Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 2
"Clear your mind, Raven," Arren instructed as the two sat in front of each other, occupying one of the many meditation chambers in the Enclave. The room was empty, safe for a single cup standing between them. "Get rid of that which plagues your thoughts. Forget about Coruscant, your dreams, and even Dantooine. Focus only on yourself. Let there be nothing nor anything in your mind right now – not me, not the other Masters, or any Jedi." And not your parents, she thought, though she didn't dare to say those words. She was sure the time was coming when he would finally ask the dreaded question, though Arren hoped to postpone that for as long as possible. She didn't doubt that the boy would like to dive even deeper into the history of his people now that he knew about his ancestry. Sooner or later, he would stumble upon the pictures of his people's armor. Then, questions would be asked.
"Pretend as if I wasn't even here," she continued in a whisper. "You are alone. Let your mind flow freely," Arren said, looking at Raven. The young boy had his eyes closed, sitting with legs crossed and his hands on his knees, just as she instructed. The only sound coming from him was his steady breathing. His chest was rising and falling evenly, indicating that he wasn't even focused on maintaining his body's basic activity. Good, Arren smiled.
"Now, search deep within yourself," she whispered, leaning slightly forward. "Remember what I've told you – the Force penetrates everything and everyone around us. There is no emotion, there is peace. Let those words guide you," Arren instructed, scrutinizing his face. A small frown appeared on Raven's face, barely visible, and his rhythmic breathing faltered for a split second. "Those are the most basic words every Jedi should obey in their lives. For now, accept them for what they are. There will be time for questions later. Let them guide you," she repeated. "Follow them as they flow through your mind. The Force is within you, Raven – find It."
His eyebrows furrowed again as he processed Arren's words, though the rhythm of his breathing remained unchanged – he was concentrated. She could feel the Force flowing around them, focusing on the boy in front of her. Arren's eyes lit up in the excitement – he was close. "Focus on your heartbeat – see how it pumps blood through your veins. Focus on your breathing – see how oxygen is delivered to your lungs; how your blood carries it throughout your body. Those are the currents of life, Raven – the currents of the Force. They were there long before either of us was even born, and they will be here after our deaths; listen to them. Can you feel It?"
It was the dumbest question to ask, in Arren's opinion. For generations, every Master would ask their Apprentice the same thing during their first lesson, sincerely hoping for an honest answer. And each time, the Apprentice would confirm it, even if they had no idea what they were talking about. They would lie just to accelerate their training and gain respect in their Masters' eyes. However, those were the approved teaching methods - tested and perfected throughout millennia. And losing her Apprentice before he even became her Padawan wasn't the reason Arren left Coruscant. Besides, how many Padawans managed to grow into great Jedi despite their small lie? After all, the Masters sitting on the Council didn't come from anywhere. And so, she obeyed those ancient teachings methods.
"No." The boy's words were quiet, barely above a whisper, and it took Arren a few solid seconds to even register them. She blinked a few times in surprise, regaining her focus on the boy in front of her.
"What did you say?" she finally asked, narrowing her eyes at Raven's face. His eyes were closed tightly, and his face was red as he attempted to force himself to follow Arren's instructions. Finally, after a few seconds, he gave up, exhaling loudly.
"I couldn't feel anything, Master Kae," he admitted shamefully, slowly opening his eyes, though he didn't dare to look at her. Arren's ears registered a faint clattering sound. Her eyes drifted downwards, only to see the small cup shaking slightly, even though she was certain neither of them had touched it. "I'm sorry," he muttered.
"What is it you're sorry for, young one?"
"For failing you, Master Kae," he replied. His lips barely moved as he spoke, forcing Arren to pay as much attention to his words as possible if she wanted to understand them.
"Look at me, Raven," she commanded. Hesitantly, the young boy lifted his head, though his eyes continued to travel between her face and the floor. "You haven't failed me today," Arren said softly. His head instantly shot upwards; surprise and relief were written all over his face. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to answer my question truthfully. Many Apprentices lie to their Masters when given the same question," she explained, noticing a puzzled expression on his face. "I lied to my Master as well, and I'm pretty sure he was aware of it. Never before have I heard of someone who would reply honestly."
"Does… does it mean that my training already ends?" the boy asked, fiddling with the hem of his tunic. Arren smiled softly.
"Of course not, young one," she replied, earning herself a relieved sigh from the boy. "Honesty isn't a reason for punishment. I knew you wouldn't feel it on your first lesson," she admitted, once again surprising Raven. "But the Force is within you. I can feel it as we sit here. I saw it on our last day on Coruscant, and I have seen it now as well. The cup has stirred," she explained, pointing at the object between them. "Had you said 'yes,' I would have instructed you to move it. You haven't failed me today, Raven," Arren repeated, staring right into the boy's eyes. "If anything, you've just made me immensely proud – far prouder than I would have been had you consciously moved the cup with the Force."
