The Flame Within (Asteria deWinter)

[Darth Ferus]

It had been quite some time sense the Zabrak last learned how to unlock the elements. He sat upon his ship, idly playing with a small sphere of sand he had created. The Earth was something he found close to himself. Something he bonded with. But there was more he wanted, more of the elements. More specifically, Fire. He typed up on his keypad, already searching for his old master. The woman wasn't hard to find, Lady deWinter had quite the popularity, even with all of her sisters. He commed in, waiting for a response now.

Today he would learn Fire.

Asteria deWinter

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Spira, Red Lady Establishment
@Krest

Within her office, Lady deWinter was doing her job, going over last weeks' finances with her assistant Jessa at her side. While the month was still not over, the blonde preferred doing it week for week so it wouldn't swamp her at the end of the month. She was currently mulling over one of her Red Ladies who didn't have a high count as some of the other ones and considering her place in the food chain, that would just not do. "We'll talk to her. This isn't a charity organization," she finally decided and looked up at the brunette across the desk from her. Jessa merely nodded in agreement. Asteria ran a tight shift, no slackers would be tolerated. If this one didn't do her job, she'd be bumped down. And if that didn't help, the girl would be stuck doing the maid job. And if that still didn't work, there was only one thing to do which no Red Lady wanted considering the company also ensured their future.

Before she had moved on to the next one, her communicator went off. Without looking at it, Asteria pressed the answer button. "Yes?" She merely asked, switching to the next employee on her list.

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Asteria deWinter"]

"Ah, there you are." His voice was much raspier then before, but it was still similar to what it was. Behind him his droid pilot started to bring the ship to life. With Asteria on the line, the droid new it's master would want to leave soon.

"It is as you said. I want to learn more Lady deWinter."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Asteria's eyes slowly rose while her head remained lowered, staring at Jessa who was looking back at her, slightly confused. There she was? Disrespect was what it was. First sharing her name with that the girl, now this.

Then more. He wants to learn more? Odd that he even used her proper title after that. Jessa knew the woman enough to dart her eyes elsewhere right now. When she did that, she missed a flash of anger in Asteria's eyes, as if fire flashing through ice for a mere second. "Krest." She said, her tone an octave icier than it normally was. "Where shall we do this?" The blatant disrespect had no business being discussed through the communicator.

@Krest

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Asteria deWinter"]

"Why not the same place as before." The Zabrak waved to his droid, who immediately punched in the coordinators to Naboo. Ferus had no intention on being disrespectful, but he had no idea where she was or what she was doing. In truth he figured he was coming across as friendly, or something close to it. It wouldn't be until he met her face to face he would find out it seems.

"I'll meet you there."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Why not the same place as before? "How about no." The blonde responded in an instant. She had no reason to go to Naboo right now. And she certainly wasn't going to travel that far for one Zabrak.

"Corellia." Came out of her mouth then. Somewhere in her calender was a note on her needing to go to Coronet. While the date was not set, the blonde remembered it easily and thus chose it.

Her finger hovered over the button for a few seconds as she said: "I will see you there." And then she pressed the button, hanging up the call. Her fingers moved over the screen then, cellecting the Ice Princess. The link was established within moments: "Ready the ship, Simon. We're going to Corellia." Hanging up she heard a simple 'Understood' in the background from her droid before the line went dead.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Asteria deWinter"]

The Zabrak blinked for a moment, but nodded slowly. As the holochat went out he moved to his own cockpit, waving to the droid. "Change of plans. To Corellia." The droid only nodded, punching in the coordinates. The two would be off in a flash of streaking lights soon as they left planet side, and Ferus was more then impatient to see Lady deWinter once again.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

With the conversation over, Asteria stood and looked at her assistant. "Finish on your end, I'll review them once I return," she ordered and received a nod in response. The blonde left the moment after, headed for her ship.

By the time she had reached it, parking her speeder in the cargo area, Simon was already there, his large index finger pressing into a button which closed the cargo doors behind her. Asteria look at him for a second and left for the cockpit, punching in the destination for the planet her father was born on. This was the only part her droid could not do, his shape and fingers inadequate to punch the commands in or even pilot the ship. He arrived eventually, standing not too far from the instruments to watch them.

Asteria sat down in her seat, getting them off the group as soon as the spaceport personnel cleared them, rising above ground levels and then breaking out of atmosphere. Once in space, she double checked the coordinates and activated hyperspace. Once in it, she merely leaned back. Another eighteen hours until she got there.

~*~​

Those long hours moved fast enough once the blonde had picked up one of her old books, reading it for the rest of the journey. When she closed the covers, Simon's voice came through the ship's comms: 'We'll be there in half an hour.' She returned the book to its place and look at the communication set, using her Telekinesis to press and hold the button. "Thank you, Simon," she said from her distance and released herself from her connection to the Force. In the remaining time left to her, lady deWinter got herself a shower and dressed into another outfit. What she chose was somewhat peculiar even for her, a combination she hadn't put in in years. But perhaps it was just right. Even she needed a short break from her dresses.

