First Reply Tomb Raider - Fallen Dynasty

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's jaw tightened as the wraith's laughter echoed through the chamber, its voice curling around her like smoke. She had expected it to resist — had known it would never surrender so easily. But the moment its form twisted forward, its attack lashing out like a blade through the darkness, she felt the shift in the air.

"Valery, get back!"

Mak's warning rang out, sharp and urgent, and she moved on instinct. A sudden dash to the side, her body twisting just in time. But not entirely. The wraith's attack sliced through the air, a cold and unnatural force skimming just close enough that strands of Valery's long bangs drifted weightlessly to the stone floor.

Her fiery eyes flicked toward them, then back to the wraith.

It had made its choice.

With a sharp snap-hiss, her violet blade ignited, casting a brilliant glow that clashed against the wraith's swirling form. "Physical attacks won't be enough," she called out to Mak, her voice steady despite the tension thickening around them. "These things don't just die — they have to be purged."

Her stance shifted, the Force pooling within her, light crackling like fire in her veins. The wraith had fed on darkness for far too long. Now, it would feel the opposite.

"Let's show it the strength of the Light."

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Before Valery could finish her words, Mak charged forward, igniting both of his lightsabers with a blazing hiss. The dual blades flared to life, brilliant green cutting through the darkness that cloaked the wraith like a shroud. Without hesitation, he lunged at the wraith, channeling the intensity of his presence through the Force.

As he closed the distance, the wraith twisted, its shadowy tendrils swirling in an attempt to evade him. However, he was relentless, spinning in a fluid motion, his blades whirling like a cyclone of green light. He anticipated its evasive maneuvers, feeling where it intended to shift, and adapted his strikes accordingly. The air crackled with energy as he moved, determination fueling every blade stroke.

Mak swept low, cleaving through the shadows with a precise arc of his lightsabers. The wraith shrieked, a high-pitched sound that filled the chamber, but it wasn't enough to deter Mak. He pressed forward, driving the attack, pushing against the wraith's swirling form, determined to sever it from whatever connection it had to the darkness.

The wraith retaliated, sending black tendrils snaking toward Mak, attempting to ensnare him, but he danced around them, his lightsabers creating a protective barrier of light. He felt the darkness trying to pull him in, to cloud his mind with despair, but he stood firm against it, channeling his own light through the Force.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery didn't move to attack immediately. Instead, she let Mak take the lead, watching as his twin sabers carved through the wraith's shifting form, forcing it back with relentless precision. His movements were swift, calculated — a whirlwind of green light cleaving through the darkness. But even with his skill, she could feel it resisting.

This thing wasn't just a creature. It was a wound. A scar left behind by too much darkness, too much pain. It would take more than sabers to undo it.

So she took a step back, centering herself.

The Force surged around her, heat coiling in her chest, light crackling through her veins. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her saber, but she didn't strike — not yet. Instead, she closed her eyes for just a breath, letting the energy build, letting it burn brighter and brighter until it radiated outward in shimmering waves.

Then, as Mak moved in for another strike, Valery raised her free hand and unleashed it.

A brilliant blast of pure, blinding light erupted from her palm, slamming into the wraith. The creature shrieked — a sound that cut through the air like shattered glass — its shadowed form writhing as the Light seared through it, unraveling the darkness at its core. The tendrils it had been lashing toward Mak withered in an instant, recoiling as if burned.

"Now, Mak!" Valery called, her fiery gaze locked on the creature. "Finish it!"

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak was already moving, empowered by the brilliant surge of light that Valery had unleashed. He could feel the wraith's dark essence twisting and warping under the ferocious assault of purity. The shriek it let out echoed through the chamber, reverberating with anguish, and for an instant, the oppressive darkness lifted like a heavy fog, revealing the creature's true nature — grotesque and distorted.

Seizing the moment, he lunged forward, his twin lightsabers ignited, the blades slicing through the air like twin crescents of impending doom. The moment he closed the gap, he aimed for the heart of the wraith, honing in on the pulsing core of shadow that flickered at its center, a malignant mass of darkness straining to hold itself together.

As the dual sabers pierced through the wraith's form, a shockwave of radiant energy exploded outward, illuminating the chamber in a cascade of light that chased away the lingering shadows. The wraith contorted violently in response, shrieking one last time as the searing brilliance cut through the murky veil of its existence.

Light flooded every crevice of the chamber, enveloping the wraith as it disintegrated before their eyes, the essence of darkness flickering like an extinguished flame. The figures in the ancient carvings seemed to watch, the air full of an unsettling silence following the turmoil.

