As soon as I entered the office indicated by Master Garos, I stood right in the aisle. Sitting at the front of the desk was her... the one I had been quietly wary of. I was basically only afraid of two creatures in the world. That's Mum, and that's...
«Shade.
«Master Tsikuna. I'm that... I'm sorry... - I bow. That woman was able not only to command my respect, but to become a firm authority. And I didn't even realise how... She just knew how to approach me. Her calmness was soothing, her strength made me respect her, and a touch of mischief added a positive note to her, causing me to associate her with my mother.
«М? - she tilted her head. - Ah, no, come in," she waved me away, tucking some parts of a device I didn't recognise into the desk. I was interested and approached her.
«They won't punish me? - I raised an eyebrow.
«No, the Greatest Qigong Monster Kesha has his charms," she smiled, returning her gaze to me.
«I'm the monster?
«Yes, you are. Don't you know what your teachers call you?
«Nope.
«Now you do," she said with amusement.
«How does she do it? Mocking me so subtly. Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze, folding my hands behind my back.
«But that's not the topic I came to see you about.
«А?
«Shade, do you remember our conversation about the Force? - The Temple Master asked, turning her gaze to the wall painting depicting the two elements of Light and Dark in Je'dai's hands. He held a dark orb in one hand and a light orb in the other. - When did you say that the Force comes from within us? And that there is no point in immersing ourselves in any one, for they are with us, with all their flaws and advantages.
«Yes, Master. Master Rune nearly took my head off then, calling me a renegade," she smiled.
«Yes. Master Roon is very conservative in his views, but that is his personal opinion. My point is that your point of view has a right to live alongside the conventional wisdom. You've already accepted it, there's no point in retraining you.
«Re-educate me? - I'm making the stupidest face I've ever made.
«Stop playing around, Shade. I can see you're doing things your own way. The way you think you should. And I can see that sometimes your methods don't conform to conventional wisdom. Take meditation. While we're trying to feel the world around us, you're trying to hear the Force within you. I can see that. Also, you don't follow the advice of the temple masters completely like others do. No. You consider the information you receive and adjust it to suit you. And that's not to say it's a bad method. Take the same Force storm. While the Takedami Padawans are trying to master this feature, you created it in a matter of days. You didn't copy it, but took it apart and made it your own way. That's commendable, don't you think?
«..." I stood, staring stupidly at the Master who was flaming with mischief.
«Surprised?
«Frankly, yes. I was expecting you to scold me for my... er... er... er... er? - before I could finish, she laughed. - Master?
«...Ha ha ha ha ha...sorry. No, I won't scold you for that. You're just curious, and a Master's job is to answer questions. Who's to blame if you weren't taken seriously and then it was too late," she shrugged. - But you didn't answer the question.
«Well... Yeah. I'm surprised. Until now, I thought my point of view was changing some people's perceptions of the Force. And this.
«Could lead to banishment," she nodded. - Yeah, you're right. It could. But the thing is, unlike your father, you're not saying anything drastic. Doesn't change the point, you're just taking a different approach. Besides, we need someone to bring a new, fresh perspective to our faith. I think that someone is going to be you.
«Optimistic.
«More likely no than yes," she replied with a sigh. - As sad as it is, not everyone recognises that. Your mum sent you here because of me. Any other temple would have tried to retrain you. Teach you to do what is considered right. The right way. Ruin your talent. And that's the best case scenario, and you already know the worst.
«I'm sorry, you mentioned talent.
«И?
«What is it?
«Tell me, what pushes you forward? - she suddenly changed the subject.
«'Well...' I hesitated. - I want to be honourable. I want to make my mum proud of me..." her gaze became a little sceptical. - ...I also want to be free. I want to live and see the joy of friends and family, I want to hear their laughter, to rejoice with them. I want to be strong, to protect not only myself, but also them. I want to find my father..." I finished quietly.
«Your talent is that you don't give up, Shade. You're a montral, but you won't give in, you won't give up.
«I don't have montral, I'm stewing.
«You understand me. And I understand your goals. And if that's the case, let me help you out a little.
