The Master And The Apprentice

[Connor Harrison]

South Training Grounds
Silver Jedi Temple, Voss

​

Connor sat on a large wooden stump in his training vest and combat trousers, the usual attire he word for training and teaching in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. He had left word with his Padawan to meet him on the Southern Training Grounds, by the shore of the lake overlooking the mountains.

The lake would pass through the temple grounds, the gardens and courtyard before flowing over a tall cliff face as a mighty waterfall.

The orange sun burned brightly, and Connor took in the peaceful sight before him as he waited. This would be, hopefully, the first of many times he and the Padawan could spend quality time together getting to know each other, to trust and respect each other, and begin their journey as the Master and the Apprentice.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

The sight of the lake with the vibrant oranges and yellows of the sunlight rippling across the surface resemblant of liquid fire was by itself a beautiful thing, something Syala knew was likely an intentional choice made by her Master. This was only a taste of the truly natural allure and harmony both that planets such as Voss held at their heart. It was an environment that allowed for the utmost concentration while still keeping its own perfect serenity. And the ideal place to train in.

Silently she stepped through the grass, taking in the nature about her as she walked. It was almost easier to draw on the Force here, away from the distractions that Temple life brought in the form of simply having a number of others about her. Here, alone with no one other than her Master, focus came easily. This was one aspect of her surroundings she could certainly adapt to quickly.

A few minutes more of walking passed before she spotted the figure seated silently on the stump overlooking the lake, patiently awaiting her arrival. A faint smile found her lips as she approached without a word, merely standing beside him and looking out across the body of water that spanned in front of them, and then the mountains that towered seemingly to the sky beyond. Only then did she begin to consider just what the two of them would be working on that day.

After a few moments she turned her head slightly with that smile to watch him for a moment, their presences through the Force speaking enough for themselves. It was a unique bond they'd already formed from their first meeting, and it had only been strengthened in their time spent together afterwards. "It's beautiful here."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor let the natural Force around him sooth and calm the soul. The quiet lapping of the water on the shore; birds above looking for nests; the faint sound of the Temple with ships coming and going - it was alive, but so peaceful on the edge of the Silver Jedi grounds.

Syala was coming, he could feel her calming presence approaching. It was funny - she had come to him on a whim, something about her visions with the Force portraying him as someone who could help her; guide her. However, to hear that coming from a Padawan and someone as innocent and naïve as Syala was refreshing to his ears.

She seemed to look past the barrier he built to protect himself and others. She didn't want any nonsense about his troubles, his fears or his self doubt - she wanted the Connor who was a Silver Jedi Master; leader, warrior, survivor, teacher.

Friend? He needed friends, ones he could trust and who trusted him. He felt Syala was one of them.

"Natural beauty is the most beautiful form there is. Un-tainted by anything, not made to please anyone - just natural."

Twirling his thumbs gently around and around as he watched the sun stand tall above the mountains in the far distance, Connor smiled and just enjoyed the moment. His skin bristled with a sweeping of strong Force aura from them both.

"How are you, Sy?" Sy was his little pet-name for her.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

Her smile took on a softer edge, as if she were more relaxed in his presence than anyone else's. And that was true, for the most part. Here was the man that had agreed to take her on as an apprentice when he could have just as easily dismissed her as another wayward student, a man that had quite literally been through hell and back, and yet trusted her enough upon their first meeting to reveal some of what had been plaguing his mind lately. Not only that, but he had seemed to accept and consider her advice and point of view on the subject, speaking to her as an equal instead of another learner. A unique bond indeed.

The use of his nickname for her didn't go unnoticed, and Syala gave his inquiry as much consideration as she would something of a more serious nature. Where most asked something of a similar sort merely out of common courtesy, she knew his was genuine. And her response would be just as authentic. "It's been quiet lately. It feels as if something is going to happen, but the future hasn't quite decided itself yet." She paused for a moment, unsure of how to phrase things. "It's as if a piece of us all is missing, but I suppose that's to be expected." It wasn't a direct mention, but it hinted at the funeral of Master E'ron closely enough. That was something the whole of the Order was still trying to move past.

