On the orbit of a blue-white planet, covered with snow and ice from pole to pole, a scarlet transport, YT series, was slowly approaching. The ship's flight was so smooth that even a person far from space navigation would immediately understand how carefully and accurately it was being piloted. And the one who was now sitting in the pilot's seat had reasons for that.
Ilum. For Revan, the planet held a sacred meaning, as it did for any other Jedi. It was here that most younglings found their first focusing crystals, closely approaching the status of a padawan and constructing their first lightsaber. It was the first, but by no means the only one. During Revan's time, many wars were fought, in which, at times, Jedi also participated. Cases of losing or damaging their weapons were not uncommon. However, even those who guarded their blade more than their own lives often needed a replacement. After all, training never stops. A Jedi lives and develops day by day. His dueling style changes, he gains new knowledge, combines it with existing knowledge, and sometimes creates something new. The lightsaber was essentially a reflection of its owner. And what suited a padawan no longer always felt comfortable in the hands of a knight. And a master seasoned with experience could change drastically. There were many examples of this. After all, the age and physical condition of a Jedi made serious adjustments to his fighting style, which was also reflected in the saber. Qui-Gon Jinn himself, who in his youth relied on Ataru, could no longer boast the same agility and endurance, which led to many inaccuracies in his technique. This almost cost him his life in a duel with Maul. And, as it turned out during Jinn's last visit to the "Obsidian," Obi-Wan's former mentor decided, as he himself admitted during a friendly conversation, to change his fighting style, preferring the more protected Soresu and the most basic, but extremely reliable Shii-Cho. Revan then noticed how Qui-Gon's saber hilt had changed. The handle had lengthened for a full double grip, inserts of phrik had appeared, replacing part of the polymer overlays that prevented the weapon from slipping in the hands, and the length of the saber's blade had also changed. Only the crystal remained the same. Which was not surprising.
Unlike the blade, which had to be rebuilt by oneself, the crystal changed with the Jedi, being imbued with his Force during meditations. That's why no one wanted to part with their weapon, and passing a blade to an ally was considered a gesture of the greatest trust. It was like giving away a part of oneself. It's no wonder that rumors circulated in the Republic that Jedi literally "married" their weapons.
Revan chuckled at his thoughts, recalling Bastila's reaction and her long, indignant retort when he uttered roughly the same words during their first meeting... after losing his memory. Back then, he considered himself an ordinary Republic soldier and didn't miss an opportunity to "tease" the young Shan to admire her reaction. Carth, who was traveling with them at the time, joined in the fun at every opportunity. Those were good times.
The "Dawn Eagle," meanwhile, had already passed through the dense layers and was now maneuvering between mountain peaks, making its way to a secluded cave where focusing crystals awaited their future owners.
The last time Revan was on this planet, he was still a padawan. After his "second" training, he picked crystals for his saber in the crystal caves on Dantooine. He could have gone there with his students, but it was on Ilum that a meeting was scheduled.
On board the "Eagle," besides Revan, there were Anakin, Tira, and R2. HK had been left on the "Obsidian"... "for the preservation of the ancient sanctuary." However, the assassin droid itself had no desire to accompany the Master on an "excursion for small bags of meat." Especially after learning that there would likely be other younglings or padawans on the planet, of Anakin's age. And after the mission on Tatooine, which HK completed with flying colors, his kill protocols stopped reminding him so actively... for a couple of days. And yes, Revan admitted that this time HK had done everything as it should have been.
At least the former Jedi learned about the completion of the mission from the droid itself, and not from the news or Jabba's curses. The latter, by the way, spent almost fifteen minutes with bulging eyes staring at the holophoto of Gardulla falling into the Sarlacc's maw. And then he generously offered a discount of five percent on his contributions. True, only the current ones. But, more importantly, he provided direct access to the "Black Market of the Cartel" without any intermediaries, and therefore without markups.
So this time, the forty-seventh was rewarded with a break from Anakin's training, an extraordinary maintenance, and an oil bath, at which R2 whistled enviously in binary and promised to work twice as hard to earn a reward no worse. It seemed the astromech was more offended by the fact that HK was the one receiving the reward. Well, competition is always beneficial.
