A Bright Future

[Aodán Sidal]

Location: Theed, Naboo
Time: 10:26 GST
Participants: @Aodán Sidal , @Darius
​

It was still morning when Aodán's shuttle had touched down planet side on Naboo in the capital city's spaceport. The young man had been reviewing all throughout his flight just where he should go after touching down so as to not get swept up in the busy streets of the capital. His data pad was still in hand when Aodán disembarked from the shuttle, going over the plan one more time when the sound of the Virdugo Plunge drew his attention upward. Aodán had come from a very tropical world and though there were a great many natural wonders most of those were deep within the jungles. Sights like the plunge or indeed the very cliff side to which Theed rested on and the port was at the base of were sights he had never had the pleasure of witnessing himself. The young man was honestly swept up in the awe inspiring natural beauty that the Naboo had done so much to preserve and cultivate. To say he was moved was almost an understatement for how much the natural wonder of even this small portion of the planet affected him. "If I ever meet up with Forim again I am going to have to tell him he was right." The young man thought to himself as a final thought before his attentions shifted away from the falls. His eyes once more settled on the data pad to check his path once more. "Okay so I am to meet Master Xylona at the Royal Library." The young padawan spoke to himself after confirming the information on his data pad one last time. Filling his lungs the young man let out a sigh before moving on. Aodán was anxious, this much was true as this would be his first real step on the path to becoming a Jedi in more than just name. A prospect that the young man had been excited for from the day he met the knight Koyi Rha back on Cularin. He couldn't help but recall the Twi'lek Jedi as he made his way towards the cliff face and the tunnels within which would take him to the city proper. After all much like that fateful encounter this one might just manage to be the moment that eclipses it. Yes he had heard that Master Xylona was picky when it came to those she took on. But he also heard of her skill and knowledge of the force itself, focusing on the greater mysteries as he was hoping to do through time and training. As such he resolved himself to put his best foot forward and try to make a good impression with the Jedi Knight. Yes he was nervous, anxious even, but these were simply natural. Aodán had learned through his political schooling and to a lesser extent from the Tarasin that these feeling did not need to be a hindrance. He could use them instead of letting them use him. Yet as he took his first step into the tunnel leading city side with a couple other travelers from other shuttles he found himself wishing it was easier done than thought.

Theed itself was a bustling city full of live, beauty, and stunning architecture that could make anyone with a heart and eyes fall in love with it at first glance. Or so Aodán thought as he made his way out of the tunnels by the Royal palace. Which was a perfectly reasonable thought to have if the first sight you see after leaving tunnels inside a cliff is in fact the palace itself and the busy populace moving to and fro. The padawan would make a mental note that he should return here some day when not on something so official. Who knew, since it seemed that Master Xylona was here maybe she was partial to the city and the planet itself? If that was the case it might just be a regular place to visit in his future. Assuming of course that Aodán was actually able to manage becoming the Knight's padawan learner in the first place. "Alright..." The padawan began as he pulled the data pad out once more, "now if I am here, the Royal Library must be this way..." His voice was calm yet distant as he checked one more time to be positive. Assured in his direction Aodán joined in the crowds of those wandering the streets. Making relatively short time until he came upon the steps of the library proper. It was here he paused, his hazel colored eyes glancing up along the building while his nerves once again tried to impede him. Yet he had come so far from his home and his future was in front of him so close it was within his grasp. There was no way he could stop now. So with a final deep breath Aodán redied himself for whatever might come and ascended the steps into the library proper, and to the waiting knight within.

@Darius

 

[Darius]

The busy sights and sounds of the city of Theed had it time and uses, at the very least it was fun to watch the people go about their days giving little care to the world outside of their own, in a weird way it was comforting considering what was going on. Even the padawans seemed care free as they went about their daily studies, even stopping to cause some mischief if they had a chance. Adonia would not interfere either way she stood on the balcony of the Royal Library over looking the streets below reveling in the peace below. There was not much time for Adonia to laze about today she had been contacted by the Council and given word that she was to receive yet another prospect for a padawan, granted this word came with a firmer tone than usual as the council felt there was too much at stake to be picky at a time like this, Adonia respectfully disagreed now more than ever the right master had to placed with the right students. Currently Adonia planned to limit herself to two learners, she had already found one the eager Niish, and from what she had heard form the other knights about Aodán she hoped that he might be her second.

