Star Wars: The Age of Peace

As the ship cut through the atmosphere, I could feel it shaking and trembling a little, but the dampeners within it very quickly absorbed it all. A moment later, we cut through a layer of soft, white clouds, approaching a massive continent from the direction of a calm blue ocean. It didn't take long to reach it and fly over beautiful and dense jungles until we arrived at a mountain range and a wide clearing before it. Looking out of the viewport, there was clearly a landing pad built here, bearing our Order's emblem. The ship took one descending round around it before it touched down with a gentle hiss, the engines powering down as we gathered our belongings, ready to disembark, following Ben Skywalker out into the open. The airlock opened with a pressurized release, and the ramp descended with a mechanical whine, connecting us to this faraway planet. To my surprise, it wasn't Ben who descended first but a blue-white R2 unit. Now I knew who flew the ship while Ben was talking to us...

Following them, the first step off the ship was like entering another world—or maybe another realm entirely. The air was crisp and tinged with an almost imperceptible hum as if the Force itself whispered through every particle floating around us, visible in the sun's thick rays filtering through the clouds. The trees here were unlike anything I'd ever seen, their bark shimmering faintly, as if partially made of crystalized material, catching and holding the light of the blue sun. That was not all. Crystals jutted out from the ground almost wherever I looked, around or in the trees, probably down in the ground below the mountains, too.

I could feel it immediately. The Force was much more alive here, flowing freely and unimpeded as if boosted by some kind of unseen power. It wasn't like Yavin 4, with its wild, untamed energy. Kyrenas felt purposeful, harmonious, and… aware. Although, I was unsure of the last bit.

"This place," Vila whispered beside me, her violet eyes wide in shock, "it feels like it's watching us."

So it wasn't just me. Every step forward felt like a test in itself, the planet's gaze, or more precisely, the Force weighing us, measuring us. I tightened my grip on my satchel, pushing the unease of being watched aside, trying to ignore it. This was part of the trial, I reminded myself. This was what we came for.

Ben led us down a winding path from the landing pad, the crystals lining it glowing brighter and in more color variants as we moved deeper into the forest. He didn't speak, and neither did we. The only sound was the R2 unit's wheels rolling on the stone-paved road, sometimes whistling something in its binary language, something I didn't understand.

After ten minutes of walking, the path opened into a circular clearing, the forest canopy above it framing the blue sun like a perfect halo. This wasn't just a natural formation. Maybe it was, but... not at the same time. I can't really explain why I felt like that...

Shaking my head and refocusing, I noticed that not that far from us, in the center of the clearing, were small, flat stones arranged in a ring, each one large enough for someone to sit on. Exactly enough stone for our group to stand or sit on.

"Take a seat," Ben said, his voice low but firm. Serious even.

We obeyed, each of us taking a spot on the stones. I chose one near the edge of the circle, the crystalline ground beneath me cool to the touch even through my robes. Vila settled a few stones away, her lekku twitching as she cast a nervous glance my way, his eyes darting back and forth. I could feel her instincts nagging at her, some bad experiences from her past... so I nodded at her with a reassuring smile, offering what comfort I could. After we took our spots, Ben stood in the center of the circle, his gaze sweeping over us.

"This is where your journey begins. Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the Force around you, not just within yourselves, but within this place. Kyrenas will guide you if you let it. This is as far as I can take you; from here on, it is up to you, Young Padawans."

With a gulp that was maybe louder than I intended, I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly as I let the noise of the forest wash over me. The droning sound of the crystals, the rustle of the trees, the faint whispers of the wind—it all blended together, pulling me deeper into the moment.

The Force flowed around us, through us, binding us to this place in a way I'd never experienced before. It wasn't just a presence; it was an entity to itself, each of its trembles resonating with the crystals, the planet, and even the smallest lifeforms present here. Yes. The moment I slipped into my meditation, I could feel it. There were animals living in this world; of course, in such a lively-feeling place, there would be a living, breathing ecosystem... Yet they were all different from normal animals, and I knew that they were just as attuned to the Force as each and every one of us.

I felt my thoughts quieting, pulling myself away from them, not wanting to draw their attention. The tension in my chest eased as I did so, and I sank into a deeper, more profound meditation. The world around me faded, replaced by the endless expanse of the Force. It was like floating in the vastness of space, weightless and free, with no barriers between myself and the galaxy.

