A day in the life of...[Open]

[Almsey Belmont]

A dreary night at best. He hadn’t heard much from the temple in awhile. Not that it bothered him much, just meant more time spent down here amongst the parasite infested crap of society with nothing to keep him occupied but the drink that sat in front of him and the dancers up on stage. He had never really been one for other race girls. But the Twileks had a sort of exotic method to their dancing that was almost as intoxicating as his drink. After the last encounter with the snitch where he was almost killed he hadn’t seen the little bugger.

But again, that usually meant things were fine. Or the opposite. Either way he couldn’t be bothered thinking to hard on it. Perhaps it was this kind of attitude that had earned him the scorn of most of the order . He hung about in places like this whilst most Jedi were either out actively making the galaxy a better place or sticking around the temple helping in the teaching of the younglings, looking for padawans or just generally training their own abilities. So what made him any different from the parasites of society?

He smirked. His lightsabre? What was that other than the tool of a Jedi, an extension of their body. It was like saying that a human was a human because he had a human hand. Hell with advances in surgery any alien could have such a thing grafted onto them. Being a Jedi wasn’t about the lightsabre. It was about the mentality. Perhaps that was why they disliked him. But really , they couldn’t really complain. He got his assignments done in quick time. And although he wasn’t the most pure hearted of Jedi, he certainly wasn’t a dark sider. He wouldn’t strike out first, he’d always wait till aggression was directed at him before pulling the sabre. He stuck to the Jedi code. He helped damsels in distress. So who gave a bantha’s ass if he decided to hang about in a bar every night? Everyone apparently. The idea of him being an unreliable drunk as well as the behind the back secret of him being a murderer. Of course, he wasn’t. He killed Ulites because she had attacked him first,because she had fallen.

It was pure luck on his side that he had won. Still in the end it wasn’t up to him what other Jedi thought. Slowly he dragged his eyes off the twisting bodies of the Twilek dancers and headed out into the street. He’d only had a couple of drinks. So he wasn’t really much effected. The force can be an incredible advantage in drinking games. It took him at least 10 glasses of straight malt to put him under the table. Whether this was something he got because he was a Jedi, or just a natural resistance to alcohol he didn’t know. But he was on the first cab back to the temple.

Most people only see the sheer aesthetic beauty that the temple represents. To Jedi its something totally different. The sheer radiating force energy in the place. One could sit and meditate for hours on end, getting lost in the tides of the current. An enjoyable experience, but not something that you would want to do alone if you had somewhere to be at a specific time. Passing the front gates he noticed the leers of certain members of the community. Again, something that was a passing usual for him.A non existant bother that he'd shrugged off enough times not to let it hurt him. Maybe the first few times he heard the whisper of murderer it had effected him, even now it still brought up some feelings of unaltered guilt. But by the most he was able to take it in stride. Even turning it into a personal joke if he heard a padawan or youngling say it. Repremanding them and watching them stutter as he gave them a swift but brutal telling off. Maybe it wasn't like a Jedi to take pleasure from watching them stammer after realising they'd been caught.

But who could he kid? It was funny. He made his way down the hallway, passing several Jedi who he was on normal terms with, they didn't dislike him. But at the same time had no love for him either. A nod was a simple greeting to these, and they unlike others were kind enough to return the geasture. Just these small peices of acceptance. Perhaps these are what held together his fragile existance as a member of the order. He stopped for a moment to gaze at a fountain, he usually did this at one point or another. The sound of the running water was by some passed by far too easily. To him it was beautiful. The epitomy of life and its circular nature. He smiled lightly, closing his eyes to enjoy it for this brief moment.

[Apillis]

Lamilia glanced back over her shoulder back at the Council chamber after its doors were closed behind her. Her gaze remained on those ancient doors for a moment before she eventually hung her head, and let out a sigh in an almost selfish bit of relief - for she is not to be sent to the AgriCorps after all. The rest of her day was like any other since her arrival on Coruscant from Dantooine. She still missed Dantooine dearly, it was a place her heart had grown attached to - it was the only place she had truly known as home. Then in one attack, she lost everything that was dearest to her, and her fate was left to uncertainty within the Order until now. Perhaps the Council decided not to let a Padawan who lost their master while saving Republic soldier lives, to simply be sent to the AgriCorps to be nothing more than a farmer and laborer.

Continuing her day she went about her classes, and from time to time she would pass by one or two of her old friends from the Brith clan who were sent to the Temple as well. The other Padawans in her classes would often give her looks, few Padawans, perhaps even in the entire Order have seen a Hapan - most only heard of the rumors, which is generally the stereotype of their visage, a stereotype Lamilia easily fulfilled. Albeit, the deeper inner-workings of Hapan society is quite alien and foreign to most of those who never really were aware of them or heard only passing rumors of them. They are somewhat of rarity outside of the Transitory Mists, even the Hapes Cluster. It seems to be Lamilia's penchant to unwittingly fool these individuals of what a Hapan teenage girl or woman of what her class would normally be like (not that any of them knew what her social class on Hapes is), for that culture ironically is as alien to her as it is to anyone else who had never been raised there. The stares took some getting used for her, on Dantooine it was far less of a problem given she grew up with the other Younglings and Padawans in the Enclave all her life. Still the routine of going about her days in the Temple gradually started becoming easier for her, and the adjustment less of a trial regardless that her eyes still carries somewhat of a mournful gaze.

