Excellence is an art to be won

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien hadn't taken an apprentice in quite some time, with good reason he hated self entitled people yet to learn that the world was full of far better people than they. Too many had come before him to learn to shoot lightning and then thought they were the next galactic superpower, what was it with newly minted force users and god complexes. This query hounded Lucien all the way to the residences of [member="Azriel Zadimus"],Perhaps he had made a mistake he thought to himself ... he swiftly snapped himself out of it though the count would be different ... Lucien would see to that.

His transport arrived at the appointed place, Lucien's assistant got out first ... Lucien wasn't in the habit of opening his own door. The journey up to the counts door was gladly not to taxing. He had heard a rumour that the count had been counting Nerf for centuries. Lucien wouldn't have believed it but his house certainly showed age, Lucien liked old things he just hoped there was no damp in the Manor. He was after all at loath to leave smell like a disused bakery. Lucien took one more look around, sighed and thudded on the door with his cane. he was committed now.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel stood at the balcony on his manor, new and old in a sense. He had bought his old family home which miraculously had been left alone for all this time, rumors of his "state" seemed to have made every one think he was still there while in fact he had been floating in space in a stasis prison aboard his own ship. Once he had bought it he simply had hired an army of cleaners and workers to freshen up the interior while he liked the exterior the place had gotten. It was an old and surprisingly well preserved look of a castle with the foliage barely able to climb passed half the first floor of the twelve floor castle. While the gardens outside it were trimmed but still retained an older look to them as the tree's and the bushes were a dark green in leaf color.
He was walking towards the library when he heard the thuds of [member="Lucien Cordel"]'s cane hitting the door. Opening the door he saw the man that had come and with a polite bow he gestured for him to come inside. "Good day Lord Cordel, please by all means come in." He said in a polite and respectful tone and manner as he stepped aside to allow his guest to enter at his free and own will.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien nodded "Good day to you also, Count" He replied in an equally polite tone, it didn't cost anything to give someone the respect they were owed. He met [member="Azriel Zadimus"] 's eyes as he stepped in, a feat he doubted lesser individuals would be able to do, the count possessed quite a gaze. The two had spoken briefly at the party of crowns and Lucien had been convinced to train Azriel in some small things. "If I recall correctly you were looking to learn some mental manipulation and a few other things, Do you want to start right away?" He asked taking in the man's house looked almost knew, the rumours of his age were false lucien therefore concluded. one could never trust gossip especially not gossip among nobles.

"Oh and before I forget this is my assistant Wortin, Ignore him he doesn't talk much save when I need to look at something ... " Lucien gestured to the expressionless human behind him, the assistant didn't react. "Lead the way My lord" He added with a smile. not so accustomed to waiting around.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel smiled and politely gave a greeting bow to the assistant before he walked towards [member="Lucien Cordel"] to guide him though his castle. "I must say that it is fortuitous that you arrived when you did, I have been overseeing a rather long overhaul of this estate to get it back to it's former glory after I bought it a month ago." He said with a smile as they walked through a hallway were there were large portraits of the Zadimus families, one of which looked quite old and displayed Azriel flanked by his parents and then another with only Azriel and his stare nearly perfectly caught in the picture. All the portraits looked quite old, though it was clear they had been restored, the plaques on the paintings always showed the name of it's subject and the date of it's original painting.
"I do hope you forgive me if I take a while to learn what you have to teach me since most of my use of the force has mostly been instinctual." He then said as they passed his own portrait and gestured towards a pair of large wooden doors that lead into a large hall that was clear was reserved as both a meditation chamber as well as a training room. "I do hope this is adequate for our purposes Lord Lucien, please by all means tell me if there is something we will require." He then said with a smile as he entered the hall and walked towards the large table at it's farthest wall, with a large window at the wall behind it. He placed his coat on the table and then pressed a few buttons which illuminated the hall.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled, politeness such as that exhibited by [member="Azriel Zadimus"] was a rarity, Lucien was pleased to have found a fellow bastion of class "To have done all this in a month is quite a feat, you are to be congratulated My lord" He replied as they moved deeper into the house , past portraits of long dead relatives and portraits of Azriel ... that was curious. Lucien thought the dates must be wrong these portraits were apparently centuries old, of course he didn't state this aloud to do so would be rude. "No forgiveness is necessary I have trained many less humble than you, people who felt they were a paragon of the force ... that never goes well for them " having walked past a number of paintings the count gestured for lucien to enter a large meditation chamber "This will be more than adequate space wise , we will need some refreshments ... water will suffice and I'm going to need something breakable that you value highly ... " Lucien had to teach concentration and lucien often found people concentrated a lot more when something the treasured was at stake. "Somewhere comfortable to sit or recline will be preferable later to " it was best to be comfortable when trying to learn mental attacks and defences one tended to be left with a headache.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel smiled at the comment about others and their supposed arrogance when it came to the force. "Well I can't say I have met such people myself though I have had run ins with particularly arrogant jedi in the past." He then said with a smile as he pressed a button on the table and a butler droid came into the hall, he was fond of droids since he wouldn't be tempted to "eat" them unlike some of the sentient's that bothered him in his new home, and he ordered for it to bring in a vase of his families along with every thing [member="Lucien Cordel"] had asked for.
Azriel then went to Lucien and cleared his throat. "Before we begin I would at least like to show you what I can do in the force so you at least know what you are working with." He said with a friendly smile,, after all it was easier for a teacher to teach if he knew what the students foundations were. That and it was rare to meet a fellow gentleman that didn't reek of hypocrisy and false sense of entitlement, like many a serenno nobles were, that also showed the same respect he was given and even though he was of higher standing still spoke to Azriel as if they were equal, a trait that made the man that much easier for Azriel to be fond of his company.
With Luciens approval he would proceed to show his limited prowess with Telekinesis, force speed, jump, art of movement and then ending on his personal favorite his alter image form that he used when a hunt was particularly enjoyable.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien chuckled "I was under the impression arrogance was a prerequisite for joining the jedi" well arrogance and a healthy dose of self righteousness. Lucien inclined his head [member="Azriel Zadimus"] seemed too old fashioned to droids, it was strange. Lucien relied entirely on sentient servants although he could appreciate the efficiency of droid labour. Lucien was rather curious about his new 'apprentice' he was certainly eccentric but each to their own. Everything he had asked for had been provided, Lucien looked over the heirloom. It was nice. Lucien only hoped Azriel could concentrate.

