The soft sounds of the castle’s evening routine drifted through the stone halls as Alex’s parents, Aldric and Elara, stood together in silence. The conversation with Scif had left them both contemplative, their minds swirling with the implications of their son’s abilities. Alex, still fast asleep in his mother’s arms, was blissfully unaware of the immense weight that now seemed to rest on his small shoulders.

Elara gently stroked her son’s soft hair, her heart heavy with a mix of love and worry. The truth of Alex’s potential was undeniable now. His connection to the Force, which had been nothing more than a mysterious anomaly a short time ago, was growing into something much larger than either she or Aldric could have anticipated.

As they returned to Alex’s room, the evening sun cast a warm, golden glow through the windows. The air was still, filled with the serenity that often came with twilight on Alderaan. Yet despite the peaceful atmosphere, an underlying tension buzzed in the minds of Alex’s parents.

Elara finally broke the silence as they entered the nursery, her voice soft but laced with concern. "I still don’t know if we’re making the right choice, Aldric."

Aldric, ever the steady leader, took a deep breath and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand your fears, Elara. But we don’t have a choice. Alex’s abilities are already manifesting, and if we don’t guide him now, we could lose control of the situation. Scif is right—if we leave this unchecked, it could be dangerous."

Elara sat gently on the edge of Alex’s bed, still cradling him in her arms. She looked down at his peaceful face, her heart aching with the desire to protect him from all harm. "I just… I just don’t want him to lose his childhood. He’s so small, so innocent. It feels too soon to start talking about training and the Force. What if we’re pushing him too hard, too fast?"

Aldric knelt in front of her, his eyes meeting hers with a comforting gaze. "We’ll take it slow. Scif made it clear that the training will be gentle, focused on helping Alex understand his powers rather than forcing him to use them. And if at any point we feel like it’s too much, we can stop. We’re his parents. We’ll do what’s best for him."

Elara nodded slowly, though her anxiety was far from gone. "I just don’t want him to feel like he’s different. I want him to have a normal life, Aldric."

"I know," Aldric said softly, squeezing her hand. "But Alex is special. He’s not like other children. And while that might be difficult to accept, it’s also something we should celebrate. He has a gift, one that could help him—and others—if it’s nurtured properly."

Elara sighed, her thoughts drifting back to the conversation with Scif. The mention of the door to Alex’s room opening on its own had shaken her deeply. It wasn’t just that Alex had done something inexplicable—it was the fact that he had done it without even knowing how. His powers were already developing in ways they couldn’t fully understand, and that frightened her.

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"Do you really think he opened the door?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aldric’s expression grew serious. "I do. And I think it’s a sign that we need to act sooner rather than later. If Alex is already able to use the Force unconsciously, then who knows what else he might be capable of? We can’t ignore this, Elara. We have to help him."

Elara’s heart ached at the thought of her little boy being swept into a world of responsibility and power at such a young age. She wanted nothing more than to keep him safe, to shield him from the complexities of the world. But deep down, she knew Aldric was right. They couldn’t turn their backs on what was happening. Alex’s abilities weren’t going away, and the only way to protect him was to help him understand them.

She glanced down at Alex, who shifted slightly in her arms, still sound asleep. His tiny face was peaceful, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. For a moment, she allowed herself to just look at him, to remember that no matter how powerful he might be, he was still their son—a small, innocent child who needed their love and protection.

"I’ll trust Scif," she said finally, her voice trembling slightly. "But we take this one step at a time. No pushing him beyond what he can handle. And if I feel like it’s too much for him, we stop. Agreed?"

Aldric smiled gently and nodded. "Agreed."

With that, Elara gently placed Alex in his crib, tucking him in under the soft blankets. She stood there for a long moment, watching over him, her heart filled with love and worry in equal measure. Then, with a sigh, she turned to join Aldric at the doorway.

As they left the room and made their way back to their quarters, Aldric couldn’t help but think about the future. The possibilities that lay ahead for Alex were both thrilling and terrifying. If Scif’s assessment was accurate—and Aldric had no reason to doubt it—then Alex’s connection to the Force could lead him down a path that neither of them could fully foresee.

When they reached their quarters, Aldric sank into a chair, running a hand through his hair. "I never imagined we’d be dealing with something like this," he muttered. "Our son, connected to the Force. It still doesn’t feel real."

Elara joined him, sitting down beside him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I know. It feels like something out of a story—a fairy tale, almost. But it’s real. And now we have to figure out how to guide him through it."

Aldric wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "We’ll do it together. We’ll figure it out, just like we always do."

The next morning came sooner than they expected. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of Alex’s room, casting gentle shadows on the walls. The day was peaceful, but the weight of the previous day’s revelations still lingered in the air.

Scif arrived early, just as promised, ready to discuss the next steps. He stood in the grand foyer, his expression as serious as ever. Aldric and Elara met him there, their faces a mixture of determination and uncertainty.

"Thank you for coming, Scif," Aldric said, greeting the weapons master with a firm handshake.

Scif nodded, his gaze shifting to Elara. "I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page before we proceed. I understand your concerns, milady," he said, his voice softer than usual. "This is not something we take lightly. But I assure you, my approach to Alex’s training will be cautious. He’s a child, and I’ll treat him as such."

Elara nodded, her heart still heavy but soothed by Scif’s words. "Thank you," she said quietly. "That’s all I ask. We just want to make sure he’s safe."

Scif glanced toward the hallway that led to Alex’s room, his mind already turning toward the future. "I have no doubt that Alex will thrive under the right guidance. But I’ll move slowly, and we’ll make adjustments as needed."

Aldric nodded in agreement. "That’s all we can ask for. We trust you, Scif. Just promise us you’ll keep us informed every step of the way."

Scif bowed his head respectfully. "You have my word, my lord, my lady."

With that, the meeting was concluded, and the next chapter of Alex’s life was set into motion. As Aldric and Elara watched Scif depart, they both knew that this was just the beginning. Their son’s journey was going to be long and challenging, but they would face it together, as a family.

And in the quiet of the castle, as the morning sun bathed the halls in light, Alex slept peacefully, unaware of the destiny that was already unfolding around him.