On the training field, a young boy can be seen sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed in deep meditation, feeling the air blow across his skin. Slowly coming in tune with the force that surrounds and binds all. Off to the side, Elyse was watching her little warrior in deep meditation. A warm, motherly smile adorned her face.
Elyse: Good son, now slowly reach out, connect, and move the force with your will.
Rayden's right hand slowly raised while his brow furrowed. Trying to will and move a large rock near him. After 10 seconds, the rock, weighing about 100 pounds, slowly lifts off the ground.
Elyse: Good, good. Now, slowly turn the rock, then gently lower it.
Giving a soft hum as acknowledgement, Rayden's wrist moved, and the rock started to slowly rotate a full 360 before being brought down to land with a thud.
Happy with her son's progress, Elyse walked over with a towel in one hand and a gift for Rayden in the other. The gift was a token of appreciation for all the hard work he had put in over the past year.
Elyse knelt to Rayden's level, her expression a mix of pride and affection. In her hands, she held a small, intricately crafted lightsaber hilt, the grip adorned with elegant engravings that caught the light just right.
"This is for you, my brave warrior," she said, her voice gentle yet firm.
Rayden's eyes widened in awe, his tiny hands tingling with anticipation as he reached out to grasp the hilt. The weight of it felt right in his palms, a perfect extension of himself. "You can practice safely with it. The saber is powered by a bondar crystal," Elyse added, her smile encouraging.
"Bondar crystal? What is that? Rayden asked, confused.
"Within the hilt is a rare bondar crystal, known for its unique ability to stun rather than harm when used to power a lightsaber," Elyse explained patiently.
Elyse: I sent a few clan members to the Alderaan system to search for some crystals, as that is the only place they can be found. It took them six months to locate a batch. I crafted this saber for you when you were ready, and now that time has come.
Rayden: Thank you, Mom. I love it
Rayden beamed with excitement, his heart racing at the thought of wielding such a powerful weapon. "I can't wait to show Dad and Grandpa!" he exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet.
Imagining himself on the battlefield, dodging, shooting, and deflecting blaster bolts with a blaster in one hand and his lightsaber in the other.
===
As the sun began to set over the magnificent Kweving Heights, casting long shadows across the training ground, Elyse stood poised with her own bondar lightsaber ignited, its pale blue blade humming softly in the cool evening air. Rayden, now calm after his earlier excitement, having had shown both his dad and grandfather his new lightsaber.
"Alright, Rayden," Elyse called, a warm smile on her face, "let's start with the basics. Remember what I taught you: stance first."
Rayden adjusted his grip and planted his feet shoulder-width apart, emulating the stance his mother had shown him. "Like this?" he asked, glancing up to meet her approving gaze.
"Perfect! Now focus on your breathing. In and out," she guided, demonstrating the deep breaths she always took before a sparring match. "Feel the Force around you—let it flow through you."
Rayden closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating as he felt the gentle wind brush against his face. He opened them, feeling a newfound confidence. "I'm ready, Mom!"
Elyse nodded, sensing his determination. "Good. We will start with some light sparring. Just a few gentle strikes to get you used to the motion. Keep your movements fluid and controlled."
With that, she lunged forward, her blue blade cutting through the air with grace. Rayden instinctively mirrored her movement, blocking her strike with a clumsy swing, the blades connecting with a satisfying crackle.
"Not bad, but remember, you want to keep your elbows in and use your wrist to guide the blade," she instructed, stepping back and readying herself for another attack.
"Okay!" Rayden said, adjusting his grip. As Elyse pressed the offense, Rayden followed her moves, stepping to the side and trying to stay light on his feet. This time, his movements were smoother, and he managed to block yet another attack.
"Very good! Now try to counter," Elyse encouraged, shifting her weight to set up another strike.
Rayden took a breath, recalling his mother's advice. As Elyse moved in, he pivoted, bringing his blade down in a swift arc toward her side. She swiftly parried, the sounds of their blades echoing in the evening air.
"That's it! Now incorporate your footwork," she said, moving in a graceful circle around him, prompting Rayden to follow suit.
He concentrated, shifting his stance and mimicking her movements. He felt the thrill of the duel, his confidence building with each pass. "I think I'm getting the hang of this!" he exclaimed, smiling as he darted forward for another strike.
Elyse's expression brightened. "You are! Just remember, a true Jedi is not only about strength but also about patience and strategy. Engage your surroundings—your opponent will always try to outsmart you."
As the training session continued, Rayden began to blend what he had learned: dodging, striking, and parrying. Elyse noticed his increasing confidence and skill, and their laughter filled the training field as they exchanged playful banter between strikes.
Finally, they took a breather, standing a few feet apart, both panting lightly but exhilarated. Elyse could see the excitement in her son's eyes; he was embracing the teachings of the Jedi.
"Alright, Rayden, let's finish strong. I want to see you apply everything we practiced. Go for longer combinations—show me what you've got!" she encouraged.
Rayden nodded vigorously and engaged once more, pouring everything he had into the final series of movements. His strikes became more fluid, his counters more calculated, and he began to lose himself in the rhythm of battle.
Elyse stepped back, watching her son with pride. "That's it! Trust in yourself—let the Force guide you!"
Rayden unleashed a flurry of controlled strikes, the light of his blade dancing through the air as if alive. Each clash of their sabers resonated in a symphony of clashes as the force flowed through Rayden. He forms and techniques improve to the naked eye. Jumping and doing acrobatics for Form 4 Ataru when attacking, smoothly switching to Form 2 Makashi when defending against Elyse's strikes.
Elyse thought to herself, "Rayden is doing well, but he still has a long way to go before he can beat me." A small, mischievous smirk appeared on her face as she used the Force to boost her speed. Before Rayden could react, she swung her lightsaber, hitting him on the backside and stunning him.
