Duel Bacta to Basics

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii | open to spectators ​

The young would-be Knight that was Braze often loved engaging in combative lessons, duels, and practice. He was always open and willing to lend aid to others who wanted to test their mettle.

The Restored Temple of Dantooine was open for any Jedi to come and make use of, and for now Braze was utilizing the wide rolling plains outside for combat practice.

It was a clear sunny day, the warmth softened by a balmy breeze that wandered over the open fields. The tall grasses shifted beneath it in long waves, green and gold bending together as the wind rolled through them.

Today, it would seem that he and Hastam Sii were going to have a duel. He wasn't sure if the man wanted only to test out saber skill, or if he wanted to try the more advanced uses of the Force, but Braze was certainly happy to oblige either way.

He was standing out in the middle of the large ring he and Aris Noble had last fought in, waiting for the Kel Dor to join him.

 

[Hastam Sii]

The Enclave on Dantooine was almost as grand as the Great Temple on Coruscant during the Jedi Order's time. However, troubling news from an Information Broker on Tatooine told him that the Sith Covenant had corrupted the core worlds and had driven the Jedi from their main sanctuary, forcing them to wander aimlessly from sector to sector.

Some like him had chosen to remain independent believing that they could serve the galaxy more effectively by freeing themselves of any attachments to one region of space or temple. When Braze extended an invitation to meet at his presumed home, he was surprised since he had only just met the man recently on the Planet of Akriva.

He entertained the possibility of friendship in the future, a thought that encouraged him to approach the man practicing in the rolling plains.

"Warm greetings to you, Mr.Braze," he said, offering a respectful bow with his arms tucked into his sleeves, still using the title of Mr, as he was unaware of Braze's current title or rank within this enclave.

"I trust that you are well rested for our training session. It would not do for us to engage in a potentially dangerous activity without proper awareness." Hastam asked with a gentle tone, expressing his hope that the man had taken the time to rest adequately before their upcoming training session. He understood the importance of being fully alert, especially when engaging in activities that could pose risks, such as a lightsaber duel, even in a practice setting.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Braze had seen to repairing the damages done by the Sith intruder, Regulus Nacht , though the work had set back his desire to move on from here to the Great Jedi Library of Ossus. When last the young Temple Guard had checked, the place had been crawling with a small group comprised of dark Jedi: ( T'zarna Khab , Phyress Vaelor , Elyndrella , Ra'Shayne Vorr , Kali'ka ). It was a matter Braze very much wanted to bring before the Warden of the Jedi Temple Guard Sect, Zark San Tekka , in hopes of organizing a Temple Guard missive to try and remove the trespassers properly.

For now, however, Dantooine had been serviceable. More than serviceable, perhaps. The restored temple had become a place for small educational events, instruction, and the steady coming and going of recent visitors like Ko Vuto , Eloise Dinn , Balun Dashiell , Diogo , Kael Venn , Aris Noble , Casaana , Colette , Elora Praithwyn , Novac Lyrikal , Valor the Forsaken , and Oryn Selvar .

"Salutations, friend."

Braze greeted him and returned the gesture of respect, bringing a closed fist to an open hand as he crossed one foot behind the other at an angle and bent into a bow before straightening out again.

His recent jedi shadow lessons with his two students, Leos and Dirk , had been fairly lax, which gave him time to recover from the injuries he'd sustained in his battle with Regulus Nacht and the later sparring match with Aris Noble . That had been for the best, perhaps. Braze was notorious for not allowing his body enough time to rest, often training far beyond reasonable limitations, but things had changed now that he had two Padawans of his own looking to him as a role model.

It had shifted his perception enough to make him start taking things a little more easily....

Suffice to say, he was in fine condition today.

"I am in reasonable health and am happy to greet you once more, sir," Braze chirped softly.

There was still that bright eagerness to him, but it sat a little more carefully now, tempered by the awareness that others were watching how he carried himself, how he trained, and how he recovered after being hurt.

"Anything in particular you'd like to work on or practice in our spar today?"

 

[Hastam Sii]

"I am glad to hear that you have allowed yourself proper recovery, Braze," Hastam replied, his voice carrying its familiar warmth through his breathing mask as he observed the relaxed posture of the younger Jedi. Though he did not exactly trust that Braze had taken the full amount of time to recover, especially after observing the troubling signs of conflict during his walk from the landing platform.

