Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Chapter 5

"Have you found that which connects you to the Force, Raven?" Arren asked as the two were, once again, sitting in front of each other. The boy's eyes were closed while Arren was looking at him, admiring his progress.

Her decision was spot-on, and her gambit paid off. She still could barely believe how fast her Apprentice was progressing. Raven heard the original Code only one day earlier, and there was no trace of his inner turmoil. Of course, his feelings toward the family he lost so brutally were still there, but he finally gained control over them. And the result was instantly noticeable. The wooden cubes Raven was practicing on were floating lazily in the air around them, and he wasn't nearly as exhausted by the exercise as he used to be.

Who would have guessed that an almost six-year-old boy was able to find peace in the storm? Arren could name quite a few Masters who would struggle with this task. And even earlier that day, at breakfast, when her Apprentice saw Master Lamar, his anger was barely noticeable. It was still there, of course, but it wasn't fresh. Instead, it was more like embers, destined to die out in due time.

"I think so," Raven replied, not losing his focus. Another cube left his grip, increasing the tower's height. "I thought a lot about what you said yesterday, Master Kae. I… I was practicing in my room before going to bed. And each time I focused on my tattoo, I managed to call the Force to assist me," he explained, barely stopping himself from saying 'use the Force.' Arren smiled, leaning forward.

"But you know that your connection to the Force isn't focused in any physical part of your body," she said, though her tone didn't suggest it was supposed to be a reprimand. Instead, it sounded as if she just complemented Raven's statement.

"Yes," he nodded. The boy's hands were moving easily through the air, directing the cubes toward his creation.

"Go on, then," Arren urged him on. "What does that tattoo represent?"

"My family," Raven replied instantly. "My parents. I don't know how it works, though. I just… I know it's the right answer."

"I cannot be a judge of that, Raven," Arren replied. "There is no right or wrong answer to that question. You have to know for yourself if what you're telling is true or if you are simply lying to yourself. So, be sure to meditate upon that whenever you have time. Finding correctly that which connects you to the Force will make it easier for you to listen to It. And tell me, young one, what do you feel when you think about your parents?"

"Happiness, I think," Raven replied hesitantly. "That they loved me, that they died honorably. I'm still sad about what happened to them, though. But what you told me yesterday, Master Kae… it lessens the pain."

"And what of Master Lamar?" Arren queried softly, unsure if discussing that topic so quickly was a wise decision. "You saw him today at breakfast. You saw the lightsaber on his belt – the same weapon he used to kill your parents," she taunted him. The ambers of anger in him flared up a little, though it was more like an agonizing roar of a dying beast than an active threat. "What do you feel when you see or think of him, young one?"

The silence stretched, but there was nothing ominous about it. The strong currents of the Dark Side that rooted Itself already in her young Apprentice weren't as noticeable as they were for those last few days. Arren smiled proudly, scrutinizing Raven's face as it twitched slightly every now and then due to him concentrating on his practice.

"I don't know," he mumbled finally, allowing the last cube to join his creation.

"Ignorance, yet knowledge," Arren said after making sure the door to their training room was locked. "No matter how many years you'll spend on studying, you're not going to possess the entire knowledge of the Universe, Raven. And it is a good thing. For as long as you learn, you're improving. One learns their whole life – these are wise words said by some unknown person millennia ago, and not a part of the Jedi Code. But I believe they will help you understand the second tenet. As I've told you during our first practice, recognizing your own failures and mistakes is only good when you're willing to fix them, Raven. You said you don't know what you think of Master Lamar – for now, this answer is sufficient. No one your age would nor should know the answer. But once you grow older, ignorance isn't going to save you, but condemn you."

"You asked me a few days ago what the Dark Side was – It is something that accompanies every Jedi in their lives. It's not something that can be easily explained, young one," Arren sighed, rubbing her eyes. "And, unfortunately, the explanation I can give you right now is a primitive one at best. Once you grow older, and the Code becomes a permanent companion in your life, I will explain it further, but know that in the past, there were Jedi who allowed the Dark Side to gain control over them. And when they did, terrible things happened to the Galaxy. One such tragedy took place not so long ago, actually."

"I don't understand," Raven replied with a frown.

"Good. You shouldn't. Not every sentient being is a Force-sensitive, Raven, even if the Force is in all of us," Arren continued. "Things you learn here can be used by you in the future to help others – whether through your actions or your words alone. That is what it means to be a Jedi – to help others. But the Dark Side corrupts that calling, Raven. Those who succumb to It, use the Force to harm other people for no other reason than their own twisted pleasure. Emotions, if unwatched, can open your mind to the Dark Side's temptations, and ignorance, if not countered with studying, will cause you not to recognize those temptations. The Dark Side is what the Code must help you protect yourself against. And that is why we're spending so much time studying It."

