The weeks that followed brought a rhythm to our lives, meditation at dawn, lightsaber drills in the afternoon, history and philosophy lessons scattered between. Derren, Seris, Barriss, and I became inseparable, each of us filling the gaps in the others' training. Derren's raw enthusiasm balanced Seris's calculated precision. Barriss's thoughtful wisdom grounded my tendency to overthink. And somehow, despite everything, we worked.
But all of that was preparation for what came next.
The day of the Initiate Trials arrived with the kind of nervous energy that made even the Temple's ancient stones seem to hum. Younglings gathered outside the main training chamber in small clusters, whispering anxiously to one another. Some practiced their breathing exercises—the slow, measured cadence Master Yoda had taught us to calm our minds and center ourselves in the Force.
I stood with Derren, Seris, and Barriss near the back of the group, quietly reciting the rhythm in my head. Inhale for four counts. Hold for four. Exhale for four. Hold for four. The pattern was simple, but effective. My heart rate slowed. The nervous flutter in my chest eased.
"Do you think they'll ask us to recite the Code?" Derren whispered, his voice tight with anxiety.
"Of course they will," Seris said, her tone clipped. "It's the foundation of everything we've learned."
Barriss smiled gently. "You'll be fine, Derren. You know it by heart."
"Knowing it and saying it in front of the Masters are two different things," Derren muttered.
I glanced at him. His hands were trembling slightly. "Just breathe," I said quietly. "You've got this."
He nodded, but didn't look convinced.
One by one, names were called. Younglings disappeared through the heavy doors, emerging minutes later with expressions ranging from relief to quiet pride. Some looked shaken. Others looked triumphant.
Finally, I heard my name.
"Youngling Cain."
I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and walked through the doors.
The training chamber was vast and circular, its high ceiling supported by elegant columns carved with ancient Jedi symbols. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting long beams across the polished stone floor. And in the center of the room, seated on a raised platform, were three figures.
Master Yoda, his small form somehow commanding despite his size, his ancient eyes watching me with quiet intensity.
Master Plo Koon, his Kel Dor mask gleaming faintly in the light, his presence calm and measured. And Master Fay, her long blonde hair cascading over her pale robes, her expression serene and knowing.
I walked forward and bowed deeply. "Masters."
"Youngling Cain," Master Plo Koon said, his voice resonating through his mask. "Are you ready to proceed with your Initiate Trials?"
"Yes, Master," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I am ready."
Yoda nodded slowly, his ears twitching. "Good, good. Ready, we believe you are." He tapped his cane against the floor. "Now, recite the Jedi Code and what it means."
I took a breath, centering myself. This was the moment. I'd rehearsed this a hundred times in my head, but standing here, under the gaze of three Jedi Masters, felt different.
"There is no emotion, there is peace," I began, my voice clear and steady. "There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force."
I paused, meeting Yoda's gaze. "The first line, 'There is no emotion, there is peace'—teaches us to master our emotions, not suppress them entirely. A Jedi must achieve inner peace by understanding and controlling their feelings, not by denying they exist."
Master Fay's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of approval crossing her face.
I continued. "'There is no ignorance, there is knowledge' means we commit to the constant pursuit of understanding. We seek, we learn, we expand our awareness rather than accepting ignorance. Knowledge is not a destination, it's a journey."
Plo Koon inclined his head slightly, listening.
"'There is no passion, there is serenity,'" I said. "This tells us to control our passions, channeling them into calm and focused action rather than being driven by them. Passion can be a strength, but only if we direct it with purpose."
Yoda's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"'There is no chaos, there is harmony,'" I went on. "A Jedi seeks to create and maintain balance, promoting unity in the galaxy through their actions. We bring order not through force, but through understanding."
I took a breath. "And finally, 'There is no death, there is the Force.' This means we see death as a natural part of the Force, a transformation rather than an absolute end. We do not fear it, because we understand that the Force connects all living things, even beyond death."
Silence filled the chamber.
Master Fay was the first to speak. "That was an excellent recitation and interpretation, youngling Cain." Her voice was warm, almost maternal. "You may proceed to the next chamber."
She gestured toward a door on the far side of the room.
I bowed again. "Thank you, Masters."
