Mist Order Academy Grounds and Entrance Hall

Since she and Atlantis had not had the time to discuss any changes to her workout routine, Saoirse sticks to her usual schedule and, accustomed to working out in a fasted state, does some stretches after waking before going for a run around the academy grounds. As she runs, Saoirse works on focusing on the Force and sensing the presences of those nearby. Whether she cannot sense Atlantis because of the crystal in his lightsaber or because his is not near enough for her still somewhat unrefined ability, Saoirse has no way to know, though she guesses that he will have stayed close to his friends after their return. Saoirse has better success sensing the younglings within and around the academy, though she isn't yet practiced enough to identify them by their unique signatures within the Force and has only a vague sense of where they all are in relation to where she is. Since she has, until now, only used the Force on an instinctual rather than conscious level, Saoirse also tries to use the Force to run faster a few times during her run, pleased to find that, even though she manages only a few short bursts of speed, doing so seems to come easier to her than telekinesis.

As she is circling back around to the academy, Saoirse passes Ryan as he sits beneath a tree, smiling as she gives him a wave and, not wanting to disturb him any further in case he is meditating, jogs to the meditation garden in the eastern courtyard where Atlantis had shown her some of the remnants of the old structure had been incorporated into the layout of the area. Saoirse, figuring that there is no time like the present to start working on meditation, tries first to sit crosslegged and clear her mind, but predictably meets with no success. Remembering that Atlantis had talked about moving meditation, Saoirse gets to her feet and, since they hadn't yet gone over any katas, makes up one of her own that utilizes some of the punches and kicks that they had gone over the day before. It takes several minutes before Saoirse has the sequence of strikes and kicks down pat enough that she doesn't need to focus on them and can instead try and let her mind settle, but eventually she manages to get into what she assumes is a meditative state, or at least one where her mind isn't as active as it usually is. Saoirse doesn't have any visions or sudden deep insights during the time she performs the kata, and when she stops she isn't sure she feels any more at peace or connected to the Force than she had before, making her wonder if she blanked out her mind too successfully.

Putting off breakfast and shower for a bit longer, Saoirse finds a palm sized rock and, testing out whether the meditation and practice on focusing on the Force will have helped her use it any easier, paces around as she tries to telekinetically lift the rock from the ground. Grinning when, after a few moments, she manages to lift the rock, slowly and clumsily, into her had, Saoirse tosses it back onto the ground and tries to repeat her success to hone the ability a bit more before she heads inside the academy to go on with the rest of her day.

Saoirse grins when Ryan reveals he prefers the center mid position, the position she played on the University's limmie team, and gathers from his statement about it only being fair that Nadira chose him that he is a good player. "Makes sense, Saoirse says after Ryan has explained the rules about using the Force that he and the students use, wondering just how much of a disadvantage she will be at since she has so much less experience using the Force in comparison to Ryan and the other students. I'm glad she's alright, Saoirse says after Ryan explains that while he hasn't heard from Atlantis he can tell that their friend is surrounded by Atlantis and others that care about her. Standing up and nodding when Ryan announces they are ready to play, Saoirse jogs over to where Nickala and the other members of her team are gathering. Waving to Ayla, who shows up and takes over the task of holding the mists at bay to relieve Ryan of the task, Saoirse joins her teammates and listens to Nickala explain their game plan, which proves to be simply getting possession of the bolo-ball and moving it downfield to score a goal.

Nadira puts Ryan in the center mid position, and, after transforming into her rage form, assumes the center back position herself. Saoirse is surprised when she isn't immediately overwhelmed when the gameplay begins, not aware that the reason it seems like Ryan and the other students aren't augmenting their speed is that, without realizing that she is doing just that along with everyone else so that things seem to moving at a normal pace. The teams seem pretty evenly matched, with neither side scoring early on, and Saoirse finds herself defending more often than going on the attack despite her best efforts to do so. Saoirse learns that the students aren't opposed to tackling hared when, after Nickala, playing center back, passes her the bolo-ball and she is almost immediately knocked off her feet as Nadia, in a blur of shaggy black fur, performs a side on tackle to allow Ryan, close on her heels, the opportunity to take possession of the ball and go on to score the first goal of the game just before the first half ends.

