In These Moments Trailing Dawn

[Asinine Soup]

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"In These Moments Trailing Dawn"
Jedi Temple on Tython
Early Morning​

The serene, pale sun shines its rays delicately across its domain; mountaintops glint softly, gentle snow-caps and mountain-tips glittering as though a single diamond were placed atop; plains and trees glow warmly, dew glistening from the passing night; the sky radiates soft hues of teal and pale yellow, the atmosphere crisp and clear as slight streaks of white mark the jetstreamed clouds.
A large courtyard adorned with elaborate tiling receives the first day's warmth of the sun as well, the light piercing the cold floor as the pillars standing sentry to the scenery receive the life-giving rays as well. A gentle fog still radiates below, rolling ominous clouds viewable by the courtyard within the valleys and mountains far below.
Jedi and Padawan stroll the perimeter, some sharing soft conversation within the courtyard overlooking a gorgeous valley, Tython's two moons faintly visible within the adolescent sky up above. This was a morning on Tython - breathtaking.​

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"Mmm..."​

Ashanna hums her soft pleasure of the sun's warmth upon her back, her bare feet crossed in front of her. This feeling was always a welcomed part of the girl's early morning meditation routine. The Force - she could feel it; she could feel it rolling through nature itself, vibrantly fluttering through the air, and coursing through her own body and surroundings. The gentle breeze even at this altitude was nearly non-existent, making for a perfect morning made even more amazing by just the act of enjoying it. Thinking on it. Introspecting within it. Embracing it as a part of nature, just as one's self. These mornings took her back to those wonderful early mornings on her home planet of--

"E-excuse me, Master Jedi?" says a soft voice, that of a young man seemingly nervous - he hid it well, but his anxiety was clearly felt. Perhaps she could assist in alleviating some of that negativity with nothing more than a gentle smile.
"Please. Call me Anna," her voice uncharacteristically smooth and soft and soothing, the desired reaction occurring faster than she could have expected. The boy near-instantly relaxed in both posture and thought, emotion previously boiling now settling to a passive simmer. "Beautiful morning, isn't it? What was it that you needed, friend?" Her smile remains as radiant as the sun behind her.
"Well it's not me that needs anything. I'm a messenger for another Master Jedi." The youngling visibly frowns before adding, "...he looks a little scary."

To this, Ashanna's eyebrow lifts curiously, the edges of her lips mimicking the act as she found the prospect amusing. "Scary, huh?...That doesn't sound very brave for someone who I know for a fact is one of the bravest people in the Galaxy. What makes him scary?" she asks, piquing into the boy's lightening demeanor in lieu of a Jedi who had previously apparently startled the boy.
Shamelessly, the boy explains the root of his fear. "Well thanks, Master Anna, but...he's really big. His lightsaber is weird. And his skin is a bunch of different colors and shapes and--"
"And you judged him from his appearance alone?" Ashanna interrupts gently, the young woman easily able to relate to the prospect of taking things at face value. The boy thinks of the question, then shrugs to acquiesce to an affirming nod.
"He did say he was looking for a spar, but he was getting frustrated that all he could find were younglings and padawan."

The boy, then, looks up toward a slowly approaching shadow, long as it stretches forward, almost ominous in its casual, care-free approach.
"Oh. There he is now." the padawan asks, his simple brown robing gently lifting in the light breeze.
"Hm?" Ashanna attunes her focus behind her, neglecting to look, rather preferring to feel the near-artful approacher's footsteps as he nears utilizing the Force instead.

"Ah," she grants, giving the boy one more smile. "Thank you for your message, friend - perhaps this day will have less meditation in store than I thought when I woke up."
Slowly, she stands to her feet, her own robing an array of darker browns, her brunette hair cascading down her head in a rivulet of swirls and curls. She pivots, sun shining upon her face and in her eyes, casting her to squint as the approaching figure gathers even nearer, his rather imposing height the item eclipsing the sun behind him and casting a shadow on the ground as lengthy as a specter reaching for her soul.
Her expression shifts as she tilts her chin up and shields the sun with a lifted hand to attempt to get a better glimpse of the silent Jedi - something a bit more forthcoming than his rather nice pair of boots, that is, for that's all that she could make out.

 

[Viabuck]

There were days that he missed his master and then there were days likes the present.. The days in his youth when he had been thrown about the outdoor sparring areas for his failure to maintain his focus or for giving into malice out of frustration. Those were the days which he longed for in the present, nostalgia gripping him at the least opportune of times and causing his thoughts to drift back to a time that could no longer be recreated leaving only a void..

Absently treading through the halls of the temple, his darkened leather boots would lightly thud across the ground as he made his way after the path that the youngling whom he had dispatched had already traveled in search of a Jedi with whom he had never actually spoken with or had really seen prior to that day. Why did he seek to use her as a means to provide the challenge which he had come to desire ever so much? Quite simply it was the prospect of the unknown and the opportunity that it provided for him. Another chance to hone his skills, another chance to learn about another of his peers, it was everything that he required in that moment..

