Not Your Average Sith (Darth Veles)

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

To say Xiarr was new to the Sith would be a lie. To say he was new to the dark side would be a miscalculation. But any formal training? Well, you had him there. Though he'd belonged to the Order since his early teens, he hadn't ever been properly assigned a master, at least as far as he was aware. So after seeking after a teacher he'd finally found someone willing and able. Now all he had to do was wait for them to arrive.
Not one to simply stand around and wait for an individual to reveal themselves, the Acolyte had seated himself cross-legged and began to meditate. Some might have thought it odd or even unfitting for a Sith to engage in such activities, but with his basic knowledge of lightsaber combat at best it was the best solution at the time. Certainly his master, whomever they were, wouldn't mind. And if they did, well, he knew what not to do the next time. By that logic, in his mind it didn't seem to be too bad of an idea. And, well, he could use the practice.
Though he'd been aware of his Force sensitivity since a young age, and had been utilizing it either subconsciously or intentionally in his life since then, his attunement to what most considered the dark side was still considerably lacking. But hopefully the day's coming training session would remedy that, and his lack of skill in lightsaber combat. Only time would tell.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

"Meditating? That is good," came out of nowhere, a voice carrying thick Imperial accent spread evenly through the area as if the speaker stood everywhere. "Remember, apprentice; meditation like this is a key to opening the secrets of the Force and taking its infinite energy to replenish your stamina." The voice continued, its owner nowhere to be seen, no matter how hard the young man looked, no matter if he tried to use Force sense or Force sight to discover the unknown entity that spoke to him. The experienced assassin would be discovered so easily. This was a perfect opportunity to give the man a taste of powers that will once be his to command.

A few seconds later, the light in front of the Acolyte started to shift and bend, quickly taking shape and gaining color until the Rattataki could see himself - [member="Xiarr Raeth"], standing in front of him. This version appeared exactly the same as the version that sat on the ground in a meditating position, the only difference being the voice. "Do not kneel, do not bow. Doing so shows submission... the only person to kneel in front of will be the Dark Lord himself." The projection quickly ordered, stopping the Acolyte from bowing or kneeling before the Rattataki had any chance to make his first mistake, one that would have resulted in the first punishment. "Just to be clear; you will call me either Lord Veles, Master Veles, or simply Master."

"But enough of that. Let's start your first lesson," Veles spoke softly in a neutral tone, finally breaking the projection as he let go of the effects of Force cloak. Instead of a copy of himself, Xiarr could see the Mon Calamari Sith Master known as Darth Veles in its place, the amphibian's large amber eyes burning holes into the young man's skull. The Sith Master's presence remained masked though.

"Recite the Sith Code and think about it for a while. Find out what it means and share your intepretation with me. And please, my newest apprentice, do not try to avoid the task by presenting me with the most popular version that floats among the Sith. I want to hear your interpretation." The Mon Cal ordered firmly, yet kindly, and turned his back on the Acolyte, pacing towards the window and watching the beautiful nature outside.

