Reath Silas

Born circa 249 BBY within the time of the High Republic, Reath Silas entered the Jedi Order as a child, arriving at the Jedi Temple located on the Republic's capital world, Coruscant. He became aware early in his life that his connection to the Force was not as strong as that of other Jedi. Though he didn't feel looked down upon because of this, he sought to compensate by working diligently, being reliable, and embracing responsibility.

At some point during these early years, Reath Silas was made the Padawan of Jedi Master and Council Member Jora Malli. Unlike many Padawans who gained independence in their tasks and personal lives upon reaching twenty years of age, Silas, by the time he was seventeen, was handling tasks and challenges that would be difficult even for a fully-fledged Jedi. He had also participated in a number of significant missions due to his master's position on the Jedi High Council.

Silas also developed a deep love for history and stories. While this passion distinguished him from other Padawans who focused on acrobatics or lightsaber combat, he maintained his scholarly pursuits by spending countless hours in the Jedi Archives. He spent so much time there that other Jedi left a specific carrel open for him, recognizing it as his designated spot. His master appreciated his unique focus and often assigned him tasks that kept him in the Archives.

Reath Silas found it strange that others considered him odd for his dedication to scholarship, believing it was natural for some to prefer reading stories at home to being part of them. Despite this preference, Silas strived for excellence in every area, consistently ranking among the top lightsaber duelists in his Padawan class, acing every exam (except for one instance when he was extremely ill), and mastering Gatalentan meditation practices, an achievement not seen in someone under 20 in decades. The Padawan also took a course that taught basic starship repair.

Shortly before the Great Disaster, around 232 BBY, Reath Silas was on Coruscant with his Master, performing his usual duties. The pair became involved in a chase through the skyline of Coruscant, pursuing pirates who had stolen some of the valuable materials being used in the galactic capital's construction expansion. Padawan Silas piloted the PI-R airspeeder and used his connection to the Force to anticipate Master Malli's instructions. In a misjudgment, he fired a tow cable at the pirate skiff, but the skiff's more powerful engines dragged the airspeeder downwards. However, Master Malli regained control of the situation by leaping onto the pirate skiff and using the Force to force the pirates to land.

An hour later, Silas anxiously assured his master that he would correct his mistake, but she dismissed it, citing a higher priority. She pointed out that Silas had traveled far less than other Padawans, which he defended by calling it a sacrifice. She gently corrected him, noting that it wasn't much of a sacrifice, as it would take a gravity well to pull him away from the Archives on some days, a statement Silas agreed with. However, when she revealed that she had accepted a new off-world assignment, he was dismayed and stumbled over the curb of a Bilbringi food kiosk.

Jora Malli had accepted the role of Marshal on the nearly completed Starlight Beacon and intended to take her Padawan with her, while also resigning from the Council. Silas strongly objected and attempted to argue against her decision, but Malli explained that she wanted to see him grow beyond his current life, expressing amusement that her first Padawan, Dez Rydan, had craved endless adventure, while her current apprentice happily avoided it. She wanted Silas to find balance, but the Padawan remained disheartened.

Malli then asked Silas why he couldn't cross the Kyber Arch alone, but he took the question literally, asking if she wanted him to do it by himself and if she would reconsider taking him to the frontier if he did. His master dismissed this and stated that once he understood why no one crossed the Kyber Arch alone, he would also understand why they were traveling to the frontier. Silas then asked where exactly they were going on the frontier, to which the Togruta informed him that their destination was Starlight Beacon. Over the following weeks, he continued to argue and reason with her, but she remained firm in her decision.

Master Malli preceded Padawan Reath Silas to Starlight Beacon by several weeks, as he had to stay behind on Coruscant to finish exams in a historiography course. Silas considered failing the tests to delay his departure, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. During his studies, he hadn't had time to consider his Master's question about the Kyber Arch, though he briefly inspected the Arch and saw a Jedi cross it alone, so the question remained unanswered.

Silas eventually completed the exams, and a small farewell party was thrown for him by other Padawans in the Temple's Padawan Common Room, though Silas remained generally glum throughout the event. His friend Kym told him to cheer up, but Silas continued to mope, prompting Kym to point out how many others in their group of friends were jealous of his assignment. This made Silas briefly reflect on his time at the Temple and his feelings about the party, before admitting to himself that he was grateful for what his friends were doing for him.

Reath Silas told Kym that he shouldn't complain about his assignment, even if he had issues with it. The other young Jedi shrugged and danced while adding that not all assignments were equally exciting to everyone, which was why it wasn't volunteer work. Reath then spoke aloud, responding to Kym but also his own internal questions, stating that he was treating the assignment like a job when it was actually a calling, due to their unique abilities which could help all living things. Kym, amused by this introspection, teased her friend, calling Reath Master Yoda before encouraging him to lighten up and enjoy the celebration.

Reath Silas eventually did enjoy the celebration, finding the amateur music performed by the band of Padawans to be fun, and becoming excited to meet his friends already on the frontier, particularly Padawans Imri Cantaros, whom he hadn't yet met, and the newly-knighted Vernestra Rwoh, whom he had known since he was a youngling. He also indulged in substances that might be frowned upon for a Padawan his age, justifying it as part of the celebration. However, he kept finding his gaze drawn to the wide viewport showing the gleaming Coruscant skyline, reminded of how much he would miss the planet's constant energy, which he considered the true heart of the galaxy. Soon after, his chrono beeped, and he had to leave the celebration.

Reath Silas departed for the spaceport slightly late, delayed by the numerous farewells he received. He arrived at the designated meeting point with only a few minutes to spare, only to find that he was the first to arrive and that the ship hired for the journey wasn't there either. Concerned that he had the wrong time, Reath began to double-check the information he'd been given before being interrupted by the arrival of Dez Rydan, his Master's former Padawan, now a Jedi Knight. Rydan revealed that he was also stationed on the frontier and that they would be traveling together. The Padawan briefly wondered why Rydan would request a post on the frontier, but he remembered what his master had said earlier, reflecting on how much he admired the Jedi Knight.

At this point, the aftereffects of the beverages he'd consumed began to affect Padawan Silas. In a daze, he asked where their transport was, hoping that Rydan wouldn't notice his condition. The Knight seemed not to notice or didn't see a reason to point it out, stating that their transport had a blown subalternator and that they had arranged a substitute, which was also running late. Silas asked what would happen if it didn't arrive either, secretly hoping that it would mean he'd get a new assignment and stay on Coruscant. Dez Rydan dismissed this, stating that they would find another ship in a day or two.

At that moment, Wayseeker Orla Jareni announced herself by expressing disappointment at the long wait time. She wanted to reach the frontier as soon as possible and suggested that they could easily find a ship to take them immediately, even through the Maw if necessary, given enough credits. Silas pondered Jareni and her new role as Wayseeker, staring at her, causing her to give him a knowing smile that made him turn away, hoping he wasn't blushing. It was then that the fourth and final member of their travel group arrived, Master Cohmac Vitus, who disagreed with Orla and stated that there wasn't much traffic heading to Starlight Beacon yet because it remained unfinished. Reath also considered Vitus and his reasons for going to the frontier, realizing that the older human was a folklorist and likely wanted to collect local histories and legends.

He was brought out of these thoughts by a conversation between Orla Jareni and Cohmac Vitus, indicating that they had been to this area of the galaxy before, both stating that all things come full circle. Silas and Rydan exchanged confused looks, unaware of what the other Jedi were talking about. All four were soon distracted by the arrival of a starship landing in the position that would have held the Jedi's transportation to the Outer Rim. Silas doubted that the new ship could reach hyperspace. After the ramp opened and co-pilot Affie Hollow revealed herself, Silas questioned assigning such a position to a teenager, though he had even more questions after the introduction of Captain Leox Gyasi. Silas was encouraged that even the more experienced Jedi didn't know how to react to Leox, as they were all briefly stunned by his unique personality. As Dez Rydan stepped forward and spoke more with them, Silas thought that the captain sounded like Master Yoda on spice.

The team of the Vessel revealed that they were the chosen replacement for the Jedi's transport and that, while they were a cargo hauler, they had cleared a space for the Jedi to set up makeshift quarters. As everyone moved inside the ship, Silas made a tactless comment, noting that the two fellow humans must be from the frontier they were traveling to, though Captain Gyasi commented that the frontier was their home, and Hollow briefly gushed about the Byne Guild, of which they were members. The group of Jedi were given a brief tour of the ship, including the cockpit, and were introduced to the final member of the ship's team, the Vintian named Geode, who served as navigator. To Reath Silas, however, Geode appeared to be a rock, and while he initially thought it was a joke, he soon realized that the other crew members were serious. The young Padawan found solace in the fact that his two fellow human Jedi were just as confused as he was, though Jareni showed no such reaction.

Within the next half hour, the temporary quarters for the four Jedi were built, and they were all strapped in as the ship prepared for takeoff. Silas looked out over Coruscant one last time, pondering how much he would miss his home. He shifted his focus to his fellow Jedi, considering them all filled with certainty. The Vessel then carried them into the skies of Coruscant and out into space, with Captain Gyasi soon taking them into hyperspace.

A short time into the journey, Silas moved around the Vessel, taking in the space and thinking about the deprivation he suffered from the lack of access to knowledge. He quickly dismissed the thought to focus on addressing his hunger, encountering Geode in the small mess hall, followed by Affie Hollow. They briefly discussed the Vessel and the Byne Guild before moving on to the Jedi, as Hollow wanted to learn more, and Silas filled her in as best he could. Later, he spoke with Rydan in one of the ship's corridors about a particular point Hollow had made, the nature of the Jedi as monks. When Cohmac Vitus approached, the young Padawan quickly asked the Master for information on his methodology as a folklorist. Vitus spoke to both of them for some time about this topic, and Silas appreciated the information he learned.

It was at this point that the Great Disaster began, the event echoing through the Force and affecting the Jedi aboard the Vessel. Barely able to reach the seating and strap himself in with his fellow Jedi, Padawan Silas and the others were shaken as the ship was hit with debris from the destroyed Legacy Run while in hyperspace. The resulting damage threatened the ship, and of the Jedi, Silas was the only one with experience in ship repair. He joined Affie Hollow in fixing the issues, resetting the regulator station, and providing some first aid due to the regulator's extreme cold.

The craft then exited hyperspace in an unknown region of space near a volatile star as the group of Jedi felt shared shock and pain at the deaths occurring across the galaxy, though Silas felt this pain less due to his weaker connection to the Force. The Jedi were able to shake off this emotional weight and quickly moved to the communications area to contact Starlight Beacon, joining the ship's crew who were already at the comms unit. There, the group learned the extent of the disaster, with multiple signals of distress and confusion from across the galaxy overlapping.

A broadcast from the Galactic Republic cut through the panic, calling for all hyperspace travel to cease due to the dangers. Trying to be useful, Silas went to the bridge of the Vessel and was present as the ship received a message from a signal beacon. Wayseeker Jareni, who had been walking by the bridge, quickly pointed out the dangers of responding to such a signal without more information, embarrassing Silas, who had responded on impulse. At Leox Gyasi's request, the Jedi went to find the closest thing to a "head monk" in the group, which was Cohmac Vitus. Silas and Master Vitus then returned to the bridge shortly after.

Master Vitus asked for and received an assessment of the mysterious ship currently signaling them, as well as its current situation. He also asked for identification of the different ships stranded around them to better ascertain why the ship that originally sent the beacon was so difficult to scan. It turned out to be a mix of many different parts, and while Affie Hollow initially expressed worry, Leox Gyasi pointed out that it wasn't a threat to them. The captain then volunteered Reath Silas to make first contact with the ship in distress, and the young Padawan returned the distress call, meeting a young woman named Nan. Vitus took over the call to give Nan instructions before terminating communications and then asking for a wider scan of the surrounding space, as he sensed something else was present in the system. This soon revealed a large abandoned space station, and Master Vitus then directed the other eleven starships to take refuge around it and its shields due to the nearby volatile star.

As they approached the station, Silas realized that it was of Amaxine construction, which gave him a moment of exhilaration, though that was quickly dampened by the approach of a solar flare. The crew of the Vessel worked quickly at Silas' urgings, the Padawan contacting the other ships to seek refuge around the station immediately. The Vessel then rescued Nan and her guardian Hague's ship after they had a breakdown, and everyone made it inside the shield in time.

Jedi Knight Dez Rydan volunteered to guide the expedition on the station, making sure it was safe for docking, accompanied by Padawan Reath Silas and Affie Hollow. The young Padawan felt apprehensive about the potential hazards and unknown threats, but found solace in the fact that he would obtain firsthand information. Any lingering anxieties were overshadowed by the awe-inspiring design of the station and the technology within its central structure, which had facilitated the unrestricted growth of plant life over centuries, spreading across the central globe and into the station's depths. The two Jedi were captivated by these plants, as well as their caretakers, vintage 8-T gardening droids, although their primary focus soon shifted to one of the four distinct statues situated at the sphere's center. However, while inspecting the statue of the humanoid figure, a dark presence enveloped both Jedi, and they swiftly concluded that it was linked to the statues.

Subsequently, the Jedi dedicated their efforts to deciphering the language inscribed at the statue's base, but their attempts proved unsuccessful, leading them to seek assistance from Cohmac Vitus, given his extensive scholarly expertise. The trio departed from the central sphere to rejoin the rest of their group, now that the station had been declared secure. Reath Silas found himself alongside Rydan, Hollow, Master Vitus, and Wayseeker Orla Jareni when Nan and Hague's ship successfully docked with the station, and the two passengers disembarked. Nan immediately gravitated toward Silas, bombarding him with inquiries about the Jedi, which the young Padawan readily answered, although this was interrupted by the Padawan preparing for the arrival of the other stranded ships. Reath Silas believed that the most challenging aspect of the mission had been accomplished by escorting everyone to safety, but the crews and passengers of the various ships soon proved him wrong.

