CHAPTER THREE
The hum of his opponent's lightsaber faintly reached his ears, and Aro-Ken neatly jumped aside, placing his own blade where his side had just been. He was rewarded with the crashing sound of the two lightsabers hitting.
Whoever his opponent was, he was getting angry. Aro-Ken could sense it around him. Both the students were wearing blindfolds. He had not been allowed to see who he was fighting, and personally didn't care. He just wanted to win. He had to get the apprenticeship. It could be his last chance before he turned thirteen and was too old to do so.
The roar of the other students blocked out just about all other sounds, so Aro-Ken had to use the Force to sense where his opponent's blade was about to strike.
Aro-Ken had fought three other opponents that day, blindfolded and left to find out who his opponent was at the end of the duel. He had only lost one battle, and that was to the only student in the Temple that was older than he was, Dahn Lokraft.
Aro-Ken was beginning to tire. He hadn't had much time to rest between bouts. He could feel sweat soaking his clothes, and his muscles were burning just a little.
Aro-Ken began to think as he jumped high into the air, backward with catlike agility and performed a skillful somersault before he landed.
Maybe he didn't have to fight to win this one. He could just tire his opponent out. That would probably impress Del-Mon Wesia, who was watching in the crowd, seated with some of the Jedi Council members who had come to watch. It would also help him control his anger. You generally didn't get angry just blocking attacks.
Aro-Ken stopped fighting back and retaliating. Instead he skillfully blocked the thrusts and attacks from his infuriated opponent.
The thrum of the other lightsaber could be heard, and it was always followed by the crack of both weapons hitting each other. Now he was frustrating his foe. Just like he wanted.
After a few more long minutes of furious slashing and calm blocking, the attacks came fewer. Aro-Ken knew his plan had worked.
He waited. After a few more attacks, which he blocked easily, Aro-Ken tried a lunge at his enemy's throat, but his lightsaber was hit aside.
So an attack like that wouldn't work on the other person. Aro-Ken decided he could live with that.
Aro-Ken made a quick leap backward to avoid his opponent's sloppy attack. As soon as his feet hit the ground again, he pushed off, launching himself over the head of his opponent and twisting around in the air. He landed behind the other student, and swung his lightsaber with all his might just as his astonished foe began to turn around.
His blade hit the other student in the neck, which was designated as a killing blow. Aro-Ken instinctively held the blade there for a moment, and his opponent yelled in pain.
"Enough! Stop!" a powerful voice rang out over the other students who were wildly cheering.
Aro-Ken switched off his lightsaber, and he heard an identical sound, knowing his opponent had followed suit.
"You may remove your blindfolds," Aro-Ken recognized the voice as Jax Dondora's.
Aro-Ken took it off, and looked at his opponent in disbelief. "Dahn?"
"Aro-Ken?"
Sure enough, the person he had been fighting was Dahn Lokraft. Dahn was about two weeks older than Aro-Ken, and needed this chance at apprenticeship as much as he did.
Dahn and Aro-Ken had been worst enemies since the age of six. Aro-Ken had been walking down the hall and he saw Dahn bullying and jeering Mannakri, one of Aro-Ken's close friends. The encounter had turned into a fistfight, and they'd hated each other ever since.
Regaining his wits at the same time as Dahn, they shallowly bowed to each other, despite the dislike they had for each other, then turned and respectfully bowed to the Council members.
The other students cheered wildly. As Aro-Ken ignited his lightsaber again and held it above his head in triumph, he saw his three friends in the front row, smiling and jumping up and down.
Aro-Ken grinned at them, and then left the arena.
A few minutes later, Aro-Ken's sweat-soaked clothes were nearly dry. He sat in the cafeteria, his friends on all sides of him, Wolden, Ada-Rin, and Mannakri.
Mannakri was a Calamarian, and she was six moths away from turning thirteen. She had salmon-pink skin, a large head, and webbed feet and hands, as her people did. Her eyes were located on the sides of her head and were a very light, clear blue. Often a salty, humid sort of smell hung around her. She kept her room steamy and damp as possible, as he people needed moisture to stay alive.