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

As soon as the voice spoke Xiarr’s ice blue, nearly colorless eyes snapped open, studying the surrounding area intently both with physical sight and the Force, finding nothing tangible on either planes that would lead him to the speaker. That was certainly something new, though he didn’t let his surprise show on his face. If there was anything he’d learned in life, it was not to let your emotions show on your face. All the better to unbalance your adversary, even if they weren’t someone you were intent on fighting just yet. The less they knew about just what was going through your head, the more of an advantage you would have.
However, as an apparition of himself appeared in front of him he blinked and reached out with the ethereal tendrils once more, still finding nothing. All the while he listened carefully to what the man – or at least, he presumed the speaker to be male – had to say. Thus far it seemed they were of the same mind; submission wasn’t something to be handed out to just anyone. Though demanding respect, the one who would train him did it in a quiet sort of way, which only piqued the Rattataki’s curiosity of just whom he was listening to.
Standing slowly once the man finally revealed himself and finished speaking, he mentally reviewed the Code that he had memorized during his first months as one of the Sith. Though he was able to recall and recite it from memory, in that moment he realized that personal interpretation was never something he’d devoted much time to thinking about. There was no time like the present, he supposed. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. This reminds us that seeking after eternal serenity is a foolish endeavor, and something not to concern ourselves with. Through passion, I gain strength. Our passion, whether it be a yearning for power or the will to strengthen one's connection to the Force, passion is what will give you the drive to continue living. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. The two of these are very similar yet very separate tenets. Our strength will allow us to develop the necessary skills to become more powerful, and only through that will we have victory over whatever may trouble us. Through victory, my chains are broken. By winning our fights, whether physically or mentally, we will free ourselves from whatever shackles may bind us. The Force shall free me. The final statement reminds us that however powerful any individual may be, it is the Force that allows us to attain many of our goals." He spoke deliberately, choosing each of his words carefully and studying the man as he awaited his reply.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Clasping his webbed hands behind his back, the Mon Calamari Sith Master remained silent, continuing to observe the world outside of the window, yet intently listening to his new apprentice, curious about his interpretation of the Sith Code. Hearing the young man's words without interrupting him, the Mon Calamai turned his head to look back at the man with his right eye. The Rattataki's interpretation was not wrong, definitely better than the popular version many Sith learned and presented as their own instead of using their brains, which greatly frustrated the Sith Master, as he wanted the new generation of the Sith to use their heads instead of parroting what their teacher wished to hear.

"Not bad, apprentice" admitted the Sith Master calmly, turning on his heels and facing the Sith Acolyte, "But remember, the Sith Code was created as a reversed version of the Jedi Code. While there is no official interpretation, it is important to put it in context. When you take the first line of the Jedi Code and compare its interpretation with the same segment of the Sith Code, it should be reversed. As such, I believe the peace both Codes speak of is not a galaxy without conflicts, but inner peace. Think about it. The Jedi deny passion, deny emotions, deny what makes us sentient beings and differs us from machines. Inside, the Jedi are sterile, hollow. They fear the power the Dark Side offers, worry it could corrupt them. And rightfully so, as only the strong can resist the intoxicating influence of the Dark Side." Veles paused for a moment, filling the room with silence as he let his words sink in.

"We, Sith, are not afraid of the Dark Side. We use it like fire, control it. Some succumb to it and burn... But those who learn how to command it without getting burned can harness its energy to the fullest. You, apprentice," Veles took several steps towards [member="Xiarr Raeth"], "You must not fear the Dark Side, but respect it. Its power is vast and if you're not careful, you will be driven to insanity and end up as nothing more than a wild animal. And you know what happens to wild animals, right?" the Sith smirked.

"A good way to avoid losing your mind is to have a personal code and abide it at all costs. As long as you stay true to it, your will shall remain strong and the Dark Side will not damage your mind beyond repair. Think about it later, but do not dismiss my words." Veles frowned, hoping it would not end like with his previous apprentice, who chose to ignore all he said and succumbed to idiocy, unfortunately. "Now tell me, what do you think makes a Sith? What is a Sith to you?" asked the Mon Cal and started pacing around the young Acolyte, like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack its prey.

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Making a mental note to further analyze the Sith Code, Xiarr paused for a long moment as he carefully considered the question posed to him. It was something he’d never devoted much time to concerning himself with, having what he believing more important things on his mine. But now that it was brought to light, he realized that it was knowledge just as much as skill in combat that made an individual more than another passerby on the street. “A Sith does not fear their emotions as the Jedi seem to. They embrace the passions that separate them from the non-sentient beings of the galaxy. Where the Jedi shy from conflict the Sith realize that while it’s not wise to engender a fight unnecessarily, there are some things that can only be resolved with a blade in hand. A Sith is an individual who realizes their true potential both as a sentient being and a Force user, instead of limiting themselves.”
His pale gaze tracked the elder male as he stalked about him. “As you said, Master, the Jedi fear the Dark Side and dubbed it as evil, sparking the creation of the Sith, the very Order they seek to vanquish. From that point of view we are a necessary evil, though certainly not one that had to be created. With their Order being so close-minded against any philosophy that differs even slightly from their ways, a schism within their ranks was only inevitable. And they continue to quarrel amongst themselves even today.”
With that the Rattataki Acolyte fell silent, not confident in his words as much as he was content in what he had said, finding their conversation just as engaging as a lesson of the more physical sort would have been. Whatever he'd anticipated training as a Sith to be, thus far things had surpassed his expectations.
But as it were he'd come to be taught, not impressed. Though he didn't mind the mental exercise that their discussion was proving to be, he couldn't help but wonder to just what ends he was being asked these questions. From what he'd learned during his time here, the Sith did nothing without purpose. And [member="Darth Veles"] didn't seem to be an exception to the rule.