When her classes were at last through, it only dawned on her then. She has a new master. Being new to the Temple still, she knew nothing of the individual - she did not even completely understand why the Council assigned her to him. Though, she is not necessarily one to question the Council, she is still just a Padawan after all. Such a thing would be utterly arrogant of her, and their wisdom is beyond her years and experience she firmly believes.

The Council never exactly told her how to find this person, and so she was left to just go bumbling about the Temple asking one Jedi Knight and Master after another of where she could find him. Some did not know him - with a Temple of hundreds of Jedi they cannot all be expected to know each Jedi there, but the ones who did seemed to give a furrowed brow in response as if a little taken aback. She did not understand their reaction to her inquiry, but those who saw him pass by pointed her into the direction they last saw him go. Until eventually she came across one Jedi Master, whom she asked and he pointed her into the direction of her new master who stood a fair distance away from them by a fountain.

A little nervously, she approached the man, she looked down at the soothing trickling waters of the fountain, and then looked back up at him and inquired, "Jedi Knight Almsey Belmont...?"

[Almsey Belmont]

He stood there, hands down by his sides, watching as the water made its way down the fountain and then, at the bottom was reabsorbed and flowed freely from it once more. It was a relaxing feeling, sat here watching this process of use then reuse. The fountain itself was brilliant for asthetic beauty. Something that he found was common inside the Jedi temple. It had been her of course, that had introduced him to such things. Even now the guilt still remained, just on the outer passing edges of his conciousness. He knew that in all ways it wasn't really his fault. He had tried to stop her, tried to bring her back to the side of the light. At the time he thought that he could have done nothing to save her. That in her misery and desperation she was too far fallen. But, now with years passed and experience to boot. He knew that if he had only tried that little bit harder. Then his master would have been saved.

Perhaps thats why they hated him. Well not hate. Hate was such a strong word to be used among the Jedi. A better word would be, looked down on. Ulises had many friends, that was her personality. Almost motherly. Or at least as close to a mother as he had ever known. Six years ago during the trials...he learned of his origins. Of course had always known he was an orphan, not merely given up by his parents to become a Jedi. But he lived in a blissful ignorance. Thinking his parents had died. Blissful ignorance. Hardly a word to be used when violent or dark death is concerned however it would have been much easier to live with than what he had found. His mother had been a rape victim. Whats worse. A raped Jedi. And that had of course led to many other temptations. All which were resisted.

" Hmmm.."

Maybe in his younger days he might have tried to find his ture birth mother. Discover whether she still lived, if so...then there was a very real possiblilty that she was still a Jedi today. Perhaps the two knew each other, perhaps they had exchanged conversation. And all without knowing who the other was. But now he was older and wiser. if such a thought could be applied to him. He didn't really care who had birthed him, and he wouldn't want to force himself back into her life. He was a reminder of a time best left forgotten. So thus the subject with him would be forever dropped. Forever guarded.

The Jedi didn't know their parents, they had no links, no attachments. For such things could lead to the dark side. And Almsey knew all too well of the darkness that existed there. It was a slippery path. One that you had to claw tooth and nail to get out of. Like a cliff face...easy to fall...but trying to get back up...not so easy. And with that, his chain of thought was broken as he heard some one speak his name. His eyes were the first to move, rather than his entire body. At least this way he would see just who he was talking to. A young girl, in her teens. He could sense the force in her..so he knew she wasn't just some visitor to the temple. She had a purpose in being there. He turned now to face her fully.

" Yes, thats me...is there something I can help you with Padawan?".

[Apillis]

For a moment she was quiet looking to the fountain he was gazing at as well until he addressed her. She tilted her slightly her posturing was easily of someone who is a bit nervous, she gnawed on her lower lip a little bit. But she let out a tiny sigh to cool her head, and replied with a soft smile and serene tone, "My name is Lamilia, the former apprentice of Jedi Knight Justin. The Council has assigned me to be your Padawan.", she bowed her head respectfully to him.

In a bit of awkwardness and not knowing what else to do, she turned her eyes to the fountain for a moment. Then it dawned on her that it may be somewhat rude to not keep eye contact with him, especially to the one who is now her new master. Quickly she turned her eyes right back to him and smiled softly once again as one of her long dark locks fell over her right eye, which with a delicate slender fingered touch she curled behind her right ear.

