[ASK] The Basics of Swordplay (Rengar and Sionnan)

[Emerald Iris]

The dripping sound of water echoed about the cave, while boots padded around a small table. Sionann threw back her silver hair, after setting down three different types of training sabers; a normal one, a double-bladed one, and a long handled one. These were the types she could find all of them with toned down blue blades. It was not every day that she had an opportunity to instruct someone rather fresh in the ways of the lightsaber, but she was happy to do so, albeit a bit nervous as well.

The knight let her dark robes flutter as she reached out through the Force to press down and continue to smooth out the ground around her, making sure it was an even practice surface they had. Azure eyes looked up and around to make sure there would be plenty of room, as she took the center of the chamber, standing there quietly, waiting for the one she was going to instruct to show up.

Sionann was baffled when she had come across Rengar and the Kushari had approached her. The near-human didn't understand at first how someone almost a decade older than her had never had any training at all with the weapon that was the symbol of the Jedi. It was even more confusing to find out that he was a Padawan and still had not even constructed one yet. Creation of a lightsaber was a sacred art, and even with Sionann's ineptitude with machines, she would at least point Rengar in the right direction. If he became her Padawan then she would have to help him find the appropriate crystal. Putting the parts together was easy, attuning oneself to the crystal was where all the difficulty lay, at least in her opinion.

It was still a little early, so the near-human began to take the opportunity to meditate while standing there, and prepared herself for the several hours that were to come.

Only one thing was certain. Rengar was going to have to learn a lot in a very little amount of time, especially with the chaotic state the Galaxy was in at this point. She could only hope that he was a fast learner.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

Anxiety... It was an emotion that the massive white tiger hadn't felt in quite a while. Though, in this instance the sensation was harbored out of fear, but instead out of anticipation of the unknown. While he had been among the Jedi, Rengar had seen various members of the Order practicing and even in some cases constructing their lightsabers. Yet, he had yet to place his hands upon one. They were foreign to him and something that the large cat didn't completely understand, thus resulting in the temporary withdraw from taking the Grandmaster's advice to learn how to wield one. This was something that he wasn't prepared to do until a more experienced member of the Jedi was willing to impart some knowledge upon him.

Today was that day. A few days ago, Rengar had approached Jedi Knight Sionann about her possibly teaching him a thing or two in regards to the fabled weapon and to his surprise she had accepted eagerly. With the knowledge that Lady Ione is willing to teach, I might actually finally being to feel like a true Jedi. Thought Rengar as he made his way into the depth of the cave that he had been given directions to arrive at.

With a feeling of trepidation, the former Dai'sabre Praetorian made his way towards the illuminated cavern ahead of him. His sapphire eyes scanning the surroundings that he continued to venture deeper into... the walls were wet from the sweat that permeated out of the stone that nature had forged them out of. At his feet moss had attempted the break the veil of darkness within, though with will success as they ceased a mere ten feet or so past the light of day. Only to be replaced by small pools of water that had gathered in the pockets within the rough texture of the floor.

Once, he had stepped out of the shadows that the entrance tunnel had been cloaked in... Rengar allowed a brief moment to look upon the near-human that awaited him, before shifting to the weapons that had been placed upon a small wooden table. Swallowing the knot in his throat, the Kushari male spoke in his deep and yet soothing voice to the elegant Jedi Knight of silver hair that stood before him.

"Thank you for this Lady Ione. You are too kind to take the time to teach an old cat like me something that the younglings of the Order have more wisdom in." Voiced the large tiger with a tone that attempted to mask the anxiety that held him by the gut.

 

[Emerald Iris]

Sionann took a deep breath listening to the words that the Kushari had spoken and her azure eyes opened to meet his. The compliment combined with his appearance almost made the knight falter in her stance. It was bad enough he was just so unbelievably fluffy. Of course, by that point there was another feline growl in her mind as Neve from her watchful distance reminded the near-human how rude it was to mention that. Sionann cleared her throat and placed her hands down to her sides.

