Jurian's Story

Jurian: You enter the archives of the temple, deep underground. The machines here are ancient, some decayed. You walk around in the darkness, seeing with the Force. Suddenly a holo-statue appears from one of the transmitters. "How may I serve you, noble Jedi," it asks.

Alara: You are in Master Satele Shan's personal study. You are currently hovering above the ground, legs crossed over one another. In the air on both sides of you are chairs, on to each side. Master Shan is sitting in one, and instructing you on this exercise. "Now put a slight spin on the chairs. Make them orbit around you, slowly," she says calmly.

Jadan: You sit on the cold Ryloth ground, meditating. You focus your energy into broadcasting your presence to Tython. This is what you normally do before you go to sleep. As you finish you hear footsteps behind you. You reach out with the Force and sense that these footsteps come from Imperial troopers, looking for you. You turn the face them as they draw near.

Whie: You sit in your room, aboard your ship. Currently orbiting above Ryloth, you are waiting for the order to land. A Jedi has been discovered here, and you are to bring them to the Dark Council. If the Troopers fail. Your holo-com lights up, and you answer it. It was your Master, calling from Korriban. "Whie, I need you to return to Korriban immediately. The Dark Council wishes to see you, for reasons I cannot discuss."
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Darth Riken stands in the presence of the Dark Council, preparing himself for whatever they have planned. He had not prepared enough. "Master Riken, do you know why we have called you here?" the Highmaster asked. "No," Riken said. The Highmaster had a tone to his voice that Riken didn't like. "We have called you to ask of your apprentice. We fear that his loyalty falters from the Sith." Darth Riken almost laughed, "You have no need to fear of that, Master. I have trained him well." The Highmaster seemed to be annoyed at this, "We do not question his skills, nor his abilities. His loyalty is what worries us. Call him, bring him here. Now." Riken didn't like the Highmasters forcefulness when he spoke the last sentence. But he knew better than to question. He activated his holo-com, calling his apprentice.

"Whie, I need you to return to Korriban immediately..."
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Ry'ken Solus was blasting his way through the mansion, packed with guards, teeming with traps. He pushed his way to the master bedroom, where his target stood, next to his father. "Stop, hunter. I don't know why you are here or who sent you, but if you leave I will let you go in peace," the man said, protecting his son. Ry'ken smiled, "I'm here for the boy. Not you, your wife, or anyone else. Just him." Now the father was angry, "My son may only be an apprentice, but I am Sith. You will not have him." The man activated his lightsaber, the blade glowing a bright red.

"You don't want to do that," Ry'ken warned. The Sith smiled, "Oh, but I do," and he charged at Ry'ken. He brought his blade over his head, slightly to his left side, and swung at Ry'ken. The Bounty Hunter merely caught the man's wrist with his left hand, and pulled the lightsaber away with his right. He then kicked the Sith away, deactivating the saber. But the man was quicker than Ry'ken had accounted for, and attempted to use the Force to pull the saber out of Ry'ken's hands. The Hunter grabbed his vibro-blade, and cut the saber hilt just below the blade emitter. The he let go of it.

The son then charged at Ry'ken, fueled by rage. The Hunter stopped the attack by grabbing the son's lightsaber hand, before quickly punching him in the stomach. He dropped the saber, which was noticed by the Sith. The man pulled at the hilt using the Force, but Ry'ken merely put his foot on it. He looked at the Sith, and crushed the lightsaber under his boot.

"Now then, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. The easy way, I just freeze your son in carbonite, and leave. The hard way, I put you to sleep, freeze your son, and then leave. Which is it going to be?" Ry'ken asked, knowing he had the upper hand. The Sith focused his energy into a massive Force Push, and Ry'ken quickly reacted by launching his liquid cable at the man's ankle. As the Sith Pushed, the cable latched around his leg. Ry'ken went airborne, and the Sith quickly followed, tied to the Hunter by his cable. Ry'ken, having faced Force-users before, backflipped in midair, landed on the wall, and jumped off. The Sith hit his head on the ground, and slid across it.

