Three weeks, for three long weeks Drakon had found the Jedi more than just accepting but willing to actually listen and help him. When he lashed out they were quick to stop him but not to punish him. Providing a structure that he was able to carry out throughout the day. It gave him time to process things and feel like he was doing something. Even if it was tending to gardens, or listening to Jedi lectures with other Jedi younglings. Both Sarah and Osan were there too. Sarah always talking and talking and talking, and the girl never shut up.
Not that Drakon had the mind to tell her to stop. Not at least after the first time he tried and Osan nearly attacked him for it. Or perhaps it was because of the fact Sarah nearly cried after he began to yell and something in him felt sorry. It took a whole day for him to find the courage to apologize. Which felt wrong.
A Sith apologizing to a Jedi youngling? His father would have beaten his behind till it bled but these Jedi actually encouraged and thanked him. As if a simple act of being mature and the reason was somehow an accomplishment for him.
It sickened him to think of how these Jedi thought so little of Sith manners. But even Drakon knew Sith's manners were all faked, so perhaps there was a reason for them to be encouraging.
When Drakon sat for the lectures of the galactic history he wanted to shout at the old Jedi Master for half the claims he was making. Sure the facts were correct or at least most of them but they seemed to critically challenge his understanding of the events. The supposed 'massacre of Mygeeto' was changed from a Sith lord crushing a rebellion to rebels trying to win back the freedom denied to them by the Sith.
"But the Sith ruled them. Of course, the Sith dictated their lives," Drakon had managed to respond, trying to make his heritage proud and not appear stuck up and unreasonable. His whole tutelage had taught him why these things happened and he imagined himself able to justify any of the Sith actions to this old fart of a Jedi Master.
The Jedi Master in question, with long gray whiskers and white fur, hunched over gave a toothy smile and seemed unsurprised by Drakon's questions. While the other Jedi younglings looked aghast at his statement, Drakon knew in his heart that the Sith had a right to rule by the fact of the power they wielded and by the providence of the Force. It was the correct state of things that was now gone thanks to the Jedi and the new galactic government calling itself the Republic.
"Yes, the Sith did occupy them. But of course, like all beings, they sought to be free from those who commanded their lives. Tell me by what right do the Sith have to dictate their lives?" The Jedi Master countered and Drakon felt himself growing more sure of himself. Did this Jedi think that it mattered what the conquered thought? Their rights were lost when they were defeated.
"When they lost to the Sith, the Sith had earned the right to dictate to them what they should do. It is the right of the stronger to command the lessers, it's how the galaxy functions properly!" Drakon said filled with the full confidence of an heir of a once-powerful Sith family.
"So then why did they lose?" The Jedi Master asked a question that Drakon found himself unable to properly answer.
Saying that the Jedi were stronger was wrong, or because the galaxy betrayed their true masters would imply that the Sith were the weak ones. Quietly and unable to answer Drakon sat back down, looking up to the Jedi Master.
"I-I don't know," Drakon answered honestly and felt the waves of warm reassurance from the Jedi Master in the Force and on his face.
Walking around the circle of younglings the Jedi Master seemed to look at each of his students. "So does anyone have an answer to my question?" The Jedi Master asked.
Many of the students gave the expected answers, "The Jedi fought back!", " The galaxy worked together!" "The good guys won!" but it was Osan that surprised Drakon.
"The loss of Sith leadership defeated them." A statement that Drakon knew was true. His father complained loudly that the Dark Council had been fractured and during the final years of the Hundred Years' War, the strategic attacks against the Dark Council left the Sith Empire unable to unite its forces against the numeric inferior Jedi.
In the end whatever the reason Drakon had no answer to the hard truth. The Sith Empire was dead, and the Jedi and their Republic puppets were what now ruled. When the younglings began to thin out, Osan and Sarah stayed back watching as Drakon quietly approached the Jedi Master.
"Yes?"