"I..I...do believe Her stutter kicked up for just a moment before she got a hold of herself and let her experience take back over. "We need to get you trained in the arts as soon as possible, please come over here and let us begin and not waste any time.

The near-human gestured over to the table on the side that had the three different types of lightsaber designs. Keeping her mind focused she knew she had to stay with the task at hand and as she approach the solid surface. She reached out through the force and silently lifted all the hilts, causing them to float in Rengar's direction.

"These are three of the many different variations of lightsaber you will encounter," Sionann let the three hilts float towards him. "Each one carries their own advantages and disadvantages. They are the only types I could find, as well as the only types I have actual experience wielding. We will need to find the one that is right for you, the one that calls to your hands and becomes your weapon. If it is neither of these, we will still continue training to at least bring your knowledge to where it should be. Take a look at each of them, and I will describe what I can when you are ready, for now, grasp each hilt, look at what feels natural. Do not worry about igniting the blades they are for training, so the most they will do is bruise your skin."

Oh that last statement was not entirely true, as her shoulder began to ache from one too many blows with a training saber from her own mishaps as well as her late master's inability to hold back. A light smile crossed her lips while she let Rengar examine the options she had just given him.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

As the Jedi Knight brought herself out of the meditative state that she had placed herself in, Rengar's big beautiful blue eyes drank in her majestic features that accompanied the unique silver hair that adorned her head. When her eyelids lifted the keen ears of the white tiger caught notice of the hitch in her breathing and the minute shudder that flitted through with an exhale, before clearing her throat to address him. When she began speaking, the stutter in her initial greeting caused a sly grin to spread upon his snout threatening to lift high enough to expose his pearl-white ivories. Her down to business attitude was actually kind of refreshing for the old Padawan. The fact that she hadn't bothered to question him in regards to his impotence when it came to lightsabers and the fine art of wielding he blades was something that he hadn't expected...

I can't get a read on this woman. Thought Rengar as he approached the table alongside Sionann, listening to her explanation of the weapons and the instructions that she provided. When she had taken hold of them and brought them before him, Rengar instantly reached towards the most common of the three. The single bladed lightsaber.

When the metal cylinder was plucked from the air and his paw had wrapped tightly around it, the Kushari knew instantly that this weapon wasn't quite for him. It felt awkward in his hand... small and perhaps delicate... something that seemed impractical for him to properly utilize. He simply skipped over the double bladed saber, as it too appeared as though it wouldn't suit him due to the fact that the second blade could easily catch him off-guard and sever his tail.

"This one will do, it feels... right." Rengar spoke once again in that soothing tone, which had been laced with a purr as his massive left paw clasped the long handled saber. His right paw falling casually upon the nearest shoulder of Sionann. "Shall we begin?" Questioned the big cat as he looked down upon the elfish woman standing beside him. His ice blue eyes gazing waiting for her to meet them.

 

[Emerald Iris]

She watched him go through the designs that were offered. The single-bladed standard hilt was ill suited for his paws. Without significant modifications it could burn his hands, making for a relatively painful and short duel against a dark sided warrior, or anyone for that matter. The double-bladed that was just....a little expected, though with her he was going to learn it anyway just by osmosis and sparring. The long-handled one was perfect for his fluffy hands. Sionann released the telekinetic hold on the one in his paw, so Rengar could get a feel for the extra weight that a long-handled saber offered.

"We shall," Sionann remarked as she set the other two that were not chosen back down on the table. She was staying focused as best as she could to keep the atmosphere focused on training. That and the near-human was not really one to go into long dissertations about herself, just yet. "I apologize for my quick words, there is a lot to do and I fear there is less time than hoped for," Her dark cloak fell away to reveal the rest of her dark gray knight attire and the fact that there were two double-bladed lightsabers on her belt. The one with the slightly longer, more unique design with the twisting patterns and cyan colors was her actual one, and the one with the faded silvery metal was her training one. "I would love to learn more about you when we are resting, to better understand your aspirations." The faded hilt flipped into her left hand, a single bright blue blade igniting with a hum.