"What were those tragedies you've mentioned, Master Kae?"

"Horrible things that resulted in many people's deaths," Arren replied with another heavy sigh. "Brutal wars were waged on a tremendously large scale, simply because of the different convictions of a handful of Force-sensitives. Entire worlds were being destroyed for one's hope of imprinting their name upon History. We – the Jedi – once properly introduced into the Order, vow to maintain peace and protect those who cannot protect themselves, mainly from the Dark Side and Its followers."

"Master Lamar killed my parents," Raven said after a moment of thinking. "Doesn't it mean he follows the Dark Side?"

Arren actually had to think for a minute or two about how to answer that question. A blessing and a curse, she thought once again. "To be honest with you, Raven, I don't know," she finally replied. "All I know is that no Jedi, no matter their rank or age, is immune to the Dark Side's temptation. However, there also is a difference between harming others for your own pleasure and doing that which must be done. I wasn't there when you were taken to the Order," she continued after a few seconds of pondering. "But I know Master Lamar to some degree. I know he isn't someone who seeks combat and only enters it when there is no other choice. And from what he had told us and what you had seen in your dreams, it was a duel between the Jedi and your parents. In some cultures, Mandalorian, for example, it is officially recognized as a socially accepted thing and a matter of honor. Did Master Lamar follow the Dark Side when he was fighting your parents? I don't know, and I doubt I'll ever know. Only those who went with him could have sensed it from him, but none of those Jedi returned. And, as I've already told you, the reasons for what had happened were many, and I will tell you all of them when the time comes. Now, let's continue our training," she ordered, standing up and gesturing for Raven to follow her lead. "Since I've already told you a little about the Dark Side, I think it's time for you to learn how to listen to the Force. It will help you recognize the temptations and fight them."

Raven stood up immediately; his eyes flashed in excitement at the prospect of going further with their training.

"To be able to listen to the Force, you must recognize It for what It is – your friend and your ally," Arren said, raising the top cube from the tower Raven created. "It won't speak to you like I do, but It will care for you. If you want to listen to the Force, you have to clear your mind – that's only one of the many reasons the first tenet of the Code is so important. Then, accept the truth that you're not omniscient, and allow the Force to guide you through that, which you don't know – the second tenet," Arren explained carefully. "And most importantly – trust in what the Force is telling you. I can assure you, Raven, It's not going to deceive you. Put this on," she instructed, removing a blindfold from the pocket of her robes.

Raven obeyed the command hesitantly, tying the piece of clothing around his eyes. He shifted his weight from one leg to another, trying to suppress the uncertainty that seeped into his mind.

"Opening yourself for the first time to what the Force is trying to tell you requires you to clear your mind," Arren continued speaking. "I understand the turmoil within you – even though it's smaller than a few days ago, it's still there. But you were able to find peace before, even with those thoughts and emotions clouding your mind. Do it again, Raven. Emotions, yet peace – allow that single sentence to guide you through everything that's happening inside you. You've said your tattoo is what connects you to the Force – try to follow it. See where the currents take you, and follow them."

Arren couldn't possibly tell if Raven was obeying her commands at that moment. The muscles on his face twitched slightly, but his eyes usually betrayed what he was doing. And with those hidden, she could only assume what her Apprentice was doing.

"The Force flows through you and around you. It surrounds you, penetrates you, and binds you to the Galaxy and even the whole Universe. Try to find and follow Its currents. See and hear me through the Force," she whispered, rotating the wooden cube in front of her. Giving her Apprentice a few more seconds to prepare himself, Arren sent the small object at him.

Just as she expected, the wooden cube collided gently with Raven's chest. The young boy stumbled backward, surprised by the sudden attack, even if it wasn't going to leave a single bruise on him.

"What was that?" Raven asked, removing the blindfold. His eyes widened when he noticed the wooden cube lying in front of him. His gaze moved upward, only to encounter Arren's gentle smile.

"The test, Raven," she replied as if that was all the answer the boy needed. "The Force is your ally, and, as such, It's going to warn you of any incoming threat. Don't worry, I'm not going to harm you," Arren added quickly, noticing he was going to say something. "The point of this exercise is to sensitize you to the Force's voice. If you learn how to listen to Its subtle warnings, in the future, you'll be able to hear the serious ones. Put the blindfold back on," she ordered, lifting another cube into the air.

"Recall our lesson from a few days ago," Arren whispered. "Remember what I've told you about expecting the unexpected. Tune your mind to always be on alert, and sensitive to what the Force is telling you. Allow It to replace your ignorance with Its knowledge. That way, nothing will be unexpected for you."