«М?
«Come on.
She got up from the table and led me with her.
«Where to?
«You'll see. How exciting. What is it they want to show me?
We walked through the corridors of the temple and found ourselves in a spacious hall. On the walls were depicted different creatures. All in robes and with blades in their hands. I was a little taken aback by the sight, for the concentration of Force here was greater than in the other halls of the temple.
«This is the Hall of Knowledge," Cicuna called my attention.
«Master?
«This is where the more... advanced forms of the Force are studied. Since you're leaving in six months, I've decided to take care of your training personally. You've learnt all the simple techniques, thanks to Aera, and what you haven't, you've refined here. Now I'll show you the deeper techniques," I tilted my head questioningly. - You've learnt the general principle of the Tutaminis technique, haven't you?" I nodded.
«Yes. It's a technique for absorbing, dispersing, or redirecting energy. Without it, Master Uval would have made a chop out of me with my own diary a long time ago.
Cicuna laughed. She laughed hard, but not loudly, to the point of tears.
«Oh..." she brushed away a tear. - Yeah... You and him are definitely getting along. But how about you practice with me now?
«А?
In response, she lit a fire in her hand.
«Oh!
«Power has many more facets than you can imagine. It is capable of not only fluctuating, but also changing and interacting with anything, including at the molecular level.
«I've heard of it. From Master Drags. Stav Kesh is actively practising it.
«That's right. It was first discovered there, but it's evolved into something more. For example, the technique I'm going to use is called pyrokinesis. Fire control. If you learn enough of this technique, you can pass through any flame with ease," she was about to throw the orb at me when I raised both hands.
«Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why should I be so honoured?
«You're different, Shade. You may not notice it, but I can see how different you are from the other students. And I'm curious. I wonder how you'll master the unfamiliar and complex techniques that are learned on the path to Masterhood," he said, and a big fucking fireball flew at me.
«R'K-har! - I shouted in my native tongue. All I had time to do was put up a barrier that ricocheted off into the wall. There wasn't even an opaline left on it.
«One more time!
«No, no, no, no, I don't want to! - I dodged the next ball, but the third one had to be taken with the tutaminis technique, because it flew straight into me. But the fourth one broke through the technique and knocked me into the wall. - Oh... That's not helping, that's beating... Kha-kha.
«Get up, Shade, we've only just begun....
«I'm afraid I won't live to see the end..." I wheeze, nonetheless standing up.
***
From that moment on, I went to Hell. Cicuna raced me every day, like she was preparing me for war. What we'd had in the first half of the year was nothing compared to what she'd given me. Yeah, well, that was a general course, but this was narrowly focused and specialised for those who decided to go down the path of learning aspects of the Force through techniques.
Pyrokinesis, allowing you to control fire. Force Stun, which can incapacitate a non-gifted person, and if you hit them hard enough, the gifted person will not fare as well. Ionisation, which is a directional pulse that disables machinery. It's kind of like an EMP grenade, but cooler. You can adjust the density, range and direction of the stream.
I'll tell you about the Force cloaking, which was actively used by Master Bug, separately, because I'm still playing the game "Who will find whom". And I'm not even talking about the "Weapon of Power"! This technique allows you to infuse the weapon in your hands with the Force to such an extent that the blade will cut steel like a butter knife! Even if it's made of the exact same material. As one moose used to say, "phenomenal"!
I was also briefly told about such a thing as "Hibernation Trance". This ability allows you to fall into a very deep sort of sleep for healing and survival. It is especially effective when oxygen is scarce. This kind of "sleep" can last for as long as a takeda or even a year, whoever has the stomach for it. They told him, but didn't teach him how to do it, as it is taught in the temple of healing. But they taught me a primitive form of it, so that if I found myself in a radiation or acid zone, I wouldn't die immediately and would have a chance to get out of it.
They also taught me primitive Force healing and Crucitorn. The latter was a technique for overcoming physical pain beyond the normal threshold. The technique allowed me to block my own consciousness from outside influences. Through mental penetration, it was possible to both focus on another sensation and increase the target's pain sensation to the point where a simple touch would seem like a hellish pain.
