It was the day after Rey and Sage had entered into their new relationship as Master and Padawan.
Since the previous day had been so wasted due to their lengthy slumbers, they had decided to hold off training for the rest of the day. Allow for another day of rest to heal the mind and body. So, the older woman had taken the task upon herself to show her new student around the rest of the dwelling.
They'd traveled far down into the bedrock, down until it was significantly colder than the upper levels, causing the young scavenger to shiver, the lower temperatures foreign to her person.
To Rey, it felt as though there were miles of tunnels and structure existing beneath the surface of the island, all of it encompassing a remarkable, hidden fortress for the Jedi to live and train in. It was a vast place, that was to be for sure.
There were large, open chambers that had old but still fully functional training equipment to build strength and skill. Large skylights and windows allowed sunlight to filter inside, warming and brightening the dark depths of the various training rooms.
There were dens filled with both datapads and books, of all things, something she thought she'd never see, let alone hold in her hands. There were chambers dedicated to council meetings with chairs lined up along the edge of the circular room, lying empty and dusty from years of disuse.
And there seemed to be an endless number of rooms, some empty, some containing a bed, obviously ancient barracks that were once forgotten and left behind. Rey couldn't help but wonder how many students had stayed and lived in the dwellings; had learned the ways of the Force on this very island.
Even still, there were hallways left unexplored and without an explanation, so, naturally, the scavenger in Rey woke up and beckoned her to plunge into the unexplored depths of the Jedi dwelling.
Sage had woken her the next morning, or rather, she was going to, but years of living on edge in the wild deserts of Jakku had trained her to be a light sleeper. When the blonde had taken only one step into the room, Rey had woken, bolting upright as she did so. And for a moment, she'd been afraid before she realized where she was and who was standing in the dull glow of sunlight that filtered through the porthole in the wall.
She'd been given clothes to change into, a simple set of beige colored pants, shirt, and boots, that took the place of her nicer clothes provided to her by the Resistance. She threw her wild hair up into her typical buns, the thick strands having been freshly washed the night before.
The brunette had joined her new Master for a quick breakfast of instant-rolls and noticed the attire of the other woman who bore similar clothes to the ones she wore, though hers were a light gray color and the black leather belt from the day before hung over her hips, her lightsaber gleaming in the low light of the room. Her own hair was tossed up in a quick bun.
They ate in silence for the most part, finishing their meal quietly before the young Knight was suddenly rising and slinging a bag over her shoulder. Sage had beckoned her student to follow her outside.
She'd been lead over to the garage, her eyes blinking at the distant horizon where the sun was about to rise, the once purples and blues coloring the sky turning pink and orange with life.
Once inside the small shop, the Jedi had thrown back a heavy old tarp, revealing the old, brown speeder bike underneath. Wordlessly, she had strapped her bag to the back of the bike and then threw her leg over it so she could seat herself toward the front of the bike.
Rey could truly only stare for the longest of times, her mouth open slightly and all remnants of sleep gone from her system.
When the older girl realized that her student failed to move, she had looked up at her and allowed a small smile to play across her lips, "Have you ever ridden a speeder bike before?"
"Not one like this." Tearing her gaze from the bike, her eyes were alight with wonder. "Where did you get it?"
"Master Luke was young once upon a time and evidently decided that he felt the need to keep one after the battle of Endor." Placing her feet upon the foot controls, Sage settled herself further before starting pre-operation protocols, the engines humming as they began to warm up. "He's had it ever since. Taken it with him everywhere."
For a moment, the young pilot just continued to stand there, admiring the relic that rested before her.
"Come on." The Knight had patted the seat behind her, shooting Rey a look of amusement. "I promise, I'm an experienced driver."
Taking a steadying breath, she had nodded to herself resolutely before she stepped forward and straddled the bike herself. Settling herself behind the blonde, she hesitated a moment, her hands hanging in the air briefly as she considered touching the other girl.