Carefully she watched him, through the Force as well, a thoughtful expression flitting briefly across her face. It wasn't often they'd had time to just sit and talk, and she wanted to take advantage of it before the lesson inevitably began. Times like these were their chances to check in on each other, to see how the other was really feeling despite whatever face they may have been putting on. It was moments like these she valued above any others.

"What of yourself?" There was a pause of mere seconds. "I would like the entire truth, not just you telling me you're fine. I believe we know each other well enough to disclose that much." Early on she had learned that, at least when it came to speaking with Connor, saying things exactly as you thought them was always the easier road to tread. It left more room for answers that meant something. And that was what they both fully expected.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor nodded gently as he didn’t break his gaze from the water. She was young, but she spoke a great deal of sense, more than many adults he had encountered. Syala had a clever head on her shoulders, and it wasn’t under the impression of anything other than what she observed and believed in. Not tainted, not corrupted, not led. It was a delicate mind, and Connor wanted to treat it carefully.

He stood and turned to her, looking at her for the first time. Connor saw the determination in her posture and her attire; the future of the Silver Jedi stood before him, and she rested it all in his hands.

"I understand what you mean Sy. It’s a strange time for us and the galaxy. Nothing feels…certain, anymore, if that makes sense? At one point I always wondered what my actions would do to ripple across the galaxy for the better, but now I don’t know if they do any difference at all."

He chewed the inside of his mouth gently and gestured forward to take a walk along the bank of the lake. Two things were evident with Connor as a Master – he never referred to the Padawan by their title, only by name, and for them to do the same to him. Together they were more than Padawan and Master, and the trust would be there between them no matter what. In company of others, rank was acknowledged. Second, training wasn’t always a timetable of exercise, combat and mental workout – it was about discovering the individual; their strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams, fears and failures. With this picture painted between the two, a great deal could be learnt and developed without even trying.

Connor wasn’t a natural teacher, but to Syala he felt she deserved whatever light he could shine on her.

"I’m surviving, Sy. Don’t you worry about me."

His favourite words – don’t worry about me . Words that couldn’t isolate him more if he tried.

"We’ve made good progress, but with the loss of Iella – I don’t know. I will find those responsible for her death, one day. I’ve discovered yet more of the enemy out there, the ones who serve the Dark Side of the Force," he glanced at her, "and at times I wonder if they are stronger than us in the Light."

Walking slowly along the short grass, cool water on their left and large trees on their right, the peace was serene and well needed.

"I was looking at myself this morning and my body is a canvas of mistakes I’ve made. A Jedi shouldn’t make as many mistakes as I have, and they will be with me forever and plague me. To be honest, I’m starting to think I am not the Master you deserve, Sy."

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

As if she hadn't quite processed the words spoken her expression remained neutral, though Syala let her hand brush across his almost nonchalantly, a more physical sign that she was here for him indefinitely, and that no amount of insistence to the opposite would change her mind in the least. Ethereally she touched on his presence in the Force with her own, simply letting it sit, allowing the both of them to sense what the other was completely and wholly with no spoken explanations. Sometimes the most subtle means were the best suited.

Taking a breath she exhaled slowly, measuredly, gathering her thoughts. Sometimes it felt like she was just as much a teacher as Connor, in the sense of helping him to talk to her about whatever was currently troubling him. Early on he'd made it clear she could come to him with anything, but that hadn't been established in the other direction, it seemed. And that was her goal, to instill in him a sense that this relationship of trust and caring most certainly went both ways just as fiercely. Just as much as he supported her she did him.

"Everyone makes a difference in whatever they do, you know that just as well as I. It's the reason we fight to defend the Light, and all those that would be harmed if we didn't stand up for them. If you didn't make a difference, or never wanted to, you wouldn't be here right now, a Master of the Silver Jedi." Her wisdom didn't extend terribly far, but where it lay encompassed her trust and belief in his ability and all that he was.