With the final remnants of the wraith dissipating into the ether, Mak deactivated his lightsabers, the green blades behind him fading into calm. He stood for a moment in the radiance that Valery's explosion had created, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"You were spectacular, Valery... I don't think I would've been able to do it without you. Yet, all that for nothing. I'm still no closer to finding out Malic's plans..."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery stood amidst the fading light, the last embers of the wraith's presence dissipating into dust and silence. Her chest rose and fell slowly, the aftershock of channeling so much of the Force still humming in her limbs. But it was done. The darkness that had lingered here — poisoning the air, corrupting the land — was gone.

She let out a slow, steadying breath and turned to Mak, her saber lowering but still active, the violet blade buzzing softly in the heavy quiet.

"Not for nothing," she said, her voice quiet but certain.

Her gaze found his, "We may not have found exactly what he's after yet, but this?" She gestured around them — to the now-cleansed chamber, to the lingering burn of Light still radiating through the stone. "This was a piece of his trail. And every time we follow it, we get closer."

Her saber finally deactivated with a soft hiss, the glow vanishing from her hand as she clipped it back to her belt. She stepped toward him, a faint but genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"We'll find him, Mak. Together. You're not doing this alone."

A pause.

"And when we do," her expression hardened just slightly — not with anger, but with resolve, "He won't be ready for us."

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

The echoes of the chamber faded, the remnants of light still lingering in the edges of Mak's awareness as he stood in the aftermath of their confrontation. Though he could sense the victory they had achieved against the wraith, a deeper shadow clung to his thoughts, one that transcended the battle they had just fought.

He felt Valery's presence nearby, her warmth radiating confidence and strength, but for Mak, the weight of history and haunting memories pressed down upon him like a suffocating blanket. He was acutely aware of the burden he carried — the years spent in pursuit of Malic, the countless failures and losses that had haunted him.

With a slow exhale, Mak's gaze grew distant, staring beyond the remnants of the ancient tomb, his mind drifting to the countless encounters he'd had with the dark entity that had lingered like a specter at the edges of his existence. Time stretched around him, and as Valery's voice faded into the background, the rhythmic pulse of the Force became a distant hum.

Jedi Temple
Mak's Quarters - Bottom of the Temple

After they had finished, they had spent more time examining the chamber, looking for any clues or presence of the Dark Side, but there had been nothing. They had simply returned to the Temple, with a group of Jedi to go back to the chambers and further study and investigate.

A glass of Corellian scotch rested on the table beside him, the amber liquid swirling softly as he lifted it to his lips. The burn of alcohol slid down his throat, numbing just enough to quiet the chaos swirling in his mind.

The wraith, its haunting visage, and the weight of its connection to Malic had settled deep within him, a churning unrest. He had thought they would get closer to answers, but instead, the shadows had only grown darker, more convoluted.

Staring at the door, he was now waiting for Valery to come, after he had asked her to visit his room when she had a chance.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

The door to Mak's quarters opened with a soft hiss, and Valery stepped through quietly. She paused just inside, eyes sweeping the familiar room. It was modest — utilitarian, like most Jedi quarters — but there was something about it tonight that felt heavier. As if the walls had soaked in the same ghosts lingering behind Mak's eyes.

Her gaze found him seated near the table, glass in hand, shadows painting sharp lines across his face. The scotch glinted in the low light, casting a muted amber glow that somehow felt more like mourning than indulgence. Valery didn't say anything right away. She just took him in — the distant look, the tension in his shoulders, the weight he carried like an old friend too familiar to set down.

Then, with quiet footsteps, she crossed the room and lowered herself into the seat across from him.

"You look like you've been arguing with your own thoughts again," she said softly, offering the faintest hint of a smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her hands folded in her lap, patient but steady. "I figured that drink meant something was weighing on you."

A beat passed.

"What happened in that tomb is still on your mind, hm?"

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak poured a glass of scotch for Valery, the amber liquid shimmering in the dim light of his quarters before he set it gently in front of her. His own glass was already halfway empty, remnants swirling as he downed the last of it and poured another, feeling the familiar burn settle within him.

He took a moment, gathering his thoughts, as Valery's presence filled the space between them, a steady force that both grounded him and offered a glimpse of warmth in the cold shadow of the lingering darkness.

"It's not just what happened in the tomb," he began, his voice low and strained. "That wraith was a fragment of something far larger, a harbinger of Malic's ambitions. It's what he represents — a relentless darkness that has haunted me for decades. And for the first time in a long time, I feel as if I've merely scratched the surface of what he truly desires."