In an attempt to make small talk and get to know him, because after all he is her new master, she asked, "Have you been in Coruscant long? I have not been here long myself. The Temple is lovely--", she went on to say but paused as she glanced about its immense walls and halls from where she stood before finishing, "but it is not what I am used to.", she then stopped herself from saying anymore and tittered as she smiled awkwardly out of nervousness at Almsey, "I-I apologize, Master. I started to ramble.", and again she bowed her head respectfully to him.

[Almsey Belmont]

His eyes would no doubt be unnerving to her. They were to most of the young ones in the temple, it was an unfortunate and automatic thing for him to do. He was sizing her up without even realising it. However there wasn't much he could do about that. She seemed somewhat nervous. Once she had annonced herself, name and all he had somewhat relaxed. That was until the last part. The council had assigned her as his padawan. That certainly raised an eyebrow from him. However it was only for a few seconds, realising that such a reaction might be taken by her as a personal failure. When it could be farther from the truth. He was just so suprised that the council had actually set him a Padawan. All these years he had been practically looked over concerning this. Not that they would bar him from taking a padawan. But they certainly would have showed...disapproval. But now that they had actually sent him one....it started gears running in his head.

Was the council that streched? Or was this just a show of trust? Finally recognising that he wasn't about to jump down into the pits of the darkside after six years of work to further the Jedi order. Following the code, perhaps not to the letter always, but enough not to make him look like a rogue. " Well Lamilia, I can't say this isn't a bit of a suprise to me, don't get me wrong however its a pleasant one". He smiled lightly, at least trying to break the air of akwardness that had now surrounded their meeting like a dense fog. He could only continue to smile as his new padawan began to ramble on. However he played along.

" I was born on Coruscant....and...raised in the Jedi Temple....of course I've been to other worlds but I've spent most of my life here in service to the temple..."

Of course. There were other things that had occured between his birth and his raising within the temple. However...he didn't feel that at this time he would discuss his time as the torturous plaything in the hands of the hutts. Such things, perhaps with time would be discussed. But for now he clung to it, hiding it like an open wound. However, despite this it wouldn't show on his face. " And yes...the temple is grand....aesthetically its beautiful...but its true beauty is only seen through the eyes of the force....". He realised just then that he was about to start rambling and quickly corrected himself. " But yes, it can be somewhat...overwealming for people who arn't used to living within its halls...".

He gestured to a bench next to the fountain and sat down, inviting his new padawan to join him. This would be a new feeling, teaching someone rather than learning from them. With it came a hint of fear, fear of failure. However...he soothed it down. He would teach her what he could, although certain aspects of the force were...difficult for him. He knew there was more to a Jedi than mere mastery of the force. There was wisdom. And the understanding of it. He would do his best. Its all he could ask of himself. Perhaps when she started to apologise is when he started his own rambling. " Oh no don't apologise, really.....I understand how difficult this must be for you...". ' Because I'm only sharing the sentament' he thought to himself. The council should have really called them both in rather than having her wander about looking for her new master.

" So I suppose we should get to know one another...tell me about yourself".

[Apillis]

Her eyes widened a little from being told that he had been raised within the Temple and lived on Coruscant. It was more out of being impressed rather than shock, to grow up at such a place at this point in her life is unfathomable to her - living in a metropolis spanning the entire globe; and being raised within the grand magnificence of the Jedi Temple, despite her ignorance blinding her to the realities.

Lamilia nodded with a furrowed brow, agreeing quite a bit with the statement of people who are not used to it can find themselves overwhelmed. It is definitely a feeling she has shared since her arrival to the Temple, something it is taking her some time to get used to. Though she smiled in a bit of relief when he told her not to apologize for her rambling, and moved to the nearby bench he gestured for them to sit at; which she sat down with seeming proper posture though the manner in which she did it came across was more casual, as though it were natural, and sat back crossing one leg over the other at the knee.

The second Almsey asked her to tell him about herself, Lamilia gnawed at her lip a little. It was basically like giving her a license to babble, and she mentally prayed to the Force and everything holy that should could prevent herself from doing so too much, "Um... I'm a Hapan... Not just born in the Hapes Cluster, but on Hapes itself... My...", she paused for a trice before continuing, "former... master, Justin... He was the Jedi Knight who discovered me, and brought me to the Enclave on Dantooine. I was three years old, then.", she smiled fondly though there was a touch of sorrow expressed in her dark eyes, "As a Youngling I was placed in the Brith clan, though Justin did not take me to be his Padawan until I was nine years old. He never viewed himself as a very disciplined Jedi, nor did many of his contemporaries, it was one of the reasons he was never able to reach the rank of master, I believe."

She shook her head a little stopping herself from rambling again, "I trained to be a Jedi Healer in the Enclave, and still continuing to train to become one. When the Sith invaded Dantooine, I worked in one of the infirmaries for the wounded soldiers helping where I could.", she paused again, she no longer had a smile and stared for a moment as she finished, "When the ceasefire occurred, I was sent here.", stating it matter-of-factly as if to avoid the greater details.

