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 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:14 pm
"Yeah...so what does that have to do with forging a weapon? You told me the world was not a container, to observe the waters, and now you're telling me about supply and flow. No offense but don't you think I know that? I could fight with a drop of water, but I could still do more with a bucket couldn't I?"
Things seemed to be moving too fast for her, but perhaps she was looking over some things while focusing on others. This didn't stop her from getting a bit annoyed however. She felt like she was being lectured for wrongly doing something she didn't even know she was told to do.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:26 pm
Smiling he shook his head.
"I have seen some of your feats with water, but you have yet to utilize true flow."
Outstretching palm he began to chant in his gutteral tone once again. Forming within his palm a sphere of water seemed to form from seemingly nowhere.
"As I am sure you know. There is always some trace of water vapor in the air at all times. The spell I have casted here has drawn forth a small body of water and condensed it into this small space. By continously controlling its flow, I can change its shape at will without losing a single drop. Imagine what you could do with your abilities."
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:35 pm
As things stood, Red was still inferior in such manners. She knew what Kendo was talking about, but that didn't mean she had the training to make use of it.
"So then what is your definition of true flow then? Obviously I try to keep a body of water on or near me. You however are able to make use of the particle in the air itself. That hardly explains flow to me."
Perhaps she was being a bit to antagonizing. She wasn't trying to anymore, but she didn't like feeling inferior, even though she had chosen to be a student. It was her own fault, so she didn't complain. Her words just didn't come out right.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:43 pm
Holding out the sphere to her he smiled.
"Maintain this sphere..."
Not awaiting a response from her he turned his back to her speaking once again.
"I asked you to created a weapon that is as much a part of you as it is a tool because I want you to gain this level of control. In your case because of that vial you carry about your neck, you need not know the spell to draw forth vapor. You need only concentrate on controlling the form of water. The more condensed you make the flow, the stronger the weapon. The control will come with time. "
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:51 pm
Her eyes darted to the sphere that Kendo was holding up to her. Passively the liquid streamed toward her and reformed itself in front of her face. She might not be able to condense vapor into water, but once it was water, she felt rather confident in what she was able to do. Yet every time she thought she was going to be able to move on easily, he said something that needed more explanation.
"What do you mean by a condensed flow? The water may flow, and the water may condense, but how flow, a motion, condense? That doesn't make sense. She wouldn't look at him. Not because she needed to keep her focus on the sphere to keep it as it was, but because she was looking at the faint image of her reflection. She didn't like looking at herself either, but she found it hard to turn away.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:03 pm
Shaking his head his gaze grew stern.
"Condensed flow is this...."
Speaking his gutteral chant once again, this time the very air seemed to quake from his summon. In the next moment the trees began to sway violently. In the next moment the area erupted in a violent display of raw power. Several of the trees shattered into splinters as veritable hurricane of water tore free from the earth and surrounding plant life. Flowing into a sphere roughly the size of the one he had handed to her. Grunting roughly from the exertion he looked towards the woman.
"Water can assume any form. Flowing it in the tightest formation it can far surpass the density of the thickest ice. I wish to teach you this."
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:14 pm
The sphere before her froze and fell to the ground. Her head slowly turned to face him as her eyes gazed at him very blankly. She didn't show anger, nor fear, or even shock at what he did. Without warning she had almost fallen out of that tree and her instincts hadn't had enough time to catch up. She was surprised yes, but her eyes intended to study the man. Her eyes were always studying or ignoring. Looking into or through you was all she seemed to try and do with them.
"Water, being amorphous, is capable of more feats than ice, which is solid. It can be made thinner, wider, taller, whereas an ice cube can't change it's shape or form. Ice can be crushed, water cannot. In fact water cannot be destoryed, simply thinned or thickened. I see your point. At least I think I do."
She rose to a crouching position and hopped off the tree branch, landing with elegantly on both feet and cathing herself with her right hand. She rose and turned her back to her mentor, veturing deeper into the woods. "Thank you for the stone. I'll have my men pick it up tonight. I'm going to go train my body now. I've been lazy too long. Tomorrow we can either continue or I will invest my time in honing my control over the flow of water. Either way, may I find your health improved next we meet."
The vegetated carpet on which she walked rustled under her feet which carried her to the south east. She knew a little spot there that she for no special reason liked more than most. She'd head there for the time, maybe catch some rest before the moon fell and wake up late in the afternoon. Or maybe she would sleep another day.
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:25 pm
Bowing his head in silence he nodded as she departed. Still holding his hyper condensed sphere in his hand he raised it to the sky, light passing through it with no problem. Strangely it no longer retained its reflective trait. Throwing it upward, it passed through the forest canopy disappearing from view. Before long a torrential downpour persisted blanketing the area in sheets of water. Ignoring the dampness he headed deep into the forest until he could no longer be seen.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:35 pm
The waves were calm. As she sat on the sandy beach and gazed out into the horizon, she felt the warm waters sooth her calves and upper thighs. She had practiced most of the day, but doing the same thing for so long got a bit boring. As the gentle waves came up, the waters seem to reverse their flow slowly, like a thread being pulled out of the hem of a sleeve.
She continued once more with her practice, gathereing the thread upon itself to form a sphere. Unfortunately she didn't have anything near her one which to try the same basic technique Kendo had displayed the night before. The forest was behind her. She was sure to find a loose branch or something somewhere, but didn't want to get up. Though she looked as cold and hateful as always, she was as much at peace with herself as she could be.
