Tython. When she thought about it, she'd spent more years in this temple than at her family home, or anywhere in the galaxy. She left the ship alone, her crew opting to live on board while she was working. She'd hoped Felix would accompany her, but she knew he was a little uncomfortable with the thought of coming under the scrutiny of the masters. This is indeed an unusual day, she thought, it's almost as if the universe knows, like I've opened up to parts of the force that were hidden before. Normally she didn't feel the force flow until she thought about it, but since last night her blood hummed louder, her ears could hear the tiniest sounds, and her aura glow was different. Normally a soft, yellow glow, Magdalane's aura was now an intense white. She knew she was drawing glances as she walked to the temple, but she shrugged them off. It wasn't as if she could change it, even if she wanted to.
She went directly to the med station. The master she was to perform the shielding ritual for was there, and she really had no other business. She knew Yuon would find her before she left, but Magdalane wouldn't seek her out this day. Satele Shan was with the ill master, and when she saw Magdalane her eyes grew wide. Satele knew instantly the changes that had taken place and why. Now we'll see, Satele thought, how this young Master handles herself with her increased powers.
Magdalane walked to the master she didn't know, greeted Satele, and immediately called up the shielding. The ritual was ancient, and Magdalane had gone through a great deal to learn it. It would protect the affected master from the thought influence of a powerful Sith lord who was attempting to turn masters against the order. When she'd done this ritual before, she'd had to build her force power, then cast. Today, however, all she did was recall the ritual and the power was there, tickling her fingertips. She clasped her hands in the proper position, and the room exploded in light. In seconds, the shielding was complete. Amazing, Magdalane thought, this usually takes longer, and I usually am on the ground once it's complete. She felt a little lightheaded, but nothing like the last times she'd used this. Satele's eyebrows raised, she was duly impressed. She went to Magdalane and helped her to a chair, and could feel the force flow just by touching the young Jedi's arm. She made a silent vow to herself to say nothing to the other masters about this, she knew a full investigation would only dampen Magdalane's spirit and her newfound power.
Magdalane, on the other hand, was more afraid of the sudden rush of force that she didn't feel she could control, and when Satele would have left her to rest for a bit, Magdalane instead held her there, and Satele then understood.
"It's okay, Magdalane. I know it's overwhelming at first, but you'll grow used to it. You've achieved what many think is impossible—you are more than a conduit of force power now. You actually command it."
Magdalane looked down at her hands, looking at the play of the brilliant white light there, then up to Grandmaster Satele. "Everyone will know I'm different," she said, "and as a Jedi I'm not supposed to be." She looked dazed. "What do I do now?" she asked.
Satele smiled at her then, "You enjoy the knowledge that you took a leap of the heart, and survived to grow stronger in the force. You can be stronger still, should you both choose to continue and deepen your relationship, but this current level of power will remain." She looked down for a moment, then said softly, "if it doesn't work out, there will be pain for you, and everyone connected to the force will feel it, but you cannot turn it away now. The difference? Before you used the force, now you are the force, and it is you." She patted Magdalane's shoulder, and left her to her thoughts.
Magdalane stood and took a deep breath. She could feel the atmosphere move, the molecules of oxygen bind to her blood, and she was awed. She walked back to the outside of the temple and sank down on a nearby bench. She sat there until the sun started to set, and was startled out of her daze by Felix's voice softly calling her name.
"I..I wanted to make sure that you had made it through the shielding ritual, that you were okay," he told her. He was a little concerned that she looked disoriented and dazed, but she stood and took his arm. When she touched him, her aura flared brilliant white and he could feel the calm flow through his body. He walked her back to the hanger where her ship was docked, and up the ramp. She turned and smiled at him then, still not saying anything, but stepping closer, kissed him. The brilliant aura flared again, and it felt like time slowed. When she stepped back, the aura slightly dimmed but remained around her, and he felt the intensity of her force power flow around him.
This is different, he thought, than I've ever seen her aura. She's different, somehow. She saw that he'd seen it, and told him, "it's you, Felix, it's us. Opening my heart has opened the limits I'd placed on the force. On what I was comfortable with. It's taking some getting used to." She led him into the ship, suddenly ravenous. C2 had prepared the meal, and they ate with the crew. They'd decided to stay here a few days, but they'd be back on track for Belsavis much sooner than she'd thought.
After dinner, Felix walked her to her quarters. He didn't quite know if he should stay or not, until she turned to him. "I'd like you to stay, Felix. I want it to be your choice, though. We'll just be sleeping tonight, I'm afraid. My mind is not tired, but my body is."
"I'd never turn down time with you," he smiled at her. She would have to explain all this further, but she just didn't have a grasp of the words yet.
As she drifted off to sleep, she remembered something her mother had told her, when she was a young girl: Love is the strongest magic of them all.