The katana effortlessly sliced through bamboo in a rapid motion. It seemed for a moment that nothing had happened, then the entire bamboo shaft shattered into pieces. As bamboo rattled, falling to the ground, the Atrisian lad already was lifting his hand from where he had sheathed Utaken.
From the sidelines, he heard clapping. The young man turned to see a Mirialan girl, same age as him, approaching from down the hallway. She smiled, "Very impressive, Kenji. All bamboo shall tremble before you!"
Despite her sarcasm, she was not demeaning or ridiculing. She was simply making fun. Kenji, however, frowned at her, "My skills must be sharp like the blade. I am practicing with upmost speed."
The Mirialan closed the gap between them, smirking as her Mirialan robes rippled, "Kenji, do you always have to be so serious?"
He turned away, looking to the next bamboo dummy. He blinked, "I am not only a Jedi, but a warrior of Atrisia. I must remain disciplined."
But he smirked, turning in an instant and grabbing her shoulders. He playfully pinned her against another bamboo pole, "Except when I'm with you."
The young woman was surprised at first, then she chuckled.
Kenji smiled genuinely, "It's good seeing you again, Vidonia."
She smiled back, "I'm just back from my mission. Been scouring the entire Silver Temple to find you."
Kenji pulled her off the bamboo, and into a hug, "How did it go?"
Vidonia hugged him back, sighing. In an instant, the joyful atmosphere dissipated. "It went as well as you could expect. My master was... my master again."
Kenji frowned, holding her for another moment before pulling away. "That bad?"
Vidonia gritted her teeth in frustration, clenching her fists. "He lectured me, openly, in front of another Jedi Master, for simply questioning a strategy that was the other Master's!"
She held out her hand and crossly swiped her arm, "I was only respectful. I gave him due respect, and I was polite in how I pointed it out. I waited for my turn to speak in that breifing room. And what does my master do? He just berates me for questioning someone in higher authority! Right there!"
Kenji sighed, "That man has his head stuck up his-"
"-He has never respected me! Kept me under his thumb, overlooked all aspects of my life, not just being a Jedi, and no matter what I do I cannot please him! Even when I follow all his rules!" She sighed in distress, looking down, "You were knighted a year ago, Kenji. I only want to join you. I'm old enough, I learned everything I could from him, and I've been a Padawan longer than you have. My master only keeps me under his strict ruling, and still sees me as some little girl. At this rate, he will never bring me to the council for my trials."
Kenji frowned. Ever since he had first met Vidonia and her master, he could tell he did not treat her right. Belittling her, speaking to her like his status as master meant he was unquestionable. He put her down, demeaning her and making her feel like a nobody. On that first mission, she had been so scared to speak up to him, despite their equal standing as Padawans. Through time, her managed to discover her true personality, and he admired it. When her master was not around she was spunky, clever, and positive. As opposed to the shadow he made her when he was around.
As much as they both hoped she could escape him soon, he simply did not let go of his apprentice. Whenever asked if his experienced, faithful Padawan was ready for her trials, he said she still had much to learn.
If anything, her master was her greatest crutch.
With a sigh, he turned and looked back to the training stands, "I know I am a young knight, but I am about ready to march to the council and suggest you're ready myself. You're the one always keeping me out of trouble."
She sighed, "Maybe I just need to train more. Really show him I'm a great fighter."
"We both know that it's not that you're not a good fighter, or don't know the Jedi Code, or are well behaved." Kenji sneered, "It's that you're not his carbon copy. You're different than him, better than him. And he hates it."
Vidonia walked up from behind him, looking determined, "Well then, I'll just have to impress the council instead."
She reached for her lightsaber.
Kenji smirked, taking up his own lightsaber and activating it on training setting. The flat, curved plasma blade shone in deep, royal blue. Entering Shii-Cho, he waited for her. She activated her own lightsaber, entering the Ataru stance. Her cyan standard blade glowed in the training room.
They stepped around each other, observing each other and reading each other's stances. After a moment, they both jumped in and attacked. A flurry of movement, the cascading sound of lightsabers clashing. After several moments, Kenji found himself on the ground, pinned down by the Mirialan. She smirked in glee, training saber held over his neck.
Kenji puffed some loose hair out of his face and chuckled, "Nice work. You're getting better everyda-"
"-How many times do I have to tell you, young knight?"
Both turned with shock to an older Mirialan standing at the entrance of the training room, hands clasped behind his back. "-She does not need empty flattering. She needs discipline."
Vidonia looked away, avoiding her master's eyes. Kenji glared in confrontation.
"As an Atrisian, I thought you would understand that."
Kenji gently pushed Vidonia off him and stood up, "I do. Perhaps, my praise is not so empty, master. Perhaps, I see more in her than you do."
He scoffed, "You are young and reckless. Do not think I forgot the incident at Iego."
Anger swelled inside Kenji, but he would not defend himself. That... event... on Iego almost... claimed him. He would not defend himself, for the accusations were valid. So soon after being knighted too. He would, however, defend Vidonia.
"May I remind you who saved me on Iego?"
The elder looked away with an indignant expression. He rolled his eyes, "Padawan, we must report to the Council."
He turned to leave, not waiting for Vidonia to follow. Vidonia and Kenji exchanged expressions filled with sorrow, annoyance, and frustration. Vidonia cleared her throat, "Always a pleasure, Master Aoki. I shall see you soon?"
As she bowed to him, Kenji bowed back, "Soon enough, Padawan Letee. May you be knighted soon "
As Vidonia rushed after her master, Kenji crossed his arms with a somber expression. He knew he was young, and he knew that he was untrusted thanks to the incident. But with his own master dead, there were no further allies to stand up for his dear friend. He was scared for her. He knew that it was time for her to finally be free of the older Mirialan. Question was... would the Council hear him out if he brought this to them?
