The first Paige of the chapter is written.

[Paige]

She glanced up from her reading to take in her surroundings. There were terminals that stretched down the hall. All with digital information readily available for those who wished to shuffle through it. The walls in the hall were blue and white. The ceilings stood so tall, it was similar to an old temple that she used to visit in her youth. The first time she set her eyes on this hall, it took her breath away.

Today she would continue studying the archives and attempt to learn more about the seven styles of combat. Her sister Shea had always had a knack for being talented with dueling. Her sister even in her death pushed her to be a better duelist, and an even better Jedi. She was dressed in a plain white tank top with her jacket over it. Though many of the padawan's wore their robes, Paige was partial to the jacket, it reached as far as her elbows. The light brown color accented her brunette hair. Her straight hair was neatly braided and rested on the small of her back. Her blue eyes were lost in her readings, slightly shifting back and fourth, as she read intently. Brunette strands of hair rested over her left eye and swayed to the side and was tucked behind her ears. Paige always loved wearing her bangs with her braid.

Ever since her meeting with the council she she spent a lot of time browsing through the Jedi archives. Now that she was allowed to stay, she was urgent to get back to her studies. Earlier in the morning she received a hologram that there would be a Jedi master assigned to her today. This made her anxious as she was not aware of how this master would see her. Many of the other students and Jedi spoke about her, mentioned she might not come back because of her tragic loss. Their fear that she would give in to her anguish and pain kept them all at a distance. This was one of the few places she felt normal. Now all she could do was occupy herself until her new Jedi master arrived.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The young Padawan in training would find herself with a rather large surprise when the doors would open and her apparently assigned Jedi Master would make his way in. Jedi Master Joshua DragonsFlame would peer around the room until he found his would-be student and made his way over. This was a surprise of course, mainly because it was rare and almost unheard of for Joshua to take Padawans in this day and age. He'd begun doing so more recently, but his likelihood of doing so was still slim. Before recently, he hadn't taken a single Padawan since he had left the Jedi Order nearly two years ago, when he still could have taken on apprentices.

His reasoning? Simple. He was tired of them simply wanting power, wanting rank, wanting everything handed to them on a silver platter without them being anywhere near ready. He was tired of Padawans being promoted to Knights, Knights promoted to Master, fast tracked, before they were actually ready for the trials and tribulations of such a position. And many of them failed, because of it. He didn't understand why they were fast tracked, or why a Padawan would even want to be fast tracked. A Padawan should want to LEARN. They should WANT to be ready. But they were too impatient, too greedy, and it sickened him.

Recently, he'd decided to try again. But he was picky, of course. His last two Padawans, he had hand-picked though, both [member="Douglas Starwind"] and [member="Mark Sage"] in particular. This one had been suggested for him, and he'd decided to take a risk on this apparent "Paige". Once he made his way over, he looked her over a little bit, seeming to be sizing her up.

He would motion for her to stand to full height without a word, before holding out a hand. One of the training sabers would move from the rack and land in his hand. They were low powered, and would do nothing but sting a bit if they hit. He would hand the training saber to her, and motion for her to activate it.

"Try to hit me" He finally spoke, calmly.

[member="Paige"]

 

[Paige]

Paige rose from her seat as she was startled by this man. She was lost in her books , and now before her stood a man with brown eyes and blond hair. He handed her a training sabre and taunted her with a request. She was unaware of who he was, Is this my Jedi master? She asked herself as she was in awe. She snapped herself back to reality and gripped the hilt with both hands. These sparring weapons were created to be non-lethal, a slight sting would zap you, and of course you would still feel the impact upon contact of the swing.

Paige's heart started to race, she remembered all of the practice she had put in, it was time to put it to the test. She had not been able to spar with anyone else since the inquires about her sister and her true intentions with the force. Plus those matches were against other padawans; from the demeanor he was displaying and the confidence that was present he was not a mere apprentice. Without replying, she accepted the challenge. She pulled the hilt to the right side of her chest, the sabre now stretched out parallel to ground. Paige realized a strong swing right away would only tire he out. Instead she was going to pounce forward with a chance to follow up. Thrusting forward she extended her arms straight in front of her body, while simultaneously stepping closer to him with her left foot staying on her toes. This would allow for a quick response or adjustment. Her eyes were locked on his torso, she was always taught that it was easier to predict movements if you observed the core of the opponent.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Jedi never once activated his own lightsaber. Instead he watched carefully as his new Padawan would activate her training saber. While he did not use a weapon of his own, he did not intend on getting hit. He didn't say a word, he simply watched, watched her movements, watched the blade. His expression never once changed, he never once winced, never once appeared worried. To the thrust, he would only move back a pace, his body never touching her lightsaber.

He continued to watch carefully, seeming prepared to dodge only with his body, and not parry with his own blade. He wanted to see, without obstruction, how she battled with a lightsaber, so he could point out her flaws and points of needed improvement in her game. The more she knew about her own flaws, the sooner and the better that she could correct them. This would be the best way to develop her into a skilled wielder of the blade.

[member="Paige"]

 

[Paige]

As he stepped back, Paige noticed how calm he was. It was more than confidence, the massive skill gap between the two was apparent. Paige needed to give everything she had if she had hoped to strike her mark. Her arms still fully extended as her thrust fell short. While gliding forward, her arms brought the saber behind her, the side of her body facing him. As she closed the distance a different strategy presented itself. This time she would be moving towards him as she swung. Her feet barely left the ground, she used them rather as instruments to propel herself forward.