As for the other crew members... or rather, "Revan's Squad," they also remained on the "Obsidian." Maul initially intended to go with Revan, but changed his mind upon learning that a meeting with Jedi was likely. The Zabrak was still extremely wary of the Order. Risa, on the other hand, considered the whole idea a waste of time, as, in her opinion, synthetic crystals were much more effective than natural ones.
Indeed, in some aspects, such as the cyclical nature and frequency of the plasma loop, synthetic crystals were better than natural ones, giving a certain advantage in combat. For example, a synthetic crystal could cause an emitter overload in a saber with a natural focusing element. However, many features of natural crystalline formations remained unstudied. Besides, synthetics transmitted the Force much worse, which hindered the Sith from using the saber as a conduit of the Force to its full extent.
It was ironic that those who created the lightsaber in its modern form were limited in its capabilities. After all, it was the Dark Lords of the Sith Empire who improved lightsabers, placing the power unit and energy cell in the hilt. A superconductor was also introduced into the design, which transformed the cyclically returning energy from the emitter back into the internal battery. With this modification, the battery consumed energy only when the energy loop was broken, for example, when something was cut with the lightsaber. Thus, the main problem related to powering the weapon was solved.
The Jedi borrowed this technology during the invasion of the Republic by the Dark Lord Naga Sadow about five thousand years ago and the subsequent Great Hyperspace War.
As it turned out, Maul knew this history from his first mentor. But Anakin was surprised. He, like most inhabitants of the galaxy, was convinced that the lightsaber was exclusively a Jedi weapon. They invented it, and they use it. But it turned out that they simply took their opponents' invention.
Revan then mentally chuckled. Skywalker still had much to learn. After all, sabers were far from the greatest achievement of the Sith, who strove to increase their own power and were therefore constantly improving Force practices and techniques, surrounding technologies, alchemy, and, of course, themselves. The Jedi, in comparison, looked like ossified conservatives... but fast learners. It's no wonder that every conflict between the two gifted associations began with a crushing defeat of the Jedi, who, after accepting the enemy's rules of the game, gave a belated rebuff.
Thus, immersed in thoughts of the past, Revan reached the landing pad near the entrance to the crystal caves of Ilum. The place was considered sacred to the Jedi and, as mentioned, was often visited for pilgrimage and the search for crystals by future padawans. Therefore, Revan was not at all surprised that there was a ship with Order insignia on the pad. He didn't recognize the model, something from Corellian transports, like a "Consular" or "CR" corvettes, but smaller. Very similar design.
Carefully landing the "Eagle" next to the Order ship, Revan left the pilot's seat and, leaving R2 to monitor the systems, headed towards his students.
They were seated in the mess hall opposite each other... however, each was busy with their own task.
Anakin sat in a meditative pose, with his eyes closed. Two metal blocks, soldered together, levitated before him. The seam between the parts was barely visible, but still noticeable to the naked eye. However, considering that the boy had been training to join materials of different structures and compositions using only the Force, the result was impressive. Especially if you know that Skywalker started his training only four days ago. Perfection was still far away, but the first saber did not require perfect execution. No one managed to assemble the blade on the first try without the instructor noticing flaws. Revan was an exception, and even then, only on the second try... when he was formally training again and already knew how to act... He knew, but didn't remember... which didn't stop him from impressing Master Jhar with a perfectly assembled saber. Anakin would prepare the base of the blade in a day. Then it would remain to finish what was started, imbue the crystal with the Force, fix it, and make sure all parts fit together precisely.
Feeling his master's gaze, Anakin opened his eyes. From the loss of concentration, the details floating in the air fell to the floor... however, to Revan's delight, the seam held up to the fall.
"Teacher," Skywalker stood up and bowed.
"You're making progress, Anakin. Unlike some lazybones..." the former Jedi shifted his gaze to Tira Nomad.
The Mandalorian sat in a pose similar to the one Anakin had taken a moment earlier, but her helmeted head was tilted too far forward. Quiet snoring completed the picture.
Revan used a short Force push to make the mercenary tip backward. Instantly awake, Nomad jumped to her feet and tried to draw her blaster from her belt. However, the weapon had been thoughtfully removed using the same Force.
"What the Hutt?!" Tira roared, burning with righteous anger and resentment.
"What? What Hutt are you sleeping during training? Or was there another question?"
The counter-attack made the Mandalorian falter. However, not for long.
