Training Begins Now.

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn stood on the dais, hands clasped behind her back as she stared out into the vast wilderness that was Yavin IV. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked to the skies – watching the clouds drift by the gas giant of Yavin. Her student was late – per the norm, well she shouldn’t assume it was normal. Perhaps the girl was nervous, perhaps there was some other excuse.

No, no generating excuses for her.

Aaralyn shook her head softly and looked down at the entrance to the courtyard ruins, one that had seen many Jedi pass through dozens of times for Trials or for training. In this particular Jedi’s case – it would be training. It would test her on the most basic of skills within the Force – her level of concentration, basic usage of a Lightsaber and even a new skill that Aaralyn had been working on her with – Tutaminis.

She had hoped that there would come a point where the absorption technique would come in hand and the child would be forced to use it – however – she couldn’t determine when or where. She could only observe and assist when it became a dire situation. Luckily, for her student, the simulations were set to the lowest stun level and would inflict a minimal amount of pain unless a significant amount impacted at once – then she’d be out cold.

It would be one of those things that the young child would have to learn – as well as her twin...but for now, the focus was the girl.

Aaralyn reached out through the Force, sensing the various beings in the immediate vicinity until her mind came upon that of a frantic one – moving quickly towards the training ground.

“Mira…” She frowned and opened her eyes to see her daughter sliding into the entrance of the training ground.

 

[The End Narrator]

Mira bolted through the massive pillars, heaving a heavy breath – she’d bend over, grasping her knees as she attempted to catch her breath and speak to her moth-Master. A hand would rise from her side, as she spoke, words broken up by shortened breath. “I’m…sorr-y Mom-ster.” A groan escaped her lips as she rose up and gestured towards Aaralyn, inhaling deeply and exhaling roughly. “Do I call you Master or Mom!?”

 

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn frowned softly and moved across the walkway as she stared down at her student – who was indeed her daughter – but in the eyes of the Jedi and in her own eyes, she was her student. Attachment was something she would not allow during her training. She would push Mira to the limits and beyond, she would break anything that could be broken and show her how powerful she could be – within the bounds of the Light.

She unclasped her hands and brought them infront of her – gesturing towards the trees as she looked up, not bothering to watch where she was walking – as she knew the path ahead of her. “Padawan Gyndar, I am your Master and you will address me as such.” She’d pivot on her heel and move the other direction, reaching out through the Force to call to a Whisper bird. The bird would fly by before landing on the shoulder of Aaralyn as she spoke.

“You’re late, and for that – I expect a holoessay on the tenants of the Jedi Code no later than 1900 hrs.” She turned to look down at Mira before gesturing and not allowing the young girl to rebuttal. “You have been trained in the basics of the Force and you have learned them well – I have taught you some techniques that could be considered forbidden for someone as young as you – to which you have also learned well but proven to be unpredictable.”

She nodded softly before taking a seat on the edge of the walkway. “You are to focus on the basics, only and incorporate the technique of tutaminis to which we have been working on, is this understood?” She motioned down to the young dark haired girl.

 

[The End Narrator]

Mira glared as she was not only scolded, lectured but also given a harsh punishment by her own mother, but told she was restricted to the basics of abilities during the course of the training. All she could do is bow and speak. “Yes, Master.” She’d take a quick look around the courtyard before gesturing to the door before her.

“I presume, Master, that this is a course?” She said as she approached the door and ran her black gloved hands down it. “Am I to run it in a specific time or is there another objective?”

 

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn shook her head softly and motioned towards the door. “To start the course, you must focus on the Force and feel it flow through you – as it flows through this very jungle and between you and I.” She’d shake her head. “Time matters not, your focus, abilities and proficiency is what I am looking for.” She gestured towards the door.

“Whenever you are ready Padawan.”

 

[The End Narrator]

Concentration on the Force? Sometimes an easier feat said - than done. Mira would give her mother a sarcastic glance before examining the door infront of her, it was a mossy, runed covered door that was made from stone. No doubt, she'd have a helluva time pushing it with the Force - but maybe those runes had something to do with it? It would be something to test indeed. Had [member="Aton Gyndar"] run this course? Maybe she should have asked him before she ran off from the Massassi Temple but now that was behind her and a bit too late.

With a reluctant sigh, she'd seat herself before the door and place her hands upon her knees. Fingers would gently grasp her kneecaps and eyes of garnet would close as she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. A repeat process that found herself slowly entering a trance - a trance that brought the Force to her essence. Her hands would rise from her knees, slowly, against her will even - maybe it was the will of the Force that drove her hands to rise up towards the door before her.

A sense of calm ushered over her mind as the Force flowed through her veins and pressed her to the world of the Force beyond. She could see the door before her – a soft blue haze around the runes – intricate in design and how they were meant to be manipulated. It would take focus and understanding for her to twist, turn, push and pull them – but she would achieve such feat. Her task would come to pass, slow as it were, but none the less complete.

The sound of grinding stone and bars rusted beyond their time would echo through the open room she was in – her garnet colored eyes would flutter open as she would rise to her feet – mouth opening slightly in amazement of what she had accomplished with the Force. “Wow…” She whispered softly. With soft, cautious steps – she’d enter the main training grounds, the door closing slowly behind her with a grind. She’d turn to look back for a moment before pressing on – Force only knows what lay ahead of her.

 

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn could say she was impressed with her daughters skill – but she would be lying. She knew the young girl had potential. The same way she knew that [member="Corvus Raaf"] had potential – which is why she had wished it was [member="Corvus Raaf"] standing here and not herself – but unfortunately things didn’t work out that way. But now she had focused on getting the attention of the Jedi Master known as [member="Quorl"] and getting him to teach her daughter. She had heard about the unique Jedi Master - maybe he could work with her.

