Duel Training the Trainee

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen was altogether new to the Jedi order. She already had a lightsaber, but she'd received very little training on its use, and was still more comfortable with her blaster than her laser sword, more confident in her marksmanship than her swordplay. But she was eager to learn nonetheless. In the bowels of the Jedi Temple on Corsucant Helen was going through her basic forms, shii cho was her focus at the moment, given that it was a training form above all it was the one that had been recommended to her while she was assigned to a Master to teach her personally. So that was what she had been spending her time on, less interested in the deeper mysteries of the force, and more in increasing her own strength and furthering her skill. But it had only been a few days since her arrival, so she had yet to fully find her niche.

Her indigo blue blade blazed as it moved through the air, her body memorizing the various guard positions and strokes that were central to shii cho. The form, she had found, was amazingly simple, it had taken her only a day or two to fully grasp its concept, though this was to be expected given its simplicity. The First Form was... counterintuitively formless. It was not formal, it was more about fluid motion and reaction than rigid doctrine. Which made it easy for her to figure out, though she could already tell it would take a lifetime to fully master.

The woman in question was not a common sight for your average padawan. She was already an adult at 24 years of age, and built like a feminine brick. She had chosen to forgo the usual jedi robes for her usual attire, much to the chagrin of a few traditionalist masters. She wasn't one for wearing robes, it made her feel too demure. She enjoyed her freedom and that was a hill she was willing to die on. For her training her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail to keep it out of her face, the long auburn mane now flowing down her back but not her shoulders. But perhaps most interestingly of all was the fact that she still carried a blaster pistol in a holster on her hip. A far more familiar weapon than the laser-sword she was training with now.

She gave off a sigh as she relaxed for a moment, letting her saber fall to her side. She didn't think saber practice would be this boring. But then again she was just attacking the air. It wasn't like target practice where there was some level of challenge to it. She didn't have something moving around, trying to evade her shots like she did at a range. This was just swinging a flashlight around, and that was it. And it wasn't all that practical as far as practice went. She needed a sparring partner.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze, in a touch of irony, was hardly what one imagined when picturing a Jedi Knight. Small and lithe, he was the opposite of the woman practicing before him, her powerful frame was a stark contrast to his own. He cast a curious glance her way, quietly taking in her movements.

He had spent the day silently auditing classes, assessing Padawans, but she was unfamiliar—someone he had neither seen nor met.

Dressed in plain black robes, loose hakammas, and heeled boots, his attire was simple yet deliberate. His arms were bare but wrapped in long gloves. As he watched her train, he stepped closer, stopping just at the edge of the practice floor.

"Would you like something more substantial to practice with?" he asked, his voice light with the unmistakable tone of youth. He looked no older than mid-teens, yet there was no Padawan braid in his hair—no marker of a student.

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen was not expecting to be addressed, so she was more than a little taken off guard when the newcomer spoke to her. She turned to face him quickly upon hearing him speak. She took in the... rather tiny looking individual, especially when compared to her own rather gargantuan proportions. She turned to face him and deactivated her lightsaber before giving him a bow. She'd been shown how to identify a padawan apart from a knight or a master, and she herself had also made sure to put a padawan's braid in place, though it oftentimes got lost in her hair. Thankfully her ponytail fixed that problem here. So she knew that this particular individual outranked her. Though she had a feeling most people in the temple outranked her in some capacity.

"Master." She addressed him, remembering the etiquette that she had been taught, "I... suppose I would. Though I could hardly ask you to make time for me. I'm sure you have a busy schedule."

Her manner of speaking was abnormally strained, and she seemed to be deliberately holding herself in check. She was used to behaving with a great deal more bravado than she was now. Even with her conscious efforts to restrain herself she couldn't completely keep the swagger out of her tone or mannerisms, her bow being made in a more showy fashion than strictly necessary. Her efforts to keep it under control were only partly successful.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

"I have time," Braze chirped gently as he stepped onto the floor, padding closer. He paused, smiled, and brought a fist to his open hand, ensuring he returned the respectful bow.

"You don't need to be so formal with me here… and 'Knight' is fine in the future. My name's Braze. It's nice to meet you, miss…?" He assured her in a gentle tone, leading into an introduction.