Sage had increased the power in the engines slightly so that it lifted off the ground and using her legs, pushed the vehicle out into the open air once more, "Hold on tight."
Turning the power higher, the repulsors lifted them a little higher off the ground and Rey decided she had little choice to do otherwise so she wrapped her arms around her Master's waist and held on tightly, scooting slightly closer to get a better hold.
It was then that the blonde turned the throttle and increased the pressure on the foot gear. And then they were off, zooming down the path over the Jedi steps, the wind beating against them as they soared across the land. The field of tall grass whipped wildly beneath them, the fronds waving elegantly in the breeze, making it look as though it was some sort of golden ocean.
However, that thought was almost instantly erased due to fear.
Rey couldn't help when she inhaled sharply as they ramped out over the edge of a small drop off. For a moment, she thought that they'd sink and drown but instead found that the speeder seemed to work on water and that it hadn't fazed Sage in the slightest, the Jedi continuing to guide the ship out over the vast body of water and further away from the island behind them.
After that, it was pretty quiet.
She had questions she wanted to ask her Master concerning their destination but found that once more, she felt as though she was obligated to maintain the serenity shared between them, to uphold the tranquility on their journey across the endless oceans.
And suddenly, she knew why.
For a few minutes, she had to admit that it had been chilly, cold even, with the damp sea air battering them as they went on their way. But then, as they traveled south, there was a slow warming to her left and she turned her head to watch as the large sun began to emerge from behind the horizon.
It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever saw; the thousands of glittering diamonds as they danced across the gentle, rolling waves. The hues of the sky as the warmth of daylight began to devour the inkiness of the night, a mesmerizing conglomeration of contrasting stains.
And suddenly, Rey felt immense warmth bloom in the very core of her soul and she turned her head to look back at her companion and found that Sage had also been admiring the magnificent view provided to them. A look of utter adoration shown on her features for a long moment in time, her normally blue eyes turning into two tiny mirrors that reflected the heavens painted before them.
"This is one of my favorite part about Ahch-To..." Sage said, her voice being partially carried away in the wind. "The sunrises."
It's my favorite, too, Rey thought to herself, hazel eyes alight as she continued to admire the artistry before them.
There was a strange bond between them then, as though Sage had presented her with one of her most prized secrets, her guilty pleasures. And the brunette couldn't help but let her lips twitch upwards slightly as she reveled in this connection, this tie to this other female; a strange sort of sisterly camaraderie that had ignited between the two of them.
It was unclear how much time passed after that but the sun had risen rather far into the sky, taking with it, the gorgeous oranges and reds and replacing them with a soft blue, before Rey felt the speeder's humming quieted slightly.
She craned her neck around the blonde before her and felt her brows raise in interest when she saw the approaching landmass in the distance.
The wind also wasn't as harsh as it was before and ceased to whip their hair around their heads, the breeze decreasing around them further as Sage slowed the bike further as she guided it up back onto white sand beach and into the dense, green tree line.
Instantly, Rey noticed the temperature change; it was much warmer here than it was back up on the northern islands. And it was also infinitely more humid; it wasn't a dry heat but one that made it harder to breathe and caused clothes to stick to skin. She didn't like it. She'd take Jakku's sweltering heat than this any day.
And the trees were different, denser and more exotic looking than the ones she'd seen back on Tokadana. These grew with thick vines hanging from them; both their leaves and branches were thick, blocking out of the sunlight as Sage continued to guide the speeder towards their destination. This place just felt more... alive somehow. Full of life, richer in energy. Not that she hadn't felt that back on the main island, it just seemed to be more prominent here whereas it had been subdued back at at the temple.
They came to a stop a few minutes later, the engines growing quiet as the bike settled on the ground. Rey slid off the back first with the blonde following soon after, untying the bag from their transport so that she could sling it up higher on her shoulder.
