Private When the Spring Flowers Bloom

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

One strike followed the other as Mathieu methodically maintained his attack. The dummy he was practicing on stood no chance against his onslaught. Sweat was dripping from his forehead but at this point in time, it did not matter. He wanted to clear his mind and working out and training always seemed to be good ideas when that was the objective. But for some reason, it had not yet taken effect, and this time, he had been at it for hours. Normally, fifteen to twenty minutes would suffice. Unlike normally when he would practice Soresu, Mathieu had now assumed the more aggressive Dejm So - his knowledge of the form was much poorer than that of Soresu but from what he could tell, his stance was good and his strikes in accordance with the instructions.

In the grand scheme of things, he was a sour spot in the otherwise bright courtyard. Younglings having caught an hour of free time were running around playing tag, a few small birds chirped in the centre-tree's crown and the four fountains in the corners of the courtyard produced a soothing sound. Most snow had already melted and early spring flowers had begun their bloom. But even then, Mathieu wasn't at a very good place in his mind. The thoughts had pestered him for some time and when working through them did not have an effect, he had decided that it was better not to think of it - however, something within him just wouldn't let go. And so, he was stuck.

While he still had deeper stamina reserves to pull from, it was quickly becoming apparent that he had been at it too hard and for too long. The dummy was doing fine but his weapon - the practice sabre - was starting to feel more wobbly as internal components were getting loose. It was only a matter of time before it would fall apart. To him, it was of little importance for the item could be replaced and he really wanted some peace of mind. Letting out a sigh, the large Padawan took a breather, tilting his head up to the blue skies above while catching his breath, wondering why it wasn't working. Despite not really having recovered fully, Mathieu nodded whispering "Let's go again" to himself before once more committing to the arduous and at this point almost excessive training.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

It was time for his bi-monthly meeting with the Assembly, leaving behind the chill of Midvinter for the woodlands of Kashyyyk. The Silver Rest was still a foreign place to him, being used to the original iteration on Voss back when the order was first founded. He'd not been present when the decision to relocate to Kashyyyk was made, for he had already stepped down at that point and taken up duty on his homeworld, however he trusted the organisation that he helped rise above their peers to make the right decision.

Most of the time he would attend these Assembly sessions via holo-call from his office on Midvinter, for he was often too busy ruling to appear in the flesh. He wanted to visit at least every-other month however, to meet with his friends and colleagues on a regular basis. Even with the sophisticated technology of holo-conferences, it still doesn't hold a candle to actually being in the same room together.

For this particular session, the focus was on the newly arisen threats to the east in the form of Sith splinter groups, having rebelled against the Empire they once swore allegiance to. As divided as the Jedi were these days, only Sith would stoop so low as to declare open rebellion against their own brothers and sisters. While Sith spilling the blood of other Sith wasn't exactly frowned upon, these splinter groups did create more potential threats for the future.

Having concluded the session, Thurion was left to wander the halls and courtyard of the Silver Rest. Walking past the area dedicated to Grandmasters past, it always hurt to gaze upon the holographic likenesses of those who were no longer with them. The very first one was a woman by the name of Iella E'ron, a friend and sister. She faced the Sith Lord Darth Carnifex out of selflessness and fell before him, leading to the order's decision to elect Thurion her successor.

A lifetime ago, it seemed like. So many more have either passed on or moved on since, yet he remained. A living reminder of a past era.

Exiting the temple interiors to bask in the sun, there was one amongst a great many groups of aspiring Jedi that stood out to him. A young man he remembered from the Liberation of Voss, when the old seat of the Silver Jed Order was successfully reclaimed and its rightful leaders reinstated.

"Djem So," he spoke up after having watched the man beat the poor dummy into submission from afar. "One of the more advanced lightsaber forms. You've clearly grasped the basics," he referred to Mathieu's wide stance and how he carried himself.

"Aggressive, powerful, sometimes even brutal. Extended use requires great endurance and focus from its user, making physical exercise just as important as the actual fencing." He circled around the young man until facing him, hands behind his back in a relaxed manner.