Individuals from the first ship disregarded him in their pursuit of looting the station, with a contingent of Orincans from another vessel swiftly following suit, incensed that another group had gained an advantage. As the situation deteriorated, Padawan Silas initially attempted to contact Master Vitus for assistance, but when that failed, he resorted to using his power in the Force to compel everyone to cease looting. This also proved ineffective, and the Padawan resolved to enforce order. Shortly thereafter, he called out to Affie Hollow and aided her in evading a metal bar that hurtled toward her. While attempting to identify ringleaders as potential targets of focus amidst the chaos, Orla Jareni cried out for help, and the Padawan assisted her in supporting a partially collapsed Cohmac Vitus until Dez Rydan joined them. The Umbaran informed the pair that she and Vitus had recently experienced an event rooted in the dark side, but everyone recognized that the present chaos demanded their immediate attention.

Master Vitus had recovered by this point, and the Jedi dispersed throughout the central sphere. Silas ignited his lightsaber and moved at ground level to make a difference, swiftly rushing to the scene of an attempted abduction by two individuals from the initial group that had boarded the station. With Nan in their clutches, the Padawan attempted to reason with them, and when met only with insults, he acted decisively by severing one of the ringleader's arms. The other participant, who had been holding Nan, immediately fled, and Reath Silas employed his powers in the Force to leap both himself and Nan to the safety of the airlock corridor leading to her ship. He then returned to the ongoing chaos, but it was soon quelled by an awe-inspiring act on the part of Cohmac Vitus, who successfully persuaded everyone looting and fighting on the station to return to the airlocks and cooperate more peacefully, or depart.

Many days later, Reath Silas was assigned the responsibility of communicating with the representatives of the various ships, and he found the task to be a significant test of patience due to the fact that many of the groups seemed unappreciative of their fortunate circumstances. He attempted to encourage them to better understand the situation, but his efforts yielded limited results. However, the arrival of Captain Leox Gyasi, who remarked on the dire fate that many of them might have faced had they not discovered this station, quickly convinced a number of them of the need to share their resources more equitably. The Padawan was able to compile a manifest of food and essential supplies shortly thereafter, and the meeting concluded. Silas felt grateful to the unconventional man and reflected on how, just days prior, he had believed that no one from the frontier could impart any knowledge to him.

Left to his own thoughts, Silas found himself dwelling on his recent act of limb-severing, deeply troubled by the incident. Dez Rydan soon found him, and the two engaged in a brief conversation regarding Silas' concern that he had acted inappropriately and with excessive force. Rydan dismissed Silas' fears, assuring him that his actions were justified, thereby reassuring and uplifting the fellow human's spirits. Silas inquired about the man whose arm he had severed, with the Jedi Knight mentioning that he was now under Orla Jareni's “care.” The two then remained aboard the station for a period of time.

Some time after this, Dez Rydan assembled a team to explore the lower levels of the Amaxine space station. Accompanying him were Nan, Reath Silas, Affie Hollow, and a Mizi, representing a diverse mix of the station's current inhabitants. As the group descended into the passages that led deeper into the facility, the 8-T gardening droids perceived their presence as a threat to the plant life due to their disturbances of it. They commenced an attack on the team, prompting the group to retreat, but not before noticing an energy field further down. Thinking quickly, Silas instructed Hollow to shoot at the plants, igniting a small fire that immediately captured the attention of the gardening models. During their escape, however, Hollow sustained a scrape from a poisonous plant, and while the group successfully fled with minimal injuries, Affie Hollow's condition rapidly deteriorated.

While Dez Rydan lifted her to carry her back to the Vessel, Silas sprinted ahead to prepare the medpac for them. Rydan was able to administer an antitox booster to the young woman in time, and Leox Gyasi escorted her away to receive some Jedha tea and rest as her condition swiftly improved. The pair of young Jedi were left alone in the airlock tunnel, with Silas suggesting that they mark the hazardous vines, which Rydan agreed to, although he soon alluded to Silas withholding something, as he had for much of their time together in the past several days. Silas finally asked Rydan why he had chosen to be on the frontier, when he could have had any assignment, with the fellow Jedi responding that the frontier afforded him the opportunity to act and make a difference.

They engaged in further conversation, with Rydan emphasizing the paramount importance of balance in their lives, and that while some Jedi should seek adventure, others should not, a subtle affirmation of the roles the pair of Jedi held. Reath Silas was encouraged by this perspective, but he then posed the question of the Kyber Arch to Rydan, becoming frustrated when the older Jedi confirmed that it could be traversed alone and was a task akin to meditation. Rydan calmed the other's emotions by reminding his friend that Master Jora Mali was more intelligent than the two of them, and the riddle must have a purpose.

Later on, Silas was patrolling the perimeter of the arboretum level of the central sphere, vigilant for any signs of individuals looting materials from the station. Silas' thoughts drifted back to the kidnapping attempt and his actions, but before his thoughts could progress further, the Padawan suddenly found himself plunged into an intense vision. Within the vision, he was transported to a place abundant in vegetation and was compelled to defend himself against what appeared to be a fellow Jedi wielding a lightsaber. Silas' own lightsaber was knocked from his grasp, but before the final blow could be delivered, he was back on the Amaxine station. He stood up and found himself unable to center himself as a potent darkness loomed all around him, one that he surmised sought to turn the Jedi against each other.

In the aftermath of this vision, the four Jedi convened within the Vessel's cramped communications area, the urgency to address the threat having grown too significant to postpone any longer. Jareni provided them with an overview of what they knew about the darkness aboard the station and concurred with Master Vitus' assessment of the idols as containing a darkness sealed within them, with a psychic warning seal placed over them. Vitus corrected Padawan Silas' belief that the Force originated solely from life and that the artifacts must be Sith in origin, as he stated that other, similar items had possessed powers in the Force. Jareni solicited suggestions for what they should do, with Vitus affirming his conviction that they needed to act swiftly, as Affie Hollow's ongoing explorations of the station had revealed frequent visits by traders, which could inadvertently result in one of them releasing the darkness. However, Jedi Knight Rydan's comment on a possible connection between the shadow and the lower areas of the station prompted Jareni to instruct him to devise a plan for his group to successfully navigate to that level.

Dez Rydan reassembled his team of Reath Silas, Affie Hollow, Nan, and the anonymous Mizi, prepared to once again undertake the task of reaching the lower levels. The group intended to proceed more cautiously this time, searching the existing level for any alternative passages down, but they were halted before they could separate by Silas. He claimed to have either a brilliant or preposterous idea, which Hollow supported, so he gathered and secured a flower to his body, briefly attracting the attention of some 8-T droids. They turned away shortly thereafter, confirming Silas' hypothesis that the droids would no longer harass them due to such actions potentially damaging the plant life. Each member of the team then procured their own flower, and they all proceeded toward the passageway leading lower into the station. The 8-Ts in the area swarmed again, and the team was briefly concerned, but it turned out to be the droids deactivating the purple energy field for the group, who successfully moved on.

Now on the lower rings, Affie Hollow suggested that the group split up to examine the different passages, with the two Jedi agreeing and everyone going their separate ways. Reath Silas' path diverged from another member of the team only briefly, as he encountered Dez Rydan after only a few meters. The two joined forces and continued together, the young Padawan briefly contemplating the positive reaction some of his friends would have to learn that he was on a mission with Dez Rydan, a sentiment he shared.

The pair soon came upon a circular doorway and used the Force to ascertain whether any living beings were present on the other side. Neither sensed anything, and Rydan stepped forward, only for the door to suddenly flip itself, pulling the Jedi Knight into the chamber beyond. Panic surged through Reath Silas as he attempted to open the door, with the sounds of ancient machinery and an intensely bright light erupting through the mechanisms' seams. When the light finally ceased, the door flung open, and the Padawan stepped into the space. He immediately noticed the presence of two helix rings, energy boosters of immense power, and surmised to his great horror that Dez Rydan had been disintegrated.

This discovery appalled the wider group, who immediately fled the lower rings, ascending to the central sphere where Cohmac Vitus, having sensed that something was amiss, was waiting, alongside Leox Gyasi. While the Mizi hurried off to his own people, Nan, Affie Hollow, and Reath Silas informed the adults of what had transpired, although profound sorrow weighed on the Padawan. The two men swiftly reached the same conclusion as Silas: that the Jedi Knight had apparently been disintegrated.

A meeting led by Orla Jareni with the three youths in their party, along with Leox Gyasi, soon took place, and they assessed the situation. After ensuring that no one had sustained any injuries, the Umbaran Jedi suggested that Silas and Hollow clean themselves up and asked Nan to inform the other refugees of the situation, adding that someone needed to return the plants outside as the gardening droids were lurking at the airlock. Gyasi offered to undertake that task and immediately set about grabbing the plants from the three, while Jareni instructed Nan to tell the other refugees what had happened. Jareni then delivered a brief eulogy for Dez Rydan before dismissing the group to reflect on the man and acknowledge his passing.

Reath Silas, however, waited only long enough for everyone else on the ship to be preoccupied before he departed from the Vessel. Heavily equipped, with enough gear for a mountaineering expedition, he retrieved the flower he had used for passage earlier and returned to the lower rings, intent on fully investigating the recent incident himself. He encountered Nan examining the passage where Rydan had apparently been killed, where she claimed that she was also investigating the Jedi Knight's death. The two then traversed the lower levels, Silas posing questions about Nan's background and receiving brief answers in return, which he accepted.

The pair soon came across a control panel for an airlock mechanism, and Silas theorized that it was intended for a transit pod. Nan suggested that Rydan likely entered an empty launching station and was killed as a result of being flung into space. This second theory, far more grim than a swift, instantaneous death, disheartened Reath Silas, and the pair departed, their investigation concluded. By the time the two of them returned, they found the refugees celebrating, as the Republic was reopening limited hyperspace lanes, with the senior Jedi on the Vessel determining that it was time for them to return to the galactic capital.

Despite possessing the knowledge required to depart from the station, the group had unfinished business to attend to regarding the mysterious idols. Reath Silas convened a meeting onboard the Vessel where he discussed the fundamentals of Force artifacts. After some discussion, the group of Jedi affirmed that the idols were most likely Force containers, as well as Master Vitus' belief that they should be removed from the station. Vitus finally spoke and suggested that a binding ritual should be performed on the idols to ensure that the darkness contained within remained that way during transport. The other two Jedi concurred, Reath with some enthusiasm as he already knew the ritual, and the group ultimately separated.

Shortly after this briefing, Silas, Master Cohmac Vitus, and Wayseeker Orla Jareni went to the center of the Amaxine station's central sphere and commenced their binding ritual on the idols. The oppressive shadow that emanated from the site weighed on Silas and his fellow Jedi, manifesting in physical discomfort and exhaustion. Vitus led the ritual, which was taxing for the three involved, but the task was ultimately accomplished, with Jareni quipping afterward that the arduous part was now transporting the heavy statues to the Vessel.

Before their departure, Silas went to speak with Nan one last time, learning that she and Hague were staying on the station to complete repairs on their ship. The meeting was brief, and the young Padawan was struck by Nan's sincerity in thanking him both for saving her from the attempted abduction and for the information he had given her regarding the Jedi and the Republic. They turned back to look at each other as they moved away, and Silas felt certain that he would see Nan again.

The Vessel got underway shortly thereafter and quickly encountered a turbulent journey that shook many aboard. While Cohmac Vitus and Orla Jareni oversaw the idols in the cargo bay, Reath Silas recorded a report on the events that had transpired aboard the Amaxine station. The report used the apparent death of Dez Rydan, as well as the difficulties the Jedi and others had recently endured, to implore his master, Jora Mali, to remain away from the frontier. However, he had no intention of completing the report, and as the starship shuddered, indicating a reversion to realspace, he deleted what he had recorded. He prepared for landing, but upon learning of a distress call nearby, he fully prepared to assist those in need.

He joined the other Jedi in their descent aboard the heavily damaged passenger ship Journeyman once the Vessel had attached itself to the larger ship. As time began to run out for those onboard, Silas found himself forced to contend with a terrified Wookiee infant who latched onto him. He headed for the Vessel at full speed and managed to make it aboard before the ship was forced to perform a sharp roll to escape the destruction of the passenger ship. Orla Jareni's presence quickly saw the Wookiee detach from Silas' body, allowing the Padawan to approach the bridge and quickly confer with the Vessel crew and Cohmac Vitus, who called to inquire about a lost infant who was the Wookiee Silas had saved.

Upon the group's return to Coruscant, Reath Silas took the Wookiee infant to reunite her with her family at the spacedock infirmary. Witnessing the chaos and need for assistance, he remained for a period of time dispensing water and painkillers to the numerous patients across the facility. Struck by the sudden realization that his Master might be in an infirmary like this, Silas inquired about Jora Malli with one of the facility's medical droids. It was then that he learned of his Master's recent death at the Battle of Kur, the discovery of which physically staggered him.

To cope with this grief, Silas went to the Padawans' training area, intending to exhaust himself. While sparring with a training droid, the grief over losing not only Malli but also Dez Rydan nearly caused him to be struck and defeated. However, he deftly deflected the blasts sent his way and almost sliced off the opponent droid's head, which spelled an end to the practice session as it left the arena to repair the damage. Still gripped by the grief of Malli's death, Silas chose to meditate and traveled across the Kyber Arch. However, his focus was swiftly reverted back to Malli and her mysterious words from weeks ago, causing him frustration as he still lacked an answer to her riddle. He was prevented from seeking more diverting tasks by a call from Jedi Council Member Adampo.

