Kael's fourth day aboard the Executor felt strangely familiar. The imposing corridors of the Star Destroyer had become his new reality, and although the scale of it still awed him, there was a subtle shift in him—a growing intensity, a quiet resolve he hadn't felt before.
He wasn't the same child who had been taken from Dorvalla. In these four days, his connection to the Force had deepened. It wasn't just a faint hum anymore, but a powerful presence that he could now feel pulsing through him. He was beginning to understand it—not fully, but enough to know there was something within him, something powerful, waiting to be unlocked.
Though Kael still had the soft, round features of a child—his black hair slightly tousled, his brown eyes wide with that youthful energy—he felt different. His body, still small and fragile, had not changed much in appearance. But his mind, his connection to the Force, had grown stronger.
Kael entered the training chamber, his movements steady and focused, just as he had been taught. Darth Vader stood in the center, his dark presence filling the room. The Sith Lord was a towering figure, his black armor and cloak an ever-present symbol of power and fear.
"You're late," Vader's voice was cold, but his tone lacked the anger it had carried on the first day. It was more a statement of fact than an accusation.
Kael gave a respectful bow of his head. "My apologies, Lord Vader."
Vader said nothing in response but motioned for the training remote to activate. The small, spherical device hovered before Kael, ready to engage. Its metallic whine echoed in the room as it powered up, waiting for the next command.
The remote fired. A bolt of red plasma shot toward Kael at high speed. His reflexes had improved. In the past, it might have been impossible for him to avoid such a fast shot, but now, he had learned to rely on the Force. As the bolt neared, Kael stepped aside, his body moving fluidly, instinctively.
The Force flowed through him, guiding him, heightening his senses. His movements became sharper, more deliberate. He could feel the plasma bolt racing toward him, and the Force told him exactly when and where to move.
Vader remained silent, watching. "Good," he said after a pause. "But your reflexes alone will not make you strong. You must learn to control the Force—not just with your body, but with your mind."
Kael nodded, absorbing Vader's words. There was a deeper truth to them, something he couldn't quite grasp yet, but he was beginning to understand. The Force was more than just a tool for evasion; it was a way of thinking, a way of being. And that was something Kael was only beginning to tap into.
The remote fired again, and this time, Kael focused—not just on moving his body but on feeling the Force around him. He reached out with his mind, extending his senses beyond the physical. The plasma bolt streaked toward him, but Kael didn't just dodge it this time. He reached out, using the Force to slow it.
It didn't stop completely, but the bolt slowed, its path becoming less direct, its speed reducing as Kael's will interfered. The air seemed to ripple with energy as he struggled to keep it in check.
He focused harder, his breath quickening. He could feel the strain in his mind, a buzzing pressure as he tried to maintain his grip on the bolt. And for a brief moment, he succeeded. The plasma bolt hovered in mid-air, caught in the balance between Kael's will and the raw power of the Force.
Then, with a sudden jolt, the bolt snapped free of his control and shot past him, grazing his shoulder and leaving a brief trail of heat.
Kael staggered, startled, but he regained his balance quickly. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the training remote.
Vader's voice cut through the stillness. "You faltered. The Force is not something you control at will. It is a part of you, and you must learn to let go, to let it flow through you."
Kael exhaled slowly, sweat beading on his forehead. His failure stung, but he wasn't discouraged. He had felt it—the connection to the Force, the potential to control it. That was progress.
The remote fired again, and Kael's focus intensified. This time, he wasn't just avoiding or slowing the bolt. He reached deeper within himself, extending his senses outward, tapping into the Force in a way he hadn't before. The plasma bolt shot toward him, but Kael didn't move. Instead, he gently nudged the bolt aside with his mind, redirecting it away from his body. It flew past him, harmlessly striking the wall behind him with a burst of sparks.
A sense of triumph surged through Kael. It wasn't perfect, but it was a victory. For the first time, he had controlled the bolt—not just dodged it.
Vader's helmet tilted slightly, his unreadable gaze locked onto Kael. "Impressive," he said, his voice cold. "But this is only the beginning. You will falter many more times before you succeed."
Kael nodded, a quiet determination settling in his chest. Failure wasn't the end; it was a lesson. He had felt the power of the Force, and now he knew what he had to do: learn to harness it, to make it his own.
Later that night, Kael lay on his cot, his thoughts racing. His body still felt small, his limbs still awkward with the youthful energy of a child. But inside, he could feel it—his connection to the Force, his growing strength. He wasn't just an apprentice anymore. He was beginning to understand what he could become.
The road ahead would be long, and it would be hard. But Kael knew he was ready. The Force was his path, and he would walk it.