Chasing Shadows

[Riamah]

He answered her question and her ears turned on their own to listen to Daxton. She was lucky not have been taught the black and white way of thinking of things in her opinion. While Ailuros had an opinion what she felt was right or wrong, she would attempt to hear all sides before making a decision. Even though he answered, when he said she was getting ahead of herself, her whiskers drooped.

Understanding the need to get a strong foundation though, the cat listened on. Allowing more than just her paw to touch what she felt flowing, she immersed herself like he requested. Expecting it to feel wet like water and be an unhappy feline, it wasn't. Instead it was warm and comforting, like being wrapped in a warm blanket when she was little.

Attempting to open her eyes, when she did the stars she had seen were almost up close and personal. Like the bubbled she had seen the day before. Instead of her own past though, she as seeing other visions in them. She felt like she could reach out and touch each every one. Hear the sounds of each mind and life around her.

"Can I go in? What would happen? Will they know I'm there?"

Endless questions came up.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Those who are awakened can sense you through the Force. The stronger a Force User, the more sensitive they are to others with similar awareness. Some would seek you out, perhaps to learn or to find out more but beware there would be just as many who would challenge you because they see you as a threat to their power or position. As much as it causes problems, you must learn to be careful to see who you can trust.” He instructed [member="Ailuros"] as he drew a holocron similar to the one she saw in the tomb. “Behold I come bearing a gift. This is holocron that you will use on your first quest. In order for you to open the holocron and view its contents you will need to know the basic skills of Force Push, Force Pull, and Force Reflexes. These three disciplines are quite common that they are considered Grey Disciplines. Over the next few weeks, you will undergo a series of physical and mental exercises that will hone your body and mind to become attuned to the Force. You will also learn a variety of meditation and centering exercises, to allow you to clear your mind of distractions as well as temporarily ignore fatigue. On your free time, you will be allowed access to the combat room to learn unarmed as well as melee fighting. Should you require further training with ranged weapons that can be arranged as well. There will be classes as well on reading body language as well, this will be your foundation for learning to discern truth from falsehood using the Force.”

 

[Riamah]

The endless curiosity of Ailuros could be felt through the Force and seen in her body. Even if she was still meditating with her eyes closed, her ears, whiskers and tail were all perked up. Heading the words of advice from Daxton, the cat did not reach into the stars around her, but just looked on at them. Not yet ready to take on the challenge of anybody. She wasn't scared or fearful, but cautious. When he spoke again, she opened her eyes to see what he had for her.

It was similar to what she had touched in the tomb and he explained what it would teach her after she learned some basics in the Force.

"How can physical exercise attune me to the Force?"

The need for a typical nap and to have the ability to skip would be nice. Daxton said it would be temporary though which meant that nap would be needed later.

"I trained with my brother and other Trianii Rangers how to fight. So like my body is a weapon, but I really don't know much about ranged weapons. So it will be good to learn about them."

As for reading people, that would be nice to learn. Her own body didn't hide much.

[member="Daxton Bane"] ​

 

[Daxton Bane]

“While I have no doubt you are a capable fighter [member="Ailuros"], as your training progresses you will learn to use the Force to enhance your attributes, whether it is faster reflexes or punching harder, your body will need to adapt to this increase. Now it is tp early for us tp determine if you use combat as form of meditation but preparing your body in advance is going to pay off in the long run.”

“Since you wish to learn more about the martial arts, I will see you are introduced to some of trainers we have on bard. I will also have to study hand to hand for close quarter defense.

 

[Riamah]

Tilting her head to the side as she listened to Daxton, something he said last caught her attention.

"You don't know how to fight hand to hand?"

While it might be heard as being an offensive question in her innocence Ailuros asked it. Hand to hand was pretty much second nature to her along with dance and music. ​She really was interested in hearing his answer.

"I think I'll be faster since I am already a quick mover. Not weak by any means, but I'm certainly not the strongest of my people. Which have you met somebody from Trian before?"

It was rare for them to ​leave their world, but not unheard of. There were also other feline races around and many people confused her for one of them. One thing set her apart from the others. Her tail was prehensile and could grip onto things.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Daxton was amused by the question posed by his apprentice, “[member="Ailuros"], what I know about fighting would fill volumes. How many people do you know that can fight with three blades at the same time? However, before you are study under my blades I need to ensure you will be able to handle it.”