As I walked toward the door, I felt their eyes on me, assessing, measuring, considering. I pushed the feeling aside and stepped through. The next chamber was smaller, more intimate. And waiting inside were Barriss, Derren, and Seris.
Derren's face lit up when he saw me. "See? I told you we'd make it."
Barriss smiled, her dark blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is that why you were hyperventilating earlier? Because you were so confident?"
Derren flushed. "I told you, those were advanced breathing exercises. Wookiees do them."
Seris spoke next, surprising everyone. "Derren, don't insult the Wookiees like that." Her tone was dry, but there was a hint of humor beneath it. "Unless 'What am I gonna do, what am I gonna do' is also part of their advanced breathing technique."
All of our eyes turned to Seris in shock.
"What?" she said, her expression carefully neutral.
"You made a joke," Derren said, his voice filled with disbelief. "A good one."
Barriss giggled. "Are you sick or something? Where is the Ice Princess we know and tolerate?"
Seris's ears twitched, and she elbowed Derren in the stomach when he got too close. He gasped, doubling over slightly.
Before anyone could say more, the door opened, and Masters Plo Koon and Fay entered. The room fell silent immediately.
"Now, younglings," Plo said, his voice calm and authoritative. "Pay attention. We shall begin with your next trial."
Everyone straightened, focusing on his every word.
"This is the Trial of Self-Discipline," Plo continued. "You will make a choice, to either engage in a lightsaber duel or to meditate. If you choose to duel, come to me. If you choose meditation, go to Master Fay. There is no wrong answer. Choose what you think is best."
I glanced at Derren and Seris. Derren was already moving toward Plo's group, his hand resting on the training saber at his belt. Seris hesitated for a moment, then followed.
Barriss walked toward Master Fay's group without hesitation.
I stood in the middle, considering. Meditation would be the safer choice, I'd proven my connection to the Force countless times. But I wanted to test myself. I wanted to see how far I'd come.
I walked toward Plo Koon.
The group numbers were uneven. Plo approached me, Derren, and Seris with a thoughtful expression. "Would you three younglings mind dueling each other at the same time we seem to have a odd number of initiates?"
I looked at Derren and Seris. Derren's eyes were wide with excitement. Seris's expression was focused, determined. This was exactly the kind of challenge we'd been preparing for in our free time.
"We're ready, Master," I said.
Around us, the other younglings began their own duels, training sabers igniting with soft hums, the sound of blades clashing filling the chamber.
The three of us stepped into the center of the sparring ring. We ignited our training sabers, blue, green, and yellow light casting flickering shadows across the floor.
We took our stances. Derren settled into a solid Form I posture, his blade held high. Seris adopted a hybrid stance, blending Form I's power with Form III's defensive precision. I shifted into Makashi, my blade angled elegantly, my weight balanced on the balls of my feet.
For a moment, we were still.
Then we moved.
I launched a downward strike at Derren. He blocked, his blade meeting mine with a sharp crack. I immediately transitioned into a parry as Seris came in from my side, her blade slicing toward my ribs. I deflected her strike and spun away, creating distance.
Derren pressed forward with a powerful overhead strike aimed at both of us. Seris and I were forced onto the defensive, our blades moving in tandem to block his assault. His strikes were strong, each one reverberating through my arms, but they were also predictable.
Seris was the more agile of the three of us. She dodged and parried with elegant precision, her movements flowing like water. Between Derren's powerful strikes, she threw in fast, precise counters that kept him off balance.
I focused on reading their patterns. Derren favored high strikes and committed fully to each swing. Seris attacked from the sides, targeting arms and legs with surgical precision.
And then something shifted.
The world around me seemed to slow. I could see their movements before they happened, the way Derren's shoulder tensed before a strike, the way Seris's weight shifted before a lunge. It was like the Force was whispering their intentions directly into my mind.
This is it. This is what Cin Drallig was talking about.
I moved without thinking. As Derren launched a downward strike, I stepped into Seris's path and struck at her from behind. She elegantly sidestepped, her blade coming up to parry. But now I was directly in the path of Derren's attack.
I parried his powerful downward strike and slid my blade up his, disarming him in a smooth motion. His training saber flew through the air, and Seris caught it with the Force.
She ignited the second blade and shifted into a Jar'Kai stance, her movements suddenly faster, more aggressive.