A hand passively reaching up to one of his head tails and passively pushing it up behind his shoulder and securing it with a leather strap, drawing it snug to one of the two which resided behind his back and then repeating the process with the other, all for the sake of not allowing it to get in the way. Why would he do this? One might notice a scar on the tendril on his right side, the unfortunate appendage falling victim to a training incident in the male's youth... A story that would perhaps be shared one day? Possibly.. Though unlikely.

Approaching and coming to a pause, the black tunic wearing Jedi would pause, a reddish-orange colored hand reaching out to lightly pat the boy whom had handled his message delivery for him. Offering the slightest of smiles and then redirecting his rather bright blue eyes onto his would be opposition, his friendly expression holding steady upon his face. Bowing ever so slightly causing his 'weird' lightsaber shifting ever so slightly on it's grip, the doubled hilt sliding against his body as he did so.

"Greetings..." he started, lifting his head and folding his arms back behind him. "My name is Curo Kaal... And might I assume that young friend over there has extended to you my intentions of coming here on this fine day?"

A quick shift of his eyes in their sockets would fall back upon the youngster before drifting back the human who stood before him.. Or at least he presumed human.. They were such a diverse breed out species.. It was difficult to tell which were classified as what at this point.. Not that it particularly mattered to him, it seldom ever did. With the exception of himself and his master, Togrutan had been something of a rarity in his experience around the academy and thus he preferred to look at people as individuals, perhaps in a subconscious hope that his own 'alien' nature would be ignored.. Perhaps? Or perhaps not.. He really didn't choose to give much away on a first encounter.

 

[Asinine Soup]

A blank expression falls upon the young woman's face. She'd been on this planet for years, now, and had seen handfuls of sentient life - this one seemed to have tendrils akin to a Twi'lek. Is that what he was? She didn't want to insult this stranger's kindness, so as he bows, Ashanna remains upright and even straightens her own posture a tad. Was she attempting to assert dominance?
"Greetings..." he says, falling into a more relaxed position. He seemed formal. "My name is Curo Kaal... And might I assume that young friend over there has extended to you my intentions of coming here on this fine day?"
"Well yes!" she responds, her voice suddenly rather loud, contrary to how she spoke with the child. Those had, of course, been her first words of the morning - it seemed the woman was quite the extrovert instead. "They call me Ashanna - I just received word of your intent," she carefully states, much sounding like her conversation was a process of putting words together to form a sentence much how puzzle pieces come together to form a picture.

But studying the creature for a few seconds longer, a grin finally slides upon her brow, her language skills returning to normal, though her loud tone of voice remained the same. She still hadn't bowed in greeting as a stale, cold wind lifts her robing and hair as well as others within the area.
"Dear Padawan, thank you for your message. You should resume your tasks for the morning," she indicates without breaking eye-contact with the Togruta. The Padawan bows and doesn't reflect any emotion, though his disappointment was easily felt - he wanted to stick around to watch the 'Masters' fight. What kid wouldn't?

As the Padawan walks out of ear-shot, casually glimpsing over his shoulder as though hoping to catch a piece of the spar, Ashanna finally releases a breath. The cold mountain air emits a gentle frost-cloaked fog from the act, deep eyes finally concluding their brief study of Curo Kaal.
"Interesting weapon of choice. I've...not seen one like it." She wasn't shy when it came to indicating her weaknesses - it was the only manner in which one could grow. So her knowing glimpse and perceptive gaze cuts right back to the Togruta's. "So tell me, Curo Kaal," her gaze unwavering, "where will we begin? I was never very good at formalities..."

Her lips curl into a smirk.

 

[Viabuck]

He was most certainly being stared at. There was simply no two ways about it. This girl was staring at him and clearly was struggling to grasp something though the question remained as to -what- she was so curious about. Had she never seen a Togruta before? Was he considered handsome by human standards? Did she have a miniature episode of some kind which took her out of contact with the rest of the world around her? There were a number of possibilities but it would be hard to narrow it down until she spoke.. Which she would do shortly after he finished his introduction, her posture being observed as he straightened himself upright and passively observed her body language from that point forward.

Clearly a loud one, 'Ashanna' clearly had no problem vocalizing her thoughts.. At least not after a few awkward moments of getting a verbal foothold of sorts and redirecting her attention to the youth whom he had located to carry out his message delivery. Taking note of the boys disappointment, he would offer a slight lift of his hands and a wave, passively dismissing the boy as he departed from the area, the hints of disappointment upon his face not being lost on the orange skinned alien.

With the grinning human now focusing back upon him, he smiled ever so slightly at her words, shifting his eyes in their sockets as he looked down to his lightsaber, his right index finger lightly tapping the hilt of the weapon thoughtfully.

"Nor had I until I met my late Master... It was an idea of hers and I must admit, it suits me rather well.." he remarked before shifting his attentions back to the matter at hand. He had come to her for a reason and clearly she intended to go along with the idea and thus it was with one fluid turn, his head tails lifting ever so slightly as he did so, he motioned for her to follow him with the simplest of hand gestures.

