Legacy of the Shadow of the Jedi | REMAKE |

6. Desolous

|| Location: Corusca Sector, Coruscant system , Coruscant||

|| Timeline: 96 BBY ||

The anticipation in the air was palpable. As I stood among my fellow Padawans, the vast expanse of the Jedi Temple's training hall seemed to press down on us with the weight of countless trials that had come before. This was not just another lesson or sparring match. This was the beginning of the Jedi Knight Trials—the path that would determine if we were ready to move beyond the role of students, to be entrusted with the responsibility and wisdom that came with knighthood.

The instructor, a stern-faced Jedi Knight named Arik Moru, addressed us with the calm authority that only years of experience could bring. His voice, steady and unwavering, filled the room as he began the briefing. "The Trials of Knighthood are not merely tests of your abilities but a reflection of your dedication to the Force and the Order. Each of you has been selected because the Council believes you are ready. But understand this: the Trials are not just about passing; they are about growth. Failure is a teacher, as much as any Master."

My heart pounded as he continued. "There are five primary trials you will face. The first, the Trial of Skill, will test your lightsaber combat prowess and your ability to remain focused under immense pressure. You will face a Sith simulacrum—an opponent that embodies the very essence of the dark side. The second, the Trial of Courage, will push you to confront your deepest fears and, in some cases, dangerous assignments that require both bravery and wisdom."

Arik's eyes scanned the room, meeting each of ours with a gaze that seemed to pierce through to our very souls. "The Trial of the Flesh will challenge your resilience, your ability to endure pain and loss without succumbing to despair. The Trial of the Spirit is perhaps the most personal, where you will face the darkness within yourself, your doubts, and your fears. Finally, the Trial of Insight will require you to overcome illusions and solve puzzles that test your mind and connection to the Force."

The room was silent, each of us absorbing the gravity of the task ahead. I could feel the eyes of my peers, some filled with determination, others with uncertainty. I glanced at my friends—Liora, her Togruta montrals twitching with nervous energy, and our Rodian friend, who stood with a stoic expression, his eyes betraying only a hint of the anxiety we all felt. This was what we had trained for, what we had been preparing for since our first steps into the Temple. But now that it was here, the reality of it all weighed heavily on me.

Arik's voice brought me back to the moment. "Your first trial, the Trial of Skill, will begin shortly. You will be called one by one to face the simulacrum of Darth Desolous, a Sith Lord known for his ferocity and unmatched combat skills. He is not real, but do not mistake the simulacrum's presence for anything less than a true threat. Treat it as if your life depended on it, because in a sense, it does. How you face this challenge will set the tone for the trials to come."

As he finished speaking, I could feel the tension in the room heighten. This was the moment we had all been waiting for, and the first step would soon be mine to take. I thought back to my training sessions with Master Tholme and Battlemaster Skarch Vaunk, to the countless hours spent refining my forms, especially Soresu and the more aggressive Djem So. But this would be different. This wasn't just practice; this was a test of everything I had learned, everything I had become.

I clenched my fists, feeling the cool metal of my lightsaber hilt against my palm. I was ready—or at least, I had to be. The journey to this point had been long, filled with countless failures and moments of doubt. But those failures had shaped me, honed me into something stronger. Now, it was time to prove it.