Star Wars: The Age of Peace

The training courtyard, as always, was packed by the time I arrived. Padawans, not just our latest group but people who had already been training here for years, were doing their routine exercises. It was easy to tell the difference between them and us, as we were still restricted to using only the training sabers. As for when we could ditch it, I didn't know. None of us did, and when they pressured me to ask the Masters, I never got a straight answer.

"When the Force wills it."

"When it's time."

Those were the usual responses. Oh, and of course:

"Impatience is not a virtue and certainly not something a Jedi should flaunt so openly."

With a half smile, I tightened my grip on the hilt of my practice saber. The cool metal steadied my thoughts as I stood near the edge of the sparring ring, making me focus on my moves rather than letting my mind wander. I didn't become a beginner Makashi practitioner to then get the title stripped from me already. I had a feeling that if Master Solara saw me daydream while practicing, he would make me restart from the beginning.

The past eight months since coming to Yavin IV had been grueling, in a way, but it was also rewarding, and today marked my first genuine attempt at integrating Form II into my practice openly and not in one of the training rooms. Across the courtyard, Vila quickly noticed my presence, and she approached me with a swagger that seemed almost exaggerated. I knew that posture... She wants to spar. Turns out, the moment she considers you someone she can trust, she opens up and acts as close as if we already knew each other for years. Plus, her intentions were displayed through her body's movement. Her lekku twitched with barely contained energy, and her violet eyes sparkled with excitement. I didn't even need to let the Force point out her feelings for me; I knew it without tapping into it.

"Kael!" she called, her voice cutting through the din. A few heads turned, but they quickly went back to their own training. "I heard you're trying out Form II now! It was about time! Without a proper dueling partner, it was becoming boring to come here..."

I smiled awkwardly after hearing her, watching her grin at me, her fingers playing on her training saber's hilt. Vila's enthusiasm was always contagious, even if it came with an intensity that made others hesitate and think she was way too brash for a Jedi.

She was, but not because she was rude. It was just how she acted. What I could feel was that she liked expressing herself, relishing in the freedom of her emotions, something that had been shackled for a long time, just as her body was. Maybe because I felt it better than the others, I managed to become friends with her in the past months.

And because nobody else, besides the Masters, had the patience to help her learn meditation. I can't lie... It sometimes even tested my own limits. But! But we made progress. A lot of it, in fact. Especially when I tried to help her out after my daily lessons of lightsaber training.

"That's right." I nodded before she thought I was ignoring her. "I was just starting to stretch a little, though. I know you want to have a duel, but don't expect anything impressive yet. You began learning an advanced form before me!"

Her grin widened, and I could already tell where this was headed. Vila was never one to waste time.

"Good!" she said, spinning and activating her practice saber deftly in her hand before pointing it at me. "Then let's see it! Spar with me!"

I hesitated with a wry smile, glancing toward our collective instructor overseeing the saber training of every Padawan, but it was futile. Master Katarn stood at the far side of the courtyard, his arms crossed as he monitored another pair in their duel with actual lightsabers. I knew we were in his vision, but he acted as if he didn't even notice us. Maybe he really didn't.

"Are you sure?" I asked, watching her face illuminated by the yellow glow as I raised an eyebrow. "You've been training in Form IV—Ataru. Pretty aggressive strikes and fast movements... That's a lot to throw at someone just starting out with Makashi." I tried my last idea to escape, but Vila simply smirked, her tone turning to tease me.

"What's the matter, Kael? Afraid I'll run circles around you? Isn't Form II stronger than my Ataru?"

I sighed one last time, knowing there was no getting out of it.

"Fine," I declared, stepping into the designated ring and raising my saber into the classic Makashi salute. "But no complaints if I actually manage to hold my ground."

"Complaints?! I want you to beat me!" She laughed way too excitedly. Well, I can somewhat understand. From what I heard, she really hasn't had any good spar lately. The other Padawans of our group began refusing her after she beat down everybody, while the older ones declined her because she didn't have her own lightsaber yet.

The other Padawans nearby glanced our way, their attention drawn to us by Vila's loud challenge, quickly beginning to call over the others, wanting to watch our impromptu match. I tried not to let their attention bother me as Vila squared up across the other side of the ring. Her stance was bold, ready to unleash her natural agility and the one boosted by the Force. She held her practice saber high and angled forward, prepared to lunge at a moment's notice.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice practically buzzing with anticipation.

I nodded, keeping my stance calm and measured. With a deep breath, I put myself into the same trance-like state when training with Master Solara. Makashi was all about precision, control, and maintaining an unyielding defense. Vila, on the other hand, thrived on overwhelming force and speed. I had to deflect and wait until I could counter her and finish this duel with a clean strike.