Stepping toward a more centralized portion of the floor, he moved to adjust several lightsabers, working them like puzzle boxes he knew all too well.

"What are you looking to improve upon, if I may ask?"

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

"Helen, Ma... Knight." She corrected herself last second, she'd been told that "Master" was the correct way to address anyone of a higher rank, though if told to do otherwise on an individual basis, she was told to do as asked of her on a case by case basis. "Padawan Learner Helen Lupercal. Tis a pleasure."

He asked her what she was looking to improve upon and she sighed, crossing her arms beneath her bust in thought. "I don't know enough to really tell you anything specific. I've only begun training a day ago, and some change. It would likely be best to reinforce the basics in a practical exercise, going through the motions only does so much I've found."

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze drew his lightfoil-styled saber and offered her a Makashi-style salute and bow.

"Alright, the basics then. I take it you've been shown the velocities?" he asked, waiting for confirmation.

"You're only as strong as your foundation, so mastering the basics inside and out is the best way to build it strong." He considered the velocities they could practice, briefly running through the possibilities in his mind. He assumed a poised stance, settling into a mid-guard position.

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She watched the knight fetch a foil and she used the force to pull a foil of her own to her hand. She couldn’t deny that she was a lot more eager to move forward now that she had a proper opponent and teacher.

“I have. And I have no shortage of experience fighting, just not with swords. So the bare basics came easily.” She told him with confidence, assuming a wide stance with a forward guard. Even if she was entirely new to this, her stance already suggested that she would be a very aggressive fighter. “I’m eager to see what I can learn.”

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze gave an easy, lopsided smile as he settled into position.

"If I land three on you first, you owe me a story," he proposed with an air of amusement. "You seem like someone with plenty to tell."

He lifted his saber slightly in a beckoning motion, his teal blade humming as it tilted just so, his grip loose yet ready. "But attack however you like. Come at me with whatever feels natural. Your instincts will tell me more about you than any form could."

His feet barely shifted, only the smallest of weight adjustments keeping him in perpetual balance.

He would not overpower her.
He would outlast her.

"First clean hit resets us back to the center; Then we go again—until one of us gets three."

He offered a small, knowing smirk. "So make every strike count."

"You ready?" He flashed a small, knowing grin.

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She shrugged, “sounds fair to me. Win or lose I might regale you with tales regardless. I have much to tell.”

“I am ready.” She told him, the muscles in her legs tensing, like a leopard preparing to pounce. A second later, she did pounce.

She leapt forward and brought her foil up and across from left to right in a broad, powerful cut. She wasn’t hoping to land a hit with the first strike but rather to batter his defense to nothing so she could have a clear strike while he was on the back foot.

Though she had already overcommitted to offense, all he would need was a brief window and he’d be able to strike her with no resistance.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

​

As she lunged, he read her intent in the way her shoulders set, the way her weight carried through her stride. She sought to overwhelm, to hammer him down beneath sheer force.

But pressure was something he knew well.

Rather than resist, he gave way—sidestepping just enough to let her strike carve through empty space, his blade whispering up in a sharp, efficient counter. Not to wound, not even to land a decisive blow, but to remind her of the opening she had left behind giving her time to move away.

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She was very quickly punished for her recklessness, but she’d had enough experience to see it, and while melee had never been her preferred mode of fighting, she knew just enough to move efficiently.

She pirouetted on her forward leg, throwing her back outward and sliding clear of the engagement. Barely evading the strike that was coming to her. One that he had apparently deliberately not committed to, else he would already have won their first bout.

Regardless of already almost losing there was a smile on her face. She was enjoying this, it was far more engaging than swinging at empty air.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

​

"Try to keep in mind a follow-up and what needs to stay guarded. Don't overcommit in the moment," Braze advised, his tone light but measured.

Resetting his stance, he stepped forward with a controlled thrust aimed at her center mass. The strike wasn't blisteringly fast, nor was it sluggish—just enough speed to require a proper response, yet slow enough to illustrate the mechanics. He wasn't testing her reflexes; he was giving her space to process, to recognize the gaps in motion where a counter could slip in.

His intent was to help her understanding the rhythm of the exchange.