He removed his own jacket and began rolling up his sleeves. Azriel offered to show him his currant skill level. It seemed he had underestimated the count "Of course go ahead " Lucien nodded and lent back against the table. This would either be amusing or helpful either way Lucien would benefit. He watched, Azriel certainly had potential, it was evidently raw and untapped but he could work with that. "Good good" He said before moving to the rooms centre with the heirloom. it began to float "Before you can learn to harness the more complex powers you've got to learn the simpler ones , for now just focus on keeping the vase afloat" after a few moments he would stop levitating the vase himself and the onus would be on Azriel.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel moved into a meditative stance a few steps from the vase and then began to levitate it himself he made sure it was just above the floor so if he did make a mistake the vase would not be damaged. "This is certainly hard Lucien you made this look easy." He said with a slight smirk as he kept focusing on keeping the vase levitated. He kept it levitated for a few moments more before he raised it a little higher of the floor and a bead of sweat formed on his brow as he kept focusing as well as he could. For a few moments it seemed like his eyes glowed yellow before going back to being the pale blue they always were.
The more he focused the little lesser the strain it put on him as he kept it up as well as he could, now the vase was at the height of Luciens hips and a few more beads of sweat had formed on his brow.

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien nodded "Of course, if it were easy everyone would do it " He chuckled "You've just got to work until the difficult becomes easy" he added whilst he watched Azriel. He was doing well but Lucien could see it was difficult "So Long as you keep focusing it will keep floating" He needed to master this simple level of focus before they could move to the more complex powers. allowing an unfocused person lose with a spark could well be a death sentence it seemed Azriel might be ready to handle something a little more difficult. Lucien gently quickened the pace the vase was rising at. It would be hard but if [member="Azriel Zadimus"] could handle it they could move onto something a little more exciting.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel gave a slight frustrated grunt as his hands gripped his knees while he focused even harder, it was obvious it was tiring him out bit by bit but he just bit his lip and toughened it out. He understood that [member="Lucien Cordel"] might have strange teaching methods or had simply been taught like this and was passing the method on to Azriel. A slight wavering of his focus caused him to loose the telekinetic grip he had on the vase but he barely was able to catch it again before it hit the ground and raised it back up to chest height of Lucien. He had to admit though the more he did it the easier it seemed to become.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Was Lucien behaving harshly ? of course he was, the first step on the road to ineptitude was slacking off. This was a baptism of fire and it wasn't going to stop until the vase reached the ceiling or [member="Azriel Zadimus"] fainted, either Azriel would burn up and learn or get through and learn. either way he would learn. Lucien tutted as the vase slipped, not because he was disappointed but because he wanted to appear disappointed. The appearance of disappointment would motivate. Lucien stepped away from the table and down from the dais "There is a second key requirement to the force , awareness ... in a push to focus you must be cautious not to lose your grip on external ..." He had been slowly pacing around the back of Azriel "... Dangers" He said before throwing a small force push into Azriel's back just enough to make him stumble, unless Azriel had picked up on his hint.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel raised the vase but he stopped raising it and divided his focus to both the vase and to [member="Lucien Cordel"]'s voice. The more he spoke the more pent up Azriels body got before he picked up on his hint and without thinking he flipped off the floor into a side flip until he stood and looked at Lucien, his eyes flashing red for a moment. He didn't seem to notice that he was still holding the vase up in it's height as he had managed to bring it a third of the way up to the ceiling, something in him made him somehow excel under pressure. He noticed this after staring at Lucien for a few moments, he then nearly dropped the vase as he moved his attention back to it.
He gritted his teeth as he kept one eye on Lucien while he kept trying to push the vase up into the air. He was getting the hang of it, at least he hoped so as he kept it up, though his strength was waning as hr kept trying to levitate the vase up higher. He was starting to get a little hungry.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

