Private Friendship & Strength

[Ran Serys]

The Jedi Enclave on Selvaris, Late Morning

It had been some time since Ran was on Selvaris. Her duties as Chief Archivist kept her from the enclave, kept her from the planet’s forests and jungles and green. She missed it, and despite her padawan’s several updates, she was surprised to see that like the world around it the enclave flourished. Sustainable practices and the power of community made the Enclave a popular place for fellow Jedi to visit and call home. Good relations with the native witches and a lost tribe of Vong had been fostered. So much of Ran’s intention for the enclave had been realized and she wondered how much of the credit could be placed on Sazo’s shoulders.

While Ran was away, Sazo Vass and others had taken more proactive roles in the future of the Enclave. Ran was proud of any role her padawan might’ve played in the enclave’s history. As she walked the Enclave’s grounds that pride grew until she reached the training hall and laid eyes on her padawan for the first time in weeks, actually months. The pride settled into Ran’s heart and the warmth felt for a dear friend overpowered it. “There you are, Padawan. You’ve changed. You’ve grown. I’ve missed you.” Ran assaulted the young woman with her thoughts and a sincere smile.

Tags: Sazo Vass
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[Sazo Vass]

Sazo turned around with a smile, feeling her Master's positive, warm emotions through their link. "And I you, Master. Welcome back to Selvaris", she replied with a bow, and a clasping of her shoulder.

'I suppose I've changed', she thought, running her Master's words through her head. With her Master on the Council, Sazo often had to take on several of her day-to-day duties to ensure the Enclave ran smoothly- from chores, to administration of the Enclave, to even liaising with the natives of Selvaris. Physically, she had thrown herself into deepening her connection to the Force and mastering the lessons of Talion; the Convergence had shifted Haruun Kal firmly into the territory of the Sith, it's wicked Blackwall cutting her- and oh so many others- from her home.

The Planeshift had a brought forth a stronger, more deeply attuned, and more aggressive Sazo.

"How long will you be here, Master?", she inquired, eager to make time with Master Serys as time allowed.

Tag: Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

"I'm not exactly sure," Ran answered. "But I'm here to continue your training." Ran's eyes sharpened. She looked as if she was studying Sazo for any progress and training she might've made or done in Ran's absence. "While my duty to the Archives and the Council keeps me busy, I still have a duty to you as your teacher." The Knight explained.

"We can begin our training now, if you'd like?" Ran offered, and her warm, sincere smile remained. She'd hoped Sazo would take her up on the invitation. If she didn't, Ran would still ask to accompany her and bond with her first padawan wherever she went.

Tags: Sazo Vass
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[Sazo Vass]

Sazo's smile, if possible, widened.

"I'd love to train with you, Master", she responded, turning in the direction of a courtyard near the Enclave.

"There's a lot I've learned while you've been away", she continued.

"I'm stronger, I'm faster, and I've never been as attuned in the Force. But the other Padawans...can't keep up", Sazo confessed, not a trace of pride in her confession. "And Masters are busy."

She turned fully to look at Ran, noticing she didn't have to crane her neck as much.

Huh, I'm a bit taller.

"I need you to push me, Master. I need to see how far off I am from being a Knight."

 

[Ran Serys]

"You need me to push you?" Ran asked with an arched brow. "Well, be careful what you wish for, my padawan." It was a threat said in jest, in the tone of someone who was both delighted and impressed. "Shall we?" Ran asked, gesturing a hand to the training hall at the end of the courtyard. She was ready to train and certainly ready to see Sazo's progress.

Ran thought back to when she had first met Sazo. It was on a mission to Velmoc, and it didn't take long for Ran to know she would take Sazo on as her padawan permanently. From the second she had taken the teenager under her wing, Ran knew she would advance quickly. Ran, like anyone with eyes, could see her potential. She could see all the ways in which Sazo was capable, adaptable, determined, and more than anything thoughtful. Ran could also see all the ways they were similar, beyond the physical. She considered the girl a kindred spirit. They were both products of dark events, and they both approached the future nearly unjaded by those experiences. They had a natural zeal for life that not everyone could have, hold, or attain. Ran held her first padawan high on the list of people who she admired, if not did she keep her at the top.