The visible lightsaber marks and the faint aura of the Dark Side indicated that the Enclave had recently hosted unwelcome visitors with dubious intentions. Despite his concerns, Hastam chose not to press the matter further, valuing their friendship and believing that the young man would be honest if he felt too fatigued to continue their session.

He let his hands remain tucked casually into the deep folds of his brown sleeves, his gaze drifting momentarily to the rolling plains of Dantooine before returning to the young Jedi. "In light of the troubling news regarding the Sith influence across the core worlds, I believe we should focus our efforts entirely on lightsaber combat today than force training," Hastam suggested, his tone shifting to one of measured seriousness. While many Jedi relied heavily on the Force to guide their movements and predict their opponent's actions, the Kel Dor viewed this as a potential vulnerability.

He understood that there were artifacts, ancient techniques, and even certain creatures in the galaxy capable of dampening or entirely severing a Jedi's connection to the Force. In such a dire scenario, a Jedi who relied solely on the force would be left defenseless. A lightsaber, however, was a mechanical instrument that remained entirely reliable regardless of any disruptions.

"Do not hesitate to strike first, Braze. You must seize every opportunity to reduce collateral damage and safeguard the innocent citizens of the galaxy. Remember, Jedi do not fight to end a life but to disarm their opponent when possible. I do not want you bashing against my lightsaber but instead showing proper restraint. "

He slowly withdrew his hands from his sleeves, his fingers brushing against the cold, unadorned hilt of his weapon. He took a few steps backward to establish a proper dueling distance on the uneven terrain, his boots testing the soil to ensure he had adequate traction.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Braze was dressed more simply today in one of his black and white robes.

"As you wish Master Jedi. " Braze chirped before offering him a gentle bow. He drew the ventral mounted blade from his belly and and flourished it mid ignition in a fanciful dexterous display before stepping back and offering him a sword salute drawing one hand behind his back.

Typically, Braze would utilize the Force to lend terrifying speed to his attacks, weaving in a blend of maneuvers drawn from various forms. Today, however, he began more straightforwardly, favoring the restraint of Makashi as he lunged forward to test Hastam Sii 's guard once he was ready.


Braze was a relatively small and light being, standing only 5'4" for a male, with an incredibly lithe and toned physique. Overpowering opponents was not his strong suit.

 

[Hastam Sii]

The sharp hiss of the lightsaber blade resonated across the rolling plains as Braze moved forward, the sleek lines of his weapon carving a precise arc toward Hastam's side. Recognizing the stance and the fluid trajectory, Hastam identified it as Makashi, the second form of lightsaber combat tailored for dueling.

Gripping his own hilt tightly, the Kel Dor activated his unembellished blue blade, its steady hum filling the air. Instinctively, he shifted into the defensive posture of Form III, aware that Soresu was not the best counter to Makashi's precise thrusts. While Soresu was adept at deflecting blaster fire and heavy strikes, the quick, economical jabs of a skilled duelist could easily bypass a standard defense.

Instead of attempting to match Braze's agility or overreaching to parry his strikes, Hastam opted for a strategic approach, deliberately lowering his blade to create an illusion of vulnerability. He took a small step back, suggesting a struggle for balance on the grass, which could entice Braze into a more aggressive attack.

The Kel Dor maintained a calm demeanor behind his breathing mask, concentrating solely on the duel instead of the rapidness of Braze's strikes. He subtly adjusted his wrist to redirect the incoming blade's energy in order to tire out his opponent.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Braze almost eagerly stepped forward to press an advantage, but stopped after nearly half a step, setting his weight down on the ball of his foot. His back foot shifted instead, sudden and precise, into a cross-step that carried him forward at a diagonal rather than straight on, circling toward the Master’s flank.

Hastam Sii was wise and highly intelligent... he was not the typical combatant Braze fought against. This much became very evident as the Fool’s Guard became apparent causing him to falter in the oddly smooth change of direction.

"A fortress need not attack to defend; patience is its greatest weapon."

He acknowledged the adoption of Form III aloud, speaking his own observations from his Study of the Blade. He shifted to needle forward with a mid-ranged thrust aimed toward the hip. The blue blade was harmless to the touch, so he showed little concern for causing even minor injury to the Master; his testing attacks came in earnest, carried by confident motion, strength, and forward momentum.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam adjusted his footwork with careful precision, his leather boots gliding over the moist grass of Dantooine.

