A Duel

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~~~(POV: Nella Opal)~~~

~~~(Location: The Jedi Temple, Coruscant)~~~

Satele and I have turned on the training mode for our lightsabers. She has a beautiful design to her lightsaber. One that I know must only be exclusive to the Grandmaster of The Order. She takes on a serious stance, and I take the one I've been taught.

Nate said that forms and opening stances are important in saber combat. I have no expectations to beat Satele, but I want to show her that Nate has taught me well.

She takes a step forward, but I waste no time, and I dart forward. I was hoping to take her by surprise, but that's not going to happen. She easily blocks and parries my attacks. Sending me in another direction, and creating space between us.

"You're aggressive, but I shouldn't be surprised, considering who's teaching you. Now that you know an approach like that won't work, what will you try now?"

She's reading me like an open book. Nate taught me that when facing someone more skilled than you, never attack the same way twice. It's like doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. That's not how you fight.

So, time to improvise. I throw out my hand and grab her with The Force, pulling her toward me with great force. I go in for an attack, but she easily breaks from my grasp and sends me to the wall with a kick.

"You are indeed talented with The Force, young Opal. But your lack of hiding your intentions makes it easy for me to anticipate your attacks."

Yeah... That's something Nate has me really working on as of late. I get up, rub the back of my head, and slowly walk back to the ring.

"Hey, I'm still new at this."

The joking edge in my voice causes her to chuckle. But after a second, she returns back to her stance.

"You're just like Nate."

Hard to think Nate was ever as weak as me. Maybe he never has been, not with The Force. But with the lightsaber. Even he must've had his ass whooped by Satele when he was younger.

I get back in my stance, and since my last two attacks didn't work, I have to think of something new. Without much thought, I use The Force to grab the debris around the room, and I start chucking it at Satele.

It's coming at her from all directions, but she's able to move and slice through everything with her lightsaber. It's actually very elegant.

By the end of it, there is nothing left in the room to throw at her. She turns and looks at me, not even winded. This is so unfair.

"Alright, I give up. There is no way I'm getting anything through what you have on call."

She smiles as she turns off her lightsaber and makes her way to me. I turn mine off and meet her halfway. She places a hand on my shoulder.

"You've got great potential, Nella. You're fortunate to have someone like Nate teaching you. I look forward to seeing your progress in the future."

This has been really fun, and I learned something really great.

Nate was as bad as me with a lightsaber at one point. If he got to the level he's at, then that means I can too.

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

~~~(Location: The Jedi Temple, Coruscant)~~~

Eassa and I have made our way out of the deep parts of the Jedi Temple, and I can sense that Nella and Satele are nearby. Eassa is closer to me than I want her to be, but I don't think she really cares. She has it in her mind that I'll be leaving soon after this.

Which is true. Once I get my hands on a new ship, Nella and I will continue our journey.

So Eassa is getting in as much time as she can with me.

It doesn't take us long to meet up with Satele and Nella, and I can see that they had some fun. Satele looks at me and folds her arms, and I can tell she wants to ask me something.

"When was the last time you and I dueled, Nate?"

Ahh. Now, this could prove very interesting. I was but a young Padawan the last time I had a duel with Satele, and I've become much more powerful since then.

"Is that a challenge, my Old Master?"

I emphasize old, and she's not amused.