Chapter 10: Back to studies, first semester tests

I went to the Cantina. A few of my classmates have returned. Also Ratharan, Allada and Nileeta were back. They all had finished their mission. All of them found the places which they were send to investigate empty and robbed from the force. I sighed and told them about Hoth. Everyone were listening intensely. After I was finished with my story Nileeta hugged me. "I'm so proud of you!" She stood up and started yelling. "Hey everyone. Jaden is officially APPRENTICE!" I felt my cheeks burning. Everyone turned their gaze at me. Some of them are starting to applaud and shook my hand, a few others were turning away. They looked very jealous.

I was in heaven. Later that evening we were making our room very cozy. My three friends were setting up a little party to celebrate my apprenticeship. I first was against it. Not everyone was here. Rosh was still missing . I felt silent and stared at the small window in our room. Then my gaze went to Rosh his bunk bed.

Allada put her hand on my shoulder . "Don't worry Rosh will be back in no time. Once your boyfriend is back, we'll organize a bigger party." "My…. Boyfriend?!" My cheeks turned red again. "Nononononono, Rosh is not my boyfriend! He is just my roommate and a good friend, even if he is annoying all the time! Have you ever hear him singing in the shower?!" Allada, Nileeta and Ratharan started laughing. "Wow, I never knew you two were so close." Nileeta asked teasingly. "That sounded very wrong, what I mean is…." "Don't worry, we were just teasing you." Nileeta responded. "Yes, there is little we can do for Rosh. Besides, Kyle is looking for him. He will find Rosh. In the meantime, we have to continue our lives and studies." Ratharan said. "I suppose your right." I sighed.

"GOOD." Allada said. "Now let's get the presents!"

"What?! Why did you guys…. That was not necessary!" I looked at all three of them.

"Of course, you are the first who reached apprenticeship, besides, I also want a nice present from you when it is my time!" Allada said slyly. "Aha, that explains a lot. " I said. I had to laugh. I got three presents. From Ratharan I got a new data pad. He had seen that my old one was, and to put it lightly, the old one was very out of time. "Oh, you didn't have too." I said. "It was necessary, I couldn't watch you using that piece of scrap again." I grinned. Next was the present from Allada. She gave me a beautiful bracelet. "This one has been made on my home planet. Look at these symbols. They stand for friendship." "Wow, thank you, it's beautiful." "Now it's my turn! Here Jaden." Nileeta gave me a big dirty box. I took the box and looked a bit confused. The box was very light and something moved in it. She laughed at my expression. "It's not just the box, look inside!" "You didn't have catched a screamer." I asked. Nileeta smiled. I opened the box and looked inside.

It wasn't what I first expected. I let out a big "AAAAWWWWWWWW, How cute!" In the box was a little white kitten with very big blue eyes. It let out a purr when I stroked it. "Thank you… But is it for us allowed to keep pets?" I asked. "Yes it is, if you take good care of it." "I will. Thank you all so much." "You're welcome!" They said. Next we played some old board games until it was time to go to bed. I went to bed with my little kitten next to me.

I had a restless night. I dreamed of Rosh. I had the feeling he was in distress. My worries started to grow and held me out of my sleep. I sighed and tried to lay on my other side. It didn't help. I sat up and looked at the little kitten. She was watching me. I smiled and took the little thing. I held it in my arms and cuddled.

I pulled on my cover and tried to sleep with the kitten in my arms. I still couldn't quite sleep, but it was better. The kitten was warm and soft. After a while I finally fell in a long deep sleep.

The next day, Kyle wasn't back. I expected Kyle and Rosh back. I mean, Kyle is our master and has survived millions of battles and solved hundreds of mysteries. I went to master Skywalker's office, but he was in meeting with other masters. I let out a big sigh when I heard it and decided to go to the inner gardens. I first went to my room, to get the kitten. (I still hadn't a name for her.) After that I went straightly for the garden.

When I got there it was very peaceful. I let the kitten play in the tall grasses. I wasn't worried that she would walk away. I could find her with my force sense. I laid down on the ground and closed my eyes. I knew my timetable. The first lesson is in the afternoon. Then most of my classmates were back from small tasks. I still had plenty of time to relax.

I also didn't have to worried about homework. I had finished everything from first semester and I was halfway the second semester's learning material. I also excelled at the light saber training. This first semester would be a piece of cake.