But she took in a deep breath and let out a sigh, and the sorrow once expressed in her eyes seemed to lighten up a little, and her soft smile gradually returned as she remarked, "It is a new beginning, though."

Her head tilted barely a centimeter to the side, just enough for another long dark lock to be jarred enough to fall over her left eye, which with an unconscious grace she brushed behind her left ear with her left hand, "But... you grew up here? I have little to no memory of Hapes, I was too young, but Dantooine... it is primarily farms and massive wealthy estates. Open fields as far as you can see teeming with wildlife. The cute little fabool, iriaz, kath hounds, ugly kinrath, the scary graul... and beautiful brith soaring in the sky... Here it is only machines and technology that cover the ground and sky. It is unnerving. Though it is filled with life it seems so... lifeless--", she blinked a couple times realizing she had begun to ramble thoughtlessly, she frowned and then bowed her head with her eyes gently shut, "I apologize again, Master. I started babbling and inadvertently spoke ill of your homeworld. That was rude of me. I must be leaving a poor impression as a Padawan.", It appears no matter how much she tries to appear as the model Padawan to her new master, in her mind she cannot quite seem to pull it off.

[Almsey Belmont]

He listened to her story, her old master Justin sounded slightly like him. As curious as he was about why she was now bounded with a new master he saw the hint of sadness in her fce and decided not to push it with questioning. Just like him, she had her secrets. Maybe she'd tell them in time, maybe she wouldn't. She could nurse her own hurts for now. He nodded, he'd been to Dantooine a few times. It was...strange. Or at least to him it had been. So much farm land in comparison to the urban jungle that Coruscant was. However it was far more peaceful. Less minds to touch with. Easier to concentrate on training. Probably why the order had set up an enclave there to begin with.

" Yes, I've been there a couple of times with my old master....spent most of the time in the enclave...didn't see much of the wild life....most of my time was spent on concerntration training...". That had of course been most of the thing he was trained on. His trouble with the more sensative arts with the force. Subtleness wasn't his style. And it had been difficult to mster even the basics of them. However with enough time and training it had eventually broken through...with things like healing and telepathy he wasn't great, in fact in certain fields even some padawans could outdo him. But with telekenesis. That was his strength. Even as young as he was, some masters didn't even have the level of power he did. Of course he wasn't about to turn that into arrogance. It was all about relativity.

" Jedi healer...".

He just stated it. He wasn't sure if this was a coincidence or not. But this girl had been training to be precisely what he with his skills could never be. He just simply didn't have the subtleness to master the art of healing. Still...they say that you could only bring out the best in someone by training them in the things that they didn't excell in. Perhaps in this venture they would both learn something. He smirked as she mentioned the ceasefire and leaned back. A ceasefire with darksiders would never last, it just gave both sides a bit more time to prepare themselves for the next battle. The sith no doubt plotted as the Jedi bolstered their defences.

It was then she mentioned about Coruscant being...lifeless. However he hadn't quite been ready for her quick apology. "Hahaha....no apology required Lamilia....nobody curses this world more than the people who live here...trust me...this place...although an industrial master peice and centre of the republic....is a cultural cesspit.....sure...here at the Jedi temple things seem fine...but if you ever go below...say down several hundred feet...". He shook his head. " I've been down there on several assignments...the further down you go the worse it gets....and there are dangers down there that sometimes even a Jedi can find overwealming...". He shook his head.

" Drug lords, street gangs, prositution...heh....peel the skin away from the shiney red apple and you'll find the maggots eating away at its core...".

However at this point he realised that he might be scaring his new padawan slightly. So he ended it on a brighter note. " But things have been getting better recently....seems that despite the sith the republic have realised that troubles at home are just as important as troubles far away....theres always hope for things...no matter how far they fall...keep that in mind....". He supposed there was a lesson behind that. That even the darkest of sith could be redeemed.

[Apillis]

Lamilia looked at Almsey curiously - as if perplexed when he stated what she was training to become. After her experience with the invasion of the Sith Aristocrats' military upon Dantooine, it only re-enforced her desire to become a Jedi Healer, to heal and mend the suffering of others. She is striving to become the stereotypical pious Jedi Knight acting out of utter selflessness. Truly a young idealist.

When she put an end to her babbling and apologized for thoughtlessly running her mouth, listening to Almsey's words in response to hers when speaking of Coruscant. Her eyes turned a little downcast, staring off as if out of pity for the Galactic City. Hearing him tell of Coruscant, though putting a hopeful twist at the end to lighten the mood - she still stared off a little with that same gaze though a little more thoughtful.

She then looked back to him and smiled faintly, "Not everyone can be saved... A lesson that was difficult for me to understand at first, and had to learn the hard way... When you save one life - you are sacrificing another in contrast. So, you are left to save only those within your ability... Sadly, it sounds as though not enough have been trying to save the grand city of the Republic as it serves as the beacon for the Republic's promise of a peaceful intergalactic civilization. While they look outward, they forgot to inward it seems.", her brow furrowed a little once more as her soft smile grew back, "The only assignments I had ever done with Justin were on Dantooine, I had never left it until the invasion. What other worlds have you been to while on assignment?"

