Fate and the Force

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya's fingers curled around the hilt of the training saber, tightly gripping the cool metal that was warming from her touch. Shifting into her starting stance Akodya took a sharp breath of air in, and breathed out all the worries and other things let blocked her from channeling the force. The young jedi swiftly moved into the next lightsaber form, each movement smooth and handled with an element of grace.

She can never let her opponent see her slip or make a clumsy mistake, they must never see the fear or stress that she might be feeling. She was a vessel of the living force, a jedi. Always calm, always sensible.

Akodya remained focused on the sound of her blade slicing the air, and the light taps her feet made as they hit the temple floor.

There is no emotion, there is peace...

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Jedi Knight and Weaponmaster Of The Jedi Council, Josh DragonsFlame watched the Padawan from the shadows. He had been informed of her, needing a Master, who had quite a bit of potential. He watched her saber swings carefully, cautiously... Never missing a heartbeat as he stared and kept tabs on every swing...

"She remains so focused yet has nobody to teach her" the Jedi finally spoke with, stepping out of the shadows as he came to stand behind the woman.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

(Sorry for late post! Been trying to get muse all day!)

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya froze as soon as the figure slipped out of the shadows to reveal himself, her eyes widened. He was not a padawan, that much was clear. The jedi looked older then herself, with fair blonde hair that had been carelessly brushed out of his face. Lowering her blade she bowed respectfully, peering up at him. Cocking her head to the side Akodya studied him with a scrutinizing gaze. "I don't mean to come off rude, Master, how long have you been standing there?" She asked, her back as stiff as a tree.

Akodya was trying to mask her embarrassment as she always felt a little sheepish when caught practicing by herself. The human padawan brushed a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear as she put the blade away.

"Am I needed for something?" She asked again.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He smiled a bit as he let her speak. Flicking the hair from his face, he nodded a bit in response. "I apologize if I started you" he said with a slight chuckle. "I've been watching for a couple of minutes" he admitted. "I was told you had no Master, and they thought I was the best man for the job" he explained.

"If you wish to continue your session alone, of course, don't let me stop you. Just ask for a Josh DragonsFlame and I'm sure they will point you to my quarters if you need me" he added, turning to leave, not wanting to disturb the Padawan more then he had to. Training was important, after all. He felt guilty for startling her during her personal training session, and didn't want to cause more problems then he had already, despite the fact that he had been asked to act as her Master throughout her padawan-ship.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya was gobsmacked. He wanted to be her master. Someone wanted to take her on as their padawan! Akodya stood there stunned for a bit, staring blankly in his direction. Silence engulfed the room after the blond Jedi introduced himself, and it stayed that way for a few solid minutes. It wasn't until he turned and left the room and his retreating footsteps echoed in the almost empty room that she snapped out of it.

"Wait!" She yelped, letting her formal tone slip for a moment as she dashed down the hall to catch up with him.

Soon enough her steps fell in time with his as they strode down the wide open corridor. "Why do you want to be my master?" She blurted out before she could stop herself. The idea of someone deciding the'd train her rather being assigned one was foreign to her. She didn't think she stood out very much from the other padawans.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

And without missing a heartbeat, the Jedi stopped, turned and leaned against the wall as he flashed her a handsome smile. He wasn't surprised she had chased after him, either due to her willingness to learn, or because he'd already disrupted her session anyway. He recalled... Not very fondly his time as a Padawan at her age. The second time coming to the Jedi when he had amnesia, not the first run from age 5 to age 14 when he was locked in a Sith simulation for 5 years at age 14. He remembered his first Master since returning, Caleb Torran... Who had disappeared without a trace without teaching him a thing. He had floated, after that, alone. Masterless. A year alone, his friends having died during his time locked away, his old Master also dead... He had worked hard, he had scratched and clawed until he couldn't anymore... And he was Knighted, just two days after being picked up by Matsu Ike to try and salvage the time he had spent masterless. He also conveniently regained his memory the day of his Knighting.