While Silas had initially thought that the communication was to assign him a new Master, Adampo merely wanted him to attend a debriefing of information regarding the frontier. As one of the few Jedi with recent experience in the region, his presence would be valued, and Silas agreed to attend, mentally noting that it would keep him occupied. When he arrived, he noted the respectful distance the other Jedi were maintaining from him, and the realization briefly unsettled him, worried that his grief meant he was being judged, although he reminded himself otherwise. Master Adampo then arrived and began to lead the lecture, which focused on the dangers of the Nihil. As holographic imagery cycled before him, the Padawan was struck with the horrible realization that Nan and Hague were part of this organization, based on the design of their ship and the way Nan's hair was dyed.

When the briefing concluded, he earnestly attempted to convince several of the Masters of this fact, although they were initially skeptical. Once Silas contacted the Vessel and acquired images to display of Nan and Hague's ship, however, the Masters were convinced. The Padawan also told the Masters that he had shared information with Nan about the Republic, Jedi, and Starlight Beacon, admitting that he may have shared too much, although the Masters did not express disappointment at him for this as he both could not have known the danger and had not given away information that was truly damaging. Silas asked to go and confront the pair of Nihil on the station, although the Masters were again hesitant, remaining so even after Silas suggested that the unique station had secrets and mysteries that were perhaps left undiscovered and could not fall into the hands of the Nihil. Silas became intent on submitting a formal request for the trip, against the suggestion of the Masters present, but also resolved to defy the Council's will if that request was rejected.

Some time later, Reath Silas was again summoned before the Jedi Council. While he thought that it was to address the possible Nihil presence on the Amaxine station, it was actually to discuss his next steps as a Padawan. The Council Members impressed upon him that he should take his time and not rush into a choice of a new Master or assignment, which might inform the choice of a new Master. However, when he left the chamber, his only thoughts of the future were of returning to the space station and setting his wrong, right.

Reath Silas soon found himself with nothing to do, as he lacked a Master to assign him tasks. He returned to the familiarity of knowledge at his chosen carrel in the Jedi Archives and researched the Amaxine warriors to try and learn something of note to help him upon a possible return to their space station. It was then that Cohmac Vitus slipped close, and the two began to speak in hushed tones. Master Vitus revealed that the idols had been containing a darkness aboard the station, and their removal had no doubt freed this threat. Surprised, Padawan Silas was initially hesitant at the suggestion of defying the Jedi Council's denial of passage, which had happened for both himself and the two older Jedi (Vitus and Orla Jareni) who wished to return to the station. However, the technicality that their mission was not outright forbidden won Silas over, and the Padawan joined the mission.

Silas and Vitus headed for the Vessel, the older human having already taken the idols from the Coruscant Temple for their mission. The pair sought to charter the ship, only to find that Orla Jareni had beaten them there for that same purpose. The three Jedi got into a huddle and discussed their plans. Before long, the Vessel had launched back into space, heading back to the Amaxine station.

Upon their emergence from hyperspace, the Vessel was suddenly confronted by a massive Nihil warship attached to the station. Thanks to the piloting expertise of Leox Gyasi, the Vessel was able to attach to a small, nearby asteroid, effectively hiding the starship from the larger vessel. Vitus complimented the captain on his quick maneuver and worked to discuss options for their successful docking with the station outside of the view of the larger, menacing ship. It was Geode who proposed the plan, and when executed, it resulted in the Vessel orbiting on the opposite side of the station from the Nihil ship. But, as boarding still needed to be accomplished, Reath Silas joined Orla Jareni, Affie Hollow, and Cohmac Vitus in donning exosuits to leave their ship and float down to the Amaxine station. The group then exited the Vessel and used their thrusters to reach the airlock, with the three Jedi using the Force to pull the idols to safety and into the station.

Once aboard, the darkness the Jedi had been sensing before was now almost overwhelming. The group split up to handle separate tasks, with Reath Silas going back down to the lower levels to investigate what Nan had been up to as he no longer trusted her explanation of looking into what caused the death of Dez Rydan. As he carried through the space, he came to the same hatch where Rydan had perished, however he suddenly realized he was no longer in the same room. Instead, he was in a hyperspace pod, and found himself launched out of the Amaxine station and through lightspeed into the unknown.

While Reath Silas was initially worried his voyage could take as much as weeks in terms of time, the pod was instead pulled out of hyperspace soon after, and brought down through the atmosphere of a richly foliated planet to a landing pad. As he stepped out of the pod, he noticed another nearby, as well as the clear Amaxine patterns and imagery around the small facility he found himself. While he desired to leave, the Force told him to stay, warning him of grave danger, and that the secrets of the Amaxine both on this world and on the station far away were of key importance.

Having ignited his saber at the warning from the Force, Reath Silas suddenly found himself confronted by the Drengir. Large sentient plantlife, the creatures only briefly observed him before speaking to one another as if he did not exist. They revealed it had been they who had caused the Amaxine to vanish, as they had conquered the warrior people when they tried to battle the Drengir. However, in their discussion, Silas realized that another was on the planet, and tried to use the Force to command them to bring him Dez Rydan as he surmised the Jedi Knight was their captive. The Drengir did bring him Rydan, but not because he requested it.

Suffering from a head wound, the drowning darkness of the Drengir, and injected with various chemicals through the use of Drengir thorns, Dez Rydan was a shambling mess, and attacked Silas at the request of the Drengir. Reath Silas desperately fought off the Jedi Knight, but was able to use the memory of their shared Jedi Master to snap the young man out of his maddened state while also disarming him. The Padawan began to retreat with Rydan, but the Drengir vowed to follow, leaving Silas to try and come up with a plan as he boarded one of the two hyperspace pods to return to the Amaxine space station.

Once Rydan was no longer under the Drengir's control, his condition rapidly improved. However, he still relied on Silas for physical support and mental stimulation. The pod, transporting the two Jedi, made it back to the station without incident. Simultaneously, the docking of the other pod containing the Drengir could be heard as they proceeded through the lower hallway. Realizing the proximity of the hostile living plants, Reath Silas left Rydan leaning against the corridor wall to confront the Drengir. Guided by the Force, he swiftly located their pod and devised a quick plan. He used the Force to move the pod several meters away from the hatch, ensuring the Drengir were unharmed. However, as they rushed out of the pod towards the hatch, the chamber's helix rings activated, incinerating them all. Silas examined the remains, finding their scent surprisingly pleasant. He then hurried back to Rydan, continuing to assist him towards the upper levels.

The pair made their way back to the arboretum, where the binding statues had been restored and re-empowered to contain the Drengir. Cohmac Vitus approached them, expressing his amazement at Rydan's survival. Through a brief conversation with Silas, he learned about the hyperspace pods and the fate of the other two Jedi. Recognizing the potential for the Nihil to inflict immense damage on the galaxy using the pods, the two uninjured Jedi prioritized Rydan's care and proceeded towards the Vessel.

Upon arriving at the nearest access point to the airlock ring, the trio discovered the area in ruins due to a recent battle between Cohmac Vitus, Orla Jareni, and the Nihil. Vitus shared with Padawan Silas the limited information he and Wayseeker Jareni had gathered from their encounter with the Nihil. Suddenly, Captain Leox Gyasi appeared, having navigated through the wreckage in search of Affie Hollow. While Master Vitus attempted to scold him for his recklessness, Gyasi emphasized his unwavering desire to protect Affie, dismissing any concerns for his own safety. He also warned everyone about the escalating intensity of the system's solar flares. Silas quickly proposed strengthening the shields, believing he could accomplish this by accessing controls on the lower levels. Despite Vitus's reservations, Dez Rydan's condition convinced him, and Silas departed swiftly. However, he was soon confronted by Nan.

The young woman aimed a blaster at Reath Silas. During their brief exchange, the Padawan realized how much of her previous demeanor had been a facade, as her unwavering belief in her life with the Nihil was unsettling for someone so young. She admitted that she spared him because he had saved her from abduction, and she would allow him to leave this one time. Silas then escaped just before a larger group of Nihil arrived. From a concealed position within a nearby doorway, the Padawan observed the group reveling in their anticipated triumph of seizing control of the station and its hyperspace pods.

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Reath Silas resolved to return to the Vessel. He was only a few dozen meters away from the ship when he encountered Orla Jareni. Relieved to see him, they quickly exchanged information about Nan and the Nihil. The Wayseeker revealed that she had also recognized the danger this station posed if it fell into Nihil hands. Jareni then disclosed that she and Vitus had agreed to release the Drengir again, creating a significant diversion to allow the Vessel to escape safely. Concerned about Cohmac Vitus, the Umbaran inquired about her friend, and Silas informed her of Dez Rydan's survival. With determination, Jareni asked Silas to accompany her back to the arboretum, which he agreed to do.

En route, the two Jedi encountered Leox Gyasi and Affie Hollow. Orla Jareni instructed them to prepare the Vessel for takeoff in ten minutes, warning them to leave the station if the Jedi had not returned by then. Gyasi protested, demanding more information. Silas explained to the two humans about the Drengir and their plan to release them to fight the Nihil. Hollow raised the unsettling possibility of both groups joining forces, but Orla Jareni steered the two back to the ship before further discussion could occur. The two Jedi continued on, re-entering the center of the arboretum. They attempted to disable the energy field Jareni and Cohmac Vitus had created, but were unsuccessful. Silas suggested trying again, but Jareni dismissed this. Instead, she picked up a blaster, apologized to Silas, and shot the statue of the humanoid queen directly between the eyes.

The resulting wave of energy knocked both Jedi to the floor. They quickly regained their footing and began to flee as the Drengir slowly awakened all around them, pursuing the escaping Jedi. Silas and Jareni approached the entrance to the station's equatorial ring, attracting the attention of the assembling Nihil, who fired a gas canister in their direction. Both Jedi evaded the shot, which then drew the Drengir's ravenous attention. As he and Jareni continued to retreat, Silas noticed a moment of hesitation from the Nihil, as they were raiders, not warriors. However, the instinct to survive against such a hostile onslaught prevailed over their desire to flee. He also concluded that, regardless of the outcome, they could not allow the station to fall into the hands of either faction.

Shortly after reuniting with Cohmac Vitus on their way back to the Vessel, Padawan Silas slipped away, driven by the conviction that he needed to destroy or at least render the station unusable to either hostile force vying for control of the facility. This action was made possible because both senior Jedi were greatly preoccupied with the latest threat to befall the Vessel: vines wrapping around the ship and preventing it from detaching from the space station. Silas plunged back down to the lower rings of the station's structure and swiftly located the hyperspace pod controls. Drawing upon his knowledge of history and his faith in the Force, he successfully deciphered the language and ancient maps to eject all of the pods to various safe locations throughout the galaxy. He attempted to leave the lower rings, but discovered that the battle between the Nihil and Drengir had intensified, spreading much closer, although neither side had yet detected him.

At this point, Leox Gyasi contacted Reath Silas, informing him that the vines continued to pose a significant obstacle to their escape. This led Silas to believe that he had to assist them in any way possible, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. This realization also finally solved Master Jora Malli's riddle of the Kyber Arch: a Jedi never truly crossed it alone, as the Arch was created through the sacrifice of many Jedi, and other Jedi were then needed to construct the Arch itself. Seeking a way to buy his friends time to escape, Silas noticed an irregularly shaped airlock nearby, along with its controls. The Padawan crawled to the system, and recognizing that it was a direct vent into space, clung to a nearby service ladder and activated the mechanism.

Suddenly, plantlife, debris, Drengir, Nihil, and the remnants of the binding statues were violently pulled across the room and out of the open airlock into space. Silas regretted the loss of life, but deemed it necessary. As the seconds passed, the ladder's connection to the wall began to weaken. Resigned to his fate, Reath Silas prepared to die. However, when the ladder broke, he didn't travel very far. His body collided with the unyielding form of Geode, who prevented the Padawan from being flung into space. The airlock then resealed itself. As Silas recovered from the lack of oxygen, he realized that he could finally sense Geode's unique, yet very much alive, presence in the Force for the first time. Affie Hollow contacted Silas, inquiring about what had happened. The Padawan briefly explained before collapsing to the ground as the group came to rescue him.

Silas's venting of the central sphere had not caused significant damage to the station, but it had successfully eliminated all of the Drengir and most of the Nihil, allowing the group to leisurely cut away the now-dead vines that had attempted to trap the Vessel. While this was happening, the Padawan had the opportunity to rest in his bunk next to Dez Rydan, who was in considerably worse condition. Concerned for his friend, Silas consulted with a worried Cohmac Vitus and Orla Jareni. Then, Leox Gyasi entered and used some of the spice he and the Vessel had been secretly transporting to stabilize the weakened Dez Rydan. With that issue resolved, the three remaining Jedi now contemplated how they would explain their actions to the Jedi Council.

Upon their return to Coruscant, Orla Jareni, Cohmac Vitus, and Reath Silas were summoned before the Jedi High Council to answer for their choices. Ultimately, all three were spared disciplinary action due to the overall positive outcome of their unauthorized mission and because their actions, which involved disobeying the Council, were uncharacteristic. While his two senior Jedi friends were free to leave, the Council requested that Silas remain behind for a moment to discuss his next steps as a Padawan. He provided them with his answer.

