Ask Yavin IV In the gardens

[Elidan]

After the library, the gardens of the Jedi Temple of Yavin IV where Elidan’s favourite place. He could stay reading there alone for hours. He always chose a secluded corner, hidden behind the bushes and preferably in the shade of a tree. No one would pass by, so he wouldn't have to communicate.

For him, learning sign language had greatly improved his life. However, as not everyone in the temple knew it, he ended up experiencing moments of embarrassment. Elidan had already lost count of how many times other Padawans had stared at him without understanding as he tried to communicate using the signs. So they left thinking he was weird. Even with him having his Datapad for cases like that, the Padawan still prefered to stay alone.

So it was no surprise that during the free time the Padawans had had today, Elidan was using his Datapad to read. While the others chatted in small groups scattered around the gardens, the half-Sephi sat alone in the shade of a tree. The boy was so engrossed in his reading that he probably wouldn't even notice if anyone approached.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex stared out at the Temple gardens. The place felt different without Drow. Day to day operations remained the same and Crix was a dedicated learner, but it was not the same. She’d get used to it. Hard as that decision was, she was certain of it. Her fellow Master left her no good road. She banished a friend. Alex could only hope he would rise to the occasion on Ifrane. Sevrin would help…even if he did not want to. Her life was a constant stream of meetings. They all seemed steeped in implication to point she often felt no one really understood anything. One small tie to the order after the next until she built a web that might hold the Sith at bay.

It was all so stressful. That was why she came to the gardens. Peace felt possible here with the Force blossoming all around her. Here she could forget for a moment the darkness descending around them. She could find serenity so often lost these days. So, Alex strolled the gardens, nodding to those passing by. Her eyes snagging on a young Padawan beneath a tree. She did not recognize the young man. Smiling, Alex walked over. She made a point to know every Jedi…as much as she could.

“Hello young one, anything interesting?” The Padawan’s nose firmly buried in a datapad.

@LouJoVi

 

[Carson Lurg]

(@LouJoVi can I join the roleplay?

 

[Elidan]

As expected, Elidan was so engrossed in his reading that he didn’t notice the arrival of the Jedi. When he heard her voice, the Padawan jumped out of surprise and turned to look at who was talking with him. His eyes widened when he noticed that the person was Grandmaster Alexandria Voran herself. The boy started to feel nervous and the point of his ears twitched.

He never met the Grandmaster before. What if he does something that makes her mad? The half-Sephi contemplated the idea of running away, but it would be very disrespectful to the Jedi Master. The only thing that he could do now was answer her, but he would need to be careful to not do something that could make her mad with him. The last thing that Elidan wanted was to the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order furious with him.

"Hello. I'm reading about the fauna of the deep areas of Mon Cala." he signed to the Jedi Master, his hands a bit shaken. Elidan had stumbled at this article while looking around the Holonet. He never thought that the deep areas of the sea could have so many creatures. It was fascinating. "There are so many animals living there. They have so many sizes and forms, some are even giant."


@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Oh dear. Not only had Alex startled the young Jedi but she also could not understand the hand motions. She could feel the nerves flashing through the Force. Certainly not her intent. The general meaning of the signs floated through the Force. It wasn’t enough.

Very gently she brushed across his thoughts. Ah…that was better. In her century of life, Alex had picked up more than a few odd languages. Signing did not happen to be one of them. Again, very gently, her thoughts touched his. The name quickly popped into her mind. She decided this was much easier. Projecting her thoughts.

“Fascinating topic.” Alex’s eyes flicked to the groups of Padawans standing around. “Although, on such a beautiful day, I would think you’d be out and about with your classmates.” She smiled. The Padawans often stirred up trouble on the nice days. It was a beautiful day and the young ones needs to get out from the stuffy Temple.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

After he finished signing to Master Voran, Elidan noticed the look on her face. The half-Sephi knew that look very well, after he had seen that in many people before. The look of confusion for not understanding the meaning of his signs. This made his nervousness increased, causing the tips of his ears to continue twitching. The Grandmaster probably thought that he was some weirdo, like the other Padawans.

He was already going to excuse himself and go away when he felt something. It was as if someone was trying to gently touch his mind, searching for his thoughts. Elidan turned to Alex, he wondered if it was her who was doing that. The Padawan answer came when the Jedi Master started to project her thoughts on his mind. The boy widened his eyes, he never knew that it was possible.

