A Thousand Winds, The Sky at Dawn.

[Miranda]

Tython was a world of copious tranquility. The low and levant sun fissured over the tree-line of the vast deciduous forests at the horizon. Leaves collected and swam and a spume of lights settled on the vista.
Though a serene and mostly reticent world, it was also a world of the Jedi. Eternal guardians and peacekeepers and warriors for the Light, the custodians and vanguards of justice and unity and concord throughout the galaxy.

As the sun had crept its way ascending from the darkness of night, shedding the early dawn light about the forest, over and out across the Temple, across pagodas and terraces and courtyards, a lone Jedi Knight made his way down a marble corridor, through the ancient archives, past large bronzium statues dedicated to the memories of the Jedi of the past, and turned down a passageway leading into the lecture halls and teaching wing of the Temple.
He gathered his billowing cloak about him and sauntered steadily into one of the wide-domed training atriums and took a seat at the oaken desk within.

Sorran Ven-Olar gathered a few things at the desk and filed through a datapad that had the history and biography of his most recently assigned Padawan.

"Adonia Xylon...hmmm", he rubbed his forehead a moment and then continued to read. She would be arriving any moment now, as he had requested of her, and he needed to be up to date with all her information.

Sorran was a combat and lightsaber specialist, a Jedi Guardian, and as such he would personally train those who sought to gain expertise in these fields of the Force. The education that he would bestow to his apprentices however would encompass the many various arenas of the Force and their application to a Jedi's life and role within the galaxy. There would merely be more emphasis on instruction in his particular faculty, as were the designated roles of all the Knights and Masters of the Jedi Order. A constructivist approach to education would of course be involved, for to be a Jedi - one had to be familiar with the Force in all its aspects.

The Jedi Knight had recently arrived back on Tython, a world he had called home for almost three decades now, from his most recent combat and battle lectures that he had given on the Will of the Force command ship - the Jedi centre for lightsaber and combat training. The command ship, it would seem, was to become his new headquarters for training. But until his apprentices had grasped the fundamentals of the Force and the ways of the Jedi, he would reserve his place on Tython for a short while longer.

Finishing with the datapad he tied his long braids back in anticipation of meeting his new student. The morning was already sure to prove most interesting...

 

[Darius]

"When do you leave for Tython?" Gaius proudly asked his sister, "Ive been here for the past two days, I didn't want to risk being late." Gaius laughed, "Well I'm proud of you sister, the whole family is." Adonia's smile wiped away, if the rest of her family was so proud why don't they say it, "hey I know that look, you just have to understand where they are coming from, they lost three sons to war as it is, and now you and me will be in the thick of it, they don't make it easy on me either, just train hard, and the next time I see you in person you be giving me orders, ahh breaks over sis, being Sargent aint easy, they put me in charge of kids fresh out of boot, love you stay safe."

The transmission ended, Adonia picked her self out of bed and began to prepare for the coming day, a day she had waited for since she left her home almost thirteen years ago, a young girl from the other side of the galaxy, she had come a long way since then, had become more in tuned with the force and in turn was blessed with more abilities. She was now on Tython, the training location of her most Honored Ancestor almost ten thousand years before, she would Honor his memory with every step she made on this planet. Fully clothed and hair prepared to training Adonia knelt down and resigned her to a few more minutes of meditation.


It was time Adonia took her saber and attached it to her corset under her robes. Walking out of her chambers she began to make her way through the younglings and fellow padawans. Reaching the main chamber she was met by the ancient and wise faces of the Jedi that came before her, she prayed to honor their timeless memory as well. Adonia continued on in the dimly lit corridor of the temple of Tython , until she found the proper training atrium, she eyes widened as she had never scene a more beautiful room. Looking around she spotted the man she took to be her master. Bore facial tattoos as she did, but as she did not recognize his marks, she assumed that they were from a different planet entirely. "Good morning master I am Adonia Xylona , and it is an Honor to train with you."

