The days drifted by, marked by Vilyam's tireless dedication to mastering lightsaber forms under the unwavering scrutiny of Knight Kadro Vess.
This intense training regimen was fueled by a significant revelation by Knight Kadro Vess after witnessing and experiencing a discernible fragment of Vilyam's latent Force potential during his initial, somewhat clumsy, attempt at a Force Push.
Weeks went on with relentless training in the Shii Cho form, until one day Knight Kadro Vess acknowledged Vilyam's efforts in mastering the form, finding him rather excellent for his age.
The Masters themselves, alongside certain of the Knights who were particularly renowned for their sharp perception and keen insight, all felt it very keenly.
It was as though the very Force itself was observing the temple with an all-encompassing gaze, as if it was watching over everything.
Following this, Master Adega took it upon himself to undertake the task of training the young Initiate Vilyam in the Jedi way, which is the path followed by those who strive to serve the Force itself.
Vilyam stood directly across from Master Adega who sat with his legs crossed, although he was floating a few inches above the ground.
"Sit, young one."
Master Adega gestured to a large comfortable pillow.
"Listen carefully. Not with your ears alone… but with the quiet places inside you where thoughts fade and something deeper begins to speak."
Master Adega closed his eyes and continued.
"The Force is not merely power. It is not a weapon, nor a tool to be grasped like a blade."
The Master waved his hand and a series of spherical objects began floating around him like he was the center of their orbit.
"It is the living current that flows through all things. Imagine the universe as an endless ocean, and every star, every creature, every breath is a ripple upon its surface. The Force is both the water and the motion!"
"It surrounds us. It penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."
The Master continued unabated
"Within every living being, there is a spark that resonates with this current, although most, if not all cannot perceive it!"
"Some perceive this feeling as a direct form of intuition, while others experience it as a deeply ingrained instinct. The key for a Jedi lies in mastering the ability to listen attentively to this inner guidance, rather than attempting to impose their own will or interpretations upon it."
Master Adega gestured casually and the orbs orbiting around him began to travel to Vilyam, orbiting around him like he was their sun.
"When one acts in perfect harmony with the Force, their movements become remarkably effortless, resembling leaves gracefully carried by the wind, they arrive without struggle, yet always reach their destination."
After saying this Master Adega's expression grew stern and a he suddenly had a distant look in his eyes.
"But take care… for the Force has two expressions."
"There is the light, which flows from peace, compassion, and balance. It is calm, steady, like a still lake reflecting the stars with perfect clarity."
"Through it, a Jedi protects, heals, and understands."
"And there is the dark side, a faster, and louder expression of the Force."
"It answers quickly, like a storm that promises strength in the crash of thunder. It feeds on fear, anger, and desire. Many are tempted by it, because it feels like control. But in truth, it is a chain. The more one uses it, the less one is free."
He once more waved his hands and as he did so the orbiting orbs began to crumble before him, even as they spun.
"A Jedi does not seek to dominate the Force. That path leads to ruin. Instead, we open ourselves to it, as a window opens to sunlight."
"We let it guide our actions, trusting that it sees further than we do."
"Above all else, remember that the Force isn't something that you simply use."
"It is something you become part of."
"When you are still… when your mind no longer clings, fears, or demands… you will feel it."
"Not as power, but as presence."
"And in that moment, you will realize you were never separate from it at all."
"Merely deaf to its voice!"
As Vilyam listened intently to the Master's actions, a profound sense of clarity washed over him. His sapphire blue eyes sparkled with awe as he watched the Master almost without effort control the dust remnants of the orbs that he had crushed into fragments.
He closed his eyes, his focus pushed to the maximum as he tried to reach out to the living Force.
The Master then expertly reformed the scattered pieces into a single, unified mass, which was noticeably larger than any of the individual orbs had been prior to their complete combination. He then carefully watched as Vilyam reached out with his small hands.
Initially, the large orb started to tremble quite subtly, but the shaking quickly intensified to the point where it was almost vibrating as it lifted itself off the ground.
Vilyam's brows furrowed, a bead of sweat trickling from his dark hair and down his temple before falling.
However, just before it could even begin its descent towards the ground, the object began to float instead, morphing into a singular orb composed of salty water that lifted off the ground and began to orbit around Vilyam's head.
In contrast to the bead of sweat, which was moving with a certain degree of rapidity, the larger orb of stone moved at a decidedly sluggish pace, its orbital speed being a small fraction of that of the watery bead.
Vilyam's sweat continued to trickle down his face and head, adding more and more beads of moisture to the orbit around his eyes.
Several of these droplets ended up clashing with the large stone that formed the base, leaving a film of salty liquid glistening on its surface.
"Don't force it, relax and let it flow through you, let the Force flow with your intent."
Master Adega's calm voice resonated deeply within Vilyam's mind. Initially, it seemed to momentarily disrupt his concentration, but it quickly transitioned into a calming presence, an anchor that allowed Vilyam to channel the Force with greater fluidity and effectiveness.
Vilyam started to move his hands in a way that resembled spinning something, and the stone, which was now glistening with sweat, began to revolve around him like a planet rather than a simple stone, spinning in place as it moved around his body.