“I don’t feel much comfortable around them.” he looked toward the other Padawans “They can’t understand my signs. I could write what I want to say on my Datapad and show it for them to read, but many of them think that it’s annoying. Some even think that I’m a weirdo because I don’t speak.” at this point he looked sad, his ears flattened a bit. He really wanted to have friends, but with his shyness and mutism it was so difficult for him to communicate with others. "Maybe I'm really a weirdo."

He thought that this form that they were using to communicate could be useful for him to talk with others. The half-Sephi wondered if he could learn it. Would Master Voran be offended if he asked? Then he remembered that he didn’t say his name to her. “Oh, my name is Elidan.” with his face red, he would look directly at the Grandmaster's eyes. The worst that she could say was no. “Master, is it possible for a Padawan to learn this ability you are using to talk with me?” he hoped that she would say yes.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex carefully held the bridge between their minds. She did not wish to startle young Elidan again. She flicked her eye around the garden. It was difficult for the Grandmaster to travel unnoticed in the Temple. Already, a few looks drifted their way. Good. Alex very pointedly sat on the ground beside the Padawan. She arranged her robes and smiled. His signs were much easier to understand with his thoughts flowing freely before her. “Elidan” A soft smile appeared again. “I’m Alex…I try to know all our students, but time has been slipping past me lately.” The Morellian Jedi had never been one for fancy titles.

“We are all a little strange.” Her hands reached up and the Force followed. The branches in the tree slowly shaking. “No one who can do that is normal, but they should not treat you so.” She had half a mind to set this problem right herself, but lessons were best learned when not shoved down your throat. She would only make it worse if she intervened. “I can teach you. Any Jedi can read and project thoughts with practice.”

Yes, they were drawing a bit of attention now. “But the key is confidence. Do you feel confident, Elidan?” There was no hesitation in the Force. You must act swiftly and decisively. Alex was a talented user of the mindscape. Her skills with mental manipulation surpassed all others. She could teach Elidan but he needed to sure of himself for any of this to work.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan smiled at the Master when she said her name. It wasn’t necessary, he knew who she was. All Younglings and Padawans knew Alexandria Voran, she was probably the wisest Jedi alive. They also say that she was intimidating, but so far the half-Sephi thought that she was very nice and kind. Only by her wanting to know all of the students, showed that she really cared for them.

He felt Master Voran use the Force and stared in awe at the branches of the tree. Elidan never knew that it was possible to do something like that. The Grandmaster was really powerful. Maybe she was right, their abilities with the Force weren't considered normal by many people of the Galaxy.

"It's incredible!" he would say to her through their connection."Can I also learn how to do it?" he looked at the Grandmaster, his eyes sparkled with interest. He was always curious to learn new things and since he still didn’t had a Master, for him any interaction with older Jedi where he could learn new things was precious to him.

He smiled at Alex when she said that he could learn how to talk telepathically. However, it disappeared from his lips when she asked if he had confidence. Elidan trusted the Force and knew that he was capable. "Yes, I'm." he was confident that learning this ability would help him communicate with the others.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Of course, young one. All things are possible through the Force.” She raised a finger. “But one step at a time.” She slowly withdrew her mind from Elidan, gently ending their mental connection. He could not learn if she did all the heavy lifting. Alex switched to more traditional communication. “There are two parts of any telepathic communication.”

She raised that same index finger. “One, you must find the mind of who you wish to speak with.” She put up a second finger. “Then you must project your thoughts…just as if you were speaking.” The Morellian Jedi ensured her mental walls were down. She made no effort to hide herself in the Force. There was no need to make things more difficult.

“Deep breath, expand your awareness and reach for me.” The first steps in learning anything knew where always difficult, but this could be particularly challenging. For Alex, speaking through her thoughts was as easy any normal conversation. That only came through years of practice. Elidan was hopefully about to take his first step on that long road.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan nodded to Alexandria. The half-Sephi needed to have patience, he had already asked the Grandmaster to teach him how to communicate with others telepathically. Perhaps he could ask her to teach him how to use the Force to control the plants in another moment.

The Padawan paid close attention to the explanation of the Morellian. She had ended the telepathic connection between the two and was talking with him normally. Elidan nodded at her. He would need to focus and search for her. It didn’t seem to be so difficult, but would he be capable of doing that?

Then he remembered that Master Voran said that he needed to have confidence and that anything was possible with the Force. Elidan took a deep breath and turned to Alex, his blue-green eyes sparkled with determination. Nodding at her, the half-Sephi showed that he was prepared to do that.

