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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 3527394" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 458: Lack of TrainingThe silence that held within the small sparring room was more uncomfortable that Tobias’ tail having no where to go. Master Ral seemed to be looking at him very carefully before finally saying quietly, “I apologize, but ‘Alraxian’ means nothing to me.”    That broke the uneasy silence and got a slight grin on Tobias’ face, “That’s uh...good, actually. My...my people are a bit weary of the rest of the galaxy. They generally like to keep to themselves. The few that do venture out into this part of the galaxy...well...they can hide fairly well.”    “I can see that,” the Omwati Jedi Master nodded, “I know a little of another species that has the ability to change their shape. But what I know of them suggests you are very different. They require a great deal of concentration to maintain their assumed forms. Losing this concentration means they revert back to their natural bodies. From what I have seen of you, Tobias, this is not true.”    Tobias nodded, knowing at least a bit about other species that had the ability. That was also common in Alraxians that weren’t well taught in their morphing abilities, “Keeping a shape is...easy with practice. Its getting between them that takes the work. But uh...practice can even make that simple.”    Slowly, the Jedi Master took a few steps to Tobias to look him over a bit more, “I am not sure this fully explains my earlier question, though. Unless your species is even more different than most, you should not be averse to pain or death.”    “No, no, its not that...” Tobias mumbled, shaking his head and realizing he hadn’t actually made his point, “I...it...hurts. And we can die like anything else. We are very...fragile. But. Well...if you trust me, will you do something for me?”    “That is a worrying tone, Tobias,” Master Ral said slowly, “But I have a great deal of faith in you. Despite your faults, you show much promise in your training. I asked you to explain why you seem to constantly step straight into danger rather than avoiding it...so what do you want me to do?”    Tobias bit his lower lip, thinking about what he was going to suggest. It was going to hurt. A lot. In fact, he’d never actually done it before...but he’d seen Marix do it hundreds of times. Even Jyren, once. Though he’d always been reluctant about it. But...but Toby knew he could. And it would, hopefully, put his Master’s mind at ease...after the initial shock.    Slowly, Tobias extended his right arm off to the side and looking down at the floor, “Use your lightsaber and take my arm off.”    “What?!” it was the first time Tobias had ever seen a strong emotion from his Master. He shook his head and said firmly, “I will not do that, Tobias. Whatever point you have to prove, that is not the way to do so.”    In his head, Tobias cursed Master Ral. Of course he wouldn’t do it. That was stupid. But...there wasn’t another way. Explaining it wouldn’t have the right effect and probably wouldn’t get it through right. So...fine. He hadn’t wanted to do it himself, but...    Quickly, Tobias reached down to his belt and took Jyren’s lightsaber into his left hand. A snap-hiss echoed through the small room as the blue-green blade came to life, and before his Master could stop him, Tobias gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and cut his right arm off at the elbow.    “Tobias!”    He didn’t hear that as much as know it was said. Toby had dropped the lightsaber to the ground and fallen to his knees, nearly crying from the pain and the shock of it all. He’d known it was coming...he’d done it himself...but...it hurt...so much! He felt hands on his shoulders, the Force starting to gather around him from his Master who was obviously trying to heal the wound.    Carefully, Tobias managed to open his eyes and look to the limb on the mat next to him. The lightsaber had made a clean cut, leaving only a few specks of blue blood, though it looked like the part of his arm that was still attached hadn’t faired so well. His mind catching up to the moment through the pain, Tobias ground out, “No, Master. Don’t do anything.”    Then, somehow finding the focus he needed through the extreme pain, he closed his eyes again and remorphed his arm. In another moment, there it was, as if nothing had happened...though his jacket’s sleeve was not cut off at the elbow and ruined. When Tobias opened his eyes again, he looked first to the arm, which he was able to move without any problem. For some reason, though, he still felt a sharp pain from where the wound had been, but not evidence of it remained. How Marix could do this in a second was beyond him.    He then looked to his Master again, who was wide-eyed, and said, “That’s...that’s why...”    