An aptitude for education (Tem Farelle)

A red haired boy sat on a bunk in his lonely room, he thought to himself, 'I should be happy, I have a room to myself now' he would have chuckled too if it wasn't for the extreme sadness and worry he had for his master. He had known her for a couple months now, but they had only been master and student for a month, but before they even had a chance to really begin his training, she was sent off on a mission. Tem didn't know much about the mission, only that it was a secret mission given to her from the high council direct, and that she would be out of contact for the duration of the mission. He slumped a little in his seat and fell back on the bed, he clutched his saber and realized that sitting around worrying would do no good, so the boy rolled over on the bed and stood up.

He walked to the middle of the room and sat down, crossing his legs, and began to meditate. He had always had an odd feeling about meditating, he never really liked it at first, he had too much energy to simply sit there and contemplate. After about fifteen minutes, he once again was up and walking around. He walked over to his footlocker and retrieved his father's saber. He looked at it for a moment, then looked at his, they were nearly identical, the only difference being that his, when ignited, gave off a bright green hue, while his fathers was more of a sky blue. His mind went back to Ilum again, which only made him think of Mirian...He missed her dearly, and she had only been gone for a few days. In the days since her departure, he had gone to classes and spent much of the time training, but his mind never left his master, he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing, and what would happen to him without a proper master to watch over him, and with Vreem gone with the blades, the boy had no one to turn to for guidance.

There was a knock at the door so Tem clipped both sabers onto his belt and glided over to the other side of the room. The door slid open and a Farghul Jedi stood at the entrance. Tem recognized him as Millo. "Welcome Master Millo, what is it?" Tem asked, "Council Member Insway Nal wishes to speak with you, young padawan." "Master Nal?" Tem asked a little confused. He knew him through his training as a youngling, and he had heard that Insway had been recently promoted to a High Council member, but did he require of Tem, the boy wondered. "He requests your presence at the eastern upper garden." Tem looked back at the Farghul "Of course." He bowed low and followed the Jedi Knight to the Gardens.

Once they arrived, Millo left to attend to his own matters, leaving Tem alone with the Morganian council member. "You summoned me, Master Nal?" Tem asked quietly, still confused about the reasons for such a meeting...

A planet teeming with life, Coruscant always proved an interesting when observed through the senses of the Force, an activity Insway partook in quite regularly. After all, if there was anything the Jedi was known for more than his talent with misdirection, it would be his abilities in the Sense faculty. Granted, unlike some of his fellow Jedi Masters, he rarely if ever had visions of events of the future, a skill some would call paramount to anyone who focused on Sensing through the Force, yet it bothered him little. Instead, Insway was a master of feeling the immediate environment through the Force, the here and the now. As he stood there, he felt the many tendrils of Force energy move about him, felt it preceding gust and trailing in the wake of transports cruising the skylanes.

The master let his attention turn toward the temple, looking for a signature he had grown unfamiliar with in the absence of the past few months.

And there he was.

Tem wasn't exactly difficult to find in the Force, yet with much of his abilities still raw and unrefined, his presence was almost hidden among the multitude of strong Master and Knight signatures. Though he had come far in his brief time as a Padawan, there would be much he would have to learn once apprenticed to his new master. Still, it was unfortunate that he already required his third teacher after only being a Padawan for half a year. If the trend kept going as it had so far, the boy would struggle to build a strong base from which to truly launch into his Padawan training. In the end, though, it was still better that this had happened in the early days. The Morganian himself knew perfectly well how disruptive it could be to lose one's master during the middle years of Padawan training.

By the time he had found the boy in the Force, Tem was already on his way to the garden, and Insway had to wait only a few more minutes before senses other than those he had in the Force warned him that someone was approaching.

"You summoned me, Master Nal?"[/B]

The voice that carried the words wasn't much different than Insway had been expecting, though it felt different compared to memories of Tem in his classes. It carried with it new concerns, new worries. There was one specific worry, though, that seemed to be occupying the boy's attention. To a degree, Insway was sure it would not have taken a Jedi Master to deduce what the cause of the worry was, though.

