Private Necessary Steps Towards Light

[Everest Vale]

It took a while for her words to settle and process in Eve's mind. Become Grandmaster Valery Noble's Padawan? Her actual direct apprentice? The thought of it swam about her mind as she considered what that actually meant.

She would probably be under a lot of scrutiny as the student of the head of the whole Order. It would be a lot of pressure, and that's aside from how hard the work would be under her tutelage. Was she even worthy to take up such a mantle? Could she even handle it? Grandmaster Valery Noble's Padawan...

But no. She was worthy. Master Noble herself had made her keenly aware of this today. And why else would she offer her this huge opportunity if she didn't in fact believe in her, that she was worthy, and that she could handle it?

She looked again to Valery. Sitting so close, she could see the vivid details of her face. The scars across her eye that spoke of past experience and resolve, the blazing bright eyes that had seen so much of the galaxy. Those deep, orange eyes saw Eve for who she was, without any trappings, without any pretence. They looked at her with earnest respect, care and strength. And Eve was suddenly so sure — more sure than she had ever been of anything in all of her life — that she, too, wanted the capacity to give that to others. She knew in that moment that she would do everything she could in her power to do her proud.

"Okay," she said with a simple confidence that was unlike anything she had shown before. "Yes." A smile came to her, warm and gentle like Valery's had been, that came so naturally to her that she could feel it transforming herself from within.

"Master, I accept."

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

For a moment, Valery just looked at her.

She took in the way Everest's shoulders had settled, the way her expression no longer wavered between hesitation and doubt, but instead, held something firm. Something certain. This wasn't just a simple decision — this was a choice. A choice Everest had made with her whole heart, with every piece of her that had fought to believe she was worthy of it.

And she was.

Valery's smile softened, warmth radiating from the expression, but there was something deeper behind it—pride. She was proud of Everest already, not just for saying yes, but for becoming the kind of person who could. The kind of person who looked at the unknown, at the challenge, at the weight of what this would mean, and did not turn away.

"Master, I accept."

A small breath left Valery's lips — part exhale, part quiet laughter, the kind that came from genuine, honest happiness. And then, without hesitation, she reached forward and pulled Everest into a brief but firm embrace. Not just as a mentor, not just as a teacher, but as someone who had chosen her, too.

"Good," Valery murmured, her voice low, her warmth bleeding through every word. When she pulled back, her fiery gaze met Everest's, steady and strong. "Then we begin. And I promise you—"

Her smirk returned, playful but unwavering in its conviction.

"You're going to be an amazing Jedi." Because she believed it. Because Everest believed it now, too. Because from this moment forward, she wasn't alone.

She had her Master.

Everest Vale ​