A Healer's Touch

[Nikka Toren]

Ifrane
Jedi Praxeum
15:32
Courtyard
​

Ifrane.

The last time she had been there, it had been a time for questions, and a time for answers. She was still adjusting then, to a life devoted to knowledge. A far cry from the mechanic picked up on Bothawui; she had been impulsive, twitchy, and full of fear. On this lively planet, she felt peaceful, balanced. And yet... the Force tremored. There were battles won and lost across the galaxy, and she felt most keenly that mourning would come, as well as celebration. There was much to prepare for...

But first.

She had heard a whisper. Someone sought knowledge she herself had struggled for; some of it in a fashion that was nothing like the Jedi of old. Someone perhaps needed what few words of wisdom she had to give.. and perhaps, she would have a Padawan of her own to take under her wing. It had been long enough that she traveled the galaxy alone; it was time for her to pass on the wisdom her Master had taught to her.

So she sat in the midst of the lush courtyard; she would wait as long as it took for that whisper to become a voice. But until they arrived, she was content to be still, and listen to the breeze stirring in the foliage, much like her thoughts and musings.

It wouldn't be long now.

@Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Ashlyna had wished for the umpteenth time that Ayasha was still here, that she could ask for her wisdom on what she was trying to do. Sadly, that wasn't going to happen. Her dear friend @Tycho Draykon had several injuries that had never successfully closed, and he was too damn stubborn to sit in med bay for them to recover. Given all that he had done for her, she'd thought she'd return the favor by fixing his lingering pains. Unfortunately, she didn't even know where to look. The few texts she had didn't clarify on how healing worked, and she doubted there was anyone that was willing to teach her how. Her thoughts were like a raging storm, full of ups, downs, and crushing realizations. She just wanted to help her friend, and by in large be able to help others in kind. But it didn't seem meant to be. She had thought going on a walk would help clear her mind, help her discover some hidden knowledge like she kept being told in her books. If anything the walk was only making it worse, as she began to understand just how inferior she was as a jedi. She couldn't keep her mind at ease, it was always racing, always bouncing off the walls. She hardly could think clearly as she fought between being at peace and out of her mind. How the hell do you even start with quieting your mind? Yea, meditation did wonders, but when you were out in about? It seemed almost impossible. Then the thought crossed her mind as she entered the courtyard, that perhaps meditation would help ease the tensions she was feeling currently; it had worked before, right? Seeing that there was another jedi within the courtyard, Ashlyna found a nice patch of grass not too far from the jedi and attempted to calm her mind. Maybe she'd have better luck this time; she could only hope so.

@Nikka Toren

 

[Nikka Toren]

So many emotions stormed through. It caught her off guard from her usual calm; if she had eyes, she would have cracked them open to view this new presence. Instead, she let her Sight take in this new humanoid, and gave a warm smile, standing up to stretch. It hadn't been long at all; indeed, only a scant fifteen minutes had passed.

"What troubles you?" came the light query, settling back down. Such a whirlwind; is this how her Master felt when she first arrived in his care? No wonder she was called the difficult one...

Her face tilted towards the source of the calamity, thoughtfulness ticking at the corner of her lips. "Not many come here to enjoy the scenery... it's a shame, I'm told it's very beautiful here." A wry note of amusement and wistfulness followed her voice; absentmindedly, her hand alighted over her veil, and she chuckled.

