Private Notes from Jutrand

[Lysander von Ascania]

Kirie
​

Lysander arrived on Jutrand two weeks prior and was confident the stubborn red dust of Korriban still clung to him. In that breath, a strange clarity of freedom seeped into his veins, a sensation that had been foreign to him until now, and with it, curiosity that bubbled and swirled, luring him deeper into the capital in pursuit of knowledge. Beyond the lightsaber blade, beyond the pages of history and politics, he truly believed something else waited.

During that first pass through the Sadow District, it became clear that the scientific community here was thriving, and not to mention, their facilities were rich with studies on Sithspawn. This was a recent awakening, one that had only just piqued his interest, mainly due to the influence of someone made of bark and leaves, exuding the elder sibling aura, Madrona A’Mia . It was a realm he would have never ventured into on his own, but now, with his entrepreneurial venture from Kor'ethyr Academy's greenhouse expanding to Brosi, he had the financial means to explore.

And so, one afternoon, driven by a familiar mix of bravado and folly that so often led him to trouble, he found himself at the edges of Zannah Falls, surrounded by domed buildings, waterfalls, and an artificial lake at the heart. The tranquility reminded him of Naboo's serene landscape. Amidst towering spires, lush gardens blooming like jewels, and upscale shops and restaurants, the district's charm enticed him further.

In the embrace of shade, he unpacked a collapsible fishing pole from his bag, the black fabric of a loose fitting tunic clinging to his lean frame, accompanied by dark grey trousers and matte black leather boots.

Snapping the pole together, he baited the hook. Under the brim of a bucket hat, shading his eyes from the sun, blonde locks curled outward. No longer a slave to technology, the teen resisted all urge to fidget with his datapad or chase the webs of past and future. So he simply breathed, surrendering to the moment, letting the stretch of blue sky, the lapping of water, and the quiet pulse in his veins remind him that he was here, and wholly alive.

 

[Kirie]

There is no denying that hatred is the most potent of the Dark Emotions. But, dear reader, do not eschew the lesser of your feelings. Many practitioners of healing discover their initial connection through their intense sorrow, their loneliness, their obsession and their fear of loss. Explore these, reader. Allow the perversion of these emotions to twist and control the forces of nature. Use your fear to save the ones you love.

Introduction - Fundamentals of Dark Healing

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The Sadow District was one of the nicer areas on Jutrand. The buildings were lower here, more spaced out. The smog was a distant miasma smeared over the horizon rather than a choking blanket blotting out the lower levels. It was clean, well lit, with grand sites and interesting places to visit. There were dark and twisted corners of course. Strange Sithspawn skulked about openly, and the concentration of Sith elites here was high. That made Kirie nervous, but her reservations were assuaged by the fact that as the Princess' Handmaiden, she was free to go where she liked, and at the mention of her Highness Quinn Varanin, any barrier to her wandering was lifted.

She had been visiting the libraries there on Quinn's recommendation to look into Force techniques they could focus on for development. They had already begun working on her telepathy, but Kirie wondered if there was other potential left to unlock. The art of healing with Darkness was one such area that interested her, especially after all she had learned about Darth Virelia and the dozens of other damaged Lords and Ladies to whom the Light was poison. What if there was a way to help them? Would that not be a good use of her time and training?

If nothing else, it was worth investigating.

So it was that Kirie found herself once again perched on the marble steps separating the lake and the promenade of shops, squinting to read the flimsiplast sheets resting on her thighs in the fading afternoon light. It was getting too dark to read, so Kirie neatly gathered her notes and placed them in her leather book bag.

She stood up and yawned, stretching tired muscles, her mind turning to where the nearest place was that she could call a speeder. Looking around, her eyes fell upon a lone figure... Fishing. Huh. That was not something she'd thought she'd ever see in the heartland of Jutrand. In fact, Kirie hadn't seen someone fishing, -let alone gone herself- since she'd left Weik. Ignoring her better judgement, Kirie turned heel and walked back towards the young man who was framed by the rays of the setting sun. Slightly awkward, Kirie sidled up to him, giving a small wave in greeting and then raising both hands to sign.