He paused, the weight of their previous encounter echoing in his mind. The relentless stare of the wraith, its mocking laughter still rattling along the edges of his thoughts. It felt almost personal, a reminder of all the ways he had failed to stop the darkness from consuming the galaxy.

"Every time I think I can draw closer to discovering his plan, I only find more questions. I can't shake the feeling that he's always watching, always waiting, like a predator ready to strike."

A heavy sigh escaped him, his eyes drifting to the unlit fireplace.

"You and I," he continued, "we've faced shadows before, but this is different. I can't allow you to be caught in Malic's grasp, not like so many others. You deserve better than to be swept up in this storm of darkness."

"Malic... Malic is capable of great horrors, Valery. His influence seeping into the hearts of those around him, corrupting everything he touches. Lives lost, friends turned into enemies... I fear I have allowed this darkness to flourish in the galaxy, whether intentionally or not."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery accepted the glass, her fingers curling gently around the cool crystal. But she didn't drink — not yet. Her eyes stayed on Mak, watching the way the firelight caught in the hard edges of his expression, the wear in his voice. She let the silence stretch, let his words settle.

Then, she spoke softly, "Do you always do this?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head, "Try to carry these alone." Her gaze lowered briefly to the untouched scotch, then back to him — steady, clear, and unwavering.

"I know you're trying to protect people around you, Mak. And I understand why. But this—" she gestured slightly with the glass, as if encompassing not just the tomb, but the shadow looming beyond it, "—this is bigger than either of us. Malic isn't just your burden. Not anymore." A breath passed between them, calm and sure.

"I chose this path. Same as you. And I won't step away just because it's dangerous. This is my duty and I'm going to do what I must to help you end this threat."

Finally, she took a sip from the scotch, and immediately her nose scrunched up a little.

She wasn't used to strong drinks.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak chuckled softly at Valery's reaction to the scotch, a small, genuine smile breaking through the weight of their earlier conversation. "You'll have to drink it a few more times before it starts to taste good," he said, his tone lightening, the flicker of warmth in his voice momentarily dispelling the shadows that lingered.

Mak's gaze lingered on Valery for a moment, her words piercing through the veil of his thoughts and touching on a raw nerve. He felt a mix of emotions: gratitude, relief, and a hint of frustration. It was a familiar feeling, one he'd grown accustomed to over the years, but it still caught him off guard.

For a moment, he simply stared, his eyes drinking in the sight of her, her determination and conviction radiating like a beacon in the dim light of his quarters. Then, with a deep sigh, he nodded, the gesture almost automatic.

"Alright," he said, his voice low and measured. "We'll do it together..."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery arched a brow at Mak's sigh and nod, a quiet smirk playing on her lips as she leaned back slightly in her seat. She took another sip of the scotch — bold, brave, foolish — and instantly let out a quiet grumble, her face scrunching up again as the burn rolled down her throat.

"Stars," she muttered, giving the glass a judgmental side-eye. "Still awful." She set it down carefully on the nearby table and exhaled, the smirk lingering as she looked over at him again.

"Good," she said, voice warm but firm. "Because I'm pretty stubborn. I wouldn't have accepted no for an answer anyway." There was a spark in her eyes now — not just the firelight, but resolute. The kind of conviction that had carried her through wars, trials, and the long weight of leadership. And yet, in this moment, she let her shoulders ease just slightly, some of the tension rolling off her frame.

For a breath or two, she allowed herself to relax. "The scotch isn't really my thing, though," she added with a soft chuckle. "Alderaanian red wine is more my speed." She picked up the glass again, rolling it between her fingers, but made no move to drink. Then her expression shifted — not harder, but focused, thoughtful.

"I'm planning to reach out to others," she said. "People we trust. Jedi who've stood against darkness before. Malic is too dangerous for any one of us to face alone, and we don't need to take the risk." Her gaze met his again, steady and sure. "Our strength has never just been in the Force. It's in the unity we build. The connections we forge. That's how we'll stop him."

A quiet pause, then a small, fond smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

She was ready.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

When she finished speaking, a quiet moment hung between them — the crackle of energy still in the air, but now tinged with possibilities. The weight of the shadow that had clouded Mak's thoughts felt lighter, pushed back by the brightness of her conviction.

After a moment of silent reflection, he finally spoke, his voice gentler now, touched by the warmth of camaraderie. "Valery," he said softly, "I want to thank you."

