After the excitement of the training grounds, the heat of the midday sun, and the exertion of his first true connection with the Force, Alex finally succumbed to exhaustion. His little body, still buzzing with energy, could no longer keep up with the flurry of new sensations and experiences. Nestled in his mother’s arms, his tiny eyelids fluttered shut, and before long, he was fast asleep.

Scif watched the young boy for a moment, his eyes softening with an emotion that few saw in the weapon master. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly, as if the sight of the slumbering child stirred something deep within him. But soon, the expression was gone, replaced by the calm and collected demeanor he was known for. He turned to Alex's parents, a more serious look taking over.

"My lord, my lady," Scif began, folding his arms across his broad chest. "I must confess, I have never seen anything like what happened today."

Alex’s father, Aldric, raised an eyebrow. "You mean how he was able to land a hit on you?"

"Yes, precisely," Scif replied, his voice thoughtful. "It wasn’t just luck. I felt it. The boy sensed my movements before I even made them. And then he... adjusted mid-strike. No child of his age—no person without proper training—should be capable of that." He paused, looking down at the sleeping child. "What he did was remarkable. Special, even."

Alex’s mother, Elara, who had been quietly stroking her son’s hair, shifted uneasily. "Special?" she echoed softly. "What do you mean, Scif?"

Scif took a deep breath. "I believe young Alex is deeply connected to the Force. More so than I’ve ever seen in someone so young." He met their eyes, his own expression serious. "If nurtured, he could grow into something far greater than any of us imagine."

Aldric’s eyes widened in surprise, though a glint of excitement flickered behind them. "Greater than...?" He trailed off, not quite finishing the thought. His mind, however, was already racing with possibilities.

Scif nodded slowly. "Yes, my lord. He has the potential to be an extraordinary warrior, maybe even a Force wielder. His instincts are unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. With training, with guidance, he could become a guardian not just for Alderaan, but for something far greater."

Elara’s arms tightened protectively around Alex. "Training?" she repeated, her voice laced with concern. "He’s just a baby, Scif. A baby who doesn’t even understand what’s happening around him. You can’t be serious about putting him through something so dangerous. He could get hurt." Her eyes, filled with worry, locked onto Scif’s.

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"I understand your concern, milady," Scif said gently, his tone respectful yet firm. "But I assure you, any training would be tailored to his age and abilities. It’s not about pushing him beyond what he’s capable of. It’s about nurturing what’s already there, helping him understand the power he holds before it becomes too much for him to control."

Aldric, who had been quiet for a moment, spoke up. "Elara, I see where Scif is coming from. I watched Alex today, too. It’s clear he’s not like other children. There’s something unique about him. If we don’t help him understand his abilities, if we let them grow unchecked, he might hurt himself—or someone else—without meaning to."

Elara’s brow furrowed. "But he’s so young. How can we ask him to bear such a burden? He should be allowed to grow up like any normal child, without the weight of this... power hanging over him."

Scif took a step closer, his voice soft but insistent. "Milady, I’m not suggesting we throw him into battle. Not at all. But the boy opened a door on his own, using the Force, with no understanding of what he was doing. Today, he moved in ways that shouldn’t be possible for a child his age. If we don’t help him learn to control it, that power could become dangerous—not because he means any harm, but because he won’t know how to stop it."

Elara's gaze fell to her sleeping son, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision. She knew Scif was right. There had already been unexplained incidents. The door to Alex’s room that had somehow opened on its own, with no explanation, still lingered in her mind. She remembered the panic she had felt when they couldn’t understand how it had happened. And now, after today, it was becoming clearer.

"The door," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Scif’s eyes flicked toward her, catching the mention. "Yes, milady. The door to Alex’s room—opened by itself, we believed." He hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "But now, after seeing what I’ve seen today, I don’t believe it was the door opening on its own at all."

Aldric, frowning, leaned in. "You think Alex opened it?"

Scif nodded. "With the Force. He may not have known he was doing it, but somehow, his instincts took over. That’s what makes this situation so delicate. The Force is not something to be trifled with, my lord, my lady. It can be a powerful ally, but without understanding and control, it can be unpredictable."

Elara looked down at her son again, her heart torn. She wanted to protect him, to keep him safe from the world and its dangers. But now, it seemed the danger wasn’t just from the world—it was from within him, too. She glanced up at Aldric, seeing the resolve in his eyes, and knew he had already made up his mind.

Aldric sighed softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Elara, I know you’re worried. But if we don’t teach him now, we might not get another chance. He needs to understand this gift of his, or it could control him, instead of the other way around."

Scif nodded in agreement. "I will take every precaution, milady. I will never let harm come to him. But he needs guidance. And with your permission, I would like to offer that."

For a long moment, the room was silent. Elara’s heart raced, torn between the love for her son and the fear of what lay ahead for him. Finally, she took a deep breath, her decision made, though not without hesitation.

"I trust you, Scif," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "But if I see any sign that this is hurting him, we stop. Immediately."

Scif nodded, his expression solemn. "Of course, milady. His well-being is my highest priority."

Aldric gave Scif a firm nod, his voice full of conviction. "Then it’s settled. You’ll train Alex—carefully. But make sure he knows we’re doing this for him, not because we expect him to be something he’s not."

Scif’s face softened for a brief moment as he looked at the sleeping child once more. "He’s already more than he knows," he said quietly. "But with time, he’ll learn what that means."

Elara held Alex a little closer, her heart still heavy with worry but also with a strange sense of hope. Maybe this was the right path after all. Maybe this would help her son understand the world—and himself—in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.

As Scif took his leave, promising to begin Alex’s training slowly and carefully, Aldric wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders.