Seris enters the dark hallway, but unlike Barriss and Derren, she see's master Kuro standing in the middle of the dark hallway.
As the door closes behind her Seris walks towards the master and bow.
"Master Kuro it is good to see you again"
But, Kuro did not acknowledge Seris's pleasantries. The Jedi master then held out a hand, and pulled Seris towards her with the Force. Seris surprised by the masters sudden use of the Force, braced herself.
Then as Seris stood only inches from Kuro, she slightly reached to her light saber hilt, but then relaxed.
"Oh? Are your not gonna defend yourself?" Kuro said.
Seris breathed in and out calmly. "Master I do not sense any malice or intent to do harm to me. So I will not fight you."
Kuro face stayed cold and unmoving. Then she got into a Echani fighting stance. Her movements were neat and precises, as she was ready to strike in a instant.
Seris seeing the Jedi Master get into the fighting stance, was surprised but did not show it. She composed herself and then got into the same stance.
Nothing happened at first. Then in a split second Kuro moved in with a quick palm strike towards Seris head. Seris dodged elegantly but barely, while maintaining her distance and defens. Seris knew she couldn't beat a Jedi Master of Kuro's caliber in a hand to hand fight, especially being only 9 years old.
The two moved in the dark room with speed and precision. How the masters observing from the hidden room saw them. The two looked like they were in a dance more than a fight. Kuro was on the offensive. She sent fast strikes with her open palm, while Seris stayed on the defensive. Seris was outclassed but composed.
She tried to figure out what she was being tested on, that's when Kuro spoke.
"I expected more from one with so much talent, but compare to the others your not as good."
When Seris heard that she hesitated. That allowed Kuro to strike Seris with her palm and send her to the ground. But Kuro didn't continue her assault.
Seris looked up at Kuro in confusion. "What do you mean I'm not as talented as the others?"
Kuro just looked coldly at Seris. "It's exactly as I said. Compared to the others that have come your strong but even that is a mask. Unlike Barriss your not compassionate and empathetic. Unlike Derren your not to naturally talented, that you can pick and choose times when you want to be serious or not. Anakin is naturally talented and has the highest affinity in the Force. Now Cain he is only second in the force affinity, but he has compassion, conviction, and talent. You do not posses any of these qualities."
Seris paused for a moment. Thats when Kuro began to circle Seris slowly.
"I am talented. I come from a long line of Jedi. My skills, and abilities are good to. So how am I different from the others that you say they are better then me?" Seris said that but new deep down that Master Kuro was right.
That's when Kuro began a series of strikes against Seris again. Unlike before Seris couldn't even defend properly. "Look at you little one. I can feel your hesitation. You know what I said is true. Deep down you know your not like them." Kuro then flips Seris on to the floor with a thud.
Seris got up breathing hard and then tried to recenter herself, and calm her mind. But Kuro wouldn't let her. Kuro brought out her lightsaber. The purple blade ignited, and Seris immediately defended with hers.
"You try so hard to be the best, but there are others who are better than you. Or are you jealous of them? Do you believe you should be the best or that you actually are already." Kuro said pressing her blade down on Seris who was barley able to defend.
"No I don't think Im the best, or that I deserve to be." Seris said grunting through the exchange.
"Liar."
Then Kuro pressed harder on Seris, breaking her defense. The sending downward strikes and pushing Seris back.
"You act so calm and composed. But the moment Cain showed up and showed his abilities, you didn't welcome him you despised him. You did the same for Skywalker." Kuro said harshly. "If Cain never came Derren would have never showed his true talent, and your false sense of superiority would have lingered. You believe your linage makes you better or is because you can do somethings better then others?"
"No it's none of that." Seris said trembling while breathing hard.
"Then why do you seek to be a Jedi?" Kuro said blade point a kneeling Seris.
Seris got up immediately. Still trembling and breathing hard. Then in then in that moment Cain's voice came to her.
"You act like your trying to prove something to someone. Instead of being the best for others, just find what makes you happy. I will be on your side not matter what. Even if you don't know now I will help you, and we have nothing but time to figure it out."
In that moment Seris breathed slowly and closed her eyes. In that moment Kuro felt the shift in Seris emotions and demeaner.
So is the little one finally catching on? Kuro thought.
Seris in that moment remembered, how Master Kuro taught in the temple. By putting her students through realistic situations, and teaching them how to handle stressful and emotional situations. I don't know why Cain's words popped into my head, but I'm glad they did.
Seris then shift into form 4.
"Oh so your gonna attack now. But you know you can't win against me right." Kuro said.
"I know I can't beat you currently, but that's not the point of my trial." Seris then charged at Kuro with a side strike. Kuro then moved her blade ready to parry the attack. That's when Seris feinted her attack by deactivating her lightsaber. She slide under the masters arm to behind Kuro.
But she didn't attack, instead she stood by the door. "I don't know." Seris said.
Kuro back stilled towards Seris. "You don't know what?"
"I don't know why I want to be a Jedi. And your right, about me. Compared to the others, I am not as god as them in certain area's. Barriss is more compassionate. Derren is talented, and better at being calm and reserved, as much as I hate saying that. Anakin and Cain are on a whole other level then me and I don't know if I could ever have their same potential."
Seris looked down for a moment.
"But I want to be the best, not because of my lineage, or because I feel like it's my right. I do it because I like testing myself and improving, and since Cain came I feel like I become better then I could have on my own. I feel that way with everyone. So I don't care what you think master. I will keep improving for myself, and when I'm stronger and find the answer to why I want to become a Jedi. I will come back and ask you to test my resolve." Seris then bowed in a form of respect.
Kuro didn't look at Seris. "Get going youngling Seris, you are done here."
The door behind Seris opened. "Thank you master Kuro."
Kuro with her back still towards Seris said. "Don't thank me yet youngling. I look forward to that day when I test your resolve. I can't wait to see the woman you become."
Seris kept walking out towards the the others.
She didn't say anything, but she went straight for Cain and gave him a hug.
"Wow Ice princess, was it that bad?" Derren said.
But Seris didn't say anything.
"Thank you Cain, it was your words I heard when I was at a low point. I embraced Seris. Im glad I could help. I don't know what happened, but I'm here. Seris just smiled with her ears twitching.
"Thank you Cain, Thank you everyone."
Everyone smiled seeing a rare moment of vulnerability from Seris.
Back In the hidden observation room, the Masters began their review.
"She confronted herself in a way that most her age could not comprehend," Fay spoke. "And without knowing the answer still chose to move forward."
Windu nodded. "She did not deny a lacking compared to others. She embraced them. That is the difference between repression and control."
Shaak Ti added, "Her will burns brighter now. I cannot wait to see what more she can accomplish."
Yaddle hummed. "She has a beautiful bright spirits."
Plo Koon finished: "Her strength shines brighter thanks to those she walks beside. She also has great potential, nothing we can compared to the others. We cannot predict what she will become in the future."