Faces Among Books

[Syss Rembala]

Pillar of Ascension​

​

The Library​

​

The characteristic sound of footsteps resonating through the hallways filled the air. It was a sound she knew all too well. But truth was, what did she not know all too well about this place? Born and raised aboard the Pillar of Ascension, Iceis Sovereign could have made her way blindfolded through any area of the immense spaceship without mistake or even doubt. Even its smells were deeply ingrained into her powerful memory.

Still, it were not her feet the ones making noise. No, her strides were too elegant and skulking to be the perpetrators behind the soft, thudding noise. The answer was simple. The Princess Sovereign was being accompanied by a couple of servants. She had many times expressed her dislike of being followed but time had taught her that customs where customs and she had to either give in to it or be dismissing them every fifteen minutes approximately.

After long minutes of walking through the ship, Iceis and her escorts finally reached her destination. The library. One would have thought that after sixteen years inside the same place Iceis would have been tired of it, sick of it. Much on the contrary, Iceis felt at home on the Pillar and most importantly, she loved its library. Stopping at the door she looked at the two servants that followed her and spoke in a cold yet respectful and calming tone, "Thank you. I shall not be disturbed while in the library, you are dismissed and can return to your activities if your duty for the day is done"

The white haired Princess then proceeded to enter the enormous library. She stopped for a moment once inside and took a soft breathe in, she could never get tired of the peaceful and relaxing feeling this place imbued on her.

[member="Darth Erebos"]

 

[Shaddi]

The knowledge of the pillar of ascension's library was the new place he frequented but the new responsibilities he was being given among the one sith after his promotion saw his frequency beginning to lessen in the library. Today for such an example he had found the time to get into the library away from the hustle and bustle of the other sith lords arguing amongst themselves. He sat in a comfortable chair he had found with a tome in his hands though un armored he still had his lightsaber at his hip and a blindfold over his eyes, signaling part of his heritage.
His long white hair cascaded down his shoulders and spilled down half his chest, contrasting quite a bit with the black robes he usually wore. Being used to seeing highly powerful force users in his sight in the force made it easier for him to distinguish his surroundings and seeing [member="Iceis Sovereign"] enter the library made him pause in his reading. Her force signature was very similar to Winters but weaker and not as refined which simply told him she wasn't very trained in the arts of the force.
Closing the book and placing it into the air were it began to float around him like a lot of other books that had been rotating through his hands as quickly as he read them, going back to their places on the shelf's or coming out of them to orbit around him while he finished another book. This time however as he stood up and made his way towards Iceis the books simply moved into their shelf's while he made his way around the library.

 

[Syss Rembala]

The Princess had resumed her walking and as soon as she had given two more steps she felt the presence of another Force user, imbued with the Dark-side of the Force. The being was clearly more powerful and experienced than her but once again, being the daughter of a Queen, Iceis had met many beings who outweighed her in power and capacities. This did not upset her in the slightest bit, she knew that eventually one day, if she worked hard, she would be as capable as they were.

Furthermore, the Princess knew that this unknown being was approaching her so she decided to halt her movements once more and wait to be found. Normally she wouldn't have reacted to a stranger so calmly but now she was in her home and if this Force user was here too, it meant he was a member of The Awoken and therefore completely deserving of Iceis time and politeness.

In addition, she did feel quite curious about the sensed presence. It was not everyday that one met an unknown being in the very same place one called home and, moreover, frequented. Maybe the Sith, a guess she had made because of the strength of the Dark-side in its aura, had recently joined the ranks of The Awoken or maybe they simply hadn't coincided before. Siths and Princesses were very busy people after all.

[member="Darth Erebos"]

 

[Shaddi]

Erebos walked calmly until he came to view for [member="Iceis Sovereign"] to see him as he gave her a polite smile and bow. "Well it seems I'm graced by the presence of the princess of the awoken. My name is T'zanith Zebron though among the sith I am known as Darth Erebos. I am the co- headmaster of the houses of the awoken so I serve on the the Ardadian Council with your mother." He said as he came up from the bow and reproached her a little more so that they were in conversational distance. "Might I be so presumptuous as to ask you what you are doing here in the library?" He then finished with a polite but friendly smile.

Just like her mother Iceis was a very attractive woman but as with her mother Erebos wouldn't treat her any different than the others of the faction. Showing preferential treatment simply on the case of looks seemed... well stupid to him but he would show her the respect that he was expected to give, given Iceis's status within the Awoken.

 

[Syss Rembala]

Soon enough, the presence she had sensed came into view. Guessing only on what her eyes could tell her, the young man was Miralukan or, at least, a hybrid of the race. The bandage that covered his blind eyes and the hair as white as hers were the characteristics that pointed to this conclusion. Then he proceeded to introduce himself and as soon as his named reached the Princess' ears, she knew that he occupied a very important place among the faction, information he confirmed with his following words.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, [member="Darth Erebos"] " She answered, bowing her head slightly as she spoke. The Sith Lord had made it clear that her introduction was not needed, something she was accustomed to. Even the ones who did not really know her didn't take long in realizing who she was, the similarity she shared with her mother, both physical and behavioral, was simply too big to ignore.

"I was planning on continuing the Dathomir's history tomes. I must admit this is a more...leisurely visit to the library" She added, explaining her sole motive for being here was for the pleasure of reading and history. It was strange. Not many young beings described studying as leisurely.

