“Welcome back, Xena,” Master Fulier says as you approach. “Took your time, huh?”

“I’m sorry I took so long, Masters. My thinking was that caution and success were more important than speed. At least, for this kind of trial.”

“Correct, you are,” affirms Master Yoda to your relief. “Saw past our little trick, didn’t you? Good work.”

“Thank you, Master Yoda. And, thanks for breaking me out of there.”

“Easy for me to do. Lightsaber I have. Tool for almost any job it is, heh!”

You smile and laugh with him, then look back at the dark cave through the oblate hole in the ice. You had been about to smash your way out with a few telekinetically lifted rocks, but Master Yoda’s lightsaber had burst through the wall a moment before you could start throwing.

That was certainly an adventure. Your first time truly alone and left to face a challenge, and you succeeded! You learned much while in there, mostly about yourself. That’s probably the purpose of this trial, isn’t it? Conquer a fear or a fault within you and claim a crystal in return. It is, in actuality, a rather dangerous task. However, you are all Jedi, trained since you could walk in a sense of mind and body. This is just one of the tests you will face before you become a Padawan.

You reach your hand up to your headband, feeling the cool metal covering your eye. Despite the idiot stunt you pulled back there, it’s not even scratched. It’s a strange metal. Maybe as strange as you and your powers. Unknown in composition to any of the Jedi in the Order, and highly resistant to damage during testing. It’s but one layer of protection between you and others. A defense both for and against your warp-eye, and you’re thankful for it.

Your mirror-self mentioned one thing in there that cleared something up for you. Witchsight. Probably what you’ve been calling your true-sight. It’s what’s been letting you see the emotions and true-self of others all this time. But, where does the name come from? Probably the Imperium. People you’ve never met, who hold all the answers you need.

Oh… wait a minute. Wh— why didn’t you just ask your mirror-self any of the questions you have? She was right there! But, on second thought, she probably wouldn’t have answered you anyways. Right?

Argh! You should have at least asked!

As you mentally berate yourself, Master Yoda and Master Fulier have begun walking out the chamber. It’s now dark, once again. The porthole for the light has fully closed, and all that remains is an unearthly blue light shining throughout the chamber. It’s dim, and you can’t really pinpoint the source, but it is somewhat pretty. The massive statues guarding the chamber are bathed in the light — their silhouettes cast in dramatic shadows across the walls. The dais in the center seems smaller than before, but no less imposing without its diminutive occupant. The darkened coliseum holds no spectators. A lonely place, but also the site of your first triumph. Likely the first triumph for many other Initiates before you and an untold number to come.

“Xena, let’s go. The others are back on the ship. Tera couldn’t hold it in any longer, so we had the others walk her back.”

That’s so like her. Hopefully you don’t see any yellow snow on your way back to the ship.

“On my way, Master.”

And you go.

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

Now that you have your kyber crystal, you’ve been wondering when you can make your lightsaber. Honestly, you had been thinking that you would build your lightsaber on Ilum, somewhere in the Temple there. Or, perhaps it would be at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where you could be surrounded by hundreds of people who have already built their own?

Incorrect, apparently.

You’re unable to see the ship as you approach it, simply because it’s out of the line of sight from your bedroom window. But, you can sense it. The Cosmic Force constantly flows around the Galaxy, but this ship… Around it, the Force pools, as if flowing down a hill into a pond. The Force is briefly trapped in the passing of the ship, but feels as if it is only due to the sheer weight of the ship’s existence and its meaning to the Jedi Order that such a phenomenon can happen.

It is the Crucible. The ship within which you will build your lightsaber, according to Master Fulier.

It is still a ways away, but with the speeds at which the Knowing Grin and it approach one another, you will be there in but a few minutes. So, you hop up and begin walking to the common room, barely suppressing the excitement bubbling within you.

Your lightsaber! Your own lightsaber!

What will it look like? What color will it be?

Who knows, but you? And so, you daydream as you wait for the rendezvous, cycling through dozens of possible designs in your mind.

“Here already, Xena? Oh, actually, looks like everyone’s ready.”

You look up, seeing Master Fulier bearing a knowing smile as he surveys the common room. Around you are all the other Initiates, each of them with a blank look on their face, obviously imagining the possibilities that await them.

You prod the closest of them, Mick, with your foot.

“Wha? Are we there? Is it time?”

“Yeah. Help me get everyone ready.”

The two of you gently shake everyone out of their fugue as Master Fulier watches, amused. You then line up by the airlock, chatting, brainstorming, and arguing about the best kind of lightsaber all the while.

Ka-clunk. Fssssssshhhh.

The ship jolts slightly as it locks in place. As the airlocks equalize in pressure, you take a peek out the nearby window at your new neighbor, then scrunch up your nose in disgust. The Crucible looks as old as it feels. Old and grimy! When was the last time it docked for maintenance? It’s positively covered in spacedust! How can anyone see out of those windows? And the rust spots? Everywhere! And is that… is that antenna even attached? This is the Crucible? This is the vessel home to the foremost lightsaber smith of the Jedi Order? The inside of the ship had better be more intact than how its exterior suggests. Otherwise, you might just go and find whatever servitors are maintaining the ship and execute them yourself!

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Wait, what?

The airlock whooshes open at that moment and you are forced forward by your friends, all of them pushing to get in there as fast as possible.

“Younglings, patience please,” Master Fulier says with a glare. “Calm down and enter carefully. You never know what kind of shitty— ahem, poor maintenance has been done on an airlock. Always be cautious when navigating an interface like this.”

“Yes, Master,” you all chorus.

