Private Lit From Within

[Corazona von Ascania]

"It's not that I want to learn this skill to attack - rather, to defend myself if someone tries to use it against me again."

Pyrokinesis was not a power that Cora had willingly sought out. The day Horace had held her down and pressed a hot iron poker into her abdomen, she'd had a perfect view of the fire crackling in the hearth of his study. Ever since then, she'd had a quiet aversion to flames.

Cora lowered the edge of her tunic and tucked it back into her trousers. She'd revealed the gnarled skin, dark ink interrupted by pink jagged lines that sat just above her right hip, for a few moments only.

It was something she rarely talked about, and to do so without becoming visibly upset was new territory for her. Cora was tired. She had no tears left for Horace and his abuses.

"I suppose I just…do not want to be in that situation again, nor would I want someone else to be." She cupped her chin with her thumb and forefinger as she spoke with an almost conversational tone. The training room around them was constructed of stone to prevent the temple from being burned to ashes.

Valery was one of the few people she trusted enough to approach with a task as delicate as this.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stood quietly as Cora spoke, her fiery gaze softening with a warmth reserved for only a handful of people in her life. The training room, constructed of cool stone, felt heavy with the weight of Cora's words. It wasn't often that her former Padawan shared something so personal, and Valery could feel the strength it took for her to do so.

When Cora revealed the scar, Valery's gaze lingered on it for a moment, not with pity, but with deep understanding and a flicker of sorrow for what she had endured. She stepped closer, her presence steady and calm, offering Cora the reassurance that she wasn't alone.

"I'm proud of you, Cora," Valery said softly, her voice laced with affection. "For being able to talk about this, for finding the strength to confront something so painful. That's not an easy thing to do."

She paused, her expression turning resolute but kind. "You've already made the start of my lesson easy. I teach Pyrokinesis not to attack, but to protect yourself and others. To shield yourself against flames, or to provide light and warmth when it's absent. Aggressive use of it... well, I don't need to tell you what pain it brings."

Valery gestured for Cora to join her in the center of the room, her tone lightening just a little as she offered an encouraging smile and readied herself. "This won't be an easy lesson, though — it's an advanced ability — but I'll guide you through every step."

Cora was like a daughter to her, and knowing the reason why she wanted to learn it, there wasn't a thing in the Galaxy Valery wouldn't do to help her.

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

At Valery's praise, an awkward little smile pursed her lips.

Though she'd been knighted, Cora still looked up to the Grandmaster not only as a guiding hand, but as the strong maternal figure she'd lacked in childhood. Few knew the gritty details of what the dowager princess been through, and though many of those were still kept close to her chest, she felt safe in admitting one of her most poignant memories Valery.

The urge to cry suddenly swept through her. Perhaps it was an emotional response to being validated, or perhaps Cora wasn't as over it as she wanted to be.

"Oh," she laughed once, quietly. "I suppose it's good that we're on the same page, then."

Forever an earnest student, Cora had a rich knowledge of established Force abilities. However, there was a difference between reading tomes describing the application of a skill, and practicing that skill yourself.

Following Valery to the center of the room, she nodded in understanding. "Everything I've read about pyrokinesis does point to it being tricky to master. Is it similar to using the Force to alter your body temperature?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched as Cora followed her to the center of the room, her fiery eyes alight with a mixture of pride and warmth. She could sense the lingering emotion in her former Padawan — the strength it took to share her past and the vulnerability it brought. But there was also determination, and Valery knew that Cora was ready to face this challenge.

When Cora asked her question, Valery smiled faintly and shook her head. "Not quite," she began, her voice steady and patient. "Maintaining your body temperature, like with Tapas, is about using the Force to influence the transfer of heat between your warm body and a colder environment. It's a defensive application, creating a barrier to slow the flow of heat and protect yourself."

She paused, her hand rising slightly as she gestured to the air around them. "Pyrokinesis, however, is much more active and precise. It's about manipulating molecules in the air or within a material, increasing their energy until they reach the point of ignition. You're essentially using the Force to excite those molecules, creating heat and flame."

Her gaze shifted to Cora, a small but encouraging smile tugging at her lips. "It takes focus, control, and a deep understanding of the Force's flow. If done recklessly, it can backfire — literally. But with practice, it becomes an incredibly versatile tool for both defense and survival."

Valery stepped back slightly, giving Cora room to focus. "We'll start small," she said, gesturing to a set of heat-resistant targets set up along the far wall. "First, we'll work on feeling and manipulating the molecules in the air. Once you have that down, we'll move on to generating sparks and controlled flames. Ready?"