He tightened his stance, drawing his simple blue blade closer to his body, creating a compact defensive posture that minimized his target area and thwarted Braze attempts to strike from an angle. There was no rush to attack; for a Soresu practitioner, patience was paramount, and each misstep by his opponent brought him closer to victory.

As Braze spoke about the importance of patience and the fortress stance, Hastam recognized the young man's theoretical grasp of the forms, yet he knew that theory and practice diverged significantly. When Braze lunged with his blade aimed at Hastam's hip, the older Jedi swiftly flicked his wrist in a downward arc, deflecting the thrust with a sharp hiss of clashing plasma.

Maintaining his compact guard, he addressed the younger Jedi with a measured tone, emphasizing the importance of restraint in their sparring. "A fortress indeed relies on patience, Braze," Hastam said gently, his voice carrying its familiar warmth but now tempered with an instructional tone.

"But your execution carries a dangerous intent. Even in practice, directing a thrust at the hip is a strike meant to cripple or kill. Such a lethal habit has no place in the aims of the Jedi." He took another measured step back on the uneven ground, keeping his hands controlled and his posture perfectly centered. The goal of a Jedi is to disarm and neutralize, not to sever or destroy for those are the practices of the Sith and their minions.

"Focus your strikes on the outer guard, my friend. Demonstrate your ability to uphold the principles of Makashi without depending on the techniques of a seasoned killer". It quickly became clear to him that Braze was a skilled warrior with significant combat experience, yet he wondered if this training had overshadowed the Jedi's preferred style. This was a question for later, but for now, he simply offered a reminder.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

"An opponent who cannot walk cannot harm others," he mused in reply, though he did not pause as he circled his opponent like a hungry nexu.

"But I do see your point, Master Jedi," he conceded, his movements slowing into a calmer gait. "I should warn you, perhaps… if I press my blade against you, you may find yourself in need of rest. It is harmless in the proper sense, but it saps strength and induces lethargy."

He prowled with careful cross-steps, testing the distance, seeking the smallest fault in his guard. No fortress was impenetrable, but sometimes a touch of creativity was needed to find a way in.

Small, needling thrusts came here and there, probing rather than committing, before his wrist turned and shifted the rotation of his blade into a follow-up counter. His targets had changed lower and narrower now: calves, and forearms, the places that made movement and defense costly without demanding real blood.

Braze had seen what the Sith of this era loosed for pleasure. Their horrors were nothing to trifle with. His induction as a Jedi Shadow under the New Jedi Order's Sword had taught him that he must eradicate the Dark Side in all its shapes and forms. Not only in battle, not only in the heat of a moments notice, but in the shadows where it bred, in the artifacts it left behind, and in the hearts it corrupted.

She had not been wrong about what he saw there that fateful day…

The horrors beyond the battlefield were left in the ruin and wake of the Dark Side… all that remained when it had its way, when it festered, when it consumed, when it was left unchecked. He had witnessed first-hand the destruction of life, but worse than that, the slow breaking of the spirit in those who had once thrived. It was a great weight to shoulder from such an incredibly young age, perhaps more than should have been expected of anyone, let alone someone given so little time to grow before taking on so daunting a role as a Jedi Shadow.

And then, beyond that, the mantle of a Temple Guard: a living threshold between peace and profanation, between sanctuary and the things that would crawl inside it wearing familiar faces.

Hastam Sii was an excellent teacher, and Braze had come to appreciate his insights greatly. The man had earned his respect in a remarkably short span of time. Still, tempering his predilection toward conditioned aggression, and that ever-present readiness to seek a decisive end through violence, was a difficult thing to ask of a boy made weapon in times of war.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam adjusted his footwork step by step, his leather boots pivoting with careful precision to mirror Braze movements.

He kept his unadorned blue blade close to his body, presenting the smallest possible target while observing the young man circle him in an attempt to find a weakness within his defensive posture. He listened to the boy's reasoning, processing the underlying conviction that drove his aggression.

To the Kel Dor, the belief that a crippled opponent was a neutralized threat was a logical but highly dangerous path.