"I was trying to meditate! But I couldn't figure out how to reach that state without your help. The advice to clear my mind and relax just leads to me falling asleep!" the mercenary exclaimed indignantly.
"Try to hold yourself on the verge between sleep and wakefulness. Don't relax so much. Concentrate on your breathing and heartbeat..." Revan read another five-minute lecture on meditation techniques to Tira, which the girl, to her credit, listened to without complaint.
She even nodded in understanding... Although Revan was sure that Nomad understood absolutely nothing. Or chose not to understand.
For example, Revan had spent over an hour on the first lesson explaining to the Mandalorian why it was better not to wear a helmet during Force interaction training, as it limited sensitivity to surrounding energy flows. And the beskar in the metal also served as a good natural insulator. But getting a Mandalorian to take off any part of her armor is quite a task.
"Honestly, I don't understand why you're flying with us to Ilum. You might find a crystal, but you won't be able to cut it or assemble a saber yourself in the near future. That's a fact," Revan rubbed his temples.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm actually learning from you. You're the mentor. You lead, I follow. So all my successes or failures are on your conscience," Tira folded her arms across her chest.
"You got away with it," the former Sith stated.
Nomad nodded smugly.
"So, does the proud Mandalorian lack the intelligence and perseverance to learn the simplest meditation technique? Or do you hope to be brought to a near-death state in every battle so you can use the Force?" Revan verbally attacked a sore spot, hitting both the pride and the resentment of the student towards herself.
Tira clearly gritted her teeth. The blow hit its target precisely.
"I just don't understand what I need to do. The techniques my clan masters taught me are different from what you want. They required concentration, here it's relaxation... I... It's hard for me to adjust," Tira tried to justify herself.
"It's hard for everyone at first. You need to put in more effort."
"I'm already trying my best!"
"Are you sure?"
Nomad could not answer this question... or chose not to.
Revan understood the reason. Despite her desire and willingness to learn Force techniques, Tira was still afraid of it. The history from her past still held the girl captive. Subconsciously, she didn't allow herself to feel the Force. This will take a long time to sort out, but only she herself can help Tira. However... perhaps visiting the crystal caves of Ilum will also benefit her.
This place is imbued with the Force, which often brings visions to the gifted. Not only echoes of the possible future, but also images of the past, present... what is and what could have been... Sometimes these visions heal. Perhaps they will help her too.
"Alright. We'll sort everything out when we get back. For now, we should get moving. It's already noon. We need to make it before sunset," Revan announced.
"Why before sunset?" Anakin asked.
"When the local star sets, it gets very cold here. The meltwater that flows down the cave walls during the day freezes, blocking access to the caves until the next day. And you can't break this ice easily. Only the rays of the local star, passed through a pontite crystal, can melt the Force-infused ice. That's why all younglings must return before sunset, even if they haven't found a suitable crystal," the former Jedi explained.
"So, in the worst case, we'll have to sit in the cave until morning?" Anakin asked with some relief.
"You haven't been in the snow, kid. This isn't just cold nights in the Tatooine desert. Even my armor won't save me here," Tira shook her head, clearly tense about the conditions of visiting the cave.
"Not to mention that the caves are far from uninhabited, as is commonly believed," Revan added.
Skywalker swallowed, just beginning to realize what he had gotten himself into.
However, there was no choice. He had firmly decided to learn everything his Mentor could give him. And he wasn't going to back down.
Tira, on the other hand, decided that she simply wouldn't stray far from the entrance. After all, she didn't need a crystal for now.
Having warmed up, the squad left the "Eagle" and moved towards the cave, where Revan clearly felt the presence of the gifted. They reached it surprisingly quickly, without even having time to properly feel the cold.
Behind numerous layers of ice and snow, it was impossible to discern the outlines of the ancient temple carved directly into the rock. One had to clearly imagine what they were looking for to catch at least the outlines of the once majestic structure. The entrance itself looked like an unremarkable cave covered in ice.
As soon as they stepped under the arch of the ice temple, voices reached the group's ears. Children were talking... many children. But then a loud female voice sounded, and the children fell silent.
Revan confidently led the group, noting that the temple had not changed at all in four thousand years. The same ice-covered walls and ceiling, with frescoes of ancient writings barely visible under the snow and frost, reflecting the history of the Order. The same feeling of boundless power of the Force and its scorching cold touch, which seemed capable of freezing the very soul. And at the same time, a feeling of peace... serenity.