"But how?"
"You've recognized your own failure," Arren explained. "You recognized it and were brave enough to admit it to your Master – something even many Jedi Knights are still incapable of doing. Failures and mistakes are a natural part of one's training. You will encounter them - of that, I can assure you right now, but your reaction to them is what will determine your progress. So, don't hide from them. Instead, embrace and learn from them."
"But didn't you say that mistakes are unacceptable, Master Kae?" Raven countered, frowning slightly. "Back on Coruscant, I mean."
"In the Archives, yes, they are unacceptable," Arren confirmed, nodding her head. "But mistakes are a constant companion in every person's life. We all do them – even the greatest of Jedi Masters. Only the person who does nothing is never wrong," she said. Do you think we've made a mistake, Master Kae? Jifo's question echoed in her mind. "But contrary to what you may think, they are here to help us," she continued, shaking her head a few times to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts. Mistake or not, the decision was made, and the Council had to adapt. "Your failures guide you through your training, no matter what it is you're learning. Mistakes help you see where you should improve. It is difficult to accept them, I admit, but they're unavoidable. However, if you learn to embrace them instead of denying or shying away from them, they will help you improve. Recognizing a mistake or failure is a first step to avoiding repeating them in the future."
"So… you're not sending me off to the Temple Guards or Telos?" he asked sheepishly. Arren chuckled gently.
"Not for now, young one," she replied with a smile. "However, don't misinterpret my words," she added sternly, causing Raven to look up at her instantly. "Wallowing in self-pity will get you nowhere. While you have impressed me today by being honest with me and admitting your failure, I will not accept it as an excuse. Mistakes are good as long as you constantly strive to improve yourself. If you don't, then your further training is meaningless, and we can stop it now. Do you understand it?"
"Yes, Master Kae," the boy nodded eagerly, still clearly relieved, despite Arren's warning.
"Good," Arren smiled. "Let us continue then. Catch your breath, drink some water, and we shall repeat the same exercise. As I've said, the Force is within you, Raven, and it is only a matter of time until you learn how to call it to your assistance."
They continued the same thing well until midday. Following Arren's instructions, Raven did his best to admit each time whether he felt what she was trying to help him find or not. Usually, the answer was the same as in the beginning, but a few times, he swore he could sense something inside him. Describing it was beyond his abilities, though. It was as if something was there inside him, accompanying his every breath, every beat of his heart, and every droplet of blood coursing through his veins. Sometimes, the feeling was almost unbearable, and he had to put in an effort to stop himself from scratching the entire surface of his body. Other times, the feeling was much more gentle – like a breeze of air in one's hair. And sometimes, the feeling was gone entirely.
"Can you feel it?" Arren repeated for a dozenth or so time that day. Other Masters would have moved on with his training already, but she wasn't going to let such an opportunity pass. The boy's potential was enormous – that much she knew – only a matter of helping him realize it remained. And if her future Padawan was to fully achieve the greatness the Force destined for him, there wasn't such a thing as a too-small step. Being an Archivist taught Arren long ago to be thorough in everything she did.
"Yes," the boy muttered, nodding his head. As always when he confirmed, his voice was quiet, as if he was afraid that saying anything louder would result in him losing that fleeting sensation. Arren smiled; there was no deception in the boy's voice.
"Now, follow those currents outwards," she whispered, leaning slightly forward. "The Force penetrates everything in this room, binding it to the rest of the Enclave. Feel as It flows through the cup in front of you. The Force is your ally, young one. You do not use It, but you need to rely and depend on It if you want It to help you achieve your goals," she instructed. "You can't make the Force do anything for you, but you may call upon It if need be. And like any ally, It shall answer. Open your hand," she instructed. Raven did as he was told, straightening the fingers of his right hand. "Visualize yourself grasping the cup. You know what it looks like, and you know its weight. Let this knowledge reach the Force within you. Help It understand what your goal is and try to depend on Its assistance. It shall come to your aid."
Raven clenched his teeth slightly, and the muscles of his face spasmed occasionally as he tried to follow his teacher's instructions. His right hand was outstretched, pointed at the small cup between them as he tried to focus even more on that fleeting sensation. Arren felt the Force swirling around the young boy as he concentrated on his objective. Her lips curled up slightly as she saw the cup beginning to move. The movement was almost unnoticeable, but it was there. From the corner of her eye, she saw Raven's fingers clenching a little as if he was indeed grabbing the small object with his hand. The cup ceased shaking; ever so slowly, it started rising into the air just as the boy's wrist moved upward. Arren's smile widened as she stared at the boy's achievement.
