One Step at a Time (Lerinku)

[Baalagor]

It seemed as if it had been years since Syala had stood by that lakeside where it had all begun. There had been where she had first stood with her Master as a true Jedi. It was where she had trained, sometimes for hours on end, in order to perfect her own skills as a defender of peace in the galaxy. It was where she had talked for long periods about nothing and everything all at once, improving her mental quickness. Yes, the lakeside near the Temple on Voss held many a memory for her.

And now she would be guiding another down a similar path, one she intended to make just as successful as her own. At sixteen it was safe to say she was awfully young to be so much as considering training another, but she had learned to put faith in her ability, and knew full well she wouldn't have been raised to the rank of Knight without very good reason. Hopefully she would be able to prove all of them right. Her new apprentice was deserving of that and more.

[member="Lerinku Matni"] was a new face to the Order so far as she was aware, having only recently discovered his Force sensitivity and what potential that had in store for him. That he had decided to use his gift for the greater good in joining the Sanctum was a favorable sign, and she was curious to know more about this new arrival. Already some kind of acquaintance had been made with her offer to train him, and only time would tell just how well that impromptu bond would flourish.

It was by that same lakeside she waited, meditating silently on the past and future both as she waited for her first formal Padawan to arrive. Unseeing eyes were closed against a natural beauty she could no longer perceive through the physical realm, but the ethereal sustained her where nothing else was able, and she was keenly aware of every last living thing within the vicinity. Soon enough she would be guiding another along on a journey just as unknowable and rewarding as her own had been.

 

[Lerinku Matni]

Following the path of trodden plants and grass, made his way quickly through the dense jungle of Voss. With memories of his most recent visit to the area haunting him, the young Padawan made quick work of traversing the roots and ferns that lay upon the freshly made path. Before long the Mirialan found himself in a small clearing; with one side surrounded by the auburn jungle, Rinku's gaze was trans fixed on the second half of the clearing. The scene before him seemed too picturesque to be real. As the trees and other flora lost their grip on the clearing, a magnificent lake expanded across the rest of the young man's vision. Shimmering under the golden sun, the water let off an amber sheen making it appear as if the liquid were made entirely of a precious metal.

As his eyes drew themselves away from the awe-inspiring scene, his vision came to rest on the figure by the lakeside. Looking serene as ever, [member="Syala Daivik"], the man's teacher stood only a few meters away from the Padawan. It suddenly dawned on him that at this very moment he would set forth on a new journey. No longer would he be seen as the son of a great Senator and politician. Today he would start the journey that many Jedi before him had initiated. Unsure of what the future had in store for both Master and student, Rinku, composed, took his first step down the path of a Jedi.

"Hello Master." he said, now standing before the younger woman. Not a glint of fear or doubt present in his aura, Rinku awaited his Master's reply, bringing with it the initiation of his apprenticeship.

 

[Baalagor]

Almost instantly her attention was drawn back to the present moment and her immediate surroundings, as if life was being breathed back into her form. Despite the milky white irises that so obviously marked her as sightless Syala seemed to look directly at him, the Force acting as her guide. A nod of the head was her unspoken greeting, and she offered a smile. "Hello, Padawan." Silently she motioned for him to follow as she began walking along the lakeside, memory serving as a sort of map of their surroundings.

For a short time she allowed them to walk in complete quiet with only the sounds of nature to keep them company, giving him plenty of time to reflect on his own thoughts. After a moment she spoke, raising her voice solely to be heard, "How are you, Lerinku?" A simple question, and perhaps she was attempting to mirror the teachings of her own Master, those four words mimicking what had been asked of her during her own first meeting with the one that was to train her.

As she awaited his reply she simply continued to walk, keeping her pace leisurely, allowing him ample time to mull over his response. In that short period of time she was acutely aware that for all intents and purposes she was better suited to be the learner, what with her young age, and she knew that most would guess her to be the student in this relationship at first glance. This was something that had never really bothered her before, and it was something she would have to lend thought to. Underestimation had never been a concern of hers.

"I want you to understand that I'm not like most Masters, or Knights. I don't have all the answers just yet, because in some instances I'm still learning myself. But I will do my best to answer any questions you might have and mold you into the best Jedi and person you can be. You don't need to be afraid in approaching me with anything, and I'll always do what I can to help you, no matter what. That is what I offer by taking you on as my student. That is my promise to you."

[member="Lerinku Matni"]

 

[Lerinku Matni]

Returning his Master's greeting with a smile, Rinku followed the woman as they walked beside the lake. It all felt so surreal; to be on such a beautiful world where he would soon learn the mysteries of the Force. The Mirialan hoped he was up to the task. The pair continued to walk in silence, leaving the Padawan to ponder over who was to speak next. it dawned on Rinku that this might be his first test, remaining silent as he demonstrated his ability to be patient. Syala spoke, breaking the silence and causing the young man to jump slightly. The question puzzled him, thinking it rather a simple question to begin his training as a Jedi. However he still responded, pondering over his answer before offering a reply.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous Master. My first few days here with the Jedi have flown by and I just wonder whether my training is worth all this trouble." Venting his concerns to the young woman, he continued. "Everything is just going very fast. It's all a bit overwhelming."

Silence enveloped the pair again as the scenery took a hold of the Mirialan. As his master spoke again, Rinku was honoured by the trust and honesty that she placed upon the Mirialan. He had not doubted the younger woman's abilities as his teacher, and was also relieved to know that one would still be learning past the rank of Padawan. It eased his mind and answered several questions that had been floating about as he had discovered more about the Jedi.