He leaned back slightly, offering her a reassuring smile. "I'm glad you're here with me on this path. I hope you'll take the night to recharge, gather your thoughts, and spend time with your family."

His expression turned earnest, the deep lines of worry softening just a fraction. "You have my utmost respect, Grandmaster. I truly hope you get a good night's rest."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Adventure outfit
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's smile softened as he spoke, the weight in his voice easing into something quieter — something gentler. She let it settle around them, savoring the stillness that followed, the peace that had been carved out between shadows.

"Thank you, Mak," she said after a moment, her voice warm. "For trusting me." She glanced down briefly at the drink still resting in her hand and gave it one final, dismissive look before pushing it aside for good. "Never again," she muttered with a smirk, then leaned back in her seat, gaze drifting toward the soft glow of the room's lights.

"My husband's already started sending me pictures," she added, a quiet chuckle rising in her chest. "Eryx fell asleep halfway through dinner, Aeryn apparently turned the living room into a pillow fortress, and Aurra refuses to go to bed until I'm home to tuck her in." Her eyes sparkled with fondness as she looked back at him.

She exhaled slowly, the exhaustion from earlier melting into something softer — not weariness, but contentment. "But I'm also glad I came here. That we met." Her gaze lingered on him for a beat. "You're not just a Jedi I respect. I consider you a friend. And I'm looking forward to working together more closely."

With that, she rose to her feet, smoothing down her tunic and offering a small, tired but genuine smile.

"Get some rest too. We've got a long road ahead of us." Then she turned, heading for the door — back toward the night, the stars, and the little lives waiting at home.

Mak Manto ​

 

[Mak Manto]

Mak watched Valery as she spoke about her children, her face lighting up with a warmth that transformed the room. It was a flicker of sunlight in the heavy shadows, and he couldn't help but smile back, caught up in the joy she radiated at the mere mention of them. They were her heart, her undeniable light, and as she spoke, the calm of their conversation reassured him that, despite the darkness lurking in the galaxy, there was still hope for a brighter future.

But as she turned to leave, taking that light with her, a different weight settled on him. The smile faded as the familiar turmoil returned, rolling like dark clouds over his thoughts. He reached for the bottle of scotch, uncorking it and taking a generous swig, the warmth spreading through him like a fleeting comfort.

As he slithered over to the fireplace, he felt the heat radiating and tried to draw it in, letting the flames flicker against his damp skin. But the warmth was fleeting; it wasn't enough to drown out the tempest swirling within. Memories of battles lost, of friends killed, of endless spirals of despair overwhelmed him. The shadows pressed in once more, whispering doubts and fears too familiar to ignore.

Suddenly, rage ignited, a fierce blaze that eclipsed the earlier tranquility. With a primal shout that echoed against the walls of his quarters, Mak hurled the half-empty bottle of scotch into the fireplace. Glass shattered against the stone, shards tumbling into the flames as the alcohol ignited, drawing fiery licks upward. The crackle of glass and fire intertwined with his furious breath, a raw surge of emotion bursting to the surface.

His anger boiled in the hearth of the fireplace, an explosion of energy that momentarily cleared the shadows in his mind. Each snap and pop of the flames mirrored the fury that roared within him, and he stood there, fists clenched, muscles tensed, willing the storm inside to calm.
With a deep, steadying breath, Mak slithered back to his chair, the heat of the fireplace still warm against his skin but no longer igniting the flames of his anger. The moment of rage had passed, leaving behind a lingering ache in its wake — a reminder of everything he was fighting for.

He reached for his holocron, its smooth surface cool beneath his fingertips as he activated it. A soft hum filled the air, and the miniature projection of himself appeared in a flicker of blue energy, a gatekeeper to the memories and knowledge contained within.

"How can I help you, Mak?"

"Activate the visual database. Bring up the photo of Zana, Zeven and Zayla on Dathomir please..."

The holographic image flickered and shifted, the miniature Mak nodding before projecting an image into the air before him. The soft glow cast a gentle light in the dim room, illuminating the faces of his daughter and grandchildren, their features clear and full of life. Zana, his daughter, was laughing as she held Zeven and Zalya who both had grins on their face. His grandchildren looked so happy as they sat by their mother.

Time seemed to blur, and for those moments, he allowed the world around him to fade away. The burdens of leadership, the threats from shadows, and the looming darkness of Malic all receded.

With a quiet resolve, he reached out to deactivate the holocron, but not before casting one last lingering glance at the image, the photo in the shadows that reminded him of what was truly worth fighting for.