Still Coping with a Loss(Jayce Anzel Training)

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce Anzel sat quietly on the bench awaiting for this mystery person that he was informed to meet with. To learn the 'ropes' of this new orginization that he was about to join. He could only hope that it didn't lead him down an all too familiar path. He was still dealing with his injuries from the crash landing three months ago. And, it seemed like a lifetime ago that he got into the argument with his old master about their mission to Naboo. But, of course the ship never made it there instead they landed on some unknown planet where his master intended to stay and leave the order. But, the refusal to stay by Jayce followed by the attack then the abandonment hurt him. Ever since he found it hard to trust somebody, much less obey exactly what they said because of the 'unknown'.

 

[DhehKappa]

The blond man grunted lightly, as he picked himself from bed early; however, it had been earlier than usual. Today he was to meet a new Initiate to the Crimson Knights, and he felt somewhat different. He didn't know if he was nervous about this soon to start teaching... First of, he never trained anyone, he never got that kind of pressure upon him. Secondly, the example his Master set for him when he was but a Padawan really put more pressure on him; he had no idea how it was to be a successful master. Thinking of his Master only brought thoughts of pity to his mind... Of how a man could lose his grip over his lust for power.

He sighed and got out of bed. It was time to go, he had a student who would be waiting for him in a few hours. He got his robe on, over his light armor, and he reached for the right of his belt to make sure something was there: Lightsaber... check. He picked a small package from his desk, Samueel Tomorrol took off.

Walking around the temple, Samueel shifted his head left and right, timely, as he tried to find his new apprentice. He didn't know where he'd find him, nor how he looked; he had no chance of finding him by appearance since he couldn't see. Coming to an halt near the entrance of the temple, he faced downwards and reached out through the Force... Let the Force guide him, show him where to go... He shifted his weight, and moved out.

Reaching closer to the lone young Human sitting back, Samueel took a sit next to him. "Hello there, I hope you don't mind me taking this sit." He spoke up with confidence, and sat the package next to him, leaving a comfortable free space between him and Jayce. "My name is Samueel Tomorrol. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think I have succeeded at finding my new apprentice Jayce Anzel. Am I right?" He leaned his head towards Jayce, but he didn't face him directly.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce sat there his hands in his pockets for what felt like an eternity to him. His thoughts still rambling on throughout his skull, when suddenly a voice from a person who had just appeared out of nowhere started talking to him. He looked up listening to this man's questions. Already assuming that this was to be his teacher in the ways of the Crimson Knights he nodded briskly, "Yes that would be me Jayce Anzel." He said standing up.

He looked him over for a moment, "Am I to assume that you are my teacher, guide, and master? Here to teach me the ways of the Crimson Knights, this orginization of which I recently joined?"

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel studied his student; how ironic. "Yes, you are correct in assuming so. And to mark this moment, I brought a little gift with myself for you." He tapped the package lightly as he spoke, and once he was done, he picked it up and handed it to Jayce; it bent downwards, suggesting it was not a solid gift. "Take this. It is your new robe, the crimson robe that will represent your position within our Order. You can try it on, see if it fits properly, I hope I got the right size considering your information sheet." He got to his feet, and waited for his apprentice to test his robe while speaking. "So, tell me a little about yourself, Jayce." He had read a bit from his sheet, but he wanted to know how much did Jayce trust Samueel with about himself.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce looked at his own appearance he was currently wearing a black tunic and black leggings with a dark brown belt. His lightsaber hung off him softly to the point where he didn't feel it sitting in its clip. He had a blaster sitting in a side holster strapped across his chest underneath his shirt and concealed. He took the new robe that was crimson in color and slid his arms inside it, it fit nearly perfectly, and it concealed his lightsaber from view.

Then the question came "So, tell me a little about yourself, Jayce."

Jayce found it hard to trust people anymore after all he had been through it would be difficult for him to even trust this person. And, though his voice seemed even when he spoke it would be very obvious that he didn't trust easily.

"Well I don't remember much about my early childhood. There are rumors of my birthplace, but I could never confirm or deny them as I am uncertain. I was a member of the Jedi Order though I was never fully trained because of some differences in opinion..." The last word seemed to drag. It seemed to say that yes there was more to the story, and perhaps one day he would tell it. But, he was uncomfortable talking about it.

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel let out a long breath out kind of sigh, though very subtly. It seemed his student was not giving him all the details regarding the differeneces in opinion that he and the Jedi Order shared, but Samueel wouldn't force it. Once his apprentice was ready to share his past with him, Samueel would gladly hear it. He himself had somewhat difficulties trusting other people, though he was trying to keep himself open minded so that he could transmite the confidence his student needed to feel in order to grow a bond.

"I understand those differences in opinion -- I myself had them. In particular, I had differences in opinion with my Jedi Master when I was a Padawan to the Jedi Order, and that episode lead to the loss of my right forearm", he said as he rose his right arm, "to the demise of my Master and eventually the differences in opinion with my Master developed in differences in opinion with the Jedi Order, which would lead me to leave them behind." He shared a bit of himself with Jayce. It had a simple objective: it would let Jayce know a bit of who it was he was learning from, and it would, perhaps, make him more comfortable to share information and bits of himself. But Samueel was patient; if he was still uncomfortable, Samueel would wait.

