"No man likes to be surpassed by those of his own level."

-Livy





T'Allah Deval flexed her fingers experimentally from where she sat on the sidelines. They were as good as new. Last week she had been performing a scientific experiment with her friend, Ishata, and the chemicals she had been mixing exploded all over T'Allah's fingers. Thankfully, their instructor was quick thinking and had escorted T'Allah to the Jedi healers before she had begun to even feel the pain. The Healers had wasted no time in fixing her hand and now it was perfect.

T'Allah could laugh about the incident now though, except Ishata still didn't find it funny. She blamed herself and still hadn't given up on the pity party. It was actually starting to get annoying. Speaking of Ishata, T'Allah watched the short, vibrant girl bounce around the arena with her opponent. Although Ishata was not the best of fighters, she was fast and quick so it was difficult to get a hit on her. Her ploy was to weary out her opponent and then go in for the kill. She had picked it up from T'Allah who had spent countless hours helping her out so she wouldn't be behind.

There was a cheer from the crowd and T'Allah drifted back into the present to see Ishata being consoled. The tiny girl was shaking her head sadly. T'Allah felt a stab of pity. Poor Ishata. She had trained very hard for the competition.

The Padawans running the event led Ishata to the sidelines and announced the next fight. T'Allah cocked her head as she heard the unfamiliar name.

"Would Kamiah Shadow and Umbar Lindon please report to the arena for the battle?"

Who was Kamiah Shadow? T'Allah gracefully stood so that she would have a better view of the battle. She wondered not only who this girl was, but also why she had never seen her before.











"Kamiah, they're calling your name!" Tinuviel called.

"I'm coming; Tinny, but I can't find my lightsaber."

Tinny rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I have your lightsaber, Kamiah, so you wouldn't lose it!"

Kamiah popped up above the crowd and pushed her way through. "I'm here, I'm here, tell them I'm here, don't let them start without me!"

"KAMIAH!"

Kamiah stared at Tinuviel. "Yes."

"Calm down, take a deep breath, and get out there."

Kamiah nodded and began to race towards the arena.

"Oh, Kamiah?"

Kamiah turned around to see Tinny waving her lightsaber. Kamiah laughed sheepishly and ran back to get it. She saluted Tinny and then was lost in the crowd as she made her way to the arena.









T'Allah stared at the girl called Kamiah Shadow where she was warming up. She really wasn't much to look at and T'Allah estimated she would be able to beat her easily, if the girl even made it to finals. Her features themselves were indistinguishable from the distance. This way the crowd could focus on the battle itself instead of the fighters.

Kamiah took one last deep breath before taking up her stance. She made sure she was loose and her lightsaber held at a jaunty angle. Her opponent, Umbar Lindon, was not impressed and rolled his eyes. The two were fellow classmates and competed against each other in everything.

"You don't stand a chance, Shadow; I'm going to wipe the floor with you."

"How about a little more action and a little less show, Lindon?"

"You asked for it, Shadow."

A whistle was sounded and the two combatants flipped in opposite directions. Kamiah landed gracefully in a crouched position and flipped on her lightsaber. She listened to its soft buzz and crept in a slow circle around the arena watching Lindon stand and flip his lightsaber on.

"Wait for it.wait for it.."

And Lindon attacked his green lightsaber whizzing through the air in a downward slope for her head. Kamiah parried the blow with a crack of her lightsaber and spun in a circle to slash his shoulder, but Lindon expected the move and ducked to the side allowing the saber to circle above him. He thrust his saber upwards and Kamiah leaned into the blow with her saber and they clashed sending sparks.

Lindon backed away and Kamiah attacked, catching him off guard with a ferocious flurry attack. She singed his shoulder and he hissed, refusing to give into the pain. Kamiah smirked and Lindon stabbed forwards, catching her off guard and scraping her stomach.

"That'll be the last time you mark me," Kamiah hissed.

She balanced on the balls of her feet and flipped up and over Lindon, landing behind him and touching her lightsaber to his back.

"Point."

Lindon spun on the tips of his toes and seared her shoulder again. Kamiah screeched and jumped back, gripping her shoulder. The fabric of her uniform was ripped and her skin burned.

Kamiah backed away even in farther and took a deep settling breath; closing her eyes. She could feel the soft pulse of the force and she pulled it in around her letting it comfort her. Trust.trust.trust.

Kamiah moved forward, her eyes still closed, and held her lightsaber in a vertical line in front of her face. Lindon attacked and Kamiah parried, letting her senses control her and not her eyes.

Lindon knew what Kamiah was doing and tried to control his anger. "Fight like a real Jedi, you laser brain!"

Kamiah smirked at him and then attacked. Her lightsaber was a blur of blue light as she swiped, parried, and struck. She skipped away from Lindon and opened her eyes. His uniform was completely shredded, but there was not a mark on him.

She cocked her head, "I kind of like the new style, Lindon."

Lindon roared and rushed her, but Kamiah sidestepped and stuck out her foot, tripping him. Lindon crashed to the floor and Kamiah placed her foot on his back, her lightsaber scarce centimeters from his neck.

"Do you yield?"

"Yes," Lindon growled.

"Good fight, Lindon."

Kamiah stepped off his back and helped him to his feet. Although Lindon went through the motions of a respectful finish, Kamiah could see the anger burning in his eyes.