"All I have to do is condense the water's flow. By doing that, even if it isn't frozen, I should be able to slice or strip away at pretty much anything. Conversely if I expand it's flow and increase it's volume, it could crush a car like a junkyard compactor. All the while I am to find a way to manipulate this element to forge a weapon that is as much a part of me as it is a tool, but the only tool I ever use is around my neck. I don't feel like forging a weapon if I'll never use it. That goal seems so pointless."
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:22 pm
Valin stood on the beach of the Island. The cool summer breeze was much nicer here than anywhere else. It was nice, all around.
He wore black, loose fitting pants with the red lines along pants legs. They were Corellian Bloodstrips. Given to those Corellians who proved themselves in the midst of battle. It was awaded for courage demonstrated after deliberation.
Anyone could act brave in the heat of the moment. Corellians believed that anyone can be brave in the heat of the moment, but true heroism came when one knew that doing the right thing would hurt - but did it anyway.
Valin was awarded his - the highest class with red piping down the pants leg - after the war when the Galactic Alliance had shown his message to the Corellian military when the Jedi said that he was staying behind on Coruscant even as it was falling so that he could do what a Jedi did: Save lives. He had never earned the yellow class piping, the Corellian government had automactically given him their highest award - it had never been done before.
He wore a grey, loose shirt, as well. Finally, he wore a brown flight jacket. It was light weight and didn't feel out of place too much even in the summer. Upon it rested several patches: The Vibroblade Squadron patch and campaign patches: Battle of Dantoonie, Battle of Fondor, Liberation of Coruscant, Jedi pilot, and more.
He had his fair share of military decorations too: The Corellian Cross (for distinguishing himself while in combat), X-wing Ace Pilot Award, and the Yuuzhan Vong Victory medal.
It meant little - Jedi had no need for such things. It didn't make him feel more important or better than anyone.
Such things were simply a reminder of the horrors of war and why the Jedi were around: To promote peace and unity amongst everyone in the galaxy.
He settled his mind and stared off into the ocean blue...
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:31 pm
She could feel him close to her. He wasn't approaching her, at least not with intent, so he probably had no business with her.
Kendo had created a hurricane with water no larger in volume than this. It either moved really fast, or too fast, to do what it did for such a size. She wasn't even expecting a twister, but she'd never know too well until she decided to get up.
She rose, though not to practice. She had practiced long enough to be able to give up a few minutes. It had yet to dawn on her that among her miniskirts, dresses, and ignored displays of parts of her body best kept concealed, she was the only woman actively roaming the island. User had his daughter, but she was only a girl and seemed to be in the house or on the beach more than anywhere else.
"In all the time I've known you, I've yet to discover what form of training allows you to be as agile and swift as you are. I never see you practice your skills and yet something tells me you're as sharp as ever. Why is that?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:41 pm
Valin continued to stare at the water, not even looking at Red as she spoke to him. He seemed like he was far away, like he wasn't even paying attention.
"The Force," He said to her, "The Force can enhance me, making me stronger and faster. I work out like anyone else, too. By keeping my body in good physical condition, I - of course - am at the best point to do all those silly little jumping and running and acrobatics that Jedi are more famous for."
He smiled and finally looked at Red, "But the Force is what gives me such stronger abilities. The Force is my ally and a powerful ally it is."
The man looked away again, "I think by keeping my mind sharp and by meditating on the Force is how I stay as a sharp as a lightsaber blade."
"So... I guess my training is both mental and physical yet more than that, too. I'm not sure if I answer your question really..." Valin said to her.
He grew quiet once again, still staring away into the ocean. Lost in thought and memories.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 3:51 pm
"Of course," she said, as though she were expecting such an answer. This interested and disgusted her in a bit. If the Force enhanced his abilities, then were he to be cut off from it he would immediately become less able in battle. This wasn't to say he'd be useless, just weaker, easier to defeat. That's the way she saw it.
It was the very reason she fought more than she practiced her magic. Her ability to manipulate water was only to be used when her own instincts and physical abilities proved ineffective or were not good enough alone. It was also the reason she kept an even larger secret. So far, there was little she couldn't do as she was now. She had come across a few tight squeezes however. Couldn't say she didn't enjoy having an ace.
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:06 pm
"I guess you never see me practice because... well, I rarely do anything like practicing," Valin said to Red. He couldn't explain it like he wanted to.
How could she understand? She had never view the world through the Force - it was something she couldn't understand or easily comprehend. She could not actually see the Force with her eyes. Red could watched him pick up rocks - but it to the untrained eyes, it looked like the rock simply decided that it was bored just sitting there and got up to go somewhere.
"I know what you're thinking - if I were to be cut off from the Force, I would be lesser than I am now."
He looked at her, "You are right. You might as well cut off my sight or hearing or my sense of balance..."
"But I could learn to live without it again. I could be... normal. I wouldn't be a Jedi though except in name only. To be a real Jedi, you must be connected and understand Force.
He smiled, "I'm rambling again. Forgive me."
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:13 pm
"You should be more wary of how you summarize what you surmise to be my thoughts. If I have any reason to believe you are in my head, I won't be any less cold to you in retaliation."
Apparently the Force was a bit dangerous to be in tune with. If losing your connection to it meant you pretty much had to rehabilitate to function normally again, then you'd have to either ensure nothing would cut you off from it, or stay away from it altogether. Given the choice, she'd rather not bother with it.
"Your rambling doesn't bother me because I asked a question. I can hardly blame you if you start gettling loose tongued. It's after I ask you stop and you keep going that I get irritated."
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