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora followed the motion of Valery's hand with her eyes. She nodded to the explanation - it made sense enough. It was humbling to realize that the ingredients for fire were technically all around them. All they needed was a source of ignition; in this case, speed that would generate enough heat.

"I have read about it," she said. "But I've not discussed it with a master practitioner."

Until now, of course.

Cora looked to the targets further down the room. Learning an ability that could easily be devastating if her control were to slip - like ballistakinesis - was always unnerving. It was a necessary step, she reasoned, given how easily their opposition wielded such skills. Even if she did not use pyrokinesis in combat, learning how to avoid or deflect it would be invaluable.

Turning back to Valery, she gave another nod of her head. "I am ready."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery nodded, her eyes meeting Cora's with a calm but focused expression. She could sense the mixture of anticipation and caution radiating from her former Padawan, and she was proud of her willingness to step into such a demanding area of study.

"We'll start by practicing on unmoving targets. For now, the focus is on understanding and control. Pyrokinesis is far too dangerous to practice defensively against real fire without mastering the fundamentals first." The last she wanted was for a student to get burned during practive.

She gestured toward the heat-resistant targets again, her hand sweeping through the air as she continued. "The first step is connecting with the Force and extending your awareness into the environment around your target. Feel the molecules in the air — they're always in motion, vibrating just enough to hold their state. Use the Force to sense their subtle ripples, their energy, and the way they shift and move."

Valery stepped closer to Cora, her tone softening but remaining instructive. "Once you've connected, focus on the molecules nearest to the target. Slowly, carefully, begin to excite them. Give them more energy, more motion. Visualize it like a pot of water heating on a stove — it starts slow but builds steadily until it boils."

Her fiery gaze lingered on Cora's, her expression encouraging. "It's all about control. Too much energy too quickly, and you risk losing focus or causing damage unintentionally. But with patience and precision, you'll begin to see the heat manifest, and eventually, the ignition will follow."

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

It's all about control.

There was probably a metaphor in there. Or a lesson, or some other meaningful element. Control was a central tenant of the Jedi - not of those around you, but of oneself.

Cora hesitated in focusing her attention on the targets in the near distance. Instead, she turned to the side and held her hands out in front of her, away from Valery, and closed her eyes.

Her awareness worked into the space she cupped, into the threads of the Force that wrapped around each molecule, connecting them in the way that only a trained sensitive could see. Feeling and manipulating the Force came easier to her now than it did in her early days as a Padawan. Idly, Cora reflected on whether or not her skill had grown, or her patience.

A short burst of sparks crackled from just above her fingertips. Cora twitched, startled.

"Heavens!" she exclaimed. With her eyes now wide open, she looked to Valery. "Does it always do that?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Cora intently, her fiery gaze softening with a fondness she couldn't quite hide. Seeing Cora work through the exercise, her former Padawan's hands outstretched and brow furrowed in focus, brought a rush of memories to Valery's mind. She could still recall the countless training sessions, the moments of frustration, triumph, and growth they'd shared. Cora had come so far.

When the sparks burst from Cora's fingertips, startling her, Valery's lips quirked into a smirk. The exclamation that followed drew a quiet chuckle from the Jedi Master.

"It happens sometimes," Valery said reassuringly, stepping closer but keeping her presence light so as not to disrupt Cora's focus. "Sparks are a good sign. They mean you're connecting with the energy and beginning to encourage the molecules to ignite. But now comes the real challenge."

Her tone shifted to one of encouragement, her voice steady and confident. "A spark is all you need to start, but you must push further. Extend your will into the spark, into the flame. Give it room to grow and encourage it to flourish. Think of it like a plant — you've planted the seed, and now you must nurture it with care and patience."

Valery's smirk softened into a warm smile. "Take your time. Feel the Force flow through you, through the spark, and let it guide you."

She stepped back slightly, giving Cora the space and trust to continue on her own, but her presence remained steady and watchful, a constant reassurance that she was there if needed.

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora didn't know if Valery's plant metaphor was something she often used when teaching pyrokinesis, or if it had been selected specifically for her. Aspects of the Force that involved encouraging a subject's natural path - like plant surge and, if she could hold her stomach, healing - tended to come easier to her.

So why couldn't this?

Cora closed her eyes again, acknowledging her frustration and allowing it to pass. She spent a few long minutes in deep concentration, during which she did not try to excite the air around her. Instead, she worked her senses in between each molecule, exploring the space for what it was. Slow and patient, as if she had all the time in the galaxy.

