The Fire Of The Echani (PM to join)

[Celiana]

As Kat stepped away from the duel and wiped herself down. I smiled... she'd held her own against me very well. Not many did in their first duel....She turned and complimented my training. Speaking softly I said "I was blessed with a good instructor... as were you it seems. Not many make it past the first tier with me, fewer still hold their own as solidly as you did within the second tier. Whoever taught you did an incredible job Kat you should be proud of your skills and whoever it was that trained you I'm sure would be very proud as well."

Rolling my neck I heard a pop and then another as I rolled my neck to the other side. I began stretching gently and walked over to where Kat stood before stretching again. Leaning back I planted my hands on the ground and arched my back pushing my toned tummy skyward. Sinking back down gently I took a seated Lotus position. Looking at Kat I said softly "I'm sorry about the damage to your leg Kat...it wasn't my intention to cause you extra work or concern..."

I remained silent for a bit. I'd essentially led the duel, I figured now I'd let her lead the conversation...

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Shrugging her shoulders, Kat had to deal with large amounts bullies and guys who wanted to get into a fight with an Echani to see if they could land a hit. Kat quickly made sure she learnt how to deal with people larger, stronger and aggressive, her brothers were also determined that she learn all the tiers of combat as she was a capable fighter, something her sister was but Rose was less interested in fighting and more interested in politics. Being able to keep up with Celiana was just something that happened, she was sure that another time she might not have put as much into the fighting and lost earlier. At the moment, Kat felt the weight of responsibility to continue combat legacy of her family since her mother was a strong fighter several decades ago and her brothers were capable enough to be part of the royal guards.

The damage to her legs was minor, "Nah, it's fine. Nothing an hour or two work won't fix. If you used something like Mechu Deru or Electric based moves, disabling them completely, then I would be more upset. This is minor." Kat waved off Celiana's concern, she didn't mind spending time on minor repairs, something more serious could have stopped her moving without a wheelchair which was something she would have been very annoyed about. She hated being in a wheelchair.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling as Kat shrugged it off and mentioned Mechu-Deru or Electric based attacks which I was highly proficient with I said gently "The Echani way is of blades and hand to hand, we don't use The Force in duels Kat. Or rather I never have. I've always felt that if I lacked the skill to face off against another in a one on one duel without the aid of The Force that only meant I needed more practice." I sat and watched her, the way she moved was fluid and beautiful to watch. I wondered what she had had to go through in her life...I personally thought that whatever she'd endured in her life had led to who she was now. She seemed to me at least a beautiful, highly capable young woman. I had to admit...I was curious about her.

Perhaps she would ask me of my past. I didn't want to risk her feeling like I was being pushy. So for now I waited until a question came my way from her...

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

There was a slight sigh from Kat, she knew the rules to Echani style duels. It wasn't the fact that she assumed that Celiana would have used her powers just stating that those types of attacks were ones more likely to do more severe damage to her legs more than any weapon due to the metals used in her legs. "I know the Force isn't allowed in Echani duels. Don't need reminding of that." Kat stated but gave a small smile as she stood tall and stretched slightly.

"So, who taught you how to duel?" Kat asked as she massaged her arm muscles so that she could avoid getting a cramp. Their duel was intense and draining so she wanted to make sure that she didn't wake up the next day with muscle cramp and stuck in bed all day. Taking a mouthful of water as she felt her body cooled down.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

She spoke that she knew of the rules of Echani duels. Properly reminded of such I simply inclined my head softly and said "My apologies if I made you feel I was insinuating that you didn't realize such rules." She asked who taught me to duel and I was reminded of the report laying in my cabin aboard The Morrigan...

Looking at her I said softly "Her name was Akira Soriano, she died in the attack on Eshan. She always had a way of making combat seem like a dance to me." Pausing I continued, "She taught me the initial tier, only when it'd become second nature did she teach me more.... She wanted to be sure that if or when she passed that one of her students would be prepared to teach others..." Rising from my seated position I looked at Kat who seemed busy trying to relax out her muscles after the duel.

Walking over towards her I simply fell into routine. One of the things that Akira had stressed among her students was that we all help one another and that included helping relax after training. Gently I reached up and softly placed my hands on her shoulders. I waited for a moment and spoke "A routine of ours after training with Akira was to help our training partner relax with a neck or shoulder massage...May I?" I waited for her permission to continue or any more questions. To be honest I welcomed them...I'd much rather speak of the positive with Akira and what I learned.

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Shrugging her shoulders, Kat glossed over the insinuations, she had dealt with them all her life. Whether or not Celiana did not mean it, didn't matter to Kat now. Lowering her head, she nodded her head listening to Celiana sad tale of Akira. The loss of family was never a good thing, it was never something that one should experience till they are old. But the galaxy was at war and war took young lives more than old ones. Kat nodded her head firmly, "As if the way Echani combat tiers is taught. Why it can take a long time to learn all three tiers." Kat replied.

When Celiana approached and placed her hands on Kat's shoulders, it was odd and something very unexpected but Kat didn't pull away. It was a friendly gestured and Kat nodded her head. Kat lowered her head to look at the ground and relax her muscles. "Thanks I guess, was Akira your mother or just a close friend?" Kat asked as she gently breath out slowly.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Nodding I said "Aye, it took me three years in total to master them. I was expected to spend a year learning and mastering each tier before progressing to the next." As Kat nodded her head and voiced her thanks I began working on the tension in her neck. "Akira was....I suppose a sort of mother figure. Over time we grew to be friends, then more... She helped me master a great many things about myself, some of which I'm still working on..." Moving to Kat's shoulders I continued the massage and said "I'd like to think I've done her proud with my sword skills and in how I've started to live as a Jedi Knight...." I lingered in thought as I felt tightness under Kat's left shoulder.

Gently digging my thumb in and rolling it in small circles I felt the tension gradually begin to lessen. I wondered if Kat would open up about who trained her...I had to admit I was curious about that subject based off her skill in sparring against me...

[member="Kat Decoria"]