Looking to the Grandmaster he would use the Force in an attempt to reach her. The half-Sephi would focus on her, trying to establish a telepathic connection. At first nothing would happen. Elidan could feel Alex's presence, but couldn’t reach her mind. Thinking that perhaps he wasn’t focused enough, the boy would close his eyes and have the Force be his only guide.

Doing it, he could feel his surroundings. Then he focused on the strong Force presence that was beside him. He reached for her, trying to project his thoughts in her mind. After several attempts, Alex would be able to hear Elidan’s voice in her mind “...name...Elidan.” due to it being his first time, the phrase didn’t come perfectly. However, now that the connection was made, the half-Sephi would continue talking, until finally he would be able to make a full, but short phrase. “Thank you, Master.”


@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex waited in quiet silence. Her presence carefully hummed in the Force. This was no easy feat, and she would not rush the young Jedi. He could do it…she knew that. In time, slowly, she felt their minds touch, but it was not her connection. Elidan’s voice vibrated in her thoughts.

Alex smiled. “Well done.” Her voice beamed with pride. “It takes many far longer to establish that first connection.” Her smiled widened. “You should be proud.” Alex waved her hand around the gardens. “Now all it takes it practice…lots of practice…on your friends.” Elidan needed to break out of his shell. No matter how terrifying that might be. Alex’s smile was a bit softer.

“That gets easier too.” She stood and brushed the dirt from her robes. “Now, how else can I help?” Her work was never truly done. This was but one step for the young Jedi with many more to come.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan blushed after hearing Alex. He wasn’t used to receiving praises, even less from the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. The half-Sephi didn't know how to react to this, he always thought that his abilities for a Padawan were average. Except the ones regarding Form IV, these were abysmal.

“Thank you! I’ll practice.” he said through their telepathic connection. Since he didn’t have many friends, Elidan would ask Zana if she could help him with it. Maybe his therapist Asadra Seh would help him too.

When Alexandria asked how else she could help him, Elidan felt a bit conflicted if he should ask her to teach him how to use the Force to control the plants. The Padawan knew about the existence of Plant Surge, but he never had seen someone doing it the way that the Grandmaster had done it.

Then he decided to take a risk and ask her. The only thing that she could do was say no “Could you teach me how to control the plants like you did?” he asked. Since he still didn’t have a Master, he needed to use any opportunity to learn new Force abilities.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“Ah.” Alex nodded slowly. “That bit is more challenging.” She considered herself skilled in calling the elements. No matter the world, the planet would answer her call. Even on Ifrane she could find the soul of the world. Yavin was all the easier. Old memories briefly flooded her thoughts. She used to call herself the healer and now…now she prided herself of wielding elements like a weapon. You have changed with the times Alex. You have become what they needed. She favored Elidan with a smile. “It’s not control…so much as asking for help.” She sunk back into the Force.

“And it is never the same. Here on Yavin, in the Temple, where the Light flows freely it is easy to feel the spirits of life around us. Elsewhere it will be more difficult.” She took a deep breath. “Each life flows in the Force…you can feel them.” She reached into Yavin’s surface. “But they are their own soul. It is not control…it is a request.” Her touch mingles with the plant life in the Force. She raised her hand and a few roots burst from the ground. “The Sith yoke the Force like a beast of burden. This is not out way. Ask the right way and life will answer.”

She pointed around them. “Go on. Try.” Alex waited for young Elidan to join her in the Force.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan smiled when Alex agreed to teach him. He couldn’t believe that he was being lucky enough to have the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order to teach him not only one Force ability, but two. The Padawan knew that all these experiences would be very helpful to his development as a Jedi.

The Padawan paid close attention to the explanation that Alexandria gave to him. Asking for permission. He never thought about it this way, but it made sense. The Jedi don't control the Force and life, they protect them. This way, it only makes sense to say that the way that they interacted with the Force was by asking its permission. In opposition to how the Sith dominate and subvert it to their will.

He watched in awe when Master Voran made some roots appear from the ground. It was really amazing. The Padawan knew about plant surge, but never thought about the possibility of someone doing it. This showed how the Morellian was powerful and wise. Elidan was grateful that she was going to share this wisdom with him.

After Alex asked him to try, Elidan took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and opened himself to the Force, feeling the living being around him. The Padawan could feel the plants, insects and Master Voran. He could feel how each one of them were different in the Force. He would focus on a bush that was in front of him, trying to make it move its branches.

Elidan would struggle with it. He still doesn't completely understand how to “ask” for the bush “permission” to allow him to make it move. After some time, he decided to pour the bush with feelings of peace, calm and respect. It still didn’t work. Then, he tried to open himself even more to the Force. This time he would not only feel the life, but connect himself with it.

