Face to face, padawan and master

[MightyPants]

Vaeth closed his eyes. His mind was too dizzy to deliberate or bring to his mind something. He could not even memorize the place to meet his new master. Vaeth's mind was totally out of his physical figure, and the body of the human was controlled by the natural instinct that he, and all the sentients species on the galaxy, had.

He was attired with the typical robe of the Jedi doctrin. A belt, auburn, surrounded his hip and a holster, accommodated in the left part of his body for a comfortably use, for a lightsaber, though he didn't had one in that moment. He had specially cut his hair and beard for the occasion, and his costume was not able to be more tidy than that day, and all that was to cause a better impression to the night.

He was agitated, of course, about attending to the first reunion with his master. In fact, mostly all his intellectually capacity was directed to think about that. The ghosts of his preceding dark story totally perturbed his inner peace and worried him to the point of not reaching any point of attention and concentration.

He had to clean his mind, or drain all those dark feelings from his body with the help of his tutor. But first he needed to meet him. He stood in the halls of the Jedi Temple, in the middle of the room. That was probably the busiest part of the temple, and finding his master was a total adventure.

 

[Cyclops]

The temple halls were rather cold that day, the wind blowing a quiet yet cool breeze past the forests and inviting themselves intot he temple. Sam wrapped his robes rather tightly across his body as he made his way from his chambers. He had spent much time in meditation, the serence calmness of the Force fueling and feeding his hunger for serenity. He had never been a fan of meditation when he was younger, but these days with all that had occured and the tension of the galaxy, he found comfort in it.

He even almost would have forgotten that he had an appointment to meet another new padawan had he not been alerted by the padawan's own anxiety. Sam had sensed it through the Force and the Force had guided him to it. It was his skill with telepathy and sense that allowed Sam knolwedge that his Padawan had forgotten to meet him at the training rooms, however he had begun to think perhaps a nice walk to know the young Padawan learner would be better before they embarked on whatever training first he wished.

Sam let the Force guide him and soon he was in the hall, his eyes caught against his Padawan though he made no motion to call him. Surely he would come to him.

 

[MightyPants]

The interior of the temple was gorgeous. All the Jedi memorabilia, the immensity and the work putted to build the Jedi headquarter enchanted the padawan. Yet the eyes of Vaeth were staring at the giant dodecahedron shaped holocron. The object was his favorite part of the temple and he liked to look at it, trying to understand the secrets behind it. Probably staring at the enormous holocron was one of the causes of the bad memory of Vaeth to remember such things like the meeting's place. It was imperative to him progressing his concentration ability.

But now it was crucial finding the Jedi knight. Shame that he didn't had sense abilities to sense his master or some written instructions. Probably he was going to search him all over the temple, although clarifying his mind was the vital thing now. Meditation was probably the way to, but the time was limited. Vaeth started to look and turn on his position to look all the ambient, until he got something staring at him. He looked calm and his physical appearance was like he was told in the Jedi council. There was his master, or there was something that was really similar to him.

Slowly Vaeth slipped through the people, until he got to a meter or two from his master, bowing before doing another stupid thing.

 

[Cyclops]

"Padawan Vaeth," said Sam softly as he gave a slight nod to the young learner as he turned right and proceeded on a walk. He assumed the Padawan would follow him as he made no other gesture.

"My name is Sam Kisgart," introudced Sam as he allowed his feet to bring him around the temple. He had no destination in mind, only the Force and luck would guide their journey. "You may call me Master Kisgart."

The crowds in the corridors were thin and they easily walked side by side, Sam surveying the young Padawan from his appearance to his actions. He tried to size him up though it was a difficult measure. He seemed slightly nervous though quite respectful thus far.

"Tell me things about yourself padawan," Sam urged. He disliked awkward introductions and wished him to speak fully. "Where you come from, your past before your padawan days, what you have learnt thus far, and what you wish to learn in the future. Speak openly."

 

[MightyPants]

"I will, master Kisgart" spoke Vaeth respectfully following his master indications. He now didn't had strange things on his mind other than concentrating in the nearly training. It was one of his strengths doing the things well when it was imperative. "I think you know mine is Vaeth Denevah, master" Finalized for the moment the conversation, the padawan.