Sionann began taking wide steps off to the side, taking a deep breath before turning to face the padawan, raising her blade towards her face, letting the blue glow illuminate her fair skin with its light. "Not as clumsy as a blaster or as savage as a sword," She said with a little smirk on her lips, enjoying a jest that was passed down from generations of Jedi. "But make no mistake it is more dangerous than either could dream to be. The blade is a beam of pure energy," The near-human whisked the weapon down letting the bright blue light trail with her movement. "Do not let it touch you unless you have no choice. The one you have generates a longer blade than most and because of the design it is supposedly stronger. Granted the power of your saber really rests with the crystal within and your strength with the Force. She gestured with her free hand while taking a step back. "Go ahead, ignite it and get a feel for it for a moment."

 

[Mr. Mischief]

A simple manipulation of the button located upon the long metal cylinder that lay dormant within his palm caused the weapon to spring to life. The initial activation had startled the powerful cat at first, a reaction that would appear quite humorous to pretty much anyone who had witnessed it. His thumb quickly silenced the blade and he drew the hilt closer towards his face so that he could inspect it further. A grimace seeped into the features as his mind began to race at the complexity of such a weapon...

This thing is nothing like what I'm accustomed too. Far too complex. Thought Rengar as his thumb wavered over the ignition switch.

With an audible sigh, Rengar allowed the button to be pressed and once again the blade came to life. As his hands moved into position upon its length and he began to manipulate the turquoise colored beam of light. Quickly the grimace that the mechanics of the instrument had brought forth slowly morphed into a grin. There was just something about watching a light dance before him that touched something inside of him... he was truly fascinated in the elegant weapon. The first manipulations were merely small swirling patterns, that increased in diameter as he grew accustomed to the weight and feel of the near weightless tool within his hands. While, the tiger was having a blast attempted to make the lightsaber an extension of his body, his mind was contemplating the words that Jedi Knight Sionann had spoken.

She wishes to know more about me... but what do I tell her? What is there to tell that she would actually like to hear? I am nothing more an a Praetorian of the Dai'Sabre, and a failed one at best.

Choking down the mouse in his throat, Rengar forced the painful memories back into the depths from which they came. He couldn't think of her in this moment... of his failures... So in an effort to maintain that jovial side that he had been trying to let shine through, the Jedi Padawan turned his attention back onto the beautiful Knight before him. The word that came forth from his mouth could be misinterpreted, was it a compliment on her beauty or simply a remark in regards to the weapon that he held in his hands.

"Marvelous."

 

[Emerald Iris]

A little smile did cross her lips when he ignited the weapon. It was similar to when she first ignited her own lightsaber and it was fun to see

"I see you have some experience with swordplay," Sionann pointed out while Rengar was wielding the weapon and twirling it as an extension of himself. "That weapon is not a part of you however, it is a part of your connection with the Force, you must feel it through the Force. Focus." She gestured with her blade before twirling it to the other hand without a single graceful, sweeping motion.

Her eyes quirked a little bit, seeing his emotions waver, his body language shift a little bit. Something troubled the large cat, but she could not figure what it was at the moment, but decided to continue when his attention came back to her. Serenity the thought came to her head, Keep watching, try something a little advanced first before the basics.

"The Shii-Cho, The Determination Form, Her left hand tensed a little bit curling slightly as she spoke. "Any Jedi who wishes to learn anything about a lightsaber will have a basic understanding of this form, if you have any understanding of swordplay it will come almost naturallly. We will begin with defensive applications in both ranged and close combat. I cannot fire a blaster and all the training droids are in use right now, so we are going to begin with something much more advanced. We will experiment first, I need to understand where your experience actually lies and to build from there"

The silver haired near-human lifted her left hand slowly, letting the calm of the Force work through her with patience and peace. A rippling current of electric energy soared through her arm, and out her index finger in a single bolt of bright blue lightning that passed a few feet from the Kushari warrior. The bolt dissipated on the cave wall with a crackling hiss.

