Avarice Awakens

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar strode through the halls of the Sith Academy upon Coruscant, a scowl creasing his face as he went. Once again as he returned to his home to rest after a mission, he was interrupted by a courier droid. The droid gave no explanation of why, other than to report to a room within the Academy. He knew it was not another acolyte of the Academy, as none of them bothered Vaulkhar anymore. No longer did he study there under the basic instructors. He was well on his way to Knigthood under the watchful eye of quite a few different masters, all of them a sight to behold in any scenario. So to the young man, it only made sense for him to expect an instructor.

He did not expect what awaited him within the room he was summoned too...

The moment the door slid open to the room, Vaulkhar was hit by such a powerful wave of energy that he quite literally stumbled and gripped the wall to remain standing. It was not a physical blow, or anything through the force. Instead, the young man picked up the energy as he entered simply through his senses and the sheer power behind it surprised him to the point where he nearly fell over. Shaking his head to regain his sense, Vaulkhar peered across the room through the shadows. The room was not lit, instead half of it garbed in darkness, the other half illuminated by the hallway behind him.

His gaze was only able to make a single form out in the darkness, utilizing his natural force abilities to see that there was someone without, surrounded by an obscene amount of force energy. Taking a deep breath, the young man strode into the room.

"I have come upon your summoning, stranger."

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Good, very good."

The figure within the room spoke up clear as day. It was a hardy voice, from a man built around ages of war. Yet the dark figure did not move, instead he kept to the shadows, both hands clasped behind his back. "I understand you are a blind swordsman of sorts, no? Perhaps I can assist with some teachings, if you are interested [member="Vaulkhar"] ."

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar perked a brow at the sudden offer. Training is what the young man most desired all the time; literally. If he was not traveling, he was training. At the offer he couldn't refuse, though he had many questions as to why a man shrouded in shadow would offer to train him. To the blind man it seemed off, and instinct alone is what has kept him alive for his short life.

"You offer to train me, for what? Is there a catch to this offer?"

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I find myself needing another apprentice. To put it simply, the catch is you become my student. Sounds pretty fair to me. Oh, and you will be my agent. Do my bidding, when and where I need you to." With [member="Vaulkhar"] being blind, and Ferus so attuned to the dark, there was no need to turn on any of the lights. A smile played across the mans lips however. Blood red eyes focused on the boy, sizing him up. He was a strong one at least.

"Do you prefer a solid blade, or the energy blade?"

 

[Vaulkhar]

A master.

Vaulkhar had found himself another master and it brought a cold grin to his face. He could feel the power radiating off of the man, as if he was standing before a miniature sun; and he basked within it's warmth. Vaulkhar could only nod his agreement at first, considering how to put said agreement into words. Deciding to simply bypass the earlier statements, he moved forward to answer the question.

"I currently use a lightsaber, but I've come to realize the use of a real blade is also a good skill to have. If I could find training in that, as well as other Force techniques; you have yourself a new apprentice and servant."

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Then a real blade it shall be." Without a word the man reached over to a sword rack. Alchemised blades, in varying shapes and sizes, lined the metal frame, but Ferus selected the simplest blades. Two long swords, one which was tossed to [member="Vaulkhar"] .

"Be wary, the blade is far heavier then it seems. Alchemical. It can absorb lightning and even reflect blaster bolts, just like a lightsaber. Just cant cut as fast."

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar raised his hand and concentrated heavily upon the blade that was tossed towards him. It slowed in mid air greatly before slowly descending towards his hand, where he grasped onto it. Expecting to grasp onto something far heavier, the young warrior found it was lighter than he expected, but still much heavier than a lightsaber which he was used to. He swung it around momentarily, gauging it's weight while also loosening his muscles.

"It is a rather beautiful blade," he states while looking upon it. "Where did you come across it, master?"

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"This? This is just a simple blade. I could show you how to make pure own, but for now. Come at me, I wish to see what you do know in skill." With that, the Lord dropped down, both hands gripping the hilt of his own longsword. A top grip, with his blade held eye level and pointed for the boy. He was bent at his knees, but he made no move to strike first. Instead, he waited, reaching out through the force to 'see' around the dark room.