The Force truly did work in mysterious ways. Perhaps this was the one she was meant to meet; in either case, she would either wait for the other woman's response, or keep talking. In either case, meditation was no longer an option within the previously abandoned courtyard. @Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Ashlyna gave up on meditation, her mind was just too hectic right now to focus. Another voice caught her interest however, as the padawan opened hers and saw the other jedi had been speaking to her. There were alot of things troubling Ashlyna frankly, though she didn't want to trouble the stranger with all the struggles of her life, so she only shared the biggest one in her head at the moment.
"I'm looking to help my friend. You see, he's with the Alliance and one of their operatives...but well, he ends up getting hurt all the time. I sat with him once, and I felt all of his wounds. There were so many that haven't healed, that he must be in constant pain and discomfort." Ashlyna sighed, knowing she was getting worked up now. Great. "Anyways, I was hoping to learn healing, but none of my texts show me how to do this." She sat up and looked up at the sky, running her hands up and through her locks of hair. "I'm not sure what to do about it." She muttered, before continuing the conversation. She was already feeling better by venting to this stranger, and if nothing she rather wanted these thoughts to be off her mind for the moment. She looked around the environment before her, forming her own thoughts about the world before speaking. "It's not a bad place. Honestly, I'm just glad it's not a desert. I mean, it is, but not like Tattooine levels of desert. Really sick of sand to be honest, always finds it's way into my flight boots." She commented, studying the jedi before her now. "My name is Ashlyna by the way, I'm...a padawan I suppose." She said, not entirely sure what she had been reinstated as when she returned to the order.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She nodded patiently, listening, and felt a pang of compassion. Not too long ago, she had been much the same... but equally lost, unsure of her footing. Even now, there were moments of questioning her position in the galaxy at large... but for all thoughts involved, it was in the past. Too late for regrets... and there was so much left to do.

But listening, she gave a comforting smile. Yes... she knew those troubles all too well. Memories of Castor and his pain floated to the surface... like before, she felt a pang of pain thinking about him. He was like a brother to her... she wished she could have said something before he had disappeared. But there was little else she could do about that.

She dipped her head, taking a slow breath. "You don't like to feel helpless to those you care for..." she mused. She slowly lifted her face once more, a hand tucked under her chin. "Of all the places in the galaxy, you meet the one person here who can help you." Her lips ticked into a full-fledged grin, as she offered a half-bow. "Well met, Ashlyna. I am Nikka Toren... Healer."

She chuckled again, then slowly, almost reluctantly stood once more. Perhaps this fem was one of action; she could appreciate that more than most, never content to stay in one corner of the galaxy, but always following the Flow. And it led her here... to the very type of person that would not only help her find clarity in her position, but also balance the Force. Right now, it seemed, she was impatient, impulsive and in need of guidance. It was going to be very interesting for her, indeed.

She nodded to the comment of sand, her grin turning sheepish. Oh, she was all too aware...

"So... you suppose you're a Padawan." Her arms lightly crossed, brows raised slightly. "Do you not have a Master to guide you, miss Ashlyna? If so... I'll be willing to guide you in what you need to know. The Force works in mysterious ways, after all."

Before, she had not been willing to have a student hanging onto her heels. Too risky, especially with things as fragile as they were, both within the Order and the ties of the Force.. but now, it seemed, was the time to give up such misgivings. Perhaps it was time to simply become another teaching voice in the Order.
@Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

As Nikka spoke, Ashylna listened to her words. She most certainly didn't like to feel helpless to help her friend; though, spending years as a slave might have that affect on someone. Her spirits seem to soar when she learned that Nikka was a healer, indeed it seemed like the Force had an odd way of bringing people together. When the woman asked about having a master, Ashlyna frowned and shook her head. She had a master at one point, but she was quite certain that Ayasha wasn't coming back; though, she couldn't fathom as to the fate of her master. "My master never returned from a mission, I'm told she was lost in the core worlds, so I've been by myself since then." She admitted, though the situation was upsetting to her, she had accepted the fact that Ayasha wasn't coming back. Hearing that Nikka was offering herself as a master, Ashlyna smiled, nodding her head. It seemed she no longer needed to fret about being masterless. "I would be honored if you would accept me as a student." She stated, though she was curious if Nikka knew of her former status as an exiled padawan. Ashlyna's smiled disappeared however, as her expression took on one of uncertainty. "But...before you do, you should know I was exiled before this. My master, she was part of a faction that tried to preserve the order and split off to form her own. I went with her when this happened, and I was only recently allowed back." If Nikka was going to take her on, then Ashlyna wanted the woman to know that there might be problems with taking her as a student, and if that changed her thoughts, than so be it; Ashlyna would always chose friends over an establishment she hardly knew.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

...Ah.