There was much more boiling beneath the surface, and that was only made more evident by his insistence that she shouldn't concern herself with whatever was bothering him. Like most her age, that only made her more determined to figure out just what it was and bring it to light. "Whenever someone says 'don't worry about me', the other person knows for certain that something more is wrong. And the same goes for me. I might be just a student, and I know for sure that my knowledge doesn't extend nearly as far as it could, but that much is obvious. So let's try again. How are you, really?" Stubborn and forward she might have been, but combined with her will to improve it made her a capable learner.

Falling silent she took the time to drink in the calm of their surroundings, to be entirely at peace and in harmony with the natural world. The Living Force was strong here, and it permeated every pore of her body, humming in her nerve endings with a pleasantly peaceful sensation. This was a place for quiet contemplation, for just the types of talks they were having now.

"I dare say that you shouldn't concern yourself with being the Master I deserve. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what I need, when it comes to your personal health and feelings. But I can tell you that I see a light in you that you may not. Being sentient means making mistakes. No one is perfect, and no one ever will be. It's just a simple fact, however hard it is to accept. I don't care about whatever image you have formed in your mind of the so-called 'perfect Jedi'. We're just as prone to making mistakes as anyone else, perhaps more, given the responsibility we hold in the galaxy." Stopping, she stepped in front of him, looking him directly in the eye. "You're everything anyone would want in a teacher in more. There's a light in you, I'll say it again. And it's right here." With those final words she raised her hand to touch just above his heart.

"You're meant to walk this path. You deserve it just as much as anyone else, if not more. I don't want to hear any more of you not being fit for this. I know you're insecure, but there isn't a reason to be. Everyone has self-doubt, but I can assure you that each and every one of the Silver Jedi see the same good in you. So chin up and stop worrying." She smiled faintly. "I won't stand for it, and neither should you."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked at her hand brush his and smiled inwardly, she certainly wasn’t afraid to show her support to him and it really meant a lot. Linking his hands behind his back, wincing slightly at the heat of the scars on his back as he moved, sore with the dry weather, he walked beside her along the long bank as she talked.

He smiled at her wise words, and rolled his eyes as he nudged her slightly with his shoulder.

”You’re too old for your own good, Sy. You talk more sense than many others here you know. Never lose that quality.”

Connor stopped and picked up a handful of small pebbles and let them hover before him as he used to do when self-meditating, letting the pebbles roll in a circle before him as he walked, casting one aside at a time in the water beside them.

Then she moved in front of him, and he felt their Force auras strengthen as he was actually listening to someone not afraid to talk to him who had had the bravery to seek him out and practically forge an alliance with the Force as a guide.

He glanced down at her small hand on his chest, rising and falling with his steady breathing. For some reason, his eyes moved to look at his right arm, the violent scaring and wound tracing up his flesh always brought him back to reality of who he was and what he had done.

”Thank you. I don’t say any of this for praise or attention – sometimes I just have to let it out, to try and think and make sense of what’s going on, but it’s not all about me. I’ve got you to focus on now.”

Taking her hand in his, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and continued their walk, guiding her at a steady pace.

”Now, you tell me, Padawan, and try again. Your little answer before didn’t cut it. How are YOU – how are you finding it, us, the training, the Order.”

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

It wasn't really anything Syala had considered to be all that important, the wisdom of her words. In her mind she wasn't doing anything other than speaking exactly what she thought, vocalizing both her own personal beliefs and all that she was shown through the Force. How others interpreted it was another matter, but still the significance wasn't above that of something an individual of any higher standing would have to say. Perhaps there was a certain wisdom to it, but she would never claim prominence over another just because of her individual thoughts. At the end of the day they were only worth as much truth as they held.

