Private Twice the pride...

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina staggered forward from Jack's push, catching herself on one knee before quickly rising. Her teeth clenched as she turned to face him, her cyan blade humming steadily in her hand. Jack's playful demeanor and taunting posture only fueled her determination. She couldn't afford to let his antics unbalance her, not when she had a plan forming in the back of her mind.

Straightening her posture, she brushed a stray strand of golden hair from her face, her expression calm but her eyes alight with a sharper focus. "Impressive," she said lightly, the faintest edge of sarcasm lacing her tone. "You're quite the performer, Knight Wright. I wonder, though, if you've ever faced someone who doesn't play by the script."

As she spoke, she began to reach out with the Force, letting it flow through her with a precision she rarely displayed in combat. Her blade remained in a defensive guard, her movements measured as she started to circle him. Jack's confidence was palpable, his playful energy almost infectious—but she could feel the threads of his focus, the rhythm of his movements. And she intended to break it.

Serina's voice softened, her words almost conversational. "You speak of harmony, of flowing with the tide. But what happens when the current suddenly shifts? When the waters aren't what they seem?"

Without warning, she cast her illusion. The Force rippled outward from her, subtle yet deliberate, creating a shimmering distortion around her figure. For a moment, it appeared as though there were two of her—one standing just off to Jack's right, her lightsaber raised in a ready stance, while the other, the real Serina, darted low to his left.

She moved swiftly, her cyan blade flickering as she deactivated it mid-step, her body crouched low to avoid drawing attention. The illusory Serina mirrored her earlier tactics, advancing boldly with a feigned overhead strike meant to draw Jack's attention and invite his retaliation.

Meanwhile, the real Serina aimed to slip beneath his guard, reigniting her blade with a sharp hum as she swung low toward his legs. She wasn't aiming for a true strike—it was burn setting, after all?—it wasn't. She had forgotten to switch her blade. The hesitation gave Jack an opening to end this duel once and for all.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

Jack took the chance; swinging upwards with an elegant sweep, disarming her thoroughly with saber tossed in the air. The elder youth caught the unlit hilt to his hand, giving a moment's admiration of the craft, examining the design.

"Hm. Where'd you get your crystal?" Not exactly yet returning said weapon to its master, continuing his inspection. Hazel eyes thoughtful while azure lightsaber lowered to his right, deactivated in a satisfaying Swish

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's eyes followed her lightsaber as it spun through the air, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face as Jack snatched it effortlessly. The disarming strike had been clean, elegant—a perfect execution of the very principles she sought to master. Her pride burned, a sharp sting that settled deep in her chest, but she forced her expression into one of neutrality, unwilling to let him see the full extent of her frustration.

As he inspected her hilt, turning it over with casual curiosity, she straightened her posture, smoothing her robes with deliberate composure. "Ilum," she replied coolly, her tone even but carrying the faintest edge. "I flew myself into the middle of a sun, where else would a Padawan acquire a crystal?"

The question was rhetorical, almost dismissive, as though she couldn't be bothered to entertain the idea of sharing anything this personal with him. Her piercing blue eyes met his hazel ones, and for a brief moment, the weight of her pride was unmistakable. Then, with a sharp inhale, she forced herself to exhale slowly, reigning in the bitterness threatening to spill over.

She crossed her arms, her voice softening just enough to mask the resentment simmering beneath. "If I hadn't hesitated," she said, her words measured but pointed, "if I'd followed through with my strike, I would've won."

It wasn't a boast, nor an excuse—it was a fact, delivered with a calmness that belied the turmoil within. She wouldn't deny her mistake. Hesitation had cost her the match, and Jack had capitalized on it with flawless precision. But acknowledging her misstep didn't mean she would concede the lesson entirely.

Her gaze flicked to the hilt in his hand, her chin lifting slightly. "You're quick, I'll give you that," she admitted, though her tone carried the faintest hint of grudging respect. "But it's easy to disarm someone when they're holding back. Next time…" She paused, her smile faint but edged with determination. "I won't make the same mistake."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, her pride refusing to let the conversation end on anything less than her terms. She extended her hand, her posture poised and her voice steady. "My lightsaber, if you don't mind, Knight Wright. I'd like it back before you decide to critique its design."

Despite the bitterness lingering beneath the surface, Serina maintained her composure, her gaze unflinching. She had lost this round, but to her, it wasn't a defeat—it was a lesson. One she intended to use the next time they crossed blades.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"Goodness, you do talk a lot before the other gets a chance for a word in," Jack then teased, yet handed the saber back as requested, gently pressing the cool metal into her palm. Reassuring the young Padawan with a heartfelt smile, "I wasn't going to critique, Serina. I'm judging, by your sharp tongue and defensive attitude, you've yet to have a Master?"