With her awareness settled squarely into the particular space just above her hands, Cora focused on a handful of molecules. A few sparks, and then, her efforts generated a tiny flame.

Cora opened her eyes, staring at her wispy creation. It was the size of a candle flame, small and gently flickering.

"It feels like a little heartbeat," she said softly.

She raised one hand to curve over the tiny flame, directing it to move left, then right with her finger.

"Fire feels easier to control than it does to start it."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched in silence as Cora worked, her presence steady but unobtrusive. The moments of deep concentration, the patience in her approach — Valery saw the careful mind of a Jedi at work. And when, at last, the tiny flame flickered into existence above Cora's hands, her fiery gaze softened with pride.

A small, warm smile tugged at her lips as she stepped closer, watching as Cora moved the flame from left to right with delicate precision.

"It feels like a little heartbeat."

Valery's smile deepened. "That's because it is," she said softly, her voice filled with quiet approval. "Most people see fire as nothing more than destruction, as chaos and ruin. And there's truth to that — it can be those things. But fire is also life. It provides warmth, light, protection. Entire ecosystems depend on it to clear the old and make way for the new. When handled with care, it can be one of the greatest forces for good."

She let the words settle, allowing Cora to feel the truth of them in the small flickering flame in her palm.

"You're right," Valery said, her expression thoughtful. "Starting a fire is always the hardest part. It requires patience, focus, and precision. But once it exists, once the flame takes hold, it wants to burn. It wants to grow. That makes it easier to control, but also more dangerous."

She gestured toward the tiny flame in Cora's hand, her fiery gaze locking onto her former Padawan's. "So long as it has fuel, it can keep growing. It can be shaped and directed — but if you slip up, if you lose focus, it can just as easily spiral out of control."

A small breeze shifted through the training ground, causing the flame to flicker slightly in Cora's grasp. Valery's expression remained calm, but her voice took on a more serious edge. "That's why Pyrokinesis is so difficult — it's a careful balance. You must always be aware of the fire's hunger. Of what it needs, and what it shouldn't be allowed to have."

She let the lesson settle before stepping back, giving Cora more space. "Now, let's try something more directed. See if you can strike a target or create fire further away from yourself. Fire can be guided, but it can also be called elsewhere. Give it a try."

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

That Cora's focus remained on the flame suspended just above her palm, did not mean that she wasn't listening intently to Valery. The grandmaster was a highly skilled pyrokinetic, one who spoke from a deep well of experience.

"It's easy to think of fire as only a destructive force," she murmured. Every little flicker of the flame entranced her. "I see. It can be an ally, but its hunger needs to be respected."

As the breeze rolled through, Cora watched the flame bend and waver. She drew her hand away, and the little light blinked out of existence. It would take some time for her to clear the mental hurdles of her aversion, but this was a good first lesson for her. The aristocrat tended to keep things close to her chest, but Valery knew her well. They'd been master and student at one point, a bond forged in the knowledge and care that Cora intended to carry on.

The knight turned her attention to the targets placed at the far end of the grounds.

Again, she extended her hand, calling the Force to incite a brief flurry of sparks that erupted into a small flame. It streaked towards the target like a flare, striking the outer edge.

Cora hummed, once, in mild approval.

"May I ask, how did you learn pyrokinesis?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched with quiet pride as Cora extended her hand once more, calling the fire into existence with greater confidence. The flame streaked toward the target, striking the outer edge, and though it wasn't a perfect shot yet, it was progress. Controlled. Intentional.

She nodded approvingly, her fiery gaze warm. "Good," she murmured, folding her arms as she observed. "You're learning to shape it, to direct it. That's the first step toward mastery."

Then, at Cora's question, Valery's expression shifted slightly. A flicker of something deeper crossed her features, but it wasn't hesitation — just the weight of memory. She exhaled softly before answering.

"I learned the hard way," she admitted, her voice steady but thoughtful. "It wasn't something I was taught at first. I didn't even know I had an affinity for fire until it… happened."

Her gaze drifted slightly, not lost in the past, but revisiting it just enough to explain. "I was fighting in a battle on Onderon," she continued. "There was an incident—an emotional outburst. I lost control of myself for just a moment, and that was all it took. My power ignited, and before I even realized what I'd done, I had burned a section of the jungle."

She paused, watching the way Cora absorbed the words. "I wasn't injured, but I could feel the heat, smell the smoke — see the damage I had caused. It terrified me. I had never felt so… out of control. So I forced myself to learn. To understand fire, to command it instead of letting it command me."

