The opening of the resort and casino is going to be a big deal. The first publicly accessible Jedi funded business opened in decades. It was important that myself and Master Labooda as the Jedi representatives presented ourselves appropriately.

To that end, we got new robes for the event. They weren't particularly fancy, as Jedi are supposed to always behave in a humble manor, but our outfits were specifically chosen to be striking within a formal setting.

To complement the olive tones of Master Labooda's skin and her dark hair, she received a dark brown tunic wrapped in a golden robe and accented in peach colored trim.

For myself, I would have normally preferred to wear darker colors, but with my fair hair and pale complexion we decided I would stand out more in light, nearly white, beige accented in a similar gold to Master Labooda's robe. It took a lot of debate to decide on a light beige with the deciding factor being that the public has not seen a Jedi in white since the Ruusan Reformation. The public was more use to the earthy tones most Jedi wore with occasional use of black.

Looking in the mirror, I reflected on the one benefit of Force Induced Puberty: I no longer looked like some children's doll. I remained on the skinny side with my cheek bones clearly visible in sharp relief, giving my face a rather angular shape, but the doctor explained I should start filling out soon and looking healthier.

The doctor also informed me that I have finished growing, leaving me at five foot even if I was wearing boots with a thick sole. A bit on the shorter side, but I was happy enough with it. I could at least reach the counter top without a step stool and would not require a booster seat to eat at a regular table. That would just be embarrassing to require such assistance.

With my outfit in order, it was time to handle my hair. Master Labooda was taking time to braid her hair into a complicated bun. I did not have nearly the length required to do a similar style, preferring to keep my hair to a more manageable length. I did not know of much one could do with hair that only reached my jaw line, but I am sure that there were women out there who spent so much time on mastering the arts of hair creating they could manage something. For me, I would simply be brushing it out thoroughly to make sure no tangles existed and letting it do what it wanted to do, except for my padawan braid. I would need Master Labooda's assistance with rebraiding it with the decorative beads we got for the event.

Finally, I looked to the lightsaber. My lightsaber. My weapon and badge of being a Jedi, even if only a Jedi in training currently. The hilt itself was fine. Smooth lines and an emitter shroud that looked so much like a finely crafted fountain pen nib.

The crystal inside was my problem. A rock with magical properties able to produce a blade capable of cutting through flesh and metal with equal ease while making the use of the Force simpler. With the crystal on me, using the Force was like talking into a megaphone to communicate across a crowded room verses the yelling required without it. A small difference in the grand scheme of things, but with it I would be able to go longer without losing my metaphorical voice for a while.

The crystal was also a conduit to a false god. A being claiming to be the Abrahamic deity from the Christian Bible. A load of nonsense considering such a deity is supposedly considered All Powerful, All Knowing, and purely good. If such a being existed, then there would be no strife in the world, thus at least one of those factors most be incorrect. In my dealings with this Being X, it was made clear to me that it was not purely good, instead a petty overworked incompetent who takes his frustration out on others. It was not All Knowing or it would not have needed me to explain to it how humans are self serving individuals who need motivation to accomplish goals. As for All Powerful, if it was then it would not be overworked.

I do not know what Being X might be, but the crystal at the heart of my lightsaber was a direct line to him speaking to me. A direct way he can take over my body. It has been silent for years now and that worries me. I did not get the impression Being X was a patient individual and yet it seems to be biding its time.

I took a deep breath. I took another. A familiar meditative exercise cleared my thoughts, and I clipped the lightsaber to my belt once I was calm. We would likely be asked to hand them over at the door to the casino, but the lightsaber is our life and we were to take it everywhere. Who knew you could legitimately have weapons be part of your religion?

—-

Master Windu believed that politicians were horrible people, and regularly joked to trusted Knights and Masters that dealing with them skillfully should be used for the Trial of Insight. Knight Labooda knew that the often dry delivery hid a true sincerity that if the Padawan in question truly did prove skillful in dealing with politicians, the Council would consider the Trial a pass.

The Trial of Insight was the last trial added to the Jedi Trials. Historically, prior to its inclusion, it was found that those Powerful in the Force, skilled in lightsaber combat, grounded in theirselves, and unwavering in the face of fear or injury, could be undone by a simple pickpocket's slight of hand or a politician's honeyed words. The Trial of Insight does not test a Jedi physically, spiritually, or even particularly mentally. It is a very practical trial to measure how much a Padawan is able to pay attention to their surroundings.

After discussing the matter with the Jedi Coucil, they agreed that the recordings from the opening of the Ryloth Grand Casino and Resort would work as a submission to prove Tanya's capabilities. So long as Tanya remained professional throughout without any reminders, she would pass the Trial with flying colors.

That would leave three Trials for her to face. Master Windu may joke that willingly facing politicians would also qualify Tanya for the Trial of Courage, but it took having one's life threatened to truly pass. The events on Ryloth years ago could have qualified, but Labooda and the Council agreed that despite the danger of the situation and courage needed to stay, Tanya receiving assistance from her past life disqualified the situation from being counted on its own. In the following years, the pair had not encountered anything nearly as perilous and it would require Tanya facing a dangerous mission on her own before she passed.

The Trial of Spirit was the the first Trial Labooda wished for Tanya to face once her hormones leveled out and she was comfortable with herself. It was also the Trial with the highest failure rate. Some may consider it impressive, considering other Trials could easily result in death, but the Trial of Spirit required one to face themselves: the deepest, darkest parts of one's being. The things one did not want to admit about themselves to others or themself. Passing this Trial was a sign that the individual was comfortable with who they are and were aware of who they could become.

