The interior of the Jedi Temple was unlike anything I had imagined, unlike our place in my home world, Iskandor. The corridors were vast, lined with carved stone reliefs depicting ancient battles and serene figures, Jedi Masters of past years. I was used to trodding through grey plasteel walkways and rooms, all built in the name of uniformity and function. The two experiences can't be compared. Even if the Temple was made out of stone here, it was still less dull than back home. It was more... real. The air was also cooler in here, carrying a faint scent of moss and lime. Just as the heat, the rustling sounds of the moon's jungle were muted, replaced by serenity, shielding our senses from being overwhelmed by too many stimuli.
As we walked, we followed Ben Skywalker in a loose line, and I began listening to the whispers between the others, occasionally breaking the silence. There was not much said between them, only about what I was also seeing, the ancient sensation the Temple was giving us, trying to guess who was who on the memorials decorating the walls. Vila walked just ahead of me, her violet lekku twitching slightly as her eyes darted across every detail, making me smile a little. She was starting to remind me of the Vornskr my mother raised. She also twitched her tail when she was focusing on something, switching into her hunting mode.
Moving my eyes before she could sense it, I leaned out of the line, watching as the hall opened into a vast chamber, the light of Yavin's sun filtering through high-set windows. At the center of the room stood a group of Jedi Masters, already waiting for us, their robes blending into the muted hues of the stonework of the Temple. Although I couldn't see it, deep inside, I felt how they radiated a collective, calm authority. Especially the one on an elevated platform, the center figure of them all...
Grandmaster Luke Skywalker. A living legend. Even if I had never seen his portraits, recordings, or speeches, I would still recognize him from anywhere. It was simply his presence... it was... I can't describe it. You would have to feel it for yourself. He stood tall, his simple brown robe and weathered face as unassuming as the jungle itself, yet his presence filled the entirety of this grand hall. His gaze moved over us with an intensity that wasn't intimidating but reassuring as if he could see through every doubt and fear we had... And despite our thoughts, we could feel that he still believed in us. I had a feeling that he could even read our minds, revealing our secrets without us speaking about it. After we were lined up by Ben Skywalker, our future Grandmaster began speaking. It was then I gulped and noticed how sweaty my palms were...
"Welcome," he declared, his voice steady and easily carried through the room, reaching everyone. "You've traveled far to be here. Each of you has left behind a life that will never truly be forgotten. It must not be forgotten, as it is part of us and part of what makes us up. You must respect it. But... This is also the beginning of something greater. The Force brought you to this moment, and now it will guide you to what lies ahead."
I stood straighter, his words pressing on me in a way that felt less like weight and more like a challenge—not the kind that my parents put on me or what my Father put me through. No, the Grandmaster's words weren't anything like that. He wasn't forceful. He simply stated the truth and the option to face it when we were ready.
As I tore my eyes away, scanning the others, all the Masters beside him nodded in silent agreement. I recognized a few of them—people who were famous enough that I had to memorize their faces and names. There was Master Jaina Solo, her sharp features the same as on the datapads, yet in person, they were softened slightly by the approving smile she gave us. Her presence was commanding, and the stories I'd heard about the Sword of the Jedi suddenly seemed all too real. Especially because everyone knew she was to be the next Grandmaster... Something nobody would bring up, but everyone knew would happen one day.
Next to her stood Master Kyle Katarn, his stance relaxed, arms crossed over his chest. His short-cropped beard and slightly weathered look gave him the air of someone who'd seen a lot and lived to tell the tale. Still... His eyes carried a mischievous spark, though, as if he saw potential troublemakers among us and relished the thought of it. Or was I just imagining things? I quickly moved my eyes before I caused a scene; these were Jedi Masters, after all.
Then, there was someone I recognized because of my family's dealings. Master Vaelin Caedryn, a Mirialan with intricate tattoos tracing her cheeks, stood calmly, a row down below, to Grandmaster Luke's left. Her demeanor was serene, almost meditative, but her gaze was sharp, assessing us as if searching for something deeper beneath the surface. I know of her because she once commanded my Father, fighting against the Yuuzhan Vong.
Beside her was Knight Aren Solara, a noticeably younger human than the others. He had a subtle energy about him that contrasted with the calm gravitas of the senior Masters. He seemed intrigued, leaning slightly as if trying to gauge our reactions to the moment. What I know of him was that he was with Master Vaelin, acting as her second-in-command back then, but nothing more.
While putting the faces to what I knew, the Grandmaster continued speaking.
