Private Twice the pride...

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

The wide, sunlit expanse of the Jedi Temple's training room was alive with the gentle hum of energy fields and the rhythmic sound of a training droid's mechanical footsteps. The polished floors reflected the beams of golden light streaming through the high, arched windows. The faint scent of heated circuits and ozone lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of the countless battles simulated within these walls.

Serina Calis stood in the center of the room, her lightsaber ignited in a blaze of cyan light. The blade buzzed with restrained power as she held it at a ready position, her stance taut but imperfect. The weight of the hilt felt unfamiliar in her hands, more cumbersome than she cared to admit. Her breaths came in shallow bursts, her frustration mounting with each failed strike.

She had always viewed lightsaber combat as secondary, an almost primitive discipline compared to the boundless intricacies of the Force. But now, her perspective had shifted. The rival—a fellow Padawan whose name she had scarcely noticed before—had awakened a spark of competition in her, a need to prove herself in a domain she had long neglected. That rival's effortless precision, the way they danced across the floor as though their blade were an extension of their will—it grated against her pride, igniting a determination she hadn't felt before.

Serina lunged forward, her movements sharp but lacking the fluidity of experience. The training droid deflected her strikes with mechanical ease, its counterattack forcing her to twist awkwardly to avoid being "tagged" by its glowing practice baton. She stumbled, catching herself with a quick step, but the misstep only deepened her frustration.

"Focus," she muttered to herself, deactivating her lightsaber for a moment to center her thoughts. She drew in a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she regarded the training droid. Its blank, metallic visage offered no judgment, but in its silence, she imagined the silent mockery of her rival.

Reactivating her blade, Serina adjusted her grip and shifted her stance. She tried to recall the lessons she had brushed aside in her earlier training—how to balance her weight, the proper angle of the blade, the flow of movement that turned defense into offense. Her cyan blade clashed against the droid's baton once more, the sound ringing out across the empty room like a bell.

For every strike she delivered, the droid returned with one that tested her balance and resolve. She moved faster now, fueled by a burning desire to improve, to rise above her limitations. But with each stumble, each miscalculated swing, her frustration grew.

The room seemed to mirror her struggle. The bright sunlight, so calming earlier, now felt oppressive, highlighting every misstep, every faltering motion. The polished floors, which had seemed so pristine, now betrayed her with their slick surface whenever her footing slipped. Even the hum of the lightsaber seemed to mock her efforts, its resonance a constant reminder of her inadequacy.

She stopped mid-swing, panting, her shoulders rising and falling with exertion. Deactivating her blade once more, she sank to her knees, letting the cool touch of the floor ground her. Her hands clenched into fists, gripping the hilt of her lightsaber tightly.

"This isn't working," she admitted aloud, her voice echoing faintly in the vast space. But there was no defeat in her tone—only resolve. If she couldn't master this on her own, she would find another way. Whether it meant seeking guidance from a reluctant instructor or observing her rival in secret, Serina Calis would not be outdone.

For now, she closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment of stillness, drawing upon the Force to calm the tempest of her emotions. The path to mastery might be arduous, but she would not falter. Not while the spark of competition burned so fiercely within her.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

Jack had been facing a common adversary, between the missions of keeping the peace and beyond spending time confined to his quarters, as his brethren would commonly preach.

Boredom.

Casually strolling along the Temple's lavish halls, the Knight passing courteous nods to brothers and sisters as they walked by, the man lost in his singular quest to quench his dull mood. A visit to the Salles often helped, but he didn't particularly feel like sparring with any gracious opponent today. Nothing wrong with sparring with fellow Jedi, but if there's one critique he often had of his brethren, combat-wise.

Even on burn setting, they held themselves way too back. There was just a thrill to the art his fellow Jedi lacked, preaches of balanced spirit in combat aside. Besides, many Temple-dwellers were Niman users; not that they often utilized the potential of moderation to full efficiency...

Hellooooooooooooooo...?

Stepping backwards from passing by a Salle doorway, Jack's curious hazel picked out a lithe blonde - likely having just become a young adult - practicing his mopus oprendi. Just moments before she ceased her work practice, and self-chastize herself though not for lack of trying.

