Private Destined to Darkness

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble
Mentioned: Kaila Irons Darth Imperius Jack Wright Cerrik

The starship's hum was a constant, soothing rhythm beneath Serina's feet as she stared out the viewport, Coruscant growing ever larger against the vast backdrop of stars. The sprawling city-planet glowed with artificial brilliance, an endless sea of lights that shimmered like a beacon of civilization and order. Yet, as Serina gazed at it, she felt no comfort—only a deep and gnawing uncertainty.

Her thoughts lingered on Kaila, the warmth of her embrace, the raw humanity they had shared. In the aftermath of their battle against the dark spirit, Serina had seen more clearly than ever the depths to which the Dark Side could drag her. The tendrils of power were intoxicating, promising control and dominance, but they came at a cost—one she now understood far too well. It wasn't just about power. It was about what she was becoming. The path ahead was no longer as clear as it had been mere days ago.

As the ship entered Coruscant's atmosphere, descending through layers of glittering traffic, Serina tightened her cloak around herself, the dark folds concealing her lightsaber and the crystal she carried. She couldn't shake the memory of her parents, powerless to stop the Jedi from taking her. It wasn't their fault; she knew that now. But the pain of that separation had been seared into her soul. She couldn't change the past, but perhaps she could forge a future where she would not cause such suffering to others—where she could honor the connection she had found with Kaila.

The archives were quiet, the kind of stillness that came with the weight of countless years of knowledge carefully cataloged and preserved. Serina moved with purpose, her steps silent as she made her way deeper into the Jedi Temple, her forged clearance granting her access to the restricted section. The irony was not lost on her; the very Order that had taken her from her family now served as a resource in her desperate search for answers.

The restricted section was vast, its shelves lined with ancient holocrons and crumbling texts, illuminated only by the soft, ambient glow of the archive's lighting. Serina's fingers brushed over the spines of books and databanks, her eyes scanning for anything that could offer her a way out—a way to sever her connection to the Dark Side entirely.

She didn't expect this to be easy. The Jedi did not seek to destroy the Force; they sought to channel it, to coexist with it. And the Sith? They relished in its chaos and power. Serina was seeking something that neither path offered—a complete and utter disconnection from the darkness that whispered to her, that threatened to consume her.

She remembered Rakata Prime, when Darth Imperius struck her down and her revival, she knew it had plans for her, that her fate may truly be determined against her will.

She remembered Imperius' words, which stung like a blade:

You think you have resisted the Dark side's allure by your strength of mind and clear goals, but it is already within you. I can feel it. There is a line drawn by your peers and you have crossed it already with your secret that you guard so well.

But she knew she had to try, if people like Master Cerrik, who Serina considered to be arrogant and blind, if people like Knight Wright, who by all accounts Serina considered to be barely functioning, can chose their own fates...

Why couldn't she?

As she poured through the texts, frustration began to mount. There were works on suppression, meditation techniques to calm the mind and silence the noise of the Force. There were accounts of Jedi Masters who had fallen to the Dark Side and clawed their way back. But nowhere did she find what she was looking for—something definitive, something final.

The hours stretched into the depths of night, the shadows growing long in the archive. Serina finally slumped into a chair, her hands gripping the edge of the desk as she stared at the small pile of works she had gathered. None of them held the answer she sought. Perhaps, she thought bitterly, there was no answer.

Her thoughts turned back to Kaila, to the way she had carried herself with both strength and vulnerability, a rare balance that Serina couldn't help but admire. She wanted to be better—for her, for herself, for the parents who had been unable to protect her. But how could she, when the darkness felt so intertwined with her very being?

Now Master Cerrik's words poured into her head:

Tell me, when the ashes settle, and you are left standing alone, what will you have built? What will endure?

Serina exhaled, the sound heavy in the quiet chamber. She closed her eyes, letting the silence envelop her. For the first time in what felt like days, she allowed herself to feel the weight of her doubts. The path ahead was uncertain, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't walk it alone.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

The click of Aadihr's staff preceded his arrival at the entry to the restricted section. Aadihr leaned on his staff, face forward, but Mind's Eye within the archives.

As a knight, Aadihr could not enter the restricted section without authorization. He understood why only masters were permitted entry - the archives a cache confiscated sith holocrons, confidential histories, and other things that could seduce one to the the dark side.

What Aadihr didn't understand was why the grey-concealed presence of the Padawan Serina Calis was within - searching, browsing, reading. She shielded her alignment and intention. Leaving nothing but assumptions for Aadihr to work with, and the assumptions he had unsettled him. She was studious and well spoken - but he had seen almost zealous ambition in the few times she had been unguarded since he first met her.

Maybe she had permission from Ran Serys or Valery Noble to seek something - but unchaperoned and concealing themselves their aura made Aadihr uneasy.

So Aadihr stood at the entrance, blindfolded face forward, trying to find any reason to give the Padawan the benefit of the doubt and grappling with the idea of entering the restricted section himself to intervene, even if it would trip the alarms.

Aadihr sighed. It may not be the right decision, nor even a wise one, but he had Seen, and when he Saw he could not look away. Aadihr walked into the restricted section, triggering the red emergency lights and the notice sent to the keeper of the archives and the guards on duty.

He would have precious few minutes to resolve the situation before the alarm response caught up to him.

The Miraluka's staff resumed it's clicking through the red flashing alarms, towards the grey outline, steeling himself against uncertainty.

Serina Calis | Ran Serys | Valery Noble​

 

[Ran Serys]

She wondered what she was still doing there. She needed sleep. Her team of Lorekeepers could handle the work while she took some time to rest. She knew that, but couldn’t bring herself to leave the archives. Her instincts told her to remain where she was, and like most animals in the galaxy, Ran Serys found she could not deny her instincts. So bleary eyed from too much time awake, and eyes too focused on logged information, the Head Archivist continued her march along the archives until she was interrupted. Then she was interrupted.

The alert hit her datapad just as soon as the alarms blared. She tapped the screen and found the image of Jedi Knight Aadihr Lidos entering the restricted section of the Jedi Archives. Ran wasn’t far from the restricted section, closer than any other lorekeeper, but still it would take time for her to reach just the entrance.

In her sprint for the restricted section, she used the force to propel her forward faster, and to focus her mind to be sharper. With every step, a question that wasn’t there previously came to her mind. Why would Aadihr enter the restricted zone? Is it for the knowledge knights aren’t authorized to receive? Or is it merely a mistake? A protest? A misunderstanding? A clerical error? All questions with no likely answers. Ran thought.