 

[Darth Veles]

"Yes," said the Mon Calamari kindly, nodding, after [member="Xiarr Raeth"] finished speaking, "You have a good idea of who we are. Truly, Sith do not fear passion and emotions; we use them as a tool to bend the Force to our will through the Dark Side. That, however, does not mean we should shy away from the Light Side, apprentice!" Veles stated, stopping in front of the Acolyte again, "Sith, unlike Jedi, are strong enough to command the Force as a whole, not just a half of it. Unfortunately, there exists a certain dogma in our Order that we should not use the Light Side, just as the Jedi refuse to use the Dark Side. It is tragic, as if we combined the knowledge of our enemies with our Sith teachings, this war would have been already won, and the Jedi destroyed. Remember, apprentice, knowledge of your enemies is still knowledge, and you should not shy away from it, as it gives you an edge over your Jedi opponents."

Turning around, the Sith Master found himself pacing towards the window again, his footsteps barely audible. The sight of the nature outside reminded him of a certain Jedi healer he truly valued, remembering her wish to make a small garden near the Temple to make it look more lively. "And please, do not adopt the Jedi view as your own. By that I mean seeing yourself and your Sith brothers and sisters as some evil, malevolent beings obsessed with destruction. Truly," the amphibian nodded, the whisker on his chin wriggling, "There are those who fit this description, certainly. Those unable to handle the Dark Side who succumbed to insanity and now kill and destroy everything in fits of rage, being more of a liability to our Order than anything else. You will not follow their example!" Veles commanded, his voice firm and cold, no trace of the warm tone from earlier. "Killing for pleasure is distasteful and gives you nothing. It is a waste of energy, a waste of potential resources. If you do it, it is a sign of weakness, one showing you are not strong enough to control yourself. And if you cannot control your own body and mind, how do you want to control the Force?" the Sith Master asked, not waiting for the answer as it was a rhetorical question. One of his eyes swiveled to look at the Rattataki apprentice, watching the young man.

"Kill when it advances your goal or the goal of our Order as a whole. If there is nothing to be gained, and just from killing, but from any action, refrain from wasting your energy. Why are you here? Because you want to get stronger, because my teachings will guide you towards becoming a true Sith. If you already had all the power you ever wanted, you would not be here, obviously." Veles paused for several seconds and offered the apprentice a kind smile.

"Any questions so far?"

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

For a long moment no words found his lips as he silently mulled over all that had been spoken, finding that they both shared a similar philosophy. Though the Sith were seen as those who only focused their teachings on the Dark Side of the Force, they were just as capable of utilizing the other half that most assumed was only a Jedi’s to command. However, it was just as important that the Jedi believe that their enemies were just as incapable of using the Light as they were of accessing the Dark. The less the order in service of the Light knew of their adversaries, the more the war would turn in the favor of the Sith and their allies. “Misdirection is an important tactic, however, although we are capable of drawing on the Light just as easily as the Dark. If the Jedi believe us incapable of no more than what they consider malevolent and evil, then so be it. That will only give us more opportunities to catch them unawares.”
There was another lapse of silence as Xiarr shook his head, no inquiries coming to mind just yet. Thus far any questions he may have had had been answered in the next moments as [member="Darth Veles"] continued speaking. “Good and evil are merely points of view when observed from a certain perspective. Just as one would categorize the Force into two black and white categories, while others view it as a spectrum riddled with grey. No one being has a correct view or interpretation, merely many opinions. Or at least, that’s the way I view things, Master.” The Rattataki realized that he may have overstepped his bounds with the statement, but he wasn’t overly concerned about things. It seemed to him that the man wanted him to share or form his own opinions as the lesson progressed, and vocalize them when he felt they were prompted. Either that, or he was crossing a line that he hadn’t known existed. Both possible results would prove to be a learning experience in the end.
“Those that kill without reason are only proving themselves in the eyes of the other Sith. Just as you stated earlier, Master, they have become nothing more than wild animals. And rabid animals are quickly disposed of, not necessarily at the hands of those they belong to.” Having finally spoken all that was on his mind the Acolyte fell silent, though he didn’t lower his gaze or show any other signs of submission, the man’s earlier warning still fresh in his mind. If he was to become a true Sith, as it was put by the Mon Calamari Sith Master, these and more would be the teachings he would constantly have to keep in mind and refresh himself on. Though he’d devoted much of his time to the study of the Sith both as an Order and a people before that, not much of his studies had been spent developing his own points of view.
Xiarr reached up with both hands to lower the hood on his dark outfit, seeing no viable reason to conceal his features. If they were to train together, there was no real point in trying to hide himself. The bond between master and apprentice was not one to be taken lightly, and he didn’t intend to do anything that would intentionally hinder that relationship.