Mannakri had just been accepted as a Padawan the previous day by Jemma Les, a female Jedi from Dathomir. She had asked her new master if they could stay another day to see Aro-Ken's bout, and Jemma Les had agreed.
Also joining them was Aro-Ken's younger brother Erdan. He had been at the Temple for about five out of his seven years. Erdan looked pretty much like Aro-Ken. The only difference was their height and hair color. Erdan's hair was much lighter than his brother's. Aro-Ken himself had learned that he Erdan was born while he was in the Temple, and he was permitted to visit his family. Erdan also had a twin sister, Anuma, but she was not Force sensitive like her brothers.
"How do you think you did, Aro?" Erdan asked.
"I don't know. But if I'm not chosen, Mya-Rau says the Council wished to have me on the transport that leaves tomorrow for new workers of the Agricultural Corps," Aro-Ken replied.
"Think you'll get the apprenticeship?" asked Mannakri as she took a bite of her bread.
"I honestly don't know, Mannakri," Aro-Ken said.
"I think you will," Wolden neutrally commented.
"Thanks, Wolden," said Aro-Ken. He knew Wolden had meant what he said. Wolden's people seldom showed much expression. The only time Wolden's face changed was when he laughed, which was quite often. Wolden could be the most serious student in the Temple at times. When he wasn't, he was usually the most hyperactive. The masters worked with him a lot to teach him to control his energy and calm down.
Aro-Ken pushed his food around on his plate, too nervous to eat. Mya-Rau had told him that he was to bout one more time after he ate.
He suddenly felt something sharply jab him between the shoulder blades. He turned, and saw Dahn walking by and laughing. "That apprenticeship is good as mine! I hope you like soil, you'll be seeing it a lot in a few days!"
"Yes, Dahn, I know you will be. You don't need to tell me," Aro-Ken said in a mocking voice.
"Dream on, you farmer scum! You'll never amount to anything!" Dahn said. He turned and walked off with his friends, laughing and shooting an occasional insult back at Aro-Ken.
Aro-Ken took a few deep breaths to calm himself as he glared at the back of Dahn's head.
Wolden looked in Dahn's direction.
"I'll be right back," he said, rising.
"Wolden, don't do anything-" Aro-Ken began. But Wolden had all ready disappeared.
"Don't worry. No matter how hard he tries, there's no way Dahn can prove it if Wolden does something," Ada-Rin said.
Aro-Ken turned in his chair and watched Dahn's table intently, looking for anything that moved by itself.
Shortly, he saw a bowl of something that looked like porridge rise from the table.
"What's he going to do with that?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Who knows? We'll just have to watch," said Mannakri.
Aro-Ken watched as Dahn stood up to call out to another student. Wolden immediately seized the opportunity. The bowl floated down gradually and softly nestled itself on the seat of Dahn's chair.
Ada-Rin's eyebrows rose, and a smirk came onto her face.
A moment later, Wolden appeared out of nowhere, calmly sitting next to Aro- Ken.
"This will be good," Ada-Rin said with a grin.
"Just watch," Wolden said, still completely calm.
A split second later, Dahn sat down. The bowl broke, and Aro-Ken could see some of the porridge drip down off the chair.
Dahn instantly whirled around and looked at Aro-Ken's table, his face red with anger. He glared directly at Aro-Ken, who grinned and waved cheerfully.
Next to him, Wolden nearly fell out of his chair as he laughed.
Aro-Ken found he couldn't resist the chance to further humiliate Dahn. "Hey, Dahn, that goes in your mouth, not on your rear!" he called to him.
After that comment, Wolden started choking on his kavasa fruit as he laughed even harder, and Mannakri smacked him on the back a few times.
Dahn, fuming with anger, turned and stormed away, leaving the five friends to laugh at the spectacle, Wolden most of all.
"That sure made my day!" Wolden gasped when he finally stopped laughing.
"I hear you! Come on, we better get to the arena," Aro-Ken said.
As he walked down the hallway, trying to look confident, he felt sweat breaking out on his forehead. He had to get the apprenticeship. It was his last chance. Once he turned thirteen he would be considered too old to become an apprentice.
Mya-Rau ran into him before they arrived at the arena. "Aro-Ken, come with me. I have your equipment ready for you," she said.