Arren smiled proudly upon noticing Raven adopting a stance she could only describe as 'combat-ready.' Following the Bond that had already formed between them, Arren tried to sense what her Apprentice was sensing. She allowed the Force to guide her toward and around the young boy. Just as she predicted, It was flowing around and through him. There was no denying that Raven's potential was enormous; even some of the oldest Jedi Masters didn't possess the same natural affinity with the Force he did. Of course, it was still wild and untamed, but if she succeeded in her task... if she managed to train and mold him into the Jedi he was destined to be…

For the first time since they left Coruscant, Arren was truly glad to have left the Archives. Or, at least, she wasn't having any second thoughts about her decision. But maybe this was enough. It was one thing to know the history of the greatest Jedi of the Order, but seeing one rise to a similar status, and guiding him along the way was something much better in her opinion.

So lost in her thoughts, Arren almost completely forgot about the exercise they were supposed to be doing. And it was Raven who reminded her of that by jumping to the side as if he wanted to avoid being hit by the projectile she was holding. Arren chuckled gently, shaking her head.

"Don't listen to your instincts," she admonished him. "They can only guide you so far. Listen to the Force, Raven. Try to hear Its whispers in your mind," she instructed, immediately sending the wooden cube at the young boy.

Just like before, the small object collided painlessly with his chest, falling to the ground. Arren stifled the chuckle that tried to escape her as she heard Raven groaning in frustration. Without removing his blindfold, her Apprentice kicked the offending object, sending it at the far wall; it bounced off it without causing any damage.

"I won't be talking anymore," Arren informed him, lifting the third cube. "Cut off everything that distracts you. Try to imagine I'm not here – there is only the Force. Let it guide you. Trust It, and follow Its instructions," she whispered, preparing herself to send another projectile at her Apprentice.

Arren delayed her attack for a minute or two, giving Raven some time to do as she instructed. Perhaps in a few months, or years, she would tell her Apprentice that this exercise was extremely difficult for a person who only began taking first steps in the ways of the Force. Listening to Its warnings, when no true danger existed, was nigh impossible.

But he didn't have to know it at that moment. If her Apprentice succeeded in this exercise, no matter after how many failed attempts, it would only make him stronger in the future. His potential was already enormous – wasting it would be unacceptable. Arren wouldn't be able to look at her own reflection in a mirror if that happened.

Deciding her Apprentice had enough time to prepare himself, Arren launched a test attack, sending the wooden cube in his direction at full speed. However, she didn't allow the small projectile to reach the young boy; she stopped it a few dozen centimeters away from him.

As she expected, and against her bravest hopes, the boy didn't even flinch. Their Bond allowed Arren to gently probe his mind, and she was more than certain that he was focused on their exercise, but he still wasn't able to listen to the Force. Holding back a sigh, Arren summoned the cube back to herself.

Patience, she scolded herself, blinking a few times. After a few seconds, she sent the cube back at Raven, though she did it at a moderate pace, not to harm the young boy.

Her eyes widened when she noticed a reaction on Raven's face. It was small, and one could argue that it wasn't what she thought it was. However, Arren allowed herself to believe that the tiny twitch of his lips when the cube was approaching him was a result of the Force speaking to him. Although it wasn't as significant as it was supposed to be; the wooden projectile collided harmlessly with the boy's chest for the third time, landing on the carpet with a soft thud. Again, he groaned quietly in frustration.

Focus, Raven, she whispered in her mind, even though there was no way for her Apprentice to hear her. Until he fully opened his mind to the Force, he wasn't going to hear her thoughts through their Bond, no matter how strong It would be.

The rest of their day was spent in a similar manner. Arren would send the wooden cubes at Raven at different intervals, hoping not to create a pattern. Otherwise, the boy's instincts would take control over him, and he would believe he achieved what she wanted to teach him. Arren couldn't allow for that to happen. As small as it was, there was a difference between instincts and the Force, and her Apprentice had to learn to recognize it.

A few times, Raven was close to reacting to her attack. His lips would twitch, and his eyebrows would furrow. Once or twice, he even stepped aside, though his reaction was a split second too late – the wooden cubes still managed to make contact with his arm or other body part.

But it was still progress. Tiny, and some could even say insignificant, but progress nonetheless. After a few hours of doing the same exercise over and over again, Arren announced that their day had ended. In contrary to their usual training days, she allowed Raven to retreat to his room after dinner, ordering him to meditate upon the first two tenets of the Code. She had no doubts that if he could understand them and implement them in his life, the next training session would bring much bigger progress.