Historically the archives are only violated when there is an intent to violate. A fallen Jedi absconding with dangerous or vital information would never be a new affair. Ran refused to believe that was the case, but would be prepared for any eventuality.

In moments Ran had reached the one and only entrance to the restricted section. She saw no sight of Aadihr. She glanced back down to her datapad and saw the correspondence between lorekeepers. The archives had been cleared, all areas save for the restricted section. Until the others arrived, that obligation would fall to Ran. X’ellgihl, Ran began a communication with the longest acting of the lorekeepers. If she has yet to be contacted, get in touch with the Grandmaster. Tell her Aadihr Lidos has made an unsanctioned entry into the restricted section of the archives. I’m entering after him, As she typed she could feel the two presences before her, Aadihr and one more. One that was shadowed by feelings of doubt. And another, She typed and searched with the force for an answer as to who that person was. She came up with nothing. I don’t know who it is. [Sent]

X’ellgihl, when you’re finished alerting the Grandmaster, get me a list of all masters and knights who have entered the restricted section this week, mark any that do not have a record of leaving. [Sent]

Ran closed her datapad and entered the area of forbidden and heavily prohibited information. Her instincts again prodded her course of action. She would have made Aadihr her quarry, but something told her the being shadowed by their doubt could not be ignored. She tracked both presences but made off for the unknown element. If she was fast enough, Ran’s path and Aadihr’s would cross before they were upon the mysterious soul.

Serina Calis Aadihr Lidos Valery Noble​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble
Mentioned: Kaila Irons

Serina froze as the sharp red glow of the emergency lights bathed the restricted section, the soft hum of the archives disrupted by the blaring alarms. Her chest tightened, the familiar sense of panic clawing at her mind as she instinctively gripped the pouch at her side where the crystal rested. She was caught.

The hum of the Force around her shifted, the presence of others approaching—a stark reminder of how exposed she had become. One of those presences she recognized: Aadihr Lidos, the Miraluka knight, his presence in the Force distinct even through her muted awareness. His steps were steady, his staff tapping against the floor, drawing ever closer.

They know. They've always known. ​

The thought hit her like a hammer, and her breath quickened. Serina's crimes against the Order—the holocrons she had secretly studied, the forbidden paths she had tread—were sins she had convinced herself she could keep hidden. But now, with the alarms and the sudden scrutiny of the archives, it felt as though the truth was laid bare for all to see.

Her mind raced, frantic and spiraling. She could not reason with Knight Lidos—not in her current state. He was calm, composed, and unwavering, while she was fraying at the edges, pulled between the weight of her secrets and the fear of what the Jedi would do if they uncovered everything. Serina could already see the faces of the Council, their judgment sharp and absolute, casting her out as another fallen student of the Force.

I won't be caged. I won't let them take me like they took me from my family.​

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to breathe, forcing her thoughts to steady even as her panic gnawed at the edges of her composure. Fighting her way out of the Temple wasn't just an option—it was starting to feel like the only option. Her hand drifted toward her lightsaber beneath her cloak, her fingers brushing its hilt, the touch cold and familiar.

No. Not yet.​

She took a step back, her mind desperately seeking alternatives. She couldn't face both Lidos and whoever else was approaching. Her presence in the Force was already muted, concealed as much as she could manage under the crushing pressure of the situation. If she acted now—if she fought—it would solidify everything the Council feared she might become. But if they had already decided her fate, then perhaps the truth no longer mattered.

Serina turned sharply, her steps silent as she retreated deeper into the restricted section. Her mind reached out to the Force, seeking an exit, a path that would take her out of this place without confrontation. She couldn't afford to hesitate. Her panic would betray her presence if her careful shields slipped for even a moment.

As she moved, her thoughts turned inward, a storm of doubt and anger swirling within her.

Kaila... what would you do? ​

The question was a bitter echo in her mind. Kaila had faced her darkness head-on, but Serina wasn't sure if she had the strength to do the same. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.

The sound of Aadihr's staff grew closer, his presence steady and certain. She could feel another presence—Ran Serys, the archivist, her intent sharp and deliberate. Serina's heart pounded in her chest as the two converged on her location. She couldn't run forever, not here.

Her fingers tightened around her lightsaber's hilt, the decision looming like a shadow over her. She exhaled shakily, closing her eyes for the briefest of moments to center herself.

She spoke, her voice resolute yet with a touch of disharmony. "Knight Lidos, turn back."

If they leave me no choice... then so be it.​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

The tone of Serina's voice gutted Aadihr's stomach. Just a hint of a raw edge belied uncertainty - confirming guilt if not the motive for her intrusion.

"Knight Lidos, turn back."

The click of his staff continued. Sorrow replaced doubt, but he still hoped there could be some significant misunderstanding that could explain everything. There was a rapidly expanding canyon between hoping for an excuse and believing one to be true, however.

"We both know I can't do that." Aadihr replied. Ran Serys was faster than he had predicted, already almost upon him, though heading towards Serena as well - the chance to prevent hasty action grew slimmer by the second. "I triggered the alarm, I can help you through this - whatever it is you seek, the answers won't be found here."

He had to help her believe she had options - Aadihr did not hate the girl. Despite a harsh first impression, he didn't seek to bring ruin to the Padawan.

Much like how a cornered animal would lash out, one who believes their world is crashing down around them is more susceptible to the dark. Her frustrating shield prevented him from reading her intentions. He had no time to think of any alternative.

The Miraluka turned the corner, but stepped no closer. He hoped that by making himself visible the Padawan might feel a bit less inclined to drastic action, despite the blaring alarms.

The archivist was close. Aadihr's voice was firm but his soul wept as he spoke, knuckles white from gripping the staff, thumb brushing near the switch of the emitter, "Please take your hand off your saber. We can talk about this - the archivist might get the wrong impression."

He swore to protect those younger than himself - even from himself. His heart pulled against his mind, he feared it may tear him apart. The sithcursed burn scar seared with pain up his arm, coursing around his shoulder, feeding from the emotions tipping him off balance.

Serina Calis | Ran Serys | Valery Noble​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble
Mentioned: Kaila Irons

The sight of Aadihr emerging from the corner struck Serina like a blow. His calm, steady presence, the soft sorrow in his voice, made it harder to cling to the fragile composure she had managed to maintain. The blaring alarms painted the room in harsh red, an unrelenting reminder of the inevitability of this confrontation. As this occurred, the first part of the prophecy repeated in her head:

Thrice you shall be struck down and thrice you shall be brought back up.