The first test for Aodán was too see if he had the maturity to be one time,a relatively small thing as in the life of a jedi and number of things could knock you off your way. Aodán passed the test well as Adonia found the face matching his profile making his way toward her. Adonia graceful waited as she watched the boy ascend the steps to her, At first the boy was tall yet thin for his age and height, he had a confident look about him but Adonia could sense his anxiety of the situation. "Aodán Sidal, Welcome to Naboo." Adonia said giving the young jedi a polite bow.
@Aodán Sidal

 

[Aodán Sidal]

The trip through the library proper was rather quick since Aodán was confident in the fact that those he was coming across weren't the knight he was sent to seek. Not to count that they did not match the photo he was given, none of the people in those halls of knowledge flet right to him. So it was up another flight of stairs and to the upper level where the stacks and rows of books weren't as clustered. There was certainly more room to work, to breath up here as it were. It was a small comfort even if Aodán didn't quite recognize it conciousness while moving from the stairs. It was here though that the young man really felt the strength of the knight. She wasn't trying to hide from him so as he reached out through the force it became quite easy to follow it's guidance to track her as the Tarasin had used it back home. This made his search far easier and the youth would come to the balcony where the master stood waiting.

The first thing Aodán had noticed of the Jedi were her eyes whose vibrant hues called to his attention and drew his gaze to her sapphire blue eyes. She was tall, but it almost fit into the image that he had of her when he was informed of the knight. He could tell by the very feel of her through the force that there was a weight to her that spoke to experience he couldn't begin to fathom. A calm smile that settled a reflect a little of the calming emotion he was beginning to feel as he accepted his anxiety to not let it hamper him. With a following bow the young man spoke in a respectful tone that came very easily to the young man. "Greetings Master Xylona, it is a pleasure to meet you." Aodán rose up and smiled a little more as he took a moment to look out to the scenery beyond the balcony and the beauty out there right before them. "Thank you, I haven't had a great deal of time on the planet. But it is stunningly beautiful in a way that is so very different from my homeworld. I am quite happy to have gotten a chance to see it as much as I am happy to be given the chance to meet with you."

 

[Darius]

The boy was polite, it was a bit more than simple jedi courtesies, perhaps Aodán came from a background as tough as her own, but it didn't matter in case it the gesture was greatly appreciated, it was something becoming less and less common in this current shade of the jedi order. "It does me well you meet you, i hope your trip here was not too dangerous, i know hoe unpredictable space travel can be this day and age." Adonia turned her attention to the the thousands of books around them, walking over to one of the bookcases she bushed the bridges of the books until she found the one she wanted. " There is much to be learned form this place, noobians have kept a very detailed account of the history of the galaxy since the fall of the republic so long ago, you can feel the pride on this land on the pages, and you can almost witness the horror."

"I am told you are seeking to be trained by me in the jedi arts, some of the other jedi who i take very seriously have spoken highly of you, wit that in mind I cant help but inquirer as to why it has taken you this long to to be screened by a knight, someone of your caliber should have been picked up well into you twelfth year, is their something I should know? Also i pose the same question to you as I do all my students, do you truly think you are ready, and if you are why should I train you. times are hard please understand I only wish to save myself from wasting your time, and you mine." In truth Adonia had already agreed to train the boy, she could feel that they would be a good match for each other, but her questions were for a different purpose, their only aim was to see into the mental state of Aodán.

 

[Aodán Sidal]

Aodán took a few steps forward and found himself quickly shaking his head in response to the Knight's question about troubles with his traveling. He hadn't really had much issue in his travels thus far, but he had also not traveled outside of Republic space. It afforded Aodán with a greater deal ease in moving about from the Jedi fleet. "Thank you for your concern Master Xylona, but my travel was fine. If anything it was almost uneventful, which I understand to be rather good in these tumultuous times." The padawan offered warmly enough before Adonia turned and made her way to one of the many shelves within the library. Aodán moving in stride with her but never getting in front of her as he was keen to observe the other woman almost as much as she was keen on observing him. Her voice once again sounding as she scoured through the shelf, looking for what Aodán correctly assumed to be a specific tome. The young man's mind working in two ways the moment he saw her pulling the book itself. The first was his natural inclination and curiosity at just what book Adonia had gathered from the shelf. The second was trying to process what she was saying to examine why she had picked the upper story as opposed to the lower. Or, more to the point, why the library beyond the knowledge and history it holds? Aodán was reasoning this out within his mind as the knight began to speak once more to him. Letting out a soft breath the young man let his thoughts fade for the time and refocus instead on the master he might come to learn from. "Yes, it speaks to their commitment to their history I think. To want to preserve their knowledge so that it can be shared and passed on for the future." The padawan's lips formed a light smile as his gaze lowered. "It is admirable I think. Especially to keep such histories and knowledge as free from blemishes as possible." He then added as Aodán's more informal tone hinted at that very mind which loved to learn and expand its own knowledge.

