She stood before the trial chamber doors with her characteristic fierce determination, but I could feel the undercurrent of nervousness beneath it through our bond. Her silver eyes were sharp and focused, but her hands kept clenching and unclenching at her sides, a tell she thought no one noticed.
I stepped close enough that our shoulders almost touched. "You're going to be incredible," I said quietly.
She glanced at me, and for a moment, her mask slipped. I saw the vulnerability beneath, the girl who'd spent years trying to prove herself, trying to be the best, trying to earn validation from everyone around her.
"I know I will, but..." she paused, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "What if... what if I'm still just trying to prove something? What if I haven't actually changed?"
I reached out and took her hand. Her breath caught, and I felt her pulse quicken through our connection.
"You have changed," I said firmly. "You're not the same person who sat beside me in meditation class and dismissed helping others as beneath you. You've opened your heart, Seris. You've let us in. That's not weakness, it's the bravest thing you've ever done."
Her eyes shimmered, but she blinked the tears away. "I'm scared," she admitted. "I'm scared that when it matters, I'll revert. That I'll fall back into old patterns."
"Then don't fight alone," Derren said, moving to her other side despite still rubbing his throat. "Even in there, you're not alone. We're with you. Always."
Barriss stepped forward and placed a hand over Seris's heart. "You've already proven your worth to us. Now prove it to yourself."
Anakin grinned, his blue eyes bright. "And then come back and tell us all about it. I want details."
Seris laughed despite herself, the sound breaking the tension. She squeezed my hand once, then let go, squaring her shoulders.
"All right," she said. "Let's do this."
The doors opened, and Seris walked through.
Darkness swallowed her whole. For a moment, there was nothing, no sound, no light, no sense of direction. Just the void and her own heartbeat thundering in her ears.
Then the world reformed around her. Seris found herself standing in a dark hallway. The walls were smooth stone, ancient and cold. The air was heavy, oppressive, carrying the weight of countless trials conducted in this space over millennia.
And standing in the center of the hallway, waiting, was Master An'ya Kuro. The legendary Dark Woman wore her characteristic dark robes, her expression neutral, her posture relaxed. But there was something in her eye, a sharpness, a challenge, that made Seris's instincts flare.
Seris walked forward and bowed respectfully. "Master Kuro, it is good to see you again."
But Kuro did not acknowledge Seris's pleasantries. Instead, the Jedi Master held out a hand. The Force surged.
Seris felt herself yanked forward, pulled by invisible power across the distance between them. She braced herself, her feet sliding across the stone floor until she stood only inches from Kuro.
Seris's hand moved instinctively toward her lightsaber hilt, then relaxed.
"Oh?" Kuro said, her voice cold and measured. "Are you not going to defend yourself?"
Seris breathed in and out calmly, centering herself. "Master, I do not sense any malice or intent to do harm to me. So I will not fight you."
Kuro's face stayed cold and unmoving. Then, without warning, she shifted into an Echani fighting stance. Her movements were neat and precise, ready to strike in an instant.
Seris, seeing the Jedi Master assume the combat position, was surprised but did not show it. She composed herself and mirrored the stance.
Nothing happened at first. Then, in a split second, Kuro moved in with a quick palm strike toward Seris's head.
Seris dodged elegantly but barely, maintaining her distance and defense. She knew she couldn't beat a Jedi Master of Kuro's caliber in hand-to-hand combat, especially being only nine years old.
The two moved through the dark room with speed and precision. To the Masters observing from the hidden chamber, they looked like they were engaged in a dance more than a fight. Kuro was on the offensive, sending fast strikes with her open palm. Seris stayed on the defensive, outclassed but composed.
She tried to figure out what she was being tested on.
That's when Kuro spoke. "I expected more from one with so much talent," she said, her tone cutting. "But compared to the others, you're not as good."
When Seris heard that, she hesitated. That single moment of doubt allowed Kuro to strike. Her palm connected with Seris's chest, sending her to the ground hard. But Kuro didn't continue her assault. She simply stood there, waiting.
Seris looked up at Kuro in confusion. "What do you mean I'm not as talented as the others?"
