Beyond the Uncharted | Star Wars Fanfiction

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ: ʟᴀꜱᴛ

The gardens were a sight of colour, with blooming flowers painting the landscape. Warm air swirled around me, tousling my short hair as I ran. The gravel beneath my bare feet was sharp and uncomfortable, but I moved on, my best friend close beside me. 

The grass, long and lush, brushed against my legs as small birds flitted through the trees. The sun had just crested the horizon, its light slicing through the gaps of large stone statues and bathing the temple in the morning light. Breakfast would not be prepared for another few hours as Jedis took their mornings to meditate and reflect before indulging in nourishment. This meant the grounds were still empty and enabled us to act without grace. As we passed the library, its silver doors stood open, appearing inviting. We moved to the entrance to the memorial grounds, where respect was paid to the fallen. Finally, after a dash through the temple, we reach the meditation chamber.

The chamber was a single, circular room built from cyan stone with intricate golden accents. As I entered, my gaze was drawn upward to the towering ceiling where golden statues of the first Jedi Order stood sentinel, there to guide those in need below. The floor was a mosaic of gold circles, each sectioning off the room and providing a structured space for groups to find peace together. Natural light filtered in through small openings in the walls, casting gentle rays that illuminated the chamber during the day and allowed it to plunge into darkness at night.

At the centre of the room, two figures floated gracefully above the ground. One was small and green, the other large and tan. We watched them in silence, patiently waiting for their meditation to conclude.

"Padawans me senses. Standing by the door." The small creatures speak. We take that as our sign to enter; our bare feet slap against the cold marble.

"Kai!" I yell, waving as the boy plants himself back on stable ground. He smiles at us, waiting for further instructions from Yoda. "I think I might even cry when he departs, Lex," I tell my friend.

"I will probably find myself weeping to sleep tomorrow night. Ugh, why must it be so soon?" She whines. "I'm going to miss staring at his face during fighting practice."

"Maybe then you'll find your skill. How many times did he beat you this past month?"

"Each duel—but I prefer to think it's because I let him!" We reach Yoda and Kai, greeting them with a bow.

"Padawan Xiollsea. Padawan Lexarien," the old man greets.

"Grand Master Yoda," we return his welcome, following beside our master as he totters towards the exit. I glance at Kai, who sways his arm to grab my hand. He squeezes my fingers tightly, looking deeply into my eyes.

"This morning, about our secluded meditation, me suspected to see you two," Yoda's words follow a backwards order.

"Yes, master. Xio and I want to spend every moment with our friend before we see him off tomorrow," she sighs. "The trio of three-letter nicknames has met its end."

"Xio, Lex, and Kai. I suppose you are correct." I blink toward the hall's entrance, drawn by a fifth voice. There stands Anakin Skywalker, composed and attentive, hands clasped within his sleeves. His loose hair blows across his face, two braids peeking out from beneath the fluffy locks. His rosy cheeks, dotted with freckles, accompany a cheerful smile as he looks upon our conversation. "Master." He bows to Yoda, followed by a bow to us. "Padwans."

"Becoming quite crowded, this hall is. Hrm, yes," Yoda brushes past Anakin's legs, taking his time to jump down each stair. The wind picks up, almost knocking him over as we watch him waddle away, journeying to his next task.

"Hello, Kai. I have come to wish luck to you during your ceremony this afternoon. You must be excited," the apprentice master compliments.

"You are quite right, Master Anakin. Thank you for your benediction." What a humble, kind person, I admire. "If I could only stay around to witness your master's ceremony. You must be through with your training soon." Anakin emits a light chuckle.