Encountering Allies

[Kyrinov]

Bastion
Sith Academy on Bastion
Library under the Academy

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Bastion, much like Korriban and Dromund Kaas, was a world which could rightly be called a Sith World. It was theirs, this radiating Dark Side energy pulsing in the sandy hills of the planet, whispering to those with the will to listen to its beckoning call and settling a seed of inhibition in those who would steer clear of its path entirely. However, the energy here was a mere peck compared to the raw power contained within Korriban. Nonetheless, the Academy here was excelllent. An epitome of Sith learning and the vast knowledge of Lords past and present. The library underneath the Academy was dark, shadowed by stories of the past, accounts of time and time again when various Sith Empires and Orders fell and rose anew from the ashes as a brilliant Dark phoenix. Scrolls and thousands upon thousands of various other manuscripts full of tales of a time when the Sith were far stronger than they were now, closer to their teachings, more apt to the glory and power some Sith still sought vainly for. Books full of instructions on lightsaber combat, the evolution of sabers, the inticate and delicate patterns through which history shaped the both the galaxy around them and the choices of all sentiment beings within it.

The usual fluorescent, sickly green lanterns were off, leaving the massive space in near complete darkness, save for a single lantern which gave a small area light. The dark is comforting here, generous even. Here, in the utter silence of night. The light from upper levels and several windows dim to the point of being mistaken as non-existent. The air was damp and stale in this room, the staleness due to the ancient texts stored and preserved within miles of tall, grey bookshelves which stretched to the durasteel ceiling. There seemed to be hardly any oxygen this far down, the atmosphere stabilized by machinery which made the lack of air just endurable enough to be called inhabitable.

The pressure here was immense, compressed by hundreds of feet of sandy brown rock, the imposing Academy, and the hundreds of inhabitants within the edifice. The atmospheric pressure was simply horrible, causing Acolytes to spend only an hour or two in the library at a time.Activity of the other Acolytes was down to a minimum, most preferring to sleep during the night hours. Though, they couldn't exactly be blamed for their fatigue. By now, simply descending the flights of steps to reach the library foreshadowed the environment one was only steps from entering. With the combination of the artificial oxygen and the pressure that weighed upon one's shoulder like a yoke they were not built to carry, the archive could only be described as an intolerable yet educational and necessary step of learning and growing.

To Tevro, however, it was the perfect place to meditate, study, and conduct his own private drills away from the bustle of the collective groups of Acolytes. There, he would often be found studying texts that dated back into the Old Republic era and even as far back as the Ancient Sith Purebloods who called Korriban home, from Darth Krayt to King Adas. Other times he could be heard and seen practicing lightsaber drills with the purple lightsaber he kept on his person at all times, stepping through movement after movement dozens of times to commit each flinch, each step, each swing, and each breath to muscle memory.

Tonight. however, the blind Zabrak was meditating near the back of the library, a lone green latern to light the vast setting. The shadows enveloped his kneeling, cloaked figure in a waiting maw of endless darkness, threatening to consume him from all angles. The air around him was terribly cold, sending chills down his spine which attempted to jeopardize his keen focus. He felt as though he could not breathe, every breath scraping at nerves already raw. Each breath held to the point of absolute, agonizing tension before being slowly exhaled over the period of a few seconds.

His knees dug into the unforgiving stone floor beneath him, muscles tense and screaming for release. Screaming for a bit of relaxation, of the gentle, comforting ease of rest. He knelt instead of sitting in a lotus position for meditation because it allowed him to focus more, allowed him to remain self-aware.

'Do not move,' he told himself. 'Feel it, the pain. Let it become your secondary focus, let it guide you, but never drive you to the point where you become mindless. Focus and let it fade into the back of your mind. Allow it to sink in and become but a memory.'

Once he allowed this to occur, he felt everything around him clearer, details sharpening to a lethal point. Though his eyes were closed softly and unseeing by natural means, the Force Sight he employed permitted him to see down the various rows of shelves around him. If he were to turn his head, he could even see the library entrance. But still, he pushed his knees further into the floor, leaning forward slightly, allowing himself to think and feel, and only those two principles governed him within that moment.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

The sound of boots clicking on thick stone preceded him, echoing down the spiralling staircase that would eventually bring him to the library deep in the bowels of the Academy. Many of the other Acolytes lamented the stale air down below, but he didn't mind; as long as it kept the texts from decaying, there would be no complaints from him. Besides, he tended to keep a small rebreather on his belt, not that he'd ever had to use it. Now the pressure, that was entirely different. He had spent most of his life planetside or on spacefaring vessels and so he was far from comfortable in the depths of the library, which was likely the only reason he didn't spend most of his day there. Still, he had been forcing himself to spend longer and longer in its dark halls and was now capable of staying substantially longer than most of his fellow Acolytes, though it was hardly a pleasant endeavour.

He liked to head down here every once in a while with no clear objective in mind, wandering the vast halls until he stumbled upon something interesting. It was for this reason he was heading down here at night; having just gotten back from off-world, his daily rhythm was entirely out of sync with Bastion's. Granted, this probably wasn't the best way to realign his daily rhythm, considering how the pressure tended to make him exhausted after prolonged exposure, but it had been a too long since he had been down here, at least in his mind. In reality, he had made a short visit just before leaving the planet, which hadn't been that long ago, but there was just something about this endless repository of knowledge that always drew him back.

Finding an inactive lantern near the entrance, he attached it to his belt, deciding not to light it just yet. Nothing but a small green light far in the distance, near the back of the library, lit up vast chamber, but that didn't bother him much. Closing his eyes he started wandering, allowing himself to drift along the empty aisles, waiting to see what would feel interesting tonight. He found himself walking further and further from the entrance, his erratic path eventually leading him towards the back of the chamber, as he revelled in the scent of ancient scripts while doing his best to push the nagging discomfort of the atmospheric pressure to the back of his mind.

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

He sucked in a sharp breath as the pain increased tenfold when he leaned forward, wincing from the discomfort. He only shook his head once and tried to focus again on his thoughts. Many things ran through his mind. Topics such as the One Sith, the evolution, or devolution of the Sith depending on who you ask. Thoughts of many beings he'd encountered rose and one in particular brought about a fleeting sense of anger and utter betrayal. He did not dwell on the mere thought of that person. But, one broad topic stood out to him in particular.

Sith Ideology.

'The philosophy of the Sith as a whole was, or could be, a complicated thing to analyze and even comprehend if one didn't take the time to find their own personal meaning to the Code. Most Sith, more likely than not, view the Code as a guideline. A shining example of the transcendence any Sith may reach if they did not get enthralled in the gain of more power that some of his fellows looked forward to. As he saw it, it would be better if a Sith were to simply master what power they currently have before seeking out more. If the Sith was unprepared to wield such power unchecked by their own nature or by others around him-', He pitied the one who acquired the power they lusted after for so long in vain.

But, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of boots clicking against the stone. First, the echoed from the entrance of the library. Then, the eastern section where the more ancient texts were stored. Finally, they settled to tap their leather back towards his direction. He remained still, head bowed as before. He reached out, peering through his 'sight' to see another Acolyte walking back towards the green light that surrounded the Zabrak. He did not recognize the man by name or by previous encounters, his presence within the Force was familiar to him, for a reason that escaped him entirely. It was a subtle one. One that he'd felt many times in his hours and days down in this very spot and throughout the library.He felt this same man could also be felt in various locations of the Academy that they both seemed to frequent. It was rather odd, he hadn't been down here quite some time. His stride was easy, carefree, and relaxed. Never suspecting that anything would go wrong down here, simply for the fact that no one ever spent as much time down in the suffocating library. His breathing was even and deep, as if to breath in as much oxygen needed to keep up his slow pace of walking. His boots struck the floor in a steady pattern of 1 step for every deep completed breath. The cool ease of him reminded Tevro of his name, one that he'd long forgotten out born out of lack of its use.

