The initiates struggle (Apillis)

[Red]

Mithus sat atop a small mat in his room, legs folded under him and arms resting in his lap as he focused on the living force. Two months had passed since he was brought to the Sith Temple, two months of dedicated training that pushed both his body and mind to the brink everyday. In the mornings he focused on his lightsaber training, from deflecting blaster bolts from training droids to the brutal spars against other initiates, Mithus fought with an intense passion but so far never walked away unscaved.


Once his body was thoroughly worn from the exercise, he would retire to his room and work on accessing the force. This task though much harder than any lightsaber training, was one that he focused the most on. Lightsaber training was something he actually enjoyed, each day he got a little better and so could measure his progress from when he started until now, but with his force training things always played out the same.


He'd accessed one of the few Holocrons that was available to him, a fallen Jedi who instructed those who watched his message on accessing the force with raw emotion. The man believed that no emotion was wasted in the force, that even fear, if channeled correctly, could lead to great power.


So Mithus would fall into a meditative state as he tried to allow the force to flow through him, but what happened instead was a chaotic storm of emotion that challenged his very sanity. Rage, desire, greed, and countless other emotions bombarded his psyche as flashes of memories played out before him. Sometimes it was his own memories back on Dantooine, other times he was in strange places with the voice of strangers in his ears.


Each memory lasted only a moment, but the intensity of their presence stuck with him for hours after his meditation, sapping his strength and forcing him to retire, but even then they plagued his dreams, twisting them into vicious nightmares. It was a daunting task, but one he knew that must be overcome if he wanted the power to fulfill his ambitions.


So he endured, throwing himself into the storm while trying to dominate it with his own anger. But his success was limited.

[Apillis]

"And how has your work progressed, little one?", Hervor uttered from behind the boy as she stepped out of the shadows. Uncharacteristically dressed in nothing more than simple black robes rather than the tattered and battle-worn garments she was typically known to dress in. She sat down crossed legged before the lad, her feet tucked under their respective opposing knee.

With a cant of her head, she looked at her youthful apprentice with her natural half-open eyed gaze and those faintly glowing fiery irises of hers surrounded not by white but by onyx black. Her expression in spite of her gaze was more akin to a curious teacher or even a matronly figure interested in hearing what her ward and student had learned or taken away from their lessons and studies. And that she did, she listened, carefully to the boy's words. It was as if she had next to no--if any interest at all in anything else in that moment. Truth be told, she did not.

She patted the floor in front of her gesturing for Mithus to take on the floor with her directly in front of her. After Mithus had answered her question telling her how he had progressed thus far in his training, she inquired--learning in a little toward seeming far more interested to the answer of her following inquiry, "And what have to taken away from your progression? What have you taken away from the lessons that have brought you to this point?"

[Red]

His master's voice yanked Mithus from his meditative state, the storm of emotion slowly being pushed from his mind with practiced effort. There was a lapse in her question and his response because of it, but once he felt more in control of himself the boy spoke,"Master, it is good to see you. My studies go well, I feel more accomplished with each lesson, and with each passing day I grow more confident with a lightsaber."


It was true, his skills had grown since his arrival but when all you could do was study and train it was to be expected. Mithus hesitated before he continued, shame creeping up inside him at what he felt was a lack of progression with his force training, "But I'm struggling with my force training."


He half expected to feel her rage grow at his failure like he'd seen other masters do with their pupils, but a hesitant peak at his master was met with nothing but piercing red eyes that held a speck of curiosity in her gaze. She prompted him to come sit before her, something he obliged with hastily before following her signal to explain himself.


"I don't understand why the republic fights against the Empire. We have eliminated the hesitance of bureaucracy from our way of life and all people to live freely. From what they say battles and oppressive rules are only fought when the Republic rears its head to cause trouble. My own dealings with them caused my family to be killed, so I know that it isn't entirely a lie, but then I don't understand why they are so well supported in the galaxy."


It was infuriating to know that though the Empire was fierce in their campaign, the Republic was just as determined to fight them tooth and nail, sometimes at the expense of an entire planet.


