The following text tells the story of Jedi Danyen set in 3645 BBY. The fragile peace between Empire and Republic gives him the necessary time to study the arts and mysteries of the force. Danyen wasn’t by any means different, than any other Jedi adept — or so he and everyone around him thought so.
Danyen was sitting on the stairs of Jedi temple. Years of training have made him enjoy every free moment. Sound of wind bending leaves of nearby trees was rarely complimented by anything other than sounds of training grounds in front of temple or speeders moving people constantly to various places on the planet. He wore classic Jedi brown robe. His trousers were supposed to be snow white, yet various colors of dirt danced on them as he walked, just like on his boots.
Danyen loved to relax on the temple stairs, but in this case, he wasn’t relaxed a bit. In few hours Jedi guardian adepts had trials. The only way to truly improve ones fighting skills lead through the attention of Jedi masters. In this case, Jedi and Sith academy had one thing similliar — their appreciation of power. Trials have been working on the principle of elimination. Jedi masters watched closely endeavor of every adept, but the chance of a defeated person to get trained by the very best Jedi and further stand out of the crowd was virtually not existing.
“One more week and you’ll have a hard time seeing anything.” guessed suddenly young women’s voice behind him which wasn't far from the truth. Boy's hair almost covered his eyes. “How does it matter. Tomorrow I don’t have to see at all.” answered Danyen slightly annoyed. “So you get eliminated. It’s not like the world will end or anything.” "It cannot happen. I was born for something bigger. I just know it." He instantly regretted opening up this much. Especially when realising someone overheard their conversation. "Leave him be Elya, some patients cant be helped." interrupted their conversation Zabrak Rekka. Rekka hated Danyen. In his eyes, he was weak and whiny and he never missed a chance to remind him of that. This time Rekka was clearly implying Elya was providing psychological aid in many hospitals around the planet. "Mind your business," Elya replied without a hint of emotion. Danyen gave him deadly stare, but said nothing until Rekka was gone. "Because of people like him, Coruscant temple is a ruin. I need to take a walk." "Good luck!"
By the time of his fight Danyen got better, even though fact, that Rekka overheard his private conversation made him fiercely uncomfortable. His most inner desire was not to be overheard. Duels were happening on the square platform approximately one foot above the ground. The opponent was already waiting. Even though he was human, Danyen never has seen him before. Jedi masters stood in line in front of the platform, adepts circled platform or were sitting on temples stairs. Iktochi referee came between them as they circled themselves scrutinizing every piece of their opponent.“You know the rules. “No direct hits, as training sword touches your rival, the fight is over. You can start.” As Iktochi master left platform, Danyens opponent immediately went on offensive fighting with discipline and calm. He was barely capable of altering adepts attacks, so training sword wouldn’t touch him. At one point however he blocked a strike from above, which lead to a power struggle between two competitors. Danyen managed to push swords close to the opponent’s face. Then vigorously yanked swords to the side hitting enemies jaw with right elbow leaving him shook. His fear at this moment vanished. Opponent ended up off balance and that gave Danyen upper hand. He felt his confusion, pain, doubts, even fear. In that state, he almost didn’t need to think about his actions. Everything went with the flow of his desire. Seeing enemies position lead to a calculated course of action, which was executed flawlessly and effortlessly. It took only three steps forward, until Danyens sword ended on his rival’s neck.
After winning the first trial Danyen decided to discuss with Elya curious “flow phenomenon”, that occurred to him during the fight. She spent most of her time in the Jedi library, so meeting her was a question of minutes. “When I hit that man, I felt all of his emotions, it helped me make and execute decisions. Is it a normal thing?” Elya looked surprised, even concerned a little bit. “I honestly don’t know, you should talk with master about this, some consular probably.”
“It happened to me before when I was younger. Just not very often and not with this intensity, so I haven’t realised.” He paused for a moment. “Realised what?” “How much I need it." "If you say, It’s so rare and If you say, It’s triggered by emotions, you are not going to use it, at least not here. Students here are stable and balanced. When it comes to fighting anyway." “My future is not fighting Jedi, I am going to fight thugs, maybe even the Sith. They won’t be stable, so will be perfect target for me. Yet I won’t get training because other adepts will crush me.” Then Danyen took another, way longer pause. “I can’t share this with anyone other than you.” “I understand where you are heading, but please, we can find someone, who will help.” Elya now sounded even more concerned.
“Masters would probably hate that I love my dog. Let’s be real. This whole emotion thing might turn many ways, just not one to my advantage. No one is helping me.” “That’s not true.” Elya disagreed. “Then who will help me?” She didn’t reply. "You dont have a dog." Elya joked after a long silence. Danyen shook his head and smiled a bit. He knew she said it only to ease the tension but did appreciate it anyway.
Next duel was against Rekka. At first was Danyen frightened knowing, that Rekka, despite his overconfidence, is not going to feed him any emotions. Coming up with a plan calmed him down. The plan was stupid even for seventeen years old boy, but in his mind, there was no better alternative. As the fight began, he unleashed every feeling that he had for Rekka. How uncomfortable he was when Rekka heard his deep feelings. Hatred for his confidence. Hatred for the man that was taking advantage of him, because he was stronger. It didn’t end there. All feelings of low self-esteem because of inability to fight the Jedi way. There was no chance for him getting emotions from his target, so he made his own. When masters noticed the fire burning within him, they have tried to stop him, but It was too late. Danyen charged with such ferocity, Rekka managed to block only three strikes. Two aimed for the head, one for the right leg. Danyen spun left and strike from the right side opened Rekkas skull.
Later that day he was sitting on the stairs again. People looked at him either in fear or disgust. “Is it true?” Elya asked with sadness in her voice. Yes.” He couldn’t stand the fact she needed confirmation from him. How big friendship he damaged? “Will, you, please, defend me before the council?”
Danyen was summoned by Jedi council to answer for his deeds. Elya, despite her disappointment, agreed to come for his aid. Now they were standing in front of entire Jedi council. Including grandmaster Satele Shan. “Do you realise your actions could have lead to the death of gifted future Jedi?” “Yes.” Her eyes looked like they want to burn a hole through his body. “Why did you do that?” “I just wanted to break his nose. It was an accident." Grandmaster's face instantly turned sceptical and a little bit confused. "I sense you are trying to decieve us." Danyen sighed and after a short hesitation he shared with the council everything from abilities to gather strength from opponent's emotion to his recent disputes with Rekka. Elya stood witness to everything that was said. "The council will evaluate your defence. Until that, you are allowed to leave."
It took hours for the council to reach the verdict. When Danyen was finally allowed to return, the entire Jedi council was standing. "Danyen Wanei, you are expelled from Jedi order with immediate effect," decreed Satele with a straight face of the judge. He was speechless.
Danyen and Elya were walking down the stairs to the entrance room of the Jedi temple. "I can't believe it. It doesn't make any sense!" Elya wasn't angry yet Danyen has never seen her being closer to it. "It must make sense to them," Danyen stated slightly ironically. "It doesn't. If Jedi won't find a place for you in their ranks, the Sith will." They both have stopped in front of main entrance. "These things are not my biggest concern. At least for now." Both didn't know what to say so they stayed silent. "So... This is it." managed to get out of himself Danyen. "Stay in touch. Just in case you'll need help." "Thanks, but I think ill have to sort this mess out on my own. Goodbye."Elya nodded in understanding. "Goodbye."
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