[Almsey Belmont]

Her look unnerved him slightly, it was only then did the reality of what was happening crash down onto him. He had a padawan, he would be responsible for her future as a Jedi. If she fell to the dark side, it would be his error, if she failed the path, then it was his failure too. Not only that but they would share burdens. Did she really want to be known as the padawan of one of the least respected Jedi within the order? Of course, she'd know nothing about that until other masters started talking down about him. No doubt she'd hear it from the padawans as well at the temple. Abotu how he had supposedly killed his kind master and passed it off as her turning to the dark side.

Oh well, that would come in time and he supposed that it was best she heard it coming from him first before any of the others bothered to poison her mind against him. She was his first, and he wasn't about to cock this up based on peoples biased rumours. " Planets?....Well...most of the core worlds...Dantoonine....few others in the outer rim...although barely mentionable really...not much action as suprising as it might sound...". He shook his head. " Most of the stuff that involves danger with my assignments is right on this planet....". He sighed and then stood up.

" Theres something you should know before we go any further...I'm not exactally the most...popular....Jedi in the temple...its a long story...but before we go any further with your training...I need to tell you before you hear a false account out of one of the other padawans..."

He turned his back on her. " Just before the trials....I killed my master...". He turned to see the look on her face, but regardless of it he kept on. " Master Ulisies....was like a mother to me...Closest thing I had....I was an orphan here in the temple...never really knew anything that came close to parentage....all through my time knowing her she was the closest thing that ever came close to it...". He shook his head, closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. " A few weeks before I was to face the trials...she became distant...leaving me behind in the temple...going out on her own more often....I didn't think much of it at first...but then one night I followed her out and...".

He didn't dare continue. " Suffice to say...she had fallen to the dark side...I found out that only a week previous her own master had died....her despair must have shifted her off the path...I confronted her....and when I suggested that we take her to the temple....she attacked me...". He shrugged. " I probably could have done more...tried harder...but I was young....she was more experienced....more powerful...but she was blinded by her desperation...I got a lucky blow in...". There wasn't much else to say to that. It was true. " I took her body back to the temple...faced the judgement of the council...I was cleared off all charges....but...some Jedi didn't quite believe it was true....they didn't believe that she could have fallen to the dark side...they passed this belief onto their padawans....and....". He let out another sigh.

" Lets just say its not been the most pleasant of working enviorments since...I don't blame you if you want to go to the council and request another master...I don't want this stigma hanging over you if you can't carry the burden".

[Apillis]

Her eyes widened in dismay the moment he mentioned he had killed his own master. A thought or an act in a circumstance that had or never would have had crossed her mind. It was too foreign of a concept for her to recognize as an available option. It appeared she did not know what do or say in response to Almsey as he told her of his altercation with his master.She could only glance away at the glossy stone Temple floor, her eyes looking about off to the side as if searching for something - perhaps some way for her mind to make sense of it.

When he finished she remained there as she was for a moment, thoughtful . Her head tilted a little to her right as she looked off as if into nothingness, and eventually responded - repeating what she had been taught all her life, "There is no luck, there are no accidents when the Force is involved.", her brow furrowed a tad once again as she thought on his telling of things a little more, "What happened was meant to happen as the Force willed it."

But she then looked to Almsey with her soft smile while going on to say, "I do not see you as a murderer as some may misguidedly believe.", with the innocence and piety of a young Jedi still ever so faithful in both the Order and Code she continued to say with her smile, "The Council does not assign Padawans to killers. Whatever happened, happened - regardless of how unfortunate it was, and the Council saw you fit to be my new master. I trust the Council made the right decision."

[Almsey Belmont]

The look on her face told him pretty much everything he needed to know. She was uncomfortable with this. Although slightly disappointed, he couldn't blame her. She'd probably head back to the council now and request another master. However, something unexpected happened. Something that made him smirk regardless of himself. She had accepted it with a smile. She passed off his luck as something that had been done by the force. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. But he'd got the answer he needed. And she was right, had the council believed him a killer they would have never given him a padawan in the first place.

Only his padawan five minutes and already she was making him feel better. Honestly he had to wonder just who was the master in this relationship. " You know Lamilia.....I think I'm going to like you....although you are young you have wisdom beyond your years....". He looked back at the fountain. Almost in a dazed, or trance like look. Maybe it was the force guiding him, although it wouldn't get rid of the guilt. He couldn't help but think that this had at least pushed him onto a new path of possibilities. A new way of thinking. The pebble on the road as it were.

" Ok well I suppose I'd best start with the basics...nothing better than that eh?...".