Three days after Dez Rydan was discharged from the hospital, Silas went to visit his friend. He found Rydan preparing to depart for one of the Contemplation Worlds, having decided to take the Barash Vow. Initially taken aback by this decision and arguing against it, Padawan Silas eventually understood Rydan's motivations for choosing this path. Rydan inquired about Silas's future plans, and he replied that he had some sense of the direction his life would take.

Later, Reath Silas discovered Master Vitus meditating in the Coruscant Jedi Temple's meditation center. After all they had endured, including the death of his master in the fight against the Nihil, Silas expressed his desire to join Vitus on his assignment on the frontier as newly minted master and apprentice. He also emphasized that he would prioritize their needs above all else, now having solved Master Jora Malli's riddle. After hearing Silas's explanation, Cohmac openly admitted his apprehension about the prospect, but acknowledged that he must be courageous and continue to confront his difficulties with the choices of the Jedi. He then accepted Silas as his Padawan.

Weeks later, the two attended the opening ceremony of the Starlight Beacon. Reath Silas was not particularly fond of music and was relieved when he and his master moved away from the center of the Jedi crowd to the periphery as a choir prepared to sing. Following the celebration, as they made their way to the grand banquet, Silas asked about their next steps. Vitus explained to his new Padawan that anything was possible from that point forward, and there was joy to be found in that uncertainty.

Some time after forming this new partnership with his new master, Reath Silas and Cohmac Vitus became part of the Jedi force deployed to Mulita, the Drengir's homeworld located in Wild Space. Their mission was to stop the Great Progenitor. They operated under the command of Avar Kriss and collaborated with forces from the Hutt Cartel led by Myarga Anjiliac Atirue. During the assault, Master Kriss ventured into the heart of the forest that served as the battlefield, but none of the other Jedi could follow her. Silas was present when Orla Jareni and Keeve Trennis arrived aboard the Lightseeker. He soon joined his fellow Jedi in uniting their minds through a now-freed Avar Kriss to drown out the Drengir's root-mind, effectively severing the Great Progenitor from that mental network.

While members of the Order engaged in discussions with the Hutts, attempting to persuade them to stand down in the name of life, Silas collaborated with other Jedi to position stasis-field generators around the isolated Great Progenitor. Following his master's instructions, the Padawan then activated the field, resulting in the capture of the Drengir's leader within a yellow stasis field. After this action, he stood alongside his fellow Jedi against the Hutts to prevent them from destroying the hostile, albeit captured, leader of the Drengir. As the Hutts departed the world and Avar Kriss received news of the attack on the Republic Fair, Reath Silas was observed conversing with a small group of fellow Jedi.

Shortly after this dangerous mission against the Drengir, Silas, then eighteen years old, was taken by his master Cohmac Vitus to the planet of Genetia. The planet was on the verge of civil war, and the planet's academic community had requested assistance in preserving their heritage. Intrigued, Master Vitus answered the call. During their time on this planet, Cohmac Vitus tirelessly sought out texts, claiming the Force was guiding his actions. However, Silas worried that the older Jedi was simply leading them into increasingly dangerous situations due to some internal conflict. The two Jedi managed to save nearly two entire libraries' worth of information, including sixty-four datatape volumes of Leric Schmireland's Almanac of the Unknown and a copy of Samara the Blue's special meditations on emotion, as well as a museum's worth of artifacts. Their final days on the planet were spent hiding from revolutionaries who believed the Jedi were emissaries of a demon king.

The two Jedi then made their way back to Starlight Beacon, their academic acquisitions in tow, where Reath Silas assisted his master in offloading the numerous crates filled with datatapes and artifacts. Reflecting on the year that had passed since the incident at the Amaxine station, and his subsequent partnership with his new master, he felt relieved that their recent assignment had steered them clear of active combat zones. Once their task was complete, Cohmac Vitus dismissed him to dinner while he engaged in conversation with Avar Kriss. Silas headed towards the communal dining area of Starlight Beacon, where he filled his plate with roasted harmony squash, freshly prepared seed bread accompanied by a generous spread of blue butter, and an even more substantial dollop of yellow chime fruit preserve. As he prepared to enjoy his meal, he spotted Jedi Knight Vernestra Rowh and promptly approached her, taking a seat and being introduced to her Padawan, Imri Cantaros.

Following the brief introductions, the two Jedi, both slightly older than Silas, began to discuss his recent mission. However, Silas briefly became preoccupied with how far Rowh had progressed in comparison to himself, which annoyed him. Cantaros, sensing this, instinctively used the Force to calm Silas' emotions. This action caught the other two Jedi off guard, and while Vernestra Rowh gently corrected her Padawan, Silas found no fault with the interaction. Imri Cantaros experienced some discomfort as a result of his actions, and the Mirialan Jedi reassured him, before excusing herself and her Padawan from the table to consult with Master Estala Maru, a Jedi who likely possessed greater knowledge of techniques to aid Imri, or at least could better navigate the libraries for relevant texts.

Silas offered farewell to the departing pair, but also experienced a fleeting feeling of affection for Vernestra, which did not go unnoticed by Cantaros. Distracted by his sudden thoughts about Vernestra Rowh, the now-alone Padawan's mind then drifted to Nan, the Nihil member who had deceived him at the Amaxine station. He quickly refocused his thoughts on the next task his Master might assign him, opting to eat his food to avoid working on an empty stomach.

During the subsequent sleep cycle on Starlight Beacon, Silas found himself unable to rest, wondering if his adventures had somehow broken him, rendering him incapable of relaxing in a comfortable bed with a full stomach. He left his quarters and wandered through the space station's corridors. He unexpectedly encountered Vernestra Rowh outside the training room, who invited him to join her in some exercise to exhaust his restless mind, an offer he accepted. The two then engaged in a vigorous exchange of blows with practice lightsabers, with Reath ultimately losing due to his overemphasis on defense, which prevented him from seizing the offensive and defeating Rowh.

This observation by the female Jedi led them to discuss their shared concerns about the direction of the Jedi Order, with Rowh expressing her feelings of being overlooked due to her age in certain situations, as well as her worries about properly guiding Imri Cantaros, while Reath Silas voiced his concerns about his Master. His worries centered on his belief that Cohmac Vitus was unstable following the Nihil's attack on Valo, burdened by guilt, though his Padawan was unaware of its source. The two then debated the Jedi's role within the Republic and its apparent shift in the aftermath of the Great Disaster. These concerns lingered with Reath as he remained in the training room for a while, Rowh excusing herself for the evening, though Silas soon followed her example and was able to fall into a deep sleep upon returning to his room.

The following day, Reath Silas and Master Cohmac Vitus proceeded to the quartermaster's office to procure transportation to Coruscant, where they encountered Jedi Knight Vernestra Rowh and her Padawan Imri Cantaros. The latter two Jedi were having difficulty securing a ship from Master Nubarron, the station's quartermaster, as the being was strongly opposed to granting Rowh another vessel, given her responsibility for the destruction of two others since her assignment to Starlight Beacon. As Silas and Vitus were also traveling to Coruscant, they invited their fellow Jedi to join them, an arrangement that suited everyone involved. Silas and Cantaros briefly exchanged gossip about the gaseous Jedi quartermaster, as numerous stories circulated regarding their origin, while Rowh and Vitus had their own conversation about the Mirialan's poor flying record.

The four Jedi acquired the Fraunesaa and promptly departed Starlight Beacon, with Silas occupying the copilot's seat beside his Master in the pilot's chair. As they got underway, Rowh inquired about the reason for the other two's journey to Coruscant, with Vitus explaining they were to provide testimony before a Senate committee regarding the escalating civil conflict on Genetia. The discussion soon shifted to address concerns similar to those raised the previous evening in the training room, where Master Vitus articulated his opposition to the Jedi's growing entanglement with Republic bureaucracy and their compliance with its demands, as he and Silas could have delivered their testimony via hologram, but the Senate insisted on an in-person discussion.

Vitus ultimately concluded the topic, but a new discussion began when Imri Cantaros pointed out that their course appeared to be taking them closer to Starlight Beacon than usual. Vitus and Silas explained that they were entering hyperspace in this manner to avoid travel lanes flagged by the Republic. These restrictions were possibly due to ships being forced out of hyperspace and then vanishing, as the two Jedi had heard accounts of such incidents on their return journey from Genetia. While Rowh fell asleep on the flight after they entered hyperspace, Reath continued to pilot the ship for an extended period.

During their voyage, the Fraunesaa received a distress signal originating from the Jedi temple on the planet Tiikae. The message reported a Nihil incursion involving fighters and looters, and the group agreed to respond, given their proximity. Reath Silas updated the ship's course at his master's request, and then joined Vernestra Rowh and Imri Cantaros in donning their gear on the boarding ramp in preparation for deployment to the planet. Master Vitus remained at the controls, slowly opening the door, allowing the three young Jedi to jump down into the market square of a settlement on Tiikae to assist the Chagrian Jedi Master Oprand Qwen.

Silas assisted in escorting the master to safety, requesting additional information about the Nihil's numbers while dodging blaster fire as the four Jedi sought refuge in a street alcove. Master Qwen explained that the Nihil's forces were limited, but also revealed the compromised state of the settlement's security due to casualties and distractions caused by the Nihil, as well as the planet's isolated nature. However, he expressed gratitude that the group had been nearby, a sentiment Silas echoed. He then joined Rowh in a charge towards the lodging house where the Nihil were holding hostages, igniting his lightsaber as they advanced.

At Rowh's command, he used the Force to tear the door and its frame from the front of the building, before employing the Force to hurl an attacking Nihil man backward, rendering him unconscious. As they approached the lodge's back room, Silas shouted a warning to his fellow Jedi as the Nihil opened fire, before seeking cover. The human Padawan then joined his fellow Jedi in the backroom after she cleared the space, though the remaining Nihil escaped through the back door to flee towards their ship. Rowh attempted to contact Vitus, but only received static in her ear communicator, informing Silas that they would need to pursue the Nihil themselves. Before they could move, Jordanna Sparkburn arrived on a speeder bike and offered them a ride. Rowh accepted her offer and instructed Reath Silas to continue attempting to reach Master Vitus before the two sped off.

The two women successfully pursued and neutralized the Nihil within their sights, and were soon joined by Silas in a commandeered landspeeder. He reported that the remaining Nihil had successfully reached their ship and jumped to hyperspace before Master Vitus could prevent their escape. Silas drove the landspeeder back to the town in an aggressive and rapid manner, causing Jedi Knight Rwoh to become nervous. Silas, Sparkburn, and Rowh reunited with Imri Cantaros, and Masters Vitus and Qwen shortly thereafter, with introductions being made as necessary. Silas quickly excused himself, moving away to investigate something he had noticed earlier in the lodging house. Soon after, Imri Cantaros was dispatched to find him as the Jedi prepared to depart, but Silas returned with a troubled expression, prompting the others to inquire about his well-being.

He reiterated the reason for his return to the building, revealing that he had discovered something, leading everyone to the back room where, behind a now-damaged hidden panel in the wall, a high-powered communication unit had been installed. On the unit was a message from the Nihil member Nan, threatening the family of Ugnaughts who had operated the business due to some act of duplicity on their part. The family had been among the hostages taken by the Nihil, and had all been killed. Silas continued after the message ended, stating there were other past messages on the unit, and informed the gathered group who Nan was, Vitus agreeing with his Padawan's assessment that she was clever, cunning and relentless. Rowh then presented the mysterious glyph-covered cube she'd recovered from the Nihil, suggesting this was the reason the Ugnaughts had been killed. Neither of the Jedi Masters, nor Silas, knew what the glyphs meant, and they filed out of the building to prepare for departure afterward.

The four Coruscant-bound Jedi, along with their new traveling companion Jordanna Sparkburn, continued to the Republic capital aboard the Fraunesaa. After they had initiated their final jump, Master Vitus instructed his Padawan to rest, which Reath Silas did. However, his sleep was restless, as memories of the Amaxine station and Nan played through his mind. He awoke abruptly as the rickety ship landed, and he briefly pondered the guilty thoughts that plagued him regarding how easily Nan had manipulated him. He resolved to never allow her to manipulate him again, and to bring her to justice to answer for her crimes. The faint hope that she might be redeemed also lingered in his thoughts.

The Padawan stood and gazed out over Coruscant, recalling how he had once believed the world was his permanent home, but also realizing that he now felt drawn to return to Starlight Beacon and assist people on the frontier. Jordanna Sparkburn interrupted his thoughts as he was obstructing the exit ramp, so he disembarked and joined his traveling companions. The sight of the Coruscant Jedi Temple filled him with positive emotions, providing solace as it was the closest thing to a home he had ever known. The San Tekka conglomerate deputy then separated from the group to report on the situation on Tiikae, and the Jedi proceeded towards the temple, though not before Silas mentally registered Vernestra Rowh's negative feelings towards Sparkburn, resolving to inquire about them later.

As they approached the stream of traffic entering and exiting the temple, Imri Cantaros' ability to emotionally connect with others briefly overwhelmed him, and the group paused to allow Vernestra to assist her Padawan with guidance from Master Vitus. As they continued onward, the thought occurred to Silas that some of the knowledge he and his master had recently gathered on Genetia might be beneficial due to Cantaros' physiology as half-Genetian. He expressed this idea regarding the meditation practices developed by Samara the Blue, which Vitus agreed was a worthwhile avenue to explore. He encouraged the two Padawans to visit the Jedi Archives and conduct this research immediately while their teachers attended to their own affairs elsewhere in the temple. Rowh concurred with the suggestion, and the two young humans immediately headed for the library. These efforts proved highly productive for Cantaros, and he was grateful for the experience.

