The two lightsabers crackled and spat as they repeatedly clashed together. The luminance of the sabers flashed brilliantly across the walls of the surrounding chamber as the energy blades collided in a flourish of combative strikes.
The younger man held his ground against his older and far more experienced opponent. Despite his best efforts, however, he wasn't able to take any ground.
Advancing again, the younger fighter's attack came from above this time but it was quickly and decisively parried away by his opponent. He followed through with an array of slashes but the older figure simply batted them away—almost as if he were toying with him.
The melee was intense and in some ways, personal. It had gone on for several minutes now but as the battle lingered, the younger man could feel his strength begin to wane. Staring into the eyes of the figure in front of him, he saw that the older man's expressionless demeanor—even partially shrouded by the dark cloak over his head—was both taunting and menacing. Showing no sign of fatigue, his opponent's face was like that of a stone.
Taking two steps forward, the young man half anticipated his opponent to retreat a similar distance. Instead, the older man made his own advance and came crashing down upon the younger fighter with a flurry of attacks.
Continuing to hold his ground, the younger man was sweating profusely from his defensive efforts as his now dripping wet dark hair began to obscure his vision but he was not about to give up. Not this time.
Blow for blow, the younger man held his ground. Using the skills he'd acquired from years of intense lightsaber training, he was simultaneously fighting and analyzing his enemy for vulnerabilities. Even though the older man was vastly more experienced, he was still flesh and blood and, therefore, could be defeated.
As the battle raged on, the younger man was able to parry an attack from the older opponent which gave him the opening he'd been looking for.
He pressed in but just as he was about to deliver what he thought was surely to be a killing blow, the older opponent dodged the incoming blade with a speed and grace the younger man had not seen before. The younger man's lightsaber sizzled as it sliced through the now empty space of where his opponent had once been.
Drawn off balance by the display, the young fighter had a momentary lapse in concentration which the older figure was keen to capitalize on.
In one swift stroke, the older man struck the blade of his opponent's lightsaber with such force that the younger man's grip on his weapon gave way. As the lightsaber extinguished and tumbled across the floor, the younger man, now defenseless, knew he'd been beaten.
With his lightsaber pointed directly towards the neck of his adversary, the older man advanced as the defeated young man soon found his back against the wall. The heat of the saber could be felt on his face as the tip of the weapon was only a mere inch from the young man's neck. The older figure held this pose for a moment as the younger man closed his eyes and turned away.
With a sudden rush of energy, the extended lightsaber became extinguished.
Ben Solo opened his eyes to see a partial grin on the face of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
Attaching his lightsaber hilt to his belt, Skywalker looked around the room. Several other students were present in the inner chamber of the new Jedi Temple during the melee, trying to learn what they could from watching the most promising fighter among them go head to head against the only Jedi Master in the galaxy.
They watched intently as Skywalker fixed his gaze upon them.
Luke sighed.
"Can anyone tell me what Ben did wrong?"
It was a pointed and direct question. But then again, Skywalker was a pointed and direct Master, and one who didn't mince words which needed to be spoken.
One student stood up.
"I felt his concentration break, Master," said Zakori, a young female Twi'lek with an orange skin tone. "He wasn't relying on the Force. His emotions took control and he became solely fixated on besting you."
Skywalker smiled at the comment.
The youngest of nearly a dozen apprentices in Skywalker's new Jedi Temple, Zakori was considered by Luke to be among the wisest of his apprentices despite her age. Having discovered her only two years ago as an orphan on the streets of Taris, Luke often had to fight the urge to feel like a father figure towards her. Indeed, her brashness and straightforward speaking often reminded him of himself.
He knew someday, Zakori would grow up to be a wise and powerful Jedi.
Turning to look over at Ben Solo, Luke's smile faded.
"And what do you think of Zakori's feedback?" asked Luke. "Did you let emotion get the best of you?"
Lowering his head as if in shame, Ben admitted, "I did, Master."
Lifting his head, Ben looked Skywalker in the eyes as the latter placed his hands on his sides.
"Your will and determination seemed unbreakable, Master," said Ben, now visibly frustrated. "How am I to beat an opponent with such ferocity without looking inward?"
"My will and determination are breakable," replied Luke. "What isn't breakable is the Force. Although it will partially control your actions, it also obeys your commands. When you commit yourself fully to the Force and make it your ally, you'll find that all distractions will be cast aside and your focus will be sharp. Your will and determination must be found from within the Force. When you feed off of your own emotions, trust me when I tell you that it can take you down a very dark path. Only when you make yourself an ally of the Force can you become truly unbreakable."
Leonos, a male Zabrak with fair skin accompanied by brown facial tattoos—the markings of his family lineage from Iridonia—stood to be recognized.