"You do Knight Fel a disservice by concerning yourself with her wellbeing."[/B] he stated, his voice echoing in their calmness the simplicity of his words. "She is a very resourceful young Jedi, Tem, and I am certain she would not appreciate your training growing lax due to her absence."[/B] His tone was humorous, yet it carried a definite somberness in the undercurrent. He was well aware that the boy was at a point in his training where he would know better than to spend his time worrying about a situation he could not affect, but he had not quite gotten to the point where all his training could be put in effect. It was an important time in a Padawan's training.

He knew, though, that this was perhaps not the best time to be trying to impart a lesson on the boy. "Besides, if she really was a student of Lugra Dagon, she will be well equipped to handle the task the Council has set for her."[/B] Insway continued, referring to the master who had taken Mirian as a Padawan. He wasn't sure how much Tem knew about his absent master, having not spent much time with her, but Insway knew the young Miralukan Knight's pedigree quite well. Lugra had been a friend, albeit a distant one, for a long time.

"I am sorry we have had to send your master away, Tem. As you are well aware, the galaxy is in a far greater state of turmoil than most think, and the oppressors on the fringes of Republic space have forced our hands far more than we would like. But, I am sure Knight Fel will return safely, and she will expect that you have kept up your training while she was away."

"So, Tem, what do you think we should do to see that your training is on par when she returns?"[/B] he said, subtly trying to test the boy's resolve.

Tem listened to the elder Jedi closely, he knew the truth of his words, Master Fel was a strong and smart Jedi, he knew that he shouldn't worry for her, she would be fine. Master Nal was right, though, Tem had let it interrupt his training and studies. Tem would have to let go of his fear and sadness and continue on.

"I am sorry we have had to send your master away, Tem. As you are well aware, the galaxy is in a far greater state of turmoil than most think, and the oppressors on the fringes of Republic space have forced our hands far more than we would like. But, I am sure Knight Fel will return safely, and she will expect that you have kept up your training while she was away."

"Yes Master Nal, I allowed my training to suffer" Tem said solemnly, not as apology to the Morganian Jedi, but as an admittance of a small personal failure.

"So, Tem, what do you think we should do to see that your training is on par when she returns?"

Tem was puzzled by this statement at first. "Well..." Tem stopped for a second and thought about his next few words carefully. "I don't know Master Nal" He was genuinely confused on how the Council expected him to learn with his master so far away and out of contact. "I suppose I'll find a teacher that can show me what I need to learn. Someone who can make sure I'm still making the kind of progress I need to" He could continue with the training regiment that had been set out for him, but that wouldn't make a lot of strides that way. Yes, he would definitely need someone to over see his progress and show him the things that he would need to know as a Jedi Knight.

"What do you suppose I should do Master Nal?" The boy asked softly.

Insway watched the boy carefully as he answered, gauging his response against what he felt from the young Jedi in the Force. The confusion was no surprise, as Tem had had no forewarning of this meeting, nor had he any idea what Insway had truly summoned him for. In the end, he responded with what came to mind, his thoughts forming on the spot. Insway was starting to like the boy already, having an affinity himself for creating solutions on the spot. That, and the fact that the boy had realized his mistake, and had decided to do something about it himself. There were many people Insway had gotten to know over the years that were all too willing to give up, expecting others to help them help themselves. Though the Jedi Master knew there was nothing wrong with asking for help when it was needed, he didn't like the idea of people who were always eager to surrender to the difficulties of life. After all, the Jedi path was far from easy.

