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Plo Koon had taken one look at Ilum, the ice planet most of the initiates found their kaiber on, turned to Master Gryyssk and said, "Not here."
"You can tell already, littl'un? Not surprising. We've been arranging a trip to Jedha for you and Initiate E'kka. The Trials there are different, but the Council thinks it'll work out," said the large Wookiee in Thykarann. A large sable fur colored hand patted his head before he led the initiates, except E'kka and Plo onto Ilum.
Plo looked at the Devotees of the Jedha Temple in awe. This place was filled with the colors of an aurora. He craned his neck back to admire a set of crystals on the ceiling when someone spoke.
"I see our little adventurers have arrived. You must be Plo Koon and E'kka. I am Speaker Corlyn, he/him, I'll be bringing you to the Caverns." The four armed near human smiled at the children, his almost silver blue eyes seeming to see through them.
E'kka signed something shyly which earned a chuckle from the man.
"My species, the Ranyll, are all male and though we can reproduce on our own, we find better luck in what we call Iryul. It is a symbiotic relationship we form with a female species on our planet called the Yuseri, that is who my partner is. I'm not bothered you asked about her. She is called Starpainter in Galactic Basic and we've been together for many years."
The Yuseri seemed to solidify out of Corlyn's shadow and her form rippled to look humanoid. She stood shorter than the Ranyll but seemed ethereal and inherently Force touched, and though she looked dark the colors that swirled around her were vibrantly LIGHT. Plo liked them, he decided.
"Now then, let's see if we can get you kids some kyber, hmm?" Corlyn's lower hands offered themselves to the boy and girl before he started leading them through the Temple of Crystal.
The entrance to the caverns was large and imposing with stalactites and stalagmites like sharp teeth.
"The Trial begins. You will wander the caverns blindfolded with only the Force to guide you. You must trust it. If you do not return in 36 standard hours, we will retrieve you." Corlyn accepted a long strip of cloth from Starpainter who seemed to say something.
"Of course. Be warned, there are dangers in the caverns but you MUST remain blind. Only the Force may guide you here." They tied the blindfolds, guided the children past the teeth like rocks and waited.
E'kka started instantly, her steps taking her resolutely deeper.
Plo stood there for a moment as he tried to grasp for the Cosmic Force. It was always harder for him when he couldn’t see, because he saw the Force so vividly. He breathed out and placed his hand on the wall, the sand piled up felt familiar, reminded the Kel Dor of visiting Dorin. He took unsteady steps and soon the Force began to tug him.
' Little sandstorm, you are ever so lost, aren't you? ' A voice echoed in his head. He tensed at the endearment. Only the Kel Dor of the Order called him that, as his name was one of many words for sandstorm in Dorin.
' Good, you're not ignorant. So many of my children ignore me. They say the sharing of my sight is folly. You know better, don't you? ' The voice tugged him into some of the higher angled tunnels.
Tiny legs carried him up and up, a hand on the wall keeping him steady.
' Climb higher, little sandstorm. Climb past your limits. There is where lightning will strike you ,' the voice said cryptically.
Eventually a tingling sensation ran through one of Plo’s fingers. He had climbed for hours after silence had fallen. He dug through the wall and felt something smooth. He tugged gently with the Force and heard the hum. A smile formed under his rebreather before he started back. When he finally got out of the Cavern, Corlyn, Starpainter and E'kka untied his blindfold so he could see the kaiber , with its brilliant sapphire color and its feeling of trapped lightning. He'd found his partner.