Private Welcome Back, O Sleeping Dreamer

[Revna]

The time had come.

After agonizing and weighing over the decision set before her, the choice she had to make - Revna had finally reached the point where she stood on that dangerous edge, looking into the darkness of the abyss, the shadows of the unknown.

There was so much to lose.

And yet so much to gain.

The only thing stopping her? Her willingness to make the necessary sacrifices - things that might be asked of her that she had no inclination of as of yet. It was a great risk, and she knew that if she stepped off that ledge, she could be damning herself. But the reward could make it all worth it in the end. For what Sith would turn down a chance to grow their power?

Revna’s drive to become more than what she was now, as a Sith, made her consider the offer extended to her by Darth Carnifex. Some time had passed since their first meeting; and she had sought counsel from the only woman she truly trusted, the Sith Empress Srina Talon , as she knew this was not a decision she could make lightly.

If she turned down his offer to have him show her the path to true power, then she could suffer for it. If she accepted, then she would no doubt suffer for that as well. It was a damned if she did, and a damned if she didn’t. While Lady Talon had said her piece, ultimately it was Revna’s choice in the end, and no one could make that decision for her.

She was already learning harsh, but no less important, lessons under Darth Prazutis. Why not also learn from the other Dark Lord while she was held captive within their monstrous Malsheem? She would be incredibly foolish to waste her time, and her insatiable hunger to learn and absorb all the knowledge she could would not allow her to be idle. Her Master may never understand, and indeed he may never forgive her if he learned the truth.

But if that was a sacrifice she had to pay to grow in her power, then so be it.

So the little Sith woman waited until someone came to her quarters, her prison cell really as she wasn’t allowed to leave and roam on her own accord even though she was a “guest”, and she asked if Carnifex could be informed that she had come to a decision on his offer.

And then she bided her time and waited for when the Dark Lord was ready to see her.

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

They came for her sometime later. Black-robed guards, unrecognizable through their harrowing visage of black cloth and burnished metal, withdrew Revna from her cell with a gesture.

As they led her through the cavernous interior of the Malsheem, she bore witness to grand wonders unlike any she saw before. Sprawling cityscapes that seemed to stretched on into a distant horizon that bent and bowed with the curvature of the station. Railcrawlers as wide as city plazas and longer than most skyscrapers passed by, carrying innumerable cargo from the bowels of the station to the outer manufacturing plants. Endless columns of soldiers marched along boulevards wide enough to park star destroyers, identical troopers marching in perfect synchronicity to the direction of their overseers.

But it was the grant monument that stretched up before her that would outshine them all. A grand spire stretching from the deepest pits to the highest roofs, wrought of obsidian and crystal, radiating the Dark Side like heat from an open furnace. The guards led her inside, the entryway so monstrously wide she could scarcely see either side. But as they delved deeper, the corridors became narrower; larger than she was accustomed to, but more befitting the stature of those who had imprisoned her.

The place that she would meet the Dark Lord was no ominous throne room, laden with the trophies of endless spoils. Rather, it was a massive garden, a forest in its own right. Hundreds of thousands of plants were arranged and maintained by a dutiful staff of horticulturists. At the grand garden's center was a stone pavilion, raised above the ground so that one could see in every direction almost unimpeded. The sound of children laughing could be heard nearby, but Revna could not see them.

At the pavilion's center, seated upon a bench of polished wood, was the Dark Lord of the Sith. He had been reduced of His finery, wearing only a simple tunic and trousers cinched at the waist by a sash. His feet were bare, resting against the cool marble. He watched her curiously as she approached, the guards breaking off to stand a fair distance away so they could speak alone.

"I hear you've made a decision. What is it you have chosen?"

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

She had expected to be taken to the Shadow Hand to resume her training that day, but when no one came to fetch her from her quarters at the normal time, Revna knew that something else was planned for her that day. She spent the extra time in meditation, building upon the foundations that her Master had taught her thus far, crackling arcs of violet lightning dancing between her fingers as she felt the dark power move and twist through her as it radiated from her like a cold fog.