When Adonia spoke once more it seemed to be with a more formal tone now. Her own inquisitive nature seemed to match his own, or so Aodán thought as she began to probe for information about him. Interestingly enough Aodán was genuinely surprised to hear that he was spoken of so highly. It was not what he had expected, but any advantage or skill he had was through the force alone. His blade work was almost nonexistent even though he finally started training in Soresu not too long ago. The memory caught him for a moment and distracted his thoughts with a small amount of worry. Yet the moment he realized it was there Aodán let the feeling go and focused on the present. There was little he could do to help with the situation as it was anyway. Once more Aodán took a small breath to steady himself and then looked to the Adonia's eyes to make his reply. "The truth is Master Xylona that I was only recently discovered by the Order. I wasn't with the order since childhood but lived on Cularin with my family up until this year. Most of my training in the force was done with the native Tarasin in secret from my parents as they were unaware of my sensitivity. So my training has not been nearly as formal as most padawans and I can only assume that is why I haven't been chosen yet by a Master." The young man replied as honestly as he could based on what he knew. It was shortly after his reply that the knight began to field her second series of questions. The first one he answered without hesitation but with an inner confidence born out of tempered enthusiasm. "Yes, I believe that I am ready to begin a more formal training." Yet where Aodán's irst response was without hesitation his second one was more ponderous. "I believe that the force has guided me through my life. When I was young had not my parents decided for me to be a politician like my father I would never have met the Tarasin. Had I not met the Tarasin and learned to utilize and sense through the force as they do I could never have found Master Koyi Rha when she was on Cularin and using the force to hide herself. But I could feel, not so much her but the lack of where she was. Had I not met her I would not be here before you now and on a planet with a beauty so different yet just as wonderful as my home world. I have had a while to meditate on this while waiting to be taken as a formal padawan and so to finish my round about answer, I believe you should train me because we have been brought together through the will of the force to learn and grow from one another." Yes Aodán was certainly a politician's son and his education in how to speak and speak movingly subconsciously came to the fore as he gave his answer. It was more habit than practice though and Aodán's sincerity thankfully wasn't lost in the strength of his reply. Yet this also showed the wisdom of the young man; whose contemplative mind was actively seeking to understand something so much greater than himself. As well as to recognize his place in the grand scheme of things. Not as a master of the force but one who moves with it and lets it flow through him.

 

[Darius]

"You are your fathers son." Adonia commented with a smirk, "That silver tongue of yours will do you some good in the days to come, but understand no everyone will be sway be your eloquent speaking, some people like mine for example the Danteens know only strength, it will take wisdom to know the difference, I have gone into negotiations knowing full well it would end at the tip of my blade." Adonia wiped the hair form her brow and then began to make her way out from the same way her new padawan came, "I will train you as one of my personal student, walk with me, we have much to go over today and little time to do it."

"You will be one of two personal students of mine, I have agreed to train you both for starkly different reasons, you will one day train together but until that time I will keep you separate, bare in mind you are not in competition with each other, nor will I choose a favorite, and I will not tolerate any sparring or infighting of any sort, you will train your mind and body night and day, when the three of us go on missions you will listen to my instruction, and follow it to the letter. At all times you represent the order,myself and each other,and I will not stand any dishonor." Adonia led her new student out of the royal grounds and to a stone atrium, the was regularly frequented by all manner of jedi on the planet, it was a black yet regal place to train with little distractions. Adonia gracefully marched into the training circle, her experience emanating with every step, turning fully around she stopped and faced Aodán. "I assume you have knowledge of the first form yes? Show me." Adonia did not move for her saber she simply nodded her head politely, "Strike me, know before hand that the aim is not to humiliate, I want to see you fight in the form, to see what you are doing right, and what needs more work, do not worry about me I know what I am doing. if your at the level which i think you can build on the form yourself I will teach you another, begin when you are ready."

