Private Bound by the Force: A Tale of Two Jedi

[Samuel Creed]

"This apprenticeship offers a chance for both of us to grow," Samuel Creed began, his voice steady and deliberate. His words carried a calm assurance, though his gaze revealed the weight of his thoughts. He appreciated the honesty in Teynara Jeralyr 's words, her frankness illuminating the depth of her feelings. She had astutely picked up on his uncertainty about training a Padawan, an insight that struck him as sharp and observant. However, it wasn't the tone he wished to set at the beginning of their journey. His reply would need to be more personal, aiming to calm whatever doubts might still linger in her mind.

"My decision wasn't certain until we sat here, together," he said, gesturing subtly to the quiet, contemplative space of the meditation chamber. "Testing you both—on the sparring floor and here—was as much a test for me as it was for you. Had I found you lacking, I wouldn't have offered this apprenticeship," Samuel continued. His voice remained neutral, yet it carried an unspoken tension, as if he were weighing each word with care. "I've spent most of my years in the field, completing missions rather than teaching. Master Jido Myyse challenged that approach, even suggested your name, but the final decision was mine," he concluded with a firm nod.

This revelation hinted at a deep bond between the Jedi Knight and the Jedi Master he had mentioned, a connection Padawan Jeralyr would surely notice. Samuel had spoken of Master Jido Myyse with more intent than merely providing context—there was an unspoken suggestion that she might one day turn to the older Jedi for guidance as well. Samuel understood that the journey ahead would not always be smooth or straightforward for his new apprentice. There would be moments of difficulty, times when his methods might seem harsh or perplexing. In those instances, Jido Myyse could offer a different perspective, a fresh approach that might illuminate why Samuel carried himself the way he did.

Silence settled between them for a moment, as Samuel reflected on the rare openness he had just shared with his new Padawan. It wasn't common for him to speak so candidly about his personal choices, especially to someone of lower rank. Such reflections weren't usually for a Padawan's ears, yet he knew the importance of beginning this partnership with honesty.

"There will be moments when you won't agree with my decisions," Samuel said after a pause, his tone softening slightly. "That's natural. When two people as different as we are come together, there will inevitably be times of confusion or frustration. I welcome your questions during those times. Your curiosity will help you understand my methods, just as it will help me understand yours."

He leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming more thoughtful. "Were I seeking someone to follow blindly, I would have recruited a soldier. But you are a Jedi, and your intellect deserves to be sharpened as much as your skill with a lightsaber."

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

If my mind were as sharp as my skills with a lightsaber, I'd be in serious trouble, Teynara thought with a faint touch of amusement, though she didn't feel it was best to articulate that thought to Samuel Creed . He didn't strike her as necessarily lacking a sense of humour, but he probably wouldn't be appreciative of her self-deprecation. She got the feeling he was the type of Jedi that found humility to be bothersome: she could sense something of his own pride in the way that he sat, and spoke, so it was doubtful that he'd much appreciate her absence of it. His would be a chill that would take some time to thaw...but she'd work on it, eventually.

Still, she had to appreciate his candor, particularly in his acceptance of the fact that the two of them would disagree from time-to-time – and she was entirely certain that this would happen, even if she didn't really want it to – and at least his acknowledgement of such meant that they could use those moments for a little personal growth. Sometimes a good argument allows for everyone to explore different views on a given issue, and exploring different ways of thinking about things that you might not have considered. The key to it all was to be open to the experience, and not to take any of it personally.

It also amused her that her new teacher had expressed that he thought he would grow through their training together. A wise perspective, but one that suggests you think you've got a lot that you're going to learn from me. In some respects, Teynara wasn't entirely sure she disagreed – while it was clear that she had a lot to learn about being a Jedi, to her mind, it seemed like he needed to learn to lighten up a little. He's one of the ones they started training as a kid, she suspected, so he dived right into maturity without ever letting his hair down. The formality of his words, the straightness of his posture, just the absence of any human emotion presenting itself in his general demeanour...it all hinted at it. I suppose I have to learn to grow up, while you need to do a little of the opposite.

"Just as well you weren't looking for a soldier," she said softly, her tone mildly teasing, something she expected he was going to have to get used to. Creed didn't strike her as the sort of Jedi who would much appreciate her sense of humour or her blunt way of speaking at moments – despite employing that himself – but, as he'd said, they both had a lot to learn. "I'm afraid I'm not particularly good at being either of the two, but I suppose that's often true of those Jedi who spend most of their time as warriors, too."

Teynara knew there were plenty of exceptions in that respect – Master Valery Noble was definitely one of them, being both warrior and Jedi in equal exceptional measure – but far too many who directed themselves towards the talents of the warrior forgot to practice compassion and tolerance in the process, becoming a cutting tool in personality as well as in practice. In truth, it was possible that Creed was also a warrior of similar blend – he had, after all, spoken of spending much of his time on missions rather than in the Temple – but that would simply make his learning experiences all the more amusing, since she knew she'd probably frustrating the Living Force out of such a teacher.

"I'll do my best not to be too much of a challenge for you, though," she continued, the same teasing tone present in her voice, though moderated slightly. It was doubtful any paperwork had been filed, so he probably still had time to back out of this whole thing if he wanted to, and particularly if he felt that she was more annoying than he was prepared to put up with. "Though I have a feeling that you can't reciprocate that. You're the sort of teacher who works to make a student's life a misery, even though you're the type that will get the best out of someone. Is that how your Master taught you, so you pass on that approach to others?"