He had no objection about moving all along the temple. As well, Vaeth liked knowing new places and acquiring information from important site, and the temple on Tython was not the exception. He only hated the crowds that were on almost every place, but it was no problem to his young dexterity.

"I am from Stewjon, master Kisgart" Opened Denevah "At the beginning I was the son of two very poor people that only made they efforts to give me the best that they could, but most of the times we kept as we were always, poor. Then I started to feel alone when they were not to teach me or share time with me, so we started to split up. Then I discovered my "power", as I named it when I was inexpert, and, time later, I was taken here by a Jedi master." Vaeth told, without caring if he was talking too much or nearly nothing of his biography.

"I have learnt, until today, the use of a few force powers. The first is Telekinesis, my preferred one, learned by me as an autodidact and then trained until the tutelage of a master. The second and third are Force Speed and Jump, which are most at a low level than nothing. But I complement my lack of force uses with my ability with the lightsaber. Though I don't have one, I am very skilled in the form seven, the Vaapad..." Vaeth stopped, there was his dark side past in the middle of the conversation, and he was not able to tell that to anybody, at least in a crowded place.

 

[Cyclops]

Sam nodded and made attempts to seem encouraging as the Padawan spoke of his past and of the things he has learnt thus far.

"Vaapad," mused Sam softly. "Interesting."

Sam was not unfamiliar with the form, knowing it quite well and the basics. However he never attempted to adopt such a form that had ill stories about those who practice it. The Jedi had restricted such teachings in the past and Sam agreed with it. The form certainly was powerful but not without its drawbacks.

"Master Windu's form is as ever an interesting topic to discuss," said Sam as they proceeded closer to the Jedi Archives. It seemed the Force led them there. "Deadly to both practitioner and opponent. I know however that Master Albion practices Juyo, not Vaapad, though both are of course interlinked."

Sam stopped at the foot of the entrance of the Jedi Archives.

"Do you have a dark side?" asked Sam suddenly. He wanted to cut to the chase. If his new padawan was at risk of falling to the dark side, Sam wanted to know. "Or have you ever been close to it?"

 

[MightyPants]

"Certainly it is, master" the human talked, trying to enter the conversation again "Every second, every movement is dangerous for the practitioner. You are in the middle of what we call the Dark Side and the Light Side, working shoulder to shoulder with the evil side of everyone. A moment, just seconds, can take you to the use of your feelings. I am sure you know what happens after that, master Kisgart"

Probably Kisgart had in his mind what were the risks of the Vaapad use and the explaining effort was just a form to stuck the conversation, but reminding him was for sure a help, and Vaeth never spared his efforts to help the others. But talking about that was not the imperative of the moment and they were approaching to the Jedi archives.

"We all have a dark side and a light side, so he have to be mindful of what we do to don't fall in the claws of the Dark Side" Vaeth opened, just before telling his dark past "Once, my dark side took the control of me. I loved a girl, a Jedi as I am now, and we escaped to live together, although it was a child error. Well, my dark side took possesion of my body and I started to train to gain power through sensations, also elevating my overall skills, but the price was ridiculous and it was just an error..."

 

[Cyclops]

The Padawan seemed eager and anxious at the same time. A cloud of confusion surrounded him and as Sam had expected, Vaeth revealed the dark side encounter that he had flirted with. Sam pondered slightly as they entered the Archives. He did not expect a student with such dangerous practices however, he did not shy away from such challenges. In fact, whilst he wondered if the Council should be made known of Vaeth's dark side possession and past, Sam also thought that it was best if they didn't.

The Council was harsh and quick to judge in Sam's eyes. This despite their collective wisdom and age. Perhaps Sam simply didn't trust old men who sat and deliberated rather than act.

Sam smiled a thin smile upon his lips at his padawan as he ended his story.

"It will be an error I hope you never make again," said Sam his voice a hint of sterness. "Make no mistake Vaeth, I do not tolerate delving into the dark side though I will aid you in keeping your balance. However I will know if you are falling to the darkness. My senses are well attuned to search such feelings."

