Preparation

[Marcello Matteo]

Ossus

Marcello stood idly at the edge of training room. The Jedi Guardian was taking a brief break from his commitments across the galaxy to teach a series of advanced combat lessons at the Jedi Temple on Ossus. Well, truth be told he was more supervising than directly teaching. As of late, he'd taken a renewed interest in the martial abilities of all Jedi...not merely those following the path of the Guardian.

While Marcello was not a Weaponsmaster as he rarely relied on anything other than his lightsaber, and he detested the many other titles that were so callously handed out amongst the Order. They were generally earned, but they typically were rarely upheld beyond that point.

As the class was beginning to draw to a close, Marcello's datapad began beeping softly. He'd set a reminder to keep him on track with his schedule. Silencing the device, Marcello turned to quietly excuse himself. The Jedi Master recalled that he was supposed to meet yet another Padawan seeking instruction.

Another ten minutes and Marcello stepped unceremoniously into a small meditation chamber. Ice-blue eyes focused on [member="Wovoka Vos"]. "Padawan Vos?"

 

[Ryan]

Location: Ossus; Private Meditation Chamber

If we want to color our mind with a virtuous motivation ​

we need to clear away all our negative thoughts and distractions​

​

The Ysanna-kiffar sat with legs crossed in proper posture to help reduce thoughts and feelings of desirous attachment. His right hand is placed in his left, palms upwards, with the tips of the thumbs slightly raised and gently touching. His hands are held about four fingers’ width below his navel. This helps to develop good concentration. The right hand symbolizes method and the left hand symbolizes wisdom – the two together symbolize the union of method and wisdom. The two thumbs at the level of the navel symbolize the blazing of inner fire. His back is straight but not tense to develop and maintain a clear mind, and it allows the subtle force to flow freely. Wovoka's lips and teeth are held as usual, but his tongue touching against the back of his upper teeth to prevent excessive salivation while also preventing his mouth from becoming too dry for he has been at this for untold hours. His head was tipped a little forward with his chin slightly tucked in so that his eyes were cast down to prevent mental excitement. His eyes were neither wide open nor completely closed, but remain half open and gaze down along the line of the nose. His shoulders are level and his elbows are held slightly away from the sides to let air circulate while in this deep meditative state.

His body was settled comfortably and he began by becoming aware of thoughts and distractions that were arising in his mind. Then he gently turn his attention to his breath, letting its rhythm remain normal. As he breathed out he imagine that he was breathing away all disturbing thoughts and distractions in the form of black smoke that vanished in space. As he breathed in he imagine that he was breathing in all the blessings and inspiration of the force in the form of white light that enters his body and absorbs into his heart. He maintain this visualization single-pointedly with each inhalation and exhalation for twenty-one rounds till his mind became peaceful and alert.

Padawn Vos was spiritually at his center. His mind would flow from concentrating upon his rhythmic breathing and towards his lightsaber. The deactivated hilt would gently float from his left hip and hover two feet from him. With the force, the saber would then be dissembled in mid air and properly placed back together multiple times before [member="Marcello Matteo"] had entered the room with his Ice-blue eyes focused on him "Padawan Vos?" He would break the silence with his voice.

Wovoka's saber quickly reassembled as the muscular athletic form of the padawan would rise to his feet in a form of attention. His dark sullen brown eyes would finally open, his meditation halted in the presence of the Master. His gaze would lock into his superiors as he slightly bowed his dreadlocked head in respect. "Master Matteo!" He would answer back in this thick ysanna accent that deeply resonated in these tight quarters.

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello held [member="Wovoka Vos"]' gaze for several silent moments. The man seemed to have...a quality about him that Marcello found increasingly rare in the newer members of the Order. Well...he just found it rare in the general membership of the Order period.

Offering a simple nod of tacet approval, the Jedi Master turned after indicating for the Padawan to follow with the casual beckoning of two fingers from his left hand. Stepping out into the corridor, Marcello asked the first, most important question. "Do you enjoy food?" Marcello ate nearly every two to three hours.

Took a lot to fuel his body throughout the day.

 

[Ryan]

Wovoka unhesitatingly followed the Master Jedi out of the meditation chamber and out into the main corridor. The half bred humanoid was slightly nervous to the exact reasons [member="Marcello Matteo"] was paying him attention. Hasn't been that often a Jedi Master sought him out as an individual so thought of discipline for an act he could not recollect or he had finally earned himself a Mentor, a person to follow and further his learning in the force.

Hopefully it was the latter. Vos would match Master Matteo's speed and fall in to his left side. That was when his superior would break the ice in search of common ground. It was a simple question, if he liked food? Well, yeah.... to be honest food would be one of his first loves though he could not cook worth a dime. He managed for form a grin before answering "I would say I overly enjoy food, Master!'

