Private A trial full of surprises

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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"Why are you being so secretive?"​

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Valery asked as she spun around in her chair within the Bastion's cockpit. After he came back from the Wellspring of Life, he had explained that the final step was to fully reconnect together, and they had agreed to do so through another spar. But unlike the last time, he no longer relied on their dyad to channel the Force. Sure, it gave him even more strength, and he'd be able to fall into a rhythm with her without any effort, but it was good for him to be able to feel the Force again the way he once did. ​

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What he didn't know, however, was that she planned to promote him to Jedi Master once it was all over. She had reviewed the trials he had gone through, and with how close she was to him, she also knew what he was like as a Jedi. None of it could be a coincidence — his test was about far more than feeling the Force again. His very nature as a Jedi had been tested, and he had proven to be a Master.​

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And ironically, she wasn't the only one with a surprise either. Valery had not been allowed to see the navigational computer, and so she was completely unaware that they were heading for New cov at the moment. She just believed they were heading somewhere fitting for their spar.​

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"We could have done our spar back on Ossus," she added with a smile, as she turned to face him.​

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"Or did the trial require a special place? Are we going back to Spintir?" she was obviously curious.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

"You'll like it, promise." He flashed a grin, but it was the only thing he'd say on where exactly they were going. Hell, he even blocked the nav computer from Valery Noble 's sight so it could stay a surprise. Not that it would for much longer. Hyperspace broke as they descended towards the all too familiar temple. Only, it wasn't the ruins that it had been. Before his trip to the Wellspring he'd had the place rebuilt. Other Jedi, droids, helped in rebuilding the once broken building.

While not exactly the same, it was rebuilt.

Kahlil landed The Bastion in the hanger, all grins as he watched Valery all the while. Her reaction was what he wanted to see most.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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"Oh really?" she smirked a little, but with the grin he had on his face, it was hard to not believe him. As patiently as she could, she waited but when the ship finally jumped from Hyperspace, Valery blinked and looked at him with mild surprise. She instantly recognized the planet, both because of the way it looked and the way it felt to her.​

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But he was still focused on taking them down, and not to just any place.​

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"Wait..." she said as the Bastion took the familiar path to her old Enclave. She was looking at him with widened eyes but somehow, they only grew wider as the Temple actually became visible, and the Bastion settled on the Landing pad not far out from the entrance. The Temple looked so different. The debris was gone, the building looked restored and even cleaned up with all the overgrown vines removed.​

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Slowly, she stepped outside and just... started at it. Her lips curled into a big smile and her eyes began to water up from tears of happiness, as she turned back around to face him.​

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"Did you...?" she choked on her words and took a few slow steps towards him before she wrapped her arms around his torso and planted the side of her face against his chest to keep him in a hug. To see her old Enclave restored, and so similar to what it once was — it was impossible to describe how much it meant to her.​

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"I love you so much."​

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[Kahlil Noble]

His smile stayed soft as he watched Valery Noble . Droids and other persons were still here, wandering around. Keeping the place clean, Jedi going to various lessons. The Temple was very much alive again. Kahlil wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close. "Me and a bunch of other people. Your padawans included, by the way."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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It wasn't surprising that other Jedi helped; the temple was really big after all. But the idea that they all came together to do this made her heart melt. "Explains why they've been so quiet..." she sniffled but with a big smile on her face. She was going to have to go after them later.​

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Valery then gently nudged his stomach and stepped back some, smirking as she looked up into his eyes. "Thank you for organizing all this. It means a lot to me." she then turned around and looked at the Temple again, the big smile widening before she drew in a deep breath to calm her emotions back down.​

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"So I take it the training area is rebuilt as well, and that's where we'll have our spar?"​

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[Kahlil Noble]

"They didn't want to ruin the surprise." He was more surprised Iris didn't, but thankful none the less. He let her go, if a bit reluctantly, before flashing quite the grin. The training area up top? He just winked before leading the way there, taking her hand in his to practically pull Valery Noble along. At least until they got to the roof. There Kahlil let her hand go, stepping out in the circle. Here there were no people, not right now.

He'd requested that much.

