Chapter 7

The gentle hum of lightsabers filled the air of the spacious training dojo, accompanied by the soft patter of bare feet on polished floors. Kaedan Dorn moved through the intricate forms of Shii-Cho, his training saber a blur of blue light as he flowed from one stance to the next. Around him, the other younglings of the Bear Clan mirrored his movements, their faces etched with concentration.

It had been several weeks since Kaedan's initial lightsaber training session with Master Cin Drallig, and the daily practice had become the highlight of his routine. As he completed the final sequence, bringing his saber to a resting position at his side, Kaedan took in the amount of progress he had made since waking up in this universe.

He had to make up for losing the muscle memory of the previous Kaedan Dorn. How? By practicing. Late nights, long late nights.

"Excellent form, Kaedan," came the approving voice of their instructor, a tall Cerean Jedi Knight named Ki-Ad-Mundi. "Your dedication to the art is commendable."

Kaedan bowed respectfully, feeling a mix of pride and unease at the praise. His rapid progress in lightsaber combat had not gone unnoticed, and he could sense the shifting dynamics within the Bear Clan.

As the class came to an end, Kaedan deactivated his training saber and made his way to the edge of the room where water dispensers awaited. He was joined by Zara, the young Twi'lek girl who had become his closest friend among the younglings.

"That was pretty cool, Kaedan," Zara said, her lekku twitching with excitement. "How do you make it look so easy?"

Kaedan shrugged, trying to downplay his abilities. "It's not easy, really. I just practice a lot."

"A lot?" came a skeptical voice from behind them. Kaedan turned to see Brix, a human boy with close-cropped dark hair and sharp features. "You're out there moving like a Jedi Knight, and you expect us to believe it's just practice?"

There was an edge to Brix's voice that Kaedan had noticed more and more lately. What had started as friendly competition was slowly morphing into something more akin to rivalry.

"Everyone learns at their own pace, Brix," Kaedan said carefully, trying to diffuse the tension. "I'm sure you'll get there too."

Brix's eyes narrowed. "Maybe. Or maybe you're not telling us everything."

'This little shit, why do you insist on digging?' Kaedan thought. Before Kaedan could verbally respond, another voice cut in. "Leave him alone, Brix," said Raz, the Zabrak boy Kaedan had befriended during their Force manipulation classes. "Just because you're jealous doesn't mean Kaedan's doing anything wrong."

Brix's face flushed red, but before he could retort, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi called the class to attention.

"Younglings, gather round," the Cerean Jedi said, his elongated head bobbing slightly as he spoke. "Today, we will be doing something a little different. You will pair up for sparring practice."

A ripple of excitement passed through the group. They had practiced basic dueling forms before, but this would be their first time engaging in actual sparring matches.

"Remember," Master Ki-Ad-Mundi continued, "this is not about winning or losing. It is about learning to read your opponent, to feel the flow of the Force between you. Now, choose your partners."

Kaedan felt a moment of hesitation. He glanced at Zara, but she had already paired up with a Rodian girl named Teela. Raz caught his eye and nodded, but before Kaedan could move towards him, Brix stepped into his path.

"How about it, Kaedan?" Brix said, a challenging glint in his eye. "Let's see how good you really are."

Kaedan knew he should decline, that engaging in a duel fueled by rivalry went against the Jedi teachings. But a part of him, the part that still remembered being a fan watching epic lightsaber battles on screen, couldn't resist the challenge.

"Alright," he said, igniting his training saber. "Let's do this."

They took their positions at the center of the training circle, other pairs of younglings spread out around them. Master Ki-Ad-Mundi raised an eyebrow at their pairing but said nothing, merely signaling for the matches to begin.

Brix came at Kaedan with a flurry of aggressive strikes, his saber a whirlwind of green light. Kaedan found himself on the defensive, parrying and dodging as he tried to find his rhythm. He could feel the Force flowing through him, guiding his movements, but there was something else too – a competitive spirit he hadn't felt since his days playing sports back on Earth.

