fandomhigh | Fencing Club - Salle, After Classes

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!club: fencing

Fencing Club - Salle, After Classes

Edmund arrived earlier than necessary to make sure the practice swords were out and the area was clear for use. He waited for everyone to arrive and noted silently that this definitely wasn't the kind of club roster he'd been expecting. Still, they wanted to learn, so he would do his best.

"Welcome to Fencing Club. I believe I know most of you now. My name is Edmund Pevensie. The school has seen fit to have Professor Algren supervise us. There are a few ground rules as we'll be dealing with objects that can kill you if you use them improperly. Treat every weapon seriously, even if it's a wooden practice sword, and treat your opponent with respect.

This week will be informal. Please go around the room and introduce yourself and tell everyone what, if any, experience with fencing or swordwork you have. It's okay if you don't have any. We'll work on that."

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"Hey, Dinah," Zayne said, giving a friendly smile. "Yeah. I figure the best way to actually get better is to get as much sword instruction as possible."

It was a working theory. "How about you? I didn't know you were interested in swords."

"Oh, yeah. Weekly practices with Arthur since a month after I got here," Dinah confirmed. "I figured eventually there would be something here that only swords were good for. I wasn't good enough to use one on the harpies or alligators, but still. Another eight months 'til graduation." She grinned. "Plus they're just cool."

"And if you get good enough at swordwork, you can apply it to other weapons, too," Zayne said. "I've seen plenty of people do that before."

"Really?" Dinah brightened instantly. "Sometimes I've wondered, but it was good exercise if nothing else." Plus she was too stubborn to quit, even if she was having second thoughts. "You want to practice against people, and not shocky little droids now?"

"Oh, I practice against people a lot," Zayne said. "But the remotes have their uses. I don't really want to ask somebody else to shoot me so I can practice deflecting laser blasts, you know?"

Dinah laughed. "Good point. Although I bet you could find someone here who could do it." She grinned. "You just have to look long enough."

"Oh, I'm sure I could find someone. I just don't want them to have to explain what happened when I miss the block and get shot. I'm pretty sure that would end in detention," Zayne said.

"And this is why you're a Jedi," Dinah said, wincing. "Good call."

"Just a Padawan," Zayne corrected. "A Padawan who's lived his life long enough to know that accidents pretty much always happen."

Which reminded Dinah that Tahiri had just made Knight. A lot because of the war, of course. "When do you guys usually make Knight?" she asked, curious. "I mean, is it an age thing, or something else?"

"I think the Taris Academy is more structured than most other groups," Zayne said. "My class has a few tests next year that I have to try to get ready for. Most other Padwans just have to pass tests either when their Masters decide they're ready or when the Force gives it to them. And that usually happens around our age or a little older."

"We're not talking written vs. oral, are we?" Dinah checked. "'Cause that doesn't seem likely. Will they tell you what the tests are?"

"Well, there are Tests of Skill, Flesh, Courage, and Spirit," Zayne said. "And most of those are about how well we deal with some kind of challenge. That's probably all we're going to know before the tests happen, though."

"Wow." That sounded about as knight-ly as anything she could have imagined. "So, there'll be a test to prove you're brave, and skilled, and... okay, not sure what the Flesh or Spirit ones would be." Dinah frowned, then shook her head. "Good luck? I'm sure you'll do well, but I hope you don't get hurt or anything."

"Flesh involves overcoming some kind of loss or hardship, and Spirit involves self-discovery," Zayne said. "I have no idea how my Masters are going to make this stuff into a formal kind of testing where we have to compete with each other. And that's why I'm not a Jedi Master."

"Whooa, yeah. I'd guess. Do they let you take that over, if you don't pass the first time?" Dinah wondered. "Because especially that self-discovery, unless they just don't let you take it 'til they're sure you're ready?"

"I doubt it. Being a Jedi is all about doing your best to rise to the challenge whenever it comes up," Zayne said. "And if you can't do that when you really need to..."

Dinah nodded, blinking and impressed again. "Yeah. Then definitely, good luck. I hope they give you enough time to get ready."

"In theory, that's what the past twelve years have been for," Zayne said.

"So you were-- five? Six? When you started?" Dinah tilted her head. "And I thought Tahiri started young at nine. Yeesh. I envy you guys, getting to start training that little."

"Five. And most start even younger than me," Zayne said. "It just took a little bit for a Jedi Knight passing through Phaeda to discover me."

"Even younger... wow." Like Ino starting when she could walk, or Arthur when he could pick up a toy sword. "Do you get to visit Phaeda often?"

"I haven't been there since I was brought to the Jedi," Zayne said. "I've seen my family a few times, but I've mostly just been on Taris."

"Oh," Dinah said, surprised. Ben had never said anything about not seeing his family, and Tahiri's life was ... pretty complicated. She hadn't expected that. She didn't want to assume anything, so she tentatively asked, "And you're good with that?"

"I love them and miss them, but when you have a chance to make a difference the way a Jedi can, you have to take it, you know?" Zayne asked. "And they understand that becoming a Jedi is the most important thing to me."

Re: Arrivals

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Re: Arrivals

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