Chapter 3: Back to school
Youngling clans (or "Jedi Initiate" clans, if you wanted to be formal) were a Jedi tradition started thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago. Meant to provide support and a feeling of connection for young, effectively orphaned children, they promoted competition and continuous improvement. Usually named after animals, they gathered around 10 to 20 younglings, with 10 clans in total. I have seen some as padawans, but not many. Did they leave, or did they go to the Corps maybe? Beldorion shook his head. Maybe I just forgot, or it's a thing that changed. Who could remember two hundred younglings anyway? Master Yoda perhaps. He shaked his head and once again focused all his attention on Master Beq, who was just then starting his introduction. "...and as I told you earlier, we are welcoming a new addition to our ranks today. His name is Beldorion, and I hope you'll make him feel welcome, as others did for you." She gestured to him, and took one step back to make room for him. "Please come here, Bel, let them see you." As if they weren't watching me already, he thought. But he obediently slithered to the front of the auditorium, and bowed to his fellow younglings. "I am very glad to have come here, and I hope we can learn to be very good Jedi together!" He bowed quickly again, and turned to look at Master Jaune. "Well done, Bel, now take your manual and find a place to listen to the lesson please. Your new clan, Clawmouse (some cheers rose from the left of the auditorium), is sitting right over there." Gliding slowly, he found an open spot near the front and set down to wait.
"As we were saying yesterday," Jaune began, "and you should all remember that..." as some nervous laughter and shuffling followed her ice breaking remarks, Jaune smiled. "The Ruusan reformation fundamentally changed the role of Jedi in the Galaxy..." nodding, Beldorion recalled lessons much like this one, though only general impressions remained. It's like Master Rowe said, not an entire life relived, he considered, but only the beats and the rhythm of it, pearls of wisdom, things, people that seem familiar, or maybe easier to learn. Clawmouse clan as a whole, his new home in the Temple, seemed attentive to the lesson, with one looking enthralled, and two others looking somewhat bored. At least they had stopped looking at him, probably figuring there would be time enough for that later. The other clans, sitting farther away, did sneak looks at his figure from time to time. Most classes won't be massive affairs like this, I think, but they should get used to me soon anyway. The class passed and each clan was taken by an individual fosterer to practice their reading and writing. Lessons continued into the afternoon, and Bel became acutely aware of the fact he and two other younglings were the eldest by a few years. After they were away from other clans, and the little ones gathered their courage, they began approaching. It was nice enough, he mused, seeing those smaller faces come up to him and ask "what kind of human" he was, or if "his mom was a giant snake." It could seem insulting, he considered, but they are just too innocent. He resolved to remain polite to the (other) children and did his best to answer their admittedly inventive questions.
March Hyber, Jedi Corps member and fosterer for Clawmouse clan, nodded to herself as she saw Beldorion handle the smaller Initiates with remarkable patience. She had expected he'd need her to intervene, becoming distressed or angry, but now that seemed unlikely. Still, she decided to hold an improptu lesson so the curious children, mostly near-humans and with little contact with other races, would not spend the rest of the day distracted. "Gather around, everyone, you are unfocused and pestering Bel with all the questions. ("it's no bother," he mumbled, but she was committed now) Come here and we will explain quickly." A droid quickly brought a blackboard, and she started writing. "Beldorion, here," she gestured, as he waved hello nervously, "is a member of the Hutt race. They all follow the same body plan, with two arms, a head, and a long body that ends in a tail. They grow bigger than other races, but Bel is so young he's almost you size still. Some grow as big as a speeder, or even larger..." After a while, and with the help of a few holos, they seemed satisfied and she ended the lesson. Right, that was easier than expected, she allowed, Now to tire them out. "Ok everybody, lesson over! Let's go to the Eastern yard, and start running!" The children filed out with her following, but she stopped as she saw Bel was waiting for her. "Thank you for your help, Master March," he said. "I thought they'd never stop with the questions." She smiled and rubbed his head. "We are here to help you all. Now go with them and run around the yard as fast as you are able until I say stop!" She watched him glide quickly after them, and followed at a more sedate pace.
After 30 minutes of the youngling dutifully jogging (or slithering) around the yard, Bel considered, thoughtful. This is so much easier than I thought. The little ones are already tired and I wasn't the first one to give up. The oldest children seemed to want to make a point of outlasting him, and he was getting tired, so he went back to the shade, slowly. The Jedi Temple, like I've seen it many times. But which vision is in the right? Or does it matter at all? He noticed Miss March signaling for the end of the exercise, and approached her. First night with the others, then. May the Force guide me.
Author's note:
Getting introduced to the class is always a stressful moment