[member="Vaulkhar"]

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar nodded and stared ahead at him. He held the blade before him in a simple pose, the blade pointed up and out, towards the ceiling of the room. He dashed forward, accelerating himself with the use of the force. At this point in time, the young man was contemplating what form of combat he wanted to use. Ataru would be near impossible with this blade, and his basic knowledge of Makashi would get him nowhere. Deciding upon Juyo, he raised his blade hide and moved to slam it down towards the head of [member="Darth Ferus"].

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Good, you know augmentation. That saves a lesson." Ferus's voice sang out through the darkness, excitement clear. The monster , similar to his original host, loved to fight, loved the idea of spilling blood in the most lethal of dances.

As [member="Vaulkhar"] brought down his blade the Lord tilted his own. With the blade already overhead, he simply turned and angled the blade downwards. Catching the boys blade along Ferus's own, the man would step to the opposite side of where his blade was angled, letting the blind ones blade slip down along his own, harmlessly away.

The Alchemic man would suddenly surge forward though, kicking out with his foot at the same time. His boot would be aimed for the boys chest, trying to force him back. Yet after the kick the man would bring his blade back around, swiping through the air on a hopefully winded target. There was no pulling punches in this duel, even if it was training.

 

[Vaulkhar]

As [member="Darth Ferus"] angled his blade away, Vaulkhar grit his teeth in frustration. Still not used to the heavier blade, he could do nothing in response and he slid by the man, stopping a few feet away. He turned just in time to catch the man's forward motion and took his own step back, bracing himself. As the foot of Ferus came close, he spun to the left of the kick, successfully sidestepping it.

Completing the turn, Vaulkhar swung his blade in an arch to the side, swiping up from below and clashing against the man's own blade. Utilizing the force while carrying a blade he was not used to was already taking a toll on the young man. His breathing came and went in short gasps. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, rolling down his cheek and jaw only to drip down to the floor.

The clashing of the two blades sent the blade of Ferus upward slightly, allowing Vaulkhar to once more turn a cirlce, this time towards the right. At the end of his spin, an elbow was sent outward, aimed for the man's jaw.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"The blade is certainly different from a lightsaber, but dont mistake it as useless. Use the whole blade, use its weight!" Snippets of actual training, used in words or phrasing during an actual fight. It was how Ferus thought everyone should learn, and [member="Vaulkhar"] was no exception. "Keep your breathing level, dont let your opponent know you're getting winded!"

As the blades clashed once more, Ferus continued with his chatter, about to say another lesson about constant movement, but the boy was already ahead of him. The older Sith could feel the boys movements, but he couldn't move away quick enough to avoid the smack of an elbow across his jaw. A resounding crack filled the air as the monster stumbled back and away, one hand on his blade while the other grasped what was clearly a dislocated jaw. Still, Ferus spoke on, to continue the lesson.

"Hery Hery good. Da how ya do Da. Don sop Da pessu dough!" Another crack was heard as the Sith snapped his jaw back into place, seeming to be unphased by the pain. "Come!"

 

[Vaulkhar]

When his elbow made contact and apparently dislocated the lower half on one side, Vaulkhar jumped away from [member="Darth Ferus"] to get his bearings. Noting the man still speaking through it, going so far as to give him lessons, the young Sith was genuinely confused, and slightly appalled that such a thing could even be done. But this was no natural man, and Vaulkhar came to realize this just by getting a good look at him through the force. Not only did the force cling to him like the shadows around them both, but no, the force radiated from him, as if he was a part of it. He never really cared for the philosophy of the Living Force, but this monster before him was starting to shake his very understanding of the force itself.

Shaking his head, Vaulkhar dashed towards him once more, empowering his speed with use of the force. His blade swung high at first, aiming to slash at his left shoulder, but Vaulkhar slid to a stop three feet before him and reversed his grip upon the hilt and pulled back in a feint before lunging to stab the blade into his left shoulder.

"Making contact directly before the pit can easily paralyze that arm."

His thoughts alone kept him moving in this battle. The very creature before him was rather frightening, and he genuinely did fear it.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Left shoulder, left strike. Ferus felt the attack before he saw it. Well, he couldn't see in the dark as it was. He had chosen Sith Swords for a reason. The darkside that loomed from them offered as much light to him as a lightsaber would, but that wasn't what mattered now. Right hand holding his own blade, the Sith would bring his blade up to counter the clear move.