It was her favorite thing to do when she meditated; it gave her something to do as she let herself drift in the void to listen to the dark whispers beyond. And now that her connection with the Dark side had been deepened, those whispers felt louder and closer.

She yearned for them to be as clear voices in her mind, revealing secrets and mysteries to her.

Something to strive for, to reach for.

But her meditations did bear dark fruit, despite the seducing whispers that seemed reluctant to lend her their secrets. Power was there for her to grasp, to take - she only needed to reach for it. It was far beyond anything else that surrounded her mortal self; the only constant that she should ever strive for. Though her heart and soul longed to connect bridges with others, the Darkness did not care for such things. It was the most bitter of truths that had been revealed to her yet, one she still struggled to accept.

The door to her spacious quarters slid open with a hiss, and her eyes snapped open to see a grouping of dark robed and armored guards.

“Lord Carnifex will see you now. Come.” came the sharp voice of one, declaring their purpose for intruding upon her space. Normally, Revna was not bothered by others when she meditated unless it was by the direct order of her Master. But she was afforded no such respect here, and she didn’t expect it.

The lightning in her hands fizzed out with an electrical pop and she rose to her feet with grace. She said nothing in response as she stepped towards the guardsmen, and allowed them to surround her as they escorted her onward.

The sight that Revna was treated to on her journey towards the Dark Lord was one that filled her with both a sense of awe - and a bleak sense of emptiness. Though a city full of life and industry and order spread out around her, it was a stark reminder to her of what she had lost. This was not the heart of the Formos Dresouti. It lacked the touch and presence of her High Priest, of all those who served him so willingly, and gave him all they had to offer.

…that was except for one thing, which was as familiar to the young Sith Apprentice as sunlight was upon her skin: the majesty and the radiance of the Dark side that shined forth from the blackened spire that drew her fiery gaze as she approached closer to it, her steps falling in line and tandem with those around her as she was taken past the yawning maw that led her within.

As she traversed further within the spire, she noticed the pathways becoming more narrow, as if designed for individuals living within instead of the massive cityscape beyond its obsidian walls. The pathways and passageways were larger than she was, but she was sharp of mind enough to recognize that someone of great stature - such as Darth Carnifex and his ilk - could pass through with comfort and ease, as if the place was designed for him and his kind.

She expected to be taken to a throne room; after all, it was within a throne room that she had first met Darth Prazutis. But much to Revna’s surprise, she was instead taken into a massive garden, beautifully upkept by dutiful gardeners who worked tirelessly to keep it as pleasing as possible. Floral scents filled Revna’s senses, and for the briefest of moments her mind flashed to a past memory, of when she worked alongside her mistress in the noblewoman’s gardens, the gentle sounds of a central fountain the only peace she had during her years in enslavement.

The small Sith woman was directed towards a stone pavilion, her ears catching the sounds of laughter from children who played somewhere within the forest of greenery. Had the pavilion not held the Dark Lord of the Kainate, the reminder to Revna of why she was here, she might have gotten lost in the idyllic sense of what surrounded her.

It was quite the contrast: the Butcher who had bathed in the blood of millions, who’s very being and essence was anathema to life itself - surrounded by its lushness and beauty as he seemed relaxed and without concern.

Her escort hung back as she came upon the pavilion itself, allowing her to carry forward on her own. And it took nerves of steel and a hardened resolve to take those steps.

Unlike the last time when Revna had faced the Dark Lord, there was no burning hate in her fiery gaze - only the fearlessness that made her stare down the storm. Perhaps foolishly, she did not bow before Darth Carnifex - though she did dip her gaze in a gesture of deference.

His voice carried through to her, direct and to the point, putting her on the spot to give him her response. A coldness drifted over her skin, and her pulse quickened and stuttered briefly in her chest. Her mind was blank for a moment, as she processed that she was here and what she was about to say.