"I believe the outdoor training grounds will suit our needs.." he remarked, treading down the hall, listening to ensure that she was following along with him before continuing, trailing down the rather ornate halls of the temple, his right hand grasping his left wrist behind his back. "I'm rather fond of it myself... Plus it allows for a bit more creative maneuvering.." he explained making a rather sharp right, pivoting on heel and stepping through a tall archway leading to an open grassy area containing three trees, several rock constructs, separated from the rest oft he academy by a circle, meant to section off the immediate area.

Stepping into said cicle, Curo would leap up and landed top one of said rocks and crouch there, his blue eyes one again focusing themselves on the girl.

"Suitable?"

 

[Asinine Soup]

Ashanna was a complacent follower as her eyes flicker to and fro, never gathering enough of the beautiful structures and architecture. She was a long ways away from the Outer Rim - access to master craftsmen was seldom something one would see in their entire lifetime, if they were unlucky enough. This was something altogether something to be admired and appreciated, the soft glow of the morning sun trailing through high windows, casting its amber glow on the world surrounding the pair.
It didn't take long at all for the humanoid and Togruta to make their way to the desired sparring location - a beautiful courtyard she seldom used for combat, rather for meditation. This would be interesting, to say the least, but...perhaps it would be nice to allow him to pick his own terrain. This was a smart warrior. She'd discounted him.

Lesson one had been learned - don't let your first impression be your only impression of your opponent.

"Creativity?" she offers at a murmur, then, given the man-thing's sentiment. "Creativity means you consider this an art - which means you get it!" It had been apparent that she'd been trying to figure out the rather quiet stranger. It was best to keep things reserved at times, though it seemed the young woman was slowly getting a gauge on his character.
"It'd be an honor. Get in your ready position and we can get started," she indicates, a smile finally forming upon her lips. The soft grass beneath her boots caused her to pause, however, as she pauses. The courtyard was absolutely beautiful, its array of colors calling her. She smirks and plops into the grass for a moment, then, removing her boots so that her feet could be free and her toes could wiggle through nature. Tython truly brought that appreciation out of her.
After she was done, she hoped she didn't belay the upcoming match too much; she sighs, stretches lightly, then leaps into the air at a superhuman arc. Without even thinking, she'd shown her first advantage so to speak.

The Force flowed through her naturally, and something such as a leap was as simple as an acrobatic application. A smart fighter like her new opponent would likely certainly pick up on it instantly, though Ashanna didn't seem to notice - her bare feet slap against a rock's surface as she apparently sought to begin the fight at the high ground.
With a sudden pivot of her posture, she'd grin a demanding and excited glimpse toward Curo, her smile completely gone.
"Gimme' a challenge, okay?" she teases, wrist flicking as her weapon does as commanded and flicks right into her palm with a *slap*. She doesn't ignite it, nor does she display a form. It seemed that much she'd remain hidden.

 

[Viabuck]

Perking a brow at her remarks concerning his ability to 'get it', he would ponder the girl's tone for a moment. When he spoke of creativity, he wasn't referring to seeing battle as an art form, he had ultimately had it drilled into his head that it was in fact -not- any such thing. Rolling his shoulders and he offered a light shrug, replying with a simple "Perhaps once upon a time.." he responded simply enough, his right hand opening ever so slightly as the force would draw the weapon from his belt and bring it into his grasp, his fingers curling around the blade and drumming lightly upon it, his wrist motioning off to the side as his thumb drug itself passively along the switch, the emitter kicking on.

With a satisfying hiss, almost lizard-like in nature, the green blade would deploy from the top hilt of the blade... Though for the moment, nothing would be deployed from the other end, remaining unlit for the time being. Twirling the weapon his grasp and giving it several satisfying rotations through the air, the hum of the weapon growing louder as he began to pick up speed with his motions.

With the display of the force aiding in the girls graceful movements, a grin would form across his face, his white teeth being unveiled as his canines almost seemed to gleam for the barest of seconds, something primal lighting up behind the Jedi's eyes. Bending at the knee slightly, his weapon flaring out straight in a horizontal angle as he lunged forth, the force driving his leap as he too utilized it to project himself in Ashanna's direction. While not utilizing the force, there was definitely something being tapped into within the Togruta, and it would soon come to life as he landed in front of her, remaining in a slightly crouched position, his legs ready to uncoil like a spring when the situation called for it again.

"Challenges are my specialty.." he half crooned, his grin not fading for an instant as his blade would be rather abruptly lashed outward in a single quick horizontal slash toward her midsection, the weapon threatening to cross her torso in one sudden movement. While certainly not carrying any real intent to injure or do her any harm, even being slightly overly telegraphed on top of it all, he really just wanted to make her move and figure out how he would have to attack... And then see how she'd respond with a sudden motion of his left hand, his open palm pushing toward her, aiming to catch her mid motion with a rather powerful burst of the force, aiming to push her back through the air and potentially stagger her while she was focused on his lightsaber.