Once ready, she returned to the cockpit and took her seat again. She checked the time and once it was time, exited hyperspace. The planet came into view then. The sight of it actually managed to bring a small smile to her face. She descended into the planet then, slowly landing the Ice Princess to the spacepart once given clearance. Once settled down firmly, she shut off the engine and leaned back, letting herself sit there for a brief time while she waited for Krest to contact her again.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

It wasn't long until the Zabrak made it to Corellia himself. All the while he sat in the room, quietly meditating in his own room. He poundered on eachings he already had, about the Earth, feeling the minerals. How would he feel the flame? Yes, fire was his next goal. His robot woke him from his state, shaking his shoulder lightly.

"We've arived master." His pale blue eyes opened as he glanced to his electronic pilot. He only nodded once before standing up, grasping Deus in his hand. He looked over the sheathed blade slowly, thinking. His blade assisted him with the elements, he felt the Earth surge through it's metal as he called upon the dirt. A hint of a smile showed on his face before he strapped the blade to his waist, moving out of his personal chambers. He tapped up a frequency on his wrist com, calling for the Lady deWinter.

"I have arrived, where shall we meet?" His ship was still in orbit, waiting for a destination.

[member="Asteria deWinter"]

 

[Asteria deWinter]

When the voice gone through the comm, it was heard by both Asteria and her droid. She had left it at the back of the cockpit and when she didn't move, her turquoise eyes focused on the ceiling, Simon slowly made his way to the device. Carefully, his large index finger pressed the answer button and spoke only the information Asteria had shared him during their long travel. 'Lady deWinter wishes to see the Golden Beaches.' While the blonde had been to the world from where the Starkillers had originated before, she hadn't seen too much just yet and somehow, when the Elements were in question, the wonder of the planet seemed rather fitting.

Her gaze shifted from the ceiling as Simon removed his finger from the button and walked over to her. 'I've told him,' he informed her even though it was a completely obvious statement. Asteria turned her head slowly and opened her mouth to speak but before she could, the droid responded: 'You will take the speeder. I will secure the Ice Princess.' She smiled a little at the large head of her metal minion and stood, calling her the comlink device and her purse to her through telekinesis. Once they were beside her, she took them in her hand and put the device inside and left the droid in the cockpit, heading to the cargo bay.

Reaching the large space and the speeder, she got on it, place her purse where it would be safe and waved her head, focusing on the panel which controlled the doors, opening them. Then she was off, focusing another second at the panel, closing the doors behind her and continued to drive to her destination.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The droid pilot would land before the Zabrak said anything, causing a grin to form on the Darth's face. It didn't take long for them to station close to the Golden Beaches themselves. He would exit his ship without a word to the droid, slowly making his way to the beech. He would walk, taking his time to meet [member="Asteria deWinter"] , his mind running over the many different questions he wanted to ask her.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

When she had arrived to the Golden Beaches, her sense of time told her it was a longer trip than she had anticipated at first. That didn't bode well with her female, her mind giving her small flashbacks to the bad mood she had entered in the office. What had angered her.

Those thoughts made her speed up the round vehicle and ride into the beach, stopping the engine when she was so close to the water. Getting off to the side, Asteria didn't look around the area, instead closed her eyes and concentrated on the Force, calling it to her. Almost instantly, her Sense had come to her, letting feel the life around her. This part of the beach was mostly empty though there were some people further away, far enough to not bother her.

It took her a moment or two more to locate the signature of the Zabrak through the Force. He moving in her direction though slowly. She waited, quietly, not letting go of the Force in that time. When she had felt him in a much smaller distance than before, she turned and opened her eyes. She could see him now. 'Krest,' she spoke to his mind through the Force and raise her right hand, channeling the Force through it, reaching out. The Force, acting as her hand flew through the air, to the red skinned man and found his neck. Her hand mimicked what she wished the Force to though, wrapping around thin air as the Force at her command wrapped around the man's neck and began to show choke him, weakly. Again, she spoke to his telepathically, the tone of her voice more icy than normal. 'Remember that you owe me, Zabrak, not the other way around. Show some respect for your teacher.'

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ferus walked through the sandy beach, unsure on where exactly [member="Asteria deWinter"] was. But he could feel her, feel her signature and it didn't take long for him finally see the woman. She spoke in his head, a name he did not go by anymore. That was something he would have to explain, but before he could even think on how he felt the pressure on his throat. Squeezing. At first he assumed there was another. Another Force User close by. His head spun as he scanned the area, trying to find the assailant.

'Remember that you owe me, Zabrak, not the other way around. Show some respect for your teacher.'

The Darth blinked for a moment, slowly turning his gaze to Asteria. So it was her who was chocking him? He kept still, every part of him wanting to resist. Every part wanting to attack. But he couldn't, not with what she could teach him. Not with the blood pact. Even with his fall honor was still something he adhered to, and only because of it he stayed still. He responded to her in turn, his dead eyes watching.

'I was not attempting to disrespect you Lady deWinter. If I had, I apologize.'

 

[Asteria deWinter]

The blonde registered his voice inside her mind, the apology though clearly he didn't know exactly why he was apologizing. 'Always be mindful of the words you speak', she sent to him again and after that thought, her fingers spread as she released the hold around his neck.

