My stay on Tustra became my escape… I could finally slow down a bit and relax. It was still too early for me to rest entirely, after all, there was still so much undone. But even though I consider myself a follower of the philosophy "work hard, play hard," I couldn't help but notice the number of items marked "to do." In short, I simply needed rest, and since I had the opportunity, I had to take it immediately, because I have no idea when I'll be able to afford it in the future. In my homeland, I mostly walked and rested. The places I strolled through were parks and quiet, even secluded spots where I could peacefully enjoy the silence…
Yes, for once, such hidden corners were used by me not for training, but simply for walks. Meanwhile, my father took charge of my BD and decided to give it a bit of an "upgrade." I myself could, of course, disassemble and reassemble a BD, maybe even attach some modification, but my father did it many times better and with higher quality. Besides, he had a habit of playing with droid software and periodically engaged in "amateur reflashing." The ship was left to the craftsmen who were replacing the hyperdrive. I whiled away the hours and even days by jumping onto a tree near a babbling clear stream and watching the clouds, lying on a branch. Bliiisss…
From the very moment of my birth and realization of what world I'd ended up in, I dedicated myself entirely to training, barely stopping for anything. Now, having decided to rest, I was shocked by how pleasant a feeling it was. For the first time in a very long while, I used the Force only for environmental analysis, and passively at that — I didn't use Force Cloak, I didn't fight… I just lay there and rested, contemplating the clouds. Hour after hour, I savored every moment. And now Tustra Prime was tilting toward sunset… Time to go home.
Jumping off the branch, I stretched and loosened my muscles a bit, getting my stagnant blood flowing, and then headed toward the city. A measly five kilometers separated me from the capital. There I'd rent a speeder, fly to the border of the Royal Quarter, and then a ten-minute walk and I'd be home. I was lucky to arrive toward the end of the school year, so Ziri was still finishing her studies and couldn't be home 24/7, which I took advantage of. The Sephi school is an incredibly demanding place that exhausts even her. According to our planet's laws, education starts at age three. A five-year-old Sephi must know a little of their native culture, the language itself, the basics of arithmetic, and, most importantly, have a clear understanding of who the Sephi are and what their prospects are in the Galaxy. The subject is called exactly that. It starts at age five and continues through the entire school program. I managed to get a dose of it before leaving with Yoda, hence my knowledge of my race's xenobiology. And if three-year-old children are already being taught, it's not hard to imagine that the demands by the final years of schooling become simply monstrous. And you have to consider that the final year falls at age eighteen, while Ziri herself is only twelve now. I'm eighteen myself… Hmm… What's that noise on the road?
I thought this was a beautiful but quiet place, a kind of park: greenery everywhere, tall trees… In short, a nice little spot, but today it was too noisy! Gradually, the murmur of voices began to take shape as laughter and joy, and those who were laughing and rejoicing turned out to be ordinary graduates from one of the schools… My peers were feasting, drinking a bit of alcohol, and celebrating… Graduation. And, strangely enough, I knew these peers well. Yes, that was the very group I'd gotten to know at the Royal School, which opens its doors to anyone fortunate enough to be born in the Royal Quarter. And then a couple of very familiar sentients caught my eye.
But they had their own celebration right now, so I'd clearly be out of place here. Better leave before…
"Light?" suddenly asked one of the girls standing not far from me, cutting meat for barbecue. She now looked up from her duties and stared at me with her dark eyes.
"Hmm… Rivi," I recalled the name of my friend, dressed in a purple dress.
"It really is you! I heard you'd arrived, but I couldn't meet you. According to Ziri, you leave too early and come back too late," and she'd grown up. Rivi had become a slender Sephi with regular features and dark hair cascading in a waterfall over her shoulders, and the pointed tips of her ears had taken on a slight red hue. Yes, Rivi had become a true beauty, unquestionably.
"He really does look like him," came a whisper from the girls surrounding my friend. "Haven't seen him in ages."
"And what a handsome man he's become," one of them said.
"Ladies," I nodded to the girls. "Yes, you're right, we haven't seen each other in a long time."
"I heard you got taken by the Jedi," one of the girls struck up a conversation.
"That's right. I'm now a Jedi Knight," I confirmed with a nod.
"Wow," Rivi was surprised. "When you came last time, you were with that sentient… the mentor… the Zabrak… what was his name?"
"Lorm Decer," I said, a little sadly. "He died."
"I'm sorry," Rivi said sadly.
At that point, the boys from Rivi's class also noticed me. Among many of them, I recognized those who used to pick on me. The same Rozri had become a short Sephi with a developed, muscular build. The arrogant look still hadn't left the eyes of the guy with the unpleasant personality.