Ry'ken bent over, grabbed the Sith by the throat, and picked him up into the air. "Good night," Ry'ken said before hitting the Sith across the face hard enough to knock back a Gammorean. The Sith sprawled across the floor, unconscious. Ry'ken froze the son, picked him up, and left the mansion.

Two weeks ago Jurian had dueled with Master Seros and had actually beaten him. Jurian a young padawan had defeated the Battlemaster of the Jedi Order in combat. After his battle he was instructed to learn about a mysterious combat form called Juyo, This was not just another training mission however. He was to learn it and master it, a technique that hasn't been mastered in centuries. Today he was seeing his master off as he left for an important mission, but was leaving his padawan behind. The Master had received intel that the Grand Champion of the Great Hunt was on **** and was going to apprehend him. "Master are you sure you don't want my help on this?" Jurian asked his instructor one final time and he received the answer he knew he would receive. "No my young friend, I shall complete this mission alone. You are to begin your studies in the archives, the Council has been informed of your special training. When you have complete mastery of Juyo, they will grant you the rank of Knight and you will ascend to a full member of the Order." Master Seros explained with a calm and relaxed expression. "But Master how will they know if I have completed my training. There is no test for mastery of an extinct form." Jurian said expressing his concern. "You and you alone will know when you have achieved mastery of Juyo. There will be no test, the Force will reveal to you when you have completed your training, and you will in turn inform the Council. The rest of your training lays on your own shoulders now. I have taught you all I can. May the Force be with you." His master finished with the traditional signalling that the conversation was over. "Thank you master, and May the Force be with you as well."

After watching his Masters ship fly off into the distance Jurian made his way to the temple archives. He had been to the archives before while studying with his master but today he went deeper than he has ever been before and he had a feeling that he would reach depths that the greatest Jedi archaeologists haven't visited. As he walks around there were ancient decayed droids and other machines all around him, he was not bothered by the darkness that would have hindered many Jedi's advancement into the depths of the archives thanks to his Miralukan Force sense. Suddenly an ancient simulcron lights up, the being portrayed had plain, generic features and wore simple cream colored robes. "How may I serve you, noble Jedi" it asks him. "I seek the any and all holocrons relating to light saber combat and techniques." Jurian stated to the simulated being. "I am sorry but as you can see the archives here are quite run down and decayed. I cannot locate the individual holocrons you requested. But I can tell you that they were once stored in the databanks adjacent to the old training arena. I can lead you there if you wish." The simulcron responded. "Good, now we're getting somewhere. Lead the way." The young Jedi responded. The Simulcron led him until they were deep in the ancient temple. "This is the training arena. The databanks are on the other side of the arena. This is as far as I can lead you, if you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to call me." The recording stated as it faded away. "Well I guess I'll go check the databanks." Jurian said to himself. He began to walk across the arena but he stopped in the middle and opened himself up to the Force. He was in awe at the power he felt here, the resonant Force energy in the arena was overwhelming, Jurian was wary of opening himself to its secrets quite yet and he continued on his way to the databanks.

He immediately began searching for information about Juyo but the ancient databanks were difficult to navigate. He was able to access training simulcrons for forms one through six, but he could not find one for Juyo. After two hours of searching he found a file describing what Juyo was, which was more than he found in the Order's databanks. The file had the following to say about Juyo:



After reading the document Jurian felt he had learned a lot. Although he had not learned anything about how to utilize Juyo, he had learned the basic characteristics of the form and was ready to begin communing with the Force in an attempt to tap in to old knowledge. But that would have to wait until tomorrow as it was getting late and Jurian was supposed to meet his sister for dinner and meditation. When Jurian told Alara about his assignment from Master Seros, she had promised to help him meditate, as it communing with and utilizing the Force for anything but combat was difficult for him. He left the depths of the old temple archives and made his way back to the modern temple. Upon reaching his sister's quarters he noticed she wasn't there, remembering that she had a meeting with Master Shan, Jurian went to her study and waited outside for his sister. Standing in the hallway outside Master Shan's office Jurian couldn't help but notice his sister's overwhelming presence in the Force, he made a mental note to tell her about the massive presence he felt in the old training arena.