Sam stopped at a rather long table in the middle of the archives, standing next to his favourite seat, a spot that allowed him to see most of the Archives chamber. It was less busy here and quieter. A few knights and masters roamed the great archives chamber though they did in their own silence, busy with their own business. There were few padawans. Most of them disliked the scholarly part to a Jedi's code of studying and learning. However, Sam had decided that this was perhaps a good place to start to train Vaeth.

"Welcome to the Archives," said Sam. "Here the are records upon records of ancient knowledge, overseen by our own Loremaster. Now, tell me what you wish to learn first? Philosophy? Or questions on your lightsaber form? Or perhaps a new skill of the Force? We will seek the appropriate holobook, learn first theory before I proceed on with the practical. Padawans these days only know how to do things, but never why, which is a great shame as they can never truly understand the full potential of their actions."

 

[MightyPants]

"I promise it, master Kisgart" He mentioned "Now I have the necessary to maintain in the Jedi path"

Vaeth could feel how the voice of his master calmed him. Sam talked with such a wisdom that Vaeth immediately had no fear of what he was scared about, although the need of being awake to don't fall in temptations was ever in the mind of Denevah. He knew it better than any padawan in the temple.

However, now he had one confident to tell all the problems with his inside.

"I have some memory of this place. Gorgeous, as ever" Vaeth smiled. It was not his problem, but he feel a little bad about all the money and used to decorate the place would be better in most useful things. But it was just what he thought "Truly a Shame, master Kisgart. There is no worst thing than acting without a why to" Exclaimed Vaeth "However, I would like to have a re-learning of the philosophy of the Jedi. I need to re integrate myself into the order and the doctrine of the Jedi. Next we can start with training other things, but now the philosophy is imperative."

 

[Cyclops]

"You show wisdom in your choice," praised Sam lightly. "Philosophy is the fundamental building block, the purpose of our being where we are."

Sam turned, reach out his hand from beneath his coat, he stretched it out ahead of him into a shelf of holobooks. In his mind he pictured the object he desired, that he had read several times before when he first started as a padawan, lost and finding his purpose and what it meant for him to be a Jedi. Then, slowly, from amongst the hundreds of stacks, a single one came to him, floating serenly, cutting across the air, avoiding and dodging several passerbys before spinning with a flourish and landing in Sam's open receiving hands.

"Here," said Sam, handing it over to his padawan, "is something I've read many times, when I was a young padawan. It is called "The Way, The Pillars and The Codes." It contains records of many great Jedi Masters, from Master Windu to Master Luke Skywalker himself. It is not a textbook, more of a compiled journal. It goes into great detail the purposes of the Jedi, with the perspectives of many different Masters. It shows that each Jedi has their own unique views and struggles. I thought it'd be a useful to read Master Windu's records of his difficulty against his dark side when creating Vaapad and of his close friends who fell to the darkness when trying to adopt it."

Sam motioned for his padawan to sit down on one of the ornately carved seats, as he too sat down.

"Now, I'd like to hear from you," said Sam, his tone grave and serious. "In this time of war, what do you think is our purpose as Jedi? What are you prepared to do as a Jedi? And how do you think the galaxy percieves the Jedi right now? Benevelonent scholars or inept warriors or whatever else? Tell me what you think, then also, recite to me our Code."

 

[MightyPants]

Vaeth smiled. His choice was fairly accepted by his master, without taking excuses or convincing the padawan to seek for another kind of training.

Next to that, Sam moved turning his body to the shelf of the archives. He looked concetrated, looking to the perfect holobook to gave to Vaeth. He really wanted to teach the padawan, it was notoriuos, so Vaeth was decided to demonstrate all his potential and perseverance to improve under the tutelage of him. Finally, the master had the holobook to train Vaeth in the philosophy of the Jedi.

The explication was quite interesting. Vaeth was eager of reading the holobook, specially the journal part of Mace Windu of his fight against the dark when he created the form VII, Vaapad. Also he wanted to learn about the Master Skywalker and a lot more of ancient ones, but he needed to acquire knowledge of the great guardian, Windu. However, he also was going to read the pillars and the codes of the Jedi, specially concentrating in the Way. It was crucial to Vaeth having his own view of the force and the Jedi job, it was the only key to make a personality unique, and later becoming a complete Jedi.