 

[Samuel Creed]

Samuel Creed sat in silence, his thoughts swirling in contemplation. Teynara Jeralyr 's words were simple enough, and while he grasped their meaning, his mind wandered beyond the present, searching for something deeper. This moment, he knew, marked a pivotal change in their lives. There would be times of struggle, moments of apathy, flashes of achievement, and shadows of adversity.

As a Jedi Knight, Samuel understood that his new Apprentice wouldn't benefit from the same teachings his own Master had once provided him. Yet, despite this awareness, he knew only one path—the one that had shaped him. Teynara's presence would demand that he step outside the comfortable confines of his knowledge, forcing him to explore the unfamiliar, perhaps even the uncomfortable. It was a small but necessary sacrifice in the grand scheme of a Jedi Knight's journey.

His jaw tightened, the muscles visibly flexing as he fought the weight of his Master's question. The subject carried an emotional burden that tugged at his core. None of this was Teynara's fault—her ignorance was inevitable, given how few people knew of his past with his Master. Only those like Valery Noble and the senior members of the New Jedi Order had access to the private files of Jedi Master Lumea Corsell.

"I have never taught a student before," Samuel admitted quietly, his gaze meeting Teynara's. "To call me a teacher is far too generous—perhaps even an insult to your lesson instructors." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, a rare glimpse of humor in the uneasy truth of his words.

"To answer your question: no, she was quite different," he continued, pausing as the reluctance weighed heavily on him. Unlike the prepared responses that often accompanied a Jedi Knight's explanations, Samuel hesitated. Lumea Corsell had been kind and patient with him—a maternal figure in a life that had known few—but Samuel never spoke of her.

"You will be a challenge for me, no doubt," Samuel admitted, his voice steady but laced with a quiet reflection. "Though not in the ways you might expect. Challenges are necessary for growth—without them, there's no room for learning. We must hold onto that truth, especially in moments of disagreement." His tone softened, subtly steering the conversation away from the fragile topic of his Master, taking on the calm neutrality and quiet assurance that had long become his hallmark.

"I will help you develop your knowledge and abilities," he continued, his gaze steady on his Apprentice. "We will train together daily, both in body and mind. Every morning at 5 a.m., we'll meet at the entrance to the training wing. You'll have two hours with me before your regular classes begin. And beyond your scheduled lectures, we'll continue our work as your timetable allows. I'll do my best to be patient with you, just as you'll need to be patient with me."

He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle between them. "I ask that, during times when you can't find confidence in my words, you trust in my rank as a Jedi Knight. It's natural to question my methods, and I even encourage you to challenge me—at the right times. But remember, there is a line between indifference and defiance. Questioning me is not the same as disobedience, and it's important you understand that distinction."

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

Teynara sat silently for a moment, offering no reply to Samuel Creed 's words, knowing that she had several sarcastic comments that she could use in response...but also feeling somehow that this just wasn't the moment for it. She wasn't quite sure what made her feel that way, but there it was. There was something moving about his sincerity, and the humility he displayed in suggesting that he wasn't worthy of the title of "teacher". Once again, she was struck by the odd contrast of him: bold confidence on the one hand, and yet that underlying sense that he wasn't quite as firm in his self-esteem as he perhaps seemed. What has happened to him to make him doubt himself that way? Is it just in the quieter moments that he feels like that?

Of course, she understood the distinction that he spoke of – Teynara knew that she had the sort of personality that allowed for sarcastic comments and the occasional bit of acerbic wit in more heated moments, though she often reflected that it was her way of staying calm when things weren't going according to plan. Better a sarcastic aside than panic. Even so, she was never willfully disobedient or impertinent towards those who had authority over her, or who stood higher in the Order's ranks. There's a reason they're your superiors, after all, and even if you don't respect them, you should always respect their office. So she'd always believed – so even if she did challenge Creed, she wasn't about to offer him disrespect in the process.

"You needn't worry on that front, Master," she said, adding the last word with just a touched of amused emphasis, knowing that he probably wasn't inclined to accept the moniker yet, even if it was appropriate. "I don't know enough of the Jedi Path to be challenging you on any of it just yet," the young woman noted calmly, reminding herself of just how much she yet still had to learn. "And if I do, know that it's my way of seeking clarification rather than showing disrespect. It's not my way to be overtly rude to others, so you won't see that from me."

Although starting their training that 0500hrs...that would perhaps test her patience and calm in a way that Creed might not enjoy. Tey knew well enough that she wasn't a morning person – her usual energy and enthusiasm tended only to appear after she'd had a hot shower and a hotter mug of stimcaf to set her up for the day. The idea of waking up so early in order to begin training...no, she wasn't looking forward to that at all. Plus, I'm going to have lessons with him as well as my usual ones here in the Temple. Clearly there wasn't going to much consideration for her sanity in this respect!

"So where do we begin, if I may ask?" That was the most pressing question sitting on her mind. Her lessons thus far had been helpful enough – offering her insight into the Jedi's history, and the basics of their ideology. But she also knew there was so much more to learn – and even more to put into practice out in the wider galaxy beyond the Temple walls. She suspected that her new Master would be anxious to ensure that she was ready to make that step...but equally anxious for her to do so soon, before he ended up feeling cabin-fever. "I'm not the most active person first thing in the morning, so I hope you intend for a slow start!"