He looked at his friends.
"I'll see you later," he said.
"We'll cheer for you," said Mannakri.
"Good luck," Wolden calmly said. Aro-Ken slightly envied his ability to change his mood so quickly.
"May the Force be with you," said Ada-Rin.
Aro-Ken smiled at her. "Thanks," he called over his shoulder as he followed Mya-Rau down the corridor.
He was led into a small room. From beyond the door opposite the one he came in, he heard the mumble of the crowd seated around the arena.
"Here's your weapon. You'd better get your blindfold on now," she said.
Suddenly, her comlink began buzzing. Mya-Rau unclipped it from her belt. "Yes?"
"It's Jax," came his voice. No one needed to be told when Jax Dondora was speaking to them. It was impossible to not be able to recognize his deep, powerful voice. "The other masters and I have agreed that the last bout shall be without blindfolds."
"OK, you got it," Mya-Rau said. She put away her comlink and turned to Aro- Ken. "Well, you better get out to the arena. Good luck."
She followed him down the hallway that led to the arena. Before she turned to go sit with the other masters, she put a hand on Aro-Ken's shoulder. He turned, and her eyes sparkled as she looked down at him. "May the Force be with you."
Aro-Ken forced a smile to his face despite his nervousness.
"Remember to feel rather than think. Trust your instincts, and control your emotions," she said. "I have great faith in you, Aro-Ken Rumos."
He swallowed nervously. "Thank you, Mistress Tamia." Stiffly, he bowed to her, and strode out to the arena without looking back.
He entered the arena to find it the same as always. The ground was very uneven to make the students use the Force to keep their footing. On all sides other students sat, cheering for whoever they wanted to win.
As he scanned the crowd, Aro-Ken spotted his friends and brother. Erdan was seated atop Wolden's shoulders, and waved when he spotted his brother. Mannakri held his other hand gently so he wouldn't fall. Ada-Rin smiled as she waved to him.
Smiling weakly, Aro-Ken made a faint wave with his free hand, the one he wasn't holding the training lightsaber in.
He turned away from his friends and looked around the arena. Now he wanted to know where Del-Mon was sitting.
He looked around the area the other masters were sitting, but did not see him. Why wasn't he sitting with them?
Aro-Ken's eyes scanned over the crowd, and finally spotted one person much taller than the other students. He knew it was Del-Mon.
Aro-Ken had only seen Del-Mon a few times in his life when he came to the Temple looking for another apprentice, but he remembered perfectly what he looked like. His build was tall and muscular. His hair was a very light brown, and he grew it down to the base of his neck and tied back. His eyes were a soft green.
As Del-Mon looked over the crowd, his eyes suddenly locked with Aro-Ken's for a brief instant. He suddenly felt something, the same feeling he'd had at the landing pad earlier. It was like a warm feeling that suddenly surrounded him, swirling about his body. He just suddenly caught a trace of the Force, filling him with energy.
Del-Mon looked away, and instantly the strange sensation was gone.
Aro-Ken then focused on the other end of the arena, where his opponent would come out shortly. He was sweating profusely, and he hadn't even begun the fight.
Across the other side of the arena, he saw a figure emerge in the passageway.
Aro-Ken took a last deep breath, and began walking towards the middle of the arena, trying to have confidence in himself.
As he neared the center, he could easily make out his opponent's features. It was, once again, Dahn Lokraft.
"Farmer boy," Dahn muttered as they stopped near each other.
Aro-Ken glared at him, but managed to keep his usually quick temper in check. He turned and rigidly bowed to the Council members, far too nervous to do much.
He spun on his heel and slightly bent his waist as he faced Dahn, and the older boy did the same.
They took a few steps back from each other, and each hit the activate button on their training lightsabers. The blades slowly extended, and crossed near the middle.
Standing tense and ready, Aro-Ken anxiously awaited the word from the Council to start. He didn't take his eyes of Dahn. A quick hush came over the crowd of on looking students.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jax Dondora standing with his hands spread out in front of him.
"Begin," his powerful voice commanded.
Instantly Dahn wound up and struck with his lightsaber, the force of the attack nearly knocking Aro-Ken's weapon from his grasp as he blocked it.