But that was a trap. Realization set in as there was no force of a strike on his blade, and his eyes narrowed in focus. A thrust? No time to think. His blade, which had been brought up to block a downward slash, flicked downwards itself. There was little Ferus could do to stop the strike, but as it came he would move to force the blade down, and as he turned his body to the right, make a debilitating wound just a painful one.

As flesh found itself ripped open, the monster of a man didn't so much as flinch. Pain, pain was nessecary for life. Nessecary to know one was still breathing. It was good. But now he could step into [member="Vaulkhar"] 's guard. With his blade below the boys out, and the blade still hopefully extended, the wounded Lord would step forward, attempting to bring his blade across the Acolytes legs from under the boys blade. A rich grim was now plastered on the Lords face however. Thus was a true way to fight.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar was surprised when his blade sliced through the flesh of [member="Darth Ferus"], but he was equally surprised when the man pressed forth for an attack. Vaulkhar moved quickly, avoiding a direct stab to the leg, but the blade sliced through the flesh of his thigh with ease, tearing clothing and skin alike. He grunted through the pain and visibly bit his lip before once more turning in a circle. The very motion send pain up his body, causing him to stumble mid spin. Though he stumbled, he continued the attack. His attack was led through the spin, gaining in speed.

As he hit the circle and stumbled slightly, his blade was no longer aimed at his neck. Instead, it was lower, towards his side. The center of the blade was moving towards the master's body.

 

[Darth Ferus]

As the blade came towards Ferus, the Sith found himself in a precarious situation. His blade was low, extended too far to come to his aid. The weird position of his own body, where his wounded arm remain to the back made it near impossible for his arm to come up and block the strike. The Lord prefered to keep lessons focused specifically on one art, focused on one skill. One skill he would use, one his apprentice would. But if he did not act otherwise, he would take quite the grievous wound.

Without any sort of chant or warning, the Darth simply disappeared from where he was standing. At the same time however, the raw power that seemed to have oozed out of him before now oozed out behind [member="Vaulkhar"] . A whisper sounded, so soft yet so clear. The Sith had moved instantly behind the boy, a teleportation skill.

"That was good. Very good. If not for this little trick of mine, you would of had me."

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar's blade moved through the shadows where [member="Darth Ferus"] had once stood, hitting nothing. He stumbled to the floor, dropping his the knee of his leg with no wounds and sat there. At the sound of the whisper and the feeling of growing power behind him, Vaulkhar's shoulders simply slumped. A smile formed on the young man's face, as he managed to go toe to toe with this master of the dark side, but in the end it meant very little. He was still beaten and his enemy was behind him at his unprotected back. Vaulkhar simply lowered his longsword and put himself into a position of meditation. He closed his eyes and began to steady his breathing.

"I suppose I did better than I expected, but it matters not as I failed to best you."

 

[Darth Ferus]

"If this was about besting one another, I don't think we'd be talking. You're good with a blade, as well as any I know. Have some pride, boy. You are Sith after all." The lights in the room would turn back on, and the Sith Lord would move to the sword rack, setting the sword down. "What did you think of the sword? Awkward at first, but I can help you get use to that." Red eyes glanced over to [member="Vaulkhar"] , a brow raised in question.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar focused his attention on the longsword and raised a hand. It slowly lifted up from the floor and he guided it towards his lap, where it was lain across his wounded and not wounded leg. He stared down at the blade. Though it was relatively normal, aside from it's alchemy, it was a beautiful weapon; one he intended on learning how to use. After his inspection of the weapon, Vaulkhar looked up at [member="Darth Ferus"] and simply nodded.

"It is a beautiful blade, one I'd like to master. Though it is not anything entirely special, it holds the aspects of a lightsaber, but it hits heavier. You are right, it was awkward at first and took time adjusting to, but utilizing it with the Juyo style aided in that. It likely would be relatively good in the use of Djem So as well. Something I'd like to learn and study..." He paused momentarily before continuing. "I would appreciate that, but I have to ask; who are you?"

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I am Darth Ferus. You wish to learn Diem So with the blade? That is something I can indeed teach. Keep the blade, in exchange I want your lightsaber. From now on that blade will be your only weapon. Do you understand?" Slowly the man moved towards [member="Vaulkhar"] , a hand raised. Through the Force he would begin to meld the wound on his leg, not a painless process, but the dark side would meld all wounds.