At first, the Miraluka was silent. She seemed to be contemplating the words, tilting her head slightly until Ashlyna was silent. For a few beats, there was nothing but the rustling of plants and the soft-moving breeze. When she did speak, her voice was careful, light.

"I see... I'm sorry to know it." And it was sincere, she had never met most of those within the split-off she had never really met. At least, not person-to-person as it was now. And most of them, it seemed, were not easy with bridging this divide.

So much had happened between the tribunal of Master Rayth and now... there were still many divides they had to gap, not just for the Alliance's sake, but for the sake of the fledgling Order. She grinned wide then, hearing the woman accept, and gave out a ringing laugh that startled some of the local small variety of avians. "Excellent! And I would heartily accept... the past is the past. We are both of the same Order. And I accept you as my student."

She tilted her head, as if to survey the younger woman in a way that she could without eyes, then took a step closer. "You must realize... healing is not simply applying the Force to wounds. It is understanding how it flows through all of us, sensitive or not. It's not an easy skill to learn... and unfortunately, not many of us are willing to learn it," she commented, the wry note creeping into her tone. "Would you still be willing to, even if it's a difficult road to understand?" @Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

For a moment, Ashlyna was nervous as the night stared at her; or was she staring into her soul maybe? Was Nikka blind? How could see even see with the cloth over her eyes? Probably though the force if Ashlyna had to guess. The nervousness faded however when Nikka agreed to take her on as a student. "Thank you!" Ashlyna said, smiling as she bowed her head. Part of her had given up on finding a master, especially after everything that had occurred. As Nikka began explaining how Force healing worked, Ashlyna listened intently. She assumed it had to do with finding the connections in the wounds, and using the force to mend them. It sounded close to what Nikka was describing, but when she asked if Ashlyna would still be willing to learn despite it's difficultly, the awnser for the young padawan was obvious. "I've gotten this far. Difficulty isn't a concern. I just have to keep trying until I get it." She said confidently. If she gave up when things got rough, well, she probably wouldn't be here now.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

So she wasn't concerned about difficulty?

This was going to be interesting.

She laced her fingers before her, chuckling. "That's a very good mental attitude to have, actually. Not many are so gifted. Tell me... how much were you trained previously? I want to know where to begin, after all... what led you to healing?" She needed to know before even beginning; this Padawan had a lot to learn, and until she would go with her own former Master to Ruusan, she had time to spend. Perhaps this woman would even come with her... now that was a thought.

"Other than healing, what else would you care to learn?" She inquired, giving a smile. "There are many ways to apply the Force... healing is not so different from, say, letting the blind see." Humor laced her words, as she began to step towards the female, inclining her head. "Will you use this gift strictly with your friend, or will you be willing to help others, even if they are not of our Order?" She needed to know these answers now, before the lesson could even begin. It was important, after all... it wasn't simply the life of a friend for this female, but of the Alliance as well. Who knew what could happen when against those that leagued with the Sith.
@Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Hearing Nikka's first set of questions, Ashlyna thought about everything she had learned previously and tried to quantify what that translated into. "I learned the basics I suppose, not much more than that. I made my lightsaber, and I can enhance my reflexes and senses. I can move things around too, but that's a little difficult, it's getting easier though." Ashlyna responded. "And, I've always wanted to just...try and help people more. So, I suppose that's what led me to it." There was a touch of regret, perhaps shame in Ashlyna's words. She wasn't doing this purely out of the goodness of her heart, no there was a guilt attached to these words as well. Maybe in time Ash could share her sins with the jedi knight, but that wasn't for here or now. "Other than healing though, I'm not really sure what else I'm wanting to learn. I...suppose I want to learn how to make the best use of this power." Ashlyna stated after much thought, the former pirate looking down as she pondered, then back up at the blind jedi. When Nikka asked who she would share this power with, Ashlyna didn't need to think too long on that, the answer was already obvious. "I'll use it to help others if they need it, I have no intention of not aiding someone when it's well within my power to." She affirmed, even if it was the wrong answer, Ashlyna didn't care. To do nothing in the face of suffering was wrong, though she understood some within the order were rather conservative with sharing their gifts with others.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She nodded along in encouragement to what the woman said, only occasionally letting out a hum of a thought, or her brows furrowing slightly. As much as this was new territory to Ash, it was equally new to Nikka. She knew only one other member of their Order that knew how to heal, and that was Master Vu'thari. Even thinking of the Master was another pain she dealt with; too many of them had parted badly. And yet here was one formerly of his division, willing and able to take on a teacher.

