Zandra Sunrider met Aayla Secura in the Temple's Room of a Thousand Fountains. Waterfalls and huge amounts of flora, meditative areas, pottery, and stone walkways decorated the huge room, which had been placed at the base of the temple hundreds of years before.
At the moment, Master Secura was meditating quietly by some large, feathery-leafed plants, next to a large vase that had an inscription of the first Jedi Purge. She cracked her eyes open and a smile crossed her blue face.
"Ah, young Sunrider. How did the Trial of Insight go for Skywalker?" she asked humorously. "Did he pass?"
Zandra sounded slightly miserable as she sat next to her master. "Of course he passed," she muttered, adjusting her lightsabers on her belt so they wouldn't stick her in her back. The cool marble stones that formed the small circle in the midst of the plants was calming, and she tried her best to use the Force to lift herself off the ground and balance on one foot.
Secura snickered, ruining Sunrider's concentration, and she fell on her backside. One of her lightsabers jammed into her hip and she let out a little cry of surprise and pain.
"Ow!"
Aayla couldn't help herself. She rolled her eyes and laughed, getting up to assist her Padawan from the floor.
"Your concentration needs a lot of work, Sunrider," she said, trying to be stern and failing as she chuckled.
"I know," said Zandra, sounding even more miserable. She stood. Though she felt stupid, her posture spoke of a young women who was fully confident in her abilities. So her shoulders didn't slump, even though her eyes were downcast.
"It will take time," said Aayla sympathetically, touching her cheek gently. "One day, you'll get it right. And no one will be able to distract you."
"Well, that's the reason Master Skywalker passed," said Zandra, sounding dejected.
"What?" asked Secura curiously. "How do you mean?" Her Twi'lek head tails twitched, as a small smile played on her lips.
"I lost concentration . . ." Sunrider mumbled.
Secura leaned closer. "I'm sorry, what was that?" she asked playfully.
"I lost my concentration and he was able to feel me through the force, okay!" Zandra said frustratedly. Secura smiled gently and grabbed her padawan in a hug, patting her back. Young Sunrider just stood there, her arms hanging dejectedly at her sides.
"Ah, well. I highly doubt it was your inability as much as it was his high level of skill, Sunrider," Aayla said reassuringly. Zandra broke out of the hug and nodded to her master.
"I appreciate your confidence in me, Master. But—"
Secura smiled, "But what? My assessment of you is wrong? Listen, Sunrider, I've known you since you were half my height. I know you, who you are and what you are capable of. And Anakin Skywalker is the Chosen One. He is stronger, much stronger, in raw power than I. His skills are getting just as high. At any rate, I don't think you broke down much today. It was him, not you, that allowed him to pass the test." She placed a soft, blue hand on Zandra's shoulder.
"Now, come and meditate with me." She steered young Sunrider back to the marble stone circle from which they had wandered about a meter during their talk, and sat down across from her. Reluctantly, Zandra complied, and closed her eyes.
I can't even hide my Force presence. What kind of a Jedi am I? She thought angrily at herself.
Will you please, please calm your mind and concentrate, Sunrider?came Secura's mind presence. It was strong and gentle at the same time, and feeling her there, Zandra instantly felt a wave of calmness wash over her.
. . .