As the group approached the central hall, the voices of the younglings and their instructor became clearer and louder.
Revan could already distinguish the words spoken in a familiar voice.
"A crystal is the heart of a saber. The heart is a Jedi crystal. A Jedi is a crystal of the Force. The Force is the saber of the heart. Everything is interconnected: the crystal, the saber, the Jedi. You are one," Luminara Unduli recited in a soft but solemn tone.
As it turned out, it was the Mirialan who had been sent to accompany the younglings. Revan pondered - wasn't he supposed to meet her? Yoda had explained things too vaguely, avoiding specifics, as if he were afraid of being overheard. Although, perhaps that was the case.
Well, it was worth finding out.
Revan slightly released his Force, allowing Luminara to feel his presence. Although she should have already sensed Anakin's approach. His "shining star" of unrestrained power was hard to miss. Even when the boy and his master tried to hide this noticeable aura.
"Knight Van! I'm glad to see you," the Mirialan turned to those who entered the hall and smiled warmly.
There was no falseness in the smile, although there was a considerable amount of fear in the emotions. It seemed that Avner Van's true identity was no longer a secret to Unduli.
With the corner of his eye, Revan noticed another familiar figure. A little Zabrak girl was almost jumping in place and literally overflowing with joy in the Force. The former Sith recalled her name - Rina. A very curious girl, not lacking in talent... with a gaze still unclouded by the world and the Order. And almost the same age as Anakin... Hmm... Yoda.
Putting aside the fleeting thought, the former Jedi returned his attention to the Mirialan.
"And I am glad for our new meeting, Master Unduli," Revan greeted his acquaintance with a bow.
"Master Yoda warned us of your arrival. You brought your padawan to undergo the trial and find a crystal, didn't you?" the Jedi asked, still smiling.
"Yes, that's right. Anakin needs to assemble his own saber."
Luminara nodded, accepting the answer. Then the Master's gaze shifted to the Mandalorian. Tira, clad in armor from head to toe, clearly caused the Jedi bewilderment.
"And who else is with you?" the Mirialan immediately decided to clarify.
"This is Tira Nomad, a Mandalorian from the Nomad clan. She is here... hmm, for pilgrimage," Revan improvised, suddenly realizing that they had forgotten to come up with an explanation for Tira's presence on Ilum.
And the reason for this was the fact that, according to Yoda's hints, the former Jedi expected to meet someone familiar here... Formally, that was the case, but expectations still didn't align with reality.
He had no desire to reveal that Revan already had more students than expected. Perhaps in a personal conversation with Yoda... but not in front of a Mirialan with motives still unknown. Was she sent here by the Grand Master? Were they privy to his plans?
As for the presence of an outsider on the planet in general...
Access to the planet was not exactly restricted, but it was supposed to be visited only in the company of a Jedi. The sanctuary was guarded by the Order, albeit unofficially... and quite passively. The unknown, which had proven itself well over the millennia, was the main defense of this icy world.
"Pilgrimage?" Luminara repeated.
"Yes. Once, a Mandalorian named Tarr Vizsla trained in the Order. It was an unprecedented case, if you remember. However, that Mandalorian managed to distinguish himself by creating a new type of lightsaber. A unique one, it must be admitted, called the 'Dark Saber.' This relic of the Vizsla house helped unite the scattered clans at one time, like the Mask of Mandalore, but was lost in the ages," Tira herself took the floor, having caught the Master's reluctance to reveal the fact of her apprenticeship.
Luminara's face stretched in surprise. Little wonder, not only was the Jedi sanctuary visited by their eternal enemy, but she also behaved like an archivist from the Temple on Coruscant. Even the former Jedi himself thought for a second that Jocasta Nu was suddenly under the armor. The Nomad's manner of speech was very similar. Instructive and didactic with a hint of arrogance.
Revan did not remember the story of a Mandalorian in the Temple during the Old Republic. And it was unlikely that after the Mandalorian Wars, someone from the Order's sworn enemies would suddenly express a desire to become a Jedi. Not to mention the participation of Mandalorian mercenaries in the capture of the Sith Temple, which he read about only after his revival. This means that this story happened much later, after Revan's departure into the Force. And, it seems, the Mandalorians honor the legend of the Dark Saber, otherwise they wouldn't tell it to foundlings. But in the Jedi archives, this Mandalorian is not particularly highlighted. At least, in the brief summary of the most important events in the Order's history, Tarr Vizsla is not listed.