Kuro just looked coldly at Seris. "It's exactly as I said. Compared to the others who have come before you, you're strong, but even that is a mask."
She began to circle Seris slowly, like a predator assessing prey.
"Unlike Barriss, you're not compassionate and empathetic. Unlike Derren, you're not naturally talented enough that you can pick and choose when you want to be serious. Anakin is naturally gifted and has the highest affinity in the Force." Kuro paused, her eyes boring into Seris. "Now Cain, he is only second in Force affinity, but he has compassion, conviction, and talent. You do not possess any of these qualities."
Seris paused, her breath catching. Deep down, she knew Master Kuro was right.
"I am talented," Seris said, but her voice wavered. "I come from a long line of Jedi. My skills and abilities are good too. So how am I different from the others that you say they are better than me?"
Kuro began a series of strikes against Seris again. Unlike before, Seris couldn't even defend properly. Each blow landed with precision, driving her back, breaking her guard. "Look at you, little one," Kuro said, her voice relentless. "I can feel your hesitation and doubt. You know what I said is true. Deep down, you know you're not like them."
Kuro flipped Seris onto the floor with a thud. Seris got up, breathing hard, and tried to recenter herself, to calm her mind. But Kuro wouldn't let her.
The Master brought out her lightsaber. The purple blade ignited with a sharp snap-hiss, and Seris immediately defended with hers, the golden-yellow blade humming to life.
"You try so hard to be the best," Kuro said, pressing her blade down on Seris, who was barely able to defend. "But there are others who are better than you. Are you jealous of them? Do you believe you should be the best, or that you actually are already?"
"No, I don't think I'm the best, or that I deserve to be," Seris said, grunting through the exchange.
"Liar."
Kuro pressed harder, breaking Seris's defense. She sent downward strikes, pushing Seris back across the hallway.
"You act so calm and composed," Kuro said harshly. "But the moment Cain showed up and displayed his abilities, you didn't welcome him, you despised him. You did the same for Skywalker."
Seris's arms trembled as she blocked strike after strike.
"If Cain had never come, Derren would have never shown his true talent, and your false sense of superiority would have lingered," Kuro continued. "Do you believe your lineage makes you better? Or is it because you can do some things better than others?"
"No, it's none of that," Seris said, trembling while breathing hard.
"Then why do you seek to be a Jedi?" Kuro said, her blade pointed at a kneeling Seris.
Seris got up immediately, still trembling and breathing hard. And then, in that moment, Cain's voice came to her, a memory from months ago, spoken quietly during a late-night conversation in the meditation gardens.
"You act like you're trying to prove something to someone. Instead of being the best for others, just find what makes you happy. I will be on your side no matter what. Even if you don't know now, I will help you, and we have nothing but time to figure it out."
In that moment, Seris breathed slowly and closed her eyes. Kuro felt the shift in Seris's emotions and demeanor immediately.
So the little one is finally catching on, Kuro thought.
Seris remembered how Master Kuro taught in the Temple, by putting her students through realistic situations and teaching them how to handle stressful and emotional circumstances.
I don't know why Cain's words popped into my head, Seris thought, but I'm glad they did.
Seris shifted into Form IV, her stance fluid and ready.
"Oh, so you're going to attack now?" Kuro said. "But you know you can't win against me, right?"
"I know I can't beat you currently," Seris said, her voice steady. "But that's not the point of my trial."
She charged at Kuro with a side strike. Kuro moved her blade, ready to parry the attack. That's when Seris feinted by deactivating her lightsaber. She slid under the Master's arm, rolling to her feet behind Kuro.
But she didn't attack. Instead, she stood by the door at the far end of the hallway, her lightsaber deactivated and hanging at her side.
"I don't know," Seris said.
Kuro's back was still toward Seris. "You don't know what?"
"I don't know why I want to be a Jedi." Seris looked down for a moment. "And you're right about me. Compared to the others, I am not as good as them in certain areas. Barriss is more compassionate. Derren is talented and better at being calm and reserved, as much as I hate saying that. Anakin and Cain are on a whole other level than me, and I don't know if I could ever have their same potential."