 

[Miranda]

Sorran glanced up as he heard the first gentle footfalls of someone entering the atrium. A soothing light filtered in through the dome that rose to a compluvium in the roof as the dawn sun's rays etched their way in. The ancient stone was covered in deep turtle-green vines and ivy, a sign that life, and the Force, were omnipresent in this place.

"Ah...Padawan Adonia Xylona I gather?", his voice was firm but calm as his eyes registered his newest apprentice. The bond between a mentor and their disciple was one that was forged for time immemorial from the very first instance and encounter. From the very inception of their meeting.
From these origins their connection would bloom and manifest through the Force, and their bond would be unbreakable, forever. Sorran did not take these ancient faiths lightly, and he had poured through the lists of students that had been gathered in the New Jedi Order, had read through references and histories and files, until he had discovered students that he felt would flourish under his direct guidance.

"Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss", he signalled to one of the chairs on the other side of the table and lifted the datapad up that contained Adonia's profile, scanning it again briefly.

"I see from your records that you are from Danteel? I cannot say that I am familiar with it...but of course, I am no planetary scholar", he laughed a little and then continued, "you are twenty-three, yes? Hmmm...rather older for a Padawan. Your training under me may prove difficult, as will the process of unlearning any prior misconceptions be. But age matters not. Age does not concern me, and I welcome the challenge!"

He placed the datapad back down on the desk and then scanned his eyes over her again, investigating her features and markings, as if trying to discern something beyond the face and the profile.

"We shall begin your training here, on Tython. I suspect, at your age, that you have learned a great many things, but we must build on what you know, and relearn the fundamentals. As I begin with any student, we shall begin with the most organic and rudimentary principles of our sacred Order, before we venture anywhere else."

Sorran scratched his chin for a moment, he needed to know as much as he could about his new student, and he would start at the most essential places possible.

"Tell me, Padawan, why is it that you have wandered along the path of the Jedi all your short life? What is it that holds itself within you that you would become one of us?"

 

[Darius]

"Yes master you are correct." Adonis silently complied with her new masters wished, taking a seat directly in front of his. silence briefly took the room as her Master looked over a data pad, which she assumed was her record. " My Family is Originally from Danteel, But after the empire took over they fled to Dagro, I was raised there with my older brothers, until of was taken by the Jedi order to be trained. I didn't see Danteel until two years ago when My kinsmen and me routed the empires presence there." Adonia silenced herself as she wait for his next question, " I may be older Master but I will never be above learning, as long as there is breath in me there will be something new to learn.


Adonia intently listened as her Master Described the future training regiments, She did not flinch, and she was not worried about the time it would take, she had already dedicated her life to the Order, everything else was miniscule to that commitment. Adonia stopped to think about why she joined the order so long ago, she had never been asked that question before. "for the first ten years of my life I went through the training the is tradition for my people, every soul is a warrior, even the women, though I seem big for a women compared to most females, I am Small for a Danteen, it was clear that it was not the life I was born for. ON my Final test I unknowingly used to force to complete my tasks, a Jedi was present and he revived permission to take me to the Jedi Order. I have trained from Coruscant to the Will of the force, preparing for a single moment in my life, a moment I thought was to be the liberation of my true home planet, since that has come pass I became confused as to why I was here, over much mediation it was claer that I had trained so long and so hard for today, I had to train until I was ready worthy to be taught by you." Adonia shifted in her seat, she loved to talk and hoped that she was not being too long winded, "From here I know not were I go, as long as I trust in the force and your guidance, I will not be led astray."

 

[Miranda]

Sorran listened. He listened with intent and purpose. He knew, as any of the Knights and Masters of the New Jedi Order would, that each life was absolutely infinitely different. That each individual within the galaxy was shaped by his or her unique experiences and life. The most difficult task for any mentor however, was to bring that unique and infinitely different life and transform it into that of a Jedi.