The abyss loomed before her, and she could feel and hear the coaxing of the Darkness to take that singular step forward. Damned if she did…

And damned if she did not.

“If your offer still stands, Lord Carnifex, then it is my desire to take it.”

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He regarded her silently, not speaking for several moments after she had laid clear her intentions. Those eyes, swirling cores of molten copper suspended in an endless black sea, looked straight through her; the sensation not unlike being subjected to the scrutiny of a blinding spotlight. When His gaze shifted, the emptiness left behind from being bereft of His direct attention was like being thrust out into an icy tundra without clothing. There was little wonder in those who manically fought to catching fleeting glimpses of His awareness, for even Revna would feel a keen sense of absence despite her misgivings.

A young child approached, no more than half a decade old. Despite this, the boy's face was etched with an alertness that seemed far beyond his years, and he looked to the older Revna with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. He inspected her, assessing what danger she could pose, but ultimately turned back to look at the Dark Lord. Though he did not kneel, he did bow curtly at the waist.

"Grandfather," spoke the boy, "Cousin Volren struck me during play, so I struck him in return and now he has fallen unconscious."

Carnifex's expression did not change, but His displease was evident. "Struck once?"

Discomfort cascaded across the boy's face, color rising in his cheeks. "Thrice, grandfather."

Breathing out His nostrils, the Dark Lord then spoke again. "Alert the nursery gynoid of your cousin's condition. When he has awoken, you both shall present yourselves for summary lashings for causing discord. An extra five lashings will be meted out to Volren for his weakness in failing to capitalize his advantage of first blow. Let it be a reminder to the both of you, this garden is not for your squabbles. Should the incident repeat, I will instruct your punishment to be far more egregious. Am I to be understood?"

This time, the boy did kneel. More than that, he pressed his forehead against the cool stone in total obeisance. "Yes, grandfather. I beg for your forgiveness for the displeasure we have caused. It shall not happen again." With that, the boy spared one last look at Revna before disappearing the way he had come. After a moment, the Dark Lord rose from His bench and stood looming over the young Sith.

"Your acceptance is noted, apprentice Revna. It is welcomed. You will learn just as you shall suffer, for pain cannot be separated from enlightenment. The greatest knowledge can only be found at the edge of a blade, or from the stinging bite of a lash." He spoke that last segment with some manner of amusement in His voice. "Nothing that springs forth from this land comes easy, Revna, I know that you understand this. To be a Sith is to embrace our suffering, to bind it to our will, and to mete it out upon those who stand in our path."

"Now come, and take your first steps towards your future."

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

Revna stood still and silent as Darth Carnifex regarded her with his piercing, burning gaze. Though she felt discomfort come over her, she did not move a muscle or shift her features to show such a thing before the Dark Lord. But as the moments stretched by and she received no answer, she began to worry if he had decided to reject her acceptance.

...But if that had been the case, then he wouldn’t have agreed to speak with her. He would have ignored her, or told her he had rescinded his offer. Or at least, she hoped he would have told her such a thing. But she knew she would find out one way or the other soon enough.

Revna’s discomfort grew a bit more pronounced when the Dark Lord’s gaze shifted away from her. It was a strange sensation: she felt suddenly alone without that attention, but at the same time she felt relieved he was no longer staring holes through her; a small part of her wondered if he was aware and could see the traitorous shadow that resided within her.

Her gaze suddenly snapped towards a young child, a boy no more than ten standard years of age, who appeared from the dense garden and approached the platform. He studied Revna for a few moments, his expression a mixture of curiosity and caution, and she watched him in return with cool aloofness. The boy turned his attention to Darth Carnifex and bowed at the waist respectfully before addressing the Sith Lord, referring to him as grandfather.