"This way." Sage prompted her, nodding her head in the direction of a clearing just through the trees.
The younger girl could only follow behind, her curiosity starting to get the best of her as they passed through the foliage. There was a roar that grew louder the closer they got and finally, when the two of them came from the beneath the protection of the trees and out into the sunlight, Rey felt her breath stollen from her once more.
A number of small waterfalls spilled down from the higher ground above where they stood, the water collecting in a large pool just across the way from them, the water the brightest and clearest blueish-green Rey had ever seen in her entire life. It was all together breathtaking and ultimately left her speechless.
The sunrise from that morning was nearly forgotten.
There was a wide, flat stone that rose out of the gentle pool, its surface entirely smooth and not doubt warm from the sun. Spanning out to it, there was a series of natural stepping stones, allowing them a dry passage to the small island.
"Come on." Sage prompted her, shooting her a rather wry grin before moving towards the edge of the bank. Rey could see that she was excited.
Following behind her Master, she wiped a bit of perspiration from her brow, frowning softly at the rather sticky weather. However, she was pulled from her mind as her companion began to shuck off her brown leather boots. She also began to roll up the legs of her pants so that the hem rested just below her knee.
The scavenger soon followed suit, divesting herself of her own footwear and hiking up her own trousers.
Looking over at the Jedi, Rey found that she'd also taken off her belt and lightsaber and left them with the other supplies before she was hopped out onto the first stone step.
The brunette eyed the water speculatively for a moment, mistrusting and a little yelp brought her from her worried thoughts for a moment. Sage teetered for a moment on the edge of the second stone, her arms thrown wide as she tried to balance herself. Able to save herself and regain her footing, a quiet chuckle escaped her and when she glanced back to find that Rey hadn't moved yet, the joy on her face diminished slightly, "Something wrong?"
"No." She began slowly, continuing to eye first the gentle water lapping at her bare toes and then the distant waterfalls. "It's just that... I mean-I don't really... I haven't ever-"
"You don't know how to swim." It was matter of fact how her Master had said it, the female leaping to another rock as she did so.
Her brows rose in surprise, "How'd you know?"
"You're from a desert planet, Rey. There aren't exactly many aquatic opportunities on a place like Jakku or Beheboth. I was the exact same way. But, eventually, as part of survival training and just out of basic necessity, I had to learn to swim just as you will learn."
"Master Luke taught you to swim?" The idea seemed rather comical in her head and she couldn't help the humored grin on her lips.
"Master Luke was from Tatooine, another waste of a planet covered in sand." Sage clarified and then moved to the fourth stone, only two left until she reached the platform at the base of the quiet falls. "Meaning, that he didn't know how to swim either so you can imagine that whole affair."
"So, who taught you?"
Poised to jump again, the older woman paused, her back turned towards the girl. "I learned from another student." She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly under an invisible weight, "An old friend."
With that, she made the final, easy hop onto the larger stone and turned back to face her student. For a moment, Rey could almost feel the quiet, burning ache that hung in the air before it was quickly gone.
"Come along, Padawan." Sage called, motioning for the younger girl to join her. "You'll be fine. I promise." Rey couldn't help the feeling of anxiety that rocketed into her gut, her eyes flickered distrustfully at the babbling water below.
"I don't know-"
"The Jedi do not believe in fear. You must learn to let it go." Raising her eyes to look up at the blonde, she found that the woman was watching her steadily, her eyes searching her own as they gazed each other. "You must not let it cloud your actions or judgement." Again, she hesitated but after a moment, edged a little closer before stopping. "Come on, Rey. You're going to let a little liquid hold you back on your journey?" Sage teased.
"No!" She growled back at her teacher, her fists clenching at her sides. Both of them were rather surprised at her slight outburst, the Knight's brows rising slightly while Rey continued to steel her nerves. "I'm... I'm just... scared."
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Padawan. You never have to be scared again." Her Master told her gently, the harshness gone from her tone. "Trust in the Force."