(Don't worry about it, but in future people are unlikely to accept you would be able to do something as physically demanding as a flip and still maintain your focus on using the force continuously, If you do anything physical it would need to be fairly inconsequential, i.e slow steps or shifting of weight, Obviously as you go up in rank you can expect to be able to realistically do more demanding things. )

Lucien nodded [member="Azriel Zadimus"] was indeed 'getting the hang of it' His falter exposed a flaw in his focus but time would refine that, what worried Lucien was the Counts emotional control. The flash of red in his eyes suggested anger, anger which when controlled could be a boon but if left to run rampant would very swiftly serve to derail focus and unfocused powers tended to go haywire. "Put the vase down now, That was acceptable but you will need to keep practising ... for now however we will move on" Azriel looked tired, connecting with the force was taxing thing at first and it would be a long time before the force became an easy mistress "I recall that one of the primary reasons you requested me was to learn mental manipulation, before you can learn to perform acts of mental manipulation you must know how to defend against them"

"I'm not going to lie this is going to hurt and it will hurt a lot there is no way around that, Make yourself comfortable if you need to eat or drink do so, then get yourself comfortable be that by sitting, lying down" Whilst Azriel was getting himself ready Lucien set about preparing himself, mental manipulation was taxing even for him albeit to a far lesser degree than it would be for someone just starting out. "Fetch me some tea, an armchair and then once we have finished this skill I anticipate we will require either a cold compress or a hot towel" He said in general to anyone who might be listening

Once everything had been provisioned they would begin.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

(All right thank you for the heads up )

"Make them two and bring me something to eat and drink." Azriel commanded the droid and it bowed and left the room. 'Damn it I need to eat someone.' He thought as he put the vase down and then rubbed his forehead, exhaustion washing over him as he went down to one knee as he panted a little. He felt he could control it better if only by a very little amount at least and it felt good.
He stood up again and took a step back as he held onto his forehead a bit more and then rolled up his sleeves. "You must excuse me I have this... condition. It causes me to get these powerless spells as I'd describe them." He then said as he looked on as the droid came along with a few more carrying the items that had been requested. Two armchairs were placed opposite one another as well as food and drink for the master of the house. Two more droids waited with a cold compress as well as a hot towel that were at the ready.
Taking a seat on one chair Azriel leaned back and let out a slight sigh as he felt the seat was a welcomed reprieve before he took the food or at least fruit that had been brought to him, it was a red juiced fruit and a little of it's red juice leaked down from the corner of his mouth as he gorged himself on it. "Not very dignified I know but when one is hungry manners aren't a life threatening must." He joked as he wiped his mouth and then took the glass of water and took a sip, he finished his little meal as fast as he could before he ruffled up his hair a bit and then comped it back again. "All right I think I'm ready." He then said as he leaned back and relaxed into the chair.

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien watched with some distaste as [member="Azriel Zadimus"] engorged himself on fruit. "Of course" He replied wholly unconvinced, for Lucien manners and etiquette were his life blood. Even in the heat of battle lucien was guaranteed to remain wholly proper. However part of remaining proper was allowing people to eat like animals in their own homes if they were so inclined, he therefore said no more he just sipped his tea until Azriel was done. Lucien nodded curtly and put down his tea when the count declared his readiness. of course one could never be ready for something of this magnitude.

"We shall begin then, In a few moments I am going to attack your mind ... I will be gentle but as I said it will be very painful. Much of mental defence requires an extensive and complex attunement with the force that you simply can't access yet, in fact most masters can't grasp the greatest intricacies myself included. this is an area that requires considerable time to be invested before any real returns are produced" The returns were quite impressive however "For now you will have to be satisfied with the most basic protection, it will serve you for now but it will be little more a paper shield in the face of a true master of mental manipulation" He lent forward "However back to the subject, You will need to bring an image to the forefront of your mind, an image you are strongly connected to emotionally will serve you best ... this will be your defence do not let go of it for it will be your only protection ... you have five minutes then I shall begin" He sat back and returned to his tea.