Revna tilted her head slightly in piqued curiosity, and she listened in on the exchange between the two. It appeared that some sort of altercation had occurred between himself and another boy somewhere beyond, and the young Sith woman couldn’t help but be reminded of her own younger brother and his antics. Veradun had never been shy at giving out his own brand of “justice” against those who wrong him. He had always appeared to be a shy and reluctant boy - but it was only a cover that concealed his more merciless, ruthless nature. She hoped he was faring well at the Academy; it pained her to not know how he was doing, but she knew she couldn’t protect to watch over him forever. If he was going to become a Sith, then he was going to have to handle issues on his own. Either he would survive through them and become stronger, or he would fade away like so many others had. The strong would rise and claim their rightful place, and the weak would submit or perish.

It was just the way, the nature, of the Sith.

The displeasure from the Dark Lord at his grandson’s actions was evident, and it even made Revna uncomfortable even though she wasn’t the one who had provoked the Sith's ire. His judgment was passed and the boy prostrated himself, seeking forgiveness and promising that such actions would not happen again. She idly wondered if Darth Carnifex would slay his own grandson should the boy disobey and not return for his punishment, but she kept those thoughts to herself. She held the boy’s gaze as he glanced her way one last time before disappearing, and her attention shifted back to the giant form of Carnifex as he rose to his feet.

It took all of her nerve to stand still, even as he loomed over her, and a glimmer of relief passed over her pale face when he acknowledged her acceptance of his offer. She dipped her head in understanding of his words, for she knew the truth of them. She knew very well the lessons that could be learned at the crack of a whip and at the edge of the blade. She had experienced and learned those lessons herself from time to time.

“Yes, my Lord.” Revna replied with quiet respect, ready to follow and take that step forward into the unknown. A part of her, buried deep within, felt pain for she knew what she was doing could be seen as a betrayal - but her decision had been made and there was no going back on it now.

Darth Carnifex ​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

She hesitated, even if she did not fully understand that she did. For a long time, the Dark Lord honed His skill in reading people; an ability that has served Him since He was a lowly agent amongst hundreds in service to the Empire. But that did not matter, her hesitation would only lead to one of two outcomes. Either she buckled under the pressure of His instruction and was broken beyond repair, or she rose above her own doubts, conquered her fear, and truly became what she was destined to be.

He would find out which path she would take, He would wring such destiny from her body even if it killed her.

Weeks flew by after her initial acceptance, the Dark Lord settling the young Revna into a harsh regiment to hone her skills, body, and mind. She awoke early, meeting the Dark Lord and training with Him for many, many hours. Her body was left bruised and battered, but despite all of this she improved. He taught her to use the Dark Side to enhance the natural attributes of her body, increasing her speed, strength, agility, and endurance. Her mental reflexes were heightened, allowing her to see moments before they happened, even managing to evade the Dark Lord's nightmarishly fast attacks.

Despite this, the Dark Lord remained many leagues above her. She was never in any position to ever threatened Him, but her incremental progress was noticeable. Between these bouts of intense physical exertion, the Dark Lord subjected Revna to agonizing sessions to increase her tolerance for pain. Her body was wracked with such unbearable agony that her screams eventually faded in hoarse cries, as her voice gave out long before she was finally given peace.

Now, the two were engaged in another duel. Lightsabers spun through the air, the Dark Lord insisting on using lethal weapons to heighten their training. He swung low, and Revna leapt over the strike; seeing it before it happened. But there was the Dark Lord swinging His arm into her midsection to send her flying. She hit the ground once, twice, and then skidded to a stop outside a white-line boundary etched into the stone floor. At that, the Dark Lord deactivated His weapon.

"That is enough for now. Your body needs nourishment. We will eat."

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

Whatever Darth Carnifex had in mind for her, she knew it would not be easy. She didn’t expect it to be, either. Even with that understanding, she faced the training hell he imposed upon her with an iron will to not just survive, but thrive. And beyond that - exceed the expectations laid out before her.