Blonde, beautiful, uses Makashi? Evidently a Padawan, who was her Master? Eh, that can wait until later, for now Jack was more than intrigued by this young Jedi, her frustration palpable in the Force yet didn't faze him, his wide grin stretching to degrees of happiness and gratification.

Goodbye boredom. Hello Jedi-in-need.

Oh-so casually striding within the room, Jack slid the door close and folded his broad arms, leaning back just against the frame to let the self-doubting Padawan detect his presence or not, for a few minutes. Eventually, Jack spoke up, light-hearted and brimming in mirth.

"Makashi is harder to master than you think."

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina froze, her fingers tightening reflexively around the hilt of her lightsaber as the unexpected voice echoed through the training room. She turned her head sharply, her blue eyes narrowing as they landed on the source. A Jedi Knight—taller than most, with an air of casual confidence—was leaning against the doorway. His grin was disarming, almost smug, and it immediately put her on edge.

The calm she had managed to summon moments before began to evaporate under the weight of his presence. It wasn't just that he had witnessed her floundering attempts at Makashi—it was the easy familiarity with which he addressed her, as though her struggles were nothing more than a source of mild amusement.

She rose to her feet slowly, smoothing the fabric of her robe to give her hands something to do. Her composure returned in degrees, though her tone remained cool and clipped when she finally responded.

"I wasn't aware I had an audience," she said, her gaze steady but her cheeks faintly flushed. "And Makashi isn't as difficult as it looks. It's simply a matter of refining one's technique."

The statement sounded confident enough, though even she could hear the edge of defensiveness in her voice. Serina prided herself on her intellect and adaptability, but this form—elegant and precise though it might be—was proving far more challenging than she had anticipated. She resented the idea of admitting as much, especially to someone whose grin suggested he already knew.

Still, her upbringing had instilled in her the importance of manners, and she begrudgingly inclined her head in a gesture of respect. "I take it you're familiar with Makashi?" she asked, her tone measured but laced with a subtle challenge.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"My pride and blood," Jack saw fit to quip, pushing his shoulders from the doorframe and approached his newest acquaintance, remarking offhand, or was it? "People prefer to claim Vaapad's the most difficult to master, but I think an argument can be made for the Way of the Ysalamiri."

Impatience tempered by the inclination of respect. The faint hue on her face was adorable, too, Jack couldn't stop his widened grin even if he tried. Despite which, he was a Knight, and as such should set an example.

But who said he couldn't with a touch of flourish.

"And you, my dear Padawan? What compels you to practice the most elegant and light of lightsaber Forms?" There was no cheek in his voice, only a light curiosity. Standing just five feet apart, assessing the younger individual through demeanour, and the Force. And the Force had its own story to tell.

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's grip tightened slightly on her lightsaber hilt, though she resisted the urge to ignite it again. The Knight's relaxed demeanor and offhand remarks rankled her, even if she could sense no malice in his words. His grin, however, was another matter entirely—it bordered on insufferable.

She drew herself up, adopting a posture of poise and confidence, even as his question lingered in the air. For a moment, she considered brushing it off with a dismissive remark, but something about his tone—genuine curiosity, without the mockery she'd expected—gave her pause. Still, her pride demanded that she maintain control of the narrative.

"Makashi is the most logical choice for someone like me," she replied coolly, lifting her chin slightly. "It requires precision, finesse, and intelligence to master—not brute strength or wild aggression. Qualities I find... preferable."

The words were measured, deliberate. She had no intention of admitting the real reason she had chosen to practice the form: to outshine a rival whose skill in Lightsaber combat had drawn more than a few murmurs of admiration among their peers. She wanted that attention, but that kind of vulnerability was something she would keep to herself.

Still, the Knight's probing gaze felt uncomfortably perceptive, as though he could see past her carefully constructed façade. The way he stood there, his curiosity and ease so blatant, set her nerves on edge. She couldn't tell if it was his presence in the Force or simply his unrelenting grin, but she found herself compelled to continue speaking, if only to reassert her control over the conversation.

