Private A Forbidden Lesson

[Kaila Irons]

Solus?​

Solus?

Solus.​

Solus.​

Solus!​

Solus.​

​

"Solus, drop the barrier and focus! No harm will come to you!"​

Kaila Solus hesitated for but a moment. How did she know that name? How could anyone know that name?!

Trust or not, Do or die, there was no time for paranoia.

Darth Anathemous closed her eyes, and then dropped the barrier. They shot wide open in sync with the Dark Jedi's lightsaber, met instantly with a mixture of cyan, red and sickly violet glow which bathed the entire chamber a chaotic maelstrom of the senses.

From the corner of her vision, Serina Calis was a graceful flurry of light which dazzled and danced it's way around the spectral lord, skillfully employing Makashi and the force against her opponent's frenzied Juyo, parrying and weaving through his brutish blows. A molten glare remained locked upon the shade however, Anathemous entering a trance-like state of complete focus.

Whilst the crimson and blue flurries dueled around her, the young darth began to slowly hover off the ground, her tendrils of pure dark side energy snaking their way through the air like streaks of lightning slowed by the weight of their own power. Or perhaps the limitations of the caster.

The specter transformed into a roaming cloud of ash which quickly began to reform a pace or two away from Serina, only to become ensnared in the duo's trap. One of her crackling tendrils slipped around it's spectral foot, and try as it might, the shade could not transform nor flee again. The flames where it's eyes should have been burned brighter than ever with fear and fury in equal measure as it realized in this moment that Serina Calis had run him right into the cold embrace of a Force Walker.

"No!" it hissed.

But it was too late. It could not turn to fight back the force walker without sacrificing a limb or worse to the Dark Jedi's onslaught, but if it did not target the sorceress, it would surely be bound until her death.

The spectral body began to wither, streaks of ash traveling towards Anathemous and vanishing against her form as if the debris of a dying world ripped asunder by a black hole. With no other option, it turned from Serina, immediately losing a hand in the process. With a desperate zeal it flung itself at the sorceress, reaching out with clawed fingers to strike her down. But they never reached. His form was stretched thin, The crackling tendrils of power stolen from many souls before him struck out from the hands of three figures, translucent specters shackled to her will.

He vanished, the dark side rippling throughout the temple such that historic curiosities and skeletal remains were knocked from the shelves all across the chamber.

The other figures soon departed in kind, as did the baleful glow of the force walker's eyes.

The dark energies of the vanquished spirit traveled into her core, the violet glow quickly traveling to her throat before fading for the final time. All was quiet and right again, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from the entire temple...

Anathemous fell to her hands and knees with a choked gasp.

"Is... is it over?"


Serina Calis

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Ando, Ancient Sith Temple
Tag: Kaila Irons

The chamber settled into a haunting stillness, the only sound the faint echo of their breaths in the vast, ancient space. As the tumultuous energies dissipated, Serina lowered her lightsaber, the pale aqua glow fading away as she deactivated the blade. The silence that followed was profound, filled with the weight of what had just transpired.

Serina turned to face Anathemous, her expression softening as she took in the sight of the Sith on her hands and knees, her formidable presence momentarily diminished by the overwhelming force she had wielded. The darkness that had roiled around them was now quiet, absorbed into Anathemous, leaving a palpable emptiness in its wake.

Stepping closer, Serina's movements were gentle, almost reverent. The chaos of battle had given way to a somber reality—their victory had not come without cost. Her eyes, once fierce with the fire of combat, now held a depth of understanding and quiet respect for the toll such encounters exacted on even the most powerful of beings.

Serina knelt beside her, placing a hand softly on Anathemous's shoulder, offering a tangible reassurance. "Yes, it is over," she affirmed softly, her voice a soothing contrast to the harsh whispers of the Dark Side that had filled the chamber moments before.

The air around them felt lighter, though charged with an unspoken recognition of the ordeal they had endured together. Serina's hand moved from Anathemous's shoulder to gently guide her into a more upright position, supporting her as she regained her bearings.