"Or would you rather have a more nuanced challenge?" Ran continued. With a hand aimed at the forest and jungle beyond the Enclave. "Pick your poison, Sazo, and I do mean poison. You asked and shall receive. This will be a test to see how far you are from the rank of Knight." The Knight on her way to masterdom announced. "Or how close?" Ran added, because that was a distinct possibility. Ran and Sazo had the same instinctual connection to the force. It hadn't taken long for Ran to ascend to the rank of Jedi Knight. She thought that might ring true for her padawan, Sazo Vass, as well.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

"I want a...nuanced challenge", Sazo said immediately, choosing the word nuanced over real as the duo entered the training hall. "The galaxy's not a simple place. The war is anything but simple. A Jedi Knight has to be ready for whatever is thrown their way."

Sazo paused, then steeled herself. Master Serys- whatever challenge she chose- would be exacting, but fair. She would test Sazo's measure.

"What did have i mind, Master?"

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

"I want a...nuanced challenge", Sazo said immediately, choosing the word nuanced over real as the duo entered the training hall. "The galaxy's not a simple place. The war is anything but simple. A Jedi Knight has to be ready for whatever is thrown their way."

"On that, you are right, my padawan." Ran agreed. "War is anything but simple and a Jedi Knight should be prepared for any eventuality, but that is seldom the case in this wild and unpredictable galaxy." The Knight continued.

"There have been many instances where I have found myself ill-prepared for and surprised by what the conflicts of the galaxy have thrown my direction. Battles where I have found myself lucky to be alive let alone capable of walking away." Ran explained. "Yet still I stand, because of my training and my connection to the force." The Knight smiled after breathing a sigh of relief. "May they serve you as well as they have served me." Ran finished as they came to a stop at the far end of the hall.

"What did have i mind, Master?"

"What I have in mind is something more than the training hall can provide, Sazo." Ran announced. "But since we're already here, why don't you show me your progress with the blade." She added before removing the lightsaber from her belt and igniting it. Royal blue and white light flashed against her green skin. The saber hummed a harmonious hum as the mirialan set herself in a stance.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

Sazo nodded wordlessly, drawing Talionis as she surveyed her teacher, and taking the standard Form V stance, observing her Master. She began circling Ran, as a strategy came to mind.

'I need to take her off balance. Surprise her, and make sure she can't dictate the flow of the fight.'

Sazo smiled like a predator, spinning into motion.

'And I know just the thing, courtesy of that Aing Tii monk that visited a few months ago'.

With pop, Sazo teleported above her Master, still spinning like a drill.

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

Talionis. Ran acknowledged the force and spirit imbued sword when Sazo drew it. A squint took over her eyes as she took in its appearance. After all this time the ancient blade still made Ran’s skin crawl. For as much as the knight wanted Sazo to leave the blade behind, she also knew it was a part of Ghôsh Vass’ legacy. Talionis wasn’t going anywhere, and there was no point in questioning it.

Despite the general unease Ran had felt toward Talionis, when Sazo spun into motion Ran pressed forward to meet her. Blade was set to crash upon blade, and then they didn’t. Sazo vanished from sight. A trick, a trap, a feint. Ran was impressed. It seemed her padawan had learned a few more skills in her absence, ones that even Ran was not well versed in.

As space folded and Sazo brought down her blade from above, Ran continued on through her swing. A master of speed in the force, Ran’s movements accelerated, momentum carried and grew, while the world around her seemed to slow. She looked up before anywhere else, her instincts told her to, then she jumped back and out of the strike zone of her padawan’s drill-like attack.

“Folding space.” Ran observed. “A surprise for sure, but an even better surprise after the pace of combat has been set.” The Knight advised. “If you had exchanged a couple strikes with me, and lured me into a false sense of overconfidence first, this would’ve been over.” Ran admitted to Sazo before launching her own counterattack.

“The element of surprise has been lost, unless you have something better than teleportation, my padawan. Without surprise you’ll have to match my speed.” Ran smiled as she felt the force run through her muscles pushing her past regular sentient limits. “Let’s see if you can keep up.” Ran continued as she moved on Sazo with a flurry of simple and usually effective cross strikes. A master of Form I, few could match Ran’s understanding of swordsmanship, instinct, and evolution. Ran wondered if Sazo would prove to be one of those few.

Sazo Vass​