The visions that struck them in the crimson lit rooms were much stronger than any of the others, a cacophony of memories slamming into them almost all at once. When the visions began, he had been standing upright, but after they ended the Champion found himself slumped against a nearby wall, lower back almost touching the ground. One message had continuously pounded through his mind and(as he found out just a few moments later), everyone elses minds. They were to keep plunging deeper into the Academy, into "the heart". The phrase itself was enough to make Yerbol question whether or not they should continue forward, seeing as "the heart" of something as sinister as this place could spell their untimely demises, but as he had reminded himself before they entered, choice was not a factor in this instance. The Force was pushing them towards what they had to face. The party regrouped at the eastern door before pushing the obstruction aside. They descended a staircase, traversed through more hallways, found another staircase, more hallways. It was getting to be disorienting, Yerbol stopping on several occasions to gather his sense of direction. On these stops, he thought he could hear something faint whispering to him, beckoning him and the rest of the Qyaari further. When he strained to try and pick out the words, however, the voice stopped. Was this whisperer a part of the visions they were sporadically encountering? Or was it something more ominous? The temple on Quensu featured distortions of the Force, warping whatever imprints the Force had made upon the place into twisted reflections. Yerbol feared that the Academy might have the same potential, which spurred him forward. They needed to extract whatever information they could from this place and get off-world as fast as possible. Thankfully it wasn't too long before the group travailed down one last staircase and found a massive chamber that at it's center had a circular dais with three semi circular spires planted at specific points along the platform. They could see that from the platform were three other paths that extended in each of the cardinal directions; however, it looked like the paths led straight into a sheet of rock. What might have been past the barriers would be a topic of speculation that Yerbol would be happy to indulge in when they were safely off world. "This is it, isn't it? The heart." Ethan commented flatly as he walked forward in an almost magnetic pace towards the dais, the rest of the group following suit. When they reached the platform, Yerbol saw them so clearly. The two of them seated across from each other, legs crossed, eyes closed, hands in front of their hearts. "Is that the Force trying to tell us something?" Ethan mumbled, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the pair, who then quickly vanished. "I think so. If these two meditated here, then we will probably have to do the same. With the four of us focusing our efforts together, we should be able to get the answers we seek." "Wait, collective meditation? I didn't think that was a thing." "It wasn't. Not for a long time, apparently. Ari and I have only done it with others a few times before." He scanned their surroundings one last time before he planted himself on the eastern edge of the platforms, legs crossing. "Why don't we get taught this at the Academy?" "Because, as Ari can tell you, collective meditation opens up your connection to the Force to the others in your party. You essentially leave yourself at your most vulnerable in order to pool your energy together. Some can exploit that connection." A brief memory of fighting Illesia in a cramped ambassador's office on Coruscant came and went. "All you have to do is begin to meditate. As you sink deeper into meditation, you're going to feel yourself...stretch out, if that makes any sense at all. Don't fight it. It'll be uncomfortable at first, but then you'll acclimate." He shot a look at his wife before telling her through their bond: [i]The last time we did this we had the Elders with us and they pulled us out of a potentially lifelong coma. If you feel like we're even starting to slip into unknown territory, pull us out. I'll do the same.[/i] The other members of the group took their positions, Yerbol waiting a moment before saying quietly: "Close your eyes. Focus inward on your breathing. Nothing else. Breath. Just...brea..." [i]You WILL turn to the Dark Side, Revan! You were there once and you will do so again! The Forge had corrupted her. Just like Malak. Needed to save her. Find out what this thing had done. The deed was done...finally. lehon Left her behind for this. Our child will never know me. But he will know that his father was a hero who fought for the good of the galaxy. How noble. lehon They stood there together now, watching the map close itself up. Do you think someone will actually find this? She smirked. I found you, didn't I? The orb hung on the fringes of where they were going. Once unknown, now fully known, yet more now unknown than ever before. His hand gripped the yolk of their ship. He turned to them, shaking his head. Do not follow, children. Do not follow unless you would see yourselves swallowed up by a darkness that even I cannot comprehend. [/i] But we must. [i]Fools. The lot of you. It was Lysa. Her hair matted with blood, hole gaping from where she had been stabbed. I threw my life away for less. Go. Leave. [/i] No. I can't. [i]Brother, I beg of you, turn now. Save yourself. Leave them behind and go forward t... Lehon[/i] Yerbol gasped desperately, falling backwards onto the stone steps that he had used to reach the dais, lungs expanding and contracting at an almost superhuman pace. His breathing felt out of control, heart ready to burst out of his ribcage. [i]Stay focused, boy! Focused! Balance cannot thrive in chaos![/i] Slowly, his breathing began to slow, heart rate steadying. "Lehon. We have to go...to.." As he sat up, he silently prayed that Aria was alright.