Private Combatant Personalities [Cerys Dyn]

[Balun Dashiell]

COMBATANT PERSONALITIES
INVENTORY: Jedi Robes, Echo Stone, & Lightsaber
LOCATION: Shiraya's Sanctuary, Training Wing
TAGS: Cerys Dyn

The dojo floor lay bare this early in the morning as Balun entered, sparing a glance in either direction as the mechanical doors slid shut behind him. He was glad for the lack of other students, oftentimes finding it far easier to focus on his training without the eyes of others watching over him, for the habit of his mind wandering, assuming the worst of their potential thoughts and observations towards his performance; followed by his self-ridicule as he knew better than to compare himself to others standards.

Balun wasn't like the Jedi here, not in his mind. He was twenty-three years old and had earned his way in the Galaxy on his merit through hard work and perseverance, without the help of a mentor. He had grown up in the New Jedi Order for fifteen years, and this was true. The Coruscant Jedi Temple was his first home, but he had been abandoned by a mother who didn't want him, and then, when he had been old enough, he had chosen his path in life. He had come to the High Republic not because he felt like a Student at the beginning of his training but because he was at the height of his training and needed to ensure that he had the approval of an Order, of qualified Force-Users who were capable of naming him worthy of Knighthood regardless of whether or not he would formally accept it. Balun understood that he couldn't simply go by his word, considering his training was fulfilled by his mind when he was inexperienced compared to others who had years on top of Balun himself.

Under the impression that most of the other students were still sleeping, Balun entered further into the duelling arena, stepping across the mat and stopping in the centre. Drawing his lightsaber hilt from his belt, he parted his feet evenly spaced to centre his balance. Raising his hilt in his right hand out in front of him, his left hand joining with the right, he triggered the activation stud, igniting the blade with a snap-hiss of amber energy illuminating the training floor around him. Turning the blade horizontally across his chest and holding it level, Balun adopted the centre of being stance as he prepared to begin his first kata.

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Cerys Dyn]

Cerys hadn't come to watch.

She'd come to train, to isolate, to be left alone, like usual. The early hour offered silence, clean air, and a space unmarred by chatter or distractions. But when she stepped into the dojo, her breath caught.

Someone was already there.

Amber light pulsed across the mats. A lone figure moved through a kata with almost meditative rhythm. Not perfect. But intentional and controlled. Cerys paused in the threshold, arms folding before she realized she'd done it.

She should’ve turned around. Should’ve left him to his brooding. But something about the way he moved, about the seriousness he carved into the room, held her. Not like a presence in the Force, not some divine ripple. Just...stillness. A kind she didn’t know how to make for herself.

When the kata reached its midpoint, she finally stepped forward. Her boots didn’t make a sound, but the atmosphere shifted, just enough that he might notice her watching.

“Don’t stop on my account,” she said, voice even, “I’ve seen worse performances from Knights twice your age.”

She grew quiet, but clearly had more to say.

Her tone was flat, not mocking. Not quite. She tilted her head. “You train like you’re trying to convince someone of something.”

Her gaze lingered, sharp as always, but there was no challenge in it. Just observation. “And for what it’s worth…” she added, almost as an afterthought, “it’s not a bad kata.”

Brandyn would probably still criticize her tone, even though she was trying to be nice.

“…little rigid in the shoulders. But that’s probably a philosophy problem, not a posture one.”

She looked away after that, as if the words hadn’t cost her anything to say. Which, of course, they had.

| TAG: Balun Dashiell | EQUIPMENT: Vowsake, Dyn's Mercy

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