Private A Touch of Zen

[Artemis Lu]

Location: Temple Training Room
Attire: xxx
Tag: Luric Ee'everwest

Though Artemis had enjoyed sleeping in for a few mornings while she got settled at the NJO temple, today she rose early. Too early. No matter how she disliked waking up before the sun, it was a force of habit. Master Yi had made sure of that. As the young Atrisian sat in meditation, legs crossed and back straight, she had to acknowledge that it felt strange to be here training without her former Master's constant watchful eye.

There was definitely a new sense of... freedom here on Coruscant.

And so, the apprentice had not dressed in any traditional -- Atrisian or Jedi -- garb. Instead she had chosen something more contemporary and stylish. She had even put on a bit of mascara, too, just because she could. Though, she had a feeling that her master wasn't going to go easy on her just because they were friends. They had both grown quite a lot since they'd first met and sparred. Artemis remembered that day quite vividly -- she'd lost to him. It was a great source of shame, even still. Master Yi had called her a disappointment and chided her about working harder. This even had instilled a never-ending drive for perfection, but also a sense of stubborn rebellion.

Sometimes, she felt silly that she had to remind herself that she wasn't that little girl anymore.

In any case, Artemis wasn't going to cry. A smile formed on her lips as she opened her eyes. But maybe if she did shed tears, Luric would buy her some lunch again. She rose and started to move in order to warm up her body. The motions were almost automatic by now, graceful swings of her arms and kicks of practiced perfection. A hand extended and a wooden training sword was called to her waiting palm. The apprentice was beginning to find her rythym, and she set about some simple sword play while she waited for Luric to arrive.

 

[Luric Ee'everwest]

Coruscant
Jedi Temple

Gear: Lightsaber
Tags: Artemis Lu

​

Another beautiful morning, and another grateful thank you to the Living Force and all it's wonders and splendor. Truly, even though he'd been faced with many challenges as of late, even more than he'd care for, he was still optimistic. He was in good health, his mind was calm, and his soul was happy. Not much more he could ask for, if you asked him, of course. Reaching over to the hanger on his door, he slid his arms through a short kimono style top. It rested over a white shirt underneath, and loose black pants. A pair of strapped sandals gave off little noise as he clipped his lightsaber to the hoop on his left hip, and made his way out and toward the training rooms.

He had been staying with his cousin Briana and her roommate Iris, but that was only for a couple of weeks at best. He did not want to be a burden, and even if he wasn't, he'd feel like one until he found his own domicile. Which he had in the form of a medium sized room within the dormitories of the Temple proper. He felt it did him well to keep his flag near others of his ilk, so to speak. It grounded him, and gave him a deeper connection to the Living Force from which all life draws it's strength. This was the lesson he'd impart upon his student and friend.

Temi was one of his oldest and most trusted friends in the galaxy. She was always kind to him, even when they first met on Atrisia so long ago. She had been forced to spar against him, and while Luric wasn't too happy at the time, he fought with honor as did she. And in the end, he had bested her, but little did he know that she truly had won that day. In time, Luric hoped to show her exactly why.

As he walked into the dojo-like room, he saw Temi as she went through the motions of simple Atrisian dueling warm-ups. Always quick to grab at the sword, Master Yi had been, and it seemed he conferred upon Temi the same habits. He smiled a bit at that, and chuckled lightly.

"Hello, Temi. Master Yi's words echo loudly, even now. Always with the sword in hand, hmm?" he said, a playful wink as he took his sandals off and sat upon the floor. Assuming the lotus position, he gestured in front of him. "Come, join me."

 

[Artemis Lu]

Luric Ee'everwest​

As the door opened and Luric stepped into the training room, Artemis paused. A smile found her face, perhaps she was more like Master Yi than she wanted to admit. She brought the sword back to her hip, in a motion like putting it back into a sheath. And she offered a respectful bow to her new master, Luric.

She moved over and had a seat on the floor across from Luric, assuming a similar position with legs crossed. The sword was gently set down next to her.

Artemis arched her brows slightly, as if to say 'well.....'