This confirmed the bewilderment in Luminara's eyes. If she had heard the story of a Jedi Mandalorian before, she had long since forgotten it. Perhaps Tira made up this story? Although... the Dark Saber? Something in her memory resonated with this name... Revan didn't have time to delve into the Archives during his visit to the Temple, but this name was definitely encountered there.
With the assistance of one of the Order's knights, I am conducting historical research in an effort to confirm the truth of this legend. After all, if Tarr truly trained in the Temple on Coruscant, then with a high degree of probability, he found the crystal for his sword in this very cave," Tira continued to chirp like a snow-white bird.
The Mirialan nodded slowly, accepting the logic of the conclusion.
"I would like to examine the cave, and, if possible, observe the process of selecting crystals, to better understand the mechanics of the entire action," Nomad said quite convincingly.
However, Unduli seemed to have a different opinion.
"I don't think..." she began, but Revan interrupted her.
"Under my responsibility. After all, Ilum is not closed for visits. Tira Nomad arrived on my ship. I trust her. I promise that the coordinates of the world, as well as the details of our training, will not be made public," Revan assured.
Mirialan still had doubts. The former Jedi clearly had the Grand Master's favor. However, such matters were beyond her competence. But she couldn't lose authority in front of the younglings either.
"Alright. Will she need an escort? How far into the caves do you intend to go?" Luminara clarified, having finally made a decision.
"I don't plan to go deep. It will be enough for me to examine the very beginning of the cave system," Nomad said, forcing extreme goodwill.
"In that case, I see no problems. And we should start, right? We shouldn't take up the future padawans' time, which is already short," Revan suggested.
Unduli agreed with this, and therefore turned to the children who had perked up their ears, who were terribly curious about what the adult masters were talking about, and even with a Mandalorian!
"Younglings, you have a little over five hours to explore the caves and search for your crystal. Remember, it's important to return on time. Don't delay, even if your crystal doesn't appear. Your lives are much more valuable," the Mirialan said.
"Yes, Master!" the students replied in a disorganized chorus.
"Then go. Listen to your intuition and stay vigilant. There may be predators in the caves. May the Force be with you!"
The children exchanged glances, turned, and with apprehension clearly visible in their movements, headed towards the cave entrance. Yes, the news about predators had unsettled them. Not that there were many of them in the caves, but they were indeed there. Among the most common inhabitants were small rodents - blismals and nimble snow-winged birds. Both species were omnivorous, but only posed a danger when they gathered in large flocks.
Anakin, following Revan's instructions, entered after the last of the younglings had disappeared into the tunnel. Tira followed last, intending to go no further than a hundred meters. The mercenary felt no danger, but preferred to keep her hand on her blaster.
"Three days ago, I joined the Council," Luminara said, making sure that all the students and... "guests" had disappeared into the cave, and there was no one nearby.
"Congratulations, Master Unduli," Revan replied briefly, not yet knowing how to react.
It was already clear that a place would open up in the Council after Dooku's departure. Unduli could have vied for this position earlier, but she was quite young for it by age. How old was she? A little over twenty, it seemed. Revan only knew that she had barely reached the rank of Master, which she had been awarded less than a year ago. Impressive progress... but suspicious.
"The Grand Master personally nominated me," the woman added.
Now it became a little clearer. Yoda had most likely pushed a supporter into the Council. If one recalled, during that unpleasant scene in the Council, Luminara was one of those who did not attack Revan. Probably the Grand Master considered her suitable to involve in his plan to reform the Order?
It's just that the old man acted too clumsily. Such favoritism would inevitably attract attention and make Unduli a target for Yoda's ideological opponents. However, with the departure of Dooku, Jinn, and Obi-Wan, the Grand Master was losing three trusted individuals. He couldn't remain inactive either. However... everything could have been done more elegantly.
"But Jedi always cut corners. They desperately lack flexibility," Revan thought.
"And I share your views. I was asked to assist you... within reasonable limits," the Mirialan added, confirming Revan's suspicions.