Later that same day, Reath Silas and his master Cohmac Vitus were present at the Senate inquiry in Stellan Gios' meeting chamber, which had originally summoned them to Coruscant from Starlight Beacon, with Masters Yarael Poof and Stellan Gios also in attendance. The day had already been long, and Silas realized he had forgotten the names of the four Republic Senators questioning the pair while the Council members observed. The inquiry was interrupted by the arrival of Ghirra Starros, prompting Master Gios to adjourn the inquiry. While the Senators and Master Poof departed, Gios indicated that Vitus and Silas should remain, which they did, and Gios inquired about the purpose of her visit.

Senator Starros explained that earlier that day, she had met with Xylan Graf to discuss whether his family could assume the expired lease on the Berenge sector from the Republic. The Senator was unable to delay his requests any further, but requested that he collaborate with Vernestra Rowh and her Padawan Imri Cantaros to survey the sector beforehand. Xylan Graf had taken offense to the involvement of such young Jedi, though Silas interjected to assert that Rowh was a fully fledged Jedi Knight, defending his friend. Ghirra acknowledged this fact, but stated that Graf needed to be appeased, so more Jedi of an older age or greater experience would be highly beneficial. She was also concerned about reports of the Nihil constructing a superweapon in the sector, and believed that more Jedi could better address the situation. After Vitus inquired whether she believed such rumors to be true, Ghirra confirmed that they likely were, as one of her experts who held that opinion, Professor Thaddeus Wolk, had been murdered just hours ago. Master Vitus accepted the mission for himself and his Padawan before Starros departed with gratitude.

Silas was overcome with a sense of foreboding and voiced this concern to the remaining Masters, which Gios immediately agreed with. The Council member also felt that something was amiss, attributing it to growing suspicions of a Nihil ally on Coruscant, with his suspicion falling on the Grafs. He requested that they remain vigilant and assist in exposing the wealthy family, should they be engaged in any wrongdoing. The master and his apprentice then departed Gios' office, though Silas reiterated his fears to Vitus, emphasizing that it extended beyond mere suspicion and that the unfolding events were larger than they could comprehend. The older man concurred, stating that they had to proceed one step at a time, and that finding and informing Rowh of the matter was their first priority. Despite this, Silas continued to feel uneasy.

Some time later, Cohmac Vitus and Reath Silas met with Xylan Graf, who escorted them to the guest level within his private tower, where Sylvestri Yarrow, Jordanna Sparkburn, Vernestra Rowh, and Imri Cantaros were already present. Following the introduction of Yarrow to the two new Jedi, as well as some discussion about recent events within the tower, the group convened to discuss the upcoming mission over a meal. Sparkburn and Graf discussed the competition between their families over the Berenge sector, as well as the sector's value to both parties.

The conversation turned to the recent death of Professor Wolk and his belief that Sylvestri Yarrow's mother had faked her death to construct a weapon for the Nihil in the sector, which Graf dismissed outright. Silas inquired why the Republic had not dispatched a cruiser to investigate the sector and its rumored strange hyperspace activity, as well as the potential Nihil presence, but Graf replied that they had, and found nothing, with Professor Wolk theorizing that the weapon's energy readings were only detectable during its use. Following further discussions among the group, the serving trays of food were cleared, and their course, as well as other details regarding ships and flight paths for charting the sector, were presented to all.

Shortly after this large-scale meeting, Xylan Graf's group, consisting of four Jedi, Sylvestri Yarrow, Jordanna Sparkburn, and Xylan's personal bodyguard, Basha, departed Coruscant aboard his pleasure yacht, the Resplendent Pearl. The Jedi proceeded to the cargo bay, where Cohmac Vitus guided the others through a meditation intended to enhance their connection in the event of a battle. Several hours later, as the ship entered hyperspace, they all took a break, with Vitus requesting that the two Padawans assist Basha with food preparation. The pair headed towards the center of the ship, though after some time, Cantaros separated from Silas to return to Vernestra Rowh.

Later, after a second meal had been served, Silas was engaged in a quiet conversation with Rowh and Cantaros in the crew mess. Sylvestri Yarrow entered the room and loudly questioned Xylan Graf about why they were headed for the Dalnan sector instead of the Hynestian sector, information she had discovered and shared with Rowh and Cantaros earlier. Graf dismissed the question with a laugh, stating that he had filed a false flight plan to prevent interference from the San Tekkas, Nihil, or others who might attempt to impede them. Graf also revealed that his family had been tracking Nihil attacks to improve their business strategy and that the Grafs were certain that someone, or a group, within the Republic was collaborating with the Nihil.

He then departed for the crew quarters, followed by Basha, and those remaining promptly discussed his statements. Vitus revealed that Graf was genuinely truthful in his belief that someone in the Republic was working with the Nihil. The group ultimately decided against contacting figures like Stellan Gios and sat down for the meal that the Padawans had helped Basha prepare. Vitus commented that it was not the most palatable, but Silas defended his and Cantaros' efforts, stating that they had done their best to follow the recipe, but rations were rations.

Late the following day, the yacht arrived at Everbloom, their actual destination and the private space station owned by Xylan Graf's grandmother, Catriona Graf. All four Jedi were dressed in their mission attire and gathered in the cargo bay area for a supposed presentation to the family matriarch. Silas considered it part of diplomacy, though Vernestra Rowh noted that he had been preoccupied since they had departed Coruscant. Upon landing, Imri Cantaros sensed a strong deception emanating from Basha, just before she grabbed and pulled Xylan Graf back from the boarding ramp.

Chancey Yarrow and a group of her Nihil associates were waiting on the other side and quickly deployed Zygerrian crowd-control gas against the Jedi and Jordanna Sparkburn. While the Jedi possessed rebreathers, a tool that had become standard since the Nihil's attack on Valo, and were able to don them, they were quickly overwhelmed. Silas' defeat came at the hands of Basha, as when the Padawan had attempted to assist Xylan Graf, who was struggling in the female Gigoran's grip, as well as inhaling the purple gas, the bodyguard's other hand had seized and hurled Silas across the space. He was then struck in the chest with a stun blast and collapsed.

Chancey Yarrow selected Reath Silas and Imri Cantaros as the Jedi to accompany her back to the Gravity's Heart, the weapon she had been constructing for Nihil Tempest Runner Lourna Dee. They were to serve as tribute to the Eye of the Nihil from Chancey, as he required Jedi to test something he was developing. By the time Silas regained consciousness, Sylvestri Yarrow was also awake, having knocked out Nan when the girl had approached the captured trio earlier, though Nan was now conscious. Simultaneously, Jordanna Sparkburn, Cohmac Vitus, and Vernestra Rowh had reached the makeshift station and were attacking it in the Vengeful Goddess, an experimental ship that the trio had been given by Catriona Graf before their departure from Everbloom. The resulting attack left the allied trio and Nan trapped in a storage room, unattended.

Silas quickly assessed the situation, but due to the lingering effects of the gas used on them, neither he nor Imri Cantaros could concentrate sufficiently to use the Force to aid in their escape. However, utilizing some technical skills, Silas was able to assist Slyvestri Yarrow in opening the locked door, at which point Nan sprinted past them and out of reach, with Silas and the others not giving chase as they instead focused on fleeing. The trio soon found themselves in the room with Mari San Tekka and her medical pod, as well as Doctor Kisma Uttersond, who held them at blasterpoint with a canister of gas in hand. He was unable to restrain them for long, but in the ensuing scuffle, Silas was rendered unconscious by the new gas thrown at him.

Jordanna Sparkburn was able to reach the room shortly thereafter, followed by Vernestra Rowh, finding the group safe and Uttersond no longer a threat. Silas was barely able to stand but witnessed Sparkburn's discovery of her distant cousin, as well as the revelation of the gruesome method used to keep the elder San Tekka alive. Sparkburn then half-carried the Padawan from the room as the group moved to escape the rapidly deteriorating station, pausing in the hallway as Vernestra Rowh communed with Mari San Tekka and then severed the hoses attached to the pod, resulting in her death.

Rushing through the hallways, the group reached the hangar bay, observing the raging battle outside between newly arrived Republic forces and Jedi Vectors rounded up by Master Elzar Mann, who had been stationed at the Jedi temple on nearby Dubrovia. Silas identified Vectors in the ships flying outside, but they refocused on escape. The group encountered Chancey Yarrow boarding her freighter, the Switchback, which her daughter had previously believed lost for good when attacked by the Nihil some time ago. The senior Yarrow managed to escape, and the group was forced to pile into a skiff that lacked weapons and sufficient physical space for all of them. They managed to escape from the hangar and reach one of the Longbeams that had come to their aid. A number of the Nihil were captured by the time the battle concluded, and the remains of the Gravity's Heart were pulverized by the assembled Republic ships.

Later, back on Coruscant, the Jedi Council was reviewing the mission and its findings. Vernestra Rowh and Imri Cantaros were the first pair to be debriefed by the Council members, while Cohmac Vitus and Reath Silas waited outside. After being dismissed from the review, Rowh and Cantaros briefly paused to speak with their fellow Jedi before Rowh excused both herself and her Padawan. As they departed, Silas called out that it had been good to work with them while waving, though he soon lowered his head, blushing.

Months had passed, and Reath Silas found himself engrossed in research about the Starlight Beacon, but his thoughts were equally consumed by his future as a Jedi Knight. He pondered the role he wished to embody and the person he aspired to become. Over time, the station had become increasingly dear to him, a true second home. Realizing he was tardy for a training session with his master, Cohmac Vitus, he swiftly disengaged from his reading and departed, though he deliberately slowed his pace as he walked the corridors.

Upon arriving at the training room, he discovered his master already in wait, the air filled with the scent of burning incense and Cohmac visibly perspiring. They commenced a rigorous combat practice, an intense duel during which Silas resolved to finally broach the subject of his private doubts about his path forward. However, the turmoil he sensed within his master, coupled with Cohmac's insistence on continuing the duel after a brief pause and words of praise, prevented him from voicing his concerns.

Before their duel could resume, Padawan Ram Jomaram interrupted them, a welcome respite for both. Silas reflected on the protectiveness that had grown around Ram since his arrival at the station. The mechanically inclined Padawan gave them a brief overview of a mission being launched to Corellia to investigate potential Nihil sightings, inquiring if they wished to accompany him, Master Kantam Sy, and Zeen Mrala on the journey. Vitus promptly left to confer with Master Sy, leaving the two Padawans to engage in their own duel, using live sabers instead of the training blades that Vitus and Silas had been employing.

Soon after, before the mission to Corellia's departure, Silas sought out his master in the Starlight Beacon's meditation center, a place where he often found Master Vitus before a mission. He remained uncertain about his future, but upon arriving, he discovered his master in a holographic conversation with Orla Jareni. Vitus revealed to Silas that he was burdened by a growing sense of deep sorrow, and Jareni was attempting to assist him through meditation. Silas felt his own concerns paled in comparison and, despite offering help, was told by Vitus that it was a personal matter to resolve. Following a mutual farewell between Vitus and Jareni, the master and apprentice left together.

Concurrently with the mission launch for the Battle at Dol'har Hyde, Reath Silas, Cohmac Vitus, Ram Jomaram, and Kantam Sy were preparing for their own mission to Corellia. Due to the mission's sudden nature, promising an encounter with Krix Kamerat, Zeen Mrala's former friend now a Nihil lieutenant, she separated from the Corellia-bound group to join those heading to Dol'har Hyde. Before her departure, Mrala, Lula Talisola, and the other two Padawans exchanged playful banter about their next meeting, celebrating Jomaram's improved sense of humor. They parted ways, with Silas and Jomaram gathering their travel packs and boarding the small shuttle Talmadge just before their Masters initiated the launch.

During the voyage to Corellia, Silas and Jomaram were situated in the compact cargo bay, attempting to replicate the mind-linking technique employed by Master Avar Kriss during the Great Disaster. Their initial efforts proved unsuccessful, leading Ram to suggest a variation on levitation. Given their limited success in lifting themselves, they decided to try lifting each other. Jomaram succeeded first, raising Silas, but when it was Silas' turn, the older Padawan playfully used the Force to flip Jomaram upside down and send him crashing into a pile of bedding. Jomaram retaliated by hitting Silas in the face with a pillow, and the ensuing pillow fight was audible enough to reach both masters in the cockpit.

The Jedi quartet arrived in Coronet City and settled into the Jedi quarters there. While the masters promptly departed to investigate potential Nihil activity, the two Padawans found themselves with some free time. Jomaram seized the opportunity to discuss his recent struggles, the growing anger and dread of battle, while Reath confessed his own feelings of aimlessness. They found comfort in sharing their burdens, but their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Alys Ongwa. She inquired if they were the Jedi from Starlight Beacon, with Jomaram confirming their affiliation, and Silas silently accepting the half-truth. The two Padawans quickly recognized Ongwa as the "Crash" from the holorecording detailing Nihil activity, her nickname, and the newly formed trio set off into the city.

Determined to win over the two young Jedi and showcase her influence before a meeting of the city's leading figures, Ongwa persuaded them to join her private security company in exchange for a visit to the nearby Santhe Shipyards, where the MPO-1400 Purgill-class star cruisers were under construction. After successfully bluffing her way past the shipyard's security by turning the guards against each other, Ongwa confronted the Padawans about their misrepresentation of their Jedi Order status. The two young Jedi apologized, but also challenged Crash on some of her own phrasing and planning. Ultimately, they agreed they were even and proceeded to tour the ships.