"Mathieu, is it not? I believe we encountered each other on Voss some time ago. We cleared the Tower of Prophecy together."

Mathieu Brion ​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

He was among friends. Mathieu knew and could feel that the temple was filled with people whom he cared for and who in turn cared for him. Many whom he had met in the past and got along with well. In a way, their presences blended together, including that of Thurion Heavenshield. For now, the young Morellian was on his own - maybe not physically but in his mind, he was dealing with his struggle alone. It was not yet something he had shared with anyone.

The continuous assault against the dummy was maintained. Even when the Jedi Master made his presence known. It was as if Mathieu had isolated himself from the world around him. A trance to focus on the 'battle' - whether it be the one against the dummy or the one that was being waged in his mind. In a sense, he could hear each knowledgeable word which Thurion uttered but even then, they were not processed in his mind.

It lasted until he heard his name and found the legendary Jedi Master on the opposite side of the dummy. Mathieu's breath was heavy as he ceased the attack and looked to Thurion as he finished his sentence. The outside world that he had so proficiently kept locked out now flooded into his mind, along with what the Master had said before. "Master Heavenshield" he said, slightly out of breath whilst bowing respectfully. Once standing straight again, Mathieu brushed a few strains of hair from his face and did his best to produce a smile "And that time on Commenor" he said, recalling when the Assembly chambers were filled up with less-than-happy Jedi who confronted the council. Mathieu almost felt a little bad - for to him, it was not that good of a memory.

An awkward feeling seeped into him as the words which Thurion had said earlier were starting to land and make sense. It was probably not all too well mannered to just let them slip by without answering and while Mathieu could not change the past, he could still make a fool out of himself in the present and gave a rather delayed "Thank you" with a nod - happy in the knowledge that the Master had indirectly praised his stamina for he had been at it for some time now.

Deactivating his practice sabre, Mathieu took a few steps to the side and gently rested it against a stone bench by the edge of one of the fountains. He then turned to his fellow Jedi - not quite his normal optimistic self but still not obviously in a defeatist state of mind "Do you have any recommendations on how I might improve?" he asked, hoping to avoid the topic that was on his mind and instead let the conversation with Master Heavenshield draw his mind towards something more productive.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Ah yes," he recollected, rubbing the back of his neck. "I am sorry you had to see that. That entire situation should never have occurred in the first place." Not one of his finest moments, as he could have easily been asked to walk away from the Jedi indefinitely that day. Though he would have accepted the Assembly's decision and stepped down gracefully, in truth he would have felt miserable doing so. He'd been a Jedi all his life, it was all he knew.

Focusing instead on Mathieu's question posed, Thurion chose to interpret it a different way. Going where the young man least wanted.

"You could start by letting go of what's troubling you, son. Aggressive in nature though it may be, Form V does not rely on emotion any more than Soresu or Shii-Cho. A troubled mind leads to a lack of focus, and a lack of focus can get you killed on the battlefield."

Putting himself between Mathieu Brion and the training dummy, Thurion shed his outermost layer of Jedi robes and wrapped it around the shoulders of the dummy behind him, revealing the far more practical outfit underneath. As well as a saber hilt dangling from his hip.

"Tell you what. If you can land a single hit on me, you don't have to answer. If you cannot, I can ask you whatever I like. Deal?"

He then removed his lightsaber and placed it on the ground. Arms crossed over his chest, the Master stared down the Padawan with the greatest of calm.

"Prove to me that you do not lack focus."

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

Mathieu simply shook his head. There was no need to apologise, at least not to him. Neither he or the Master in front of him had wished for the events that transpired that day to happen and he held no ill-will towards Thurion for it. But he did feel a sense of respect for the Master - few would have been willing to sacrifice so much in his position. At least nobody would question the man's sense of duty and selflessness.

