Thal-ion nodded in agreement to the idea of them practicing.  Together, he hoped they would better understand one another.  In his time at the new temple on Ossus...he had not once practiced with her...either in pairings against others, or in solo combat.  It was rather strange considering they were both students around the same age group.  Even so, such had never come up...not once.  Now, the moment was before them, and when she snagged her sabers from the air which she had been spinning...Thal-ion found himself having to focus a bit more than he had anticipated.  It was as if he could sense her more as he connected with the Force, and drew it around himself in preparation for combat.  Yes, she was there...a fountain of light, and in the Force she glowed with the readiness of battle even as he saluted her while igniting his emerald saber.<br/><br/>Without thinking about it; Thal-ion placed himself immediately into classic Soresu form...the lightsaber principle built for defense.  It was his strongest of the forms thus far taught to him, but even as he did so his mind was ready to switch to Makashi in a split second.  Makashi was an archaic form focused on the ancient lightsaber art of fencing.  Combined, the young Jedi hoped he could pull off some surprises.  After all, so far as he knew, no Jedi...Apprentice or Master had ever attempted to blend the two forms together.  It was said in one annual he had read that the last true master of Makashi was the fallen Jedi Master Dooku, and the one who loved Soresu the most was Obi-wan Kenobi.  Yet, to blend the two forms into one was not something ever done to the best of his knowledge.  His teachers had both frowned at him when he wanted to learn more than one form, and some had also smiled at the idea of him wanting to broaden his skills with the lightsaber.  He had never really had the chance to do so outside of his normal sparring partners.  Now, this was going to be different.<br/><br/>There would be no Master for oversight...they were alone...this session was completely on them.  The Force he let flow through him, and between them...to surround them...to listen and feel the flow of the combat to come....to be mindful of his surroundings...his environment...of her.  He waited until her own blades were activated, and he realized then she already had an advantage.  Thal-ion had never before fought against a solo opponent who wielded two blades.  This was going to be different for him, and he wondered just how good his new blend of Makashi and Soresu would help him.  Doubt was, however, perilous, and so he shook the sensation away...focusing only on the battle to come.