"Thanks master Kisgart," Vaeth opened "I'm sure that is an interesting read."

Vaeth sat in the seats with his master, while taking glimpses of the holobook. It was the first time that he had one on his hands, and he was sure that the knowledge of the little book was just vital to him.

"My vision of this, " Vaeth took a pause to choose, carefully, the words "Our purpose has been forever serve, study and use the Force, to bring peace to the galaxy and the Force. In this war our purpose is to destroy the Sith Imperium and all the Dark Side things that can create more and more Dark Side adepts. However, first we need to achieve justice, because with that the peace can take the control of the galaxy. As a Jedi, I'm prepared to help in the search of peace, also studying the force and comprehending it. Now I'm just a little human, but with the Jedi beliefs and the Force as an ally I can be a very powerful person. The galaxy, now, perceives us different depending of the kind of person. Some people thinks that we are benevolent and we bring peace to the galaxy, and some others perceives us as destroyers, bad persons, but mostly we are seen as "weird" people that doesn't help. "

Now was the time for the Jedi Code, the one that he followed and once he betrayed. He closed his eyes, meditating for a while.

"Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy." Meditating remained Vaeth "Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect." He thought that doing pauses between paragraphs do it more easy to recite "Jedi respect all life in the galaxy, in any form it may take." Vaeth remained without moving but his mouth "Jedi to not rule others, but serve them for the welfare of the galaxy." And then was the final "Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge, training, and self-discipline."

 

[Cyclops]

"Good," nodded Sam his heart feeling rather at ease as well as pleased. He was at least sure that Vaeth knew of his mantras and his character seemed strong. But even then, someone as young and naive as him was a target for the dark side. He will have to check on him regularly, though he didn't want to worry too much either. Faith was something Sam practiced. Many Knights and Masters did not trust their padawans, and in some cases that led to discord and anger. Sam wanted to trust Vaeth. He wanted to show him that he believed in him fully. "Now, remember your codes and beliefs of the Jedi and constantly refer to them in times of need. Reflect upon them from time to time during your meditation. Think back of your actions when you go through your day to day life and think whether or not you have followed the Code with your actions. Or whether you have strayed from it and into a darker place. It will keep you in check. The Way of the Jedi must be the path you walk."

Surveying his padawan, he felt through the Force that he had understood and that he was at least more comfortable with him now. But Sam still believed he should show his trust to his young padawan to earn it as well as respect.

"Tell me, do you know how to build a lightsaber?" asked Sam as the idea came to him rather suddenly. "A Jedi cannot truly feel the burden of his duties nor realize his true path in the Force without the weapon in which to act it. It is unconventional for a padawan to build a lightsaber on his first lesson and at such a young age, but perhaps it would be good for you to exercise your restraint in weiding such a dangerous weapon."

 

[MightyPants]

"I will" Vaeth only pronounced. He don't needed more to express than those simple two words. But the practice of the promise was the matter. Vaeth may did a lot of agreements during his past, yet he had broke most of them. Anyway, don't breaking that spoken contract was the unique thing that concerned to the padawan.

It seemed that now he had a sort of homework from his master, so he was going to do it. Returning to his dark past, though only in memories and thought, wounded his hearth and asked to himself why he didn't stopped one day to think in deep what he was doing. He didn't even loved with all his hearth the girl that leaded him to the dark side, and it was just being stupid from the new angle of view that he had. But the past now ashes to him and he wanted to live in his present, doing the best to improve and make his master proud.

"I think I know how" Said Vaeth after some seconds "While I was in the younlings clans we watched some Jedi creating them. Also I know what are the basics parts, but I haven't practiced it yet, master Kisgart" He finally finished.

He was excited and eager, but he remained intact and immobile as all the talk with his master. It was a new power to him, yes, but it was a new responsibility that he had never handled on his hands before.

 

[Cyclops]

As like any other padawan, Vaeth seemed eager to build his own weapon. While he didn't think that Vaeth was lying about knowing how to build a lightsaber, Sam knew it was better if he taught it to him again. Building lightsaber was an art and building the first one was a special occassion. He didn't want anything to go wrong.