What he felt, reminded the half-Sephi of when he established the mental bond with Alex. Now feeling how he was connected with the life, Elidan started to emanate feelings of peace through this connection. Opening his eyes, the Padawan would raise his hand toward the bush. For his amazement, he would see how a single branch moved. It was more a twitch than anything else, but it was enough to make him smile.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The Force moved silently in Elidan. Alex watched closely as he tried to follow her instructions. She was smart, capable, and possessed a quiet compassion not often found in youth. Alex smiled broadly despite herself. She had not taken a student in some time. She’d have been proud to teach Elidan but something grabbed at her. Her time was not her own. Her responsibilities carried her far and wide. Did she have time for a student? Maybe…but a greater concern weighed her down. Elidan was a kind and gentle soul. Alex’s life was no longer kind nor gentle. Violence found her at every turn. She would not subject the young man to the perils of her life. If she were to take a student again, it would be one well suited to the harsh realities of her calling. The Force hummed in agreement.

“Well done!” She clapped her hands together. “A little more practice with both and you’ll have the basics down before you can blink.” The Morellian Jedi was impressed. Elidan showed a knack for telepathic communication and shaping his environment. These were not common skills. She was mildly certain she knew the answer, but Alex asked anyways. “Do you have a Master, Elidan?”

The young man needed proper teaching. Teaching she could not give him. The Force started to bubble a path beneath her feet. A plan formed quickly in her head. Her mind cast for a certain ornery Shadow who needed his feet grounded. “You can learn only so much in this Temple.” Elidan needed the right master to unlock his full potential. She thought this might work.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan smiled with Alexandria’s praise. He would practice with it every day, this way in the future he would be able to do the same that the Grandmaster could. However, he thought that it was a silly thought. The Padawan wondered if someone like him could even reach the level of power that Voran had. The maximum that he could be was a Knight.

If Alexandria had asked him if he had a Master last week, Elidan’s smile would die on his lips and the Padawan would say that sadly he didn’t have one. However, this question only made the half-Sephi’s smile grow on his lips. “Yes! Two days ago I met with Jedi Knight Haldir Eressëa at the Library, and I asked him to be his Padawan. He accepted!”

He agrees with her comment about the Temple. This place was amazing and had become his home. However, there were several things that a Padawan like him could only learn outside of these walls. Master Voran probably also learned this way. Thinking about it made the half-Sephi wonder how was the Morellian time as a Padawan.

Since the half-Sephi was always a curious person, these thoughts became a question and he soon asked Alexandria about it. “Master Voran, how was your time as a Padawan? Did you have many friends?”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She smiled softly at Elidan’s last question. How much different life was back then…how different the Jedi were. “My Master, Alloran Thadus, found me some eighty odd years ago…our Order was much different then.” She absentmindedly rubbed her hands together. “There were not as many of us and gathering was not always safe. I spent most of time away from the Temples…even when I became a Knight.”

Perhaps this would help Elidan. Perhaps he would be able to see she had once been in his shoes. “After Master Thadus died I was alone for a very long time. Master Zapan found me and convinced me to come home.” Back on Oren was leading the Order and Alex was still trying to find her way. He was gone like the other now.

“I was afraid. I knew no one. I had no friends…I was lonely…but in time I learned to let others in. I learned to set aside that fear.” Her smile grew wider again. “And now, you all are my family. It’s always scary at first but it is worth it.” She patted the young Padawan on the shoulder. “You’ll learn, Elidan. I promise and I’m always here if you need me.” Alex shot a quick look around the gardens. “Besides, I have a feeling our little chat will make you quite popular.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Now go practice what I showed you and impress Jedi Eressea.” Haldir was a good man if a bit rough around the edges. She knew he’d take special care of Elidan.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

When he heard Alex say that she was Padawan eighty years ago. Elidan became surprised, but soon he remembered that the Grandmaster was a Morellian and her species had long lives. He wondered how much she saw during her long life. Master Voran probably has some interesting stories to tell.

She talking about her time as Padawan made him think about himself. He has some friends now, but he still spends most of the time alone. It was good to have friends that care for you, but Elidan still appreciated the silence and peace of some moments of solitude.

“I’ll practice it.” Elidan got up from where he was seated, he had decided to start practicing at this moment. “Thank you, Master. I really liked our chat.” he bowed to her, before walking away. Before he could get too far away from Alex, the Padawan turned to look at her one last time. “I’m very honored and happy for being considered part of you.”

@Valen Pelora