Private The Brightest Star

[Ryu Jung]

Location: Training Room, The Crucible, Bastion
Lyssara Thrynn

Ryu walked the halls of the Crucible many times in his life. In fact he was one of Reign’s first students and he showed a lot of promise, his training was intense and equal to that of any dark sider at his age. It was something that was easy for Ryu to learn as his master was once accustomed to the ways of the dark side. But to rely on it was a crutch that was meant to be substituted by the way of the Diarchs. As was shown by the Diarchs and mastering the force only to facilitate its total destruction, something Ryu didn’t entirely understand and followed with only blind zealotry. It was in his blind zealotry that he gave in to his rage, a rage to understand what he couldn’t fully grasp. What it meant to follow the Diarchs. Thus his growth was stunted.

It was also by succumbing to his rage that he found himself reaching externally and conquer what he believed was the real reason for his lack of upward mobility.

Lyssara Thrynn the apprentice of Diarch Reign. She wasn’t there on day 1 when the Diarchs made their grand declaration to the galaxy. She had shown a lot of promise and got the force users at the academy talking. It infuritated Ryu. She got special attention and earned the attention of Diarch Reign. Part of his gripe with Lyssara was that she was a nightsister and woman of science. She dominated in other areas of expertise that he had no familiarity in. But after that it was all superficial. Ryu felt that his time learning with the DIarchs meant nothing as he was there since the beginning and was pretty much raised surrounded by the Diarchy and their culture. This outsider wasn’t hear as nearly as long as Ryu was and yet she had the authority of a High Councilor. It was mind boggling. It was only fair to many that Ryu would feel resentful and seemingly, Lyssara reciprocated in this rivalry.

They had rarely been seen together socially. Mostly out to outcompete each other during missions while making remarks to each other over comms or to their allies. It was near infuriating to those exposed to it. Even when they were seen socially, Ryu always attempted to get one over on Lyssara in the most meaningless ways possible. It was petty and inappropriate. People were waiting for this feud to have some sort of pay off as the build up and subsequent hostitilies were just making people mad. So Ryu figured she’d challenge Lyssara. Not in front of anyone else. Ryu couldn’t afford this being a spectacle as he was coming in with a sense of insecurity.

He told himself he had to beat Lyssara if he was going to ascend in the Diarchy and conquer his rival. So he sent her a missive that he wanted to duel her at the Crucible. Now all he had to do was wait.​

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

Recently, I have noticed the rise in power of my greatest rival within the diarchy, this man, with whom everything has opposed me since the beginning. Our paths are different, our origins and very foundations diverge, he was born into the highest nobility with a golden spoon in his mouth, in fact. I feel sorry for him. I have the impression that he absolutely needs to prove something to himself, or to gain the approval of the diarchs in order to fly on his own, while I'm simply pouring myself a good coffee into my usual thermos at the bastion cafeteria in the corridor. A notification catches my eye on my datapad. I receive an appointment. It makes me put a hand on my face.

"I wonder what he wants… well, let's honor him with my presence and see."

Closing my thermos after taking a sip of coffee, I place my hand on my chin. It's true that my rise within the diarchy was meteoric, enough to turn heads and raise questions among others. All I want is to earn his trust and legitimacy, not to mock him, but to win his respect, purely and simply. May we always have this rivalry, but within the code of honor of the diarchy.

I've come a long way since Felucia: I built my own war frigate, I found the philosopher's stone, I freed Nyva, who is now free. I now command two splendid ships. In short, my place, I earned it and climbed the ranks with the sweat of my fists. I still remember my beginnings on Korriban I knew no one, I was afraid and terrified.

I owe them everything, I do not forget my place. Once my coffee is finished, I open a teleportation portal with my ichor. I am proud to be the apprentice of Diarch Rellik for me, he is a good and trustworthy man. I jump into the portal, which makes me disappear from the cafeteria, and appear directly in front of Ryu, at the meeting place. I now stand before him with my arms crossed.

" Hello! You wanted me, Ryu? Here I am. We still have a deal ongoing, if I recall… Where did we leave off?"

Adopting a stoic, almost droid-like posture, arms crossed, I assert myself and show that I am not afraid of him. However, I do not underestimate him he is the apprentice of Diarch Reign . Underestimating him would be a fatal mistake. He is an experienced warrior; every little second of inattention could mean my downfall, and Nyva taught me that well with her ranged weapons. Here, it's just the two of us, no rules, no supervisors, no cameras.

"Tell me, what can I do for you?"

I uncross my arms and take a slightly more relaxed posture, but still ready for a fight. In truth, I am on my guard, open to the Force, alert to the slightest offensive sign from him. I analyze him constantly. Since he summoned me, I leave him the choice to explain the reason for this meeting. Not yet in a fighting stance, but alert. Ready to react in the blink of an eye.

Ryu Jung

 

[Ryu Jung]

Location: Training Room, The Crucible, Bastion
Lyssara Thrynn

Her nonchalant attitude was frustrating to say the least. But at least she wasn’t insulting him outright. Through the force he could sense her wariness. No one was invited to the training grounds for a social call. Ryu just stood there, channeling his anger as he preparing himself for a grueling duel. He was sure that Lyssara would pull out her nightsister magic and gain the upper hand and he was not about to let her have the satisfaction. "I will not allow you the satisfaction to strut around these halls acting like you didn’t take away my chance to glory." He was being vague. Vague enough where no one could tell what his intentions were to even have this duel in the first place. But his justifications would have to wait. "Draw your weapon." Was all he managed to say.