 

[Shaddi]

"Oh the Dathomiri... an interesting read. I, myself am trying to get someone to teach me their spells as I've found them to be an interesting school of force use." He replied with a smile, he looked around the same age as [member="Iceis Sovereign"] but in fact was closer in age to her mother, a side effect of his long lived sephi half which only physically manifested as his pointed ears. With his smile he might have added, something I still haven't gotten your mother to teach me, but he kept that to himself. "I must admit though given how young your mother looks I was quite surprised when I heard that she had twin daughters." He then said as he made a gesture that asked if he would be allowed to walk with her,

 

[Syss Rembala]

The Princess nodded courteously, accepting his offer of walking with her. The man's appearance indicated Iceis that he was about her age but, contrary to this, there was a feeling of maturity and deep knowledge around him that contradicted his young looks. In addition, it would have been conspicuous to say that she would have felt intensely surprised if a being of such a young age occupied ranks as important as he did.

"I am a current apprentice of them myself, [member="Darth Erebos"] . And I must say they have proven quite useful and peculiar" She responded, deepening on the subject of Dathomirian Magicks. They truly were one of Iceis preferred subjects of study though she had yet to uncover the secrets of Sith magic and other types of element shaping. Her very own Mother was her teacher and tutor and Iceis wouldn't have chosen it any other way.

"She has been blessed with a youthful look. As I believe you have been too, Lord T'zanith. Would I be wrong in assuming your young appearance belies your age?" She inquired in a very respectful and calm tone, offering an emotionless but curious look of her violet eyes.

 

[Shaddi]

"I am simply of a very long lived species so as to them I'm still a teenager but I believe I just might be around the age of your mother. I might just out live her, you and if you are so blessed, your own children if I get to live to old age." He explained in a calm and centered manner as he walked with [member="Iceis Sovereign"] through the halls of the library. "Many would share your view of the Dathorimiran magics." He then said as he gestured towards a shelf and out of it came a book on Dathomirian history. "I believe this is what you were looking for." He then said handing her the book and gestured towards a small area were comfortable chairs were for the guests of the library to sit down and relax while they read.

 

[Syss Rembala]

She nodded in understanding of his explanation, quite impressed. "Might it be Sephi blood that runs through your veins then?" She inquired politely. So many years confined to the Pillar of Ascension and the many tutors and books inside it had led to a very knowledge filled young princess. Many races she knew and could identify and, among the long-lived species of the Galaxy, Sephi was her choice of assumption judging by the pointed years of @Darth Erebus. "Both Sephi and Miralukan, if my conclusion isn't flawed" She added.

Her violet, luminescent gaze was guided to the Force-handled book she immediately recognized the cover of. "It indeed is, Lord T'zanith. Thank you." She said. The princess gently took the book and proceeded to walk elegantly to one of the chairs the Sith Lord had gestured to, sitting on it with a straight and proper yet comfortable pose.

 

[Shaddi]

"You are quite knowledgeable Your highness. That is indeed what my parents are." He said with an impressed tone of voice as he sat down on the other chair with the posture of someone comfortable with himself. "Might I ask you something Princess Iceis?" He then asked [member="Iceis Sovereign"] as his curiosity got the better of him.
Even though he was curious he wasn't really sure of the protocols when it came to royalty and as such he was much more comfortable simply asking if he could rather than simply go out and ask.

 

[Syss Rembala]

She lowered her head very subtly in a way of thanking for his kind comment. Apparently the expressionless princess had developed a way of conveying messages through minor movements rather than expressions in themselves. Her coldness had clearly been inherited from her mother, a trait most people that knew her identified almost immediately. The young Princess was really growing after the image of her only parent.

"Of course, [member="Darth Erebos"] . Ask whatever you want and I'll do my best to provide an answer" She responded. It was quite interesting how her melodious voice sounded plain and at the same time willing, maybe because she simply meant her words and indeed had the intention of providing an appropriate reply to whichever doubt the Sith Lord would pose.

 

[Shaddi]

"What is it you hope to accomplish?" He then asked [member="Iceis Sovereign"] quite bluntly, it was something he always wondered as he thought in the long term and very, very rarely did he think short term.

 

[Syss Rembala]

The question was short, direct...and extremely complex at the same time. And as the difficult question it was, Iceis took her time to analyse it and process her answer. Calmly, without hurrying up her response. Many people lived their lives to their end without ever knowing what they wanted to accomplish, simply letting the strange curves of destiny carve their path and doing little effort to influence its events. This was not the case of the Princess.

And she guessed it wasn't the case of [member="Darth Erebos"] either. Actually, she thought it simply couldn't be. A being with such a long, long life ahead of him...she was sure sometimes future would seem like the only thing he had. It was near impossible to not think about it. And after long seconds of deep considering, she answered.

"What I wish to accomplish....is balance. Within myself, with the Force, for the faction and the Galaxy. Not peace, my lifespan...maybe not even yours is long enough to accomplish peace. But balance...balance is everything, it is the truth of things. Peace is designed to be short-lived, for what is peace without chaos and despair?"

 

[Shaddi]

"Hmm quite the interesting answer." Erebos replied to hearing the answer [member="Iceis Sovereign"] gave him to his question. It showed that despite her age she was mature and wise a budding intellect if Erebos had ever seen one for sure. "If you wish to ask me anything, princess then by all means ask." He then stated with a deferential bow to her, he would extend to her the same courtesy that she had given him.