Paige had learned from her previous attack, that he was very agile and was capable of reacting quickly. She realized the best shot she had was to chain together multiple attacks that would allow for an opening. If she simply attacked once, than stopped to consider her option, he would toy with her all day. This was a forceful attack that would require more movement to escape, In tight quarters such as the Jedi Archive hall, she only needed one slip up. One under estimation, one miscalculation, and their would be no where to retreat to. Landing before him, left side of her body still perpendicular to his, she ripped the saber through the air horizontally . With a last second calculation her right arm, opposite from Joshua, released it's grip on the hilt, thus granting her a few unexpected inches on the attack. The excess power she received from holding her hilt with both hands was compromised and funneled into greater momentum for a higher velocity swing. Her left arm extended as far as it could reach, hoping the quick adjustment would yield results.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He watched carefully, anticipating her attacks, waiting for the right moment before moving out of the way, without wasting any motion. He watched her saber, and when she would unleash her volley of attacks, he would first back up from the horizontal attack, doing so again on the next once, though that one was a little more close then he had expected. She seemed to have a good grasp on what she was doing, but still needed some polish. He had to wonder if she had used the blade before, or perhaps had fencing experience in the past. But despite that, he would still continue to dodge, on the last one moving in a different direction and finding himself at her side.

This time, the Jedi Master would ignite his own lightsaber, switching the blue blade to low power and striking at her right side with absolutely no warning. He wanted to see what her reaction would be, how good her instincts were...

[member="Paige"]

 

[Paige]

She stopped thinking about her movements, they became fluid and instinctual as she continued her assault. Suddenly he shifted to her side and a blue glow appeared beside her, than just as fast as it had appeared, the lightsaber began it's decent towards her. Her reflexes where quick, but his attack was faster, just barely able to move her body. The direct hit that would have definitely killed her, had the lightsaber not been on low power, hit her in the hip. It stung and the force of the impact would certainly leave a bruise. Paige finished her maneuver as she moved away from him. Her saber still held high as prepared herself for another counter attack.

"You're quick." The words escaped her lips as she panted, trying to regain herself.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

She was definitely quick, and a definite natural at the art, but still required some work. She was using her instincts, instead of thinking too hard, and that was also good. All things that he would have suggested himself had she not done so. But she needed to learn to use the Force, needed to learn to channel it as she fought. She needed to be able to see with the Force, as though it were her own eyes. She needed to feel with the Force as though they were her own senses. She needed to act with the Force, as though it were her arms and legs. In a fast-paced battle, there was little room to think, and precariously little place for error.

He smiled a bit as he backed up, giving her room and time to recover. Something an opponent would not give her. Once she had her moment to catch her breath, he motioned for her to attack him again.

[member="Paige"]

 

[Paige]

His lingering silence and refusal to go on the offense begged to question his intentions. He stood before her, strong and talented, yet he simply dodged her attacks as his eyes traced her body and followed her movements. Was he studying her? Whether or not he was toying with her, or trying to help, Paige would not back down from a challenge. As she watched someone she had a uncanny ability to learn their movements and mimic them as her own. This had been quite useful as she sparred with other padawans. His maneuvers seemed to be effortless. This is how the Jedi all fought, guided by something that could not be seen, the force.

This was something Paige had never been able to adequately master. He made this look so easy. She dashed towards him, unleashing a barrage of attacks. She attempted to channel the force with each swing. Her mind wandered to her past, when she would meditate on the force, and she tried to integrate that feeling into each attack. Battle meditation was not the same as traditional mediation, it was used to help you focus and have clarity as you fought. As the attacks persisted, spinning, swinging and slicing through the air, Paige began to feel her blade gliding. It was being ever so slightly guided ever so slightly, as the attacks began getting closer to her target. It was working, she was starting to be able to feel it, she was starting to fight with the force.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He was clearly testing her, clearly testing her strength, her skill, her ability. He was gauging her, watching her every motion, every movement. And every movement was appraised and noted.. All memorized and studied. Sure, he could attack her head on. But stepping back and appraising her attacks allowed him a better look at just how his new Padawan fought. He had to question how much knowledge she had with a lightsaber, as he had been under the impression that this Padawan was new. Even if she had used a regular sword before, a lightsaber was lightweight... Almost entirely weightless. A weightless beam of light energy generated by a small pole that hardly weighed a thing. It was a transition, an adjustment... He knew from experience. But it was clear she wasn't new, for sure.

Her attacks began to become more calculated, a little slower, but more tactful. Channeling the Force, each and every single swing... Just as she should. Swinging blindly, without the Force, would only make you cut your own hands off, or worse. The Force was how a Jedi could see the blade in front of them... And how they could swing it effortlessly as they did without danger. But even there, it required skill. It required patience. And the more she coordinated her attacks, the more effort he put in to his sidesteps and dodges. His expression remained stoic, but he continued to sidestep left and right and jump back, if she aimed for his head he only moved that and not his body. But it was clear he was exerting more effort to match.

His right hand clenched the hilt of his lightsaber again, to see her reaction....

[member="Paige"]