Confusion and Expectations

[Jia Darkhold]

Alchemy of the soul, the forces of nature at her control, the force wielded through passions. It was almost like a myth, a tale told to a child by loving family meant to encourage them to stand and be more then what they were. To push past their limitations. Yet she was not a child, not in the traditional sense. And [member="Darkhold"] was not a loving family member. He was a stranger, as she was to him. Only now was she beginning to get a sense of her parents Muad Fib and [member="Arabella Darkhold"].

And yet despite the misgivings she felt the weight of truth, the burden therein of a history not read but experienced. While she knew that the man once known as Garith Darkhold had been a presence for many years, she found it hard to believe he had come by this information first hand. It seemed impossible.

However, the modicum of truth resounded within her. She had felt the biting cold of hate, seemingly touching her flesh as her mind. The rage of circumstances that had caused her small candle flame to waver in her cell of a room. Perhaps there was truth, and if this was the case, then it meant she still had much to learn of who she was.

"How do I listen?"

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

"Its a little different than the force. It is...breath it has taken me a long time to listen I am still learning. But your" she looked at her father closing her eyes for just a moment, "your Grandfather can teach it.." if he wants to she thought.

Her own thoughts twisted for a moment as she remembered the vision, was there enough time?

She had learned long ago to not take his harshness as disapproval but his tone for another unfamiliar with him might find it hard to listen to him. She innocently reached over to touch Jia's hand to reassure her it was alright.

He had been her teacher, not a very patient one, but her teacher. He wanted them to know the right way not a half arsed way to do something. But he could impart some wisdom on them now as they book looked at him waiting.

[member="Jia Darkhold"] [member="Darkhold"]

 

[Garith Darkhold]

[member="Arabella Darkhold"] [member="Jia Darkhold"]

“How do we listen”, Garith held out his arms and pointed his large palms upward. “Take a breath. Feel the wind upon your skin. Listen to it blow through the leaves in the trees. Our ancestors called the Force the Breath. It is life and death. It flows around us like waves upon a pound. Do not listen for words. Feel the Force around you. Feel what it feels. Understand that it feels you. I know what I say may sound cryptic to you. It may sound strange at first. Feel the nature around you with your heart.”

 

[Jia Darkhold]

Instructions. Not commands from a master pushing you to Excel or be punished. It was a different experience. Disconcerting and pleasant at the same moment. Eyes flickered from [member="Arabella Darkhold"] to the ba'buir [member="Darkhold"] before trying to decipher the correct way of doing what he had instructed. But as his words washed over her she felt troubled. Relax and let the force flow. Shrugging her shoulders lightly she closed her eyes.

She felt the wind brush her flesh, a cool breeze that was pleasant. The warmth of the day had caused her to begin to grow slightly uncomfortable. Listening she heard the wind rustling the dead leaves upon the ground, the limbs in the skies above them, the light sound of cloth flapping. Reaching out in the force she even pinpointed the heartbeats of things around her, the breath that was drawn into lungs.

Yet she wasn't able to feel what he was speaking of. To the young woman the force was a tool one used, not a wellspring of knowledge that you could listen to. Her training was about how to utilize the force for your own means, not a shared perception created in harmony.

"I ... I don't feel anything."

The words crept from her mouth. She had failed and her shoulders bowed somewhat as if she was anticipating a retaliatory strike for her failure.

 

[Garith Darkhold]

“Do not let that discourage you”, there was uncommon warmth in the tone of his voice. He was not instructing a Sith to use the Force. He was showing a granddaughter the ways of her ancestors.

“Practice is the very foundation of learning. If we could just learn the first time we try anything then we would have no need for a word like practice. Listening to the environment will not just be about promotions. If you learn how the air moves around you, you can learn when someone is trying to attack you from behind. There are many applications this connection could help you with.”
“Tell me what you felt when you tried to listen.”



[member="Jia Darkhold"] [member="Arabella Darkhold"]

 

[Arabella Darkhold]

[member="Jia Darkhold"] | [member="Darkhold"]

"It takes time Jia it took me a really long time. Especially since I used the force for so long I had a hard time altering my focus to listening, rather than feeling." Bella then stepped back so that her father could teach, while she supported her daughter in the learning.

It was a warm feeling to watch him do this. Who would have thought that this was even possible? It was a memory that she would forever treasure. She looked at her father again. Was he leaving? She tried to force that away.

The vision had been so real.