"What do you suppose I should do Master Nal?"[/B]

The Morganian smiled, his expression soft and thoughtful. "Those are not bad suggestions, Tem, not bad at all."[/B] he stated quite simply, before waiting for a noisy speeder to pass the balcony before continuing. "Yet, I do not believe that would be enough. Ultimately, a student of your age requires someone to watch over him personally, someone more than a teacher. Someone who can be a guide, a friend, a parent, an example. Having someone show you what to do would not be enough."[/B]

He nodded solemnly, knowing that Mirian Fel had been a lot of those things to the boy even before she had taken him as her student. Yet, he knew the Force to guide matters as they were meant to be, and so, did not doubt that his presence in the boy's life now was planned. With an air of grace and confidence, he turned to face Tem, seeking the boy's eyes, hidden as they were behind his goggles, with his own dull orbs. "Tem, the Council has agreed to allow me to continue your training, if you wish it so. I will take you as my Padawan, and it will be at your discression to return to Knight Fel's study when she returns."[/B]

Three.

He would be the third in only a single year's time, and it probably didn't help that he suspected he would be the most difficult taskmaster of any of Tem's teachers. The boy was going to have to show spirit and resolve over the coming times, both to leave his past behind and to accept this new future.

Tem thought that the Morganian Jedi was right, he would need someone to watch over his progress and advise him, like his master would were she still there. He wasn't sure who that we be though, he'd probably have to request one from the Council, and who knows who they would pick for him. He didn't know how much time that could take, but he felt like the elder Jedi had something in mind.

"Tem, the Council has agreed to allow me to continue your training, if you wish it so. I will take you as my Padawan, and it will be at your discression to return to Knight Fel's study when she returns."

He didn't know what to say to that at first, he was happy that his interim master would be someone that he knew, and he knew that Mirian would want him to continue his training in her absence. So Tem looked back at Master Nal through his googles and bowed out of respect, "I am honored to be your Padawan, Master Insway Nal." Tem then extended his hand, offering it to Insway.

"I am honored to be your Padawan, Master Insway Nal."[/B]

Insway considered the proffered hand for a second, not used to the form of greeting, but extended his own towards Tem's after a few seconds. It seemed the boy was pleased with the way things had turned out, though Insway suspected that he would still have preferred his true teacher. The Force was a strange thing, though, putting the people together who needed to be together, and the Jedi Master was intent on making the best of the situation that he could. Over a span of thirty years, this would make Tem his 3rd student, as he was Tem's 3rd master, a balance of sorts.

He offered the Padawan a small smile, though there was much of the warmth that Insway resereved for friends hidden inside the smile. To a degree, he knew he was a difficult teacher, pushing harder and from different angles to what students were used to, always asking more of them than they would believe the could manage. It required both knowledge of the student's limits, as well a a will to help the student surpass them. He already had the latter, now he would need to develop the former so that he could truly teach Tem.

"If you have any questions, now would be the time. Otherwise, you should return to your room, meditate and take to bed early. Tomorrow will not be an easy day. You will not be having any easy tomorrow's for a while, to be honest."[/B] he stated quite simply. "We will have to get your fitness, focus and skill use up to a level that you can accompany on missions as soon as possible. With turmoil raging in the galaxy, there will be few Jedi able to sit idle in the halls of the temple."[/B] he continued, though his tone was more somber than it had been so far.

It was true, though. Even if the Jedi would not directly enter the war, the ripples of the conflict would reach the entire galaxy, and not everyone would be prepared to deal with it on their own. Despite primarily being a teacher and scholar of the Jedi Order, Insway knew everyone would have to do their part while the conflict raged. 'Even young Padawan learners...'[/I] he thought to himself.

Tem up at the elder Jedi, despite their age difference, Tem was only a few inches shy of the Morganian, "No Master Nal," Tem said politely, "Thank you."[/color] He added again, and with that the boy bowed and left the garden, quickly walking back to his room.

On the way Tem's mind was pondering what Insway meant by his warning about easy days, but at the same time, hungry to meet the challenge.

