Private INSURMOUNTABLE - A Lesson of Limits

[Aadihr Lidos]

TEMPLE GARDENS

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr was beginning to second guess himself. Technically Brander wasn't a Padawan, but he had the drive to learn despite his limitations. If that weren't enough, the last time Aadihr tried a group lesson with multiple students it ended with Cora vomiting, Roman washing bedpans, and Azzie and Aris Noble doing all the work because Aadihr wore himself out. Today would be better, it would be hard to screw things up that badly again.

At least nobody's life was at stake here. Hopefully. Brander and Aris would be arriving soon, but the Miraluka tended to lose track of time when he explored with his Clairvoyance.

Aadihr sat motionless, in the meditative pose he had first taught Brander - his Sight was cast away from himself like a fishing lure, the 'anchor' of his force vision travelling away from himself as he tested how far it could go. It seemed limitless, but the further he stretched, the more he feared losing himself, becoming unable to rediscover his physical self to anchor to. A city's width was comfortable, looking into orbit possible, but going further into the void of space or around the curvature of a planet was deeply unsettling. It was like swimming away from the shoreline - the chances of picking the wrong direction to return outweighed the curiosity - but if he did not try, he would never know just how far it could go.

It was for this reason he didn't see either student approach.

Brander | Aris Noble​

 

[Brander]

Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble


It had taken Brander a little while to figure out exactly where he was supposed to go. Once he finally arrived, he strode over to Aadhir, wiping the sweat from his brow as he pulled off his bandana. With an absentminded motion, he wrapped it around his wrist, his gaze sweeping the area before he settled down in front of him.

Rather than interrupt, he simply observed for a moment, then, attempted to mirror Aadhir's posture. There was no hesitation in his movements—just a natural willingness to follow along, as if absorbing the idea through silent imitation.

The air carried the thick scent of oil and rust, clinging stubbornly to his clothes.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

After about five minutes, Aadihr jumped suddenly, startled by the boy's force presence suddenly appearing.

Only it was sudden, he had just been wandering with his mind's eye, floating so far from himself he hadn't seen the boy.

Brander had already come a long way from the fidgeting of the first day, and he smelled like he had just returned from working on starships, or droids, or something of the sort. He had mentioned assassin training, did that extend to mechanics too?

Aadihr tried to play it off like nothing, and relaxed his posture.

"Today, you will meet my Padawan - Aris Noble . He may be more like you than you know, but I'll let you form your own first impression of him."

Nos sniffed again, audibly this time.

"Do you work on speeders or something?"

Brander | Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris arrived! Just walking through the doorway, glancing between Aadihr and the boy he had yet to meet. Another of Aadihr's padawans. He smiled softly as he took a seat close by in his own silence, sort of just waiting and listening. Speeder work was an interesting note. Did Brander also work on speeders? Did he have his own hoverboard?

So many questions that Aris wasn't going to ask out loud, at least not yet.

Aadihr Lidos | Brander

 

[Brander]

Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble

"Today, you will meet my Padawan - Aris Noble Aris Noble . He may be more like you than you know, but I'll let you form your own first impression of him."

Nos sniffed again, audibly this time.

"Do you work on speeders or something?"

Brander was trying very hard to sit perfectly still and say nothing but he had a difficult time quieting his mind to focus. He looke dsome what relived when Aadhir seemed to speak.

"Yes actually. I got a part time job at a mechanic shop helping out repair all kinds of things mostly speeders though. " Brander explained wondering briefly if the smell was really that strong and took a few cursory sniffs at himself.

He took note of the other youth that sat next to them and offered an awkward smile. " Hello. " he greeted, " I take it you're Airs?" The teen was huge compared to him and he just about marveled at the idea. Maybe he was a lot older than he was? He wasn't sure and wasn't certain he should ask.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"Yes actually. I got a part time job at a mechanic shop helping out repair all kinds of things mostly speeders though. "

That was both surprised at the guess being correct, but also ashamed at his surprise. Considering he had met the boys throwing rocks at a temple and talked about his unique upbringing, Aadihr subconsciously thought Brander picked up a happing of scrapping and salvage - it was a good surprise, all things considered, but Aadihr set aside a thought to ponder his internal subconscious biases.

"I'm glad to hear it! Brander, this is Aris Noble, son of Kahlil and Valery Noble and. . . Actually, better not to give too much away myself," Aadihr replied with a smirk. "Aris this is Brander. He is a new student of mine and in the spirit of equity, I'll not reveal too much about them just yet either."
Aadihr was careful with his word choice - Student instead of Padawan. The Jedi knight was interested to see what assumptions the Padawan and the Student would make of each other, what they would learn about each other, and how they would adjust to each revelation over the course of the lesson.

