Star Wars: The Rise of Ren ✓

Chapter 59 - Graduation Vigil

With Luke away on the mission to Ogem, Naluma was the ranking Jedi Master at the graduation. Even in her gravid state, though, she fretted about the graduation that night.

Sixteen years had passed since the academy's inception, and today the largest class of Padawan was graduating—twenty of them. This graduation would swell the ranks of the Jedi to just about forty. Kallay was graduating to Jedi Master, with her twin brother Kalder assisting her. All the other Jedi Knights had returned for the graduation, assisting their Padawan throughout the vigil. If only Luke would return in time.

The Jedi Order had spent the last six hours in a cleansing vigil of silence. As the Jedi filed into the dining hall, adjusting their formal robes, the Jedi Master said with a frown on her face, "Lightsabers on."

Kalder turned his head with a sharp jerk. Many of the others looked at her in question, too. Master Fau? No lightsabers until tomorrow.

Don't contradict me, Kalder. She glared at him. I'm following the leading of the Force. Besides, it's just a tradition. Traditions can be changed.

Naluma led the procession of Jedi Masters, Knights, and Padawan to the new temple site—the hill of turf and shale named "Bald Mountain" by the second class of Padawan to graduate. Once they had gathered in position, she raised her hands up to begin the ceremony with ancient decorum. "Jedi, welcome to our most solemn tradition. Tonight, Padawan will pass from learner to journeyman, taking vows to defend the galaxy, even at the cost of everything they hold dear. One knight will pass from journeyman to master, shouldering the additional responsibilities of leading the Jedi Order as the Force guides, sacrificing not only physical comforts, but also personal desires and futures.

"Master Kalder Flo'et, do you confirm that Jedi Kallay Flo'et has passed all of the requirements—mental, physical, and Force-wielding trials—to be elevated to Jedi Master, with no reservations?"

"I solemnly swear that the Jedi Kallay Flo'et has passed all of the trials and is ready to become a Jedi Master, with no reservations," Kalder said while beaming a smile at his twin sister.

"Jedi Kallay Flo'et, upon your self-evaluation, do you confirm that you are ready to take on the burdens of Jedi Master, assuming responsibility for the Jedi Order, even in detriment to your own well-being?"

"I swear that I am ready to become a Jedi Master: to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy, serving the galaxy in self-sacrifice, to lead the Jedi Order as the Force leads me," she said with a short bow.

"Kneel, child," Naluma said while pulling out a bottle of holy water. She emptied the contents on her head, allowing it to stream down her face and back. She waved her hands over her as she said a few words in an ancient unknown tongue.

Master Fau hobbled in front of a Jedi pair of Knight and Padawan. "Jedi Zeke Toonu, do you confirm that Padawan Fraynal Lensa has passed all of the requirements—mental, physical, and Force-wielding tests—to become a Jedi Knight, with no reservations?"

"I solemnly swear that the Padawan Fraynal Lensa has passed all of the trials and is ready to become a Jedi Knight, with no reservations," Zeke said with a slight nod.

"Padawan Faynal Lensa, upon your self-evaluation, do you confirm that you are ready to take on the burden of Knighthood?"

"I swear that I am ready to become a Jedi Knight: to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy, serving the galaxy in self-sacrifice," she said with a short bow.

"Kneel, child." Naluma emptied the contents of another bottle of holy water on her head. She waved her hands and repeated the archaic words.

Naluma continued the ritual across all five pairs of Knights and Padawan. At the end, she said, "Until the day dawns."

After the opening ceremony that evening, the wind kicked up and the clouds rolled in. It was not long before large drops of rain pelted the graduates and attendees—and none moved. This, too, was a test. Could these Padawan ignore their physical needs to last through the night-long vigil?

The engines of a starfighter startled Naluma out of her reverie during the long vigil. Checking the position of Khalkha's two moons peeking through the scattered clouds, she determined it was not long after midnight. She breathed a sigh of relief that Luke had returned early from his mission.

While she waited for him to approach the area, hail pelted the Jedi. Peals of thunder rang out across the area with multiple bolts of lightning flashing in the distance. Rain poured in sheets now, reducing visibility to a mere thirty meters. The Padawan and Jedi remained solid in the cold, holding their positions through the wet night.

Tell me what you think . . .

● Would you have held still in a night-long vigil in a thunderstorm with hail?