'Got any bites?'

Lysander von Ascania​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Kirie
​

His gaze moved from the lake’s surface to the shadows lining the promenade, cautious, but also probing. The bucket hat cast a veil of shade, also concealing his curiosity. The sun’s rays touched his tunic now, feeling the warmth against his skin. In the distance, the occasional stir of security swept through crowds.

Unarmed, pole in hand, he wasn’t sure if he even had the right to be here. The thought echoed.. but it did not press him.

Lysander had made dozens of casts by now, each time, the line unfurling slowly. But not once was there a tug, no flicker, or any resistance. Either way, simply being here felt like a breath of permission, with peace nudging the corners of his mind. But had he admitted that aloud, it would’ve been another rebellion, betraying the doctrine that’d been drilled into him over the past year.

Still, the word hovered on his tongue, a whisper that he couldn't deny.

When soft footsteps approached, he didn't register the presence at first; so engrossed in the rhythm that the usual warning in the Force went completely unnoticed. A dangerous lapse, surely. Her wave coaxed a faint curl at the corner of his lips, born of amusement. Shoulders lifted slightly in a gentle shrug while tilting his head and drumming a rhythm on the reel.

Between casts, the teen's voice slipped into the air. “I guess the fish aren’t feeling social today,” he offered, words drawn out slowly with a note of dryness. He didn’t fully turn to her, though his relaxed posture may have suggested he wasn’t guarding anything. Not here. It was rare, but this felt like a moment that didn’t ask for too much.

Glancing at the water, he kept turning the reel. When Lysander looked back seconds later, he nudged the bag on the floor next to him with a boot; it wasn’t meant for fishing gear, but it still held enough.

Shifting the pole slightly in his grip, he then held it out halfway. ”Want to give it a shot? No pressure. It's more about pretending that you're patient if you ask me.” A bright, clearly handmade bait dangled from the line as the edges of his mouth lifted a fraction higher. “I’m pretty sure Sithspawn aren’t into my lures.”

 

[Kirie]

Critical to understanding alternative forms of healing is to realise that life and death are mere exchanges of Force energy. Extinguish a life in your hand. Note how it feels. That loss, that draining and absence can be harnessed and refocused into something new.

Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Dark Healing

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There were a few things Kirie noticed when she approached him. First, he was younger than he'd appeared from a distance, with broad shoulders and upright that belied a youthful face when seen up close. She placed him at maybe a few months younger than her. Still a boy. Was that why he seemed to relaxed, why he was fishing in the middle of one of Jutrands most influential districts like he owned the place?

Maybe the answer to the question was in the expensive clothes he was working. Casual, sure, but fine quality. That, combined with his confidence and the fact he was here alone made Kirie guess he was both monied and influential. Usually, when it came to Sith, that meant he was dangerous, even if he didn't really look it. Whatever the case, Kirie decided to tread carefully.

The third thing she noticed had nothing to do with the person in front of her and everything to do with what was in his hands. She examined the fly when he held it up, face scrunching up with interest, leaning close.

"You tied this yourself?' Kirie signed the question with a raised brow. 'It's very good. You have a knack for it.' She picked up the lure and rolled it between her forefinger and thumb, admiring the complex combination of wire and feathers.

'Where I used to live, there was a big lake near my town. It was ringed with trees and sheltered by a rocky outcrop. Made the water look like glass. Me and my dad used to fish there in the summer.'

Kirie followed the teen's eye out to the lake, pushing past the bittersweet feeling of the memory.

'I doubt you'll catch much here. this place looks nice, but chances are it's dead beneath the surface.'

”Want to give it a shot? No pressure. It's more about pretending that you're patient if you ask me. I’m pretty sure Sithspawn aren’t into my lures.”

'Sure.' Kirie gave a small smile and a nod. 'Think you'll need to use human flesh if you want to catch any Sithspawn, though.' Kirie signed with a smirk.