The moment the sparring match began, she darted forward with a burst of energy, amplified by the Force, her saber flashing toward my right side. I sidestepped, pivoting on my heel to deflect the first attack. Her movements were quick, almost unpredictable, but I managed to keep her at bay with deliberate parries and smooth footwork. Of course, from the outside, it looked like she was chasing me back in the arena. Maybe they even thought I would lose the next moment, becoming another easy win for Vila.

"Not bad," She admitted, her strikes coming faster now. "But you'll have to do better than that!" I could feel she wasn't holding back by now.

She spun into a wide slash aimed at my shoulder, and I countered with a Makashi thrust that forced her to disengage, stopping her combo. My saber's tip hovered dangerously close to her midsection before she darted back, her lekku twitching in frustration, but it wasn't a hit. She dodged in time.

"You've got the defense part down," she said, grinning, licking her lips. "But where's the flair? The aggression? Come on, Kael—show me what you've got!"

Haring her, I frowned, keeping my focus sharp. It could be a trick, trying to distract me and my form.

"Makashi isn't about aggression. It's about control. And if I recall right, Ataru isn't either."

"Then control this!" Vila's grin turned feral the next moment.

She lunged again, her strikes relentless. Her saber swept in wide arcs, forcing me to retreat toward the edge of the ring. Each time I countered, she adapted, pressing harder, her Form IV training evident in every move. There was no thought of defense, only overwhelming attacks, not allowing me to think of anything else but defending myself. But... That is where she made a mistake.

Makashi wasn't just about defense, either. Otherwise, I would have picked up Form III. Mine was also about efficiency. Don't exert more power than needed. Always stay in control. This is why, although my chosen discipline was considered one of the most offensive in nature... It had to be one that was most suited to Jedi warriors. To utilize it completely, I had to stay calm, unperturbed by aggression or fear. I had to remain in control of my senses and my feelings.

I was waiting for the right moment—when Vila's momentum carried her just a fraction too far forward. And my patience paid out. With a subtle shift, I sidestepped her next swing and angled my blade in a smooth riposte. My saber caught hers and pushed it aside, leaving her open for a counter-thrust. She stumbled back, her violet eyes widening in surprise as the tip of my practice saber stopped just short of the middle of her chest.

"Point," I said, lowering my blade with a small, satisfied smile. For a moment, Vila just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, she laughed—a bright, genuine sound that caught me off guard. I honestly thought that she would be annoyed that she lost.

"All right, Kael," she declared, spinning her saber and deactivating it, "You're better than I thought! Ahhhhh, that was so refreshing!"

"Thanks," I replied, panting slightly as my focus finally wore off. "You're not so bad yourself." Hearing me, she smirked, brushing off imaginary dust from her tunic.

"Don't get cocky. Next time, I'm taking you down. I was already in my third hour of training, so I got a bit slower than usual."

I couldn't help but laugh, too, shaking my head as we stepped out of the ring. Despite Vila's fierce demeanor and relentless energy, moments like these reminded me why I valued her friendship. She pushed me to be better—not just as a Jedi but as a person. And for that, I was grateful. Maybe I felt like this because the Force was telling me I was also something like this to her. If I could feel the aggression in her, I knew our Masters could, too. Maybe that is why I was paired up with her more than anyone else.

"So? What's next? Going in? Meditating?" I asked, glancing at her from the side.

"The archives." She shrugged, her smile turning into a frown. "Haaah... I am going to need to go through a test soon, proving I caught up with the fancy pants like you."

"Reading and the ability to multiply isn't a fancy capability." I chuckled, catching an elbow between my ribs. "Ugh..."

"I knew you were a fancy pants," she harrumphed, looking at me with just one eye. "The way you carry yourself says enough. Plus, you are buddy-buddy with everyone."

"Am I that popular? I don't think so..."

"Sure!" She answered instantly, "Master Perfection."

"Hey! Unfair!" I moaned, finally easing the pain in my side, "I am far from the best student."

"But you didn't deny you are from a noble family." She harpooned back on the topic, and whatever some of the others may think, she wasn't stupid. She caught on to clues very quickly; she just didn't mention it until she was asked.

"Because I am not." I answered after a momentary pause, "Not anymore."

"..." Vila only studied my face for a slight second before stretching her arms, moaning, "I'm hungry. Want to grab a bite?"

"I came to practice..."

"I think I saw some nice food in the cafeteria while coming past it!" She continued, holding my arm and pulling me along.

Haah... There it is. I couldn't help but smile and follow along, postponing my training a little. She understood I wasn't in the mood to talk about it, and she never tried pressing it. It was a mutual thing between us because I also never asked about her past either. I noticed the signs, both physical and those emanating from her through the Force, but never brought it up.

We both knew there were things that people just didn't want to talk about.