Over the next few days, I adapted quickly to the lessons being taught, but it didn't help having so many eyes on me. In our meditation classes, my mind drifted into a deeper state of the Force. Connecting faster than before. This surprised Master Yoda, who was joined by Master Yaddle. She stayed close to me and helped me get used to the temple environment. She acted just like how I remembered her in the comics and books. A mother figure who loved younglings and helped to guide them.
My maturity made it easy to learn the history material and answer questions. I didn't know everything, but I was familiar with most of the history of this galaxy. This would make a lot of younglings look to me like I was special. Especially Derren, he would help teach me the clicks of the youngling, Jedi knights, and the Masters. Telling me who is whose Master and Padawan.
While to the side, Seris didn't open up much. She would try to compete with me to answer questions Yoda asked on galactic history. Like when the Sith were beaten, Seris said. Master Yoda, the Brotherhood of Darkness was finally defeated 1032 years ago, during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan. Master Yoda was about to speak when I cut him off. "Master Yoda, can you be specific? Were you talking about the Sith order or the Sith Species, because both happened thousands of years apart?"
The other younglings looked at me, confused, not knowing what I meant by Sith species. Probably because they didn't cover that part yet. Master Yoda and Yaddle looked puzzled. Youngling Cain, how do you know that history?" Yoda asked curiously. I knew I couldn't lie, or they would read my emotion and discover it right away.
"I saw it in a vision, Master." It wasn't a lie technically. "Vision?" Yaddle asked. "Yes, Master, I saw a vision of the Jedi committing a mass genocide on the red-skinned Sith species. The first after the Hyperspace War. Then, after the joint conflict with the Eternal Empire." Even though by that time the Sith were killing each other off, until some smart ones left the order to start over.
Little do they know, Jedi suck at genocide. Because they did it twice and twice they failed. But those Sith Remnants won't be a problem for a few decades. Considering my lifespan of 200 to 400 years, that's nothing.
The two green masters looked at each other, puzzled about how to address my statement. Then Yaddle spoke up. "You are right, youngling Cain, but that has happened, and it is not The Order's best moment."
"Among other things, I said, cutting off Yaddle. I personally hate the Order's teachings on having empathy. But the Order doesn't teach how to have emotional intelligence correctly. So these people can feel their emotions without being consumed by them. And if they fall to the dark side and lose their way, help guide them back.
I had to stop myself from speaking more and calm myself. It's not like anyone in this order, minus Plo Koon and Yaddle, will listen to a four-year-old. No matter how powerful in the Force I am. I would need more backing for my ideas. Things got to the point in the lesson that Yaddle had to advise Seris to give others a chance to answer as well. With the Master's decision to get back on track with today's lessons.
Next was a simple Force test. Floating a ring onto hooks. Some younglings struggled just lifting the ring. Very few like Seris did it with ease. Derren took a moment but got the ring on the hook no problem. I did it instantly on the first try. I found reaching out to the Force got easier the more I did it, like working a muscle. I saw a Twi'lek girl and a human boy still struggling with Yaddle, trying to help them.
Yoda increased the difficulty the more we succeeded. We started with one ring and then more rings with more hooks. Some rings you had to maneuver like a puzzle piece. The hardest test was to control 3 rings at once. "The goal was to maneuver all three to their hooks at once," Yaddle said.
No youngling got all three rings at once. Most got one, a few like Derren got two after struggling really hard. Seris, the little perfectionist, kept a calm, stoic appearance. But I could feel her emotions radiating off her. She didn't want to lose. After a few minutes, a bead of sweat was dripping down her face. She managed to get all three rings successfully.
Next was me. I saw how, for a child, a test like this would seem difficult. But thanks to my adult mind, I saw an easier way to get all rings to their hooks. I reached out my hand and moved the rings together through the grooves. I left each ring hovering just above the hook while letting the others move and do the same. Then, after barely one minute since I started, I finished the test.
The other children just stared at me. Then Derren spoke. "You did that like it was nothing." Seris stared but said nothing. Her expression clearly showed she was frustrated with how easily I succeeded. I gave a quiet smile. "Just lucky, I guess." Derren chuckled, "Stop being so modest. You might be able to take Seris down a peg." I looked at Derren with a knowing face that said. Stop while you are ahead, "What?" Derren said, confused by my expression.
I sighed, remembering how children are so bright, yet so simple. There was something cute about it. But this kid will need to learn some tact. Over the next few months, I became fully immersed in the Jedi temple and the day-to-day schedule of a youngling. I picked up on the Saber forms starting with Form I, Shii-Cho, like all other younglings. Me, Seris, and Derren, in that order, were the best in our class.
That didn't stop Seris from trying to one-up me whenever she had a chance. I appreciated the competition as it was. It kept me on my toes, reminding me not to slack off and be complacent. Derren was just there like a bro, cheering everyone on with his infectious smile, while doing his best.