It was odd to hear that Form V was not reliant on emotions, for Mathieu had never assumed that to be the case. Was he really letting what laid underneath the surface slip through to the extent that it looked like he fuelled his attacks with his emotions? If that was the case, things might be worse than expected. His head tilted down as his gaze fell "I'm trying" he said with a slight sense of shame to his voice. The senior Jedi proceeded to speak of how dangerous it could be on the field of battle "Yes, Master Heavenshield"

What came next was unexpected as Thurion revealed the more utilitarian outfit he wore under his robes. The fact that he was fit to fight was far from surprising, but the Padawan looked to the man with curiosity as he wondered why it was exposed. He looked to the Master with intrigued eyes as the proposal was made. Ultimately, the young Morellian knew that he was not supposed to keep a bunch of secrets from his Order anyways, and Thurion was a member of the Assembly. With that, he nodded "Deal"

With slow motions, Mathieu started to take his outer robes off, revealing the armour plates underneath. It was more a matter of what he was used to than actually wearing them for his safety - at least when they were at the Silver Rest. Instead of moving to pick up the practice sabre and putting the robes down at the bench, the Padawan stayed and looked to the Master, finally nodding to show his opponent that he was about to attack. His right hand formed a fist whilst the left one held onto the robes.

A few moments would pass before a fast right-legged kick was launched. It was a powerful attack where the large Padawan would spin his body accordingly. If Thurion evaded the attack, Mathieu would allow the momentum to carry on, bringing him into a full 360 degree spin with the left foot firmly planted in the ground. Upon the spin's completion, he would let go of his robes - sending them towards the Master like a net, shortly followed by a jab directed to his central body mass.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion maintained his calm even as Mathieu Brion attempted his opening move, casually ducking forward beneath his spinning leg and stepping aside to avoid the flying robes, arms still kept behind his back. Albeit a bit taken aback at the lack of a training saber, he hadn't had a good fistfight in a long time. Knowledge of martial arts was just as vital to a Jedi, for if the enemy were to rid you of your weapon you still had to know how to defend yourself.

He was pleased to find that this young man had thought the same way as he in this regard.

As Mathieu then directed a jab at his torso, a hand shot out from behind his back to catch the blow before it could make contact, restraining him by the wrist. "Impressive," he smirked. "You showcase excellent strength and speed, but these alone do not win battles. Clarity of mind will always find victory where zeal fails."

Flicking the padawan's hand aside, Thurion side-stepped his opponent to get a clean shot at his backside, extending his foot to take advantage of the opening to hopefully trip Mathieu, sending him off balance and then give him a light shove to create some distance. Safe to say, he wasn't looking to harm the padawan.

"It's a simple case of mind over matter, son. Our greatest battles are fought in our minds; envision victory in your mind, then carry it out."

Through gentle motions his hands returned behind his back as he awaited the next attack.

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

The attacks were well executed, at least in Mathieu's own opinion. But Thurion showed why he was a Master, skillfully evading both the kick and the robe that was thrown at him right after. The jab that came to follow it up was quickly caught before it could make its impact. Mathieu, possessing a most impressive physique and skilled with the force techniques of self-enhancement could have pushed on harder - but the challenge was not for him to try to get a hit with brute force and so, he refrained from trying to push through.

As the Master spoke, the young Morellian let his shoulders fall slightly as he listened to the man, in a way indicating that he thought that the fight was over. Otherwise, a counter attack would have been perfect at this time. Mathieu didn't interrupt Thurion and was happy to hear his praise and then his wisdom, but instead of responding, his mindset quickly snapped back to a battle oriented one as it was made abundantly clear that Thurion was not done with him just yet.

With his arm sent in one direction and the Master making a side-step in the other, Mathieu saw how he was close to being attacked by the back. His instincts told him to interrupt the attack by hurling himself at his opponent in a powerful tackle and he begun making moves to that end. Unfortunately, Mathieu was a little too slow and soon felt a shove sending him in the other direction. Unwillingly running a few metres, he soon recovered and looked back to Thurion.