Finally, Tevro decided to speak one word in the brief hours he'd occupied the solemn library. That one word broke the simple comfort of silence that kept him in a relaxed state, despite the shadows which threatened to cave in on him and obscure the books behind him.

"Adrian." His voice was soft, yet forceful. It was clear though it was spoken in a manner that might have been perceived as hesitation had his tone been different. His deep voice rang throughout the library, echoing as a whisper of the original source the further it went from its owner. But, in relation to the man - to Adrian - it was as if the speaker was directly in front of him. And, in truth, he was. The speaker could be seen kneeling on the floor, the cloaked figure illuminated by a sole green lantern.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

As he walked through the library halls he began to perform his own version of Sith Meditation, allowing his subconscious mind to guide his feet as he delved inwards. Focusing on his emotions one by one, he analysed each, tested its intensity, sought out its origins, then dismissed it and moved on to the next. The joy of uncovering an ancient manuscript hidden by the Overseers so that only the most persistent would find it. The desire for more knowledge, more information, more power, in an endless quest towards perfection. The rage and contempt that filled him at the thought of the bloated form of a vile Hutt. The feeling of exhilaration as he remembered unleashing azure tendrils of sith lightning upon the Acolyte that had tried to duplicitously end his life during one of the Trials. Focusing it all into a maelstrom of passion, then forcing it into a single spark, a pinpoint of passion restrained.

Allowing it to flow through him, but keeping the rational mind in control. It was difficult, more difficult, he imagined, than the ridiculous fear of oneself practised by the Jedi, but the reward? The power it brought? It was just as great as any raging Sith but guided by cold logic. It didn't always work, of course. Sometimes passion ceased control, but he was getting better. One day. One day he would have the control he so craved in all things. One day, his passion would be as a pliant tool in his hand, acting decisively to achieve the very goals which his passions bring about. And on that day, he would be one step closer to true perfection.

As he finished his exercise of the mind, his breathing was still as steady as when he started, his form showed no sign of the passion that had coursed through him like a river of molten magma mere moments ago. Allowing his conscious mind to once again become alert to his surroundings, he found that he was now approaching steadily the light which he had seen from the entrance earlier. His eyes still closed, he felt, more than he saw, himself entering the outskirts of the sphere of light. "Adrian."

Opening his eyes slowly, his gaze fell upon a cloaked figure seated on the floor, illuminated softly from behind by the sole green lantern. Cloaked in shadow as the figure was, Adrian was unable to see any identifying features, but the Force? The Force had no such restrictions. Reaching out with his mind, he felt the presence of the figure. His signature was strong but not as volatile as many of the other Acolytes. It wasn't immediately familiar to him and so he delved into the vast expanse of his memory, analysing memories of his time in the Academy and beyond, looking for the signature, for he was sure he had felt it before. There. It had been amongst many in the library and the Academy above. It belonged to... a Zabrak. A warrior. They had never spoken and Adrian didn't tend to spend all that much time focusing on his fellow Acolytes, but he had heard of him.

"Hello, Tevro." He said, his voice animated, as was the norm for him, for only during the most exceptional of circumstances did he ever diverge from his usual cheerfulness.

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

"Hello, Tevro."

The voice which the words were borne of was one of immense content and excitement, it almost had him want to grin. But, despite the cheerful tone of Adrian's words, they rang throughout the small alcove in which he knelt. They echoed several times over and bounced off of the walls and into his ears, each reception of the words ringing louder and louder in his ears until the sound became utterly deafening. He remained still though, taking the verbal assault on his hearing into him, using it as a means to further calm himself and finish his final thoughts. Perhaps the other Acolyte knew what he was doing to the Zabrak, though Tevro doubted that he did. They never saw each other face to face before today, but he was sure that his name, if not his condition, had reached the absorbent ears of all in the Academy by now. Not that it truly mattered to him, let them know, let them say whatever they would of him and his "weakness". They were only helping him instead of harming him or his reputation.

He raised his cloaked head slowly, keeping his eyes closed as he inclined his head. He stood to his feet slowly, coming off of the right knee first, hearing his knee pop and hearing the sound echo out into the library. His right was followed gingerly by his left, which would come to straighten alongside his bent right leg. He stood to his full six foot height, choosing to keep his hood and cloak on. His face still shadowed by the black hood on his head, however, his leather pants and black loose tunic could be easily seen. He took in a few deep breaths, feeling Adrian's gaze still burning in his direction. He noted that Adrian was still a few inches taller than him, even at his full height.

He nodded to Adrian. "How have you been? It's been some time since I've felt you down here."

Tevro shifted his weight to his left side, opting to give his right side a bit of rest and center himself in the moment of the slight shift. This was odd, speaking to another Acolyte. Typically, he spoke to no one for any reason. He was silent and observant, listening and watching others for various characteristics, faults, strengths, insecurities, the list goes on and on. Every person he encountered, however brief a time, was a being which he analyzed to the point of knowing them almost as if he were their best friend. How long, then, had it been since he'd come into contact with Adrian? It had been a considerable time, close to the time of his arrival on Bastion. How much had he changed, if he changed at all? Was it a small, unnoticeable change or was it far more dynamic than Tevro originally imagined?

'I suppose I'll find out soon enough. Hopefully, he hasn't picked up the foolish habit to mock those who are different or have different views than his own as all the other self-confident Acolytes here. For the love of Ragnos, please let him be one of the few civilized beings in this place.'

Perhaps he would be the one to actually surprise Tevro, provide a bit of delight in this rather dismal and competitive environment they'd be thrown into. But, that was their way. Friendships formed and were shattered in mere instants after formation due to some Trial or duel or test they were put through.

Self dependence. That was what they were taught.

Alongside that, there was the principle that pain and hardship were to be expected even in times of temporary peace. There were days were the Trials claimed another life or two, or Acolytes were driven mad by the pressure placed upon them, or some simply just gave up and threw themselves at the mercy of the thousands of miles of dunes and sandstorms which Bastion was prone to. Perhaps it was as Darth Revan explained, "By its very nature the dark side invites rivalry and strife. This is the greatest strength of the Sith: it culls the weak from our order. Yet this rivalry can also be our greatest weakness." This, of course, begged the question of if the Sith as a whole, regardless of who led the Order, regardless of what we attempt to do to prevent the failure, would always be cursed to suffer this same fate. Not because of the Jedi, but rather of our own selfish natures. It was this part of the Sith that Tevro despised with a burning passion, the inability to recognize these faults and correct them, individually if needed. But, enough of his ramblings within his mind. He had a guest to interact with.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

Feeling the echo of his own voice wash over him, he found himself briefly analysing his own speech. His words were perfectly enunciated, every syllable being expressed with perfect clarity, but with the characteristically cheerful tone that differentiated him from many others who had received professional teaching in the art of proper diction. Yes, it would do nicely. It was a refreshing change from the rougher tone which pervaded the circles he had recently been frequenting.

As the Acolyte before him rose he could hear the pop of his knew, see how he his form was slowly straightened out. How long had the Zabrak been sitting here, he wondered. The pressure down here was always noticeable, even after trying his best to grow accustomed to it; he hadn't tried stationary meditation down here yet, but it was not a bad idea. The discomfort must be intense, the pain, considerable. Perhaps he ought to try it once, in order to build more of a resistance to pain. As Tevro stood before him, face concealed by a deep black hood, eyes still closed, he remembered another detail about his fellow Acolyte. The Zabrak was blind. Of course, that wasn't nearly as big of an issue for someone who could wield the force as it was for some mundane plebeian. Still, it was interesting. Some would have had cybernetic eyes installed, but that did not work for everyone. Whatever the Zabrak's reason, it intrigued him.

