Two Years Ago…

In a small room with very few accommodations, sat a 13 year boy who had just freshly constructed their lightsaber with his Master. He looked at him with slight trepidation as Kor Rezla said, "Go ahead, ignite your blade, Padawan."

Jao gazed upon him with some anxiety before giving the man a firm nod as he ignited his lightsaber which illuminated a brilliant purple color. Jao gasped in awe of his saber as he did some flashy swings before Master Rezla said, "Careful Jao. May not be much inside here to hit but the Jedi Order would not take kindly to their temple being damaged. Certainly not the staff that works here."

A wild spread of red erupted across his face as he unignited his blade as he clipped it to his belt and responded with a quick, "Sorry, Master."

Kor Rezla chuckled lightly before waving dismissively, "Nonsense, I understand your excitement."

Jao looked up at Kor Rezla with eyes filled with curiosity as he asked, "Why did you want me to wait to make my lightsaber in private, Master?"

Barriss was starting to rub off on Jao and it was starting to reveal itself as he grew ever more perceptive with events surrounding him or the Jedi. Kor Rezla would sigh lightly before answering with, "With the recent events of The Gathering and what happened plus with the color of your kyber crystal. The Jedi Council deemed it more safe to make your lightsaber in private."

"Does this also happen to be the reason I must wait two more years to officially become your Padawan?"

Nothing was really starting to get by Jao now as Kor Rezla relented with a sigh, "Unfortunately yes, I tried to argue against it when summoned again but it was one of the major stipulations when agreeing to keep you on board with the Jedi Order."

Jao filled with sadness at hearing this being confirmed. He couldn't not find it disheartening to hear the Jedi Order was starting to have reservations about the decision to let him have his bonds.

Kor Rezla sensing this, he'd affirmed, "Do not worry Jao, I know you'll not let me down. You'll become a great Jedi, Jao."

"Kor Rezla is counting on me. I can do this. Force guide me." As Jao slowly started to trail behind them.

As he got closer to the group but at a respectable distance, Jao would start to overhear what would be a conversation between his Master and Chief Lau.

"So, jedi. Any reason why the other one of you didn't bother coming along."

A good question and one that JR hoped his master had a good response to.

"My Padawan merely wanted to take a look around the scenery and such. He's never been offworld besides today so I thought why not."

"Ohhh good one, Master." Jao thought.

The Chief grumbled to himself before speaking up, "Hope you told him not to stick his fleshy nose where it doesn't belong."

Kor Rezla slightly chucked at that, "Do not worry, Chief Lau. We Jedi only stick our noses where they belong. Your business is definitely not something we'd stick in if you are innocent."

A rather apparent frown appeared on the chief's face as he rolled his eyes, "Ahhh knew there was another reason you decided to 'participate.' Just do not disturb our ritual and you must leave once we commence the great feast."

Sparking curiosity from Kor Rezla, he inquired, "Why would I have to leave once you start the great feast?"

Chief Lau merely scoffed at him before responding, "It is forbidden for outsiders to partake."

Jao, in the meanwhile, was so invested into the conversation, he'd not notice until it was too late that there were branches up ahead for him as he foot made impact, causing the snapping of branches to happen. The Chief would notice this as Jao quickly ducked himself downwards behind a bush to hide.

"What was that?" Asked Chief Lau.

"What was what, Chief Lau?" replied Master Rezla.

He squinted his eyes as he peered around, ordering two of his men with hand signals to investigate where the noise came from.

Jao, realizing the men were approaching him, started to silently panic as he looked around for something to throw.

The 2 men cautiously made their way closer and closer to his bush before Jao thought of using the force to push another bush some feet away. Luckily today was a somewhat sunny but windy day as when they went to investigate the sudden push, they found nothing.

Jao used this opportunity to position him around the other side of the bush he was behind before going completely prone. The two Anselmi guards then faced where he was hiding before shrugging to themselves and calling back in a foreign language to their Chief.

The Chief sighed to himself before continuing forward as the two guards made their way to catch up with him.

"Everything alright, Chief Lau?" Kor inquired.

The chief merely grunted something before replying, "It's nothing. We shall continue back."

Kor Rezla looked off in the direction of the sound and noticed Jao giving him a small wave with a look of somewhat embarrassment. Kor Rezla would sigh before gesturing ahead as they both resumed following them.

Jao would continue tailing his master before they arrived at a quite sizable campsite. 16 tents currently formed into a circular format with a large tent in the middle alongside a massive bonfire. The smells of meats and ash permeated the current surroundings as Jao eyed for anything suspicious. Jao was currently stationed behind one of the tents as he heard the murmurs of talking inside and would slightly curse at himself silently. He hadn't taken the advice from his master to remember some key Anselmi phrases so he could get a gist of the conversation. Barriss would be laughing at him right now.

The conversation would last a few minutes before he heard leaving from that tent as his Master and the Chief arrived. Peering to the side, his eyes would poke out lightly as he saw a rather large gathering of Anselmi people. He'd count 40 total though it confused him as to why 16 tents surely would not comfortably fit all these people. This set off some alarms in Jao's mind but went to quelling them so he could focus on the mission and though it would work, a small portion of it lingered.