One shall bear the pain of acceptance, one shall bear the pain of loss.

But the last shall free you.

Her hand lingered on her saber, her knuckles whitening as she clenched it. Every instinct screamed at her to act, to defend herself, to escape before the walls closed in entirely, to escape loss. But the Miraluka's words gave her pause, cutting through the chaos in her mind.

Serina's breath hitched. She could feel the weight behind his plea, the genuine care layered beneath the firm tone. For a moment, the tension in her body eased, her fingers loosening their grip. She didn't want this. Not here. Not now. Not like this.

But the panic was still there, coiled tightly in her chest, its venom whispering that trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.

"You don't understand, Knight Lidos," she said, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "I didn't come here to harm anyone. I didn't come here to betray the Order." Her gaze flicked to the floor, then back to him. "But if they find out what I've done, what I've studied… they'll never let me explain. They'll cast me out, or worse."

Her voice wavered, cracking slightly as she fought to hold back the storm threatening to overtake her. "I've seen what happens to those who fall outside their lines. They'll label me a threat, a danger, and they won't stop until they've torn everything I've built apart."

Serina took a step back, her gaze darting between Aadihr and the corridor behind him. She could feel the presence of Ran Serys growing closer, her approach steady and purposeful. The walls of the archives felt like they were closing in, the space suffocating under the weight of judgment she feared was moments away.

"You think I have options," she continued, her tone growing sharper, edged with desperation. "But I've seen how this story ends, Knight Lidos. And it's not with a conversation. It's not with understanding." She shook her head, the anger and fear twisting in her chest, her words become erratic, almost insane. "I didn't choose this path. It's been forced on me every step of the way. The Dark Side has enslaved me, cursed me by destination to become its mistress, its empress. And now—" she exhaled shakily, her fingers brushing against the hilt of her saber, her mind silently apologizing to Kaila, "—now it's all I have left."

She dropped her mental shield completely, an infinitesimal darkness unleashing upon the senses of not just Aadihr, but anyone nearby, utterly overwhelming to the point it was an assault on its own, the presence only matched by the darkest places in the galaxy.

Serina's voice softened, almost a whisper. "Please, just… let me go. Let me figure this out on my own. I don't want to fight you, Aadihr, I don't want any of this. But if it comes to that…" Her eyes hardened, resolve clashing with the tears threatening to fall. "I'll do whatever it takes to survive."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The Council Chambers were unusually still, the soft hum of the Force a constant yet serene presence. Valery sat in quiet contemplation, her focus sharpened on the broader currents of the galaxy, when a subtle ripple disturbed the stillness. Her amber gaze lifted, narrowing slightly as she felt the disturbance deepen, like a whisper threading through the Force.

A soft chime broke the silence — her datapad. The notification was urgent, its tone enough to pull her from her thoughts. Valery reached for the device, her brows furrowing as she read the alert from Ran. Aadihr Lidos and Serina Calis were in the restricted section of the archives, unauthorized.

A weight settled in her chest, heavier than the message alone could explain. The sensation within the Force was sharper now, brimming with tension and unease. Her connection reached out, brushing against the fractured emotions below — fear, desperation, and something darker, a pulse of shadow that felt unnervingly familiar.

Without hesitation, Valery rose to her feet andshe strode toward the chamber's exit. As the door hissed shut behind her, Valery quickened her pace, her steps echoing through the temple corridors. The closer she drew to the archives, the heavier the air became, thick with a presence that clawed at her senses. She pushed forward, her mind steeling itself against the creeping unease.

Serina.

The Padawan's name surfaced in her thoughts, accompanied by the memory of their past interactions. Valery had always sensed the complexities within the young woman, the unspoken struggles she carried. But this… this felt different.

Her grip tightened on the hilt of her lightsaber, though she did not ignite it. She was still far from the restricted section, but every step brought her closer to the heart of the disturbance.

Serina Calis Ran Serys Aadihr Lidos ​

 

[Ran Serys]

"I'll do whatever it takes to survive."

Ran heard Serina’s final words as she waited before the threshold of the room. She saw the young woman’s hardened expression, and the hand that hovered ready on her lightsaber. Serina’s energy ripped powerfully and violently through the archive with the dark side at its center. Ran steeled herself against it with a silent barrier of light.

She saw Aadihr. She hadn’t heard the words of her fellow knight, and couldn’t imagine what had previously been exchanged between him and Serina. Ran wondered if she could trust the man. His presence in the force was clouded from her, suffocated by the strong darkside energy that emanated from Serina.

Neither Jedi had drawn their saber, and Ran decided she would not be the first.

“Those are words of desperation.” Ran observed, as she stepped out of the shadows. “Whatever it takes to survive,” She echoed as she inserted herself into the room. “That is not a path to survival! That is a path to self destruction!”

“If you truly wish to survive, step away from this ledge, Serina,” The Knight said, trying to reason. Her glowing yellow eyes watched Serina like that of an animal on guard, waiting for the slightest twitch and an intention of violence. “Stay your hand from your saber and come with me! I will protect you. I will help you survive what you need to survive.” Ran held a hand out, away from her own saber. It was an invitation. One that left her vulnerable, an invitation for Serina to take Ran’s hand in her own, to touch the light and be done with whatever paranoia and desperation she was feeling, to quell the darkness inside.

Serina Calis Aadihr Lidos Valery Noble​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

The moment Serina Calis released her warded darkness, the vicarious darkness washed over the lingering burn scar from the sith flame underneath his wrapped left arm. It ached, resonating and feeding off of the fear and tension, felt like it was bulging outward from his flesh, searing with dark energy.

Aadihr winced, fighting off the effect as best he could. The pain throbbed, goading him into action

don't sympathize, shut down the threat. You've seen this in her since you first read her aura. Light your pike, end her, you'd be doing both her and the galaxy a favor

These thoughts were his, but pulled from dark corners where dismissed intrusive whims were shunted. Even now, the curse from the flames of The Red refused to heal. Nudging Aadihr to make the first move at the worst possible juncture.

Aadihr took a steadying breath and walled off his own thoughts, focusing entirely on external perception through the dulled throb.

I will not kill her. I will not light my saber. His pike with its phrik core would serve block and bludgeon well enough to detain the Padawan.

What am I doing? This isn't me - Serina Calis needs to feel secure to de-escalate

The archivist arrived, aura protected from the barrage of darkness with a shield of light. Was that darkness impacting Aadihr's own thoughts. Ran Serys offered another way out, unity and shared efforts to fix whatever had driven Serina Calis to this darkness.