Sorran arched a brow and smiled to her, "I know how you have come to walk the line of the Jedi. That is not my question Padawan. I have read your history, I have investigated many resources and references that have been compiled on you. You have been shaped by your life, as I have my own. But the true question, at the very core of things, is why. Why have you sought to become a Jedi?"

He paused for a moment and allowed her time for the question to sink in and then continued.

"You seem to place far too much faith in my abilities Padawan. I will guide you and instruct you as best I can. But I am not the answer to your why. Nor are the circumstances that led you here, to be with me today. Force sensitives are discovered day by day all across the galaxy. But few become Jedi. There are greater energies at work in the universe my Padawan, than either you or I. Throughout the ages there have been those that call themselves the 'Sith'. There are Force wielders who have walked the edges of the grey, have walked in shadows and torment and anger. There are those who have denied the Force as well. Those who have journeyed down endless paths of different terrain. But they are not Jedi."

He placed his hand out open on the table in front of her. "These, my Padawan, are hands that have chosen to serve the Jedi Order. I ask this question, the question of why, because you must be resolute and steadfast in your decision before we can continue. You must know everything and anything as to what has motivated and driven you to become a Jedi. We are so often found at such young ages...taken from our families and our worlds, and as younglings we learn everything about the Force. We are taught the ways of the Jedi. But rarely do we ever ask why. Once you understand this question, and once you know how to respond to it, you will be ready, and you will begin to understand yourself. This is the core of who we are."

Sorran hoped that the words had imprinted upon his new Padawan. They were words that were meant to give insight and self-reflection. In time, he knew, she would understand.

 

[Darius]

Adonia did not know what to say, clearly she had a warped idea of why she was here, it had always been for her family, for the men and the women that never lived to see her planet retaken, for her brothers, who blood ran down it's city streets. Adonia had never looked inward as to why shes wanted this so bad, " Master this was never about me, all my life I have seen the wickedness that pulls at us all, i have seen it take family away, I have seen entire planets wiped out, for the whim of a madman, I am here because since mt birth I was meant for more then just being a warrior on a forgotten planet, I am here because I could not stand by ideally and watch this galaxy implode on itself while I had the power to fight it, As a member of the Jedi Order, I stand for peace for the entire galaxy, and I will use the light of the force to repel the agents of darkness. I care not for Glory, or riches, If I had wanted that I would have stayed on my planet, I am here to seek the knowledge the force can offer me."


"Some my family hates the fact that I have Joined the Jedi order, And I cannot blame them. the Path of the Jedi is a dangerous one, but It does not phase me, I am not afraid, if i die it will be for the good of the Allience, for peace. I am only the second Jedi in my entire bloodline, like the first I will stand between the darkness and the innocents of this galaxy, that is why I joined this order." Adonia sigh in rest, she had never dug so deep before, it brought memories of her brothers, and how she would have seen them one last time, she would honor their memory.

 

[Miranda]

Sorran watched his new apprentice as she divulged as much as she was willing. There was much to be read in her words, so much insight to be had by what this young woman was now telling him. She seemed to him to have stemmed from a very turbulent past, her story was wracked with pain and loss and suffering. All harbingers of the Dark Side of the Force, if they were to be left unattended. If they were not addressed and left to sour and blossom and fester. He would not allow such to manifest within his new student. His work was most certainly going to be a challenge, but he was the right mentor to guide her. Darkness could, after all, only be overcome by the Light. Just as the sun now ascended above Tython, shedding the world in its light, so too was a Jedi's light to strike out the darkness of the world.

"Very good Padawan. You have begun your first steps along the thousand mile journey ahead of you. You have begun to look inside yourself. When we truly understand who we are, when we question ourselves and search for deeper understanding, that is when we can be most at harmony with the Force."

Sorran was going to test not only this Padawan's connection to the Force, not only test her on her dedication and devotion to the Jedi Order and the Light, but would ultimately test herself. He would make her look deep inside herself, so that she might become the Jedi that she was to essentially become.