"I've also learned little of the Jedi and their weakness. They would have me shut away my emotions, to let go of my anger and just take peace with the force, but if that's the case why fight at all? If they truly feel no emotion why cling to life so hungrily? I can't understand them, not like with the Sith. I've listened to holocrons, read some of their teachings. Through them I can learn to master my emotions in a useful way, to gain power from my anger. They even speak of turning my fear into a great power, but I don't know how that's possible master."


Gathering his courage, Mithus began to explain his troubles with the dark side of the force and the effects it left upon him.


"I can feel it there calling out to me, it's like a gentle hand on my wrist tugging at me to follow. But when I reach out the force changes into a great storm that threatens to consume me whole if I were to let go. It's an intense bombardment of feelings and memories, lots of which are not my own. I can hear my parent's scream my name in agony, watch them being killed repeatedly as I sit unable to help them."


Mithus sat bowed with his fist gripping his clothing tightly as he shook from fear and self loathing, weaknesses on full display, "I'm afraid master, afraid that I'll be pulled from my body and never return. Afraid that I will be lost in the abyss that opens up before me. I don't know how I can possibly control such a power, when it is trying it's best to control me."

[Apillis]

It was strange and perhaps a bit unnerving to see a woman like Hervor be able to take on such a matronly and dare one say even motherly disposition. Yet there she was sitting with her apprentice--her ward, listening intently to his words and personal discoveries and insights as a matronly teacher would their student, or a mother with their child. As peculiar as it was, yet there she was either playing the role for his benefit or merely naturally assuming the role unconsciously.

"Mithus", she said with not a harsh tone but it was firm if only to emphasize and get her point across, "I don't want you to focus too much between the politics of the Republic and the Empire, they are distractions to what you should truly be focusing on. If anyone tells you otherwise, you direct them to me. Do you understand?"

Albeit Hervor did not want to leave it at that, leave the young boy wondering why she was making a demand of him not to focus much on galactic politics, "You can always learn politics. they change constantly. Politics is easy once you learn about people, what makes them--what shapes them--and understanding people becomes all the more simpler when you have the power of the Force at your finger tips. Vastly more so when you understand the dark side more intimately, knowing how to harness the dark impulses not only within yourself--or even within others--but all around you. You wish to understand the Republic and the Empire? This is all you need understand of either. The Galactic Republic is a consolidation of hundreds upon hundreds of systems, and with every system that is absorbed into it--it can labor ever onward. It has been pushed to its brink several times, but like a bloated hutt living off of the lives subject to its rule--it labors on for centuries, millennia even. Will the Republic ever truly fall? Honestly, I do not have an answer for you. The Sith Empire on the other hand has risen and fallen numerous times, and each time it either evolves or regresses. It's folly every time had always been the sum in which it was created. Will the Empire ever truly rule the galaxy? Perhaps, should there ever be both a will and unifying power great enough to organize it. But as I told you, these are political abstractions and thereby distractions to your purpose and training. They are beneath you, Mithus."

But then Hervor let out a sigh, it almost sounded like someone wistfully having a nostalgic memory, but she let out such a sigh from her lips just before remarking, "You know, I was a Jedi a long, long time ago. Or at least, to your reckoning it would be.", she chuckled a little, "It's been about two centuries since I left the Order... Though I'm not the first of my species to have become a Jedi Knight and turned to our darker nature leaving the Order indefinitely. There have only ever been a few of my kind that had ever been trained as Jedi, and each and every one of them turned to the dark side... But I digress from what I wanted to tell you... The Jedi are not entirely wrong. Power can be found in detachment. Though what the Jedi tend to try to impress is serenity and calmness rather than being emotionless. But the dark side itself is not as so linear as to be only driven by passions and fears. What's more calm and unshaken than the stillness of pitch black darkness? What is more detached than the nondiscriminatory apathy of death? The power of the dark side can be found in many avenues. That is why I encourage you to find what fits best for you, what inspires the strongest power from you. It's seldom ever just one emotion or one calling, people are never so limited. Experience the gamut, passion--fear--even the cold shoulder of an emotionless disposition has power. After all, the crux in the Jedi teachings of detachment and serenity when utilized in battle and warfare leads many Jedi--to this day--into the depths of the dark side. After all, what is darker than killing with no emotion--no feeling--no heart? Such is the action of a sociopath. Even more so those who drive purpose only in 'smiting' their perceived foes of the dark side. But to smite is to enact wrath--and wrath is wholly of the dark side."

