Within the galaxy, change continued to ripple across the Republic.
The Jedi Order had entered one of the most uncertain periods in its long history. With the Sith once again moving unseen through the shadows, Jedi Knights were dispatched farther than ever before, traveling in coordinated groups to investigate whispers of darkness before they could grow into something greater.
Supported by many within the Senate, including Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Bail Organa, the Order quietly expanded its efforts across the Republic.
Within the Jedi Temple itself...
Life continued.
Following the deaths of Grand Master Yoda and Master Dooku, Jedi Master Coleman Trebor had been welcomed onto the High Council, restoring its eleven remaining voices back to twelve.
Though she had expressed her desire to one day leave the Council and dedicate herself entirely to teaching, Master Yaddle remained by the Order's side.
The Jedi had suffered a terrible loss.
Now...
They began the long task of rebuilding.
Far beneath the Council Chambers...
Another generation of Jedi had already begun taking its first steps.
____________________________________________
Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of one of the Temple's many learning halls.
The classroom was quiet.
Dozens of younglings sat upon woven meditation mats while an elderly Jedi Instructor walked slowly between them.
"The Force is not something you command."
"It is something you learn to listen to."
The children listened carefully.
Some nodded.
Others closed their eyes, trying their best to feel what their teacher described.
Near the back of the room...
Anakin Skywalker sat among them.
At nine years old, he was noticeably older than nearly every other child in the class.
Most of the younglings had arrived at the Temple as infants.
They had grown up together.
Learned together.
Failed together.
To them...
This classroom was familiar.
To Anakin...
Everything still felt new.
The lesson continued.
"The Force rewards patience."
The instructor paused before asking,
"Can anyone tell me why?"
Several small hands shot into the air.
Anakin's hand did not.
Instead...
He quietly committed every word to memory.
When another youngling struggled to answer, Anakin listened just as carefully to the explanation that followed.
Nothing was wasted.
Every correction...
Every answer...
Every lesson became something to remember.
He had years to make up for.
And he intended to waste none of them.
The lesson eventually came to an end.
"Very good."
"We will continue tomorrow."
The younglings immediately sprang to their feet.
Small groups naturally formed as they made their way toward the doorway.
Some laughed.
Others excitedly debated who had answered more questions.
Anakin watched them for a brief moment.
Then lowered his eyes to the datapad resting beside him.
Before leaving, he quietly reopened the lesson notes.
Reading them once more.
Just to make sure he hadn't missed anything.
Only after finishing did he stand.
By then...
The classroom had already emptied.
Anakin tucked the datapad beneath his arm and hurried after the others.
Not because anyone had told him to.
Because he refused to fall behind.
____________________________________________
The following lesson took place in one of the Temple's circular teaching halls.
Unlike the previous classroom, this one was quiet by nature.
No datapads rested upon the floor.
No lessons were written upon the walls.
Instead, the younglings sat in a wide circle around a familiar figure.
Master Yaddle.
Though her responsibilities upon the Jedi High Council often occupied much of her time, she always made an effort to teach the Temple's youngest students whenever she could.
She believed the future of the Order was not built within the Council Chambers...
But here.
Among those who had only just begun listening to the Force.
Yaddle smiled warmly as she looked around the circle.
"Tell me..."
"What does it mean to be a Jedi?"
Several hands immediately rose.
"A Jedi protects people."
One youngling answered proudly.
Yaddle nodded.
"A noble beginning."
Another raised her hand.
"A Jedi keeps the peace."
"Very good."
A third spoke.
"A Jedi helps others."
Again, Yaddle nodded.
Each answer was met with encouragement.
Not because any single answer was complete...
But because together they painted the picture of what a Jedi should strive to become.
After several more responses, Yaddle folded her hands within her sleeves.
"And tell me..."
"Is there a Jedi you hope to become like one day?"
The room immediately became livelier.
"I want to be like Master Windu!"
One child exclaimed.
"He never loses!"
Another quickly answered,
"I want to be like Grand Master Plo Koon!"
"My brother says he's the wisest Jedi in the Order."
A third chimed in.
"I want to be like Master Yaddle!"
The elderly Jedi couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"I thank you, young one."
The answers continued.
Different names.
Different reasons.
Until one voice spoke from across the circle.
"I want to be like Master Kage."
Several children immediately looked toward him.
"He defeated a Sith."
"When I become a Jedi..."
"I want to protect people like he did."
For a brief moment...
The room grew quiet.
Even Yaddle's gentle smile softened.
She knew better than anyone what Khan had truly endured.
Defeating a Sith had not been his greatest accomplishment.
Standing back up afterward had been.
Still...
She understood why the children admired him.
"Courage..."
Yaddle said softly.
"...is admirable."
"But remember..."
"We should never seek to become another Jedi."
"We should strive to become the best version of ourselves."
The younglings nodded.
Though many still looked inspired by the stories they had heard.
Anakin remained unusually quiet.
His thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
Khan...
A small smile formed.
Maybe...
This was his chance.
The lesson eventually came to an end.
The younglings filed toward the doorway in small groups, talking excitedly among themselves.
Anakin spotted the boy who had mentioned Master Kage and quickly caught up to him.
"Hey."
The youngling turned.
"Yeah?"
"I heard what you said."
