Forceful Stoicism 5 - (Star Wars, SI)

If you wish to Donate and Support: ptreon DOT com / socialistbukharin

I had given some cursory tests over the teachings of the Holocron. The lesson I stuck the most was the general understanding on how the Force allows its users to manipulate matter into what they wished for it to be.

Pyrokinesis was indeed the alteration of air into proper fire, same for fire being turned into air in the reverse option. Wind, Water, and other elements and beyond could be harnessed with enough closeness to the Force.

Still, I decided against testing out the effects of that just yet, shelving the Holocron as I landed within one of the hangars in the Jedi Temple upon arriving in Coruscant, and getting back to my chores - after all, the very moment I was done with my master's request, I was back to my usual tasks.

And when I returned to the Temple, I was greeted by a very exhausted Master Drallig.

"Padawan Cormie. I hope you are done with your outwordly mission."

"I am. Apologies if... is everything alright?"

The man gave me a familiar frustrated look and I frowned at the implicit answer as I... groaned.

"She is at it again?"

"Yes. Have her returned at a fashionable time."

I nodded, turning and leaving the training room as I knew what was up.

Something I hadn't brought up before now was that my duties also saw me interact with a few troubled initiates.

Some were still struggling after being claimed from their families, and others were just having issues learning for a reason or another.

There was, however, one that had quite a record for being a bratty girl.

One that was rare, was a bit spoiled since the Jedi Master that found her had been as motherly as it could get, and she was-

"Ver! Get off that place right now!"

Little Vergere's avian head snapped to me with a surprised look as I found her in less than ten minutes of patrolling the large building.

Vergere was the only Fosh Jedi known in the last decades, and had been found by Master Thracia Cho Leem. To say that Master Leem was very attached to the girl was an understatement, especially since, amusingly so, it felt more like Master Leem had imprinted on 'Ver'

I caught her climbing a column by one of the halls, her shock swiftly turning into... delight.

Her beak snapped open. "Master Des!"

I huffed as I saw her dive bomb towards me, forcing me to catch her with the Force and causing her to giggle because of it.

"Ver, I told you many times that climbing tall places."

"But you caught me! So, that's fine."

"It is not. And you are going to turn my hair grey before I hit twenty," I remarked, her giggles renewed as I slowly brought her close enough to carry her. I held her from her armpits, her talon-like feet swinging happily. "So, what is it about giving Master Drallig grief?"

"Not my fault. He is a boring teacher," She pouted, the bird-girl having her feathers ruffled before shifting her mood back to giddy. "So, how was the mission, Master? Did you fight a Sith? Did you save a planet?"

"Nope, just spoke with some boring businessmen on my Master's behalf. Lots of boring talks about mining and taxes."

"Aww, that sounds dreadful!" Ver gasped, her beak clicking as she smiled again. "Worry not, Master! Let's go train and spar so we have fun."

"Those two things are not meant to be fun but... if you appreciate lessons with me helping you, then I guess I can turn an eye on this."

"Yay! Master Des is cool!"

I chuckled a bit at that comment, ignoring the very amused eyes and 'Force prods' from the few Padawans and Knights taking note of the scene.

I carried Ver to the closest training room and gave her a training lightsaber for the upcoming spar.

As one would expect from Ver, her primary style (or the only one she could use) was Form I (Shii-cho) with a sprinkle of random attacks.

Adopting a tame version of Form II, I was able to give Ver the chance to train her stance and her strikes while giving her the closest to a training combat without putting heat onto her.

The girl smiled, reminding me a bit of Komari with the way she loved to spar with me, but I could also see her trying to unbalance me with some soft force push.

She was definitely going to be a fine Jedi Consular, her weak pushes being willfully aimed to be barely perceivable but... she was young. And yet very advanced for her age.

Despite the grief she was keen to cause as a rogue kid, the little Fosh was surprisingly a good Force-User with the potential of becoming a powerful one with enough means to channel her focus in the right direction.

Or lose herself into the Dark Side as she did further in the original timeline.

The clash wasn't truly that intense. The difference in powers was evident and Ver had to ultimately surrender when I had her tired out.

"M-Master is so strong! Will- Will I be like that too?"