After a moment's pause, Serina acted on a compassionate impulse, wrapping her arms around Anathemous in a quiet, supportive embrace. It was a human gesture, one that transcended the boundaries of Sith and Jedi, master and apprentice. It spoke of shared struggles, of battles fought side by side, and of the rare understanding that comes from facing darkness together.

"We've done what many would dare not even dream," Serina whispered, her voice barely audible. "You've wielded powers that could overwhelm the strongest of wills, and you've prevailed. That's not a small feat."

The hug was not merely an offer of comfort but a recognition of their partnership and mutual respect. It was an acknowledgment that their paths, however dark and twisted, were intertwined by more than just the quest for power—they were bound by a shared experience that had changed them both.

She paused, trying to tell herself how best to confront her revelation, then she spoke in a quiet, reverent tone. "It was a vision, I couldn't read it, not until now. I missed nearly all the details, but that name, Solus..." she paused again, knowing her words were to be judged in the mind of Anathemous. "It was linked to you, somehow, I don't even know myself..." again she paused, but this time to gather her thoughts, to try and brush away the emotion.

"Just know that it doesn't matter if you are Darth Anathemous or Solus..." she started choking on her words, this emotional rollercoaster could only compared to the night she was forcibly taken by the Jedi, her trying to fight against the desire to let everything out.

"I will not abandon you." The statement was as selfish as it was genuine, as narcissistic as it was caring. Those were the words she wished to hear from her parents. She knew they had no choice in the matter, she did not blame them, nor over the years condemn, but it's what she wanted from them. She would not allow Solus a similar fate.

She would not abandon her.

 

[Kaila Irons]

Kaila's body would feel unnaturally heavy as the padawan began supporting her, a side effect of cybernetic surgery which none yet knew of save for she, and he who had so mercifully put her back together again.

Yet Serina managed, pulling the weary darth upright.

The world had barely stopped spinning when Kaila found slender arms wrapped about her in an embrace uncharacteristic of what they were trying to become.

"I-"

Only moments before had she been... afraid. Afraid of what knowing her name could mean to them, afraid of what connection they might have had, for connection to Kaila Solus had always ended in tragedy and betrayal. But now she felt... warm. A connection that needn't be so strenuous, if only she allowed it.

It was a feeling she'd ran from, once.

Never again.

"I will not abandon you."

Her eyes narrowed, then widened, then simply closed in rapid succession as a myriad of emotions hit her at once.

Suddenly her arms were wrapped around Serina in a tight embrace, a single tear hitting her sleeve, and her breath quivering but a moment. This was all she truly desired in the end. Not the glory, not necessarily the power that came with it, but that simple connection with another human being which Jedi and Sith alike denied her.

The freedom to just share little moments like this, though they had grand impact.

Serina did not care who she was, so long as she was herself. It was as if a blasphemy to the tides of fate which had cast her adrift for so long, and upon the shores of sith and jedi alike. And so Kaila would join her in this sweet heresy. It didn't matter if their ambitions would eventually diverge, nor the complexities of the lives they led. Serina was there where so many had left or forced her out.

that's all that mattered.

"You... must be careful," she sniffled, pulling back to look her newest companion in the eye, her own gaze soft, but warning.

"Another sith might have done horrible things with this moment of vulnerability."

She wished it were not true, that she could simply invite Serina to her order and let that be the end of it.

It was a better path than the Jedi, but that was such a low bar wasn't it?

"I... that being said, I..."

"...thank you."

Her hands never left the girl's shoulders, even as thoughts of her past came unbidden.

"I... may not be Kaila Solus anymore... I might be sith now, but..."

"There is a place, on the imperial border, called Echnos city. My city."

"You are always welcome in my home, Serina."



Serina Calis

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Ando, Ancient Sith Temple
Tag: Kaila Irons

Serina felt Kaila's weight as she helped her stand, the strain on her arms far greater than it should have been. Yet, she did not falter. If anything, the unexpected heaviness made her hold on tighter, grounding Kaila even as the world seemed to sway around them both. Her embrace had been instinctive, born from something deeper than thought—a need to offer solace, to connect in a moment of shared vulnerability.