Alara woke easily, an uncharacteristic frown on her face. While the mornings usually welcomed her gracefully, today was slightly different. She hadn't dreamed last night. Dreaming was a regular occurence for the Miralukan girl, she enjoyed the way dreams made her feel like a normal person. She relied on them to take her to far off worlds, do extraordinary things, and ignore the life she was currently living. Alara shrugged. She was, after all, Master Shan's padawan, she supposed that she really shouldn't complain about things like that. Alara got out of bed and got herself ready for the day. She began with the usual meditation, followed by her hygiene routine, and finished by removing her pajamas, folding them up, placing them in the hamper, and putting on her white ropes. All with the help of the Force. It may have been the littlest bit lazy, but it was good practice. Alara quickly slipped her green training sabre into its hip holster before she left her quarters. While the weapon was still just a traiing tool, Alara still hated the very thought of it. She despised the idea that she was carrying a weapon, that she would one day carry a weapon with the power to take the life of another. She shook her head, as if trying to physically remove the thought. Alara walked to her classes, a slight smile dancing across her features. She had remembered that she was going to be seeing her brother today. Usually, the pair were inseparable, but for the last few weeks, Jurian had been training exclusively with his Master, the Jedi Battlemaster himself, Jun Seros. He was nearly a knight in his own right, and Alara was very proud of him. Alara smiled wider as she walked to her classes. Her brother was such an amazing Jedi. He weilded two sabres, and was a very accomplished duelist, or at least he had been the last Alara had seen him. He was more than willing to fight for the side of justice, and with his own two hands at that. He was so much more of an admirable Jedi than Alara would ever be. She sighed. "After all this time, I'm still hiding behind my brother..." She whispered to herself. Unbeknownst to Alara, she was being watched. The majority of the school knew Alara for what she truly was: one of the most gifted, if not the most gifted, padawan at the Temple. "There she goes." The said, their tones reverant and fearful. "Alara, Master Shan's padawan." Voices whispered in awe, the white robes doing nothing to dispel the ostracism she had instantly garnered when she walked through the Temple doors. Alara could do nothing to quash the gossip and the rumors. She could hardly approach the other students, let alone talk to them. Alara, instead, attended her classes like usual.