"Learning to both deflect and absorb Force Lightning is a primary goal for your training," Sionann said in a much calmer voice as she continued to channel energy into her left hand. "Understanding this, blaster bolts work on a much simpler concept. Fear not, I am holding back, the worst that will happen is a small sting. Now, raise your blade, work through the Force, not your body. Focus, and feel the peace. Ready?"

It was a more advanced technique for him as Sionann took aim, waiting for Rengar to give his approval. A small spark sat at the ready from the tip of her finger.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

Behind the veil of his eyelids, blue eyes danced about within his skull as if looking for something that could not be seen... His ears listening to the words that were spoken to him and his brain taking the knowledge filing it into memory. Powerful lungs drew air in through his snout and then expelled it in a preparatory breath. Only moments, prior the Kushari had watched the silver-haired female project a lightning bolt from her fingertip into the cave wall beside him and now he was expected to meet it head on. To trust in the Force and let it be his guide.

Relax… you’ve done this a million times. You’re a Praetorian of the Dai’Sabre and were trained for this… to do just this. You were trained to be the light that smothered the darkness… the executioner of death. Thought Rengar as he began to call upon the Force, welcoming the warm embrace that accompanied its loving caress and like always it heeded his summons. The sensation of its touch started as a gentle glow within his soul. A swelling of his heart and an expanding of his mind. All around him, the world seemed to be magnified by the presence of the Force within him.

His sensitive ears catching the sound of the water dripping from the stalagmites onto the stone surface beneath him… the gentle breeze that tousled his fur that blew in from the mouth of the cave… the fragrance of the flowers that had been carried on the wind. The world was alive and so was he. It was in times like this that the Damarian could forget about his grievances and sorrow, because the presence of the Force within him brought serenity to the beast. It grounded him. Gave him purpose and only increased his resolve to never falter in his oath to protect those that couldn’t. Those like Nija.

Nija Thinking the name brought a smile to his lips for the first time since her disappearance. The heartache that he had begun to associate with the name had faded, only to be replaced by a sensation that could only be described as acceptance. Fate had separated them and tortured Rengar for so long… though, perhaps… just maybe. For this. So that Rengar could truly grasp what it meant to be a Dai’Sabre. No, a Jedi.

As his eyes opened to gaze upon Sionann again, with both hands at the ready upon the hilt that hummed its lovely song and his mind fully invested in the Force to guide him… Rengar spoke. “I’m ready… Master.” A statement that he hoped would portray the trust that he had in her. Not only as a Jedi Knight, but as a Mentor. In no way did he consider himself her Padawan, merely that he was a Padawan and that she was her teacher.

The cyan beam of light stood before him, illuminating his features and magnifying the confident glimmer in his eyes. The Force would guide his blade in this venture. He would prove himself to be an apt pupil.

 

[Emerald Iris]

She watched him intently with that single bolt hanging on her finger like an erratic spark just waiting to jump. He breathed and focused, showing his understanding of the Force towards her. There was a peaceful serenity about him, something that Sionann did not expect. It made her azure eyes brighten that someone with his seemingly inexperienced nature would be able to gain that kind of peace, that calmness.

"Good," Sionann pointed her finger for Rengar's blade. "Take your martial skill and apply it through the Force, not your body," She instructed once again.

Lightsaber combat was less a duel of physical prowess, though someone in much better shape did have an advantage, and more one of the Force. Strength, and trust, in the Force is what made a better duelist, and that was what the Shii-Cho taught along with the basics of swordplay. To create that foundation for all other methods of combat. Of course, there were further applications of the Shii-Cho but that was not Sionann's area of expertise.

A single bolt of bright blue lightning arced from the silver-haired knight's finger, quickly closing the gap between them and struck the blue blade of its intended target. If Rengar was focused enough the energy of the lightning bolt would simply dissipate into the plasma of the lightsaber. If not, the shock could course down into his hilt and into him, enough force to sting and even potentially disarm, depending on how much his pain tolerance was.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

(OOC: Sorry for the abruptness of the post, but I wanted to get something out before I disappeared for most of the day. After all, it's Mother's day.)