When Kaila returned the embrace, Serina felt a shift, as if the room itself acknowledged the significance of the gesture. The weight of the darkness that had consumed the chamber moments ago seemed to lift, replaced by a quiet warmth. It wasn't just a physical closeness; it was the bridging of two souls, both scarred by their pasts and bound by the shared understanding of what it meant to walk the edges of light and dark.

As Kaila's arms tightened around her, Serina felt the tear hit her sleeve, a single droplet that carried the gravity of everything Kaila had endured. The trembling breath that followed was not lost on her, and she simply held on, letting the silence speak volumes where words could not.

When Kaila pulled back, Serina met her gaze, her own expression soft but resolute. She listened to Kaila's words, each one filled with caution, gratitude, and something that felt like hope. The warning was not lost on her, but Serina's response was measured and unwavering.

"I understand," she said quietly, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I know the risks of what I've done, and I know how this might be viewed by others. But I also know this: moments like these are rare, and they matter. They remind us of what we're fighting for—not just power or knowledge, but the connections that make us whole."

She paused, her hands lingering on Kaila's arms as if to anchor her. "You're right to warn me, but I have no regrets. And I don't believe I ever will."

When Kaila spoke of Echnos City, her voice carrying a mixture of pride and vulnerability, Serina's expression softened further. The offer was unexpected, and its sincerity was undeniable. "Your city," she repeated, her tone thoughtful and reverent. "A place you've built, a part of you that you're willing to share... Thank you. That means more to me than I can say."

Serina straightened, her posture firm yet open as she continued. "I will come to Echnos City, soon. Not as a Sith, or a Jedi, but as someone who sees you for who you are—someone who values what we've shared here." Her gaze met Kaila's, unwavering and full of conviction. "You are not defined by the name you wear, Kaila Solus or Darth Anathemous. You are defined by what you choose to build, by what you choose to preserve. And to me, you are someone worth standing beside."

She stepped back slightly, her hands releasing Kaila's arms with a gentle squeeze. "For now, though, we should rest. You've done something incredible, and I'd wager this spirit took more from you than you care to admit." Her lips curved into a faint, almost playful smile, a flicker of her usual charm returning. "Besides, I think we've earned a moment to breathe after all that."

As the silence of the chamber settled once more, Serina stood beside Kaila, a quiet pillar of support. The battle had been won, but the path ahead was still uncertain. Yet, for the first time in a long while, she felt something resembling hope—a fragile, tenuous hope that in the midst of all the darkness, they had found something worth holding on to.

She knew now what she needed to do, what must be done.

 

[Kaila Irons]

But I also know this: moments like these are rare, and they matter. They remind us of what we're fighting for—not just power or knowledge, but the connections that make us whole."

And there it was. The final piece of the puzzle which so many sith had long forgotten.

What use was all this power if they could not simply be people from time to time? That is the empire she was fighting for. Whether it even existed now or if it were something she must build, Kaila did not know. But maybe, with a few extra hands, it was possible. Maybe Serina wasn't sith, but she had given the young darth Hope where so many in their line of work had given her only despair.

She would surely fight by her side again.

"For now, though, we should rest. You've done something incredible, and I'd wager this spirit took more from you than you care to admit." Her lips curved into a faint, almost playful smile, a flicker of her usual charm returning. "Besides, I think we've earned a moment to breathe after all that."

A knowing smiled spread across Kaila's face as she stood, for she'd been read like a book. This was the most powerful spirit she'd bound yet, and though she was hardly the novice force walker she had been when binding Darth Parasideus, an act for which she was rendered unconscious, the act of imprisoning a wrathful soul within oneself would always be a strenuous task.

One she often downplayed for her own safety.

"Some... fresh air wouldn't hurt." she chuckled softly.


"And what of you, Serina?"