"If there's one thing I know you both can do, its fight - hand to hand. While I am personally against violence as a means of introduction, combat as pastime is common for Epicanthix, is that correct, Aris?" Azurine Varek had told Aadihr that, but he might be made to look a fool if she was joking with him.

Aadihr would intervene if things got too dangerous - he would not repeat his Master's sins.

Aadihr let the two students greet each other as they saw fit, gauging from their auras whether any harboured uncertainty or doubt.

Aris Noble | Brander​

 

[Aris Noble]

"Pass time, training, personal. Our forms are dedicated to our family's legacies. Between the arts and the form, every family has their own uniqueness with them that makes it their family. An Epicanthix can very easily tell which family they're fighting through it." He tilted his head a bit before glancing to Brander. They were to fight? He hummed at the thought, reaching up to rub at his chin. He shouldn't hold back, right? But if Aadhir was suggesting hand to hand, wouldn't that be unfair? Or was he assuming too much?

His expression, calm as it was, dimmed in a barely noticeable way. The last thing he wanted was another case of the fear he saw in Braze's eyes.

".. Alright. Are we fighting here, then, Master?"

Brander | Aadihr Lidos

 

[Brander]

Aadihr Lidos Aris Noble

So, Aris was normal—at least in the sense that he had parents. That much was clear from the way he spoke about families. The concept, however, was hazy to him. He wasn't sure he really understood what it was supposed to be like.

He knew that 'Mother' wasn't like other mothers—the ones other children had. And as for fathers, well... he had never really had one. Instead, he had mostly brothers, in a sense. That was the closest thing to a family he had ever known. He supposed he understood, in some vague way, what it meant to have siblings.

But the idea that families could be recognized—defined, even—by their fighting styles intrigued him. What did that say about him?

Would his way of fighting reflect Ace's? The thought made him frown briefly as he mulled it over. He didn't like that idea.

Before he could dwell on it too long, he refocused, glancing up as Aris spoke.

"Oh… like sparring? Okay."

He agreed without hesitation, pushing himself to his feet. Dusting off his hands and the seat of his pants, he stepped toward a more open space on the floor.

Setting his stance, he placed one foot forward, his front fist held low while his back fist hovered high. He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, loose and ready. There was no fear in his posture, no hesitation—no sense that he saw Aris as a threat. If Aadhir wanted to see them spar, then fine. He was happy to oblige.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

I HOPE THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"... Alright. Are we fighting here, then, Master?"

"Just so, this spot should be sufficiently clear of bystanders - and Aris, feel free to use whatever abilities you see fit, but be aware Brander will not be allowed to use defensive force abilities" Aadihr subconsciously held his breath as he said that. "No Iron Body, Barriers, or deflection, so please avoid potentially lethal attacks. Try to find the lower limit of necessary force to face your opponent - a useful mindset both for conserving energy, a core tenet of the Soresu Lightsaber Form, as well as preventing escalation in emotionally or politically charged conflicts - I assure you Brander will take no offense at the limitation."

"Oh… like sparring? Okay."

Aadihr then turned to Brander hoping that he picked up on the ruse - that Brander was not permitted to use the force, not unable to use it.

"Brander, no force usage is your only limitation. I assure you Aris is more than sturdy, so give it your all - I wish to see the upper limit of your non-force capabilities."

Encouraging two teenagers to fight turned Aadihr's stomach, but there was a purpose behind this.

Aadihr took a few steps to sit on a nearby bench.

"Begin when you are ready. Find the limit, both of you!" Aadihr stifled his anxiety. He would not let this go one step beyond what was appropriate. Aris hadn't shown a temper and if Brander could manage to hurt Aris a lot could be learned for all three of them - but Aadihr would halt the spar before injury.

Aris Noble | Brander​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris sort of stared at Aadihr before glancing to Brander. No Force for the other boy? He sort of just stood there, glancing between the two. Aris knew full well that his punch could cave in a normal man's chest if he didn't hold back enough. Punch right through flesh and bone like it was paper. Aris wasn't stronger than the average force user, he was monstrous if he didn't temper himself.

So he settled his gaze on Brander and sort of just nodded his head.

".. Okay. Go ahead."