He took his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it before taking a stance. His anticipation and uncertainty could be picked up through the force as he was in his stance. His only hope was to strike fast without having his recklessness turned against him. He could overcome the witch.​

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

That obviously makes me raise an eyebrow. What is he talking about? I'm trying to understand. Is Ryu speaking as a warrior or as a coward? I don't know what to say; I can clearly sense fear emanating from him, mixed with excitement, probably? How could he dare throw such a tirade at me? Since when am I not allowed to walk the halls of the Diarchy?

It makes me rest my hand under my chin: he speaks of glorifying. Glorifying himself…? But for that, he has to earn his glorification! Since I joined the ranks of the Diarchy, I haven't stopped for even a single second. Does he even realize all the work I've done? I don't think so.

"So little is needed for a valid reason to duel? You could simply say you want to fight. That would be quicker, wouldn't it? Because as co-leader of R&D with Master Rellik, I am just as legitimate as you to walk around here."

Having made that clear, I didn't come begging for permission to do anything. I stand firmly in my boots. He gives me an order—draw my weapon. Does he mean my lightsaber, or my Nightsister blade? No, because I also have my phrik knife I could use, that's true. But I don't think it's time for jokes. His face is serious, deeply focused on the matter. I don't know what I did to him, but he's really furious. Furious enough to order a duel.

My hand slowly rises. In a burst of green flame, my Nightsister sword materializes out of nowhere. I forged this blade, and I am used to wielding it against all odds. It is my main weapon. Against him tense like a drawn bowstring it's better not to show off, but to stay on familiar ground. I slowly take a guard stance, though a false one, my blade pointing outward and my left hand ready to call upon the powers of the Force.

Weather report: stormy. I can easily predict that with the Crucible experience two Lords facing each other in a duel with equal weapons the room will undoubtedly end in ruins. The only question is when and how the alert levels will be triggered, because if we go all out, the alarm will inevitably sound at some point.

"I don't need my portals to face you. Come closer if you dare! I shall be your opponent. I am , Lyssara Thrynn, high council member from the R&D, proclaim the beginning of the festivities!"

I add a little smile my trademark one. I am now ready, and I begin by drawing upon the ichor. My blade crackles with a very Dathomirian green. It is literally a green fire.

"Alright, it's time for a science heart lesson!"

Ryu Jung

 

[Ryu Jung]

Location: Training Room, The Crucible, Bastion
Lyssara Thrynn

"Your technical prowess will be useless against my skills in the dark side." He was already giving himself away with boasts but he would immediately charge at Lyssara as he finished his boasting. With his lightsaber ignited, he dashed over and opened with a few basic strikes aimed at Lyssara's body, he was trying to see if he could break her stance. The last thing he needed from her was to use her night sister magic and possess his limbs or something. Pondering with those thoughts, he could feel fear seeping into his mind and each strike became more reckless and sloppy as he swung his saber. He was forgetting to channel his anger into something more dangerous and he was giving himself a lot of openings for his opponent to exploit.

Time will tell if he would come on top in this duel, he didn't maintain his position as apprentice to Diarch Reign. He was not disgraced and he was hoping not to let this duel sully his reputation. Diarch Reign was a mentor Ryu never really understood. On the Galactic stage and on the battlefield he was a juggernaut. A force of nature. But with Ryu he was soft spoken and he never understood why that was the case. He could probably ask, but he found the Diarch too intimidating and his master remained a mystery. But it was that mystery of the Diarch. The fear of failure that Ryu projected onto his master that played into his anxieties. Anxiety based around the idea that he was not enough.

It was a double edged sword. He showed enthusiasm and loyalty but his unwillingness to overcome his fears led him to make rash decisions such as initiating this duel. Even if he knew it deep down that this was a waste of time. He was willing to see this through and Lyssara seemed to have her own plans, probably even recognizing Ryu's dilemma.​

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

What's happening to him? Usually so calm, and now he's exploding his lightsaber strikes and his charge have the opposite effect. Instead of breaking me down, physically or mentally, it's he who seems to be consumed by his own emotions. His blows are easy to parry; they're flawed, uncalculated, and graceless. With a flick of my wrist, adopting the Soresu defensive form, I easily block most of his attacks and sidestep the last one.

His boasting makes me smile, and I can't help but respond not with arrogance, but with raw truth.

"Ryu, your mastery of the dark side is useless if you let it blind you. Knowledge is also a weapon. In the Diarchy, that's what we value knowledge, skill, science, progress. Doesn't the Sith Code tell us to break our chains? That's why we remain calm in the midst of chaos. True mastery comes from control. And if you think you can defeat me, then give it your all but with mastery."

To show him an example, I take a step back and channel my ichor into my right hand, creating a massive ichor blast. I don't aim at him I fire beside him, destroying part of the training room in an explosion. All the sensors and alarms start blaring. Oops. Looks like I've triggered the Diarchy's alarm system. But it doesn't matter; no one will come. This is a duel at the top.

Once the ichor blast subsides just to give him a glimpse of my power I continue, this time on the offensive. I strike with vertical and horizontal blows, targeting different weak points shoulders, arms, back alternating between Shii-Cho and Soresu to conserve energy. My strikes are strong, returning blow for blow what he gave me, but slow enough for him to block or dodge them all.

"You know, Ryu, I don't hate you. In fact, you fascinate me. You obsess me, completely. You represent everything I'm not a guardian, disciplined, strong, ancient… You and I, we're not from the same world. Don't they say opposites attract?"

The Diarchy has always valued those who, like me, dare to break boundaries and offer something new. My master, Diarch Rellik, understood that perfectly that's why we've always walked side by side. We don't follow the classic Sith path, but a free one. Free in our choices, our actions, our movements. And I intend to awaken that in you, Ryu.

"Why do you hate me? Tell me."

I keep striking, and one of my blows hits the ground beside Ryu, causing a fissure and a violent shockwave. I'm no longer holding back either. I moove backward, and i place my sword in guard now. I am ready to facehim.

Ryu Jung