Chapter 97: 97. Chapter

One day before the beginning of a new crisis, in the morning hours, just about 6:30 AM. An annoying electronic chirping sound repeatedly signaled the time to wake. A shadow moved in the dark room, which belonged to a hotel built at the surface level of Coruscant.

A pale arm reached through the darkness, blindly searching for the source of the annoying noise. Eventually, it managed to turn it off, and the person who the arm belonged to released a relieved groan. 

-From the perspective of Nizzal.-

I drowsily moved into a sitting position, the blanket still stubbornly covering half of my body, as if it was trying to tempt me to sleep more. I had to use the willpower that years of mental cultivation had instilled into my veins to refuse the urge. Discipline was a necessity for controlling the force, be that the dark side or the light. 

I stood up, shaking off the blanket, and walked away to wash my face and stuff like that. 

A few minutes later, I was back in the hotel room, looking at the strange uniform prepared for me, folded and placed on one of the tables. 

I sighed and stepped closer to the so-called table, lifting a piece of the clothes with a slight flinch. 

A few minutes passed once more.

I was standing in front of a tall mirror looking at my own form, which was confusedly looking back at me inside the mirror wearing a middle schooler’s standard uniform. It was made of simple black color decorated with minimalistic white rims. A skirt that just ended below knee height paired with a simple shirt whose sleeves ended about elbow length. It was a summer uniform and a pretty conservative type, which surprisingly has become the newer standard in Coruscant.

Seeing the girl reflected inside the mirror made me feel quite controversial. From a certain point of view, I was happy because of what I was seeing... since the cute girl posing there was me, but on another level... It made me feel awkward and disturbed.

I sighed with annoyance.

-What am I even doing here... 

The question left my lips, and they soon turned into a decisive pout, followed by a frown. Somehow, that made my own mirror image become even more compelling. Which reinforced both the weird and happy sensations swirling inside my chest. The fluctuation of different emotions eventually ended up causing a deep red blush across my cheeks.

Seeing that in the mirror made me squeak out a single word. 

-Damn...

At the same time, my mind decided to give an answer to my earlier question, as I found my thoughts slowly wandering back to the events that happened yesterday.

Inside the same hotel room, of which I was currently staying, I was told to sit down next to the form of a confused and sulking Hondo who was dragged up to this room by his ear, of all things. Yes... he was a bit tipsy, but I believe that he has sufficiently sobered under the unforeseen assault of Lana... the teacher... At the time I didn’t dare to speak a single word unless asked, I wasn’t planning to end up in the same spot as the old coot.

Also, secretly, I was laughing at the bastard, struggling to not show any of it on my face. It wasn’t an easy thing to achieve, but I managed.

We had been sitting here for a while as the teacher was walking up and down in front of us, almost bursting with frustration. Then she paused and turned to my dad, stating in an unquestionable commanding tone.

-Your daughter will go to school from tomorrow onwards. I will speak with the school’s director, and you will sign her up. Understood? 

Hondo was clearly surprised by this brazen woman, but he was still too confused to make anything out of this ridiculous situation... I can’t even blame him about that, honestly. 

He reached inside his long coat and pulled out a stored flask of alcohol. I didn’t care enough to look at what it might have been exactly... He took a swig from it, completely missing the enraged eyes of Ms. Lana as she sent lightings upon lightings at Hondo. Not real lightning, mind you, only with her eyes…

It had no effects, though. She didn’t know that Hondo had thicker skin than most rhinoceros could ever dream of. He slowly and calculatedly put back the now lighter flask into the inside pocket of his coat and asked carelessly.

-School? Eh? Why would my daughter need something like that?

 I was actually surprised by his words; I mean... If I was a child with fourteen years that would never make sense, but as my case was a bit more complicated... or a lot, or a lot a lot... Anyway, suffice it to say, that I agreed with that statement.

Alas, that couldn’t have been said for Ms. Lana, who was about to pounce on Hondo and from the looks she gave him I could swear there were no signs of romantic intention, at least in this woman’s case... Bloodlust, was a different matter entirely.

Completely ignoring the growing tension in the room, Hondo, as any good I mean retarded pirate captain would do, decided to add oil to the fire as he started to speak aloud.

-Bah, school is but a waste of time... I mean, just look at me! I had never gone to school, and I turned out just fine!

My heart dropped into my stomach seeing the expression that Ms. Lana was making. I also face palmed hearing da-... no Hondo’s reasoning. I sunk deeper into my chair, giving up the possibility of getting out of this situation without an absolute scandal happening. 

Ms. Lana had blown up after trying to process Hondo’s last sentence. She screeched at him while describing an endless list of reasons why that was necessary, and his statement was completely false. She also scolded me for lying about private tutors and things like that... it was obvious to her that such a thing was out of the question seeing this drunkard “pirate” man who was supposed to be my father figure...

Anyway, one thing led to another... and so now I was ready to go to school. Yaaaay... this was completely ridiculous. By the way, I also went to visit the Jedi since the representatives of the Grey arrived and were welcomed in a small ceremonial event. There was a delegate made out of ten people. Three elders, three warriors and three infiltrators escorting them. I didn’t know any of them well, not on a personal basis, but they were more than enough to validate my position as a grandmaster. The tenth of the representatives were an expert in battle meditation and force manipulation, who stayed on the carrier ship as he or she was the sole person responsible for controlling it.

