Stealing Knave to Blazing Blade (Kalen Navarr's training)

[Wit]

Kalen repeated the drill once more, this time letting his hands go more loose. Letting them flow as they would. Initially his muscles instinctively started to contract and relax and his movements still remained jerky. But after a number of attempts his actions stated to become more graceful. He let his body relax, loosened his grip on the lightsaber and instead of thinking just let his instincts take over. Slowly but steadily he began improving. "Was that any better?" he asked after one particular sequence which he felt had been much better than his previous attempts.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

"Much better indeed!" Exclaimed Kalza happily, letting forth a huge grin. "Now, let the force guide your movements. You are one with the force, it is your guidance. Trust it," She instructed, still not completely content.

 

[Wit]

Pleased with his master's approval Kalen smiled as well. "Let the force guide me. Got it." He began breathing slowly and calmed himself. Reaching out with his mind he started to let go of himself and let the Force flow through him. Though at first nothing happened, after some time he felt it and then he just let the force guide his hands. Letting go of any illusions of control he moved his hands as his instincts told him to, as the Force told him to. This time the lightsaber did not seem to be there in his hands, it almost seemed like a part of him. Finishing the sequence he turned with a wide grin on his face and looked at Kalza expectantly.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza clapped her hands approvingly, smiling. "Perfect! Now, let us duel," She said, igniting her saber yet again and moving in to the Niman opening position. Readying herself, she set her lightsaber to lightly burn - not to singe. "Attack me," She said clearly.

 

[Wit]

Kalen centered himself, took a deep breath and charged his master. Letting the force guide his hand he tried his best to attack his master. Stabbing, slashing and slowly moving around his movements were guided by the force. Even though his master always seemed to be a step ahead of him he did not give up trying to reach and went on attacking.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza was surprised by the precision of her padawan's attacks, she immediately began to block and dodge his attacks in a flurry of her lightsaber. She did not attempt to outmatch him - merely to block his attacks. "Good..." She said as she continued to block him.

 

[Wit]

Kalen continued with his attempts to successfully attack his master. But she managed to dodge or block every attack with ease. As their duel continued he started to start tiring and his movements started to get strained. Realizing this he slowed down his attacks and made fewer movements until finally he accidentally tripped on his robes and crashed to the floor.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza raised an invisible eyebrow, before letting forth a tiny little giggle. "Well done, such valiant. Not an all too elegant ending, however," She said, offering a hand for her padawan to help him up. "Are you alright?"

 

[Wit]

"Yes Master. I'm fine, thank you." replied Kalen with a sheepish grin as he took hold of Kalza's hand and pulled himself to his feet. "Sorry about that. But I had fun doing that though, the duel I mean not the tripping part." He walked to where his fallen lightsaber had rolled to and come to a rest. Picking it up he asked, "So do we go again?"

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

"Yes, go. I think you're starting to get the hang of it," She said with an encouraging nod.

 

[Wit]

"Ok here I come." Kalen ignited his lightsaber and reengaged Kalza. Though he was still unable to land a solid blow on his master, his confidence was increasing with each attack and his movements were becoming more familiar to him. The lightsaber moved more freely in his hands and he was slowly starting to get more comfortable with it.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

As her padawan began to use more powerful attacks, Kalza began to use various parries and even attempted to strike her padawan a few times. Surprised and glad at how advanced he was, she began to attack more quickly and quicken the pace of the duel.

 

[Wit]

After having been on the defensive till then, Kalza was starting to attack as well and Kalen was being forced to attack and defend. This was putting a greater strain on him but he was mostly successful. He did get zapped a few times but he was doing allright. But he knew that would only last for some time, he was a novice and Kalza a master. With the slowly increasing pace of the duel he was sure to make a mistake soon and when he did Kalza could easily overpower him.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza continued to battle her padawan at a steady pace, not too brutal but not too lax either. Soon enough, she began to feel him tire under her blade. Stopping, she held out a hand for him to stop also. She gave an enthusiastic nod. "Good! Your stamina is very good, Kalen, but remember - the key to Niman is surprise, and improvisation. Now, do you need a moment to rest or do you want to duel again?"

 

[Wit]

Kalen flexed his arms experimentally and replied, "No, I'm not really all that tired. I guess I could last through another round." Dropping into a ready stance he thought, Improvisation and surprise. All right, think outside the box, do the unexpected.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

"Very well," Kalza replied, re-igniting her lightsaber swiftly and motioning with a finger for Kalen to attack her.

 

[Wit]

Kalen charged Kalza and let the force start to flow through him. But just before he was about to reach his master he acted on a whim and jumped to the right and rushed in from that direction, swinging and slashing his blade in a manner similar to that shown by his master.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza slashed sideways, barely deflecting the blow as it came towards her. He had indeed used both the force and the element of surprise. Kalza then slashed sideways after him, using the force to gently push him away from her. "Good! Now, incorporate the force into your attacks!"

 

[Wit]

Though he was pleased by his master's praise, Kalen became a little wary upon hearing Kalza's instructions. He wasn't particularly sure of his force powers and didn't know how well he could incorporate them into the duel. But he decide to give it a try nonetheless. "All right I'll give it a try." He again began moving towards his master and tried to attack her a few times. Finally he jumped back and began approaching her again. But before reaching her he reached out with the force and tried to pull her towards him, onto the path of his swinging blade.

 

[Mr. Crunchy]

Kalza knew the Niman technique draw closer, and was pleased when her padawan used it. As she was drawn closer, she jumped over him using the force and span around, beaming again. "Your progress is very good! Now tell me, what do you aspire to be? A blademaster, a healer, someone who specializes in the force...?" She asked, thinking about her padawan's abilities.