The Second Form [Remus]

[Satkia Beltrak]

Satkia was sitting in one of her favorite spots in the gardens of the Jedi compound. She loved being under one of the older trees that had been planted. It was scheduled enough so she could hold lessons there for her students and not so isolated either when she was just spending time on her own.

She had let her most recently promoted student, Remus, that they would meet there to continue his training. She was curious to see how her pupil was doing.

Dressed in black pants and a loose green tunic, the petite redhead was relieved not to feel so tired, especially as today's session would be physically demanding as she was to teach Makashi to Remus.

[Remus]

The gardens of the Yavin VIII temple hummed with a gentle warmth and a welcoming tone. It was impossible to deny the power of the Light Side here; the generations of Jedi training within his temple resonated through the ages, and on this day the Jedi Apprentice Remus could feel its invigorating vigour like he would on any other day. It had not been long since he was granted the title of Apprentice and all of its assets, but Remus was already relishing the freedom he had as a Jedi student without the obligation to stay in a prison cell, as well as the extended access to resources in the archives. Today, it seemed, his master had planned the beginning of his Apprentice training.

So promptly, donned in dark brown Apprentice training clothes, Remus had made his way from his new chambers in the temple out through the courtyards, past the dojos and into the gardens where he saw Master Satkia waiting for him. As he entered the designated area, he gave a deep bow of respect. His wyrwulf companion, Cailín, stood at his heel, quiet, obedient, calm.
"Master Satkia. I hope you're well this day. I thank you again for deeming me worthy to hold the rank Apprentice." Now he held such a title, he felt an extended responsibility to not only himself but to the Jedi to uphold values and beliefs of Jedi life. "I will do my utmost to serve the Jedi under your guidance."

[Satkia Beltrak]

Satkia felt Remus's presence, even before she saw him. Getting to her feet, she smiled to him as he arrived. She nodded to him. "It is good to see you, Remus. I am proud of you and what you have accomplished." The petite woman then looked at the wyrwulf companion of her Jedi student. "Hello Cailin." She acknowledged her presence.

Clasping her hands before her, she knew that the decision to promote him to the rank of apprentice had been the right one to form. "I am doing alright, thank you. How have you been doing since the ceremony? I heard you found new quarters in the compound. And I also heard a rumor as you spending a lot of unsurprising time in the Archives."

[Remus]

"I'm fine," responded the Apprentice gladly. He had been adjusting to the new way of life placed upon him, though things were still rather quiet. He had yet to really meet anyone new and wondered if it was a result of his former dealings with the Sith or not, or simply because it was apparently a busy time of study for the Jedi. Yet he minded not, regardless, and would go on his way studying independently and of his own accord, burying himself amidst the endless resources of the Jedi Archives, seeking further interpretations of the Force. Recently, he had found himself probing for information on the legendary Revan, whose stories were almost mythical in the modern era.
"Yes, I've been doing a lot of research now that I'm able to again," Remus told his master. "I am in awe of the shear size and diversity of the Archives."

[Satkia Beltrak]

"Bryce Pyrrin has been busy with setting up our smaller library at the Corellian Enclave." Satkia replied with a smile, knowing that her stepson and pupil had been doing a great job as their local librarian.

"So, I shall ask what you might have read about Makashi." She grinned a little, knowing they had talked about the next form her student wished to learn. Today was the day for this.

[Remus]

Satkia's word of a new library excited the Apprentice, and he noted in silence that he should have to travel there. "I would be happy to help in the collection of materials for it, and I have a few essays I have been working on myself that perhaps would be well suited to either archive." In his spare time, he had spent the last year of confined training developing and refining his own perceptions and interpretations of the Force, but he still had much to learn. As the discussion moved on, Remus smiled, understanding the direction of the day's session with glad disposition.
"The Contention Form," he began to recite, thinking back to the light reading he had done in preparation. "Focused on both keen evasiveness and precise attack. A much more refined Shii-Cho, perhaps. Certainly designed for lightsaber combat, though I know little more than that."

[Satkia Beltrak]

"I am looking forward to contributions you might have, Remus." Satkia smiled, knowing that the Apprentice was a scholar and she was certain that his studies and even writing might be of value to the Order and its archives.

When Remus answered her question about his readings about Makashi, she nodded. "It also relies a lot on footing, light and precise. There is a straight line aspect to this form's footwork. It is indeed a form meant for lightsaber combat, and not so much for other types of weapons. It is the form that is most akin to fencing."

She took a few steps back and summoned her weapon, demonstrating the Makashi salute, before slipping into the opening stance, with a one handed grip on the hilt, and the blade pointing to the ground by her side.

[Remus]

Remus listened intently to his master as she went into depth about Makashi, and when she demonstrated the opening moves, the Apprentice reached for the training lightsaber that hung at his belt, igniting it and imitating the salute and stance. Silently, he marked the way Satkia held herself and firmed his grip on the lightsaber's hilt.

[Satkia Beltrak]

"Come at me." Satkia simply said, so she would be able to begin demonstrate the art of Makashi in a more pragmatic way. Theory and practice both had their place in education, and there was time for each.

[Remus]

Taking a quiet breath, Remus focused his being, channeling what he could of the Force into his saber hand and then lunged toward his master. The motion of his attack was influenced in such a way by the Makashi stance that already he was starting to feel the way its moves should be executed. Without further hesitation, the Apprentice brought his saber up from his right in a sweeping fashion towards Satkia's centre-left.

[Satkia Beltrak]

Satkia's senses were focused on Remus, so she would be able to give him the most useful and detailed input possible as they worked on this new form for him.

She stepped back, as she brought her saber up, batting Remus's blade away and using the opening to go for a stabbing motion at his chest.

"Keep your feet light, and think in straight lines for this. Redirect and use the created opening."

[Remus]

Remus leapt back lightly to give himself enough leeway to react accordingly. "Straight lines," he repeated, realigning the hilt of the saber and deflecting the stab away upward with a sideways defence, followed with a firm, flat, sideward strike the centre-right.

[Satkia Beltrak]

"And leaping isn't part of the second Form. That's much more Ataru." Satkia observed. "If this feels right for you, I have no problem with it. We all incorporate what we know to build our personal style." She was fine with her students picking up on what worked best for them, but simply pointed details out.

She deflected the next attack that came, but when she counter attack, she went not with a single strike, but a few, demonstrating the Makashi flurry.

[Remus]

There was a small nod of understanding as Remus took in each lesson as it came. The flurry came, and the Apprentice altered and firmed his grip on the saber's hilt. Master Satkia's blade became a blur of speed, but as Remus focused his mind and allowed for his perception to increase, it was almost as if time slowed around him. The oncoming movements that were so very fast to begin with were now gradually slowed, and he felt a welling in his stomach, a warmth that shone, and in that moment he knew how and where to act, by will of the Force. Adjusting his footing, keeping them level and firm on the ground, Remus interjected the flurry head-on as it arrived at him, blocking back the next strike. He followed the movements through with a fluid motion of the arms, blocking the strike that followed, and then the third. But before the fourth could begin to build as an attack, the Apprentice administered a delicately aimed slash to the exposed right arm.

[Satkia Beltrak]

Little by little, Satkia was able to feel the change in Remus's swordplay and aura as they continued with the lesson. The Apprentice was doing well as he got better acquainted with the form.

The redhead kept parrying and counter attacking, as they carried on. She offered more suggestions, correcting footwork and such things, but Remus was beginning to have a good understanding of Makashi.