How had he been? A mundane question. One to which the answer would normally be a mere triviality. A gesture of politeness to be uttered and forgotten. Not this time though. Perhaps, for once, that question could receive an answer that would actually be met with interest, one that would not merely serve as a jumping board for more empty gestures. Smiling mischievously, he continued to look at Tevro as he came to lean against a nearby bookcase, looking the Zabrak in the eyes despite the closed lids, despite the blindness. "Quite well, quite well indeed. I left to seek out the seedier elements of our fair galaxy, as I had a need for test subjects to further my learning in ways that simply could not be fulfilled by the few prisoners the Overseers see fit to throw our way."

Gazing at the Zabrak as he awaited a response, he wondered why he had never spoken to Tevro before. After all, the Zabrak was intriguing. Far more intriguing than some of the gung-ho imbeciles that polluted the hallowed halls of the Sith, though that was certainly not a representative description of all of his fellow Acolytes. He quite enjoyed some of them, Sure, they would be pitted against each other at times, but it was rarely to the death, at least not necessarily to the death. He had killed fellow Acolytes, but that was a rare occurrence, and it had always been because they had made themselves his enemy, or because they were simply unworthy of becoming Sith. He didn't usually consider himself judge, jury, and executioner on these matters, but some were quite simply not cut out for the life of a Sith. He would have prefered to force those he killed into his servitude instead; they would never become Sith, but at least they could be of use to someone who could. Unfortunately, such was frowned upon by the Overseers, though they hadn't been offended when he offered the suggestion, instead reminding him that while the desire to subjugate was admirable, doing it to those destined to live or die as Acolytes would deteriorate the reputation of strength held by the Sith. Disappointing, but if he found himself with his blade to the throat of a Jedi... perhaps. But that was a question for another day.

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

His head nodded as if to affirm his own, random thoughts that swarmed through his rather exhausted mind. He searched his mind and pushed away the possibilities of physical and physiological fatigue but found that it was due to mental fatigue. It always took a heavy toll on his mind to maintain his Force Sight for an extended period of time. The toll was far larger when he didn't give himself any sort of break after six hours of usage. He let out a slow, deep breath as he severed his use of the Force ability, allowing himself to be thrown into total darkness. Another inhale and he could feel the massive space they stood in once again in its entirety. Another exhale and each individual section marker placed in between multiple books and scrolls became like small landmarks among the shelves. He could sense that Adrian was not far from him. A few more seconds and the Zabrak could tell that the other Acolyte was exactly three 30-inch steps, roughly 8 feet, from where he stood. He continued to let his mind rest, taking twenty deep breaths. Each breath took a total of sixteen seconds to complete. Four seconds inhaling, four seconds holding that breath, four seconds exhaling, and four seconds without air. The entire process repeated twenty times over took nearly five and a half minutes to complete

The rest was brief but it was a welcome reprieve from the taxing experience. The first thing to come to the light around was his face as his jet black hood was pushed gently off of his head by a firm hand. His face, a red tattooed stone despite the unusually warm expression that manifested a soft smirk across his features. The second thing to come to light was his lean, muscular build as he took off his cloak, setting it on a nearby bench. The tattoos along his arms were a labyrinth of black on a crimson backdrop. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. The rhythm of his fellow's breathing was easily identified as he stood up again. The third and final portion revealed would be his deep red moonstones which seemed to look directly into Adrian's own orbs. His eyes looked slowly up and down the other Acolyte as he resumed the usage of the ability known as Force Sight before settling to gaze in his eyes.

Another nod met Adrian's words. He wondered what sort of study he was implying. Thus, out of simple and eager curiosity, he asked, "Ways? What 'way' are you referring to? Alchemy, sorcery, combat, political, the gain of knowledge on various tolerances?"

This fascinated Tevro, the development of a being and his or her knowledge. It added to his current insight of them and it also opened up possible avenues of studies which he had yet to engage personally. The pursuit of knowledge was one that he would gladly pursue in addition to developing his combat skills. He strove for a balanced path, one of the Inquisitor and the Warrior. Ultimately, the path of the Idealist, hopefully. He knew the risks and advantages of such an endeavor. He knew that some of his fellow Sith may reject him or ridicule him, but, as always, he simply did not care. If he did, he surely would not allow it to show by any means.

He stared at Adrian through the Force, seeing his detailed figure in a white and yellow hue. The true colors of the Acolyte were still a mystery. Was his hair dark or light? What color was his skin? His garments, were they smooth and delicate or rough and rigid? So many questions to be answered in so little time. "What do you look like, Adrian? The colors, I mean. Right now, all of you is yellow and white." His head cocked to the right side, eyes still slowly scanning the taller man who stood before him.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[Kyrinov]

OOC: Sorry, didn't mean to multiquote that

 

[AMCO]

[SIZE=9pt]Waiting patiently as Tevro worked his way through an exercise of some kind, likely a mental one, he allowed his mind to drift further. Focusing inwards once more, he performed an entirely different form of meditation than what he had engaged in previously. Allowing his consciousness to slowly drift across his form, he examined his own body, testing its capabilities and searching for imperfections. It was a short exercise, but it was one he engaged in frequently, monitoring his own health to ensure that his dabbling in Sorcery didn't damage it irreparably... at least until he had figured out a way to transcend his current form in his endless quest for perfection. So far, so good, but considering he hadn't exactly been able to dive that far into the eldritch secrets of Sith Sorcery yet, that wasn't exactly a surprise.[/SIZE]

Bringing his own efforts to an end as he sensed the Zabrak's was reaching completion, he cleared his mind, awaiting the response that was no doubt imminent. As his fellow Acolyte removed his cloak, he continued to lean against the nearby bookshelf, light robes ending slightly above the floor. He did not know much about Zabrak customs, so the tattoos that were revealed to him told him little; perhaps they were merely decorative, or perhaps they held a deeper meaning. Perhaps they even told a story, a song of swirling black on deep red. As Tevro's red eyes met his blue, he wondered if the Zabrak even needed to open his eyes to see, or whether that was unnecessary in his case. Adrian knew of the ability known as Force Sight and could even use it for short periods, but he wondered how much beyond him in that particular ability Tevro was. The Miraluka, he knew, did not need eyes to see, but whether that was an ability that translated to all who had achieved a certain degree of mastery when it came to Force Sight he did not know. Perhaps he would ask, later.

Smiling mischievously as the Zabrak finally spoke, he responded in a mirthful tone. "Oh, my interests are expansive; I have yet to learn enough to engage in practical experiments when it comes to alchemy though, so most of the current batch, once they arrive, will be destined for sorcerous experiments. I am certainly not opposed to trying other things too, of course, but most will be utilised to further my understanding of the arcane arts of the Sith." He was intrigued by the other suggestions Tevro offered though, especially in regards to tolerances. Perhaps he would expend some of the more annoying subjects for such experiments while saving the "fortunate" ones to be used for his more esoteric ideas. Of course, the most unfortunate would be those upon which he would test the most violent and invasive of techniques, such as the fine tuning of his Sith Lightning and the intense trial and error required to properly extract knowledge and information from an unwilling mind.

Feeling the Zabrak's gaze wander over him, he remained stationary, allowing the other Acolyte to see his fill, whatever it was he was looking for. "Ah, I see. Limitations on your force-based sight, I take it? Hmm, well, my robes are black, with a hint of purple. When it comes to my body, my hair is black, my eyes blue, and my skin... err... white? No. Fair? Light? Something like that." Smiling wryly for a moment, he continued. "I can only assume you were born with sight, then, or it wouldn't tell you much, would it?" Ending with a dry chuckle.

