As Kirak gazed at the stars, his thoughts were consumed by conflict from within. He had taken the Barash Vow, a solemn oath of solitude and disconnection from the affairs of the Jedi Order. Yet, the boy who now slept beside the fire had shown unmistakable potential of becoming a powerful Jedi. Kirak sensed in him a raw, untamed connection to the Force. He had witnessed Eras's clumsy use of it during his fight with the Raptorans.

"The Force did not bring you here by chance. You wanted to know if fighting was your only contribution to the galaxy. Here is your chance to find out.", the Battlemaster reflected. Kirak breathed in slowly as he sat down to meditate. "May the Force guide me."

…At the Jedi Temple on Coruscant…

Naan Sho stood with his lightsaber at the ready. As was often his way, he was awake while all was quiet and still under Coruscant's night skies. He reverently went through each of the lightsaber forms in their entirety.

When he finished, he sat down in the small study of his chambers, carefully pouring over the holo-texts that Master Drallig had gifted him. The recordings contained hundreds of saber combat adaptations, creations, and modifications, as well as an impressive collection of treatises on tactics that had been recorded and handed down through the millennia. They were his most prized possession which his Master had instructed him to carry with him at all times.

A bell chimed. Sho opened the door to his quarters. Outside, stood Master Plo Koon.

"Koh-to-ya. Nu lausk nu sua nenx distuu-ba-tu?", he greeted the Padawan in the Kel Dor tongue.

"Greetings. Your company is never a disturbance. I am grateful for the visit.", responded Sho in kind. He invited the Master Jedi in and brought tea from their homeworld. Sho was thankful to have found a fellow Kel Dor as there were so few in the Order. Master Koon was an uncommonly kind mentor, willing to give guidance and assistance to even the lowest ranking initiates, not to mention he was the only Jedi on record to have bested Master Yoda with a lightsaber.

"I simply wanted to wish you luck for tomorrow's Trials. I remember not sleeping the night before my test and sensed you may be of a similar mind.", Koon said as they sat savoring the aroma of the fresh tea.

Letting his guard down, Sho chuckled acknowledgingly, something he only felt comfortable doing in the presence of Masters Drallig and Koon. "I am not afraid of failing. I am afraid of letting you and my Master down.", said Sho as his smile was replaced by his usual serious demeanor.

It was Plo's turn to laugh. "I felt the same way, though I suspect this to be a natural feeling for many. My Master, Master Tyvokka, taught me 'You cannot control what people think and feel, any more than you can control the future. All anyone can do is focus on what can be done.'. A lot of anxiety could be avoided if more would follow this advice."

Sho nodded. "I believe I understand. Thank you for your counsel."

Draining his cup, Plo Koon stood and walked over to the mock training space Sho had set up. Igniting his saber, he turned to Sho with amusement in his voice. "Now let us see what tricks you have learned from Drallig."...

…On Al'doleem…

Eras quickly realized that Master Infil'a's age did not match his physical prowess. The boy was finding it difficult to keep up with the old man. His back was a little stiff from the previous night's encounter with the Raptorans, but overall, he was on the mend.

They stopped for a short respite, taking sustenance from some of the Raptoran's meat that Master Infil'a had collected.

"Are there more Jedi on Al'doleem?", asked Eras.

"Not that I am aware of. Neither the Jedi, nor the Separatist Alliance have shown much interest in such an insignificant moon.", responded Kirak. They finished their meal in silence and set off again at a leisurely pace.

Curiosity got the better of Eras. "Why are you choosing not to fight?"

Master Infil'a walked along, his gaze focused on the path ahead. He considered Sal's question thoughtfully. "For all my life, I have only known conflict. Because of my ability to kill with detachment and my resistance to the Dark Side, the Council saw fit to use me as a weapon. Imagine being constantly in chaos and conflict, never knowing peace. I came here to find solitude and perhaps discover new purpose through the Force."

"Were you successful?", asked Eras.

Master Infil'a's eyebrows furrowed and a slight smile threatened the corner of his lip. "That remains to be seen. For now, I only wish to help those in need."

Those last words struck Eras, reminding him of the vow he had made to himself after leaving Corellia. They walked a while in quiet contemplation. Finally, Master Infil'a broke the silence. "What will you do now?"

Eras thought for a moment. "I am not sure. It was only through the kindness of strangers and a willingness to lie, cheat, and steal that brought me here in the first place. I would not know where to go. This is the only place I have ever been other than Corellia."

"There will surely be recruiters at the spaceport.", suggested Kirak.

Eras shook his head. "They will not recruit me on account of my age and there is the risk of them discovering how I came to be on the Vila."

"Impersonating military personnel during a time of war is a capital offense and punishable by imprisonment…or worse.", agreed Master Infil'a.

They came to a ridge with two divergent paths, one leading towards their destination and one heading towards a temple atop an impressive mountain peak. Eras's eyes fixed upon the ancient Jedi Monastery that loomed in the distance. The windswept landscape had an eerie tranquility, but Sal sensed an undercurrent of something powerful, something calling out to him. This unexplained energy resonated in the air, whispering secrets and mysteries. Eras looked to the old man who had been observing his reaction.

"You have a connection to the Force.", he stated calmly.

Sal was taken aback. He suddenly thought of the strange events he had experienced. It all began to make sense. A thought struck him and he was about to ask, but the old man sensing this cut him off.

"However," Kirak continued, "I cannot train you as a Jedi…".

"But, if…", Eras began to protest.

"...It would violate the Barash Vow I have taken. Instead, I offer you something else," the Battlemaster said, his eyes filled with wisdom. "I can train you to wield the Force, and make it your ally. I can teach you how to think, how to survive, and how to protect yourself and those you meet along the way as you begin your own journey. I can show you techniques most Jedi would deem of the Dark Side without falling to its evil temptations and instead utilize the darkness for good. You would not be a Jedi, but you would learn to control your gift and could be a part of something greater than either of us."

"What must I do?", asked Eras.

"Do not make this choice lightly or in haste. This will require complete dedication and commitment, as well as the utmost discipline. The path is long and it will be difficult.", warned the Jedi Master.

Eras thought for a moment, remembering the couple who saved him on Corellia, the stranger who gave his name and helped him out of the slums he had been born to, and the Clones who had not only taken him in, but sacrificed their lives to save him.

"I wish to help.", was his only reply.

Master Kirak Infil'a stared at him for a moment then turned towards the path to the Monastery. "So be it."...

…Four Years Later…