"Who are you chatting with over here?" one of the guys asked. "You seem vaguely familiar… Hmm…"
"I'm Flyingstar. Light Flyingstar, you all definitely know me…"
"Aaaaah… Crybaby Laiti," one of the guys recalled me. Crybaby? I don't remember that nickname. I was usually called "Violet-Eyes" because of the strange eye color, which is a mutation of my bloodline.
"Interesting," I tilted my head, "what gives you the right to call me a crybaby? I don't recall giving any reason for that," I looked into that guy's eyes. Jeyvi, I think. One of Rozri's hangers-on from back then.
"Well, of course," Rozri grinned. "You were always hiding either behind your mother's skirt or behind Rivi's back. Hiding behind a beautiful and fragile girl. Isn't that what crybabies do?"
"Rozri," my voice turned cold. "You're acting as if you have no idea who I am. Don't you think your logic is utter crap? I didn't even defend myself back then the way you're embellishing it — I just gave him a black eye… Or do you suddenly want another one?"
Though honestly, I didn't want to fight him — I have better things to do. And it's not very Jedi-like… Whatever kind of Jedi I am, stooping to a fight over childhood grievances…
"You wouldn't dare," he said sharply, smiling. "I'm unarmed. And what can you do to me? I didn't insult you — I told the truth… Ggh…"
"Your vanity scares me," I'd just pinned him to the ground with telekinesis, "arrogance leads to no good. And it's better I explain this to you than someone else."
I stopped the effect, letting him get up.
"Hey, that's not exactly fair — using the Force," one of the girls protested.
"Just as fair as attacking one person as a mob," I parried. "But I hold no grudge against them. We were children — not the most rational part of society. Now it's time to forget childish squabbles. I don't like using the Force for this, because it's capable of much more than stupid settling of scores over childhood grievances." Clinging to such things is a sure sign of a crazy idiot. Yes, I could ruin Rozri's life right now in all sorts of ways. But did I go through everything I did just to get back at someone who gave me a couple of bruises in childhood? That seems petty.
"Umm… Will you join us?" Rivi suddenly asked. Although, more likely, she did it to defuse the situation.
"Are you celebrating the end of school?" I asked, glancing at those present. "I don't think that would be right. I only studied with you for a very short time."
"Oh, come on," one of the guys said. "It would be great if you joined! Maybe you could tell us about your Jediism. For example, about that knight who attacked a Sith on Royiss-VIII a couple of weeks ago? That broadcast literally blew up the HoloNet."
Eyes converged on me… Yeah… Sometimes you do some crazy stuff on one end of the Galaxy, and they remind you of it on the other. Although, who's actually remembering? No one knows specifically the name of the Jedi who clashed with Set Harth. And even though I was currently wearing the same outfit as on Royiss, it had become known that such clothes are quite popular among some Jedi. More precisely — such a look is commonly encountered among some Shadows. Jonal wore something similar, for instance. So the Order assured me that there was no need to worry about my identity being traced. Who knows how many others run around the Galaxy in a similar white suit…
"Yes, my colleague had quite a romp," I grinned in response. "Honestly, I don't know which of our guys did it, but the fight was epic."
"Could you fight like that too?" one of the girls asked.
"Well," I looked at the blonde. "Possibly. You see, we Jedi all have different strengths and weaknesses. Some are better at direct combat, some at negotiations, and some, say, at investigating crimes."
"Oh, and what do you do?" Rozri asked me. "Did they even find a job for you in the Order?"
"Yes, they did. I'm an archaeologist, a researcher," I answered Rozri.
"So you dig in the dirt…"
"More like I study old ruins and crumbled structures. Sometimes they hide secrets capable of influencing the entire Galaxy," the first rule of Jedi Shadows is to never, ever tell anyone you are a Jedi Shadow.
"Don't feed us that," Rozri said sharply. "What secrets can be found in old ruins? You just rummage through old garbage dumps and even brag about it. Some 'great Jedi,' you are."
"Boys, calm down," Rivi said. "Let's better continue the preparations. Light, so are you with us?"
Hmm. Okay, why not? There's nothing bad about sitting here with a company I barely know. I'd interacted with them too little, anyway; my impressions mostly come from Rivi, since she's my friend, and Rozri… Because he's an asshole. The guys set up the grill… And, honestly, they decided to make life as hard as possible for themselves by buying not an electric grill that could be charged at home and then used "on the go," but a regular charcoal one.
"Hutt," one of the guys said. "Our lighter's dead," he reported.
"And I told you we should have checked," the girls were about to have the meat ready, but we didn't have the device for cooking it… That's no good.