A slow, knowing smile spread across Adega's face as he observed this unfold, his sharp, cat-like teeth glinting subtly in the dim ambient light.
This child has a gift; seeing him grow from a simple farm boy into one of the fastest learning young Initiates to ever grace this temple is an immense privilege.
Hours passed like minutes and Vilyam's control over the sweat-soaked stone orb increased little by little until Master Adega was satisfied with his results and spoke up.
"You are now permitted to return to your room to get some rest. Please feel free to take the orb with you, as you will need it to continue practicing your skills."
Vilyam bowed to his Master respectfully before turning towards the door, the previously floating orb clasped in his hands.
It was late in the evening, and the training yard was deserted of both younglings and older initiates.
However, as Vilyam scanned across the furthest reaches of the training field, he could just make out the faint silhouettes of two figures standing facing each other.
He had a good rapport with two knights in particular: Knight Gnossian and Knight Kadro Vess.
What are they doing out so late? Are they doing something fun?
As Vilyam contemplated this situation further, both of the knights simultaneously removed their outer robes and reached for the lightsabers that were dangling from their sides.
The unmistakable SNAP HISS sound that accompanies a lightsaber activation echoed through the darkness, causing two distinct beams of light to suddenly fill the surrounding void, one a vibrant blue, the other a warm yellow.
Knight Gnossian raised his blue lightsaber in a precise manner, a specific technique that Vilyam had painstakingly learned from the ancient holocron.
This maneuver was Shien, a lightsaber form renowned for its ability to seamlessly transition from a defensive posture into a powerful offensive one.
Facing him directly, Knight Kadro Vess underwent a transformation, adopting a form that appeared significantly more aggressive than before.
This specific form was immediately recognizable to Vilyam as Ataru form.
Knight Kadro Vess initiated the initial maneuver, his physical form dissolving into a vibrant, blurred streak of yellow light as he advanced toward Knight Gnossian.
Gnossian, in contrast, remained completely still, his eyes fixed intently on the path of the approaching Vess.
Knight Gnossian's arms moved with a blurring speed that was equally impressive as he swiftly brought his lightsaber up to meet the incoming attack.
KRRZZT
Gnossian successfully deflected Kadro Vess's attack, immediately following with a counterattack.
However, Kadro Vess cleverly used the momentum from his initial attack combined with Gnossian's own defensive posture to execute a backflip, which allowed him to narrowly avoid being hit by Gnossian's counter.
Gnossian's shot forward attempting to close the distance and attack once more, this time with a wide sweeping horizontal attack but Kadro Vess slid under the attack and thrust his off-hand towards Gnossian's abdomen.
FWOOSH
The Force exerted a powerful push against Gnossian, sending him reeling backward as his feet dug into the ground, leaving trails of disturbed dirt in his wake before he finally regained his footing.
Kadro Vess launched himself forward towards Gnossian, his yellow lightsaber slicing through the air in a wild, erratic pattern.
He was aiming for a multi-target assault, hoping to overwhelm Gnossian's defenses and push them to the brink.
Gnossian found himself struggling significantly to effectively block the incoming attacks.
As a result, he couldn't identify any suitable openings or advantageous positions for launching a counterattack.
Consequently, instead of solely focusing on blocking, he switched to a more proactive approach, actively dodging each incoming strike.
He moved with incredible speed and agility, weaving his body in a blur as he expertly avoided each incoming attack.
Vilyam was awestruck as he watched the two battle-hardened warriors engage in a spar, his untrained eyes only catching a glimpse of their movement the very instant they clashed.
KRRZZT
BZZZT
KRRZZT
Their movements were so incredibly swift, especially during both the attack and the defense phases, that it genuinely seemed as if they were weaving a complex web of light around themselves, with distinct two-toned sections.
The sight of this dazzling display caused a noticeable sparkle to appear in Vilyam's deep sapphire blue eyes as he intently watched their actions.
Will I be able to fight like this someday?
His thoughts came to an abrupt end as the two Jedi clashed once more.
KRRZZT
They continued their relentless back-and-forth, switching between the seven primary lightsaber combat forms, moving from defensive stances to more aggressive ones, clashing with each other until they ultimately separated once again, breathing heavily as the physical strain of fighting an equally matched opponent began to take its toll on their stamina.
"How about we settle this with the Force!"
Kadro Vess then proceeded to deactivate his yellow lightsaber by turning it off, before carefully placing it back onto the strap that was secured around his side.
Gnossian let out a slightly exhausted breath before he smiled, putting away his blue lightsaber in a similar manner.
Facing each other, the two knights adopted a wide stance.
As the Force began to manifest within them, it became visible in the form of pressure waves emanating from their hands.
Gnossian's smile widened and he spoke, "Ready?"
Kadro Vess's eyes flared with intensity and he replied, "Always!"
It was as though they had reached a silent understanding; both knights simultaneously raised their hands toward one another, and a palpable wave of invisible pressure seemed to surge into the space between them.
FWOOSH-
The air between them visible rippled as they continued to test their mastery of Force Push against one another until-
SHOOM-
Gnossian was sent flying backward with considerable force, his attempted Force push abruptly collapsing.
As a result, a line of saliva, mixed with blood, sprayed from his mouth as he landed roughly on the soft grass.