The ship, a modified freighter used for transport by the Order, hurtled through space. Around it, the twisting, chromatic vortex of hyperspace swirled. Her engines beat a dull rhythm, filling the ship with a low thrum. The rush of compressed air through filters, the hiss of coolant boiling off, even the muffled chatter of the crew coming from the command cabin—all counted, the ambiance of a ship in motion could be quite disruptive. But, Rowan reminded himself as he knelt on the cold deck of the cargo bay, A Jedi heeds not distraction.
It was not the sounds of the ship that troubled Rowan—indeed, because of his years of travel in the Outer Rim, the absence of this ambiance was disconcerting—but rather his own thoughts. The Jedi Code stressed peace and serenity, but Rowan found himself with neither presently. Rowan had agreed to train the mysterious new warrior, Uilleam of the na'Siad, who had arrived so spectacularly the day before. He had also decided to begin the training at the Ossus temple, rather than the Jedi headquarters. Rowan felt that a planet such as Coruscant, so filled with technology, would prove distracting to Uilleam; Ossus was more peaceful, rural. Distractions aside, Rowan had trained on Ossus and still felt a deep affinity for the temple there.
Now, however, the burden of his decision was resting heavily on his shoulders. Rowan had never taken a Padawan before. It had been nearly twenty years since he'd finished his own training. Much of his own knowledge had come through experience, could this be imparted through training? He sighed deeply, shrugging out of his navy blue over-robe, letting it pool at his feet. Reading Master Mainaad's reports had only complicated things. Uilleam had been a king, a hero to his people, and apparently some knowledge of the Force—which Mainaad had attempted to build on. But would this residual knowledge be helpful or harmful? Would old lessons have to be unlearned? And then, Mainaad also spoke of a “creeping darkness”, how was he to contend with that?
This is fear. Fear profits nothing, it only leads to darkness.
Rowan sighed again and closed his eyes. Drawing a long breath, he began to clear his mind. He felt the Force as it crept over him and through him. The chaos of his thoughts and worries gave way to harmony. He dwelt on the stirrings in the Force that he had felt when first seeing Uilleam, how he knew that their experiences, their trials and failings would be mirrored. Now he was at rest and the creeping of the Force gave way to a rushing, comforting flood. The door behind him slid open and Rowan knew without opening his eyes that it was his Padawan. He could feel the same zeal and fierce joy that he had radiated before.
“Uilleam,” Rowan spoke slowly and carefully, continuing his meditation, “come. Join me.”
It was not the sounds of the ship that troubled Rowan—indeed, because of his years of travel in the Outer Rim, the absence of this ambiance was disconcerting—but rather his own thoughts. The Jedi Code stressed peace and serenity, but Rowan found himself with neither presently. Rowan had agreed to train the mysterious new warrior, Uilleam of the na'Siad, who had arrived so spectacularly the day before. He had also decided to begin the training at the Ossus temple, rather than the Jedi headquarters. Rowan felt that a planet such as Coruscant, so filled with technology, would prove distracting to Uilleam; Ossus was more peaceful, rural. Distractions aside, Rowan had trained on Ossus and still felt a deep affinity for the temple there.
Now, however, the burden of his decision was resting heavily on his shoulders. Rowan had never taken a Padawan before. It had been nearly twenty years since he'd finished his own training. Much of his own knowledge had come through experience, could this be imparted through training? He sighed deeply, shrugging out of his navy blue over-robe, letting it pool at his feet. Reading Master Mainaad's reports had only complicated things. Uilleam had been a king, a hero to his people, and apparently some knowledge of the Force—which Mainaad had attempted to build on. But would this residual knowledge be helpful or harmful? Would old lessons have to be unlearned? And then, Mainaad also spoke of a “creeping darkness”, how was he to contend with that?
This is fear. Fear profits nothing, it only leads to darkness.
Rowan sighed again and closed his eyes. Drawing a long breath, he began to clear his mind. He felt the Force as it crept over him and through him. The chaos of his thoughts and worries gave way to harmony. He dwelt on the stirrings in the Force that he had felt when first seeing Uilleam, how he knew that their experiences, their trials and failings would be mirrored. Now he was at rest and the creeping of the Force gave way to a rushing, comforting flood. The door behind him slid open and Rowan knew without opening his eyes that it was his Padawan. He could feel the same zeal and fierce joy that he had radiated before.
“Uilleam,” Rowan spoke slowly and carefully, continuing his meditation, “come. Join me.”
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