During classes, it was the same as every other day. "Excellent work Alara." "You've exceeded my expectations yet again Alara." "Everyone watch Alara, she's mastered the technique perectly." The only course in which she wasn't surpassing all her peers was sabre combat. There she was merely average. Regardless, she progressed steadily enough, and whatever she learned, she remembered. Her teacher's praise did nothing to lift her steadily worsening mood. Not dreaming had been one thing, but the students not talking to her, and the gulf between her and them widening was almost too much for the poor teenage girl to take. After her general lessons, Alara retreated to her Master's private study, where she would begin her advanced curriculum for the day. It had started innocently enough, Master Shan had asked her to levitate. Alara rose into the air gracefully, her legs crossed, her palms resting on her thighs, just below the knee. Next, her Master had asked her to lift two chairs into the air, while Master Shan was still sitting in one. The chairs rose evenly, the real issue was once her Master began actively pushing down on her testing materials. Alara maintained perfect form. Then came the next step of the exercise. "Now put a slight spin on the chairs. Make them orbit around you, slowly," she says calmly. Alara nodded, smiling sweetly. As if a large hand had absentmindedly flicked the floating chairs, they began to spin. After a moment, they slowed, and then maintained a constant speed. As the chairs settled into their movement, Alara began the second part of her Master's request. Again, the chairs began to move, much more smoothly this time. The chairs picked up a little speed, and the maintained a walking pace as they orbited Alara. This continued for a few minutes until Master Shan once again exerted herself upon the chairs, attempting to halt both their rotation and revolutions. Alara held firm. She battled against the unseen forces that buffeted her assignment. She began to grin wolfishly, the way her brother did when he began to truly relish a chalenge. Her grin was much less terrifying than her brother's. His usually meant someone had earned his most ernest attempts to destroy them. Alara, on the other hand, was excited. She hadn't been pushed this hard for a while. She doubled her pace, of both revolution and rotation. All the while, her Master pushed her. It became a contest for Alara, one she felt the need to win. However, as time wore on, and Alara pushed, her Master began to gain the upper hand. Alara became frustrated. Here she was one of the best force users in the whole Temple, hand picked by her Master, and she couldn't keep up with this simple little game? Alara redoubled her efforts, picking up the speed as much as she could. Finally, she returned to her normal pace, before slowing, and returning the chairs to the ground. Though she was still floating, her breathing was ragged, and she glistened with sweat. Slowly, her hands clenched into fists, and she floated gently to the ground. Shan stood from the chair she was sitting in and walked over to Alara. Slowly, she knelt, and placed a comforting hand on Alara's shoulder. "Something is wrong Alara." Her Master stated. It wasn't a question. "Of course." Alara said, upset. "It's not the difficulty of the training. I know that that makes you happy. You told me yourself that you enjoy the challenge." Her master said, her words soothing, but they felt like daggers. "What's the point of being a freak." Alara snapped. "What's the point of all this? So I can never be normal? To ruin my chances of friendship with the others?" Alara spat, her words full of venom. "Patience, my padawan." Master Shan crooned. "You are exceptionally gifted. These powers come with a price and a responsibility. The reason I chose you wasn't to turn you into a tool, to make you unapproachable. I chose you so I could nurture the gift I see in you. To give you the control you desire. You will come to terms with your gifts in time. Now get up and go. You're dismissed for the day. Your brother's been here for over twenty minutes now, I'm sure he's waiting to see you." Master Shan said, sighing as she watched Alara bound out of the room. She was such a child. To wield that kind of power at such a young age was horrible. It made you an outcast.

Alara nearly skipped out of Master Shan's study. She bounded over to her brother, who was leaning up against a wall and hugged him tight. "Hello brother!" Alara said, a massive smile on her face. "I'm so happy to see you!" Alara looped her arm through his and nearly dragged him with her, causing quite a commotion. Alara ambled for a moment, hugging her brother's arm and enjoying his presence. After a while, they began to attract stares. "Isn't that Alara? Who's that guy she's with?" Some of the furtive glances were jealously for the position of the boy Alara was holding onto. Others knew Jurian from their classes, and remarked simply, "Siblings. How sweet." Others still were shocked, "Is Alara smiling? Since when does she, you know... hang out with people?" Alara ignored all of these things and looked up at her brother, smiling. "So, I was supposed to help you meditate today. What for big brother?" Alara asked sweetly.