"Walk with me." It was a simple command, easy to follow as Samueel took off and started to walk in the direction of the training rooms. "Tell me, how deep was your training within the Force? How well are you familiarized with the Force and it's ways of use?"

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce nodded, and turned walking beside his new master listening to him speak. When asked the question he began to carefully wiegh in his mind how much they had taught him. He had learned everything up until he was fourteen years old. His old master whom ultimately was killed had only trained him for a year and a half. "I have learned mostly the basics, and I managed to learn how to use mind tricks very well.

"I also learned form two of the lightsaber combat training, however I am not mastered in the art. I do meditate everyday to try and better myself however."

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel was glad that his apprentice had a few basis; that would save him some trouble. They quickly arrived at a door step, and waving his hand, the Miraluka made the doors swing open, giving acess to a circular room with plenty of space. He marched in, and as he did, his right arm reached to his left shoulder, picking the robe and swinging it off, then making it float up to a table where it folded itself under Samueel's telekinetic command. He then spun on his spot facing Jayce, in his somewhat vibrant light armor and crimson sash around his eyes. "We will skip the basics and other matters for a while." His left hand reached to the end of his lightsaber, unclipping it.

"Ok, you have basic knowledge of Form II, Makashi, the Contention Form. Makashi is most effective for lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat; in fact, Makashi was created with that purpose. Preventing the disarming or destruction of the weapon are the goals of the Form, and the best way to practice it is against a form which focus on disarming an opponent."

With his words, he moved his lightsaber to his right hand, and pushed the ignition button, creating an hiss sound as the orange blade came to life. He then adjusted the intensity so that it would not cause harm further than a light burning sensation on contact or heating up his apprentice's lightsaber sound he strike it; the purpose was not to harm or make his apprentice build a new lightsaber. "Adjust the intensity of the blade; we're about to perfect your dueling skills." This all was not without purpose; first Samueel would teach him how to battle, so that afterwards he could teach him how to avoid battle.

"In order to improve your Makashi, I will employ my own knowledge of Shii-Cho, Form I, so that you can better yourself in the use of it. Strike at me." He lifted his lightsaber in a Shii-Cho opening stance, waiting for his apprentice.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce followed his master inside the dueling arena and watched as his robes were placed to the side listening to each word as they were spoken. He nodded as Samueel turned and took his stance. Jayce lowered his arms his robes falling from him, he then proceeded to channel some effort through the force to push them towards the wall and away from the duelists. He then proceeded to turn facing Samueel holding his left hand up and open as his lightsaber left its hilt and entered between his fingers.

The hilt was curved, as he had spent his life perfecting this form, he decided to produce a curved single handed hilt to better his performance. As soon as his weapon entered his hand he ignited his lightsaber the orange blade glowing against his left cheek and he lowered the blade to the ground bringing his feet shoulder width apart. "Very well...My master!" Jayce said evenly, though there was a great amount of joy resounding from his voice when he used the words carefully chosen by him. He then brought his blade up bringing his hands gently together right hand under his left before twirling the blade lightly.

Jayce then chose exactly the perfect moment to strike he brought his hands downwards breaking the grip and connecting his weapon with his master's before breaking them apart and sliding to the other side. Each time he would move his opposing foot would touch the floor before he would finally press his lightsaber into the other and with some added force attempt to push it away in order to leave a small opening.

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel didn't need much to keep Jayce's moves under control; seeing through the Force and being as skilled as he was, Jayce's moves were easy to follow. There was a mistake about his technique, however; as Samueel kept on blocking and parrying his moves, he noticed Jayce was putting too much strength into his blows, when Makashi did not require that much at all. "Focus, Jayce! You're replacing the required precision of Makashi with unnecessary strength! Focus your mind on the weak points, and exploit them with precision!" With that, after a last parry of one of his needlessly over strong attacks, Samueel made a move of his own, swinging his blade horizontally to meet Jayce's hilt while taking a step forth to force Jayce to step back.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce listened to what he was being told and slowed his movements retracting some of the power he was using instead adding more accuracy. It was at that point that Samueel tried to aim a strike towards his hilt. He tightened his grip sliding his weapon down and tightening his stance so that the other's weapon struck just above the hilt instead. It wasn't quite far enough but it guarded his weapon. He twirled his weapon deflecting it away and brought both hands together over his head and twisted himself a little bit.

A second later he released with his right hand bringing his index finger out and softly with great effort in control over his movements he slid his blade down connecting with his opponent's then brought it up softly before making a very precise movement towards the opening.