The Dark Lord was a brutal, but thorough, teacher. In the very beginning, the young Sith hated him for the harsh training regiment he put her through. It reminded her of her early days as a fresh Acolyte, knowing nothing and being weak everywhere. She had been in a decent place before she accepted his offer, but he took her to a whole other level. The physical training hardened and strengthened her body, burned away and dross, and even helped further accentuate her feminine beauty. She appeared as if cut and carved straight from alabaster stone itself; beautiful and deadly.

Through weeks of harsh training, her skills and aptitudes came to the surface and Carnifex skillfully honed these unique abilities of hers - like her incredible reflexes and agility, more than what a standard human could have achieved - and together they even discovered she had the ability to see situations and moments before they ever happened, and this was further honed and sharpened until she could do something she once thought impossible: she could evade his frighteningly fast attacks. And she had to, in order to stay alive in their sparring matches.

Beyond the intense physical training, and further instruction on using the Dark Side to enhance her skills and abilities, the Dark Lord subjected the little woman to sessions of undiluted pain. His belief was that pain brought enlightenment, and in the very beginning the young Sith cursed and hated him for every moment of agony she endured, seeing and feeling nothing but the fact that her nerves were being burned then dipped in acid, or the very skin on her body flayed from the muscles underneath. The very first sessions had been the worst, for one could not truly prepare themselves enough to face that amount of torment. Though she thought she was going to die each time…her heart continued to beat within her chest. She very nearly broke under the strain…but her will was stronger, and she pulled through each time. And gradually, Revna began to accept the pain, and even embraced it when it came.

When that happened, she had her moment of enlightenment. Pain did not control her…she controlled it. It was simply another tool for her to add to her repertoire, something to use to enhance herself, instead of getting lost in it. And when she understood and accepted that, the agony inflicted upon her no longer held such a sharp edge. She became far more resilient than she’d ever been before, and even the bruises and batterings and broken bones she received in her spars and her training sessions were brushed off as mere annoyances. But of course, Darth Carnifex was far above her in skill and ability, and every spar thus far ended with her being on the ground. Still, she always got back on her feet and pressed onward, only ceasing when she was commanded to.

It was no different for this newest sparring session either. Crimson flashed and danced, faster than what the naked eye could follow - as Revna dueled the Dark Lord once again, sweat sheened to her skin from the intensity in which she moved and fought. They’d clashed like this many times over the past weeks; she’d nearly been killed by the giant Sith Lord in their first few spars, as he’d made it clear that they would fight with blades set to lethal settings and while she was already used to this, she was not used to combating the sheer might the Epicanthix had.

And though in the very beginning there had been an unleashing of violence and hostility from her towards him, as all the pent up emotion and negativity within her sought its release, she learned exceedingly quickly that he would kill her if she did not apply herself completely and focus herself.

Now, the small Sith apprentice actually looked forward to these moments where she crossed blades with Carnifex. The ache in her muscles was welcomed now, and she found challenge in pushing herself through that pain and harnessing it to further her own abilities, and add strength to her blows.

But even with her improvements, she had a lot yet to learn. She made errors in judgment from time to time, and the Sith Lord was quick to point out those errors in punishing fashion, as he did even now. She saw the lethal swipe coming a mile away and leapt high to avoid the low swing, but she misjudged and could not avoid the swing of his other arm in time. The blow, though violent, was not fatal - thanks to the ruthless training that had strengthened her body - but it certainly was enough to send her crashing into the stone floor with enough force for her to rebound twice before she came to a sliding halt some distance away, her saber hilt knocked from her own grasp in the process.

Revna was mildly winded but she was quick to recover, the hilt recalled back to her hand in a split second just in case she needed it to block a blow that she thought for sure was coming. Instead, she heard the distinct sound of his lightsaber deactivating.

How many were fortunate enough to hear that sound, and still have life left in their body? She idly wondered as she heard his voice roll out like low thunder to her, announcing that their sparring session was over, and they would eat.

Revna heaved in a deep breath, feeling the air expand her lungs, as she took a moment to compose herself and come down from the dizzying heights that fighting brought her to. Her mind quickly went through the motions of the sparring session, noting where she had done good and where she had fallen short. Food sounded wonderful in that moment; she’d burned through so much energy and calories that she needed to replenish what had been used.