He went back and back, blocking and parrying Dahn's attacks. He did not have time to fight back as Dahn relentlessly slashed at him.
While he was pressed back, Aro-Ken used the Force to sense the terrain behind him, and he could keep his balance and coordinate his footwork easily.
Dahn's blade was everywhere at once. As soon as Aro-Ken positioned his weapon and Dahn's blade hit it, it was instantly coming back at him somewhere else.
Each time he attacked, Aro-Ken would use all of his abilities to calculate where the blade was going. He'd watch his arms and study where he was positioning his weight to tell which direction he would swing in next. His lightsaber was always where Dahn was attacking a split second before Dahn got there as well.
Aro-Ken allowed himself to be driven back after a while, calmly moving his lightsaber about to block Dahn's moves.
After a while, he started to grow a bit bored of the routine, and would add in some unnecessary flips and jumps, allowing himself to show off.
As he parried, his mind was racing, trying to figure out what he could do to end the battle. If he carried it out too long like this, Del-Mon would think he was weak, and would not choose him.
He could tell Dahn was tiring. The attacks were gradually coming further apart.
The instant he sensed Dahn pull his blade back to take a breath, Aro-Ken charged. He had to impress Del-Mon. He had to get the apprenticeship.
Aro-Ken swung and attacked furiously, never giving Dahn a chance to fight back. Dahn just barely saved himself each time. Occasionally Aro-Ken would glance the other boy's shoulder or leg, but that was not considered a killing blow, so he had to continue the bout.
Aro-Ken refused to let himself tire. He began to slowly walk in circles around his opponent as he attacked, hoping to make Dahn unsure of where his next attack would fall.
From the looks of it, his strategy was working. He would go for Dahn's right arm, then down to his left leg, his neck, his left arm, his chest, and then, to throw Dahn off, his chest twice in a row.
Dahn was exhausted, and Aro-Ken used it to his advantage.
He began to savagely attack Dahn at his chest and neck now, going for a killing blow.
Dahn's blocks were sloppy and poorly coordinated. The only reason he wasn't defeated all ready was because he also had the Force on his side.
As he tired Dahn out severely, Aro-Ken began moving on to more skillful maneuvers, spinning around and slashing, allowing himself to come within inches of Dahn's blade as he attacked. He had to admit that he was showing off, but he had to give Del-Mon a good impression.
Finally, he swung as hard as he could, and knocked Dahn's blade from his hands. It skittered across the ground, still on.
As Aro-Ken took a swing at his neck, Dahn dove aside, allowing himself to get down on the ground. As he frantically reached for his lightsaber handle, Aro-Ken reached out with the Force. He used it to quickly spin the weapon around, just as Dahn's hand touched it. The blade hit his hand, and began to scorch it.
As it did this, Aro-Ken took quick aim, and lowered his own lightsaber down to Dahn's chest. It touched, and began to scorch him there as well.
Dahn screamed as both lightsabers burned him.
A thunderous voice from the crowd yelled, "Enough!"
Aro-Ken held his lightsaber in place for a few seconds after, and then pulled it away, allowing Dahn to scramble weakly to his feet. He could feel sweat dripping down his arms and face, and it plastered his bangs to his forehead. His muscles burned and he was very tired, but he didn't care as he watched Jax Dondora stand up.
"Aro-Ken Rumos is the winner," said the Jedi Master's deep voice.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Dahn and Aro-Ken bowed to the Council members, and nodded their heads at each other. Aro-Ken saw pure hatred in Dahn's eyes.
He found couldn't help himself, and he turned to the crowd, and held his ignited lightsaber over his head in triumph. He could see Erdan clapping his hands, Wolden grinning widely, and Ada-Rin smiling as she waved at him. Mannakri's eyes shone as she looked at him with admiration.
Then Aro-Ken scanned the crowd and spotted Del-Mon. Del-Mon knew the boy watched him, and gave him a quick nod before rising.
Aro-Ken sighed in relief. The apprenticeship was his. He knew it.
* * *
The Shadowraith swiftly exited the arena. He had been following his target, studying him as a scientist would study a test subject.
During the boy's bout, he had sensed anger and fear. That was good.
