Perched on top of one of the many summits in the Or’ena mountain range on Kiast, only a few kilometers or so from the new Jedi Praxeum, the Velastari Temple is an old forgotten Vatali Jedi temple surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides. Thin wispy clouds and fog tend to linger around it when not otherwise blown away by the cold mountainous air channeled through the mountains. The hot suns of Kiast shine on this particular peak regularly, forming beautiful rainbows as the light reflects off the metallic surface of the Vatali structure. As a result, despite the temple’s heightened elevation, the Velastari Temple and its surroundings atop the peak are warm enough to not only support green vegetation, such as trees and grass, but also humanoid visitors, who can get by with a variety of layers depending on the season. In addition, the elevation makes the air breathable, the toxic fumes of the planet only residing in the lower atmospheres. Past the peak itself, the ground drops away quickly, forming dangerous ridges that travellers can use to travel from peak to peak.

Occupying a relatively flat portion of land on the summit, the Velastari Temple invokes the Jedi temples of old but with the classic design elements of the Vatali civilization and a few changes to suite the terrain. Hooded Vatali statues flank its entrance, the aged metallic stone having long lost its luster. The atrium of the temple is surrounded by four spiraling pillars and is filled in between with a cacophony of support structures, some of which include landing pads and storage. This once well-organized system of buildings has fallen into disarray, ancient machinery and debris breaking up any direct approach to the main temple itself. Long defunct droids, some partially scavenged, can be found throughout the atrium. As to the spiraling pillars, no one is quite sure if they are structurally sound, but they appear to have been watchtowers and may have possibly at some point served a secondary purpose due to the number of additional rooms within it.

Once one makes it past the atrium, the main temple itself comes into view, towering over the smaller spirals below. Like other ancient Jedi temples, it has many mysteries that will only reveal themselves to Force-users, unlocking portions of the temple one might assume didn’t exist. Its architecture is highly reminiscent of the old Jedi Order, though less grand in scale than its peers. Nevertheless, it has all of the remains of core components one would expect, such as a Jedi Council room, housing, a library, and training rooms. Few enter the temple itself unless undergoing trials and Odan-Urr does it best to preserve the Velastari Temple from further damage. This landmark serves as not only inspiration to the next generation of Jedi but also as a solemn reminder of the Jedi long gone.

Aura Ta'var wandered a room deep within the Velastari temple's main tower, dragging her fingers against the surface of the walls as she reached out to the Force. Mental images raced through her mind, stimulating the imagination of just how she could use this particular chamber. The moderate-sized square area had a sunk-in circle in the center, the sign of ancient wear and tear evident on the mostly-deteriorated mat set into it. She watched the dust swirl as the make-shift lights illuminated the room and sighed, mourning a bygone era. But, that's why they were here today. The Zeltron and her fellow Jedi would breathe life into this temple, room by room, through physical combat.

Aura gently moved the ancient remains of the mat out of the way and into a box outside the room, thankful that the pieces fit inside. She and her fellow Arcanists would revel in the findings, which promised visions of the past. She caressed a corner before closing the lid, reaching out for answers as she did before. Unfortunately, her guest had already arrived, on time as promised. Gen Solari, a Human Jedi new to Odan-Urr, stood above her in his custom Jedi robes befitting a martial arts master.

"Hello there. Are you Aurora Ta'var?" asked Gen, wondering if this was his promised sparring partner.

"Yes, but I prefer Aura if you don't mind. Less of a mouthful. Give me a second while I lock this away. I cleared a room just inside there," pointed the Zeltron.

"Sure. I'll get ready," replied the Human.

The Proconsul set the security code and followed Solari inside, throwing her outer cloak into an empty corner of the chamber. Today she wore her usual sparring clothes, a slimmed down version of her Jedi robes that eschewed the restricting tunic for a wrapped top that freed her arms and torso. She joined him in the circle, noticing that Gen had removed his outer cloak as well.

"Thanks for meeting here. I thought we'd make our own mark on the temple itself. Two Jedi fighting in the very arena where our predecessors sparred each other long ago," remarked Aura, already anticipating the fight between them.

"Agreed. It's just the right size too. I'm relieved you agreed to fight with no sabers," replied Solari.