"Keep it interesting.."

 

[Asinine Soup]

Ashanna's focus on the Togruta's grin was what forced her to smile. They were smiling for different reasons, more likely than not - how could she sympathize with an alien creature with both different life experiences and a different biology?
That was her goal. She would understand - this crossing of blades, fists, and Force would certainly be the narrative to the realm of the unknowing. There was, quite simply, only the Force.

The Force, however, was something that she utilized as naturally. It was clear she was gifted, and even trained, but nowhere near even half of her unbridled potential within the sheer depth of the Force coursing through her inner currents. A single green blade emits from Curo's weapon, hissing its screech into the cold morning air. Not so cold anymore.
In answer, her own blade ignites, its blue as deep as the ocean's depths. Its sound was true and electric, extending itself quickly. "I'll hold you to it..." she says softly, her grin - a competitive one - appearing upon her face.
They leap into action. The green blade comes whirling forward, intending to strike her at her core - perhaps Ashanna predicted it, or simply intended to react differently, but the outcome was the same. When her left foot was closer to the assailing Togruta, she uses the foot as a catalyst to her pivot. This very same pivot sends her bodily position just outside of the weapon's reach, though the pivot doesn't stop - the acrobatic female uses the same motion to send a lance of a Force-imbued kick directly for Curo's now-open torso region as he intended to send a blast of Force her direction.

Perhaps with this action, it would become apparent how the Force worked through her, and that something as telegraphed as a single lightsaber swing was insufficient in a spar between peers. The kick, if landed, held enough pressure behind it to uproot her opponent and send him, at the least, skidding a few meters, if not sending him off of the rock form altogether. Her goal was to kick him before the Force could be conjured in such a way - to break one's concentration was to render their Force capabilities null! Her blade whirls, rising after the extended kick to be held at the ready!
"I was hoping for you to take me seriously..." she'd state swiftly, feigning disappointment. She wasn't human.

Of what she was was of little import however. The only thing she was at this moment was one thing: a Jedi to be taken seriously. All of this would've been said through the warrior's code - through the first strike.

 

[Viabuck]

Without even needing to break eye contact, the body of Curo would begin to twist to the side, the foot cascading along his body and making impact as leaned away from the blow, twisting his body to allow the kick to wind down a bit before impact so it would serve to stagger him at worst and give him the needed precious fractions of a second to project the force itself like a weapon to send his would be opponent away from him with a single burst, his right hand still holding his saber at the ready, his grin not faltering for a second.

"Rest assured, Miss.. I am taking you -quite- seriously.." he half teased, suddenly springing off of the balls of his feet and pushing himself away from the bare foot girl, his scouting of her initial capacities completed enough that he felt that he could engage her appropriately. A force user, which while troublesome for his chosen form of combat was not something that he was completely unprepared for.

His blade being lifted once again as he rose to stand completely upright, no longer resting in a crouch, his blade would be twirled within his grasp, his fingers brushing the secondary switch and with another sharp hiss, the other end of the weapon would ignite in an instant, the double blade wielding Kaal deciding to assume his proper battle stance his left leg sliding forward as he extended his empty arm outward, his hand being kept up at chest level while his right arm and leg would drawn back, his lightsaber pointing forward across his body, the blade protecting his chest while the secondary extended back behind him.

"I believe I've finished speaking for now... Please do not mistake this for rudeness. It's simply practical." he offered, suddenly starting to spin the double bladed saber within his grasp, his left hand clutching the hilt of the weapon and accelerating the spin as he suddenly made another lunge, his senses attuned to any movement that would signal use of the force so that he might take counter measures before kicking up off of the air and twisting his body in mid air displaying his own remarkable athlethisicm as he brought one blade downward as he descended, aiming to strike down at her shoulder, immediately following through this strike by twisting his own body around and seeking to drag the second saber across the back of her calf in a inward sweeping motion, his eyes remaining trained upon the girl's own, almost predatory in that moment.

In spite of his rather sudden and violent strikes, there was no savagery or malefic aggression to be found.. This was simple baser impulse guiding his motions as he lashed his weapon open, the end of his two strike combo being followed into by a rapid twirling of the double bladed weapon, creating a twister of lightsaber blade to meet a potential counter attack should one come his way.

 

[Asinine Soup]

"I was wondering when you were going to stop teasing me," she responds, her blade twirling with a blur and a hum as her wrist pivots to bring the weapon back toward a ready position. Those familiar with their styles perhaps saw a more defense-oriented style radiating from her posture and poise; the Togruta had superior physique, bladesmanship more likely than not, and even a warrior's instinct to boot.
This was going to be a learning experience, for sure. She was excited - the excitement was radiating in the glint in her eyes.

