After I was left alone in my future abode, the faint hum of the Temple's ventilation system could be heard if I concentrated hard enough. It was a gentle sound that reminded me of the starships I had grown up around. My home planet of Iskandor was a critical world within the Remnants' borders, producing a fair portion of their fleet and numerous, well-trained naval officers. It was a noise that soothed my mind. Maybe... Maybe they already took this into consideration? No... I guess I am just thinking too hard about it.
Shaking my head, I turned to inspect my new room once again. It was modest—bare, stone walls, a single bed carved into it, and a small desk with a shelf also built into the wall above it. A chest was constructed under my bed that I could open by swiping my finger over its metallic interface, but it held nothing for the moment. Emptying my bag, all of my belongings now rested at the foot of the bed, though it was not much, so they were not enough to fill the trunk at all. I had brought so little with me, just a few items from my old life—mementos, really. Maybe the most meaningful thing amongst them was my pazaak deck. Although... I don't know if anyone knows how to play that ancient game besides my family.
For a long time, I just sat on the edge of the bed, running my fingers over the coarse material of the folded Padawan robes placed neatly next to me. I have yet to bear the courage to change into it. The fabric felt foreign, a stark contrast to the tailored, pristine uniforms I was forced to wear on multiple occasions. I knew that there was no rank insignia placed on this one, no house crest, no sign of lineage. Only the unadorned simplicity of the Jedi. It was... different yet similar.
After what felt like an hour, I knew I could not hesitate anymore. Wearing the robes would mark a new beginning, and I came here for this. The moment I understood what it was that I had always felt within me, I walked away from my family and heritage without a second thought.
"Come on, Kael... Fear... Fear leads to the dark side. Isn't that what I heard once?" I chuckled, finally deciding it was time to strip naked and start anew.
With a deep breath, I stood and unbuckled the belt of my tunic, letting it drop to the floor. My boots followed suit, clunking against the hard surface as I let them fall. One by one, I peeled away the layers of my old identity, folding them neatly and placing them in the chest. Although it was my past, as we were just told by our future masters, we can not forget it. Can't ignore it. I won't. I was Kael Valtherion. But, from now on... I will be Kael Varo. A Jedi Padawan.
After unfolding my new uniform, it was simpler than I expected: a loose tunic and trousers in light brown tones paired with an off-white sash. Slipping into them felt strange, like donning someone else's clothes or identity. But it only lasted for a brief moment. After I tightened the sash and looked down at myself, I caught my reflection faintly in the polished steel of the open chest's inner plating. I hardly recognized the boy staring back at me. But... It immediately felt natural. Yes. This was me. Kael Varo.
Closing the open compartment, I turned my attention to the shelf above my desk. On it sat a single holodisk, its surface engraved with the Jedi Order's emblem: a simple starburst surrounded by two crescent-like wings. Of course, my curiosity got the better of me, and I quickly reached up and took it. One day, I will be able to do this without moving my hand... But before I fell into dreaming about it, I continued examining the holodisk. It was lighter than I expected, and its metallic surface was cool to the touch.
It wasn't my first time holding one, of course. I just... Maybe I thought it would be different. It wasn't. Not that it disappointed me... Looking around, I quickly found its place, so I slotted the disk into the holoprojector embedded in the left side of my desk. The machine built within it hummed softly, then cast a blue glow across the room as a holographic figure materialized before me.
It was Grandmaster Luke Skywalker. I... I did not expect it to be him!
His holographic figure wore the same simple robes, his hands folded neatly in front of him, and his aura was still just as powerful as I felt in the auditorium. It didn't feel like it was a hologram, not at that moment. Looking at him this close, he looked older than I expected—his face was lined with the weight of years and battles, but his expression radiated a type of calm and wisdom I had never seen before. I knew of his exploits. Everyone did... and I knew nobody who could have survived what he did, and I knew no one who could remain who they were after it all. Even my Father admitted that the Grandmaster was someone who would have been a fine emperor.
"Welcome," the hologram said, the voice warm and catching my attention at once. "If you're watching this, it means you've taken your first steps on the path of the Jedi. Know that this path is not an easy one, but it is rewarding, not because of the power it grants but because of the peace and understanding it brings. Let us begin your very first lesson, young Padawan."
I quickly kneeled before the hologram, as if he was there in person, all my senses focusing on nothing else but on the words of the Grandmaster.