He arrived at his room quickly enough and unclasped his two sabers and then removed his belt and placed them both in his footlocker at the end of his bed. He then sat down on the floor and began to meditate, clearing his mind of all thoughts, he opened his mind to the force, letting it flow through him. He felt a calm wash over him and he could sense the room around him, feeling the bed and the desk, his footlocker and small dresser. His feelings flowed outward and he felt people passing by the room, he could almost sense their feelings. He was always good at sensing those around him, a talent that he no doubt gained from his Miralukan heritage.

After half an hour, he came out of his trance, noticing the sun was setting, he stood up and readied for bed. He was asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. He dreams that night were of Master Mirian, and her returning to find he had progressed in her absence, a good dream for a potential Jedi.

As his newest student departed, the Jedi Master returned to staring out over the city. Standing at the very edge of the garden, he could see off to the east of the temple for miles. With the sun's slow slide downward, shadows stretched out, giving Insway an intriguing spectacle to behold. He did so in silence, the only motion about him being the slight ripple of his robes and long, golden hair in the evening breeze. Minutes passed with him standing there, then hours, and soon night had fallen and all his vision was clouded with the distant lights of skyscrapers and the many vehicles cruising the skylanes above.

Insway Nal wasn't exactly troubled, but he was once again faced with the thought that he hadn't been invited to his new position in the easiest of times. The Republic was at war, rumor had it that the Sith had returned, and worst of all, the Jedi were divided to the very highest echelon about what to do. Though not one for self doubt, nor a being afraid of facing duty, there was that constant reminder in his head that a mistake made by him, or any of the other Council members in the crucial coming months, could plunge the galaxy into a new state of turmoil akin to, or perhaps even worse than the Jedi Civil War three centuries prior.

Absentmindedly he let his feelings delve into his own body, wondering how ready he was for the challenges to come. It had been a long time since he last faced true opposition, last stared another being in the eyes who was actually and brutally trying to end his life. Had he gone soft? Had following the path that he believed was truest to him, that of a Consular, broken him from the path by which he could mean the most to the galaxy. Truth be told, it did look like the Jedi Order could use a very experienced Shadow right now. No, that wasn't it and he knew it well. For 40 years he had been listening to the will of the Force, and though he was first to admit that he did not always interpret it correctly, he knew he had not been wrong in becoming an instructor.

To a degree, he realized that Tem had been guided to him just as much as the elder Master had been guided to the boy. Training that had gone lax would now, finally, be pushed to the level it had been years prior. It would likely take the pair of them quite a few months, but they would be facing the galaxy together, and they would be prepared. And that preparation would start the very next morning...



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The next day
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The predawn hours of Coruscant weren't exactly peaceful, nor particularly dark. The planets multitude of lights was never really switched off, and so, finding a dark place at street level was usually a difficult thing to do. Even the Jedi Temple always had a faint glow about it, and it is this glow that Insway Nal now stood. It was early, at least two hours before the sun would begin to rise, and the time was growing close for his morning appointment with Tem. With nothing to hurry him, the Jedi Master paced the entry hall in an idle fashion as he waited for the boy to arrive.

Morning came to the far too soon, thought Tem as he awoke, and reached for his goggles on the bedside table. He secured them to his head before opening his eyes, not that he needed to, for he was the only one up. He sat up and looked at the time, he wasn't late, but he figured that he best get dressed now.

He swung his legs out of the covers and set them down on the floor, and stood up. He shook his head a little to clear his mind and began stretching out, first pulling one arm across his body, then the other, then he bent over to touch his toes. After getting dressed in his black tunic and red pants, he clipped his lightsabers onto his belt and walked out of the room. His light steps made little noise in the empty hallway, he wasn't intentionally trying to be quiet, it was just a habit of his, a slight compulsion.

From a distance he saw Insway pacing the hallway, he would have no doubt already sensed Tem's presence, so Tem walked a little faster and then bowed once he reached his new master, "Morning Master Nal" He said politely, "I'm ready to begin my training for the day" he finished with a serious tone.

"I'm ready to begin my training for the day."