“To be honest, you are first of your kind that I have encountered, so you will have to understand my interest in learning more. As you learn from me, I am learning from you. What can you tell me about your world, if I may ask?”

 

[Riamah]

When Daxton said he could fight with three blades at the same time, her eyes grew wide with wonder and her whiskers picked up again. The tip of her tail wagged, not quite like but as close so she could come to it and still be catlike. He said it would take time before she learned combat under him, but maybe she would be lucky and be able to use three as well.

He asked after her home and she smiled.

"It's mostly forest and perfect for climbing."

Extending her claws, he ​would see they could be used for climbing or fighting.

"My people are matriarchal and the females lead. We're bigger than males normally and hold the arts in high regard. I'm a dancer, can dance and then sing only a little. So while that isn't exactly fighting, that will help me in how to move."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Well in essence, combat is somewhat like a dance @Ailuros. So you would probably pick things up rather quickly. I hold the arts in high regard as well. In fact, arts will be part of your training, not only as a means of self expression but for the appeciation of other cultures as well. What do your males do, if I may ask?”

 

[Riamah]

"I've heard people call combat a dance before."

Daxton asked what the males of her race did and she got more comfortable on her seat before speaking.
​
"Well, they also learn how to dance and appreciate the arts, but defer to the women for leadership. Warriors mostly and common workings. We train together, learn how to fight and work together. Religion is important too as well as spirituality. I wonder why they don't explore the Force though."

Maybe it was unheard of ​or called by something different.

In him asking his question, Ailuros was curious about him as well. While she had been around the galaxy for a little while, she actually knew very little about the people. Governments she learned of though.

"What are you?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“That my dear [member="Ailuros"] is a most interesting question. Do you mean my racial heritage? I am what is commonly known as a Zabrak. My facial tattoos would identify me as an outcast of Clan Wind Walker, although in truth my family had long since been sold to slavery. This may surprise you but yes I spend my youth as a mere slave. Only by my own initiative have I risen to where I am now.” Daxton was amused, as he rarely spoke of his past to anyone, not that anyone was curious enough to ask. His past was a labyrinth of twists and turns so many it would confuse those of lesser fortitude, yet it was this very same thing that lead him to be the Harbringer of Chaos. Ironic in way few really could understand or appreciate.

 

[Riamah]

The cat openly listened to the answer Daxton gave her. What the tattoos meant on his face and what race he was. It surprised her he grew up a slave, but had broken free from his chains to become where he was now.

"What did you do to get free?"

That natural curiosity and desire to learn would be clear in her body language.

"I can't imagine what slave would be like."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“The life of a slave is never easy @Ailuros. You are treated like property, no say in your future at all. Whether you live or die is no consequence. Just another number, a statistic to count. Imagine barely getting enough food, your belly is always rumbling, only the rags on your back to shelter you from the cold, your feet cut and bleeding for lack of shoes. Your life is at the pleasure of your owners, should you bore them, they could easily order your demise or a far worst fate.”

“As a slave, I learned to be quick, cunning and resourceful. So much so that they used me as bait for hunts, especially against wild thunder lizards. I lasted longer than most to be honest, but I knew my time was drawing near. Then in the midst of a hunt I awoke, you could say I caught everyone by surprise, even my former owner, who was a Sith Lord in his own right.”

“So I suddenly had more value, no longer a mere slave but as an apprentice, thus my training began.”

 

[Riamah]

She listened silently and with rapt attention to his story. The thought of going through what he had boggled her mind. Slavery wasn't a concept her people had, but it didn't sound like a good thing at all. Instead of having somebody wake up his ability, it had happened on its own for him. It brought a small pang of almost jealousy, but not quite. Maybe in a way she felt it should have discovered before or that it should have manifested on its own. Nothing changed with what she felt for him though, so it really didn't matter that way.

When he said he surprised everyone, even his former owner, it brought a smile to her face. After that he was no longer a slave and instead was now an aapprentice and student under that former owner.