As the thunderous spark arched through the air towards him, Rengar tightened his grip upon the hilt within his hands. The adjustments that he was forced to make at the last moment were guided by the Force and his belief in the fact that Sionann wouldn't mislead him. When the crackling electricity struck the saber within his grip, Rengar allowed a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding in out in a calming breath.

Doing so allowed the energy to dissipate into the beam and be absorbed into nothing. He had done it... Sionann had been right. The blade needed to be an extension of his connection with the Force, not of him. The first lessons that he realized separated this training from his Dai’sabre training...

A smile small graced his face as he looked towards the near-human for further instruction.

 

[Emerald Iris]

Sionann could feel her eyes widen in amazement as the Kushari took the lightning bolt into his blade and not into his body. She lowered her hand as her lips curled into a light smile. Not even she had been able to absorb lightning on the first try.

"Excellent, this is exactly what the Shii-Cho is, Sionann stated passing her training saber into her left hand and letting the second blade ignite. "The known basics of common swordplay utilized through the Force. It is simple, and simplicity is what makes the Shii-Cho effective. Now."

She flicked some of her silver hair back and began to approach Rengar, raising her blade into s somewhat difference stance from anything typical of Shii-Cho. The knight projected a very fierce and dangerous stance towards the padawan, stepping into a ready position for her own fierce form lightsaber combat. Through the Force, Rengar could feel Sionann's aggression even if the near-human had a peaceful expression on her face.

"With your training of your body and through the Force," Her words were still calm but there was an intensity coming from her placement and her blade. "Prepare to defend yourself, and only defend yourself. I have no need to teach you how to use a blade, you already know, but it is through the Force you must understand, that is how a Jedi fights. Ready?"

 

[Mr. Mischief]

The crackling noises that distorted the natural hum of the lightsaber before him, caused the large cat to look upon the cyan blade with a puzzled look. While, it was true that he had expected the result that had come to fruition... it was none the less baffling to Rengar. He had been instructed in the ways of counteracting the dark ways of the Force by the Elders of the Dai'Sabre, but never had he been able to absorb the energy into a weapon that he wielded. The swords of the Order had been forged of metal and were highly conductive, this was different. He'd always had to rely upon the power of the Light Side to null such a power... Tutaminis had been something that he'd been taught at an early age by the Ethereals.

Sionann's look of shock and amazement at the feat that he'd accomplished only furthered the confused feeling that was running its course through Rengar. The Grandmaster would be pleased by his seemingly inherited application of wielding the fabled weapon of the Jedi, or at least the initial steps that he was taking to show her that he was in fact worthy of bearing the title of Jedi Knight of the Order. His talent and connection with the Force was unquestionable, Ebberla had said... it was his proficiency with the Lightsaber and understanding of the Jedi Code that he needed to demonstrate to her. Today, was the beginning of that journey and this was more clear now than ever.

So, when the Jedi Knight before him ignited the second blade of her saberstaff and moved into an aggressive posture, the Kushari knew that his training in the way of the sacred arts was about to truly commence. Slowly his left foot slid forward and his right foot pivoted to create a wide stance, both knees bent slightly to provide a solid foundation. His hands lifted the hilt of the long-handled saber to the area of his snout, mere inches from resting upon the bridge that housed his ravenous teeth. The sly grin that formed upon is features was entirely out of instinct and the thrill of combat. Azure eyes peered over the pulsing cyan blade that waited to greet those that hummed within the grasp of Sionann. The Force would guide him, as it always had... only this time in the elegant dance of simmering blades. A first for Rengar, though not that different from what the Dai'Sabre had taught him as a Praetorian. He had been a weapon of the Sabre for years in both the manipulate of the Force and blade, only now the tool that he held within his hands was vastly different than what he had become accustomed too. The weight of the weapon was strange to him, though not once did his confidence waver... not in his skill with the blade, but in the will of the Force.

