After a very informative lesson in what he was capable of without even being aware of it, Kanan and Ezra was sitting by the same creek looking out into the still water. Kanan had restarted his meditation and Ezra was content to sit and think on all the new information he had been given. He had no clue the force could be used in some of the ways Kanan described.
Kanan explained levitating and enhancing the body. It's no wonder the child could jump so much higher and run so much faster than anyone else he knew. He had honestly not put much thought in how he was able to keep up with Zeb when they rough housed. On some level he must have assumed that the lasat was going easy on him so he would not get hurt. Guess now he knows that Zeb is happy to have a playmate he does not have to be gentle with. It did make him feel warm in the bottom of his belly.
Another thing that Kanan went into more detail about was sensing. Ezra apparently had this wonderful ability to connect to others even though he could not really understand it. Kanan's best guess was that because Ezra was alone so long, he became starved for affection and that causes him to reach out in the force.
He was strong enough that most people were vaguely affected by the emotions he was projecting. This explanation cued a major freak out from the young Padawan. He was terrified that he was making people respond to him in unnatural ways. It took a few minutes for Kanan to settle down his apprentice enough to explain he was not quit that strong. He could give them a push based on their own sympathies but he could not force people to do something they did not want to do, Yet.
That also left the concerning thought about what emotions were Ezra's own and what were outside influences. His teacher had told him that influencing emotion the way he was doing was a two way street. He could push others but they could push him too if the emotion was strong enough. Now Ezra does not remember ever feeling pushed into doing something for someone but how would he know. Kanan did say it was possible, didn't he. Ezra was so upset by the news that Kanan finally had to agree to show him a demonstration of both types for him to understand completely.
So now they are sitting in front of each other by the creek. The sun was still shining high in the sky and it was overall a beautiful day. "Now the first thing I'm going to do is push your emotions" Kanan spoke "I'm not going to full on control them, just influence them. Pay attention to the difference between yours and mine?" After a few minutes of breathing blue had met green and Ezra gave a small nod of his head indicating he was ready. It really did not feel like a push. Kind of like a gentle wave.
It was very subtle and the young apprentice would not of even noticed if he had not been told to look for it. He started beginning to feel a need to look around the clearing. At first it was something he could ignore, but after a few minutes, the feeling was becoming stronger. It was only because of how focused Ezra was that he was even able to remember Kanan's instructions.
He took a meditative position and closed his eyes. He began thinking about how he felt about the clearing. He did find it pretty but overall this sense of beauty and need to wax poetry about it was not coming from him. It felt echoy and exaggerated, like he pushing himself to be excited about something he was neutral about for a friend. It's hard to explain but that's the best the youngling could come up with.
Like all waves do, the tide eventually went back and Ezra opened his eyes. Kanan was looking at him expectantly. "Well, tell me how you feel" he prompted. Without the direct influence, Ezra could look back at the emotions he was feeling and could not distinguish them from his own. He explained the original emotion and the feeling now as best he could but the explanation felt disjointed even to his own ears.
Kanan looked at Ezra after he was done speaking and felt a sense of pride in their bond. It must be developing to be quit strong if Ezra was that influenced by his own emotions. Kanan went on to explain that because on some level, Ezra thought this place was pretty, his emotions felt more natural. It was a thought that he could agree with so he latched onto and made it his own. Ezra understood but was still wary because he could no longer tell which thought belonged to who.
Next Kanan got a very serious look on his face as he explained something called a mind trick. Most people were not aware that they are doing anything out of the ordinary. It is a technique that perverses the minds own thoughts, pushing them away and replacing them completely with the castors will. Not only was the technique very dangerous, as it puts both minds attacking each other and susceptible to damage.
It was also taught to never be used. Emotions to a Jedi were sacred. They could not form their own attachments but all life and feelings were taught to be equal. To subjugate another in this way was a terrible crime against the Jedi way. This was only to be used in the most dire of situations.
After explaining all this to his fearful apprentice, Kanan also taught him how to defend himself against it. As another that could use and control the force, Ezra had some protections normal people did not. He would be aware when someone was suppressing his own thoughts. He would very easily become confused and disoriented but if he could focus well enough, he could push out most intruders. Most of the Jedi teachings were about opening up, so this was actually considered a very high level technique.
A few more minutes of breathing and both participants were ready. Kanan was ready to see compliance or basic confusion when he forced his way in his apprentices mind but he was not expecting the blood curdling scream when he brushed across his thoughts. The younglings eyes grew wide and he leaned back until he fell off his seat. He began yelling and flailing as he violently shoved Kanan out of his mind. Only people that had been attacked violently reacted that way to this technique.
Kanan knew it would be risky with the condition the child was in but he influenced Ezra's mind to tell him he was safe. Ezra's breathing calmed as he clung to Kanan with the force until he was settled enough to explain what happened. Ezra described a feeling of Kanan holding him down and trying to smash him into the ground. He did not feel confused but bone chilling fear that he was about to be killed by the sensation alone. Kanan had never heard of anyone reacting this way but Ezra was a strange child.
They went over exercises together to strengthen Ezra's wall so nobody could control him. If nothing else the exercise did let Ezra know one thing. If that was the feeling he got when someone tried to control him without consent, then he was positive he had never experienced that before. The two stayed and meditated a while longer to calm themselves down before heading back to the ghost for a well deserved rest.
By the time the master and apprentice had returned, the sun had gone down. Remembering the original reason for the lesson, Kanan fixed Ezra's holopad and sent the youngling to bed. After about an hour, he heard a small clatter coming from the shared room. Thinking that Ezra stayed up, Kanan went in to tell him to go to bed only to come in the room to an amusing site.
The new holopad was crashed into pieces on the ceiling! It stayed on part of the ceiling like it was glued there. There were also a few miscellaneous items Zeb owned floating around the room. Both occupants of said room were snoring away in their bunks. A quick and silent laugh later, Kanan shut the door and headed to his own room. Looks like Ezra will need more training in that particular lesson.