One day, as we were watching holo videos of the history of the Jedi, like the First Schism. It was a watered-down version. The explanation is that the First Great Schism was caused by a philosophical and ideological conflict within the Jedi Order regarding the use of the Force. Which is true, but they are leaving out. The Jedi Order had relocated to Ossus due to the Influence of the Republic at that time. While becoming increasingly rigid in their philosophy and practices.
Some Jedi, such as Zenor and Ardan Lynn, felt the Order's ways were too restrictive and wanted to explore alternative philosophies and "forbidden mysteries" of the Force. By starting their own academy. He wanted to teach these alternative traditions, but the Jedi leadership rejected his proposal.
I didn't say anything but secretly took notes on all the details left out of the history holos. I was analyzing everything: from the Jedi doctrine, the gaps in their teachings, the strange absence of certain details, to the names of Revan and Nomi Sunrider, and their legacies. Such as Revan's redemption or his descendants joining and leading the Order at one point. Or Nomi's love and compassion for her husband and daughter, and how it helped save the galaxy.
I know why they censor their own history. It just made me want to change this order more. Late one night, I sat alone at the edge of a meditation balcony. Face the stars of Coruscant's night sky. The Jedi Temple spires rose behind me, glowing blue-white against the dark horizon.
I meditated, trying to piece together my plan for the coming future. Anakin will be brought to the temple in a few years. Based on what I found out about the galaxy. I am in a mirror of the Star Wars Galaxy, and I'm the same age as Anakin or close to him, since I just turned 5 years old recently.
This galaxy is on the edge… and the Jedi don't see it. " But I know what's coming," The Clone Wars. Sidious. Order 66, and the purge. Especially the Yuuzhan Vong. And Abeloth. The reemergence of the Sith remnants.
I will have to change things, hopefully for the better, if I'm going to survive. I sighed. I know I have a long life span, but I'm not looking forward to spending 50 to 100 years. Of my new life should I even live that long? Fixing all those problems. Then there's also stopping Anakin from falling to the dark side. Then there's his grandson Jacen Solo, or Darth Caedus. My god, this is gonna be a lot to deal with.
Soon, the morning sun started rising from the horizon and slowly bathed the stone temple in golden light. I looked at the beautiful sunrise, took a deep breath, and said. "I need to take things one day at a time and try not to rush."
Later that day, in a training ring, the younglings practiced grip forms using training sabers. The session focused on Form I. I didn't try to win any spars or duels; I just stayed focused. I understood the lightsaber form already, and I felt ready to learn more. But I took my time, focusing on staying calm, patient, and balanced.
When Derren rushed me with his strike, his form wasn't bad. His strikes were fast and powerful. His parry needed work. As we struck and parried each other's blows. I let Derren take the offensive lead while I was more defensive. I waited for an opening, and it came when Derren overcommitted to a downward strike. I sidestepped and gently tapped his chest with my practice saber.
I gain the final point and one. Derren groaned and smiled. "I almost had you, Cain." I chuckled, "You would have if you didn't overcommit that last attack, and worked on your parry like Master Yoda said." I chuckled, offering him a hand up. "Good, Good, your saber form is coming along, Young Cain." Master Yoda praised me. "Good pace you kept, young Derren. Remember to slow down and listen to the conversation before you continue."
"What do you mean by conversation, Master?" Derren asked, confused. I thought to myself. That's a high concept of fighting, you're telling a five-year-old about Yoda. These kids barely learned to fight a few months ago. But I kept my mouth shut, focusing on Seris, who was my next opponent. Yoda turned around, ignoring Derren's question like he had never said anything. "Young Cain and Seris, the center of the ring, you both come."
Seris and I both entered the tiny circle. Her expression was cold and serious. We did a bow of respect. "Let's have a good match," I said. She bowed but didn't say anything back, and she shifted to her form 1 stance flawlessly. I did the same.
"Begin, you may." No one moved at first. I breathed and focused on Seris, and that's when she moved. She strikes fast and precisely. She was focusing on disarming me from my training saber and landing a hit for a point. She was fast, aiming for my shoulder, hand, and wrist. Each strike was getting more precise. I created an opening, letting her think she had me on the next strike. Then I parried her strike to my saber hand and swept her leg. She ended up on the ground with my training saber on her arm. "Young Cain winner he is."
I offered a hand to Seris, but she ignored it. "I would like a rematch." She said. "Of course," I said smilingly. One hour later, Seris marched out of the training hall, her excuse was to use the bathroom. But her face said she was upset and frustrated. Derren walked beside me. "You beat her nine times out of ten. She must be livid."
"Probably." I was surprised, though every spar we had, she kept on improving. She didn't give up until master Yoda made us stop. I hope she takes this as a learning experience and grows from it. In the bathroom, Seris is washing the sweat from her face, looking at the mirror. "I have to be the best, it's in my blood."