She turned on her heal then, her gaze focusing on the sight that was much talked about through the galaxy and crossed her arms underneath her chest. Her connection to the Force remained open, her Sense keeping an eye on [member="Darth Ferus"]. Now he could come to her.

 

[Darth Ferus]

He fell from the grasp, lighting rubbing his throat with a frown. Yes, he was going to have to watch his words around [member="Asteria deWinter"] , but for now he would learn. Ferus moved to the blonde, bowing his head as he approached her side. Humility might get him somewhere at least.

"Again, my apologies."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Through the Force, she felt him approach her after a bit. With the corner of her eye, she registered him lowering his head before she heard the verbal apology.

"What is it that you wish to learn this time, Krest?" She asked, silently declaring the subject closed. It had been discussed through choking through the Force and exchange of thoughts. She had nothing more to say and hopefully [member="Darth Ferus"] would remember about it in the future.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Fire." With the other subject closed he would answer [member="Asteria deWinter"] simply. His ultimate girl was to learn all the elements, but one at a time was what she had originally told him. He rubbed the burned in scars around his neck, a frown clear on his face. His current master gave them to him with his own fire, forever scarring his voice in the process. His icy blue gaze would turn to look to the ocean, he remaining quiet.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

He wanted to learn the element of Fire today. Kayla thought about it for a moment, still not looking at him. Fire was an interesting element to describe. "Someone who doesn't understand the power of Fire would have you believe that it is quite limited in comparison to other elements. However, if you are truly able to manipulate the Element, you will learn that it is in fact limitless." An element to manipulate into one's heart desire to use at weapon and an then an element to create out of nothing.

"Before you can learn,thought, you must understand this. Fire is more dangerous to the caster than any other element. Until your mind truly identifies it as his own, as part of him, it can hurt you." As she spoke she concentrated, uncrossing her arms so she could lift her left hand up. She called upon the element as same as she called upon the ice now, having accepted it as part of herself.

Through the Force, she had felt the element rise from deep within her. And then, as she outstretched her fingers and explosed the back of arm, the flames covered it. She felt the warmth of the power but it did not burn her. "At this level, same as with Earth, you only get to manipulate the flames. And since there are none around us," Asteria pointed out as she turned around, outstretching the hand on fire somewhat closer to him, "you will have to use this."

For someone who considered themselves to be of ice, Asteria was incredibly comfortable with the Element of Fire. She came from Fire, as odd it seemed, both her father and aunt naturally possessing this gift same as she did from ice and her mother from air. But unlike Elements that one naturally posessed the potential to control, the learned elements were always easier to explain. "See the Fire, feel the power. Don't rush into trying to manipulate but instead try to understand it and see about controling a portial of the existing flames."

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ferus nodded slowly, watching as [member="Asteria deWinter"] 's arms became cloaked in flame. He watched in a sense of almost awe. Almost. He moved close to the fire, gazing into the depths of the flickering light, unfocused on anything else. Feel the power. He reached out with the Force, touching the flame, reaching into it's wispy fingers, if only to truly feel them. He felt the heat, the all consuming hunger it had to grow, to spread.

He reached his own hand out, calling the flame to himself. It leached out slowly, crawling through the air to his robotic hand. At first there was pain, a searing heat as the fire began to melt his flesh. But the pain receiver's in his hand shut down, allowing him to focus on the flame again, allowing it to crawl over his flesh, searing the red skin along the way. He kept quite, trying to create a barrier between his flesh and the flame, to keep himself from continuing to burn. But the more he tried, the darker his skin got, burning away from the heat. The Darth frowned for a moment, still trying to work the flame before he remembered.

"Before you can learn, though, you must understand this. Fire is more dangerous to the caster than any other element. Until your mind truly identifies it as his own, as part of him, it can hurt you." He blinked in understanding at the words Lady deWinter had spoken. The flame would have to be his, part of him. Through this understanding he gradually accepted the flame into his arm, allowing it to breath through his flesh. His skin slowly stopped burning away, and he gradually turned his pain receptors back on in his arm, feeling the heat. There was no more pain, just the dull heat itself as he smiled, allowing the flame to move more over his body.

Basics. He figured this one out at least.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

[member="Darth Ferus"] went into his task as eagerly as he had done the first time, reaching towards the flames around her hand quickly. Calling to fire to him was an easy task compared to what followed so Asteria didn't react to it.

She found it strange though when he didn't react as he should have, especially when her turquoise eyes noticed the red skin darken. For a moment, Asteria kept watching but that only lasted for a brief moment after which she was ready to retract the power. How he had overcome the pain and yet it continued to burn was what bothered her at that moment. But before she pulled away, his skin stopped getting any blacker.

And she knew, he had done it, before even looking up to see him smiling. "Good," a simple word to acknowledge his progress exited her lips.

Her hand moved away from her clothes as she let the flames raise to her elbow but no further because what she had on her wasn't resistant to the heat. Now that the fire had spread, flames rising upward from diagonally placed hand, the blonde lowered her chin slightly. One could say this was a sort of test. Asteria wanted Krest to figure out what came next. It was incredibly simple but also with infinite options which is what tended to confuse most people about the element.