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Dantooine – The Great Hall of the Restored Temple
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The soft glow of torches flickered along the ancient stone walls, casting long shadows as Ver An stood at the center of the great hall, his blue saber ignited before him. Before him knelt three figures, their cloaks billowing slightly in the cool night breeze.
Wilhelm Kriss. Ahsoka Tano. Kassy Carsen.
They had walked their own paths, forged through war, loss, and survival. Now, they knelt as Jedi, but they would rise as something more. Something new.
Ver An took a slow breath, his voice steady, carrying the weight of millennia.
"In the shadow of war, the Jedi have stood as peacekeepers. But the Sith have returned, and the shadows grow long once more. We cannot merely stand guard—we must act. We must seek those lost to the Dark, not only as warriors, but as guides. And so, from this temple, from this moment, we begin anew."
He stepped forward, resting the tip of his saber lightly on Will's right shoulder.
"Wilhelm Kriss, heir to the wisdom of Avar Kriss, you have shown both strength and wisdom beyond your years. As the first among equals, you shall bear the title of Grand-Paladin. Yours is the burden of leadership, to walk where no Jedi has walked before and forge a new path for those who follow. Rise, Jedi Paladin."
Will lifted his gaze, standing tall as the Force pulsed around him, solidifying the weight of his new mantle.
Ver An turned to Ahsoka next, his saber dipping to her shoulder. "Ahsoka Tano, warrior of conviction, seeker of truth. You have walked beyond the Order, yet never forsaken its teachings. As the Second Paladin, you will ensure that this path is not corrupted by fear or vengeance. You will temper the blade of the Order with wisdom and restraint. Rise, Jedi Paladin."
Ahsoka stood, her piercing gaze meeting Ver An's, the weight of her decision settling into her stance. She was here by choice, by will. And she would see this through.
Finally, Ver An turned to Kassy, the descendant of Kira Carsen. His saber met her shoulder.
"Kassy Carsen, heir to a legacy of survival and strength, your heart is unbreakable, and your skill undeniable. As the Third Paladin, you will embody the light that turns away from despair. The Force has guided you to this moment. Rise, Jedi Paladin."
Kassy exhaled slowly before standing, shoulders squared. She had walked her own path for so long—now, she had a purpose greater than herself.
Ver An extinguished his saber, stepping back. "You are the first Paladins of the Jedi Order. Your task is not an easy one, but the galaxy has never needed you more."
The great hall remained silent for only a moment before the soldiers gathered around let out a cheer of celebration. The Paladins had been born.
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The next morning, a new message arrived from Coruscant. The Council had deliberated on the future of the Dantooine temple, and they had reached their decision.
As the transmission flickered on, the blue holograms of Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and Shaak Ti appeared before us.
Master Windu spoke first, his voice as firm as ever. "Dantooine is no longer just a forgotten temple. You have made it a beacon, a sanctuary. And it will need guidance. We are assigning two Jedi Masters to oversee its growth."
Yoda nodded. "Chosen for wisdom, he has been. A guide, a teacher, a legend. To Dantooine, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, we send."
Will's eyes widened slightly. "Obi-Wan?"
The transmission flickered, and a new figure appeared—a hooded Jedi with a familiar, knowing smirk.
"It's good to see you, Will. I suppose I'll have to keep a closer eye on you now."
Will chuckled. "I'd say I don't need supervision, but that'd be a lie. Welcome to Dantooine, Master Kenobi."
Master Windu continued, "You will also need a blade, someone to sharpen your skills. Anakin Skywalker will serve as your Master of Battle."
Another hologram flickered in. Anakin, arms crossed, gave a confident smirk. "Try to keep up, Paladins. You're about to learn what a real duel looks like."
Ahsoka scoffed. "Don't think you're getting special treatment just because you're my old Master. I'll take you down myself if I have to."
Anakin laughed. "We'll see about that, Snips."
Master Yoda's expression grew serious. "And Ver An, your wisdom, this temple shall need. Teach them balance, you will. Teach them the path unseen."
Ver An bowed. "I will do as the Force wills."
With that, the transmission ended. The next chapter of Dantooine's history had begun.
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The coming weeks were grueling.
Obi-Wan focused on tactical training, diplomacy, and strategy, reinforcing the foundation of the temple's teachings. He taught us how to outthink the Sith, how to anticipate their movements, and how to fight with patience rather than aggression.
Anakin, on the other hand, was brutal in his methods. Every day consisted of hours of dueling, hand-to-hand combat, and conditioning, sharpening our reflexes until we could stand toe-to-toe with the deadliest of Sith Lords.
For me, however, Ver An had a different path in mind.
"You rely too much on Makashi and Shien, Will. Against the Sith, you need more. You need to learn how to control two sabers."
Then I got me a second lightsaber—the saber of Avar Kriss, my ancestor.
For hours, we trained. He showed me how to balance my stance, how to shift between single and dual blade combat seamlessly. He was patient, relentless, and the lessons were brutal.
And I was improving.
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Just as we began to settle into the rhythm of our training, an urgent message arrived.
Shaak Ti's image flickered before us, her tone urgent. "The mission on Yavin IV has taken a turn. We've encountered resistance stronger than expected. I need reinforcements."
Will looked to his fellow Paladins. "We're on our way."
Obi-Wan nodded. "This will be your first mission as Paladins. Do not take it lightly."
Anakin smirked. "Finally, some action. Let's see what you've got, Paladins."
Ahsoka cracked her knuckles. "Let's go show the galaxy why the sith should respect the light."
As we boarded our ships, preparing for hyperspace, the temple of Dantooine stood behind us, stronger than it had been in centuries.
The Paladins had been born. And now, we marched to hunt.
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