Apparently Master Fulier is also aware about the state of the ship you are boarding. Good to know that you’re not the only one concerned.

“Follow me, please. No need to rush. Everyone will have their own lightsaber, there is no limited supply here.”

As you enter the Crucible, you keep a sharp eye out, looking for each and every possible infraction you can find. But, thankfully, there are few. Only a loose bolt here and there, and inconsequential dust in seldom seen locations. Whatever the “servitors” are, you suppose they can be spared. For now.

Where is the welcome party, though? Where are the crew? You would think that at least one crewman would be here to guide your group, but none have come to greet you. And, as you follow Master Fulier through the ship, you don’t even catch a glimpse of one. Rooms are dark, furniture is unused. It’s almost as if you are on a ghost ship.

You sink yourself into the Force and reach out, hoping to sense someone. Anyone. But, there’s nobody. Nobody other than your group of nine? Is this ship perhaps automated? Perhaps Master Fulier will be the one to help you forge your lightsabers. But, that doesn’t really seem right.

“Hey, Mick, can you sense anyone nearby? Other than us, I mean.”

He turns toward you with a hint of confusion in his eyes, then closes them as he reaches out as well. After a moment, he looks at you again and shakes his head.

“No… That’s really weird.”

“This is a bit creepy…”

“Yeah. Hey, Master Fulier, where is everyone?” he calls out to the front.

“Do not worry, Younglings. You’ll see soon enough. We’re just about… here.”

As he speaks, he opens a final door and reveals… another room. A waist high table sits near the center of the room. Further in, the room expands further, but almost all of the space is taken up by what appear to be lockers, or cabinets. The face of each locker blinks with a small glowing light, likely indicating its operability. Redundant, and maybe a waste of power, honestly. They don’t even seem to indicate the contents of each locker.

You all file into the room behind Master Fulier, spreading out in front of the table.

“Younglings, take your crystals out now and place them in front of you on the table.”

A series of small clinking sounds fill the room as each of you follow his direction. Every crystal is subtly different from one another, but not in pure appearance. While yours is almost spherical in shape, all of the others are more classically crystal-shaped. However, to your Force senses, each responds to the Force in a unique way. It’s extremely subtle at first glance, but as you continue to stare at them, you can see small patterns in which the Force moves around each crystal. And strangely, each one feels as if it matches its owner!

“See something interesting, Xena?”

You look up and blush slightly, realizing that everybody has been waiting on you to actually place yours down. The corners of Master Fulier’s mouth curl slightly upward, but you can easily read the tinge of amusement in his emotions.

“Sorry, Master.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re still waiting on Huyang.”

As he finishes his sentence, you can hear the slight whirring of servos in the background. Is that what you think it is? Oh no…

“Ah, there he is now. Everyone, please say hello to lightsaber designer Huyang.”

Soft footsteps echo between the lockers, coming closer and closer. The faint clinking of metallic parts rings in the air. There! The shape of a head, the profile of a ghastly skull. It glides its way around the corner, demonic yellow eyes glaring at the lot of you as it draws closer. Each step rings out in your ears and your heart thumps along with it.

If you had hair, it would be standing on end. The abomination stalks up to the table, fixing slitted eyes upon each one of you in turn. As it stares straight at you, you feel it gazing straight into your soul, and your heart nearly stops as you stand paralyzed in fear!

“Child, are you alright?” it says, a terrifying synthetic echo doubling its words.

It speaks! Oh Throne, the abomination sees you! But, you will not show it fear. You force the muscles in your face to relax, and try to keep the tremble in your body out of your voice as you respond.

“Y–Yes, sir. I’m… just surprised.”

As the words leave your mouth, you can feel yourself calming down. But, replacing the fear is a burning shame. It’s just a droid. You are a Jedi! Why are you so afraid of droids? Oh, the shame burns you as it settles in your gut, but you cannot let it show, or control you. And so, you continue your excuses.

“I wasn’t expecting, um, a droid. Sorry.”

“Ah, I see. Well, have no fear, Youngling—”

Too late…

“—many years I have been on this ship, teaching many a Jedi before you. There is no one else out there, droid or not, who can teach you better than me. Inside these memory banks of mine is a record of every lightsaber ever made and the Jedi who fashioned them. Now then, I’m assuming you all know what you are here for?” it says, its voice trailing off with a questioning lilt.

You all nod back at it, causing its soulless eyes to squint in apparent happiness.

“Good! Who would like to go first?”

“Me! Me me me me!” Tera practically screams, throwing herself forward.

“Tera!” you hiss at her. “Don’t you have any sense of dignity?”

Ignoring you, or deaf in her exuberance, she pushes forward toward the droid. While all of your friends are sure to be just as impatient as her, they’re all used to her antics by now, so they graciously allow her to go first. You can see Master Fulier shaking his head slightly in the corner of the room, again smiling with amusement.

“What is your name, Youngling?”

“Tera!”

“Hello young Tera. Hold out your hand please. Describe what you see your saber to be. Not what you imagine, but what you feel in your hand.”

“Ah… um…” She falls silent for a moment, clearly struggling with its rather confusing instructions.

“What will make you strong in battle, and humble in retreat? Your saber will resonate with you, just as I know your crystal does. But, while the crystal is the heart of the blade, it functions not without the rest of the saber. What do you see? What will connect with the crystal, with the blade, with the Force?”

She thinks for a moment longer, then begins.

And as she describes her own weapon, you too begin to think of what yours will be. Of course, you’ve fantasized many a time about your future lightsaber, but what the droid spoke of is different. Fundamentally different!