At the shipyards, Silas, Jomaram, and his Bonbrak companions Tip and Breebak met Shug Drabor, the chief shipwright responsible for designing the MPO-1400 cruisers. Reath was impressed by Alys Ongwa's linguistic abilities when she spoke Anzellan to inquire about a Spiral-class Viz Core Eviscerator for an excited Jomaram. Drabor subsequently led them on a tour of the shipyards, allowing the small group to explore the interior of the Wanderlust, a sister ship to the Halcyon.

As they toured the shipyards, Silas reflected on past romantic interests, realizing he was developing feelings for Ongwa upon their first meeting. His thoughts were interrupted by the pink-haired teenager, who had noticed his deep concentration. In the brief exchange that followed, Silas confirmed his trust in Ongwa, but before she could share more details about the evening's meeting, she received a call through her earpiece. Concluding the call, she informed Silas that her primary competitor, Dizcaro, was encroaching on her territory and they needed to leave immediately to prepare for the meeting. They quickly retrieved Jomaram and departed for the meeting site, with Ongwa mentioning the need for disguises.

Shortly after leaving the shipyards, Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram were ushered into an after-hours lounge, where the turquoise-skinned performer Svi'no, with the assistance of the Ithorian Ansh, transformed them into members of the long-extinct Scarlet Skull Cult through makeup and costumes. Alys Ongwa explained that the group was feared on Corellia, and the disguises would lend her team credibility. The two young Jedi were then pulled into a huddle with Ongwa's team and allies, where she outlined the situation and emphasized that the evening was about reconnaissance. The doors were then opened for the guests.

Lacking information about the attendees, Silas inquired with Ongwa for both his and Jomaram's benefit, though the information wasn't immediately forthcoming. She quickly explained the structure of the City Fathers of Corellia, as well as the absent City Mother. She then broke away to greet the final arrivals, the Republic liaison officer Minister Chips Fendirfal, accompanied by Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy. Realizing their masters were present, the two Padawans attempted to remain inconspicuous, a challenge given their attire and face paint.

The two remained silent and on the periphery as the evening progressed, witnessing a brief speech by Ongwa, followed by one from Ovus Buckell, the Father of Finances. However, the young woman got into an argument with Dizcaro, with Buckell interjecting at an inopportune moment with rude comments about Prybolt Garavult, the member of Ongwa's team whose apparent death had prompted her to report the possible presence of Nihil on Corellia. These comments deeply angered her, and she lashed out at the Father of Finances, triggering a brawl among many present.

As this unfolded, Silas and Jomaram remained on the sidelines, where they were approached by their masters and taken to a side room, as members of the Scarlet Skull Cult were not known to speak. The younger Jedi explained the situation, much to the amusement of their elders, and affirmed their trust in Alys Ongwa. The masters were pleased that the Padawans had made progress with someone as resourceful as the security company head, as they had been mired in bureaucracy for much of the day. They then resolved to check on Ongwa after Silas expressed concern for her well-being, while Jomaram remained behind to receive a communication from Zeen Mrala. By the time he rejoined the others, the bar fight had subsided, and the four gathered with Ongwa's team for a post-fight debrief.

She revealed that they had unfortunately lost their contract to protect the [Finance Ball](/article/finance_ball] the following day. Before they could delve deeper into the issue, they were interrupted by Dizcaro, who offered a professional apology for Ovus Buckell's comments about Prybolt, stating he disagreed with the remarks. While Ongwa was hesitant to accept his apology, she ultimately did. Once he departed, the group resumed planning how to undo the manipulation that had led to their removal from the Ball.

Ongwa then revealed she had swiped Dizcaro's personal communicator during the fight while he was physically defending Buckell. With this, she planned to sabotage the star he had placed in Svi'no's stead for the following evening, while also securing a new star for her team to be associated with, thus restoring their position guarding the ball and their client. Jomaram eagerly suggested Zeen Mrala, who was en route after the successful battle at Dol'har Hyde.

After Alys Ongwa dispatched her team on various missions across the city shortly before midnight, the remaining group settled in to relax. Silas and Jomaram were able to wash the makeup from their faces. As they settled in, Silas inquired if Mrala had mentioned anything about Sabata Krill, a female Er'Kit Nihil closely associated with Krix Kamerat. Ongwa expressed surprise at the mention of a female Er'Kit, before revealing a more complete holorecording than the one used to report the Nihil presence on Corellia. In it, Sabata was clearly visible, causing some concern. However, the Jedi ultimately accepted Ongwa's reasons for editing the recording and shifted focus to the rapidly escalating threats on Corellia. After discussing the limited security on the planet due to resources being diverted to the nearby moon of Gus Talon, they turned to the political angle of who might be collaborating with the Nihil. This ultimately left them with more questions, but Ongwa insisted they focus on promoting the narrative of Zeen Mrala.

Shortly after this discussion, Alys Ongwa dispatched Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram, along with one of her team members, Smeemarm, to the Kalamu District to sabotage Dizcaro's employer Crufeela, paving the way for Zeen Mrala to replace her at the Finance Ball. She also sent the Wookiee Tangor to trail the group for added security. Once in the district, Reath volunteered to impersonate one of Dizcaro's men, an easier task due to the group still possessing the man's personal communicator. Posing as Borgo Val, Reath contacted the starlet and awkwardly managed to ascertain her location, relieved when he ended the call after a somewhat clumsy performance. Jomaram then departed with the now-revealed Tangor to collect their bait from the district's night market, while Silas accompanied Smeemarm to pick up Crufella from the Hotel Feather.

Upon arriving, Smeemarm provided Reath with an earpiece before disappearing down a utility hole, as there was a chance the Shani singer would recognize them since they had previously worked for Dizcaro. Silas then took a seat in the hotel lobby and began sipping water, recalling what little he knew of the woman before her arrival. He then escorted her from the Hotel Feather, guided by Smeemarm, to the rooftop suite of a different hotel.

However, moments after stepping out of the turbolift, she drew a small blaster on him. She had become suspicious when Silas, as Borgo Val, stated that Dizcaro hadn't informed him of her location, and continued to probe Silas' story. The young Padawan was ultimately overwhelmed, both by the intensity of being threatened with a weapon and by Smeemarm's shouts through the earpiece.

Ram Jomaram stepped into view at this point, carrying the "dinner" intended for Crufeela, interrupting the situation. The singer was immediately captivated by her live meal, forgetting her threats against Silas. However, before she could consume the "meal," a Bonbrak named Teetak, Jomaram pulled the small animal back just as spotlights illuminated the rooftop, and four guards marched onto the scene beside Chief Inspector Deemus Abrus of the Coronet City Chapter of the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts. They promptly arrested the Shani and led her away, before Silas and Jomaram entered the turbolift with Smeemarm and made their escape.

The two Padawans were granted a late start by their masters, who had been summoned to address an issue at the municipal police barracks across town. Jomaram later voiced his complaints about this to Silas during a meal, though the older Padawan dismissed his annoyance, suggesting he try some caf. Before their morning could continue, Alys Ongwa contacted them via Ram Jomaram's communicator, informing them of the success of their mission to discredit Crufeela.

Just as the native Corellian ended the call, Zeen Mrala arrived in her ship, soon embracing Jomaram for emotional support as she grappled with her fears and sadness regarding her relationship with Lula Talisola, while Silas remained on the periphery, not joining the embrace. Master Cohmac Vitus then contacted the group via Silas' communicator, informing them that the Nihil were present on Corellia, and in force. Vitus emphasized the need for the group to remain coordinated and to inform Ongwa of the situation while acting as if nothing were amiss. He ended on a positive note, reminding them of the importance of the evening for Mrala and urging her not to miss her chance to shine. After the communication ended, the Mikkian expressed confusion, before Jomaram began to fill her in.

The Padawans and Mrala proceeded to Alys Ongwa's office and shared what the Jedi Masters had revealed. The native Corellian moved slowly around her office, struggling to speak as she was overwhelmed by the discovery of such a force bearing down on her home, and that local politicians were likely responsible for empowering and enabling their presence. Silas, along with his friends, gently placed his hand on her back to offer support. Ongwa soon regained her composure and expressed her trust in Mrala, which the Mikkian reciprocated.

The young security company head congratulated Silas and Jomaram for their actions the previous night, before requesting the single credit she had given them the previous day when she had hired them, so they could now hire her. Silas was initially confused, and Jomaram earnestly apologized for overpaying at the night market, though Ongwa assured them this was for their safety. In the heat of whatever was to come, her team needed to know who to protect. The pair acquiesced, and their employee files were deleted and replaced with client files, with Zeen Mrala added as an attached client under one of the two files.

Later that day, Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram arrived at the Mangrove Hotel in the Finance District, the venue for the Finance Ball. They were once again dressed as members of the Scarlet Skull Cult, serving as the personal guards of "Miss Z," the stage name Ongwa had given the now-glamorously dressed Zeen Mrala. Shortly after their arrival, the doors opened for the guests, and the situation rapidly grew complex. The original festivities, as organized by Nomar Tralmat, called for everyone to wear Nihil-themed masks, and despite the former Father of Finances' apparent death, the plans proceeded.

This immediately put Jomaram on edge, and his rising anger at the guests' frivolity while dressed as murderers and killers caused him to subconsciously enact the thought he was having of watching their communicators and holoprojectors breaking. Silas noticed his friend's rising anger and quickly calmed him through the Force. He then pulled him into a corner where they quietly discussed the need for balance and how Jomaram could manage his intense anger about the Nihil. Silas proposed a technique to help Ram, suggesting he visualize his emotions as tools and parts on his utility cart, each with a purpose but also needing to be set aside or used in conjunction with another to function effectively. With Ram's emotions better contained, the pair returned to guarding Zeen Mrala as she moved through the room, though both felt uneasy amidst the guests and the potential for concealed weapons or devices.

Reath Silas' own emotions were also highly turbulent, and despite his ability to help Jomaram, he found himself unable to release the strong emotions that washed over him as he observed the crowd. He was jolted from his thoughts when he believed a guest approaching Mrala resembled Sabata Krill. He raced across the room, followed by Jomaram, only to stop abruptly when he realized the guest simply wanted Mrala's autograph. However, immediately following this incident, someone activated the holo news in the event space, broadcasting images and reports of the ongoing disaster of Starlight Beacon's destruction, reaching the young trio. They watched in horror as their home was destroyed, frozen in place.

Silas was too numb to process what was happening elsewhere in the room as a masked individual jumped onto a table and shouted pro-Nihil sentiments to the crowd, removing his mask to reveal himself as Nomar Tralmat. The former Father of Finance had faked his own death and collaborated with Ovus Buckell to bring the Nihil to Corellia. However, Buckell, angered by what he perceived as a breach of the agreement, stood on a chair to offer an angry rebuttal to the other Corellian. Tralmat then drew a blaster and fired at his replacement, his initial shots missing, and by the time they reached Buckell, Dizcaro had leapt in the way, taking three shots for his client, with both tumbling to the ground afterward. These shots caused Silas, and many others in the crowd, to duck for cover, and for a moment the Padawan was consumed by the panic and horror of the moment. With a surge of confidence in the Force, however, Reath stood and began to move.

He quickly noticed that while many guests were fleeing, or attempting to flee, others were attacking their fellow guests, and these were the Nihil. Zeen Mrala called out to him, alerting him to the main group of Nihil, led by the now-revealed ringleader Tralmat and surrounded by a ring of supporters, who were on the move. Silas, Mrala, and Ram Jomaram moved together toward this group, but their progress was hampered when Nihil forces burst through the eastern window of the event hall, extending a bridge to their fellow warriors, causing members of the crowd to be knocked back by the force of the explosion, while others fled. Silas was the first to reach the window's edge, using his lightsaber to deflect blaster fire. Soon joined by his fellow Padawan and Mrala, Silas focused on the legacy he upheld as a Jedi, and how he had to focus on the immediate crisis rather than dwell on the situation at Starlight Beacon. He then charged forward with his two friends at his side.

They traversed the initial bridge, the two Jedi skillfully deflecting incoming blaster fire from a trio of Nihil warriors. These Nihil served as a rearguard, positioned atop the first building, providing cover for their comrades who were already making their escape across a second bridge. Jomaram passed his lightsaber to Zeen Mrala, entrusting her with deflecting the continuous barrage of blaster bolts alongside Reath Silas. Meanwhile, Silas concentrated on manipulating the rooftop's technology, specifically causing the ventilation system near the Nihil's location to catastrophically overheat. The resulting explosion dispersed the enemy trio. Silas acknowledged his fellow Padawan's successful maneuver with a salute before they advanced, halting on the first rooftop as the Nihil rearguard hastily retreated toward the second bridge. The young trio paused as Fezzonk, a member of Alys Ongwa's team, relayed information about the Nihil's destination: the Finance Tower. Fezzonk was able to identify the tower from his flier circling the rooftops. Zeen Mrala proposed that the group avoid engaging the Nihil directly on the bridges. Instead, she suggested they navigate through a nearby hotel complex to reach the Tower, utilizing the Force to enhance their jumping abilities and easily clear the necessary distances. They concurred and opted for this alternative path.

The Nihil quickly realized they were being outmaneuvered and deployed their forces to target the two Jedi and Mrala as they progressed through the hotel complex. Silas summoned Fezzonk and his flier, known as Air Eleven, for assistance. The Dowutin pilot responded by strafing the Nihil positions, forcing them to retreat, allowing the trio to advance to the next building. Mrala moved ahead, taking cover as the Nihil aimed a rotary cannon at her location. However, her two Jedi companions leaped onto the Nihil's building, diverting their attention away from the Mikkian, who then eliminated the three Nihil operating the weapon with precise shots. The two Jedi then jumped to Mrala's location, and together, they advanced toward the Finance Tower, now only one building away.

