When you are traversing the wild and untouched landscapes of the savannah, just remind yourself that you are never the apex predator. The vast and desolate area of sand, rocks, dead and ancient trees are all the same blood-orange color for a simple reason: to hide your worst nightmare from your sight, the Akul. A large, quadrupedal and orange furred mammal, the Akul are the top predators that hunt all sorts of bovine, dog, hooved and giant mammals. Using their extraordinary sense of smell, they can trace your scent from days long past and track you down without mercy.

Throughout the Savannah, tall and wispy Turu-grass stretches out into long ranging fields. Watering holes are sparse and spread thin, and the terrain offers little safety from the blazing sun that hangs overhead. When the sun retreats and gives way to moonlight, the Savannah becomes almost chill, but the night is dark and full of wild creatures. In the Savannah, it’s hunt or be hunted.

The wispy grass of the Shili savannah tumbled amongst each other as a light breeze swept across the red foliage. The Sun blazed above, its rays cascading down into an almost unbearable heat upon the planets surface. The colors of Shili’s unique landscape would be called a picture of nature's perfection to most, but since his time a prisoner, the blinded Areticus saw only the darkness of nothingness. Searching the vast galaxy for his purpose now that the Dark Side no longer held his fate on its own, the Force Disciple listened and felt his way through the wild terrain, relying on his remaining senses to guide him safely on his journey.

As the Human wandered through the red grass, he listened intently to all that was around him. The soft scratching of a scurrying creature’s feet, the light breathing of the savannah hunters, the blades of bristly vegetation; the sounds of the wilderness were a painting in his mind. Areticus used his connection to the Force to assist his remaining senses as he made his way through the growing landscape. His eyes could no longer hold him back from what he assumed was his truest potential.

As another gust of wind blew by, it brought with it a harmonic sound. The soft melody of a song Areticus had never before heard drew his attention and the blind man reached out with the Force to assess where the sound may have been coming from. He could feel the nearby presence of another. Another whose strength in the Force was similar to his own. A figure whose alignment, he could feel, was balanced with both the Light and the Dark. Areticus followed the beautiful sound until he stood before the perpetrator of the music.

Sitting cross-legged on top of a large rock was another Human male wearing a set of Arconan Robes. Aiden Lee Deshra played upon his flute, a relic of his mother's family that was recovered from her corpse after her tragic death. The serene melody that poured forth from the metallic instrument was a lullaby that had been played for Aiden as a child. He performed it now as a calming tool in his meditative process. When his mind was far from easy, it offered him a sense of solace and peace.

Areticus recognized the feeling that radiated off of the other Force Disciple and out of respect for the balance he felt emitting off of him, he sat in silence in front of the Arconan. Aiden could feel the newcomer, but without a sense of hostility in the air, he had no reason to expect foul play was afoot. Soon enough the music was over and the two men studied the other. Areticus’s blindness made a visual inspection of the other impossible, but his use of the Force allowed him to get a decent gauge on the man he was facing. Aiden could tell almost instantly that something was off with the visitor. His eyes seemed to be unable to correctly function which led him to suspect blindness. The deficiency didn’t detract from the sense of power that he exerted though.

“I wasn’t expecting to see anyone else around here.” Aiden started as the men were unmoving.

“I went where the Force led me. Here is where I’ve ended up.” Areticus replied cryptically.

“The Force does work in strange ways. I remember you, Areticus Altainatus, as a former member of the Inquisitors. I assume your newfound disability has caused your shift in career?”

Areticus was intrigued by his being recognized from his time as an Inquisitor, which lead him to deduce his companions similar history. “It was a factor in my leaving, yes, though I’d hardly call this a disability, I can see far more clearly now, than when my sight was available to me.”

Aiden was highly intrigued by the statement. The Force worked in miraculous ways, especially in the case of Areticus, it would seem. Aiden wanted to test the viability of the assertion. Standing, and turning away from his visitor and moving his left wrist to his mouth he spoke into the receiver of the comlink.

“Viz, please bring your tin can self over here please. I would like access to my other arms.”

“Whatever you command ‘Master’,” The machine on the other end replied.

Turning back, Aiden once again looked over the other Force user.

“I sense a great deal of power from you, Areticus. I can’t quite tell if its more in the Dark, or in the Light. Though, with your past, the Dark Side might still have its hold on you.”

“I have come to see that equality in oneself between the Dark and the Light is a necessary juncture. We should all strive towards this Balance,” Areticus spoke like a man filled with wisdom as he too rose to his feet.

“You’ve seen the Balance too...I grow more intrigued, my friend.”

“Friend may be a bit of an exaggeration. I know nothing of you.” Areticus shot down Aiden’s request for the possibility of camaraderie. “Though, I do feel a strong pull towards you. The Balance within you is undeniable.”

“I would love the opportunity to watch you in action without your eyes. If you would allow me the honor.”

“You wish to clash steel?” Areticus asked in wary surprise.

“As a friendly spar, more than anything. I figure you could use the practice, and I am a duelist.”

Areticus sensed only truth coming from the other man, and he too was curious. With a quick gesturing of his hand, he removed the sword from his back and awaited his opponent’s response. A black droid appeared nearby Aiden, holding three blades in its grasp.

“Thank you Viz,” Aiden grabbed his Sith Sword and faced Areticus. “Now I’m not going to try to kill you, but I won't hold back too much either.”

Aiden watched the two swords gleam in the light of Shili’s sun. He kept his mind focused before a grin broke across his face. He hoped this would be a fun match. Rushing his opponent from his higher ground footing, Aiden slashed his blade at his opponent’s right side, impressed when it was effortlessly blocked by the blind Areticus. Turning on his heel, Aiden continued slashing at his rival open limbs, and with each strike, a focused block was waiting for him.

“Are you sure you’re blind?” Aiden asked rhetorically. While impressed, he found himself annoyed that a man without sight was matching him without fault.

“My other senses have been heightened by my blindness, and the Force guides me as well. Sight is an overrated tool.”

Areticus took the offensive, allowing his other senses to map out the terrain and accurately target Aiden’s vulnerable points. His well-trained opponent match him well. The two figures curved and swept across the savannah, shaving the red whisps into nothingness as they went. Sparks flew as metal sheared against metal. A true testament to both of their abilities neither had landed a strike on the other. Aiden’s training and combat focused mind kept him safe. And while Areticus may have been blind, he was no easy target.