"You know Khan?"
The boy's eyes lit up.
Anakin smiled.
"A little."
"He was the one who brought me here from Tatooine."
"We're friends."
The other youngling blinked.
"...Really?"
Anakin nodded.
"He promised he'd come check up on me someday."
For a moment...
The boy simply stared at him.
Then another youngling walked over.
"What's going on?"
"He says he's friends with Master Kage."
The second child looked Anakin up and down.
"...The Jedi Knight?"
Anakin nodded.
"Yeah."
The two younglings exchanged a glance.
One shrugged.
"I don't believe it."
"Why would a famous Jedi Knight be friends with someone who's only been here a few weeks?"
Another nodded in agreement.
"If you really knew him..."
"You would've called him Master."
"Not just Khan."
The first boy folded his arms.
"I think you just want everyone to think you're important."
Anakin's smile slowly faded.
"I wasn't—"
Before he could finish...
The two younglings had already wandered off, continuing their conversation.
"...I still think Master Windu is cooler."
"Nah."
"Master Kage defeated a Sith."
Their voices disappeared into the hallway.
Anakin remained where he stood.
He hadn't been trying to impress anyone.
He had only wanted to join the conversation.
Slowly...
He lowered his eyes.
The hallway around him became quieter as the other younglings disappeared one by one.
For the first time since arriving at the Temple...
Anakin truly understood something.
He wasn't just new.
He didn't belong.
___________________________________________
Night had settled over the Jedi Temple.
The bustling corridors that had been filled with Padawans and Masters throughout the day had grown quiet.
Only the distant hum of the Temple's systems remained.
Deep within one of the smaller training halls...
A lone figure stood in silence.
Anakin Skywalker.
The room was empty save for a handful of wooden chairs arranged along the walls.
Anakin stood at the center of the room, his eyes fixed upon one of them.
He stretched out a hand.
His brow furrowed with concentration.
"Come on..."
The chair didn't move.
He gritted his teeth.
Again.
Nothing.
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face.
He refused to stop.
Khan believed in me...
I have to get stronger.
He reached out once more.
The chair trembled.
Then fell still.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
He lowered his hand.
From the darkness a figure watched quietly.
The boy repeated the same movement.
Again.
Again.
Each attempt carried more effort than the last.
His shoulders tightened.
His breathing became uneven.
He was trying to force the Force.
"You cannot force the Force to obey you."
The sudden voice broke the silence.
Anakin turned quickly.
Standing near the entrance of the training hall was Master Mace Windu.
The Jedi Master had clearly been watching for some time.
He slowly approached.
His hands rested calmly behind his back.
"You are trying to command the Force."
"It does not answer to commands."
Anakin lowered his eyes.
"I just..."
"I want to get better."
"I know."
Mace stopped beside him.
"The Force is not moved by effort alone."
"It flows through all living things."
"The harder you struggle to seize it..."
"...the farther away it becomes."
He looked toward the chair.
"Close your eyes."
Anakin obeyed.
"Breathe."
He took a slow breath.
"Again."
Another.
"The Force has always been with you."
"You need only become quiet enough to hear it."
The room fell silent once more.
Anakin's breathing slowed.
The tension left his shoulders.
His thoughts gradually became still.
For the first time...
He stopped trying to lift the chair.
Instead...
He simply felt.
The cool stone beneath his feet.
The air brushing against his skin.
The faint heartbeat within his chest.
Life.
Everywhere.
A faint tingling sensation spread across his fingertips.
Almost instinctively...
The chair rose from the floor.
It floated effortlessly before him.
Weightless.
Anakin's eyes opened in surprise.
The chair remained suspended in the air.
Mace allowed himself the smallest nod.
"Impressive."
Startled, Anakin quickly lowered it back to the floor.
"Thank you..."
He looked down, slightly embarrassed.
Mace studied him for a moment.
The chair had not been the only thing he'd noticed.
Something else weighed upon the boy.
"What troubles you?"
Anakin hesitated.
Then quietly answered,
"I don't think I belong here."
The words lingered in the empty hall.
Mace remained silent.
He understood.
Anakin was older than every other youngling.
He had not grown up within the Temple.
He carried memories.
Attachments.
A life unlike any other child under their care.
He was different.
There was no sense pretending otherwise.
After a long moment, Mace finally spoke.
"You are different."
Anakin looked up.
"And because you are different..."
"Your path will not look like theirs."
He let the words settle before continuing.
"Do not mistake being different for not belonging."
"The fact that you recognize your own doubts..."
"...is the first step toward overcoming them."
"You are still new to this life."
"There is much for you to learn."
"But I have seen enough to know this."
"You possess great promise, young Skywalker."
Anakin felt something loosen within his chest.
The uncertainty hadn't disappeared.
But it no longer felt quite so heavy.
A small smile appeared across his face.
For the first time since arriving at the Temple...
He bowed properly.
"Thank you..."
"...Master Windu."
Mace inclined his head in return.
"Get some rest."
"Tomorrow's lessons will come soon enough."
Anakin nodded.
"Yes, Master."
Mace turned and quietly departed the training hall.
Anakin remained standing for another moment.
He looked once more toward the chair.
Then closed his eyes.
This time...
He smiled before reaching out to the Force once again.