Who knew.

She’d watch her daughter as the young girl progressed through the easier portions of the training grounds. The parts that a simple youngling would be able to pass – the areas of pushing and pulling – even speeding up your reflexes and focus. These weren’t the purpose of this particular training ground, no, it was more than that. It was going to be a culmination of everything and some spice. She’d throw at her the curve-ball of energy defense in the mix of all of it…but not yet.

It would be an eleventh hour type deal – when Mira would be wore down from the agility portions of the course, and when she least expected it. That would be the true test of her abilities and potential as a Jedi – atleast in the caste that Aaralyn felt she belonged in. She'd have to test [member="Aton Gyndar"] soon - very soon.

 

[The End Narrator]

Mira stepped through the door - ignoring the grinding noise it made as it closed behind her. She took a look up at her mother and then to the path ahead of her. The corridor was narrow and had various holes at different points throughout the walls. There were markings at each hole, probably signalling a strength or perhaps a type of projectile. She couldn't be sure, she had to focus on the Force and continue forward.

As she continued forward – the walls seemed to come to life and the holes started firing off projectiles of varying speed and size. The first couple would impact her – causing her to flinch and even reflexively duck out of habit, thus causing her to lose her balance and concentration. With a quick groan and a roll forward, she’d push herself through the Force – increasing her speed and agility. She’d see the projectiles as they exited their holes, moving left or right to avoid them – some she’d have to jump or leap over, others she’d have to duck or roll beneath. Agility and speed at its finest, she’d make her way towards the end before sliding to a halt into a larger area with a few droids that appeared to be offline.

Mira took a moment to look behind her, breathing heavy as she did. A stinging sensation lingered in her chest and arm as her left hand reached up to rub her right arm gingerly. “Man, I should have known that was coming.” But she didn’t, she expected stun bolts or something less.

 

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn eyed [member="Mira Gyndar"] down below her as she passed through the corridor phase with a bit of difficulty but within a few moments, she managed to figure out what was required of her. 'Smart kid.' Of course she was, she was of good stock. She chuckled softly to herself and followed along the edge of the outer walls of the training area as Mira made it to one of the larger rooms where older combat droids were in stand-by mode.

She'd gesture before her, at the droids to be precise as she spoke down to Mira. "This next phase will test your ability to think in combat. Remember, focus on the Force...and remember your lightsaber is your life."

 

[The End Narrator]

Mira looked up at her mother for a brief moment, nodding. "Right, this weapon is my life, got it..." She mumbled back as she unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and activated the weapon with a snap-hiss. As soon as the blade came to life, so did the droids. They rotated on their waist servos and started coming at her, firing off shots that appeared to be non-lethal in nature. The first shot went wide, but the second and third shot came too close - infact, she could have swore she smelt burning hair and ozone in the air.

She'd quickly tumble forward and come up in a guard stance, angling her lightsaber up and to the right - one of the many stances of Form V: Shien. As the bolts continued to fly, she'd work her footing and bring the saber down or up, left and right. Bolts would deflect back to each droid, impacting their armor harmlessly. Each hit was counted for Mira, each miss was counted against. She'd stumble and in that stumble a bolt would hit her arm - causing her to left go of the hilt with her left hand and swing it out in a horizontal slash right her right - sending an incoming bolt directly back at a droid, but with a hint of desperation, maybe even anger.

Mira's left hand would resume it's grip on her lightsaber, right below her right hand - trying to dull out the pain by focusing on the Force as she continued to move backwards, sliding or maneuvering her feet, left behind right, right behind left. Simplistic footwork to ensure she didn't get caught up again - that was until she felt a solid object touch her back and she could no longer back up.

'Feth'

She hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings and the droids were closing in, firing more rapidly. Bolt after bolt, block after block. Soon, it became a haphazard mess of near-misses, some hits and an occasional stumble from the pain. Finally, she had enough - and Mira lashed out through the Force. She let go of her saber with her left hand and brought both hands forward and unleashed the energies of the Force before her, sending a rather strong wave of invisible energy in their direction. The droids would groan and cease their firing as they bent backwards but refused to move. Mira held it there for a moment, breathing heavily as the droids continued their defiant stance until finally, they merely shut down.

She'd collapse to her knees, beads of sweat forming at her brow and dripping down the sides of her face. How long had she been going at this?

 

[The End Narrator]

Aaralyn crossed her arms over her chest as she stared down at Mira in the arena-esque area below. She'd turn to her right and walk a few paces forward before turning around to face the direction in which she'd came and sigh, looking down at the ground. "Sloppy." She said coldly before she jumped down off the dais and landed in a crouch a few meters away from her daughter. She'd walk over to her and take a knee next to her, bringing a hand to her shoulder. "You're going to get up and do it again - this time focus..." Her hand would tighten on the girls shoulder in a firm, but reassuring way before she stood up and moved away from the younger Gyndar.

She'd say nothing more as she jumped up back onto the ledge and move to the dais where she was before, observing Mira from a higher advantage point. She'd feel guilty at times for the way she treated her - but it was for her own good. She wanted Mira to be as good as she was, if not better. There was no room for weakness, there couldn't be. Weakness is how she got to where she was, in the hands of Isolda and the One Sith. Her memories wiped and facing a bitter darkness that she never thought she would ever see in all her days.

No, she couldn't afford for Mira to follow that path - ever.