He would have the boy soon. Just a little while longer…
The hum of his opponent's lightsaber faintly reached his ears, and Aro-Ken neatly jumped aside, placing his own blade where his side had just been. He was rewarded with the crashing sound of the two lightsabers hitting.
Whoever his opponent was, he was getting angry. Aro-Ken could sense it around him. Both the students were wearing blindfolds. He had not been allowed to see who he was fighting, and personally didn't care. He just wanted to win. He had to get the apprenticeship. It could be his last chance before he turned thirteen and was too old to do so.
The roar of the other students blocked out just about all other sounds, so Aro-Ken had to use the Force to sense where his opponent's blade was about to strike.
Aro-Ken had fought three other opponents that day, blindfolded and left to find out who his opponent was at the end of the duel. He had only lost one battle, and that was to the only student in the Temple that was older than he was, Dahn Lokraft.
Aro-Ken was beginning to tire. He hadn't had much time to rest between bouts. He could feel sweat soaking his clothes, and his muscles were burning just a little.
Aro-Ken began to think as he jumped high into the air, backward with catlike agility and performed a skillful somersault before he landed.
Maybe he didn't have to fight to win this one. He could just tire his opponent out. That would probably impress Del-Mon Wesia, who was watching in the crowd, seated with some of the Jedi Council members who had come to watch. It would also help him control his anger. You generally didn't get angry just blocking attacks.
Aro-Ken stopped fighting back and retaliating. Instead he skillfully blocked the thrusts and attacks from his infuriated opponent.
The thrum of the other lightsaber could be heard, and it was always followed by the crack of both weapons hitting each other. Now he was frustrating his foe. Just like he wanted.
After a few more long minutes of furious slashing and calm blocking, the attacks came fewer. Aro-Ken knew his plan had worked.
He waited. After a few more attacks, which he blocked easily, Aro-Ken tried a lunge at his enemy's throat, but his lightsaber was hit aside.
So an attack like that wouldn't work on the other person. Aro-Ken decided he could live with that.
Aro-Ken made a quick leap backward to avoid his opponent's sloppy attack. As soon as his feet hit the ground again, he pushed off, launching himself over the head of his opponent and twisting around in the air. He landed behind the other student, and swung his lightsaber with all his might just as his astonished foe began to turn around.
His blade hit the other student in the neck, which was designated as a killing blow. Aro-Ken instinctively held the blade there for a moment, and his opponent yelled in pain.
"Enough! Stop!" a powerful voice rang out over the other students who were wildly cheering.
Aro-Ken switched off his lightsaber, and he heard an identical sound, knowing his opponent had followed suit.
"You may remove your blindfolds," Aro-Ken recognized the voice as Jax Dondora's.
Aro-Ken took it off, and looked at his opponent in disbelief. "Dahn?"
"Aro-Ken?"
Sure enough, the person he had been fighting was Dahn Lokraft. Dahn was about two weeks older than Aro-Ken, and needed this chance at apprenticeship as much as he did.
Dahn and Aro-Ken had been worst enemies since the age of six. Aro-Ken had been walking down the hall and he saw Dahn bullying and jeering Mannakri, one of Aro-Ken's close friends. The encounter had turned into a fistfight, and they'd hated each other ever since.
Regaining his wits at the same time as Dahn, they shallowly bowed to each other, despite the dislike they had for each other, then turned and respectfully bowed to the Council members.
The other students cheered wildly. As Aro-Ken ignited his lightsaber again and held it above his head in triumph, he saw his three friends in the front row, smiling and jumping up and down.
Aro-Ken grinned at them, and then left the arena.
A few minutes later, Aro-Ken's sweat-soaked clothes were nearly dry. He sat in the cafeteria, his friends on all sides of him, Wolden, Ada-Rin, and Mannakri.
Mannakri was a Calamarian, and she was six moths away from turning thirteen. She had salmon-pink skin, a large head, and webbed feet and hands, as her people did. Her eyes were located on the sides of her head and were a very light, clear blue. Often a salty, humid sort of smell hung around her. She kept her room steamy and damp as possible, as he people needed moisture to stay alive.