"I sense much anguish within you my student...your past haunts you still. And while such harrowing events have shaped you into the young woman that you are today, you must learn to let go. The past must not define who you are today, my Padawan. The life of a Jedi is difficult, we are forever keeping balance - between our faith and connection to the Force and upholding justice and peace throughout the galaxy. This is our place in the universe. You must not cling to the past, for what has happened is but dust in the wind. You shall learn, from my guidance, to shed the anguish that drives you. Vengeance, anger, hatred, sorrow - all these things I sense from you, from your past. These are all shadows of the Dark Side, my Padawan. In time, you will learn to let go. Only then will you be ready. Only once you have mastered a peace and harmony within yourself can you truly bring peace and harmony into the galaxy."

He knew that this was a heavy introduction to his mentorship, but such words were instrumental and significant. He would guide her as best he could, lead her out of her dark and troubled past, into the open and flowing air of peace - into the sunlight.

 

[Darius]

Adonia eyes widened, being full of anguish was one of the last things she thought that would be said about her, she had always prided herself being a pleasant and fair person. "I have no vengeance in my heart Master, I have never wanted to hunt the men who killed my brothers down, for If did that I would dig two graves, one for them, and another for myself. I do not hold on to ancient grudges like many in my family do, And I will never insult there memory by becoming the very thing they stood against. The ideals of my people will stay with them. I will follow your guidance and as a result will become more attuned to the will of the force, and all i seek from is peace, not revenge or the power to intact it, just Peace Master, so children in the future will not be forced to grow up on a planet the is not there own."


Adonia was ready to train, there was no question of that, and deep down she took her Masters words to heart, and she would be more on the look out for the dark side, she had never been an angry person, and she would not start now.

 

[Miranda]

The Jedi Knight gazed upon his new Padawan as she replied to him. And while she had indeed suffered a turbulent and violent past, she seemed to speak the truth now. She seemed ready to fulfill her training and step into the sunlight - as a beacon of the Jedi.

"Indeed. Such emotions can so often blind us, my student. Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you...you will master yourself and the teachings of our Order, in due time. Never fear. It is my duty, as your mentor, to probe the darkest recesses of your heart and mind, to always question you. So that we can bring it into the light, and be ever vigilant against the Dark Side."

One had to let go of the past in order to serve the Jedi. They could not cling to possessions and crude things, they could not hold anything so close that it would pain them to have it taken away. Life itself was ephemeral. The Jedi knew this well. To protect others, to uphold peace and justice, the Jedi had to make many difficult sacrifices. Sorran would have his new Padawan understand this, feel it, and know it well. For that was the life she had chosen now.

"Are you familiar with the ancient proverb: 'Near vermilion one is stained red, near ink one is stained black?' It is a vital lesson to learn my Padawan, if you have not heard it before."

 

[Darius]

Adonia was not used to talking out of turn to a person who outranked her, She had always had a high sense of honer, and the rank carried with it, But she had to speak up, she did not want her master to think that she was a liability teetering on the edge of the dark side. Adonia let out a breath as her master took back his past statement. Adonia stood up from her seat and moved to kneel in front of it facing her master, " As your Padawan I will work to reach my full potential, so I can better serve the Order, though I am a child of two worlds, I will be the student of the Galaxy."



Adonia stood up after she finished her pledge, she hoped she was not being too forward, but it was her peoples way to commit to their craft. ADonia had heard the saying before once long ago, "my father taught me that saying when I was very young, though I have heard it said in much cruder ways in my travels, it's meaning is the same, I have to watch the company I keep, physical and spiritual, because there vices could begin to rub off on me."

 

[Miranda]

Sorran was definitely not accustomed to obeisance and veneration, and he watched with growing curiosity as his new Padawan knelt down before him. He understood, however, that her background and lineage had reared in her something that beckoned and professed respect and allegiance through such actions.