The boy's tone was earnest, and Insway could tell that Tem had his mindset ready for what would be waiting for him that day. It was a good thing to see in a new student, far better than an overzealous eagerness, yet the true test would be to see how long the boy remained in that mindset. Youngling training was hard, but Padawan training was much harder, and even strong potentials with strong characters had broken under the pressure. Still, Insway did not intend to break his student, or at least not his spirit. Some students came from their Youngling years with bad habits concerning the Force and sparring, and these habits had to be removed.

For today, though, he had much different plans. Although the day would be quite a test for the student, and would follow a pattern similar to what his training would for the next few months, Insway planned the day as more of a test. As he was relatively unfamiliar with Tem's abilities as the currently stood, he would push the boy in several exercises meant to show the Jedi Master where the boy's strengths and weaknesses were. He needed to know how strong the boy was, physically, in skill, in the Force and in spirit, and only after he had this knowledge would he be fully prepared for training the boy into a Jedi Knight.

For a moment, he considered Tem's words. Yes, to a degree, every day had its part, and in the end it would be the experience garnered over many days of training that would make the boy into a Knight. But today, this moment, was so much more than the beginning of a day: it was the beginning of a relationship between master and student. From it, they would build much.

"Good morning, Tem. Before we begin, I'm just going to run you through what we'll be doing today, and what your training is going to be like in general. We're starting with the physical training earlier than normal today. From tomorrow on, you will spend this hour in meditation, preparing for the day ahead. An hour and a half before dawn, we will meet here, and begin with your physical training. Before dawn, we will make our way to the garden where we met last night, and meditate as the sun rises. After breakfast, we will practice your Force abilities. I have Youngling classes to attend to after this, so you will spend the hours after that until lunch in the library, seeking the wisdom of those that came before us. After lunch, we will again meditate together for an hour, before I return to Youngling classes and you to the library. After dinner, we will attend to your lightsaber forms, which we will follow with a discussion about the day's activities. Before you go to bed at night, you will meditate for another hour on the lessons of the day, before clearing your mind."[/B]

It was an intense training regime, leaving little free time, although the meal hours would give Tem three hours a day of freedom to do as he pleased. On the other hand, he would soon learn that his days would last so long that he'd have less than 5 hours of sleep every night. Yet, he would have to grow accustomed to pushing his body and his mind daily before he would be ready to accompany Insway on missions.

"For today, though, we will begin with physical exercise, beginning with a run. At no point during these exercises may you call on the Force to aid you physically, as that would escape the purpose of these exercises. Now, let us be off."[/B]

He lead the way out of the temple, greeting the guards stationed outside, and set off at a brisk pace. Far faster than normal jogging pace, normal sentients would start struggling after running only 3 minutes at this pace. By the end of his training, Insway intended for Tem to manage half an hour and still have energy left at the end. Today, though, the boy would probably not last quite as long, as Youngling training was nowhere near as intense.

Overall, though, the most important part of this early morning training would be to physically exhaust his student.

After their run, they returned to the temple, moving to the exercise chamber. There, the pair started working at fundamental exercises, especially those concerning core strength. They also covered several arm, leg, torso and neck exercises. Rather than trying to build strength, though, Insway had the pair focus on multitudes of repetitions, finishing their bodies' energy and wearing out their muscles. By the time breakfast came an hour and a half later, even Insway felt as if his muscles had turned to water, and he expected his student would feel the same.

"We will meet again after breakfast, in the practice hall I reserved for us."[/B] he said, before allowing Tem to depart for breakfast.

The boy followed Insway toward the entrance of the Temple, but as soon as they were outside, Insway took off running. Tem had little time to think as he ran after the Morganian Jedi, now, Tem had always been a fairly good runner and was a fairly physical youngling, but he doubted he could maintain this pace for very long. He was actually proud of himself at first, as he managed to keep up for a good twenty minutes, but after those twenty minutes, he was also thoroughly exhausted. He didn't know if he could finish the run as planned, but he pushed his body, though not calling on the force, and managed the last ten minutes of the run.