Raven groaned heavily, and the small object fell to the ground; the sound echoed across the empty room. Sweat covered his forehead as he blinked a few times to look at the cup in front of him; it lay on its side, rolling slowly before all movement ceased.
"Well done, young one," Arren praised him. Raven's eyes drifted upwards to look at his teacher; he instantly returned her smile, panting slightly. "I was right when I spoke to the Council about you – your potential truly is great. Many can't do it on their first training."
"Will it always be so difficult?" Raven asked, still panting. He stretched his legs, groaning slightly as he felt the tense muscles relaxing.
"No," Arren shook her head. "With time and enough practice, calling upon the Force's assistance will come naturally to you. Like breathing." As if wanting to prove her words, Arren lifted the cup. The small object floated in the air, rotating slowly as her fingers moved ever so slightly. Raven watched, mesmerized by the display in front of him. "The first few weeks, months, or sometimes even years are difficult," she admitted, placing the cup back on the floor. "Even the greatest Masters of our Order struggled at first when they were your age – it's a natural part of everyone's training."
"Even you struggled?" the boy asked, still looking at the cup. Arren chuckled gently.
"I wouldn't describe myself as one of the greatest Masters," she replied. "But yes, I did struggle at first. Though I can tell you that you've made much bigger progress than I did when I was your age. It took me a few days to lift that cup," Arren informed him, earning herself a wide grin from the boy. She stood up. "Come now. I believe it's lunchtime. We're not yet done for the day, and I don't want you to suddenly faint."
As if in confirmation of her words, Raven's stomach growled loudly. He pushed himself up from the floor and followed Arren to the cantina. Other students were heading there as well, just as numerous Jedi Knights and Masters. No one knew how, but the cantina was large enough to fit and feed everyone in the Enclave at the same time.
As was usually the case, even back on Coruscant, Arren walked to the furthest table, reserved for the Masters. Raven watched as she greeted one of its occupants – a tall, blonde man, clearly a few years younger than her. They both bowed to each other before Arren sat at the table, seemingly forgetting about her Apprentice for the moment.
Raven looked around, searching for his roommate. Being the newest addition to the Enclave, he still didn't know any of his peers except for Alek. It took him a few seconds, but he finally caught a glimpse of the boy's messy black hair. He was sitting at the same table where they had eaten breakfast earlier that day. Navigating through the crowd and between the chairs standing too close to each other, Raven made his way to the other boy's table.
"First lesson?" Alek asked when Raven sat down. The younger boy nodded his head, still panting slightly from the exhaustion. "Been there," he said, continuing to eat his lunch. "I swear I was sure Master Lestin was secretly trying to murder me back then," Alek added with a quiet chuckle which Raven mimicked.
"I feel like I could sleep for a few days now, but Master Kae already told me that this isn't the end for us today," Raven replied, grabbing a spoon. His stomach growled again as he stared at the soup on his plate. "And my head hurts," he added before he started eating. Until that moment, he didn't realize how much his body needed food – his stomach's growling didn't do his hunger justice.
Alek chuckled again. "Yeah, I remember that. But wait until you start learning how to duel. Everything will hurt you then," he added with a mischievous wink. Raven gulped loudly, swallowing the soup. "So, how did it go?"
"Good, I think," Raven replied. "At least, that's what Master Kae said. I lifted that cup on my last attempt," he explained, causing Alek's eyes to widen in shock. "What?" he frowned.
"You're joking, right? Already?" he asked in disbelief.
"Hi, Squint!" a female voice interrupted them. Before Raven could turn around to see who it was, a girl around the same age as Alek sat down right next to him. A huge grin appeared on her face as Alek groaned heavily.
"I told you not to call me that, Surik," he sighed, hiding his face in his hands. The girl – Surik – only laughed in response.
"That's why I keep doing that," she said, grabbing her own spoon. "And who are you?" she asked, only then registering another person sitting at their table.
"He's my new roommate," Alek replied, shaking his head. His cheeks were slightly reddened, and he avoided looking anywhere near Surik. "Meetra, this is Raven. Raven, Meetra Surik," he introduced the two. Raven grabbed Meetra's hand, shaking it slightly.
"I haven't seen you around before," she commented, returning her attention to the meal in front of her. "Are you new here?"
"Yes. I came from Coruscant yesterday with Master Kae," Raven replied.
"I hoped your Master would finally leave you on Telos this time," Alek commented, taking a sip of something from his mug. "I still don't know how you manage to convince him to take you back with him."
Meetra stuck her tongue at him. "In your dreams, Squint-"
"Squinquargesimus," Alek interrupted her, glaring at the girl.