His utilized form seemed perfect. If she was trained to counter, she would find no way to push an accurate offensive. As she had limited room to fight, the incoming assault was somewhat discouraging, but she had an uncanny way of maintaining her calm even when faced with opposition such as this. She had no idea how she did it...but it's like Ashanna lacked the ability to become anxious in battle. Her movements were fluid, the pair's blades suddenly zapping against one another in a spark of brilliant green and blue, yellow emitting from the opposition. The first strike held plenty of weight and momentum, sending her defense toward the side.
<Evade!> rung through her mind in an instant, not as a thought, but as an instinct - and she follows it. The sweeping motion incoming slashes the rock she was standing on in a graze as Ashanna strafe-rolls and slides back unto her feet, balance compromised for all of a moment as the small rock pillar they stood atop left little mobility for her.

She decides to plant her defenses and give Curo's offensive another go!
From then on, however, she displays a shift in posture. Her grip even loosens as she awaits the follow-up from the swordsman.

 

[Viabuck]

'She's not counter attacking.. '

Spinning his blade overhead for a moment, Curo seemed utterly incapable of slowing down even for a moment, refusing to spare the girl even a moment to recover. Kicking off after her as she rolled away from him, he would give his dual bladed saber a twist from side to side, alternating the blades position from his right to his left before striking downward as he descended upon where she would come to a stop at. His eyes narrowed upon her, he would keep advancing, determined to crowd her and render her unable to escape him. If she wanted to play defensively, then he would for all intents and purposes continue to press up against her until she claimed the high ground.

His eyes didn't give much away about his mindset, in a way, they didn't reflect any real 'emotion' per-say but still contained quite a bit of 'feeling'. Everything he did was a natural flow. A piece of himself made action, feeding on the predator-prey instinct and with the constant swinging of his blades, he didn't offer much of a chance for that role to be reversed. In this instance, as he finished his downward strike, his next motion was to rather suddenly make an outward sweeping motion with the weapon, bringing it upward a forty five degree angle before stepping in following his attack and elevating his right leg... Only to immediately step forward and attempt to use the force to enhance a lunge, his body pushing forward and aiming to push his lightsaber back toward the girl harder than normal.

In spite of himself.. Curo found himself having fun.. And for a moment? he would give the slightest hesitation in his rapid flurry of lightsaber movements, the words of his master striking him... Reeling him back.

 

[Asinine Soup]

Now this was refreshing.
Another slash of the green dual-sided blade sends the pair's blades a-crashing. Although she wasn't weak, this man-thing was certainly strong - in both his physique as well as in the Force. The combination made for quite a wonderful bladesman and altogether Jedi. She was honored to have someone such as this within the Academy walls. In fact, the more their blades launched at one another, the more the Force spoke with her about him, though she could never understand why it happened in such a way.

The sudden clashing of blades sing through the air twice more, both of the individual's blades twirling about as it seemed the girl was a tad more resolute now that her shoulder had been grazed from that downward slash out of her barrel roll. She, herself, hadn't known what this fight would be like, but she surely hadn't underestimated her opponent; as the blades come swinging in and they're deflected, Anna's foot sliding to the corner of the laser-cut stone, indicating her loss of grown and her current lack-there-of. She had no more room, and Curo certainly knew this.
"Hm," Anna grunts, the blades whirling around once more as it seemed Curo had intended to shove his weight into his strike, the Force gathering around him in a very quick manner. He was very skilled indeed!
She even smirks lightly at the display of raw talent mixed with discipline. There was no way he was holding too much ba-- no, he hadn't meant to. A whisper of intent clashing with the past had granted her an opportunity, the lunge sent her way flying forth in an array of green. It would've left a very nasty burn-mark had it landed, however in a slight of the moment, Ashanna had been there...and then she wasn't, spinning past the extended blade and leaning forward within striking range. The only problem was that her wrist position was inadequate to strike with her saber, so instead, she sends the blunt handle of her blade flying forth in an effort to land a hilt strike in roughly the same area as her boot had previously landed.

"Be water. Water is gentle, fluid, and flowing, yet dastardly in its retaliation - be reserved, yet demanding in your expansion. Patience is key, and yet that is the conundrum of Form III versus IV."
Her master would once call the two forms a contradiction - a deep contradiction that complimented itself. That's why he chose the forms for the young Ashanna - they perfectly described her, and perfectly worked for her style.
Thus the spectacle of how the Force moved through so freely. It was like water.

As her lunge splays forth, she hisses, "Focus!" like her own master would. Even the slightest break in focus could bring the most dastardly counteraction that could tip the scales of the fight permanently - luckily this wasn't one of them!
She intended to strike and regain a better position where she had room to combat the fierce combatant, all the while ignoring the tension in her hand from deflecting the Togruta's graceful aggression.

 

[Viabuck]

The moment in which he experienced his moment of doubt was all that it took for Curo to find himself enduring a shot from the hilt of the saber, his abdomen reactively flexing from the blow, his eyes growing wide, his arms recoiling and drawing in his saber. His eyes wide, he wouldn't allow himself to fall victim to yet another blow from the girl, at least not immediately following the hilt shot and as she went for her next attack, the hilt of his lightsaber would be shifted downward, intent on blocking the secondary strike with the burning weapon which he wielded so nimbly.