Jurian was leaning up against the wall and smiled as his sister skipped out of her master's study, she always so care free and happy. The only time he ever saw her upset was the few times he'd observed her lightsabre training. Of course Jurian didn't know that Alara was regularly upset because of her talents. As Alara skipped up to Jurian she wrapped in a tight hug, "Hello brother! I'm so happy to see you" she said with a huge smile adorning her face. Jurian couldn't help but smile as well, even though his training was difficult. Alara looped her arm through his, and dragged him through the temple. After a while she looked up at Jurian smiling, "So, I was supposed to help you meditate today. What for big brother?" she asked him sweetly. Jurian stopped walking for a moment and then smiled back at her, "Well, I promised to get dinner with you before we got to work, so how about I tell you when we get there?" He responded with a slight chuckle. He knew she would be disappointed that he was making her wait and despite his Jedi training, it was always fun to tease his little sister. There weren't many restaurants or cafes on Tython, but they found a nice quiet corner of the cafeteria in which to enjoy each other's company. After they sat down with their food Jurian was the first to speak, "Well I suppose I can't wait you much longer. Master Seros has given me a very important task. One that, if I succeed, will count as my trials of Skill, Spirit, and Insight. I am to study in the ancient temple ruins and learn an ancient combat form. One not used for centuries, it was abandoned by the Order because of its deadly nature. What little I discovered in the ruins today told me that it posed a threat to the practitioners as well, if an unprepared Jedi attempts to learn and master the technique it might lead him to the dark side. Master Seros feels that I am the only one qualified to rediscover this ancient form. And if I'm going to do combat with those Sith bastards, I'm gonna want a form as fierce and deadly as theirs. This task involves as much meditation and communing with the force as it does combat training. As you know I'm not the best at meditation so I was hoping that you would be able to help me with that part some. Unfortunately with Master Seros gone, there is no one to teach the younglings' and initiates' sabre training. I was tasked with their training until Seros's return, and they missed their morning class because I was in the ruins, I can't rightly ask them to miss their training again because of my needs. I hope you won't be too upset that I have to reschedule. If you are free late tonight, or early in the morning I will be free then." He explained to his sister. He could immediately sense her disappointment and he felt bad, but he couldn't keep the younglings waiting, and with Master Seros gone, he was the best duelist in the order. He took a drink from his coffee and sighed. "I am sorry sis, I know we haven't had much time to see each other lately, what with me preparing for that duel with Master Seros, and my new training, and your studies with Master Shan. I promise we'll have more time together once I complete this task and Master Seros returns from his mission." He truly hoped she understood he had no control over the situation. A Jedi's life is about sacrifices, and the biggest one Jurian has to make is his relationship to his sister. He knows they will always be close but they won't spend near as much time together as they progress in their studies and rank in the order.

Alara pouted as her brother skirted around her question. "Well, I promised to get dinner with you before we got to work, so how about I tell you when we get there?" He responded with a slight chuckle. She smiled at the thought of spending dinner with her brother, but pouted again immediately, as if to remind Jurian he was till in trouble. "Fine," she said grumpily. "But you're telling me everything as soon as we sit down." She declared, making the matter final. There weren't many restaurants or cafes on Tython, but they found a nice quiet corner of the cafeteria at the Temple in which to enjoy each other's company. After they sat down with their food Jurian was the first to speak, as Alara refused to talk first. A look of childish insistence and false anger on her face. "Well I suppose I can't make you wait for much longer." Jurian began, and Alara nodded anxiously in anticipation, almost viciously. "Master Seros has given me a very important task. One that, if I succeed, will count as my trials of Skill, Spirit, and Insight. I am to study in the ancient temple ruins and learn an ancient combat form. One not used for centuries, it was abandoned by the Order because of its deadly nature. What little I discovered in the ruins today told me that it posed a threat to the practitioners as well, if an unprepared Jedi attempts to learn and master the technique it might lead him to the dark side."

Alara gasped. What had previously been joy and pride for her brother's accomplishments turned quickly into fear and concern. Alara tried to speak up, to make him stop talking about such dangerous things, but all she managed was a squeak. He continued on, the voice inside her head screaming at her to make him stop. "Master Seros feels that I am the only one qualified to rediscover this ancient form. And if I'm going to do combat with those Sith bastards, I'm gonna want a form as fierce and deadly as theirs. This task involves as much meditation and communing with the force as it does combat training. As you know I'm not the best at meditation so I was hoping that you would be able to help me with that part some. Unfortunately with Master Seros gone, there is no one to teach the younglings' and initiates' sabre training. I was tasked with their training until Seros's return, and they missed their morning class because I was in the ruins, I can't rightly ask them to miss their training again because of my needs. I hope you won't be too upset that I have to reschedule. If you are free late tonight, or early in the morning I will be free then." He explained to his sister. Alara, finally calm, nodded. While she hated that he was supposed to undertake such a dangerous task, she felt reassured that she would be there to help him every step of the way. This time, she thought. This time I'll protect you big brother... Then, another thought surfaced. He had said he would be teaching the sabre training. That meant he'd have even less time to spend with her. All other thoughts temporarily forgotten, Alara renewed her pouting.