She was telling the truth. Her mind was clear, and there was no deception in the Force.
"But you didn't end up here just to inform me about the change in your status, did you?"
"Correct. This is only part of the Grand Master's assignment. I was also supposed to bring together a teacher and his future student," Unduli nodded in agreement.
"Rina?" the former Jedi immediately understood who was being referred to.
"Yes. The Grand Master believed that you would be a better mentor for her than anyone else. The girl developed respect for you after that brief meeting and conversation in the Archives. You managed to make Rina think for herself and ask her mentors questions that they couldn't answer due to a lack of historical knowledge or contradictions between truth and the Order's dogmas," Unduli explained with a slight smile.
"That wasn't my intention," Revan said, slightly embarrassed, admitting that he had indeed pushed the girl towards certain... thoughts in that conversation.
"However, I was planning to accompany this group of younglings anyway," Luminara nodded in agreement.
"Have you picked out a student for yourself too?" Revan guessed.
"Yes, a girl of my own race - Barriss Offee. Despite her young age, she demonstrates excellent discipline of spirit and mind, which has led to her developing a talent for healing techniques. Voqara Che is already interested in her, but I would not want the girl to be confined to the Halls of Healing, never having seen the galaxy," Unduli replied, pacing the hall.
"How many students have you trained already?" Revan inquired.
The title of Master implied that at least one of her charges had reached the rank of Knight, having completed their training under her guidance.
"Only one," the Mirialan replied.
Revan nodded, accepting the answer. Clearly, the woman did not want to go into details.
"About Rina. Can I take a second student? The Council knows that I am already training Anakin," the former Jedi said with doubt.
"Not exactly. Anakin, with the Grand Master's consent, is being trained by Avner Van. Formally, both are listed in the Order, but they haven't appeared in the Temple for several months. Rina, on the other hand, is supposed to become a student of another knight."
The news was... strange. What was happening in the Order?
"Do I need to create another fake identity? Or has the Council officially recognized that I am Revan? Or my return? Or is this just a play on words, without meaning?" the slightly confused former Jedi clarified.
"Not entirely. Avner Van was officially registered in the Jedi Knight lists, there is a report of his exam signed by the required number of Masters. On the other hand, Revan was also a member of the Order, and there is no precise information about his death in the Archives. There are records of him being missing and "presumed" dead almost four thousand years ago. Although many in the Council have been able to understand that Revan and Avner are the same person, they cannot admit it. It simply doesn't fit in their heads. One who has gone to the Force cannot return otherwise than in the form of a ghost. But you are quite alive and well. Various theories about reincarnation, the influence of holocrons, and so on are already being put forward, but they are not allowed to develop. The Masters do not want rumors to spread. After all, Revan's personality has always been quite... ambiguous."
"That doesn't explain how I can take a student when I already have one."
"The Council rarely pays attention to the assignment of padawans, as mentors are free to choose their charges. Anakin was a special case that attracted attention. With Rina, it's much simpler. If you agree, the Grand Master will approve her appointment as your padawan."
"And who will be listed as the teacher? Avner or Revan?" asked the one who possessed both names.
"I don't know. The Grand Master said he would handle this matter himself. All that is needed is your consent," Luminara faltered.
Revan felt growing irritation and made an effort to calm down. It helped.
But what was Yoda thinking?! It was clear that he was trying to protect as many gifted individuals as possible, but why openly show such high-handedness, for which the Grand Master could be removed from his post?
The second question was - what to do with this whole kindergarten that had gathered around?! Wasn't Anakin, Maul, Tira, and Risa enough? Here's another ten-year-old Zabrak girl! No, there would be benefit from her training, and Anakin would have a sparring partner from his age group. But a fifth student is too much! Is this the surprise the Grand Master mentioned in his last message suggesting a visit to Ilum?
"A short Hutt," Revan grumbled mentally.
Ignoring what Unduli continued to say, the former Sith continued his thoughts. And... it turned out not as bad as it seemed at first glance. Risa and Maul hardly needed training, only guidance and a little control over their development. Anakin and Tira, on the other hand, required a lot of attention. At the same time, Skywalker suffered from loneliness, as there was no one to discuss his problems with besides his Master. He could use a friend. A friend who was undergoing the same training, facing the same difficulties. Hmm... Did Yoda think of this too?