Oh, she looks so damn cool.
But I knew she had next to no experience with dual-wielding. Her strikes would be fast, but less precise. Her windows for attack would be narrower.
I switched to Form II, my blade moving in tight, controlled arcs.
Seris's assault began.
She was quick, faster than I'd ever seen her move. Her strikes came from multiple angles, forcing me to block and parry with everything I had. I could barely keep up. All I could do was defend, waiting for an opening.
I recognized her patterns. She kept attacking my sides and arms, avoiding my hands and legs. Her precision was dropping because she wasn't used to managing two blades simultaneously.
Wait for it. Wait for the moment.
Then it happened. She overcommitted on a side slash, her left blade extending too far. I saw it coming before she even launched the strike.
I stepped into her space and deflected the slash with a sharp parry. Her other blade came in from the side, but I was already moving. I went for a stab strike, my blade aimed at her chest.
Our sabers stopped inches from each other's bodies.
"That's enough."
Master Plo Koon's voice cut through the chamber like a blade.
Seris and I froze, our training sabers humming softly in the sudden silence. I was breathing hard, sweat dripping down my face. Seris looked the same, her silver hair plastered to her forehead, her chest heaving.
We pulled away from each other slowly, deactivating our sabers. Plo stepped forward, his masked face unreadable. "You two are finished with your trials."
Seris's eyes widened. "Master, are you saying Cain and I failed the trials?" Her voice was tight with frustration.
Plo shook his head. "No. You both passed my trial with your lightsaber duels—and more. Your display of the Force as you dueled was remarkable."
I blinked. "What do you mean, Master?"
"He means," Master Fay said, stepping forward with a serene smile, "that as you both dueled, you started to move so fast that you became blurs. The Force was flowing through you both."
I looked at Seris, surprised. She had a small, satisfied smile on her face.
Plo turned to her. "Youngling Seris, where did you learn Jar'Kai?"
Seris paused, then spoke carefully. "I saw a Padawan practicing her saber forms, and I started practicing in secret."
Plo studied her for a moment. "Are you interested in learning that saber style formally?"
Seris hesitated, then glanced at me. I wasn't sure why.
"No, Master," she said humbly. "I just wanted to throw youngling Cain off in our duel. So I tried. But it didn't work."
I smiled. "What are you talking about? It did work."
Seris's eyes widened slightly. "It did? But you kept up with my strikes."
"Barely," I said. "I thought you were amazing. The way you moved—it was flawless."
Seris's cheeks flushed, and her ears twitched. She looked away quickly, but I caught the faint smile on her lips.
"I want to learn Jar'Kai," I said, turning to Plo. "I think it's incredible. Maybe Seris and I could learn it together?"
Seris looked at me, surprised. Then she nodded slowly. "I... will consider it."
Plo inclined his head. "Very well. You may wait outside the chamber while Master Fay handles the final trial."
We bowed and left the room, Derren trailing behind us with a sheepish grin.
Later that day, we gathered in the Assembly Hall, a wide, circular chamber with a ceremonial floor marked with symbols representing the various training clans. The symbols glowed faintly in the light, each one representing a different path within the Order.
Bear Clan. Hawk-Bat Clan. Kowak Clan.
One by one, names were called. Younglings stepped forward to receive their clan assignments, their faces filled with pride and relief.
When my name was called, I stepped forward without hesitation.
"Bear Clan," Yoda declared, his voice echoing through the hall.
I nodded and moved to join my group. Moments later, Seris's name was called. "Bear Clan."
Then Derren. "Bear Clan."
And finally, Barriss. "Bear Clan."
I looked at the three of them, Derren grinning widely, Barriss smiling serenely, Seris standing with her arms crossed but her expression softer than usual.
We're together. All of us.
Close to a full year passed after that.
The rumors about me spread like wildfire through the Temple. From initiates to Council members, everyone seemed to have heard something about the golden-eyed youngling who could do the impossible.
Some spoke of my ability to solve difficult Force telekinesis puzzles, three at once, after Derren dared me to try. Others talked about my maturity, the way I acted older than my age. My greatest feat, according to the gossip, was lifting two Muntuur stones from the ground and holding them suspended for three full minutes.