 

[Darth Veles]

"Very good," nodded the amphibious Sith after hearing out the man's comments. It appeared their personalities could work well alongside each other, unless, of course, the Sith Acolyte just said what the Sith Master wanted to hear. It had happened before with several apprentices and Veles would not be surprised if it happened again. Rotating himself further to the side, he once again faced the Rattataki Acolyte. The young man had passed Veles' first test, only time would tell if he truly believed his words. The Sith Master decided to move on, start an actual training instead of further testing the apprentice's personality. The Rattataki did have a brain and knew how to use it, which was the most important thing, but what about his skills and abilities? As a teacher, Veles would, naturally, train the young Acolyte and shape him into a strong Sith. First he had to know where to start though, he did not want to waste time by teaching the man a few Force powers, only to discover the Rattataki already knew everything.

"Tell me something about yourself, apprentice." Veles said in a calm and collected tone. "What Force powers do you already know? Do you have a preferred style of lightsaber combat? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Any former training?" More questions came, all expected to be answered by the student. He had read the man's bio, which did tell him much about the Acolyte, but Veles needed more to work with in order to make lessons with [member="Xiarr Raeth"] effective.

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Now they were getting to something Xiarr knew with certainty. Although he enjoyed [member="Darth Veles"]’ obvious test of his intellectual prowess, as a child he’d never had much use for his mental capacity. It was his ability to worm his way out of sticky situations, how quick he was able to get away and sometimes his prowess in a fight if it came to a confrontation. Before he’d really been aware of his Force sensitivity the energy field had been aiding him, though subconsciously. As of late his influence over the abilities had grown, and he was able to call on the Force with ease. “Telekinesis, Force sense and Force Push. I’ve not had any formal training before this. I would say my speed is my greatest asset, along with the fact that I’ve been aware of and utilizing my Force sensitivity since childhood. My weaknesses would be a lack of proper training in all aspects, and that I’ve more or less forsaken strength for speed.”
Lightsaber combat wasn’t something he’d ever considered, even though he’d read about it plenty in numerous tomes and done a brief analysis of all the forms. “I’m not experienced enough to warrant a particular choice in which style and form I would like to practice, though the Makashi form seems more suited to what I would eventually like to learn, and the Jar’Kai style has always been of interest to me, Master.” The Rattataki might not have been the most knowledgeable when it came to lightsaber combat, but he certainly knew what he wanted to learn.

 

[Darth Veles]

"Yes," the amphibian's hand went up and stroked the long barbel on his chin, "I can work with that. First, we will have to complete your arsenal of basic Force powers, that is adding telepathy, Force speed and Force jump. None of those powers is hard to learn, don't worry. If you're good, you'll get the hang on it today and practice it in your free time. Which is what I strongly advise." The Sith Master stated, further thinking of how to fix the most glaring of weaknesses. There would be absolutely no problem in terms of lightsaber combat though. As a master of Makashi and Jar'kai, Veles knew he was a perfect teacher when it came to the Rattataki's wish to learn the style and the technique. The fact Makashi could be used as one handed style of lightsaber combat also meant learning Jar'kai became much easier; if the apprentice practiced with both hands equally, he could, theoretically, know how to fight with two lightsabers without going through formal Jar'kai training.