She's beyond redemption, look at that darkness! Don't let her escape. She needs to be made an example of

These... were Aadihr's thoughts. Unspoken, buried within, but in his head, they sounded like the voice of his master, a cruel, unforgiving, and militant Jedi.

Spite had earned him this scar and vulnerability to Serina's darkness, but it was spite that also gave him strength to resist.

Even someone from roots as dark as Kahlil Noble can return to the light, can become a true Jedi, not just in name only. There is always a way back. I found a way back to the order.

Spoiler: Internal Conflict and Rationalization

But you left the order. Abandoned them first chance you could do so and avoid confrontation. Will you hide again, so desperate to avoid conflict, or will you finally confront your problems?
I left. . . And she may need the opportunity to find herself free of the bounds of the order, like I did.
She'll never be free from their eyes after this, you know this
Aadihr struggled with his own counterpoint.
Our attempts to get closer to help are driving her to desperation. I will confront this. I will not stand idly by and let the clashing Light and Dark drive this Padawan beyond the point of no return.

I will be the villain she sees in the Jedi Order. Her heart is off-balance, conflicted between what she believes and what she has experienced. She would need mind and heart in balance if she would eventually overcome this. Trying to bring both to the light from such darkness is going to rip her apart, and sith feed on such insecurity.

I will make it simple for her - it is not my position to expel, nor discipline, but Serina will not believe any compassion to be truthful. She will need time to find herself outside of the rigid hierarchy that has led her here. Even if she never comes fully to the light again I can alleviate the torturous existence of doubt - if she is the aggressor here she may never find reconciliation with herself.

Serina reconciling with herself was more important than reconciling with the Order. I swore to protect all Padawan - from my betters, from the dark side, and from myself. I never thought this would be how I do it.

Aadihr stepped closer to Ran Serys and Serina Calis , masking his sorrow with grim determination. He tried to summon hate within him, but could not do so authentically. He had to play the role right - at least well enough that the Padawan would believe it. He had to be the aggressor so the Padawan would not find themself beyond redemption in the future. Change like what Serina Calis needed could only come internally.

"Please, just… let me go. Let me figure this out on my own. I don't want to fight you, Aadihr, I don't want any of this. But if it comes to that…"

Sadly, a fight was the only way Aadihr could find that Serina would have the freedom and space to solve this in solitude.

Aadihr took another step. His downward-seeming gaze cast shadows over his blindfolded, eyeless face in the red flashing lights.

His voice threatened to catch in his throat. His ruse would be over the moment he tried to speak, his tone of voice would fail to belie the mask of the unforgiving Jedi Serina had already painted the order as.

Aadihr stepped closer, once more, not raising his head, letting the click of his staff speak for him.

Click. Every step made his arm burn more. This was against every conviction he held, but it would be for the best. He just needed force Serina to retreat, she would recover in the long run. Nobody needed to get hurt, but the illusion of danger was paramount.

Click. Aadihr hardened his face and emotions, shielding himself in the fashion he had seen Serina do. Even now, a Padawan teaches me more than my master had. He distanced himself from his thoughts.

Click.

This was close enough. I'm sorry to put you in this position, Ran. He thought.

Aadihr ignited his Pike, the blue-cyan beam of plasma illuminating one side of his hardened face in contrast to the red alarm lighting all around.

Click.

Ran Serys | Valery Noble | Serina Calis​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble
Mentioned: Kaila Irons Darth Imperius

​

The red light of the alarms pulsed through the restricted section, painting Serina's face in alternating flashes of crimson and shadow. The walls seemed to close in on her, the combined presences of Ran Serys and Aadihr Lidos pressing down like a suffocating weight. The air felt heavy, charged with tension, and beneath it all, the Dark Side whispered its seductive promises, a voice that had become both a torment and a comfort in her most desperate moments.

Serina's breathing quickened as her gaze darted between the two Jedi. Ran's outstretched hand offered a path back, a lifeline to the light she had long since abandoned. But Aadihr's advancing form, the rhythmic click of his staff, and the menacing glow of his ignited pike spoke of judgment, a refusal to believe she could be anything other than what the Dark Side whispered she was becoming.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the echoes of her prophecy pounding in time, each word carving itself into her mind like the sharp edge of a blade.

Thrice you shall be struck down and thrice you shall be brought back up.​

The memory of Rakata Prime surged to the forefront of her thoughts. She saw Darth Imperius again, his form towering over her, his cruel smile cutting deeper than his blade. She felt the searing pain of his strike, the darkness that had pulled her back from death's edge, promising her power and survival at the cost of her soul.

One shall bear the pain of acceptance, one shall bear the pain of loss.​

The weight of her failures crushed her anew. The teachings of the Jedi, the faces of her parents, the bond she had formed with Kaila—all of it threatened to slip away, just as the Force itself seemed to slip through her fingers. The prophecy loomed like an immutable truth, its inevitability mocking her desperate attempts to carve her own path.

But the last shall free you.​

Her fingers twitched near the hilt of her lightsaber. The whispers grew louder now, the Dark Side coiling around her like a serpent. It spoke of freedom, of power, of a destiny greater than the one the Jedi would allow her to claim. The words she had heard in the depths of Rakata Prime echoed through her mind, their seductive power undeniable.

You are more than a Jedi. More than a Sith. You are power. You are control. You are destiny.​

Aadihr's pike flared to life, its cyan blade illuminating the room in sharp contrast to the red warning lights. The sound was a challenge, a call to action that sent a jolt of energy through her body. She could feel his hesitation, his conflict, but it was drowned out by the pounding of her own heart and the whispers of the Dark Side, louder now than ever.

You will succeed where they failed. You will break the wheel, shatter the cycle, and bend the Force itself to your will.​

Serina's hand tightened around the hilt of her saber. Her breaths came in shallow gasps as she fought against the tide rising within her, the seductive pull of the Dark Side threatening to overwhelm her last threads of restraint.

This is your moment, Serina Calis, Heir of Malak, Corruptor of the Light, Mistress of the Dark.​

Her thumb flicked across the activation switch, and with a snap-hiss, her lightsaber ignited. The aqua blade sprang to life, its light cutting through the gloom like a beacon. In its glow, her expression hardened, her gaze locked onto Aadihr with a mix of fear, defiance, and something darker.

