Chapter 6: Settling into a routine
After the impromptu tournament, the children were left excited and it took a few days before they stopped claiming to be Master Jaune, Knight Tara, or whoever they felt was "more nova" that day. Undeterred, classes continued, and Bel began Force classes, followed by a session of morning meditation, then either science, history, law, politics, or language. After lunch came midday meditation, physical conditioning, afternoon meditation, and lightsaber classes. A final run around the yard, one last meditation session (that one was skipped the day he arrived), capped off the day, then off to the showers and sleep. Or gossip time, then sleep. The younglings were real chatty when away from their minders.
Once he began making sense of the classes, he realized they were more interesting than expected. He had received little education back in Nal Hutta, as he was considered too young to begin formal tutoring. It was ironic that he was almost too old for the Jedi, but they took to his education with a vengeance. Some days he complemented his assigned reading by expanding on Hutt specific history, or Jedi names or powers he found familiar. Their days were crammed with activities, but they did get two afternoons free every week, so that was convenient. Hopefully as a Padawan he'd get more chances to visit the library, and dive deep into that treasure trove of knowledge. Some other times one of the other Initiates would go with him, or he'd find some from other clans once there. Yet other days he'd just play around with the other Clawmice, or they'd practice lightsaber forms with the training sabers. He wouldn't be trying any somersaults just yet, however.
One day he got a visit from Master Rowe, who brought an unexpected companion.
"Master Rowe! And Master Yoda! How nice to see you!" Yoda nodded to himself, as Rowe looked at him, an "I told you so" vibe evident in his gaze.
"Well met, young Beldorion. Glad we are that you see us as masters even now. Touch you like few others, the Force does." Beldorion smiled bashfully, and lowered his gaze. "It's just sometimes I dream, and that's what your name is then, you know?" Knight Rowe chuckled, and rubbed Bel's head. "It's like having a cheerleader, only creepy with the predetermined future." Knight Yoda rolled his eyes, then smiled at Beldorion.
"No attention to Rowe, pay you. Believe he is funny, he does." Bel looked at Yoda carefully, then at Rowe. "Of course Master, it's like you say I guess." Evidently losing interest, he changed topics. "Did you know there was a Hutt Chancellor of the Republic? I read that the other day! The teacher said he was a good one when I asked!" Smiling, Rowe asked him all about this "Blotus the Hutt", while Yoda watched. This Seer seemed to be a benign example of the breed, but only time would tell why the Force chose him for this gift.
Other than said visit, Beldorion spent time with his clanmates and slowly began to feel the Temple was home. Nal Hutta featured in his thoughts and dreams, but he felt his genitors were near him still, and he fully expected he would see them again, in time. Meanwhile, his days were both full and fulfilling, his nights easy and restful. And today it was lightsaber class, with an actual opponent instead of memorizing forms. Even if it was a training droid, it was an improvement.
"Remember now, children, Form I needs a firm stance, and decisive, economic movements. Now try to disarm the droid, Beldorion." He advanced cautiously. Just like you've seen it before, careful now. His slash caught the droid's wrist and an alarm sounded. "Good going! That's a point, and quick for your first try. Don't get too confident now." Knight Morre's warning proved prophetic, as their next exchange ended with a painful welt on Bel's torso. Still got the first point! I can do this! The duel continued to 5 points, 3 to 2 in Bel's favor. He ended up advancing quickly in the class, always attempting to react quicker, strike faster, the memory of that deadly duel lurking in his thoughts. He was tending to be paranoic in his defense, and frenzied in his attacks, as Rowe characterized it. Still, everyone made his own style, and he was just doing it earlier.
Science class was a discovery, and quickly became Bel's second favorite in the theoretical classes, after History, and he added science reading to his rotation. He probably wouldn't become a scientist, but it was fascinating to think of how the Force interacted with observable scientific parameters. How would Jedi healing look like under the microscope? Did Battle Meditation activate the brain? There were a lot of possibilities, and if someone else didn't investigate them before he could, he promised to himself that he definitely would. His teacher, a Duros civilian named Shruv Bale, encouraged his interest and agreed to indulge in research when it became feasible in the future. It was a rare opportunity that a Jedi let himself be studied, and if it wasn't a passing fancy, hours dedicated to focused investigation were a promising prospect.
And so the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, the months to a year. In the blink of an eye, the next Initiate trials loomed ahead, and the older younglings began looking nervous and intensifying all of their training. Bel prepared for the possibility of seeing his first friends off, helping them where he could, consoling them when they panicked. Ta'gen exuded confidence in front of the rest, then tossed and turned at night. Bink studied so hard he often forgot to make jokes, leaving awkward silences when the others expected to hear him. Until the fateful day arrived.
Author's note:
School year is over, and a fruitful year it was. Did Ta'gen and Bink end in the Jedi Corps? Maybe as Jedi Farmers somewhere? They probably suck at tests tbh. Anyway, Lil Fern helping as always with polishing both the chapters and my writing style