The Next Day
After lunch, they took us to a training room. The floor was covered with tatami mats, and the ceiling was so high it seemed to touch the sky. Statues of ancient Jedi watched the space with serene faces. In the center, on a rack, there was a row of training lightsabers. They weren't real — they didn't cut, only emitted a controlled energy blade used to learn the basics.
The Master guiding us was a tall Nautolan, his tentacles swaying gently, with an almost military posture. His name was Master Kit Fisto. Despite his serious expression, his smile was calm, almost reassuring.
"Young younglings," he began in a deep voice, "today you will feel the weight and lightness of a Jedi's weapon. The lightsaber is an extension of the Force. Of your body. And of your mind."
I looked at the training sabers. They all looked the same, but when I picked up mine… there was a slight hum. The light blue blade extended with a soft vup. It was… strange. Too light. Like holding a shadow made of wind.
I got into position but… I had no idea what I was doing.
Next to me, Ahsoka was already spinning her saber effortlessly. She made it look simple. I, on the other hand, gripped the hilt too tightly, like it was a Mandalorian baton. When I tried to mimic the movement, the saber went out of control, almost hitting the floor.
"Whoa !" I said, stepping back. The saber deactivated on impact.
Ahsoka laughed — not mockingly, but in that way she had of laughing at the situation, not the person.
"You're going to break the Temple floor before you hit an enemy."
I sighed, lowering the saber.
"This is harder than it looks. It doesn't weigh like a normal weapon."
She came closer, looking at my hands.
"You're holding it like a warrior. But here…" — she placed her hands over mine — "you need to let the saber flow. Don't force it. Feel it."
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, and let her words echo in my mind. I felt the weight of the hilt, the soft vibration of the energy. I activated the saber again — vup — and made the movement Ahsoka showed me. This time, it felt more natural.
Master Kit Fisto watched us, arms crossed, and nodded slightly.
"Very good, Ravan. Follow the Force, don't fight it."
Soon, the real training began. Basic moves, controlled cuts in the air, then paired exercises. I trained with Ahsoka, of course. She was fast but gave me space. Corrected my steps, teased me, but also encouraged me. And I… was getting the hang of it.
By the end of the exercise, the room was full of heavy breaths and small laughs. When we deactivated our sabers and bowed to Kit Fisto, I felt sweat dripping down my forehead but also… a silent pride growing inside me.
As we left, Ahsoka gave me a light punch on the shoulder.
"Not bad, Mandalorian. Soon you'll be giving me a hard time."
"Only if you let me win."
She smiled.
"Maybe I will."
—
I was almost asleep.
My room was dark except for the soft light from the panels on the walls. The beds were lined up in rows, and the sound of calm breathing filled the room. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to clear my mind — as Master Yoda taught.
That's when I heard three quick knocks on the door.
Tap-tap-tap.
I frowned. Who would knock at this hour ? I got up slowly, trying not to wake anyone, and walked to the door quietly. When I opened it… there she was.
Ahsoka.
With that mischievous little smile that was becoming familiar. Next to her was another girl I didn't know very well yet — Barriss Offee. She was serious, with blue skin and facial markings and calm eyes, but at that moment… even she seemed complicit in the mischief.
"Put on your tunic," Ahsoka whispered. "We're going exploring."
"Exploring ?" I whispered back. "Exploring what ?"
"The Temple. Everyone says there are corridors younglings don't see. Old rooms, inner gardens, empty training halls…"
"And probably sentinels, sensors, and Jedi Masters who don't like being woken up in the middle of the night," I murmured.
Barriss crossed her arms, impatient.
"Are you coming or are you just going to meditate in the dark ?"
' Girl, I barely know you, ' I thought about the newcomer.
I sighed. Mandalore would be proud of me… or call me an idiot. I grabbed my tunic and dressed quickly. It's not every day you get invited on a secret mission in the galaxy's greatest Jedi center.
We walked through the halls in silence, taking paths Ahsoka had "heard" from an older padawan. She walked as if she had done this a thousand times. Barriss followed behind, alert to every sound. I… tried not to look nervous.
The Temple at night was something else.
Everything was vaster, deeper. The statues seemed to watch us, and the stained glass windows cast colorful shadows on the floor. At one point, we passed an inner garden — a miniature forest lit by starlight. A kind of living peace took over the place.
"There," Ahsoka whispered, pointing to an iron door half-hidden behind a huge plant.
She touched the side panel. The door opened with a soft hiss, revealing a spiral staircase going down.
"Where does this go ?" I asked.
"No idea," she replied, smiling.
We went down.
The air was colder down there. The walls had ancient inscriptions in Aurebesh mixed with Jedi symbols I didn't recognize. In one of the rooms, we saw an old training dojo, with wooden dummies and floor marks that told stories of a thousand exercises.
Barriss looked around with a mix of reverence and caution. Ahsoka's eyes scanned like she was on a hunt.
"Ahsoka," I whispered, "we've seen enough. If someone finds out—"
CLANG.
The door we entered through closed by itself.
We froze.
Ahsoka ran to the panel. Pressed buttons. Nothing.
"Ah, great," she muttered. "I think the security system reactivated."
"We're trapped ?" I asked.
Barriss was already sitting on the floor, eyes closed.
"No. Just… temporarily disadvantaged."
I rolled my eyes.
Ahsoka leaned against the wall and looked at me.
"Well, Ravan… at least you'll have a good story to tell when you get expelled from the Jedi Order."
"You dragged me into this, remember ?"
She smiled.
"And you came."