I spent almost the whole morning in the gardens. After it became a little bit more crowded I decided to go to the canteen. I first looked for the kitten and then I brought her back to the dorms. After that I went to the cantina.

In the cantina I looked at our table. Nileeta and Ratharan were already there. Nileeta saw me first and waved. I also waved and made my way to the table.

"Hey Jaden, come sit." "Hello Nileeta, Ratharan." I greeted my friends while sitting down. "Did you know. Tomorrow are the first tests." "Oh… Really?" I knew we had to do the tests soon, but tomorrow." "Yes, most students are here tomorrow. That's why they decided to do the tests then." "When did you hear?" Ratharan asked. "My master told me this morning. She asked if I could pass this message to the other students present." I sighed. "So this mean, no missions tomorrow." "Yep, that's right." Nileeta said. "Do we need to learn, or is this test a no brainer?" Ratharan asked. "I don't know. The only thing I know, is that they wanted to test our knowledge and skills. So I guess everthing we learned in the first semester." "Oh, then after our lesson from master Horn, I guess I'll hit the books." I nodded. "Yeah, I think I'll do that too." "Then, should we study together?" Nileeta asked. "That would be a great idea."

In the afternoon after a boring lesson from master Dioddai, we all went to the library. I took my new datapad with me. In the library we sat down on a table and started to read our notes and if we didn't know an answer, we asked each other. We studied till dinner and after dinner we all went back to the library. After 9 pm. I called it a night. I was very tired and really needed to go to bed. When I returned in our dorm I saw that the kitten had already called it a night. She was sleeping at the foot end of my bed. I smiled and let her sleep. I put on my pj's and carefully went into bed. Then I switched off my night lamp and went to sleep. I didn't have a restless night like yesterday. I had forgotten about Rosh and now my worries went to the tests.

The next day, I went out of bed pretty early. I wanted to look over my notes one last time. After breakfast, we went to the classroom to make the first test. There master Dioddai was waiting for us. "Welcome students, please take your seats, make five rows of four and wait for the test to start." We all did what he said and patiently waited for the next step. Ratharan had his notes still was very worried about the test. Allada also looked very nervous. I sighed and stared at my desk. After a few minutes all the students had taken their place and Dioddai coughed to get our attention. "Listen, you all get a datapad on which your test is uploaded. The test takes three hours. The test starts when I say it does. I expect that everyone will be quiet. NO CHEATING! If there are any troublemakers, I will personally escort them out of class. They will get an F and have to take the exam another time."

After Dioddai was done explaining and threatened the class enough he started to give all students a datapad. I examined the datapad. It was an old datapad. Almost as old as my old one. I smiled. So I wasn't the only one with antique.

"Alright, everyone got a datapad." It was quiet. Master Dioddai looked around. "Good, the test starts….NOW. Good luck."

I started up the datapad and looked at the questions. Most were from history. Good, I'm good at history. I answered the questions with ease. After two hours I was done. I sighed and looked at my answers. I saved them and send it to the teacher. "Hmm." Master Dioddai looked very surprised. "Already done, miss Korr?" I nodded. "Well, you can do something for yourself while waiting for the other students." I sighed. Another hour to go. I took my own datapad and started to look at the stuff I had saved. Hmm, I've installed a game of Racer Rush on my datapad. I looked around. The rest of the students were still deeply in thought. I then looked at my datapad again. Maybe, I should try to get a new… High score…. I smiled.

I turned off the sound and started playing. Yes….ah….no….

I lost the first round. Now let's try that again….. Yes…Yes….. Yeah.

"Miss Korr, we know that you're done with your test. Please be quiet, so that your fellow students can make theirs." I looked up. I didn't know that I said that out loud. The other students were also looking at me. Some amused, some very irritated. "Shhh…" "Oh… sorry." I whispered. I decided to stop with gaming and started to look at the assignments for second semester. After an hour master Dioddai spoke. "Turn off your datapads. The test is over." Some sighed relieved, others muttered. Not all had finished their test. Some even gave me glares, as if it was my fault. Before I could do something. Nileeta came in between. "As expected of you Jaden." I smiled proudly. "Nah. That test wasn't so difficult." Nileeta smiled.

We all went to the canteen. I first went to grab something to eat. Then I went back to the table. Most were relieved the test was over. "Pffff. That was hard. Did you know the answer of question 213?" Ratharan asked while he was going through his notes. "No… That one I guessed." Allada sounded very tiresome. "Oh…" Ratharan put his datapad on the table and sighed. "Glad that was over."