Then he heard the chief speak, "My people of Clan Bono…" then gesturing to the larger gathering surrounding them, "And the people of Clan Turmosh…"

"Wait, Clan Turmosh? They weren't supposed to be here…"

Then the alarm bells in the force started ringing loudly as he turned around to see a group of Anselmi warriors hold up polearms dipped in something. Poison he speculated.

"Krayt spit, it was a setup…" Jao muttered to himself.

An Anselmi wearing more elaborate fabrics would poke forward at him, "Give funny light weapon."

Jao merely sighed reluctantly as handed over his lightsaber to the Anselmi Captain. Poking forward at him to gesture him to move, Jao Ren Paul would slowly go into the opening as Chief Lau said, "Tonight! We eat GOOD! Two jedis…"

As the Anselmi around Kor Rezla would pull their weapons on him. Kor Rezla would sigh, "I sensed your deception from the beginning. Now you unlawfully threaten 2 Jedi of the Jedi Order. I would highly advise you to stand down and deliver us to Elder Kian's Daughter."

The Anselmi Chief Lau would give a smug look as he gestured to the tent Jao was just behind, "As you wish, Jedi…" As two Anselmi brought a rather young looking 11 year old red Nautolan female. She was beaten up, looked slightly emaciated and her clothes were torn to shreds. It was clear to the Jedi that she had been tortured and starved.

Forcibly shoving the little girl towards where the Jedi stand, she would sniffle out, "I-I just w-want to g-go home…" sounding rather defeated.

As she joined them, Chief Lau would announce, "Any last words Jedi before you and that sniveling gill head become a GRAND feast?"

Kor Rezla would kneel down to Katiana's height as he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Shhh, shhh. Don't worry little one, you will see your parents again."

Her big black eyes turned up to face him as she softly cried out, "R-Really?"

Jao would pipe up, "How, Master. They got us surrounded by, well, A LOT!" adding in a bit of sarcasm.

Kor Rezla would rise from the girl as he stood tall. He looked at his Padawan with a soft grin on his face before responding, out loud, "3rd and final lesson for today's mission, my Padawan." before tapping something on his side where his robe was, "Always have a backup plan."

Suddenly, the entirety of the camp was surrounded by Nautolan Warriors.

To say Jao was befuddled would be an understatement, he was absolutely flabbergasted. His Master had willingly walked into a trap just to show him a lesson. It took awhile to snap out of it as he saw the Nautolan warriors slowly going around and chaining everyone up. Kor Rezla was currently discussing things with a rather tall and imposing red Nautolan man with a smaller little girl behind him. He'd guess it was Elder Kian Hiss.

"Are you done gawking yet?" an unfamiliar voice rang out.

Snapping out of it, a blue Nautolan man with aquatic gear and blaster rifle nudged him. He'd jump slightly at the sudden intrusion but quickly turned to face him, "Kriff, Sorry. I- I wasn't expecting-"

"Knight Rezla to pull something off like this?" he said matter-of-factly.

Nodding his head as the man slightly smirked, "Knight Rezla always been known to be…unconventional. It's why he and the Elder are good friends."

"You know my Master?" face twisting into somewhat confusion.

A slight huff of a chuckle, "The Elder does. Little I have had with him has always been pleasant."

It was about this time, the Elder and Kor Rezla had made their way towards the duo as Elder Kian Hiss spoke, "Corporal Vost. What's the status report?"

"Corporal Vost? So that's his name." Jao thought.

He stood at attention quickly and with a salute, he responded, "Most of the Anselmi Terrorists have been arrested, Alongside Chief Lau and several of his captains. Although I regret to inform you that the Chief of Clan Turmosh was not here or had escaped."

Kor Rezla would side eye the Elder, "Would you like us to assist, Elder Hiss?"

Slightly turning his head to face Knight Rezla, "No, that is not needed, friend. You and your Padawan have done your job excellently. We'll take it from here." before gesturing to Corporal Vost to follow him as they walked away.

Jao would look up to his Master as he asked, "But-... I feel like you did all the work Master…"

Kor Rezla would shake his head, "Nonsense, my Padawan. You sprung their trap earlier than they wanted."

Jao would look and feel in the force conflicted.

Kor Rezla, realizing this, would elaborate, "Chief Lau knew we were going to ask to join them. It was why, despite saying for us to leave, still let me tag along."

"He also, when ordering his men back, told them that they'd spring it later."

"This entire time, by carefully choosing our words, they believed we were ignorant when in-fact, we knew."

Jao seemed slightly calmer now but would ask, "But isn't lying against the Jedi Code?"

Kor Rezla nodded and replied, "Yes it is. Though stretching the truth or not revealing you knew something when not asked isn't entirely though. Use it sparingly though as it can quickly lead to bad habits which aren't good for Jedi."

Jao seemed to accept this answer both physically and through the force as the wave of conflict in him seemingly died down. Kor Rezla would smile as he gave his Padawan a pat on the shoulder before responding, "Let's go home now. Shall we, Padawan?" gesturing back towards the ship.

Jao would nod as he answered, "Sounds good, Master." As the pair made their way back towards the shuttle they took to get here.

Here is the end of the Glee Anselm Arc for Jao. He learned some important lessons that'll may or may not end up shaping the type of Jedi for him. Next on the chopping block is Barriss before we do a 1 year time skip to a Mission where both Masters and Padawans will be present. If you like the story make sure to follow and like! See ya!