I'd been aiming for three stones, but I stopped myself. The more I displayed my abilities, the worse it might be for Anakin when he arrived at the Temple. I didn't want to overshadow the Chosen One before he even had a chance to prove himself.
So I made sure not to hold back when it mattered, but I also made sure not to show off unnecessarily.
On a quiet afternoon in the Upper Sparring Hall, Seris and I faced off with training sabers. The hall was elevated, with wide windows overlooking Coruscant's endless cityscape. Natural light streamed through, casting long shadows across the circular mat.
Our hilts clicked softly as we ignited our blades, blue and green light humming in the air.
Barriss sat nearby with Derren, offering subtle commentary.
"She's always trying to be number one," Barriss said, her tone affectionate.
Derren chuckled. "She's always been like that. But I think Cain helps keep her leveled."
Barriss nodded. "I agree."
I stepped into a flowing Makashi stance, then transitioned smoothly into Soresu. Seris took a more aggressive hybrid of Form I and Form III, her strikes fast and calculated.
This was how our duels normally went. Sometimes Derren would join us, and all three of us would wear body weights to make the training harder. When Seris had asked why we should do that, I'd explained that it was good practical training under harsh conditions, because we wouldn't always get to decide the conditions of our fights out in the galaxy.
Derren had agreed immediately.
Today, it was just me wearing the body weights. The extra resistance made every movement slower, more deliberate. But it also forced me to be more efficient with my technique.
As we neared the end of our duel, the door to the hall opened.
Jedi Master Cin Drallig entered, his presence filling the room like a wave. Beside him was a young woman, Serra Keto, his Padawan. She had sharp eyes and moved with the confidence of someone who'd seen real combat.
Seris and I continued our duel, unaware of their arrival. I pressed forward with a series of rapid strikes, forcing Seris onto the defensive. She parried each one with precision, then countered with a sweeping strike aimed at my legs.
I jumped, flipping over her blade, and landed behind her. Before she could turn, I disarmed her with a smooth motion, catching her training saber mid-air.
I froze, holding both sabers.
"You two move very well for ones so young."
Cin Drallig's voice echoed through the hall.
Seris and I turned immediately, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Master," we said in unison.
Cin smiled faintly. "I've heard much about you, youngling Cain. I came to see for myself."
Serra nodded. "Yeah, I've seen your duels with her and the other youngling." She gestured to Seris and Derren. "You're all good duelists. You have a lot of potential."
Cin turned to Serra. "Let's see how you do against the rising initiates." He looked at us. "If it's okay with you both?"
Serra and I nodded, smiling.
"I want to go first, Cain," Seris said quickly. "Is that okay?"
I smiled and handed her back her training saber. "All yours."
Seris stepped into the ring with Serra. Both ignited their sabers—Seris with one blade, Serra with two.
Cin told them to begin.
Serra moved first, her Jar'Kai stance fluid and aggressive. She attacked Seris with a fast flurry of strikes, her dual blades moving in perfect synchronization.
Seris parried and dodged with ease, at first. But as the duel continued, I noticed something.
"Seris can't shift from defense to offense," Derren muttered beside me.
He was right. Serra's experience and dual-wielding technique kept Seris pinned down. Every time Seris tried to counter, Serra was already moving, blocking with her second blade and pressing the attack.
Seris turned a parry into a deflecting motion, finally managing to strike back. But Serra blocked it with her other blade and disarmed Seris in a single smooth motion.
The duel was over.
Seris left the ring looking frustrated, her jaw tight. She wouldn't even look at me.
I grabbed a towel and draped it over her head as she walked past. "Go relax. You were amazing."
Seris gave a small nod, and I thought I saw a faint smile beneath the towel.
It was my turn.
I stepped into the ring with Serra. We circled each other slowly, our blades humming softly. Then our sabers touched once. Twice. On the third motion, we exploded into action.
Serra's two blades came at me in a flurry of strikes. I deflected each one with small, controlled motions, my single saber moving in tight arcs. I rushed her with a burst of fast, powerful strikes, forcing her onto the defensive.
She deflected each of my strikes, some better than others. When I went in for a clean strike, she slid underneath, past my blade. She struck at my legs as she slid past me. I flipped in the air, barely dodging her attack. As I landed, she was already in my defensive space.