"We know this is a new life for many of you," Luke exhaled, his gaze sweeping over us. "It may be challenging, even daunting at times, but you are not alone. The Jedi Order is a family, bound not just by the Force but by our shared purpose: to be guardians of peace, to understand the Force, and to live by its principles. We must work together, exist together, and live as brothers and sisters."
I felt my chest tighten slightly. Family. The word carried a weight I wasn't sure I could handle, but I nodded along with the others. Somehow, I never had a chance to understand that word. I used it, and I knew its definition, but one thing I realized since I was little was that my family was not a real one. Not back home. As I thought about it, Luke gestured toward Master Jaina, who stepped forward.
"You will each receive guidance from the Masters and Knights here," she said, her voice steady and confident. "Your training will be demanding, and there will be moments when you question your path. Don't be afraid to do that and seek the help of any of us when that happens. Those moments are where you'll find the strength to persevere, and we will be there to reach out with a hand when you fall down and pull you back up."
Hearing her, we stood there awed by her voice. Master Kyle Katarn's soft chuckle brought us out of it, breaking the solemn tone for a moment.
"And if you don't, we've got plenty of rocks that need moving. The Force is excellent for manual labor." A ripple of laughter moved through the group, lightening the tension while Master Jaina shot him a sudden glare. Even I felt a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
"You'll also find your own space within the Temple," Grandmaster Luke added. "A place to rest, to meditate, and to grow. Your abodes are small, but yours. They will be your sanctuary as you walk the path of becoming a Jedi. Now, follow Knight Skywalker; he will show you to your quarters."
And that was it. With a wave of his hand, the Masters moved as one while Grandmaster Luke departed from the hall.
We also acted as one, following Ben through a series of winding corridors. The deeper we went, the quieter the sounds of the jungle became until it felt like we were stepping into the very heart of the Temple. Each turn seemed to carry new weight, as if the stones themselves remembered every Jedi who had walked here before us, placing their burden on our shoulders.
While walking, we passed small alcoves where older Padawans meditated, their eyes closed, their faces serene. The faint hum of the Force seemed to ripple through the air, a gentle current that pressed against my senses. I knew this feeling, but I never felt it so strongly before. When I first discovered it, I was very little. It was faint, but it was warm... It was warmer than my bed or the arms of my parents, not that they hugged me much. I always found that interacting with it brought me peace. Maybe my thoughts had some effect on my surroundings because Vila glanced back at me briefly, her expression unreadable. I could see the tension in her shoulders and catch a glimpse of the way her hands tightened into tiny fists. Was she still nervous? Before I could ask, Ben stopped in a circular hall lined with doorways. Each was marked with a simple symbol, and a faint light glowed from within.
"These will be your abodes," He said, still smiling. "Each one has been prepared for you. Inside, you'll find a place to sleep, a small meditation alcove, and storage for your belongings. It's a space for you to make your own. Respect it, and it will serve you well." Finishing, he stepped forward then, his gaze warmly sweeping over us one last time. "Take a moment to settle in. Your training will begin tomorrow. For now, rest. Get to know each other, explore the Temple grounds, and begin to feel the presence of the Force here. It's stronger than you might imagine. And don't worry, you won't be able to enter into places you shouldn't."
One by one, the children around me stepped toward their assigned doors, hesitant but curious. Vila was one of the first, disappearing into her room without a word like a spooked creature finding its hideyhole. When my turn came, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the panel that would open the door. The symbol etched into it—a simple spiral—seemed to pulse faintly as I stared at it.
"Kael," Ben's voice came softly behind me without me realizing he was standing there. I turned to see him standing a few steps away, his expression unreadable but kind. "Trust yourself," he said simply, something that nobody told me before.
I nodded, swallowing the knot of uncertainty in my throat, and pressed my hand to the panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a small but comfortable space. A low bed was carved into the wall, and a raised platform near the window served as a meditation alcove. A single shelf lined the opposite wall, empty save for a small holodisk resting at its center while a table was standing below it. When I stepped inside, the door slid shut behind me at once. The air was more relaxed here, and the faint hum of the Force seemed to resonate more clearly. I sensed it without focusing on it. I set my satchel, my mostly empty bag, down near the bed and sat on its edge, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding in until now.
For the first time in what felt like years, I felt a flicker of something I couldn't quite name. It wasn't the usual trepidation I felt at home when I had to do another test... Was this what excitement truly feels like? All the giddiness without fear? I am starting to like it...