By the way, the latter was already a 'special' skill, if you could call it that, and the fact that I was being taught it... Admittedly, I didn't understand the reasons. I just refused to understand why she would do that. But since they were giving it to me, I can't complain.
I also learnt a technique called "Vulnerable Point". This technique allows you to feel vulnerable points in mechanisms, organisms and just material. Example: I have a glass in front of me. I feel the point, put my hand on it, give a small impulse. BANG! The glass shatters. Minimal effort, maximum profit.
There was also telepathy. I had to tell her about my special innate talent, causing a storm of positive emotions. This maniac started checking and selecting different additional properties to my talent, trying to develop and study it at the same time. The lessons came to the point that at the contact of the wave with the object I began to feel its emotional background better and now I can easily determine if the object is lying to me. Alas, I will not learn to hear thoughts, because it is a completely different science.
But the worst thing is that I had to experience all of the above on myself. Oh, how many times I've been burned, how many times I've clenched my teeth in unbearable pain, and how many times they've tried to pump me out of the wrong hibernation trance. Even Master Uval, who sometimes dropped in on our training sessions - at first he looked happy-go-lucky, but then even he started to feel sorry for me. In a word, horror. But the result was there, and it was visible to the naked eye.
***
«Oh..." I groaned, falling onto the bed.- Where do you keep disappearing to?! - Ramira was angry, starting to heal me. The simple effects of the Force did a good job of relieving fatigue and healing minor wounds. The very ones that Master Cicuna had missed when patching up my fractures. Yes, I have the nerve to go into the women's room, no matter what. Why, where else to rest after a rigorous training session if not here? Besides, my room is further away, and I'm struggling to make every step.
«I'm doing some extra Force training," I mumbled, staring at the ceiling.
«Don't you get bored? You've got nothing on you. And anyway, who's teaching you like this?! - Ramira was angry, but she was still working her magic on me. My muscles gradually relaxed, the pain went away, and my complexion returned to its normal colour.
«Alas... I have to," I sighed and suddenly felt a slight prick in my arm, "Ouch!
«Oh, how gentle we are," Ramira said, removing a small cylinder of my blood.
«Hey!
«You have to," she said.
«Why?!
«I want to see something...
«No, you don't want to go for a walk with us, to eat, to socialise more, you're out there doing something," Wes grumbled, settling down next to me.
«With you? Or with you? - A wry smile crept across his face.
«With me, of course. I mean... Fool!" I got a light punch in the shoulder with my fist. But, judging by the emotions, the outrage was very skilfully played, the cat herself was inwardly amused.
«I'm not sure I am, I'm not good with my head at all," I wrapped my arm around her, and slumped down on my side. I felt a bright shock mixed with a storm of joy.
«Strange," Ramira drew our attention.
«Hmm?
«Your midichlorian levels are up," she said, nibbling at her thumb nail thoughtfully. - It's very strange. No, it's natural, but the fluctuation readings are too high....
«Ramir, please, give me an explanation for a dummy.
«When we first got here, we all had blood drawn. Since I hang out in the medical wing, I'm allowed to see our company's labs, so I know who has what levels. Your midichlorian levels are fifteen thousand now, and when we first got here, they were under twelve," she paused and looked at me. - What kind of training do you do?! To increase your connection to the Force like that, you have to do something serious on a regular basis. Very, very serious. And not only that, but you have to be constantly bombarded with the Force like an X-ray.
«Wait, wait, wait, wait, - I slow down our medic, having singled out one of the main questions for myself, - Answer this question first....
«Well?
«I don't get it, don't these midichlorians regulate your connection to the Force?
«No. Where did you hear that?
«Erm... Never mind. How's that?
«Your connection to the Force is yours and yours alone. Midichlorians need beings with a high sensitivity to the Force to survive. And the higher the sensitivity, the more comfortable they feel, so they'll multiply. Their numbers are used to recognise a creature's Force level.
«Ahhhh..." and mentally adding: - "Anakin, you cheater! To be born on a desert planet and get more than twenty thousand, that's not even close! And I don't even know what pisses me off more. The fact that he originally had that kind of spit, or the fact that he blew it!"