Mannakri had just been accepted as a Padawan the previous day by Jemma Les, a female Jedi from Dathomir. She had asked her new master if they could stay another day to see Aro-Ken's bout, and Jemma Les had agreed.
Also joining them was Aro-Ken's younger brother Erdan. He had been at the Temple for about five out of his seven years. Erdan looked pretty much like Aro-Ken. The only difference was their height and hair color. Erdan's hair was much lighter than his brother's. Aro-Ken himself had learned that he Erdan was born while he was in the Temple, and he was permitted to visit his family. Erdan also had a twin sister, Anuma, but she was not Force sensitive like her brothers.
"How do you think you did, Aro?" Erdan asked.
"I don't know. But if I'm not chosen, Mya-Rau says the Council wished to have me on the transport that leaves tomorrow for new workers of the Agricultural Corps," Aro-Ken replied.
"Think you'll get the apprenticeship?" asked Mannakri as she took a bite of her bread.
"I honestly don't know, Mannakri," Aro-Ken said.
"I think you will," Wolden neutrally commented.
"Thanks, Wolden," said Aro-Ken. He knew Wolden had meant what he said. Wolden's people seldom showed much expression. The only time Wolden's face changed was when he laughed, which was quite often. Wolden could be the most serious student in the Temple at times. When he wasn't, he was usually the most hyperactive. The masters worked with him a lot to teach him to control his energy and calm down.
Aro-Ken pushed his food around on his plate, too nervous to eat. Mya-Rau had told him that he was to bout one more time after he ate.
He suddenly felt something sharply jab him between the shoulder blades. He turned, and saw Dahn walking by and laughing. "That apprenticeship is good as mine! I hope you like soil, you'll be seeing it a lot in a few days!"
"Yes, Dahn, I know you will be. You don't need to tell me," Aro-Ken said in a mocking voice.
"Dream on, you farmer scum! You'll never amount to anything!" Dahn said. He turned and walked off with his friends, laughing and shooting an occasional insult back at Aro-Ken.
Aro-Ken took a few deep breaths to calm himself as he glared at the back of Dahn's head.
Wolden looked in Dahn's direction.
"I'll be right back," he said, rising.
"Wolden, don't do anything-" Aro-Ken began. But Wolden had all ready disappeared.
"Don't worry. No matter how hard he tries, there's no way Dahn can prove it if Wolden does something," Ada-Rin said.
Aro-Ken turned in his chair and watched Dahn's table intently, looking for anything that moved by itself.
Shortly, he saw a bowl of something that looked like porridge rise from the table.
"What's he going to do with that?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Who knows? We'll just have to watch," said Mannakri.
Aro-Ken watched as Dahn stood up to call out to another student. Wolden immediately seized the opportunity. The bowl floated down gradually and softly nestled itself on the seat of Dahn's chair.
Ada-Rin's eyebrows rose, and a smirk came onto her face.
A moment later, Wolden appeared out of nowhere, calmly sitting next to Aro- Ken.
"This will be good," Ada-Rin said with a grin.
"Just watch," Wolden said, still completely calm.
A split second later, Dahn sat down. The bowl broke, and Aro-Ken could see some of the porridge drip down off the chair.
Dahn instantly whirled around and looked at Aro-Ken's table, his face red with anger. He glared directly at Aro-Ken, who grinned and waved cheerfully.
Next to him, Wolden nearly fell out of his chair as he laughed.
Aro-Ken found he couldn't resist the chance to further humiliate Dahn. "Hey, Dahn, that goes in your mouth, not on your rear!" he called to him.
After that comment, Wolden started choking on his kavasa fruit as he laughed even harder, and Mannakri smacked him on the back a few times.
Dahn, fuming with anger, turned and stormed away, leaving the five friends to laugh at the spectacle, Wolden most of all.
"That sure made my day!" Wolden gasped when he finally stopped laughing.
"I hear you! Come on, we better get to the arena," Aro-Ken said.
As he walked down the hallway, trying to look confident, he felt sweat breaking out on his forehead. He had to get the apprenticeship. It was his last chance. Once he turned thirteen he would be considered too old to become an apprentice.
Mya-Rau ran into him before they arrived at the arena. "Aro-Ken, come with me. I have your equipment ready for you," she said.
He looked at his friends.