"C-can you tell me why the Sith lost?" Drakon asked desperate for an answer.
The Jedi Master was a tall being that towered over the young Sith boy, a white fur-covered hand reached out and began to mess with Drakon's hair. Drakon without much energy knocked the Jedi Master's hand away.
"The Sith Empire was ruled through marital might and fear, fragile things to build a civilization on. There was no loyalty to the foundation of the Empire only to the power it gave those within the top of its structure. In truth the Empire would have fallen eventually either because the Sith would tear each other apart for more personal power, the slaves they used raising up, or some other agents of the Force returning balance to the galaxy." The Jedi Master said kindly and with a gentleness that Drakon was thankful for.
The idea was sound, and the evidence was clearly in the Jedi Master's favor and Drakon without any means to rebutting the Jedi had to really think about what he thought was right.
Turning around Drakon saw Osan and Sarah waiting for him.
"T-thank you sir." Drakon said, refusing to thank the Jedi but rather the man who gave him something to think about.
Walking past the two Jedi younglings he didn't want to deal with any more highly tense emotional topics.
"I always love listening to Master Bay's lectures," Sarah said clearly trying to start some sort of conversation.
"Pretty sure I saw you napping through some of it." Osan countered, though not accusatory simply stating a fact.
"Hey!" She playfully shoved Osan and Drakon stopped turning to face the two younglings following him.
"You guys don't have to follow me all the time," Drakon said. The hallways were empty but for the three of them.
Drakon had gotten used to the fact that the number of Jedi in the temple wasn't as many as he initially thought. In fact, other than the old Jedi Masters that taught the younglings lessons there were barely any Jedi Knights here. It made the place feel a little empty and somehow sad. As if the temple itself wished to house more Jedi.
"You are a Sith's kid, facing a changing galaxy and realizing things aren't what you once imagined. It would be rude of us not to keep a close eye on you," Osan said, he never had lost that edge in his voice whenever he spoke to Drakon. And for some reason, Drakon found comfort in knowing that despite all the kindness he had seen from the Jedi there was at least someone willing to be confrontational with him.
Perhaps that was just how he wanted the Jedi to be. Upfront and rude, so he could continue to cling to those old feelings and thoughts he had of them. It was nearly impossible on some days for Drakon to find any truth in the old fears he had of them. Sure his father was killed because of the Jedi, but it was a fight, and even Drakon couldn't claim it wasn't a fair fight. Hell, even Drakon was able to accept the fact his father wasn't a perfect man. There was always a chance he would have been killed by another Sith or his apprentices trying to gain power. It was a fact of a Sith's life and now he realized maybe a fact he didn't want to live by.
"Hey Osan stop calling him that!" Sarah said, more steel in her voice than usual, and Drakon wished she would stop trying to be so kind.
"He isn't wrong. My father was a Sith. Like I was supposed to be," Drakon said, "I mean like I am," Drakon corrected himself looking away from a beaming Sarah and a somewhat dubious-looking Osan.
"Keep saying that to yourself, Sith spawn. Maybe one day you will actually believe it yourself." Osan said getting a solid punch in the shoulder from Sarah in response.
Drakon only smiled at Osan.
"And maybe one day you will actually be a Jedi," Drakon said teasing, and finding that Osan instead of getting angry only gave a small smirk back to him.
"The sparring chamber is opened and dinner won't be served for the next hour," Osan offered and Drakon for the first time in a long time gave a genuine smile.
"I think I need that thanks," Osan nodded then looked over to Sarah.
"You good for being the referee? I don't want to accidentally beat up our personal Sith too hard," Drakon calling the Force into a small wave of energy sent it into Osan's chest only pushing the teenager back a step.
"Don't think I'm going to be the one bruised up after the match," Drakon countered and the three went running straight to the sparring chamber, while Sarah the entire time attempted to stop the two boys from fighting.
------
OOC:
If you are still reading this I appreciate you. Let me know what you think about the story so far.