Mercifully Insway stopped and Tem tried to breath and recuperate, but Insway was on the move again, so Tem followed him, dreading the next exercise.

They arrived at the exercise chamber, and began to work on different exercises. Soon, Tem was again exhausted. He felt a little frustrated after the first half-hour, but did his best to let go of the feeling. He wasn't sure what his master was trying to accomplish, so he just did his best and tried to focus on what he was doing.

After an hour and a half, they finally stopped, Tem was more tired then he believed possible, but he had made it through and was slightly proud of himself, despite his aching muscles and aching joints.

"We will meet again after breakfast, in the practice hall I reserved for us." Tem was thankful to be done with training for a short time at least. He proceeded to the Temple's eatery and got a modest breakfast, not feeling very hungry, but knowing that he would have to maintain his strength for the remainder of the day.

After his breakfast, he walked to the practice hall that Insway told him about, arriving early, bowing to Insway before speaking up, "Master Nal, I'm ready to continue my training." He then waited for instruction.

As soon as the boy departed, Insway left for his own room to see to his own breakfast, though he would first be visiting the sanisteam. Though his own fitness was still at a level that he could maintain the pace that he was putting his Padawan through without too much effort, strength exercises always tended to make him sweat. They were depleting to him, especially as his body had never been structured as one meant for that particular type of training. He would, however, not allow himself, or his Padawan, to develop glaring weak points. Though he knew he would never be as strong as some of the bulkier beings of the Order, he would see to it that he did as much as he could to stay in touch.

The walk to his room was short, and he took a quick shower and adorned himself in fresh robes colored in teal and blue before he set about making his own breakfast. The meal was simple and fast, made entirely of natural ingredients that were digested quickly. During his early years, he had learnt that certain foods, primarily those that took long to digest, stole his energy and made him feel sluggish, and as such he had replaced them all with healthier, natural alternatives.

Breakfast was the only meal of the day he preferred to take in his own chambers. Though not exactly a social creature, he allowed himself to enjoy the company of the rest of the Jedi Order when having lunch. It helped keep him in touch with friends, especially those that had schedules that tended to keep them as busy as his had him. Dinner, he classically took with a friend or two in more private location, sometimes not even at the temple. For the time coming, though, he would likely be dining with his new student. So far, the two knew very little about each other, and although he knew he could not rush the process of forming a strong bond between them, he could at least see to it that their time together got off to a good start.

As he ate, he considered what he had learnt that morning. Tem was indeed quite fit, at least for a Youngling, and had a good balance between strength and speed, though he did seem to be slightly tipped toward strength. He was, however, not that heavy of build for his height. It would be interesting to see whether he remained slightly dominant in strength now that his Padawan training had begun, or whether his body would prove to be more suited for speed. Either way, though, Insway would see to it that the boy had stamina to keep going all day long by the time they departed for their first mission together.

He had only just arrived in the training hall he had reserved when his Padawan arrived, showing good form by being early. Insway was himself almost always punctual when it came to training, as he believed it showed that he was taking it seriously. If his Padawan was already beginning to show similar determination, they would go a long way together.

"Very well. We will now begin with Force ability exercises.[/B] he stated simply, as he started shifting the training aids in the room to his liking. The hall itself was quite large, nearly 30 feet from the center to any of the walls, which made it quite suitable for what he had in mind. Using a mixture of the Force and his own strength, he quickly set up an assault course of sorts.

"For this exercise, I'm going to see how good you are at focusing on multiple disciplines at one time. You will start by using the Force to enhance your physical abilities, as I am sure you are still relatively tired out after our session this morning. You will then begin the obstacle course. After you have done around 20 minutes of this, you will use the Force to pick up this sphere I am holding telekinetically,"[/B] he held the hand-sized metal sphere in his left hand, displaying it to his student before placing it on the ground next to the start of the course.