"The Jedi are more than warriors or keepers of peace," Grandmaster Luke continued. "We are students of the Force, bound by its will and dedicated to its harmony. This holodisk contains the core tenets of the Jedi Order as it has been reformed in the wake of the Empire's fall. You will learn the history of the Jedi and the Sith in the coming years as history is part of the present and the foundation of the future."
"The Sith?" I asked myself, but there was no time to think about it as he continued without pause.
"To understand why the Jedi failed, why the Sith ruled the Galactic Empire, why all of it came to be, we must understand ourselves. Our collective past. We must understand the Force and the mistakes of our predecessors. These tenets are not rigid rules but guides meant to help you navigate the challenges you will face. The Force is a powerful ally, but power can corrupt. And corruption can take place even in the purest of hearts. Only ourselves can stave it off, and to be able to do that, we must understand the whys. For that, you must first understand our principles and what it means to be a Jedi."
The hologram then shifted, and a list of tenets appeared in glowing blue text, each accompanied by a brief explanation.
The Core of the Jedi Order
Balance Above All
"Strive for balance in all things: within yourself, with others, and with the Force. Balance is not about rejecting emotion but understanding and mastering it. Fear and anger can cloud judgment, but they are not to be ignored. Confront them, learn from them, and let them go. Heroes are not without fear. They are heroes because they conquer their fears and do what is right even when they are frightened."
"Not rejecting emotion?" That didn't match what I had heard about Jedi from the stories back home. Weren't they supposed to be emotionless monks? I... Well, everything I learned about them was from old texts, from a time when the Old Republic was still the dominant Force within the galaxy... so I could be wrong.
Serve the Greater Good
"Jedi do not serve governments, ideologies, or factions. We serve life itself, guided by the Will of the Force. Our duty is to protect the weak, mediate conflicts, and uphold peace wherever we are called to act."
This, at least, seemed straightforward, and I nodded as I read it, though I couldn't help but wonder how often this ideal clashed with reality. I knew of many places that were very anti-Jedi after what happened over and over throughout Galactic history.
Seek Understanding
"The galaxy is vast, and the Force is infinite in its complexity. Never stop learning. Whether from ancient texts, other Force-sensitive traditions, or even those who do not wield the Force. Knowledge is the foundation of wisdom, and wisdom is the key to understanding knowledge."
"Huh..." I couldn't help but think back to my Father's teachings, which had always emphasized tradition over innovation. This idea of seeking new knowledge wherever it could be found felt refreshingly... open.
Protect Life, Defend Peace
"Violence is a last resort. A Jedi does not seek conflict but is prepared for it. A lightsaber is not a weapon of aggression but a tool of defense, a symbol of hope. To take a life is a grave act, never to be done lightly."
Reading the passage, I felt the weight of these words. I had seen death before—not in person—but on the holodisks my family had access to. I was made to rewatch battles of the Yuuzhan Vong War to learn strategies from the moment I could read. I was forced to study my family's recordings when the Galactic Alliance was transformed under the rule of Darth Caedus and initiated the Second Galactic Civil War. I saw millions die, lists of names filling hundreds of pages of death tolls.
I was made to memorize everything that happened and culminated in the Galactic Alliance's failure and in the galaxy that was now before us. From the Alliance's core, the New Republic was born. It was now surrounded by different smaller and bigger alliances, trying to rebuild something that had been broken too many times, something I knew the Imperial Remnants eyed with desire. I heard my Father talk about it and how there may be a chance for the return of the true Empire.
"No..." I muttered, seeing enough death, even if it was only through holoprojections. Another war, after so many bloody decades, is not what the galaxy needs. "The Jedi will make sure it won't happen, and I will help them in it."
As if the hologram heard my words, Luke's image reappeared once again.
"These tenets are not chains but guides," The Grandmaster stated. "There will be times when you must choose between them, times when the path forward is unclear. In those moments, trust in the Force and in your own sense of right. Being a Jedi is not about perfection—it is about striving to do what is right, even when it is difficult."
Then... his image faded, leaving me in silence.
I kept kneeling there, staring at the now-ejected holodisk. The tenets were simple enough, but living by them? That was a different matter. But... nobody said being a Jedi would be easy. Why would it be?
Finally, after standing up, I retrieved the holodisk and placed it back on the empty shelf carefully and respectfully. I didn't know how much time had passed, but as we were told, we could explore a little. I couldn't refuse such an opportunity, so before I could finish my thoughts, I was already halfway out of my room.