If that wasn't rich with irony, she didn't know what was.

"We always have much to learn," she grinned, laying a gentle hand on the taller woman's shoulder. "That much, I'm all too aware of. But not to worry; you will learn much, and you are already well-versed if you have your own lightsaber." She removed her hand then, and tilted her head to the right slightly. Perhaps action, rather than lecture, was a better approach. She learned best through action, after all, when under Master Luy's tutelage; this woman seemed much the same. So perhaps action is the best application... rather than text.

"Texts and studies are all well and fine," she commented, lips twisting in that still-lingering dry humor. "But it doesn't teach you focus, clarity of mind. You are very much disturbed, Ashlyna. Not being able to still and calm your thoughts in even a peaceful environment would make even the simplest wound," a vibrodagger hummed to life, "all the worse. You could wound them even worse, or.."

Here, she paused for effect, before slicing the tip of it across her palm. She hissed in a breath, and powered the blade down. It was a rather deep cut, and bleeding freely, but she held out her right hand to the woman, as calm as ever.

"Kill them, depending on the wound. You want to learn, Ash?" She gave a fully-fledged grin, opening her palm. "You must focus... and trust your instincts. Imagine flesh and bone reknitting... the most delicate structures coming back together, and you must imagine them whole without your worries and doubts," she used her other hand to tap her forehead, "...clouding your mind." She waited.

If the worst was to happen and she failed... Nikka could lose the use of her hand. She knew it was early, but the woman needed to learn to focus on the here and now. If she didn't... Nikka could show her how to apply it herself.

She nodded once to the woman, her mental voice a gentle nudge.

Focus, Padawan. You are capable of so much already.

@Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

It seemed her new master already believed that Ashlyna was gifted in her force application, though Ashlyna felt she hadn't even started to understand her power. Still, it made her feel better. She agreed with Nikka's assessment of studying with books and texts, in fact that was one thing she hated about repair manuals, they showed you how to repair a part, but that was completely different from physically doing it; and she had many an argument with a flyboy who thought his little book made him the authority. Then Nikka explained the consequences of being unfocused, of being absent of mind with such a power. You could kill someone? It made sense to Ashlyna, but also sent a shiver down her spine. Then Nikka cut herself, letting the blood pour out of the wound and dripping to the stone floor. There was an offer being put before her now, a test to see if she was willing to put everything aside and learn. It was a little bit of an intense way to train someone, but Ashlyna didn't mind; she appreciated being challenged, though the idea of accidentally killing the woman concerned her.

"I still want to learn, but the idea of causing death isn't pleasant." Ashlyna reaffirmed, as she listened to Nikka's words, trying to imagine what needed to be done. The tap on her forehead made her grin, as the padawan closed her eyes and thought upon the advise given to her. She needed to be calm right? Well, she always felt calm when working on ships, in fact, whenever she needed to focus on the force, ship analogies helped her immensely. So, she thought of fusing wiring together. She imagined taking a handful of frayed wiring and putting the ends together, making the two bits of conductive material work which would go one to power a ship system. She now took that mental image and switch it to one of biology, thinking of reworking the flesh, the tissue, then the skin. Focusing on these thoughts, of reworking the body, sealing the breach of skin and flesh, she would take Nikka's hand and fixate on the wound, drawing herself outwards as Ayasha had shown her, dipping herself in that immense river of the force. There was no concern of failure in her mind, after all, if there was one thing she was good at it was fixing things. All sense of worry and doubt would be absent, as to Ashlyna, this wouldn't be that different from fixing a basic ship function; at least not in her mind.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She nodded, her tone gentle despite the pain that throbbed up her wrist at the air blowing over the wound. "It is a risk we carry; it's up to us whether or not we harm or heal. However, to harm is a path to the Dark Side. To willfully use your gifts to manipulate and torture is a very grave thing indeed. And for your friend..." here she paused, as if to contemplate her next words. "Do not use your attachment to influence your will to heal. Trust in the Force, and it will always be your ally." She chuckled at the vague words, keenly aware she was sounding too much like Luy.

