Chapter Two- Lesson Number One

"M-master L'anyn, if you don't mind my asking," Ira spoke unsurely, as though he might offend his new mentor with the wrong words, "H-how did you know Master Vorschen? Master Burke said you were one of his apprentices, but Master Vorschen didn't speak of you like an apprentice."

"I'm surprised he spoke of me at all," L'anyn laughed as she touched the panel outside the training chamber which caused the door to slide open. She stepped in and beckoned Ira in after her. "I wasn't exactly his best pupil. I was stubborn and I wouldn't always listen to him. He often told me it was a miracle the Council hadn't forbade him from teaching me, because surely they'd noticed something about me. However, no one sensed anything negative about me when I was brought before them. Even Master Burke said I seemed invisible to them and that my future was completely unknowable."

"Invisible, huh?" Ira thought a moment, "That seems so impossible."

"L'anyn closed the door and walked to the center of the room, "Ira, I want you to close your eyes and tell me whay you see."

"What I see?" he asked, closing his eyes hesitantly, "My eyes are closed. I can't see anything."

"Use the Force, Ira," she reminded him chidingly, "What do you sense with the Force?"

"I can sense the room, I can sense... myself, the remotes, the practice blades... but, Master, I can't sense you at all," he opened his eyes again to make sure L'anyn was still standing before him, "It's like you're... invisible. Like you don't exist."

"Master Vorschen noticed it when he met me," she said, running her fingertips over a training remote pensively, "He couldn't sense me at all. I couldn't even use the Force then. I didn't know anything about it. I'd been brought up completely bling to my lineage and my abilities. But that's ancient history. What's important is here and now, correct?"

"Yes, Master," Ira nodded, stepping forward and lifting his lightsaber from his belt, "Where do we begin?"

"First things first, don't call me 'Master'. I can't stand that whole subitting to the domination of your mentor thing," L'anyn retrieved her own lightsaber and set the blue blade aglow, "And second, we'll see how well you fare against an invincible person."

"What shall I call you then?" he flicked the switch on the hilt of his saber, extending a green blade, "M'lady?"

"L'anyn will do fine," she waved her hand in front of him, setting the notion firmly in his mind.

"Yes... L'anyn," Ira smiled, taking his combat stance.

"Oh, Ira, one more thing," L'anyn lunged forward with a violent thrust, "Have at thee!"

He jumped back and parried the maneuver then returned with a downward slash that missed L'anyn by several inches.

"I can't see you!" he shouted in frustration after several unsuccessful blows.

"Your eyes are wide open, padawan," she told him matter-of-factly, retracting the cerulean blade and stepping back from her apprentice.

"But I can't sense you at all," he groaned, putting away his saber, "I can't... I can't..."

"Perceive me," she finished for him, "Perceive is the word. Like I said, I'm invisible and invincible. I don't know how and I don't know why. I just know that I am."

"You're amazing."

"No. I'm L'anyn," she corrected him jokingly then closed her eyes lightly, "Although I'm sure the two seem very similar in many ways."

"Point taken, Mast-- L'anyn," he bit his lip, hoping she wouldn't notice his slip-up. He began fidgeting in the dead silence that had fallen upon the room. "Er... so..."

"Hold still," she instructed as she slowly began to open the doors to his mind, making sure to leave no trace of any intrusion. He seemed a tortured fellow, most likely shameful of his family and his own past. She stumbled upon a recent memory of his, lying just at the forefront of his mind.

Running. He was running. He was running and he was scared, that much she could sense easily. She probed further. There was fear and grief on his mind. It was the day of Master Vorschen's fall. She explored the memory, taking care not to give away her activites in the young Solaris' mind. She could see a hooded figure; a familiar hooded figure at taht. Red twin blades flashed through the memory, cutting down the wizened Master Vorschen. No! She heard Ira's scream echoing through the ethereal.

Her eyes snapped open as did Ira's. L'anyn's mouth was open slightly and her throat was dry. She had to explain to her apprentice what she'd been doing. There had to be trust between them-- no secrets.

"Ira, I'm sorry to have intruded upon your memories," she said gently, "There are some things that are best left unsaid, and therefore must be explored at the appropriate time. I needed to know exactly what happened to Master Vorschen."

His jaw dropped. "That's what you were doing?!"

"Yes. What else would I have been doing?" she asked, slightly puzzled.

"I don't know... I just couldn't sense... oh, right," he blushed and turned away from her, "I couldn't sense you. I thought you were simply meditating and my motion was disturbing you."

"There are some things that one learns to shut out when meditating, young padawan of mine," she sat down on the floor and crossed her legs, closing her eyes, "Motion is one of those things that a Jedi must learn to ignore while reflecting. We'll work on that next time. We're done for today."

"Y-yes, L'anyn," Ira was confused about where to go from there. He made a general motion toward the door, "Do you want me to--?"

"You may do as you like," L'anyn said, barely moving her lips while speaking, "I would like to see you this evening, however. We need to speak of things outside the temple. Meet me in here before dinner. Bring your traveling cloak."

"Yes, ma'am," he nodded and stepped quickly out of the room, curious about what the Lady Oumarin had in mind.

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A/N: R&R... I always love a good review! --lexx