Kirie took the proffered fishing rod and hefted it in both hands, examining its weight and feel. She finished reeling in the line, then smoothing raised the rod and swiped downward, sending the lure whistling towards the centre of the lake where it landed with a satisfying plop

'I'm Kirie.' she signed with her free hand. 'Nice to meet you. What brings you to Sadow?'

Lysander von Ascania ​

​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Kirie
​

The unexpected compliment about his lure lifted a lone brow in surprise. A flash of amusement kindled in his eyes, like embers stirred by the breeze. “Yep. I braided the wire myself. Took five tries before the loop held,” he admitted.

"Fishing with family.. that beats Sithspawn any day." A soft intake of breath brushed the teen's lips, recalling the time when he and Corazona von Ascania wore matching straw sunhats while fishing on Naboo. Even amid Korriban's cruel trials, that memory of joy remained etched deep in his mind.

Such moments were rare.

The belief that all lay dead beneath the surface threatened to spark challenge within him. If anything, it did make him more curious.

Her dry wit instantly struck a chord, eliciting a soft laugh that slipped effortlessly. His shoulders shook with mirth; hands moved to smooth the creases of his tunic, a modest attempt to steady himself. "You could be onto something," he offered. Something about that line echoed Madrona A’Mia .

He then traced the arc of the lure, though he was more curious about where it may land, than being eager to catch anything at all. The openness of the outdoors was plenty to fuel his spirit.

The edges of the teen's face softened, voice as warm as the setting sun. “I’m Lysander. It’s good to meet you, Kirie.” His gaze returned briefly to the line resting on the lake's surface, contemplative. “I’ve come to study the art of Sith alchemy and to learn more about Sithspawns.. their creation, their bond to the dark side. What I uncover here may also deepen the work alongside my mentor back on Brosi.”

It was cool to know that she knew of fishing; even better that Jutrand boasted a lake.

Furrows deepened at the corners of his eyes, a crease born of the ridiculousness about to escape his lips. But the words tumbled forth, without hesitation. “And I plan on trying to raise a Maelridae from its first.. shriek. Maybe we can bond before the rage sets in.”

A pause lingered before he glanced up with a tilt of his head. “Do you study here at the academy, too?”

 

[Kirie]

"The secret the Jedi do not wish for you to understand, dear reader, is that the most powerful healing, the kind that can restore vitality even after death is only attainable through embracing Darkness. It is attainable through the principles of equal exchange."

- Fundamentals of Dark Healing, Chapter 1

​

'Yes. Well, these things come with time.' Kirie replied, skipping over the comment about time with family. That was something she no longer had, and judging by the fact this teenager was standing here fishing alone, he did not either. Whatever the case, Kirie figured it was best not to delve too deeply into the topic before one of them got sad.

Too late, maybe. He had a bit of a faraway look in his eye, but it faded after a moment. His cool affect slipped back into place, his teenage bravado. She had got so good at noticing masks these days. A consequence of living amongst the Sith, no doubt. She wondered if he would see hers.

Kirie slowly turned the reel, pulling the line in short little bursts every now and again. As she expected, all was still, but at least it was a nice afternoon. The smog of the city was light, there was a gentle breeze and the sunlight was bright but not too harsh. As the top of her head warmed up she found herself wishing for a hat equally as unfashionable as the teen's, but otherwise she was comfortable and content.

“I’m Lysander. It’s good to meet you, Kirie.”

'And you, Lysander.' Kirie replied, giving a small but respectful bow. Was he some sort of rich prince, this Lysander? Perhaps a guild owner's son, an arms dealer's boy? A young fresh-faced Armada commander on his first shore leave? Whatever the case, he was almost certainly her better, however casually he may have been treating her. Kirie had quickly learned here that deference was the best option when dealing with an unknown Sith.

'I'm Princess Quinn Varanin's handmaiden.' Kirie signed, continuing her introduction. 'But it's my day off. I'm here on research. I'm an... Acolyte, I guess.' It wasn't a term she had used for herself before. Certainly she was no acolyte in the traditional sense. She belonged to no Academy, did not abide by the Code, had no master to deliver cruel unusual punishment. Stars, she didn't even have a lightsaber. But, she was studying the Force, and that made her an acolyte, at least of a kind. 'I'm a healer. Or, I'd like to be.'