"I'm ready." Rengar said in a tone that left no feeling of hesitation or caution. The Kushari was for all intents and purposes, at peace. A stark contrast to the aggression that could be felt from Lady Ione.

 

[Emerald Iris]

He was grasping this form much faster and better than Sionann had expected, it made her think back to her days when she was learning lightsaber combat. The rush of the instructor striking out harder at her then the other younglings, after she had disarmed him twice, actually making him try harder than he was supposed to. The silver haired knight was pleased to see a parallel here, despite any age differences, it gave her enough confidence in him to test where his might with the sword lay in a not so sugar coated fashion.


If Rengar had any thought that it was an elegant dance of blades, he was dead wrong. There was nothing elegant or kind about Sionann's approach, save for a very calm breath.

The near-human lunged in and came forward with a fierce downward slash towards the Kushari. It was quickly followed up by her turning around and raising the other blade with another powerful strike. Sionann was surprisingly bringing her full force to bare in these two strikes. Her blades held something more than just the energy of her body and her ability with the Force. There was emotion behind her strikes, passion in her hands, something not so light sided about her attack, even if her face was just a calm determination. Most of all these attacks were not aimed at Rengar's training saber, they were aimed at him directly.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

The smile that had materialized upon his face only moments ago faded from existence and was replaced by a much more stoic expression. The aura that could be felt radiating from the Jedi Knight that was advancing towards him gave the Damarian the inclination that she wouldn't be holding anything back. Sionann was determined to truly test what he was made of, obviously a result of the presence that Rengar had been exhibiting since their training had begun. Perhaps, she had taken him as someone who was unaccustomed to the ways of the Force and not very knowledgeable in combat... though, these were both things that the Kushari had been trained since birth to excel at. As a Praetorian, he is one of the select few within the Dai'Sabre Order that proved proficient enough within both fields to earn the right to join those ranks. His thirty-something years of training was becoming evident by the way that the tiger handled himself under Lady Ione's training regimen.

When she had reached striking distance and brought the saberstaff down in a furious arch towards him, the battle-hardened warrior simply lifted the blade that nearly rested on the bridge of his nose to meet hers. As she pivoted to perform her spin, which would enable her to lift the opposite blade with just as much aggression... Rengar acted. The wide stance that he had assumed earlier was utilized to quickly side-step in the direction that followed suit with her turn, sticking to the area that she had presented her back too. The side that would have been awkward to strike from with the blade during the turn, instinctually the cat's own blade which had returned to the position that he had started in began to lash out at her exposed back. But, he heeded her words of only taking the defensive stance during this spar.

Reclaiming the wide-stance that he was obviously fond of, though slightly modified so that the tip of his saber now dipped to follow the path of his left forearm. His right paw nearly resting upon his cheek as he now looked down the length of the cyan blade towards the near-human. The Force ever present in his being throughout the process... he was but a conduit for it to exert its will. Once again, that smirk had reappeared upon his face. He was beginning to get cocky, which could only result in bad things for the massive Kushari. This was not the way of the Jedi.

Come on Sionann... Teach me something. Surely, a lightsaber cannot be as easy to wield as a regular blade.

 

[Emerald Iris]

He parried and did not falter, she struck and he did not flinch. This is what Sionann wanted, this is what she was hoping for from Rengar. The Kushari had the basics, had the Force on his side and showed experience, all he needed was just a few moments to really open himself up and perhaps some time to get used to the weapon.

She completed her turn, into that awkward strike, bouncing off of his saber with hers, falling into another ready stance towards him.

That smirk was a sign the padawan was getting comfortable, too comfortable. The near-human took another aggressive step forward, moving quicker than before. She decided to come forward with a strong flurry of strikes in a set pattern one blade followed by another blade, each one in a staccato like motion attempting to catch Rengar in a pattern of defense going high and low. One again all of these attacks were aimed towards his body. Sionann on her final attack of this set took aim for the Kushari's lightsaber hilt in an attempt to disarm him on to raise her hilt and make a motion for his neck, stopping just centimeters from the fur if she was able to disarm him.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

As Sionann completed her turn and fell into a stance that kept her at the ready, with what Rengar assumed to have been enough time for her to understand the significance of the smile upon his face. He was suffering from a momentary lapse of arrogance. A trait that the Kushari very rarely expressed. It was a relatively foreign concept to the generally humble male. Though, for some reason on this day and in this moment he had succumbed to the over-confidence that he was beginning to feel during their session.