"I don't have the Force like you do." She pulled back from the water's edge and shook her head, her defenses crumbling slightly.
"Then trust in me." Sage prompted her once more and suddenly, the brunette felt a warmth reach out to touch against her mind, stealing away some of the anxiety boiling in her gut. "Trust in my bond with the Force until you develop your own." She took a deep breath, "I won't let anything hurt you."
A strange strength filled her limbs then, filled her mind with a new sense determination. Releasing a shaky breath, she looked back up at the older girl, finding that she was still being watched, though the hardness in her gaze was gone and replaced with one of understanding, "Okay."
Backing up a few steps, she eyed the stone platform, silently judging the distance. However, it felt like it didn't matter how far it was. It didn't matter how deep or shallow the water was. Nothing mattered.
She was just going to do it.
There was no hesitation as she leapt out across the way and midair, she felt her apprehension return full force. She could hear her heart beating in her ears and she held her breath, prepared to sink when she broke the water's surface but instead felt her feet touch down on the warm stepping stone.
Her head raised in amazement and she looked to the older woman who smiled slightly and nodded her head in quiet approval.
Rey reached out for the strength she felt before and delved into it with her entire body, let it fill her once again. Again, there was no hesitation as she jumped across to the other stone and then the next, barely taking a moment to pause between leaps until she made the final, short step across the water until she was on the final platform.
"Well done." Sage walked to the middle of the platform, taking a moment to raise her head up to admire the tumbling falls before her, patiently waiting for her student to calm the racing of her heart slightly. "Take a seat, Padawan."
Doing as asked, Rey lowered herself down until she sat upon the warm stone, using the back of her hand to wipe away another bit of sweat upon her brow. It wasn't that she was overly hot but the humidity is what was bothering her. There was too much water in the air here.
"So, I should start at the beginning, I suppose. The very roots of our study." Finally turning back to face her, the blonde, too, sat down, her legs automatically crossing before her as she settled. "But, before I can begin to teach you, I must first be aware of the knowledge that you already possess. What do you know about the Force?"
"Not really all that much." Rey admitted, "That it's all around us... is us. Kind of like... matter...?"
"Not quite, but a very interesting take on the subject. You are not wholly wrong, though. The Force is an energy, a power that exists in every living being in the universe. It's the very core of what binds us together as one. This is the Living Force." Sage's eyes seemed to glow a bit brighter as she explained and it was simple to see how passionate she was about the subject. "It is what ties you and I together, ties us to Master Luke, ties us to the grass and the trees." She motioned to the jungle across the way. "The Force flows through us all as one being. One soul."
"That sounds... rather beautiful."
A hum of agreement escaped from the blonde and she offered the other girl a small smile, "It is once you truly come to appreciate it. What else do you know?"
She took in a small breath as her mind organized its thoughts. "Well, with it, you can make objects move. Make people do things you they don't want to do." Her hazel eyes briefly flashed up to her Master, "Read minds."
She nodded. "That's a relatively good start, though, there is a large number of other abilities Force-sensitive individuals have developed and mastered. We'll focus more on those later." Sage mused as she sat crossed legged before her student, "You first learned of your abilities not long ago, correct?"
"Yes, Master."
"And when was it that you first felt your true tie to the Force? What drew out your abilities?"
Rey thought for a moment, "The first time I think I felt a real connection was when I was being held prisoner on Starkiller base a few weeks ago. I was being interrogated in hopes of the First Order finding the map that led to you and Master Luke." Her lips twitched momentarily as she remembered the occurrence. "My mind was being... pulled at and I was able to resist and eventually push back. That's when I first felt the Force... I think."
"Your mind was pulled at?" The Jedi asked, her brow furrowing softly as she studied the younger girl's features. She nodded her confirmation. Sage leaned forward, her eyes steely with seriousness. "Who was interrogating you?"