"I accept your pledge, my humble student. But please, you honour me too much with such words and movements. We are all equals here, amongst the Jedi Order, I am merely your guide...your mentor, I am no King or Senator or Noble. I am an unassuming man, and the Force does not separate us into hierarchies or levels. It views us and serves us in our journey all the same. The only differences between yourself and I, and indeed between us and the Masters, are our comprehension and grasp of the Force, which is only separated by experience and time. However, in the end we are all counterparts of the universal Force, which binds us all together.

Sorran paused a moment, allowing some time for reflection, he inspected his new student again and was impressed by her devotion and patience. So often students had found that such discussions were exhausting or trivial. They wanted so much to rush in and fight and learn everything they could about the Force, without first understanding themselves. Impatience so often led those on the path astray - as Anakin Skywalker once discovered, over a century ago. He could sense however that his new student, Adonia Xylona, was a steadfast young woman with a benevolent heart and a soul full of fortitude.

"Of course, I understand that such actions are customary to your people, and I respect such things. But from this day forth, Adonia, we are equals. I am your mentor, and you are my disciple, and we are both servants of the Force."

The Kiffar man then furrowed his brow deep in thought for a moment as his Padawan responded to his mention of the ancient proverb. He was glad that she was familiar with the old and wise saying.
"Very good, Padawan. But now...let's take that idea and expand it, let us view such wisdom from a greater perspective."

Sorran stood for a moment and moved to the far wall of the atrium where a small niche gave way to a tiny fountain of water that trickled into a basin from some outside source. He gathered a stone bowl from beneath it and filled it with water and then returned to his seat and placed it between them.

"Imagine the Force as a pool of water. We drink from the pool, we bathe in the pool. The water both nourishes and cleanses us. If we care for the pool, keep it clean and respect it, then it continues to nourish and purify us. Yet, if we leave the pool to stagnate, if we neglect it then we poison it and it in turn poisons us. The Sith believe that by seizing the water, they can control it. They believe that through strength and power they can command the water. Tell me Padawan, have you ever tried to grasp and hold water? It is forever shifting, insubstantial is it not? The Sith neglect their pool of water in their eternal quest to seize it. It blinds them, eludes them, frustrates them, and then ultimately the pool turns to brackish putrid poison, and still they cannot seize it."

Sorran again allowed for a few moments of introspection at his words and then slowly continued.

"We Jedi however do not view the pool as something that can be commanded or seized. As Jedi it is our eternal task to care for the pool, treat it with diligence and effort and respect, and in turn we are able to drink its water and purify ourselves therein. The pool becomes a part of us, and we a part of it."

He then took a sip of the water from the stone bowl and gently smiled to his apprentice. Sorran then offered his student the bowl to take a sip from it, as an equal.

"And so you see, when near vermilion one is stained red; when near ink one is stained black. This counts for not only those whom we surround ourselves with, but also the decisions and actions we make everyday in everything we do. The Force does not choose sides my Padawan, and it can be stained depending upon your accord within it."

 

[Darius]

Adonia watched as her master returned with a small bowl of water, and placed it between them, before she could inquire as to what it was for he had begun his explanation. Her master compared the force to something as simple as a Bowl of water, at first she could not consolidate something as powerful and timeless as the force to a bowl of water, but that was the traditionalist Danteen in her, the Jedi in her understood what he meant. the force could not be harnessed it was not a tool to be utilized for personal gain, the Sith blinded by their passion could not see this, and that was there weakness.


"I see Master, The force is not a tool to be wielded at a moments notice, we are the tool, the force flows through us. As Jedi we realize this fact, and as we become more at peace with the force, in return we have a greater respect for ourselves and the life around us."


Adonia took the bowl from her master and took A sip from it, it was a very honorable gesture, it had been a long time since Adonia had felt like an equal, she didn't resent this as it kept her from getting lazy, and instilled the value that there was always something to learn. "you honor me Master."


