Private From the Light to Dark

[Nouqai Veil]

This was the new life she woke up to after having tried to end hers. That life, a new beginning was one she'd never had expected to go down- he was one she never expected. No longer a padawan, instead she was now apprentice to a sith, Darth Malum of House Marr . Someone who treated her with such kindness and care, certainly was not very sith-like, but it was so welcoming, enticing her to accept that part of her.

Today they would train. A test of her skill, to gauge where her abilities fell. Although young, Nou- Falentra was only a step to the jedi knighthood, and having been previously trained by a wookie, that was perhaps enough said about where her skill fell under. But the teen was rather humble, Malum had never seen her fight through the eyes of Corvus, but he would see just competent she was today.

The castle was huge, she had gotten lost in it once or thrice in her days here, she was still figuring her way around. Falentra made her way to the training arena where he said to meet, a place like the deserts of tattooine. Sand and whereever dry was not forte for the amphibious girl, but it would not hinder either. She was there early, knowing her new Master would be there anytime soon. But she would spend her time in meditation on the sand as she waited, listening to the beats of her new heart, the organ still a stranger to her body.

When he finally arrived, Falentra stood. Taking a shallow bow in his direction. "Master," She greeted. Did she have to bow? He was a king was he not? The intricacies of royal social standing still a foreign concept to her.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

When Malum found her, he had a smile on his face, despite all the difficulties... both expected and unexpected there had been in bringing them to this point, he had succeeded. Nouqai Veil, the Jedi padawan was gone, Nouqai Veil , the Sith apprentice had fully and finally emerged.

And she called him master.

That perhaps should not have been a very specific item of note.

On the otherhand, considering all the apprentices which he had previously taken under his wing...

... Darth Dekaltis , had far more... interesting... ways to refer to her master.

While he to an unfortunate degree had to share the title for Zachariah Conway with another, in the Sith Empress herself, Srina Talon , while even beyond their relationship was not... exactly the traditional master-apprentice relationship, for all he knew what and more importantly perhaps, who, the young Sith was.

And speaking of non-traditional master-apprentice relationships... Ansisa ... Kara...

She had called him that before...

...But the context always was different.

Red eyes burned ever still in the pit of his heart.

Guilt, at so many different avenues, whirled ever still about him.

That ever so, almost instinctive desire to touch that bond they held, resisted, as it usually, always, was.

He widened his smile, lest his newest apprentice see that there were far too many thoughts within their master's head, yet, that smile did not quite reach the red eyes that gazed on.

"Greetings Falentra," Malum answered, offering a nod in answer, his Sith Sword strapped to his back, his lightsabres within his cloak, as today, would be the first day in which Falentra would undergo the many acts, repeated across years, to make her truly a Sith.

And by his desires.

A great Sith.

"Show me all you have learned under the Jedi, I will correct whatever I see, and then we can undertake a look at the curriculum and your interests." He after all had a reputation to maintain.

He was quite the... strange, Sith master.

He nodded again, granting permission for her to begin.

 

[Nouqai Veil]

The Jedi... that was Darth Assimilus . There was so much her master of the light had taught her over the three years, where would she even begin? The movement of Shien, Djem So and Niman, were the combat forms ingrained into her muscles. But naturally she found her own movements to have the tendency to incline into the graceful flow of Makashi - a result of dueling against one as large as a bear and adapting to go against his own style. The wookie master had also made sure of her strength, surely not as strong as his own physiology allowed, but ensuring she reached her own physical potential with much strenuous training.

Falentra returned a nod. Standing away from Malum, she held her lightsaber in the distinctive yet rather controversial reverse grip of the combat style shien. She began with wide swings, at the end of each swing, her wrist twisted, manoeuvring the weapon skilfully around to reverse its direction. Her feet moved, propelling each motion with step-through strikes which increased exponentially in momentum as they found a fluidity with such speed the sentient eye could not follow. Movements she had done countless times on repeat to perfect, it was second nature to her.

At one point, swiftly tossing the saber to her other hand before carrying out the motion in repeat, only just reverse. Then, she would transition in a graceful riposte to the opening stance of Djem So, holding the hilt overhand above her head, now delivering strikes with more power than mobility. Once she was done, she would close her position. Saber held in passive stance in her right, where her other hand positioned behind the small of her back.

"I am also competent at incorporating force-based attacks in combat, as with Niman. The sixth form." The teen declared. Falentra, could feel a dull ache in her chest, her heartrate accelerating, but she would not heed much attention to it. "Would you like me to demonstrate that as well?" She asked, such would involve a duel.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Shien and Djem So, certainly they were not what had come naturally to him, but he was competent enough at their use. At least she did not show him Soresu, which might have made him shake his head and sadly chuckle, he and Elise Ahana-Gwyneira had already had their share of poking fun at that particular form.

The perfect defence was all well and good.

But it was not how won achieved victory.

But no, he could work with Shien and Djem So.

Especially since as far as he could see, she was rather capable of wielding them, she was swift, precise, and confident with each movement. Transitioning from Shien to Djem So without more than a flourish, though she was not fighting a foe... or perhaps it was simply a visible one.