Mathieu stopped for a few moments, trying to do what the Master asked, envisioning a victory - but as he tried, his mind and thoughts couldn't help but to wander. Wander to that eventfull day when the shuttle crashed. An uncomfortably long time had passed since Thurion felled his words of wisdom and the Padawan knew that he couldn't stand around all day - even if he had not quite succeeded in envisioning a true strike just yet. With that, he rushed forth.

Once near, Mathieu levelled three attacks against the Master in quick succession: A left jab, a right jab and then a knee against his abdomen before retreating back a long step. Unless a counter attack came, he would quickly zoom in, closing the distance at a high pace before moving to throw another jab - it was a faint, however. The moment before committing to the attack, he would stop it and instead turn the momentum into an aggressive step forwards to put his leg in between the Master's in order to finally shove him back, hopping to make him trip.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

He could sense the turmoil within the mind of the padawan as he readied himself for another attack. Clinging to past mistakes and past regrets is the bane of enjoyment of the present, and it is something we all go through at some stage of our lives. He'd be the first to acknowledge his own difficulty with letting go of the past, whether it be personal losses or regrets. But eventually you get through it, if need be with the help of others.

All of this he recognised in Mathieu Brion even as he came charging at him. Taking on a more active role in their sparring match, Thurion parried the two jabs with by extendid the corresponding arm, then quickly brought his palms down to block the ascending knee. It was a flurry of an attack, far more precise and focused than before.

Then came the shove, as Mathieu stepped in to force him back. Thurion did not put up a fight, but rather fell backwards towards the hard ground with his arms held at his sides, palms facing the ground. Just as his body was about to hit the courtyard he let out a controlled burst of telekinesis, thrusting him back up on his feet with enough momentum that he flew towards Mathieu, but did not attack. Instead he simply used the padawan as a hurdle, rolling across his back until he found himself on the other side, at which point he settled his palm firmly upon Mathieu's chest. At the same time, he extended his leg to take from him his balance.

With his hand on Mathieu's chest Thurion pushed the padawan towards the ground, while also using his remaining hand to protect the back of his head as he brought him down.

"Easy now," he laid him down as if putting a child to rest. "You are a fighter, Mathieu, there's no denying that. You would handle yourself well on my homeworld."

And with that, Thurion relinquished his grasp of the boy and sat down beside him, legs crossed.

"It's obvious you've been taught well. Who is your master, son?"

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

It almost felt as if the fight was even. Almost. Mathieu knew better - Thurion Heavenshield was as close to reaching the status of 'legend' as anyone the Padawan had ever met before. The main thing that kept him from achieving that status seemed to be that he was still alive and very much present in the Galaxy, even if he tended to spend more time at its very fringe. Still, the Padawan kept pushing and as Thurion refrained from counter attacking, he could still feel how his goal of landing a hit was within reach.

For a moment, it looked like the Master was falling. Of course, Mathieu didn't expect anything less than what was performed as the seasoned fighter he was facing recovered with a sense of elegance, quickly bouncing back and launching a soft counter attack. Surprised, Mathieu found himself gently being pushed to the ground. In a battle between life and death, he would probably have risked being let go of into a hard fall and tried to get out of the situation - but this was no such time and instead, he chose to accept his defeat with grace. As much grace as he could keep whilst being put to the floor like a child.

With his eyes looking up at the blue skies above, Mathieu let out a heavy sigh. His chest fell and the thoughts which had pestered his mind seemed to dissipate. While he was now rather well relaxed, his mind was still working at overdrive, thinking about if it was his normal method of working out and training which had cleared his mind or if it was the teachings of Thurion which had done it.