She then smiled softly at Mithus, "It is good that you fear the dark side. That fear has power, too. And you're wise to admit to having that fear. Only a prideful idiot and fool never admits to the fears that grip them, whether that admittance be to others or even themselves. I'm glad you have the strength of will to tell me. However, this is one lesson I unfortunately cannot help you with. Utilizing the Force, lightsaber forms and techniques, these are tools I can equip you with--and strongly--all you ever need do is ask it of me. But how one copes with fall into the abyssal depths of the dark side--that is entirely upon the individual, the fall will either make them stronger or break them. The only thing I can tell you when delving into the dark side. If you are falling... dive. And in fact, that is perhaps the best advice anyone can ever tell you."

[Red]

Having vented his fears and frustrations, Mithus wearily composed himself for what he was sure would be a tongue lashing from his master. Her tone when she spoke his name made him flinch as any child being scolded would, be he held his composure and listened to her words. Master Hervor spoke very briefly of politics, her opinion of them being rather low as she all but told him to forget the affairs of both the Empire and Republic and focus instead of his training.


His listened with rapt attention as she spoke of both her time with the Jedi and their teachings. As he'd heard the Jedi were all about detachment, to let go of all emotion and server the force with a calm composure. Mithus could not help but be a little tempted at the prospect of detaching himself from the torrents of emotion that bombarded his mind when he opened himself to the dark side, 'To let go of my fear and sadness would be great. It might even make my connection to the force that much stronger.'


But there was no compromise with the Jedi philosophy, if he did not give up all their attachment and emotion, then in their eyes he would never be accepted and it was also possible that such a strain would only weaken him in the long run.


The more his master spoke, the more Mithus was sure that the dark side of the force, no matter how perilous, was the only way for him to extract his revenge. "When you put it that way master, it's like the Jedi are worse than us. We would feel something for our fallen, but they would kill you and throw away their emotions as if they were simply droids."


Mithus couldn't help but beam at her praise, even if it was just admitting to himself and her that he feared the wrath of the dark side. She followed up her praise with some bad news though, that he would have to find his own way to utilize the force, but then she informed him that any other techniques either with the force once he finally felt comfortable with it, or with a lightsaber she could help him with.



"Thank you master for your wisdom, I will pour myself into this task until I find my way. If-if you have the time, maybe you could help me with my lightsaber technique? I've received instruction from holocrons and other apprentices when they aren't being selfish, but to learn for you master could only make me better."

[Apillis]

A spidery, narrowed fingered, heavily calloused left hand reached out and with gentle affection touched the right side of Mithus' face as she said with a matronly smile, "Of course", Hervor replied then rose to her feet before commanding, "Up. On your feet.", but a thought occurred to her which brought a smile to her face, "I'll make a deal with you. My offer of direct instruction in the Force and lightsaber technique still stands, of course. In fact, you'll find the two are not at all mutually exclusive as many believe. But, no matter what I teach will be wasted on a dull mind. So--that said--further you studies into philosophy, academia, mental challenges--even learning dejarik and holochess. The more I see that you're sharpening your mind--I'll give you advanced instruction well ahead of your peers. But only", stressing the word sternly, "if improvement in your studies. Understood?"

Hervor reached into her robe pulling out her lightsaber from a hidden inside pocket as she displayed the weapon, "This is wasted if this--", she then gentle her free hand on Mithus' head, "is not keen enough to wield it. A poor mind can render even the best crafted lightsaber ineffectual."

"Do we have a deal, apprentice?", said Hervor as she walked off to the side of the room unfastening her dark robes, letting them fall to the floor unveiling her dressed in simple black exercise shorts and half-shirt, evidence of the face she was doing a bit of training of her own before visiting her young apprentice. Lately Hervor had been doing quite a bit of training on her own in solitude, taking a bit of a reprieve from her duties of continuing to work on restoring the old Sith Temple archives--a seemingly unending task. The Laitra stood as statuesque and willowy as any of her kind while having clear lean athletic muscle definition.

