"Why?"

"Your comfort is worth more than the inconvenience of relearning which door to come back to after meals."

She nods, slowly. "Thanks."

"Speaking of which, it's Cifanti chili night in the cafeteria."

"Haven't had that before!" She bounces a bit.

"Then let us go."

Off, to food! Anakin matches her walking speed to Elesse's, mostly, still looking around at everything.

As long as she doesn't get lost.

The chili is traditionally served over thick chunks of bread, and eaten as a sort of open-face sandwich. Elesse has two slices' worth.

Anakin has three, and peppers the meal with questions about the things she read while Elesse was talking to the Council.

Elesse has answers. She's quite well-versed in a variety of topics, it seems.

"How'd you become a Jedi?" she asks, eventually, having been mostly asking about Jedi history, and having already started making a few connections between the overviews and biographies she read.

"A Jedi is all I've ever been. I was brought into the Order at a very young age."

"Huh. How'd you become a Master, then?"

"Long years of practice and study. And I solved an ancient mystery or two."

She giggles. "Is everything practicing and studying?"

"If you look at life in the correct frame of mind, everything you do is practice for what will come in the future."

"What about doing things just 'cause it's now and they're here, though?"

"Then you're practicing improvisation and reaction."

"But what for? If everything's practice for the future, what's gonna be the final act?"

"If there is one, I have not yet encountered it. It's more about... continuous improvement. Always being better than you were. Quicker, wiser, stronger. For me, that is enough."

"Huh. That does sound nice... But I like having stuff that's fun 'cause it's fun, too."

"I can give you advice, but your path is ultimately your own."

"Definitely! Though I don't think learning about other paths hurts."

"In most cases, certainly."

"When would it hurt?"