[SIZE=9pt][member="Tevro"] (OOC: How did that even happen?)[/SIZE]

 

[Kyrinov]

He listened carefully to Adrian's response, grinning at one point. He found it captivating that one could study the more arcane arts of the Sith and remain as in tact as Adrian appeared to be. But, time always played a major factor in such transformations. Perhaps his fellow had not studied sorcery for too long, at this point in time. Perhaps it would take decades upon decades of dedication to the study itself to even begin to take an outward penalty for its usage. He wondered what it was, specifically, that interested him so much about sorcery, which abilities caught his eye and grasped his attention with a vigor that could be matched, in his mind, only by Tevro's childhood thrill of hand-to-hand combat on Iridonia. The wide-eyed expression was hinted in his eyes as he spoke of the subject. The same look of pure delight flashed across his features for the briefest of moments as he spoke of his studies. It made him wonder exactly what triggered these feelings of elation, of innocent joy of a being's several passions. As always, he had a multitude of questions to ask and questions still to clarify the answers of the previous inquiries. "I see... Are there are any particular subjects of sorcery which fascinate you? Or is it more of a mutual interest in exploring your own limit within the Force?"

His eyes shifted slightly as the other Acolyte seemed to assess him as Tevro was doing. He noticed his gaze flick up and down his arms, likely tracing the tattoos there. In truth, they told a story, yes. However, they were not individual short stories. All of the black lines which run across his skin as ink rivers were an accumulation of his life on Iridonia, a reminder of where he came from. They told of his combat prowess, of his family and friends. Some portions were meant to express his personality, his strengths. Others were meant to be told as an unfolding timeline of events which occurred, the most recent one stretching from his neck done to his pelvic bone. Times of happiness and utter enjoyment and darker times of raw, primal feelings which sometimes still burned and ripped a course of screaming fury through his very blood. Perhaps, he would tell Adrian about his story eventually, in time when they would come to trust each other. If they came to trust each other in such a way as to declare themselves allies and, possibly, friends.

Two taps on his boot on the stone floor beneath them, each with a five second pause between the next action. After the second tap finished echoing through the tomes, he spoke as he nodded and smirked. "Ah, well, I was born blind. But, while using Force Sight, I can see a maximum of four colors. Those being white, yellow, blue, and red. The only reason I can correlate the colors with their respective names is because my father spent years teaching me the... well, the color of colors, I suppose. Using sensory means, I learned to match color with a certain taste, smell, feeling, or gesture. For instance, the first color he taught me was red. He told me that red was often symbolic of anger, rage, and hostility. He explained that this was the reason that foes appeared to be entirely red through my Force Sight. To help me view the word as the color, he told me that most beings associate hot or spicy food with red as a reference to the heat of the food. I ate nothing but spicy food for two weeks. I even had a contest with my brother.", he smiled and chuckled a moment before allowing a brief frown to mar his features. His jaw clenched and his eyes burned aglow with a flame of barely restrained rage. A flash of regret shone in his eyes for a fleeting moment. He continued, "Another thing he did was show me the various types of hostile and aggressive behaviors that I had already encountered during bouts and spars. After that, he built upon them, showing me the different gestures of aggression that belonged to multiple species and races. Following that, I learned to identify the remaining three colors I am able to see."

"However, there are a few colors that you mentioned that I do not recognize. Purple and...black? I recognized the words and I know my tattoos are black but it seems that I haven't quite learned the color itself quite yet unfortunately. How do Humans learn their colors, those of you that can see in the most natural way. Is there a set system of education for such things or is it up to interpretation?" He knew he had to like a complete idiot for such questions that the age of nineteen. He was asking questions that a toddler could have answered with relative ease. He cursed his own ignorance as if it were once again the bane of his existence.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

OOC: (I was on mobile and my finger pushed the wrong button. So, instead of Edit, I hit MultiQuote. But, I fixed it this morning.)

 

[AMCO]

Grinning widely as Tevro continued to inquire about his sorcerous doings, he quickly responded. He did, after all, love both doing and talking about Sorcery, though so many of his Acolyte peers would much rather talk about the creatures they had killed or the people they despised. "I find it all astoundingly interesting; that being said, there are some things that interest me more than others. Chief amongst them is the imbuement in and alteration of objects, the manipulation of energy, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the study and manipulation of the mind. That being said, I haven't been able to learn much of the former yet, especially the parts that are closely related to Alchemy, of which I have barely scratched the surface of the fundamentals, though it greatly intrigues me." He wondered if Tevro also felt the lure of Sorcery; he seemed like a more hands-on guy, but Adrian knew appearances could be deceptive. Besides, even those who didn't themselves study it would sooner or later learn to respect the awesome power it could bring to bear, once properly prepared and channelled.

After asking about the other Acolyte's sight, he briefly wondered if he was being impolite, then decided he didn't really care. He knew the importance of politeness when dealing with nobility and the like, of course, but his fellow Sith? No, he might respect them, he might desist from saying something to a superior that might invoke his or her ire, but Adrian would not let social trivialities stand in the way of sating his curiosity, not unless absolutely necessary. Listening intently as the Zabrak spoke of his strange way of seeing the world, he once again wondered how Tevro's version of Force Sight really worked. Did it look like when a seeing person used it or was it entirely different? Did he even see how others using the ability saw or was it more an amalgamation of his other senses, which, to him, was what sight meant? He didn't think Tevro knew, he didn't think Tevro could know. At least, not without using some rather advanced telepathy. Now that, was an interesting thought. The use of telepathy to compare how people saw, physically saw, the world. He didn't know if it had been done before. He didn't know if it could be done. But it was interesting. Filing it into the archives of his mind, he continued to listen attentively as a flash of deep emotion flashed across the Zabrak's features. Aimed at Tevro's brother, or so he thought. He himself had a younger brother, once. He still remembered him as almost clearly as the last day he saw him; his exceptional memory saw to that, even if he had been young when it happened. Quickly shelved this old pains away for when he would need them once more, his face showed the slightest glimmer of pain before it returned to its usual cheerfulness.

How did Humans learn their colours? He had never really thought about it, before now. How interesting. Taking a moment to ponder the question, he answered his fellow Acolyte's question as best he could. "Hmm, well, one learns the terms for the specific colours either through observing others or through education, but whether or not we actually see the same thing? That, I don't know. Most people see the same colours, but without the use of some rather advanced telepathy, telepathy far beyond my current understanding, I don't know how one could possibly know whether the colours we see are the same to everyone. It stands to reason that they would be, at least to most humans, considering the similar make up of the eyes, but when one considers other beings? Well, we know that many see things differently, but how the colours are actually perceived? How they feel ? I don't know, but it is an intriguing question." Chuckling slightly he gave Tevro a wry smile. "Though that's perhaps a bit more philosophical than the question I was supposed to answer."

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

Tevro grinned as Adrian spoke of his interests within the field of sorcery. "...the manipulation of energy, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the study and manipulation of the mind." These two subjects intrigued him deeply. The possibilities that could be achieved through even one of those topics were simply unparalleled, even in his love of any and all types of combat. Perhaps it was the lure of knowledge that Adrian appeared to gravitate towards. Perhaps it was his own desire to understand others and the world around him in a way that most did not care to see, examine, or could even begin to comprehend. With most beings having such limited and closed vision, they often did not see past what their eyes and instincts alone told them. He often wondered that if a person with sight was blind for a standard week would learn to see the galaxy around them differently. He knew that it was likely that they would. How would Adrian react if he was blind for that same time frame? Would he learn to sense things as Tevro did? Would he learn to perceive things from an entirely different angle? What would his composure be like following this experiment? Tevro then thought about his Force Sight and how others may see through it differently. Maybe it was different than how he saw it, as they could see beforehand. Those with sight used it to enhance their own vision, looking past barriers and into buildings. They also used the ability to identify foes and allies from complete and total strangers. With all of this is mind then, conceivably, his main study, should he delve into sorcery, would be the manipulation of the mind. "Perhaps, when I find a master, I can learn about the manipulation of the mind."

With a flick of his red eye up to Adrian's own, he let out a sigh and his eyes were ablaze with curiosity. "Adrian,", a long pause before the next words. A brief moment of hesitation. "What is sight to you? How would you feel, and what would you do, if you were blind for just a week?"

