#sithacolyte

It took a while for this meditation to achieve any tangible results, Kai realized. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes like hours. If there was anything she had gotten down pat by now, it was breathing. Could not go wrong with that one! Her chest rose and fell with deep, rhythmic breaths that made her feel in control of things, in command of herself both physically and mentally. Her psyche was crystal clear, making it easy for Kai to attain crisp focus of whatever she put her mind to. Even Verrin's prolonged absence did not seem to tarnish her efforts. Initial anxiety at his ongoing disappearance made the acolyte curious, but Kai never let it get the best of her to the point where she would suddenly yank herself off the floor and leave the chamber in search of the Sith Lord.

There could have been a small element of fear playing a part in that? He never gave her permission to leave the room, after all.

Several more minutes passed. Given the bland setup of the room, Kai did not have much to play with but she did have the equipment she came in here with. Gloved hand moved to tap the edge of the sheathed vibro-blade on her belt before removing the weapon and balancing it on the fingertips of both hands, lifting it to the level of her eyes which then studied the object briefly before beginning to close. Within seconds, the vibro-blade began to tremble slightly, before finally lifting a few centimeters off Kai's gloved fingertips. The Korun's eyes remained closed as the weapon began to shift higher, assuming a slow clockwise spin. One, two.... feet up, one, two.... feet down. Repeat. Control the angle of the blade and the velocity of the rotations, and then--

--CLANG!!

Spinning out of control, the blade smacked down upon the floor, its tip embedding itself dangerously close to Kai's left foot. The acolyte's eyes flew open as an echoes of a message she had heard in her mind only seconds ago replayed themselves again, and again.

"Come to my office, Acolyte Kai Tsintah - I seek your counsel.... "

"So... what you're saying isn't so much that you need someone to show you things, but that you're choosing to bind yourself with that particular chain.  You want to chain yourself to a master, a mentor, or some kind of guardian."

She was looking for both, but not to chain herself - to learn. To experience. Evolve. Why did he always have to put everything in such blatant terms?

At the same time, the Sith Lord did not begrudge or ridicule her way of thinking. This encouraged Kai and calmed her nerves. "Sometimes, temporary chains are necessary in order to attain independent goals," she agreed. "As to what I desire? Knowledge, yes. Power, definitely." Safety? Went hand in hand with the previous two. Comfort? The Korun could live without it given the hardships in which she was raised, but even she could recognize the potential in the latter, from time to time. Love? No. Far too elusive, perhaps unattainable, even. Every ounce of love Kai Tsintah possessed, died with her father on Nar Shaddaa. She could not even recall what that felt like, anymore - to love someone, and to know that they cared in return - enough to lay down their life for hers.

Thankfully, Darth Verrin was already veering off onto a different track, the monologue continued. His hand came to clasp her own and she froze for a moment, still unused to the tactile contact and the uncertainty even the most benign touch awakened in the girl. The Zabrak appeared not to have noticed any of it and guided her toward the Library, continuing to explain matters of trial and failure. The longer he went on, the more relaxed and comfortable Kai became. There was something about the older man's voice that she would come to find unusually soothing.

They would traverse the Library proper before entering his office. But this one was different from the spartan chamber with the desk and insane piles of relics, tomes and other memorabilia. This was an empty room. A puzzled look became her as Kai turned to look at Verrin with a questioning glance. Why were they here?

Invited to sit, Kai did as she was bid, echoing Verrin's precise, simple movements. "Meditation is at the core of our training...." the Sith Lord began, his voice seemingly gaining in emphasis and power whether he was aware of projecting both, or not. She listened as he went over the basics of a Sith warrior's training and how the Force and combat technique were one. Her hand was suddenly released and the Zabrak drew to his feet, creating some distance between the two of them. From his robes he withdrew a weapon, not unlike a lightsaber but different. The hilt was longer, Kai observed at once.

I thought that meditation was something to help me find peace, but it isn't.

What was it, then, this key to absolute control?

The Zabrak's feet shifted, both ends of his weapon igniting in a splendid show of violet plasma. She watched with bewilderment and awe, as he began to execute a series of movements - slowly at first - then faster, and faster.... Yet every motion was deliberate, precise and lethal. Soon enough, Verrin's body and his weapon moved quicker than her eyes could keep up with, as Kai made every effort to follow the man's instructions.

"Reach out with your senses.  Don't just watch with your eyes.  Try to feel what I'm doing in the Force too."

Keeping in line with his suggestion, Kai stretched out with her senses and delved head first into the matrix of glowing lines created by the intersection of all living things. It filled her from within and surrounded her simultaneously. And although she could no longer see Verrin's silhouette, nor could she trace the flashing trail of his twin blades, Kai focused deeply, seeking Verrin's life aura. His line seemed to flicker and disappear, before appearing in a glowing arc that finally came to a stand still in her vision. Suddenly, she turned, sliding forward into a knee, forcing her body to spin about a half circle.

And there he was, the Sith Lord's majestic twin beams momentarily disappearing from view as the room was once again, brought to a quiet pause.

Something had to be said for the element of surprise.

It was not that the effeminate robot suddenly appeared in accordance with Kai's hopes. It was the fact that she had stumbled into the wrong place entirely and was likely saved by Maggie's timely appearance. Otherwise, the newly minted acolyte could have easily ended up on some angry Darth's torture rack. Given that the droid offered her something akin to a smile, Kai quickly replied with a silly grin of her own. Her eyebrows rose in embarrassment as she quickly acknowledged Maggie's kind offer to take her to the correct location.

"I do appreciate this, Maggie. I hope you keep this between the two of us, me getting lost like this." Not a single mention of the fact that she had a datapad with the detailed map of the facility ~on her person, and simply opted not to use it. A quick shuffle of deft feet allowed her to catch up with the robot with minimum effort. Before she knew it, they were both on their way back to the Library, crossing the main floor and heading well past the perimeter of patrolling Guardians. As they passed a row of paintings depicting  former Temple Lords Kai lowered her gaze as it now skimmed past Maggie's heels. She could almost feel their contempt of her, though the young woman consoled herself with the thought that it was probably all in her all-too-vivid imagination.

Moments later they would arrive at an inconspicuous door which the droid opened without ceremony. Oh, boy.... now this looks rather familiar....! Kai thought, finally lifting her gaze from the floor and gradually bringing it to level with  the spartan furnishings and the messy desk she had seen at least once before. I should have just come here to begin with; why did I think that an Overseer would have chosen some high and grand, lofty office at the top of the Academy? Fool. Next time, use common sense.

While Kai stood there, scolding herself (and silently grateful that the chamber was rather dimly lit), Maggie was busy admonishing an Imperial Kaar. Something about a light source and a lamp, the Korun was far too busy attempting to make herself less visible by standing directly behind the droid to catch every word. Alas, Darth Verrin was only slightly preoccupied, not legally blind. And then there was that little pesky thing, known as the Force. It probably screamed her life aura the moment she tiptoed inside.

"Good day, Acolyte.  What's on your mind?"

Sliding from behind Maggie's feminine posterior, Kai shuffled her feet and bowed in greeting. Her gaze instantly caught the outline of a rather large leaf which the Sith Lord appeared to be studying most intently. "Apologies in disturbing you, venerable Lord." Still distracted by the leaf, she forced her gaze upward and away from the contents of Verrin's desk. "I was unsure of where else to go. My people have a saying that knowledge and experience go hand in hand for achieving success. You are the most knowledgeable individual I know. Thus, I came to ask if you would consider.... teaching me the ability to move and manipulate objects using the power of the Force."