Shaken, I return to the real world.
«Okay, okay, I get it, thank you. But what's the problem regarding your outrage?
«There's too much difference in your stats," she turned back to the monitor, "That's not how it should be. Usually such growth is seen in those who go too deep into one aspect of the Force or another. In that case, the midichlorians begin to multiply like yeast. But that's not your case," a slanted glance at me, accompanied by a flash of disbelief. - You're in balance. And here's where I admit I can't figure out how... how did you increase your sensitivity to the Force like that?
«Uh," I remembered the way I'd been made into a pancake, and with honest eyes I answered, "I have no idea how. Maybe it's the influence of training.
«I suppose so, but what kind of training? What do you do?
«I'm doing advanced training," I said, pulling away from Wes, raising my hand and lighting a small lump of fire in it. Clenching my fist, I put out the fire and look at the enthusiastic guys, - Don't be happy, it's pure masochism.
«Why? - Wes looked extremely interested. She was always fascinated by the idea of becoming stronger and achieving some kind of success by becoming a recognised Master. One could understand her, after all, she was a girl from a distant small colony.
«Usually such material is taught in a safe environment without harming the student, but it takes years, if not decades. I'm being put through a crash course, forced to learn the full power of these techniques on my body.
«It's wild! - Ramira exclaimed.
«It's effective," I replied with a sigh. - Don't get excited, guys, it really hurts. But with my lifestyle, there's no other way. If I walk out of here without above-average training, I'm signing my death warrant. Luckily, my mum provided me with minimal training, and here I'm getting average... If I may say so.
«Actually, after we graduate, we'll each have a personal tutor. And they'll take over the training.
«But this is where my gut tells me I'm in for a rough ride.
«A fox? - The girls looked at each other.
«It's a furry animal with white fur. It lives on another planet. Its speciality is that it comes quite suddenly, noiselessly. You're not expecting him, but there he is. Often it is cited as an analogy with misfortune, they say: trouble has come from where they were not expecting it.
«It's an interesting beast... It's the first time I've heard of it," Ramira murmured thoughtfully. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. - Yes?
«Ramira, are you coming soon? - The door opened and Zeng appeared in the doorway.
«Oh, I'll be right there," our healer picked up her bag, threw in a few things, threw a tube of healing alchemical ointment at me, and ran to the door. - Okay, I'm going out, bye-bye. I'll leave the room to you, Wes," she waved at us and disappeared out the door with one of the twins.
«Wow! - I turn to Wes. - Is there something I don't know?
«Zeng started dating Ramira, and Feng started dating Ayana.
«Ayana?! I thought they didn't get along..." I stare at the ceiling thoughtfully, remembering how those two used to fight all the time. Ayana's a Chikagu twi'lek, and she's not exactly the most peaceful of people. On the other hand, I can be happy for my friend.
«Yeah. I think Gris has even started hanging out with someone," Wes told me.
«O'valik! - I said in Togrutian in surprise.
«Or rather, not so much dating, but texting, since she's from Ska-Gor.
«Ah... I see," I nod. There are a lot of Wookiees on Ska-Gora, so it's not hard to guess that our shaggy-haired friend has found a partner of the same species as himself.
«Do you need help with the cream? - Wes changed the subject, taking the tube and twirling it around in her hands, looking at my face.
«I'd appreciate it.
When I rolled over on my face on the pillow, they took off my T-shirt and, sitting on top of me, began to apply the healing cream to the spots on my skin.
«I'm a little behind on all this training," I mumbled into the pillow.
«Did you just notice? - Wes giggled.
«Mm-hmm. They're meeting, they're doing something... And I haven't a clue.
«Shade, do you realise you've got more work and personal activities than class activities? - Wes was flaming with indignation.
«I find that amusing," I snickered.
«I don't.
«М?
«What happened to that Shade who came to the temple with us? Not a day goes by that you don't give me a joke, and I'm not talking about your tendency to scratch my ear.
«You have really cute ears," I smiled.