"I'll see you later," he said.
"We'll cheer for you," said Mannakri.
"Good luck," Wolden calmly said. Aro-Ken slightly envied his ability to change his mood so quickly.
"May the Force be with you," said Ada-Rin.
Aro-Ken smiled at her. "Thanks," he called over his shoulder as he followed Mya-Rau down the corridor.
He was led into a small room. From beyond the door opposite the one he came in, he heard the mumble of the crowd seated around the arena.
"Here's your weapon. You'd better get your blindfold on now," she said.
Suddenly, her comlink began buzzing. Mya-Rau unclipped it from her belt. "Yes?"
"It's Jax," came his voice. No one needed to be told when Jax Dondora was speaking to them. It was impossible to not be able to recognize his deep, powerful voice. "The other masters and I have agreed that the last bout shall be without blindfolds."
"OK, you got it," Mya-Rau said. She put away her comlink and turned to Aro- Ken. "Well, you better get out to the arena. Good luck."
She followed him down the hallway that led to the arena. Before she turned to go sit with the other masters, she put a hand on Aro-Ken's shoulder. He turned, and her eyes sparkled as she looked down at him. "May the Force be with you."
Aro-Ken forced a smile to his face despite his nervousness.
"Remember to feel rather than think. Trust your instincts, and control your emotions," she said. "I have great faith in you, Aro-Ken Rumos."
He swallowed nervously. "Thank you, Mistress Tamia." Stiffly, he bowed to her, and strode out to the arena without looking back.
He entered the arena to find it the same as always. The ground was very uneven to make the students use the Force to keep their footing. On all sides other students sat, cheering for whoever they wanted to win.
As he scanned the crowd, Aro-Ken spotted his friends and brother. Erdan was seated atop Wolden's shoulders, and waved when he spotted his brother. Mannakri held his other hand gently so he wouldn't fall. Ada-Rin smiled as she waved to him.
Smiling weakly, Aro-Ken made a faint wave with his free hand, the one he wasn't holding the training lightsaber in.
He turned away from his friends and looked around the arena. Now he wanted to know where Del-Mon was sitting.
He looked around the area the other masters were sitting, but did not see him. Why wasn't he sitting with them?
Aro-Ken's eyes scanned over the crowd, and finally spotted one person much taller than the other students. He knew it was Del-Mon.
Aro-Ken had only seen Del-Mon a few times in his life when he came to the Temple looking for another apprentice, but he remembered perfectly what he looked like. His build was tall and muscular. His hair was a very light brown, and he grew it down to the base of his neck and tied back. His eyes were a soft green.
As Del-Mon looked over the crowd, his eyes suddenly locked with Aro-Ken's for a brief instant. He suddenly felt something, the same feeling he'd had at the landing pad earlier. It was like a warm feeling that suddenly surrounded him, swirling about his body. He just suddenly caught a trace of the Force, filling him with energy.
Del-Mon looked away, and instantly the strange sensation was gone.
Aro-Ken then focused on the other end of the arena, where his opponent would come out shortly. He was sweating profusely, and he hadn't even begun the fight.
Across the other side of the arena, he saw a figure emerge in the passageway.
Aro-Ken took a last deep breath, and began walking towards the middle of the arena, trying to have confidence in himself.
As he neared the center, he could easily make out his opponent's features. It was, once again, Dahn Lokraft.
"Farmer boy," Dahn muttered as they stopped near each other.
Aro-Ken glared at him, but managed to keep his usually quick temper in check. He turned and rigidly bowed to the Council members, far too nervous to do much.
He spun on his heel and slightly bent his waist as he faced Dahn, and the older boy did the same.
They took a few steps back from each other, and each hit the activate button on their training lightsabers. The blades slowly extended, and crossed near the middle.
Standing tense and ready, Aro-Ken anxiously awaited the word from the Council to start. He didn't take his eyes of Dahn. A quick hush came over the crowd of on looking students.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jax Dondora standing with his hands spread out in front of him.
"Begin," his powerful voice commanded.
Instantly Dahn wound up and struck with his lightsaber, the force of the attack nearly knocking Aro-Ken's weapon from his grasp as he blocked it.