Unbeknownst to Rengar, the near-human Jedi had picked up on the weakness that was plaguing him at the time and she acted upon it. The way in which she advanced upon him with varying strikes caused the former Dai’Sabre to fall into a slow retreat. As each strike came in with the precision of a needle, his saber raced to meet them and proved to be successful at first. His cyan blade arching to swat Sionann’s away with generally just a rotation or a swirl of his wrists, the power that resided within his frame helping him to deflect each threatening blow. Though, when he more direct blows shifted suddenly into the rising sweep he was left unprepared and the hilt within his grasp was sliced through the small window between his paws that clutched the metal cylinder. The tip of one of her sabers nearly touching his throat… the smell of scorched fur filled his nose as two of his long locks of his mane lay upon the ground at his feet.

His eyes were wide in astonishment as he looked into the eyes of the female that practically owned him in that instant, free to do with him as he wished. At this time sparks spewed forth from the hilt fragments that he still held within his hands. In that instant, he realized that she had most likely been simply toying with him. The cut through the hilt had been placed perfectly… having just barely missed his paws. Hopefully, it was intentional and not simply a lucky blow, though the aggression that had been rolling off of her left Rengar skeptical. None the less, he was happy to still have his clawed hands and head. The gentle hum of Sionann’s lightsaber blade being the only sound that registered within the Kushari’s mind, besides the fiery look within Lady Ione’s eyes.

“Uh… Nice moves.” Rengar said nervously, followed by a slight chuckle that only further expressed his nervous and astounded mental state.

 

[Emerald Iris]

Another training saber bit the dust, and all Sionann could think in that moment was oops. There weren't enough uncommon designs to go around these days and she had just cleaved a perfectly good one in half with her own training blade. The near-human could only hear her old instructor's ranting at how he had to put together yet another one and it made a cold sweat just fall down her neck, azure eyes widening. Once again the silver-haired knight had underestimated the power of even the weakest lightsabers.

"Uh… Nice moves." Was the reply that came to that after a moment of silence and the smell of scorched fur filling the air. It was enough for Sionann to retract her weapon, slowly, just like she had been taught against an opponent until she was certain the threat was gone and then both blades disappeared back into their hilt. His apparent astonishment showed the difference in skill level between them to her, but one thing was clear to Sionann in this exchange, she didn't hold back. Of course there was still a broken training saber to be dealt with.

"I..I did not expect to break it," She sighed taking a few steps back and lowering her guard completely. "Training lightsabers are usually too weak to do such a thing, but sadly I should have known better, yet again."

 

[Mr. Mischief]

As the blade slowly retreated from his throat and Sionann took a few steps to place some space between them, Rengar dropped the fragmented hilt to check the fur of his mane. The damage to his beautiful white and black locks had only been minimal, thankfully not enough to force the large cat to trim the rest so that it didn't look lopsided. Most likely thanks to the dreads that he preferred to keep his mane styled in. He heard the stagger in her voice and could see the astonishment in her eyes. Even she hadn't expected to split the hilt down the middle and the reasoning that she expressed was justified.

"The hilt was defunct maybe?... Perhaps, a weak point of some kind?" Rengar questioned. His tone no longer conveying the anxiety that it had recently been thick with.

Not wanting the training spar to end so soon, the Kushari retrieved the double-bladed saber by summoning it into his paw with the aid of the Force from the wooden table that stood untouched in the room. The design wasn't something that the Damarian was not particularly fond of, but the length of the hilt fit comfortably within his hands. As his hands searched the length of the cylinder for proper placement, Rengar cast his eyes back towards the female Knight who seemed troubled by the destruction of the training saber. In an attempt to lighten the mood and continue on with their training, he lifted the saber up casually in his right hand extended towards Sionann.