"Yeah, yeah… Squint," she replied, winking at him. Alek groaned again. "As I was saying, or wanted to say, it's quite likely that we'll take you with us the next time," Meetra said, grinning mischievously at the boy. Alek scoffed, shaking his head.
"In your dreams, Surik," he echoed her earlier words.
"What? You're slacking off. I'm way ahead of you right now. Not to mention older."
"We're the same age," Alek reminded her.
"Almost," she grinned again. "I'm one month older than you. Speaking of which, how old are you… Raven?" she asked, hesitating for a moment to remember the other boy's name.
"Five."
"It's an odd name," Meetra commented. "I mean, not as odd as Squin-whatever," she added hastily, gesturing at Alek. The other boy only rolled his eyes in annoyance, already used to Meetra's antics. "But I never met anyone named after… an animal," she said, staring at him.
"It's my Clan's name," Raven replied protectively, instinctively touching his left shoulder as if he wanted to make sure his tattoo was still there. It didn't matter to him that he couldn't feel the ink through his tunic.
"Then what is your real name? Where are you from?"
"I will take a name when I turn eight," Raven replied hesitantly. "I'm from Mandalore."
Both Alek's and Meetra's eyes widened in surprise.
"You didn't say that yesterday," the other boy commented.
"I never heard of a Mandalorian becoming a Jedi," Meetra said. Raven nodded his head; he gathered that much from what little he managed to read the evening before. "I guess there's a first time for everything, right? So. How do you like it here? Must have been a real shock to come here from Coruscant."
Raven shrugged. "All I saw there was the Temple," he answered. "Seeing so much… nature is nice, I guess."
"Yeah, that's one thing Dantooine has better than Coruscant," Meetra agreed. "I was there a few times. I never liked all this rush and everything that's going on there. It's just… too much, in my opinion. Things are much more peaceful here in the Enclave. And how is your training going? You started yet?"
"Today," Raven informed her. "I just finished my first lesson with Master Kae."
"Lifting the cup?" Meetra guessed. "So, how did it go?" she asked after receiving a confirming nod from the boy."
"I raised it on my last attempt," he admitted, earning himself a similar reaction to Alek's. The other boy tried to hide his chuckle behind his mug, though he failed miserably at that.
"Looks like there is someone who will outrun you in your training, Surik," he commented. "Maybe then your Master will reconsider leaving you on Telos." Meetra glared at him.
"I won't believe it until I see it," the girl replied. "Okay then, Little Bird," she said, returning her attention to Raven. The younger boy frowned at the nickname while Alek laughed again. "If you say you did it, why don't you show it to us then?" she challenged him.
"Here? Now?"
"Why not?" Meetra shrugged. "It's not like we're limited to our training rooms. Not to mention that practicing won't get you in trouble with your Master," she said, placing her spoon in front of Raven. "Go ahead, lift that spoon."
Raven looked hesitantly between her and Alek, who seemed to be equally eager to see him repeat his performance from his training with Master Kae. Flashing a hesitant smile, he gripped the spoon and raised it into the air for a few seconds before dropping it on the table.
"You're a funny one, Little Bird," Meetra commented. "I like you. But I wanted you to use the Force," Meetra rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Jedi don't use the Force," Raven countered with a frown, recalling Master Kae's words from the day earlier. The girl next to him rolled her eyes again.
"Yeah, yeah, I've had that lecture too," she replied. "It's just an expression. Come on, I want to see you use the Force to lift that spoon," Meetra said, accenting that word similarly to Raven.
Raven wasn't sure if it was his desire to prove himself to the older students or his thirst for repeating his earlier accomplishment, but nevertheless, he obliged with the girl's request. He tried a few times, always trying to recall his Master's guidance to the letter, but the spoon didn't even flinch. His cheeks reddened in embarrassment just as Meetra's chuckle reached his ears.
"Alright, I need to get going," she declared, standing up from her chair. "Master Kavar said we have some training to do today, and I can't see myself slacking off like you," she said, looking at Alek. "See you around, Squint, Little Bird," she said, leaving the cantina. Raven watched her leave for a few more seconds until she stopped in front of the same Jedi Master he saw Arren greeting earlier.
"What's her problem?" he asked, turning back to his roommate.
"She's a major pain, thinks too highly of herself, and believes she's better than all other Padawans put together," Alek enumerated, using his fingers to count down. "I honestly have no idea why I even keep bothering myself with her. She's a menace, but…" he gestured wildly with his hands, unable to find any explanation. He gave up after a few seconds, letting out a frustrated sigh. "It seems everyone loves her, even if she's unbearable most of the time."