"I've studied its principles extensively," she added, clasping her hands behind her back in a gesture of discipline. "The elegance of Makashi appeals to me. It's not just a technique; it's an art form. One that—" She hesitated, her words faltering for the briefest moment. "—one that I intend to perfect."

There. That sounded suitably lofty. Ambitious, even. She hoped it was enough to satisfy his curiosity without inviting further probing.

Her blue eyes locked onto his hazel ones, a hint of challenge flickering in her gaze. "And what about you, Knight? Is your interest in Makashi purely academic, or do you make a habit of offering unsolicited advice to Padawans who are perfectly capable of managing on their own?"

The edge in her voice was subtle but unmistakable, though her words carried more than a trace of genuine curiosity. Despite her irritation, she couldn't deny that he intrigued her. For all his casual demeanor, there was an unmistakable depth to him—something she couldn't quite place, but which made her all the more determined to prove herself in his presence.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Jack couldn't stop himself; the defensive edge, the unmitigated cheek, the boldness of her gaze. Bursting into laugher tore him at the seams, the Knight needing a bit's recovery. Wiping an invisible tear from his eye, Jack beamed in open wonder, well humoured from the Padawan's tone and posture.

"Sorry! Rare for a Padawan to talk back to me without the Master present." That, he sincerely meant. Chuckling away the lingering mirth, Jack stared his smooth, easygoing pace around the Salles, admiring the interior for a minute.

Clean, with a few tell-tale signs of usage. Not bad...

"You know, I had a discussion with another bold Padawan, not too long ago. Around your age, blonde too," And what a stimulating conversation that'd been. Jack easily swayed around the mats, hands clasped so casually behind his semi-hunched back. Head arched to the ceiling fondly, "Unlike the two of us, she saw lightsaber combat as a fighting necessity, rather than an art. You're right, though; Makashi IS an art, but it's far more than that. It's..."

Trailing off a tad, the young Knight frowned considerably, pausing by the young blonde's left. How best to articulate it? Fingers flexing as it hungry for the blade, the hilt flew until his hand without even concentrating for it.

"It's a dance."

The ignition hummed in the air.

"The purest expression of the lightsaber Form." The Knight murmured, azure blade extended from his careful, horizontal grip, held high and beyond them. A few, collected spins, the sound of the saber adding like a melodious blaze, "A waltz between the light dark we face, against our foes and within ourselves."

In that very moment, Jack looked more lost in thought saying this, as if transfixed by his own lesson. Gazing at the azure lightsaber that illuminated the Salle a tad longer.

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina watched Jack with a mixture of suspicion and begrudging curiosity as his laughter echoed through the training room. His amusement at her expense was irritating, but it didn't feel malicious. If anything, it seemed as though her defiance had earned his approval—or at least entertained him, which, annoyingly, was better than outright dismissal.

Her fingers flexed around the hilt of her lightsaber, itching to reignite the blade and prove her point, but she held back. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest, her blue eyes following him as he moved through the room with the ease of someone completely at home in his own skin.

When he ignited his lightsaber and began to speak, the shift in his demeanor caught her off guard. The casual confidence remained, but there was a sincerity in his tone that surprised her. His words—"a waltz between the light and dark we face"—lingered in the air, resonating with a depth she hadn't expected from someone who had, moments ago, laughed so freely.

She straightened, her posture instinctively formal, as though the gravity of his lesson demanded a certain respect. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to simply observe, her eyes drawn to the fluidity of his movements and the way his azure blade seemed to dance through the air. There was an undeniable grace to it, a harmony that she had yet to find in her own practice.

When he paused, lost in thought, she hesitated before speaking. "A dance," she repeated softly, her voice more contemplative than defensive now. "I suppose that makes sense. Precision, timing, balance—it's all there."

Her gaze dropped briefly to her own lightsaber, still inactive in her hand. She turned it over thoughtfully, running her fingers along the smooth hilt. "But if it's a dance, then I'm still stumbling over the steps," she admitted, her tone quieter now. It wasn't a concession of defeat, but a rare moment of honesty.

