Trial of Spirit/Part 6

The foyer of the Jedi Temple was quite different from the one on Coruscant, and much smaller in scale. Erithos led Daerith and Karalin into a large, circular chamber with massive staircases on either side wrapping around to the upper levels. Doorways to branching halls were littered along the walls, and several Jedi strode peacefully through the place. Between each staircase, a humongous fixture reminiscent to a Jedi holocron hovered above the ground. Blue banners hung from the rim above them, along the edge of the domed ceiling.

“You know how to behave in front of the Council,” Erithos started. “No need for me to tell you, of course.”

“Yes, Mas—I mean, Erithos,” Daerith frantically responded, causing Erithos to form a smile on his face. Karalin simply nodded in response as they ascended the stairs.

Once they reached the top, they were met by a pair of large doors with the emblem of the Jedi Order engraved into them. Two pathways wrapped around the chamber, but Erithos led them to the doorway, which they stared at as they approached. It was daunting in a mesmerizing sense.

Erithos pressed a button on the terminal beside the door, which began to slowly slide open. A hallway now stood before them, leading into a second large chamber on the far side.

“I hate to do it to you, but lead the way,” Erithos gestured to them with an unbreakable smile.

Daerith and Karalin walked down the corridor side by side, the chamber on the far side slowly coming into view. Once they reached it, they took in the scene: a domed chamber, smaller than the last, with tall statues flanking either side. In the center of the room was a round table with ten seats around it.

The two Padawans approached the edge of the table and bowed to those present. Karalin quickly identified them all as Jedi Masters: Satele Shan, Jaric Kaedan, Orgus Din, Tol Braga, Rhan Turvo, and Jorra Makkal, Daerith’s mentor.

“Masters,” they both said in unison.

“Padawans Morana and Tak-Crai’uz,” said Satele Shan with a slight nod. The Grand Master of the Order, Shan was an older human with dark gray hair, tied into braids. She wore an elegant green tunic, lined with gold. Nodding to Erithos, she said, “Thank you, Master Erithos.”

Erithos simply nodded reverently in response. Karalin glanced back at him, expecting him to speak as the thought of their earlier conversation came to mind, but he quickly dismissed it and turned back to the Council.

“Master Shan—” Karalin started.

“You are not to speak unless spoken to, Padawan,” snapped Master Kaedan. Also an older human, Kaedan was viewed as something of a taskmaster. His demeanor was harsh, and as such he had become quite the enemy for Karalin over the decade.

Shan raised a hand, “Let him speak, Master Kaedan.”

Karalin took a deep breath before nodding gratefully to Shan. “Thank you, Master.” He glanced around the room, all eyes now fixated on him. “Daerith,” he gestured to his friend, “and I were on our way back to the Temple earlier when we were attacked. Flesh raiders ambushed us on the road a mile or two from the Temple grounds.”

“Flesh raiders?” spoke up Orgus Din.

“Yes, Master,” Daerith replied. “We fought them off and ran back as fast as we could. That’s when we ran into Erithos.”

Kaedan grimaced, “Master Erithos. Give the man the respect he’s due; he is a Jedi Master, not your equal.”

Karalin scowled. How could Kaedan say such a thing about Erithos and not grant him a seat on the Council? He reached out with the Force, but felt only calm around Erithos, who still stood behind them. Not even pride—he just stood there, as if indifferent.

Shan continued, “Masters Turvo and Makkal have informed us of your progress.”

“Our progress, Master?” Karalin cocked his head to the side, much to Kaedan’s dismay.

“Yes. In your training. They tell us you’ve both become exceptional duelists, and quite adept at utilizing the Force. Would you think the same of yourselves?”

Karalin and Daerith both knit their brows in confusion, glancing at each other. The Twi’lek started by saying, “I would agree with that statement.”

But the Zabrak said, “As would I, but…pardon me, Master Shan. What about the flesh raiders?”

Shan calmly replied, “The Council will discuss the flesh raiders after this meeting. But that is not the reason you’ve been brought here.”

Right, Karalin thought as he recalled their meeting with Erithos. The man said he had been looking for him and Daerith—it seemed this was why. The Council wanted to discuss something else, entirely different from the flesh raider threat.

“What do you require of us, Masters?” Daerith spoke up as Karalin opened his mouth. He was not quite sure what he wanted to say, but Karalin doubted it would’ve been pleasant for any of them.

Tol Braga, a Kel Dor, replied, “You two have been held back from knighthood for many years now. I’m sure you realize this.”

Karalin’s eyes went wide with hope, “Are we finally being knighted?” He stepped forward eagerly, but a sharp glance from Kaedan sent him back to his starting position.

“No,” said Shan.

