Bad Reputation
There was a clattering noise as a training lightsaber hit the soft mat covering the floor. Eloise grit her teeth in annoyance, glaring at the female Togruta across from her who had thrown down her weapon as soon as she was called to practice.
“Padawan Xertha,” the instructor said, his hands on his hips. “Pick up your lightsaber.”
The Togruta shook her head, gesturing to her opponent. “She doesn’t fight fair."
“The Sith won’t fight fair. In fact, no enemy you face will fight ‘fair’. So why do you expect Padawan Dinn to go easy on you?”
“I saw her keep hitting Jaden after he was down,” Xertha persisted. “She’s like a wild animal.”
“That was a one-time incident. Padawan Dinn knows that if she does it again, she will receive disciplinary action.” He looked pointedly at Eloise, who forced her expression into neutrality. “But if you do not pick up your lightsaber and participate, you will be disciplined.”
Reluctantly Xertha grabbed her weapon from where it had fallen, ignited the blade, and took up a combat stance.
The mock duel lasted barely a minute. Xertha could not keep up with the ferocity of Eloise’s attacks and was swiftly disarmed. Eloise stood over her downed opponent, lightsaber poised to deliver a killing blow, but never let her blade fall. Though several other students were watching the fight, the room was dead silent. Not even a whisper or a titter could be heard among the observers.
“Excellent work, Padawans,” the instructor said—just before Xertha angrily swatted Eloise’s blade away, leaping to her feet and unleashing a flurry of slashes and stabs upon the purple-haired girl. Eloise parried the blows, baring her teeth as the fight grew more brutal, until she felt a sudden pressure forcing the two to separate.
“That’s enough,” the instructor warned. “You are both far too emotional—”
“What happened to realism?” Eloise interrupted tartly. “Or are we supposed to act like stoic killing machines in battle?”
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but you need to put your feelings aside,” the instructor continued, ignoring the interruption. “You are both dismissed. I suggest you spend the rest of the day meditating on what happened here and what you could have done better.”
Meditation might as well have been detention. Scowling, Eloise floated her training lightsaber back to the weapons rack and headed out.
“Padawan Xertha,” the instructor said, his hands on his hips. “Pick up your lightsaber.”
The Togruta shook her head, gesturing to her opponent. “She doesn’t fight fair."
“The Sith won’t fight fair. In fact, no enemy you face will fight ‘fair’. So why do you expect Padawan Dinn to go easy on you?”
“I saw her keep hitting Jaden after he was down,” Xertha persisted. “She’s like a wild animal.”
“That was a one-time incident. Padawan Dinn knows that if she does it again, she will receive disciplinary action.” He looked pointedly at Eloise, who forced her expression into neutrality. “But if you do not pick up your lightsaber and participate, you will be disciplined.”
Reluctantly Xertha grabbed her weapon from where it had fallen, ignited the blade, and took up a combat stance.
The mock duel lasted barely a minute. Xertha could not keep up with the ferocity of Eloise’s attacks and was swiftly disarmed. Eloise stood over her downed opponent, lightsaber poised to deliver a killing blow, but never let her blade fall. Though several other students were watching the fight, the room was dead silent. Not even a whisper or a titter could be heard among the observers.
“Excellent work, Padawans,” the instructor said—just before Xertha angrily swatted Eloise’s blade away, leaping to her feet and unleashing a flurry of slashes and stabs upon the purple-haired girl. Eloise parried the blows, baring her teeth as the fight grew more brutal, until she felt a sudden pressure forcing the two to separate.
“That’s enough,” the instructor warned. “You are both far too emotional—”
“What happened to realism?” Eloise interrupted tartly. “Or are we supposed to act like stoic killing machines in battle?”
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but you need to put your feelings aside,” the instructor continued, ignoring the interruption. “You are both dismissed. I suggest you spend the rest of the day meditating on what happened here and what you could have done better.”
Meditation might as well have been detention. Scowling, Eloise floated her training lightsaber back to the weapons rack and headed out.