Sorry for the delay. I had two cases of writer's block while working on this chapter.
Also, there was a moment on my spiritual journey where Frodo Baggins, the hobbit and Ring-bearer from "The Lord of the Rings", and me nearly separated, but after some talks, Frodo and I have our souls merged at last on a soul level and now I feel complete, whole, and more myself. Who knew, right? So, yes, Frodo's back and helping me write this fanfic. :) That's exciting! :)
Anyway, let's continue with the story. :)
Master Yuvon awaited Janus in the training room. Janus was more than glad to be taking her Initiate Trials. They were the one thing keeping her from losing her mind, and even that would be hard to swallow.
Now more than ever, Janus wanted to ensure that she knew what she was doing. So, she made sure to memorize the Jedi Code twice a week, even three times a week to ensure she knew how to take her trials, as if that wasn't enough to protect her attitude and her thought processes.
And so, Janus entered the Youngling training room, in which Master Yuvon owned within the Jedi temple. Janus remembered the chairs being seated in the centermost part of the room, the stage and its steps leading to the various lush, green leafy plants within large decorated pots, the round floating balls presiding within one end of the training room, and the tall, rectangular windows looming along the walls.
Janus reached Master Yuvon now, alone, as she observed him.
"Welcome, young Jedi," Master Yuvon stated, getting Janus' attention with a smile. "I see you are ready for your Initiate Trials. This will ensure that you proceed from the rank of Apprentice to Padawan. Should you pass these trials, you shall become a Jedi Padawan learner. Is this understood?"
Janus nodded, exhilarated. "I'm ready to begin!"
"Good, good. Then let us begin with your first test: the Jedi Code. The Code is a matter of life and death for a young Jedi, but it is meant to be standards to live by. Report to me when you are ready to take this first trial," Master Yuvon stated, hopeful Janus would pass this test with ease.
"Okay," Janus said, quivering with anticipation. Her very blood boiled, but she would remain calm in the face of danger. She approached one of the chairs, pulling out her hololog and studying the Jedi Code once more.
As soon as she knew she was ready, Janus returned to Master Yuvon, ready to take her first trial. "I'm ready, Master Yuvon, to take my first test."
"And I will gladly give it to you," Master Yuvon stated, insistent she pass these trials. "The Code is our life source. It is what gives us strength in times of need. Should you need this Code for anything, live by it. We shall begin. For your first test, please recite the Jedi Code. *There is no emotion—"
"There is peace."
"There is no ignorance—"
"There is knowledge."
"There is no passion—"
"There is serenity."
"There is no chaos—"
"There is harmony."
"There is no death—"
"There is the Force.*" Janus finished, delighted to have passed her first test. She smiled at Master Yuvon, as he congratulated her.
"Well done, Young One. You have learned the Jedi Code, with fascinating precision and memory," Master Yuvon stated. "But your trials have only begun. For the second test, you will be crafting your very first lightsaber. This is an important step as well in a Jedi's life. The lightsaber is your life, Youngling, or should I say Apprentice. You are one step closer to becoming a Padawan learner, so I think crafting a lightsaber will be crucial.
"Here." Master Yuvon passed to Janus a tiny clear crystal. "This is a kyber crystal. There are many crystals like it to be found on Kyber Grove, if only you know where to look for it. Here are also the items used to build your very first lightsaber. Good luck with your construction. Return to me when you are done building your first lightsaber."
"Oh boy! Where do I start?" Janus stated, heading over to an empty workbench to begin her work.
Perspiration poured on Janus' face. The very thought, the very notion, to build her first lightsaber lifted her spirits! She wanted more than anything to believe this was real, that this was happening: she was building her first lightsaber. And now, now she needed to work on building it.
"Okay. I can do this," Janus stated. "Remember my training." And she did. She closed her eyes, feeling through the Force her lightsaber components, including the crystal. She remained silent, focused on her task. The perspiration seemed to be leaving her, as the lightsaber components fell into place.
It was only after several minutes passed that Janus opened her eyes. At first, her lightsaber components didn't want to fit together. She tried again, feeling each piece until she could accurately say it was correct. Only it had been a few hours since she worked on her first lightsaber, before she opened her eyes.
At last! She got everything right. Her lightsaber was completed and she tested it out by turning it on, igniting a green beamed blade. She smiled at her creation, loving every second of it! She wanted to do more work, but she felt, even as she turned her lightsaber off that this was reward enough.
She returned to Master Yuvon, who observer her newest creation: her first lightsaber.
"Well done, young Jedi. Now, for the third and final test. There is a cave not far from here, which houses the creature named Cerberus. I want you to coax him back to the light, free him from Hades' dominion, and bring him here in his original form: the pointy-eared dog Maximus. This is your final trial and I expect you to pass it. You will find him in a cave not far from here, for there is another entrance leading to Cerberus' chambers," Master Yuvon said. "None of the other Jedi can help you, but you will have a companion with you: the purple dragonoid Helen the Shapeshifter. Learn from her for she is going to the cave with you."
Janus' mouth gaped open. "Helen? The last I recall, our first meeting didn't go well."
"Yes, I feared as much. Work with her and Cerberus. Report to me when you're done," Master Yuvon stated, right as Helen the Shapeshifter appeared behind Janus.
"Helen?! This is a surprise! Good—"
"Oh, don't flatter me," Helen said, harshly. She whispered, "Come on. I'll take you to Cerberus." She sighed, defeated, as she grabbed Janus, leading her out of the training room.
Footnotes:
*The Jedi Code can be found on Wookieepedia and in Bioware's video game, "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic".