A Needed Lesson

{If you want to read ahead go to my https://www.(p)-(a)-(t)-(r)-(e)-(o)-(n).com/easyread}

~~~(POV: Nathen Opal)~~~

~~~(Location: Hyperspace, Training Room)~~~

"AAAARGH!!"

Nella comes at me with everything she's got. Her blade twists and turns to the movements and styles I've taught her. She's learned a lot in my time with her. But not enough to get past my defense. I lightly parry her strike away, and she falls to the ground.

Catching her breath for the moment. I can feel her frustration growing. All the training we've done, and she still can't get a significant hit in. It gets to people working so hard; it's like you don't see any progress.

This is a good chance to take a break. After a moment, I sit down on one of the chairs and lean back. The new ship has a wonderful training room. Much better than my old one.

"How come no matter how hard I work, I can't make any ground."

She's getting stuck in her head. I've been there before when I was a youngling. All the other students had control over what they did with The Force. When I started out in training, there wasn't a fine control.

Her head lifts from the ground, and she looks at me for an answer. All I do is wave her over to sit next to me. A short sigh later, and now she's relaxing in the comfortable chair too.

"Have I told you the first time I held a lightsaber?"

It's a story that I fondly remember. I was on Alderaan with my family. It was the first time I met Marisa and Grandpa Jora. His name was Jorand; my father was named after him.

There is silence from the other side of the small table between us. Her eyes taking on a curious look. This story will help her a little while I have others. This one is what comes to the forefront of my mind.

"No, you've never told this story."

Her mood is markedly better than it was before. That's because stories where I'm not as good as I am now helps her. Hearing about the times, I struggled and failed proves to her that it's not just her. Everyone has that initial trial and error, and sometimes it's long.

"My mom and dad were there. As well as a Jedi Master named Conobai and his Padawan Malcome. It was the first test I was given to prove my Force Sensitivity. I broke Master Conobai's lightsaber on accident for a short time. I didn't know what I was doing."

Leaving out the details where I lift everyone and the vehicles outside is for the best. Nella doesn't need to know those things.

"The second time I held a lightsaber after that was on Tython, and I broke it. We were learning how to bond to our Kyber Crystals. And I shattered mine from putting in too much energy."

The laugh coming from her starts out small.

"I broke 4 more lightsabers before I even got to swing one."

Now she's laughing as she holds her stomach. All this is true. While they were low-intensity training sabers, and wouldn't harm people if swung. They were still powered by Kyber Crystals. Meaning they broke frequently.

"I know that it may not seem like you're making any ground, but it took me several years to learn how to challenge someone of a Knight level. Only in the last 5 have I reached a point where I can say I'm better than most Masters."

No one starts out great when someone as challenging as a lightsaber is what you're trying to get good at.

Her laughing eventually stops, and she wipes a tear away from her eye. I don't know why it's so funny to her. It's chuckle-worthy but not a gut-busting laugh.

"I can see it now... A little Nate trying to swing a lightsaber... Only for it to crackle out and die..."

She laughs between her words and gets air where she can.

"Just imagining the confused look on your face... Oh, Force..."

I'm glad it's making her feel better.

"You see what I'm getting at here?"

Eventually, she nods her head and takes on a look of determination.

"Hey, when I eventually get an attack in, what do I win?"

Ahh, the motivation from a prize. That was something I was hoping for as I youngling, but I didn't know any better. The Jedi didn't believe in such things. But I have a better idea than the Jedi.

"I'll tell you what. If you can get any strike to land on me, I'll tell you something about my past that no one knows. And I'll throw in a trip to Alderaan."

I try to be a good teacher.