"My form needs practice. Don't hold back on me," she demanded as she raised her fists to just under her chin, her arms tucked close to her ribs.

Gen chuckled as he angled his body away from her, placing one fist near his stomach and the other angled towards her face.

"Then let's begin. May the Force be with you," said the Human.

"May the Force be with you," the Zeltron replied, shifting her weight to the balls of her feet as she channeled the Force. She didn't have a lightsaber but she still had the Force.

Aura rushed forward with a right jab aimed directly at his nose. Solari pivoted as he swung around his leg in a defensive roundhouse kick. The Zeltron ducked and rammed her body forward directly into the leg he was standing on. As her combined weight pushed against him he brought his other leg down to meet her. She pushed with all her might, using the Force to help her, and finally tipped his balance. As he fell backward, she cried out in pain as his kick glanced off her leg, forced off target by the tilt of his body.

Aura braced herself as the pair fell to the hard floor underneath. She quickly crawled up his leg and aimed a punch towards his groin. Gen's eyes instinctively widened as a primal urge of protection sunk in. Solari squeezed his legs together, effectively stopping her strike inches from harm. He quickly followed up with several strikes to her head. The first was blocked by her lone free arm while the other made contact with the side of her head in quick succession. While she was still reacting he kicked her away, making contact with her torso. The Zeltron cried out in pain and immediately rolled away, giving him time to get back up to his feet a safe distance away.

Adrenaline rushed through the Proconsul as she clambered back to her feet, temporarily ignoring her aches and pains. Nothing felt broken and staying on the floor meant death. Except that a strike never came. Gen merely waited for her to get up, his eyes honed in on her as she raised her fists back up into a guard.

"That's one point for me. You shouldn't expose yourself to such easy attacks for an all or nothing strike," he reminded her as he danced on the balls of his feet, slowly getting closer.

"I was close to a win," she retorted, watching carefully for an opening.

"Like I'd let you win," Gen growled in determination.

Aura smiled as the pair circled each other cautiously, waiting for the next kick as they drew nearer and nearer. This was what she had missed, the thrill of a good sparring session and the adrenaline rush that came with it. Solari let loose a few exploratory kicks but they were too far for her to intercept, merely swishing through the air in front of them. Dust swirled between them after each missed strike, temporarily marking the distance between them before it dissipated. She leaned forward, the urge to mount another attack tempting.

Come a little closer, Solari. Just a little closer.

Gen lightly bounced on the balls of his feet, his soles making dull thud sounds on the dirt of the sparring pit. He held his arms in a guarded position with his elbows kept close to his torso and his fists projected forwards. He shuffled his stance back and forth – left foot forward, then swapping to his right foot forward, then back again – testing Aura’s intention to strike. Gen’s dark brown eyes were locked with Aura’s crystal blue counterparts.

He caught a delicate glint in her gaze and briefly lost himself in still blue pools of her pupils.

WHAM

Aura’s fist shot forward before any telegraphing of her body, catching Gen off guard. Her clenched fist made square contact with his jaw, sending a jolt of pain up his neck and circling his head. Before he could regain his composure, Aura lunged heavily into his chest, her arms grappled around his body, the discrepancy of her weight handily accommodated for by the Force. The pair fell heavily to the ground kicking up a cloud of dust. Improvising as the pair rolled on the ground, Aura repositioned her body such that she was sitting straddled on top of Gen and began to brutally strike at his face. The Ranger brought his arms up and reflexively met each of her strikes with his hardened forearms.

CRACK, SMACK, WHACK

Aura’s strikes slowed to a stop as she sat atop Gen, looking down on the martial artist. She was panting and sweating, dust beginning to cake on her face.

“It’s like hitting tree trunks, Gen, what the frak,” the Vanguard said exasperatedly, a drop of sweat falling from her face onto his as she looked at her redder-than-usual fists.

Gen grinned as the droplet made contact between his eyebrows. He dug his feet into the ground behind Aura and pushed heavily, sliding his body forward and slightly out from under Aura’s pin. As her weight shifted, Gen brought his knee up and over his head, rolling back into a crouched position. Aura lay propped up on one elbow as Gen rose to his feet, his gaze never leaving hers. He returned to his fighting stance, turned sideways with arms tucked close and fists aimed forward.