I was looking at my friends and our other classmates. I had no difficulty with making the test. In fact, I found it very easy. Now I have to say that I never really had problems with studying and making tests. I always had to look over my notes and I remembered it. I sighed, now after lunch we all have to show our skills in battle. I wondered how we're going to do that. It looks like Nileeta read my thoughts. "Hey Jaden, do you know how they take the skill exam?" She asked. I shook my head. Nileeta smiled and said. "Well, you're going to spar with the examiner. There you'll have to show them you have the strength, agility and can do basic force skills like force push, force pull, force shield or force healing. It depends on what the examiner wants to see." "Oh." Nileeta smiled and started talking to Lynorri, another student from master Starlight.

I sighed and waited till lunch was over and the next test begins. We all made our way to the training grounds. There five masters were waiting for us. They were master Horn, master Starlight, master Ivalice, master Telana and master Dioddai. Master horn started to speak to us. "Welcome students. You all had your first test about everything you learned in the theoretical subjects. Now we will test your combat skills. The test will take place here. When it's your turn, we will call your name. Then we'll determine your progress. The rest will wait in the changing rooms for their turns." All the students first went to the changing rooms. Then the first student was called forward. First it was Robes turn. Everyone was waiting in suspence. After fifteen minutes. Robe came back with a big smile on his face. "I made it" He said. Then the other students were called. Some of them looked relieved after the test, others were silent or looked very disappointed. After eleven other students, it was finally my turn. I went to the training room.

In the middle of the room, stood a ring. Master Starlight was standing in the middle. The other teachers were sitting at tables with data pads in front of them. Master Starlight spoke. "Welcome Jaden. Ready for the test?" "Ah…. Ready as ever… hahaha" I smiled nervously. Master Starlight smiled encouragingly. "Well, just spar as you'll always do." I nodded.

Then master Horn spoke. "Jaden, the test consists three parts. In the first part, you'll sparr with master Starlight. We want to see that you can handle yourself in battle. First hand to hand, then with light sabers." I frowned. Normally it's not permitted to spar with light sabers. Master Starlight saw this and said. "Don't worry Jaden. The tests are always with light sabers. Only training is with training swords." I nodded. Master Horn coughed after master Starlight's explanation. "Hmpf.. In the last part, we want to see your force skills." He said strictly. "Yes, sir."

"When you're ready. Enter the ring." I nodded and looked up in the ring. Master Starlight was waiting patiently. I took a deep breath and entered the ring. Master Starlight bowed to greet me. I greeted her back. Then we started.

I was very nervous and tried to study master Starlight's stance. Master Starlight was patiently waiting for me. I decided to take the offence.

I made a lunge to her head. She gracefully dodged it and returned a kick to the stomach. I also dodged it, barely. Starlight smiled and gave me a look. It was like she was trying to say. Is that all?

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I started to use the force to read her stance and scan for a weak point. I couldn't find any and started to create one by attacking again. Master Starlight dodged everything. I couldn't lay a hit. I was very frustrated. I started to get angry, when I noticed my anger. I took again a moment for myself. Anger is not the way, I need to calm down. Now I noticed how everything around me stood still. I looked at my opponent and said to myself. You can do it. Normally you could hold your own against her. Now you can do it again. I smiled and patted myself on my cheeks. Master Starlight smiled. "Now made up your mind?" She asked. I nodded and tried to give it my all. I went with a straight punch to her face. Starlight was shocked from the speed I went forward. She could barely dodge it. Then I made a flying kick to her head. I surprised master Starlight with my attacks. I even pushed her back. I almost could hit her when I heard Master Horn stood up. "That's all, thank you." I stopped and went back in beginning position. Also master Starlight nodded. She smiled and went toward a table next to the ring. On the table, two light sabers were lying there. She took them both and then turned to me. "Here Jaden. These two are light sabers, only used in tests like these." She handed one to me. I took a brief moment to study the light saber. The handle was a bit bigger than my one and it had also more weight to it. I turned it on and heard a zooming sound. The light saber activated. I stared at a blue light. Master Starlight chuckled. "When you're ready, we start the second part of your test." I nodded "I'm ready."

