To climb the rain

[Mantic Dorn]

The rain was light on this day. It fell despite very few clouds over the jedi temple on Ossus.

Mantic felt the air being refreshed by the water but also acknowledged that to most this also meant a cold. He wraped his robe around him and raised his face letting the drops find his face over and over again. Water was the very foundation of most life forms and offered a symbolic meaning for todays lesson.

Smiling he recognized the presence acknowleding itself on the court yard and Mantic lowered his hood to greet [member="Varius"] - his newest pupil and padawan.

 

[Varius]

Varius bowed to his master in respect still having his hood on, he liked rain, after the experience he ahd with fire, rain was more than welcomed, he was the type who would like to just stay beside the window and watch it fall through the land as it was always meant to be. yet that was not something he would do now, Mantic surely called him for a reason, he needed tot rain and be prepared to face whatever horors there were in this world, seen or unseen, there was only one way he could defeat them, with the guidance of his master

Varius opened his mouth to speak as he revealed his head "I do not wish to be impatient, master but I don't really understand... why here... why in the middle of rain and why not in any other place where the sound of drops cannot be heard?" He was curious, usually jedi would prefer a place without any sound so that they may concentrate, but there was more to it, he felt Mantic had rpepared something for him this time.

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

While the rain was not pouring it was still enough to be a disturbance for sure. Mantic nodded at [member="Varius"] question and motioned for him to fall in beside him as he started to walk.

"While focus is easier to find in a location of solitude and a younglings training often carries that framework you are now my padawan. No longer masterless but a jedi in training. As jedi you will seldom find that when you truly need to use the force the surroundings are calm. I am afraid it is most often on the contrary. You will have to trust me during this time my padawan."

He spoke little more as they continued to walk leaving the temple courtyard and headed out into the nearby field where he found a secluded area with old dead tree stumps and loggs spread out over a field as large as a football field. Some of the stumps were short, other very tall.


"May I take your robe padawan." he offered and held out an arm for [member="Varius"] to hang the robe.

 

[Varius]

Varius nodded and gave the rope to his master "I guess that would suffice, though what exactly are we going to do?" He asked rather excited, anything about training was something he liked to talk about as long as it helped him become the man he's supposed to be, there would be no other way to help the others in these times of war and no other way protect thsoe who cares for... not that they would be many, sometimes he likes to think he will have a family once again one day, although it may be a false hope even if is a hope he needs for the war... and for himself, the hope that allows him to live.

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic took the robe and rolled it up nicely. Then he looked up.

"There are five high tree stumps over there. And three fallen trees in between them. You will start by jumping to the first stump. It is about one and a half meter high. Then jump down and pass under the tree-logg. Jump to the dead tree that towrrs about three meters and from it leap to the highest point you can reach on the field. Then jump or climb down and roll under those two loggs laying like a cross over there. Finally run back and jump up to the first stump and remain still." Mantic pointed and instructed the course for [member="Varius"]

"Make the run as fast as you can and try not to trip." mantic expected his padawan to fall and trip many times on this day, especially as the rain made the track very slippery. [member="Varius"] body would he aching this night but to resist and ignore fatigue and pain is a crucial part in the jedi training.

"Go on, you may start." he finished and placed his hood over his head for shelter versus the rain.

 

[Varius]

Varius stared at his master and then around him with a forced smile "You're joking.... right? Heh...hehehe... Right?" His smile then dropped as soona s he saw no change on his master's face, he then looked at the trees in a failed attempt to make a good strategy, he stood like that for like 5 minutes then decided he had to move. Varius begun running as fast as he could to the first high tree and jumped at it putting his leg on the tree and.... Failing miserably. His leg easily slipping as his face hit the tree and then fell on the ground.

This was going to be a very very long day. "Ouch" He said still on the ground looking like wounded kath hound. Now this was mroe complicated than what he did before when he was on his own, yet he respected the fact that Mantic was trying to push him to his limits. Wgetting up slowly he ran back in position and prepared himself to try again.

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

He could not help but feel a sting of regret as he recognized the pain and doubt in his padawan. As [member="Varius"] returned to the starting position Mantic leaned slightly forward.

"Do not see the the path littered with obstacles padawan, that tree, that rock - it is all part of a greater web. They are not there to hinder your movement. Instead they are there to offer you more options, better alternatives then staying on the ground."