"Because you show potential, even for someone as seemingly green as yourself" the Weaponmaster explained. "I look into your beautiful eyes, and I see the world in front of you. There are no limits for you here as a Jedi, I can see that. But you may run lost, a lamb far from the flock, and get lost in the wilderness without a guide" he said simply, his calm, yet reassuring smile never wavering. "That is what I wish to be for you. A guide, a master, a mentor and a friend..."

He looked her over as he spoke, gauging her emotions by her tone of voice, her facial expressions, the look in her eyes, her body language....

"If you will allow me, I would like to teach you in the ways of the Jedi, and hopefully be that shining light that can guide you through a path that is fraught with danger"

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya watched him explain with her hazel gaze wide, a small shy smile appearing on her lips. Truth was, she was a little hesitant when the word 'friend' left his mouth. There were certain rules of the Jedi order she took to heart, and relationships were one of them. She understood that it meant sexual relationships, but she was so frightened of taking the same path as her father she didn't even form friendships. Hence the reason she often trained alone. The young woman raised an eyebrow at the Jedi knight, secretly thinking his description of her was a little off. But still, she rarely got compliments.

She felt a bit awkward when she felt his eyes studying her face, but she quickly brushed it off. "Well, I am honored that you would want to take me under you're wing... but there is one thing you probably need to know if we are to work together..." She smirked.

"Compliments don't work on me." She finished with a chuckle, flashing him a charming smile to mirror his.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Of course, just as Josh didn't know until later, the relationships rule had been abolished by Grandmaster Luke Skywalker many many millenia ago. Josh could run off and marry some Sith Lord Miraluka chick and he wouldn't be breaking any rules.

At her response, he laughed heartily. Shooting her a grin, he didn 't seem to lose a single step as he spoke.

"Compliments? I only speak the truth" he said, smirking in response. "You're interested, then?"

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya smiled and rolled her eyes at his statement. "More than interested, I'd think it would be most beneficial," She said, returning to her formal, closed of self. No bonds. No friendships. It was safe that way. No one would die, and no one would be left with a hole in their heart. It was the price she would pay to remain the perfect vessel of the force she shrived to be every day of her life. Friendship was not an option. As the pair began to walk down the halls again, Akodya had her hands folded neatly behind her back.

"So, since you are officially my master? what do I call you? Master Dragonsfire?" She asked, having to look up at him when she spoke since he was so much taller then her.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh could see she wasn't interested in being friends with her Master, or really being allied with him at all besides teaching. Despite feeling a bit disrespected by it, considering Jedi were supposed to work together, being as good natured as he was, he let it slide. That was her choice, after all.

"DragonsFlame" he said. "Not DragonsFire" he corrected, smirking. "Can call me Master DragonsFlame, or just call me Josh" he said, shrugging. "Whichever works for you" he said, looking down at her.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

"Right, Master Dragonsflame, sorry." She nodded, a bit embarrassed by her mistake. Biting her lower lip, she watched Josh's expression from the corner of her eye. He looked a little disappionted, but he masked it well. She turned and faced forward again and her thoughts wondered back to some comments from her previous teachers and other padawans. One word that always seemed to follow her around was 'distant'. Akodya is friendly enough, but seems quite distant...Maybe if you made an effort to be less distant and more trusting the excerise would be easier for you...There is a difference between being controlled and being distant, Akodya...

It is a miracle someone was willing to teach her, surely her teachers must of told him what she was like? And yet he agreed to be her master. Maybe it would pay to be a bit nicer to him?

"So, Josh...have you had any other padawans before?" She asked.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh didn't mind the mistake. Quite frankly, he'd been told a hundred times his last name was silly. But it was his families name and one he carried with pride, so those people could quite frankly stick it. Sadly it was a frequent victim of mispronunciations and sometimes even people being COMPLETELY off on what it is despite him having said it already.

Despite her being distant, he retained his friendly attitude. Just because she was a grumpy slumpy didn't mean he had to be after all. With Christmas a few days away, SOMEONE in this equation had to be cheery after all.

The other Masters had mentioned she was a bit off... Of course, he figured she just had problems socializing with other Padawans by what they told him. NOW he saw why.