"I do not deny that there are times when it becomes necessary to cripple or even kill to protect the vulnerable," Hastam replied, his tone lowering into a grave, heavy resonance that carried over the tall grass. "But you must ask yourself where such a mindset leads us, Braze. It begins with a strike to the hip today. It becomes a severed arm tomorrow. When does the butchery stop just for the sake of an easy victory?"

To demonstrate his point, the Kel Dor made a sudden, jarring tactical shift. Without warning, his compact, defensive fortress dissolved. He tapped into Juyo, the most controversial and unpredictable form of lightsaber combat, channeling a controlled but relentless wave of offensive energy.

His movements became a blur of sudden strikes, his blue blade tracing erratic, sweeping arcs that aimed to completely overwhelm Braze's delicate Makashi footwork. The calm, steady rhythm of Form III was replaced by a ferocious wall of plasma, pressing the smaller duelist backward across the uneven ground.

Hastam did not rely on the Force for speed, but rather the sheer force of his movements, demonstrating how terrifyingly destructive a Jedi could be when they prioritized decisive victory over restraint. Just as quickly as the onslaught had begun, Hastam abruptly disengaged. He stepped back and smoothly returned to the tight, defensive guard of Soresu, the low hum of his saber once again steady in the quiet of the plains.

"Juyo offers a swift, decisive end through violence," Hastam explained, his breathing mask venting a long, rhythmic hiss as he watched the younger man. "But it leaves no room for mercy, and it risks consuming the wielder in the very darkness they seek to defeat. We choose the harder path because it preserves not just the lives of our enemies, but our own self-being." In the midst of a galaxy torn apart by war against the Sith, the Jedi must remain steadfast in their principles, understanding that compromising their values would only lead them to become the very oppressors they sought to defeat.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Those somber jade-green eyes went wide as he slipped into mild maneuvers of Form Three in defense, moving to engage the Master with Jar'Kai as a smaller saber in the shape of a sai sword was drawn from the small of his back into his right hand. There was a subtle shake in those pale irises as he tracked the movements before him. He took care not to let any of those overwhelming strikes pin him in place. While his hands spoke of Form Three, his footwork stayed light in the manner of Form Two, with a touch of the evasiveness found in Form Four. It seemed Braze had started blending his forms together in a way that worked for him, rather than keeping to strict adherence to any one discipline.

Despite himself, he could not resist the manic little smile that slipped across his features. Juyo was certainly a rarity for him to see, and for the most part he had only ever been 'educated' in it by his would-be grandfather, Dillon Kai'el , or by Sith such as the Butcher King Darth Carnifex and one of his many wives Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax . Instead, he relied upon blending Soresu's initial counters into Makashi's pinpoint maneuvering to ever so slightly influence the path of the oncoming blade, seeking more favorable angles to meet it with his own. His touch remained light, allowing Hastam Sii 's momentum to feed into the redirections.

"When you hesitate, you die," Braze offered simply when the Master finally relented, taking a slow, steadying breath of his own. He had to raise the ante to keep pace with the Master's onslaught. The vicious little combat gremlin that Braze was seemed thoroughly to enjoy this exchange. He had long viewed combative saber practice as something like a fast-paced game of tag sharpened by a chess player's mind, with all speed, adaptation, and reading the next move as or even before it came. The truth of the matter was that he was resisting the desire to answer Juyo with Juyo of his own, despite the strong pull to do so. Restraint was something desperately needed in combat, and it was a lesson Braze found difficult to maintain more often than not.

"Whatever you practice is what your body will try to default to. Learning to define that line in the middle of combat, then adapt according to the situation… that is perhaps one of the hardest things to learn."

Braze let the thought settle a breath, his grip easing only slightly around the hilt as he paused narrowing his blade at the man. His master Jasper Kai'el likely hadn't have the proper upbringing of a single Master's attention and had learned to survive what the galaxy gave him. Braze's current philosophy was the product of such teachings and the atrocities of modern Sith.

He started to spin his blade in a circular arm as he moved towards the man's front.

"But to what enemy am I to imagine you may be...? A Sith would surely monopolize any hesitation and abuse it to its fullest." He paused sliding his own smaller blade against the longer one and stepped into a deep and low back stance, poising his blades forwards in tandem.

"Should negotiations have failed prior to the point of drawing my blade… then I must assume there is no more room left for..." he trailed before a coy devious grin slipped onto his features "... gentle corrections." Braze offered before covertly adding one final line in the fine art of Dun Möch.