She swallowed, her hazel eyes steadily holding her new Master's, "Kylo Ren."
The Knight's jaw clenched after the name sunk into her skin and burned there beneath the surface. For a moment, there was mixture of horror and sadness convulsing in the depths of her blue irises. And then it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared, stomped down just as all her other emotions had been.
"I see." Tearing her eyes away from Rey, the other girl straightened out her back more but averted her gaze. "You say that you pushed back...?"
"I was able to briefly see into his mind."
"And what did you see?" She asked quietly, her eyes instead fixing themselves on the distant trees around them.
"His rage." The scavenger replied just as softly, her own eyes clouding over with flashes of thoughts and feelings that were not her own. "And his fear."
"I see..." She sighed quietly, her back not as rigid as it was before, "That is another lesson for another time, I suppose. Emotions and their ties to the Force." Her eyes refocused on the brunette and held her there. "For now, though, we will work on strengthening your connection to it altogether." Shifting in her place, she placed her hands in her lap. "Adopt this position."
Rey did as she was asked and unfurled her legs where they had been tucked under her, only to cross them again before her. She allowed her hands to rest in her lap.
"Now, I want you to close your eyes. Keep your back straight." Again, doing as instructed, she allowed her lids to fall closed and she stretched out her spine. "I want you to breathe deeply. In and out, from your very core." In and out. In and out. "Now, I know it is not pleasant, but I want you to bring your encounter with Kylo Ren to the forefront of your mind."
Rey hesitated a moment, unsure of the reason for this action. It wasn't the most pleasurable experience, her mind being dug at, but, she decided to place her trust in her new Master.
Sage seemed to know what she was doing thus far.
"Now, Padawan, I want you to focus on the point where you began to push back. Where you felt the Force and how it filled you with its power." This was simpler to do; the steely determination she felt rising in herself was renewed and the look of utter horror in Ren's eyes as he realized what she was doing. "I want you to hold onto that feeling, that tie that it has on you." The young apprentice simply sat there for a moment, remembering the sensation. "Now, I want you to reach out with that feeling. Reach out towards me."
Taking another deep breathe, Rey clutched tightly to the strange pulse in her body, allowing it to consume her for a brief moment, engulf her. She did as she was bade to do and her jaw clenched as she struggled for a moment. Her brow furrowed softly as she tried to stretch the flux outward to the place where she knew the young Jedi continued to sit.
"Can you feel me?" Sage whispered and suddenly, a presence was touching back at the taught extension of her inner self.
It startled Rey for a moment, causing her aura to retreat a fraction, before she frowned a little harder and reached back in an effort to touch her Master's essence like she had just done. It was a brush, a barely-there caress before the power was slipping from her fingers, her grasp faltering. And then it was gone entirely.
"Try again."
Swallowing thickly, the pilot straightened out her back and her hands constricted into fists. Taking another deep breath, she refocused her mind, trying to visualize the memory again, trying to form the image of Kylo's face once more in an effort to bring the feeling of strength back. But, it wasn't there this time. It appeared as thought it had vanished and she couldn't recall what it felt like from moments ago, it was so fleeting.
Her eyes opened, "It's gone." She sighed and raised her head from where it was bowed, her eyes holding the Knight's. "I can't feel it anymore." She tried once more to pull the memory to the front of her mind but found that it was the entire thing was blurry now, muddled and unclear.
"Focus, Padawan."
"I... I can't." Her brow furrowed softly and her jaw clenched in exertion, her head tilting downward once more. "I've lost it."
Sage was quiet for a moment, a look of concern on her own features. Her lips twitched for a moment in thought, her mind racing from the possibilities of what was occurring. "That is strange." Unfolding her legs and easily standing, the blonde rose above her student. "I suppose we can try to hone your connection other ways."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that so far, my training you through memory and sense recall is a bit... unorthodox." She explained, pacing around her a moment. The scavenger relaxed slightly, her spine not as rigid as it was before. "Typically, Force-sensitive children are brought in and begin their training at a very young age. At this point, their lives are much shorter than our own, meaning that they have less experience with the Force. Most of them haven't exactly touched upon it yet or even acknowledged its existence around them. There are exceptions, though. However, you are older and have the life experience that they are typically missing."