Adonia continued to follow along quietly as her master commented on his Previous quote, it was not only about who we acted with, but how we acted that shaped our personalities. " Master all my life I was taught the Values of Honor and Respect, as soon as I was albe to walk I was thrown in the baptism of training with all twelve of my brothers. Being with them taught em how to act, how to show respect to the world around me, This is why I bear their marks, because they added to the women you see before you, just as the Jedi have ans till are."

 

[Miranda]

Sorran offered her an amiable smile and nodded.

"Very good, my Padawan. You are correct in your interpretation. We are but instruments of the Force, we must open ourselves to it, become conduits of the universal energy that surrounds us, and in doing so it aids us in understanding and in everything we do. We need only to comprehend it, and then it becomes a reality. Once we comprehend it, we allow it to flow through us, eternally."

Sorran gathered the stone cup from the table and then returned it to the fountain. He then turned and gazed upon Adonia.

"And so it is done then. You have begun your first steps on the voyage of both understanding yourself, and understanding the Force. Honour and Respect shall serve you well, Padawan, upon the journey that lies ahead. There is a great path behind you, but an even greater one in front of you. And I shall be your compass."

He took a seat back at the table and rested his hands together for a moment.

"Now, let us move on to more formal education, as is my mandate. We have started an introduction into knowing one's self, now we must extend upon that. I assume you are well-versed in the Jedi Code, Padawan? Please recite it to me, and give me your interpretation of each line. Then we shall commence some more tactile and engaging lessons."

 

[Darius]

"As you wish master." Adonia commented as she closed her eyes and took a breath, she was now to recite the Jedi code and to give her explanation for each line, this would prove easy as she had been studying the code everyday since she arrived on Tython so many years ago.



"There is no Emotion; There is Peace, Emotions are impossible to suppress, and the result of doing such would weaken a Jedi connection to the force. Instead a Jedi should search their feeling, understand them, and then learn how to deal with them, this goes back to what we just Discussed master, you must first know yourself, if you are to find peace."


"There is no Ignorance; There is Knowledge, there is knowledge to be found everywhere, even in the most primitive of creatures, if you collected the combined knowledge of the entire Galaxy, we still would not have scathed the surface of the mysteries of this world . As Jedi We must keep an open mind, from the newest youngling, to the most wise and venerated Master, we all will forever be taught by the world around us and guided by the flow of the force."


"There is no passion, there is serenity,As Jedi we must keep our feeling in check, Brash use of the force leads to the dark side, she should never use out power out of hatred or Anger, for even if we mean well, it will put us on a slippery slope that most never recover from. Violence is the last option, and even with justified circumstances Killing schould not be taken lightly, as you opponent will take part of you with them to the grave . A Jedi Must be calm and like the wheat in the field, never fighting the wind, but flowing with it, the soul achieving singularity with the force."



"There is no chaos, there is harmony, Death is a natural Part of life, weather you look on this scientifically or spiritually, the fact remains that even now our body experience a steady and natural decay. As Jedi we must understand that the Jedi way is a hard road, one not to be taken lightly, people will come and go like the seasons, this is the natural way of things, another part of life."



"There is no death, there is the Force , We all are destined to die, we schould not be ruled by the anticipation of this event. with out death there could be no life, with out light there is no dark, these things are brothers, twins that cannot survive without the other. Just as the great symbol of my house, we do not die but rise from the ashes of our former life, to live on forever in the force." Adonia still staring out blankly stroked the phoenix on her cheek, she thought of her great ancestor who bore the same mark and the same saber almost ten thousand years ago, he died with honor protecting the old republic senators, fully accepting his death as his path in the world. Adonia could feel him, ever since she arrived on this planet , she hoped that one day she could honor his name. Adonia snapped back to the room, looking back towards her master she waited for her lesson to continue.

 

[Miranda]

Sorran gave his pupil an attentive nod as she answered to his request, as she recited the Code and gave her own analysis of the Jedi doctrine.