Looking back at Jack, she tilted her head slightly, studying him with renewed curiosity. "You speak of it like it's more than just a technique. More than just combat. Is that what it is to you? An art? A philosophy?"

Her voice carried a subtle challenge, but this time, it wasn't born of pride. It was genuine curiosity, a desire to understand. If Makashi truly was something more—something greater—then perhaps there was a part of it she had yet to uncover. And if this Knight had the answers, she wasn't too proud to hear them. At least, not yet.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

The corner of his lip quirked, "An answer."

The lightsaber de-ignited, leaving an easy silence in the air. Jack turned back to his new friend, brows raised in light-hearted consideration, the enthusiasm in his tone unmistakable; given the subject at hand.

"If the Sith are fire, to be extinguished, my dear Padawan, then the Jedi is water," Raising the unlit hilt for emphasis, Jack's expression just a tad stern, "And nothing demonstrates that more than Makashi. Fluid and graceful, able to be carried along like a stream, but when the tides rise, the water crushes all within its wake."

Lowering his weapon, the Knight cocked a knowing brow. Reading it all over her attentive, thoughtful look.

"You've felt it yourself, trying to float along the tides."

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's gaze flicked from Jack's unlit lightsaber to his face, her expression carefully measured. His words lingered in the air, weaving an image of Makashi that she hadn't considered before—something natural, yet powerful in its inevitability. Water, crushing everything in its path. It was an elegant metaphor, and one she begrudgingly found herself drawn to.

For a moment, she stayed silent, letting the weight of his statement settle. Then, with deliberate care, she adjusted her grip on her own unlit hilt and stepped forward. The polished floor reflected her measured steps, her movements more thoughtful now than defensive.

"Perhaps," she admitted, her voice quieter than before but carrying an edge of determination. "But if I've felt it, it's been fleeting. Like trying to catch the current without understanding where it flows."

She held up her lightsaber hilt, mirroring his earlier gesture, and studied it as though it might hold the answers she sought. "I've always thought of the Force as a vast ocean—limitless, powerful, and impossible to fully grasp. Makashi…" Her lips pressed into a thin line for a moment before she continued. "It feels like a fragment of that. A single thread in the current. Controlled. Predictable."

Her blue eyes lifted to meet his hazel ones, a faint spark of challenge behind them. "But the Force itself isn't predictable, is it? It shifts. Changes. It's as much chaos as it is harmony. Can a technique like Makashi truly embody that?"

It wasn't an outright dismissal of his lesson—far from it. Her tone carried genuine curiosity, even a hint of reverence. But Serina wasn't one to simply accept an idea without testing it against her own understanding. If she was going to commit herself to mastering this form, she wanted to know it was more than just a beautiful dance. She wanted to know it could truly reflect the power she sought to understand. That it could control.

Lowering her lightsaber, she tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. "You say it's an answer. But an answer to what? To the Sith? To the chaos of the Force? Or to something else entirely?"

There was no edge to her voice this time, only the earnest curiosity of someone who had spent far too much of her life questioning and searching. If Jack Wright had more wisdom to share, she was ready to hear it—though she would never admit it aloud. Not yet.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

More and more, Jack was finding himself enjoying the young Jedi's company. She was asking good questions, willing to learn, despite the pride she so carefully hidden. Crossing his strong arms, hilt still worn in his right grip, Jack cocked his head considerably, pondering for a moment how to answer such a philosophical inquiry.

"You never told me your name, Padawan," He spoke up then, hazel eyes gleaming with a newfound intent. Adopting the role of teacher, all but mimicking his own instructors, back on New Cov. "And with that comes another question: Why are the Jedi taught to fight, my dear?"

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the shift in Jack's tone. His question—simple on the surface—carried layers she could already feel tugging at her thoughts. Her instinct was to respond quickly, confidently, as she always did when someone challenged her, but something about the way he watched her, his arms crossed and his expression patient yet piercing, forced her to pause.

"My name is Serina," she said at last, her voice calm, though her pride shimmered faintly in the way she lifted her chin. "Serina Calis."