Revan chuckled. After all, the green-skinned old man understood much more about training the younger generation. Only the haste of his decisions was alarming. Or did they only seem hasty?
Memories of Master Vandar, who was of the same race as the current Grand Master of the Order, surfaced. And he behaved similarly at times! Seemingly reckless and even foolish, but all his ideas worked. The Force always guided him, wherever he went, whatever he did.
Is this a trait of their race? The protection of the Force, which would help in the implementation of even the craziest plans? Or was it old age taking its toll? Revan had not yet decided.
However, he was inclined to agree about Rina. The Force had not brought him together with this girl for the third time for no reason. He had learned to understand the hints of the Great One.
Meanwhile, Anakin went deeper and deeper into the caves, peering intently into the icy walls, hoping to see the glint of a crystal. The Master had told him that he would feel it when he found the one that suited him... but he hadn't explained how exactly he was supposed to feel it? Everything related to the Force still seemed mystical and incomprehensible to Skywalker. Much came to him naturally, but no less of his mentor's assignments caused natural confusion.
And now... What was he supposed to feel? What should he pay attention to?
Anakin listened to himself. Nothing. Emptiness around. No hint of anything that could attract attention. Just a beautiful cave. Narrow passages, spacious grottos, and entire galleries with high ceilings. Crystals shimmered here and there... ice. There were no gems among them... only water and salt. Strange. The Master had spoken of multi-colored light refractions, an endless kaleidoscope of colors across the entire vault of the cave. It was supposed to be a beautiful and majestic sight... but Anakin saw nothing. Only gray-blue walls. Faceless and dreary.
He had stopped sensing the presence of other children about ten minutes ago. Either they had gone far, or the cave itself prevented him from sensing anyone at a distance.
Then Skywalker decided to look around using the Force, sending waves of energy around himself and catching their response, as his mentor had taught him.
And it helped. From somewhere to the right, a faint pulsating echo of something familiar... close... reached him.
Without wasting time, Anakin followed the trail, periodically checking his senses. He had to walk a long way. For at least an hour, he wandered through tunnels and caves, trying to remember the way back, but everything comes to an end. His journey also ended...
Or rather, it was interrupted in the most unexpected way. Running into another passage between caves, Skywalker stumbled over something soft and fluffy. Fortunately, he managed to group himself during the fall and did not suffer any injuries, except for a slight bruise on his elbow. The training helped, where he had to fall often. Especially when Maul conducted sparring instead of Revan.
His gaze caught sight of a small creature in the dim light of the cave, covered in silvery fluffy fur. Its elongated muzzle and black bead-like eyes created a cute image... until the creature opened its mouth.
The piercing shriek that burst from the throat of this silver rat made Anakin cover his ears in fear, afraid of going deaf. The pain was terrible, as if someone was hammering nails directly into his skull. His vision blurred, and the world spun. He felt something warm and sticky under his fingers. He needed to do something, but he couldn't concentrate.
And then... it all disappeared. The silence that followed was as deafening as the shriek. But at least the pain was gone.
With difficulty, Anakin opened his eyes. He couldn't focus his gaze immediately. In the blurry streaks before him, a human figure could be discerned.
Blinking somehow, Skywalker saw the back of a young man, no older than himself. Blond, in a dark gray robe resembling the younglings' attire, but much lighter... more suited to someone from a hot planet and completely out of place here, in the snow. The young man stood with his hand extended forward. Following the gaze, where the stranger was reaching, Skywalker saw the very creature that had stunned him. Only now the animal was surrounded by a translucent cocoon of furiously rotating streams of Force with flecks of snow and ice, creating a mesmerizing picture. The creature was still opening its mouth, undoubtedly continuing to shriek, but no sound penetrated the walls of the formed sphere.
"Are you okay?" Anakin managed to hear through the ringing in his ears.
It seemed they were addressing him.
"What?" he asked.
His own voice also sounded muffled, as if through cotton wool. He must have been severely stunned. A single glance at his hands, which still felt something sticky, was enough to understand that blood was coming from his ears. It was likely from ruptured blood vessels or damaged eardrums. He wouldn't want the latter. However, it was his own fault for forgetting to reinforce his body with the Force when he went searching.
"I'm asking, are you alright? Can you hear me at all?" the unfamiliar boy repeated, turning his head towards Anakin.