"So. Trial of Skill, right?"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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"I'll have to thank them when I see them next." she smiled at him but when he winked at her question, she began to grin much like him. Oh now, this was getting exciting. He then grabbed her hand and began to pull her along, which only made her more excited as she followed him through the Temple. It allowed her to see many more of what they had done to rebuild this place, and all of it was amazing — just like it once was.​

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Especially the Serenity Springs and seeing the waterfalls in the distance brought back great memories, not of ancient times but of their meeting, and how they got close together. Something he'd easily be able to tell by the wide grin on her face.​

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Finally, they reached the training area and she watched him step into the center. "We used to call this place the Dragon's Den," Valery said as she followed after him and rolled her shoulders to prepare herself.​

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"Now it's going to be perfect for your trial. Traditionally, a spar against a Temple's Battlemaster suffices for a trial of Skill for Knighthood, but I do plan to make it a bit more difficult for you." she winked playfully and reached for one of the two lightsabers that were attached to her hips.​

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"Ready?"​

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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil slipped out his own lightsaber as Valery Noble did, casually holding the blade in one hand. Extinguished for the moment. "I hope you plan to go as hard as you can. I feel like stretching my wings now that they're back." Or, now that his connection to the Force was back. The green blade ignited as he settled his stance, both hands holding the blade loosely in front of him. He looked as relaxed as ever, a patient smile on his face.

"Let's begin then."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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"Oh I plan to go hard, alright." she flashed a grin and hit the ignition switch with her thumb, causing the violet blade to burst into existence. She then bent down through her knees and drew the lightsaber into a two-handed grip, settling it at around chest height on her right side.​

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A soft breath escaped her lips after, and her fiery gaze settled on her fiancé. She always enjoyed sparring with him because he was really able to push her. Because of their bond, he understood her like nobody else, and her intentions in combat were generally revealed to him quickly. Combined with his own innate skill unrelated to the dyad, it was the most challenging spar she could hope for. The most fun, too.​

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Here I come.​

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With far more speed than their last spar, she suddenly exploded towards him, blade drawn, and quickly swept into the first attack at his defense. It was going to be blocked without a doubt, but she needed to get him to move, so he potentially could give her better opportunities to strike. Following the first attack, she moved past him with that same thunderous speed, and bounced off of one of the large stone pillars, using it to redirect her momentum quickly so she could attack from the rear with a second attack.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil let out a calming breath. Settled his feet. Lifted his blade. And listened. To the Force. Their bond. It was cheating, in a way. Their ability to sense each others intentions. Though perhaps that made it it's own challenge. How do you beat someone who knows your every move? The first strike came, and he felt it through the Force before he felt her intention. He stepped to the side, his blade shifting only slightly to catch her blade and send it harmlessly away as she sped past.

Again as she jumped from the pillar behind. She was an explosion of energy, sharp and direct. He was the river, flowing calmly between her strikes. Small movements, controlled, precise. Effortless in appearance. The Force didn't lead him wrong. He didn't even turn to face her as the strike from behind came. Instead just lifting his saber to cover his back and send her blade once again way.

Then a pressure formed. Where it took his full focus before to put the weight on Valery Noble 's shoulders, this time it came all at once. A crushing weight to force her to her knees. All while he kept the calm smile on his lips. Even if it didn't stop her from moving, the point was to at least slow her.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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There it was.​

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To read into the intentions or actions of another didn't require a unique bond, but how easy it was for him to predict her attacks made it rather obvious that he had looked through her attack sequence before it had even started. So, much like their other spar, this made it feel like a 50/50 shot who was going to land the winning hit. Not that it mattered — training wasn't about winning, and with how far they pushed each other, they both were getting a lot out of it by the end.​

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With her first attack expertly deflected, Valery came around but he was ready and caught the strike again without even turning to face her. It almost made her smirk, but she was too focused on maintaining the momentum she had built up. With how fast she moved, she hoped to reduce the time he had to react.​

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But then she felt it again.​

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The sudden pressure from his gravity manipulation caused her shoulders to drop and if it wasn't for her being able to see through him as well, she would have been down on her knees. With great effort, she remained standing but her body was trembling from the intense stress, and deep within she buried away fear of extreme pain. Last time the ability was used against her, it had crippled her more than she had admitted, and purely because of something she only learned more about recently.​

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Movements slowed severely and with her body under heavy strain, Valery then changed her tactics and drew her blade up defensively in front of her, making it seem like she was waiting for his move. But deep within, her own power was rising — she was preparing an attack and did so to force him to act.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

She didn't move.

And neither did he. Rather than continue to put the strain on Valery Noble as she chose to try and resist, he lifted a hand. And pointed up. Gravity itself bent to his will, and where it had been pushing her towards the ground, it now pushed her away from the ground. Up. He grinned. Kahlil was full of trickery, when the moment called for it. Then he pointed back towards himself. Pulling his finger like he was calling her over.

