The Fallen Star (Star Wars: The High Republic)

by Claudia Gray

But the same shielding that was so necessary for this moment was antithetical to the Jedi ideal of openness, awareness, connectedness. Wearing the suit caused a mental block only, but Elzar knew such blocks could be as impenetrable as any physical barrier. It’s not just the suit, Elzar thought. It’s believing that I deserve to fully connect to the Force again, after allowing myself to use its dark side. He’d begun reopening himself to that power in order to help Stellan, but this would require more. Orla Jareni’s voice spoke in his head again: Trust yourself, stupid. Elzar took a deep breath, strapped on his safety harness, and closed his eyes. In his mind, he once again stood on the surface of Ledalau, looking out at the broad expanse of the ocean. In his ears, he heard the tide. You always imagined the Force as the ocean, Orla had said. But the ocean isn’t a power we get to control. It’s a power we can partner with. First you have to decide: Are you going to keep fighting something too infinitely vast to be fought? Or are you going to study its currents and set sail?