"Neither Jedi nor Sith, but not quite alone either. Where will you go next, I wonder?"

"I hope your artefact will be of some help on the journey."

Kaila gestured to the curious crystal in Serina's possession, although the girl's blood smeared finger drew her attention immediately after. She glanced down to her own, reminded of the ritual they'd performed to wake the sleeping wraith in the first place. With protective instinct, she immediately threw one side of her cloak open to fetch a personal Medpac from her tool belt, withdrawing a pair of thin antiseptic-bacta patches pinched between her fingers, offering one to Serina.

"Take it, don't want that getting infected down here."



Serina Calis

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Ando, Ancient Sith Temple
Tag: Kaila Irons

Serina watched as Kaila stood, a knowing smile spreading across the Sith Lord's face. The subtle shift in her demeanor—a mix of resilience and camaraderie—felt like a quiet victory in itself. For all the darkness that had filled this chamber, something brighter had emerged from it: a connection forged in battle and bound by mutual understanding.

When Kaila spoke of fresh air, Serina gave a soft chuckle, her voice tinged with exhaustion but carrying a warmth that hadn't been there before. "Fresh air sounds like a luxury after this," she said, her tone light despite the weight of the ordeal they had just endured.

At Kaila's question, Serina's gaze drifted toward the dark crystal in her hand, its ominous glow still faintly pulsing as if responding to her thoughts. "Where will I go next?" she repeated, almost to herself. Her thumb traced the smooth surface of the crystal, its coldness a stark contrast to the warmth of the moment. "This artifact holds answers I need—fragments of a legacy that may guide my path forward. But..." She looked back at Kaila, her expression contemplative. "For the first time, I have doubts about my path. Perhaps that's a good thing."

Kaila's gesture toward the medpac pulled Serina's attention to her own bloodied finger. She glanced at it briefly before accepting the bacta patch with a small, grateful smile. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a sincerity that went beyond the simple act of tending to her wound. She carefully applied the patch, the cooling sensation of the bacta soothing the sting of the cut. "You know, not many Sith would stop to hand out first aid after binding a spirit like that. It's... refreshing."

As she finished tending to her finger, Serina looked at Kaila again, her gaze steady and thoughtful. "And what about you?" she asked. "You've accomplished something incredible here today, but it came at a cost. Where do you go from here, Kaila Solus?" Her voice softened on the name, a faint smile playing at her lips. "I am taking a bet that this isn't a daily occurrence in your line of work."

Serina paused, letting the silence settle between them for a moment before adding, "You've given me something I didn't expect today—hope. Not the naive kind the Jedi preach, but something real, something earned. I won't forget that."

With those words, she tucked the crystal into a pouch on her belt and stepped closer to Kaila, standing shoulder to shoulder with her as they prepared to leave the chamber. "Let's get that fresh air. We've earned it," she said with a small, tired laugh. For now, the uncertainties of their respective journeys could wait. What mattered was the bond they had forged, a undeniable thread tying their fates together, however fleeting or enduring it might be. Or so she thought.

Fate had other plans for her.

 

[Kaila Irons]

"Something real." she echoed thoughtfully whilst wrapping her finger.

The pair began walking the corridors back towards the surface, and Kaila seemed almost lost in thought for a time.

"I don't often meet real people, Serina, only manufactured personas. Even among jedi, with rare exception."

"I value people like yourself quite highly." she added with a faint but genuine smile.

"I've an ally of sorts who seems similarly honest, even if short-spoken. And so to answer your question, I will be joining him in war soon. I will return to my world initially, siphoning the wraith's power was but one of many preparations for battles to come, and I must take this time to stack the deck further. But I suspect the call will come soon enough."

It must have seemed so sith-like of her, she imagined, announcing so soon after sharing such an important moment that her next would be spent amidst the violent chaos of a battlefield. She folded her arms behind her back, contemplating just how she would continue to balance these two sides of herself. Kaila Solus and Darth Anathemous, That caring young girl and the violent thing she'd yet become. Even jedi sometimes had difficulty finding that balance.

