He squeezed on the old-fashioned wire cutters with steady pressure, concentrating. He could have used a modern laser cutter, of course, but Obi-Wan felt there was something fitting in having to do this with his own manual effort. After a second, the ring snicked, and he set the cutters aside before carefully slipping the second hoop out of Tir-Zen's ear. Obi-Wan set the ring and its blue engineering bead on a tray next to a matching one in green and stepped back. Fiery wings fluttered through his chest. Bright light filtered into the circular, white chamber.

"Arise, Jedi Knight," he intoned.

Tir-Zen brought himself to standing, breathing like he'd run a race, and for a moment they stood looking at one another, frozen by the weight of too many things to say. Around them, Council members sat in hallowed silence, observing an ancient rite. Tee blinked those strange, orange-fire eyes, and his poise cracked first. He flung himself in Obi-Wan's direction, folding him into a hug.

"Oh!"

Surprised, Obi-Wan caught him without stumbling back, aware for possibly the first time that Tee had a few centimeters on him, even without the horns.

"Thank you," Tir-Zen rasped, too low for the surrounding Council members to hear.

Obi-Wan's throat went tight as he held the embrace. Tried to find words to encompass the feeling flooding through him. "She would be very proud," he whispered back.

Tee's grip tightened in response, and then just as suddenly as he'd gone in for the hug, he let go and stepped back, then bowed his head.

"Thank you, master," he said, very formally.

Obi-Wan grinned at him. "You're welcome. But I think it's just Obi-Wan, now."

"Yes, m—" Tee caught himself and pressed his lips. "Yes . . ."

With a bow of his own, Obi-Wan retreated from the center of the Council chamber and the center of attention. He stood, glowing, by the door and watched as each member of the High Council took their turn offering Tee their congratulations and handshakes and well wishes for his future. He wondered, perhaps unkindly, if they would have said the same were his true master here to have seen him through the Trials. He wondered if they would come to see Tee as the same kind of threat that had made Aylee an exile.

The thoughts left him sober and ruminating until Tir-Zen extracted himself from the glad-handing and gathered him to make an exit. Obi-Wan looked up at the young man's approach and fell into pace beside him as they left the chamber, all without exchanging a word. Outside, sets of padawans and masters waited for their turn in the Council chamber and the making of a new knight. All bowed their heads in honor and acknowledgment of a new Jedi among their ranks.

All except, of course, Anakin.

Anakin bounded up from a bench along the wall, breathless and eyes wide.

"Is that it?"

"That's it," Obi-Wan told him.

"You're a knight?"

Tir-Zen grinned. "Seems so."

"That's galactic!" Anakin trotted backwards in front of them. "What was it like? How do you feel?"

"It—uh . . ." Tee frowned a little, giving it real thought. "It wasn't like I thought it would be." He rubbed at the spot on his ear where his padawan's earrings used to be.

Anakin's expression fell. "You're not happy?"

"I didn't say that. But it's—" He flexed his hands.

"Bittersweet," Obi-Wan supplied, and Tee nodded with a glance his way.

Anakin chewed on his lip.

"Well . . . do you wanna celebrate? We have— I mean— We could have—" He stopped himself and gave Obi-Wan a look like he's just spilled motor oil on the floor. Again.

Tee lifted an eyebrow and slowed to a halt, casting a firmer look in Obi-Wan's direction.

For just a moment, Obi-Wan gazed back at him with placid, feigned innocence, and then cracked a small smile.

"We . . . may have arranged a little something at Dex's," he said.

"What's Dex's?"

"The best!" Anakin crooned, tossing up his arms. "They have triple layer cakes and protato wedges and firaxan shark fillets and—"

"That sounds—"

"Greasy," Obi-Wan cut in. "But oddly delicious. Plus the outdoor patio can accommodate guests of . . . a larger stature."

Tee's eyes widened. "You didn't."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Obi-Wan gave Anakin a look and started again down the hallway, mapping a route to the speeder bay.

"Master—" Tee began, and Obi-Wan cut him off with a lifted finger. Tee made a face. "Obi-Wan."

"Hmm?" He moved briskly, forcing Tir-Zen to keep up.

"Who—who else did you invite?"

"Oh." He waved a hand dismissively. "Anyone we could think of."

"But I don't know anyone."

"But you do." Obi-Wan slowed his gait, and caught Tee's gaze. "And an occasion like this is about more than just you." He stopped and grew serious, putting his hands gently on Tee's shoulders. "You are her legacy. The latest in a rare lineage that stretches back eons. You are the keeper of it now. And someday, if you choose, you'll take an apprentice of your own."

Tir-Zen swallowed. "I don't think I'm ready for that."

"No." Obi-Wan smiled. "But someday perhaps. And until then, that knowledge lives on. And we celebrate that as well."

Anakin cleared his throat, and they both turned to look at him.

"The cake is waiting." He gestured for them to get a move on.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and let his hands drop, shooing Anakin into motion.

After a minute or so of silent walking, Tir-Zen turned to him, not breaking stride.

"Honestly, though, is Ujjwala—"

"That's the plan."

And then Tee brushed at his tunic and fussed at straightening his belt, and Obi-Wan couldn't help but laugh.