Simultaneously he avoided her question while asking her much of the same rephrased. If he wanted to avoid an answer, that was all well and good, but she would do the same, if just to play a bit of a game with him in that regard. Half-responses and dodgings of the query were better than no acknowledgement of the inquiry at all, that much was true, but he hadn't even afforded her that. With a smile and a glint to her eye that said she'd caught his little trick and wasn't about to be fooled by it she walked along in silence, losing herself in the moment for a time.

"I'm only telling you what I can sense and what the Force has revealed. If that alone made me older, then I think I'd be a Master by now." The statement was made mostly in jest, as evidenced by the small smile that grew shortly thereafter on her lips. While it would certainly be nice to attain such a rank one day, that wasn't her pioneering goal, if it was on the list at all. First and foremost she wanted to help those she could in any way possible, to do good for the galaxy and all those beings that inhabited it. Mastery would come second, if that was how things were intended to play out.

Still she didn't quite answer his last question, still dancing around an answer ever so carefully, circling closer around to it. "You don't have to focus completely on me. This journey is just as much for you as it is for me. We're both going to grow and change along the way, whether we realize it or not. It might not be all about you, but it's not all about me, either. The key is moderation. Both of our thoughts and feelings are just as valid as each other's. That's why I'm so persistent in wanting you to tell me exactly how things have been, and how you perceive them. I wouldn't bother if I didn't genuinely care, but as it happens, I do."

Finally she took the time to once more consider his asking after not only how she was feeling, but how she was processing everything that had happened between them, within the Order and by herself, whether recently or farther in the past. "Having called this Temple home for as long as I can remember, I can't much has changed in that regard. But I feel as if I have more of a place now, after having dictated what my path will be as a Jedi. The same goes for 'us', as you put it. Don't misunderstand, I felt plenty welcomed by you beforehand, but even that has changed and grown to encompass so much more since our time spent together. It seems to extend much farther than just another student and teacher relationship, but I hardly have any reason to complain."

The aspect in regards to training gave her a momentary pause. "As for training...I believe that it would be beneficial, at some point, to perhaps learn some techniques of the more offensive nature in relation to combat. I know that it's really the last thing, resorting to violence, but with the galaxy we call home some kind of self-defense is becoming more and more necessary. Besides that, however, it's been going even better than I could have imagined." She paused for a moment, her smile growing to be just slightly teasing in nature. "Your short answer before doesn't suffice either. How are you, Master?" It was an obvious mockery of his same question, made in an entirely friendly manner.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked out over the water and smiled to himself – she wasn’t stupid, and maybe she was more than a Padawan to him. She was a conscious guide, a reasoning voice, a support, a friend – who knew. Guiding her along a wooden pier across the water, a low rowing back was docked rocking gently in the waves by the bank. Their boots tapped gently on the wooden pallets as he took her towards the far edge which housed a little observation platform.

”There’s no pulling the cloth over your eyes is there.”

He stretched his arms and leant his back on the wooden railings at the end of the pier, hands holding on behind him. From here he could see the grounds where they had come from, stretching left to right and with the Temple high above them atop the cliff face. A truly awesome sight.

”Ok we will do some offensive combat training in a while. Let’s see what you can do with the training blades – see if your fight is as strong as your words.”

Looking at her, hair blowing gently in the breeze coming in from the lake, Connor took in her Force aura and debated or not whether to answer her question or not. If there was anything he had learnt recently, it was he was finding it difficult to bottle things up. He needed someone, and with everyone in the Silver Jedi seemingly occupied with their own issues he didn’t feel he had the support he used to. And Syala was so fragile in respect of her view of the Silver Jedi and the Force – he was now a guiding factor to her development, and he really didn’t want to derail that.

”I’m struggling, Sy. I’m struggling to know my place in the galaxy, and even the Order. Everyone is so busy with their own lives it seems, the Order is almost breaking away around us and no-one can see it. I don’t know if I belong her anymore.”

He had never admitted this to anyone before.