"You will then levitate the sphere so that it follows you as you perform the course, using both your Body Force ability and Telekinesis at the same time. After another twenty minutes, I will start pelting you with small projectiles using telekinesis. You will have to either dodge the attacks, use telekinesis to stop them or use your Protection abilities to defend yourself. You will also have to use your Sense ability, as I will not be attacking you from angles that will allow you to see the pelts coming."[/B]

The exercise would require immense focus from the Padawan. Each activity was something he had already practiced during his Youngling years, but combining them meant that he would have to divide his attention between several different tasks, something that was often extremely difficult to those not used to it. The first time Insway had taken part in such an exercise, he had struggled to last just the first few minutes, although the format had been slightly different. This would be a true test for Tem.

"Begin."[/B]

The padawan wasn't sure he was going to enjoy this test, but it wasn't about fun, the boy reminded himself. He walked up to the start of the obstacle course and readied himself for his task, "Begin." Insway said, and Tem was off, calling on the force to enhance his tired muscles, which he was quite successful at, and completed the course rather easily.

As soon as he finished the course for the fourth time, he began levitating the sphere, and that's when the trouble started, he slowed down considerably, and every time he pushed ahead through the course, the sphere almost fell to the ground. Once Insway started the bombardment with small objects, it got worse. Tem could see them coming, and could dodge them without incident, but when he would be forced to stop the objects telekinetically he would almost drop the sphere. It was obvious that Tem wasn't used to using them in tandom, save for sense.

Tem finally finished the course and nearly collapsed, now mentally and physically exhausted. He spoke through heavy breaths, "Master Nal, *heavy breath* I've completed the *heavy breath* course" He stayed standing the whole time though, to attempt to show he was ready for more, his determination shining through his tired body.

The Jedi Master watched, somewhat passively, as his new student started the exercise. This would be, without a doubt, the biggest test the boy had faced since coming to the Jedi. Yet, even so, in but a few months time it would seem commonplace to the student to face such an extreme exercise. Insway Nal was not a gentle teacher, and so did not choose students that bruised easily. Then again, it was rarely he, but rather the Force, that chose his students for him.

Yet, had he really chosen Tem, or had circumstance forced the two together? Either way, he would have to be careful in his instruction of the boy, as this was a situation quite unlike he was used to with his students. His previous two Padawan had both been carefully selected, and the Jedi had gotten to know both well before taking them on. Of Tem, he knew little more than what the boy's file said. Yet, they weren't even halfway into the day yet and he had already learnt much. As the day progressed, he would learn more, and he was certain by the end of the day both he and Tem would have learned quite a lot about the mettle that was in the Padawan's spine.

For now, though, he watched, slowly starting to add the more difficult aspects of the challenge as the boy ran, climbed, jumped and rolled his way through the course. Yes, in time, whether he was willing to believe it or not, Tem would look back on these early days and think of how simple, how easy they had been. A Jedi's life was never an easy one, and with the way matters were turning in the galaxy, they would be getting a whole lot more difficult before things stabilized. It was not an easy time to be a Jedi. It would be an even harder time to be a Jedi student in. What would make it harder still would be the fact that he was apprenticed to a Council Member. No, Tem would not be having much quiet time.

"In the temple, as a Youngling, you have learnt the skills you need to become a Jedi. They are unrefined, isolated, but we will improve on that in time. But you have a far greater challenge that faces you, Tem. You know what it is what a Jedi does, know how a Jedi should act and not act. But, there is a far more important lesson, and that comes from understanding that there is a difference between learning all that a Jedi is required to know, and actually becoming one. That is where we will focus in these coming months, along with your physical discipline."[/B]

Insway's words were spoken loudly enough that they would carry to the boy as he ran. Soon, however, Tem was done with his course, and by the look of him, tired to the point of collapse. The Master was unrelenting, though.

"Get yourself some water and then return. I want to see you work your way through the lightsaber forms."[/B]