Zira’s life as Iymril’s slave wasn’t as horrific as what she endured in the past. This didn’t negate the circumstances, but it did mean she was given more avenue to exert her own will than before. The Sephi was often teaching long days at Umbara and Zira accompanied them to tend to their needs. After the domestic chores were done, she was left the entire day to herself.
Iymril was allowed to use Darth Arcanos’ old office temporarily with a balcony overseeing the courtyard below. While the Sephi was away teaching all day in the lower chambers of the academy or taking students on field trips, Zira gazed over the railing to oversee the saber lessons that took place below. At first, she watched with fascination - amusing herself with acolytes using training sabers on one another while a teacher barked out instructions.
After almost a week of this, Zira decided to pick up a training saber that one of the acolytes discarded some time back. With nothing to do for hours but watch the same steps and instructions, she began to mimic the gestures in the office. She felt silly at first, but as a dancer, she found it entertaining.
Over time, the steps became just a bit more practiced. As the acolytes went through their kata, Zira repeated the same precise moves on a level above, staring at her imaginary enemy in the empty wall above.
“Strike…strike…parry..” She mouthed the words as the instructor called them out below, dodging an invisible strike as she dropped, rolled and sprang up again to swing the training saber from the flank. Her tail was a part of her little dance, jutting out to trip her imaginary enemy before she ran her weapon right through their neck.
“Move with grace,” She whispered as she circled the room with practiced steps. Sweat lined her entire body from doing this for every single class that came through the courtyard below.
This was all to cure boredom, of course. This was never anything she would ever truly learn or use. It was not permitted. It was just very close to dancing and growing into a passion.
One no one needed to know about.