Aadihr Lidos | Brander

 

[Brander]

"Brander, no force usage is your only limitation. I assure you Aris is more than sturdy, so give it your all - I wish to see the upper limit of your non-force capabilities."

".. Okay. Go ahead."

Brander nodded lightly at that. When Aris also encouraged him to start, he almost shrugged but resisted the urge, instead snapping a jab high toward Aris' face. Without waiting to see if it landed clean, he drove forward, following up with a sharp right cross aimed at Aris' jaw. As soon as his fist recoiled, he pivoted into a left hook, aiming to bury it deep into Aris' ribs. His weight shifted smoothly, and he capitalized on the motion, whipping a right low kick toward Aris' lead thigh, trying to disrupt his stance. The moment his foot touched the ground again, he surged in, stepping close to fire a left elbow at Aris' chin, using the tight range to press the attack. It seemed this lad didn't need further prompting.

Aris Noble Aadihr Lidos

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr leaned forward in concentration as the spar begin - he watched not for technique and power but for the colors of their aura. It was how they responded to frustration that was important to Aadihr.

Brander, skilled enough to have confidence but up against a living wall. If the boy desires to learn the Jedi way and overcome the lack of force sensitivity... well it was certainly a more impossible feat than defeating Aris, or so Aadihr thought.

But as long as the boy was willing to try, to give it his all, Aadihr would tutor him.

As for Aris, the test of patience was also a chance for Aadihr to discern how Aris felt about tasks that may seem menial - surely Aris already knew how to pull punches, but Aadihr searched Aris's aura for resentment or frustration. If pride would find a way to claw into the boy at being underestimated by his assigned master time and again.

As the two students began testing each other's capabilities, Aadihr kept a mental record of the changes in emotion — or lack thereof.

Aris Noble | Braze Kai'el​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris stood neutral as can be, hands up but his eyes watching the other boy for the time being. What was the lesson here? Aadihr knew his actual strength, so what was he here to learn? Was he here to learn something? Or.. Was he here to help teach? As the first punch came across it was readily apparent that it wasn't his place here to learn, but to help Brander learn something in turn.

Each hit would feel like it was hitting durasteel. The more Aris trained, the stronger his body got unending. There didn't seem to be a limit in just how strong he could get in sight. He didn't just take the hits, shifting to block with his arms, twist to avoid the kick, but he didn't retaliate. For now, he was going to act the wall.

Brander | Aadihr Lidos

 

[Brander]

Brander's blows came fast—sharp, practiced movements honed through survival rather than tradition. Each strike landed clean, yet they may as well have been thrown against a wall.

It was subtle at first, the creeping realization. A jab snapped out, met nothing but a slight shift of Aris' weight. A hook landed flush, but there was no recoil—just unshaken stability. His low kick struck solid muscle, failing to disrupt balance. Every impact felt wrong, like punching something that simply didn't care.

His breath steadied, but his fists clenched tighter. Why isn't he fighting back?

Aris Noble was just standing there. Not mocking, not taunting—just… waiting. Watching.

Brander's mind reeled for an explanation. Was it a trick? Some kind of weird Jedi lesson? Or was Aris just so strong that he didn't have to fight back?
Was this to make an example of himself? Did Aadihr Lidos deliberately give him an impossible task to see if he would give up with a task he obviously couldn't complete?

His jaw tightened. That wasn't something he could accept.

His stance shifted, knees bending deeper. The moment stretched, an inhale drawn sharp through his nose. Then, without hesitation, he surged forward—hard.

There was no restraint now. His fists lashed out with everything he had, hammering at any opening he could find. A right cross twisted into a vicious elbow, a sharp pivot into a driving knee. His breath hitched in his chest, a growl curling in the back of his throat as his knuckles met unyielding resistance.

A crack—then pain.

Something split.

His fist recoiled, pain flaring across his knuckles, but he didn't stop. He threw another strike, even as something warm slicked his fingers.

Then, finally, something made him pause.

Not pain. Not exhaustion.

His own hand.

His knuckles were torn, skin split raw, a fresh trickle of blood streaking across his fingers. But before his eyes—before Aadihr's 'eyes'—it was already closing.

The ragged tears in his flesh knit back together, slow but undeniable. The wounds weren't sealing cleanly, the edges still fresh and sore, but they were mending. Repairing. Healing.


Brander flexed his fingers briefly before continuing on trying to find some way to make a dent in Aris in a manner of speaking.

He hadn't willed that. Hadn't even thought about it.

But there it was.

His hand was healing on its own, but Brander didn't seem to notice as he continued trying to find some way through the wall that was Aris.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr grinned.