It was clear to Malum, she had certainly progressed far from the girl, who he had met on Mykyr.

And that girl had been a threat in her own right.

It seemed that Wookie that had trained her, had certainly given her all the basics... but indeed too the intermediate training she required, to begin her conversion to the darkness.

Unsurprising, she had been only one trial away from knighthood after all.

Still, there was... something off.

He just was not entirely sure what it was.

He would need to keep observing clearly, but alas, that specific demonstration had concluded, as her voice transmitted across the arena to him.

He tilted his head in curiosity, Niman... huh.

He did not much care for the form, the diplomat's way to wage war, but its precepts did have some use to him, after all, he was much himself all too willing to use Force based attacks, even in secondary use to his lightsabre.

And of course, it was through Niman, that one would learn Jar-Kai.

Malum offered a smile at her words, drawing into his robes and with a hiss, the red plasma of his lightsabre activated, as he took his standard Makashi stance, lightsabre extended, hand aiming, "Indeed I would throw everything you have at me, if you succeed in landing a hit, there will be a prize for you." Malum smirked, awaiting her move.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Even as her body nagged at her to rest in the form of a dull ache in her chest, she would not listen. This was her first lesson within the darkside, and Falentra would not disappoint her new master. She would show him that she was deserving of the place, deserving of the apprenticeship under him - someone with status far above hers.

A prize... it was enticing and so was the challenge. The life of a padawan was humble, she was rarely afforded gifts - greed and the wanting for more was looked down upon. What could the prize possibly be? Barely a few seconds to recuperate, she started again. WIth both hands on the hilt, her grip tightened she swung upwards, her left foot moving forwards to propel the offensive strike, yet ready to block his own.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He offered a prize, but truly he was not sure what he would give her, though he supposed there was an open question of whether one would be necessary at all.

She did need to land a hit after all.

And he was no slouch at this specific art.

She advanced forward, a fierce two-handed swing upwards, her foot moving to put power behind the swing, yet moving ever still cautiously, just in case for the counterattack.

Not good.

Malum feinted forward, seeming to be ready to parry her swing, only to with the power of seemingly the wind itself at his back, twisting himself out of the way of the cut.

"Dodge all that you can, parry all that you cannot, block when you cannot do either," Malum stated, pointing the lightsabre with some distance between them at Nouqa- Falentra's neck, threatening certainly, but she was not yet in danger.

"When you strike, put all yourself into the attack, when you defend, put all yourself into the defence, hesitate, and you shall be dead."

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Her master was quick on his feet, agile, so unlike the large wookie she trained under. Grrwunhoool had trained her in strength, there was much power to her swings and wide blows, but now she was against a human. He would not parry or block, instead dodging away from her swing before pointing his blade at her neck, close enough to feel its heat radiating against her skin. She had to adapt.

It was not what she was taught as a jedi, putting all of herself into an attack meant severely hurting an opponent. Falentra had yet to take a life, indeed she was hesitant. While she had no doubt that Malum would not allow himself to be harmed, it was not of her to strike anywhere where injury was lethal.

Maybe a defensive strategy would work. If only she managed to disarm him, landing a hit would shortly follow. With a swing, Falentra parried away the blade at her neck. A hand reached out to pull Malum towards her, a short but forceful one to possibly make him lose his balance or take him by surprise. She swung, this time with one hand aiming for the hilt of his saber. Hit or miss, or if parried, dodge of blocked, she did not hesitate as a long tentacle reached out from behind towards his other arm in attempt to wrap around and restrain, giving her another opportunity to strike again.

Her eight extra functional limbs on her head were always overlooked. The tactic never worked with the wookie due to his massive stature, but with a human, she might have a better chance.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He offered a smile as she was quick to recover from the difficult position he had put her under, parrying away his strike with the swiftness to avoid him stabbing forward if he wished to finish her off then and there. Still, that was far beyond her efforts, a smile widening along with his eyes, as she not only parried away his blade with convincing strength.

But he felt the Force shift around him.

Feeling himself reeled forward.

He had not expected that, but such was the cost of underestimating even an apprentice.

Using her form as a base to latch on, the Force shifted around them like the winds of the hurricane, as he pushed himself back.

Still, her manifest purpose had been completed, as her lightsabre swung forward, aiming for the hilt of his own, it was a near thing, yet the red plasma hissed against each other as the kyber battled in the air, held in place by strength alike. He imagined he was stronger, but she held the initial momentum.

And she pressed it.

And it was not the only move.

As he felt her tentacles reach for his other arm, holding him in place, restraining him.

Very clever.

"Excellent use of the Force, work on your speed, and you might have succeeded."

But not clever enough.

His ring burned around his fingers, glowing alight, only to.

Burn.

A great raging flame, aiming to singe her skin erupted out of his fingers, his lesser flame to not truly hurt her, only to push her back, as his lightsabre swung for the hilt of hers as she did him.

"It is a risk, to put your body, any part of it in the line of danger."

