Chapter 3

The grand halls of the Jedi Temple echoed with the patter of small feet and the excited chatter of younglings as they made their way to their next lesson. Kaedan found himself swept along in the tide of children, still marveling at the intricate architecture and the play of light through the massive windows. The cityscape of Coruscant stretched out beyond, a glittering expanse of towering buildings and bustling skylanes that seemed to go on forever.

As they entered a large classroom, Kaedan felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He turned to see a young Twi'lek girl, her blue skin a stark contrast to her white tunic. Her large, expressive eyes regarded him with curiosity.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "You looked really confused during meditation."

Kaedan felt a rush of warmth at the simple kindness. It was the first time since he'd arrived in this impossible situation that someone had directly acknowledged his discomfort. "I'm... I'm fine," he managed, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Just had a lot on my mind, I guess."

The girl nodded sagely, as if she completely understood the weight of the universe. "Master Yoda says that's why meditation is so important. I'm Zara, by the way."

"Kaedan," he replied, the name still feeling foreign on his tongue. As they took their seats at one of the low tables scattered around the room, Kaedan felt some of the tension he'd been carrying start to ease. The normalcy of the interaction, the simple act of making a new friend, helped ground him in this strange new reality.

More younglings joined them at the table – a serious-looking Zabrak boy, a chatty human girl with bright red hair, and a Rodian whose large, multifaceted eyes darted nervously around the room. As they settled in, comparing notes on their meditation experiences, Kaedan found himself relaxing further. Despite their exotic appearances, these were just kids. Gifted, Force-sensitive kids, but still children with the same excitement, insecurities, and curiosity he remembered from his own childhood.

A hush fell over the room as Master Yoda entered, his hoverchair gliding smoothly to the front. The ancient Jedi's eyes twinkled as he surveyed the class, his gaze lingering for a moment on Kaedan.

"Today, discuss the history of the Jedi Order, we will," Yoda announced, his gravelly voice carrying easily through the chamber. "Important, it is, to understand where we come from. Shape our future, the past does."

As Yoda began to recount the ancient origins of the Jedi, Kaedan found himself leaning forward, utterly captivated. This wasn't the dry, academic history he'd read about in books and wikis. This was living history, told by someone who had lived through centuries of it. Yoda spoke of the first Force users on Ahch-To, of the schism that led to the birth of the Sith, of great battles and periods of peace that shaped the galaxy.

Without thinking, Kaedan raised his hand. Yoda paused, nodding for him to speak. "Master," Kaedan began, his excitement overriding his caution, "what about the Je'daii Order on Tython? How did their philosophy of balancing the light and dark sides of the Force influence early Jedi teachings?"

A ripple of confusion passed through the classroom. The other younglings looked at Kaedan with a mixture of awe and bewilderment. Even Yoda seemed taken aback, his long ears twitching slightly.

"Unusual knowledge, you have, young Kaedan," Yoda said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "The Je'daii, not often spoken of, they are. Curious, I am, where you learned of them."

Kaedan felt his heart rate spike. He'd slipped up, mentioned something he shouldn't have known. "I... I read about it somewhere," he stammered, trying to backpedal. "In the archives, maybe?"

Yoda hummed thoughtfully, clearly not entirely convinced. "Access to such ancient records, younglings do not usually have. Speak of this later, we will. For now, continue our lesson, we must."

As Yoda resumed his lecture, Kaedan could feel the eyes of the other Masters in the room on him. He'd drawn attention to himself, and not in a good way. He needed to be more careful.

The rest of the lesson passed in a blur, with Kaedan keeping his head down and his mouth shut. When it finally ended, and the other younglings began to file out for their midday meal, Yoda called out, "Stay a moment, young Kaedan. Talk, we must."

Kaedan's stomach churned with anxiety as he approached Yoda's hoverchair. The ancient Jedi Master regarded him with an unreadable expression, his large eyes seeming to peer directly into Kaedan's soul.

"Troubled, you are," Yoda said softly. "Since you arrived, sensed it, I have. A great weight, you carry. Speak of it, will you?"

For a moment, Kaedan was tempted to spill everything – his true origins, his knowledge of the future, the terrible fate that awaited the Jedi Order. But he held back, acutely aware of the potential consequences of such a revelation.

"I'm just... adjusting, Master," Kaedan said carefully. "Everything feels so new and overwhelming. And I worry about the future, about living up to the ideals of the Jedi."

Yoda nodded slowly. "Natural, such concerns are. But consume you, you must not let them. The future, always in motion it is. Focus on the present, we must."

"But what if we could prevent bad things from happening?" Kaedan pressed, unable to completely hold back. "If we knew something terrible was coming, shouldn't we try to stop it?"

Yoda's expression grew serious. "Dangerous, such thoughts can be. Attempt to control the future, we must not. Learn from the past, live in the present, prepare for the future – this is the way of the Jedi."

Kaedan nodded, trying to hide his frustration. He understood Yoda's wisdom, but it was hard to accept when he knew the horrific events that lay ahead.

"Go now, join your peers," Yoda said, his tone gentler. "But remember, young Kaedan – always here to listen, I am, if burdened your heart becomes."

As Kaedan left the classroom, his mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. He had to be more careful, to guard his knowledge more closely. But at the same time, the urge to change things, to save the Jedi from their impending doom, was almost overwhelming. Saving the Jedi meant preventing impending dooms.

He made his way to the dining hall, the aroma of unfamiliar yet enticing foods filling the air. As he joined Zara and the others at a table, trying to lose himself in their light-hearted conversation, Kaedan couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking a dangerous tightrope. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and everything could come crashing down.

But as he looked around at the young, hopeful faces of his fellow younglings, at the serene Jedi Knights and Masters moving through the hall, Kaedan felt a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever the risks, whatever the challenges, he had been given an incredible opportunity. Somehow, some way, he would find a way to use his knowledge for good, to change the course of history without destroying it.

The future of the galaxy might rest on his shoulders, but for now, he was just another youngling, navigating the everyday challenges of growing up in the Jedi Temple. And in its own way, that was both terrifying and exhilarating.