"Master Skywalker, is Solo's path one which will lead him down the dark side?"
Luke stared directly into the eyes of the largest of his students.
"Ben took the path which you all are taking—that of a student," replied Luke. "Learning about the Force is a process which takes time. Each and every one of you, including Ben here, will at some point be tempted by the dark side, just as I was. True knowledge and mastery comes from patience and time. You have all only just begun down a long and oftentimes difficult road. Remember, these are your first steps into a larger world."
Luke turned towards Ben.
"You're an excellent student, Ben. And you fought well. Always remember to focus on the living Force. Be mindful of its will and direction. If you do, you'll find that even in the darkest of times, the Force will be there to guide you."
Turning back towards his students, Luke dropped his hands from his sides.
"That's it for the day," said Luke. "Get some rest and be back here at dawn for tomorrow's lessons."
Although many of the students departed to head back to their dormitories, Ben stayed behind.
As the distant sun was setting on the planet Ossus where Luke had established his temple for the new generation of Jedi, the reflections of the golden sky stretched across the polished stone temple floor. Solo, being drawn into a thought, stepped towards an opening in a nearby archway which led to a balcony outside.
Once there, Solo stopped just shy of the edge of the balcony and breathed in slowly as he closed his eyes and reached out with the Force.
Feeling the mind of his young apprentice from across the room, Skywalker quietly approached. Stopping two meters from Solo, Skywalker also closed his eyes and stretched out his feelings.
He could sense Ben's struggle. Although his nephew possessed much in the way of raw strength in the Force, it didn't make learning the intricacies of it any less difficult. If anything, the opposite could be argued.
However, there was something more to Ben's thoughts. Something far deeper.
He spoke up.
"The Force," Luke said plainly, partially startling Ben. "It's bigger than you could have ever imagined, isn't it."
Indeed, the young Ben Solo had been pondering this thought for some time now. Even from when he was a mere child, he could remember early conversations with his parents about the Force and how he came about possessing this strange power. From moving small objects as an infant to having lightning fast reflexes as a child while learning to be a pilot from his father, Ben Solo knew he possessed a special—if also frightening—gift.
Even so, it was still something very difficult to wrap ones head around. Ben oftentimes felt like a lone vessel floating in what was often described by him as the infinite Force. He still had so many questions and not enough answers.
"Where did it come from, Master?" asked Ben.
"Where did what come from?" asked Luke. "The Force?"
"Yes," replied Ben. "When did all of this begin? Is there any record of the first being inhabited by the Force?"
"Well, nothing official," replied Luke. "You've heard me say that life creates the Force but nobody really knows the true origins of it. I mean, nothing that's been verified, at least. In my travels after the fall of the Empire, I came across lots of ancient artifacts and chronicles which, when translated, told some very interesting stories."
"Is that when you traveled with Lor San Tekka?" asked Ben. His face lit up with wonder at the thought of traveling with the legendary explorer.
Taking a spot on a nearby bench, Luke motioned for Ben to join him.
"Yes, that's when San Tekka and I were looking for lost artifacts from the old Jedi Order. The Empire had hidden or destroyed several such things around the end of the Clone Wars."
"What were you able to find?" asked Ben eagerly. "The secrets to the origins of the Force?"
Luke chuckled.
"No, not quite. Mostly a lot of early records which, at first, didn't make much sense. Once San Tekka and I started connecting the dots, we were able to take a glimpse back tens of thousands years to what we think were the first documented beings to wield the Force."
"Why is this knowledge not open to all?" asked Ben who was now filled with wonder.
"Because a lot of the story is still missing and, like before, can't be verified as accurate," replied Luke. "One such chronicle appeared to have been written about someone who claimed to be the galaxy's first Force-user. But we're talking ancient stuff here and who knows how much of it was embellished."
"Well, what were you able to learn, Master?" asked Ben.
"Do you really wanna hear the tale?" asked Luke, surprised by his nephew's interest. "It's long and I'd just be filling in some details as I go."
"If you don't mind, Master," said Ben. "I'd love to hear it."
"So would we," said a new voice.
Looking over his shoulder, Luke noticed that four of his students - Zakori, Leonas, Tas and Avriean - had stepped out onto the balcony to join Luke and Ben.
"That is...if you don't mind, Master," replied Tas, a human male about Ben's age but smaller in stature. His light brown hair waved in the gentle breeze.
Luke smiled.
"How could I say no," Luke sighed. "Alright. Gather around, everyone."
As the five students including Ben took a seat around Luke, he began.
"A long time ago somewhere far, far away...."
Welcome all to the start of what I hope will be an incredible Star Wars journey! Please don't be a silent reader! If you enjoyed this chapter, a vote, a brief comment or even constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated.
—Paul