Chapter 2

Blinding light flashed across Semreh's eyes as he leaned backwards, barley dodging a cascade of blue energy. His master spun to the left and struck again at him. Semreh rolled desperately out of the way and brought his saber up to block the expected blow. It never came. Rather, Master Nostwa stood still, her double bladed lightsaber held in front of her. She clearly wished for him to attack. Semreh considered his next move. Master Noswa was a female Twi'lek and therefore faster and nimbler. Semreh was larger and stronger, but Master Nostwa would never let him get close enough to use that to his advantage.

"So the obvious problem," he thought, "is simply closing the distance between us so I can bring my greater strength to bear."

Semreh charged using a force powered leap to attack her from above. Their sabers clashed Semreh pushed off his master's saber and flipped over her. Spinning, he tried striking his master's leg, but her saber batted his blow away. Nostwa advanced at a steady pace her saber flashing everywhere at once, overwhelming Semreh's defenses. He was being backed into a corner and he knew it. Desperately, he reached out with the force and reached out around himself, feeling for some tool or trick that could give him an edge. Strategy had always been his strong point, and now he needed something to help him hold off his master. Centering himself, he felt a small patch of loose gravel in front of him. Reaching out with the force, he waited feeling deep into the loose rock pushing and weakening its foundations. Barley fending off his master, he waited until finally, she stepped onto the patch. Her foot broke through the loosened rock and she stumbled. That was all Semreh needed. He stepped forward quickly, grabbing her master's saber wrist and bringing his own saber up under her chin. His saber stood humming gently as they locked eyes, both realizing that the fight was over. Quiet applause echoed across the training room.

"Very good", said Master Cin Drallig, "Not quite as skilled with the lightsaber as I'd like, but your command of the force is certainly enough for you to pass the Trial of Skill." Semreh looked around bewildered. Cin Drallig was the combat instructor for virtually all stages of Jedi Combat. An elderly man, he nonetheless had mastered virtually all known forms of lightsaber combat and was one of the few who could still duel Master Yoda to a standstill. He stepped from the shadows of the nearest staircase clapping slowly.

"Master Cin Drallig," Semreh bowed low and respectfully, "What are you talking about?"

"Why, the passing of the first of your trials."

"Trials, what Trials," He asked, "I thought Master Yoda always said the Trials were something we must discover ourselves?" Cin Drallig sat down on a nearby bench with a sigh.

"Well, as you know there are four trials a padawan must face before they can be considered a Jedi Knight." Cin Drallig raised four of his fingers. "The Trial of Skill, the one you just faced, is traditionally passed when a Jedi has faced a duel with an extremely skilled opponent, or against incredible odds." Cin Drallig reached up to feel a small knotted scar just behind his ear.



"Then there's the Trial of the Flesh where a Jedi must endure terrible pain, either physical or emotional, the Trial of Courage where a padawan must fight bravely, and the Trial of Spirit, where a Jedi must look deep into his soul and face his weaknesses and his own evils." Cin Drallig rose and began pacing back and forth in front of them, as though he was lecturing a class of younglings on the basic forms of combat.

"As you know, this war has created a shortage of Jedi Knights. With our forces stretched so thin, the Council authorized the use of more…artificial trials, to speed up the process. We've had trials in this fashion before, but doing it this early is what's unusual. You are the test case." Semreh turned to his master.

"So our duel…" Nostwa nodded.

"Our duel was your trial." Nostwa gestured towards Cin Drallig. "Master Cin Drallig decided that dueling your own master, someone who you have fought with thousands of times before, who knows you better than any other Jedi, would provide an appropriate challenge." Nostwa smiled." In other words, your test of skill was to defeat me." Nostwa placed her hand on Semreh's shoulder.

"Semreh I've watched you grow up since you were a young boy and being defeated by you has made me one of the proudest masters in the Temple." She bowed low and as Semreh returned the bow a slow smile crept onto his face. He had passed the first Trial. Yet one thing still bothered him.

"Umm, Master Cin Drallig, what about the other 3 trials? I can hardly endure those in the Temple can I?"

Cin Drallig rubbed his temple. "As I said, this is all a test. To be honest, Yoda does not particularly approve. However, the need for knights is great. The Temple does have its own Jedi Trials chamber; however, it is almost always in use now. So, we've begun using less conventional forms of trial. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to one of my classes." As Master Cin Drallig walked away, Master Nostwa turned to his young apprentice.

"You were excellent, my young padawan," Master Nostwa looked at her young friend fondly. "We've been through a lot together, and now at the end of our journey together, somehow I just wish it lasted longer." Silence hung between them for a moment. The realization that he would be on his own for the rest of his missions hit him like blow to the face. He suddenly felt that he would miss his masters guiding hand, and that feeling that no matter how he messed up, his master would be there to 'pull his jiffies out of the fire'. Then he laughed.

"Master Nostwa, you always were a little too serious." Semreh bowed low to his master. "Besides, just because I'm going to be a knight doesn't mean we won't go on missions anymore." He wrapped his arm around his master's shoulders with a warm chuckle.

"With a war like this going on, how could they break us up? Half the separatists never get a good nights sleep 'cause they dream about fighting us." The two of them laughed happily all sadness and worry gone. As they're laughter died, Semreh suddenly felt one question burning through his mind.



"Master," he said hesitantly, "I was wondering if I could ask you a question."

"Shoot"

Semreh paused, deep in thought. "Well, I was wondering… What can I improve on?" Nostwa chuckled.

"No one's perfect padawan. No matter how long or how hard you work, you will never be able to overcome certain challenges; you'll just have to live with that." Semreh stared at his feet.

"Master, I know that. I guess I mean, what is my greatest weakness? I know my skills with the lightsaber leave much to be desired and I need to learn to improvise more, but what do you believe is truly my greatest weakness."

Nostwa sensed the seriousness of his padawan's and thought carefully before answering.

"Well, you are remarkably skilled with the force. You have extraordinary control over it, a control I haven't seen in years. You are intelligent on the level of genius. This lets you battle tactically and outwit your opponents… even me. You have a calm demeanor that lets you stay calm and see the best way to fight in combat." Nostwa stood silently for a few moments, in deep thought.

"I suppose your greatest weakness is your own fear of your weakness."