nightshrike
NJO GANG GANG |
"Dagon Kaze, over the past few years you have conducted yourself in a manner equal to any Jedi I have ever met, through more difficult times than I have ever seen. By what little authority I have, I raise you," she said, moving the saber over each of his shoulders (carefully, of course, because she didn't want to chop anything off).
"To the rank of Jedi Knight."
The crowd exploded into wild jubilation, not because they really understood what this meant. They didn't, at least most of them didn't. To them, it was just another cause for celebration, and to Dagon - that was enough. The galaxy needed it. Laughter healed, mended wounds, and united the people. The cries of happiness, the grins of joy, this was what the New Jedi had essentially fought for.
This was the real victory.
Dagon's smile grew wider as it met Auteme's, but at the back of his delighted gaze shadows lurked. The dark reminder - the burden - of the cost they had paid to witness this day. How many friends they had lost on the way? All but abandoned by their elders, criticized by their peers, the fledgling New Jedi arose like a phoenix from the ashes of a galaxy the Sith had torched. Many would dare question whether it was worth it in th end? All the lossess, all the pain, the grief, the sorrow. And despite the resounding yes that all would hear, it was undeniable that deep down, within the final blink before sleep, doubt would flicker, die and reemerge on the following night. Again and again.
Theirs was the cross to carry.
The Jedi rose up slowly, pushing against the burdens holding him down and nodded gratefully at Auteme. Without a word, he extended his hand to receive his saber for the first time as a Knight of the New Jedi Order.
Auteme | Allyson Locke | Vaylin | Kolson Vrask | Sephi Karneh | Vaylin | The Dark Inquisitor | Bernard | Sergeant Omen