Five minutes passed and then Lucien began, at first his attacks were little more than prods, but his attacks were gradually increasing in magnitude, he was by no means exposing Azriel to his full power but a few moments Azriel would likely begin to feel as if his head were in a vice. so long as Azriel maintained his grasp on his image Lucin would be locked out of his mind proper but if his grasp faltered even a little snippets of memory would leak out and then Lucien could begin to turn the count's own senses against him, perhaps a scream from his past would pierce his ears or the smell of a lost love would invade his nostrils. If the image faltered completely well then the possibilities were endless, Mind control?, Memory wipes?, Mind tricks? even complete organ failure was possible in the hands of a capable and motivated individual. It wasn't only the counts mind that would suffer either the longer he held on the more pressure was put on the corporeal form, nose bleeds were quite common in new learners and even fairly experienced knights.

(Sorry about the delay I've been working long shifts the past few days)

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

As Azriel listened to the count he began to make a mental image, the image he most strongly held onto. It was the way he perceived himself and the form he altered his own to look like when he hunted the monstrous count like vampire. It had been what he had used to get through the eons of dreams and nightmares while locked away in a stasis booth and it would serve him here as well. At least that was the hopeful plan.
With slight adjustments to his breathing he slipped into a sort of meditative state as he focused solely on the image, as the prodding began he felt it nip and tug lightly on his focus but at that level he could hold on but as the strength increased so too did holding onto the image as he grew more and more tired by exerting himself like that. It didn't take long until he could smell the flowers of his mothers garden and a memory briefly flashed before his eyes of him playing with his mother as a child. Then the monstrous image took hold once more and sweat was beginning to leak from his brow. 'Damn it this is much harder than I thought it would be' He thought in the back of his mind and his desire for such power only grew.
His breathing had turned a little slow and deliberate but also somehow ragged at the same time.

[member="Lucien Cordel"] (It's all right we all have those days)

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"It is hard indeed and it will only get harder, I'm going on easy on you at present " Lucien replied directly into [member="Azriel Zadimus"]'s mind, Indeed Lucien heard everything the count thought it was muffled as if coming from the other side of a door but it was unmistakably present. Lucien had thought Azriel was about to break after that but he came back with increased Vigour. That was good , he didn't want to impart his abilities onto someone with the grit and stamina of a wet nurse. Azriel was beginning to sweat Lucien was far from that stage but mental attacks were taxing even for him, he would need a rest from the force after they had finished and probably a lie down in a dark room when he had finished teaching the count for the day. He couldn't distracting himself with thoughts of R&R at present though it was time to up the ante. Azriel's slip had revealed his connection to his mother, that could be exploited. He laughed into Azriel's mind "Is your image supposed to unnerve me, you're nothing but a Mummy's boy, I know it but most Importantly you know it ... Cut the crap" Lucien found that men of power were notably susceptible to ridicule, this made it a valuable lesson it hurt the pride but not the body. After all Lucien didn't want Azriel to be seriously injured ... not yet anyway.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

The image growled as he was called a mommy's boy and the image changed a little, It turned into Azriel himself but he was different somehow seemed more feral. His eyes glowed red and he had fangs and large claws but that wasn't all he was surrounded by several bodies of dead men and women most with their throats torn out as blood pooled around him. It was his strongest memory, it was when he got out of the stasis booth and began to realize he could revel in the hunt... and the kill, it was the moment he truly felt different and more powerful than most others in the galaxy. "Get... BACK!" The image shouted out in a feral roar as he directed it towards [member="Lucien Cordel"] though Azriel was barely holding up and the sweat was no longer just around his brow it was now beginning to cover his entire body,

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien chuckled as Azriel's image changed, people only moved the body when it was at risk. That meant he was fracturing, The image screamed and lucien pushed the advantage stabbing at [member="Azriel Zadimus"] 's mind "Cut the crap, you won't win this by whining" He spoke directly into the count's mind again " Marshal that emotion into keeping your grip on the image, outbursts of anger serve no one" Lucien continued to push harder as sweat covered Azriel's body. Lucien was being harsh but only because the count was working so hard, there was no need to pussy foot around at this rate they would be ready for the real world before long. Lucien was beginning to feel the twinges of tension ... at least this wasn't a battlefield.

 

[Narfi Hróðson]

Azriel let out a grunt as he focused on his image and fueled it with his rage but he was sure if it kept up for much longer he would buckle under the strain. He was however thankful for the opportunity by [member="Lucien Cordel"] to train him. "Rgh." he grunted again as under his eyelids his eyes began to glow red just like in the image he was focusing on. He managed to hold out for around a minute more before his defenses buckled and his mind was laid bare for Lucien to mess with.