That had not been what he’d meant to say. It had been all he was able to say, though. His mind was still spinning. Master Ral’s eyes returned to a more normal shape, though his hands remained on the young Alraxian’s shoulders, when he finally said, “That should not be possible, Tobias.”For a moment, he followed the Jedi Master’s gaze down to the arm that was still on the ground. He just managed a weak shrug, “It...it is...and I’m fine. See? I don’t need...I don’t need to...to dodge.”    An audible sigh escaped Master Ral, “I believe you do. As amazing as that was, you are still acting as if you’ve lost a limb.”    “Oh...well...” this was as good a time to say it as any, “I’ve uh...never done that before...only seen it...”    The Jedi Master almost looked angry...almost, “That was foolish, though. This ability to heal your wounds like that is a great one, Tobias, but you should not have to rely on it. Do you stand in the way just to show this off?”    The Omwati had to be picking up on Tobias’ mind. He had to be. And...well...maybe he was right. Maybe he did want to show off. Maybe...    “I just...” he mumbled, then shook his head and tried again, “My mother. She is...she an expert at morphing. I have seen her lose and remorph limbs in the blink of an eye and keep on fighting. It doesn’t stop her. It...it shouldn’t stop me.”    Master Ral was absorbing all of this very well. If Tobias had been a bit more clear headed, he wouldn’t have been surprised. His Master was not a fool, “You are here to train as a Jedi. I can train you in the Force. I cannot train you to do what you just did. And it seems obvious to me that a great deal of training is required to reshape your injuries as quickly as say your mother can...” he paused, then said something completely different that threw Tobias off balance, “Why did you come here as a human, Tobias?”    The question had an obvious answer.    To protect Alraxia. No one needed to know what he was or...or...what he could do. But now it was too late. So that didn’t matter to him, obviously. That was just a lie. That wasn’t the real reason. That wasn’t...    “Alraxians are stronger than humans...faster...our senses much sharper,” his mouth decided it was going to answer while the brain was left confused, “My father was human...but he can keep up with any Alraxian. I...I wanted to be able to do that.”    Master Ral helped Tobias up to his feet again, “A Jedi is more than the warrior you seem to want it to be. Everyone comes here with the stories of the great Jedi weighing on them. But that is not all we are. Yes, we can fight. And yes, we must a great deal of our lives. But the real balance is internal. You...Tobias, have to be one with the Force itself. You must hear its calls and be able to release yourself to it and allow it to guide you. Our species does not matter...the Force calls to all of us, and we must learn to hear the call and follow its guidance with all of our abilities.”    “Wait...” Tobias mumbled, “So...I should use my natural abilities? But you said you can’t train me in that...”    “No,” Master Ral shook his head, “I said that the Force calls on us and we must use everything we are to follow its call. But you cannot do that recklessly. You are not trained in this ability, Tobias, it is obvious. You could very well do more damage than harm to yourself just as you could do by attempting to use the Force without understanding it.”    “So...so you don’t want me to morph anymore?”    Again, Master Ral shook his head, “No. I want you to do what the Force calls you to do. If you are here to train as a human, you must accept those limitations. If you are here to train as...an Alraxian, then you must accept the limitations of your lack of training, there, too. Do you understand?”    “I...think so,” Tobias said quietly, managing a nod. He then took a moment to concentrate and soon he was human again. The pain in his backside being gone was a relief, “I apologize for...being so reckless.”    Slowly, the Jedi Master reached down and picked up the severed limb that was still on the floor, “You are still learning. Get some rest and we will continue tomorrow.”    Tobias nodded, then turned to the door, deciding that Master Ral would know what to do with...well...an arm. But before he got to the door, the Jedi Master spoke up again, “Toby.”    It was the first time he’d ever shortened the name. Tobias didn’t fail to notice. He stopped and turned, “Eh?”    “I will tell no one.”    Truthfully, that hadn’t even crossed Toby’s mind. Or maybe it had and Master Ral had picked up on it...or...it didn’t matter. Not now, at least.    “Thank you, Master,” Tobias bowed, managed an uneasy smile, then turned and left, wondering if Marix would kill him when she found out about this.</blockquote>

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