She allowed a beat of silence to settle before continuing, as if weighing her words carefully. "Why are the Jedi taught to fight?" she echoed, her tone thoughtful but carrying an undercurrent of certainty. "The obvious answer would be to protect the galaxy, to preserve peace." Her gaze flickered upward, as though considering the weight of such ideals. "But I think there's more to it than that."

Her hands shifted, clasping her lightsaber hilt behind her back in a gesture that mirrored his earlier stance, though hers felt more deliberate, even calculated. "To fight is to impose order," she said, her words slow and deliberate. "It's about control—over oneself, over the chaos around us, over the darkness that threatens to consume everything."

Her blue eyes lifted to meet his hazel ones, sharp and steady. "The Jedi fight because peace doesn't sustain itself. It requires effort, precision, even perfection. A single misstep can tip the balance, unraveling everything we strive to protect. That's why we're taught discipline, mastery—not just of the blade, but of ourselves."

There was no hesitation in her voice now, no room for doubt. Only the confidence of someone who believed, deeply, in what she was saying. "Makashi appeals to me for the same reason. It's precise, controlled. Every movement deliberate, every strike calculated. It's not chaos; it's clarity. And clarity is what separates victory from defeat."

She paused, her expression softening just enough to veil the edge in her words. "But perhaps you disagree, Knight Wright," she said, her tone shifting to one of polite curiosity. "Perhaps you think fighting is about something else entirely. If so, I'd be curious to hear it."

The faintest hint of a smile played at her lips, a subtle challenge wrapped in civility. Though her words had been careful, almost deferential, the undercurrent of her desire for control, for mastery, was unmistakable. She wasn't simply here to learn—she was here to prove that she could rise above.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"Order," Jack echoed, a thoughtful expression carried over his face by that line of reasoning. An answer he'd expect, but it flowed so naturally from his new acquaintance, to balance one's self and maintain a steady discipline of peace through the stars.

His smile reciprocated hers, a little humoured Serina already knew his name. Word travels fast when he hadn't been around here long; maybe flirting with the Grandmaster left an impact? Jack wasn't too egotistical to assume so, but that wasn't either here or there.

Rubbing his soft beard, thumb and forefinger carefully traced over the jawline, the young Knight turned away, facing the bright windows of Coruscant's artificial weather, hazel narrowed for a few seconds. Contemplative.

"Conflict is a primal calling of many species in the galaxy, my dear, even the Jedi have their difficulty tempering such basic instincts. The desire to prove themself, to fight for their beliefs, to improve your own stature; as humans we strive to consistently rise above our own faculties, that's especially proven in Jedi."

Tilting his head over to the listening Serina, Jack's smile quirked in a soft demeanour. Voice lowered as such, speaking from the heart, letting his own experience address what humbling wisdom he had to share.

"Conflict is natural, and though we must balance these emotions, it is Makashi that channels such primal need into a flow of elegance and harmony. That's what Makashi is, the balance between peace and conflict. The purest Form of a Jedi expressing himself while acting as a conduit in the Force, following along the stream and joining as one with the tides, be they to face the Sith or any plight that would bring chaos to the galaxy, and even beyond."

Jack paused for a second, glancing at the corner of his eye. The smirk now more sympathetic, he added rather lightly in self-depreciating mirth, shoulders just slouching a bit to his usual disposition.

"My apologies if my point isn't making any sense. You may have noticed the way I articulate myself differs from your teachers."

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina watched Jack closely as he spoke, her expression composed but her mind alive with scrutiny. His words carried an almost poetic quality, painting Makashi as a bridge between instinct and discipline, chaos and order. It was a sentiment she could appreciate, even admire, though a part of her bristled at the notion of surrendering to the tides of the Force rather than shaping them.

When he glanced back at her, his smirk softening into something almost self-conscious, she allowed herself a small, measured smile in return. But behind the polite curve of her lips, her thoughts were racing, probing the edges of his philosophy.

"Your point makes sense," she said after a moment, her voice smooth but carrying an undertone of calculation. "In its own way."