As the duel progressed, Kaedan began to see patterns in Brix's attacks. The other boy was skilled, but predictable. Kaedan started to anticipate his moves, countering with precisely timed ripostes that pushed Brix back.

The rest of the dojo seemed to fade away as Kaedan lost himself in the dance of combat. This was more than just practice; it was a test of everything he had learned so far. And beneath it all was the knowledge that someday, these skills might mean the difference between life and death – not just for him, but for the entire galaxy.

With a sudden burst of speed, Kaedan feinted left, then spun right, bringing his saber up in an arc that caught Brix completely off guard. The training saber stopped mere inches from Brix's neck, the match decisively ended.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, scattered applause broke out among the watching younglings. Kaedan deactivated his saber and bowed to Brix, his heart pounding.

"That was... impressive," Brix said, his voice a mix of grudging respect and lingering resentment.

Before Kaedan could respond, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Master Ki-Ad-Mundi standing behind him, a concerned look on his elongated face.

"A word, Kaedan," the Cerean Jedi said quietly, leading him away from the group.

As they reached a quiet corner of the dojo, Master Ki-Ad-Mundi fixed Kaedan with a penetrating gaze. "Your skills are developing at a remarkable rate, young one. But I sense conflict within you. Remember, a Jedi does not seek to dominate or humiliate their opponent. We seek balance, harmony."

Kaedan felt a flush of shame. In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten the true purpose of their training. "I'm sorry, Master. I got carried away."

The Cerean Jedi's expression softened slightly. "It is natural to feel pride in one's abilities, Kaedan. But be mindful of where that pride might lead. The path to the dark side often begins with seemingly innocent competition."

As Kaedan rejoined his peers, he could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Some, like Zara and Raz, looked at him with open admiration. Others, particularly those closer to Brix, regarded him with a mix of wariness and envy.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and meditation sessions, but Kaedan's mind kept returning to the sparring match. He had tasted real combat, however, controlled, and a part of him craved more. But he also understood the wisdom in Master Ki-Ad-Mundi's words. He disagreed with him in principle based on what he knows about the force from watching and reading a bit about Star Wars back on Earth. But his word still had value.

That evening, as the younglings gathered in the communal area before bed, Kaedan found himself at the center of animated discussions about the day's training.

"Nice moves, Kaedan!" exclaimed Teela, her large Rodian eyes wide with excitement. "Do you think you could teach me?"

Before Kaedan could answer, Brix's voice cut in with narrowed eyes. "Yeah, Kaedan. Why don't you share your secrets with the rest of us?"

There was an edge to Brix's tone that made Kaedan uneasy. He could sense the potential for this rivalry to deepen, to create rifts within the clan. It was a microcosm of the very divisions that would one day tear the Jedi Order apart. It was not worth it. Too much is at stake.

Taking a deep breath, Kaedan made a decision. "You know what? That's a great idea, Brix. Why don't we start a study group? We could all help each other improve."

The suggestion seemed to catch Brix off guard. "You... you'd do that?"

Kaedan nodded, feeling the tension in the room start to dissipate. "Of course. We're all in this together, right? The more we help each other, the stronger we all become."

Brix was an annoying little shit, he wouldn't lie. But this is petty child drama at best.

As the other younglings voiced their enthusiasm for the idea, Kaedan caught sight of Master Yoda watching from the doorway, a thoughtful expression on his wizened face. The ancient green Jedi gave Kaedan a small nod of approval before shuffling away.

Later that night, as Kaedan lay in his bed listening to the soft breathing of his fellow clan members, he reflected on the day's events. He had faced his first real test, not just of his skills, but of his character. The path ahead was still fraught with challenges, but he felt more prepared to face them.

As sleep began to claim him, Kaedan's last thoughts were of the future he hoped to change. It was about fostering the bonds of friendship and trust that would be needed to weather the shitstorm ahead. With that realization, Kaedan drifted off into a dreamless sleep.