Another childish question to which he had no answer to or assumption of. Each being is uniquely different, each may view many things differently. And each would have his/her own process of how to deal with or respond to a certain stimuli. It is simple, primal instinct to react and attempt to protect oneself, despite what species or race a person may be of. Survival, above all else, is our base instinct. Survival from the weather, from other beings, from predators. This principle guides our direction even now. Those with the ability to harness and use the Force are not above this. Not the Sith, nor the Jedi, nor any other Force sect. It is evident in all of our teachings, Light, Dark, or indifferent. For the Jedi, they strive for peace and serenity, the calm and quiet which accompany it. The clarity that such harmony could bring in a galaxy rampart with chaos. Their survival instinct was to simply survive with the intent to nurture. The Sith, however, connected more with the primal instincts of survival, the ones which were sometimes viewed as necessary but often viewed as cruel and barbaric. Theirs are the feelings - emotions - of anger, hate, and pure, undisputed rage towards those who would disrupt them. The stagnation of the Jedi was - is - viewed as a break in the order of how the Sith lived, a perversion of their very way of life. Yet, that is how both are perceived by others. When one's right clashes with another's wrong, it is immediately dismissed as evil and incorrect without a second thought on the issue. All of it was a matter of perception. Sight is one tool which allows the being to view the world and creatures around them. To perceive and then make assumptions about their environment based on what is presented to them and what they can infer of such sightings.

As for his question about colors, his response was such, "No, no. That is a perfect answer, Adrian. I'm sure there are beings who likely view color differently. To one being, red is red. But to another, it may be yellow or even blue. I do know that if a shade of a color, any color really, is light enough, it will be considered a different color entirely. For example, if red is made to be a light enough shade, one may view it as colors by the names of pink and orange. And orange as yellow, and yellow as white. I wonder why that is and I wonder what within us determines what we see and recognize that color as. Perhaps, as you said, the colors may not be the same for all. But, I wager that since you are Human and I am Near-Human, that our perception of color is likely very similar. But, thank you for indulging the question."

His eyes blinked, and then opened once more, a reflex to keep his eyes from drying out due to keeping them open too long in what could be recognized as staring. He leaned back against the wall just inches behind him, letting out two controlled breaths. A thought occurred, entirely unbidden and random for the conversation that they were having. "What do you think of the Sith Code? What does it mean to you personally? How do you apply it?" The questions were plain, but they held a meaning far beyond simple curiosity. This was a matter of understanding and comprehension. There would be no true right or wrong answer. There would, however, be a reply which would be perceived as correct or incorrect according to either of their interpretations and beliefs.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

Smile deepening as Tevro expressed curiosity of his own into Sith Sorcery, Adrian nodded amiably. That's the spirit. Too many of his fellow Acolytes drool at the thought of somehow learning the secrets of raw power from their masters, when, in reality, power is something one gains, not something one is given. Knowledge on the other hand... knowledge can be shared. It must be learned. It must be used. It must be mastered. But it can be given. In his eyes, a master should give his apprentice the knowledge he deserves, while allowing room for developments and new ideas of his own. The knowledge of the Sith is a collective heritage, that, when proven worthy, any given should Sith have a right to. Only then can true progress be had, not by the jealous few taking their secrets to the grave, depriving the Sith as a whole of their discoveries. Truly, there was nothing worse than knowledge lost, but given time, all things can be learned anew.

"... if you were blind for just a week?" Leaning slightly back, he mulled over the question. He often took his time before answering, especially when the question raised as many implications as this one. On one hand, it would prove inconvenient for his immediate learning efforts, but it shouldn't cause any long-term harm. He might also learn something from the experience; perhaps his other senses would improve, perhaps his skill in force sight would improve. It was hard to tell. "That depends, I suppose. I've come to rely on sight to such an extent that being without it would feel entirely alien. In fact, I rely on it without even thinking about it most of the time, similarly to hearing, smell, or even the feeling of touch. It could certainly be an interesting experiment though; How would it feel? How would I compensate? How long would it take me to adapt, and to what extent? Hmm, yes, I will have to add that to the long list of experiments I want to carry out when I have the time." Perhaps he would try it out on one of his new test subjects if the slaver supplied enough of them. Not all of his experiments required the faculty of sight, so it could be interesting, though probably not as informative as doing it temporarily to himself.

Adrian nodded excitedly as it became apparent that the Zabrak shared his fondness for philosophy and in-depth thinking, as opposed to the simple answers many seemed to prefer. It was refreshing to talk to someone who allowed themselves to wonder, truly wonder, unlike the majority of people who were seemingly content to only concern themselves with what was right in front of their noses and even then only in a cursory manner.

The final question is what really peaked his attention though. The Sith Code. Quite the topic. Some prefer to stay away from deep discussions around it, in order to avoid invoking controversy. Adrian had no such inhibitions.

"The Sith Code. Now that is a subject I could spend weeks talking about. It is an interesting topic, one I spend a lot of time thinking about. Some tend to interpret it quite strictly, but I've always seen it as more of a guideline, and a guideline not to be taken literally at that. Take "peace is a lie" for instance. The Sith can be at peace. The Sith can enforce peace. That's not what that phrase is about, at least in my opinion. I see it more as an observation on the way things really are. The things have to be. "Peace", in my eyes, is about stagnation, or perhaps the Jedi interpretation of peace of mind. It is a statement, loud and clear, that emotion cannot simply be ignored, that people and things must be willing to change. It is a challenge uttered to those who would keep things as they are, even when better alternatives present themselves. It is for this reason that I find certain Sith traditionalists so hypocritical. They cling to their exact definition of the Code, even when the very essence of the Code is that one must be willing to change if one is to ever achieve perfection. As for how I apply it? Well, I think of it as a quest towards perfection. The Sith are about struggle, yes, but only because it makes one strong. It can serve to develop one's character, but it should not be a goal in and of itself. The goal, as already stated, is perfection. Now, I can't stand here and claim that I know what that is, or even if I would be able to recognize it if it was staring me in the eyes. That does not, however, mean that I am willing to give up. In the end, I see the Sith Code as an ideal, an ideal of self-improvement. The goal might not be obvious, it might not even be possible, but that does not mean that one should not try." Finishing his monologue-like answer, he smiled wryly. He had tried to keep it short, but, well, one simply couldn't do such a complex and intriguing subject credit with a short answer, at least not one he could think of.

"So, now that's you've heard my little, heh, monologue, what do you think? What is your interpretation?"

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

He gave a toothy grin as Adrian seemed to approve of his inclination towards learning at least a portion of sorcery. He then listened intently as Adrian gave him an answer to the first of his questions. He nodded as he heard Adrian explain his dependence of the sight he was provided, he smiled upon hearing that sight was something that was, apparently, taken for granted by those who were gifted with the privilege from birth. He did suppose that it could likely become a mere convenience that one would come to rely on things such as sight just as he became so accustomed to being blind and using the Force to see, to some degree. It was simply second nature. Another thought occurred, this time, one that intrigued him so much that he did not hesitate to speak of it. "Would you be willing to try it now, being "blind", for a shorter period of time? Perhaps an hour?" He made air quotations with four red fingers to show that he wasn't going to actually blind the man. The clouds that seemed to swirl in his glossy eyes appeared to billow a bit faster than before, as if it were a response to the Zabrak's eager tone about the matter.

Experiments. Experiments, experiments. Upon whom and with what? Had Adrian learned the Blind ability that rendered the victim momentarily blind? Did he learn how to prolong this effect? Did he use some sort of other method against prisoners, similar to one particular Trial the Overseers put most Acolytes through within the first few months of their residence within the Academy on Bastion? No matter, what Adrian did in his free time was entirely his own. It wasn't his business to pry too much.

The light near the entrance of the library went out, as it always did around midnight. Was it that late already? It felt as though he had only been here for far less than six hours.

A shift in stance from both himself and the Acolyte in front of him. A mutual shift in conversation, the stale air crackling with an overwhelming swirling maelstrom of nothing but pure excitement about discussing their personal views. Perhaps they would have identical views, perhaps they would be polar opposites. Whatever their answers, he hoped judgement would not be passed.