Rayden: Ow, Mom, that hurt
Dropping his lightsaber, Rayden fell to the ground, stunned not only by the pain but also by the slight paralysis caused by the lightsaber.
Elyse: Always be prepared for a sudden turn of events, my little warrior. No pain, no gain. But you are improving quite well.
"Really I felt myself improving as well." Rayden answered as he got up and mentally called his system.
[Rayden]
Age: 5
Midichlorians: 5500
Skills:
Form I (Shii-Cho) - A foundational stance embodying the essence of lightsaber combat. (Beginner) [350/500]
Form II (Makashi) - The duelist's form, efficient and precise, focusing on the art of lightsaber fencing. (Beginner) [320/500]
Form III (Soresu) - The form of defense, emphasizing patience and the strong ability to withstand attacks. (Beginner) [300/500]
Form IV (Ataru) - A dynamic and acrobatic style, relying on agility and speed to outmaneuver opponents. (Beginner) [340/500]
Form V (Shien/Djem So) - A practical approach blending offense and defense, designed to counter attacks with strength. (Beginner) [280/500]
Form VI (Niman) - A balanced form, integrating different combat techniques with a focus on adaptability. (Beginner) [270/500] Hand-to-Hand Combat (Beginner, 350/500) Blaster Marksmanship (Beginner, 320/500) Force Sensing (Beginner, 400/500) Stealth and Tracking (Beginner, 300/500) Mando'a Language (Beginner, 380/500) Galactic Common (Beginner 360/500)
Elyse: Let's go wash up for dinner.
Rayden: Ok, Mom
At the table while having dinner, Rayden and Elyse talked about today's special Jedi training with Varn and Torin. It was a peaceful dinner with jokes, stories, encouragement, and love.
At the end of dinner, my father informed me that we would be holding an inter-clan competition involving four other clans that are potential allies. I asked him why we needed allies, and he told me that there is rising tension between the houses. One faction favors tradition, while the other is more peaceful and pacifist in nature. There is also an extremist group called Deathwatch that aims to reestablish a Mandalorian empire like our ancestors did, by pillaging and destroying anything in their path.
Rayden: Who are the clans that are coming to the competition?
Varn: Clan Vhar'kar, Clan Serdran, Clan Tov'ra, and Clan Drav'korr.
Varn went on to talk and introduce each of the clans.
Clan Vhar'kar embraces the creed of strength through unity and relentless innovation. Known as the Iron Pulse, their clan symbol features a stylized pulse wave overlaid on a Beskar heart. They are experts in experimental weaponry and armor enhancements, renowned for their synchronized squad tactics and battlefield coordination. In the heat of battle, they operate as a cohesive unit. Additionally, they take great pleasure in creating and testing new "toys" for combat.
Clan Serdran, often referred to as the Silent Coil, is guided by the creed of victory through stealth, patience, and precision. Their clan symbol depicts a coiled serpent wrapped around a vibroblade, with an eye resembling a crosshair. Members of this clan are trained as elite assassins and infiltrators, with armor that has been specifically modified to enhance their effectiveness. Their armor is matte black and equipped with adaptive camouflage technology, as well as anti-surveillance equipment. Communication during missions is minimal and only occurs when necessary. It's wise to avoid becoming a target; you never know when they might strike.
Clan Tov'ra, The Emberborns, is a clan made up of people who have experienced great tragedies. Some were survivors of destroyed villages, and others were slaves. This clan locates and offers refuge for those who choose not to be broken by their tragedies. Their creed is perseverance through fire and rebirth, and their clan symbol is a flaming phoenix rising from a Mandalorian helmet. They are more nomadic than other clans, and their armor is scorched with flame-pattern decoration. Any time one of them falls in battle, if they have no kin to hand their armor to, the clan ritualistically burns their fallen's gear to forge new weapons.
Clan Drav'korr, The Forgebound, is a clan that takes great pride in creation. Weather in weapons, armor, droids, and any other type of machinery. Their creed is that creation is conquest; the maker is the master, clan symbol is a hammer striking an anvil shaped like a Mandalorian visor. Many renowned armorers and engineers come from this clan. To become a warrior, each member has to create their own armor and weapons to use to complete the Verd'goten. Their clan's armor is heavy, ornate, and often embedded with forge marks and clan runes. They believe that true Mandalorian strength lies in craftsmanship and legacy, not just combat.
Rayden: Wow, they sound cool. When are they coming?
Varn: about 2 months from now.
Rayden: What event will we compete in?
Varn: "We want this competition to be all-inclusive so that each clan can showcase its skills.
We have an obstacle course that you're all familiar with, as well as a 1-on-1 melee event and a team battle. We'll have a marksmanship contest to determine the best sharpshooter and a tactical war game where the objective is to capture the opposing clan's flag. Additionally, there's a Beskar Smithing contest to see who can forge specific armor pieces the fastest and with the highest quality."
Varn took a sip of his drink and continued, "It's not all about fighting, though. Each clan will also present its specialties, such as food, art, music, and storytelling. We will have foot races, speeder bike races, and even a starfighter race. There will be a weightlifting competition to find out who is the strongest, relay marathons, and finally, a survival challenge." With that, Varn concluded the introduction to the upcoming competition.
Rayden: This competition sounds awesome. Can I participate?
Varn: Yes, you can. There is the kids division and the adult division.
Rayden was excited, jumping from his chair and yelling, "Great!"
Elyse: Ok, that's enough for one day. Get ready for bed, my little warrior.
Rayden: Okay, Mom, night, Dad, night, Grandpa.
Varn and Torin: night son/rayden.