"How did you learn?"
Sage stopped pacing for a moment, having circled back around so that she stood before her student. Her lips twitched with the inclination of a smile, "I happened to be one of the exceptions." Sighing, she decided to take a seat once more on the warm stone surface, her legs automatically crossing once more. "As a child, I had a rather strange attachment to the Force... but it was an attachment no less."
"How do you mean? If you don't mind me asking...?"
"I could so... incline people to do as I bid." She explained and Rey's brows rose in surprise. "A rather dangerous power in the hands of a six year old child." Both females smiled at this as they shared a moment of humor. "My father thought it would be best if I was trained, or rather, controlled. So, he sought out the last Jedi Master and asked that he teach me control and discipline. Even back then, Master Luke seemed to be the only one who would not succumb to my powers."
"That is a bit terrifying."
"Indeed but I learned to control my abilities. Expanded and developed them." She looked directly at the younger girl, "It will take some time to learn to control your abilities, I want you to understand that. This is not something that develops overnight. There is much for you to learn."
Rey nodded her head, her hands rubbing absentmindedly on her knees. "How did you start, though? To develop your connection, I mean...?"
"Well, to begin, Master Luke showed me what an absence of the Force felt like. Because, even though the tie may not be strong, it's still there and we all feel the Force in different ways; we are all tied to it in different ways. You and I will not experience the same feelings but once you get a taste of how your own connection feels, it will be easier to reach out and grasp onto the sensations." Sage frowned softly for a moment, "Does that even make a lick of sense?"
"Oh, loads." The brunette replied, nodding along as she spoke. In truth, it made perfect sense to her. "I need to have the Force taken from around me so that when it returns, I'll be able to notice it."
"Yes, exactly." The Jedi pointed at her to solidify her point. She then rose to her feet before walking around her Padawan so that she was behind her. "May I touch your head, Rey?"
She was surprised by the question, turning to look over her shoulder at her Master, her hazel eyes wide. Never before had she been asked permission before for... anything, really. Yet, here stood a woman before her, eyes warm and filled with kindness, asking for the sacred object that was her trust.
"Yes, you may." Turning back around, she straightened out her back once more.
"This is going to be strange but I want you to stay calm, alright?" Two hands placed themselves onto the soft mass of her dark hair, their touch gentle, careful. She heard the woman behind her begin to breathe deeply, in and out, and the rhythm became soothing to her.
She felt a melting sensation slowly begin in her mind, like something inside had sprung a leak and what was held inside was falling away. And then, it was gone entirely and there was a cold, emptiness that seemed to settle in her very core.
It was a desolate feeling, one so familiar to her that Rey's heart clenched tightly in her chest. It was the feeling of being entirely alone and the ache of abandonment grew in her chest. It felt just like it had when she was younger; wholly isolated and left on her own. But, this was a stronger feeling, as if she'd been entirely cut off from the entirety of the universe.
Just as it had settled itself in her soul, the pain itself began to fade away and her mind was filled once more with a strange stability, a curling, rolling sense of inner peace that rooted itself in her mind and made her feel whole again.
"Grasp onto that feeling now, hold onto this place in your mind." Rey couldn't help it when she jumped, having entirely forgotten that the other female had been there with her.
She sighed through her nose, straightening out her back once more and refocusing herself, "Okay."
"Do you still feel it?"
"Yes."
"Good... good. Now, I want you to explore this feeling further." Sage commanded her gently, the hands on her head gently slipping off and the brunette was only faintly aware that the woman had circled around to sit in front of her once more. "Feel how it is apart of you, how it's rooted in every pore of your being. Empty your mind of all else."
