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Coruscant’s warm evening light filtered into Mace’s quarters, and Obi-Wan took a moment to observe the way it filled the room. He let himself just exist in that moment, not waiting, not dwelling on the concerns that had brought him here – the time would come for those would come soon, but for the moment, he could just be.
The moment passed, and Obi-Wan reoriented himself to the gentle clinking of porcelain as Mace set down a cup of tea in front of him. Obi-Wan accepted with a dip of his head and gratitude that was more feelings than words. Mace sat down across from him, with his own tea, and waited patiently for Obi-Wan to speak.
Obi-Wan drank first. The quiet moment previously had allowed him to clear his head, and now he sorted through his thoughts to settle on how to begin.
“The task,” he said finally, as he lowered his cup, “is daunting. There is so much that Anakin does not know. So much that I’ve known since childhood that I’ve forgotten needed to be learned in the first place. I don’t know where to start, sometimes. I begin to teach something only to realize that I’ve assumed a foundation that just doesn’t exist for him.”
“It isn’t as different as you’re imagining for Temple-raised children,” Mace said. “Certainly, there are unique challenges in Padawan Skywalker’s case. I’m not disputing that. But every teacher has forgotten how they know what they know. There’s truth in the adage that the Master learns from the student. You will have to learn, Obi-Wan. Embrace what you do not know. No matter how well you structure your lessons, there will always be things you cannot account for. Your student will always surprise you. Depa certainly did, more times than I can count.”
Obi-Wan relaxed somewhat at that. It was relieving to hear that he was not alone in this experience. Sometimes he could get too caught up in the idea that Anakin’s apprenticeship was unprecedented, that he neglected to take into account the experience of others that could still be relevant.
But that was why he had turned to Mace, for that much needed perspective. Someone who had not only had experience with a padawan of his own, but also kept his focus on the pulse of the Order, who watched the interactions between countless sets of masters and padawans – Mace’s perspective and advice was particularly helpful. That he had also been close with Qui-Gon, was another benefit to Obi-Wan, who sorely missed his master’s guidance in this matter.
“Anakin is eager to learn. If the subject holds his interest, he picks it up quickly – more quickly than I can keep up with, sometimes. This, and the times where I have to circle back to the basics that I hadn’t realized I skipped over...frustrates him. He is always looking to move forward, and learn more, which is an admirable trait, but so is patience.”
“Anakin grew up powerful in the Force, and even without training, it gave him advantages over his peers,” Mace said. “He’s now in an environment where he is no longer advanced in comparison – and that alone would create insecurity, but the reality is that despite his natural strength in the Force, he is behind his peers in technique and discipline. While this is not a judgment of his intellect or character, simply a fact of the situation, he likely interprets it as the former.”
“I have no doubt that you’re right,” Obi-Wan said. “But I don’t know what I can say to him to convince him otherwise, to teach him patience – with himself, most of all.”
“You must be patient, yourself, Obi-Wan. Trust in him to find his way, and trust in your ability to guide him. These doubts are normal, every teacher has them. Even Master Yoda, I’m sure.”
“That, I would find hard to believe,” Obi-Wan said, with a wry smile.
“And one day, I’m sure Anakin will say the same about you,” Mace said, also amused. “As challenging as training a padawan is, especially one like Anakin, you are more than up to the task. And you’re not alone, either.”
The sky outside grew steadily darker, and just before the light faded, the autolamps in the room began to glow.
“No,” Obi-Wan agreed. “I’m not.”