"So… Squint?" Raven asked with a hesitant smile that turned into laughter when Alek groaned.
"Don't even go there, Little Bird."
True to Cassus' words, the Mandalorians from other Clans were gathering in the main plaza of the capital. Being the head of Clan Raven, he was shown to the square's front; Amiel was standing next to him, looking around from time to time. A lot of other Clan Leaders were already there, and there were more coming if Cassus' Beskar cases were any indication. Fett was still nowhere to be seen, indicating that he was still taking care of his task.
Not only the Clan Leaders answered Cassus' summon. Taungs were there as well – tall and imposing; their grey skin and height made them stand out from the crowd. Once Clan Leaders themselves, now almost extinct. Garr felt small shivers running down his spine as one of the aliens locked eyes with him for a split second; the Taung's yellow orbs seemed to penetrate his very soul before the alien looked away.
Murmurs and whispers ruled over the entire plaza. Everyone was talking, mostly excited, about the new Mandalore – whoever that was. However, from what little Garr could hear, others weren't nearly as enthusiastic. It wasn't anything new, though. Each time a new Mandalore emerged amongst them, there were always some who wouldn't acknowledge their rule.
He didn't know how much time passed before Fett returned; Garr turned around, only then noticing that almost the entire plaza was filled with Mandalorians. None of them had their armor – the result of following Exar Kun decades earlier. Jetti stripped them of everything – Beskar wasn't an easily acquirable material, and all of their armorers perished in the war. Their forges remained cold for years. Of course, every Mandalorian had a basic knowledge of how to craft the armor, but it was always a gamble.
The murmurs and whispers soon turned into excited cheers and occasional boos as something heavy landed at the square's front. Garr turned his attention back to the podium; his eyes widened in a mixture of shock and awe.
Steam was still coming out of the Basilisk War Droid's engines and air brakes as it stood on the podium. Its multiple guns were pointed on the ground, roughly a few steps in front of Garr; its matted grey-green armor plates were covered with dirt and oil. A tall figure – far taller than a regular human Mandalorian and even most of the Taungs – sat on top of the Basilisk. Partly hidden behind the armor plates, he still had his hands on the droid's controls as he observed the crowd in front of him. Garr's eyes drifted upwards until they rested on the man's head – Mandalore the Indomitable's Mask was covering the Taung's face. Once again, small shivers ran down his spine, but he quickly recognized it as excitement.
Cheers were deafening, easily outmatching the sparse boos. Garr stared in awe as the Taung hidden behind the Indomitable's Mask raised his spear – the same one his predecessor wielded – and the crowd went silent immediately. Even though he had seen the Indomitable's death with his own eyes, it was easy to recognize the ease with which the new Mandalore took control over the gathered people. Perhaps it came with the equipment? Garr had no idea.
"Brothers," the Taung began, still sitting on his Basilisk. His voice was loud and confident – any other combination would be unacceptable. "Sisters. I see you have answered the call. Good," he commented, slowly nodding his head. Beskar helped, Garr thought, looking around, hoping to see how many of the gathered people had the same thoughts. "I believe Fett has already told you why I have summoned you here in the middle of the night," the new Mandalore more stated than asked.
"Beskar only brought us here to listen to what you have to say," one of the gathered Mandalorians was brave enough to say what Garr, and undoubtedly many more, had in mind. "So, we're listening," the man added, earning himself whispers and nods of agreement.
"I met someone," the new Mandalore spoke, once again silencing everyone. "A formidable warrior and a powerful being – similar to Exar Kun," he said; whispers started anew as the name made its way through the plaza. All Clan Leaders remembered the fallen Jedi and how they followed him into battle. Only to suffer a tremendous defeat at the hands of the Republic and Jetti. "I know you remember that man," the Mandalore continued. "He promised us greatness and spoils of victories, but we had none of it. The man I met gave me more – he showed me our triumph! I saw Mandalorian flags placed on the tallest buildings of Coruscant! I saw the Republic crushed beneath our might! I saw Jetti slain by us, and their Temple burned to ashes!" His every sentence was followed by cheers that grew louder and louder. "Coruscant," the Mandalore continued, leaning forward on his Basilisk. "Our ancient Homeworld!" he said, looking at the gathered Taungs, who roared in approval. "The Zhell have driven us away from there, but it is within our might to reclaim what belongs to us!"
"How did he show you that?!" someone from the crowd yelled. "Exar Kun was once a Jetti," the man spat as if that word burned his tongue. "They're known for their mind tricks. And you say that man was similar to Exar Kun."
"I don't know how he showed me that," the Mandalore admitted. "But there's no denying what I've seen. Each time I close my eyes, I can see those images again," he said, taking a deep breath. "I saw our victories and our spoils of war. Entire worlds fell under our strength, and the Republic could do nothing about it!"
