To the average person, more than 8,700 years may seem like an eternity, but for Yoda, it felt like just yesterday. Since inheriting the role of the Pavilion Master, time had lost its grip on him. Over the past 8,000 years, his existence had been defined by meditation, a pursuit to grasp the profound meaning of the universe. It wasn't until 700 years ago that he stirred from his contemplation. Guided by the secret teachings of Longyuan Pavilion, he sensed a looming catastrophe, a prediction made by his mentor. He knew he had to locate the one destined to lead humanity out of this impending calamity, much like how his teacher had found Ryan in the past. The sooner he found the "fire that burns darkness," the sooner they could prepare for the disaster. So, 700 years ago, Yoda left Longyuan Pavilion, traveling to every corner of the Golden Lion Empire to identify several exceptional children who held the potential to thrive in the face of this new threat. They were individuals capable of making a difference, but they were not the fire itself. Only under the guidance of that fire could they fulfill their purpose. So, Yoda continued his search.
"Attention, please! The spacecraft is about to reach its destination. Prepare for landing!" The announcement from the spacecraft's central computer snapped Yoda back to the present, pulling him from his memories. Outside the window, the landscape of Mu 3 Star was already coming into view.
Mu 3 was primarily an agricultural planet, with animal husbandry as its primary economic pillar. Apart from the capital, which was a small commercial city, the rest of the planet consisted of privately owned farms. In the eyes of the Golden Lion Empire's rulers, such agricultural planets were hardly significant. Consequently, aside from routine interstellar flights, few private spacecraft ventured to Mu 3. The planet had only one airport, located in the capital, where interstellar flights and occasional visits by private spacecraft took place.
When Yoda set foot on the soil of the Mu 3 airport, he was greeted by a desolate scene. Unlike bustling commercial or military planets, even the airports on average immigrant planets were far more lively than this one. The airport on Mu 3 could hardly be described as such. It was only during the harvest season that a few special transport spaceships from the Imperial Civil Affairs Bureau would make an appearance here.
Suddenly, Yoda experienced a peculiar sensation, as if he were waiting for someone. He followed his instincts and came to a stop at the airport's entrance. His eyes were drawn to the glass wall beside the entrance, where he found a boy peering at him through the glass. The boy's eyes were as blue and deep as the sea.
Whenever Sylvan visited Mu 3 City, the capital of Mu 3 Star, he made a point to visit the airport. It was the one place he could lay eyes on various spacecraft. He enjoyed gazing at spacecraft of all sizes and shapes parked on the tarmac beyond the glass wall. He often indulged in the fantasy of piloting these ships through the vast universe.
Sylvan's greatest desire was to travel through space. He attributed this longing to his birthplace, the stars. Every time he contemplated this, he justified his yearning this way. Yet what he truly envied was his friend, Prov, who had traveled to numerous planets as a child with his father. Each time Sylvan viewed Prov's collection of planet photos, his eyes sparkled with envy.
Today, Sylvan had accompanied Uncle Bob to the capital to deliver goods. Mu 3's residents typically journeyed to the capital every quarter for essential supplies. Their farms were self-sufficient for most of the year. The sale of agricultural produce didn't necessitate visits to the capital. Through the interstellar network, farmers could easily reach agreements with the government or interstellar merchants. Knowing Sylvan's interests, Uncle Bob opted to park the car directly at the airport instead of heading to the city. He had made arrangements with Sylvan to pick him up later.
With it being the off-season, the airport appeared especially deserted that day. Only one interstellar flight was on the tarmac, and there was a noticeable lack of other spacecraft. Sylvan was initially disappointed, but his spirits lifted when he spotted a spaceship in the distant sky descending toward the airport with flames trailing behind.
The spacecraft touched down. It was unlike any ship Sylvan had ever seen. It was relatively small and possessed a unique design. Its appearance resembled something he'd come across in his interstellar network school textbook. It looked like a creature long extinct from the Origin Planet—an ancient bird, the swallow. Except for its somewhat dull belly, the spacecraft was as dark as the starry night sky. A silver trident was painted on the hatch.
Sylvan gazed at the spaceship in awe. "It would be incredible if I could board that spaceship! It's so beautiful!" he thought to himself, fantasizing.
The hatch of the spacecraft opened, and a lively elderly man emerged. He had silver hair and was dressed in a black warrior's robe. He moved with the energy of a young man.
Approaching the boy, Yoda introduced himself, "Hello, my name is Yoda. May I know your name?"
"I'm Sylvan, Sylvan Igor," the boy replied, locking eyes with the elderly man. It was strange, but he didn't feel any apprehension; instead, he sensed an odd familiarity.
"Nice to meet you, Sylvan. Are you admiring my spaceship?"
"Yes, sir. It's incredibly beautiful," Sylvan said with enthusiasm.
"Yes, it is beautiful indeed. And it performs superbly. I've journeyed across half the galaxy in her!" Yoda seemed to feel something.
"Really? That's amazing! I wish I could pilot such a spacecraft and explore different star systems!" Sylvan immediately expressed his grand aspirations.
"Your dream will undoubtedly come true," Yoda assured him.
Just then, Sylvan realized he might have been too forward. "I'm sorry, sir, for speaking so boldly," he said, his enthusiasm momentarily restrained. "Please don't mention this to my sister. She'll scold me."
Greeting Uncle Bob, Yoda extended an invitation. "Hello, are you Mr. Bob? Sylvan's enthusiastic display might have upset you. My name is Yoda, and I'm an interstellar traveler. May I stay at your manor during my visit? I believe your sister would be pleased to have me."
Uncle Bob, without any specific reason, felt a strong sense of trust in Yoda. He believed this newcomer wouldn't bring harm to Sylvan. Hence, he accepted the invitation and extended it further. "Hello, I'm Bob. No, Sylvan's antics haven't caused any trouble. You're welcome to stay at our estate. I'm sure my sister would be delighted to have you as well."
As Sylvan learned of Yoda's impending departure, he couldn't help but express his disappointment. "You're leaving so soon! I haven't heard enough of your stories yet! By the way, sir, look at this pendant Grandpa Yoda gave me. It contains a nebula!"
Yoda departed from the Mu 3 planet, commanding the spacecraft to return to the Origin Planet.
Sitting inside the vessel, he held a tiny vial in his hand. The front end of the vial did
not bear a needle but rather a small seal fashioned like a trident.
In the year 8742 of the Galaxy Calendar, Master Yoda, the leader of Longyuan Pavilion, encountered Sylvan for the first time on Planet Mu 3. At that time, no one paid much attention to this encounter, not even the principal figures involved. However, another incident in this same year reverberated throughout the Golden Lion Empire, becoming a matter of great significance.