”I’m tormented by visions, I’m hurting from the physical scars that remind me how foolish I have been in the past and how reckless I am. Maybe I am not the right person to serve the Silver Jedi. I have taken some journeys away from here, away from you, to try and find how the Force operates in the galaxy and have some answers, but they just front more questions. It never ends.”

Connor turned to rest on the barrier and look down at the water, never more feeling as useless as a Master confiding in his student.

”Nothing else here matters anymore. Master E’ron is away more than she is here, Coci and Thurion are away living their life and planning a future, and regardless what she says her allegiance is drifting from the Silvers with each passing day as her heart dictates over her head. The Masters are keeping themselves to themselves and other Padawans are simply not taking steps to become something great.”

Fingers flexed on the wood.

”I only have you to care for Sy, and I can’t let you down. I made that promise to you and I will not let you follow me on any path that takes you away from the great future you have as a Jedi. I let emotion dictate my path too much, and that will put others in danger, it will make people feel trapped and, to be honest, will make me out to be someone who is careless. I’ve never felt as much emotion as I have recently, and the more I try to ignore it as I’ve never felt it before, the more it starts to become twisted, aggressive and eager to come out.”

He stopped.

”Does that answer your question, Padawan? I am not the Master for you to follow – and I hope now you see why.”

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

At first, Syala wasn't sure how to respond to all that he'd said. There really wasn't any easy way to go about taking all that he'd just told her and turning it around to seem positive, or at least, help him see it in a more rational, thoughtful light. What was plain for her to see where he couldn't, even without a deeper analysis, was that all of these feelings and idle thoughts he'd just confided in her, they were simply bottled up tightly with no other way to escape. That was half of the problem simply put, right there.

The other side of it was far more complex. In his life as a Jedi, Connor had gone through a number of struggles, that much she was aware of. It was that he'd told her in their first meeting, of what had happened in regards to the Sith Magic currently rooted firmly in his brain. It was a combination of both that and the stresses, both physical and mental, that came with being a servant of the Light. This was a task not meant for most for that one reason. But if there was anyone more than capable of shouldering such a burden and still standing straight and tall at the end of the day, it was him.

These two causes combined didn't make for much of a pleasant picture, and they were complex enough for her to work out mentally, let alone convey them to the man that needed a shoulder to lean on. It was one thing to use logical reasoning to analyze another when utilized within her own mind, but an entirely different scenario when she turned those observations on him out loud. It was compassion he needed, not an assessment of his current state. At least, not just yet.

Still she was at a loss for words. But perhaps it wasn't talking he needed. Perhaps it was support of the more physical kind. And so she simply hugged him for a long moment, attempting to transmit all of her kindness and caring through that one embrace. It was the only way she was certain of how to communicate all of her thoughts simply. After a few long minutes she released him, allowing him his personal space and still remaining silent, letting that hang in the air between them for a moment.

"Let's start with your emotions. Everyone feels them, everyone has them, and no one can eliminate them, no matter how hard they try. That isn't the goal, and it never has been, in my mind. As Jedi, we simply attempt to regulate how they dictate our lives, but even that proves impossible, in some instances. I might not be a Master, or anything close to a teacher, but I know this: the longer you try to hide something and bottle it up, the more it's going to end up hurting only yourself. You have to let your feelings out, to let others help you. Otherwise you're just going to end up with nowhere to go. And you know you have me to talk to."

The rest of it was a bit much for her to follow, given the short time she had spent as his student. "I don't care." Her voice was strikingly soft compared to its former tone, but it soon grew in strength. "I don't care about your self-doubts, because I know you're more than that, and so do you. You'll never have all of your questions answered, and it isn't for want of trying. It's simply due to impossibility. You aren't supposed to be perfect, or the model Jedi, or whatever ridiculous standard you have set for yourself, because, frankly, you won't achieve it. You can't achieve perfection when it's far from what anyone is capable of and ever will be. And to be honest with you, I don't want a perfect mentor. I don't want someone that has all the answers and is an ideal guide. If I did, I wouldn't be here. I want you, both as a Master and a friend. Nothing else matters."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The sad thing was, Connor knew he was on a downward spiral, and unless he could pick himself up and gain the faith in himself and the Order he served, he was going to crash and burn. However, the hug from Syala was a welcome one, he rested his chin on her head and placed a hand on her hair, closing his eyes and embracing both her companionship and the Force aura between them.

