[Day 2 - Late Afternoon] Centre of the Galaxy

[Esla Tor]

Esla folded her hands on her lap and looked off at some of those mentioned people on the streets. "Have you always been around people?"

[Byron Mik]

“I guess I was, I didn’t have much of a choice as a child… war took my parents and my sister and I lived with various… people to get by and then the Jedi took me in and there was always a gaggle of younglings about, so I have grown used to being around people,” he said calmly.

“What about you?”

[Esla Tor]

"I am sorry..." She mentioned at first on a cautious note as it wasn't her intention to break up old wounds or pry into anyone's unfortunate circumstances.

"I have always been around people," she said simply on the matter. "I served Lord Decken on Centa until I was found by the Jedi."

[Byron Mik]

Byron waved it away and said, "I appreciate it, but no need. I have let go of those attachments long ago, it is just the past now. How long have you been training for?"

[Esla Tor]

Esla looked down at her hands with a touch of disappointment as she bit her lower lip. "Not very long," she admitted on a vague note. Unlike most of the children here, she probably wasn't discovered as early as everyone else. "It's still so strange to think that I will be a Jedi one day."

[Byron Mik]

“I suppose it could be, but if that is what the Force demands of you then it will be so,” he said calmly.

[Esla Tor]

"Right," she murmured, feeling rather silly for thinking twice about her gifts. "Sorry..."

After a long beat, she brought up, "Where do you think you will go from here?"

[Byron Mik]

He chuckled and said, “Well I assume you mean after the Trials but if you mean right now, probably grab a few choice items before our trip offworld and then work on my friend’s speeder but if you mean the former, well that will depend on my Master’s demands of me. Where they need me that is where I will be.”

“It will probably be some time before I have much say on where I want to go, or what I want to do, which is fine. Guidance is important. Learning to lead means knowing how to follow.”

[Esla Tor]

"That's right..." She murmured with a tinge of embarrassment and a blush on her cheeks, assuming that they would be let loose onto the galaxy after they become Jedi. If nothing else, the Jedi were regimented in the things they did and had structure. Still, it felt like they might be thrown into the deep end soon.

"If you had a choice of where to go, what would you do?"

[Byron Mik]

"I would go where people need aid and defense," he said honestly.

"Plenty of places where that need is great; Nar Shaddaa, Bankor, Balmorra... even right here on Coruscant would work. Our work is never ending and there is always a person in need."

[Esla Tor]

Esla gave a small shake of her head, rather unfamiliar with the planets or systems that Byron listed out. "I'm sure we will be useful somewhere and that's a good thing. I guess we have to pass this test first before we can hope to do anything first. I just wonder I'll find myself, that's all."

[Byron Mik]

"You don't know yourself already?" he mused.

[Esla Tor]

"I do." She said at first while looking down. "I mean more of what I will be doing as a Jedi, that's all."

[Byron Mik]

"Well what do you want to do, what does being a Jedi mean to you," he asked with interest.

[Esla Tor]

Esla shook her head and glanced off without much certainty. "I just want to be useful...in a way, give thanks to the Jedi for taking me in and training me. I could do that at the very least. As for being a Jedi...I don't know. I'm still trying to figure that out. Keeping the peace, maybe?"

[Byron Mik]

“You don’t owe the Jedi anything, we took you in because it was the right thing to do. Keeping the Peace is a noble goal, one I strive for. I don’t like it when others try to take advantage of others through force or intimidation. The universe is filled with bullies who think strength makes right. They just need to have their eyes opened to the truth,” he replied warmly.

“By words hopefully or through our defense of those they choose to prey upon.”

[Esla Tor]

"No...I guess I don't," she murmured while looking at the table. There was no obligation owed to the Jedi, although she felt like she should be owing them something. Perhaps, she should make a note of that to herself in the future.

"The galaxy is filled with mean people," she agreed. "There are people who need protection, if not a better way of life."

[Byron Mik]

“Protection yes, but hopefully we can help them learn to defend themselves and build better inclusive communities based on compassion and service to a greater good,” he said with a smile.

“I guess I am an optimist in that regard.”

[Esla Tor]

She bobbed her head a few times in agreement, that sounded like a good idea. "I think that would be nice to have if that's something we could or are allowed to do. I would think that's what the Republic would want, right?"

[Byron Mik]

“I think they want that, but it depends on the day. I know it is what the Jedi order wants, and through our actions we can guide the Republic to reflect the ideals it was founded on,” he said with a smile.

“Or at least that is how I see it.”