"That is everything if not more than what I could have asked for Master." Rinku replied, "I may not be able to fully connect or interpret the flow of the Force, but I have a hunch that this is the beginning of a fruitful apprenticeship." Smiling, Rinku offered the words as encouragement to the young woman as well as supporting himself.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

None of his thoughts or fears were regarded as something incredible or nonsensical, and Syala nodded along as he spoke, understanding his sentiments as she had held much of the same to be true in her first few days of true Jedi training. But those had changed once she found her niche, and she hoped the same would hold true for him. "It's not wrong to feel nervous or overwhelmed. This is a lifestyle unlike any other in the galaxy, and only a select few beings are privy to it. I don't expect you to be able to adapt instantly, nor does anyone else."

No one individual's experience within the Order was quite the same as any other's, and she knew that even if he chose to pursue some of the same path she had he would still end up with a different viewpoint. Such was the nature and the beauty of the Force and its wielders. "You'll find your further training to be more adequately paced, I believe. I'll do my best to make our time together worthwhile and provide all I can to further you in whatever path you choose to walk." It would be strange for her to be the teacher for a change, but she was filling her role rather well, considering.

"Have you chosen which area of study you would like to focus on?" It was often common for those aspiring to be either Guardians, Sentinels or Consulars to be paired with Masters of the same class, after all, and she could only assume this was similar. Regardless, she would still offer all that she could to make him a fine Jedi Knight more than capable of taking on students of his own one day. And she had the utmost confidence he was capable of all that and more.

Extending her senses outward she touched gently on his presence, doing what she could to merge their auras and perhaps initiate some sort of bond, though she wouldn't push anything if she detected even a modicum of resistance. There would be no point in forcing any kind of connection, but she hoped to nurture one of some description in the future. "When you're ready, reach out through the Force and tell me what you feel." Perhaps a first lesson of sorts, though she was more interested in how he perceived the ethereal itself.

[member="Lerinku Matni"]

 

[Lerinku Matni]

The woman had such a way with words, easing the Padawan's doubts and fears as she spoke to him. Waves of relief washed the negative emotions away as the pair admired the scenery. As Lerinku looked back on his journey here, the Mirialan discovered that his master was right and that there was no need to fear what he could not yet see. His life had changed after arriving on Voss but he could now see that it was shifting for the better. Rinku would not have desired a life in politics and found that from what he had seen of the Silver Jedi so far, he knew that this was the life he wished to live.

Syala's plan for his training seemed more than suitable. He knew that their time together would not mirror the relationship of the Jedi of old. These were modern time and part of his training would have to be completed independently. His master was not at his beck and call and neither was he. Rinku had been prepared as such and offered a reassuring smile as his master continued. Their time together would just have to be spent getting the most out of each session.

"I'm not sure whether you were aware of this Master Davik, but before my arrival on Voss, my life had been consumed in the world of politics." Thinking back to his father, RInku was surprised to find that he had yet to miss the man. His father was caring but he had also been vacant from Rinku's life. He had not really known the man and neither had his father learned of his son. "I have tried to put this part of my life behind me, so to become fully committed to my Jedi training. However I have found that it is difficult to get rid of." He had spent much time pondering his progression through the Silver Jedi ranks, and had found that the caste of the Jedi Consular to be much to his liking, playing upon his diplomatic skills as much as his interest in the mysteries of the Force. "Therefore I believe the path of the Consular would best suit my skills." He hoped to find some form of approval within his Master however they had already moved onto their next task.

Following his Master's instruction, Rinku closed himself off from the material world, opening himself to the flow of the Force. Where once the Padawan had been resistant to the flow, the Jedi Knight Bellalika had helped him past his fear. A stream of lights appeared in front of him, each orb representing a different form of life. Beside him, Rinku could sense the presence of his master; the brightest orb in his vicinity willing to merge with his own. having faced such a similar experience before, Rinku welcomed her presence, dropping his barriers to allow her free access. The Jedi gazed at the scene before him, trying to describe the flow of the Force to his Master. "I see life Master, the essence of the Force. Everything is connected." He could make out thin tendrils of light, with each one connected to at least one orb of life. No words could truly describe what he was witnessing, but it was the best he could do to create his understanding for Syala.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

"There isn't a need to worry about leaving anything behind you. What knowledge you obtained before journeying here to train with us is just as valuable as any you may have gained in the past. Nothing is obsolete so long as you're still able to find a way to apply it. And it seems to me that you will achieve that just as well." Her confidence in him was of the quiet sort but undeniably present, remaining as something he would always have to fall back on and build himself up again. Hopefully he would soon find the same belief in himself and his own ability.

What had been accessible as far as records regarding his past went were nothing more than what was standard for any incoming apprentices, and though Syala had been offered it she declined all but the very basics, preferring to learn of who Lerinku truly was through their time spent together rather than anything else. But it was a favorable sign that he had a background in diplomacy. "Don't feel a need to limit yourself to one path of study. You're free to pursue that which interests you, and the limits are only those you create for yourself beforehand."

Closing her eyes she drew in a breath and released it slowly, allowing the Force to flow around and through her being, all but merging entirely with the energy field. Reaching out she touched on Lerinku's aura, loosing some of the hold on her own in order to allow the both of them to connect in a manner not accessible to most. The Force left one bonded with another in a way that entirely transcended anything wrought by blood, as the Force itself left those connections behind for something far greater.

When he described his experience to her, she couldn't help but smile. "What you see, Padawan, is the Living Force in its entirety. Every living behind, regardless of sentience, is interconnected in a web of sheer existence that is near indescribable. It connects us all to each other through our own life energy, binding every being together on different fibers of the same cord. It is this which helps to give Force users their power, and grants us as Jedi the ability to truly understand the fabric of life and existence by itself."

[member="Lerinku Matni"]