Training on Ession

[Armand Temi]

When Cyril activated the saberstaff, Armand's heart started pounding. He heard his Master's words and concentrated. Gripping his lightsaber with both hands right above the pommel, he raised the saber to block the incoming weapon, calling upon both The Force and some fencing training he had in the Hapan Navy. He parried but it was clumsy and he stumbled forward. The lightsaber was vibrant with heat and energy.

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

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That was the way to do it! Armand knew how to parry a blade, albeit lacking in finesse. That would come later. What mattered now was that the Padawan hadn't dropped his blade from the strike.

Graxin's smirk widened as he fronted left, and took a quick step back. "Good. Let it take you. The lightsaber is an extension of your arm, not a separate tool."

The emerald saber staff span about to deliberately catch Armand's blade right in the center.

"You either favor a one or two handed grip. Figure it out before you lose your head Armand."



[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Excellent advice from his Jedi Master. Armand was pretty fond of his head after all. "Since I'm fairly tall, I would normally have a height advantage against an adversary. Unless it was a Yuuzhan Vong," he said. "So I'm leaning towards one-handed. Which do you prefer, Cyril?" And even as he asked this, he knew the answer. The Jedi Master looked more than capable of handling any weapon with any grip or style.

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"Me?" Cyril asked as of he were flattered. "I initially had a love for two weapons in each hand, but that's growing popular. I'm transitioning into the staff for more shock capability in combat."

The Jedi Master shrugged. He turned about mid swing to shove his boot right into Armand's midriff. Training wasn't effective unless you walked away with a few bruises.

"A one handed grip is good for Niman." He drew in a deep breath. "Or Shii-cho. The former of which I use. The later is a more creative form. Both have a myriad of uses."




[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Armand hit the ground hip-first at the blow to his stomach. His Master had certainly caught him unaware. A burst of anger surged through him but he quelled it. He had been in a few bar fights in his Navy career but he generally wasn't a hot-headed Hapan. It took a lot to make and keep him angry.

"Well that was unexpected," he said rising and dusting himself off. "But I suppose the enemy doesn't normally announce what he's going to do next." He rubbed his left side where he had fallen. That was going to hurt tomorrow. "I think you wounded my pride more than anything," he lied.

"Niman and Schii-cho," Armand repeated, trying out the new words. "Can you demonstrate those fighting styles?" Or so he assumed they were.

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Cyril couldn't help but smile. Armand showed surprising restraint for a Padawan. Most would have shot up to their feet, demanding to know why Cyril had kicked them without any warning. Armand Temi did not, and that was what would make him an effective Jedi one day. One day, just not today.

"Niman is a more balanced form. It draws a median between all other forms, and it works wonders in conjunction with the force."

For emphasis, Graxin sheathed the staff, and ignited his twin blades: one cyan, one a soulless black.

He held them both outward, almost casually. "Ready to move in any direction at a moment's notice."

The black blade was sheathed as well. Graxin held the single weapon in his left hand, as it was the dominant, and pointed it slightly upward at Armand.

"Shii-Cho is like fencing. When in combat with another force user, it requires creativity and use of the environment, as well as your own skill."

[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

When Cyril showed Armand the Niman technique, it did look extremely fluid as he described but better for the kind of duel wielding the Ession Lord was demonstrating. However, the Shii-cho technique looked more familiar to the Hapan padawan. And certainly with his fencing background, he should probably start training by grabbing the lowest hanging fruit.

As Cyril pointed his blade upward at Armand, he didn't ignite his weapon but moved into a defensive stance. He bent his knees and mirrored his Jedi Master's movement as close as he could, getting ready to parry and half expecting his Master to throw another curve-ball at him.

"By the way," Armand said, "Because of my race, my night vision is extremely bad. I could fix it with surgery, but..." he shrugged. "Well it's who I am even if it's a defect. I only say this because I'm wondering if there is something in The Force that could help me compensate. Being able to heighten my other senses perhaps. Although I suppose a Miraluka Jedi Knight would have much to say about my trivial compliant."

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The ability Armand unknowingly asked about was familiar to Cyril. His grandparents were Miraluka, and their skills had been taught to their daughter, then to her son. Force Sight was a skill Cyril was both proficient in, and could teach.

"I know such an ability." He replied as Armand took up a defensive stance. Good, the boy was learning. "It's an advanced talent. One I will teach you later on as your connection to the force develops."

Graxin leveled his twin blades at Armand, and smiled. "For now, I will teach you the essentials. One of which being the force barrier. Imagine a wall surrounding yourself against the force. An impenetrable shield against all things. Then...create it. Use it to repel the force whenever you have need."

Cyril paused a moment to give Armand a chance, and held his hand forward. A simple push meant to nudge him back an inch or so. More a test of Armand's will than anything else.




[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

"I'll try my best," Armand said. He tried to imagine the wall that Cyril referred to. He closed his eyes and dug deep into his mind. When it came to his imagination the Hapan thought he may be at a disadvantage. He was a doctor and spent most of his day in a series of systems, experiments, results and facts backed up by research. As he concentrated he could feel his feet slipping back as though he were on ice and a great power was pushing him slowly backwards. He raised both of his hands and using his mind, pushed back. But nothing happened and he kept sliding away from the Jedi Master. "Cyril, I don't think it's working," he said with a hint of frustration.

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"That's alright." Cyril assured. "I'd be a bit frightened if it worked perfectly the first time."


The goal was to get Armand to see things with his mind's eye , for lack of a better term. The Padawan needed to understand what it might take to call upon the force. It was no small task, and required unparalleled concentration to put to good use. Even the greatest masters faltered when they thought the force would simply bow to their desires.

"But you must try. Never give anything a half-effort. You have to give everything your all, or else you've failed yourself, and there can be no greater disappointment."

The pressure on Armand would increase. Enough to send the former medic tumbling back if he could not conjure up a defense.

[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Armand tumbled back and then he skid quite harshly on the floor of the training room.

But he quickly drew up from his knees and concentrated, really concentrated on a wall. He visualized a wall in his mind and pushed that visualization forward. Hopefully the Force that Armand was controlling would crash into whatever Cyril was was holding fast as a barrier.

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There was a moment of resistance. Cyril would not have condoned the younger man for failing to create a barrier. Doing such tom immense concentration and practice.

So when there was indeed an invisible wall erected between the Jedi Master and his Padawan, Cyril was pleasantly surprised. His lips curled into a pleased little smile, and his hand fell down to his side.

The wave of energy that had crashed down on Armand suddenly dispersed.

The boy had passed his test.

"Perfect Armand!" The Archlord praised. He clipped the saberstaff to his belt, and clapped his Padawan on the shoulder. "I could ask for nothing more from you. I'm impressed my friend."

[member="Armand Temi"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Armand smirked. "Thank you," he said. He rubbed his back where he had fallen. Tomorrow was gonna hurt, he thought. "I have to admit that I can't quite explain what I did. And honestly don't know that I could even recreate that." The Hapan padawan motioned to the air where The Force had been unseen to their eyes. "But I am starting to understand the mechanisms inside me that could control The Force." He frowned and didn't want to admit this part of his background and his culture's history but Cyril had been a willing ear so far: "Back on my home planet there is still a sector of Ni'Korish that thrives to this day. In fact there are some quite powerful members in terms of having positions in the Hapan Queen's Court. I think it's another reason my family didn't want to cultivate any of The Force in their children."

"Did you ever experience that kind of prejudice?" Armand asked.

[member="Graxin Rade"]