Rise, or fall into nothingness.​

The final words of the prophecy shattered her resolve. She rose to her full height, her blade held firmly before her. The Dark Side surged within her, its power a heady rush that dulled the ache of her doubts and amplified the sharp edge of her anger. The whispers coalesced into a single, insistent voice.

Arise, Serina Calis, arise and claim your destiny.​

Serina's voice cut through the air, sharp and trembling. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't choose this path, but I won't let anyone decide my fate for me. Not the Jedi. Not the Sith. Not anyone." Her blade shifted slightly, her stance solidifying as she steeled herself for what was to come.

"I warned you," she said, her voice quieter now, tinged with both sorrow and conviction. "I begged you to let me go. But if this is what it comes to, then so be it."

She took a step forward, her movements deliberate but charged with the energy of the Dark Side. The power coursed through her veins, fueling her every action, her every thought. She didn't want this, but the inevitability of the prophecy loomed over her, a cruel reminder of the destiny she could not escape.

Serina's gaze flicked to Ran for the briefest of moments, the woman's outstretched hand still offering a path she could not take. The light within the archivist was blinding, painful even, and yet it was the darkness that called to her now, binding her to its will.

"Kaila." Serina whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of her saber. "Forgive me."

With that, she stepped into the fray, her movements swift and precise as she closed the distance between herself and Aadihr, making a swift motion of attacks in Form I, her most competent form. The Dark Side roared within her, its whispers drowning out everything else as she fought, not just for her survival, but for the destiny she could no longer deny.

 

[Ran Serys]

“Aadihr?” Ran questioned as the cyan-blue blade extended from the tip of his pike. Her muted tone betrayed her astonishment. Aadihr had made the choice for Serina, and Ran could sense there would be no chance to undo this decision as a second snap-hiss resounded. “No!” She said inaudibly as the sound stole the breath from her lungs. She felt cold in range of Serina’s spurred darkness. It was absolute.

As aqua and blue-cyan light colored her sight, Ran’s open and extended hand retracted from the rejected offer and clutched at the air. The archive rumbled with the familiar gestalt energy. Ran touched the force. Shelves of ancient texts, holocrons, and artifacts levitated as Serina spoke. As the young Jedi attacked Aadihr, Ran slammed the shelves abruptly but safely against the wall with a violent gesture. Shelves folded and arranged away from the tips of lightsaber blades, the battlefield was set.

Ran stepped back, unclipping the hilt from her belt. With the smallest moment of hesitation she ignited the lightsaber's royal blue blade and jumped into the struggle alongside Aadihr. The color of their blue blades differed but still they hummed in concert against the darkness.

Serina Calis Aadihr Lidos Valery Noble​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

No Road Home

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Too late to second-guess himself now. All the sorrow inside him and the pain in his arm was dulled, stowed aside to be felt later. A flash of blue arced with the first parry as Aadihr isolated his heart, seeking serenity in Soresu, the third saber form, modified to defend at range with a polearm.

Serina's attacks revealed a solid foundation - even when goaded she had the control to engage without leaping into more flashy or dramatic lightsaber forms. Good. She would need that control and restraint to keep darksiders at bay on the path she would walk.

The shelves slid back suddenly as waves of the force emerged from Ran Serys - Aadihr ignored the aura of her emotions, if he saw them he would surely falter, and he could not afford to, not yet. His defence had to be effective but not overly passive.

The Miraluka jabbed between fending off strikes with the blade of the pike, testing her basic parry positions as if he were teaching. He kept himself at range, backing up at every approach from Serina, monitoring her footwork and if she would overextend herself.

After a few probing jabs, parries, and counter-maneuvering, the Archivist's emitter lit up with her own blade and approached. Aadihr took the opportunity to attempt to beat the blade of Serina Calis 's lightsaber with a spin the pike and a hard swipe at her elbow with the butt-end of the pike like it was a quarterstaff.

Shortly after his strike, Aadihr faltered - saliva gathered under his tongue and bile rose in his stomach, his vestigial eyelids fluttering with slight tremors. There could not be a worse time for a premonition.

Aadihr pulled back, struggling to maintain a defense at all as confusing visions swirled within.

It was unintelligible, contradictory, but one thing was clear: despite Aadihr's intentions, his decision here was one event on a long chain leading Serina Calis to her death - and eventual freedom?

Aadihr fought back the tremors, suddenly less concerned about accidentally hurting the Padawan, instead struggling to keep himself unharmed.

Serina Calis | Ran Serys | Valery Noble​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble

​

The crimson hue of the alarms mixed with the shifting blue and aqua of the lightsabers in the narrow space, painting Serina's face with an eerie and unnatural glow. Her lips curled into a grin, a twisted mockery of the charm she so often wielded. The Dark Side surged within her, its power coursing through her veins like a venomous elixir. The despair and panic that had driven her to ignite her saber now seemed to fade, replaced by a vile confidence, an intoxicating allure that tainted the air around her.

Her movements shifted, the defensive Form I melting away into the sinuous elegance of Form II: Makashi. She pivoted on the balls of her feet, her blade tracing serpentine arcs through the air as she began to circle her opponents. There was a seductive quality to her stance, her hips swaying slightly with each step, the aqua blade flickering like the tongue of a viper, poised to strike.

"Well," she purred, her voice dripping with dark amusement. "It seems I have your full attention now, doesn't it? How thrilling." Her words were both a taunt and an invitation, layered with twisted humor and mockery. She tilted her head, her piercing gaze locking first on Aadihr, then on Ran, her smile deepening. "I hope you don't mind if I make this... interesting."

Serina's steps quickened, her blade weaving through the air with mesmerizing precision. The Form II footwork, serpentine and deceptive, kept her balance impeccable as she danced between her opponents. Her movements were almost hypnotic, the arcs of her saber enticing and fluid, each feint and flourish designed to draw her enemies off balance. She was a predator, toying with her prey, her blade an extension of her will as she prowled.

Aadihr's probing strikes were met with graceful parries, her wrist flicking with an almost casual elegance as she deflected the cyan blade of his pike. She pushed closer, her proximity unsettling, her voice a sultry whisper. "Is this all you have, Knight Lidos? You can see it, can’t you? My ascension? I thought you might try harder to stop me." Her tone was a dangerous blend of flirtation and menace, her words laced with the vile confidence the Dark Side afforded her.

Her attention shifted to Ran, the archivist's royal blue blade cutting through the air with practiced precision. Serina countered with a riposte, her aqua saber gliding effortlessly along the path of Ran's strike before twisting away in a serpentine motion. "And you," she said, her voice low and mocking, "so self-assured, so righteous. Tell me, does the light always feel this... fragile?"