I got ready to defend, but she spun in a feint strike and swept my legs. I hit the mat with a hard thud.
I coughed, the wind knocked out of me. Serra stood over me, her training saber pointed at my chest. "Do you submit?"
I deactivated my saber. "I do."
Serra smiled and helped me up. "That was a good duel. I don't know any new initiates who can fight like you do."
I smiled back. "Thank you, Padawan Keto. I learned a lot from this."
"Anytime, Cain. I enjoyed it. I hope we can do this again in the future when you become more experienced and pass your Padawan trials."
I turned to face Master Cin Drallig. My heart was pounding, but I kept my voice steady.
"Will you please spar with me, Master Drallig?"
A pause.
Serra, Seris, Barriss, and Derren all raised their eyebrows, blinking in surprise.
Cin Drallig smiled. "You're a bold one, youngling Cain. Why do you want to fight me? Do you plan on becoming the Order's next Battle Master?"
"No, Master," I said. "I'd like to test my skills and see how I could improve myself. I can only get better by being defeated and learning from that."
I meant every word. I'd rather learn from my failures early, before I got older. Especially if I could avoid losing a limb like Anakin and Luke.
Cin's smile widened. He nodded and walked calmly to the center of the ring. "Very well. Come, youngling Cain, and show me what you are capable of."
I took a moment to ground myself. I breathed deep into my core and reached out to the Force.
Then I moved. My saber clashed with Cin Drallig's. But he didn't move an inch.
I sent a flurry of speedy strikes to test his reflexes. Cin just flicked his wrist, parrying with no wasted movements.
I focused mainly on Makashi. But no matter how strong or fast my strikes were, nothing broke his defense. I recognized it as Form III—Soresu, the ultimate defensive form.
Then I tried something new. I flowed from Makashi to Ataru, a form I'd barely started learning in secret. The transition was rough, not as smooth as my other hybrid forms.
Every strike I sent through Ataru was blocked like it was nothing.
"Whenever you're ready to begin, youngling, please let me know," Cin said, his tone light.
Oh, this guy has jokes. Fine. I'll kick it up a notch.
I reached deeper into the Force, augmenting my strength, speed, and reflexes. I struck high, low, spun, and adjusted my footwork as the duel extended. Each move was learned from years of study and improvisation.
Cin didn't press. He moved in smooth, minimal, fluid motions. His blade deflected my strikes effortlessly, like water slipping off stone.
I tried to read the rhythm of Cin's technique. But I couldn't pin it down at all. Finally, I overcommitted on a mid-level thrust.
Cin stepped inside my guard. With one clean strike, he tapped my chest.
The match was over.
"You move and adapt well, youngling Cain," Cin said, his voice warm. "If you keep up the training, you will go far as you get older. You will be an excellent duelist."
I stood up, catching my breath, and nodded slowly.
Cin knelt beside me. "Why do you pick up a lightsaber, youngling?"
I met his gaze, my golden eyes burning with conviction. "I want to protect others."
Master Cin Drallig paused for a moment, then nodded. "Then start by mastering yourself first. You will understand more once you start there."
I bowed deeply. "Yes, Master. Thank you for this lesson, and your wisdom."
Later that evening, I replayed the duel in my mind over and over. I wasn't upset—I felt like I was close to awakening something. I just didn't know what yet.
In a training chamber, I stood with Seris, Barriss, and Derren. Together, we recreated Cin's footwork with Seris's help. We broke down Serra's feint and sweeping motions, discussing different ways to counter them.
We walked through how to feel the moment of overextension, how to listen to the Force mid-combat. Thanks to Barriss's insight on staying calm, we discovered that Derren was the best at keeping his composure under pressure.
When Seris asked how he did it, Derren laughed. "Sorry, Ice Princess, there's nothing to tell. This is just who I am." He grinned. "Maybe if you ask me kindly—'Oh, great Derren, please help me'—I might consider teaching you a thing or two."
Then, in a split second, Seris grabbed Derren from behind.
"Uh, Seris, what are you doing?" Derren said, confused and blushing.
Seris suplexed Derren into the ground.
I thought it was beautiful and gave her a thumbs up. Barriss knelt over Derren, rubbing his head gently.
I smiled, watching them. These are the little moments I should be enjoying more.