"You find it unusual that one of my order would render aid, yes?" she began, glancing down at Serina.

Her eyes carried a certain weight behind them. Of heresy, of the secrets she would tell, and of the vulnerability which they now shared. They were thoughts of which not even a handful were privy to, Serina had earned the trust to hear them more quickly than most.

"I didn't choose to become sith."

The words were allowed to hang on the stale air a moment as her gaze returned to the path ahead, though her thoughts turned to the past.

"My former master stole from me my memory, and believing I would not learn of this, made me His apprentice. Solus was a name given to me by His enemies, The Mandalorians, although from where I hailed before that is... complicated."

"I suppose a part of that little girl lives on in some ways. Few are fit to meet her." she offered a melancholy smile.

"Before learning of these things, I might have invited you to our order, highlight those sith who are unlike my master or perhaps even offer to tutor you in our ways."

"But... I find myself at a crossroad, doubting my path of late."

"We share this in common, it seems."



Serina Calis

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Ando, Ancient Sith Temple
Tag: Kaila Irons

Serina walked beside Kaila in thoughtful silence, her steps light but deliberate, matching the steady rhythm of their shared journey back to the surface. The ancient corridors seemed less foreboding now, the weight of the darkness diminished by the bond they had forged in the depths. Kaila's words hung in the air, each revelation pulling at threads of Serina's curiosity and compassion.

"You didn't choose to become Sith," Serina echoed softly, her voice tinged with understanding. "It's a cruel thing, to have one's path forced upon them, to have choices stolen before they could even be made." She glanced at Kaila, her expression open and unjudging. "Yet here you are, defying those beginnings, shaping something new from the remnants of what was taken. That's no small feat, Kaila. It speaks to a strength not many possess."

As they walked, Serina considered the weight of what Kaila had shared—her stolen memories, the name given to her by enemies, and the inner conflict between Solus and Anathemous. The Sith Lord's vulnerability in sharing such truths was not lost on Serina, and it deepened her respect for the woman beside her.

Her eyes met Kaila's, searching for understanding. "Perhaps that's why I find myself drawn to people like you. Not because you're Sith or because of the power you wield, but because of who you are—someone who's fighting to reconcile their past with their future, to be more than what others have tried to make them."

"To finally control their own life."

She offered a faint smile, a flicker of warmth amidst the somber conversation. "I value people like you, Kaila. And I don't say that lightly. I think... I think we might have more in common than either of us realized when we first met."

Serina's hand brushed the pouch where she had placed the crystal, a quiet reminder of the artifact's mysteries and the questions that still lingered in her mind. "You spoke of preparing for war, of stacking the deck. I can't pretend to know what battles lie ahead for you, but if you ever need another ally—someone who can stand with you against whatever comes—I hope you'll consider calling on me. I may not be Sith, and I'm no Jedi, but I'm someone who values what we've built here."

She paused for a second, an idea came to mind, someone who's strength and resolve in Serina's eyes, was unmatched. "I have a brother-in-law, you may know of him, Reicher Vax , governor of Polis Massa. He is currently working with a group called the Tsis'Kaar, I don't know much about them, but I know that even if he is working with them, his soul is with the army. Tell him of me, tell him of my support for you." Serina stopped, the weight of her next words coming to mind.

"He would follow you to the ends of the galaxy."

Serina's voice softened, her words carrying a quiet strength. "Just know..." she paused again, thinking on the future she sought, that she now felt closer to than ever before. "You've given me hope too, Kaila."

 

[Kaila Irons]

"Tsis'kaar..." she hummed, almost tiredly.

She still didn't know whether to be thankful for the twisted opportunity which she had clawed from them or ashamed that she had... sold a part of herself to Malum in the process.

Still, she could hardly blame this Reicher for taking throwing his lot in with whatever allies he could find, for it was not any different than what she had done, and would do again. It was also a surprising name to hear uttered from the lips of a wayward jedi. Serina was an interesting woman to be sure, but to find that she had interesting connections too was most intriguing.