“As you wish, my Lord.” she accepted with a bow of her head. “I’m so hungry…I feel like I could eat an entire bantha right now.” the young woman admitted with a touch of rare amusement intermingled within her quiet voice as she approached the Dark Lord, coming to a halt at a respectful distance. “What is your will for me after we’ve eaten?” she inquired curiously, probing a bit to see what she could expect to come next.

She noted then that Carnifex did not ask for the lightsaber in her hand to be returned to him and the Apprentice waited for the gesture to relinquish it, yet it never came. As her heart rate settled further, she glanced down at the simple hilt in her grasp. He was not one to simply forget such a thing; no, perhaps there was a reason for this? She wondered curiously as she rotated the hilt in her hand, until the emitter was facing him directly, before she lifted her gaze to meet his, bold as ever.

The temptation to ignite it did flicker through her mind and she entertained it for a moment before she cast it aside, once more shifting the saber in her hand so that the emitter faced the ground between them. Such a thought was foolish and she knew it; besides, even if she had acted upon that fleeting impulse, she wouldn’t have truly done him any lasting harm. She also knew that it would have been her last act in life - as no doubt he would have cut her down in an instant for her audacity. Still, she sometimes found it fun to play with fire.

“You haven’t asked for this to be returned to you, like you usually do at the end of our spars…”

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"To study, to immerse yourself in the great mystery." He was, of course, referring to the studies of the Dark Side that He had commanded she commence. What separated the Sith from so many others that would wield the Dark Side was their understanding of it, beyond simply their Creed. A true Sith parsed through the ancient writings of the forebearers, seeking their wisdom cast across time and space. To remain bereft of such knowledge was to be akin to an animal, lacking the spark of consciousness the Sith alone possessed.

His eyes settled on Revna as she began to contemplate the meaning behind her continued ownership of the lightsaber in her hands. To her probing inquiry He would say nothing, allowing the decraniated servants to arrive with their sustenance and beverages. They would eat upon the floor of their dojo, as they had before, seated in front of the small wooden tables laden with the requisite food to maintain their pace of training. Carnifex always received more than Revna, not for any semblance of greed but for the simple biological fact that His Epicanthix metabolism outpaced Revna's own, and His caloric needs were thus greater.

The assortment was as exotic as it had always been, food sourced from the Panathan biomes the Dark Lord maintained on the Malsheem. Fruits and vegetables that had once natively grown on His homeworld, now only found in thew artificial recreations He'd cultivated. Meat as well, cut from livestock the Epicanthix had tended to for generations uncounted. Each was well-seasoned with such spices known to the Epicanthix for eons, ones that could not be properly replicated anywhere else in the galaxy. This He shared with Revna, the tastes of His homeland.

Drinks were of their usual variety, non-alcoholic to preserve their sharpness of mind. The Dark Lord's was a concoction wrung from the various roots of Panatha's jungles, greatly fortifying to a warrior such as He. They had jointly discovered that such a mixture did not settle well with non-Epicanthix digestion, and so Revna's drink was something far more foreign to the Epicanthix palate. It was reinvigorating enough regardless.

"What will you do with it now that you have it? I care not if you take it back to your chambers. Every breath you take, every heartbeat, is a test, Revna. So it will be with this. A weapon of the Sith is a powerful instrument, a tool to be used in the pursuit of power and it's continuation. But it is also a reflection of it's master, how you carry it, how you use it, what you use it for. All these things matter. So what will it reflect in you, Revna?"

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

A small smile touched her face when Carnifex told her his will was for her to study and immerse herself in the great mystery. She knew of what he was referring to, and she knew that by now he was aware of just how hungry she was to learn all that she could.

"Well, you know I won't complain about that. I'm always eager to learn more..."