"Tell me Master, would you prefer to practice against an obedient padawan~?" He then shifted suddenly in a half spin before moving into a forwards attack that shifted mid stride and leapt upwards with a breakneck speed displaying an aggressive take of Ataru. It would seem the half Echani still very much held some cultural significance and Echani identity to the art of war despite being raised within the creche.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam did not allow the coy, devious grin or the subtle jab of Dun Möch to unsettle his focus. He had faced many students who used words as weapons to compensate for a lack of internal balance, and he recognized Braze remark as a defense mechanism, a way to justify the lethal speed at which he operated.

"I do not deny that hesitation can invite death, Braze," Hastam replied, his voice remaining a steady, grounding anchor amidst the flurry of the young man's Ataru leaps. "But there is a vast difference between the stillness of a focused mind and the paralysis of fear. It is far better to hesitate for a heartbeat and remain a guardian than to allow oneself to become a mindless blade, cutting through life without remorse."

He adjusted his positioning, his boots finding purchase on the grass as he tracked Braze's mid-air shift. He pulled his blue saber back into a tight, vertical guard, the hum of the weapon harmonizing with the rhythmic hiss of his mask.

"You speak of the Sith as though they dictate the rules of our engagement," Hastam continued, his tone carrying a gentle, persistent rebuke.

"If we allow their cruelty to define our necessity, then they have already won. A Jedi always has options, Braze. We are not Sith, and we must never allow the horrors of war to convince us that we should become like them just to survive." As Braze descended with breakneck speed, Hastam did not meet the aggression with equal force.

Instead, he pivoted on his lead foot, redirecting the momentum of the dual-blade assault with a series of minor, economical parries that favored survival over confrontation. He sensed the cultural echoes of the Echani in the boy's movements, the fluid, dance-like lethalness and decided it was time to shift the nature of their exchange.

"You ask if I prefer an obedient padawan," Hastam remarked, a touch of dry wit coloring his muffled voice as he regained his center. "I do not. A Jedi Master who has stopped learning has already begun to fail. If your unique perspective can teach me something during this duel, then the Order is strengthened, and we stand a better chance of defeating the Sith." Rather than resetting into his previous stance, Hastam loosened his grip slightly, his posture becoming deceptively relaxed and asymmetric.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

"Saber combat isn't always so cut and dry," he breathed out through gritted teeth, having landed just barely out of range from his leap before driving in with a fast-paced set of thrusts and parries.

His off-hand, the right, seemed to be used more as a defensive guiding tool than a true weapon, kept in the nature of a parrying dagger to maintain his guard should anything slide past the initial length of his rapier-style blade. His approach to combat left layers of defense in place even as he pursued his attacks, seeking to move inward.

He did not necessarily disagree with anything the Master had said throughout the exchange. He simply felt it was better to prepare for the worst possible outcome, and to hone one's reactions to such a fine razor's edge that action could remain decisive against such opponents.

The sentiment, and his desire to convey his intent further, was perhaps covertly displayed in the Force signature he gave off, or in the way he peristently tested and pressed against the Master's guard throughout the fast-paced exchange. Sparks from their sabers scattered in glancing blows, lighting the surrounding grasses in brief, bright bursts. He took a steadying breath, trying to remember to breathe...

He could so easily wrap himself up in tangents of thought that raced outward in every direction. Now was not the time for that.

Braze refocused his efforts, moving into a bold maneuver as he guided one blade gently aside and surged in, looking to add pressure to the exchange. He placed himself inside the Master's inner guard and slipped down low, almost falling to one knee as he shifted the smaller sai upward toward the inner thigh, just above the knee, rather than aiming for the groin, belly, or chest. His left-handed blade remained raised to guard his head.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam noticed the younger man's shift in focus, recognizing how the energy of Ataru had transformed into a concentrated, form of Jar'kai. Fighting against two lightsabers was difficult for even the most seasoned of Jedi Masters, but the trick was to not allow oneself to become distracted by the moving plasma.

One had to focus on where the lightsabers weren't; only then would you know where to defend without over exerting yourself.

As Braze moved forward, closing the distance to occupy the space within his inner guard, the Kel Dor felt the heat of the clashing plasma intensify. The sparks from their blades lighting up the plains of Dantooine but he remained commited to his preferred lightsaber form even when pressed to his natural limits.