"That's not fair!" She exclaimed. "Have them make some other Master teach it! You're just a padawan, and more importantly, you're my brother and I haven't seen you since forever. It's just not fair!" She complained, throwing a small tantrum that garnered odd glances from their peers. Jurian took a drink from his coffee and sighed. "I am sorry sis, I know we haven't had much time to see each other lately, what with me preparing for that duel with Master Seros, and my new training, and your studies with Master Shan. I promise we'll have more time together once I complete this task and Master Seros returns from his mission." Alara only sighed. He was right, as usual. "Fine," she finally relinquished. "However, the second that Master of yours gets back he and I are having a chat, I don't care how if I'm just a padawan!" Alara exclaimed. Her dinner finished, she turned to leave and head back to her room to study. "I'll be seeing you immediately after your lessons end big brother. If I find out you've snuck off without me to try and do that meditation by yourself you will have one very cranky little sister. Goodnight for now brother, I'll see you later." With that, Alara flounced off towards her room, preparing herself to study. If Jurian was finding a form to combat Sith ferocity, it couldn't be good. She would need every ounce of control and preparedness she could muster.

"Fine, However the second that Master of yours gets back he and I are having a chat, I don't care how if I'm just a Padawan." she said heatedly before turning to leave. Before she actually left however she turned her head and said quite fiercely "I'll be seeing you immediately after your lessons end big brother. If I find out you've snuck off without me to try and do that meditation by yourself you will have one very cranky little sister. Goodnight for now brother, I'll see you later." Jurian thought about protesting but decided any further discussion was better left for later after his sister had calmed down, she was always upset when Jurian had to cancel, but she usually calmed down rather quickly. "Alright sister, I'll see you after my lesson. Love you." He added the last part, not only because it was true, but because he knew that if the last words he said to her were 'I love you', that she would not be able to stay mad at him. With his sister gone, Jurian was suddenly a lot less hungry. He picked at his meal until it was time to teach his lesson.

He made his way to the new training arena. When he arrived he found the younglings already in the arena waiting for their master. They were surprised to see Jurian here. One youngling stepped forward and spoke, "Master Jurian, where is Master Seros? The lesson is about to begin." "Great, Master Seros didn't inform his classes that I'll be their instructor, I guess I'm just lucky I've taught alongside Seros a few times, so they at least know me." He took a deep breath and spoke to them, "Master Seros has gone offworld for a mission of great importance. He has bestowed upon me the honor of training you. I have taught alongside him in the past, so I am confident that I will be able to train you. Now tomorrow after I've had time to prepare, I will teach you about the different types of light sabres. I know you aren't supposed to build one until you have a master of your own, but honestly, I really like talking about the different types of sabres, and it is valuable knowledge for you all to have. But as I said that lesson is for tomorrow. Today I will give you a demonstration of the six forms. Master Seros, has of course taught you form I, as is standard procedure, but most of you will choose to go on to study at least one of the other forms and knowing which form will suite you best is vital to the decision about which form to study." With that done he activated a training droid and pulled out his red light sabre. He proceeded to give demonstrations of the up and down sides of each of the six forms. He stopped and explained every time one of the younglings had a question, by the time he finished he realized he had held the lesson over by half an hour. "I'm sorry everyone but our time was up a while ago, and you are all due back in your beds in half an hour. I'm sorry I cut into your recreational time. Until Master Seros returns you will only have one lesson a day, the evening one., I have some important training that I need to complete." He explained before sending the younglings off.

Jurian made his way to his sister's quarters he felt bad that he was so late, but she would probably understand. He knocked on her door but she didn't answer. He grabbed his key, they had each given each other a copy of their keys for emergency situations, although he didn't feel this was an emergency, Alara had been quite clear she wanted to see him tonight, and he didn't want to wait outside. As he walked in, he found Alara meditating, she noticed him walk in and he greeted her, "Hey sis, I'm sorry I'm late, the lesson ran long. And please, do not confront Master Seros, is the battlemaster of the order, I am the next battlemaster of the order. I am going to be busy, you are extremely gifted and will no doubt also be busy. But we both know we will always make time for each other. There is no need to get worked up, and those negative emotions are harmful. You know better than that." He said lecturing his sister. "That being said, I love you, now come here and give me the hug, you didn't give me after dinner." He smiled hugging his sister.