"Allow me," I ignited a flame on my right hand using pyrokinesis.
"Wow," the guy said in surprise, putting away the electric lighter. "Can all Jedi do that?"
"Not all," I answered him, bringing my hand to the logs and lighting them. The flame flared up brightly…
About thirty minutes later, our whole group was munching on freshly cooked meat. It turned out pretty good. My so-called "former classmates" mostly told me what I'd missed by going to the Jedi. And indeed: the educational system in the Kingdom of the Sephi is an incredibly important thing, and they drill knowledge in here even harder than at the University of Alderaan. I, in turn, talked a bit about the Galaxy, omitting parts of my adventures. I only mentioned the krayt dragon on Tatooine and demonstrated some Force techniques. I decided not to take out my lightsabers — they were far too distinctive, and someone's sharp eyes that had watched the recording of the battle with Set Harth might recognize my blades. In the future, my true identity would undoubtedly become known. But right now, I wasn't about to reveal it… Maybe someday in the future, I'll have a solid team with whom I can do something in the political arena and definitely won't fret about my data being publicized. But that's a long way off. For now, I don't have the strength, skills, abilities, and most importantly, any significant weight of reputation and respect, either in the Order or in the Republic itself. Even after everything I did on Royiss, I'm still a nobody. Just another Shadow, of which there are hundreds in the Order. An assassin specialized in eliminating the gifted. Nothing more and nothing less… For now.
I think the Force techniques I showed were enough for some sentients to become completely convinced of the futility of trying to belittle me. For instance, the same Rozri didn't bother me anymore. Although that was also partly because I demonstrated that I didn't care about him. I was simply stronger. Or maybe I'd just simply outgrown such grievances. The last forty minutes or so of our impromptu picnic, those around me listened with delight to my story about the training Lorm Decer put me through after leaving Tustra. Most of them would probably never get to hear about such things. Though… Tustra will be a planet that joins the CIS during the Separatist Crisis and even takes part in the Clone Wars. If that war, of course, happens. I'll need to take care of that moment… Demanding support for the Republic instead of the CIS from Alaric — a highly moral sentient who correctly identified the fact of the Republic's rot — is stupid… But I could at least get neutrality out of him. Force, how naïve that sounds… But he is an incredibly authoritative ruler, mentoring all the neighboring rulers in the Sumitra Sector. And nearby is also Mandalore, the homeland of the Mandalorians. However, all of this is long-term planning. I don't know how it will be realized. Better to focus on the present for now.
When it began to get dark, the group split up: part of the roughly forty Sephi decided to continue the banquet at a nightclub, couples went off to their own nests, and the rest…
"Rivi, are you coming with us?" Rozri addressed her. "I have a pass to the most elite club for fifty people. Maybe you've heard of the 'Song of the Night Wind'?" A club for the rich, as far as I remember. Though I didn't live on Tustra long, I know of this establishment's existence from adult conversations when they discussed the behavior of Navi, King Alaric's nephew and his heir.
"No, sorry, Rozri, but I want to go home," the girl answered him.
"Oh, come on, you're always refusing me," Rozri approached her, and I looked at both of them with suspicion. "Maybe you're done playing hard to get? Come with me!"
"You're aware she refused you, right?" I asked sarcastically, taking a sip of water from a canteen one of those present had handed me. "If a girl refuses, why insist, huh, Rozri?"
"You'd better keep quiet," my "classmate" looked at me arrogantly. "You Jedi, as I've heard, can't have children at all, that's why you take other people's."
"And who told you that tall tale?" I asked him with genuine interest. "We can have children. Jedi don't take children to compensate for 'childlessness' Jedi take gifted children who need to be taught to handle the Force. Because such children can be dangerous to those around them. For example, I can help you start a fire. If I didn't control this ability the way I do, a catastrophe of regional scale could have happened! That's what the Jedi movement exists for, Rozri. But, for your information, we are not sterile."
"I don't give a damn, don't lecture me on what to do and what not to do!"
"There's no other opinion here," I raised my voice, cutting Rozri off, drawing a wave of surprise. "You were refused and, by the looks of it, not for the first time. Just accept the fact and leave. It's not that hard and much simpler than continuing to embarrass yourself. Or do you think it'll add to your reputation if a girl goes with you against her will?"
"I think you're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong…"
"You're right, it's not my business. But it's Rivi's business," I noted, "and she's been my friend since 'kindergarten.' Unfortunately, I can't call your actions worthy," I stepped between him and Rivi, who was sitting. "Or should I remind you of recent events? I agreed not to cling to childhood grievances, but I can't stand by and watch you try to forcefully impose a decision that only benefits you on Rivi. I'll repeat myself once more — leave."