”Thank you.”

Everything went away for those few moments.

Why didn’t anyone else seem to have his troubles? Why couldn’t he let them go? What was he NOT doing to achieved total satisfaction – what was missing from his life?

Composing himself, Connor breathed out and placed his hands on Sy’s shoulders.

”This is ridiculous. This is not your place to be comforting ME. I should be doing it for you. Come. Let’s move on, before I end up really embarrassing myself.”

Turning her gently, the Master walked with his Apprentice back along the wooden pier, and they talked a little more. Connor needed to pour more into his Padawan and her development. A few years ago he would have ruined her chances completely – he walked an even more obscure line before they had even met, and he was irrational, careless and flippant.

Now, he was still a little careless, but he was more in control; not meaning he was comfortable with everything, but he thought more about his actions and what they meant to others. Not that there WERE many others to affect anymore around the Temple.

”I see you brought the training saber – that’s good. Let’s go over there, in the trees. Do you want to try some offensive or defensive training? You can let that frustration out on me being a great worrier and try knock some sense into me.”

For now, the others meant Sy.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

There was more that Syala could have said to him, to dissuade his thoughts of not being fit to be a Master, his implications that it wasn't his place to confide in her just as much as she could him. But there would be other times for that, and better venues than the training grounds, where their focus was supposed to be on exercises more martial in nature. The philosophical side of things would be covered in time, of that she was certain. One way or another, she would convince him that he was meant to walk this path. Maybe not anytime soon, but she was determined.

In response to his thanks she only smiled and shook her head. "You don't have to thank me. I only did what was natural. We both have to support each other, after all." And she would leave it at that, regardless of whatever objections he might raise. Once her mind was made up, at least in terms of the more personal things such as this, one had a hard time derailing her train of thought. He could offer all the reasons he wanted to in disfavor of it, but she would stick firmly to her beliefs. This was far from a one-way relationship in way of support or really anything, something that she would make clear over time.

Only then did she acknowledge his comment on the training saber, taking the aforementioned weapon in hand, weighing it in her palm as she considered just where to begin. "I think a combination of both would be best. Focusing too heavily on one or the other won't draw the same benefits. Balance is key, at least in my mind. Without it we're only drifting in the wind." It was a balanced look on life that she'd always had, whether in regards to combat or simply her way of life. That was the reason for her choosing the path of Sentinel. It simply fit.

When they reached the area he'd pointed out she ignited her weapon, the green blade sparking through the air, stopping at its finite length and humming with the familiar sound of concentrated light energy. This was her first time actively handling the weapon, but she was strangely at peace with the idea, knowing inherently that this was all a part of the mantle they took on as Jedi. Regardless of which path she walked, some type of self-defense would always be necessary, however much she preferred to avoid violence unless it was a last resort.

"I'm afraid I won't come close to besting you. Not this time, at least. Perhaps once I'm Knighted." She flashed a smile, raising an eyebrow almost as if in challenge. This was the other side of their relationship, the more carefree facet.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Putting his arm around her shoulders and squeezing gently was enough to say more than words, and she would be able to feel that. Smiling to him as he made some distance between them, he heard the blade ignite from behind him; that familiar hum signalling someone was going to get a good beating and a few tough lessons.

He had to remember this was HIS Padawan, and not one of the others he didn’t officially oversee by using his less-than-typical methods. He had to care for her, teach her and empower her. Connor turned to face her, catching her smile and witty reply couple with a less-than-confident stance.

”You don’t need to beat me today, just learn to judge your opponent and to think ahead with the Force to let it enhance your body, not control it.”

