Max looked up at Dolash and swung his weapon again, towards the rib cage

"Like that?" Max asked in a sarcastic tone.

Dolash barked a laugh as Max drove his attack forwards again. "Yes, exactly! But it will take more than that to disarm the best duelists of the Sith. Let's continue..."

So they did, for hours to come. Dolash made no exception for exhaustion or strain, for three days was not long enough to truly train a swordsman. The point of the exercise was really to see just how much natural talent the young padawan had, how much fighting spirit he could muster.

As the sun went down on day one, Dolash finally lowered his sword. "Good job. I am... impressed. Few can stand up to a methodical Azguard assualt for so long - I normally don't stand by issues of racial pride, but I am nearly twice your height. Rest up, you'll need it - tomorrow your training continues."

As Max left for the temple, Dolash carefully replaced the two wooden swords. Once he was sure his padawan was out of sight, he walked to a distant wall and pulled a footlocker over to the common area. He opened it, to check that everything was there for the next lesson.

"Sleep well, Max," Dolash murmured. "You'll need your strength."

Max awoke the next morning, a little sore, but besides that he looked and felt alright. He exited his quarters rubbing his arm, and looked around hoping to see Dolash, but his attempts were in vain. He continued to look around, but in a short few minutes he quit. He then started taking a walk in which he hoped to find a little peace.

"I need a little relaxation. Sheesh. It is not like I am breaking a rule or something, and if I was, I would be caught by now!" Max mumbled to himself, not even [font=Arial]conscious enought to realize somebody could be watching him from afar, or right next to him. "Who's there? Master Dolash?"[/font]

Perceptive. From the undergrowth, the gargantuan Azguardian frame reared, a terrifying effect like a leviathan breaking the surface of the water. With seamless movement he brought up a wooden staff and knocked the startled Max from his feet. As Max lay there, temporarily dazed, Dolash loomed over his padawan. "Vigilance is the watchword of the Jedi!"

He hurled a second staff to Max's feet, backing away to give him room to stand. "We must forever be vigilant. Vigilant of darkness within and without, vigilant of attack. A moment's indiscretion gives way to a lifetime of despair - beware!"

Again, Dolash lashed out, feinting with one end of the staff only to strike with the other. "Show me your vigilance, Max. Let us see your concentration, and your focus. Your enemies will make no exception for exhaustion, boredom, or fairness, nor then shall I."

Another rain of blows befell Max, but the padawan was recovering. Dolash backed off, crouching into a fearsome stance. "Soon... soon your vigilance shall be put to the test. I wonder, will you be able to stand up to the forces of evil? Will darkness escape your notice?"

Max stepped up off the ground, and tried to catch his breath. Dolash continued to swing at him with an amazing force, Max was having a hard time to compare, but his Germanican heritage always helped.

Max summoned up all his strength to block the next flurry of attacks from Dolash. He then lunged towards the giants stomach, but his opponent jumped back and swung down into Max's rib cage. Max grabbed his side and a whimper of pain left his mouth. Max still attacked though, knowing he could not be beaten... by anyone!

Max lunged again, but this time into the Jedi master's chest, the powerful blow connected, and even made Dolash stumble back! Max smiled, and then continued to swing. Left, up, left, right. Max kept swinging and then he swung down towards Dolash's feet and knocked him down. Max swung down as hard as he could into Dolash's chest.

Pleased by his padawan's enthusiasm, Dolash grabbed Max's staff in mid-swing. Raising his other hand, a wave of Force energy, knocked the bewildered Max backwards. Dolash rose to his feet, and snapped the staff. He grinned to his padawan as he rose, and said "Good, good... you fight with spirit, even if you're not quite eagle-eyed. Remember to be on your guard, however, as followers of the Darkside will never fight fair if they can avoid it."

