Star Wars: The Way of the Grey

Chapter 98: 98. Chapter


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-From the perspective of Nizzal-

In the morning hours, on the day of the attack.

I was still sulking after I received an “F” grade in history class yesterday. Alas, I was still cruelly herded out to the school’s backyard. Luna, seemingly having enough of my childish antics, rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand forcefully, dragging me out. Okay, I didn’t put up that much of a resistance to begin with. I was enjoying the attention she gave me after all... 

We sat down on a bench and watched as other middle school children were walking around, chatting happily or playing basketball and other games. The fact that I was having a sense of normalcy in my life was a bit overwhelming to me. Even so, being among my peers was clearly good for my mood, as I felt a sense of contentedness I hadn’t felt for quite some time now. 

Who would have thought that being able to act like a child when you are physically a child is good for your mental health? What a realization, dang it.

Alas, I couldn’t really be absolutely sure that this was the cause for my momentary sense of peace. The reason for this comfort could also be derived from the solitary confinement of which I was enduring before I came here. You wouldn’t really think until you experience it on your skin, how much not seeing human faces around you and not being able to express yourself freely speaking with other intelligent beings can add to or deduct from your overall mental health. Humans and twi’leks are social beings to begin with, on a very basic level. 

I was sitting next to Luna wearing a similar school uniform in a relaxed manner while halfheartedly watching a bunch of kids play around. It was peaceful and relaxing. I liked this and wasn’t even ashamed to accept this truth anymore. At least to myself, there was no way I could cover it up, so it was better to accept it.

I turned to the right, looking at the quiet Luna sitting by my side. She was also watching the game, but I could see that she was more conscious about the game than I was. It was not the extreme awareness I sensed from her when I beat Steve playing Jedi vs Sith on the battle platform, but she was still putting in an honest effort. Suddenly, her head turned towards me and our eyes met. 

She was a human girl. I realized that about 98 percent of this school was human. I saw another twi’lek older girl who came over and welcomed me. We had a small chat before she left. I also saw three Iktochi, two boys and a girl. They nodded at me, but that was it. They were also older kids, and too aloof to chat with little ones, at least publicly.

Oh, I guess I didn’t mention that I was a first year. My age was just right. That was the reason why it was so easy for me to enroll in this school, the school year was already on for a few months, but since I was thought to be a talented child, based on the questions teacher Lana asked me I was easily accepted.

It also turned out that this particular school was in need of more students. There was a practical war going on between schools to gain the attention of more and more students. Coruscant had an extreme variety of educational facilities, but thanks to the global worries of the past years of war and economic tensions, people seemed to become more conscious about raising children. Which led to the outcome of fewer children being born and enrolled in schools.

Some of the schools were even closed thanks to the civil sector receiving less governmental support. By the passing days, more funds were channeled into the war machine of the republic. A tendency that didn’t seem to stop in the near future. 

-What are you looking at, Nizz? Some would think that you have never seen a human girl before, from the way you stare at me...

My consciousness was brought back to reality when I recognized the amused voice of Luna speaking. Yes... well, I used to blank out while staring at people quite often... I guess Ava and Kate are already used to it, but that doesn’t mean Luna will be... 

I blushed a bit and looked down at my knees. I could see my bare legs appearing under the reach of the skirt I was wearing... When was the last time I actually wore a skirt? I can’t seem to remember... also, damn, my skin was ridiculously pale. 

I winced, feeling a light pinch on my forearm. I looked up suddenly and met the light blue eyes of Luna, her eyes twinkling in amusement and playful warmth. 

It never ceased to surprise me how quickly certain children were capable of warming up to strangers. Just two days ago, we didn’t even know of each-other’s existence.

-You are doing it again.

She complained.

-Am I not worthy of your attention, Nizzy? 

-Uh, it’s not that... I mean… sorry. 

Her smile grew, as she said after a small laugh. 

-Don’t fret, I was only teasing you. You must have a vivid imagination, Nizzy. At least that is what Ms. Lana used to tell the kids who blanked out on her classes.

I nodded, realizing that it was partly the case, the other part being a mountain of excessive memories which tended to blink in front of my eyes when I was in a relaxed state of mind, not focusing my attention on anything specific.

I looked back up at the smirking Luna, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her bright and strong personality. It was no wonder why the boys accepted her as their equal. Also, it was more than obvious that she loved rivalry and competition. I suspected that her love towards video games was born more from a desire to compete with others than being about the video game part, however I couldn’t be sure of it just yet. It could also be the other way around, meaning her competitive spirit might have been born from her playing games so much. 

It didn’t really matter.

-How do you like our school? I didn’t expect you to get into an argument with a teacher yesterday. Getting an “F” out of it was nothing less than plain stupidity if you ask me... 

I groaned, releasing the remains of my frustration. 

She chuckled, listening to my reaction.

-Don’t let it bother you too much, just watch your words next time. Calling the teacher’s explanation a bunch of half cooked lies was just asking for trouble. Even if it was pretty cool. I don’t know where you pulled out that confidence to spout historical nonsense into his face… For a moment; I thought that you were serious. I even looked up some of the stuff on the net, but I only found wild speculation at best.

-Argh... don’t mention it, please... I don’t want to talk about it any longer.

She smiled at me deviously and slid closer on the bench. Hearing my fed up whining.

-Okay, but if I did as you asked, would you let me pet your head?

I was surprised by this sudden proposition and asked with suspicion.

-Why would you want to do something like that? 

She turned a bit flustered by my question, then gave me a stink eye and turned away with a huff. 

-Of course she wouldn’t know the reason... Anyway, just ignore what I said earlier.

-... fine?

-...