Her gaze returned fully to Cora, a small but knowing smile touching her lips. "That's why I put so much focus on control now. Why I want you to understand it from the start, rather than learning the way I did. Fire is powerful, but it's not something you should have to fear."

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The hard way?

Cora's outstretched arm dropped to her side. She turned toward Valery, now intent on giving the master her full attention.

As the story unfolded, her expression creased in sympathy. What a terrible way to discover your affinity for pyrokinesis - younger Valery had learned a harsh lesson, and had clearly worked hard since to overcome it.

Cora tried to imagine a smaller Valery, scared and aghast at what she'd wrought to the jungles of Onderon. She'd hoped that whoever had been with her had walked her though it with compassion. It was another good reminder that, as far as the grandmaster had come, she'd been a learner once, too.

"I'm sorry you went through that," she said softly. "It sounds terrifying. If you don't mind my asking, how…how did you manage to overcome it? Not just the lack of control, but the fear of hurting someone or something."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery’s gaze softened at Cora’s words, the quiet sympathy in her voice stirring something warm inside her. She had told the story not to dwell on the past, but to teach — to remind Cora that even the strongest among them had once struggled.

For a moment, she was quiet, thoughtful. Then, with a slow breath, she spoke.

“The people around me helped,” she admitted, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. “My Master. Other Jedi I looked up to. When I was at my lowest — when I was afraid of my own power — they reminded me of who I was beyond that fear.”

Her amber eyes flickered, as if recalling distant voices, quiet reassurances from those who had guided her through that time.

“I made mistakes. I lost control. But instead of letting that define me, I learned from it.” She turned fully toward Cora now, her presence steady, unwavering. “That’s the key, Cora. You will make mistakes. We all do. What matters is what you do after.”

She paused, tilting her head slightly. “Fear will always be there, in some way. It’s natural. But it’s not a cage. It’s a lesson. Every time you step forward, every time you make the choice to keep learning, keep improving — you take power away from that fear.”

A soft smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “And knowing you? I don’t think you’re the type to let fear win.” Valery knew what challenges Cora had faced, and had full confidence that she would continue to overcome whatever obstacles crossed her path.

She let the words settle before nodding toward the target again. “Now, let’s keep going. Control comes with practice.”

Because that’s what had saved her, in the end. Not just the people around her, but the choice to keep moving forward.

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora took in a slow, steady breath as she absorbed Valery's words.

It was easy to give in to fear, to let it control you - and sometimes the line between making a good, measured choice out of concern and allowing fear to stifle you was blurry.

It's not a cage. It's a lesson.

Cora enjoyed teaching. Her aptitude for it had elevated her station, but she would always have more to learn. Who else better to learn from, than a Jedi who'd trained a record number of Padawans?

One corner of her lips lifted in a little half-smile. "I've certainly made my fair share of mistakes."

With her outlook shifted into something more positive, Cora reached out toward the target once more. Her face hardened with focus as a pair of sparks flared into existence, striking either side of the target's shoulders.

She paused, a thoughtful look altering the lines of her expression.

"Ashla, I really put you and Kahlil through it, didn't I? All you wanted to do was help me, but I wouldn't let you. I wouldn't let anyone help me until I was so desperate that I sought solace in a place where I shouldn't have."

Cora sighed, perhaps a bit frustrated with her younger self. "I'm sorry. I think I'm beginning to understand what that feels like a little better, when I see a Padawan struggling, and can't help them in the way that they need."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched as Cora reached out, her focus sharpening, and this time, the sparks found their mark with precision. The flames crackled across the target's shoulders, flickering for a moment before fading. Progress.

A small, approving smirk tugged at Valery's lips.

"That's how it goes with Padawans," she mused, her tone light but understanding. "You can see them struggling, and you know how to help them, but until they understand it for themselves? Until they're ready to accept it?" She shook her head with a quiet chuckle. "It doesn't matter how much you try. You can only help someone who wants to be helped."

Her fiery gaze flicked back to Cora, warmth shining through. "And sometimes, that takes time."

She let the words settle, knowing that as frustrating as it could be, it was a truth every teacher had to come to terms with. Watching someone you care about stumble, knowing you could stop them from falling if they just let you — it was one of the hardest lessons of all.

Then, after a pause, Valery's smirk deepened, and a playful glint entered her eyes.