"These are just words," the same man as before spoke, stepping forward. The crowd parted immediately, allowing the brave one to pass. "For all we know, you could have just dreamed about it. Exar Kun promised us the same thing!" he yelled, looking around for support. A few Mandalorians roared in agreement, and many more nodded their heads. "It takes more than the Indomitable's Mask to make you a Mandalore," he said, drawing his vibrosword.
"And who are you, Mandalorian?" the Taung asked, stepping off his Basilisk with his spear in hand.
"Kos – leader of Clan Deshra," the man introduced himself, stopping a few steps in front of the Mandalore. "We value warriors – not scavengers. If I claim your Mask and spear in battle, then that mysterious man can show me those visions of grandeur," he said, adopting the fighting position. "I challenge you, Mandalore, to a duel to the death."
"I accept your challenge," the Taung replied coolly, also dropping into a combat stance.
Kos was the first one to attack – as the rules dictated. Vibrosword parted the air in a blink of an eye, and before anyone could realize what was happening, the echoes of clashing weapons filled the plaza. Cheers followed immediately, whether for the Mandalore or Deshra. It didn't take Garr long to notice that both duelists were skilled warriors. Their weapons seemed alive in their hands as they participated in the deadly dance. Metal met metal countless times, empowering the crowd's cheers.
But Taungs were stronger than humans – that wasn't anyone's opinion but a biological fact; stronger, faster, and more agile. Combined with the fact that neither of the Mandalorians tasted real combat in over twenty years, it soon became obvious who had the upper hand. Still, Garr had to admit that Kos stood his ground fiercely and bravely, trying not to give his opponent the upper hand while also attempting to exploit all mistakes he had noticed. In the end, it didn't prove to be enough. After receiving an exceptionally strong punch in the face, the new Mandalore ended their duel, thrusting his spear through Kos' heart. A quick death, worthy of a Mandalorian – in battle with his weapon in his hand.
"Anyone else wishes to question my claims?!" he roared at the gathered crowd. "Each duel will leave us one Mandalorian less, and I didn't summon you here just so we would slaughter each other!" The silence was all the answer he got. "I know I have no way to prove to you that what I've seen was real. But none of you can deny Beskar's truth!" he said, looking around. "What was gifted to you is nothing, but the content of just a single ship. And I saw hundreds of similar ships, filled to the brim with Beskar. I don't know much about that man I met, but I know he's no friend of the Republic or Jetti. And as long as we are willing to fight, he is willing to supply us until Mandalorians can stand on their own feet again! Join me, brothers and sisters, swear your loyalty to me and take back what is rightfully yours!"
"Clan Fett is with you," Cassus was the first one to speak when cheers and gun salvo died down. He knelt in front of the Mandalore, presenting his rifle. "My weapon and my life are yours."
The new Mandalore nodded his head. Cassus' actions seemed to encourage the other Clan Leaders as well. Garr watched as all other Clans swore their loyalty to the imposing Taung: Kryze, Vizla, Ordo, Jeban, Jendri, Jennis, Farr, Cadera, Bralor, Detta, and many, many more. The Mandalore's brethren knelt down as well. With the Taungs nearly extinct, they represented a fairly new Clan, named after their species.
"I know what happened to your family two years ago," the Mandalore's voice came from much closer than Garr anticipated. He blinked a few times, returning his attention back to the Taung standing right in front of him. "I know your sorrows, brother," he said, placing his hand on Garr's shoulder, just above his tattoo. "But every time a new Mandalore rose amongst our people, your Clan was always there as their personal guards. And I would like that tradition to continue. Word is, your brother and his wife killed seven out of eight Jetti that invaded us back then." Garr's eyebrow rose slightly as the Mandalore said the word 'us.' "And I have no doubts that you possess similar skills. Swear your loyalty to me, and I can promise you that you will have your revenge."
Being the last Clan Leader still standing, Garr knelt as well, offering the new Mandalore his weapon and life.
"Return to your homes!" the Mandalore ordered. "Assemble your Clans! Tell them what you have seen here today! Tell them to start preparing for war! Craft your armors, build the Basilisks, and rise, Mandalorians, and take back what was stolen from us!"
Another round of deafening cheers erupted from the crowds, empowered with numerous gun salvos. Placing his hand on Amiel's back, Garr led his son back to their speeder. He couldn't keep a smile from forming on his lips; for the first time in twenty years, he had orders to follow.
