CHAPTER V – THE FLAMES
The following weeks were filled with grueling training on the obstacle courses along with alternating individual training with The Masters. At night, they would go down to the medicine room to study the artifacts. Kei would share whatever history he knew of each piece as well as where he found them. Ahsoka and Rey would summon whatever energy they could from the artifacts (they were both exceptionally skilled at this) so that they could all receive visions related to the items. Some of the visions were tranquil or mundane while others had violent histories that made all of their spirits crackle with electricity.
In their down time, Kei and Mina learned how to use the instruments they received to create a song together. The notes flowed slowly but surely and as the days passed; their song became more harmonious, just as their combined skills did.
During this time, Kei gained exceptional knowledge in communing with his ancestors from Rey. She had also begun teaching him how to use some of his own life force to heal others. In addition, Mina taught him how to augment his speed even further by planting false ideas into his opponent's mind.
Mina learned much from Ahsoka including how to fully balance her light and dark abilities during meditation as well as how to borrow the light and dark energy in other living things and use it to temporarily augment her own strength as well as returning it back to their sources. Kei ended up teaching her how to project the invisible Force "bullets" which she was able to use to devastating effect.
Neither of them had any luck drawing knowledge from the Holocrons that had "called out" to them that evening in the medicine room. The holocrons seemed to be sleeping and would not activate. They kept them with them for the trial. Perhaps they would activate at that time.
Both students sharpened their abilities in the Force significantly as healers and as warriors in top form. By the end of the sun cycle they had even learned to play the complete melody to their song on the flute in harmony. Through this melody, Kei realized that he could piece together the song of his ancestors that he had clumsily & selfishly used in battle weeks earlier. It came to him with much more ease now and he felt more connected to it, like he had earned every note in its melody. The song was actually quite different than the one he heard on the Force plane when he had dueled with Ahsoka after she returned. It was the first time he began to doubt some of the ways Hara had taught him to grow in the Force.
Hara…he hadn't gone to the Holocron since she had told him about Rey's past and his spirit burned for her, for when they would reunite. He cast aside his doubts to hold on to this feeling even though he knew for a fact it was foolish. He had made a promise to her that he could not break. The difference now was that he wouldn't be alone. If things didn't go the way he hoped, he would have Mina by his side. He felt more conflicted than ever and reached out in the Force to let it soothe him. All he could see in his mind's eye were green flames.
As he pushed the thoughts further and further away, he heard Ahsoka's voice in his mind, "Kei, I feel your conflict. I know that I tend to keep my distance, but you know I'll always be here for you…no matter what, even when I'm a lifetime away." Kei took her words in and let them wash over him, offering the comfort he had been seeking. His mind was completely free of Hara and his internal conflict. This was the true power of his master. Not just her wisdom or prowess in battle, but her ability to flow through the Force itself like a wave of healing energy. It's why the white robes she wore suited her. He let the words echo through his spirit and wash over him, their power matching the crashing waves in the distance. He didn't respond. He didn't have to.