It had been a very busy few weeks since Hyle's arrival on Kiast.
Most of that had on introductions, to this new life, to his new companions and this clan,
and to the ways of the Force. The vision that had haunted him for years seem to have
subsided somewhat thanks to the medidation. Somehow learing it from a person
rather than a book or recording made it, if not easier, then more effective.

Perhaps it was The Force that had drawn him to this region of space, or perhaps it was coincidence,
but he was here now, and he had to admit, he was looking forward to the challenge of learning new skills
to earn his keep in a new and unfamiliar environment. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spend
so long on any one planet, even if technically, The Village wan't on the surface of this planet.

Reluctantly, he cleared these assorted musings from his mind and focused, trying to establish
a connection with the Force. He wasn't sure why but he was certain someone was in the room with him.
Strange, he hadn't heard the door open or shut.

"Is this to test if I can still concentrate with distractions?" Hyle asked, wryly.
There was no response, not even the shuffling of feet, but he was sure that
someone was behind him. He was on his feet in an instant, arms up and feet apart.
There was no one there. Maybe he still more distracted by events than he'd care to admit.

He sat back down on the hard mat floor and centred himself one more.
Again there was the feeling of this presence looming over him. Although
he didn't respond, the feeling of another presence in the room was too
distracting.

Perhaps he might have more luck in more natural surroundings. He made his way to the gate
of the compound, and started ambling towards the waterfront, barely registering that it was
now night, and that the compound itself seemed completely deserted.

He sat down on the decking overlooking the lake. It was completely still, not a ripple of wind or water.

"You are looking for inner piece." A voice said, deep, sonorous, with a strange echo.
"And you're not helping."
"No, but if you let me, perhaps I will."

He hauled himself to his feet and saw the being that was standing next to him.

He (at least it sounded like a he) was bigger than any sentient being Hyle had ever seen.
In size, he resembled a collossal beast of burden, but there was comething more ape like
about the carriage and posture. There was also something else which he couldn't quite
identify. It wasn't the appearance, but there was something strange, and yet familiar.

Concentrating, Hyle reached out with the Force.
"You have questions, and you look to the Force for knowledge."
"So you know of the Force. Are you Jedi, Sith?"
"I am neither of Ashla, nor Bogan."
Those words. Ancient terms referring to the Light and the Dark.

"The Jedi and the Sith strive for order,
but their visions of order are at odds."

"Hence, conflict." Hyle said.
"Hence conflict." The creature agreed.
"But even were it not for the inevitability of conflitct, the order of the Sith and the Jedi are doomed."
"Why? Corruption? Hubris?"
"Ignorance."
"What I know of the Jedi and the Sith is that they have always sought knowledge."
"But to what end? They acquire knowledge for its use to their cause."
"So what, they're weakness is that they don't seek knowledge for its own sake?"
"Igorance is a choice. They care more for their goals than truth."
"Which is?"
"That truth must be accepted as well as learned."

"And the first to learn and accept the truth will have their vision
of order vindicated?"
"Again, you think in terms of conflict."
"And?"
"And conflict is the bane of order."
"But Jedi and Sith visions of order cannot be reconciled,
history has proven that."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why can their visions not be reconciled."
"They are based on opposing principles."
"And in what other ways are the Sith and Jedi opposed."
"One follows the Dark Side, the other, the Light."
"And that is why their principles oppose each other,
everything they strive for is in opposition, because
their beliefs oppose each other."

"So we can avoid conflict and achieve order
by challangenging our beliefs, by learning and accepting
the truth. What truth? The futility of conflict? That conflict
is based on a false premise?
"And what is that premise?"
"I don't know, that the other premise is false?"
"So you do know."
"Wait, so Jedi and Sith are both wrong because they believe
the other side is wrong?"
"And what do the Jedi and Sith believe?
"That the turn to the other side of the Force represents
corruption? Weakness? Failure? The the other side must
be rejected? Suppressed?"

"And the choices they make?"
"Choices? Like how ignorance is a choice?"
"Yes."
"So the Jedi and Sith made the choice of ignorance?"
"Yes."
"So what truth are they ignoring? The darkness within every Jedi?
The light within every Sith? That these are a part of the force they
can never truly purge from themselves?"
"Yet they suppress it."
"So what, they accept the truth of impurity within the force, within themselves?
What then if not to suppress it or control it?"

"Control? Suppress? Oppose? Conflict is the bane of order."
"So order depends on balance?"
"So you have learened the truth. Can you accept it?"
Hyle merely grunted before asking.
"If you are neither Jedi or Sith, where did you learn this, who are you?"
"I am Bendu."