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Whatever, I had to leave the ceremony earlier, as I was expected to go to school in the morning... I still can’t believe this, but... at least I can observe the educational system from a firsthand perspective. Also, I kind of wanted to hang out with those kids from yesterday...

I pouted, as the thought sounded stupid, but... still it was how I felt, even if it was awkward to accept the truth. I felt so childish, listening to my own thoughts, while also being kind of excited about this whole outcome. Will they be happy to see me, surprised, stuff like that?

I had actually no memories of going to school in a normal way. Most of the people chosen by the force to become bearers of an archive were coming from difficult backgrounds... They were not exactly the type that would be missed in case of sudden disappearance... Such people usually didn’t go to school, because of their other problems, and even if they did go, it happened either too far in the past to be comparable to today’s standards or they dropped out without finishing the educational process.

Yeah, sad story I know...

You know what? Actually, it is. But now I had the opportunity to fill in a hole that wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.

I sighed wearily.

-I guess I will have to make this sacrifice... 

While saying such words, and acting as if it was a burdensome matter, I felt a betraying blush creep onto my face once again.

I quickly looked away from the mirror, grabbed my schoolbag and walked out of the room. Never looking back.

About half an hour later, I exited Hondo’s hover car in front of the familiar school building and we went inside, while dad continued to growl to himself, whispering curses at the school and that crazy hag, while also letting off a few annoying sighs and verbal side jabs in my direction, like troublesome kids, and stuff like that.

It was almost too normal... Was this supposed to be how being a normal child felt? I wasn’t sure about it, but it seemed like such a thing... Anyway, he went to speak with the school director and I was left hanging around in the empty classroom.

I mean, we were half an hour earlier, the classes only started at 7:30 AM. It is 7:06 AM right now.

I decided to sheepishly sat down in the classroom, where I was a guest last time when I came here... This is going to be crazy, and I also had to visit the Jedi Temple in the afternoon... The Grandmaster invited me for a private meditation session. It would be rude to deny it since he already had gone out of his way to invite me personally.

Come to think of it, will I even have time to change? I can’t exactly go there in a school uniform... no definitely not, I would die from shame, if any of this is revealed to the Jedi... or Force forbid my own people... Everyone would laugh at me... nonno.... no! That... no don’t go there... no need to panic, it will never be revealed to anyone, how would that even happen? I mean, nobody would even suspect it. Who would suspect it in the first place? Anyone who would do something like that is a maniac, a half-... no, a completely crazy maniac, yes, definitely.

While lost in my thoughts, and slight panic, I heard the door being opened with a sudden pull. I winced at the unexpected noise as I turned towards the door. 

I saw three familiar kids rushing into the classroom while racing each other to their own desks. I felt a small smile reach my face, seeing the strange antics of the kids who didn’t even notice my presence yet. I was quite hard to notice, since my training subconsciously made me move as little as possible while standing or sitting in a single spot. 

For the exact reason of never gaining unintended attention when I didn’t want to, that is.

After the kids reached their own seats, the victor laughed cheerfully while the others acted slightly disappointed. One of the losers suddenly noticed me and pointed at me with a shocked exclamation.

-It’s Nizz! What are you doing here, and that’s our uniform!

The others turned towards me with wide eyes. 

-Oh! It’s really her! 

-Then she didn’t lie, when she said she was the same age as us... I could swear that wasn’t true... maybe she just stole the uniform.

I sighed, feeling annoyed by hearing the last part. I decided to speak to them, flicking my left lek behind my shoulder.

-Yes, I didn’t lie about that, Frank, and I didn’t steal these clothes either... but thank you for your uncalled observation.

He only smirked at me, hearing my jab. 

Which immediately riled me up, but I held back and didn’t say anything else. This kid was so annoying. The others were fine, though. 

They dropped a handful of questions at me, and I could only answer as many at a single time. I eventually managed to describe it to them, with a mix of lies and truth, that my dad decided to enroll me into a school with the hope that I would socialize more... since I didn’t make a lot of friends in private lessons, obviously.

They were happy to see me here, and Steve even decided to sit with me, a gesture that made me happy. Not long after, a few more kids arrived, and I had to repeat my story a few times again. I didn’t mind, though. It was fine, I couldn’t remember, when had I spoken so much in such a short time... If that even happened...

Soon, the classes started. I had obviously no problem with most of the classes, except history. They were teaching a bunch of lies and downright impossible or stupid things... It was blood boiling to listen to. I had been present at quite a few of the events we mentioned... and I could say with confidence that at least fifty percent of what they told was a bunch of fiction... I tried to give off a few hints to the teacher, but he instead decided to steamroll me for interrupting him times and times again. 

He decided to question me from history, the idiot. Ha! I told him how things actually happened, and the bastard gave me an “F”... I never wanted to kick someone’s ass so much... the damn bastard... Acting high and mighty while sitting upon a pile of lies and delusions! HA!

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