"As I have already told you, all life is connected through the Force," Arren lectured her young student. Rather than in the Enclave, the two were sitting on top of one of the nearby hills. The tall grass hid them both, much to the young boy's amusement. He laughed once in a while each time a blade of grass tickled his face or arms. The setting sun was warm and bathed the surrounding plains in an orange hue. "The Force speaks, for lack of a better term, through every living being – sentient or not. It communicates with us. And, as you have undoubtedly noticed, if you try to talk to someone in a crowded space, filled with the sounds and voices of others, the conversation will be nigh impossible. Now, imagine your mind as such a crowded space," she instructed, pushing away a few blades of grass which shielded her student. "If you want to communicate with the Force, you need to calm your mind. Otherwise, your own thoughts will silence whatever it is that the Force wants to tell you. Even more so, your emotions."
Raven nodded his head, doing his best to focus on his teacher's words. It was a difficult task. For the first time in his life, he could witness nature with his own senses rather than reading about it from datapads. It also didn't help that he was exhausted. A few hours have already passed since lunch – hours filled with the same training as earlier. And it took three successful attempts in a row to convince Master Kae that they could move on to another part of his training.
"Just as is the case right now," Arren continued. "I have brought you here for a purpose, young one," she said, pulling out the same training cup from the pocket of her robe. Raven groaned heavily upon noticing the small object. "To show you why it is so important to keep your mind clear. I hope you know your objective right now. You should already be familiar with the steps. Begin, young one."
Raven nodded his head, taking a deep breath. He sat there for a few minutes, attempting to clear his mind, just as Master Kae instructed. However, it was much more difficult to do it on the plains than in the training room. Closing his eyes didn't help – his other senses were still able to pick up countless other stimuli: Kath Hounds barking in the distance, Iriazes running through the tall grass, the flapping of Briths' wings in the sky and even tiny insects living somewhere around and beneath him.
His nose was attacked by a myriad of scents he never felt before: grass – alive or already crushed beneath someone's or something's feet, dirt, and fresh air carrying the smell of water somewhere in the distance. Raven furrowed his eyebrows, doing his best to block out those sensations and focus on the task at hand. He knew how it should be done – he had already done it a few times back in the Enclave.
But no matter how hard he tried, Raven still couldn't even make that first step – that fleeting sensation of the Force traversing through his body was blocked out by everything else. Not even Master Kae's guidance on calming his body helped. There was just too much of everything around him.
"You see what I mean now, young one?" Arren asked after a few minutes, seemingly able to pick up Raven's difficulties. "Everything you experience right now with your senses is connected to the Force, but it blocks your own connection. That is why it's so important for a Jedi to keep their minds clear and calm."
"But it would mean that the Jedi can't use the Force outside the training rooms," Raven commented, looking frantically around.
"What did you say?" Arren asked with a frown.
"Sorry, Master Kae," he mumbled. "I… I heard it was an expression."
"Where did you hear it?"
"During lunch," he admitted. "That girl said it was just an expression."
"And is that girl your teacher, Raven?"
"No."
"Exactly," Arren nodded her head. "I admit that the term 'use the Force' is overused by many – even the Jedi Masters," she said, lifting the cup into the air. "But I don't want to hear you use it for now. I'm afraid it might pollute your mind. You do not use the Force, just like you do not use your friends, and the Force is certainly your friend. It assists you when you need it, and you may call upon it. Using the Force just sounds… wrong. It doesn't fully imply what it means to be a Jedi. And no, my previous words don't mean that the Jedi can't call upon the Force outside their training rooms," Arren returned to their previous topic. "In time, with enough training, you will find it equally easy to connect with the Force anywhere. But before this can happen, you must first keep your mind clear and find where your connection lies. Because I can assure you it lies somewhere in you."
"But you said the Force doesn't have a physical form," Raven commented, frowning slightly. "So, how can I find it?"
"That is for you to discover, young one," Arren replied with a gentle smile. "Unfortunately, I cannot help you with it. No Master can help their Apprentices with this task. It is something you have to dive into on your own. The Force can't be seen nor touched, but it can be felt. And once you find that, which connects you to the Force, it will be much easier for you to call upon its assistance anywhere you are."
"What is it for you, Master Kae?"
"My mind," she replied instantly. "You are similar to me when I was your age – always ready and eager to learn more. That's what led me to become the Archivist. But don't misinterpret what I've said. I said my mind, not my brain," she clarified. "Mind is an abstract concept, even though every sentient being has it. However, none can describe what it truly is, just like the Force. We have, of course, some basic explanation and knowledge of the mind's nature, but we can't fully grasp its meaning. It's-"
Arren's words were interrupted by a loud beeping sound coming from the pocket of her robes. She groaned heavily and rolled her eyes, pulling out a small personal communicator. With one last annoyed sigh, she pressed the button, accepting the call.