'Alchemy I can understand, but, Sithspawn?' Kirie questioned. 'I don't know, you seem like a nice kid, and everyone I've ever met with Sithspawn nipping at their heels has been some monster themselves..'

Kirie anticipated a look of derision and backpedalled.

'No denying they're useful, though.' Kirie offered. 'Most just give me the creeps is all.' She didn't add that the Maelridae especially made her skin crawl. Probably better to minimise the damage of her dismissal.

Why was she getting the feeling she was wearing her welcome already? Kirie avoided the urge to shake her head at herself and focused her eyes on the line bobbing in the water.

“Do you study here at the academy, too?”

Kirie shook her head.

'Not really. I have a library card, though.' she gave a small smile. 'Where are you enrolled, then, if not here? Dromund Kaas? Korriban?

Lysander von Ascania '​

​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Kirie
​

Lysander glanced over to the fishing pole in her hands. No fumbling, zero hesitation. It struck him, in a quiet way, how rare that actually was. Fishing felt like a lost art these days, something he’d only ever seen a few times between here and the Mid Rim. He imagined most in the heart of Sith space wouldn’t even know where to start.

Something about the name the girl mentioned stilled him; it sounded like one he should’ve known, one that carried power. But he didn’t. Korriban consumed him almost entirely since arriving in the Outer Rim. Just red dust and a few different doctrines. And Kirie’s title landed oddly in his mind, stirring images back from Naboo. With that, also came Sibylla. That memory pressed against his ribs like a bruise; a quiet ache, hard to ignore.

The expression that followed wasn’t quite the shield he’d intended; it came easier than expected, though it still carried the stiffness of something worn for protection.

“Princess Quinn Varanin,” he repeated slowly, committing to place it in his memory. “That’s interesting. You don’t strike me as someone who just carries dresses and pours tea.”

Her comment that followed turned his smile more genuine, one corner of the mouth lifting, sharpening into that familiar glint of a Lothcat. It was as though he was about to say something he probably shouldn't. “You know… I used to think they were all nightmares too. Some of them still are.. I mean, I’m not about to invite some Tuk’ata looking thing over for dinner.” His tone was light, but there was still sincerity beneath it. “But I’m trying to step outside my little bubble.. learn things that aren’t just in my scope of practice. Turns out, the more you know about them, the less they’re just.. teeth and claws in the dark.”

His eyes tracked the ripples spreading across the lake. “My mentor, for example, is a Neti. The first time I met her, I thought she was some giant walking tree with no feelings. And I mean that literally. Just bark and leaf. She creeped me out more than any Sithspawn ever did.” Both shoulders lifted with an amused breath. “But now? She even knows how to roll her eyes. Huge improvement. I’ve been trying to teach her some sassy hand gestures too; you know, like the dramatic ones with fingers. A little flair.”

He glanced back at Kirie. “I know that’s different from Sithspawn, but I guess even the strangest things can surprise you if you give it enough time.”

There was a subtle lift of his brow. “A library card? That’s more powerful than most people realize.”

The teen decided it was best not to mention how he used to spend all of his time devouring holotexts, since that was back when he was still a Padawan on Coruscant, following in his sister’s footsteps.

“As for where I’m enrolled, that would be at Kor’ethyr Academy, on Korriban,” he said, the name carrying a heavy weight, with even heavier expectations. “I’ve also been piecing together my own education. Some of it here, some of it on Brosi.. and, I’ll admit, more than a few hours spent binging holodramas.”

The moment he realized it had slipped out, likely sounding ridiculous, he quickly shifted gears.

“You said you’re a healer, or want to be." The words carried curiosity. “What’s that like.. working with the Dark?”

Leaning back a fraction, he let the next question come easily. “And serving the Princess, that not ordinary work. How does it feel, being that close to her?"

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