment. "But honored and worried, in healthy doses, can work well enough together. I say take a bit of both, but be humble with out being too overly cautious?"

She chuckled and shrugged at what she said. "Something like that. And yeah. Let's meet at the entry and see what we can find. This place is huge after all."

That grin grew, and he tilted his head back, rolling it slightly as he grabbed the ends of the towel around his neck. "Got a lot of faith in yourself. I'll do my best to match that, Ahsoka."

What she said made sense though, and he knew it. Trunks had learned the hard way about being overconfident, and how dangerous it could be. Hard won lessons, but those were the ones that stuck with you.

"15 minutes enough time for you?"

"Sometimes all you have to hold onto is Faith and Hope." She said with a shrug, grinning. Anakin used to give her shit for it as well. She might play being overconfident, but it was just a show really. When it came down to it, she knew her limits. She might push them too, but she knew them. She said stuff like this, but he would learn, when she was in her go time, it was talk. In reality she took things serious.

"Fifteen minutes is more than enough time. You sure that's enough for you to get a snack in?" It's a tease, nothing more.

Faith and Hope huh? Trunks got that--it was what he and his mother had named the Time Machine. Hope.

A laugh with the tease, and he reached out and nudged her shoulder with a fist. Playfully and light. "If it wasn't, I would've asked for more." A hand-up in salute, and then he's turning on his heel to head for Suite 6. Bringing the towel up and attacking his wet-hair as he went.

The entire day had been pretty good, if not tiresome. She had taken such a long shower, and though there was some mild guilt there, she felt like it was a nice little reward. Meditating in the water felt great. Connecting. Getting out and drying off, she changed into clean clothing. Her standard uniform needed mending and washing, and she had to wonder where she could do that. She'd have to ask (as she wouldn't think to ask a servant to do it). A tank top in dark gray and some soft fluffy work out pants that felt a bit too large had suddenly become her favorite evening attire, and it had been for a few days now. She was relaxing more into the idea that she didn't always have to be battle ready.

When Trunks came with some food for her, she was surprised but pleased to eat a little bit. Talking with him felt nice as well, answering his questions about her race, and pleased to see him answer some of his own. The poor guy had a lot on his shoulders, more then she could say she had. At least now. it was a wonder he was so polite and well held together.

That night she had tried to sleep. She had gone into a meditative state in the corner of her room for a bit and it helped, but she was all bruised up and uncomfortable. Laying down didn't feel great, so even after she decided she needed rest and was done meditating, she stayed seated in the corner, on the ground of her sparse room. Third floor, 8th room, or something like that. It was small and didn't have a bathroom, but she liked the layout. Other than it felt too big. It felt like there was space in h ere for two people to have room to rest. She wasn't used to that.

It was... late. She wasn't sure how late, but her brain said it was late so it must be. Still dark out, it felt like she had barely been asleep when the back of her neck itched. She raised a hand to slip under a lekku, scratching at it and blinking sleepy eyes open. A soft groan was uttered as her other hand rubbed over her side, at her ribs. Today had been a good work out, but it clearly left her a bit restless.

Or was it something else. She thought she heard something and stopped, held her breath a moment. Her neck twitched again with an itch. The Force warning her maybe? She tried to hear again, what it was she thought she heard...

Unlike her, Trunks had gotten just enough of a shower to get himself 'clean' (again), and then thrown on comfy pants and the towel around his neck, before hunting up food. Definitely his father's heritage there as Saiyans ran on their stomach. It was natural to think about bringing some for Ahsoka too, given the day they'd both had.

Seeing her casual and out of maroon though...the grey wasn't bad, but the maroon complimented her skin tone so much better. Still, she looked better--more relaxed, which made him smile. He was so relieved she didn't find his questions rude--and now he knew the proper term. Lekku, and Montrals. Interesting, and that they were sensitive didn't surprise him, given Namekians had antenna too. It made sense really.

Trading questions about their races and some of their stories occupied a good amount of time while they ate and it was comfortable. Long enough to finish unwinding, and then he headed back downstairs. Second floor anyways, and now he was exhausted.

Towel thrown on the dresser, and he sort of fell in to bed. Enough to pull a blanket up, and get one arm under a pillow. Hopefully tonight he'd be able to sleep, since restlessness was usually his companion.

Unfortunately while his body was exhausted, his mind wasn't--and had had several things brought up. Even if it had been healthy, cathartic, to share and talk about them with someone. Not to mention tearing through some other machines that were out to kill him--even if not the two he wanted. Still, he had more than enough fuel in his brain for nightmares and uneasy sleep.

It started with tossing and turning, blanket kicked off. Moving and sprawled on his back now, Trunks didn't realize he'd made the noise. A half-aware shout, in his dream it was a scream of pain and rage. Not long after when the pillow hit the wall with a loud thwap against the stone.

Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

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Nightmares

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