"Good, then let's start." Master Starlight also activated her light saber. She went into a fighting stance I was familiar with. I was glad that I've trained a lot with her, the last couple of weeks. Again I went to get the first hit. Now Starlight was ready for it and blocked it with her light saber. Our light sabers intertwined and sparks flew off. For a moment I was caught up in the beauty of the two lights together but soon my attention went back to the fight. Master Starlight jumped back a little and took on a different stance then usual. Then she attacked. It looked like the attacks were heavier than before. I tried to block it, but I could barely stand my ground. I was pushed back. Starlight laughed at me. I sighed and started to dodge her attacks and increased my speed. She could not hit me once. I started to get the upper hand. Then master Starlight smiled and took on another pose. Now she was as fast as me! I tried to surprise her with my speed, but she returned the favor with the same speed and strength. I jumped back at my starting line and took a deep breath. Then I tried to imitate her heavy hits. I first came in with the same speed as before. But right for the moment of impact I added more strength. Starlight blocked my hit with her light saber. She was pushed a few inches back. Master Starlight smiled and went back into the basic stand. "Well done, Jaden. You passed the second part."

Again master Horn stood up. "Good job. Now for the final part." He raised up his hand. Master Starlight took a few paces back and watched. I also wanted to walk back but Master Horn stopped me. "No no, Jaden. Wait, this is your final test." Suddenly, the ceiling opened and a big rock fell down. It came straight for me. I went into panic. What was happening?!

I quickly called for the force and felt the energy building up in me. Then I pushed forward all that I had. I yelled and fell on my back. The rock was thrown against the far side of the training hall. Master Horn looked pleased. "Good, that's all. You passed miss Korr." I was astonished. "What …. You threw I rock at me!... And I …." "Yes, you've passed the second test. You can go now…" Master Starlight chuckled. "Do not tell the other students about it." I gave her a strange look and walked out of the trainingsroom. "Oh, and Jaden. After the tests, I want a moment to talk to you." Master Starlight yelled. "I'll meet you here." I nodded and went back to the changing rooms.

In the changing room Nileeta and Allada were eagerly waiting for me. "Well, how did it go?" She asked. I did not straightly give her an answer. She asked her question again. "Oh… Sorry. I passed." "That's so great!" "Nileeta, it's your turn." "Great, wish me luck!" I gave her a weak smile. She returned my smile and made her way to the training hall.

"Well, what happened?" Allada asked. "You'll know soon enough, when it's your turn." I said. Allada frowned, but did not ask further. I stood up. "I'm tired. I'll go back to the dorms for now." Allada nodded. I went away. After an hour the tests were done. I went back to the changing room. Both Allada and Nileeta were sitting in the changing room with a pale face. "How did it go?" I asked.

Both answered weakly. "We passed." I smiled and nodded. Then I made my way to the training hall. The teachers were busy cleaning the mess, that was made after the test. I looked to the walls of the training room. They were heavily damaged.

"Maybe we should cancel the rock test." Master Dioddai were saying sourly. "Now where is the fun in that?" Master Horn asked cheerfully. "I think it's a blast. It really does me good to see the anxious faces of the students, when they think they're going to be flattened by that giant boulder." "Hmpf." Master Dioddai answered.

Master Starlight smiled amused. Then she noticed me. She said something to the other teachers and went to me. "So you came!" She said. "Yes, you wanted to see me?" I asked.

"Yes, it's about training. You know that Kyle is very busy at the moment. So he asked me to continue your training. You're now an apprentice and are way's ahead of your fellow students. Kyle asked me to start with advanced light saber training." I looked at master Starlight without saying anything. She looked at me, like she was expecting some reaction. Then she started to speak. "Listen, your training will start tomorrow. Also the missions start tomorrow. First we'll have training and then you'll be going on easy assignments." I nodded. "Good, I'll explain the rest tomorrow. Meet me in my office at 8 o'clock." She turned around. "Wait…." I said. Master Starlight turned around and looked at me. "Did you…. Have you heard anything from Kyle… Or Rosh.?" "No sweetie. Nothing." "Oh…" "Don't worry, Kyle is the best." I nodded. Then I turned around and went back to the changing rooms. No one was here anymore so I went to the dorms. It was quiet. The rest of the students were celebrating the first results, or sulking. I decided to study again. I wanted to progress further. I wanted to be as good as Kyle. I wanted to go looking for my friend. But as Kyle said. The only way I can help is to grow and progress as a real Jedi.