Without warning, Serina exploded into action, her blade slicing through the air with venomous precision. She struck first at Aadihr, her movements blindingly fast, a combination of Force Speed and the refined elegance of Makashi. Her blade flicked toward his pike, but it was a feint—at the last second, she twisted her wrist, redirecting the blow toward his shoulder with lethal intent.

Before the strike could fully connect, she spun on her heel, using the momentum to redirect her energy toward Ran. Her blade carved an intricate arc through the air, aimed low to force the archivist into a defensive crouch. The motion was fluid, almost playful, as though she were dancing rather than fighting, her every movement a blend of grace and lethality.

The Dark Side roared within her, feeding her confidence and amplifying her skill. She moved like liquid shadow, her blade a serpent's fang darting between her foes, her voice taunting and cruel. "What's wrong?" she cooed, her tone sickly sweet. "Don't tell me the great protectors of the Jedi Order are struggling against little old me."

As her attack pressed forward, Serina allowed the Dark Side to fuel her words, weaving Dun Möch into her assault. Her voice was an almost melodic whisper, designed to needle into the minds of her opponents, to exploit their doubts and fears. "Aadihr," she purred. "I can see it, you know. That darkness you try so hard to bury. It's clawing at you, begging to be let in. Why fight it? Embrace it, embrace me."

She turned her attention to Ran, her grin widening. "And you... what will you do when the light finally fails you? Will you stand there, righteous and proud, while everything you've built crumbles into dust?"

Serina's saber twirled in her hand, its movements serpentine and precise as she pressed her assault. She could feel the Dark Side strengthening her, feeding on her despair and twisting it into a cruel and wicked strength. The prophecy echoed in her mind, a reminder of the inevitability of her path.

Her laughter, cold and haunting, filled the chamber as her strikes grew sharper, more unpredictable. She had embraced the darkness fully now, her every move and word a testament to the power she had allowed to consume her. Whether she would rise or fall, Serina no longer cared—all that mattered was this moment, and the dominance she could claim within it.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"Is this all you have, Knight Lidos? You can see it, can’t you? My ascension? I thought you might try harder to stop me."

"Don't tell me the great protectors of the Jedi Order are struggling against little old me."

"Aadihr," she purred. "I can see it, you know. That darkness you try so hard to bury. It's clawing at you, begging to be let in. Why fight it? Embrace it, embrace me."

"Perhaps I overestimated you," Aadihr replied, having to step backwards, parrying two strikes with either end of the pike and sidestepping a third. "I don't see an ascension. I see a loss of control."

Her strength grew, her speed increased, and her voice shifted from a Padawan seeking survival to . . . Something else.

Ironically, the more complex and unpredictable Serina grew in her assault, the easier it was for Aadihr to predict for his defence - the darkness consuming her in the Force was anything but subtle at this point; her increased speed and strength was made up for the force signalling each strike - the challenge became one of athleticism instead of reflex for Aadihr.

True, he did not have the speed to prod at her defences even with the support of Ran Serys , but his slow recovery from the premonition alongside the darkness that grew in the once-padawan helped tip the scales back.

His arm burned and writhed, trying to give purchase to the dark child's words. He was not so easily swayed from the light, though it took effort to stifle the pain from the cursed burn. Aadihr found Serina's words unnerving from one who has only barely reached the age of majority.

No, the words weren't of the girl, were they? Aadihr thought to himself.
It was the darkness itself beckoning him. Aadihr found himself repulsed, contempt stirring within - another emotion to stifle. He would feed it nothing.

Perhaps his premonition had already come true? Had the student died and the darkness assumed her shell? Perhaps death was the freedom from the dark enslavement? Aadihr shunted his thoughts once more, recognizing them as distractions - doubt as an assault whether intended or otherwise.

He could wield doubt as well, even if it serves only to draw the ire of the girl.

"You give up free will only to enslave yourself to darkness?" He addressed the newly revealed side of the girl. "You sell your identity for simple strength? No, I see no ascension. You have become lesser. A vessel for a charicature of who you were."

If there would be a seed of doubt, he doubted he could truly plant one here, but he did pity the girl he chastised before this. Perhaps it was just a facade before, that this darkness was the true core of the girl, her actions seemed driven and empowered by the dark side, but Aadihr found that hard to believe.

Aadihr tried to forget the premonition - even prophecies were only potentialities.

If there was a true Serena underneath she was locked deep. She would need strength to force the darkness into submission; to gain control over it instead of succumbing to it like an addiction.

At least then she might have a chance at a life that doesn't end in tragedy.

That was merely what Aadihr wished for - a faint hope amidst a blur of flashing blue and cyan against a backdrop of red, dashes and lunges and pirouettes, saber against saber against staff in a deadly dance between the three parties.

Unfortunately, the potentialities of premonition and prophecy were not so easily swayed by simple wishes from simple Jedi.

Valery Noble | Ran Serys | Serina Calis​

 

[Ran Serys]

The flashing of plasma against plasma cut the red of the room like lightning cut a night sky. Through battle, Ran's saber hummed harmoniously. The only thing that disturbed its harmony was a clash against Serina's saber. Together the weapons made sounds more horrendous and terrifying than anything else in nature.

"And you," she said, her voice low and mocking, "so self-assured, so righteous. Tell me, does the light always feel this... fragile?"

"The light only reflects what is inside." Ran knew Serina was lost in the grandeur of the moment. Goading and mocking her and Aadihr. Delusion descended from darkness. Ran tightened the grip around her lightsaber and answered as if the question was true. The reflection Ran casted through the force was strong, indomitable, she appeared a wall that would never collapse nor crumble, no matter the amount of pressure or time that was thrown at it. "Any fragility you sense is your own." Ran said, having faced Sith Lords much more accomplished than the padawan. Ran believed outlasting her would be easy. Undoubtedly self-assured, but righteously so.

"What will you do when the light finally fails you? Will you stand there, righteous and proud, while everything you've built crumbles into dust?"

"I will do what I always do! I will fight until my last breath because the Light cannot fail me, until I fail myself." Ran said putting herself in front of Aadihr, protecting the knight from Serina, as his visions reverberated in the force. The royal blue blade of her lightsaber swooped down in a powerful circular arc where it met Serina's blade down low.

