A Ray of Light (Amaterasu Selena's Training)

[Lavi]

Sitting cross-legged in the softly lit chambers of Ossus, Amaterasu passed through personal training of the Force, stretching her senses by the day. But today was different: she was to begin training with a certain Jedi who would become her master.

 

[Ols]

Corina walked into the room, seeing her new apprentice meditating. She was eager to teach another and pleased that Amaterasu was studying. The twi'lek stopped, standing before her apprentice, lost in her meditations.

"Hello," she said pleasantly.

 

[Lavi]

Amaterasu gazed upon her master. "Hello, Master Linar," she replied, giving a returning smile.

The padawan shifted her sitting position so that she is sitting on her feet. Nodding in a sort of bow, Amaterasu waited for the day's lesson to begin.

 

[Ols]

Corina stood there and observed the young human before her. She was a pretty girl, and had a purposeful glint in her eyes. She decided to start at the beginning.

"What is the Force?" she asked.

 

[Lavi]

"The Force is the living energy that surrounds, binds, and brings life to us. It is found in everything: from the stars in the galaxy to the smallest peck of dirt within the ground. The possibility of using the Force is gained from a midi-chlorian count. The higher the count is, the more control of the Force one has," Amaterasu describes.

 

[Ols]

She knew her stuff, certainly, but there was more to it than that.

"When you truly study the Force, you will see what it really is," she sat, cross legged in a meditatvie stance, "Close your eyes, see through the Force. Feel everything around you, and tell me what you see."

 

[Lavi]

She did as she was told. Her hands rested upon her knees as she delved deep into concentration. While she was younger, Amaterasu made up a sort of poem designed to make her think further into her concentration: always to expand, is her belief in training.

"I can see other padawans being taught by their masters, the great archives of this temple... The creatures roaming the wild life upon the planet... And beyond."

 

[Ols]

"Good," said Corina, encouragingly, "Feel the movements of the padawans. Hear the wisdom of their masters. Listen to the unintelligent urges of the animals. All of this is through the Force. Look often, and maybe you will see something important," she stayed sitting, "keep looking. Look at yourself. What do you see?"

 

[Lavi]

Amaterasu gave a quiet sigh to herself. "I see myself sifting through what the Force is telling me: extracting and interpreting what is given."

 

[Ols]

She was aware, she thought, but she had yet to grasp seeing the layers of people. It was time they moved on, though, "Okay, well done. Now, without stadning up, I want you to pass me that apple," she gestured to an apple on the table, "reach for it and it will come to you."

 

[Lavi]

She reached out for the apple. The padawan did not imagine herself grasping it: instead she asked the Force itself to grasp it for her. In a minute, Amaterasu felt sure that she was "holding" the apple. After pulling the said object towards her, the padawan laid it to rest on the ground between the two Jedi.

 

[Ols]

Corina nodded in silent approval, "Now we'll try something a little harder," she said, "Push the table against the far wall, from here."

 

[Lavi]

With the concentration built up from the beginning of the lesson, Amaterasu turned her attention towards the far table. She started nudging it through the Force. The table is somewhat heavy, but weight and size is nothing compared to the power of the Force.

Amaterasu began pushing the table, starting from little more than nothing, and built up her strength from there. Slowly, the table began to quiver. The shaking became more pronounced as more and more effort was poured into the padawan's mental strength and concentration. Eventually, the table moved smoothly.

 

[Ols]

"Well done," said Corina, "that was very impressive," she did not want her to get complacent though, "now push it back the other way."

 

[Lavi]

All the pent-up energy from pushing the table one way was kept in check, and Amaterasu did as she was told with relative ease. It was growing more and more obvious that her mind is excellent in the ways of shunning possible distractions and holding onto her thoughts.

 

[Ols]

She had grasped the basics of pushing and pulling in the Force. Now the training had to move on.

"What do you know of lightsaber combat? I assume you know the basic defense and attack, and have trained with a remote in the temple."

 

[Lavi]

"Yes, Master," replied Amaterasu, "I am most interested in learning Soresu, the third form of combat."

 

[Ols]

"And why that form?" she asked. So many students did not realise the patience and defense required to be a true master of Soresu. And she would not teach any form unless she had a good reason to learn it.

 

[Lavi]

"I value protection over aggression. Striking a stone wall with bare fists does not incite damage to the wall - only to the one who strikes it," Amaterasu answered.

A true wielder of Soresu uses defense to attack, only making the aggressive move to end the fight swiftly, such as disarming the opponent.

 

[Ols]

She had hit the the nail on the head, "Yes. Soresu's true beauty is in it's patience though, and learning to wait for a break in your opponent's attack. Stand and draw your lightsaber," she said, doing the same, the cyan beam illuminating the room a little, "and follow my movements," she said, taking her through some of the basics of Soresu. She had studied a little of all the forms, enough to show her a basic grasp of it.