What Veles definitely felt he needed to adress was the Acolyte's physique. While Makashi did not require nowhere near as much raw physical strength as other forms, as it focused on footwork and speed, a Sith could not be physically weak. "You should go to one of the instructors and ask for the basic training. Once it's done... you'll be either stronger, or you will die. Alternatively, you could get your body augmented to greatly boost your strength. It is up to you, but the best choice is to do both. Obviously."

The Sith paused for a while before continuing, his large orange orbs still staring at [member="Xiarr Raeth"], the piercing gaze never leaving the young man. "I think starting with telepathy is the the best option... Now, apprentice, continue to meditate, but reach out through the Force and feel my presence. I will do the same. I will let you past my defences. By doing so, we will establish a link between us and make it possible to communicate through our minds. Think strongly of something, be it a still image or a word, and try to send it towards my presence. I will demonstrate...," Veles said and almost immediately touched the mind of his apprentice, not even waiting for him to lower any mental defences he might have had. The Sith Master easily pushed through, showing the young man the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. "It is not hard," he sent a telepathic message, "Try it!"

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

The sensation of the foreign presence touch his mind was certainly an odd feeling, but instead of shying away Xiarr quickly adjusted, familiarizing himself with the presence so that any exercises similar to this would be easier. Beyond that, it would be easier for him to locate the Sith Master should they meet in a similar fashion for their next training session. Though he wasn’t bothered per se by being caught off guard, as he knew that he was much less experienced than any of the senior Sith, he wasn’t one to repeat the same mistake twice.
Exhaling slowly he reached out once more with the Force, easily pinpointing the other presence, unlike before. Pondering for a moment on exactly what image he was familiar enough with to call to mind and send across the newly forged link, he finally settled on the Sith that had found him as a child and brought him into the Order. He pushed the image across and into Mon Calamari’s mind, sending a telepathic message along with it, “Like this, Master?” Being as new to the manipulation of the Force as he was, the method of communication was strange to him, but he supposed it would be easy to adapt to, just as his newfound abilities were when he was a child. If anything, he would find himself using telepathy more often than not, as had happened when he was younger while using telekinesis. Once he gained a basic understanding of things, it would be easy enough for him to begin his own sort of self-training when the two of them weren’t able to meet regularly.
Doing his best to keep the link strong enough on his end he spoke out loud this time, “I’ve most like utilized Force jump a time or two, but never consciously. The discovery of my Force sensitivity was more of an accident in and of itself.” That was the truth. With no real knowledge of Force users save for what was passed by word of mouth amongst those passersby or those he called friend as a child, no one in his circle was aware of just what abilities the energy field could and did grant those who were fortunate enough to hold the key to unlocking it. There were rumors of those who called themselves Jedi and the few who dubbed themselves Sith, but nothing concrete. The fact quickly changed on the day he was taken, but the Rattataki wouldn’t change anything of it after learning just what he would be capable of given enough time.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

In his mind, as if a distant memory suddenly resurfaced out of nowhere, and image of an unknown person appeared, someone Veles did not know. This image was accompanied by a telepathic message. "Yes," the Sith Master answered to the question, happy the apprentice understood the concept of telepathy. Now he could practice it with other students in his free time if he wished to do so, so Veles moved to the more physical abilities, that that enhanced one's body in some way. Very useful, very important, and basic abilities even an Acolyte like [member="Xiarr Raeth"] had to know.

"Apprentice. As you surely know, Force speed and Force jump belong among the most basic and most useful abilities. Both of those powers might save your life one day... Force jump, for example, is commonly associated with overcoming great heights. Mass the Force in your legs, crouch a little bit and jump. That is very basic, trivial even, but it also rapidly shoots you from one place to another, which can be very useful when you need to close the distance between you and your target. Keep in mind; when in the air, you are extremely vulnerable to attacks, as you cannot rapidly change your direction. Put simply, you cannot dodge. Do not use this in combat unless you want to retreat and never Force jump towards an enemy who knows about you. While you're in the air, they can prepare and use the fact you cannot suddenly change the direction of your jump to cut you down. And never, ever, jump over your opponents!" Veles believed it was obvious, yet he still said it, just in case the Acolyte did not realize that. "When you fly over your opponent, you have to land and turn around, while they only have to turn around. If you turn around in the air, you will show them your back when you're most vulnerable, with no chance to deflect the Force or any other attack."

