An Immortal's Guidance.

[Samara]

The apprentice took a few more seconds to catch his breath before obeying, and finally sitted down in front of the Neti, still breathing fast. He listened to her words as his heart slowed down little by little, and linked his arms above his own legs for own comfort. He seriously doubted he could run rings around athletes, not anytime soon anyways.

He closed his eyes following Taa'Sho's instructions, trying to remove anything material from his mind without complaining about it. Yet, he soon encountered a dilemma within it: The things that strengthened his resolve were material things. He thought of computers, about nets, about droids and mechanics, repairing, making, creating things. Things that lasted forever.

Almost inmediatly after that, his left arm came into mind. It was the only thing in its body that could be considered strong. He was the one who made it, piece by piece manufacturing every single little detail into creating art. Perhaps he could be as strong as that, after all, perhaps not... His mind wasn't clear, but it sure was relaxing to immerse in a world where he felt as strong as a deity and there were no limits to what he could do, far away from the flaws of his physical body or his appearance. He felt as if nothing could harm him or reach him then, he was a different person when he was in contact with the things he was gifted at, sure of himself and confident.

Not aware of how much time it had passed since he began that strange kind of concentration, or introspection, Anner finally stood up with a calm expression, or at least, a confident one after taking his time, and with a sigh he looked at the living obstacle course again. After a brief look to it, he began to run through it again, trying to use the things that strengthened his resolve to empower him in order to move faster and faster that he felt he could.

Just as before he felt there was no limits to what he could do, remembering it, he tried to imbue himself with all that things and pulled his tired body forward with effort. Unbeknown to him, he began to move faster as the world sorrounding him became slow, but it did so only a slight bit, althought it was still outside of the reach of his natural feats. Not many seconds passed after that until he finished the track again, without stumbling this time, and then he repeated the same ritual by stopping and leaning foward while regaining his breath with effort.

 

[Denzein]

The Neti smiled as her padawan improved; beating the first time by a full minute the first time, and the second run improved yet again. Tahnis was a quick learner, it seemed. He would need to be, if he was to succeed.

"Good, you have improved vastly. You now have a choice; attempt this once more and achieve the targe I have set for you, or procede with the next task. Choose wisely padawan, I will not forget your decision."

She wondered briefly if Anner would notice her little tests. She hoped he did, eventually. That way she could stop them and attempt to get to know him better. Of course, there was the chance that he would lose all trust in her, but that was a risk she was prepared to take.

 

[Samara]

Anner sat again on the floor, this time taking longer to recover after the last lap. For some reason now he was even more tired than usual, if that was even possible somehow. After several seconds of resting his body, he finally looked up to the eyes of the Neti, resting his bodyweight on his elbows leaning back.- I think it would be better if we finish this first, no? I mean, whats the purpose of starting another thing if i can't even do this right -he asked without comprehending it was a test, his voice seemed as tired as his body now.

 

[Denzein]

Taa'Sho smiled, her apprentice showed patience. Anner had passed the first of many trials, and Taa'Sho would reward. There was a reason she had taken him on, and she was pleased that her predictions were correct. If he kept this up she knew that Tahnis would make a fine Shade Knight. She smiled at him, opening her arms slightly.

"You have passed, there is no need to continue. I wanted to test your willingness to improve and your determination, and you have much of both. This is good."

She turned her back on himnot about to relent in his physical testing. She idly tossed a lightsaber to his feet, igniting her own blade and bathing the place in emerald green light. By normal standards the blade of her saber was immensly long, built for her height as opposed to a usual one. It was an intimidating weapon to face, wielded by an intimdating warrior. She turned back to face him, four of her paces but around eight of his away from Tahnis. Taa'Sho assumed her ready stance.

"Defend yourself for your next test. Both of our blades are full power, one slip from me or one moment of genius from you and either of us could be killed. Do not hold back, my young padawan."

(OOC: Hey look, I posted)

 

[Samara]

The hilt of the blade fell to the ground as a tired Anner couldn't manage to react in time, and failed to catch it. Even after a few seconds the hilt remained in the floor as he was still regaining his breath- Can we rest a moment before? -he requested, utterly tired, while rising his head enough to look at Taa'Sho. The fact that he was supposed to wave a lethal weapon around did not motivate him either, that was so dangerous in ways he couldn't even describe.

 

[Denzein]

A brief flash of annoyance crossed the Neti's features before they softened once more. He was young, unfit. She shouldn't punish him for that by forcing him to potentially kill himself for that, at least not yet. She believed in the power of experience, and to her a training saber did not provide that, to her the only learning that could be done with a blade was with a real one. It was how her first master in the Jedi had taught her, after all...

"We may. Catch your breath, Anner, we will begin when you are ready. Be sure you are before you say though, the exercise we are about to undertake will drain you quickly, and I don't want you to lop off your own arm."

She stood, awaiting her padawan's word to continue with her head bowed slightly, out of the sun. She hoped she wasn't coming across as too intense...

 

[Samara]

Alright -was all he said, the latter half merged with an exhalation before he fell back, resting against the floor and catching his breath. He never thought they would make him run around in an obstacle course, or go into the jungle to see if he got eaten or not. A few minutes passed by until his body cooled down and he felt better once again, but yet, he wasn't really sure about the lethal weapon practice part- How could I lop off my own arm? -he asked, concerned, as he was starting to stand on his legs again.

 

[Denzein]

The Neti smiled at her charge, encouraging his curiosity. He knew the weapon before him wasn't safe, and that would spark the sense of self-preservation that an adept of the force required if they weren't to die young fighting for ideals that had been drilled into them by their politicking elders. Taa'Sho had seen it so many times in the Jedi.... She just hoped she was doing her best to avert it with the Shade.

Number one came first. You don't serve any cause if you're dead.

"If I am not focussed and careful enough with my attacks, or do not watch you and guide you closely enough, you may be injured by this exercise. I do not intend to let that happen, you'll be fine. I'm just warning you, incase you manage to surprise me..."

She continued waiting with her arms by her sides and her head bowed. She waited for so many things in her life... What was one padawan's rest?

 

[Samara]

Anner's face looked preoccupied almost to the point of paranoia, hell, that was not the way to gain confidence- ... -He didn't say anything as he leaned and picked up the saber, carefully with his right arm. If he was going to lose any limb, it rather be the one he already had lost, but it was still too much.

He held the lightsaber the farthest away from his body possible, like if he was holding some sort of a dangerous bomb in his hand.- Are you sure this is okay? Shouldn't we use wooden ones or... I don't know, something that ensures we'll both get out of this with all our limbs still attached to our bodies? -Said while inspecting the weapon- How do i... Turn it on? -said then.

 

[Denzein]

"You will use the weapon I have given you, Anner, or surrender the instant we begin. The big red switch is the on button, put crudely, kindly do not have the hollow end facing your body as you activate it..."

She activated her own abnormally long blade with the familiar snap-hiss of scorched ozone. Her feet naturally assumed her ready position, shoulder width apart with her weight slightly more forward than the norm. She intended to attack, and was displaying this more openly than she usually would. She wanted Anner to be able to read her body language and understand what she was about to do.

"When you are ready, Padawan."

 

[Samara]

He wasn't sure about it, and if things ever seemed to be out of control the first thing he was going to do was surrender, enough with knowing he could kill Taa'sho on a mistake. After hearing the instructions, he took two steps moving back and pressed the button with the hollow end facing towards Taa'sho.

Anner held the saber with only one hand, close to the hip, and slighty leaned foward, like if he was about to crouch. For some reason being the smallest possible and being ready to jump to a side seemed the smartest thing to do for him.