Alara had stormed away from her brother pouting, and by the time she had reached her quarters, she hadn't become any less angry. Further, her brother's stupid little quip, telling her that he loved her, was doing nothing to make her less grumpy. She knew such feelings were stupid, but she couldn't help herself. She just wanted to scream sometimes. Wasn't that even a little understandable? A girl just wanting to spend some real time with her brother, the way they used to back home. It just wasn't fair. However, as she completed her assignments, Alara's anger slowly became a dull simmer and, finally, faded completely. Before starting her meditation, Alara looked at her clock. Knowing Jurian, he was probably overdoing it and was explaining every minute detail about saber combat to the other younglings. Alara chuckled. The way he came alive while he was talking about dueling was so childish, and yet, so admirable. Through the way he talked you could tell he was more than just interested in the subject, he loved it, lived it, breathed it, and dreamed about it when he slept. Alara chuckled to herself once more. Despite the way that growing up at the Temple had made him more mature, in some ways, he was still just a little boy with his toys. Her anger and irritation behind her, Alara allowed herself to slip deeply into the meditative trance that was required for attuning with the Force. Alara searched her hardest for Juyo, but found nothing. There was more than a few things wrong with her attempt though. It wasn't her trial, Jurian wasn't there, and she wasn't the least bit interested in swordplay. Alara sighed. He really did get himself into the weirdest things. Abandoning her search, Alara instead turned her attention to the Temple. She allowed her consciousness to widen, and envelope her entire wing of the Temple. She felt herself catch little tidbits of the student's lives. Some were doing homework, others were practicing their training. Some meditated like she was doing, their minds bumping into hers before shirking away from her presence. She sensed not only admiration, but fear. It was an odd sensation. They respected her presence, but shied away from it. She hated the standoffish feeling it made. She felt as if the students had given her the title of Knight long before her master and the council had. She hated their resentment and their jealousy, but most of all, Alara hated herself. She hated the way she seemed so unapproachable. She hated her own abilities, and she hated the way that people treated her for something she had no control of. Her anger getting the best of her, she decided to leave her meditation, besides, Jurian was here. She didn't get up to answer the door, instead, opting to stay where she was floating, and letting Jurian let himself in.

He knocked on her door but she didn't answer, still seated in the air, legs crossed, and bobbing slightly. Jurian grabbed his spare key, as they had each given each other a copy of their keys for emergency situations, and unlocked her door. As he walked in, he greeted her. "Hey sis, I'm sorry I'm late, the lesson ran long. And please, do not confront Master Seros, he is the battlemaster of the order, I am the next battlemaster of the order. I am going to be busy, you are extremely gifted and will no doubt also be busy. But we both know we will always make time for each other. There is no need to get worked up, and those negative emotions are harmful. You know better than that. That being said, I love you, now come here and give me the hug, you didn't give me after dinner." He smiled, hugging his sister. Alra half-heartedly returned the embrace, coming down from her place in the air, for just a moment, before resuming her position in her invisible seat. As Jurian took a seat in the chair in her room, Alara scoffed. "There's no need to use that tone with me, brother." Alara said, her voice calm and even, but full of a form of sarcasm that told her brother exactly what he needed to know about her current mood. "I know better than that, of course I know better than that. You should remember that my grades are the best in every subject other than that idiotic dueling you love so much. As for Master Seros, I WILL be speaking with him whether you like it or not. As your sister, I have more right to your time than anyone on Coruscant. Of course I will be respectful and the like when dealing with him, as I am with all my teachers and all the Masters, however, I will have very choice words for him after I consult Master Shan. Regardless, we aren't here to discuss such things, we're here for your training so come join me, those chairs are uncomfortable. Once you've taken a seat next to me, we can begin. I'll do my best to amplify both your desire to attain the knowledge you seek, and your ability to gain said knowledge." Alara said matter-of-factly, as if she did things like this every day. When she was finished, she patted lightly in the space next to her, as if there were a bench in the air for them to sit on.