Taking a breath, the amphibious Master continued, "Always let the Force guide your instincts when measuring the distance you want to jump. Focus on the place where you want to land, mass the appropriate ammount of energy in your legs and jump. Try it in this room... touch the ceiling!" Avreet ordered and watched his new student, studying his movement to see his mistakes if he did any.

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Taking a breath to steady himself Xiarr drew on the Force, crouching slightly as he focused the energy field on his legs. "I've studied more than a few techniques on avoiding disarmament in a number of situations, Master. I believe that, even if I won't have cause to use them, it would be useful to learn when to implement them should it be necessary." It felt odd, to a degree, to be speaking his mind so openly. But something told him the Mon Calamari Sith wanted him to make his thoughts known, if only to become more aware of his cognitive processes. Regardless, he couldn't shake the strange feeling that accompanied him.
Brushing it off the Acolyte released the energy he'd gathered at the same time he jumped, fingertips just brushing across the durasteel surface of the ceiling. He frowned slightly and crouched to try again, this time allowing himself to relax and letting the Force amass of its own accord, something he'd picked up on as a child. Using the Force instinctually was something he'd grown up doing, but thinking about it consciously made the process a bit more difficult, though he managed.
It was then he leapt once more, pressing his gloved palm more firmly to the cold metal, landing in the same sort of crouch and straightening slowly, glancing to the Sith Master for any words of approval or criticism. "As you said previously, knowledge can be used in much the same manner as a weapon, and prove to be just as deadly if utilized correctly."

[member="Avreet Zatarus"]

 

[Darth Veles]

The large eyes of the amphibian followed the Acolyte's movement, watching the apprentice and feeling as the energy of the Force carried him up, letting the young man touch the ceiling. His fingertips merely touched the ceiling, which indicated he had not calculated his jump correctly. Veles could not hold it againt the student though, as [member="Xiarr Raeth"] had to get a hang on the technique and learn how it worked by trying it a few times before he understood it better. The Acolyte eventually jumped again, learning from the previous mistake, and touched the ceiling with no trouble. "Not bad," the Sith Lord commented with a smile, "Practice it on your own and your jumps will be precise in no time." Pausing, Darth Veles realized only one power remained, Force speed. "Let's move on."

"Force speed. When you allow the Force to fill your body, enhance it... your reflexes, movements, reactions are faster than that of a normal being. From your point of view, you move at normal speed... it is the world around you that seems so much slower, giving you more time to act. Your speed is equal to your control of Force speed. The greater control you have over the power, the more skilled you are, the faster you move and the slower your surroundings seem. It is a fairly easy skill to learn, but not many master it despite its usefulness. I also chose not to follow the path of mastering this particular skill... unlike the two I will teach you later when you are more experienced." He blinked, then returned to staring at the Acolyte. "I am fairly sure you have witnessed someone in your life utilizing Force speed and I am certain you will meet many more. If you do not use the power, your opponents using it will seem unnaturally fast, the most skilled of them nothing but a blur. When you let the energy enhance your body, their movements will become more... natural, the ones of the same skill level as you will appear to be normal. My advice is to use the power whenever you're in a duel. If nothing else, it gives you an edge over your opponent unless they are better at it than you. It drains your power fairly quickly, but it is nowhere near as drastic as Force cloak... the power usage also depends on how well you control the skill. The faster you are, the more energy you use."

Nodding a few times, he let the words sink in before continuing. "Use Force speed to run from one end of this room to another and back as fast as possible."

 

[Amarthaer Saptheth]

Natural speed was something the Rattataki prided himself in, so, in theory, this should be the ability that would come the most easily for him. At the very least it would be one to remember above all else, and something to practice more in his free time. From the way that the power was spoken of, it was the one that he would want to focus on above any of the others. Using the Force in day-to-day life had become natural for him, but keeping enough focus to utilize something like this during a duel was something he knew would have to come in time. Though confident in his own ability, it didn’t come to the point of overdue arrogance. At least, not yet.