Not a single trace of judgement in that tone; from the way her sky blue eyes shifted, Jack had his answer. Pulling away with the saber handed over, inclining his head respectfully.

"Never assume anything, my dear: Make any conclucion before the strike may land, on the battlefield, that may cost a limb or even your head. You say you had me in the bag, but you didn't consider all angles, relying on besting me through use of tongue and envrionment. And despite the fact one clearly didn't affect me, you pushed me instead of changing your tactic."

Firmly now, the Knight poked Serina's forehead, making point when he asked more sharply. A tone that brooked no patience for snide remarks or deflection when he made the question.

"Are you sincerely trying to improve yourself, or make a point to look superior before your classmate?" Jack asked, hazel eyes waited patiently.

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina's fingers closed around the hilt of her lightsaber as Jack returned it, the cool metal grounding her as she met his gaze. His tone remained light, but his question cut deeper than she cared to admit. She straightened, forcing herself to remain composed as her mind raced for a response that would satisfy without revealing too much.

"My Master," she began, her voice calm but with a measured pause that hinted at the uncertainty she concealed, "has always emphasized the importance of independence. Learning to adapt and find solutions without relying on someone else to guide every step. It's… an approach I've come to value."

She lowered her gaze briefly, inspecting the hilt as though it held answers. When she looked back up, her expression was resolute. "As for my tactics," she continued, her tone firmer now, "I don't see the value in limiting oneself to a single approach. The environment is part of any battle, as much as the blade or the Force. Ignoring it would be a mistake, wouldn't you agree?"

Her words carried an edge of defensiveness, but she softened them with a faint smile, carefully balancing humility and pride. "Perhaps my execution wasn't perfect," she conceded, "but even so, adapting to the moment—taking advantage of every variable—that's what turns a battle. If I'd done nothing but match your blade with mine, the outcome would've been the same. Perhaps even faster."

The statement was deliberate, not an excuse but a subtle defense of her actions. She shifted her weight slightly, her blue eyes narrowing as she considered his earlier question.

"As for why," she said after a pause, her voice quieter now, "I think you know the answer as well as I do. To improve oneself, yes. To rise above challenges, certainly. But isn't that what all of us strive for? To excel? To be seen as more than just another Padawan in a line of many?"

Her gaze lingered on his for a moment, the faintest flicker of something darker flashing in her eyes before she looked away. "Recognition isn't something to chase, of course," she added, her tone almost absent, as though she were reassuring herself as much as him. "But to deny its appeal entirely… that wouldn't be honest."

She tightened her grip on the hilt, her knuckles whitening for a brief moment before she released it, exhaling slowly. "I'm here to improve, Knight Wright," she said at last, her voice steady again. "But improvement comes from striving, from pushing limits. Whether that's against you, my classmates, or myself—it's all part of the same goal."

She looked back at him, her expression composed but her eyes carrying an undercurrent of intensity. "And as for making conclusions before the strike… I'll take that lesson to heart."

Her voice softened slightly, and a faint, almost self-aware smile tugged at her lips. "Though I suppose you'll forgive me if I still test the waters every now and then."

It was a careful dance of words, admitting enough to seem open while guarding the deeper truths. Serina wasn't ready to bare the full scope of her ambition—not yet. For now, she would let Jack see what she wanted him to: a determined, if occasionally brash, Padawan eager to learn. The rest, she would keep to herself.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"...Okay."

Jack would humour her, for now; respecting the Padawan's wishes to keep her main aspirations a private affair. Removing his finger, the young man cupped both sides of his waist, arching his head with a more playful demeanour, the air returned to a more casual welcome.

"Though don't mistake my easygoing veneer for simple complacancy, Padawan." He winked, pressing with a light tease. "It's clear you've yet to have a Master, there's no shame in that. Most of the would-be teachers are off fighting a galactic war, on all fronts. Sith, Mandos, Empires, cults, criminal gangs..." Hazel eyes slyly looked away, Jack added with weary humour. "Maybe we should start having the Alliance fund our holidays."

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina regarded Jack for a moment, her expression carefully composed, though his lightheartedness was beginning to chip away at her frustration. She allowed herself a faint smile, more out of politeness than genuine amusement, though her tone carried a measured warmth when she finally spoke.

"Holidays," she echoed softly, the word almost foreign in her mouth. "I can't say I've ever had the luxury. Training, meditating, studying—there's little room for anything else when you're trying to meet the Order's expectations."

Her gaze drifted briefly, a flicker of something darker passing through her eyes before she caught herself and returned her attention to him. "As for my current... situation," she continued, subtilty using her mental shield to prevent any attempts a penetration, her voice carefully neutral, "it's a matter between myself and the Council. Something that, for now, I prefer to keep private."