Unfortunately for the rather interesting human specimen, his assault was no where near finished as even as the blade remained present to block, somehow the second blade was coming down toward the shoulder attached to the arm that she was wielding her own weapon with. How was such a thing possible? Quite simply with the most subtle of clicks, what had nce appeared to be one impressive weapon had been broken down into two, the red skinned Togrutan Jedi now pressing his offense.

With the downward swing hopefully creating and opening, while she would in all probability attempt to retreat, the green blade he had previously defended with would be jabbed forward, intent on striking at her midsection (though the blade was of course not at full emission, the intent to disembowel clearly not being present for obvious reasons) and seeking to bring about a realization that he was something of a monster in terms of attack variance.

While he may not have possessed Anna's grace with the force or the natural connection, when it came to combat, he was a blade master through and through. Whether it be with a single blade, two blades, or two blades forming one, he was a force unto himself made clear by a rather sudden press as he would aim to move toward her, lashing out horizontally with the right as he took a step forward, pivoting on the front foot and then attempting to move part way behind her and swing at the left all in one fluid movement.

He had taken a blow from the hilt of another persons weapon due to his lack of commitment to what he was doing. The mistake had been made and at least for the duration of the battle, he had no intent upon repeating it. This was his way. Overwhelming multi form attacks from varying angles in numerous fashions. Juyo for all of it's pitfalls was the path that Curo traveled along to score his victories..

 

[Asinine Soup]

Ashanna's eyes suddenly widen as a blade that was previously attached to the staff had suddenly - somehow - flashing down atop her shoulder. If anything, this one was skilled in both masking his intent with the Force as well as his skill with his lightsabers.
The blade strikes her clean atop her shoulder, hissing with disdain at the stinging pain associated with the energy stunning her to simulate what would be a strike in a real fight. The second blade she previously defended against then detaches and lurches forward in one fluid movement meant to impale her.
<Nice trick!>

Curo's effective counter had succeeded in surprising the girl, sending her back to square one upon the edge of the coarse raised rocks ledge. Though there was more. She wouldn't be able to evade another one, the lunge having succeeded in its effort of driving her back, her lightsaber having raised to deflect it partially as she retreats. And then there was another strike.
This string of combos would be her downfall, and she'd run out of room to pace herself backward - so she simply ejects herself: Anna extends her calf muscles after leaning back, darting toward the plush grass down below, dew still gentle atop its surface of green waves.
The Jedi girl slides through it, the final arcing strike sent her way blurring through the air rather than her at the cost of Ashanna losing whatever momentum she may have previously had as well as the high ground.

Well. She was certainly at a disadvantage here. She keeps her defense remaining, for she knew her opponent wouldn't detach that easily. Her guard rises again instinctively, clothing on her shoulder lightly singed.

 

[Viabuck]

Upon feeling his blades connect, Curo would give pause for a moment, his eyes closing slightly as he eventually forced the retreat back away from him, a smile forming across his face as he claimed the rock platform that he had been dueling the girl across. For one reason or another, the alien had no interest in pursuing her for the time being, crouching slightly as he brought the two hilts of his lightsabers back together, a satisfying click occurring as the weapons joined into a singular weapon once again.

Simply keeping his eyes trained on the other Jedi Knight, he waited, perched atop his high ground that he had fought so hard for. Why wouldn't he make another move and press his offense? There were a number of reasons but for one reason or another, he would refuse to give any of them away, his chest lifting as he inhaled some of the cold morning air, attempting to quickly re-oxygenate his blood.

"Were you planning to attack me sometime in all of this?" he crooned, his grin flaring to life as he shifting his weight slightly from on side to the other, his left palm resting flat to the ground while his right hand controlled the entirety of his saber staff. "I had hoped you'd take me more seriously.."

Despite his lack of intent to come across as rude, his banter did lend a bit to the contrary, the slight air of overconfidence coming to form around him as he slipped out of his more predatory offense focused combat focus.

 

[Asinine Soup]

Curo's terse tone was met with an indifferent glimpse - more curious than indifferent, however, her form remains still. He was taunting her? That was...interesting, to say the least. She'd given up the high ground at the cost of what would have been an arm, and had she not, a fight like this would have led to her being in two pieces. So he utilized his surprises with his blade works and versatility. A very sound offense, though his lack of wanting to fight in open space might be why he refused to pursue. On the flat plain of grass, the next nearest stone statue was roughly four meters taller than the one they fought over, and was half the courtyard away.
He wasn't interested in that one. He'd claimed the one they fought over. Ashanna could only grin as she begins to focus on her conjuring the Force, and rather quickly at that.