At Mrala's suggestion, the three adopted a more stealthy approach and used the Force to jump onto a balcony of the Finance Tower. Silas immediately recognized Sabata Krill's voice. As she concluded a speech, the entire Tower began to shake, revealing to the Padawan that the building was concealing the launch of a large vehicle. He leaped into the room and witnessed a massive troop transport taking off. Reath Silas briefly contemplated the pervasive reach of the Nihil and the inevitability of their conflict across the galaxy. He then surged onto the transport, concealing himself within one of the wheel turrets while changing back into his Jedi attire, remaining undetected.

As the transport slowly progressed toward Tunnel Entrance Seven, Reath Silas overheard enough of Master Kantam Sy's report to deduce the Nihil's scheme: to seize control of the ships at the shipyards and, disguised as Republic reinforcements, attack the imperiled Starlight Beacon above Eiram. As the lumbering vessel approached its destination, he steeled himself, accepting the possibility of his own death that evening, but resolving to fight to the end if necessary.

The transport arrived at the shipyard, and Reath Silas observed the battle lines forming, the initial charge of the assault, and the rear attack led by Masters Kantam Sy and Cohmac Vitus. Realizing there was no alternative, the Padawan leaped from the transport, landing amidst the Nihil front lines and immediately engaging in combat. He gradually fought his way toward Master Sy through the chaotic battle, and together they rushed to aid a hard-pressed Cohmac Vitus. The Jedi determined to push to the front, where they could be most effective. Fortunately, the defenders broke through the lines to meet them, consisting of Svi'no and members of Alys Ongwa's security force, Tamo, Tangor, and Fezzonk, all armed and ready. They then retreated back to the Corellian defensive line, but quickly turned back as the Nihil launched a full-scale assault against the defenders.

Master Kantam Sy then reorganized the defenders, assigning Reath Silas to protect an MPO star cruiser at the far end of the yard. While moving toward this location with two other defenders, a group of mostly Mimbanese Nihil charged toward the ship. Silas lost his two companions and engaged the remaining Nihil in a fierce battle. The sheer scale of death surrounding the Padawan would have overwhelmed him under different circumstances, but he remained focused on the fight, especially as more Nihil closed in, intent on killing a Jedi. He deflected blaster fire, slashed at attackers, and as a charge formed against him, he hurled a thermal detonator into the Nihil ranks. The explosion sent a piece of [armor](/article/armor], or a piece of a Nihil corpse, flying into Silas, causing him to stumble back onto the boarding ramp, which two Nihil immediately exploited. He severed the gun hand of one, but was shot in the thigh by the other, causing him to fall, though he managed to deflect the follow-up shot back into the second attacker.

The Nihil began to gather around the ramp as Silas desperately defended his position, using the Force to pull three Nihil who attempted to charge inside and slashing at one of them, only to be shot in the arm and pushed away from the ramp. Nihil streamed past the semi-conscious Padawan, only to rush back out as Shug Drabor descended the ramp in his load-lifter workframe, now equipped with weapons, which the small Anzellan used to gun down the Nihil. After a brief exchange with Silas, Drabor rushed off in pursuit of the Nihil, and Ram Jomaram hurried out to grab the other Padawan and pull him inside to safety. To Silas's surprise, they ended up in a luggage compartment, where Ram stuffed him inside and gave him his entire supply of bacta packs, stating that he needed them more than Jomaram, before closing the door.

Despite the Corellians' defense against the Nihil, some ships began to launch. The first to ascend was a Republic Longbeam, prompting Ram Jomaram to take action. He located and boarded the Spiral-class Viz-Core Eviscerator he had noticed earlier and set off in pursuit. By the time he reached the Longbeam, it was nearing the atmosphere, but the tech-savvy Padawan disabled its engines before initiating an attack run on the ship's bridge. He breached the ship and used its remaining maneuverability to turn it into a climbing MPO star cruiser.

Aboard the MPO cruiser, a groggy and injured Reath Silas gradually freed himself from the baggage compartment and stumbled onto the bridge of the now-commandeered ship, prepared to fight the Nihil. However, facing Sabata Krill and four other Nihil, and suffering from exhaustion and severe injuries, he was forced to surrender his lightsaber. However, Jomaram's urgent communications through his earpiece alerted him to the impending collision. Using the Force, he pushed the Nihil back, summoned his lightsaber, and fled the bridge. Shortly afterward, Jomaram's piloted Longbeam crashed into the MPO's bridge, and Jomaram then leaped into the Eviscerator to continue the path of destruction, tearing through the bridge and into the corridors and structure of the MPO in search of Reath Silas.

As the ships disintegrated in the atmosphere, Silas was falling through the planet's sky, barely conscious. Jomaram detected him, swooping in with the fighter, grabbing his fellow Padawan, and pulling him to safety. Silas lost consciousness as he entered the cockpit. Back at the shipyards, Jomaram disembarked from his fighter and helped pull Reath out as the other Jedi and their allies rushed to meet him.

Later that evening, Reath Silas, along with all the other Jedi, felt the destruction of Starlight Beacon and the loss of all remaining lives. The impact in the Force roused Silas, Padawan Ram Jomaram, Master Cohmac Vitus, and others from their rest at Baynoo Ongwa's home. Master Vitus entered the small room shared by the two Padawans and beckoned them to follow him into the sitting room. Masters Yoda, Kantam Sy, and Zeen Mrala were already present, and Silas was struck by their silence. He began to frantically inquire about what was happening and why no one was formulating a response plan, while also grappling with the loss of his second home. Zeen Mrala briefly offered solace, but Cohmac Vitus then asked his Padawan if he was ready.

Reath Silas realized that he was about to be knighted and immediately panicked. He shook his head, insisting that he hadn't learned enough, only how little he knew. Yoda interjected, stating that was one of the most difficult lessons. Silas retorted that understanding there was no single path forward was just a better way of feeling lost. Yoda responded gently before Cohmac Vitus reminded his pupil of the words he had spoken the day Silas had asked to be his Padawan, that the young man would be Vitus's greatest instructor in the Force. Flustered, and after further discussion, Reath Silas finally relented, knelt, and was knighted by Masters Kantam Sy, Yoda, and Cohmac Vitus, the last of whom cut his braid.

Reath Silas's friends embraced him, but when they stepped back, Cohmac Vitus' lightsaber was in the former Padawan's hands. Confused, Silas barely spoke before Cohmac Vitus renounced his position in the Jedi Order and disappeared out the door, vanishing into the darkness of the Corellian forest.

The following morning, the Jedi, the mysterious bandaged individual Master Yoda had brought, and Zeen Mrala prepared to leave Corellia. Ram Jomaram and Reath Silas bid farewell to Alys Ongwa and inquired about her future plans, as she had dissolved her security company after the Nihil attack. She replied that she would continue to fight on Corellia, as Ovus Buckell was attempting to conceal his involvement in recent events, and she intended to stop him. The Jedi and their mysterious companion then departed, Kantam Sy having transmitted a message from Yoda minutes earlier, recalling all Jedi to Coruscant, as they were no longer safe from a hidden threat from their past now revealed.

Following the fall of Starlight Beacon and the implementation of the Guardian Protocols, which mandated the return of all Jedi to Coruscant, Reath Silas found himself repeatedly drawn to a memorial within the temple. This memorial listed the Jedi who had perished or gone missing after the destruction of Starlight Beacon. He held onto the hope that one day he would see Vitus's name removed from the list of the lost. During one of these visits, he was joined by Ady Sun'Zee, who questioned his frequent visits to the memorial. While there, Silas noticed Yoda escorting Azlin Rell, a figure unfamiliar to him, toward the Jedi Council Chamber. Despite not recognizing the man, Silas sensed a Force signature similar to that of the bandaged individual Yoda had brought while Silas was on Corellia, and he felt a sense of unease.

Silas would be assigned alongside Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor to investigate the Nameless, a creature wielded by the Nihil that feeds on the Force. Later, their investigation would extend to the Blight, a plague that began to consume planets across the galaxy a year after the fall of Starlight. As part of this investigation, Silas was granted permission to consult with Azlin Rell, a fallen Jedi who had dedicated his life to the study of the Nameless. Despite concerns among many Jedi that Rell would manipulate Silas, Silas believed that Rell's expertise in the Nameless was invaluable. During this investigation, Silas would uncover that the deaths of Zallah Macri and Kevmo Zink were attributed to the Nameless.

One year after the fall of Starlight, while investigating the Blight on Coruscant, Silas immersed himself in a private laboratory filled with Blight-contaminated samples. These samples included Drengir flesh, Nameless flesh, and the corpses of various creatures. Among these items was the severed hand of Cair San Tekka, a gift from Vernestra Rwoh following her expedition into the Occlusion Zone, as well as the remains of Jedi Knight Pola Sheel. Within this laboratory, he donned a protective suit and strictly prohibited entry to anyone not similarly protected.

While Silas was examining the Blight in his laboratory, Jedi Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo entered and offered his assistance. Azzazzo believed that his experiences on a Blight-ravaged world could provide Silas with a fresh perspective on the disease. Azzazzo likened the Blight to a colossal Nameless, targeting worlds rich in the Force, and proposed that the Blight and Nameless were connected. Shortly thereafter, Silas journeyed to the lower levels of the Jedi Temple to discuss Azzazzo's theory with Azlin Rell. Rell withheld information, asserting that Silas was not yet prepared for what he knew. However, Rell did express his belief that Silas was the Jedi's last hope in defeating the Nameless and urged Silas to acknowledge his fear in his quest.

Collaborating with Azzazzo, Silas analyzed the molecular structure of creatures killed by the Blight and the Nameless, discovering identical effects and confirming a connection between the two. Following this discovery, Silas first approached Vernestra Rwoh, who was recovering from injuries sustained during the Mission to Vixoseph I, to share his findings. Before Silas departed, Rwoh recounted her confrontation with Marchion Ro and how he had traversed a field of Blight unharmed, further linking the Nameless to the Blight, as Ro was known to have control over the Nameless. Silas then reported his findings to Jedi Master Elzar Mann, who initiated a meeting of the Jedi Council in response.

After meeting with Mann, Silas ventured into the Jedi Archives to research folklore and legends that might relate to the Nameless and Blight. His studies led him to the story of the Tolemites, an ancient, extinct Force-sensitive civilization that had suffered a great plague after their leaders, the Three Ancients, returned from exploring the galaxy with great wealth. One version of the story mentioned that the Ancients had returned from a lush world, bringing with them four-legged beasts with tentacled maws. Silas, believing this to be a reference to the Nameless and the Blight, saw this as a potential lead in finding a way to end both, as the Tolomites were said to have survived the plague.

Silas returned to the lower levels of the Jedi Temple to consult with Azlin Rell once more, this time regarding his discovery of the Tolomites. Rell was pleased that Silas had uncovered the Tolomites and revealed that he too had discovered them during his own investigation into the Nameless. However, he also revealed that he believed the Tolomites' homeworld was lost to time and that their new homeworld, Tolis, had been flooded. Despite this setback, Rell saw it as a positive sign, as Silas was demonstrating that he was following Rell's path. Before their conversation ended, Silas revealed to Rell that he was beginning to sense a disturbance, which Rell interpreted as Silas realizing that the Jedi way might not be the correct path for his investigation. Overwhelmed, Silas left Rell's cell.

During the Jedi Council meeting convened by Elzar Mann, Silas presented his latest findings to the council. He stated his belief that the Nameless had a homeworld that needed to be found, that the Nameless and Blight were connected, and that the story of the Tolomites might hold the key to understanding it all. This information convinced the council that they needed to capture a live Nameless and bring it to Coruscant. After the meeting, Jedi Master Ry Ki-Sakka spoke with Silas privately, congratulating him on his discoveries and warning him about the dangers of Azlin Rell.

That night, Silas experienced a nightmare in which he journeyed beneath the Jedi Temple and returned to the Shrine in the Depths. Inside the shrine, he found himself wearing tattered white and gold robes, older, and without eyes, closely resembling Azlin Rell. Awakening, Silas immediately sought out Vernestra Rwoh and asked her to join him in investigating the Shrine in the Depths. Agreeing, the two ventured into the depths, both experiencing an unsettling sense of unease. Upon entering the Shrine, they discovered that the Blight had reached Coruscant and was consuming the Shrine. Rwoh departed to inform the council, instructing Silas to return to his investigation of the Blight.

Back in his laboratory, Silas began to explore ways to prevent the Blight from spreading on Coruscant. As he began to theorize, he was surprised to find his former master, Cohmac Vitus, at the door to his laboratory. Overwhelmed with emotion, Silas spoke with his former master, who revealed that during his time away from the Jedi, Vitus had been investigating the Nameless and the Blight and had also discovered the Tolemites, as well as their homeworld and a repository that might contain the secrets of how the Tolemites had survived the Blight. He also revealed that he had recently survived an encounter with one of the Nihil's Children of the Storm, Sicarus, a Jedi hunter who used Nameless that had been experimented on by their "father", Baron Boolan.

This revelation prompted Elzar Mann to call an emergency session of the Jedi Council. During the meeting, Vitus requested that Silas and himself undertake a mission to the Tolemite homeplanet of Tolis to access the Tolemite repository. The council agreed, requesting that the two Jedi be transported aboard a Byne Guild ship, specifically the Vessel, crewed by Leox Gyasi, Affie Hollow, and Geode, the same crew that Silas and Vitus had traveled with to the Amaxine Station four years prior. Shortly afterward, the council also agreed to have Jedi Master Mirro Lox and his apprentice, Ammadeo Azzazzo, lead the mission to capture a live Nameless.