When one of the blades ignited and the other remained dormant, Rengar spoke to the near-human with a smile upon his snout. "This will do for now... unless you had other plans?" His query was left open should she choose to continue or pursue other things now. The hilt still felt a bit awkward within his grasp, but it was manageable. “The weight and balance is different than the long-handle, but I think I could manage if you wished to continue.”

 

[Emerald Iris]

Sionann let a small smile come to her lips when Rengar took up the other lightsaber. His lightening of the mood was just what she needed. "Yes," She cleared her throat, turning her back and going over to her fallen dark cloak. "The long handled design has that one flaw for being a larger target, but you do receive the benefits of greater power and a longer saber length. It is easier to manipulate, and I promise I will find a replacement."

After a few seconds of fiddling through her cloak she pulled out a strip of black fabric, suitable for a blindfold. She approached him once again, raising both hands with the fabric towards the Kushari.

"Of course we are now going to take your most deceptive sense, One of Sionann's most favorite exercises was taking away sight during training. It was how she developed her perceptive capability, that and her master would insist she train blind several times a month. "Your sight, and do away with it. The rest of your session will be conducted without your sense of sight"

If the Kushari didn't stop her, rather lowered his guard, she would begin carefully tying the soft black fabric around his eyes and behind his head. Rengar's physical vision would no longer be with him, everything would go completely black.

"The Force will replace your eyes, " There was a bit of a childish elation in her voice along with that same instructor tone. It was clear that she did enjoy this exercise. "And we shall start with a bit more structure, now that I understand your skills much better." That last statement was said in a much more positive note as Sionann pulled away from Rengar, taking her position several feet in front of him.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

Her commitment to find him a replacement for the lightsaber that she had destroyed was received well by the large cat, which was validated by the smile that had become a common sight during their match. A healthy chuckle escaping his maw until Sionann produced a strip of black cloth from her cloak... instantly, the big male knew what she was planning and found himself wanting to resist the expected blindfold. His body tensing slightly as his bare paws produced claws that racked the stone floor. The reluctance that he harbored for being blinded becoming quite obvious in the stressed appearance that the great cat felt. His tail having ceased the casual sways to a more alert position, though as she moved towards him and his focus turned towards her; instead of the words that she spoke to him. Things changed.

The smile upon her face and the lovely hint in the tone of her voice as she described what she planned to do to him had slowly begun to soften him to the prospect. It was quite obvious to Rengar that the Jedi Knight was quite fond of this exercise and he knew that he could trust her. His body uncoiling as she moved to place the blindfold into place, as she reached around him and tied the blindfold into place upon his face and head. In that moment, for some reason the Damarian could help but feel a certain intimacy in this action... and so, the large cat drew in a powerful breath to drink in her scent. The fragrance that assaulted his senses was not what he expected. It was layered with the multiple tones that belonged to Sionann, but there was also a strong presence of another large cat of some kind. While, the words that she had spoken registered within his mind, Rengar was curious as to where she had got a large felines scent upon her so strongly.

As she backed away from him, Rengar addressed her as he had continued to stand still... unwavering from the black void that was now his existence. "Wh..uh... Who's the other cat?" Rengar spoke in a questioning tone, his stutter caused by the resistance to bring the topic to the surface. His arms finally left their stationary place upon his sides and instantly the Kushari could see how difficult this experience was going to be. His feet slowly parted against their better judgment and he awkwardly took the defensive position that he had so easily slipped into with the aide of his sight.

When his thumb slipped over the igniter of his lightsaber and the unknown color of the blade came to life, Rengar quickly moved his left elbow down as he adjusted his grip... the heat of the blade had been felt near his flesh and once again, the smell of burnt hair filled the air. "Heh... this is going to be fun" Rengar said with a shrug. His ears were turning flat upon his head in display of his dislike for the restraint upon his face. Yet, that broad smile that still graced his face was an obvious tell of the willingness to trust Sionann.