The younger female did as she was asked, her mind clearing itself until all she was left with was the newly discovered feeling. She was quiet as she sat there, touching at the new sensation that had revealed itself, gently fondling the base and how it was connected to her soul.
She wasn't aware of how much time had passed but she felt the tie she had to the feeling slowly beginning to strengthen, felt it become easier to grasp hold of and it no longer slipped so easily through her fingers.
"What does it feel like, Rey?"
"It feels like..." Her brow furrowed softly as she continued to let the sensation twist around her. She reached out once more and felt it pass against her mind. "Like... I won't ever truly be alone. Like an old friend that's always been there. Like, if I know how to ask, it will always be there to help." Sage hummed quietly and the younger girl opened her eyes to find that she was looking off thoughtfully at the falls behind her, her lips twitching. "Is that a good or bad thing? Am I doing this right?"
The blonde pulled her eyes away from the waterfalls and instead looked at her student. "Again, it's going to be different for everyone. The Force manifests itself in us all in a unique way."
Rey was quiet for a moment, her mind racing as she considered the Knight's words. And then, her brow furrowed softly and she felt curiosity build in her. "How do you feel it?"
Her gaze drifted away from her again and she narrowed her eyes slightly, her brow furrowing softly in consideration. "For me... It's always felt like a... concerned guardian... I suppose. An overprotective parent figure of sorts."
The younger female nodded slowly in understanding, her intrigue showing easily on her face. And then, she was opening her mouth to ask but the request soon died on her lips, her eyes flickering down and away from her Master.
"Is there something you wished to ask me?"
Looking back up, Rey realized she'd been caught and then a sudden thought caused her cheeks to burn bright red with embarrassment. Sage could not doubt look into her thoughts, feel her emotions through the Force just as Kylo Ren could.
"You can ask me anything you like, free of worry of embarrassment." The Jedi offered her a small smile of encouragement. "As my student, it is your responsibility to ask questions so that I can provide you answers."
The brunette nodded her head slowly in understanding and for a moment, still felt a bit silly for asking anyway, "Can you... show me what it's like? How it is that you feel the Force? So, that I can understand what a strong connection feels like, feel what the Force truly feels like...?"
"Again, it's different for everyone, Rey." The blonde reminded her again, her brow furrowing softly with mild worry. "However, I suppose it couldn't really hurt." She sighed and then nodded her head resolutely, "It'll be easier to do this through physical touch, so..." Taking a deep breath, Sage rose up onto her knees and scooted forwards until she was scant inches away from the young scavenger. "Is it okay to touch you, again?"
Holding her eyes for a moment, she nodded her consent.
Rey couldn't help it when she jumped as the blonde's hands rose to gently cup both sides of her jaw and tilted her face up ever so slightly.
"I want you to stay calm, alright? For a new Force-sensitive, this could be rather overwhelming."
And it was.
Half a moment later, Sage was gently resting her forehead against Rey's, both their eyes simultaneously sliding closed. All went quiet in her mind then, like her conscious state of thought was a pool and Sage had stolen the source of the ripples breaking the surface.
It came slowly, much to her relief; the gentle encasement that flowed into her mind and wrapped around her. She felt it then, the gentle touches at her mind, the dancing caresses like wind brushing across her person. After that, however, it seemed as though the young Knight could only restrain it so much.
It was almost an assault at her mind then, hitting her like a tidal wave and knocking her off her feet.
For a brief moment, she was pulled under and it felt like she was drowning in the sheer energy that surrounded her, all of it raw and unyielding in nature. And she panicked for a beat, afraid that she was going to suffocate but then it was almost as if it realized what it was doing and pulled back slightly. It was still caressing and rippling through her mind - her very being - ever insistent but it was not as overpowering as it was before.
She could physically feel the Force around her, how it brushed by her, passed through her, was her. It was an endless turmoil of all things, both living and beyond the realm of reason, things that were no longer part of the universe but still remained.
