The meditation chamber aboard the Specter of Light was quiet — but not empty.
Soft pulses of light drifted along the walls, chasing the curves of ancient runes etched into the metal long before Kael had claimed the ship. The floor glowed faintly beneath the crystalline table at the center — a Jedi-built platform designed for forging, reflection… and rebirth.
Aris stood barefoot at the chamber's edge, a small bundle wrapped in cloth held in both hands. Her expression was tense — focused, but uncertain. Her dark curls had been tied back, sweat already glistening at her brow.
Kael knelt across from her, lights dimmed. Between them sat the fragments of her old training saber — broken emitter, scorched housing, and the unstable kyber shard pulsing erratically with muted blue light.
"This is where it starts," he said softly.
Aris nodded, unwrapping the components.
"I'm ready," she said.
Kael didn't correct her.
He let the moment speak for itself.
Cortana appeared nearby in a soft-blue shimmer, her projection smaller than usual — respectful of the silence.
"The Kyber forge is stable," she said. "Crystal resonance is aligned. I've reduced ambient noise, and shielded the system from outside interference. You're clear to begin."
Aris set the kyber fragment onto the central ring.
It pulsed once.
Kael's eyes flicked to the energy reading — unstable, but no longer violent. The meditations she'd been doing had calmed the crystal. It knew her now.
"Close your eyes," he said.
She did.
"Breathe. Slow. Let the Force come to you. Don't force it."
A long silence.
Then: "I'm scared it'll reject me."
Kael smiled faintly. "It's not a judgment. It's a mirror. If you're honest — it will resonate. If you're not… it'll wait."
She nodded.
The room began to vibrate gently as her presence centered. Kael felt it — that spark of light within her, no longer wild and flaring. It was flickering gently now. Controlled. Not fully stable… but patient.
He took her hands and guided them to the kyber crystal.
"Tell it who you are."
Aris hesitated. Her lips parted, but no words came.
Then: "I'm not a Jedi."
The crystal warmed.
"I'm not a soldier."
It glowed faintly.
"I'm… just me."
The kyber pulsed brightly, stabilizing mid-air.
And with a sudden rush of light — the forge ignited.
The components levitated — emitter housing, focusing lens, power cell — all circling the crystal as if dancing. Kael stepped back, letting her work. She wasn't using mechanical tools. She was using instinct.
The Force.
Aris held out her hand.
Piece by piece, the saber came together. It wasn't elegant or symmetrical. The hilt was slightly curved, designed for one-handed use, with a leather-wrapped grip and a raw, unfinished feel. But it was hers.
The moment the last seal locked into place, the saber dropped gently into her palm.
She pressed the switch.
Snap–hiss.
A pure, vibrant white blade extended with a hum that filled the chamber — not loud, not overpowering, but clear.
Cortana blinked in surprise. "White…"
Kael smiled.
Aris stared at the blade in awe. "What does it mean?"
Kael answered softly. "Balance. You've rejected the darkness… but you haven't sworn yourself to the Jedi, either. You're walking your own path."
She looked at him. "Like you."
He nodded.
And for the first time in days, she smiled without fear.
[ Aris Lightsaber: Constructed ]Crystal Color: WhiteHilt: Curved Grip, 1-Hand FocusProperties: Balanced, Lightweight, Force-BondedSaber Trait Unlocked: Harmony – Defensive Techniques Recover Stamina FasterAris Sync Level: 6 (Steady)Ship System Bonus: Kyber Matrix Rebooted – Jedi Echoes Reactivating…
The room dimmed suddenly as a surge ran through the chamber's ancient conduits.
Cortana turned toward the wall — where runes were glowing.
Kael stepped forward. "What is it?"
"A memory," Cortana whispered. "The kyber matrix was part of the ship's primary archive system. Aris's connection… just unlocked another layer."
A projection unfolded.
A younger Jedi — the same one Kael had seen before — stood aboard the Specter's bridge, flanked by two Padawans. One wore a training visor. The other, robes stained with dirt and battle.
"Master Valen again," Kael murmured.
The Jedi's voice echoed through the chamber.
"We've lost three more in the Outer Rim. The Sith are hiding — scattered. But the wounds remain. I see it in my crew. In my students."
"We will not be remembered. Not in the records of Coruscant. But this ship… this place… will remember us."
"To whoever finds this: carry our light forward. Even if the stars forget."
The projection faded.
Aris wiped her eyes.
Kael touched the console.
"I won't forget," he whispered.
Cortana smiled gently. "Neither will I."
Later that evening, Kael found Aris standing in the Specter's training hall, practicing low sweeps with her new blade. The white light gleamed against her skin.
"You planning to duel a Gundark?" he asked, grinning.
"Maybe just one," she said, smiling.
Kael leaned against the wall. "How's it feel?"
She paused, looking at the saber.
"Like… I'm me. Not what they wanted me to be. Not what happened to me. Just me."
Kael gave a nod. "That's what it's supposed to be."
She turned to him. "Do you think I'll ever be strong enough to fight beside you?"
"You already are."
She looked down.
He added: "But that doesn't mean I'll stop watching your back."
[ Aris Training Milestone Achieved ]Weapon: Lightsaber (White Crystal)Role Unlocked: Force Adept – Guardian Class (Custom Path)XP Gained: +300Companion Bond: StrengthenedOptional Quest Available: Forge the Flame – Construct personalized fighting style and duel Kael in simulationNote: Aris's presence has stabilized the ship's Jedi Echo Network – more memories will unlock with time and proximity
In the ship's shadowed hangar bay, deep below the main deck, a faint pulse rippled along a long-sealed wall. Runes flickered.
And in the dark—
—something moved.