We sat there in silence for a while. Luna’s annoyance quickly dissipated and she decided to show me her newly bought pair of hairpins. The design on the top of the hairpins was molded into the form of a pair of blue roses. It was quite a cute thing. It looked nice in her blond hair; the roses matching the color of her blue eyes. I praised the choice, and she beamed, already forgetting the earlier dissatisfaction. Which I caused, but didn’t know how exactly...

-We have two more classes for the day. If you promise me to not get into trouble during history class this time, then we can walk home together. It turns out the restaurant where you stay is in the same direction as my house.

I blinked, then nodded. 

-It’s a promise then! It’s good that another girl is in the dueling club now. Boys are fine... but there are things you can’t talk about with them.

Suddenly I had a raising sense of discomfort... did I just walk into a trap? Nah, it’s probably just me being paranoid and stuff like that.

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The pause between classes ended, and the kids were herded back into the school building. 

The last two classes ended without further trouble, and I walked home by Luna on my side, talking about homework, and school things, sometimes boys and also games. It seems, that Luna was indeed interested in games. My previous thoughts were misguided. I also promised to teach a few moves to her. She wanted to beat Steve in the way I did, in exchange she promised to introduce me to a friend.

I was genuinely looking forward to it. 

We parted at the restaurant’s doorstep and with a comfortable peacefulness. I walked up to my room after I waved at Kate and Ava. I closed my door, took a few steps inside my room, and froze. I felt a sense of electric jolt, but it was so weak that it couldn’t be considered a danger. It was more like a foreshadowing, but what did it mean? 

I saw a series of blue energy particles starting to swirl around my body. My brain immediately made an explanation. 

I was being teleported through the carrier... Yes, these special crystal driven ships also had an inbuilt aura based freestyle teleportation. At least, if you wore the wrist accessory that held the personal energy field generator. I was always wearing it, so they could track my location and teleport me. It was the easiest way to get there on time, anyway. 

It was a normal procedure, except... I was a bit late... and I didn’t get to change my clothes... 

Damn.

A few seconds later, I was standing in a large room inside the Jedi temple. This place was given to me as a high-quality guest room. I was a grandmaster, after all. My rank now was properly accepted. 

After my materialization process was done, I found myself standing in front of three people who were anxiously waiting for my arrival.

I heard the voices of the three elders welcome me with deep respect.

The elders were all of mandalorian origin, which was not surprising, as mandalorians made up the largest part of our ranks. Be that in the ranks of force sensitive or not.

-We welcome you Grandmas-... 

Their clearly practiced welcoming ritual, which was accompanied by a light bow, was interrupted when they saw me appear wearing my school uniform with a typical school bag hanging on my back.

I gulped, seeing their shock. My eyes met with the clearly amused gaze of Elder Noorna, who was the only female elder present, and a member of the elder’s council of Unity, which made her into the highest ranked elder present.

A respectable warrior elder of the Grey Order. She just passed the age of 361, but she would kick the ass of many younger warriors still in their prime. She is clearly an avid user of life's elongating techniques, but her completely gray hair and deepening wrinkles show the permanent touch of time. 

Her eyes ran over my body with an analyzing gaze finally stopping on my schoolbag, which was decorated with a morse plush animal figurine dangling on a thin tread... 

Her eyes then snapped back to mine, at which time my face was already deeply flushed.

-Is this a... school uniform?

Was what she asked me with mock hesitance, her voice slightly shaking with disbelief, amusement and, if you ask me… forcefully withheld laughter. 

Is she trying to make me state the obvious... to make me writhe in agony while adding salt to my fresh wound? Well, good luck with that. After I came to accept my own unreasonable urges today, my sense of shamelessness has only grown beyond what was thought possible by mere mortals.

Wait... why am I proud of that? Eh... it doesn’t really matter.

Because of that, I straightened myself, taking on a sense of aloofness and stated in a balanced tone.

-Of course it is. Can you imagine any better disguise for someone in my current form? If you can’t put aside your sense of shame for the betterment of the order, you are clearly not putting your heart into your missions.

I scolded them.

The other two elders seemed to straighten up immediately, as they said. 

-Ah, as expected of the grandmaster of our Order. 

Stated one of them, then the other continued.

-Exactly, she would never cease to surprise us with such a commitment. Throwing aside her pride with such ease to be able and complete any mission! Willingly humiliating herself, as if it were nothing... I would never be able to go to such lengths! 

Who is humiliating herself! Do you really think that!? It is not that bad… Really! 

-Yes, for a moment I thought that she was willingly wearing such shameful clothes, unbecoming of a grandmaster... how shortsighted I was. Forgive me, oh great elder! For my pride blinded my vision.

Wha-who... ugh... is... would that be really so bad? Come on, it’s just a cloth, right? Right?! I mean...

The other one said in an emotional tone, praising me while reaching a new height of worship.

-Yes! I thought that too… but that would have been absurd! To be honest, going to such lengths, I could never do… I would rather die with my dignity... If that makes me unbecoming of the title of Elder, I shall retire from my duty.

I blinked heavily, feeling speechless.

-… No… that is not necessary…

Just stop it…

-Ah, how wonderful our leader is… Enduring as any great oak, and merciful like the freshening breeze on a spring morning.

Ugh, stop throwing daggers at me please... idiots... if this goes on much longer, I might start crying...

While the other two elders were lost in their own worlds, giving me passive aggressive vibes, I felt the reevaluating gaze of Elder Noorna, who was silently focusing on the ever growing blush covering my otherwise expressionless face. Our eyes met again, and there was a twinkle suddenly filling her eyes, one that gave me sudden chills... 

Did... did she figure it out? 

She smiled at me mischievously. 

Uh-huh... she definitely did... I am doomed.

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