"Nice goal!" Saoirse calls out to Ryan with a grin after regaining her feet and brushing the grass and dirt off herself before heading over to grab one of the bottles of water that one of the students that had been watching the game had brought out for the players to enjoy during the ten minute halftime period.

Ayla was actually pretty impressed with how far the students had come, and they always knew how to control themselves. Even Saoirse was just fitting right in. She truly was in her element there, Ayla wondered if she even realized it that she was from time to time augmenting her speed when needed. Even if Ayla got the account from Atlantis on how he actually had found her, it definitely made sense, Saoirse was in her own element and she was used to it.

Smiling due to the atmosphere that was present here, Ayla was truly just fine observing, plus it was in these cases that she’d know whenever this or that learner was ready for the next level also. Hearing footsteps behind her, Ayla turned and saw Atlantis who was from what she could see just carefree and just happy.

“That they did, evenly matched on both sides.” Replied Ayla knowingly, even if Ryan did manage to score before the end of the first half, there was still that second half, and she wouldn’t be surprised if the other team did score too. Ayla did not need to ask him how was this morning, not because she had read his mind, she wasn’t the type to do so, but just overall the way Atlantis carried himself. That was enough of a testimony for her to know that Elika’s ‘first’ day back so to speak went just fine.

Only afterwards when Atlantis addressed her again, even if he wasn’t talking out loud, did she briefly glance at him and nodded slightly understanding his request. With the second half starting soon, Ayla just looked at the players in general and let them play mists free still until like mentioned by Atlantis, she released her hold on the mists and let those creep back into the whole field.

Expand your awareness in the Force, and trust your instincts.

Since indeed the mists were very omnipresent in Umgul when it was left free to roam, visually speaking, they would have a hard time seeing their teammates or even opponents, and thus they could no longer rely on their sight . . .

Saoirse gives Ryan a thumbs up when he asks if she is ok after being tackled by Nadira, grinning when he says that she is in her element, and explaining with a bit of surprise as his comment makes her realize that he and the other students haven't been holding back. "I'm kind of surprised I've been able to keep up so far, Saoirse admits, then laughs a bit as she adds, I guess not thinking too much about using the Force makes it come more naturally, huh? Hopefully, she adds with a grin that suggests she isn't overly worried about the idea, now that you've pointed it out it won't jinx me."

Waving cheerfully to Atlantis and Franz when they arrive, Saoirse gives Nickala a high five when he asks if she is having fun even though they are currently losing the game, "Of course, lit'buddy! I'm having a blast, she adds truthfully, her love of limmie having always been based on the sheer joy of playing rather than on competing. It's cool playing with you too, she tells Nickala as she ruffles his hair, you've got some good moves, Cap'! Shrugging with a grin when Atlantis says he told her she had fans, Saorise jokes as she pats Nickala's shoulder and says, Well, one fan anyway. Pointing at Atlantis and winking after he says he'll play with them another time, We'll hold you to that, Master, right Nickala?"

Heading back onto the field when they are ready to start the second half, Saoirse does her best to forget that Ryan had pointed out she was instinctively using the Force to keep up with him and the other students, trusting that doing so will enable her to just play the game without tripping herself up by consciously trying to move faster or have a sense of where her teammates are or if she is about to be tackled or the other little things being aware of the Force allows her and the others to do. Saoirse knows that she will only be able to improve her ability to attend to the guidance and promptings of the Force if she makes a effort and puts the work in, but for the time being she is content to just enjoy playing bolo-ball, and doesn't make any special effort to refine or expand her burgeoning abilities.

Even before the mists suddenly surge back onto the field, the game is fast and intense, with neither team managing to score, Saoirse noticed that, as she probably should have anticipated after talking with Atlantis and Ryan about how using the Force for longer periods or for harder tasks can exhaust one's ability to call on it, she was starting to lag behind a bit in terms of how much faster she could move with the Force adding to her natural athleticism, but had been able to utilize all of her experience and training to compensate by evading or breaking tackles, by repositioning herself before she gained possession of the ball to wrong foot the opposing player, and by using clever footwork to advance or pass the ball. Nickala makes good use of the dribbling drills he had run with Saoirse, using what he learned to get downfield and then pass to Saoirse, who with the help of one of their teammates who keeps their opponents from getting close enough to tackle her, manages to score.