He span his own hilt in his palm and activated the dull blue blade with a snap-hiss of energy. As always, the training blades would shock the opponent if it made contact and could leave a nice mark as a reminder where they had effectively lost a limb or received a fatal wound.

”Don’t hold back. Be one with your blade and see me as a threat, not as your protector and Master.”

Connor nodded and crouched slightly, blade angled outwards. He walked forward, raising the blade and made a forward jab to land against her ribs; the outcome in battle? Slicing her chest open.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

Hardly any time was given for her to open herself up to the Force before he struck, but she forged the channel just as calmly as she would any other time, centering herself and letting that unnatural calm wash over her as it always did, her blade seeming to move of its own accord. Never had Syala given herself up to instinct in such a threatening situation, regardless of whether or not it was simply a simulation. Eventually this would be all too real, and she would have to be just as at peace as she was then. That would have to come in time.

Just as naturally as her block had come the counter did as well, and she momentarily surprised herself by cutting towards his abdomen with the same efficiency, letting the weapon move smoothly, her grasp on it relaxed. This may have been an entirely new scenario, but she would do her best to take it in stride and excel in it just as she had her other lessons, regardless of how much more martial it was in nature. Her focus was entirely on the task at hand, and while she full absorbed his words of advice, she didn't respond quite yet.

Whether her own attack connected or not she slid back into a balanced stance, neither entirely offensive or defensive, and not quite reminiscent of any of the lightsaber forms. With her inexperience it was the best she was capable of, though she wasn't entirely sure how capable she would be of fully blocking one of his strikes without countering or parrying it in some way in order to shift the balance of weight and strength that he so obviously had on her. But she would let the Force guide her, just as he had instructed, allowing it to empower her.

This was a side of the Force that she hadn't accessed before, the more finely tuned and precise facet that was far quicker in its projections of what would come to pass than all that was revealed in her meditations. Instead of calming her as it usually did it provided her with another source of energy to access should she become physically exhausted before this lesson was over. It was a sensation alive in her every nerve ending, and one she found herself adjusting to quickly.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor recoiled after his strike to glance her own blade across his stomach, hearing the blade pass over him and sending a dull tingle across his flesh beneath the vest. He grimaced and laughed.

”Pretty fast, Sy.”

Looking at her stance, he stalked around her, lunging now and then to catch her off guard, their blades kissing tentatively with each faux move. Connor turned sideways left, and then right, and then left again before striking across her chest from the right, following it up with a swift glide of his right boot towards the back of hers.

A nasty trick he often used, to hit the Padawan and then send them crashing to the floor, or have them focus on the blade and neglect the foot below. He hadn’t seen anyone yet counter both. He hoped Sy would, but he didn’t hold back with the force and speed he moved.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

It all boiled down to a choice in the end, and this was no different. This was one of a decidedly more deadly sort, and it required more of a central, precise focus than any lessons of the more academic sort. Her link with the ethereal had never been more of a necessary thing. Where Syala was at a loss of how to react in a combat situation the Force had an instantaneous response and a number of alternatives if the primary strategy proved useless. It gave her a new appreciation for just what she and others were capable of with the addition of the energy field.

A faint smile found her lips at his comment, but she didn't otherwise indicate having heard it, keeping her mind open and free of any distractions. It was a more difficult thing, doing so under any kind of stress. But it wasn't impossible, exemplified as her foot shifted back as his moved forward, her blade raising in the next second. While it may have seemed a sound tactic, her footwork wasn't precise enough, and she stumbled just slightly. The tip of her saber faltered at the last second, the momentary slip of the weapon enough to feel the burn of the blade on her ribs.

"I have a good teacher." Just as quickly as her stance faltered she recovered, the Force along with a sense of adrenaline humming through her veins. Being on the offensive of any sort was a new experience for her, and one she knew Connor wanted her to take and experiment with in a way. No matter the path she took, self-defense would always be a necessity. Her blade hummed through the air towards his legs and again at his upper body, presenting him with a choice as to his reaction as well.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Their rapport continued for a good few minutes later – back and forward, sideways, up and down, with a few gentle taunts thrown around which made each strike more personal than the last to get the upper-hand.