He went back and back, blocking and parrying Dahn's attacks. He did not have time to fight back as Dahn relentlessly slashed at him.
While he was pressed back, Aro-Ken used the Force to sense the terrain behind him, and he could keep his balance and coordinate his footwork easily.
Dahn's blade was everywhere at once. As soon as Aro-Ken positioned his weapon and Dahn's blade hit it, it was instantly coming back at him somewhere else.
Each time he attacked, Aro-Ken would use all of his abilities to calculate where the blade was going. He'd watch his arms and study where he was positioning his weight to tell which direction he would swing in next. His lightsaber was always where Dahn was attacking a split second before Dahn got there as well.
Aro-Ken allowed himself to be driven back after a while, calmly moving his lightsaber about to block Dahn's moves.
After a while, he started to grow a bit bored of the routine, and would add in some unnecessary flips and jumps, allowing himself to show off.
As he parried, his mind was racing, trying to figure out what he could do to end the battle. If he carried it out too long like this, Del-Mon would think he was weak, and would not choose him.
He could tell Dahn was tiring. The attacks were gradually coming further apart.
The instant he sensed Dahn pull his blade back to take a breath, Aro-Ken charged. He had to impress Del-Mon. He had to get the apprenticeship.
Aro-Ken swung and attacked furiously, never giving Dahn a chance to fight back. Dahn just barely saved himself each time. Occasionally Aro-Ken would glance the other boy's shoulder or leg, but that was not considered a killing blow, so he had to continue the bout.
Aro-Ken refused to let himself tire. He began to slowly walk in circles around his opponent as he attacked, hoping to make Dahn unsure of where his next attack would fall.
From the looks of it, his strategy was working. He would go for Dahn's right arm, then down to his left leg, his neck, his left arm, his chest, and then, to throw Dahn off, his chest twice in a row.
Dahn was exhausted, and Aro-Ken used it to his advantage.
He began to savagely attack Dahn at his chest and neck now, going for a killing blow.
Dahn's blocks were sloppy and poorly coordinated. The only reason he wasn't defeated all ready was because he also had the Force on his side.
As he tired Dahn out severely, Aro-Ken began moving on to more skillful maneuvers, spinning around and slashing, allowing himself to come within inches of Dahn's blade as he attacked. He had to admit that he was showing off, but he had to give Del-Mon a good impression.
Finally, he swung as hard as he could, and knocked Dahn's blade from his hands. It skittered across the ground, still on.
As Aro-Ken took a swing at his neck, Dahn dove aside, allowing himself to get down on the ground. As he frantically reached for his lightsaber handle, Aro-Ken reached out with the Force. He used it to quickly spin the weapon around, just as Dahn's hand touched it. The blade hit his hand, and began to scorch it.
As it did this, Aro-Ken took quick aim, and lowered his own lightsaber down to Dahn's chest. It touched, and began to scorch him there as well.
Dahn screamed as both lightsabers burned him.
A thunderous voice from the crowd yelled, "Enough!"
Aro-Ken held his lightsaber in place for a few seconds after, and then pulled it away, allowing Dahn to scramble weakly to his feet. He could feel sweat dripping down his arms and face, and it plastered his bangs to his forehead. His muscles burned and he was very tired, but he didn't care as he watched Jax Dondora stand up.
"Aro-Ken Rumos is the winner," said the Jedi Master's deep voice.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Dahn and Aro-Ken bowed to the Council members, and nodded their heads at each other. Aro-Ken saw pure hatred in Dahn's eyes.
He found couldn't help himself, and he turned to the crowd, and held his ignited lightsaber over his head in triumph. He could see Erdan clapping his hands, Wolden grinning widely, and Ada-Rin smiling as she waved at him. Mannakri's eyes shone as she looked at him with admiration.
Then Aro-Ken scanned the crowd and spotted Del-Mon. Del-Mon knew the boy watched him, and gave him a quick nod before rising.
Aro-Ken sighed in relief. The apprenticeship was his. He knew it.
* * *
The Shadowraith swiftly exited the arena. He had been following his target, studying him as a scientist would study a test subject.
During the boy's bout, he had sensed anger and fear. That was good.
He would have the boy soon. Just a little while longer…