Cosmic Embrace

XII.

Arabella gazed at her reflection, feeling stifled by the tight pants and fitted shirt. It wasn't her style at all, but it was what the First Order had provided, complete with their logo emblazoned on the left side of her chest. It would have to do for training.

Training with Kylo Ren. The thought made her apprehensive. She didn't know what to expect, though she had faced him once before—that night. Shaking her head, she let out an audible sigh.

Her brown hair was braided into a single braid, with small, curly baby hairs framing her face. The color had returned to her cheeks and lips. Just then, she heard the door to her chambers slide open, and in walked a black metal droid.

"It's time for your training. Commander Ren is waiting," its robotic voice instructed. Arabella nodded, following the droid closely as they made their way down a corridor she hadn't seen before. They stopped at a set of double doors, where the droid inputted a code into the panel beside it.

As the doors slid open, they revealed a vast room with ceilings so high they almost disappeared into the darkness. The room was entirely gray, dimly lit by panels on the sides. One wall was entirely covered in windows overlooking the snowy planet, casting a soft glow throughout. In the center of the room stood some black flooring pads.

Arabella glanced around, but there was no sign of Commander Ren. She let her shoulders relax, her eyes fixating on the windows outside. It never snowed in Cosmara; the planet was in a constant state of summer. Watching the snowflakes drift down, she couldn't help but smile to herself.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on connecting with the Force around her. She felt the snowflakes falling, their delicate composition, the chill of glaciers, and the rush of cold rivers. Harnessing that energy, she let it flow through her. But then, she sensed it—the dark energy, like a void calling her name. Her eyebrows furrowed, heart pounding in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, she turned around. There, standing before her, was Kylo Ren, clad in his usual attire and mask. How long had he been watching her?

They held each other's gaze for a moment before he strode to the back of the room, where a large chest made of some unknown metal awaited, bathed in the red glow of overhead lights. Arabella watched him intently, curiosity flickering in her eyes. He turned back around, her lightsaber gripped in his gloved hand. Arabella reached out, her fingers hesitating briefly before meeting the cool surface of the weapon. Their hands both rested on it for a moment before he refocused his attention on the array of weapons in the closet.

Arabella moved slowly to the opposite side of the room, igniting her lightsaber and allowing her hand to become accustomed to its weight once again. A smile played at the corners of her lips as she marveled at the fluidity of her wrist movements, tracing circular patterns in the air. She had become a skilled fighter, a testament to her father's training.

The distinctive hum of his lightsaber brought her back to the present, sending a shiver down her spine. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she assumed a defensive stance. The purple light from her saber cast an ethereal glow across her face as it hovered mere inches away.

Before she could react, Kylo lunged forward, his lightsaber slashing through the air with deadly intent. Arabella sprang into action, executing a graceful backflip just in time to evade his attack. As she landed, she whirled around to face him, a fierce determination gleaming in her eyes.

Their duel erupted into a blur of motion, each clash of their sabers sending sparks flying in all directions. Arabella's nimble form danced around Kylo's relentless onslaught, her movements fluid and precise. Kylo, accustomed to overpowering his opponents with sheer force, found himself caught off guard by her agility and finesse.