Master over Apprentice. Apprentice over Master.

Connor stumbled a few times due to moves from Sy, noting her speed. A strike came low and Connor jumped back, side stepped and rushed forward in attempt to tackle her down to the ground.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

The forwardness of his attack made it something easy to anticipate, but that didn't mean it was any easier to avoid, at least given her inexperience. But what Syala could do is try, and she did just that, stepping to the side in order to at least avoid the brunt of his charge. There was a moment where Syala stumbled, nearly shifting her momentum enough to stay on her feet, but his size and strength won out in the end, and she fell to her back, the impact momentarily stunning her.

But, although she wasn't the most skilled when it came to combat, she still had her determination. It was that determination which pushed her on, and despite her position at a disadvantage she still attempted to use her own momentum to twist him off of her and return to her feet. The use of the training saber to assist hadn't yet crossed her mind, a testament to her true ignorance of what to do in this sort of scenario. There was, however, only one way to learn.

Forcing herself to slow her thoughts, she opened her senses and cast a cursory glance around the area, finally locating the blade where it had clattered from her grasp. The disengaged hilt was too far out of her reach to simply be snatched up, so she would have to make things work for herself. Stretching a hand out, she called on the ethereal in a way that she hadn't quite done before, in a more offensive manner. Seconds of tense silence passed, the weapon flying into her hand.

Momentarily surprised that the technique had been successful, the emerald blade sparked into existence at the press of a button, flashing out towards Connor's chest in an attempt to distract him enough that she would be able to regain her footing.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Stopping in his tracks as the hilt flew back to her palm, he had the moments during that call of the Force to turn his body away from her and the resulting swipe, dangerously close to his chest.

”Good come back, that was well executed.”

Sy wasn’t a strong girl, as she was young, and it pained Connor to think there would be enemies out there far stronger and aggressive than she. If battle was upon them, she would be an easy target for one wanting to toy with a Padawan on her own.

Wanting to test her defence and resolve, and cunning, against a stronger foe, Connor narrowed his eyes to gauge her new-found determination and side-stepped. He then moved towards her, away from her blade, and brought his saber up by his head to start a sweeping motion of hits that would be used, in battle, to knock her blade down, to weaken her, and to take her head once the defence had gone.

[member="Syala Daivik"]

 

[Baalagor]

Just before he began the second wave of attack Syala pushed herself to her feet, taking a two steps back in order to avoid the first few swings, allowing her time to center herself and come up with a stronger defense. Despite her relative inexperience she was able to recognize the style he utilized as something akin to Djem So. Her best option would be a style that balanced offense with defense, allowing her to maintain a strong enough barrier until she was able to muster a counter that would hopefully throw him off balance. It wasn't the best strategy, but it would give her something to focus on.

Raising her blade she didn't take on the full strength of his swings, allowing their blades to slide across the other's in a harmless shower of sparks. The others she sidestepped, hoping to perhaps throw him off-balance and make him rethink his pattern of attack. The Force itself was guiding her, whispering assurances and what her wisest next move would be. Catching his blade on hers she parried, once more allowing herself to be on the defensive, still not giving any quarter and refusing to take any steps backwards that weren't of her own volition. She may have been young, but she was wise enough to know what her best options were.

Her face was a mask of serene calm despite the thoughts rushing through her mind at light-speed. Edging backwards only once more she dug her heels in both metaphorically and literally, pushing forward and countering his next attack, pressing whatever minute advantage she may have had in order to turn things in her favor. A mock match this may have been, but it allowed her to practice her skills, refining them before she would be required to put them to use in a scenario that was far more deadly. It was the best sort of sparring there was, as she knew he was taking things just as seriously.

[member="Connor Harrison"]