Was this going to be awkward? Now that there was little else in the room to focus on, she looked across at her old friend. It'd been a few years since they'd really hung out together, aside from the occasional holo-calls. He looked... not different, but more mature now. He'd always been a bit serious, even as a teen, so that was still the same. Though, he'd grown quite a lot in strength too – she could both see and feel that much.

"Please tell me I don't have to call you master," Artemis said, laughing. "At least, not when it's just us. You're Luc to me."

Just like she was Temi -- a name she'd only let him call her.

 

[Luric Ee'everwest]

Coruscant
Jedi Temple

Gear: Lightsaber
Tags: Artemis Lu

​

Luric had to laugh at that, she always found a way to get a smile out of him, no matter what. She had a knack for it. "No, no, not when it's just us like this. You'll always be Temi to me." he said, smiling back at her as he brushed a bit of hair from his face.

"Now, tell me, Temi. What exactly do you know of the Force besides how to use it in a combat sense?"

He knew she was smart, and she was always mindful. She had been since the day he met her, but he wasn't sure if Master Yi had simply forgone any more practical usage of the Force. To be fair, he wasn't even sure what else Temi was training in where the Force was concerned. It had been a fair few years since last they had been together like this. Though, it did Luric's soul well to have someone else who truly knew him here at the Temple. He'd always said it, and would always say it; Temi was a friend unlike any other he'd ever had in his life. They had a very unique connection, and that in itself was why he'd consented to take her on as his apprentice. Just as she knew him, Luric knew her better than anyone else in this Temple.

 

[Artemis Lu]

Luric Ee'everwest
​

It was good to hear him laugh again. Artemis wondered if he'd been happy here -- happy during the time he'd been away from Atrisia, actually. She certainly hoped so. Since he was serious enough for both of them, she felt the perpetual need to make him smile or be goofy.

"Uh..." Artemis shrugged, her eyes shifted towards the ceiling in thought as she tried to recall lessons past.

Her mind immediately conjured a stern Master Yi scolding her for this or that. But, among those memories, there were other bits and pieces, too. "Telekinesis," Artemis answered, recalling times when Master Yi would make her sustain a headstand and telekinetically make little stacks of stones as a form of meditation (and punishment for going out, probably). "There's ways to sense stuff, too... isn't there?" Artemis knew there was probably a better way to explain that. "I've never been any good at that." She shrugged again.

"I suppose that's what I'm here for," Artemis said with a chuckle. She let her posture deflate slightly, not so stiff-backed, more comfortable... maybe too comfortable. She'd also heard about force-healing once or twice... but Master Yi believed that bumps and bruises made a person stronger and more resilient. So, she'd always had to live with that.

 

[Luric Ee'everwest]

Coruscant
Jedi Temple

Gear: Lightsaber
Tags: Artemis Lu

​

With a nod, he wondered how to best approach this. He'd never actually taught anyone how to unravel the mysteries that were inherent in using the Force properly. Still, he could only think back on his own lessons. Where Aunt Teyla would have him close his eyes, and...

That's it! he thought, and he smiled brightly once more, before shutting his eyes slowly, and inhaling deeply as he did. His chest rising sharply, before holding it a moment, and exhaling deliberately slow and measured. As his chest began to fall down, he spoke in quiet, even tones. "It doesn't matter if you are 'good' or not, Temi. The Force is so much more than something you become skilled at. First, you must discover it, sense it, reach out to it, welcome it." More he breathed, his pattern becoming like a rhythm; sharp inhale, deep and slow exhale.

He continued, his voice weaving with emotion, the sound almost whimsical. "Reach out, Temi. You've been taught only how to use the Force to reach inward, to only yourself. Now you must learn how to reach outward, and to influence the Force in ways you've never dreamed possible." Slowly, he tapped into the filaments of the Force that were here, right now, in this room with them. That connected them both to the rest of the Jedi in the Temple, and to all life. Almost as if a whisper, she would begin to hear his voice at the back of her mind. It would get clearer and clearer with every word...

~Reach out, Temi. Feel the Force, all around us. Within you, within me, within the plants, within our fellow Jedi... Reach out, and feel that Living Force within us all...~