Just laying there was rather nice, especially after his draining training session on top of the light sparring. But that was not why a smile grew on his lips. The smile came because Thurion had just noted how Mathieu would've done well at Midvinter. The young Morellian may not have been a very good student - he often found it hard to sit still for long and concentrate on hours upon hours of lecturing - but he did love a good story, and a fair few had come from Midvinter with its old civil wars and legendary Shieldmaidens. Sitting up, Mathieu looked to the Master and nodded in a bow "Thank you"

"No one" the answer was a blunt one but it was the truth. Of course, no Padawan was happy about not having a Master to look after them, but he was not alone in it and the Silver Jedi had provided for him regardless. A soft smile spread across his lips as to convey his lack of bitterness "But I've been trained well at the Silver Rest and on the fields of battle. We have many good Masters and instructors who teach good classes" he said, thinking back to some the times he had learned along side other Padawans from Masters such as Or'Fol Moric or the Knight Risen.

Whether it was to find a good reason for it or because he felt comfortable enough to share, the large Padawan continued "I joined the Order pretty late" a sudden shift in his facial expression revealed a sense of shame as he continued onto the next part "I used to be a mercenary before they discovered that I was force sensitive... I did some bad stuff - But I try to atone for it now" It was embarrassing - not only to have a stained past, but also that he had just gone off on a tangent without provocation. And so, he put a smile back on his lips and tried to make his point "I think I still have some way to go before I can hope of being Knighted"

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion couldn't help but furrow his brows and tilt his head at Mathieu's reply that he'd not been offered a master as of yet. While padawans had not been restricted to younglings only for a long time, he would have thought someone of Mathieu's caliber would at the very least have been given a mentor from whom he could learn. That Master-Padawan relationship is vital to developing the abilities of future Jedi. The young are the lifeblood of any order.

"We all have our own paths to tread," the Master spoke. "We can only be greatful that they eventually cross. Each choice you've made has led to this moment, with the two of us sitting here on this very courtyard. Force intervention or no, it is one heck of a coincidence, don't you think?"

Scooting closer to sit beside him, Thurion patted the young man's shoulder.

"If it is atonement you seek, then you are in the right place. Each of us carry our own darkness; without it there would be no light. It's so easy to forget that all Jedi, throughout our long history, are also just people. All those legends we grow up hearing tell us of the Jedi and their great deeds, but very little of the faces behind those famous names. They had their own demons to overcome, and yet they came through in the end and achieved greatness. Which means there's still hope for people like you and me."

A sharp inhale of air later, the elder rose from where he sat and picked up his discarded robe from earlier, dusting it off.

"Young Master Brion," he turned to him as he put the robes back on. "I, for one, am feeling more than a bit peckish after that workout. Care for a bite to eat? My treat."

Mathieu Brion ​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

"We do" he said, acknowledging that everyone did indeed have their own path to tread, just like the Master had said. He listened to what Thurion had to say, about what could most accurately be likened with destiny, The thoughts bounced about in his mind as his gaze shifted up to his fellow Jedi. An incursion of rationality burst in, reminding him that, maybe it wasn't that odd for them to see each other, seeing as the one was an Assembly Master and he himself a Padawa, both with plenty of reason to be at the Silver Rest, but then, that was not the point. A subtle smile formed on his lips as he brushed the thoughts aside and he nodded "Yes, Master Heavenshield"

Mathieu's eyes followed the man as he scooted closer, barely detracting from the noble aura that he seemed to have about him normally. There was truth to what Thurion was saying - it was indeed easy to forget the person behind the legend, And the idea behind the thought became abundantly more valid when he heard "[...] like you and me. The large Padawan let our a chuckle as he realised that he had primarily seen the Thurion Heavenshield of the epic stories rather than the man who had a personal story of his own, just like everyone else. For a few moments, the Morellian let silence spread as his eyes stared into the floor tiles ahead as his mind processed what had been said. With a smile, he nodded "It seems like I've come to the right place. It is a conclusion I've come to long before now, but," he paused before looking the Master in the eyes "this makes me even more sure of it."