Grinning as she rolls her shoulders when Ryan asks if everyone is ok after the game ends in a tie, Saoirse says, "I'm a little sore, but still in one piece, she gives Nadira, who is back to looking cute and innocent after having reverted to her tiny resting form, a playful glare, Nice front on tackle technique. Looking over at Nickala after Ryan asks if they want to do overtime, Saoirse asks him, What do you think, Cap', we happy with the result? Smiling after Nickala says he is more than happy since he got to play with her, Saoirse gives the little guy a hug as she tells Ryan, Sounds like we're all good, no overtime needed," since just seeing how much Nickala and the other students have enjoyed themselves as much as she herself did makes Saoirse happy.

Sitting beside Atlantis and Ayla after grabbing a bottle of water, Saoirse watches Nickala and Cih chatting animatedly as they head back towards the academy, asking Atlantis, "Do you have any lessons planned for this afternoon or tonight, Master? After taking a drink of water as he replies to her question, Saoirse adds another, predictably unrelated to her first query, How is your friend the architect doing? Before Atlantis can answer that question, she adds a third, completely unconnected to the prior two, So, what happens when you stop doing the duplicate thing? Does Atlantis 2.0 just disappear until you remake him? Or is he still, like, around in your head somewhere? Did you get a chance to absorb him or whatever this time, so you know what he knew, or did he just blink out on you?"

Ayla was quick with picking up some inner thoughts from the learners, however she did not linger on those thoughts before shutting them out completely. She wasn’t one to invade a person’s or anyone’s privacy unless they overtly let her know that it was fine, and also because they actually wanted her to hear their thoughts, just like Atlantis previously. Quite content with just observing from afar, and not even surprised at how the students had reacted, Ayla just knew the predominant feeling right now was that everyone was happy and satisfied with the result.

And that was good enough of a knowledge to her . . .

“My pleasure, Ryan, and don’t mention it.” Replied Ayla sincerely to his thanks, after all it was only fair to begin with. Even if Ryan posed as a teacher here in the academy, he, too, was entitled to some fun without overly taxing himself. Only she said that to him after the game had ended since she didn’t get a chance to reply to him earlier, not that it was important, and she was pretty certain that he knew what she’d be saying.

Looking over at Saoirse with a genuine smile, Ayla listened attentively to the questions the Zabrak woman was mainly asking Atlantis. Each of the questions were unrelated but Ayla understood that it was how she processed her thoughts, and thankfully here at the academy none of them were judgmental nor were they quick to be annoyed. It was after all why they were here to learn but also be patient.

“No, not busy at all.” Smiling in reassurance and even shaking her head slightly. “Not going to crash course you, I am more than willing to do kata exercises.” Staying her tongue for now as she was fairly certain that Atlantis wasn’t done addressing Saoirse’s questions, Ayla preferred it that way, let the man speak so he could answer to all the inquiries before a few more come up potentially.

Again, she was quite content in hearing that Elika was fine, and she also wasn’t surprised that she was at the spa with her friends. From the initial reports she had heard last night from Horsea in particular, Ayla knew how difficult it was to come to terms with actually missing nearly three years of people’s lives especially when for that person it only seemed like a few hours had passed. But now they were at the spa, and it’s like just old times for them.

That aside though, Ayla was very certain that Elika would be put at ease quickly, and for knowing Crystal in particular, she knew that the CFO wasn’t one to back down nor leave someone she cared about behind in all areas of life.

“If your friend is coming over this afternoon or this evening, we can always do the katas tomorrow if you prefer. I wouldn’t want you to keep away from your friend as I am very sure she is a precious part of your life.” Back in the old days, attachments all kinds weren’t really valued as a strength but more of a liability, and while she did not agree to that, she also understood the reasonings back then, but that again wasn’t her or the Councilors here in general, they all cultivated the friendships they had with one another no matter what. “I’ll be here tomorrow, don’t worry, I do not foresee myself being absent.” Not at all, for she had already said her piece to Honoros and unless Mace had decided to deploy some of them somewhere, Ayla did not think that Mace would be doing that any time soon with more important things to handle here on the planet . . .