 

[Aodán Sidal]

Aodán could help but grin a little as Master Xylona commented on him being his father's son. It was both amusing and a point of pride for the young man, but more the latter than the former. The amusing aspect itself coming from the fact that it seemed to go to response when he spoke of his youth and demonstrated his skill. Though for the most part he took it to simply mean that his father and mother had taught him well. Which they most certainly did as the pair poured all they could into what they believed to be their son's future. As the Jedi knight continued though Aodán would be given a rather useful lesson to be sure. To some extent he understood that he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of everything. It was one of the beauties of being exposed to the Tarasin culture at such a young age. For it allowed Aodán to see a world different than his own and helped him to realize just because his culture did things one way it did not mean every other one was the same. But that little nugget of understanding was nothing without the wisdom to determine which would be the most effective tactic as Adonia was explaining to him. "It is a good thing to remember. I hope as I grow through experience that I might have the wisdom to see which is the best course in the end." The youth offered with a warm smile and a contemplative look that passed through his hazel eyes. He was certainly sincere in his statement, and he viewed it as something to reflect on. That was part of the reason he had gone to Tatooine awhile back. After learning that his knowledge was inadequate back on Corelia Aodán knew he would have to expose himself to more of what the galaxy had to offer him. To gain that knowledge to discern first hand instead of reading about it.

These idle thoughts lingered in Aodán's mind for but a few seconds until the knight began to move once more. Just as before Aodán was set to follow her where she may lead as he was unaware of her plans or where she intended to go. Yet while they walked Aodán would get the greatest news that he had been hoping for since arriving with the fleet, and that was Adonia's acceptance of him as her personal student. The news immediately filled him with a sense of joy and excitement that when combined chased the last vestiges of anxiety out of his thoughts. His eyes practically gleamed in his mirth, even if he kept his facial features rather calm. Yet above all else Aodán was attentive to what his new master was saying as she spoke of the other padawan and himself as well as the training he would undergo. To not meet his fellow student was fine with him for now as the young man assumed that Adonia had her reasons for keeping them separate. Aodán was quick to accept this and focus more on the training itself. He had gleaned from the comment about her people that it wasn't going to be the easiest thing. But that was exactly what the young padawan was hoping for. He knew he had his faults, and he hoped that through his master's training he would be able to improve upon them. To better himself and through himself the Order. "I understand Master Xylona." The young man replied when Adonia had finished speaking of the training and what was expected of him when the three of them went on missions together. It was after all only logical as she had the wealth of experience that Aodán so desperately lacked. Even if his youth might be a factor he was not proud or vain enough to think he would no better than someone with what he assumed was a depth of first hand experience like Master Xylona.

As they spoke they continued to move and ultimately ended up leaving the library behind for what appeared to Aodán as a training area. The busy streets of the city almost seemed a distant thing when put beside the stone atrium. They could still be heard but it was faint at best, almost like a distant white noise you simply forgot about after a time. "I assume you have knowledge of the first form yes?" Adonia spoke to which Aodán would give a nod and his own brief reply.

"Yes Master Xylona, it is the one form I have had the most practice in. With Soresu being briefly worked on with some of my fellow padawans." His reply was calm, just as his voice had been for the near entirety of his time with the knight. Yet what he said seemed to have been approved as she only gave her response to his with two simple yet effective words.

"Show me." Those two words rang out in Aodán's ears and the tone set the mood almost immediately. This was likely a means of appraising him, or so the padawan thought as he pulled the training saber he had with him free. Although he would eventually need his own actual lightsaber in the future, for the time being the dull yellow bladed training saber would be perfect for what Adonia intended. Igniting the blade Aodán would make a single flourish as he brought the saber up into both of his hands. The hilt resting close to his chest with the blade pointing straight up before him. His dominant foot shifting back in that same motion so he could enter the opening stance of Shii-cho. With one as studious as Aodán it was clear to see he had worked to memorize this basic starting point. For Shii-cho was known for its unpredictability and the tight guard made it hard to telegraph movement at first. Of course there were a few flaws to the stance as his legs were a little too rigid. This would take away from his initial starting power and should Adonia have come for him it would have been a mess on his footwork. But the guard on his upper body was tight, almost perfect for one who was self teaching the form through meticulous study.

When he advanced Aodán did so with the full intent to strike at his master. He was safe in the knowledge that at worst if he managed to land anything it would likely only leave a sting and burn. Which meant he could go all out without worry of harming his trainer. Granted the chance that he could actually harm Adonia was slim to none as she was far better trained than he was. But he allowed himself that sliver of arrogance if only to make his attacks bolder. Closing that distance Aodán used his momentum to help flourish his blade in the opening strike. His hands dropping low and swinging the dull yellow training saber in a low orbit which angled upward as it passed and ultimately bringing both his hands to bare that blade down at an angle in a strike on her let arm. Aiming at the third zone and using his own strength and his momentum to power the blow. If deflected or blocked he would immediately draw the blade back it a reverse orbit above his head to rain down a second strike on the right arm with a downward angled slash.