"Also, Mithus, during the times I'm not available to directly instruct you, I would like you to seek out instruction from Nieraan Onin--or Lord Aurelius as formality will demand", Hervor mentioned to the boy, "He is the temple's leading lightsaber instructor. I'd prefer it if you were taught by him in my absence rather than other apprentices. I don't want the typical stupidity found amongst most of them to corrupt your training. I don't mind you learning from others, other than my master I had several instructors myself growing up, but the wisdom amongst many of this era's Sith initiates, apprentices, and knights... how shall I put this in the most accurate way possible--are utterly frakking retarded. And so I do not trust them with your instruction, and if any take issue with that--you may direct them to me, and I will deal with them personally. Okay?"

"Now", she spoke with a sharp authoritative tone, "Show me the Shii-Cho stance you've learned."

[Red]

Mithus felt his fear and shame quell under his master’s gentle touch before she moved to train him in the ways of a lightsaber. Eager to learn, the boy bounced to his feet and retrieved his training saber from his belt, but he was brought up short as the master proposed a deal. After hearing the terms she set forth Mithus felt his face drop, “You want me to learn games? I understand being sound of mind master, but how will games help me become stronger or smarter? Do I really have to waste time with such trifling things?”


He did his best to keep the whiney tone out of his voice, but it was a challenge to become excited over such lessons. Mithus wanted to become as strong and skilled as possible in the shortest amount of time, something games like Holochess would only take away from. Tugging at his tunic, he listened as his master explained further why a sound mind was mandatory if he were to continue his training under her.


‘I did promise her that I’d give it my all, and she’s not lead me astray yet. If a Sith with her experience and skill tells me that there are lessons to be learned in holochess, then I’ll just have to bite the Bantha and do it.’


Unable to see the wisdom in it, but trusting in his master, the boy complied,“Yes master, we have a deal.”


As she walked to the other side of the room and removed her more cumbersome robes, Mithus couldn’t help but notice that she was kind of beautiful for a terrifying lord of the Sith. She began to speak again, this time about seeking instruction from another Master if she was not around. The thought made his mouth sour. While he tried to play it as necessity when he tried learning from the other apprentices, Mithus hated appearing weak or unintelligent before others, especially here at the temple where arrogance and pride ran unchecked.


“I’ve heard others talk about him, but i didn’t want to go to another master so eagerly after you’re departure. But it is nice to know that I have your permission to learn from him whenever you are unavailable.” Though he doubted visiting this Lord Aurelius would come easy. Pride was a difficult thing to swallow after all.


Done with deal making, Mithus ignited his saber under his teachers command, shifting his posture and positioning to what he thought he remembered learning as the Shii-Cho stance.

[Apillis]

Fiery irises surrounded by black looked down at the boy as he took his stance in the Shii-Cho form. Slowly Hervor circled him observing his posture and size in relation to his stance. This was her field. Lightsaber technique and combat was her arena, where she thrived, and if her apprentice had been taking an interest in in such a field, she wanted him to reflect it. She smiled a little. It was amusement. Seeing a child so young looking so serious with a readied lightsaber stance.

Hervor move to his left side and face him. Gently she took hold of either arm applying a little pressure signifying to him to bend his arms and pull in his training saber just a tiny bit closer to his chest, "When you're older, stronger--physically that is. A lightsaber will feel lighter to you--much lighter, best to start learning how to hold a lightsaber now as if you were already used to its weight being so small.", she said in reference to her minor corrections.

Hervor smiled a little once more out of amusement, but this time it was reaction to an old memory--one she did not think she would recollect so fondly, and gave voice to to it to the boy, "My former master was the one who taught me to hold my lightsaber like that for a Shii Cho stance. It's a little similar to Djem So. Helps to block attacks and blaster fire directed at your chest... which is where most your opponents and foes will be striking for--center mass. The largest target on your body--", images of a past duel--a younger version of herself verse an old man in unassuming garbs with a lightsaber--a confrontation of violence and palpable hatred interjected her train of thought. Her smile faded away in an instant.

