[D11 MA] What's Up, Jedi Dad?

[Ares Pax]

Ares glanced at some of the statues as he stood, waiting. He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He still needed to get used to it...he now had a saber. He now was a padawan.

[Jaric Kaedan]

He was soon joined by his master. The man who had been his mentor for years, now officially his master.

"How does it feel?" he asked, looking up at the statue too.

[Ares Pax]

Ares was siletn for a long time, looking for the words to verbalize his feelings. "..Good. It's...I know now that my effort wasn't for waste. That the work I put in, WE put in, was worth it." He smiled, though it was bittersweet. "I feel I am closer to processing my parents' death than I have been able for a long while."

He glanced up at him. "I am grateful for you, Master."

[Jaric Kaedan]

"I know I've said it before, Ares, but I am not the one to thank. You owe it all to your own strength." He exhaled softly, nodding to Ares. "It is a difficult path to walk, the path of a Jedi. But we've seen these past weeks that you have what it takes - when faced with adversity, you persevered. When faced with an enemy, you offered them a hand first."

He managed a brief smile. "Not an easy choice to make in your situation, but you've proven to have the strength and discipline to be a jedi."

[Ares Pax]

"It means a lot, still, Master.You gave me guidance, strength without wisdom is a bane, not a boon." Wow, since when is he so wise?

"It is going to be a difficult path, but I will try still." He glanced back at his master, overcome by a sudden urge to hug him. He refrained though. "Where to next, Master?"

[Jaric Kaedan]

"First, to Coruscant." He paused thoughtfully. "I sometimes miss the war - I never wondered then where I would be. But there are still plenty of places where the Jedi are needed; even warriors like us."

[Ares Pax]

"I see Master." That threw him. Jaric usually knew what needed to happen. "I assume we'll continue with my training in Juyo. Will anything else change, Master?" Suddenly he felt elated, but afraid as well. It was all new to him.

[Jaric Kaedan]

"In some ways, yes. As a padawan, you have more freedom to act as you see fit - and I will trust you with responsibility as well. There will be times when we are not acting together, but it will be because sometimes I will be needed for something too dangerous for a Padawan - or because there will be tasks that you will be suited to accomplish on your own or with other Jedi," he explained calmly. "Being a Padawan is just a step closer to becoming a knight in your own right, Ares. It means you are someone the Jedi can trust and rely on."

"But yes, there will be more training. There is always more training."

[Ares Pax]

"In some ways, yes. As a padawan, you have more freedom to act as you see fit - and I will trust you with responsibility as well. There will be times when we are not acting together, but it will be because sometimes I will be needed for something too dangerous for a Padawan - or because there will be tasks that you will be suited to accomplish on your own or with other Jedi," he explained calmly. "Being a Padawan is just a step closer to becoming a knight in your own right, Ares. It means you are someone the Jedi can trust and rely on."

"But yes, there will be more training. There is always more training."

Ares nodded, and listened. "It's...it can be daunting. This freedom, this trust." He hesitated. "It is natural to be afraid of it, Master? For us, who dance on the edge of light and dark, this trust feels... it feels good, but can it be too good?" He was annoyed as he didn't find the right words. "I will follow my conscience and my instincts, I just hope not to disappoint you."

[Jaric Kaedan]

Jaric chuckled dryly. "I suppose it takes some time getting used to, the independence and responsibility. But such is the path of a padawan - as it prepares you to become a knight, where you'll be the ones calling the shots more."

"But don't be afraid, my padawan. Being afraid makes it easy to slip, and to doubt yourself."

[Ares Pax]

"Ha. That's something that will take some time to get used to." He smiled. "I will do my best master." He withdrew his saber, not igniting it yet. He held it up for Jaric to see. "I reforged my father's hilt. He... he preferred orange, if I remember right?"

[Jaric Kaedan]

"It takes some getting used to, yes, but that is often the point of training and being a padawan," he said with a nod, and looked over to Ares as he presented his saber.

"And what color is your crystal then, Ares?"

[Ares Pax]

"It takes some getting used to, yes, but that is often the point of training and being a padawan," he said with a nod, and looked over to Ares as he presented his saber.

"And what color is your crystal then, Ares?"

The saber ignited in a blue color. "I respect for my parents, but I need to be my own person. I cannot be them..their death robbed me of that chance. I need to make most of that, and find myself." He smiled with some irony. "That said, I would also like to reforge my mother's hilt, if I can." He glanced at him. "Try my hand at dual wielding."

[Jaric Kaedan]

Jaric nodded approvingly as he saw the blue blade and heard Ares' reasoning. "Very good. You're right. It's important to remember your family, and those important to you, but not to be burdened down by it."

"... And I think that sounds like a good idea."