She paused, her silver eyes reflecting the dim light of the hallway.
"But I want to be the best, not because of my lineage, or because I feel like it's my right. I do it because I like testing myself and improving. And since Cain came, I feel like I've become better than I could have on my own. I feel that way with everyone."
Her voice grew stronger, more certain.
"So I don't care what you think, Master. I will keep improving for myself. And when I'm stronger and find the answer to why I want to become a Jedi, I will come back and ask you to test my resolve."
Seris bowed in a form of respect.
Kuro didn't look at Seris. "Get going, Youngling Seris. You are done here."
The door behind Seris opened, revealing the path back to the grand hall. "Thank you, Master Kuro."
Kuro, with her back still toward Seris, allowed herself the smallest smile. "Don't thank me yet, youngling. I look forward to that day when I test your resolve. I can't wait to see the woman you become."
Seris walked through the doorway, her steps steady and sure. She emerged into the grand hall where we were waiting. She didn't say anything at first. She just walked straight to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.
I stiffened for a moment, surprised by the uncharacteristic display, then my arms came up to hold her.
"Wow, Ice Princess," Derren said, grinning despite his earlier choking. "Was it that bad?"
Seris didn't respond to him. She just held on tighter. "Thank you, Cain," she whispered against my shoulder. "It was your words I heard when I was at my lowest point."
I embraced her back, feeling the tremor in her shoulders, the vulnerability she was allowing herself to show. "I'm glad I could help. I don't know what happened in there, but I'm here. We all are."
Seris pulled back slightly, her silver eyes meeting mine. For once, there were no walls, no masks, just genuine gratitude and something deeper I couldn't quite name.
"Thank you, Cain. Thank you, everyone."
Her ears twitched slightly, a sign of embarrassment she couldn't quite hide.
Barriss stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Seris's shoulder. "You did it. We're so proud of you."
Anakin nodded, his blue eyes warm. "You're incredible, Seris. Whatever happened in there, you came through it."
Derren just smiled, his usual easy warmth radiating from him. "Told you we'd be here when you got back."
Everyone smiled, witnessing a rare moment of vulnerability from Seris, the Ice Princess finally allowing herself to be seen, to be held, to be human. In the hidden observation chamber, the Masters began their review.
Master Fay spoke first, her ancient voice carrying warmth and approval. "She confronted herself in a way that most her age could not comprehend. And without knowing the answer, she still chose to move forward."
Master Windu nodded, his expression thoughtful. "She did not deny her shortcomings compared to others. She embraced them. That is the difference between repression and control. Between false pride and genuine strength."
Master Shaak Ti added, her voice serene, "Her will burns brighter now. She has found her center, not in being the best, but in the journey of becoming. I cannot wait to see what more she can accomplish."
Master Yaddle hummed softly. "A beautiful, bright spirit she has. Accepted her friends' strengths without diminishing her own, she did. Rare, that is. Precious."
Master Plo Koon finished, his voice resonant through his mask: "Her strength shines brighter thanks to those she walks beside. She also has great potential, nothing we can compare to the others in conventional terms. We cannot predict what she will become in the future. But I believe it will be extraordinary."
Master Windu leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on the viewport showing Seris embracing Cain in the grand hall below.
"Three trials complete," he said. "Three younglings transformed. Each one has faced their deepest fear and emerged stronger."
Master Fay smiled, her eyes glistening. "And two more remain. Anakin and Cain. Those two will be... revealing."
"Revealing indeed," Plo Koon agreed. "And perhaps the most challenging of all."
Master Yoda, who had been silent throughout, finally spoke. His voice was quiet but carried the weight of centuries.
"Proud of them, I am. But the hardest trials, still ahead they are. For Skywalker and young Cain, much darkness they must face. Within themselves, and beyond."
The Masters fell silent, each contemplating what lay ahead.
Below, in the grand hall, Seris finally pulled away from me, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. Her silver hair caught the light, and for a moment, she looked like the warrior she was destined to become, strong, centered, and unafraid.
"All right," she said, her voice steady once more. "Who's next?"
Anakin and I exchanged glances.
The final two trials awaited.