And the Force certainly tried to do just that. Drag her through the air as gravity shifted to send her right towards him, and his extended blade.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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With the Force flowing within her, she was just about ready to strike back when something new happened. Instantly, all pressure vanished and the opposite struck the woman — she felt weightless and began to float off the ground at his command. Valery blinked and noticed his grin.​

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Oh, he's enjoying himself, huh?​

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He then finger waved her over and the Force replied by sending her on a collision course with his extended blade. Not having expected this at all, Valery decided to put her trust in the Force as well and disengaged her lightsaber so her hands could come together. Between the palms, a blue glow formed and moments later, she released the Force Burst along her approach vector, so directly aimed at him.​

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It wasn't an attack she typically turned against Jedi, as it could be rather devastating when powered up too much, but he could handle himself and likely knew it was coming. She just needed to get out of this situation.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

She didn't fight him.

Probably for the best.

His grin didn't fade even as the blast came for him. Rather than evade though, his blade sprang around. Twisting through the air to catch the blast as Valery Noble sent it towards him. The green glow of his blade brightened as he channeled the Force through it, then slashed at the raw energy. Deflecting it back to it's sender.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Watching him deflect the attack caused Valery to blink, but she quickly grinned a little herself and projector a Barrier out to shield herself. She didn't have much time though, so the explosion that followed on impact partially struck her, causing her to land on her feet with a bit of pain in her arms from the energy that had gotten through the Barrier.​

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Nothing to be worried over.​

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Down low on her feet, and with a hand on the ground, she smirked as she prepared to engage again. This time, she began by making it seem as if she was about to launch herself towards him — a glimpse of her intentions through the dyad. But in reality, she suddenly changed her plans and pulled on a loose pebble behind Kahlil, trying to pull it to his supporting leg.​

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Then, she was on the move again, ready to swing her blade in an arc aimed for his body.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

He raised a brow.

She was feigning her intentions? The dyad spoke of her rushing forward, but the Force itself gave him a different guidance. One he trusted in. He moved, more than the subtle movements he'd been doing thus far. Spinning on a heel, letting the pebble soar past where his leg had been. As she leapt he ducked low, under her blade. His own shifting to cut up for her at the same time.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Finally having surprised him a little, she began to grin and moved up through the air to launch her attack. But even now, his ability to read her through the dyad was so immensely strong, and the pebble would be dodged. With his balance intact, he ducked underneath her blade and came up with a strike of his own.​

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Almost instantly, Valery felt most of her breath knocked from her lungs, as the green blade connected with her chest. The attack had stopped all her forward momentum and caused her to rotate enough to where she hit the ground on her back. At that instant, she felt a tremor of pain through her body, one she had hoped to avoid this time. Unlike before though, she quickly suppressed it again but not fast enough for it to go entirely unnoticed.​

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This time, Kahlil would briefly hear a familiar voice, like a soft whisper in the back of his mind.​

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"Do not fail her."​

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Valery rolled onto her chest and pushed herself back up to her feet with the hilt of her lightsaber in her hand. Part of her wanted to talk to him about it, but she decided now was not the time. Today was about him, and the promotion he had earned. She was looking forward to it.​

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"I think you're a bit better at this dyad thing than I am," she said with a sweet smile. As competitive as she could get with him, she never showed any frustration when he beat her. "Or you just have better tricks up your sleeve," she smirked and took a few steps back, a little stubborn in how she decided to push herself more.​

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"Safe to say that your trials are complete, but if want some more of me, I've still got plenty left." ​

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[Kahlil Noble]

The strike was delivered. And a win under his belt. Though, he saw it. The moment of pain in Valery Noble . His blade extinguished as he stepped over to her. Watched her. Then crouched down a bit to get eye level with her.

"What's going on?"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Bastion | Enroute to New Cov​

Valery: Appearance​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Despite the mild bruises from the sparring and what she felt at the end, she stood ready for another round, a hilt drawn and her gaze still somewhat focused. But then his blade extinguished, and she'd watch him walk over. As he lowered himself to eye level and asked the question, she felt her heart beat faster.​

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And for perhaps the first time since they've been together, she broke eye contact and looked at the ground for a moment.​

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"I..." Her eyes shifted back up and her thumbs slid into her fists, which she squeezed. Quietly, she bit down on her lower lip but finally, a long sigh came through.​

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"I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner..." she had regret in her eyes and looked down a moment.​

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"Maybe when we get home, I can tell you everything?"​

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[Kahlil Noble]

His expression softened as he nodded. Whatever it was, he hadn't noticed it before. .. He should have.

"Alright. Let's go home."