Not wanting to be undone, Aleister continued down the passageway towards the lit torch. If Master Dolash was having fun at his expense, or testing him, he would find that Aleister was up for the challenge.

He made his way, keeping close to the wall as he travelled down the passage. Partly as he did so, he kicked a pebble from the path down the winding area, and it went several minutes before thumping in the distance. This would be a long way down. Luckily, if he fell, he could always fly.

It was a long trip down along the rocky halls, although the hollow didn't seem quite as wide as the mountain itself (thankfully). Circling round to the lit torch revealed a collection of the wooden vines bound together and burning down towards their stub in a stone holder like the one now far above - clearly, this torch had been lit early in the day, and was just now burning down to nothing.

Another torch deep down was now visible, and upon reaching it so too was another. They were in better condition, suggesting they had been lit more recently. Descending level after level into the mountain eventualy began to feel familiar, especially as crystal formations began to appear more frequently along the stone walls.

This came to a head when Aleister arrived at a very familiar with stone passage - the one that lead back up to the surface, the one he had entered the day before following the footsteps of Dolash. His long journey had taken him right back to where he had begun.

Looking over the edge now, he could see torchlights flickering all the way down towards the large, central crystal arrangements on the dimly-lit temple floor. If he squinted, he could just barely make out the obscured figure of Jedi Master Dolash, sitting cross-legged atop his worn stone seat and not moving a muscle. If he were, however, it might be to give a tiny, satisfied smile.

Aleister moved forward with determination and grit, having gone through hell and back to find the Jedi Master, who had vanished and given him this little trail to follow. He would not be one who would be cast aside so easily. If nothing else, he would begin to earn a little faith and respect from Dolash for accomplishing what he had by this point.

He moved with distinct motion, his steps showing all intention, and dedication, as he casually strode towards the Jedi Master, and as he got closer, his image became much more clear, and less having to squint. He did not give a facial expression, and simply sat down next to Master Dolash.

So, now that we've got our daily excersise out of the way... Whats next? He grinned gently.

It took a few moments for Dolash to react. Very slowly, one eye crept open ever so slightly. He seemed to give Aleister only a cursory, superficial examination and seemed to be turning back towards his meditation when apparently something caught his eye. He became quite attentive indeed - and with a pointed tone, words flowed into Aleister's mind.

What is that, in that bag by your side? One huge hand emerged from within a coat sleeve and pointed at Aleister's pouch. You have taken from the mountain that which does not belong to you. Return them, at once, and do not delay.

With that, he closed his eyes again and faced forwards, his hands folding back into a meditative position. Dolash settled quickly into this position and became once again unreachable - a faint veneer of indignance on his face.

Looking back up, the long and aruous climb to the top of the mountain's cavern loomed. Back to where the crystals had been moved, and it seemed back to where they must be returned if Aleister was to hear any more from the enigmatic old Master.

Aleister waited for a moment, listening to him.

Master, I brought them for construction. They will be useful, in terms of power sources and lightsaber crystal construction. Will not people come, eventually tear apart these lands in search of the same crystals, and do so, with much less respect than I? I intended to give them to you, or to hold them, for a trip to the Jedi Temple, to offer them for new students. Is it not the way of the world, that with respect, things must sometimes be taken, as long as we attempt our best to not destroy the ecosystem? If you still desire me to return them, after hearing me out, if that will be the only way you will continue to guide me in this interesting, and fun game of chess we seem to be playing to guide me in the ways of the Jedi, I will do so, but, they came willingly. They were very loose as it were and literally fell off in my hand. I took very few, so as not to destroy the ecosystem. I ask once more, is it your will that I return them?

If Dolash had heard, he made no sign. He continued his silent, rueful meditation, seemingly disinterested in explanations.

The old Jedi was not the only one to express displeasure, however. Slowly, gradually, the shield against the innate Force presence of the temple began to fade. The rumbling of life within the stone of the mountain began to return more intensely than ever. So close to the base of the mountain was Aleister that the sensation was multiplied tenfold. And it was upset.

Not angry, no, but the very rock seemed to protest at Aleister, a faint whine of frustration on the edge of hearing. The stone walls seemed to be straining at their physical limitations, eager to paw at his crystal pouch. It was as if their very absence could be felt running through the Force and upsetting the spirit of the mountain.

Dolash took a deep breath, exhaling it through his nostrils. As he did so, the mountain seemed to quiet down and the scrabbling at the edge of Aleister's perception dimmed.

Go.

Aleister nodded, spending the better part of the next day, returning to the place where he had removed the crystals. He chose to replace them in their exact locations and request forgiveness of whatever spirits he had angered. By the time he had completed his mission, it was nightfall, and Dolash was asleep.

The night's rest was long an unbroken. In the morning, when Aleister awoke, Dolash was waiting by the base of the spiral path - not speaking, but certainly waiting before he went to eat. What followed was a day not unlike the first, mostly given over to silent meditation, eating lichen and drinking stream water. No words could be said to have passed between them, but Dolash always left Aleister a place to sit and waited for him to finish eating before leaving the garden cave.

When the day was ending and the two returned from a simple supper with a handful of fresh torches, Dolash directed Aleister to replace the old torches that guttered out in their stone brackets around the lower levels of the temple. When he was finished with this chore, Dolash awaited him on the stone shrine.

Together at the lowest point of the temple, Dolash raised one hand upon Aleister's approach, gesturing for him to wait. The mountain's voice was growing again, throbbing in the stone.

Unlike before, the voice was not a strain of emotion - it was a fuzzy sort of white noise. A background hum, like a muted speaker. Dolash sank deeper into his trance, his lips moving soundlessly as he listened to the words.

When his meditations reached a crescendo, Dolash got to his feet and moved from his stone seat, leaving it vacant. He gestured for Aleister to sit. Listen.

Aleister nodded to his Master, and took his place upon the stone seat, and entered into a deep meditation.

He could feel the vibrations of this place, for it was unlike any other he had ever experienced.... the more he thought about it, the stupider that was to say, when he'd only ever been here on Ilum, Yavin, or Coruscant. He sighed gently into his meditation. He breathed, using a 4 fold technique, in four, hold four, out four, hold four, repeat.

As he did so, he thought he began to see visions, perhaps his imagination, but it was more than that, it was a tune of the white noise that he had heard before.

Why did you take what was not yours?

He paused, thinking he'd heard a voice

Why did you take what was not yours?

He heard it again, this time, in his own head.
He could feel the vibrations, and the voice was clear as day, anguished and upset.

"I meant no disrespect," Aleister uttered in his own mind.

You still took without request.

"I was only trying to help my fellow Jedi. I did not touch any crystals still rooted into the area. None lived there, I didn't think that there would be that much trouble. I thought I was doing a noble deed. I appologize for causing any trouble."


Your appology shall be considered.

For a few more moments, both Aleister and Dolash seemed to be waiting, listening to see if there was any more. Then, Dolash rounded on Aleister and ousted him from the stone seat. Retaking his former position, Dolash gave Aleister a penetrating look.

Did you hear a voice? Dolash pressed, pointing an almost accusing finger. What did it say? What did you hear? Speak up, already!

Before Aleister could respond, Dolash dropped his hand and turned away. No, no chance. There is no way you heard through the Force - you can hardly hear me! No, the power of the Force must run too shallow in you to allow you to have heard anything.