As the smaller sai blade shifted upward in a low, surgical strike toward his inner thigh, Hastam did not panic or recoil. Instead, he allowed his own lightsaber to follow the path of least resistance. Applying the purest principles of Soresu, he transitioned his weight with a subtle, circular pivot of his hips.

He did not meet Braze's strength with a hard block; rather, he used the flat of his blade to guide the sai's momentum harmlessly into the empty air beside his leg. His movements were fluid, a stark contrast to the burning exertion Braze was forced to maintain. Hastam knew that every aggressive surge, every low-profile shift, and every calculated thrust cost the younger man stamina.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

The Master had taken the bait, stepping into the line of action Braze had surreptitiously prepared from the start.

Braze turned with the motion, shifting into a twisted corkscrew angle as his sai caught around Hastam Sii 's saber. The hooked blade locked against the Master’s weapon, and Braze leaned his body weight into the leverage, using the bind to drag the line of attack where he wanted it and pin his blade in place.

His main hand arched in a sharp circle, the blade aimed to slice across both forearms in one clean motion.

Braze was well acquainted with Soresu’s strength through time and bruising practice. Its patience could endure almost anything, swallowing violence behind layer after layer of careful defense. Yet even the strongest guard had to be maintained, and every maintained defense carried a cost. Defense was harder than offense to maintain; every answer had to be correct, and every mistake invited the blade inside. Endurance had to become certainty before it became victory, and Braze understood the value of forcing an earlier finish. While a Falos Cadence practitioner whom had worked himself into a deep reserve of stamina, Braze sought something cleaner than a contest of attrition: a concise ending, reached before endurance could become certainty.

Sometimes the wiser answer was not to batter down the gate, but rather to find the hinge and pry it open.

He wanted to force the Master into a choice: abandon the line with his blade, or hold the bind and risk the follow-through; either answer would grant Braze the opening he had been hunting for.

 

[Hastam Sii]

The plasma clash turned from a low hum to a sharp crackle as Braze executed his trap. Hastam felt the weight of the hooked sai snagging his hilt, the younger man's force pressing down with intensity. It was a clever application of leverage, prying at the hinge just as Braze had planned.

As the main-hand blade swept dangerously toward his forearms, the Master faced a decision that would terrify most duelists. Yet, rather than resist the bind, Hastam remained calm, understanding that to struggle would only affirm the trap, while holding his ground would invite the strike. He adapted to the moment's shifting dynamics rather than try and play into Braze advantage.

Aware that a lightsaber could not be truly ensnared like a traditional blade, Hastam's thumb pressed the activation stud, and in an instant, the blue beam extinguished with a sharp snap-hiss. The sudden absence of resistance allowed the sai to slip through empty air, the bind dissolving instantly.

Seizing that fleeting moment of freedom, Hastam executed a small force push, propelling himself backward into a space he could command, his boots barely making a sound against the Dantooine grass as he evaded Braze's inner guard.

Before the younger man's follow-through could complete its arc, Hastam reignited his blade, the blue glow flaring back to life as he settled into a pristine Soresu guard, now two meters away.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Braze grinned, seeing the Master find a different option available to him, almost akin to the use of Tràkata. He backrolled, careful of his own blades, moving with the momentum of the push before popping back up onto his feet. He stood slowly, playfully flourishing both blades in an idle motion before drawing his main-hand saber forward and pointing it toward Hastam Sii .

"I applaud your skill in adapting and executing a way out in such a pressing moment."

He called the words out and offered a fanciful bow to the man, sweeping his saber aside in a Makashi salute, genuinely praising him for his apt rebuttal. If Echani used combat to communicate, then it would seem Braze was trying to illustrate his argument through action rather than words: it was not always so easy to choose the right path to pursue in the thick of an exchange.

Then, cheekily, he added a touch more Dun Möch, more out of bratty fun than any true mean-spiritedness.

"But correct me if I am wrong, or perhaps even mistaken, but I thought you had said we should focus our efforts entirely on lightsaber combat today, rather than Force training~? Could it be you have had a change of heart, Master~? And was that Tràkata I saw you employ? Goodness… I wonder what the Council would say~?"