Before embarking on his mission, Silas returned to the lower levels of the Jedi Temple to speak with Azlin Rell once more. He informed Rell that he would be leaving for Tolis. Rell congratulated Silas on discovering the homeworld of the Tolemites but cautioned him against continuing to harbor the pain of believing that Vitus had abandoned him on Corellia, stating that the pain should be Vitus's burden. Rell also expressed his desire for Silas to survive his mission to Tolis, to survive the Nameless, and to embrace his fear.

The crew of the Vessel and the two Jedi reunited on Coruscant briefly before boarding the ship and beginning their journey to Tolis. Aboard the Vessel, Silas and Vitus spoke in depth for the first time since their reunion, and Vitus revealed that his reason for leaving the Jedi Order on Corellia was not because of Silas, but because the destruction of Starlight Beacon and the death of his friend Orla Jareni had caused him to become so afraid that he abandoned the order. Afterward, the two exchanged items, Silas returning Vitus's old lightsaber that Vitus had given Silas on Corellia, and Vitus giving Silas an old Jedi shield that Vitus had acquired from a dealer on Batuu. Unbeknownst to the two, the shield had once belonged to Jedi Master Silandra Sho.

Arriving in orbit above Tolis, the group discovered that the Blight had begun to infect the planet, giving them limited time to investigate the repository. They also discovered a shiny mineral with properties that could resist the Blight. The two groups split up, with Silas and Vitus landing on the ground to search for the repository, while the Vessel crew worked to collect samples of the mineral. Reaching out through the Force, Silas sensed that the great mountains that defined the landscape of Tolis were actually the backs of a massive creature strongly connected to the Force. Silas also located the Tolemite repository buried deep underground. Working together with Vitus, the two used the Force to unearth it.

Inside the repository, they discovered a series of concentric circles. Upon investigation, Vitus realized that the circles were a locking system that could be unlocked with the Force to reveal what it secured. Upon unlocking the mechanism, the room began to fill with water that reached Silas's chest before draining away. The draining water revealed three pillars made of kyber with golden masks, the final resting places of the Three Ancients.

Silas, confused as to how these coffins constituted a repository, touched one of them and began to experience a series of visions. In each vision, he was a Tolemite. In the first, he saw himself on Planet X, capturing the native wildlife. In the second, he was fleeing through the woods of an unknown planet from a Nameless, trying to reach home and the Matriarch, only to find that all twelve of them had been killed by the Nameless before being killed by a Nameless himself. In the third, he was on a planet being consumed by the Blight, observing the construction of the three Nameless control rods from the mountains. Awakening from the visions as if no time had passed, Silas informed Vitus that he understood the information the Tolemites had left behind.

As the two Jedi realized that the Echo Stones, once investigated years prior by Jedi Master Barnabas Vim, were the key to controlling the Nameless, they began to theorize about how the Jedi could acquire them. While discussing this, they sensed the presence of a Nameless entering the repository. They managed to escape and contacted the Vessel, which attempted to pick them up but was shot down, crashing nearby. Shortly afterward, the Invictus, piloted by Ashton Vol, carrying L-77, Dorian Innes, and Ammadeo Azzazzo, arrived above Tolis after their mission to capture a live Nameless. They had received a warning that the Nihil were targeting the Tolis group and were on a new mission to save the Vessel crew, but they were shot down by the same Nihil vessel. The two groups, Republic and Jedi against the Nihil, the Jedi Hunter Sicarus, and his three Nameless, engaged in battle. During the battle, two of the Nameless were killed by the Republic forces, and one of the Nameless turned on Sicarus, transforming the hunter into a husk.

The group fled back to the Invictus while formulating a plan to deal with the remaining Nameless and tending to their injuries. Aboard, they were contacted by Affie Hollow aboard the Vessel, who informed them that the Vessel was damaged but only needed a new power relay inverter to become airborne again, a part that was undamaged on the Invictus. This meant that the group could escape if they could reach the other ship, but the Nameless was still outside. To distract the Nameless, Silas devised a plan to provide a larger target: the giant creature they had mistaken for mountains. Using the Force, Silas successfully contacted the creature and convinced it to fight the Nameless for them. While the creature fought the Nameless, the group was able to switch ships and fly away from Tolis aboard the Vessel, where another Jedi, Eve Byre, was aboard. Affie had rescued Byre from the Nihil ship, where she had been held hostage by Sicarus.

Three days later, Vernestra Rwoh spoke with Silas about his discoveries on Tolis. She informed him that while he was gone, she had discovered that a Jedi Temple Guard guarding Azlin Rell's cell had been contacting the Nihil about Silas's movements and had been the one who sent Sicarus after Silas. She suspected that Rell himself was involved. Afterward, Silas spoke with Rell, revealing his findings about the repository, the Echo Stones, and his experience surviving against a Nameless. Rell was initially pleased that Silas had survived but became furious when Silas revealed that he had survived the Nameless attack without succumbing to his fear. Silas left Rell and told Vitus that he had been blaming his uncertainty on Vitus but now realized that his uncertainty was his own fault and that he needed Vitus's help.

On the world of Banchii, Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi made a startling discovery: a grave, containing a person transformed into wood by a Drengir, had been disturbed and the body had risen. She communicated this unusual event to Grand Master Yoda. In response, Yoda requested that Azlin Rell and Reath Silas accompany him on an investigative journey to Banchii. Silas initially expressed reluctance, feeling that his work on Coruscant was of greater importance. However, Yoda asserted that Silas's investigations into the Nameless and the Blight might be connected to the happenings on Banchii.

Upon their arrival on Banchii, Silas began his inquiry into the animated wooden corpses. Shortly thereafter, Rell revealed his ability to sense the fear of Drengir nearby, leading him to believe they were manipulating the resurrected bodies. Tora-Asi attempted to communicate with the risen corpses, requesting the Drengir to reveal themselves. The Drengir complied, emerging from beneath the soil. They explained their return was due to the Blight's infection of Banchii, from which they were attempting to flee. Before they could elaborate further, a group of Nihil, led by the Nihil scientist Niv Drendow Apruk, arrived. They had been dispatched by Baron Boolan to examine the bodies on Banchii. Apruk's group included three modified Nameless, which began to exert their influence on both the Jedi and the Drengir.

However, before the Nameless could attack the Jedi, the Banchiians offered their assistance, drawing one of the Nameless away. Another Nameless pursued Rell, while the third remained near Apruk. Rell utilized the Force to destroy the Nameless pursuing him. Silas, alongside his Jedi companions and the Banchiians, successfully eliminated the second Nameless by tripping it with a rope and burying it beneath wooden planks. After additional combat alongside the Drengir, the Nihil were defeated, although Apruk managed to escape. Silas expressed his gratitude to the Drengir for their assistance in the battle.

Now informed about the Tolemite's Nameless Control Rods, powered by the Echo Stones, Reath, alongside Cohmac Vitus and Ammadeo Azzazzo, started to investigate into the Echo Stones. One story he uncovered was that of Darth Ravi, who discovered an Echo Stone on the Dead Moon of Gothol but was ultimately consumed by its power and died. Silas shared this tale with Azzazzo, who dismissed it, stating that their understanding of the Echo Stones' ancient origins was already established. The subsequent story was about Barnabos Vim, who used the Force on an Echo Stone to pinpoint its origin planet. Vim journeyed to this planet but was lost and never returned. As Silas and Azzazzo deliberated on the story's implications for the Control Rods, Vitus arrived with a third story, concerning Jedi Master Atticus Cale and his padawan Jadia Brink. Years after Vim's disappearance, they attempted to locate him but instead discovered the Rod of Ages on the planet Varovia, burying it under tons of rock to end a years long planetary conflict over how to use the Rod. Inspired by this information, the trio set out for Varovia, hoping to find the Rod once more.

Upon reaching Varovia, the three were intercepted by Ambassador Kaarok, who inquired about the Jedi's purpose in returning to their world. After the Jedi explained their intention to reclaim the Rod of Ages, Kaarok reluctantly agreed, hoping the removal of the Rod would prevent future conflict within their society. Traveling to the Rod's location, the three excavated the rock piles covering the entrance to the ancient structure and began their exploration. They eventually located the Rod's original resting place, only to find it missing. Venturing deeper into the ruins, the trio was ambushed by a group of droids. After defeating the droids, they continued their exploration, discovering a locking mechanism similar to the one Silas and Vitus had encountered at the Tolemite Repository, which Vitus once again managed to unlock.

After a full day of exploring the ancient ruins, the group stumbled upon a kyber mirror, which Vitus identified as a trial of faith designed to test whether the viewer could confront all possible futures. Silas requested Vitus to face the mirror, but Vitus, considering his future too uncertain, asked Silas to go first instead. Silas agreed and gazed into the mirror, witnessing several potential futures, including himself killing Azlin Rell, cradling a dying Azzazzo, becoming a member of the Jedi Council, and standing victorious over the Nihil. After seeing all of these possible futures, Silas declared that he chose none of these paths, asserting that his future remained unwritten. Silas passed the test, and the door opened, revealing a room filled with droid corpses, snakes, and the Rod of Ages.

Upon entering the room, the dormant droids awakened, but Silas quickly deactivated them by connecting to the Echo Stone within the Rod of Ages and using its power. The group retrieved the Rod of Ages, as well as one of the droids that wasn't stopped by the Echo Stone, and returned to Coruscant.

Reath Silas was a young man with a youthful appearance, characterized by his short, brown hair, brown eyes, and fair complexion. Cohmac Vitus considered him to be physically attractive, a quality that caught the attention of the Nihil member Nan. He wore his hair in a Padawan braid, which was unfortunately ripped out by a Wookiee infant shortly after the Great Disaster. The braid was later restored and remained until his knighting ceremony, when his second master cut it off.

Reath Silas was a scholarly Jedi who enjoyed studying ancient history. He preferred reading in the Jedi Archives over the thrilling adventures sought by many of his fellow Padawans. Consequently, he was initially unenthusiastic about being stationed at the Starlight Beacon alongside his master. He maintained a friendship with Dez Rydan, who had been Master Malli's Padawan before him, which aroused jealousy among his peers. Following Malli's death during the Great Disaster, Silas ultimately decided to travel to Starlight, accepting Malli's decision as being in his best interest and wishing to honor his master's final wishes. Silas was not particularly fond of music, although he could appreciate the effort involved in playing an instrument. Throughout the Nihil's reign of terror, Reath Silas developed crushes on several women, leading to some internal conflict. However, he resolved to acknowledge these emotions as they arose.

As a Jedi Padawan, Reath Silas possessed a connection to the Force. Like many other Force-sensitives, this connection granted him various notable abilities. He demonstrated proficiency in telekinesis, such as when he assisted Affie Hollow by stabilizing her balance without physical contact or clearing a hallway of fire and smoke with a Force push. The Force also allowed him to jump great heights with ease. Despite these abilities, Reath acknowledged that his connection to the Force was relatively weak compared to other Jedi. He often struggled with mind control and did not experience Force-related sensations and emotions as intensely as others. He also found levitation difficult, although he could perform it more effectively with others. Reath visualized the Force as a spider web, feeling both immensely powerful and fragile due to his weaker connection.

Silas was highly skilled with a lightsaber, earning excellent grades during his training at the Jedi Temple. He was able to defend himself against attacks from a Drengir-influenced Dez Rydan for a short time and successfully fought against the Drengir and Nihil on multiple occasions. Beyond his combat and Force abilities, Reath possessed basic engineering skills and was capable of piloting speeders with considerable skill. His extensive studies in the Jedi Archives provided him with knowledge of numerous historical events and cultures, including the Amaxine warriors, a knowledge that expanded during his time with Cohmac Vitus.

As a padawan, Reath Silas wore robes with a turquoise sash around his waist and wielded a green lightsaber. After the Nihil's attack on Valo, he carried a rebreather with him. Following his knighting on Corellia, he lost his turquoise sash and was later gifted a shield, formerly owned by Jedi Master Silandra Sho, by his former master, Cohmac Vitus. When not in use, he wore the shield on his back.

Reath Silas was conceived by Claudia Gray for the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project, a narrative set two centuries before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Silas was first mentioned in the 2021 novel The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule and debuted in the young adult novel The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray in the same year. The character's first visual representation was on the cover of Into the Dark, revealed during the Star Wars: The High Republic project announcement on February 24, 2020. Claudia Gray identified him as Reath Silas during an episode of The Star Wars Show on YouTube two days later. Gray named the character after a fan's suggestion, using his son's first name as a Star Wars character name.

Gray described him as a Jedi who adhered to the rules more closely than his peers and who took a more intellectual approach to the Force rather than a purely instinctive one. In developing Silas, the author drew inspiration from Hermione Granger, a character from the Harry Potter book series. She wanted Silas to be a Jedi whose skills were the result of dedication rather than inherent talent.

There is an inconsistency concerning the relationship between Reath Silas and Imri Cantaros. In the novel Into the Dark, Reath Silas expresses his anticipation for reuniting with Cantaros and Vernestra Rowh on the frontier. However, in Out of the Shadows, he requires Vernestra to introduce him to Imri, with no prior acquaintance between them indicated.

Daniel José Older, the author of the young-adult novel The High Republic: Midnight Horizon, revealed in an interview that Reath Silas was the most challenging character for him to write. He felt that his writing style did not align with Silas's personality, leading to occasional difficulties in writing the character's dialogue. For the novel's critical moments, Older consulted Gray regarding Silas's characterization and storyline.