"Reicher Vax is indeed a name I've heard before, I voted for his governance in the Imperial Assembly. The first non-force sensitive governor in our empire that I'm aware of, perhaps the beginning of a nation that is more Imperial than Sith."

That was her dream, in a way. An empire which valued the whole of it's people's, not only the few. The Emperor must always be sith of course, the insidious Force was too powerful an entity for the realm to be led by one unable to sense it's foul machinations, to resist the tides of fate, but what was the role of a ruler if not to bring prosperity to his people?

Or her people. Anathemous smiled at the thought.

Thoughts which were soon interrupted.

"Just know..." she paused again, thinking on the future she sought, that she now felt closer to than ever before. "You've given me hope too, Kaila."

"And you I, Serina." Kaila inclined her chin respectfully.

"Though that is precisely why I would caution joining me, for now, at least. My war is... contractual, A means to shield newfound vulnerabilities behind an ally whilst I recover my strength. Our war in the east is merely an act of pragmatism by Lord Lechner of the Dark Council, as is my alliance with him. He seeks to capture resources and build a new legion, and he will kill many to do so."

"We are merely taking advantage in the collapse of a state. I suspect you will find little glory there."

The fact of the matter was that Lord Lechner was a brutal but practical man, and Kaila knew she would not always agree with the orders that she would nevertheless obey. There was no need to drag Serina into that life on a fantasy.

However...

"Heed this warning or not, I'll not begrudge you the decision."

"Besides, if something happens which drives you back to this path, You're someone I'd like to keep close in our order."

She offered her a warmer smile.

"Ah, and Reicher of course. I shall speak with him soon I think."

"You may have provided me with an additional ally in a desperate time for me. You have my thanks."



Serina Calis

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Ando, Ancient Sith Temple
Tag: Kaila Irons

Serina listened intently to Kaila, her words carrying the weight of experience and caution, but also a thread of hope. The mention of Lord Lechner and the pragmatism of the war ahead gave Serina pause, her mind sifting through the implications. This was not a conflict of ideals or purpose—it was a calculated move in the endless game of power. Serina knew that such wars were rarely clean, and the toll they took on those involved was undeniable.

Still, Serina felt no hesitation in her resolve. "Kaila," she began softly, her voice steady and laced with quiet determination, "I understand the nature of what lies ahead for you, and I respect your warning. The life you describe is not one I take lightly, and I won't rush into something without understanding the full scope of it. But know this: even if I choose not to involve myself directly, I will find my way to you again."

She paused, her gaze thoughtful but unwavering. "Echnos City... it's more than just a place, isn't it? It's a piece of you, something you've built, something you care about deeply. I want to see it—not just as an ally, but as a friend. Whether it's to stand by your side or simply to visit the home you've invited me to, I'll make my way there. Somehow."

Her lips curved into a small, genuine smile, the flicker of warmth cutting through the heavy undertones of their conversation. "You've given me a place to belong, Kaila. And while my path may lead me elsewhere for now, I'll always remember that. You have my respect, my gratitude, and my friendship."

Serina reached out, placing a hand lightly on Kaila's arm. "As for Reicher, I have no doubt he'll see the strength in you as I have. He's a good man, and I think he'll be an invaluable ally to you, as he has been to so many others."

Stepping back slightly, Serina adjusted the pouch at her belt where the crystal rested. The weight of the artifact was both literal and symbolic—a reminder of her own journey and the mysteries she still sought to unravel. Her gaze returned to Kaila, steady and filled with quiet resolve.

"Until we meet again, Kaila Solus. You've given me much to think about, and more than that, you've given me hope."

She paused, trying to find the right words, wanting to express her commitment fully. "I promise you, I will see you again, soon."

With one final, respectful nod, Serina turned toward the light filtering through the ancient corridors ahead, her steps purposeful yet unhurried. The darkness of the temple lay behind them now, but the bond they had forged within its depths would endure.