"And for the record? You weren't that difficult." She tilted her head, feigning contemplation. "Challenging? Absolutely. Stubborn at times? Without a doubt. But at least you didn't strangle an Initiate mid-trials." She said it casually, as if recalling some minor incident, but the tone of her voice suggested otherwise.

Now that was a mess.

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora worked her wrist as Valery spoke. Her fingertips felt unusually warm, buzzing with sensation.

"That sounds…frustrating," she admitted. No small amount of embarrassment touched her at the recollection of how vehemently she tried to defend the choices she'd made as a Padawan, fully believing that they'd been her own and not guided by the hand of her father. Some of her mistakes were her own, at least.

There was no malice is Valery's words - only good humor. "I'm pleased to know that I wasn't your most difficult student," she said with an awkward laugh. "But I…wait what?"

Cora's eyes flared wide. Who had strangled an initiate? Silas? Briana? That didn't seem like them. Iris, maybe. No, that didn't sound right either…

"What…became of them?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery chuckled softly at Cora's wide-eyed reaction, the genuine shock on her face far too amusing to ignore. She let the suspense linger for a beat, her smirk deepening, before finally relenting with a shake of her head.

"That would be my first Padawan — Orbeka," she admitted, her tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and fondness. "His trials… took longer than most. But he did eventually become a Jedi Knight."

Her gaze softened slightly, a quiet warmth settling in her eyes as she thought back to him.

"He made mistakes," she continued, her voice dropping into something a little more thoughtful. "A lot of them. And he was stubborn — more than you, if you can believe it." She shot Cora a teasing glance. "But through it all, he never gave up. He struggled, he learned, and in the end? He became someone I could always rely on."

She exhaled, rolling her shoulders before smirking again. "Though I will say, having to pull him off an Initiate during his trials wasn't exactly my proudest moment as a Master." She shook her head. "I think I sprouted my first gray hair that day."

Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's shoulders, having hunched, relaxed. So it wasn't anyone she knew - it was Valery's first padawan. She remained quiet for a few moments, listening to the Grandmaster speak while deep in the reminder that Valery had come to them after having been frozen in carbonite for centuries.

Her lips pursed only slightly at the mention of Orbeka being more stubborn than her.

"Whoever dyes your grays does an excellent job." Idly, she imagined how many gray hairs her own antics had turned. "I'm glad that things turned out better for him. Under your guidance, no doubt."

A thread of contemplation pulled her expression into something more thoughtful. Though she'd been teaching at the academy for some time, she'd only recently taken on one student. Roman had already been a more advanced Padawan when he'd become her apprentice, and he'd come with a solid moral compass. Still, Cora there was a lingering fear that as Roman grew, she would guide him wrong.

"Do you ever…question yourself as a teacher?" she asked suddenly. Cora then held up both hands, quickly. "Not that I think you have cause to - but it's still rather new to me. It's one thing to lead a group of younglings in meditation or practice saber work with Padawans, but another thing entirely to teach your own apprentice."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery smirked at Cora's remark about her nonexistent grays, tilting her head slightly. "Well, luckily, I haven't actually found one yet," she mused, running a hand through her thick, dark locks. "But I'm sure it's only a matter of time with you lot." The teasing warmth in her voice made it clear she didn't really mind.

But when Cora's expression shifted — thoughtful, uncertain — Valery's smirk softened into something more knowing. She recognized that look. The weight of responsibility pressing down, the quiet fear of misguiding someone who had put their trust in you. And when Cora finally voiced her thoughts, Valery let out a slow breath, considering her words.

Then, she smiled.

"All the time."

She didn't hesitate.

"Not in the sense that I struggle to teach — I know I'm a good instructor," she admitted, her voice steady, confident. "But every student is different. And what works for one won't necessarily work for another." She leaned back slightly, arms crossing as she met Cora's gaze. "A good teacher is always questioning their methods, adapting, learning — trying to reach their students in ways that resonate with them."

She let that settle for a moment before continuing, "When you're teaching a class at the Temple, it's easier. There's a program, a structure to follow. You teach a lesson, and the students either pick it up or they don't and approach you for questions." She exhaled softly. "But when you're working one-on-one? That's when you have to be willing to adjust. To step outside of what's comfortable for you and into what they need."

Her expression grew just a little more amused. "And sometimes, that means pulling them off an Initiate mid-trial before they throw a punch." A beat of silence. Then, she smirked. "Though… something tells me you won't have to worry about that with Roman."

Her fiery gaze flicked back to Cora's, her voice dipping into something softer, more certain.

"You'll be fine, Cora. You're good with people."

Corazona von Ascania ​