Lightsaber de-activating for a moment, the Force conjured by Ashanna, if felt by the Togruta's senses, would likely entice a reaction. Although it was quickly done, the amount of energy she manipulated within the small amount of time was immense. It was clear that bladeworks weren't her speciality in the slightest. Perhaps this was?
Her right hand returns the lightsaber to her belt before curling into a semi-claw, winding back as though conjuring the energy for a punch, and then suddenly shoots forward, the girl exhale-grunting in unison.
Dust had gathered in the sunlight where her fist had resided, and it seemed she didn't simply conjure the Force from within, but from her surroundings as well. The large wave of energy was thrown forward at an unprecedented speed, flying forth and slamming its centralized mass into the ground right before the edge of the rock platform. The grass, dirt, and bits of broken rock that were struck suddenly billow into the air, shaking the ground and trees in the courtyard as the space in front of Curo suddenly becomes a brown wall of obscurity.
In the same amount of time, a second wave of Force is incoming, and this one was aiming directly for Curo on his perch. She wouldn't be able to see if her acts wiped his snide look from his face, but it wasn't her purpose in the first place. This was but simple tact. Tact she felt Curo worthy of witnessing.

<Your tricks are nice.> would ring through the Togruta's head, clearly thoughts not of his own - the wave of force itself was enough to send Curo soaring backwards for nearly half the span of the courtyard, but it seemed that the only step of the plan Ashanna cared for was utilizing the Force to initiate a distraction of the alien's superior senses...then capitalize. Her speed had increased five-fold, for as her voice had appeared in the warrior's head, she would appear back atop the dirt-cloaked pillar in the matter of a blink.
It seemed she used the basics of Force manipulation superbly - simple pushes and a means to increase her speed made this sparring field seem like a battlefield.
<Dodge.> As the dirt had begun to spray back to the ground, the air becoming clear once more, Ashanna had already appeared atop the rock, and if Curo still remained there to hold his ground despite the Force she'd launched at him, her lightsaber would activate, glowing a haze of blue through the particles in the air; the blade would be sent in a form-influenced speed, blurring its arc of azure in a course ready to barrage Curo's torso.

In short, Ashanna's utilization of the Academy's basic teachings were brought to a next level of combat, seeming to match Curo's skills with a blade after it was clear that he was without match atop his pedestal of stone. The first wave of force shot a haze of dirt and grass into the air as a distraction, the second wave incoming to test his defenses. If his defenses failed, he would ultimately be launched from his platform; if they succeeded, then he would remain atop within the falling dirt and debris to fight a speedy Ashanna as she'd utilized the Force to enhance her agility.
The telepathy was the final form of her equation. This was practice, so she wanted to keep it fair - if Curo was able to remain on the pillar in the dirt, her unrelenting attack wouldn't have been fair without a warning; a warning was given in the form of a telepathic message. She advised him to dodge her flurry. Hopefully it did more good than harm, as she hoped it wouldn't surprise him and leave him open all the more.

 

[Viabuck]

Despite having the high ground, Curo wasn't able to enjoy the advantage he had been given for too terribly long, the perch that he had taken suddenly being assailed by a burst of debris and dust which he would answer with his lightsaber, starting to rapidly twirl it in front of him, his remarkable spatial awareness serving him well enough to deflect any potentially damaging bits of rock and earth, his saber nimbly casting them off away from him.. And then of course there was the force, which as with most practitioners of Juyo, was something of a weak spot, his inability to answer it as solidly as he would have liked due to his preoccupied hands leading to him taking the second burst.

With his awareness that the attack was coming, only the most rudimentary of force defenses could be mustered, the living force around him forming a barrier against similar abilities being projected allowing him to endure the push and only being swept up in it's wake, sending him flying back off of the rock though not nearly as far as might normally have been possible had he lacked any preparation for what was to come.

Catching a glimpse of an active lightsaber through the haze, the next level of battle would come with the Knight choosing to make use of his own knowledge of the force, his body launching back up atop of the rock, showing not even the slightest hint of concern about what awaited him from such an act. Of course, even with her having the temporary advantage, it wasn't as if he was going to do something foolish like try some flipping attack that would get his legs and hands severed... No, quite the contrary, he would leap up into the flurry, his own lightsaber held horizontally outward, ready to meet blade with blade.

Impact after impact of his own green blade meeting Ashanna's own, the weapon being bounced from side to side, deflecting her barrage with both blades before ducking low and swiping at the girls ankles immediately after a block. It had seemed as if on some level, their sparring match had become a game of King of the Mountain.

 

[Asinine Soup]

Green and blue blurs of the grass combating the sky flicker and flash through a haze of dirt slowly dissipating around the two. Flashes of yellow-white light emit as lightsabers clash.
"Woah!" exclaims one student, eyes wide as he as well as his padawan accomplices all crouch behind the door frame leading into the atrium to watch the two Jedi fight their brilliant clash of intensity!
"Shhh! You want to get us caught?!" another one whispers harshly, holding an index finger to his lips. It seemed the youngling from before had attracted a crowd at the expense of the sparring match; blades crack and twirl, leaving an array of light and posture beneath the rays of the early morning sun.