IT was the truth but he knew if he dug deeper into the meaning of the question, said master was probably just trying to put the padawan at ease with light conversation and humor. It was working for the nervousness was subsiding though his curiosity was still full tilt.

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello, actually, couldn't have cared less about making small talk with [member="Wovoka Vos"]. The Jedi Master's interest only extended so far as ensuring the man did not have some pathetic notion that the Force could sustain him for extended periods of time without detrimental effect. Wovoka was going to find his training extremely physically demanding, but it would pale in comparison to the mental stresses that Marcello inflicted on his apprentice. There was a common misconception amongst many that...Guardians were simply fighters, designed to take the fight to the enemy and nothing else. That was certainly a prevailing aspect...but to be a warrior meant a great deal more, and combat was first and foremost a thinking individual's game.

"Good. You will be provided time to eat during the initial stages of your training. As time progresses, however, it will be incumbent upon you to tend to your dietary needs. I do not accept excuses. In return, I will never give you any. Likewise, I do not enjoy having my time wasted, so I will not waste yours." Stopping abruptly, Marcello turned to gaze intently at Wovoka. "So when you've been up for three days straight and you're wondering why I have you repeating some seemingly mundane exercise over and over, look past your pain, irritation, and exhaustion. My job, quite simply, is to give you the tools to make you an effective Jedi. Yes...we are at war, but I will not sacrifice your development or cut corners because of such. My former master once told me that the truly great Jedi are merely brilliant at the basics. Do not be too eager to learn flashy new tricks that some of your fellow Padawans may be wasting their time on. You have the benefit of learning from someone that has given blood and taken it in the name of the Order. The Sith do not care how fancy you can be with a lightsaber or use of the Force...let them have that vanity. I assure you they will be no better off from being routinely crushed by concussive waves of Force energy than they will by being put into suspended animation."

Marcello, of course, had learned many of the disciplines he was basically condemning at that precise moment, but he was telling Wovoka only what he needed to hear. When the man had advanced to Knight and garnered some greater experience, they could diversify his portfolio of talents. First, however, he'd have to prove himself. Inhaling steadily for a moment, Marcello abruptly changed the subject. "You are Kiffar." A pause. "Part Kiffar, maybe." Marcello was fairly intimate with the species...literally. The Jedi's thoughts drifted briefly to [member="Kiskla Grayson"], but he managed to wrestle control of them. "You have large shoes to fill, Padawan. Questions?"

 

[Ryan]

Good! This wasn't going to be some kind of buddy buddy circle jerk. This master seemed very goal orientated and that was to get this padawan trained up to the best of his knowledge to increase his survivability in the galaxy and use for the Jedi Order. Wovoka had no issue working and learning under such conditions, he wasn't in need of a friend for a father like mentor. [member="Marcello Matteo"] was exactly what he was looking form. No bull attitude and straight to business. The galaxy wasn't going to play nice so why should your teacher do the same? "Understood Master!" Such words were easy to say there and then in the presence of his master but he knew he wouldn't have a full grasp or understanding until Matteo forced his training conditions upon him. Maybe and more then likely he was going to regret this, but it will pass and way into the future... if he survived.... he would be all the thankful for the harshness.

Now on the question of his race "I am Kiffar and Ysanna, Master!" He would reply advancing his master's knowledge of the new padawan. That is if he cared for such knowledge and was only making a obvious observation and Wovoka miss construed Marcello's inquiry. Either-way, that was his reply. "And I have no further Questions, ready to begin at your pleasure... Master Matteo!"

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello had to roll his eyes when [member="Wovoka Vos"] ceased speaking. How many times had the Padawan referred to Marcello as "Master"? Marcello tended to stop counting at one. "Call me Marcello. Also if you ever bow to me, I will break one of your legs. Fret not..." Marcello lightly patted his left leg with a thin smirk. "...they can be replaced and often to better specification." Thanks, @Darth Shara. "Also, never engage in a martial contest with a dragon unless you're prepared to lose." Marcello often wondered if he would have done the same had Shara not been in the process of threatening the lives of several younglings and a number of his peers.

Probably. Marcello was a borderline masochist in that regard.

"At any rate, that will be all for today. Rest and meet me in front of the Temple steps two hours before sunrise tomorrow. Every night, I will give you some element of...study to have prepared for the next day. Seeing as you are part Kiffar... You can come prepared to tell me extensively about the life, training, and leadership of the former Grandmaster, [member="Kiskla Grayson"]."

Marcello turned from Wovoka without waiting for a response. Silently, the Jedi Master wished the young man an abundance of luck in that practically impossible task. It'd only taken Marcello like...years to figure it out.