He thought for a moment and then began. " Each Jedi holds his or her own idea of what the force is to them....in my opinion...the force is like the cliff face of a mountain....there are only two ways to go...upwards towards the light....the journey will be harsh...and slow...long and hard.....but once your reach the top....you will see things that will take your breath away...". He turned to her. " Or you could jump....the fall is quick....but the further you fall...the harder it is to climb back up....but even whilst climbing your way up....you have to remember...the path is trecherous....just one slip and you could fall...".

His eyes hardened. " You always have to be on the watch for the dark side....far too many have fell to its temptations thinking they were strong enough to control it...in the end....all they became were slaves to their own desires...". He beckoned her to follow him to the training room. He wanted to see her abilities in practicality. Particularly how well she handled a sabre. He took a few turns and within a few minutes he had reached a training room. He didn't turn as he unbuckled his lightsabre. " There is only two ways out of the dark side.....". He gestured his empty hand. " To turn back to the light.....or...". He flicked the switch and his emerald green lightsabre flashed to life. The burning blade putting his point across perfectly. He deactivated the sabre again and then turned to face her.

" So....tell me.....what are your strengths with the force...your weaknesses?....what forms have your trained in with lightsabre combat?...".

[Apillis]

Her eyes widened a touch in reaction to Almsey's compliments, even blushed a tad when he said she was wise. She never thought so, she was just abiding what she had been taught to her all her life. Ever the pious young Padawan, still naive in her beliefs, questioning those lessons and the Jedi Code was something beyond her consideration. It is the ones who taught those lessons and Jedi teachings who were the wise ones in her mind, herself - she believed she had yet to touch upon actual wisdom.

She nodded idly listen carefully to Almsey as they walked to the training area within the Temple, when she asked what her weaknesses were, she looked a tad embarrassed, "The Jedi Healing arts is what I understand best, and utilizing the Force to enhance my physical prowess I am getting better at doing. But, I have only laymans understanding for perception and protection... And my... telekinesis and telepathy is poor at best."

She nodded in response to training with sabers, it was something else that was familiar to her. After she unclipped her lightsaber, and fired its bright yellow beam, she gracefully went into a Soresu stance. Though it was done fluidly as though it were natural to her and clear she had been developing a good technique, it was still not up to par enough to be considered near mastery. Though she is still just a Padawan and has many years ahead of her.

[Almsey Belmont]

He looked about the trining room, the naturally orange sky of coruscant and the constant movement of the veichles outside. He listened to his new padawan as she spoke about what she was good at, and her weaknesses. He supposed at this point it was where he ws to decide whether to first work on what she was weak on, and then build up strength or vice versa. His master had always tried to build up his weaknesses to an acceptable level of averages, but of course some things he just couldn't handle. One of which he shared with her. Telepathy was one of his weakest powers.

Well, weak wasn't the word. Rather, he didn't have the same ammount of control that other Jedis had. Wheras some could sneak into someone elses mind, his power tended to bash in like a sledge hammer. It was almost impossible to remain undetected with him. However he rarely ever used telepathic powers, even then, most peoples minds were weak enough for him to effect them without them remembering the hammering pain in their heads for several hours. He watched as she flowed into the stance of form 3. It was an adiquite display of the style. Not that he knew much about it however. His favoured styles were more offensive, and focused more on sabre to sabre combat.

" Form III....not bad....Soresu is becoming ever more popular among the order with most of us facing opponents armed with blasters....but...it won't save you against a dark jedi...".

It was true, although Soresu was a good defensive style, it focused more on the quick movements required to deflect blaster bolts. But against a Dark Jedi wielding a lightsabre...such a style wouldn't suit their purposes. " Form III isn't totally ineffective in sabre to sabre combat, but it won't give you the edge over an opponent you need...this will be one of the first things I'll be teaching you...". He flicked the switch of his sabre, the green blade igniting. He brought it upwards to his face and then sliced it downwards vertically in the Makashi salute. " Nothing better than a good old spar to get the blood flowing ". He held out his right hand holding the sabre in the perfect Makashi stance just as a master of the style.

[Apillis]

Lamilia abruptly changed from Soresu into with her blade held out to her right side, and making swift thrust with her blade. Though it held none of the true finesse of a practitioner of the form, it was clearly the bear fundamentals by her movement and precision of the strike. Though easily defended against, she swiftly reverted back into her graceful Soresu stance with the hilt of her lightsaber by her head and the blade aimed a semi-downward angle, and her left arm held out parallel to the blade.

Instantly she was on the defensive though young - she clearly understood its deeper principals. For its practitioners its intentions are two fold, while it was originally developed for defending against multiple opponents with blasters. For those seeking to master it is also a defensive form for wearing down ones opponent in a duel. The Resilience Form, it suited her well - her movements in the form, while still not near master of it, they still came to her naturally. Her blade held in both hands and slightly closer to her than most other lightsaber forms, she is small but not very strong, but she is quick. Which is all that is required for Soresu, the governing principal of Soresu is not to use your strength but to wear down her opponent's stamina with their own strength and barrage of attacks.