"Serina, I smell death's touch upon you. There is still time to avoid it." Ran's instincts informed. "Again, stay your hand, and take mine!" She attempted to persuade. It seemed a futile effort, but Ran would not lose heart. She would not bring death into their Archive, not of one so young.

Serina Calis Aadihr Lidos Valery Noble​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble
​

The chamber's chaotic clash of light and shadow reflected in Serina's blazing aqua blade, her every movement serpentine and deliberate. The taunts of her opponents—Aadihr's quiet chastisement and Ran's righteous resolve—echoed in her mind, but she felt no sting, no faltering of her purpose. Instead, their words fed the maelstrom within her, solidifying a grim realization that had long simmered beneath the surface.

The prophecy. The inevitability of it. The truth. It was always her voice.

You are more than a Jedi. More than a Sith. You are power. You are control. You are destiny.

She twirled her saber, its hum sharp and alluring, her eyes glinting with a darkness that now felt like second nature. The Dark Side was no longer an external force whispering seductions—it was her, as much as the blood in her veins or the breath in her lungs. For the first time, she saw the symmetry in it all, the harmony in her union with the darkness. She was not a vessel for it. She was it, and it was her.

A slow smile crept across her lips, dripping with licentious glee. Her voice, sultry and mocking, cut through the charged air like a blade. "Ah, Aadihr, Ran," she cooed, her tone dripping with false pity. "Such noble little flames you are, flickering against the storm. Do you truly think your words, your light, can douse what burns within me?"

Her movements shifted again, circling them both with the languid grace of a predator playing with its prey. "Aadihr," she purred, her gaze flickering toward the Miraluka. "You speak of control, of freedom, as though you have any idea what that means. Do you think the chains of your Order make you strong? No… they make you brittle. I can see it in the way you hold your pike, in the tremble of your convictions. The Force burns within you, but you cower from it. How… disappointing."

Her attention slid to Ran, her smile widening, the flirtation in her tone taking on a wicked edge. "And you, my steadfast archivist. Do you truly believe the light will never fail you? That your walls of righteousness are unshakable? How quaint. But tell me…" Her voice dropped to a whisper, intimate and venomous. "What will you do when those walls crack? When your precious light begins to flicker, as it will? Will you cling to your ideals as the darkness consumes you, or will you beg, as so many others have, for the mercy of the very power you now scorn? The darkness doesn’t take, I wait…"

She stopped mid-circle, her eyes narrowing as she raised her free hand. The Dark Side surged within her, a tidal wave of power she could no longer resist—and no longer wanted to. Her smile turned feral, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous hum. "But why talk when I can show you the truth? Let me illuminate it for you."

The air grew thick and electric, the chamber vibrating with an unnatural resonance. Serina's outstretched hand began to crackle with tendrils of violet lightning, the raw energy coalescing into a storm that writhed and pulsed with her every heartbeat. She felt the Dark Side guiding her, shielding her, the power coursing through her body threatening to tear her apart if not for its protective embrace.

The first arc of lightning leapt from her fingertips, striking toward Aadihr with a violent, concussive force that lit up the chamber in a blinding flash of violet and white. The energy coiled and surged, hungry and unrelenting, seeking to overwhelm his defenses and burn away his resolve, without hesitation, Serina redirected half of the torrent towards Ran, the tendrils of lightning snaking through the air like living things.

The dark energy obeyed her will, bending to her commands as though it had been waiting for this moment, this union, all along. Serina's laughter filled the air, low and sultry, resonating with the same power that coursed through her. The light from the lightning illuminated her face, casting her features in a stark, almost ethereal glow, as though she were a goddess of the storm, reveling in the chaos she had unleashed.

"Do you see now?" she shouted over the crackling storm, her voice a mixture of triumph and exhilaration. "This is not weakness. This is not surrender. This is what it means to be free. To take the Force, the galaxy, destiny itself, and make it bow to my will."

The torrent of lightning intensified, the chamber trembling under the force of her power. But Serina did not falter; she stood tall, her expression one of pure ecstasy, as though the Dark Side itself were singing to her, praising her, exalting her.

The prophecy rang in her mind once more, her final words echoing with undeniable clarity, in her arrogance, she did not realise she spoke them aloud.

"This is your moment, Serina Calis, Heir of Malak, Corruptor of the Light, Mistress of the Dark."

And for the first time, she accepted it. Not as a curse, not as a destiny thrust upon her, but as a truth she had known all along. She did not care if it was arrogant to do so.

It was her, she was it.

She was power. She was control. She was destiny.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The dim, crimson hue of the alarm lights pulsed through the restricted section, mixing with the vibrant flashes of blue, aqua, and cyan sabers clashing in a chaotic storm of energy and sound. The battle raged fiercely, but suddenly, a new presence sliced through the tension like a blade through the air.

Snap-hiss.

The iconic sound of a lightsaber igniting echoed through the chamber, and a brilliant violet blade illuminated the entryway. Standing there, framed by the doorway, was Valery, her fiery eyes blazing with intensity. The Force swirled around her like a tempest, her presence a beacon of calm amidst the storm.

"Enough." Valery's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the chaos with the weight of authority and purpose.

With a graceful step forward, she raised her free hand, palm outstretched. A shimmering barrier of light and energy materialized in the air between Ran, Aadihr, and the tendrils of lightning erupting from Serina's hand. The barrier absorbed the brunt of the dark energy, crackling and shimmering under the assault but holding firm. Sparks and arcs of lightning dissipated harmlessly against the shield, the raw power of the Dark Side unable to breach the unyielding wall of light.

Her violet blade hummed as she strode forward, her movements purposeful and fluid. She stepped between the combatants, the air around her charged with both the intensity of her presence and the Force.

"Serina Calis," Valery said, her tone low and dangerous, each word heavy with conviction. "You've gone far enough."

Her fiery eyes locked onto Serina's, piercing through the shadows that clung to the Padawan like a second skin. There was no hesitation in Valery's stance, no doubt in her mind. She was here to end this, not with destruction, but with unwavering resolve.

"This darkness does not define you," Valery continued, her voice softening just slightly, though it carried an edge of steel. "You think it makes you strong, but it's a crutch, and it will consume everything you are. You know this, Serina."

The room seemed to tremble as Valery reached deeper into the Force, her connection radiating outward like a steady pulse. Her presence was unshakable, a pillar of light in the midst of Serina's storm.

"You can still make a choice," Valery said, taking another step forward. Her lightsaber remained ignited, its hum a steady reminder of her readiness to act if she had to. "Stand down now, or I will stop you."