The conversation ended abruptly. Thurion rose to his feet but instead of departing, he offered a meal "There's something you won't hear me saying no to!" he exclaimed happily whilst quickly getting up and gathering his stuff. Mathieu had quite the appetite and would gladly take a free meal - but in this instance, the company was more of a boon than the food itself. With his stuff all gathered up, Mathieu was ready to leave. His practice sabre would need some fixing up but it wouldn't be much trouble with some spare parts, time and effort.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Happy to see the young man smile again, Thurion took him not to the Rest's canteen as one might expect, but rather another cantina off campus grounds. A local watering hole for any weary traveller coming through; many Rangers preferred to come here whenever mess hall wasn't to their liking, but of course there were the occasional Jedi and even Wookie stopping by for a drink or meal.

There were a few glances cast their way as Master and Padawan entered, but nothing significant. All types were accepted here; there was no spotlight on famous names or deeds, no prestige. All patron were treated equal.

The pair was offered a corner booth and were each handed a menu listing the available foods. Thurion sat back with lunch menu in hand, pouring over the selection.

"So, Mathieu of House Brion," he spoke without lifting his eyes from his menu. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

Two very simple questions, to which the answer was always more difficult. He could just as likely be asking about what he would like to eat, but would leave it to Mathieu to decipher the nature of his rather direct questions.

Thurion peeked up from his menu over at the young man sat across from him, studying him for a moment.

"Who are you... and what do you want?"

Mathieu Brion ​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

With his gear all gathered up and his robes hanging over his arm, Mathieu walked along the Master as they ventured over the walkways by the courtyard where he had been training. It was not a normal experience for the Padawan. Tall and broad-shouldered, he rarely found himself in the situation of being towered over by another. But Thurion certainly had the stature for it. Sure, he had heard his fellow Jedi - he was not solely a legend - he was a normal guy but he still had this aura of nobility.

His eyes followed the corridor which lead down to the mess hall but he kept moving along with Thurion as they walked past it. While he did remain silent, the Padawan couldn't help but to wonder where they were going. Still, he had been to the cafes and restaurants outside of the temple with Inara and Ara in the past and felt safe in not being mislead. A satisfied smirk spread across the padawan's lips as he saw their true destination - it was a place where he had not been in the past but had intents of visiting at some point.

Walking in, the Padawan didn't think much of the crowd around them. Having worked as a mercenary before joining the Silver Jedi and closely with the troops during their campaigns against the Bryn and Sith. He was feeling right at home, all things considered, and the presence of Thurion did not seem to diminish that feeling - perhaps odd considering how much he respected the man - but he had a familiar feel to him.

Once they had sat down and picked up their menus the hard questions came. They were not hard from a philosophical sense but rather because of how broad they were. A jestful look manifested on his features "I'm hungry and would like to have number four" he said with a grin.

Something of a pause ensued as he allowed the joke to fade and to contemplate the answers. "I don't know what to say. I know who I am - I am a Jedi and I want to do what is right. I am a defender and I fight for those I want to protect" he said, trailing off a little "I have had trouble dealing with the trauma of battle, but the Order helped me work through it. I want there to be peace, for people to be able to live in harmony." His broad shoulders rose in a shrug as he looked to Thurion with a sense of confusion, unsure of where to go, finally letting out an awkward "What about you?"

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

There was a smile from the Jedi Master upon being asked the same question, amused at the level of courtesy the young man showed now that he wasn't trying to put him on his back.

"I'll have the number four," he replied with a grin, closing the menu and setting it down.

"Those are some lofty goals you devote yourself to, Young Master Brion," he leaned forward, twiddling his thumbs above the table. "Every man desires peace - if someone tells you otherwise they are a liar. Even the Sith, cruel and arrogant as they are, strive for order, authoritarian though it may be. It is only regretful that for there to be peace, there must first be conflict, armed or otherwise."

A waitress came by to collect their order before returning to the kitchen.

"Were I in your shoes, I would be most troubled if I didn't show at least some sign of trauma after seeing combat. It just proves what we discussed earlier, that we are but beings of flesh and blood."

