FORSAKEN II - Eternal Dawn

CHAPTER THREE

A frigid mountainous planet in the Bryx sector of the Mid Rim, Kijimi was once a deeply spiritual place. Its remoteness, lack of natural resources, and strategic importance, meant the former Republic and the burgeoning Empire had no interest in the world. However, these traits, along with the capital's large spaceport, made Kijimi ideal for the criminal element, the real power running the planet instead of its corrupt and weak government.

Hidden among towering, misty peaks, Kijimi City was built atop the three plateaus of Mount Izukika, around an ancient Dai Bendu monastery. Its tightly-packed stone buildings were stacked by layers, taking advantage of every centimeter of the natural topography, connected by a series of stairs and winding alleyways. The smoke of hundreds of chimneys rose to mix with the perennial falling snow.

At a docking bay, Gorin was tinkering with one of the engines of a Barloz-class medium freighter. Working as a technician at the spaceport allowed him to keep an eye on new arrivals, as well as becoming familiar with some of the pirates, smugglers, mercenaries, and bounty hunters that frequented the city. So, when a YT-2400 freighter landed close by, Gorin surveyed her passengers.

The large group of armed cyborgs, with repurposed droid parts and body armor, caught the Kyuzo's eye. These were not the usual gangs or outlaws that frequented the city. Gorin gathered his tools and picked up his retractable songsteel staff—a modification he had made to make it easier to carry on his back when needed—and left the docks.

The Quarter of the Beatific was the oldest district in the city. Constructed by Lorrian pilgrims of the Brotherhood of the Beatific Countenance, its members walked the streets in the heavy vermillion robes and cowls of their order, hiding their entire bodies. Some of them carried censers in their staffs burning Qatameric incense to mask their natural scent. The proliferation of crime had begun to push the religious order away from the planet, opening a segment of their turf to various smuggling outfits. Nevertheless, the Beatific's vow of silence and worshipping of the Force, made it ideal for a group of Force adepts to hide among them.

Elynn and Syrran faced each other in an open-air patio at the Dai Bendu temple under the moonless night. Their attire—leather jackets, hip holsters, and boots—was apropos for a city populated by outlaws. As it began to snow, flakes evaporated upon contact with their lightsabers. Elynn's songsteel guard shotos with magenta blades had a pair of smaller ones emitting from the front of her weapons. Syrran held two curved-hilt shotos crafted from bronzium, wood, and strips of leather with amethysts blades and pair of smaller ones protruding from their pummels.

Their lightsabers clashed in a flash. Right away, Syrran could see his Padawan's fighting style had improved in the last few months. Using the recovered holocron from Jedi Master Shaak Ti, Elynn studied the greater exponents of every style, not just the ones that comprised the basis of Syrran's own Form VIII, Mano Cerrada. She learned the fluidity of Form I, Shii-Cho, from Master Kit Fisto. Count Dooku's application of Form II, Makashi, had helped with her timing and awareness of counterstrikes. For Form III, Soresu, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi taught her to keep her lightsabers close, forgoing unnecessary risks. Under Master Yoda, From IV, Soresu, Elynn worked on her speed and mobility. The application of Shien—one of the two variants of Form V—by Master Plo Koon, sharpened her ripostes. For the second variation, Djem So, there was no one better than Anakin Skywalker, who improved Elynn's offense. Her dual wielding was enriched by Battlemaster Cin Drallig's masterful take on Form VI, Niman. Since there were no records of Master Mace Windu's Form VII, Vaapad, Syrran had to instruct her himself, making Elynn's attacks unpredictable and powerful.

At random times, Syrran used the Force to toss pebbles at Elynn for her to sense and confront without losing focus or getting overwhelmed. Syrran gradually pushed Elynn just pass the limit of her skill, into what he called "forging fire;" the point in training which yielded the greatest improvement. Elynn took well to this due to her ability to thrive under high-stress situations.