"Or what? You'll chop me up with your lightsaber?"
"Naïve… I don't need a lightsaber to teach you proper behavior," I chuckled. "A little flick of my hand and you'll be kissing the ground."
Rozri swallowed and backed off, apparently remembering how it ended last time.
"Do you understand everything?" I asked him.
"Yes," he said angrily.
"And another thing," I quickly closed the distance, standing right next to him, "Rivi has my contact information. If you continue your vile behavior, it'll cost me nothing to come back and repeat the lesson. Don't think that I'm acting un-Jedi-like. I'll file this as a 'sexual harassment warning' and nobody in the Order will say a word to me. Understood, Rozri Mirall?"
"I understand," he turned away. "Anyone else who wants to go to the club, follow me!"
"Hmph," I snorted, turning to the girls.
"You're a brave knight," said Rivi's friend. She stood up, walked over to me, and kissed me on the cheek. Mmm, pleasant. "It's clear you're a Jedi not just in title. Well, Rivi," she looked expectantly at her friend. "Won't you thank the gentleman with a kiss?" What a sly friend Rivi had. Never liked that type.
"Of course," the girl smiled, repeating her friend's gesture. That was also pleasant.
"As a knight, I could offer to escort the lovely ladies to the doors of their dwellings," I smiled.
"I don't need one — my brother will meet me," Rivi's friend answered. "But Rivi doesn't have a brother. So, I think she won't refuse."
"Rivi," I looked at the girl.
"Will you walk me home, Light? Like back then."
"Of course, my lady," I nodded.
By the time we returned to the quarter, it was completely dark. I walked the girl from the stop all the way to the door of her house.
"Thanks, Light," she said as we walked along the familiar streets of the Royal Quarter.
"Is Rozri bothering you a lot?" I asked the girl. "If you want, I can have a more thorough talk with him."
"Well… He's taken a liking to me for some reason," for some reason? Rivi, even though you're modest, you're a very beautiful girl. Shiny black hair, a slender waist, about a third-cup bust. Naturally, I'd noticed the looks directed at my friend. You could understand the guys.
"That doesn't surprise me," I said, "you've grown up very beautiful."
"Ahem… Thanks," wow, she didn't blush and was barely embarrassed? Last time she was completely flustered. Though maybe she'd picked up some confidence from her blonde friend? "I appreciate compliments from you, Light. You've also grown up quite… Steadfast… I look at you and see that you're a reliable Sephi. Now I understand what my mother meant when she said: 'a man behind whom you feel like you're behind a duracrete wall.'"
"You're overestimating me…"
"Hee-hee-hee… Humble Light. You're insulting my intuition! I feel like you're a bit clamped — as if you know something important, but you're afraid because you can't oppose it, which means you consider yourself weak."
"Is that so? Aaand?" I asked the girl walking beside me with interest.
"Light, I'm going to say something smart to you, just don't take offense. You don't need to downplay your abilities, but you also shouldn't overestimate them — just assess yourself adequately. And you're underestimating yourself. Your abilities, your strength, your character. That's where the problem comes from: you consider yourself inherently weaker. Even after going through serious training, you haven't changed your opinion. Why?" She looked at me, stopping right in front of the entrance to her family's property. The lights in the house were off. "Why do you still think you're weak?"
"Why?" I looked into the girl's dark eyes. "Because I know. I know how strong my opponents are. The weak die, the strong survive. And I doubt I'm strong enough."
"You knew that a real man should be free from doubt regarding his chosen path?" she said solemnly. "Anyone can doubt, really. But when YOU say that you doubt YOUR abilities, that you know something and still doubt... I think we're all doomed. Without... embellishment. It's not my business, but it's not you, Light Flyingstar, who should doubt your own strength."
"Interesting..." I drawled. "I just have one question. Since when do they teach advanced-level psychoanalysis at the Royal School?"
"Did I mention that discipline?" The girl smiled impudently. "I was talking about female intuition."
"Sounds powerful," I said, stepping close to the girl. "And what is it telling you right now? That I'm not sure of my strength?"
"A man's strength is shown by his actions, not his words."
"In that case," I kissed my friend on the lips, "how do you like that action?"
Rivi's pupils widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away — on the contrary, she returned the kiss.
"Intriguing. But will there be a continuation, or will this fleeting courage evaporate in an instant? If it matters, my parents aren't home."
"Thank you for the therapy session, but you're wasting your time trying to tease me," I said, wrapping my arms around the girl and lifting her up. "Now I'll show you... An action."