He found himself nodding in agreement and smiling, genuinely smiling, at parts of Adrian's examination of the first line of the Sith Code. Most of which, he agreed wholeheartedly with. However, one word seemed to disturb him. "Perfection...", how he despised the prospect of perfection, and by extension, immortality. Such an aspiration had been proven time and time again to be a vain waste of time and effort. King Adas, the Sith Pureblood king who reigned for hundreds of years, a supposed Sith'ari. Killed in defending his homeworld and his people from the Rakata. Andeddu, the Immortal God-King of Prakith, attempted to gain and gained immortality, but he was mad and paranoid. Uncontrollable even to his own will, his spirit killed by a Sith who sought to gain his knowledge. Darths Nihilus and Sion, wounds in the Force. The Lord of Hunger consuming worlds to remain alive. A literal husk of a man, he was immortal in that he was sustained by the force energy of those he devoured. Until, that is, he was overwhelmed in combat. Sion, held together in a constant state of pain and agony. A walking epitome of "life" through complete and total immersion in the Dark Side. Not immortal, but perhaps what some could see as perfection due to the "transcendence" he was able to achieve through his desire to remain alive. Jump forward further into the Old Republic Era and Tenebrae, Vitiate, Valkorion, whatever you wish to call him, draining the lives of entire worlds and transferring his essence to a vessel, a Voice in following with the secret Andeddu sought to hide. Eliminated by a warrior.

All power and perfection and immortality eradicated. All of it lost due to some error or misconception or weakness on their part. Error that was unnecessary and downright embarrassing for any Sith Lord. All destroyed and discarded, some struck down and seen as nothing more than monsters. Tevro could only hope that Adrian would not become so fixated on this path to perfection that he grew to be mad, or utterly deprived of the traits which made him human.

That aside, he listened to the rest of Adrian's monologue with earnest interest, still nodding and agreeing. Then, he found his question was thrown back at him with the same sincere interest and curiosity that radiated from the human. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, a moment to analyze before speaking. "I could talk about it for weeks as well. There is always something else to discover or add to your own personal philosophy, to your own beliefs and interpretation. I do agree that the Sith Code is a guideline, and as such, the foundation on which a Sith should build upon. The first line, "peace is a lie, there is only passion". For the past Sith, and even now, it is known that the strong rule within our society. There is not any form of egalitarianism. Perhaps there is some twisted form of comfort which comes to mind under such a system, who knows. But, yes, peace could come from peace of mind or from the absolute control over yourself or, perhaps, over a situation. As you said, emotions cannot simply be ignored, they linger and fester unlike feelings. They require some sort of response, be it lashing out in anger or the peace of mind which the result of is likely confidence. Peace, however temporary or permanent, is something that does bring about some sort of change. With that change, comes progression, comes the will, the desire to improve. Change can be a motivating factor, invoking strong positive or negative emotions, depending on which side you fall on. That same emotion can bring strength, it can bring about elation and, as the next line suggests, power through the betterment of oneself and his/her abilities and capabilities. But, such violent sentiments can break even the strongest Sith Lord if they do not have some sort of peace of mind or self-restraint. All Sith must be careful and mindful of their emotions, lest they become overwhelmed and consumed by them, no longer masters of themselves, much less the Force. Now, power. Power is surely a gain. However, as with all things, it has its shortcomings. If one is unprepared for the power that they wield, or fail to comprehend the magnitude of it, they are unworthy of it. Power is not, and should never be, something taken lightly. It is not an end, but rather a means to an end. I would rather stay where I am and master what power I have before seeking out more. As for victory, it is a result of all of the aforementioned qualities, not just power. As applied to battle, it may be the peace of mind to control yourself and see the weaknesses that your enemy may display, the passion to take the initiative to exploit said weakness, the strength to act on the impulse, and the power to emerge from that action in a manner that will benefit you in a long-term situation. The second to last line, "through victory, my chains are broken", is a line that I often think about and ponder. Both for myself and for those I have encountered. Specifically, the latter portion of this line. Chains...", he appeared to mull over the word, as if to inspect the meaning of each individual letter of the word. "Chains can be anything. Simple as that, yet it is so much more. Much more than perhaps can be expressed, though we try our best to convey them. One chain I suppose I seek freedom from is my brother, or rather what he has done. But, as I said, chains can be multiple things to multiple people. They could be collective, generalized, or personal. To some, chains are greed, fear of failure, fear of death, insecurity, or impulsion. To others, it could be a certain few key experiences or lack there of. The final line, however, brings us full circle. I can see how the Force is a tool and a powerful weapon, however, it also provides a freedom that is unrivaled by any type of freedom granted to us or gained through our own means. It is...liberating, in more ways than one. Perhaps, as you stated, that freedom is perfection. I see it as the freedom to fully control and command myself without internal or external restriction."

He took in a deep breath, having used most of his breath to speak for that rather extended period of time. He laughed. "So much for brevity, eh?" He pushed his back off of the wall, using the momentum, the strength of his legs, and his centered stance to pull himself upright. Another question rang through the library, sending vibrations that carried the deepness of the Zabrak's voice. Another question, a continuation of the current discussion.

"If you don't mind sharing, what are some of your chains, Adrian?"

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

"... Perhaps an hour?" Brow furrowed in thought, Adrian considered the question for a while, before answering thoughtfully. "Perhaps. I don't know how one would properly replicate the experience; the closest I could likely come would be to spend the hour in absolute darkness, but even that might not be perfect. If all that is required is to not utilise the sense of sight for an hour, then I have already done that, though I'm not sure if that is an accurate enough representation of how it truly is to be blind." It was hard to say really; one could be blinded temporarily by way of sensory overload, but that wouldn't be true blindness. Not in the extremely narrow sense, anyway. He had engaged in lengthy meditation before and had ventured into the dark ruins with no source of light, but it was hard to say if any of that really felt the same as truly being blind.

As the light near the entrance went out, signifying the arrival of midnight, Adrian wondered how long Tevro had been here. How long he had been meditating. He supposed that it didn't really matter; the Zabrak seemed energized enough and he was still getting reacquainted with the solar rotation of the planet. Not to mention that sleep was easy enough to delay, at least temporarily, through use of the Force. No, the passing of time would not affect their conversation much, at least so he thought, and he, therefore, allowed it to drift out of his mind, focusing instead on explaining his view on the Codee in a coherent manner as Tevro listened intently, seemingly agreeing with most of what he was saying. It would be interesting to hear his fellow Acolyte's take on it. To recognise the differences and their causes.

Listening to Tevro talk, he found himself agreeing with agreeing with him on a lot of points, nodding eagerly all the way. The general message seemed to be one of accepting one's emotions, but keeping in control. He couldn't agree more with such a sentiment. Passion was a path to power, to be sure, but passion unbridled would lead to nothing but failure and ultimately, death. The same could definitely be said about power. In a way, they were both tools, except that he also considered passion, at least in the form of some emotions, to be a goal in and of itself as well. After all, what was the point of life without emotion? One might as well be a mindless droid, labouring endlessly, but, even then, one would be labouring for the passion of another. Without passion, there was... nothing, but with too much passion there was only destruction. One would, indeed, need to tread a more a more balanced path, even if preaching any sort of moderation was often unpopular amongst the Sith.

Chuckling slightly, he replied cheerfully to Tevro's wry comment. "Heh, no worries. it's always interesting to hear a fellow Acolyte's view on Sith Philosophy, particularly one as well thought out as yours." Yes, it really was a shame that philosophy didn't receive more attention at the Academy; sure, many would die, but that didn't mean they shouldn't have a bit of wisdom hammered into them first. Besides, in his mind, it would be hugely beneficial to those who would live to become Sith. A bit of wisdom went a long way, especially for those who held great power, as so many Sith did.