Rey could feel the universe inside every pore on her body.
And then she felt the emotions that seemed to be born from this invisible source; the affection that seemed to swaddle her in its essence, ceaselessly curling around her, flowing through her.
An overprotective parent, Sage had said, and, although Rey couldn't remember her family, she could sense the tenderness and love course through her and sink into the core of her person. Like a loving mother or a protective father.
A shuddering breath escaped her lips and her hands subconsciously rose to grip at the wrists attached to the hands on her face, a sort of solid anchor to keep herself rooted in place.
It made her feel so utterly strong yet made her completely humble. She now understood entirely about dispelling all her fears and doubts that she held about herself, for she sensed neither of those lingering in Sage's mind as their consciousnesses wound themselves together. She felt neither of those things because of the Force, felt neither of them because she could do anything she utterly but her mind to.
The protectiveness and warmth that continuously surrounded her made her feel so unconditionally loved, so protected and cared for. So, pure and bright, pristine and unblemished. It was like, all at once, she was being engulfed in this transcendent, warm light. And it was oh so beautiful to Rey.
All the overwhelmingly exquisite emotions and feelings caused tears of euphoria to stream steadily from her eyes as she continued to sit there, allowing her Master to pour her thoughts in through their physical touch.
And amongst all things, there was the calmness that she found she kept reaching out for, the familiarity that the two females shared in both of their unique connections. She pulled it towards her easily enough, or Sage did; Rey wasn't entirely sure who was who at the moment with their minds melded as they were.
She let the calm consume her and soon enough, she felt the arms of adoration retreat and the swaddling love pulled away.
Slowly but surely, she began to fall back into her own body and mind, the Jedi no doubt setting her gently back into her own consciousness. She then began to grow ever aware of her surroundings once more; the hard stone beneath her rear, the quiet roar of the falls behind them, the sweat dripping down her spine, until finally, she was only left with the steady sense of unwavering peace she had become acquainted with from before.
The hands upon her face fell away and the pressure against her forehead was lifted. For a moment longer, Rey remained quiet, simply sitting there with a soft, almost dazed, smile upon her lips as the peace thrummed quietly around her.
After a few more moments of silence, she allowed her eyes to open and she was met with the sight of her Master. She'd never had one before but Rey was almost certain she'd just had a religious experience.
"Wow..." She breathed, still in a slight state of euphoria after what she'd just experienced. Sage couldn't entirely blame her, though, and said nothing, opting to instead restrain the grin that continuously twitched at her lips. "That was... I can't even explain." Raising one of her hands, she scrubbed the back of it over her face, collecting the tears and sweat that mingled on her cheeks. She looked at her teacher with disbelief, "You feel that all the time?"
"It's a bit more subdued for me. After living with a connection to the Force for 20 years, you grow used to it but yes..." She smiled slightly, "I feel it at all times."
"Will my connection ever feel like that?"
Rey watched as the Jedi rose to stand above her. "I'm not sure..." Sage said quietly, glancing towards the distant horizon, taking note of how the sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky. Holding out her hand to her Padawan, the younger girl looked up at her for a moment, as if she'd been blind before and was suddenly given sight. Wordlessly, she clasped hold of her arm and climbed to her feet so that the two stood next to each other. "We will find out together, though."
Well, shit.
I may have lied. This chapter ran a lot longer than I thought it was going to and by the end, I was over 9,000 words and even still, it felt rushed. So, I cut it up into smaller sections.
I know I promised some Kylo in his chapter but, the next one will definitely have him in it. Like I'm 123% sure he'll be in the next one.
I'm sorry I lied to all you people.
Anyway, thanks to all who reviewed/favorited/followed!
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, READ AND REVIEW!
Love,
Blue
P.S. Sorry for the extra email notification if you follow this story, had to go back and edit some major things.