He had done much the same for her; leaving her to heal his self-inflicted wound.

And yet, to feel it...

She could sense the flesh reknitting, vessels and abused nerves rejoining. Like her, the woman had a skill; was she also gifted with mechanics? She wanted to discuss more, but now wasn't really the time.

It wasn't long before the previously deep wound was nothing more than a raw scar; she flexed her hand, patting Ash on the shoulder with a grin. "Excellently done, Ash, very well done. Though, such a skill is very draining at first... why don't we sit for a bit, and discuss things? Give you time to regain your senses, as it were." She gestured to a rock, though how could one blind supposedly see such a thing?

Being keenly curious and knowledgeable was one very beneficial thing to being one of their order. @Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

The idea of using this power to harm others seemed...well wrong. Even if it was a Sith, the idea of tearing into someones vulnerability just struck her as being terrible; no matter one's allegiance. She wasn't entirely sure what Nikka meant by attachments influencing her power. She could only assume she meant it as a distraction, but perhaps she'd ask for clarity later on. Was Ashlyna was mending the hand, she felt the sway of fatigue begin to dig at her, coming down on her as a great crushing weight. Despite her best attempts, she couldn't finish the healing process, as she would leave the faint mark on Nikka's hand, narrowly catching herself as lightheadedness fell upon her. She had felt the work of the force within the now stitched wound, and to a degree, she felt the force flowing within Nikka herself.

Indeed, just as Nikka had said, the process was draining, as Ash sat herself down and waited for her head to stop spinning. "You weren't kidding, that really drains the batteries, holy hell." She muttered holding the side of her head, with her gaze looking down to the ground. She only had this happen once, back when she was practicing telekinesis on Tatooine. Though, it seemed now that Nikka wished to give her time to recover. "My heads a little scrambled right now, so...is there anything you wanted to ask me?" She said, glancing up at Nikka.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She flexed her hand once, and chuckled, nodding in approval. "Very well done, Padawan, for a first time especially." She waited until the young woman sat before lacing her fingers together, giving a mirthful grin. "It really does... the first time I healed someone, he was lucky I didn't kill him. He had broken his ribs and wrist... after I dragged his ungrateful butt from enemy fire..." a wistful, sad note entered her voice for a brief moment. Ni'chalto uru, if only you could see me now... would you be proud of me, wherever you are?

She paused, then hummed in thought. "You've been led by someone before, at least as far as healing is concerned. But do you know anything of healing the spirit?" This question was light, as if the topic were not very important; she waited for a reaction, a thought, and an opinion. If she was willing to heal like Nik did... perhaps there was hope for the Order, after all. @Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Apparently this skill wasn't the easiest to get ahold of. That made Ashlyna feel a little better about her current onset of fatigue. For now, she listened to Nikka's own story of using the ability. "That sounds pretty severe. Hopefully he showed you a little gratitude after you saved his hide." Ashlyna commented, knowing all too well just how ungrateful some people could be. There was a pause between the two, then Nikka asked her about spiritual healing. If the knight was speaking of therapy or something akin to that well...kinda? She talked to Tycho alot about her struggles and issues, but her spirit? Well, that depended on what Nikka was referring to. "I mean, sorta? I...think my last teacher did something like that...she touched something down in me..." Ashlyna held her hand over her chest, before looking up at Nikka. "And I don't mean like that. Like, she reached inside me and....I don't know how to describe it. I just felt...whole for a few moments." Ashlyna couldn't put it to words, but when she and Ayasha had first met, there was a connection, an emotional one perhaps, but it was there, and sometimes she could briefly feel the sensation. A pang of sadness impacted her, as she dearly missed her friend. "I don't know if that's what you are referring to, but...well that's the only thing I can think of. Are you talking about....fixing someone's emotional issues or something?" Ashlyna asked, curiosity overcoming her now, as this 'force' stuff was complex.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She barely suppressed a snort of laughter, perking a brow. "He was like a brother to me.. so of course he did. By dragging me off to planets where I had a crash course in galactic politics." The smile dimmed slightly, and she seemed to subdue a bit more after saying that.