"Well then," started Sam as he rose from his seat. "I think why not we build one tomorrow for your second lesson. I'm afraid I have to leave to see the Council right now but tomorrow morning we shall forge you a worthy weapon alright?"

Sam stepped aside and looked at the time. He didn't want to miss the Council members leaving.

"Bring whatever parts you think you would like to use tomorrow at the entrance of the Temple," told Sam. "We will be leaving the Temple to an old cave, the same one that I went to as a padawan, to pick your crystal. There we will craft your weapon. For now, I'd like you to go and read up on that holobook and reflect on the Codes. Recitation of the Code is necessary for the weapon forging ceremony."

And with that, Sam left the archives.

((We'll just use this thread and you can post that they were at the temple entrance the next day or whatever.))

 

[MightyPants]

"It seems perfect, master Kisgart" Vaeth said, while he nodded. Making a lightsaber, the symbolic weapon of the Jedi was one of his dreams when he just arrived to Tython. But he didn't knew a lot about the crafting of one, and he knew that the Jedi Order was going to obligate him to follow new orders or codes. Vaeth visualized on his mind what he thought was going to be a sort of sketch of his first lightsaber. "Tomorrow sounds great."

Now Vaeth needed to read the holobook, bring parts to craft the lightsaber, find peace on his mind and eat and rest. It didn't sounded like a great trouble for the normal persons, but the padawan didn't liked to do a lot of things without taking pauses, but it was special this time, and it deserved a sacrifice.

"Good luck with the council, master Kisgart" Vaeth said, just after leaving in a different direction as his master did. It was for him an obligation wishing good things, he was raised in that way "I'll see you tomorrow" He said, after finally leaving.

__________​

Next Day
Tython
Jedi temple
Temple entrance​

Vaeth woke up early that morning. Probably he didn't sleep or he woke up in the dawn. His instincts and the eager to met his master were fairly more than the wish of sleeping. Though, he was not able to keep all the morning without sleeping, so he started to learn the Mace Windu journal and memories. It was an interesting reading, and he could learn a lot from what he was able to read until the time of the meeting was near him.

Fast, Vaeth took the holobook and putted it on a shelf on his room with extremely caution, to don't damage it. He took his robes and a bag with the materials that he thought were special and unique. Then, he, aided by his knowledge of the temple, started to run and slip into the crowds to get at time to the meeting with master Kisgart.

It was disrespecting the Jedi Knight, so he needed to get to the entrance. However, he had sometime until the final hour, but he was skeptical to what his brain said. It was time to show his instincts.

"I'm here" He said, when he got to the entrance, gasping.

 

[Cyclops]

"Come now," said Sam rather briskly without even asking why he was panting, as he led him out of the Temple and past the courtyard, the wind blowing a sun baked breezed through the lush grass and into the forest ahead of them. "Have you brought everything required?"

Sam eyed his padawan with a glance. While he was sure that Vaeth had brought everything required, Sam carried several spare parts in the pocket of his long leather coat just in case. Besides, he thought perhaps he would make one himself if he found a suitable crystal.

"And have you read the journals of Master Windu? You have bags under your eyes so I'd assume so," said Sam. "Unless you were up to something else entirely."

He entered a familiar looking path through the forest, it brought several flashes of old memories into his mind. As they walked deeper and deeper he could almost feel himself turn back the clock, remembering the days when he was a new padawan here on Tython and he had met his other padawan friends. Fyston amongst the group. As the moved in deeper into the forest, the trees seemed bigger and closer. It would feel as though they were lost, but Sam reached out to the Force, and he felt a strange familiar stirring in the Force just ahead.

 

[MightyPants]

"Of course I have, master" Vaeth said, while he smiled. He had to move inside all the entire temple a lot of times just to get the materials that he wanted to, but, despite from his enthusiasm he probably forgot one part or two. But it was part of his padawanship, the typical errors that made a simple child into real man. Although he didn't wanted to, he needed.

