Callera, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan were dismissed from the High Council's chambers shortly after he statement of surety that she was on the Sith's radar and likely to be targeted soon. Callera was surprised at the latitude of movement they'd given her in the Temple, but unsurprised that they asked her to always be near either Qui-Gon or Obi-wan at all times. Qui-Gon had left to meditate on the events and revelations of the past few weeks, leaving the younger two Force Users alone.
"Why did you push for my knighting with the High Council?" Obi-Wan's voice steady and curious.
"As I said in there my actions have taken away opportunities for them to see you are ready to be a Knight. You are a good man Obi-Wan with much to contribute to the Order. It would be a crime against the Order and you if I didn't try to help others see that."
Obi-Wan stares into her eyes before nodding in acceptance. "Where would you like to go now Callera?"
"Can you lead me to the quartermaster, supply master, whatever the official position is, so I can finally get some clothes that fit me properly." Callera's voice trying not sound whiny as she picks at the tight blouse, but having worn clothes of a woman a decade younger and smaller than her for almost a week was straining on her.
Obi-Wan nods the hint of a smile on his lips, "This way."
The journey was fast and surprisingly empty. When asked about that, Obi-Wan did admit to taking some of the lesser-used hallways to help minimize any attempts to question Callera's presence. For which she was grateful. Once there and her situation explained, she was granted access to robes. Black boots, her white homespun pants tucked in, and now a black sleeveless tunic exposing her silver-blue arms, are the result of her rushed garment hunt.
"Feeling better?" Obi-Wan's concern clear.
"Feeling more like a Jedi and less like a stranger in a strange land at the very least."
"That is good. Where would you like to go next?"
Callera's eyes gleam in a way that makes Obi-Wan uneasy, last time he saw that look was when she was convincing them to sic TAD on the Federation. "Is there an exercise room nearby? After that encounter with the High Council, I have a lot of extra energy to burn off."
Sighing and nodding, "This way, Callera."
Within minutes of arriving, in ways he does not quite understand, Obi-Wan finds himself across from Callera lightsaber in his hands having agreed to a sparring session.
Callera lets a green blade grow in her hand to the length of a lightsaber, a confident smile on her face. "Thank you, Obi-Wan." Bringing her blade up in a salute, before she slowly starts prowling towards him.
Obi-Wan leaps towards her, somersaulting to add power, but Callera isn't there. She rolled under his leap. Barely spinning around in time for his lightsaber to meet sword. Her strikes become probing, looking for openings, he starts a rapid series of counter-strikes to force her to block and she's not there, using the momentum of the first strike to roll off to the side and reset. Again he leaps, this time for behind her. His eyes meet hers, she knows it's happening and is spinning, clipping his legs together with her forearm. Dropping him to the floor, her blade pointing at his neck. Withdrawing the blade, she offers her hand and he takes it."
"You were hesitating Obi-Wan. Afraid my blade couldn't handle a lightsaber?"
"No, and I wasn't hesitating at all."
"You were fractionally, like you were having to think through what you were doing. That is why I was able to take you out of the air, the hesitation gave me just enough of a read to clip you."
"Why would I be hesitating?"
"I think you're technically proficient in your style, it's Ataru right?"
Obi-Wan nods.
"But it doesn't suit you. You're analytical and methodical yet trying to use a style that is aggressive and mobile."
"She is right Padawan Kenobi."
The two turn to see a tall well-built human with long blond hair with several small children behind him, Obi-Wan gives him a respectful head nod that Callera copies.
"Master Drallig" This name Callera does know, the old Order's last Battlemaster, and someone she idly had wonder what he would have thought of their Battlemaster, Kyle Katarn. She struggles to keep her eyes from going wide.
"Your Master, Qui-Gon, is an expert Ataru duelist, and he imparted a lot of that knowledge to you from what I just saw. But the young lady is right in that you seem to be at war between your mind and your form. An uncommon but not rare occurrence when Masters and their Padawans are suited to different Forms."
Turning slightly to address Callera, "That blade is an interesting technique in the Force. Can you wield other weapons?"
Instead of verbalizing Callera holds her hand out her side, away from the master, younglings and Obi-Wan. A knife slowly forms in her hand, the handle growing longer turning it into spear, the head melting off to form just a staff, and then it disappears.
"Can you use all of them?" Genuine curiosity
"If I can't use a weapon, I would not manifest it."
Drallig nods in understanding. "I have not seen you around the Temple, yet from your comments, you seem to have at least a passing knowledge of lightsaber Forms."
She nods, "I have seen a few Holocron descriptions and datatapes during my education in the Force, so only a bare-bones knowledge of them."
"Based on that, what would your suggestion be for Obi-Wan?"
"I'd look for a defensive style, something that would allow him to put that sharp mind to work in creating openings for himself. He's got the patience and reaction speed for an approach that lets opponents exhaust themselves."
"Agreed."
Obi-Wan stays silent pondering similar thoughts from two very different people but nods in acknowledgement.
"I was planning on taking my students through their velocities this afternoon. You, young lady, might offer them a different option. Would you consent to demonstrate various weapons in a spar with me?"
"I would be honored." Following the Battlemaster to the center of dueling room as Obi-Wan and the younglings take up spots along various walls to watch from different angles.
Standing opposite from him she begins by manifesting a tonfa as he ignites his green blade. With a mutual nod, they begin to circle. Spinning the tonfa in her right hand every few moments, to let the younglings see the motion, waiting till the two of them had traded spots. She dashes into a sliding kick, trying to take his legs out.
An easy jump over and swipe of his blade causing her to block and roll upwards and start probing with measured swings for arms and legs. All blocked. Leaping backwards she throws the blunt weapon at him. The moment he blocks it begins to dissipate as green bladed gauntlets form on her arms. Bringing her arms up she approaches slowly. Drallig doesn't give her the initiative this time. Barely keeping ahead of his blade with dodges and the occasional vambrace meeting blade. He has her number already, pushing her right to the limit she can safely demonstrate at. His foot coming up to kick her, she takes it and uses the force to add to the momentum to create distance, letting the gauntlets fade and forming a spear.
He lets her keep him at range for a little while letting her show off and catch her breath at the same time. Drallig hits her spear in the same spot three times in rapid sequence, so she lets it fade and brings out her tried and true sword. The combat shifting to a fluid dance, he is pushing to bring out the best Callera has to offer. It is no wonder he is their Battlemaster. He locks her blade with his, she can feel the disarm coming and lets her blade fly free and dissipate back into the Force.
Breathing heavily as the Master in front of her seems barely winded, she bows to the man, and he returns it as he shuts down his blade.
"Switching or manifesting those blades tires you out doesn't it?"
She nods, "The more I have to manifest or the longer I hold them, the more of a strain on my focus."
"And yet you were willing to swap rapidly between them."
"You asked for a demonstration of several weapons, so I felt I had to."
A smile flickers across the man's face. "You could have paused between each weapon."
"Oops." Her cheeks flush slightly at the soft rebuke, "I should have asked ahead of time how we should handle that."
"But it did give me a rather interesting perspective on you. What brings an esoteric warrior like yourself to the Jedi Order?"
"The Force works in unusual and unforeseen ways Master Drallig, I had to deliver a warning to the High Council."
His eyes narrow. "A warning of what?"
"Potential dark times ahead for us all. They are currently debating my words the last I knew off."
"Thank you…" He trails off.
"Bladesinger, Callera Bladesinger."
"An apt name Callera," tilting his head in acknowledgement, "would you be willing to answer questions about the weapons you chose and maybe others with my students?"
"I'd be honored Master Drallig."