“Sometimes it is more destructive to receive the blow than it is to deliver one,” Gen said coolly through a half-smile.

“You’re an interesting one, Solari,” replied Aura as she rolled onto her back, kicked her legs forward and followed her momentum up into the air and into her own fighting stance, “I’ll have to find some time to wrestle some more wisdom out of you.”

“You haven’t finished wrestling me this time,” Gen returned with a grin.

As the last word left his mouth, Gen shuffled forward onto his front left leg and extended the full reach of his arm to drive his left fist into Aura’s own chin. As she hurried to keep the distance from his mallet-like fist, Gen cocked his hips back and twisted them heavily forward, launching his right fist in a second full extension strike which landed heavily on her sternum. Gen shuffled back, lightly bouncing on the balls of his feet again.

“Point.”

The Zeltron stumbled backward a step or two and hunched over ever so slightly, wheezing as she attempted to catch her breath. Sharp pains accompanied each attempt but she knew that if this was a real fight her opponent would have already struck again. She smiled at Solari's mercy and reminded herself that he had had a very different upbringing. Aura infused her body with the Force and used it to mute her throbbing discomfort, a faint burning sensation accompanying both her hand and chest wounds until her aches disappeared.

"You know, you could have had me there," offered Ta'var.

"But that wouldn't have been very sporting or educational," explained Gen. "It's much more fun when you're recovered."

Aura went back into her fighting stance, the color of her fists in the corner of her eye reminding her to strike carefully. She mentally replayed the last exchange as she closed the distance between them once more, their eyes locked on each other. She wouldn't get hit this time. The Zeltron poked at his defenses with a quick left jab to his face, waiting for his arms to block or a swift kick. Gen already had a left punch chambered, pleasantly surprising her with a strike of his own.

Now's my chance!

Ta'var sidestepped Solari's first attack and waited for his right fist. As if on schedule his arm whipped through the air, his hips pivoting towards her as he twisted his body to gain momentum. She pulled the Force into her legs and launched a front kick directly towards his groin, eschewing power for speed. As their attacks whooshed through the air, Aura realized for the space of a second that she had misjudged Gen's reach, the quickly approaching spiraling dust spelling her impending doom. The Zeltron braced herself and hoped her strike would still hit.

WHAM

Ta'var cried out in pain as his fist crashed into her jaw and pushed her head backward, pulling her body with it. Nevertheless, he felt her foot make contact and drove it forward as much as possible. Solari cried in agony and relented, dropping to his knees as he groaned in extreme discomfort. Aura dizzily fell to the ground, stars popping in and out of existence. Worse yet, her concentration had been broken and the pain from their earlier rounds returned in full force. The Zeltron gazed towards her sparring partner and cursed her own incompetence as she struggled to get back up. Her body threatened to end it early as the familiar sensation of lightheadedness precluded the urge to faint.

Aura cried out in frustration as she fell back to the ground and simply breathed, beads of sweat slowly rolling down her face. Gen didn't look that much better but at least he was getting up, albeit in slow measures. The Human was already on one knee, his breathing already recovering. Solari stared at her angrily for a moment before attempting to fully stand up. Ta'var returned the favor with a glare of her own, the Human's irritation multiplying her displeasure before she could stop it. She wanted to win.

The Zeltron waited not-so-patiently for her dizziness to pass, but couldn't help but worry. She dearly missed her lightsaber. She gazed at her open hand, contemplating using her Telekinesis to buy her more time. It technically wasn't against the rules, not that she particularly followed them. No, the problem was that it felt too easy.

You came here to improve your sparring, she mentally repeated to herself over and over again as she focused on her mission.

Gen finally stood up, took a deep breath, and centered himself. Pushing away her panic, she successfully sat back up and got on all fours. She could feel their energy in the Force, their determination burning away their anger and driving them forward. Aura felt connected to him at that moment, its impact even more profound given the Jedi before that had used this room. Solari dropped into his ready stance again and waited for her.

"Get up. You can do it. We aren't finished," he promised.

Ta'var groaned and gingerly got back up to her feet, spurred by Gen's encouragement.

"Thanks. Few more rounds?" she asked as she raised her fists again.