Skywalker managed to see that the boy's eyes were blue, just like his own. A strange feeling arose... as if they had known each other for a long time.
Sensing the expectation in the gaze of his unexpected savior, Anakin hurried to answer.
"Yes, I'm fine. I was a bit stunned, but I think it will all return to normal quickly."
"That's good," the unknown boy smiled, sending the sphere with the creature flying down the passage.
Anakin watched the animal, no longer seeming so cute, with obvious relief and a touch of malice.
"That's a blismal. They're not particularly dangerous and can only cause harm in a pack, but you got some overgrown one with a monstrously loud shriek. It alone is enough for a pack," the stranger chuckled.
"Thank you for your help," Anakin thanked him, getting to his feet.
The world suddenly spun, and Skywalker almost fell back, but was caught by the boy.
"Wow, you got quite a concussion. Let me help," he said and placed his hand on Anakin's head.
At the same moment, Skywalker felt a pleasant coolness spreading from the stranger's hand. The pain receded, and the ringing in his ears gradually subsided. Whatever the boy was doing, it helped.
In less than a minute, Anakin was standing firmly on his feet again and could clearly hear his surroundings.
"There you go," the unfamiliar boy smiled smugly.
"Thank you. And how did you do that? Was it the Force?" Anakin asked, rubbing one ear, just to make sure it was still there.
"Yes, I can do a lot. They say it's from my father. My name is Luke," the boy extended his hand.
"Anakin," Skywalker shook it and suddenly felt that the Force echo he was looking for... was coming from this boy in front of him.
Noticing the surprise in Anakin's eyes, Luke tilted his head slightly and asked if everything was alright.
"Huh? Yes... yes, everything is fine. I was just looking for a crystal for my lightsaber, but I couldn't feel it at all... I tried to find it with a Force impulse and even felt a response... but I seem to have gotten lost," Skywalker began to explain confusingly.
"Ah, that happens! I've heard that many never feel a response. Crystals can be found not only here. They can be found on other planets too. Some just need a special crystal. Right?" the unexpected savior smiled.
Skywalker shrugged, but nodded in agreement. The response felt stronger and was definitely coming from this strangely dressed boy.
"Aren't you cold?" Anakin finally asked.
The boy looked himself over and snorted.
"Well, maybe I'm not dressed for the weather, but the Force warms me as well as a binary star."
"I can't do that yet," Skywalker grumbled, still trying to understand what was happening.
"Not yet. You will become strong. Definitely. It cannot be otherwise. Just a piece of advice, don't try to take the easy path - there's too much dirt on it. Be patient and listen to your mentor. One day... it will save you," the boy smiled.
"What makes you say that?"
But Luke ignored the question.
"I was looking for crystals too. What color would you like for yourself?"
"Blue. My teacher says that this color was traditionally chosen by Jedi defenders. Mighty warriors... I want to become like that," Anakin said automatically, without even thinking why he was being so open with a stranger.
"So, you want to fight injustice and protect others? An excellent aspiration. And I would like to become a 'Consul'. I'm looking for a green crystal, but so far I've only found some mixtures," the boy said sadly and took a handful of multi-colored crystals from his pocket.
Anakin stared at them in surprise. He hadn't found a single speck himself on the entire journey.
Suddenly, one of the crystals in Luke's palm shone particularly brightly, attracting Skywalker's attention. Anakin felt an irresistible urge to take it in his hands. It was from this that the feeling of kinship and... warmth came?
"Did you like it?" the unexpected savior asked, noticing his companion's interest.
"Uh-huh," was all Anakin could manage.
"Take it," Luke offered.
Skywalker extended his hand and carefully picked up the crystal, transferring it to his own palm.
"This is a cyan-colored tourmaline. A mixture of blue and green. It will serve you well, Anakin. It will protect you from a fate worse than death. Don't lose it... there may not be a second chance..."
"What?" Anakin tore his gaze from "his" crystal and stared... into emptiness...
His interlocutor had disappeared, as if he had never been there. Not even footprints remained on the snow-covered and frosted floor... And only the crystal, brightly shimmering in the dim light of the cave, indicated that Skywalker had not imagined it all.
He had to go back. And quickly. The cave suddenly seemed eerie and unwelcoming.