And then I felt it.

There was a sudden pull, faint at first but growing stronger with each passing moment and becoming apparent as I focused on it. It wasn't a sound or a vision but a sensation—a deep, resonating call that tugged at the edges of my awareness.

My eyes snapped open a moment later, the clearing coming back into focus. The others were still in meditation, their faces calm and serene. It looked like I was the only one awake, but one sensation remained with me. The pull was insistent now, guiding me toward the edge of the clearing, leading me beyond.

"Kael," Ben's voice cut through the silence, quiet but clear.

I turned to him, unsure of what to say, but his eyes were encouraging me.

"You've felt it," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. It wasn't a question.

I nodded, understanding what he meant. I knew what was calling for me. My own kyber crystal.

"Go," he instructed, stepping aside to let me pass. "The crystal calls to you. Follow it, and trust the Force."

My heart raced as I stood, hesitating for a moment before stepping out of the circle. The path ahead seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light, guiding me forward into the unknown. I... I had to go alone?

"Don't be afraid, Kael," Ben said, watching me. "Let the Force guide you. We all have our paths, and if the Force wills it, it crosses with others' paths. Sometimes, it may merge with theirs, then diverge again to become one once more in the future. Or maybe it won't. However... In the end, it is ours to walk it and ours alone."

I cast one last glance at the group, but none of them stirred. Vila's face was peaceful, her usual energy subdued in the depth of her meditation. Even Jalo was lost in it, which, in his case, was a wonder. Taking a deep sigh and nodding at Ben, I turned back to the path and took a step that soon became a brisk walk. This was it. My path...

...

....

...

The forest seemed different now as I moved through it, the hum of the crystals growing louder and more distinct. I don't know how much time has passed, but I managed to identify different buzzing sounds coming from the crystals I passed. They echoed differently and plucked at different strings of the Force. Some were more peaceful, some... wilder. Darker. But not evil. At least, I don't think so.

Each step I took felt purposeful. The pull of the crystal dragged me forward with an almost magnetic force, making me unable to deviate at all. The trail I was cutting through the jungle twisted and turned, leading me deeper into the heart of Kyrenas, where the air grew cooler, and the light of the blue sun dimmed under the thick canopy. Unlike Yavin, the air wasn't humid; it was dry yet refreshing.

Despite the strangeness of the place, I felt no fear. The Force was with me, steering my steps and filling me with a sense of calm determination. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready to face it. The feeling alone made me forget that I had no weapon on me if I did run into the local wildlife. Looking back at it, it was for the best, or I would indeed fear taking a step forward.

After what felt like hours, I passed a point that suddenly made me lurch forward. The pull grew more potent and more urgent, and I quickened my pace, my breath fogging in the crisp air. The path narrowed, and the trees gave way to jagged crystal formations that jutted out of the ground like lightning, frozen in time and space.

I rounded a final bend in the crystal forest and stopped, my breath catching in my throat. Before me was a small cave, its entrance glowing faintly with a soft, pulsing light of iridescent colors. The pull was overwhelming now, the call of the crystal resonating in my very bones. I didn't even question myself before entering.

This was the place.

I stepped forward, the cave's glow bathing me in its light as I crossed the last threshold. The air inside was cold and still, and the walls were lined with clusters of kyber crystals that shimmered like stars. These were no longer ones that could be used in a lightsaber, at least, not until they were broken apart. They were huge, massive even, starting from as big as my fists to as big as a human!

And then, in the center of the cave, I saw it—a single crystal glowing with a pale blue light, embedded into a stalactite, connecting the ground and the ceiling. It was small and unassuming, but its presence filled the space, its energy resonating with mine in perfect harmony, overshadowing everything around it, even the ones that were a hundred times bigger.

I took a deep breath and reached out, my hand trembling as I drew closer. The crystal seemed to respond, its light growing brighter as I touched it. The moment my fingers brushed its surface, a surge of warmth and clarity flowed through me, the Force singing in my mind.

This crystal was mine. My partner...

I closed my fingers around it, holding it close, and it broke free of the stalactite as if it were made of paper, coming free at once. The moment I held it in my palm, the pull that was overwhelming suddenly faded, replaced by a profound sense of connection and purpose.

And then... everything went dark.