But right now, she was hungry for real sustenance and her gaze was drawn to the odd servants who had entered the dojo and brought forth food and drink for her and the Dark Lord. The saber hilt, still in her possession, found a place on the utility belt at her hip while she awaited the decision on if the Sith Lord would allow her to hold onto it, or if he would take back. The food presented to them both was tailored to their specific needs; of course, Carnifex always had more than she did and it made sense; compared to her, he was a giant.

Though this wasn’t the first time she had dined with Carnifex in such a manner, it was still something she was adjusting to. The bounty that was laid out before them was unique compared to what Revna had been exposed to prior to her capture, and she had since come to learn that she had been granted the privilege of eating traditional Panathan foods - something he shared with her in person, though she was well aware of the fact that he didn't have to. Despite Carnifex being her enemy, she nonetheless showed appreciation for the culture of his people, and sharing in the bounty was an honor for her.

Revna paused for a moment between bites as she listened to what the Dark Lord had to say in regard to the lightsaber that was in her lap. She lifted her eyes to meet his, not in a challenging or disrespectful way, simply to show that she was listening and engaged. She pondered his questions, on what she would do with it now that it was being granted to her. She was told, subtly warned, that having the weapon was another test for her. He told her that the weapon of a Sith reflected the one which possessed it, and he followed it up with another question of her - of what the saber would reflect in her.

The little woman contemplated those questions for a few moments, looking down at the lightsaber as she did so, weighing her thoughts carefully before speaking.

“What will I do with it? Care for it; treat it with the respect that is owed to such a weapon. Learn it until it becomes an extension of myself. Use it when and where I see fit to do so. It is not a toy, some child’s plaything. It is what you described it to be: a lethal weapon, an instrument of power and dominion - to be used to bring my enemies low, and be a symbol for what I chose to become, what I am.” Revna replied before eating a few more bites and taking a drink of the refreshing, somewhat fizzy, beverage.

The second question was deeper, and she absentmindedly laid a hand on the cool metal of the hilt, almost as if it was a focus for her thoughts. “It would reflect someone who seeks knowledge and the power that comes with that knowledge. Someone who understands that to seek such things invites danger…someone who is prepared to do whatever is necessary to claim that power for themselves. I would seek to use it in such a way that conveys my intentions.”

She looked back at Carnifex and tilted her head slightly as curiosity burned in her eyes. “What does a lightsaber mean to you? What do you believe yours reflects? Did you make your first lightsaber, or claim it from the grasp of a slain adversary?”

Darth Carnifex​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Carnifex ate in silence as Revna answered His question, but His eyes never once wavered. He watched her carefully, studied the lines of her face. Long ago, He had once been a decorated office in the Imperial Intelligence Agency, and had spent many long years cultivating certain skills that became indispensable to His duties as an Imperial Agent. Just one of those skills was the ability to read people's face, to take note of the most minute change in their expressions; the crease of their skin, the flush in their cheeks, the sweat on their brow, the dilation of their eyes. Any one of these were clear indications on whether or not someone was telling the truth or a fabrication.

But Carnifex could see no lies etched onto Revna's face, as far as she was concerned she believed every word that flowed from past her lips. He still had His reservations, self-delusion was a powerful force that animated many minds in this galaxy, but for now He was satisfied. Continuing to eat His food, the Dark Lord allowed Revna's final question to hang in the air. When He had finished, the Dark Lord took a drink of His potent beverage, the acrid taste stinging His tongue and throat.

"When I was first brought into the Sith Order, I was already a man grown. Older than you are now. I was mentored by the greatest Dark Lord of the age, Darth Moridin the Great. It was he who imparted the wisdom I yet carry to this day. When I was to take up a lightsaber of my own, he sent me into the galaxy to claim one from one of the Jedi. I took one from a Jedi Knight, killing the boy without a blade of my own. I bled his crystal, bending it to my will, and from that point on I was truly a Sith."