"Your discernment of the words is very sound Padawan. Remember to always hold them close to your heart, and live each day by their blessing and messages. It is not an easy task, and so often within our galaxy there are times when it would feel right to go against these teachings. They are words Padawan, and wise ones at that. But we must always be vigilant in our quest of life. We must not blindly follow words that we do not truly understand. It is we who make those words come alive, just as we are conduits of the Force. By comprehending these words, we give them form within reality."

He stroked his chin in deliberation for a minute and then continued.

"And once again we are presented with something that expresses not only separate and finite segments, each line of the Code is within itself a separate entity and holds its own message of wisdom and understanding. But, the Code also exists as a unified and holistic entity. The fundamental components of its reality has an existence other and more than the mere sum of its parts. And so, like everything within the Force, it is united, just as we are."

He allowed yet again for another pause to give Adonia time to process the information and take what meaning she could glean from it for herself. The lessons of a Jedi could not be rote-learned or memorised, they needed to be synthesised and looked at critically and with appreciation. Only then could one truly master all the aspects of the Force.

"Tell me Padawan, what are your thoughts on the unified whole of the Code. You have told me your interpretation of each separate part, but what is the overarching purpose and message of our Code, do you think?"

 

[Darius]

Adonia paused as she gathered her thought around the question, she had never been as these questions before, it forced her to truly think, and not give a textbook answer in return.


"I Have never looked at them as a whole Master, I have always examined each on it own, to give them there proper attention, but if I had to sat, I think the general message of these words is clear, Control yourself flow with the force, that's what separates us from the Sith, they spend so much time trying to do, they never stop think about if they schould. The code gives Jedi limits, to help against the never ending tug of the dark side."

Adonia pulled some of her hair out of the back of her robes as she finished her outlook of the code, she politely waited for her master to interpret and comment on what she said, if she was mistaken she would want to know.

 

[Miranda]

"The Jedi mantra, which we call the 'Code', is one of many infinite things that must be regarded not only for its individual and segmented parts, but as a whole. Just as you and I are on this world of Tython, and just as Tython orbits the stars of the Deep Core, and just as the Deep Core is but one part of the greater galaxy, and it too the part of the greater universe."

Sorran rested his chin in his hand and then deliberated some more, looking down at the table before them. He stood again for a moment and went to one of the shelves in the atrium, opened a draw, and from it he took several small twigs and returned to his seat.

"This twig, is but one segment of a collective."

He held out a single small wooden sprig before his Padawan, pinching it at either end, and then snapped it in two.

"Now, together let us see what occurs."

The Jedi Knight gathered the sticks together in a bundle and then attempted to put enough strain on them all to snap them in half. The sticks remained solid and together and never budged.

"There is an old saying, my Padawan, that states 'three arrows united are invincible'. Though this is not always true. For what would happen if one of the arrows was poisoned? Or if it were made of inferior wood? A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, is it not? We are links in the chain, we are arrows in the quiver, and as Jedi we must remain vigilant as a collective. Only by understanding both the individual parts and the whole, can we face what is to come. Only then can we truly allow the Force to nourish and guide us."

Sorran Ven-Olar placed the sticks down on the table and then continued with his lesson.

"You are correct in your interpretation my Padawan. To an extent. We must always strive to manifest control, control in our ways, and not succumb to passion or the quest for strength and power. But I believe the Code teaches us to view everything as both segments, as finite things within themselves, but the Code also teaches us that everything is in unison, and through unison we can achieve anything. The tenets of the Code are individual and hold much wisdom, but they cannot exist without the other, they cannot exist alone. The Sith are a fragile alliance, united by hatred and hunger for power. They are a house divided, and a house divided cannot stand. Its very foundations are built on destroying others, destroying the weak so that the strong may emerge. But no being is truly weak. And who amongst them decides who is weak and who is strong? What rules make up and define such corporeal lies? They are blinded by their quest for power. The Jedi however, stand as one. Together, through unity and alliance, we are an unbreakable gathering of branches."