She nodded when she heard the commentary of spiritual healing. It was all fine and well to heal the body, but the mind and soul were far more tricky. Nightmares and terrors were a common occurrence amongst their group; to be trained to be balanced and calm under stressful environments often didn't go well with people who were prone to emotion... including how she was. She nodded along, then grinned when Ash hit it spot on the nose.

"Exactly." She hesitated a few moments, as if contemplating once more. It wasn't easy for the Miraluka to put such vague things into terminology, but she would do her best. Ever since the events at... well... ever since she had gotten the Jedi holocron at Ruusan, she had learned about the concept of healing the mind and soul as well. Cleansing of the taint of the Dark Side... restoring mental faculties to those that had faced tremendous loss.

"Something like that. It's easy enough for empathic people to touch another person's sense of self... it's another thing, though, when the damage isn't visible. Think like one of our Order, witnessing the death of one of their loved ones... how would you heal such damage?" She tilted her head. "Especially since it was a bond... not always romantic, but companionship. We risk our lives and our companions' lives simply by being sensitive to the Force. How would we bring them back if they fell to the Dark Side?" She knew she was going heavy-hitting, but hearing this Padawan's answer would give her a good point to begin lessons.

The healing of the physical was one thing. But of the mind and spirit... that beast was a burden altogether.

@Algarus

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Despite her lack of understanding of the Force, she was understanding what Nikka was telling her. She had felt something like that with Ayasha when they were first introduced to one another. What Nikka seemed to be suggesting, was that if those bonds were severed, there would be damage that one couldn't heal naturally left over. The idea of redeeming someone though, well, Ashlyna didn't understand what that was about. Falling to the Dark Side? Ayasha hadn't explained that idea, only that the Dark Side corrupted someone and twisted them. Apparently it was possible to save people from it then. "I thought that no one is truly gone, that when we die, we become one with the force. So, following that logic, those bonds can never be separated. Their echos, their influence, will forever be apart of your being. Even if both of you die, your connections, your bonds, they would become merged with the force too, right?" Ashlyna wasn't sure if she was making sense, but she was sure that Nikka would correct her if she was speaking nonsense. "Ayasha taught me that the Force was like a river that flows through each one of us. So, if that's true, then...maybe you can influence that river within someone by that connection. Maybe that would work." Ashlyna wasn't entirely sure she understood what was being told, but she felt she was at least getting part of it.
@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She was so proud.

It was strange... they were strangers, but she was delighted. Finally someone who grasped the basics of what she had been taught; she nodded along, attempting to keep her sage mentality, but it was difficult to hide the grin on her lips. She rose, and offered her hand to the other woman. "True... we all rejoin the Force when we pass," she said softly. "But even so, very rarely can we reach them, hear them. Our biggest difficulty is learning to let go, and know we will meet them again. But it is also those that are not as sensitive as we are. That they do not allow their grief to release their loved ones... and not all bonds are merged. Some are... snapped. Not by the one separated by death, but by the one that grieves them."

She sighed, a relieved sound. "Yes... the Force is a powerful river that bends us, guides us. It answers our call, it works upon others that they may call them miracles. But the mind, the spirit... they are challenges that do not take a simple Force healing. Come, Ashlyna, I'm happy to say we have much to talk about... and you are very wise indeed." Chuckling, she turned with the woman, and they would descend deeper into the temple of Ifrane.

It seemed that Ashlyna Talmount's training would begin once more. And Nikka anticipated a great Knight in the making.

/End Thread
@Algarus