Anger filled Karalin at this response, but he did not burst out against them. He simply sighed with disappointment, somewhat expecting a statement like this from the Jedi Council. In the many times they had asked about their knighthood in the past, they were always rejected. Karalin nodded slowly and discontentedly.

Instead it was Daerith who burst out, “Again? We’re being rejected what we deserve again?”

Karalin raised a brow, surprised by his friend’s words. It was quite unlike him to let his emotions get the better of him; this had only happened once before, directly after Coruscant when he was still in shock. Since then, he had pursued a state of inner peace that was constantly at conflict with his everlasting, emotional turmoil.

“Padawan Morana—” Shan started as Kaedan stood up from his chair.

“You will silence yourself, Padawan!” Kaedan shouted.

But Daerith did not listen. “We should’ve been knighted long ago! We have the strength of any Jedi Knight and more. We’ve been unjustly held back for too long!”

Kaedan scowled furiously, prepared to punish the Padawan as he stood up and began walking around the table. But he was halted by Satele, who simply raised a hand to stop him. She then stood up and asked Daerith, “And why do you believe yourself to be held back, Padawan Morana?”

“I know exactly why I have been held back,” Daerith retorted with an almost painful grimace. He glanced at Karalin a moment before saying, “It’s because of my friendship with Karalin. It’s been his behavior that I’m constantly exposed to that makes you believe I’m just as unworthy as he is to be called a Jedi Knight.” His words were calmer than before, although there was still a fire in him that refused to diminish.

Shan nodded, “Yes. Do not take this personally, either of you. These are dark times, and dark things are bound to occur. I ask that you understand that the Jedi Council must take caution in every situation.”

Orgus Din added on, “It’s not uncommon for a Jedi to fall to the dark side. Whether they become Sith or not, they become enemies nonetheless. We do not want that fate to befall you.”

“You’d have been knighted years ago had it not been for your exposure to Tak-Crai’uz,” said Jorra Makkal. Daerith’s official master, Makkal was a yellow-skinned Togruta with prominent wrinkles covering his face, making obvious his age. “Had you not stood by him, you’d already be a Jedi Knight.”

Daerith knit his brows as he looked on with disgust at the Masters. He then looked to Karalin, who continued to say nothing. If anything, he was surprised that Daerith had mustered the courage to speak out against the Council in such a way. That, or he was surprised it had not been him.

The Twi’lek said with pride in his voice, “I’m his friend. We were friends before Coruscant, and brothers in arms during it. After that, we’ve relied on each other to continue our training so that we may rise to a point of greatness.” He took a moment to look at every one of the Masters before continuing, “And we will rise together. Whether you order me to or not, I will never become a Jedi Knight until he does as well.”

Silence filled the room. Surprisingly, even Kaedan said not a word as the Force around them flowed smoothly and without chaos. Even around Daerith, the winds Karalin had felt before grew weaker and more calm as he gazed on at the Council. Behind them, Erithos’s presence remained, although showed no emotion, as usual. Karalin had found it quite impressive, the Council’s ability to simply be at peace. It was something he strived for.

Suddenly, Shan spoke up, “And you, Padawan Tak-Crai’uz?”

Karalin opened his mouth, then closed it again. He looked around the room, even back at Erithos, who was standing patiently beside one of the pillars in the corridor. When he returned his attention to the Council, he said, “I am of the same opinion as Daerith. We’re like brothers. We will rise together, and fail together if need be.” He waited a moment before adding on, “And I will repeat myself, as I have many times before: my devotion to the Jedi Order is unbreakable. I recognize the darkness inside me, and understand the wrongness in my grudge against Nerox…but nothing can break that. I only ask that you acknowledge that my will cannot be broken, and that the dark side has no sway over me.”

“The dark side always influences the mind, one way or another,” Tol Braga said.

“Not mine.”

Silence again. Before long, nods were exchanged around the room between the Council members. Then, Shan said, “We are admittedly impressed by your loyalty to each other, and your devotion to the Order. Your motivation to become Jedi Knights is clear to us.”

The rest of the Jedi Council stood up. The moment was almost exhilarating in a rather odd sense; it felt as though a wind had been summoned into the room, only it never existed. An almost mystical authority emanated from each of the Jedi Masters as they stood proudly, looking on at the two Padawans.

Shan then announced, “We have agreed to allow you to undergo your final trial. The Trial of Spirit. If you pass, you shall become fully-anointed Jedi Knights. If you fail…there’s no telling what destruction will be inflicted upon your minds.”

Karalin and Daerith’s eyes went wide with delight as they looked at each other. Grins formed on their faces as they turned back to the Grand Master, who said, “You shall begin at dawn.”