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel grinned inwardly as he saw that Jayce was following his advice; it seems that despite not fully trusting him, at least he trusted his teaching. And when he blocked and drove Samueel's lightsaber down, Samueel couldn't but to raise an eyebrow under the sash covering his eyes. He had talent, that much was granted. Then the blade came dangerously close to Samueel... At that point, Samueel dived into the Force, and imbuing his body, he made a rather odd yet excellently performed roll to the side, then raising on one knee rotating the blade over his head, aiming at Jayce's left arm.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce couldn't feel any sweat forming on his forehead, perhaps it was because he wasn't using as much power as he always did. Instead he was allowing the force take hold of him. Slowly he was becoming one with it feeling it flow through him. The blow towards his left hand was seen before it had the chance to land, and Jayce simply parried the attack away creating another hopeful opening he spun bringing his own weapon over his head and back around the side connecting it with Samueel's lightsaber before sliding it down gently and swiping lightly towards his arm.

 

[DhehKappa]

Now, this was Makashi; unlike the blunt strong strikes, Jayce was starting to employ accuracy as a means to create openings on Samueel's bladework. However, Makashi had another focus: preventing one from losing his weapon or having it destroyed. He had already tried to destroy his weapon, and that had not been the last time he would attempt it. But for now, he went with another tactic, and "seeing" Jayce's lightsaber coming he spun his own over his head while spinning his crouched body towards Jayce, and using the given momentum he swung a strong spin against Jayce's lightsaber. If he wasn't careful, it could result on the lightsaber being expelled from his hands, and more over it, it could cause a nasty burn to his abdomen should Samueel's lightsaber connect with him.

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce seen the next action and tried to react to it, but he was a little too late in his first defensive manuever feeling his lightsaber hand lose grip and the weapon go flying away towards the ground where it deactivated on impact. He slid backwards barely making it away from the incoming blade, but it did streak across his under robes leaving a tear across them and singing it a little bit. He would have a nice burn there where the heated cloth touched his skin.

But, he seemed to ignore the pain calling to the force to bring his lightsaber back into his hand and reactivated the orange blade. He held it with his left hand, and stood ready to defend himself again so to create a new opening...

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel stood on his feet; one move from his hand would be enough to stop Jayce's lightsaber from reaching his hand and instead meet the Miraluka's one, but he didn't feel the need to toughen up just yet. "Good. Not excelent, but good. You're starting to grasp the concept behind Makashi well, but until you're able to fully prevent the loss of your weapon, you'll have to keep on practicing. It's not an easy style to master, none is, and Makashi is even harder seeing of how its use is focused against lightsaber weilding opponents. However, there'll come a time in which you'll need not to attack, but to defend. What will you do in such circumstances?"

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

Jayce listened to the lecture as he deactivated his lightsaber, the question was a very good one something he had half thought about. He would need to defend himself, and his hilt was designed purely for using Makashi. He could learn how to do some soresu, but he was uncertain if it would work. "I could learn a little of Soresu for combat against blaster wielding opponents, but I am uncertain." He said falling into thought...

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel smiled. "Good answer. Soseru would indeed solve your problem. But before dwelling into Soseru, you must practice a bit more on your Makashi." Samueel twisted his blade on his hand making it spin in a circle. "As I said, I am using Shii-Cho in order to give you practice on Makashi. My level with Shii-Cho is relatively low; I have yet to use it to its full potential. Up until you can keep up with me, I will not proceed to teach you yet another form." He lifted his blade to eye level, pointing it at Jayce. "Are you ready to walk out of here completely and utterly exhausted?"

 

[Dorian T'Pel]

He nodded listening to what Samueel was saying, "Yes Master I feel that I should master Makashi before learning the basics of another form." He replied, and as the lightsaber came back up to his eyes he looked at it listening to what the other said about leaving completely exhausted. He would do whatever he had to in order to please this person, and perhaps that was all he ever desired. Something inside him started to change, he felt like perhaps he could trust Samueel just a little bit.

He pressed the activation button on his hilt the orange blade swooshing out he brought it up kissing the other lightsaber with his. "I am master." He replied a flicker of a grin appearing on his face as the two lightsabers came together. He had to relax himself as he positioned his index finger upwards a little bit and taking the proper stance of Makashi.

 

[DhehKappa]

Samueel grinned widely. "Good. Then prepare to crawl out of here depleted of any energy." With that, Samueel shot forwards, aiming a strike at Jayce.

***​

The orange light of the two lightsabers danced across the room as the wielders swinged them. The best part of the afternoon had gone by, and the twilight painted a pink and orange sky outside the room's windows. Exchanging a few last blows, Samueel took a step back, disconnected his lightsaber and ran the back of his hand on his forehead cleaning off the sweat; he did not have his sash up, after a while it was bothering him due to the damp tissue rubbing against his skin after he started sweating. "Very good, Jayce. You can finally keep up with my Shii-Cho; despite not being my highest Form, it's still considerable that you're able to keep up and drive me into a corner. Good job!" He clipped his lightsaber, feeling exhausted; his arms were totalled, his legs felt weak and his breathing was heavy. They had spent at least one or two hours just battling, and Jayce had improved, though without a doubt he felt just as tired or more tired than Samueel. "Your movements have gained the fluidity required to practice Makashi. Meet me here tomorrow, at 9:00pm standard time sharp. We'll move on to another form."