At her question, he just smirked a bit. "Tons, actually" he admitted. "Two graduates, and many Padawans more"

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

"Two graduates? that is impressive." She said with a small smile, the pair strolling down the open temple hallway alone. The faint breeze lingered in the corridor and helped to fill the silence between master and padawan. She tried her best to speak a little more casually, since if he was going to be her mentor for a long time formalities would soon fade, at least, that is what she had observed from other master and padawan relationships.

"So how do we go about this now? Is this it? or there some process we have to go though to make it official." She asked hesitantly, watching her master carefully. It was hard to believe someone his age was a full jedi knight. It wasn't that he didn't look the part, but Akodya found it intriguing, since he can't have been that much older then her. Although she was trying very hard to be extra friendly, she was struggling to relax around her new master. He was after all of higher rank, and needed to be treated with respect. Her spine was still as straight as a ruler and her hands remained neatly folded behind her back, indicating she was still in 'professional' mode.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He smiled faintly at her, giving her a look that indicated she was fine to loosen up around him. He didn't consider him higher to her or others, despite the fact he was on the Council, and with no Grandmaster, Josh was basically one of the head honchos of the Order currently.

"No real ceremony, no" he said with a yawn. "I do have to ask though...." he began.

"Is there anything you wish to work on? Anything you're weak at, want to explore?" he asked.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

"Control."

Akodya's words left her lips faster than she originally thought, before she cleared her throat awkwardly and elaborated what she actually meant by that. "Control over myself, and managing myself in combat situations. I am a decent healer, but my fighting skilled need some work." She admitted, her fingers self consciously wrapping around her saber that was hidden under her robes.

"I haven't had a master long enough to actually strengthen any of the skills. My healing abilities are mostly self taught." She said with a small smile.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He chuckled a bit as she spoke. He was happy that like him, she'd attempted self teachings to account for a lack of a Master. It was something you had to do for survival in the Jedi Order if nobody would take you after all.

"I see...." he said, scratching his beard. "Come" he said, leading the way to the training room.

Once they reached the sparring area, he turned around to face her. "You ready?" the Weaponmaster asked.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya eyes her master curiously before following him without question, soon enough they reached one of the many training rooms littered around the temple. Hesitantly Akodya entered the wide room and moved toward the sparring area used to practice mainly one on one fights. Akodya was keenly studying her surrondings when Joshua snapped around and asked his question, which indicated to her she should prepare herself.

A little shocked at his eagerness to duel since he had only been her master for a few minutes, Akodya swallowed hard.

"Are we fighting hand to hand or with sabers?" she asked, slowly positioning herself on the other end of the arena.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh chuckles, before he tugs the lightsaber from his belt, switching it's power down low so he wouldn't harm her much with any connecting hits.

He spun the saber on his finger, aided by the force to overexaggerate it a bit. "We're going to see how well you can control yourself" he said, before catching it between his fingers, engaging the lightsaber, letting the dark blue blade hum.

He smirked a bit. "I'm going to teach you control. Come at me"

@[member="Akodya Mune"]

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya watched her master's little lightsaber trick with wide eyes. Nodding a little she removed her own saber from her belt, her fingers weaving around the hilt, feeling for the proper grip. Lowering the intensity of the blade she activated the emitter, the bright emerald blade humming as it came to life. Taking a quick breath, Akodya attacked.

She maintained the same amount of balance and elegance she had when training alone, but she was devoting to much of her focus to the way she formed the strike rather then the strike itself. She rushed at Josh's left to make it look she was going to try and land a hit there, before switching the right swiftly and taking a swing at shoulder.

@[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He smirked, his eyes locked with hers as he waited for her to make a move. It was as if he were reading her without even watching her saber. It only took looking her in the eyes to see her mindset...

And that proved true when she feinted a blow only to strike towards another area. Josh had watched her eyes the entire time, and when she went for his shoulder, the Weaponmaster quickly raised his blade and blocked it. Quickly, Josh pressed them into a saber lock, clashing them together.

Josh held back, secretly. Testing her power. Testing her resolve. Testing her control. He pressed a little harder, staring into her eyes to gauge her emotions. When they were close enough, he flashed her a smirk, driving the impression home that he wasn't stressed in the slightest by the duel.

@[member="Akodya Mune"]