Her words were both a challenge and an offer, her fiery gaze unwavering as she waited for Serina's response.

Serina Calis Ran Serys Aadihr Lidos ​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Restricted Archives
Tag: Aadihr Lidos Ran Serys Valery Noble ​

The violet glow of Valery's saber illuminated Serina's face, casting sharp shadows across her features as she stood bathed in the aftermath of her torrent of power. Her chest rose and fell with exhilarated breaths, the hum of her aqua blade blending with the pulsating tension of the room. Her gaze, wild and gleaming with a mixture of dark amusement and feral intensity, locked onto Valery Noble's.

When the Grandmaster spoke, Serina tilted her head, listening with mock attentiveness, her lips curling into a smile that was as seductive as it was cruel. The calm and commanding presence of the Jedi Grand Master would have sent a lesser opponent to their knees, but in her arrogance Serina only seemed to thrive on it. The darkness that swirled around her grew denser, thickening like an oppressive stormcloud.

"Valery Noble," Serina purred, her voice dripping with twisted allure. "The illustrious Grandmaster, gracing us with her presence. How lucky I am." She stepped forward slowly, deliberately, her movements serpentine, her saber held loosely at her side. "But you misunderstand me, as all of you do. This isn't about choice. This isn't about control or corruption or redemption."

Her eyes gleamed as she leaned her head back slightly, laughing—a sound that echoed unnervingly in the confined space. When she looked back, her gaze was locked on Valery's, piercing and unnervingly confident. "This is about inevitability."

Serina raised her free hand and gestured broadly to the room, her voice rising in intensity, the seductive lilt transforming into something more frenzied. "Do you think this is an accident? That my being here, that this battle, is just some coincidental act of rebellion? No. This is prophecy. This is destiny made manifest."

Her tone dropped to a hiss, her words dripping with malice. "You think your light can stop what's already written in the fabric of the Force itself? I've seen it. Felt it. Lived it." She laughed again, harsher this time. "This is greater than any of you."

Serina's gaze flicked to Ran and Aadihr, a twisted grin spreading across her face. "You feel it too, don't you? The inevitability of it all. I am not just consumed by the Dark Side—I am the Dark Side. It is me, and I am it. There is no separation, no line to cross. We are one and the same."

Without warning, Serina's smile twisted into a snarl, and she thrust her free hand forward. A violent wave of telekinetic energy exploded outward, the Force Push used in an attempt to slam into Aadihr and Ran with bone-rattling force.

Serina didn't even pause to watch the results of her attack. She pivoted on her heel and extended her hand toward a sealed side door. The Dark Side surged, the air groaning as she wrenched the door open with raw power. Beyond it, a ventilation shaft used for a sub-generator within the temple stretched into the shadows, a ready escape if the need arose. Her movements were frantic yet calculated, her connection to the Dark Side granting her both clarity and chaos in equal measure.

With the door forced open, Serina turned back to Valery, her blade rising to point at the Grandmaster in a provocative challenge. "You want to stop me? To 'save' me?" she spat, her tone mocking and venomous. "Then come, Grandmaster. Let's see if your light can endure the truth of what I am. Let's see if you can hold back the storm."

She shifted into a duelist's stance, her form unmistakably Makashi, every movement elegant and deliberate despite the chaos in her aura. Her smile returned, cruel and seductive, as she beckoned Valery with a flick of her blade. "Come, Valery Noble. I have always wanted to dance..."

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire,
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"You feel it too, don't you? The inevitability of it all. I am not just consumed by the Dark Side—I am the Dark Side. It is me, and I am it. There is no separation, no line to cross. We are one and the same."

The wall of light summoned from the Grandmaster upon her arrival separated Aadihr from Serina and the lightning she conjured. Aadihr lowered his hand, still reading to spring back to deflect if something happened.

Inevitability, Aadihr did feel. He had meant to give the Padawan a means to escape and seek out their own identity on their own terms, not this delusion of an addict overdosing in the dark side of the force. Now Valery Noble was here, and there was no way for him to save the Padawan.

The grandmaster would kill the Padawan, and Aadihr instigated the conflict. He was the very catalyst of what he feared the most - a failure of his own convictions of the worst magnitude. "There once was separation, now the Jedi learner within you is drowned. I do feel inevitability - not of your apotheosis, but of your death."

Behind the wall of light, Aadihr snuffed the emitter of his pike and knelt in a meditative pose, laying the pike across his lap. " Ran Serys , I apologize for my misstep. Valery Noble , I have failed in protecting this young one."

Aadihr's vestigial tear ducts grew inflamed, tickling his sinuses from within.

"Padawan Serina Calis , I apologize to you for I have wronged you worst of all. Though you feel empowered now, you willingly lock yourself in a cell and name yourself the warden. I had thought to give you a chance to find your own freedom, but instead I have led you your demise."

Aadihr hoped her spirit will find peace after death. In the force spectrum the light of the grandmaster was blinding, making the darkness that was Serena seem a lone speck of black floating atop waves of radiant golden fire.

"Ashla forgive me." Even his own master never got a Padawan killed. Aadihr, by action, had made a misstep worse than the years of abuse.

Aadihr meditated, initially to distance himself but instead focusing on the scene before him.

He had wrought this, played a part in it. He had seen what he had done - And what he saw he could not look away from.

Serina Calis | Valery Noble | Ran Serys​

 

[Ran Serys]

The wall of light before Ran's saber was familiar, the feeling of it in the force. The Grandmaster had come to deal with Serina Calis. Ran and Aadhir would be free of the burden of taking the padawan's life. Alongside Aadihr's saber pike, the hum of Ran's lightsaber disappeared as did its blue glow.

"Your apology is not enough, Aadihr." Ran said. She wanted to say more but held her tongue. She was both concerned for and skeptical of the Miralukan Jedi Knight. Ran wondered at how involved Aadihr had been in Serina's fall. Was he just responding to what he'd felt within the padawan? Did he have some external information that she hadn't? Or had he played some hidden part in the debacle? Questions would not be answered for some time to come, but Ran knew two things. One, Aadihr was the first to ignite his blade, an action that did not help in clearing the chaos. Two, She did not and would not accept his apology, at least not until she received more information.

Ran watched on as Valery gave Serina another chance at an out. She also watched Serina deny it. The padawan was drunk, possessed of the dark side, so much so she put chaos before self preservation. Ran shook her head, wondering how things would have gone if Aadihr had not drawn his blade.

Serina Calis Aadihr Lidos Valery Noble​