"Look at the tree, memorize its shape and close your eyes. See yourself running the track in the best way. Then do it."

He straightened himself again. This was indeed going to be a long and hard day for [member="Varius"]

 

[Varius]

Varius "memorized" the trees as in looking at them few seconds and barely noticing anything then made a "plan" for it right away. He thought he got it this time s he smirked running to the same tree. This time he managed to put his leg firmly on it and push jumping forward... Only f he would have listened to Mantic maybe then he would have seen the branch he just hit with his face.

Varius then fell on his back almost helpless without letting out any sound, his pain was impossible to feel among the waves of shame, well that is the payment for not being careful... "It... could have... gone better." He got back on his feet slowly trying to ignore the pain from the scratches on his face and moved back in his former place with a sigh.

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Ouch... Mantic could almost feel his padawans pain. He shifted foot, wanting to get in there and help. But then he would not learn.

"Padawan. There is no emotion, only peace of mind. See the path, let it guide you, trust in its embrace." he silently adviced accompanied with the light dripple of the rain still around them.

"Breath, take it in. It is not you conquering the leap. The leap is your natural movement. Be at peace of mind before you start."

He took a step back giving [member="Varius"] some room.

They were going to be here for some time. But Mantic saw the improvement already. The force was there, wanting to guide his padawan. Now he just needed to allow it.

 

[Varius]

Varius took a deep breath letting the rain drops fall on his face keeping his eyes closed for a time, he tried to let his emotions go away slowly which was rather easy but not that easy with the fear of failure.
After few minuts he watched the first tree and studied it then looked at the others trying to imagine what exactly he would do. The padawan ran as fast as he could with a confident look on his face, jumped on the tree, but this time his mind was more clear, he managed to see the branch in time.. or almost in time and grabbed it with his hand trying to use it as support yet as soon as he grabbed the branch it broke causing him to fall down in a little swamp. He had time for a bath it seems.

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

As time went on it was obvious that [member="Varius"] was not giving up. His dedication to succeed was impressive, but fore most the padawan did not lash out in anger or bitterness. Mantic encouraged [member="Varius"] to remain calm at every failure. To rise up and redo without blame or regret. Analyze what had happened and do the course again, and again.

These trainings were not going to be completed over the course of one day either, but this was definately an important beginning.
As [member="Varius"] had made the course several times, more or less succesful Mantic added.

"A jedi master can make a leap resembling flying. While gravity is part of the force, so is flight. Do you recall the meditation session in the temple?"

"If one can levitate, why not fly?" Mantic smiled and nodded toward the highest tree stump, the one reching almost three meters bove ground.

"Picture yourself on its top padawan. then place yourself there."

 

[Varius]

Varius listened to his master's words then thought for a few moment, he closed his eyes and imagines himself on it's top, he felt it, the air, the wind, everything that he would have felt on its top, then he opened his eyes and elt the force flow through his body as he should do, he watched the whole place with great care his steeled blue eyes walking fast through the trees seeing himself executing the moves.

Taking his position Varius' eyes looked at the first stump then ran as fast as he could until he was close enough to jump on it, surprisingly he did it then jumped down right under the three-log, he then jumped on the dead three which was about 3 meters high and from there he managed to leap to the highes point he could reach on the field, just as his master told him. Varius jumped down with great care succesfully rollingunder the two logs and barely managin to lay like a cross... but hey, he was stil in the game! Varius didn't waste any moment though, although he seemed to be almost exhausted, he ran as fast as he could to the first stump and using everything he had left jumped on it staying still as his father said... then after few moments when he caught his breath, he finally spoke with a big smile on his face "I... I did it! Master, I did it!" He couldn't believe it, but he did it, it wasn't his merit though... He probably would have faile should his master not be [member="Mantic Dorn"] for even if strong in force, becoming a jedi is still something hard to acomplish.

 

[Mantic Dorn]

There was not without an effort that Mantic forced himself to remaIn calm. A short smile did however play along his lips at his padawans joyous outburst.

"Indeed you did padawan. Now, remember to recall this picture in the future. While you will always face mountainsides, there are always items there to help you. Be it a cliff or a steady rock. You just need to trust in that it is there."

Mantic nodded with approval to his padawan before he turned. The lesson was over and Mantic started to make his way home again.

[member="Varius"]