While his Master spoke, Thesh continued to inspect the dagger. While it may not have been exactly what he'd been hoping to learn about, he could not doubt that he was intrigued none the less. To hold a new weapon, to learn to wield it, to work with it, and most importantly to empower it, was something to be excited about, new opportunities which had previously been kept from him, not necessarily by Maliphant himself but the greater Galaxy at large.
The hand on his shoulder had him lift his head up, not that he hadn't been listening prior, in order to regard his Master somewhat solemnly. When he finished his statement the boy could not help but smile. He'd had a similar train of thought back with @Tekhyram on Felucia, regarding Sith and their potential. Of earning, experiencing strife to get to their positions, rather than being handed everything on a silver platter. Those who were elevated due to connections and social status often lacked that potential, or so the boy had witnessed over his years of muted servitude.
To say that the boy hoped he held such potential, that he could strive toward it, would be an understatement, then. It was all that he had, in truth, his past held nothing for him, only his future did.
When the crystal was produced, and the mention of a Sith Warblade was made, Thesh glanced between the dagger and the crystal and his Master in swift succession. Though the blade was admittedly very small to be deemed a warblade, at least in the eyes of most, the boy was eager to begin the process. Sometimes great things came in small packages, and if nothing else it would be an incredible learning experience.
"Svolten Rhyolite," the boy reiterated with a nod, quietly under his breath, in order to set the name to memory. He figured it would be an important thing to make a note of, but given that he had nothing to jot down notes on he hoped that his memory would suffice. The properties it held, or more the potential it held for the blade, seemed too good to be true, yet his Master spoke with sincerity which gave hope to the projected outcome.
Thesh took up the crystal when prompted, and followed the instructions as they were given. From breaking off a piece of the crystal, to running it along the blade's edge, much like you would a whetstone - which, in a sense, he supposed it was, yet simply one that only had to be utilized once - the boy was dutiful in his care and his work, apparently having an eye for detail despite the fact that he knew not what he was doing. Had Maliphant not been there, he'd have been flailing. But that was the point in an Apprenticeship, for one to learn from the other.
When both Master and Apprentice were satisfied with the progress, Maliphant signaled such with new instructions. Thesh altered the way he'd been holding the blade, grasping the hilt with one hand and holding the lower point with the two fingers as indicated. Once he was sure he'd gotten the grip correct, no doubt having to alter it ever so slightly once or twice, he began to draw upon the Force, channeling it first through himself before inevitably running it down the length of the blade.
As he did so he closed his eyes and began to focus, on the Force which lay heavy in the air, on the blade, and the minuscule crystalline shards which coated its edge. His expression became one of apathy, though thee was the subtlest of furrows within his brow, as he reached peak concentration, and a very subtle 'shimmer' seemed to overcome the blade as the Force was worked through it, the air around them seeming to shift in the same instance. The boy held a strength within the Force that even he did not understand, or even really notice, especially when it came to channeled abilities, things that required focus rather than spur of the moment actions.
Soon enough, yet after what felt like an eternity to the boy himself, the crystals began to meld along the edge of the blade, running along the smooth surface until it was coated as instructed, the crystal going from tough to malleable throughout that moment, yet seemingly stiffening right back up once the process was completed.
Outwardly the boy appeared exhausted. Sweat coated his brow, and his chest rose and fell as though he'd ran a marathon, yet his expression remained the same, intense with focus.
[member="Darth Maliphant"]