He cracked the carapace of a shelled crustacean, one that had been native to the shallow seas of Panatha. Taking a moment to partake of it's flesh, the Dark Lord then continued. "A lightsaber is an extension of yourself. The crystal at it's heart is alive, just as you are alive. The Force flows between weapon and master, master to weapon, in an endless cyclical loop. The Jedi seek balance within all things, to exist in harmony with their weapon. The Sith are not bound by such idealist conceptions, the Dark Side is imbalance made manifest. But the imbalance does not rule us, we rule the imbalance. We break the crystal, we wield it's energies, make it obey us. Just as we bring about nature to heel, and thus all life, so too do we make the Force serve our desires."

"When I was an apprentice to Moridin, I believed that a lightsaber was a symbol of my advancement, of my apotheosis. That to wield one marked me as a bearer of ancient rites stretching back to times unfathomable. In truth, the lightsaber is an expression of the Force's violence, the Dark and the Light. In how that violence is wielded, to kill another or to shield another from harm, to maim or to mutilate, is entirely reflective of the being in whose hands it is being wielded."

"Your actions are your own, Revna. How you use your weapon will determine just who you truly are within."

Revna ​

 

[Revna]

Revna waited in patient silence, enjoying the food and drink as Carnifex studied her carefully, taking his time before answering her own queries of him. She knew by now, that if he didn’t want to share anything with her, he wouldn’t. And that which he did choose to share, was indeed precious and not to be dismissed or taken lightly.

And so the young Sith woman listened intently when the Dark Lord chose to impart his own wisdom and thoughts to her. She recalled him sharing with her before about Darth Moridin, though the more she heard now the more curious she was to know more about this long gone Sith Lord. Especially knowing that he had a hand in helping shape Carnifex into the Sith Lord that he was.

To hear that Carnifex had claimed his first lightsaber with no weapon of his own, brought a brief frown across her own face, and she appeared contemplative for a moment as her thoughts trailed back to when she had claimed her first lightsaber, and bled her first crystals. Hearing his story wasn’t the first time she’d heard about Sith apprentices being sent to claim their first lightsaber weaponless; if she recalled right, Darth Strosius had been directed to do this by his master as well.

But - Revna had used a weapon of her own to kill her opponent and claim her saber. Did it mean she wasn’t worthy of her own blade? But if that had been the case, then her Master would have made that clear to her. And he had been pleased with her accomplishment; wasn’t that all that mattered, really?

Her gaze shifted back to the Dark Lord as he cracked open the shell of an unknown kind of crustacean, nodding in understanding that a weapon was an extension of its wielder, and she took to heart the wisdom and insight shared to her. She appeared thoughtful and contemplative, as she always did, taking time to truly digest what was said to her.

“Yes…my actions are mine and mine alone.” she agreed, hesitating for a moment on what she might say next, before choosing to share a story of her own. Up until that moment, no one else had been privileged enough to hear how she had gained her first lightsaber, and for some reason she felt like sharing it with the Dark Lord. “I didn’t claim my first lightsaber weaponless, like you and my Master did. I killed my chosen prey with a Sith blade - as it was all I had on me when I faced my adversary. He was more skilled than I was - a former Jedi, the clone of a Jedi Master. It took all of my known skill at the time, and a bit of cunning, to secure my victory. I…wondered briefly if that accomplishment didn’t matter, because I didn’t kill him weaponless. But then I realized that it really depends on the master and if they are pleased with the effort the apprentice put forth, doesn’t it? I not only killed the man for his father’s saber, but I tracked down his family and murdered them too, including his two children. I thought Lord Strosius would be…angry at me for committing such an act. No…he was rather pleased with me, and sent me through the ritual of bleeding my crystals and building my own lightsaber. Was quite a proud moment for me. Him too, I recon.” She smiled, faintly, as the memory returned to her briefly before fading back into the shadows. She lifted her gaze back to Carnifex, and dipped her chin slightly to show her appreciation for the privilege he extended to her.

“Thank you for your insight and your teachings, my Lord.”

Darth Carnifex​