Chapter 13: Academy Days Episode XIII

[Jedi Temple, Coruscant, Galactic City, 38 BBY]

My lightsaber in hand I performed several maneuvers of form III: Soresu.

Having done the same with forms I and II earlier for an hour each.

Practice makes perfect after all.

My internal clock telling me I had reached an hour of practicing Soresu I stopped my movements and then deactivated my lightsaber. Clipping it back to my waist after I did.

You know, even after a year of having it in my possession my lightsaber still feels heavy.

I now fully understand what a Jedi means when they say a lightsaber is a heavy responsibility to bare.

Oh and yes, another year has come and gone since I've come to this world.

My friends and I are now ten years old.

Nothing that significant has occurred during this time. Except for the fact more people within the order have taken an interest in me on account of my gold-colored lightsaber. Since someone with a unique-colored lightsaber is rare within the current order.

The only other person I can think of is Mace Windu.

Add to that the fact that my midichlorian count is 17,500, which is about the same as Yoda's, and I'm not surprised I have so many eyes on me.

Moving on.

This year my friends and are going to take the Jedi Initiate Trials. Which all younglings become eligible to take starting at age ten.

Honestly I can't wait for the trials.

Since that means I will finally be able to get a master and become a Padawan. Of that I have no doubt.

Having finished my personal lightsaber training regimen for the day I exited the training room I was in and headed back to my dorm room.

I then grabbed a fresh set of clothes before heading for the Refresher, the Star Wars universe term for a bathroom/restroom, and got cleaned up with a nice refreshing sonic shower.

After that was taken care of I headed to the mess hall to grab a bite to eat.

Where I ran into Marcellus. "Oh Marcellus, welcome back. So, how is Aldeeran and your mother?" I asked him. As we sat down at a table with our plates.

Because Marcellus knows who his mother is, and who the rest of his family is as well.

You might be asking yourselves why? Well it's because Marcellus is a member of the House of Antilles.

As most people know normally in this era the order takes children away from their families in infancy and brings them here to the temple on Coruscant. Making sure they have no further contact with any family they were taken from, or prevent them from finding them. However there are exceptions to this rule. One of which concerns children that are born into prominent and powerful families. Like royalty.

Such as Marcellus.

Even though he only belong to a branch family and not the main house of the Antilles family he still has enough of a connection to warrant the special exception to the rule the current order has established between their members and their original family.

Which is seriously a dumb fucking rule.

One just has to look at Anakin to see why.

"Both are good." Marcellus replied.

"That's good." I said. "Say, you'll have to introduce me to your mother one day."

"Yeah, I will." Marcellus replied.

Me noticing an awkwardness in the air after he did.

"Marcellus, is everything okay? You know you can talk to me." I spoke.

"Well I mean...it's the upcoming trials." Marcellus revealed.

"You're worried." I stated.

"Yeah." He replied. "I mean if I don't pass I won't be selected as a Padawan."

"Hey, what about me?" I asked.

When I did so Marcellus gave me a 'really?' look. "That's not funny Van. We both know you'll pass with flying colors."

"No, we don't." I immediately replied. "Anything can happen. Sure, it seems like a sure thing that I will pass the trials, but you never know. I could fail the trials and not get selected to become a Padawan." Although I don't intend to let that happen. "We won't know for sure until we face them. So stop with all this worrying about what if's and focus on the here and now. Besides, even if we fail the trials this year we still have three more years to pass them."

A moment passed before I felt Marcellus anxiety start to dissipate. "Yeah, you're right Van."

"I know I am." I replied with a cheeky smile. "Say, how about after we finish eating we go and do some training?"

"Sure." Marcellus replied.

"That's what I like to hear my friend." I told him. "And hey, even if you never pass the trials and don't become a Padawan you can always fall back on your career as a member of one of the oldest and most powerful Core world families." I joked.

Only to get a flat look and a punch in the arm from Marcellus in return.

He really needs to learn how to take a joke.

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A month passed and my clanmates and I continued our training.

Then the day of the Jedi Initiate Trials arrived.

Finding myself in one of the biggest halls in the Jedi temple I stood in a group with my clanmates, and younglings from several other clans. Some of them older than us by a few years. Because they are also taking the initiate trials today.

Which for some is their last chance to become a Padawan.

Like that Iktotchi asshole who started having it in for me two years ago for no other reason than simple jealousy.

Looking out of the corner of my right eye I saw him. Standing there with the same arrogant and smug air he had around him when we met for the first time. Working to intimidate those in his immediate vicinity.

I learned a while ago his name is Sardoth.

Which triggered a memory for me.

It made me remember that Sardoth will eventually ended up falling to the dark side, and once the empire comes along work with them to hunt down the other remaining Jedi, all to save his own skin.

Though based on what I've seen of his personality in the short time our paths have crossed his actions in the original timeline don't shock me in the slightest.

Turning my attention away from Sardoth I looked around to see if I could spot any familiar faces from the original story besides those in my group, and as luck would have it, I did.

Bultar Swan.

My eyes lingered on her for a moment before I turned them away.

Then the second after I did so the doors the hall opened up and six people walked in.

The first was master Yoda in the lead.

Followed by master Yaddle.

[Insert Image of Yaddle here]

Mace Windu.

Who by the ways looks exactly like Samuel L Jackson, since all the characters shown in the films resemble the actors who played them, so kriff yeah.

[Insert Image of Mace Windu Here]

Micah Giiett

[Insert Image of Miach Giiett Here]

Oppo Rancisis

[Insert Image of Oppo Rancisis Here]

Finally Plo Koon.

As as we saw the master and members of the Jedi High Council enter the hall we younglings stopped talking and focused all our attention on the five of them.

Once they were in front of us master Yoda stepped forward and spoke.

"Greetings younglings. A difficult trial you face today. The Jedi Initiate trials you will take, determine these will if the rank of Padawan shall be granted to you or not." He explained. "Begin we shall, if no more questions there are."

None of us spoke a word.

"Hm, then commence the initiate trials we shall." Yoda said.

Finally starting the days main event.

Which I am and my friends are more than prepared for.