***​

A gentle steam emits from the cold air as Anna's combination finishes, nowhere near as versatile as her opponent's; she flashes a grin at the incoming counter-attack. He'd met her blow for blow, and she'd been unable to push any ground with her bladesmanship.
With her weapon held up sternly to defend against an incoming strike from the opposite hand, she leaps lightly into the air but briefly to evade the quickness of the green weapon aimed for her ankles, slides back and prepares for an oncoming continuation of the offense.

But even as she slides back, losing ground, she throws out her left hand for yet another burst of Force in hopes of off-guarding her opponent. All-in-all...they seemed too evenly matched, neither making too big of a mistake to claim the other.
With the attempt to stumble or otherwise distract her opponent, an acrobatic spin ensues to attempt to clip the Togruta first on his arm, then on his leg. It wasn't within her to aim for vitals too often - she was Jedi. Perhaps that was her weakness.

 

[Viabuck]

There were people nearby.. That was fine. He didn't mind showing others, particularly the next generation exactly what he was capable of. It only aided in lending to the next generation of Jedi Knight, possibly even one day giving him a Padawan to take on.. Not that he entirely trusted himself with such a task, believing that there was still much to be imparted to him that his master's death caused to go unfinished.

There was no time to dwell on that however as Curo's blade passed underneath of Anna's feet, his strike failing to find it's mark and opening him up to another push back via the force, the change in position opening him up for attack which his opponent seemed more than ready to capitalize upon. With his arm being targeted first, he would thrust his saber up, parrying the first strike though for the slightest of moments he would catch wind of burnt flesh, something which broke a scowl to his face before immediately swinging his blade downward to block the strike at his leg.

Aiming to launch into another attack, the tensing and shifting of flesh caused the slightest trace of pain, the clear indication that he had sustained damage in the exchange frustrating him to some extent. Once again, that same predatory look would form across his face, his hands suddenly coming and throwing both arms out to the side, once again taking on the act of dual wielding as he lunged back into the fight, green blades whirring through the air, swinging them both inward, the right at shoulder height and the left at knee level. Taking away the options of forward and side to side, or so he believed, he immediately followed through this two region attack by dashing forward and throwing a remarkably agile kick toward the girl's chest, aiming to plant a solid blow to send her reeling back should she escape his saber.

 

[Asinine Soup]

Ashanna's eyes were wide, her opponent as well as herself superb in combat - it showed. One's offense was sent forth and parried and blocked by the other, and then the process repeated. Ground was stolen, then was lost, then was reclaimed once more. Both of the combatants knew, however, that the longer she fought this Togruta within his own element, the quicker her own failure would approach.
She had to push back. But how? She was already enhancing her speed - more so augmenting it - to keep up with the Togruta right now, fatigue picking up as light flashes of lightsabers clashing emit through the courtyard with a hiss, snap, and crackle.

With a pivot and a lift of her defenses, the top strike is dispatched, though the force behind it only aided in her loss of form - the warrior then flickered forward, so to speak, and thrusted his heel straight into her chest.
She was caught unawares by it, unable to defend; it plants against her sternum and sends her sliding atop the smooth rock surface upon her back with a grunt, though the agility displayed would allow her to slide for a brief moment then curl her posture to re-land sliding atop the balls of her feet.
As her momentum is counter-acted by her own act, Ashanna extends her leg and plans to not allow her ground to be lost excessively - she slashes swiftly and horizontally aimed to simply probe Curo's defenses, though the strike was aimed for his knee regardless.

Then, expecting a counter with the other blade, she swiftly lurches into the air, attempting to rainbow arc atop her opponent's posture and swing her lightsaber in the process to test a blur of a blue-glowing swing right atop the Togruta's crown.

 

[Viabuck]

In spite of the grant spectacle that he was putting on and the enjoyment which he reaped from the battle, there was no denying, at least internally that Curo was becoming exhausted. The downside of wielding two blades and swinging them every which way was of course that he would in fact begin to fatigue against an opponent. While keeping an opponent in close proximity at least initially was a solid method of attack, the notion of doing so for a long period of time was an incredibly stressful notion for him to comprehend. He needed to either end the match or create a gap right then and there and he only had a few options to do so..

Continuing to make use of his rather versatile style of lightsaber combat, the Togruta would make another rush, right as the swing was made toward his knee, his blade clashing for only the briefest of moments, pushing hard to throw it off to the side before finding himself being assailed from above. That was fine.. That was perfect in fact, it was right where he wanted her in that instant. With his forward momentum building, right as the saber would be brought down, he would do something rather odd for a Jedi...

He simply dropped one of his lightsabers and as the blade was brought down, he would aim to block, keeping it only inches from his monrail with it while leaping with an outstretched arm to curl it around the girl's abdomen and shift his weight as she descended, attempting to throw her downward and slam her into the ground where he would move to push a knee down onto her saber wielding hand, an effort being made to pin her to the ground.

This had been an interesting encounter to say the very least.