Seeing that they were both battered and tired, Dolash helped Max to his feet. "Come on, no need to strain you more than you need to be. Tomorrow is the last day before I embark on the next leg of my journey, and I must be sure you will be capable enough to bring with me. There is one more little test I need you to take. Rest up, eat, and take what precautions you feel are necessary. Tomorrow, I shall meet you again."

With that, he was gone. There were things Dolash needed done, and had less and less time to see to them. With a leap, he vanished through a second-floor opening in the temple, and left Max alone once more.

Enigmatic... thought Dolash. I like it.

Max continued off to rest a little, his head throbbing a little, his heart was also pumping quite fast. He could tell his body wanted to rest, but he didn't want to, he awaited his upcoming journey with Master Dolash. BUT, he knew he needed rest, and without it, he could get quite grumpy!

It was late into the day of the second test that Dolash finished his preparations. The last test was to be Dolash's final assurance that Max had sufficient talent, control, and maturity to follow his master on a mission of upmost importance.

He was in fact walking back to the temple, returning from the wilderness. The last preparations had been set, and as the sun went down he walked side by side with Oblox the Seer. "I thank you for your assistance, Oblox. It is no small task to prepare such challenges."

Oblox merely waved dismissively, the odd little man shaking his head at the Jedi Master's words. "No need to thank me. I'm sure I owed you a debt or two from that time on Kessel."

"It was the Force's will that I find you on Kessel. You owe me no favours for following my duty."

"Okay then," the Seer replied. "In that case, you can repay me with a drink when we get back to the city tonight."

"I am afraid you must drink alone, friend," said Dolash. "I will need all my strength tomorrow. Hopefully the simplicity of the previous two tests will have mislead him sufficiently for the third. Max is... eager. Enthusiastic, no doubt, but I still fear he might not be made of the stuff of Jedi. Tomorrow, we will know."

Oblox seemed uncertain, trying to pass off his expression as a squint against the setting sun's rays. Dolash saw through his deception, however, and frowned. "You doubt the test shall satisfy the question?"

"Well, you could say that. Mostly I just wonder if all these tests are necessary. Jedi learn from experience, you know that, so why are you making him jump these hoops? Why not just take him and be done with it?"

Dolash sighed. "You of all people, wise Seer, should know why. A true Jedi's calling may be out in the galaxy, where he may learn from experience, but note that I say it is a true Jedi's calling. To take a normal being and put them under such pressure and against such odds would be foolhardy - even suicidal! The Force refuses to say wether he is of stern enough stuff for our work, and so I am forced to test him to discover that worth myself. If he passes tomorrow, then we shall know he is prepared to be a Jedi..."

They walked in silence for a moment longer, before Oblox said "And if he doesn't pass?"

Dolash remained quiet. Finally, with great solemnity, he stated "I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what the Force seeks."

Max awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. He exited his quarters and looked around. It was a beautiful day today. And the sky... it was blue, with puffy white clouds. The perfect day for a mission.

Too bad Max didn't think so. He knew that his master didn't expect anything great from him, and nor did the padawan himself. The only thing he did expect from himself was sheer dedication. But he was still, very confused.

His mind was clouded with so many emotions, he did not know what to expect, and did his master either? Was this just one whole test that all padawans went through? Or was it just a regular mission? What if he messed up and he disappointed his master, or worse… harmed him!

Max quickly dismissed these thoughts from his mind. He knew he should stay calm, and control his emotions. No matter what! The young padawan continued on through the courtyard of the temple. He was searching for his master. He needed to speak with him, urgently.

Unfortunately for Max, he could not find his Master - indeed, a thorough search of the temple revealed not a single trace of where the Azguardian had gone. This could have gone on for some time, had Max not eventually stumbled across a note in the temple's outdoor training grounds.

Leave the temple. Outside you will find a man named Oblox. He will guide you to the site of your test, it will be in the caves outside of the city. Bring nothing, tell no one.

May the Force be with you.

A simple yet direct note, it was the only clue Max had as to what was expected of him next.