Hervor rose to a stand and then stood up and walked to Mithus' back left side. With her left she tapped Mithus' front foot to move just a dash forward into a slightly more widened stance, "Your footing now is a little more closer to Ataru, meant for swifter and more agile footwork.", she explained, but it was only now that it was truly beginning to dawn on Hervor just how much of her immense talent and ability had gotten to where it was by her deceased master's influence, "What you have right now with that stance is three forms in one. Shii-Cho, your primary form, Ataru your footing--for footwork to out maneuver your opponent, and Djem So grip... for better all around defense. This is how I first learned Shii-Cho, and with time branched out into Ataru and Djem So techniques further incorporated into it. Three forms in one. I'll teach you other forms as well. Every Sith and Jedi has a form they favor most... In time, we'll discover which one you do. Perhaps, it may even be the same one I favor--though you are far from ready to learn that form. But all things in their due course. But once your favored form is discovered, we will then incorporate it as your primary lightsaber and blend the three others to enhance it. So you will utilize four lightsaber forms as one. But for now, we start with the basics as every lightsaber duelist does, which is Shii-Cho. Once you are competent with it--we can expand your training elsewhere."

Hervor then ignited her lightsaber and took the same stance as Mithus beside him to his right, and with the same more customized Shii-Cho posturing. She looked completely relaxed with it and was at complete ease with a certain smooth grace to it. Like someone who had done it hundreds--arguably even thousands upon thousands of times over the couple centuries she had lived, "Now. Mimic my motions. And practice them until it feels comfortable to you.", Hervor instructed, which was a step forward for what seemed like an unfinished cross slash but was actually a deflection technique though one that seemed more offensive than defensive. But it was then she swiftly followed up with a short and quick downward slash that was more like a chop at where another opponent's head would be were she actually facing down someone. She did the motion again but then explained it as she did it, "This is for when facing another opponent utilizing Shii-Cho, like all other initiates, padawans, apprentices--what have you--will be lenient toward themselves. The first motion is an attack in spite of being a deflection, it meant to push away their lightsaber so it is no longer guarding their chest, and that is how they will react to it. But you do not strike at their chest, you strike at their head--a short swift tap--it's all you need and the deed is done."

Hervor then switched off her lightsaber and rounded the boy stepping behind. Lowering herself down so her front rested partly against his back and was looking directly over his left shoulder so she could get a bit more of a perspective of how he sees things at his height. Gently she placed her hands on his sides with a slight tug gesturing for him to relax his back a little more and not to be quite as stiff or rigid, "Remember. Lightsaber combat is a Chess game, and every move is a check. All you need is just that one opening and then it is checkmate. You win. But ever is it always up to whether by force or by wit or both for you to make that opening. Victory is determined within fractions of a second.", Hervor rose back up to her full height again and then stood aside to watch her apprentice's technique, "Now. As I showed you. Again."

[Red]

Mithus felt a little embarrassed as his master looked at his form so intently. The feeling only intensified when she moved to correct his stance, explaining how her master had done the same for her long ago. The humor in her voice was unmistakable and for a moment the boy didn't know if she were laughing at him or her memories as she explained the flexibility of his hold for different saber forms. 

The young boy could only listen as she adjusted his positioning and explained the purpose behind it. Hervor seemed to explain all that she had learned about her learning's with sabers and her philosophy behind them, but for the most part Mithus could only grasp so much, silently chiding himself and resolving to spend more time listening to the holocrons for more education.

When she ignited her blade and instructed him to follow her movements, Mithus did so only in a much clumsier and robotic fashion. These motions were not natural for him as they appeared to be for her. In the end, Mithus was still going over her motions while she finished up, intent to remember everything she showed him. 

When he finished, his master lowered herself behind him and spoke into his ear of the similarities between chess and saber combat, a lesson that wasn't entirely lost on him but once again his study load would increase as to become a better fighter. Snapping from his thoughts at his master's command, Mithus once again began to go through the motions that she recently displayed, trying but failing to move fluidly with them.