Patience is key, and something Lamilia possesses an abundance of, parrying, blocking, and redirecting each assault as it came to her by maintaining a focused mind. Then abruptly a strong right side step parry right into the incoming attack and straight into a swift back cross slash. Though again it failed, she still smiled - as her stance turned into the old Shii-Cho holding her blade out in front of her, she made a simple frontal strike before immediately switching back into Soresu, returning into her constant defense that is the hallmark of the form.

Lamilia continually gave up ground remaining on her barrier of her defense with lightsaber, until eventually she suddenly stopped taking step into her opponent, and maintaining her defensive actions close to her opponent. Her fatigue was minimal, as the form expends little energy with all its short movements. After quickly though narrowly deflecting a two strike combo she slide her blade along her opponents redirecting down and away from her, but following through with a swift twirl into a decisive thrust. Albeit within the next instant she found her lightsaber out of her hands, flying through the air, and then bouncing a couple times with a roll on the training room floor.

She grinned with a titter while holding her hands up at shoulder, "I lose."

[Almsey Belmont]

She wasn't bad, he had to concede that, even though the difference in skill was quite a bit, her adiquite display of the defensive style made him raise and eyebrow, particularly when she deflected a few blows that he had expected to have gone through. He had stepped it up a level, each time that she had impressed him. First he had started with basic moves, easy to stop and counter. Then moving slowly onto more complex ones, eventually the padawan would find herself moving more onto defence with no room to attack. It wasn't long before her lightsabre was offically out of her hands.

He nodded lightly as she acknowledged her loss. She laughed at it, and perhaps it was fun. He let a slight smile break out on his face. However already his mind was working. These training sessions would improve her ability with the lightsabre, pitting her defensive form against a more aggressive one would teach her to learn from her mistakes. Maybe she'd even pick up a thing or two about form II. As adiquite as she was as a sabre combatant ( at least for a padawan) he knew that if he had been a dark jedi. The girl would now be dead. Something in that brought him down from the euphoric nature of their training together. Smashing him back into the reality of things. He kept his cool however. Paitence. This was only their first day together. He would prepare her for anything like that.

" Well done...I'll admit you surpassed my expectations with lightsabre combat....usually Jedi healers don't put much time into combat techniques....your previous master did well with you...".

He meant it as a sort of compliment, he wasn't the most charismatic person and words wern't really his strong suit. " My master always taught me....that a strong arm would remain strong...and could be easily trained....but a weak arm took paitence and time to become strong....". He shook his head. Not the exact words. Again. He wasn't too good when vocalising things. " The point is...you can't run around all the time hoping to the force someone won't challenge your weak arm....best to be prepared". With that he streched out his influence with the force. Inanimate objects, chairs, plant pots and other things began to float into the air.

Then slowly he let them down. " I want you to train your weak arm, even as you train your strengths....". He went to one of the sides, and brought over a plant that was clearly dying through lack of water. He laid it down in front of her. " Healing the plant should be easy....but I want you to try doing it whilst holding it in the air with the force....". He smirked. " They always say women are better at multi tasking".

[Apillis]

Clipping her lightsaber back on to her belt, she turned back to Almsey as he spoke, she smiled a little in response to his complimenting her former master, "Justin was a Jedi Guardian, even his critics conceded his knowledge with a blade... When he saw I lacked talent with telekinesis and telepathy he felt it best I supplement it. My talents are in healing, but my natural skills fit a Guardian. However, I am not very... physical, nor aggressive... So he taught me Soresu because he felt it suited my personality and it would come naturally to me. He was right. But Soresu lacks striking moves and I have not nearly mastered enough Soresu to trap an opponent in their own offense like the master Soresu blade masters can. So, he begun teaching some Makashi strikes to make up for my lack of an offensive. I only have a simpleton's understanding for it, though.", she then paused, and glanced side to side biting the corner of her lip realizing she is babbling again.

As Almsey explained her about strengthening her weaknesses she nodded along listening, but her eyes went wide out of shaken confidence when asked her to heal the plant while maintaining telekinesis on the pot it was in to keep it suspended in the air in front of her. Taking in a deep breath she slowly exhaled it letting out a calming sigh. She gently closed her eyes extending her left hand out toward the potted plant till her hand was but a few inches from it.

She focused her mind on it all she could to keep it suspended in the air before her, as she then extended her right hand until it hovered over the plant. Lamilia's right hand circled around the plant in a massage like motion as though she were caressing the air around the top of the plant as if to sooth it. The light of the Force seemed to flow through her without much restriction as it begun to mend the dying plant, revitalizing and stimulating its natural chemicals. However, the distraction and strain came from doing this while utilizing her poor skills in telekinesis. She is talented enough with it to retrieve her lightsaber knocked out of her hand, but little more than that. To keep something suspended like this while accomplishing another task simultaneously was an endurance trial.

