From a young age, Jerrik knew he was different.

Force-Sensitivity was fairly common among the Devaronians, but it was usually only the females of their race that undertook the rather banal training of the Jedi Order as Devaronian males were reputed to be unable to stay still, craving a life of adventure with a wanderlust that refused to quit. That same wish for adventure still ran hot in Jerrik's black blood, but when the Jedi came from the Temple of Eedit on Devaron to check for potential candidates, their eyes widened when they examined Jerrik's talent. They immediately sent him to the main Jedi Temple on Coruscant away from the war in order to give him more specialized tutelage.

The young Devaronian's gift with the Force was something that was seen rarely in a generation of Younglings. Every time he was put into training, he exceeded the expectations of his teachers. Nowhere was this displayed more prominently than in the subject of lightsaber combat. Before the instructors had taught the students to link their senses to the Force to aid their combat forms, Jerrik was already flowing through the forms with the grace of water's fluidity. Eventually, he outpaced the other Younglings enough that he was put on the fast track to begin learning the basics of Jar'Kai alongside Serra Keto who he viewed as something of an older sister. It was thought that the young Devaronian would end up becoming one of the most prominent Battlemasters of the Jedi Order.

With each of the achievements and words of praise he received, Jerrik's pride grew. He still had his wanderlust and craved adventure, but being appreciated constantly like this was enough to feed his ego and keep him yearning to learn more. The one who kept him grounded was the Master Cin Drallig, the Battlemaster of the Jedi Order who took to training the young Devaronian in combat arts due to the potential he displayed. Master Drallig taught him humility in the way only a Jedi Battlemaster could--by defeating him soundly time and time again. This only served to blunt Jerrik's ego, but it did not extinguish its fire. The two eventually maintained a friendly relationship of teacher and student. While behind them in the path of his studies, Jerrik took lessons alongside Serra Keto, Bene, and Whie Malreaux; all while learning some of the finer points of Jar'Kai from Serra when Master Drallig was not available due to his duties.

All was not to last.

When Operation: Knightfall occurred, Jerrik had been training alongside Serra Kato as the two usually did. Amidst the clash of training sabers, Serra's brow furrowed as she sensed the approach of Anakin Skywalker. As the two began to fight, the devaronian ran to inform Master Drellig of what was occurring. The ripple of Serra's passing caused all of them to stagger at the loss they all felt, and Master Drellig went along with Bene and Whie to confront the Sith Lord. However, in his wisdom, Master Drellig told Jerrik to stay back and out of sight when the fight started. What ensued was the slaughter of his mentor and the two Padawan he considered like siblings. As Vader crushed Cin Drellig's lightsaber and threw it to the ground, the crystal within it bounced and rolled along the floor toward where the Devaronian had hidden himself. With shaking hands, he scooped up the memento of his teacher and fled as fast as he could before the Sith Lord came for him as well.

It was that event that taught him that what one thought of their own talent was meaningless. Everything could crumble in an instant like a sandcastle raised in an ocean.

When the other Younglings in the group fled to board the ship to escape, Jerrik was the one who defended them against the few clone troopers who made it that far. With two training sabers in hand, he buried his emotions at having seen the people closest to him slaughtered like sheep and became who the Younglings needed him to be at that point in time. Eventually, one broke. Then did the other just before they had to leave.

The events changed the young Devaronian. Gone was the happy-go-lucky wanderlust. There was more to being a Jedi than just talent and achievements and he had seen it firsthand in the most jarring way possible. He became an older brother to the group alongside Shol Vu, the two of them trying to do their best for the rest of the Younglings.