She chose her words deliberately, sidestepping the deeper truth behind them. Her lack of a formal Master was a point of quiet shame, a mark of uncertainty in a life that demanded clarity and purpose. To acknowledge it openly, even to someone as easygoing as Jack, felt like admitting a weakness she wasn't ready to confront.

Still, she tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement softening her features. "But when the time comes, and the situation resolves itself, perhaps I'll consider your suggestion. A holiday sounds... intriguing, "Master"." Her voice carried a lightness that bordered on sincerity, though the faint glimmer in her eyes suggested she was humoring him more than anything, but with a tinge of truth.

The thought of her true "Master" briefly crossed her mind, an unwelcome shadow that she quickly suppressed. The holocron's whispered lessons, its promises of knowledge and power, had become a secret she guarded fiercely. She knew full well what she was doing, the path she was treading. But it wasn't something she could ever admit—not to Jack, not to anyone.

Instead, she shifted the conversation back to safer ground, her tone turning almost reflective. "In the meantime, I suppose I'll have to settle for lessons like this." Her cyan blade hummed faintly as she reignited it, holding it loosely at her side. "And while I appreciate the... unconventional instruction, Knight Wright, I believe I've learned enough for today."

Her smile widened slightly, the faintest edge of pride returning to her demeanor. "Next time, I'll be the one doing the disarming, "Master"."

Though her words were lighthearted, there was a quiet intensity behind them—a promise, not just to him, but to herself. For all her secrets, all her ambitions, Serina Calis was determined to rise. And whether that path led her closer to the light or the shadows remained to be seen.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tag: Serina Calis )

"In that regard, then, I look forward to our next encounter, Padawan." Jack winked with good nature, making a dramatic flourish for comfort. In a light-hearted smile, the young Knight inclined his head, continuing to offer support even if she excuse herself through it. "I'll be around, pending I'm not being sent anywhere of course."

It was just a few paces, halfway towards the door, when said Knight found himself pausing, looking just over his right in deep, contemplative consideration. Firming his lips for a second, Jack hummed with final thought, speaking up with certainty.

"One final word of the lesson, my dear Serina: Ambition must be tempered with restraint. I sense much simmering emotion within you; Makashi will prey on that ambition and cause you to make a mistake, you may one day regret." In another heartfelt wink, Jack concluded in a softspoken smile, "Think on it."

Departing from the Salle with that last word, fulfilled from a productive day, with a unique learner. Few things he was truly confident of, but Jack had no reservations here: This won't be the last interesting confrontation with Padawan Calis.

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Tag: Jack Wright

Serina stood motionless as Jack departed, her cyan blade extinguished but her grip on the hilt tightening. His words echoed in the empty Salle, each one pulling at a thread she had worked tirelessly to keep hidden. Ambition. Restraint. Mistakes. The warning was clear, but it felt more like a challenge—a gauntlet thrown at her feet.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched him leave, his casual demeanor at odds with the weight of what he'd said. When the door slid shut behind him, she let out a slow breath, her composure cracking ever so slightly. Her fingers loosened their hold on the hilt, and she clipped it to her belt with a deliberate motion, her mind swirling with unspoken thoughts.

Ambition must be tempered with restraint.

The words felt like a cage, a reminder of the expectations placed upon her by the Order, by the Council, by the very code that bound her. But restraint was not what had brought her this far. Restraint had not unlocked the secrets she now carried, whispered from a voice that lingered in the depths of her mind—a voice that promised more than the Jedi could ever give her.

Her gaze drifted to the center of the Salle, to the place where their duel had played out. She could see it now, clear as day, the moment she had hesitated. The strike she hadn't committed to. The hesitation that had cost her. Her teeth clenched as the bitterness surged, but she forced it down, burying it beneath a mask of calm.

He thinks he knows me. Thinks he can see my flaws, guide me away from them like a dutiful Knight. Her lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. But he doesn't understand. None of them do.

She turned toward the door, her movements measured but her mind restless. The lessons of the day lingered, not just Jack's warnings, but her own failings—her hesitation, her lack of control. She would learn from them, adapt, and grow stronger. She had to. The darkness that simmered within her wasn't a flaw to be extinguished. It was power, untapped and waiting.

As she exited the Salle, her expression smoothed into the serene composure of a Padawan, but her thoughts remained sharp, churning with purpose. Ambition must be tempered with restraint? Perhaps. But restraint is only a tool, one to be used when necessary—not a chain to bind me.

Her steps carried her back to her quarters, her resolve hardening with each stride. She would think on Jack's words, but not in the way he intended. She would learn from them, twist them, and use them to fuel her rise. One day, she would show him, and everyone else, the heights her ambition could reach. For now however, he would be a useful teacher and a relief from all her need to be uptight and hidden with her thoughts.

But when that day came, restraint would be the last thing on her mind.

-END-​