When one treasures every day like a jewel and treats every opportunity as a divine gift, the true meaning of life begins to unfurl. To live with the grace of a princess and the kindness of a saint—that is the most wondrous feeling of all. But in the kingdom of mystery, wonder was about to meet chaos.

The heavy doors of the Academy cafeteria swung open, and a pirate stumbled in. He was a man who had weathered the storms of a thousand realms seeking his lost daughter, but today, he was navigating a different kind of storm: one made of self-pity and cheap rum.

In the middle of the Autumn-side wing, where Anakin Skywalker stayed with his two Padawans, the pirate clambered onto the stage. He seized the microphone with a trembling hand. Despite being soaked in spirits, his voice rang out with unexpected, haunting clarity.

“It’s all about honor, folks,” he declared, swaying on his feet. “And this pirate right here… owns a hoard of it.”

Suddenly, the strength left his legs. He collapsed into a heap as his crewmates roared with laughter. “Yo-ho!” he toasted from the floor, a weak salute toward the ceiling. “Captain Youthful… out.” As he drifted into a drunken slumber, his mates dragged him dragging him away like a sack of grain.

At a nearby table, Zilla sat in a simmering rage. Her knuckles were white as she gripped a heavy spell-book, her wand resting uselessly across her knees. Her attempt to duplicate Anakin had failed—not just faltered, but sparked into nothingness.

“It is because your wand rejected you,” a cold voice hissed.

Zilla jumped as Abigail appeared in the opposite seat, her eyes narrowed. “The wand is alive, Zilla. It has a soul just as you do, and it refused to be a part of your deceit.”

Zilla’s eyes flashed with impatience. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I wasted my time?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t listen,” Abigail replied through gritted teeth.

Zilla began flipping through the ancient parchment pages with a frantic energy. “Maybe a potion, then. Something slipped into his tea…”

Abigail shook her head slowly. “Rule number one: Never use magic for personal gain. Rule number two: Learn the law—read the book twice before you act.”

Zilla let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “I don’t need rules! I follow my heart!”

“Your rebellious little…” Abigail stopped mid-sentence, her gaze darting toward the entrance. She saw the familiar silhouettes of Anakin and Ahsoka. “Quick! Hide the wand! Your family is here.”

“How precious,” Zilla sneered, trying to mask her nerves with a villainous tone that sounded almost theatrical. “How very precious indeed.” She slid the wand into her sleeve just as Abigail vanished into thin air.

Anakin and Ahsoka approached, the air of a hard day’s training still hanging about them.

“So,” Zilla said, slamming her book shut. “I assume you’re finished with your little training stunt?”

“Yup,” Ahsoka sighed, taking a seat. Her sharp eyes immediately dropped to the floor where Zilla was clutching the tome. “What’s that you’ve got there?”

“Oh… nothing!” Zilla forced a chuckle, shoving the book under the table.

Anakin’s expression darkened. The relaxed warmth of a brother was replaced by the intensity of a Jedi. “You’re keeping something from us, Zilla. Tell us. Now. Family doesn’t have secrets.”

Zilla stood up abruptly, the chair screeching against the stone floor. “Tell you? After you pushed me away?” Her face contorted into a wicked grin, her voice turning ice-cold. “No. I’ll never tell you anything again.”

She turned on her heel and vanished into the shadows of the hallway, the book tucked tight against her chest.

Anakin and Ahsoka exchanged a look of pure shock. The air in the cafeteria felt suddenly heavy.

“Something is happening to her,” Anakin whispered, his voice low and dangerous. “And whatever it is, I’m going to find out.”

“Someone—or something—is feeding her lies,” Ahsoka added, her voice trembling. “She isn’t the sister we knew.”

Anakin’s hand hit the table with a resounding thud. “We’re going to find who is behind this, and we’re going to make them pay. We have the most powerful magic of all on our side… and we will succeed.”