Chains, huh. Not the easiest question, but, then again, the truly interesting ones never were. What were his chains? He certainly feared failure, perhaps more than most. Death... death was something he would very much like to conquer, but it wasn't something he thought about constantly. He had long ago accepted that he was going to die one day, even if he couldn't know if it would be tomorrow or in a millennium. Such was life. Perhaps... perhaps his chain was the fear of what he might become. The fear of what he might do if he truly, thoroughly, lost control. The fear of becoming nothing more than an insane monster, a feral thing to be put down by those responsible enough. Yes, control. The fear of losing control could easily be his greatest chain, in a sense. One would do well to keep one's weaknesses close to one's chest at the Academy, but he sensed to deceit from Tevro. No hostile intent. Besides, it was not a weakness that could be easily exploited, even if the Zabrak did wish him ill.

"It's an open question, really, but perhaps. Perhaps my greatest chain is a fear of losing control. Of being a slave to in one's own body, whether to one's basest desires or, worse yet, the mind of another. I have always sought to control my surroundings, myself, and my future. I don't see it as a bad thing, at least most of the time, but it doesn't have to be. In a way, one's greatest fear can be a strength, one's greatest chain a cause of motivation on one's quest for self-improvement. Whether it be freedom from one's fears or freedom from external factors, the desire to rule oneself and one's destiny is a mighty motivation indeed, one which could be a source of great power, or a source of great failure if one allows one's fears to consume oneself. Allow others to bend oneself to their wills. Perhaps some chains are not meant to be broken, not really, but rather to serve as a guidepost. An obstacle one strives to overcome, becoming stronger in the process."

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

Tevro smiled at Adrian's answer, making a single remark, "No, no... At least, for me, sight is more than just seeing." A pause followed by another statement, a statement of clarification. "It's a combination of all of the senses in order to fully perceive the environment around you." He stopped there. It wasn't likely that Adrian would understand the way Tevro wanted - needed - him to understand the matter without showing him the closest he possibly could to what it was like to be blind. Perhaps he could show him a few things before daybreak. The Zabrak decided to wait a few more minutes to introduce him to that prospect. He didn't want to seem rude and cut off their conversation for the sake of his own curiosity.

There was, however, a shift in Adrian's tone. It was small, perhaps even he didn't take notice to it. It was more an investigative tone as contrasted to the usual upbeat and cheerful inflection in his fellow Acolyte's voice. It was strange, the end note of his final sentence. It felt like a question while still maintaining the presence of a statement of uncertainty. Uncertainty. A doubt or apprehension that was meant to imply that he really didn't know what it was like. Perhaps, as was sometimes the case, Tevro was overthinking things. But, even he challenged his own way of thinking. After all, he didn't, and couldn't understand everything about everyone. He could certainly try, and he does. But, he would never understand all of the motivations behind what a person does or says. Perhaps that was one of his chains.

"Heh, no worries. it's always interesting to hear a fellow Acolyte's view on Sith Philosophy, particularly one as well thought out as yours." He grinned. It was interesting to hear of other perspectives and, in return, compare them to your own. Far more interesting was to examine what a being's views told you about him or her. Could Adrian tell what kind of person Tevro was from how he spoke? Could he identify his morals and beliefs beyond a philosophical standpoint? And maybe, just maybe, the last part was meant to be flattery. Perhaps it was a genuine compliment. He couldn't exactly pinpoint.

As with most of Adrian's views on the topic of Sith Philosophy, he agreed with the chain that Adrian shared with him. He recognized it, and accepted it, as one of his own. One that manifested itself of his past, of one brief moment that he lost control of his emotions and lashed out. Perhaps that need for control also reminded him of a past that he would not let go of, despite what Sith tradition may be. As Adrian suggested, maybe it was a chain that he was meant to keep throughout his life as a means of grounding him and connecting him eternally to his core beliefs as a Sith. At that he smiled. And all at once, transcendence gained a new meaning. A far brighter connotation.

"I couldn't agree more, Adrian... I couldn't agree more."

He looked at the Acolyte in front of him, letting the silence fill the library once more. He turned on his heel and went back into the swallow alcove, gesturing for Adrian to follow him. He stopped at the wall, turning around to face Adrian. "This is going to sound like a weird request but I need to you to kneel and out your hands flat on the ground. I also need you to close your eyes because I'm going to blow out the lantern and, for this to work, your eyes can't readjust to the lighting. Once you do that, just take a moment and feel. You know what your surroundings look like. Try to feel them, feel far or close something is."

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

"... more than just seeing.." Interesting, he wondered whether Tevro meant a removal of some of the senses, or perhaps a state of total isolation. A state where the only link one had to the outside world was the force... and perhaps not even that. That would be different, very different. from what he had had in mind. It would be like nothing he had ever experienced before. It would be new, not just new in part, but entirely new. He wondered if that was what Tevro had really meant. Total isolation from the world around one, to be alone with one's own thought. It had certainly garnered Adrian's interest though. Still, it felt most natural to allow the conversation to continue along. There was so much more to discuss, so much more to learn about the Zabrak.

In truth, he found a great many things about the other Acolyte fascinating. The combination of his blindness and the rigorous training received by most Iridonia raised Zabraks. His seemingly martial focus concealing an interest in the mysteries of the force as well. His quiet demeanour and brevity giving way to engaged discussion. Adrian wondered whether there were further surprises waiting for him. Further layers of depth waiting to be excavated. He didn't usually concerned himself so much with people, but the Zabrak was fascinating. Gazing into his blind eyes, he wondered how his sight worked. If he could see the minutiae of Adrian's own eyes moving. In which ways his sight was superior, and in which ways it was inferior.

Finishing his answer of the question and his own analysis of the true meaning of the "chains" that are to be broken, he was pleased to see Tevro's enthusiastic reaction. It was not necessarily that important to him whether or not a person he discussed something with agreed with him; what was important was that they cared about the discussion. That they were interested and emotionally engaged. It pleased him that this was the case with Tevro. Pleased him that they could discuss their views, both concordant and differing, with such enthusiasm. He would have to see if he could get more Acolytes to engage in deeper discussion like this, to express their views in a clear and civilised manner, unlike the combative way in which some seem to consider a necessity. After allowing silence to fall once more, he waited for a while, sensing that the Zabrak had something very particular in mind. Following Tevro's silent request, he followed him into the alcove, listening intently as the Acolyte began to explain the purpose of their little relocation.

Now that was one weird request. Curious. It was not, however, nonsensical. It served a purpose, he was sure. Smiling wryly, he spoke for the first time in a while. "Weird indeed. You've certainly caught my interest though." Nodding amiably, he following the Zabrak's instructions, he knelt down, his hands placed flat on the cold stone. They were deep, but not deep enough for the stone to heat up. In a way, they were at the perfect level for optimal unpleasantness, but he didn't mind, not one bit. Not as long as it preserved the ancient texts in the library. Eyes closing, he waited a while, allowing the Tevro to blow out the lone green flame lighting these vast halls.

Eyes closed, he first used his normal senses. He heard the soft rustling of Tevro's clothing, the brief sound of a light being blown out. He smelled his fellow Acolyte, and the distinctive smell of the library, it's mixture of ancient and new evoking feelings of slight joy in him whenever he first noticed it. Then he began to sense further, deeper. He stretched his senses outwards. It was easy to feel the Zabrak, as he was close and his flame burned brightly. It was much harder to sense his surroundings. The inanimate mass that composed most of his surroundings simply didn't burn, not like a living being. Not like a fellow force user. Focusing on a single point, the arch at the top of the alcove's entrance, for lack of a better focus, he focused his will, his senses, towards it. At first, he still felt nothing. But gradually, ever so gradually, he began to get a hold of it. It wasn't sight, far from it, it wasn't force sight either. It was primitive. It worked. He found that if he concentrated long enough, deeply enough, he could feel a difference between "degrees of absence". It still didn't burn as brightly as a living being, even a puny one, but with sufficient focus he could make out a, if somewhat rough, outline of the physical objects around him. Turning his head towards Tevro, he began to speak, eyes still closed. "Interesting. The practical applications are somewhat questionable, what-with Force Sight being more useful in every regard as far as I can tell, but I've never let a lack of immediately obvious practical applications stop me before..." Pausing briefly, he looked deep in thought. "I wonder. I wonder if one focused deeply enough, one would be able to examine an object even more closely than with normal senses. It likely would't be as accurate as technological solutions in most cases, but those aren't always available. And some objects are by their very nature difficult to analyse with conventional means." Perhaps he had gone a bit deeper then he had been asked to, but that was to be expected. Adrian had never been one for half-measures, and he sure as Hell wasn't going to start here.