The last Trial would likely be the easiest once they came to it. The Trial of Flesh had two ways of passing. Loss of limb or scarring from a wound or loss of mentor. In the modern Jedi Order, loss of mentor was normally taken metaphorically as a Padawan leaves behind the mentor to become a Knight of their own. Historically, it was often more literal with the mentor dying. Even now, the literal loss of mentor occurred occasionally, if relatively rarely.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Labooda looked in the mirror to see she had finished braiding her hair. Looking at herself, Labooda grabs a small tin of wax and applies a small dot to the area between her eyebrows before covering the dot of wax in a red powder. A pottu mark from her cultural home. There were several reasons one might have a pottu mark, it represented the third eye meant to signify seeing into the mystical universe, a sign of marriage, or as a traditional way to enhance beauty. For Labooda, it was a small way to honor the culture she originally came from before becoming a Jedi without casting aside Jedi traditions.

Seeing that the dot was perfectly circular and none of the red dust was clinging to others parts of her forehead, Labooda moved on to help her Padawan braid the thin strip of hair she used to symbolize her status.

—-

Gob'leif was not sure how Ral'ziti managed to talk her into going to the grand opening together, but there was little reason to say no as the two of them were going anyways and neither of them had a different partner to go with.

If Gob'leif was being honest with herself, she did find Ral'ziti cleaned up rather nicely. He was wearing a suit in a core-world style, but he was obviously uncomfortable wearing it. The awkward attempt at impressing her was kinda cute in a way, even as he failed to appear dashing and looked more ridiculous in the get up. A tunic would have fit him much better.

Not that Gob'leif really had much room to throw stones, feeling a bit silly in the dress she wore that showed far too much skin with the deep slits in the front and sides. She would be more comfortable in the simple shirt and coveralls she normally wore with a pair of sturdy boots to work. Instead she had a dress the core worlders loved seeing on Twi'lek women and a pair of shoes mostly strap and heel.

How do people dance in heels? Gob'leif had to keep a hand on Ral'ziti's arm for the entire party just to stay upright. At least he seemed relieved when she told the scarred man they would not be dancing that night.

The plan was to play a couple of games, have a few drinks, eat a bit of food, and talk to some people. Gob'leif would have to talk to a lot of people as the head of the construction company, but the main one she was interested in was the Jedi behind this place. It would be the first time she met a Jedi and a small voice that sounded like her when she was five was excited to meet one of those mystical heroes.

The music cut out and the announcer came out to begin the festivities.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for coming to this grand opening. Many of you may already know this, but this project is just the first step to creating a new Ryloth. A prosperous Ryloth with a joyful populace that people from across the galaxy come to visit. A beacon of hope. Before we open the games and let you all experience the first night of fun, I would like to present the woman behind this venture, without whom we would not be here to enjoy the events. I present to you all, Jedi Tanya Degurechaff."

A round of polite applause spread through the crowd as everyone began to crane their necks to get a good look at the mysterious Jedi who supposedly got everything in place for the project. Gob'leif was surprised at the stature of the Jedi. If she was to guess, they were probably the same height. The pure white look was less surprising. Jedi Degurechaff looked like the heroic entity Gob'leif always imagined. A pure clean being come from on high to aid the weak and defenseless.

"Thank you everyone for joining us. I am happy to see so many here for the beginning of a long term commitment of the Jedi to find new ways we can help people. We started this project to boost the economy of Ryloth to help get the native Twi'lek people out of poverty and if everything goes well here we hope that other organizations will help the Jedi to spread this model across the galaxy. The mission of the Jedi was, is, and shall remain the betterment of the people of the galaxy through any and all means. Enjoy the festivities."

The applause was more filled with more genuine joy as everyone began spreading out. Gob'leif began pulling her date towards the buffet first. She was hungry and did not want to spend a lot of time here with a growling stomach.

—-

The party seemed to be going well. Everyone was having fun and I was invited to partake in a few low stakes games. People are justifiably afraid that Force users might cheat at games of luck. It would be so easy to do, just a small nudge to get the results I wanted. I would never do such a dishonest thing, but the temptation was there. Instead, I focused on having fun.

It was surprisingly profitable and I ended up winning a few thousand credits worth of chips with nothing to spend them on as the Temple covered my expenses. I copied the actions of a few other players by giving generous tips, but I still ended up leaving the tables with a pocket full of chips.

Heading to cash out I was intercepted by Master Labooda who pulled me aside.

"Keep this comm on you. Something has happened and I am being called away on a rescue mission," her tone was hushed, appropriate considering the nature of conversation would ruin the festive atmosphere of the party.

"Yes Master. Anything specific you want me to do while you are away?"

"Just be careful. I know you can handle this on your own, but there are a lot of people here that would love to take advantage of you."

Of course there are a lot of people that would want to take advantage of a Jedi that seemingly has spent her whole life cloistered in a Temple away from the real world. I should be fine. I know how the world works.

"I will be Master."

With that, Master Labooda gave me a smile and nod before heading out.

I headed towards the tellers to cash out my chips and open an account. A nice subtle touch the Intergalactic Banking Clans added was having a branch open right inside the casino. Allows customers to spend more than they might have meant to while giving the employees a convenient location to handle their finances.