Chapter Text
Sometimes it seemed like Stellan Gios was never going to stop talking.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, though. His teachings were very fascinating, and you didn't have to be a Jedi to sense how passionate he was about his lessons. But Jedi youngling Faehra Viro was tired of listening to people talk. All she wanted was to become a Padawan and go off into the galaxy and explore. She didn't want to be stuck in the Temple listening to Jedi Knights and Masters tell her what the role of a Jedi is; she wanted to go out and experience it for herself.
However, until she actually became a Padawan, she had to take what she could get. So she listened intently to Stellan’s teachings, making sure not to miss even one word. If she was being totally honest with herself, she secretly hoped that she would become his Padawan. She knew it wasn't very Jedi-like of her to hope for a specific Master and that the Force would guide her to find the right teacher, but she couldn't help it. Stellan was an incredible Jedi, and it didn't hurt that she had known him since her early days as a youngling.
After lessons had concluded for the day, Faehra went off in search of a quiet place to study. On her way, she passed Bell Zettifar, a Padawan and close friend of hers.
“Hey, Fae,” he called out to her as she approached him. Bell had been the first one to give her the nickname when they were very young, and it had stuck. Now almost everyone called her that.
“Bell! I figured you and Master Greatstorm had already left,” Faehra replied, smiling at him.
“He has some more business with the Council before we go.” He eyed her books. “Let me guess, you're off to study on your own once again?”
She scoffed at him, but he had a point. Most of the other younglings liked to study in small groups, but Faehra typically did her work on her own. It wasn't that she didn't like spending time with the others, she just found that she could think more clearly by herself. Bell, of course, knew all of that about her, having known her as long as he had.
“I’ve got a lot to do,” Faehra told him. “We're not all Padawans, you know.”
“Ah, you’ll be there soon. I can feel it.”
“I can feel it, too,” she confessed, “which is maybe even more frustrating. Patience has never really been my thing.”
Bell stifled a laugh, and Faehra rolled her eyes. He of all people knew that.
“Hey, we’ve all got things we can improve on.”
“Yes, we do. Which is exactly why I need to go study. Alone.”
Bell nodded at her and said, “Well, good luck. I can't wait to hear who your Master ends up being.”
Me too, she thought to herself as she waved goodbye to Bell and continued walking. He was right, 13 was a pretty typical age to become a Padawan. That's how old Bell had been when Loden became his Master about a year prior. But Faehra couldn't shake the lingering anxiety about her future. What if no one wanted her as their Padawan?
That question and numerous other worries swirled around in her head as she attempted to study that afternoon.
----
“It's good to see you back on Coruscant, Elzar.”
“You, too, Stell. I can't remember the last time we were both here.”
“It has been quite a while, hasn't it?” Stellan chuckled.
Jedi Knight Elzar Mann smiled at him, keeping pace as they walked down one of the long halls of the Jedi Temple.
“How is the teaching going?” Elzar asked. “I know you're always looking for opportunities to teach the younglings here on Coruscant.”
“Yes, it has been very nice. The younglings I've worked with are very promising, too. Lots of potential,” Stellan replied.
“Are you still hoping to take on a Padawan of your own soon?”
“I am. In fact, I'm planning to speak with the Council about it before I leave Coruscant. That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, though.”
Elzar stopped walking momentarily. “What do you mean?”
“How would you feel about taking on a Padawan?”
Elzar sighed. “We've talked about this. Training a Padawan just isn't for me.”
“Elzar, training future generations is an important part of being a-” Stellan began, but Elzar cut him off.
“I know it is, but not every Jedi has to take on a Padawan.” He’d heard this speech before, and everytime he gave Stellan the same response.
“I know, I know,” Stellan conceded with a wave of his hand. “There's a specific reason why I'm asking, though.”
Elzar gave him a curious look. “Which is…?”
“There's one youngling that I've been teaching who I think would be a good fit for you. She reminds me a lot of you when we were young, and I really think you could be a great teacher for her.”
“She reminds you of me? I'm not so sure that's a good thing coming from you,” Elzar teased.
“I'm serious. I just get the feeling that you could really help her. And maybe she could help you, too.”
“I don't know, Stell . . .”
“Take tonight to meditate on it. Then, tomorrow, come help me teach a class so you can meet her. That's all I ask.”
“Alright, I can do that,” Elzar agreed.
“Thank you.”
Later that night, Elzar sat in one of the meditation rooms in the Temple.
Okay, Stellan, he thought, let's see what the Force has to say about this.
He hadn't told Stellan, but he’d felt the Force guiding him to visit Coruscant. For several nights, he had been kept awake by some gnawing feeling, and he finally figured it out. The Force wanted him there. Could this be why?
He took deep breaths as he allowed himself to dive down into the vast ocean of the Force. He swam in it, searching for something - anything - to show him his path.
In this ocean, he felt as though something was missing. No, not something. He swam deeper and deeper, searching for the answer. Someone. Someone was missing. But who? Deeper once again. Not a friend or another Knight. One final push and there it was, that missing piece. Or rather, there she was.
A Padawan, just like Stellan had said. Oh, and he'd be so pleased to know he'd been right.