He wasn't entirely sure why or how yet, but the boy had just performed something impossible. Perhaps the first of several for the student.

Brander had injured his hands against Aris's unwavering stance - but they mended themselves. Barring some genetic modification for regeneration (Aadihr wasn't entirely sure how to test for that), the boy had healed himself - without using the darkest of healing techniques: draining the lifeforce of another.

Healing one's self with the force was otherwise thought impossible, some archives detailed transferring force from the one's surroundings to heal, but most commonly healing another required a direct transfer of life energy from a willing host.

Aadihr leaned forward, watching the swirling ripples of the force closer, trying to determine if what he had just 'seen' was a twofold breakthrough by the boy.

This... This could change everything, but Aadihr had to be sure, not relying on speculation.

He watch Brander's assault, enrapt at the knitting of his wounds. Just a little longer, then Aadihr would call it off before Brander hurt themselves beyond reason.

Brander | Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

Brander was able to heal. Just like Aris could. Aris blinked in surprise before he glanced briefly towards Aadihr. Did their Master know this? Planned this all out? Curiosity bloomed as he glanced back to Bander. He stopped just taking the blows, instead now actively blocking, dodging the punches sent his way. One after another, weaving and continuing. He didn't slow, he didn't tire. His hands shot out to knock each strike away, his eyes narrowed in focus.

Brander wasn't a normal person.

Brander | Aadihr Lidos

 

[Brander]

"Brander, no force usage is your only limitation. I assure you Aris is more than sturdy, so give it your all - I wish to see the upper limit of your non-force capabilities."

Aris Noble Aadihr Lidos

Brander's hands were slick, the warmth of his own blood smearing against his palms as his excitement swelled into something vicious. Aris was actually engaging him now, feeding into that raw, animalistic thrill gnawing at his ribs. His knuckles stung, split open from the force of his own relentless blows, but the pain only added fuel to the fire.

He jabbed with his left, his right hand held back, fingers flexing and curling in a deliberate rhythm. Pumping, twisting—he worked the wounds on his knuckles, coaxing the blood to flow freely, painting his skin in wet crimson. Strike after strike, his left hand lashed out, his foot snapping forward in tandem. His breath hitched with exhilaration, the scent of iron thick in the air.

And then—his right hand, now glistening with fresh warmth, snapped forward in a brutal arc. Not a punch, not a strike meant to land. A whip of red lashed out, a splatter of his own blood sent flying toward Aris's face, aimed straight for his eyes.

No limitations. Brander took that quite literally.

Aris was clearly the stronger one of teh two and the more experianced as far as he could see in how the boy moved. He was stronger and faster than Brander but it did not detere the red head from trying to find or make a path to over come his challenging opponnent.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Brander... Seemed to be enjoying the challenge? Aadihr supposed that was a good thing, even if the methods made him a little squeamish. It was resourceful, at least - blinding an opponent with one's own blood.

Aadihr stifled his own discomfort for now. He wasn't here to run a kiddie fight club, so the moment things went too far with either's aura he would need to intervene - but Brander showed enthusiasm.

What was more important to Aadihr at this moment was the reaction of Aris Noble - he studied the boy closely, looking at his presence in the force for emotions body language and vocal tone wouldn't convey. Was he at peace with the situation or does the sight of blood cause turmoil within? As closely as the Miraluka monitored Brander's physical state, he watched Aris's emotional state to the best of his ability, ready to halt if discomfort emerged.

Brander | Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

Heat came in response. All at once as the blood was thrown Aris's skin heated to a blistering heat. A dangerous heat. It was instinct at this point. After everything that had happened before, in his fights against the Sith, heating up to just burn away what was thrown at him kept him safe. The blood evaporated before it reached him, but the scent of burned blood, of burned flesh, had him immediately jump back.

He was quiet, focused. Breathing. Trying to keep his mind calm. To avoid thinking back on what that scent represented to him.

Brander | Aadihr Lidos

 

[Brander]

Aris Noble Aadihr Lidos

Brander halted mid-step as he noticed Aris backing away. His forward momentum ceased, but his hands remained raised in a guarded stance. His breaths came light but strained, the exertion of giving his all evident in the rise and fall of his chest.

The torn flesh on his knuckles began knitting itself back together, healing more easily now that it wasn't constantly being re-split open by further strikes. His gaze flicked uncertainly toward Aadihr, searching for direction. Was he meant to press on, or had Aris's retreat signaled a break in the fight?