WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance, Vol. 1 by Shima Shinya, Justina Ireland, Mizuki Sakakibara, Nezu Usugumo, Mayuko Hirao, Jimmy Presler, Justin Hoeger, and Fawn Lau, on sale now.
In Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance, Vol. 1, Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi aids in the resettlement of refugees from Nihil attacks. While the majority of the volume focuses on a Drengir attack, resettlement negotiations are the focus of bonus chapter “The Banchiians” by Shima Shinya, Mizuki Sakakibara and Nezu Usugumo. Before the manga begins, the Jedi have not yet met Banchii's inhabitants, in “The Banchiians,” Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi, accompanied by her Padawan Keerin and the Younglings Nima and Viv’nia, encounters them for the first time. The encounter reveals how the Jedi negotiate with potential allies and showcases Lily Tora-Asi's strengths as a Jedi.
“The Banchiians” takes place before the events of the main volume, and the bonus chapter begins with Lily exploring the area surrounding the settlement on Banchii with the younger Jedi. Viv'nia notes a cave entrance that looks like it was purposefully created, and Lily praises her strong observational skills. Lily also notes Viv'nia's new headdress, a gift crafted by Nima, and takes the time to teach the Younglings that their bond means that they'll never fight alone -- an important lesson for later on.
When Keerin praises Lily's skill in helping the Younglings, she brushes it off, seeing guiding them as just a small part of the job. However, it's Lily's ability to recognize their talents and nurture their growth that ultimately leads to the success of the negotiations. In the cave, Nima accidentally falls into a trap, and Viv'nia is pelted by tiny, toothpick-sized arrows. Then, the Banchiians reveal themselves to the Jedi for the first time. The Banchiians are small, birdlike and suspicious of the new settlers. They're adorable, and also perfectly willing to defend themselves from the perceived threat of the Jedi. Keerin and Viv'nia draw their lightsabers, but Lily sees that the situation need not escalate to violence.
Lily uses the Force to calm the Banchiians and help them realize that the Jedi and the Settlers mean them no harm. Lily realizes that the Banchiians are behind the disappearance of various objects around the settlement, as their culture does not have a concept of private ownership. After freeing Nima from the trap, Lily has Nima use her artistic talents to communicate with the Banchiians through her drawings. She also sets up a specific area of the settlement for the settlers to leave any goods that they are happy to share with the Banchiians. While this meeting is only the first step in setting up diplomatic relations between the Jedi settlement and the Banchiians, Lily's actions emphasize the Jedi's priorities for peaceful cohabitation and respect for the Banchiians' culture.
“The Banchiians” is particularly interesting in regards to Lily’s characterization. In the main volume, Lily constantly questions herself and her abilities. While she claims that she does not doubt herself, she also isn't sure she could face a potential disaster situation without breaking. Throughout the volume, her former Jedi Master Arkoff encourages Lily to gain "a new perspective" through her interactions with the young Jedi and the settlers. Although Lily understands Arkoff's concerns about her inflexibility, she states, "I feel like if I let my principles go too easily, then what would I stand for? If things get tougher, I worry that I would have nothing to hold on to." Thus, while Lily seems rigid, she draws strength from her convictions as well, but she is still unsure that she could adapt to the new challenges that the Nihil attacks bring on her own.
Lily proves her own concerns wrong when dealing with the Drengir. After realizing that the Drengir multiply when damaged, she quickly formulates a plan to incinerate the Drengir invaders using the combined efforts of the Jedi on Banchii. In doing so, she uses the same skills that made the Banchiian negotiations a success: her insight and keen sense of how best to work with her fellow Jedi's talents. While peaceful coexistence with the Drengir is currently impossible, she quickly and decisively uses her abilities to protect the settlement and Banchii as a whole from the Drengir's attempted invasion.
Although "The Banchiians" is a quieter story, it still holds an important place in the overarching story of the Star Wars: The High Republic subseries. The bonus chapter shows the Jedi at their best, working with the various different people and cultures they encounter to live in harmony. The chapter also serves as an important character study for Lily and showcases the strengths that she will need to draw upon as the Nihil set their sights on Banchii and the people that Lily has sworn to protect.
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