Chapter Text
I was still looking around the halls in wonder, every corner of the Temple seemed filled with art and light. Sculptures, murals, occasional glimpses into indoor gardens, I could understand why Jedi loved their temple, it was beautiful.
Master Halcyon kept leading, making small talk with Chas, pointing out some piece of art or artifact that was displayed. Barko was looking around in wonder, making sure their camera-droid, 6-UZ1, was filming the main passages and all of the art that the Jedi Master was pointing out.
Suddenly, Master Halcyon straightened and turned to look towards a hallway, stopping suddenly and forcing us to stop next to her. The three of us also turned towards the hallway as out of nowhere a kid with blue skin and white dreadlocks came barreling towards us, feet barely touching the ground as they jumped straight into Master Halcyon’s arms, speaking too fast for me to understand.
“Kai'an, rahkadaiji, we have guests.” Master Halcyon interrupts through the deluge of words.
The kid wiped their head at them, “Pecha students! I’m Initiate Nadya, they/them” they exclaim with a wide grin.
I can’t help the grin that comes to my lips, this kid is adorable, and they remind me of my oldest niece. “Hello Nadya, my name is Imay Shiralla ver/vey”
“Zodho Chas, they/them”
“Lomari Barko, she/her.” Barko hesitates before asking “‘pecha’?, what does that mean?”
“It’s an informal greeting in our language,” Master Halcyon explains, and after looking at their faces, she continues “Yes you can know about it, though it’s hard to talk for non-Force Sensitives, Dai Bendu is not a secret. I can explain more in the garden, if you want”
Chas was writing on his notepad, since he was in charge of writing questions down for later. Just before we could ask another question, six more kids suddenly ran and crashed into Master Halcyon, talking all at once in what I assumed was their language. After them, an older Bothan came along smiling lightly, another kid asleep in their arms “Metiv Jaeih Mina, Nadya was excited to see you.”
Master Halcyon let out a little trilling chuckle, “It’s no problem Jaieh Kai, it’s always a delight to see the Kryat clan. Now younglings, off to your morning meal, I need to escort the guests to the garden.”
The kids groaned in unison, a few turning to look at them curiously, their eyes seemed to see more than just our faces. Their gazes were too serious and cutting, like I was being assessed in a test that I didn’t even know I had to take.
“Pecha students!” They said as they bowed, once again at the same time. I wasn’t sure if it was cute or slightly creepy. And in a few seconds the kids were lined up and following the Bothan Jedi Master, quiet and perfectly behaved. Master Halcyon leaned down and set Initiate Nadya on the ground, murmuring something to them before they took off, lining up with the rest of their clan.
Master Halcyon turned to us, suddenly serious “you won’t publish this in the documentary right?”
“Of course, they’re adorable and I wouldn't want them to be hurt.” Barko immediately agreed.
“Good, follow me now, we’re nearly at the gardens.”
……….
I was in the healing halls looking in wonder at the floating tools following the healers, when a burst of movement caught my attention. A human Jedi, probably around our age, was being chased by a few healers. One of the healers, a Basilisk, put them over their shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried him deeper into the halls. Hopefully to get treatment, they were coughing pretty hard.
……..
I was staring, Brako was staring, Chas was staring.
Padawan Unduli was covering her face, an exasperated but fond sigh escaping her lips. Master Halcyon's shoulders were shaking slightly.
In the Hallway in front of us, a red-haired teenager was floating and spinning above our heads. A Kiffar and a Mon Calamari with their hands outstretched were probably the culprits.
“What, exactly, do you think you’re doing?” Padawan Unduli asked, voice tired.
The Kiffar yelped, the redhead dropping a bit with a yelp before the Mon Calamari stabilized them. “Nara, don’t startle me like that. And we’re training in the ways of the Force.” The Kiffar proclaimed, a crooked grin looking natural in his face.
“Jesara Jaieh Mina, could you please let me down, Bant and Quin are convinced they can hold it for hours but I need to finish my homework.” The redhead said, face serene even upside down.
“It was your idea.” The Kiffar accused.
“I suggested you could, I didn’t say you should.” The redhead rebutted, now horizontally to the floor.
“Padawans, please stop for a moment so we can cross and go to the training room.” Master Halcyon asked, before continuing, “and I think you can keep it up for at least another 2 hours.”
The redhead let out a protesting sound as he floated slightly higher, the other two grinning brightly at Master Halcyon.
As we passed below them, Padawan Unduli said “After I’m done I’ll come and let you down Obi, I need help in Diplomacy.”