Taking a moment to simply allow the Force to wash over and through him, Xiarr listened silently to all of the instruction posed to him, remaining silent for the time being as he centered himself. Without warning he sprang from his starting point to cross to the other side of the room, careful to study his surroundings as he did so, remembering what was said about everything else seeming to move slower. Although it was only a fraction or so, he noted that even the slightest movements made by his teacher seemed sluggish. Maybe he had underestimated the usefulness of such a thing. If he could see the movements of his enemies coming while moving unnaturally fast himself, his danger sense would be something that he wouldn’t have to solely rely on. But along with this he knew that becoming overconfident this early on would ultimately be his downfall. Fearlessness was one thing, but stupidity was something entirely different.

Having reached the other end of the room he pushed off of the wall and halted at his starting point once more, letting the Force slowly drain from his body to return to normal levels, carefully gauging the other’s response. One thing that had caught his attention was the indirect mention of the other abilities that would be taught to him as his training progressed. Perhaps he’d have to look into things further at a later date. It was definitely something worth keeping in mind, at the very least. “Wouldn’t the energy necessary go down, in theory, once one became more skilled at Force speed?” There was a brief pause. “But, of course, things never work quite in the way one expects them to, Master.” And wasn’t that the truth. In all his life the Acolyte had never imagined he would end up apprenticed to a Sith Lord, never mind his actually leaving his home planet. But here he was, in one of his very first formal training sessions. Life had a funny way with things, sometimes. That was a lesson he’d learned quickly.

[member="Dux Pontus"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Observing the fast moving sentient that was his apprentice sprinting from one wall to the other, the unnatural speed granted him by the Force greatly helping the young Rattataki to complete his objective much to the teacher's satisfaction. Although nowhere near as good as masters of Force speed who appeared to be less that a colorful blur when they moved, the apprentice certainly did more than enough to display his skills, proving his ability to use the Force in the simplest of ways. And with the addition of Force speed, he knew all basic Force powers, which set him on the same level all Acolytes should be before starting their training under a teacher. Naturally, all powers the kid had displayed would have to be practiced, as practice was a necessary thing to be somewhat good with any power, really. One had to grow to become more powerful, and the basics served as good stepping stones for more advanced powers a Sith could wield.

Avreet's expression remained stone when the test was over, large eyes continuing to stare at the apprentice. What should he be taught now? Or better, what was the apprentice capable of learning, given his experience and skill? Some powers Avreet possessed were undoubtedly out of [member="Xiarr Raeth"]'s reach, for now at least. The main powers of an assassin, Force cloak and Force stealth were unfortunately ones of those more advanced techniques that required years of rigid training before attempting to learn them. Before moving to more training, the Mon Cal chose to answer the question the apprentice had. "Using the Force will always cost you energy. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It depends on many factors. As an assassin, you need to learn how to conserve it. Never waste more than necessary. Never use the Force pointlessly. You never know when you might need it...," stated the Sith Master. Many Sith have unfortunately never thought of it, but killing civilians was not only pointless for obvious reasons; it also wasted their energy, energy that could be spent of battling an actual enemy.

"Take your lightsaber now," Veles ordered, getting up from the floor, noticing how much higher the younger man was. While it certainly seemed weird, and many might actually mistake the Mon Cal for being the apprentice and the Rattataki for posing as the teacher, it mattered little. The left palm opened and the curved hilt removed itself from Avreet's belt, flying into its owner's webbed hand. Pointing the hilt of the lightsaber at his apprentice's chest, although his thumb had yet to press the ignition button and light up the crimson blade of energy, Darth Veles spoke again. "Makashi's reach is superior to those of other forms. This is Makashi." His other hand grisped the hilt as well and held it horizontally with his body, having the hilt close to his chest as if preparing to defend himself. "This is how you hold it in other forms, Shii-Cho, for example. Is the difference clear?"

To further point it out, he let go of the curved hilt with his right hand and fully outstretched his left arm, pointing the imaginary blade at the apprentice.