She stepped closer, her lightsaber hilt still clasped behind her back as she tilted her head slightly, her blue eyes narrowing just enough to suggest she was studying him. "Makashi as a balance… as harmony. It's an elegant idea. But isn't harmony just another word for control?"

Her gaze held his for a beat longer than necessary, her tone softening as though she were merely musing aloud. "You speak of following the tides, of joining with the Force as it flows. But what if the tide carries you somewhere you don't wish to go? What if the current leads to ruin, to chaos? Shouldn't a Jedi have the strength to shape the tide rather than be swept along by it?"

Her smile lingered, but it was sharper now, a faint glint of something unspoken in her eyes. "Conflict may be natural, as you say, but it's also inevitable. And when it comes, harmony doesn't ensure victory. Control does. Precision does. Makashi appeals to me not because it balances peace and conflict, but because it allows for mastery. It takes something chaotic—combat—and turns it into something predictable. Controllable."

She let her words hang in the air for a moment, her gaze unwavering. "You call it a conduit of the Force. I see it as a tool. A means to impose order where there is none."

Her expression softened just enough to mask the intensity of her words, her posture shifting back into something more neutral. "Perhaps that's where we differ," she said lightly, as though it were a simple observation rather than a subtle challenge. "But then, I suppose that's the beauty of the Jedi, isn't it? We all draw on the Force in different ways, guided by different philosophies."

She stepped back, finally releasing her grip on her hilt and letting her arms fall to her sides. "Still, your perspective is... thought-provoking, Knight Wright. I'll admit, you articulate yourself differently than my teachers. But perhaps that's why your words resonate."

Her tone was gracious, even complimentary, but there was an edge to it—a flicker of something darker and more ambitious beneath the surface. Serina Calis wasn't here to be a mere conduit for the Force. She was here to shape it, to bend it to her will. And whether Jack Wright realized it or not, his lesson had only reinforced her belief in the power of control.

"Now, when do we get practical?"

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

Jack was no fool, easygoing he may be, he could see the glimmer of ambition in her eyes. The call to make herself greater than the Jedi's preach for self-practice and control, nor would he judge her for such youthful dispositions.

Still, for her eager question, the Knight burst out in laughter; opting to indulge Serina's unapologetic eagerness to get more hands-on with the self-appointed lesson at hand, inclining to her wishes with a heartfelt nod. A glimmer of coyness, "As you wish."

The saber reignited in the flick of a wrist, Jack stood apart from his newfound acquaintance. Stance measured and well-honed, straightened with an elegant posture, shoulders narrow with left hand lowered fittingly by his side, while the saber did an excellent Salute maneuver. Azure blade hummed majestically, effortlessly but pointed by his lowered right side.

"If you resist being pulled along with the Force, you may be drowned in your own zeal." The lesson was as much a caution as it was casual, Jack smiled lightly to his new friend. "Would you like to test your lessons thus far against me, or alongside, Serina?"

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's lips curled into a faint smile at Jack's words, though the glint in her eyes betrayed something sharper beneath the surface. She had been expecting another philosophical musing, another well-meaning lecture about balance and the tides of the Force. Instead, he offered her something far more enticing: a chance to prove herself.

She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, almost predatory, as her cyan blade sprang to life in her hand. The hum of her lightsaber filled the air, its resonance a counterpoint to his azure blade. She mirrored his salute with practiced grace, though her posture held a subtle tension, as if she were ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"Against," she said smoothly, her tone carrying a quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance. "If I'm to learn, then I'd rather face you as an opponent. There's no better way to understand the flow of Makashi than to test it directly."

Her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, the air seemed to thrum with her focus. But as she raised her blade into a guard position, her voice took on a new edge, sharper and laced with subtle provocation.

"Besides," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "I imagine a Knight such as yourself wouldn't find it challenging to spar alongside a mere Padawan. Wouldn't want to bore you, after all."

The words were polite enough on the surface, but the underlying barb was unmistakable. She moved slowly to her left, circling him as she spoke, her tone shifting to something softer, almost contemplative. "You spoke of drowning in one's zeal. An interesting metaphor. But I wonder, Knight Wright… have you ever found yourself swept away by the currents? Lost control, even for a moment?"

