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Chapter Eight: The Council's Test |
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Nervously, I did what Master Skywalker told me to do. With a slow, yet normal-seeming pace, I went to the middle of the room. To be more exact, within the open circle that had been drawn on the floor. "State your name." Master Skywalker asked. "Manta Devix." I replied softly. "Please, do not be nervous. We're only asking your name." This time it was Master Kenobi who had commented. I saw him smiling and that eased my neverousness, somewhat. "My name is Manta Devix." I said again, this time with more confidence. The masters seemed to be happier with me after I repeated my name. They looked at each other, commentating, though I didn't hear any of it.
"Very well, I will commence the test." Master Skywalker took out a holopad and sat back against his seat. "The first test is for you to tell me what object is on my holopad through the Force. It is a test of forsight, as you can say." I nodded to signal that I was ready. Master Skywalker turned on his holopad and I closed my eyes. Slowly, I breathed in and out, trying to focus the blur that came into my mind once the holopad started. The image sharpened once I let the Force flow up to my brain. "Triangle," I said with confidence. I opened my eyes afterwards and Master Skywalker nodded. "Next," he said, and another image went to me. We went well over about fifty objects, and I only got one wrong (a bantha), since for one, I didn't know what it was, and two they admitted that it was a joke and wouldn't count it against me.
The next test was going to be handled by Master Kenobi. I was to stay still and calm, while he read my feelings and anything else. The object of this was to see if I had the calmness a Jedi would need and also if I could be patient. It took well over an hour for this test to complete. I had to stand still and not move or else it would "break his concentration". I guess it was also a test of endurance, since my legs became very stiff and uncomfortable. The way I had to make myself endure all that was to meditate. It was just as my master told me beforehand. If I was ever tested in endurance and patience, the best way to go about it is to meditate. Sooner or later a solution would arise or the problem would go away. Did it feel like an hour? No, it actually it felt more like a lifetime. Absolutely boring, yet I passed.
The third test was to measure my Force capabilities. This test was broken down into three more parts. The first part was physical. I had to lift rocks of different shapes, sizes, and weights. I started off with a small pebble and ended with a 15 pound boulder. I was actually surprised because of the fact they said I was the only one that could lift something this heavy early on, and I wasn't even a padawan yet! This made me feel really good and boosted my confidence even more. I guess it'd also be okay to say that it boosted my ego just a little bit too.
The second part of this test was to test my mental Force capabilities. Though one could say the first test Master Skywalker could count for it, I'd say it was more of perliminary work out to what I had to actually do here. The test went as follows: one master had to say three things, one of the statements is a lie. I had to figure out which one it is. Hard? Oh yeah. Exteremely, especially if you have no experience whatsoever in being an esper. But I still tried. The whole council had a go at me, but unfortunately I only got four people; the first four. The rest made it harder by throwing other feelings and projections towards me. They say, as a Jedi I should be able to separate these things out. It just proved that I am not as good as I thought, and the boost I had before, finally faded away.
The third and final part of the test was to test myself in the knowledge of the Jedi Code and what it stood for. "There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force."
As I say the code, the master around me smiled. "So, Manta, what does it mean?" I looked at Master Kenobi. To say the truth, right then and there, I barely memorized it and nothing else. To ask me why, well I didn't have an answer. However, that would not be good in my part. I had to say something or else all of this would be for almost nothing. I closed my eyes and let the Code run through my mind. I listened to each word and thought of a possible meaning. "There is no emotion; there is peace," I said after a few minutes of thinking. "I believe that as Jedi, there is emotion, but we should not let it make our actions for us. Instead, to gain peace of mind - to make decisions rationally and thoughtfully - we should put aside our emotions and confront them, instead of ignoring them. As Jedi we should understand our emotions."
I didn't know what I said until I heard it from a recording. To say the truth, I let the Force do all the talking. I was merely the vessel it was in and used my voice to confer what it had wanted me to say to the masters. I continued on.
"There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. I believe this phrase is telling us to be open. Open as in to be be aware of ones suroundings and to accept any and all information, be it given by a fool or a scholar. Simplified, I guess it can be said that we should not judge a book by its cover, but by what is inside of it." I looked at the masters afterwards. They were silent and waiting for me to continue on. "There is no passion; there is serenity." I took a moment to think of what this meant. I believed it was the hardest to figure out, but with the Force helping me, I said, "Passion is an emotion that leads us to the dark side, correct? So if one has to draw out their weapon to defend themselves, this emotion must not be present or else it will make the defender act rashly. As Jedi, we should take situations with a calm serene attitude, never letting our emotions get to our head; to act with a clear mind."
I still couldn't believe what I was saying. I had never thought of the Code as much as I did now and it surprised me what my opinion about it was. It was strong, yet soft at the same time. I can't explain what it was, but for sure it was due to the presence of the Force in that place. However, time pressed on and I had only one more phrase to try and explain. "Death, is not a tragedy and is merely a part of the life cycle. Without death, life could not exist. True, Jedi does embraces, death, rot and corruption of corporeal forms. But as such, Jedi do not fear death nor do we mourn it overmuch. After all, we must celebrate death if we are to also celebrate life."
At last it seemed like my test was finish. I looked at Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker. They looked very pleased with what I had said. Very much so were the other masters in the council chambers. Master Skywalker stood up and the others followed. Then a roar of applause overwhelm the council chambers. I was so surprised, I thought there was an explosion. "Very well explained!" Master Skywalker had said with joy. "I could not have said it better myself," a woman council member added. "She has achieved well more than any initiate has ever done, and at her age as well!" This time it was a Bothian Jedi. "Indeed, you are gifted in the Force, Manta," Master Kenobi said last in the group.
The applause continued on until Master Skywalker told them to sit down. He could not but help smile and looked straight at me with his gleaming face. "Manta Devix," he started to say, "You have well over pass this test, no, a better phrase would be you passed this test with flying colors. Great job, young padawan. It would seem like you would be ready to take on the trials to become a Jedi Knight, even! However, no one in our history has ever done this much to enroll as a Jedi. Surely, we all can agree to give you the rank of an advance padawan." I was confused, yet surprised. I could have become a Knight, just like that? So many things were running through my mind, though I controlled it, focusing back on the topic. "What does that mean, sir?" I asked for clarification.
"That means you are almost well ready to become a Jedi Knight. You will still be given a Master to train under, but most of it will be for experience in off world missions and lightsaber combat. Sure, you may know theory, but what good are words when you're up against a Sith or any other opponent who has more experience getting their hands dirty than you?" I thought that was it. If only my master had taught me how to wield a saber, I'd be able to advance thoroughly. "Not even Ben's grandfather could have been this so advanced. You are very gifted," he added.The others laughed at Master Kenobi's insight. I merely stayed quiet and waited to be dismissed. "So, what now?" I asked finally breaking my silence. "You will return to Master Winsten's place and come back here tomorrow. By then, we will have assigned you a dorm room and a master. From there, your Jedi training will continue. For now, you are dismissed."
I bowed to all of them in sign of gratitude. I was excited once again. I had passed their rigorous trial with amazing feats and was about to start my training. I couldn't wait to tell my master.
Grim_Hashi88 · Thu Oct 12, 2006 @ 10:23pm · 0 Comments |
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