 

[Helen Lupercal]

He would find her to be a fast learner, as she stepped outward and brought her blade across to push his thrust off center, and bringing the tip of her own blade forward in a riposte. It was not perfectly executed, and it would certainly require refinement, but she'd figured it out at least. He would likely be able to parry this one with relative ease, but she took his advice and made sure not to overcommit so she could respond appropriately to whatever his own counter would be. She was paying close attention, and she was eager to learn more. She also made sure to match his speed, less interested in a proper spar at the moment than she was about actually getting herself on the road to improvement.

She had to admit that it was fun too. She had a feeling she would enjoy learning to use this weapon.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze noted the way she moved, how she adjusted her stance, and how she took his thrust and guided it off-center with a well-placed deflection. Her riposte followed—quick, clean, and controlled. Not perfect, but promising. She was learning.


But so was he.


Rather than retreating or simply parrying, Braze stepped in, keeping his blade in contact with hers. As their lightsabers clashed, plasma crackling in resistance, he didn't shove against her strength. Instead, he rolled his wrist, letting his saber spiral over and around hers in a smooth, controlled motion.


The energy of her attack was still there, but now it was his to command. His blade curved in an elegant arc, tracing a circular path that drew her saber along with it. A bind. He had seized control, redirecting her weapon and robbing her of the counter she had just attempted.


For a brief moment, the twin hums of their sabers pulsed together, locked in a spiraling dance of heat and light. He kept the tension just firm enough for her to feel the way her weapon had been caught—not through brute force, but through leverage and flow. He had taken her own momentum and used it to dictate the exchange.


Then, with a flick of his wrist, he disengaged, his saber slipping free as he stepped back to reset.


"Good," he said, his voice steady, his stance composed. " Very good. You're thinking ahead now. But don't just react—feel the contact." He lifted his saber slightly, letting its glow cast long shadows between them. "A bind is about denying your opponent control. You move with them—redirect, manipulate—until their options are gone."

He flicked his saber to the side, its energy humming eagerly.

"Again."

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She went in and he immediately showed her another trick. Looking at him and the difference in both size and build there was no mistaking that she was his superior when it came to brute strength. But that didn't stop him from utterly dominating the exchange, handily overcoming her strength in the bind with his careful and practiced application of leverage. Pushing her blade out of place, and putting her into a rather precarious position.

He disengaged, leaving her to briefly ponder what had just happened, and how she might imitate what was done, or otherwise leverage her own advantages in the next one. She nodded thoughtfully. Before preparing to go in again for another bout. She was definitely a more aggressive combatant. And she considered something... what if she tried to grapple him. Let him control the direction of the bind briefly so she could chance a grab at his wrist and force an opening.

It was worth a shot.

She went in again, this time with a thrust to center mass, prepared to be brought over her head in a cut if deflected.

Despite being thoroughly schooled, she was enjoying herself. And she was learning a lot already.

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze noted the shift in her approach before she fully committed—her stance adjusted, weight centered differently. She wasn't just focusing on the blade this time. She had something else in mind.

Her thrust came, and he met it, catching and redirecting with a subtle turn of his wrist. The momentum carried her weapon up as expected, but as she stepped in closer, reaching for his wrist. A grapple.

Braze reacted instantly, adjusting his angle and shifting his weight. Whether her attempt landed or not depended on how well she adapted in the moment. If she controlled his movement before committing, she might force an opening. If not, he'd have space to slip out and reset.

"Not a bad idea," he said as they disengaged, nodding in acknowledgment. "But if you're going to grapple, you need to do more than reach—commit to breaking my structure first. Otherwise, I'll have an easy escape."

He raised his weapon again, lowering his stance slightly. "Try it again, but think about control before contact. Use your movement to dictate mine—if you can get me off-balance before you grab, you'll have something worth following up on."

It was a small shift in focus, but an important one. Control before contact. If she could integrate that into her approach, she'd make her aggression into something far more dangerous.

​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She had learned the concept of controlling the opponent, or at least the theory. He'd already shown her how that worked in the bind, and she tried to apply the same logic to the grapple, pushing his blade upward with the base of hers against the middle of his so she could safely reach for his armed hand, and twist his arm into a submission hold. At least... that was her intent. Given his far superior experience with melee combat, and this particular style of it, he would likely be able to slip out of her grasp with minimal effort. Though she was learning. It would take a long time to master, and frankly this is what she wanted.