Smiling though feeling a bit more confident as the plant was nearly healed, suddenly there was a loud crash at her feet. Her eyes popped open wide startled from the noise. When she looked down at her feet, there was the shattered potted plant. She sighed out a sigh of disappointment in herself, which was only exclaimed further by the expression on her face, "I... I just don't know what it is about telekinesis... telepathy for that matter, too... I don't understand its flow... never could... The healing arts come easily to me... it involves touching upon the light of the Force, knowing its warmth... But, the subtleties of telekinesis and telepathy, they do not make sense to me.", she uttered with a confused tone, "I don't know how it comes so easily to others."

[Almsey Belmont]

He thought to himself that he'd have to look up this Jedi Knight Justin, just to see what her past experiences were concerning the Jedi. fter all there was a reason that she was now trusted into his care. Did that mean that her previous master was dead? Or was it something worse? He couldn't particularly guess considering that she rarely showed sadness when speaking about him. It was only that first time when they were next to the fountain. He then looked at the worry cleanly painted across her face as he asked her to do this task. It would be a tought thing for her to do, an easy task combined with a difficult one, making one larger more difficult task.However...if he kept at this...she would learn an important lesson.

" Don't worry about it...just relax yourself..."

The important lesson was of course, another tip from his masters book. She found one task easy, the other difficult? Why? The force was the force. By dulling the lines in between the two, she would gain a greater understanding of both arts and of course the force as a whole. Not that it would make her incredibly more powerful in her weak form. No, not all Jedi's could be fantastic at everything. He was certainly an example of being greatly skilled at one thing and being not so good at others. However thanks to his masters training. He wasn't completely incompetant with those things he didn't understand as much. As expected, first time she had failed. From the start the plant pot had been wobbly. The plant healed well but it wasn't being held up enough.Soon her control wavered. And the pot shattered on the ground.

" Don't fret...with time and paitence I promise you...you'll be able to do this...".

He smirked. " Perhaps even by the time your ready for the trials I'll have you being able to levitate people and heal their wounds at the same time". He almost laughed when she called telekensis subtle. " I think that might be your problem Lamilia....your used to healing powers....that does require a soft touch....and because of this you are naturally applying a similar more subtle art to telekensis....". He raised his hand, slowly the shattered pieces of the pot along with the plant floated into the air piece by piece they melded back together like some sort of strange jigsaw. It floated there...slowly spinning in the air before Almsey made another hand gesture and they moved towards a bin, depositing themselves within.

" That'll do us for today....have you got somewhere to stay?...if not I can set you up at my place in the temple..I can imagine its been a long day for you.".

[Apillis]

Lamilia tilted her head in response to being told that perhaps she is being too subtle when utilizing telekinesis, she had never considered that before. It was certainly something for her to ponder. She is certainly not the type to dive headlong into something, being far too cautious of a personality, she is more lenient to taking her time and easing her way into things. This could very well be what her problem is when trying telekinesis, telepathy for that matter as well. Her tone being nothing more whisper when it should be one of direction. Something to think on, either way.

Smiling a little when asked if she had some place to stay, she nodded, "Yes, I have been at the Temple since the loss of Dantooine to the Empire. A place for me to stay has been arranged for me. Till now I was simply being trained from time to time informally by other masters. Thank you, though, master, for your concern.It has been a long day, and it would be nice to rest a bit and center myself some.", she then bowed her respectfully to Almsey, "Thank you for the lesson, master. It was insightful. I will return to my quarters, and await your further orders or instruction, master."

With a kind smile she bowed her head respectfully once more, then turned and walked away taking her leave for the day.

[Almsey Belmont]

He nodded, they'd leave it at that. She had a long hard day, a bit of training had probably taken what little energy she'd had left. " I'll see you in the morning". He left with little more than that. He headed offf down towards his room, it was sparse, clean. A wide open area left for a personal training area, most within the order used this as a basic living space, holding whatever belongs they wished. Holonet and such else. To him this was a bedroom. And a place to find personal peace. He shrugged off his coatrolled up his sleeves and took his lightsabre in his hand. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Connecting with the force.

His blade ignited, the green plasma flowing downwards, inches from the floor. Once more he brought the blade upwards, then twisting his body he slashed in a spinning arc. He used his other senses, all heightened by the force to keep him from knocking things over or indeed cutting through them. Keeping him on the training mat. Just where he needed to be. He thrust forwards with the blade, flicking his wrist and allowing the blade of the sabre to do a fluttering motion, a stab that would have been a mans torso, the fluttering of the blade would have snsured a kill by dicing the internal organs.

He relied on the force during this practice. It was a form of training of his senses, and his ability to enhance his body through the force. Blind fighting. He was a skilled lightsabre duelist, a dark Jedi's nightmare. He suspected that it was part of the reason that the council hadn't liked him. His power, but lack of control was as he had figured out. A trait that fallen Jedi through the years had. It was the dark side. Power without restraint. Without control. A power that was tempting. Always tempting. But he had saw what became of those who followed the path of the dark side. And it was mostly fear, not caution. That prevented him from falling. Afraid of what he would become.