She stopped, her piercing blue eyes narrowing as her blade angled slightly downward in a feigned casual stance. "Or is it that you've never faced a tide strong enough to challenge you?"

The words hung in the air, not loud but pointed, like the edge of a vibroblade. She wasn't just preparing for a fight; she was probing, testing him before their blades even clashed. If she could unsettle him, force a crack in his measured calm, it would give her the advantage. She used a technique, one she only had discovered through a dark dream, Dun Möch, something which she had practiced herself in secret to many a mirror at the cold darkness of night. This wasn't a skill she had fully mastered, but in moments like this, she could wield it well enough to plant seeds of doubt.

"Shall we begin, then?" she said, her smile widening just enough to hint at her growing confidence. Her blade rose slightly, catching the light as she shifted back into a proper Makashi stance. "I wouldn't want to disappoint."

Though her demeanor remained composed, the ambition burning within her was palpable. She wasn't here just to learn Makashi—she was here to prove that she could wield it with the same elegance and control as any Knight. And perhaps, if she pushed hard enough, she might even unsettle the man who so calmly offered her this lesson.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

It was that confidence that'd leave her disarmed.

Jack was on her the second the last word slipped off her slender lips, striking in light, precise thrusts for shoulders and torsos, burn setting only would leave superficial marks if they scored a hit. His blade whipped out in streaks of speed, maintaining his own distant guard as the azure lightsaber extended, testing the young woman's immediate reflexes.

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's instincts flared the moment Jack moved. The precision and speed of his strikes were breathtaking—elegant, controlled, and utterly overwhelming. Her cyan blade rose to meet the first thrust, the impact reverberating up her arm as she deflected it just enough to avoid being tagged. But the second came just as quickly, forcing her to twist awkwardly to avoid the blade's burn.

She knew she was no match for him in pure saber combat. Each clash of their blades drove that reality home. Jack's strikes were too fast, his form too polished, while hers—rooted in the basics of Shii-Cho—lacked the finesse and economy of movement needed to keep up. The realization wasn't disheartening, though; it was galvanizing.

Serina darted back, creating space between them, her mind racing. She couldn't win this duel on his terms. If she was to stand a chance, she needed to shift the battlefield—both physically and mentally.

"You're fast, Knight Wright," she said, her voice light, almost conversational, as she moved. Her tone carried the same edge of provocation as before, though this time it was accompanied by a faint smile. "Precise. Almost as if you've done this a thousand times before."

Her blade dipped low, feigning a defensive stance as she reached out with the Force. Subtlety was key; she didn't need to overpower him, only to distract him for a moment. With a flick of her fingers, a loose training remote from the room's edge shot toward Jack's periphery at high speed, aimed to disrupt his focus.

"And yet," she continued, circling him slowly, her eyes never leaving his, "it feels... mechanical. Like you've perfected the dance but forgotten the music."

The training remote zipped toward him, but Serina didn't pause to see if it landed. As Jack's attention shifted, even for an instant, she activated Tràkata, extinguishing her blade mid-movement and darting closer under the cover of its sudden silence. Her intention wasn't to strike him directly—that would have been foolish—but to maneuver inside his guard, where the reach of his elegant Makashi would be less effective.

"Is that what Makashi is to you?" she pressed, her voice now a low murmur as she reignited her blade in a quick, defensive flick meant to stave off his inevitable counter. "A technique? A pattern to be perfected and repeated?"

She could feel the strain of maintaining her composure, her heart pounding as she danced along the edge of her abilities. Her words, laced with in the technique of Dun Möch, of which was developing more than her Makashi ever was to, were calculated to unsettle, to draw out some crack in his calm exterior. Even if her strikes couldn't best him, her mind could still be a weapon.

"But then," she added with a wry smile, stepping back just enough to reset the rhythm of their duel, "perhaps that's why I'll surpass you one day. I've never been one for following patterns."