"Was he a good master?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Daxton paused to consider her question, “Well to be honest [member="Ailuros"], by many standards, he wasn’t. A cruel sadistic taskmaster if there was ever one. He was quick to punish for even the slightest of failures. His style of teaching was like being thrown into a pool of hungry sharks and you had to defeat them all. Sink or swim he called it, as he taught me there was no place for weak with the Dark Side.”

“Fear not my dear, I am not like him. He was so enamored to the Dark Side and set in his ways, he failed to look at the overall picture and that led to his demise in a duel he was ill prepared to enter. Since then, I have travelled and studied with different masters, both with the Dark and the Light, as perhaps you will also do once your training is complete. I do not assume to know everything, in fact I am still constantly learning.”

“Also there are some techniques I have no experience with, nor do I have any desire to do so. Not everything that can be learned, should be learned.”

 

[Riamah]

"Oh, that doesn't sound like he really knew how to teach very well."

It wasn't an insult ​directed at the results that had helped make Daxton who or what he was today. The process of him learning wasn't the best and the statement was directed at that. He said his former master had died in a duel and Daxton had learned under different masters in his time.

"I'm young and know this. So there is so much for me to learn about everything!"

Her whiskers picked up a little and the tip of her tail twitched with her excitement and curiosity.

"What is it even you won't learn?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Ailuros"]

“I refuse to learn Force Lightning in all its variants. While I know a great many choose to study it, I believe using it takes too much of a toll on your own body for it to be of use in the long term. It is primarily fueled by our own essence, while powerful in the long term it depletes you so you become a shadow of your former self.”

“That is not to say I am unprepared to handle a threat of Force Lightning being used against me. Should they make that mistake, I have a few tricks up my sleeve of my own.”

 

[Riamah]

She had yet to see anybody use Force Lightening around her, but knew of the lightening in nature and the destructive power it had. In storms, they eventually lost their force and went away. So Ailuros related what he said to like how she viewed those storms she had seen.

"If that happens to the user, why do so many use the skill?"

Assuming these users noticed their essence fading away, the cat had no idea why it would be so widely used. Daxton said he knew some tricks he had prepared to use against the lightening though and she tipped her head slightly. She didn't wear clothing normally but did wear light armor into combat. That would not stop lightening if it was sent her way.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Arrogance mostly. The sheer love of raw power. From my studies of those who do use it, they advice me there is a sense of euphoria each time they use their power, followed by dulling of the senses. I believe it to be true, I have several holocons which I can make available to you, of Force users using the ability getting tipsy and laughing manically then followed by dour demeanors. The more they use the power, the quicker they age or become tempermental. I suspect using the ability deminishes brain capacity, although I have yet to confirm this for myself.” He explained to [member="Ailuros"], “In time I will teach you how to deal with practicitioners of the art and I promise you will surprised how easy it is to counter.”

 

[Riamah]

"Arrogance and maybe an addiction to the feeling then?"

Ailuros might be young, but was getting wiser to some things in the galaxy. If her belt and ship had been gone through, some herbs would have been found. They technically were not addictive in the sense like caf or death sticks were. However the feeling they gave her could be addictive, there were no adverse side effects of her herbs on her system.

A heightening of her senses, very much like what she now felt with the Force awakened within her. Faster reflexes. Some of the herbs could also relax her and put her to sleep. When the feeling of the herbs wore off, she was herself after.

"If it causes such mood swings like that, I think I'll just stick to my herbs."

When he said he teach her how to ​deal with those that could use it, she perked up and looked at him cheerfully.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Before Daxton could reply, the door hissed open and a single protocol droid entered. Its slick metal body gleamed with a dark copper hue, as it spoke reminding Daxton that it was time for his sparring session.

“Ah excellent. Would you care to join and observe [member="Ailuros"]?” He said as he indicated the droid, “I usually spar with my more advanced students but since all are out on missions, you can watch me spar against special assassin droids. These droids have been programmed to mimick some of the best duelists in Galactic history, like Darth Maul, Master Kenobi, Mace Windu and the like. It would be an excellent chance for you to see the Force in action. C8P2 can take you to the observation room or back to your room, whichever you prefer.”