 

[Darius]

Adonia watched Aodán as he moved toward him, it was clearly not an outright charge but it was much to fast an approach that would be safe against any force user, at least not in the form he was using at the current time. Adonia moved out of the way in the first strike, not enough to make the boy stumble only to make him miss, as the strike passed by Adonia watched it down the separate muscle groups that controlled it. Aodán's upper arm controlled the saber well, that was where the power came from he strike, combined with his momentum it was very well done for someone so untrained Adonia could not find anything she outwardly had an issue with, his forearms however was a different story all together. Aodán was twisting his lower arm far to wildly to be considered the first form, this put him in an easy position to be countered with the right strike against him. "Good but down twist your lower arm so much, you make it easy for a person to knock you off balance, strike with force but as soon as you feel the connection pull back, unless your opponent is trying to take your ground." Adonia calmly spoke as she dodged her learners attacks, she watched and smiled as the boy powerfully slashed at her right arm, instead of dodging it totally she caught the blade in her hand and absorbed what little energy it was giving off,she then pushed off of the boy, and took two big steps back and to the right,this was her attempt to see if he was ambidextrous or if he had a weak side, something that could easily be fixed if present.


"Your doing well but we are not done here, I want you to work on disarming and less dismembering, your training to be a Jedi, if you can stop your attacker by taking a finger or and ear rather than a arm then you should take it. Your aim should never be to kill, that should be forced on you."

 

[Aodán Sidal]

Aodán watched as his first attack sailed helplessly by with the Jedi Knight quickly and effortlessly sliding out of the slash's path. It was something that might have come as a surprise to Aodán had he been more confident in his abilities as a duelist. But he knew he was far outmatched in this contest, more to the point that he didn't come from the warrior culture that his master came from. This brought a certain degree of humility into their sparring that kept Aodán somewhat grounded in the melee. At least enough that he could try to recover from the missed slash and go for his second attack upon her arm. But in this Adonia was spot on in noticing his forearms weren't being used properly and left him very open to countering. After all any training Aodán had in Shii-Cho was mostly self taught from reviewing the records with the Jedi fleet over and over again. So he hadn't yet developed the strong basis for the form that many of his peers that had been with the order since much younger ages had learned. But these were things to be corrected in time as now Aodán couldn't even begin to internally process such things about the "fight" beyond the fact that his arms felt off in some way. Thankfully Master Xylona was paying attention for him and offered the bit of advise that she had. It told Aodán exactly what he had done wrong, and gave insight into the initial off putting feeling he had about his strike. The sharp eyes of the young man seemed to flash with that beautiful 'ah ha' moment of clarity even as the young man's facial features remained focused on his master's movements.

Sadly Aodán's second slash really didn't fare that much better than his first although this was for a completely different reason. As instead of dodging the blade as before Adonia actually intercepted the blade in her hand and nullified the saber's low energy. To say he was surprised was a vast understatement as it clearly showed in both his eyes and the features of the young man that this was not an outcome he was expecting. To then be pushed away as his master moved to his right only added to his surprise and pushed Aodán to realize that at least for the moment he needed to slow and regather himself. If he were to attack in this state he would be falling into his master's rhythm even more than he already had and that would leave him playing on her strings until she decided to end it. No, he needed focus and gather himself to the next room so the young man shifted his breathing and began to move with his master in opposite way. Circling along side with his blade in his left hand for it was his dominant hand to utilize. Each step was one in which Aodán steeled himself, his master's words ringing in his mind and shaping a strategy to try and use. So that by the third step with his dominant foot as the plant he sprang forward and brought his right hand down to grip at the blade to give it more power. The low slash came quickly with the added momentum provided by his other hand but this one seemed a little more controlled than the first two. Not by much to be sure but it was enough to see by one as skilled as Adonia that Aodán was trying to put into practice the advise she had offered him. Changing up his attack to aim for her thigh instead of what could be considered a more fatal blow to a shallower disabling strike. His focus so set that one could almost see his mind plotting his next attack, almost as if he were anticipating his master to dodge as she had done before.

@Darius