Her blade hummed in her hand, her body poised for his next move. She knew she was walking a fine line—testing not just her own limits, but his patience. But if she was to learn, to grow, she needed to push herself beyond the confines of what was safe. Only then could she hope to control the chaos swirling around her.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

Just about sidestepping the bold Tràkata attempt, the blade just close to grazing the edge of his torso's armour, his brows perked after ducking beneath the flung remote, the whooshing sound of the otherwise quite Salle warned him to take a dodge. In a huff, he was amazed by her demonstration of using the environment and the blade to tenacious effect, and he found himself endeared to the vigour Padawan, more and more.

Taunting, now? That confirms his initial thoery of a noble upbringing, by the accent it was clearly a Core World. But he's had enough taunts through childhood to let a mild jibe about his personal techniques get to him.

"My dear," Jack drawled, the 'dear' stretched out with a light flourish of his blade. The widened grin saying it all, "Why fix what isn't broken?"

He launched in again, only much more slower in his movements in light, graceful sweeps for the legs, giving his opponent a chance to retaliate should she feel the need. And Jack could tell, she was more intent on fighting with emotion, rather than practical thought. Waggling his brows mid-swing, Jack then immediately feinted, making a playful step back.

"If you learned to hone in your feminine wiles as well as your childish mocking, you might have an advantage here, Padawan."

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's blade hissed as she brought it up defensively, deflecting Jack's sweeping strike toward her legs. The deliberate slowness of his movements wasn't lost on her; he was playing with her, giving her an opening to fight back. It was infuriating and exhilarating in equal measure. But his words—that sly jab wrapped in a teasing grin—stoked a different fire altogether.

She laughed softly, a light, melodic sound that carried just enough derision to be unmistakable. "Oh, Knight Wright," she said, her voice as smooth as polished glass, "if that's your idea of advice, then perhaps your techniques are broken after all."

Stepping into his feint, she didn't fall for the bait but instead pivoted gracefully, her cyan blade flicking upward in a controlled arc to force his retreat. She kept her movements precise, minimizing the energy she expended while her mind worked through the puzzle of him. His playful demeanor was disarming, but she knew there was a keen mind behind it, and she wasn't about to underestimate him.

His comment about feminine wiles lingered in her thoughts, not as an insult but as an opportunity. She tilted her head slightly, her golden hair catching the light as she smiled—not the sly grin of a challenge, but something warmer, more inviting. "Perhaps you're right," she said, her tone thoughtful as though she were genuinely considering his words. "Charm is its own kind of weapon, isn't it? One that can cut deeper than any blade."

Her voice softened as she stepped closer, lowering her lightsaber just slightly to give the illusion of an opening. "But tell me, Knight," she continued, her blue eyes locking onto his with an intensity that belied her feigned innocence. "Are you truly immune to such things? Or do you simply pretend to be?"

The words weren't just a distraction; they were calculated. As she spoke, Serina reached out with the Force, subtly nudging a training mat just behind Jack's left foot. The shift was imperceptible, the kind of detail that could easily go unnoticed in the heat of a duel. She didn't need to knock him down—just to throw him off balance for a moment.

Then, as the mat shifted, she moved. Her blade reignited in a quick, flickering jab—not at his torso, but at his weapon hand. It wasn't a strike meant to harm, only to disrupt his grip and force him to adjust. At the same time, she allowed her smile to widen, as if the entire maneuver were part of the same game they were playing.

"You're holding back," she said, her tone still light but carrying a hint of challenge. "Are you sure that's wise? I'd hate to think you're underestimating me."

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

Stumbling a little from the mat trick, Jack quickly adjusted and planted the right foot spaced and firm, onto the material. Even if her strike landed, the hilt spun in his own grip, a full three-sixty retaliatory strike that bounced Serina's own blade backwards, staggering her for the side.

Which Jack took advantage of: Making a playful, if firm push at her upper back, physically shoving the young woman out of control. He smirked wide back, answering the taunt with his backing posture, lightly skipping away on the mat as if this were a show; the Force their audience. Lightsaber adjusted his right side, extended outward with a diagonal upwards angle.