"What is it?" she hissed into the device. Raven flinched unwillingly from the harshness of her tone.
"I'm sorry to disrupt your lesson, Master Kae," Master Lestin spoke from the other end. "But the High Council just called Dantooine. They requested every Master to join them for a meeting. We're in the communication center."
Arren raised one of her eyebrows in surprise. "I'll be there in a few minutes," she promised, turning off her communicator. "Looks like our lessons for the day are over, Raven," she sighed, standing up from the ground. Her Apprentice stood up as well, following her back to the Enclave. "I don't know how long the meeting will last, so we shall continue tomorrow. Same time as today."
"Of course, Master Kae."
They parted ways only after reaching the corridor leading to the Padawans' Dormitories. With a low bow and a few parting words, Raven disappeared into his room, allowing Arren to join the other Masters in the communication center.
She was the last one to join the meeting. The holoprojector was already turned on, showing the Jedi Masters from the High Council, the Temple overall, and others scattered across the Galaxy. One of her eyebrows rose again as she noticed Atris' silhouette displayed on the large device.
"Master Kae," Jifo greeted her, smiling weakly at Arren. "I'm glad you could join us so soon. I'm sorry to disrupt your lessons. I hope you are satisfied with the boy's training so far?"
Vrook scoffed slightly, but Arren ignored him, nodding her head. "I am, Master Kardal," she said, crossing her arms behind her back. "What is so important that you have called us, if I may ask?"
"It was I who requested this meeting, Masters," Q'Anilia – the Miraluka Master – replied before Jifo even managed to open his mouth. The aged Grand Master nodded his head, allowing the blind Council Member to speak. "I understand I caught many of you off-guard with this sudden request, and I'm truly grateful that you answered it so quickly. The matter I want to talk to you about couldn't wait, I'm afraid. I'm certain you all are aware that my species can see many things that elude others," she turned her head as if looking for confirmation amongst other Masters, even though she couldn't see them. One by one, everyone nodded their heads. "And I have seen something today."
"What was it, Master Q'Anilia?" Master Kavar asked, stepping closer to the holoprojector.
"I'm not sure," she admitted hesitantly. "Darkness covered my sight, and I couldn't see clearly. I have seen shadows walking through the Outer Rim and further beyond – in the Unknown Regions. I attempted to meditate upon this, but the Dark Side clouds that part of our Galaxy and the future. Something ominous lurks in the shadows. I have seen minds colored with hatred and pain."
"Many of us have felt it as well," Master Tokare added. "But only Master Q'Anilia was able to sense something more."
"Surprisingly the day after that Mandalorian boy was sent away for training," Master Lamar commented. His words caused every Master's eyes to rest upon Arren. She did her best to keep the eyeroll only in her mind. "And we all know there are no coincidences in the Force."
"I'm not denying that you have felt something, Masters," Arren replied easily, shaking her head. "But I can assure you it has nothing to do with Raven," she added. Vrook raised his eyebrows at the name, just as a few other Masters did. "I've been with him all day, and there wasn't a single thing about him that would alert me to anything."
"Perhaps it would be for the best if the boy returned here to Coruscant?" Master Draay suggested, earning himself a few nods from other Masters.
"Unacceptable, I'm afraid," Arren replied. "His training has already begun, and we all agreed that doing it on Coruscant would be even riskier."
"The boy's training can be stopped," Vrook countered.
"I don't think it would be the best choice, Master Lamar. He has already completed the first step," Arren said. A surprise was the most shared reaction amongst the Masters. "And I hoped you would have picked it up from my words, but he has a name – Raven. Not to mention he is already aware of being a Mandalorian – abandoning him right now could be even more disastrous than continuing his training. He isn't aware of the past yet, but I have a feeling it's only a matter of time before he figures it out on his own."
"Whose idea was it?" Vrook hissed, leaning forward in his seat.
"Mine, Master Lamar," Jifo replied. "I have to admit I'm surprised that your Apprentice has already made such remarkable progress, Master Kae." Arren nodded her head. "However, it's not that… Raven that concerns us," he added, once again gaining the attention of all the Masters. "If he had been connected to Master Q'Anilia's vision, she would have seen him. My dear friends, I'm begging you to keep your eyes and minds open, especially those of you who are so close to the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions," he added. His gaze stopped on Arren for a few seconds. "There's no denying what many of us have felt – the future is filled with the Dark Side, and it's our duty to be ready for it, no matter what. Raise your Padawans and Apprentices, teach them and help them repel the lure of the Dark Side. I'm afraid that whatever the future might bring will target the youngest of our Order. For now, protect them, be their shields, but make sure they learn how to defend themselves as well. Otherwise, our future is a dark one indeed."