While awaiting their food and drinks, Thurion sat back in a casual manner, hands folded behind his head.

"Ah, but to answer your question earnestly? I've been a Jedi since I was seven years old. Half a lifetime ago now. I grew up on the ideals of granting hope to those who have none, protect the weak and be a force for good, for the betterment of all beings. Then life happened, as it is want to do."

The waitress returned with a tray of drinks, placing them before Thurion and Mathieu respectively. A tall glass of cold blue milk, his favourite.

"I found love. Got married. I am a father of four and grandfather of three. I am a King, the ruler of an entire world and the peoples therein." He took a satisfying sip of his blue milk, savouring the taste as if he was a kid all over again.

"None of these events were intended. It was just life happening. It will happen to you too, be assured of that. Or, perhaps meeting the woman who was to be my wife for the next 40 years was all according to the Will of the Force, and I was pre-destined to become King of Midvinter. Just as it was pre-destined that you and I sit and have a meal together this very moment. Who truly knows these things?"

He put down his glass and chuckled.

"I try not to give it much thought. Wiser men than I couldn't give you a straight answer. All we can ever do is decide what to do when the moment is presented to us."

He eyed the padawan sitting across from him for a moment, head tilted slightly.

"These lofty goals of yours... do you aspire to achieve them by yourself?"

Mathieu Brion ​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

The smile from when Thurion mentioned also wanting a number four lingered as the Master continued speaking. Upon hearing of the goals being lofty, the Padawan quickly interjected "I guess I better go back to hoping for number four then" with a jestful tone and a wink to convey that he was joking. It was true that he wanted a number four, however, and with that decision made, Mathieu allowed himself to lean back and make use of the backrest.

Mutual jokes were quickly replaced by a something more deep and profound. His mind went back to Joycelyn whom he fought on Velmor and Ingrid whom he fought on Voss. It went back to Argaloth whom he fought on Nar Kreeta and the fight against Osam on Sarka. Was their wish, ultimately the same as his? The Padawan's gaze fell in parallel with him falling into deeper contemplation whilst Thurion continued. He did not know whether the Master was right or not - it was a hard and complicated matter which he was touching upon. But then, coming to a conclusion wouldn't be necessary for at least a little while - the waitress arrived and took their orders, creating a natural pause in the conversation.

"Some battles are harder than others" Mathieu replied to the comment on battletraumas being normal. It was accompanied with a smile and in truth, he largely agreed. It was never easy to enter into battle, knowing that the activity which you are currently engaging in is likely going to kill or maim your foe. To go in and truly be aggressive. Of course, as a form three practitioner, Mathieu had he luxury of being able to stay on the defence for prolonged periods of time but in its core, it was really not that different from the other forms. The goal was still to strike the foe to the point where they would submit.

The Padawan's knowing eyes met those of the Master. While he had not said it himself, the seasoned Jedi managed to put words on the goals which the Padawan had. Giving hope to the hopeless, helping the helpless, consoling the inconsolable - an inspired spark shone in his eyes as the smile which lingered by his lips grew brighter. His mouth worded a silent "yes" but he didn't speak further, hoping to continue listening as Thurion spoke. A light chuckle escaped him as the Master struck another homerun in mentioning building a family - it was something which Mathieu hoped for to and his mind inadvertently went to Inara, causing his expression to grow a little softer and a tad sweeter.

Thurion took a sip of blue milk and the Morellian followed suit taking a sip of freshly pressed juice. He took another one as the Master continued and allowed himself to be intrigued by something he noticed seemed to be a recurring idea "You speak of destiny a lot, Master Thurion. Has it meant much to you throughout the years?"

When the Master's question came, the answer was quick "No." Mathieu looked to the side, considering his words before speaking "I'm not sure if my goals can be realised during my lifetime."