"If you keep up your studies and keep on training with the same determination and good will, then you will be even stronger than me. Just never stray from the..." I paused, then looked around out of instinct as the easy word was also a tough word to tell the kid without breaking rules. Still, I went on to be honest about it as it was just me and the Fosh at the moment. "Love you have for those around you and those you wish to protect."

My speech cheered her up, and I felt delighted when she appeared to take this to heart.

Before I could say something more, however, I heard someone clapping at the only entrance of the room. We both turned to see...

"Mari?"

When did she get back? Was Master Dooku back too?

The girl snorted at my surprise, shaking her head.

"What? Did you think I would be stuck in that mission forever?" My fellow padawan asked sarcastically, eyes turning to Vergere as the little Fosh had taken to stand behind me. "And I see you have taken your duties in the temple diligently. Who is this little Initiate?"

I looked at Ver, Ver looked at me nervously but she looked more at ease as I gave her permission to talk with a nod.

"I-I am V-Vergere," The girl replied, then seemed to channel her usual attitude. "A-And I will be Master Des' first Padawan!"

That was... the first time I heard this proclamation. And I knew the ramifications could be big. Even if that wasn't to happen, it would definitely piss Master Leem off a fair bit.

The woman loved Vergere to the point of being forgiving of her many antics, but she was a... distant 'mother' at times.

Being known as a 'lover of the people', Master Leem was always out to help the AgriCorps and other poorer people. She also focused a lot more than her burndle of responsibilities, something that made her clash a lot with Master Windu.

To say I was stunned by this turn of events would be an understatement, and my expression gained a chuckle out of Komari.

"Oh my, Des~. Already planning to claim a Padawan while you are still one? I wonder how Master would react to this."

"Probably with confusion, questions, and then stoic amusement," I guessed, making the blonde nod. "Still, I believe Master Dooku wishes to see me after that meeting?"

"He said he has to rest first. And I... have been missing on a good spar. Do you mind if I take your 'Master' for a quick clash, little Initiate?"

"Sure thing!"

"Shouldn't I be the one deciding this?"

Komari's smirk suggested otherwise, and I huffed as we took positions while Ver moved out of the way.

Once everything was ready to begin... Komari darted, her sword rushing with the same ferocity as usual, but there was a new sharpness to her precise attack.

This time around, I was barely matching her assault with my defense, with the girl proving that her training under Dooku had made her even more focused than before.

That being said, she was just as too offensive-centric. Her strikes were also her defense, turning her into a very vicious fighter where any counter could be met with a rapid retaliation.

I could not win this battle... but so couldn't Komari.

While I did have to admit that the girl's growing mastery of duels had increased significantly, I hadn't slacked off over the need to reinforce my stamina and my own defensive skills.

So, where Komari's path took her closer to a proper warrior, I was a more balanced Jedi. My force skills, honed under the guidance of Master Drallig had made me extremely durable and even more capable to handle the swift barrage of attacks coming from Komari.

One would think that this spar would end like the others, but something very unusual happened. Right as it felt like we were on the zenith of the spar itself, the stalemate created by our constant clashing hardly moving, we both...

Stopped.

We were not exhausted- hell, we weren't even close to winded. But Komari shared a grimace with me as it became clear, in a strange self-revelation, that...

"This is not a fight either of us can win," Komari pointed out, disappointed by this realization. "You have not slacked off."

"And you have indeed shown more progress with your focus. If only you could be more balanced-"

"Never!" She said, then giggled, causing the littler girl to giggle at the same time. Still, Komari turned to leave, annoyed for how the clash ended but nonethless relieved from her stress. "And Ver? You will learn a lot from your 'Master'. Got it?"

"Yep! Thank you, Master Mari!"

I saw Komari pause, then her smile widened as she left, clearly smug and proud of being called a 'Master' by someone.

I rolled my eyes at that reaction, basking in that normalcy I was finding most delectable and...

Only barely thinking of the Holocron I now wanted to learn from.

AN

So, after dragging this 'year' for much longer than in previous instances, we can now move to the next big arc with Dester's skills in the force seeing a little boost due to the Holocron. And what better way to show those off during the Stark Hyperspace War?!