With a total confidence on himself and the experience of Sam, Vaeth started the trial. He didn't even took a break to stop and recover the energies, he just started again. He was curious about acquiring an lightsaber, but not just that, also getting the basic knowledge and involving him into an adventure and forge ceremony with his master excited him. He imagined that like the adventures that Luke Skywalker had almost a millennium ago with his master, the legendary Ben Kenobi.

"I did, all the night and dawn" Vaeth nodded, while showing a little smile "Quite interesting, they made me think about the Vaapad, and also my own philosophy. I am eager to read more"

He didn't knew where was the cave and entering the forest confused him a bit, but he was, most than concentrating on the landscape, thinking and meditating about his mantra. He may needed a little change or two to adjust it to his real feelings and lightsaber form.

 

[Cyclops]

"Ah, there we are," said Sam as he saw the entrance of the cave, lined with old ferns and moss, old roots of a large centuries old tree penetrating through rock and into the soil. The entrance was small, barely Sam's height and certainly, a Hutt would never be able to get past them but Sam knew, inside it would open up wider, almost the size of the Temple's hallways. "Come on, let's go inside."

Sam led the way, squeezing past the small opening, pushing aside leaves and vines that drapped over it like a curtain. Immediately the darkness blinded him, a blur in his sight, but he allowed it to adjust, though he did not stop. Using the Force to sense his surroundings he simply carried on walking, dodging the jutting rocks.

"Careful not to bump into anything," said Sam, his words echoing off the walls. "Not far from from here."

They walked slowly and he was right. Several feet ahead he could see some light, though not light from the sun. Light from a very different source. They glowed magnificently, illuminating the entirety of the cave, several crystals embedded in the stone.

"Come," said Sam. "But don't touch anything yet. Quite a sight isn't it? Looks almost the same. Don't think anyone's been here besides me."

 

[MightyPants]

Vaeth looked at the entrance of the cave. Judging for the appearance of the entrance, it looked like if anyone in century's had know about the existence of the cave. Although the real way to maintain a crystal cave was not disturbing it. There was not problem entering the cave, following his master. He had to trust his sight, blinded by the total darkness, to Sam.

"I will not, master" Pronounced Vaeth. He was really caring about what his master said, for the first time in his lifetime he was totally taking serious something.

Vaeth, with the bag now on his belt, tried to see something with the Force, although he didn't had the appropriate training to do it. He could instinctively try to do it since his master had no problem to cross the dangers of the cave with the aid of the Force. Vaeth could simply see the most notable rocks and the walls, barely. But his instict helped him, demanding him to follow his master.

"This is beautiful" He said when they finalized the part of the cave before the crystals. Finally he nodded when Sam didn't left him touch the crystals.

He had never saw crystals of that size and in that abundance. The colors were too bright and they could express things, different things depending on the crystal. Every one had his own personality and was unique, almost for his eyes.

 

[Cyclops]

"Now then, any crystal here can be picked and used to build a lightsaber," lectured Sam as he took of his leather coat and let it hang over a boulder. "To many people it doesn't really matter which. Besides colour people don't really think much about what crystal they pick for themselves."

He unclipped his lightsaber and stared at it momentarily.

"However, I have a different philosophy and a theory," continued Sam. "Unlike others, I don't think they are just simple tools. I mean, just look at them! The Force is imbued in them, concentrated much more than in any other normal crystal. I believe, though I might be wrong, that they are perhaps quasi-sentient. As animate as an inanimate object can get."

His lightsaber began to float and began to strip into its basic parts, dissassembling itself infront of him, until his crystal was revealed.

"I believe, that the crystal seeks out its master," he whispered. "That it can call out to him, forging a connection between Jedi, crystal and blade. My crystal, I found it during a time of need, and now as a weapon, it is always there for me in times of crisis, never abandoning me when I need it most. Sometimes I think it can sense danger, though several other Jedi that I'm crazy but I believe in a Living Force unlike many others."

Sam stopped and quickly his lightsaber reassembled itself, whizzing and clicking about as screws returned tightening and fastening into place.

"Now, I'd like you to pick one," he said simply. "However, choose carefully and search your feelings. Make sure you pick the right one that is truly a match for you."