"Of course, it saddens me that everyone can't be given the peace I feel they deserve. But at the same time, I don't feel bothered by the idea that I won't be able to achieve my goals. I want to be a part of the solution and do what I can where I can. Beyond that-" his sentence was cut short as the waitress arrived with their food. He nodded to her gratefully "Thank you" as she put the plate down in front of him. His eyes ventured up to Thurion, conveying an expression of enthusiasm before he dug in. A bit of time passed as the large Padawan eagerly ate away and allowed the conversation to fade. But eventually, he would pick it back up "I think people smarter than me should be the ones to make an affect on the large scale. I'm just happy to help where I can."

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"And there it is," he sat back as Mathieu came to the realisation in the midst of their orders being placed before them.

"It is this realisation," he continued, "that what we set out to do cannot be achieved within our own lifetime, but we pursue it nonetheless; that is the most humbling truth of all. One that no code or mantra will ever teach you. It is as I said: All we can do is decide what to do when the moment is upon us. It means we will keep fighting, knowing that peace will not come to fruition by our hands, but hopefully our actions today will lead to tomorrow's generations seeing it through."

Only now did he dig into his meal, carving up the hot steak. He paused just as he stuck his fork into the first piece of meat.

"It is no different from being a father, in a way. You do everything in your power in order to leave the world a better place for those that come after you. Give them every advantage you yourself did not enjoy, so that they may reach even higher in life. Ask any parent about their dearest wish, and they will tell you it is to see their children surpass them."

In that moment he thought back to his own kids, how watching them grow and learn had been the greatest joy of all.

"You mentioned destiny being important to me, Mathieu. To that all I can say is, when you've seen what I've seen, done what I've done, there is the sense that it all builds towards some kind of crescendo. What that is I cannot say, for it is not my place to know. I obey the Will of the Force; what happens, happens."

Finally he put the piece of steak in his mouth, savouring its juices while chewing the tasty meat.

With his eyes fixed on his food, Thurion casually came to the crux of the matter.

"Now, if you're looking to help change the world to the better, you're gonna need direction. A teacher. You've already showed you have talent, but talent without training is nothing."

Mathieu Brion ​

 

[Mathieu Brion]

When the Spring Flowers Bloom​

Location: Silver Rest courtyard, Kashyyyk
Notable Equipment: Jedi armour, practice sabre
Tags: Thurion Heavenshield

Thurion was wise. Mathieu sat in relative silence as he listened to the Master speak. It reached the point where he even slowed down the process of devouring his food. Something which those who knew him would know was a rather impressive feat. Listening to the man was interesting, for what he said often seemed obvious once he had said it. But it was not really something which the Padawan had thought of before. Maybe that was the very definition of being right.

Still, not everything seemed as true. Mathieu didn't think it was untrue, but agreeing with everything was hard when he had never been a parent, thus making it hard to relate to what was said. Still, the points the Master wanted to convey were effective and the large Morellian found himself nodding along as his fellow Jedi spoke.

"Thank you" Mathieu's voice carried of sense of hesitation as he looked to Thurion. His brows furrowed in a puzzled manner: They had only just met. How could he speak of Mathieu having shown talent already? Their exchange had been brief in the grand scheme of things and the Master had quite handily defeated the Padawan. There were a myriad of different explanations, perhaps Thurion had read up on Mathieu's file, perhaps he had made different interpretations from their interactions than Mathieu had done himself. Or perhaps he simply allowed the force to guide him - a likely answer, considering his thoughts on destiny.

Regardless of the reason, Mathieu wouldn't just sit there looking confused. He moved on, letting a smile grow on his lips "Direction and training, eh?" his friendly blue eyes met those of the Master. Both of those were offered by the instructors of Kashyyyk. But even then, it was different from how Sakadi had guided Cassy, or how Cassy had then guided Yenna. It was hard to tell what the difference was, exactly, but a clear difference was that their relations were personal. Moreso than the relations between Padawans such as Mathieu and the temple instructors. "The stars know that I need both" he said whilst letting out a light chuckle.

"How did you get your direction, Master Thurion?" he asked, revealing where his immediate interest was.