«Yeah," she said, embarrassed, "But I hardly ever see you now. You're always out and about.
«That's a good thing. Ouch! Weight! - I resent the blow to my bruise.
«Is my company so unpleasant to you?" I was frowned at.
«I didn't say that. I said that for safety reasons you should sometimes stay away from me to avoid an accident, so to speak.
«You're a fool. You are a fool.
«I never denied it.
«Hee. So, what, with all this training, you're not even seeing anyone?
«If only with a bed and a pillow," I smiled, and Vessira laughed.
«What, and not even on the lookout?
«Well... How to say... - I turned my head and looked at that sly face. - Why?
«Who is she? - Wow, Wes was on fire. Outrage, anger, regret, resentment... No, honey, where are you going? Come here.
«I scratched her behind the ear," the katara was embarrassed, and not even a trace of that storm remained.
«Honestly?
«Absolutely.
«So you like me after all?
«You already know the answer to that," I covered my eyes, reveling in the massage on my shoulders. Wes herself moved closer and whispered in my ear:
«I want to hear it.
«Yes, Wes. I like you," I added quietly, "Not every girl can stand me, let alone have a relationship with me. You said yourself that I'm always out and about. I don't pay attention. Not really. And they're, well, unconventional, let's put it that way. And you... Not only do you put up with it, but you make sure I have a full fridge and a clean room. Thanks, Wes.
«Well, if that's the case, then why do I have to wait so long?! - She came at me with her claws in my back.
«Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! - I twitch, almost jumping up, but the katara sitting on top of me pinned me to the bed tightly. - What do you mean? - I raise a questioning eyebrow, struggling but rolling over onto my back. The weight was not even going to get off, on the contrary, it was stooping to my chest with its paws and looking into my eyes. Not good so looks, and in emotions something incomprehensible for me.
- Straight! Where's the romance? Where's the courting?
«Where's the romance? Where's the courting?
«Where are my well-deserved kisses?! - I was clawed like a predator ready to gut its prey.
«I kissed you!
«I mean normal kisses, not your "smack,"" her paws converged on my neck, and for a moment I thought I was about to be killed.
«I'll be fine!
«You? You'll fix it? - Wes interrogated me with a voice full of venom.- Mm-hmm, an argument. But this time I'm really gonna make it up to you! For the sake of such a cute charming girl, you can do anything!
«And I don't want to wait, you've been pissing me off for the last few days.
«Huh? - I feel like I've been blown out of the air with those last words.
«Oh, great Power, all guys are like guys, but you... unicum, - she moaned tiredly, raising her eyes to the ceiling for a moment, - And why do I have to do everything myself?
At these words she moved closer and kissed him. Passionately, diligently, and completely ineptly, gently running her palms over my skin, from my neck to my cheeks. The surprise paralyses me as much as the Power Shackles. When I pulled away, I could see a crowd of demonesses dancing in the devil's eyes, and quite specific feelings began to dominate her emotions. And first and foremost there was Passion, followed by a master's desire to possess me.
«V-e-e-es? Wha...
«Shh-shh-shh," a finger was put to my lips, "No words," and then she came to me again, pressing her breasts against me. That was the last straw, and all my years of self-control went to hell. Hugging this beauty back, I ran my palms down her curving back to her hips.
A moment, and I saw a slight fluctuation in the Force, and the door lock clicked in the room. The emotional backdrop was just drowning me. In addition to the desire and passion, there was a timidity, a confidence, and an assertiveness that made me associate a man who had thrown himself into an abyss. As if there was no turning back for him. And it was flavoured with a touch of fear that managed to sober me up a little and help the thought reach my brain.
«Weight," I pulled back a little, getting a little more control over myself.
«You don't want to? - She flashed a look of surprise mixed with resentment.
«Nonsense. I do, but-
«Then enough with the words," she exhaled languidly, licking her cheek. The slightly rough tongue left conflicting feelings. Even now, even at a moment like this, the mind tried to reach out, but this time, alas. The last spark was quelled by Ves herself, discreetly unbuckling my belt and running her palm under it.
---
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