She wanted to practice against a fully resisting opponent. Everything always worked fine when the other party passively allowed it to happen. True skill and proper technique, the ones that worked not the ones that looked pretty, came from making it work against someone who didn't want it to be done. That was true combat readiness, and she had already learned this from her many years of fighting.

But she nonetheless listened carefully to what he had to say. Control before contact. Hit them while denying them the ability to hit you. Limit their options. Reduce the risk as far as can reasonably be done. Obviously there were no guarantees, and she wasn't foolish enough to believe than any attempt made would be safe. But she was nonetheless taking this advice to heart.

Control first.

Who was it again? She thought to herself, remembering a quote she'd heard or read somewhere. A True Soldier fights on his own terms, or does Not Fight at all? Some smart guy from a long time ago I'm sure. But maybe this is what he means.

Her mind worked at it for a few moments, thinking. Trying to remember how he had reacted. So far it was very passive, reactive. She was sure that would change, as he was currently trying to teach her, not beat her. But she could nonetheless use that to practice her swordsmanship. So, she decided to try again. And this time she would give him a deliberate way out, that she could predict, and try to land a hit as he moved out of where he thought the danger was. She wasn't going to improve by giving less than her best after all.

So again she engaged, once again trying to guide his saber in a certain direction, this time to the outside, her right and his left, as she reached for his right with her left to again try the grapple. Anticipating another move to disengage to her left she prepared to swing her blade backward towards him, where his own blade wouldn't be able to intercept in time, and faster than he could back away or duck.

Hopefully...

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

Braze moved instinctively, his saber reacting to her attempt with muscle memory honed by countless hours of training. The bind was solid—her blade pressing upward against his as she reached for his arm. He could already see where she was going with this, recognized the technique as she tried to take control of his movement. It was textbook, predictable even.


And yet—


She was learning. And he had let his confidence lead him into assuming she would execute the maneuver just as before, without adjustment.


Too late, he felt the shift in her intent.


His weight had already started to move in the direction he thought the danger lay, retreating to the left to disengage from her grasp—but that was exactly what she had expected. The moment he committed to evading, her blade was already in motion, angling back with calculated precision. He registered the danger a split second before impact, just enough time to brace but not enough to fully react.


The strike hit.


A clean, decisive touch against him, catching where his saber wouldn't be fast enough to intercept. His mind flickered with a mix of surprise and ... approval.


Braze exhaled lightly. "Alright," he admitted, a smirk creeping onto his face despite himself. "That was good!"

His ego stung, sure, but it wasn't the first time he'd been caught slipping—nor would it be the last. More importantly, it meant she was listening. Adapting.

Not bad at all.

He smiled moving to reset.​

 

[Helen Lupercal]

She... hadn't expected it to work.

She hadn't thought it a bad idea, but she also thought he'd see it coming. Or that she'd somehow screw up the execution of the maneuver. And while she had indeed made contact, her movements had been imprecise and unpracticed. Honstly she'd expected him to evade it or block it somehow, she had not thought she'd succeed with this. But that made success all the more exhilarating.

She reset with him, still not sure she had actually just pulled it off. "Huh..." She said thoughtfully as she took up her position again. "Okay... so that sorta works... hmmmmm."

She considered what she should try next. She knew that practice made perfect, but she also knew that rigid forms didn't stand up all that well in real combat. No plan survives contact with the enemy and all that. She was tempted to try another bout by attacking him, but she also wanted to try her hand at defending too. She was of the opinion that the best defence was a good offense, but she knew better than to neglect her ability to keep herself safe from harm. She needed to practice taking the intiative away from someone who already had it.

So she stood ready. "Okay... Why don't you attack me this time? See if I can figure out how to actually stay alive."

---

Braze Kai'el

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Helen Lupercal

The small Echani reset, somber jade green eyes narrowing as she prepared herself for the next exchange. Now was the time to step things up; just a notch. He would increase the pace, little by little. There was no need to overwhelm her, but a touch more speed might give her a glimpse of how swiftly one needed to think in the heat of battle. The rhythm of blows, parries, ripostes, and the delicate dance of footwork, all while maintaining enough grace to avoid a fatal strike was far form easy work.

His next move came fast—quick and clean—his blade thrusting forward toward her neck, a challenge to her reflexes.

​