[member="Tevro"]

 

[Kyrinov]

Caught his interest. Ensnared the seemingly deep-seated curiosity and vigilant attention that he had about him. Tevro wondered what it was that he was curious about. Perhaps it was his blindness that intrigued him so. The way he saw was, after all, quite different. Uncommon but not imperceptible. Was it the flicking motion of his swirling misty eyes as they perceived nothing without the aid of the Force? Is it the request he made? No, no. Adrian already confirmed that his appeal was tolerable. Maybe it was in the way he carried himself? Perhaps it was all of these things or none of them. He wasn't a mind reader, maybe someday. Just not now.

Tevro watched with an appraising eye as the other acolyte followed his instructions and began to reach out. He closed his eyes as he rested against the wall after blowing out the lantern. He felt Adrian there, not the presence he felt before. This aura was more solid than the whispers of the sleeping Acolytes and Overseers above them. It had substance within it. It was peculiar, to say the least. Was it the sensing that Adrian was submersed in that allowed him to feel Adrian as he did? He could feel Adrian probing at an object. What that particular object was, he didn't know. What did it look like? How far away was the object from him? Tevro let out a deep breath, careful not to move any more than was necessary so as to not distract his fellow's focus on the structure or object he was intent on.

Practicality. Seeing and doing rather than having a theory or guess of what may or may not be. Physical confirmation that the theory in question could, in fact, be proven to be true. A measure of uncertainty out of that which was previously unknown or vague at best. His eyes darted towards Adrian as he craned his head of short, curly hair further in his direction. The acolyte's features became contorted, scrunched. Shortly after, there was another statement which peaked his interest and caused him to smile. "It may be possible. Though, I couldn't say for certain because I don't know what you perceive about any given object. What information you pick up may be slightly different. Maybe it isn't. Perhaps, if we have time, we can compare our literal views. And yes, some objects are difficult to comprehend. What object did you choose to focus on a moment ago?"

Another few breaths went by as Tevro took 4 silent steps and paused behind Adrian. He turned to face his figure, letting his clothes rustle and his boots scrap the stone. The alcove was flooded with a tsunami of sound as the Zabrak's boot struck the ground two times only feet behind the other acolyte. Then, he paused let the sound ring out, fade, and dissipate, and then repeat throughout the library. It almost sounded like a call and response. Once the sound left earshot, Tevro spoke again. "Where did the sound come from? Which direction?"

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]

 

[AMCO]

Compare their views. Now that could prove to be quite the learning experience. To compare their respective perceptions would certainly go a long way towards uncovering just how objective, just how accurate, sensing one's surroundings in such a manner really was. Adrian knew it would take quite a while. Precautions, time-consuming precautions, would need to be taken to ensure that such an endeavour resulted in the most accurate results possible. Still, it would not harm to do a basic comparison, at least as a starting point.[SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]

"What object did I focus on?" At that, Adrian smiled wryly, before continuing. "I focused on the archway above and behind us, to see if even something so mundane could be sensed through the force." He had tried to sense objects before, but never something so mundane. It hadn't been particularly accurate this time, but perhaps, with practice, it could be useful. Hmm. Interesting. Another idea had just popped into his head. Would it be possible to detect someone using Force Concealment by detecting the absence they caused or was that accounted for by those who practised it? It might just be insane enough to work, or so he thought. It would be hard to test in practice though, very hard. One would also need to know to look, know their approximate location, and avoid having one's concentration disturbed by other factors. Fascinating. He wondered whether he would be struck by any new insights and idea during their conversation.[SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]

Senses still extended outward, he could feel it when the Zabrak moved. The sound could only come from him... and yet, that had not been what the question had been meant to represent. He realized that he likely wouldn't have been able to tell if it wasn't for the Force. The initial sound had clearly come from behind him but had there been a response? Was there only an echo, or several feet striking the ground? He was fairly certain he would have been able to tell either way; he had spent much of his early life aboard starships, and much of his youth in the grand halls of [SIZE=9pt]Serenno's[/SIZE] nobility. Echoes were nothing new to him, though the sheer size of the library gave it an entirely different feel to it. Chuckling slightly, he spoke. "If you wanted to test my hearing, you should have asked me to retract my other senses first. Still, I'm fairly certain that I would have been able to tell the origin even if that had not been the case, after all, I have spent much of my life aboard starships, which often have properties that lend themselves to projecting echoes, especially the really big ones." Now, the empty storage hold of a bulk freighter, that was something. It didn't feel the same as the library, the vast number of shelves saw to that, but the scope was similar.[SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]

[member="Tevro"][SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]

 

[Kyrinov]

The archway. Interesting choice and a fairly close object in their vicinity. A choice that he himself probably would have made if he had been in Adrian's position. It was a likely choice, a conceivable one which was meant to simply test and probe at with zero resistance. Something within reach and an object that was easy enough to examine through Force Sight. Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to see people grow, to watch people develop and change. He looked to the small mirror which hung directly in front of Adrian and himself. How like a mirror, too, Adrian's face. Impossible; how many people did he know that refracted his own light back to him? People were more often - he searched for a simile, found one in that very mirror in front of the other Acolyte. How rarely did other people's faces take of him and throw back to him his own expression, his own innermost trembling thought, and possibly, desire?

By all outward appearances and behaviors, Adrian would be the perfect foil to Tevro's usual, quiet self. He was always curios, always searching for some kind of answer or validation to a question, whether it be posed to him or self-imposed. His fellow Acolyte was constantly trying to figure things out on a much more verbal scale than the Zabrak himself always expressed. Meanwhile, Tevro preferred to seek the answers to his questions either in the vast contents of the library or through meditation and self examinations. Sometimes this occurred as tests that were meant to push his body, mind, and resolve to the absolute limit. Other times, he spent hour after hour kneeling in the same spot that Adrian now occupied. He was the silent, observant type. Often opting to watch and make calculations or form a rough estimate of what the person was truly like, underneath the mask they presented to the Overseers and their peers. And yet, he opened up to Adrian as if they had been friends since they were children. Why he exposed himself in such a manner, he wasn't sure. It just felt right. It felt natural. Was it? Was it natural to feel such contentment in discussion like this?

"Anything can be felt through the Force, inanimate or living, mundane or profound. The Force, as you know, has no restrictions. Unfortunately, I wasn't testing your hearing, Adrian. I was testing your perception as a whole. Seeing what you would gather and what you might overlook. I think that's enough sensing for now, even though it was quite brief. What I need from you is to severe the use of any and all Force abilities. Straighten your body, look forward, if you wish. I need you to put your weight forward and rest slightly on your knees. What do you feel? How does it make you feel, rather? What are you focusing on now?"

As Tevro gave out his instructions once more, he walked forward two steps and one step to the right of Adrian. He knelt down, looking forward at the bleak, grey barrier ahead of them. He followed his own directions and leaned his weight forward, digging his knees into the cold stone floor beneath. He took in several deep breaths as he waited on Adrian's assessment. One breath, two breaths, three breaths, Adrian, kneel, stone, mirror. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, Adrian. One, two, kneel. one, two three, stone, mirror. One, two, three. One, two, three. One breath, two, three. One, kneel, wait, feel.

[member="Adrian Vandiir"]