He knew full well it had not been Tràkata, but he was playing with the banter now, testing that wordier sort of art meant to slip beneath an opponent's guard and tug at their focus. Braze wanted to needle him just enough to see what frayed first. He was also conveniently and covertly using this as a moment to recover some minor energy.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam accepted the praise with a slow, dignified incline of his head, the blue light of his saber casting long, flickering shadows across the grass. He watched the younger man's playful flourishes and the fanciful salute, recognizing the shifting tides of the conversation.

Braze was no longer just a combatant; he was a student of the moment, using wit and Dun Möch to prod at the seams of Hastam's philosophy. A low, gravelly chuckle resonated from behind the Kel Dor's breathing mask, a sound of genuine amusement that seemed to harmonize with the rhythmic hiss of his life-support system.

"I thank you for the compliment, Braze. It is rare to find one who appreciates the grace in a tactical retreat," Hastam replied, his tone warm despite the biting nature of the boy's teasing. He adjusted his grip on his hilt, keeping his posture relaxed but ready, his eyes fixed on the bratty grin across from him.

"As for your accusation," he continued, the dry wit in his voice becoming more pronounced, "I believe my words were that we should not focus on Force training. I made no mention of banning the abilities we have already mastered. A Jedi does not discard his sight simply because he is practicing his hearing."

He took a slow, deliberate step to the side, maintaining the two-meter gap Braze had so effectively created. The wind of Dantooine rippled through his robes, the only sound in the sudden lull of their kinetic dance

 

[Braze]

Tags: Hastam Sii ​

Hearing the Kel Dor laugh at his antics seemed to brighten and excite the half-Echani into an exuberantly bubbly mood, one that seemed to practically brim over and emanate from his Force signature. He was pleasantly, simultaneously impressed and surprised that the Master wasn't put off by his playful taunts, but was engaging him in a bit of verbal sparring as well.

The Master was rather masterfully meeting him on several levels at once. "Is that so~?"

Hearing the reasoning behind his rebuttal let Braze spring forward in a few jaunty steps on the balls of his feet, twirling the blades as he leaned into a light jog, bounding with airy little footfalls before he became a blur of speed. Suddenly, he moved to up the ante of their little spar just a bit more, eager to expend some of that deep well of energy. A flurry of attacks came head-on this time before he darted left, then right, then right again, bounding upward before veering right, then left, circling, prodding, and testing the Master's defenses and reactions beneath the rush of his forward momentum.

Braze favored the use of momentum greatly, circling one maneuver into the next and often combining his attacks in a fluid, graceful manner. Makashi and Ataru bled through Echani martial arts with a concerning amount of flexibility. He maintained his sai saber as both parrying tool and weapon, ready to utilize it to catch the Master's blade should his frontal blade slip up as he pressed more firmly, trying to dominate Hastam Sii 's inner guard any chance he could get. He pressed in often with dangerously close calls, pushing for slightly riskier ventures.

It seemed it was time to see if the old man could still keep up with the spry little ball of energy.

 

[Hastam Sii]

Hastam observed the dynamic change in Braze Force signature, recognizing the boy's excitement as a surge of the living force around them. He had moved from a sparring partner into an formidable whirlwind of movement, a blur of silver hair and flashing plasma intent on overwhelming him with its relentless momentum.

As he unleashed a flurry of attacks, from all directions through a combination of Makashi and Ataru, the Kel Dor appeared to struggle considerably with him being a half-second behind. He appeared to be on the defensive, his boots slipping on the Dantooine grass as he was pushed back by the sheer force of the boy's strikes against his blade.

His blue blade emitted a sharp hiss as it met the combined assault of the rapier and sai, sending sparks into the air. Yet, beneath the appearance of being on the defensive, Hastam adhered to his strategy of concentrating not on the weapons themselves but on the gaps where they weren't.

By monitoring these voids, he effortlessly adjusted his guard, allowing the relentless strikes to glide harmlessly away, either into the air beside him or onto the grass below. He remained vigilant, ensuring his lightsaber avoided being ensnared again, having learned from the past rotation. The Kel Dor continued being forced to retreat, then suddenly shifted into another form of lightsaber combat.

He rooted himself, raising his lightsaber horizontally just below his chin, his gaze steady behind his goggles as he entered the Center of Being. In this meditative state, the line between duelist and environment blurred, and as Braze pressed forward with increasingly daring attacks, he allowed his blade to move without input, knowing that where ever his blade went an attack would be halted.