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

The young apprentice had overlooked the trinkets on his hand. The ring which burst outwards with flames, she cried out as the heated singed and sizzled the surface of skin. The tentacle reflexively unwrapped and released its grip. He had fire?! "It will heal, and grow back if ever necessary." The pain was only momentary. Those tentacles had been severed in the past through training, even in her younger years.

Now she knew of his other weapon, she could take the precautions.

As soon as Falentra saw the swing, she turned her lightsaber off, tossing it onto her other hand in the blink of an eye as she turned her body sideways, avoiding the swing. Using the force, she sent a burst on the ground below, sending the sand flying around them. Her stance remained low, as she swung downwards with a wide swing, this time for his neck.

Aiming... to miss. She could not bring herself to strike a fatal blow even if she tried, for they were not in real combat.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

There was a spark of concern in his eyes as his ears registered her cry, and his nostrils registered the smell of burned flesh. The moment of guilt passed quickly, but the fact that it existed at all, was going to be a problem that needed to be suppressed, and then denied, he had come far from his first apprentice, Ansisa ... Kara...

But not far enough clearly.

Still, he nodded his head at her answer, though he imagined no permanent damage was done, to have confirmation of it was a balm to his ears.

"Very utilitarian limbs," Malum noted, and their usefulness would only grow exponentially on how much she was willing to lose them. Still, most could not instinctively allow themselves to make such a painful sacrifice,

Yet... the Sith were masters at managing pain after all.

Still, her next trick caught him off guard, eyes widening, and brow-raising, as he fell forward, a brief shimmer of pride as she dodged exactly as he told her, red eyes keeping constant watch upon the hilt of the blade, as it switched hands, was she ambidextrous? That would make certain teachings easier.

And far more importantly.

Had a Jedi taught her Trakata?

He grunted as the sand began flying, leaping back to avoid the threat to his eyes.

She was playing this game very dirtily.

He approved.

Smiling as he blocked the incoming strike, noting its weakness, even as aimed at his neck, she was holding back.

He would be touched, but it was far from necessary, as the plasma hissed as the lightsabres collided, and he locked her into place.

"Very good show... if a dishonourable one, but what is honour in the matter of life or death?" He mused, as red eyes stared down upon blue, "Still... Trakata, a very unexpected move my apprentice, who taught you that?" He chuckled, before without giving her time to ponder the question, he pushed down on her, leveraging his height, as the hilt looked to smash into her skull.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Honour. Was it not a Jedi belief with much of its rules structured around honour and dignity? His weapons was now upon her as their blade collided. Falentra grunted as she held her saber over her head, now with both hands. She was strong for her size, the wookie made sure of it, but Malum had the advantageous stance, pushing down as it inched closer to her head.

The young apprentice could not dodge nor parry and it was almost a matter of time before her block faltered. Thinking quick, she shifted her stance, leg lifting and bending before throwing a sturdy kick to his abdomen to push him back. Shortly gaining her balance and catching her breath. "Trakata? Is that what its called, I didn't know it had a name. Grrwun didn't like when I did that." She admitted.

Her system running with adrenaline, getting her heart racing. That heart... now only realising how much her chest was aching... disconcertingly. The expression on her face betrayed her, the worry. Something wasn't right.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The weight of a warrior, the weight of momentum, the weight of gravity fought against Nouqa- Falentra, yet she still stood. Even as he inched ever and ever closer to victory, one which he knew he would need to fight those forces to make certain he would not grievously harm her, she stood her ground.

He could see the concern glimmer in her blue eyes.

But she had impressed him so far.

She was not to disappoint, Malum smirking as her tempo shifted, as with desperation in her form, her leg came out for a kick that would no doubt have stolen his breath, if not indeed for the fact that he had fought swifter foes still.

Yet it did save her, Malum leaping away from the strike, their lock, broken.

As he gazed upon her with glimmering red eyes.

"It is an unpopular tactic amongst both Jedi and Sith, but some, especially among the Sith practice it still... I would keep it in your back pocket, it can catch any off-guard." Malum said in way of explanation.

The eyes dulled, as he gazed at her.

The worry.

Was her stamina failing?

Was this a new tactic?

He was cautious, but he did not strike again, gazing at her keenly, "Are you okay, N- Falentra?" She had shown him much, perhaps their spar could be ended if she was truly tiring.

There would be other days to train her to exhaustion.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

The teen know she was not okay. Even if exhausted, it was never to this extent, her heart thumping hard in her chest, so loud and fervently that she could hear it in her own ears. But it was not her heart, what was hers, she had obliterated off with her own lightsaber two weeks ago. Two weeks was a rather short time. The new one, after hours of operation it took to get into her, now was failing.

The adrenaline was running dry. Nausea overcame her, her vision clouding, the world seemed to spin around her, she stumbled forwards and onto her knees, her weapon clattering to the ground. "I don't think so." She managed to get out. "J-just give me some time." Falentra did not need time, she needed another heart for she had strained this one trying to impress her new master.

Maybe a new heart would be the prize after all.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

His own lightsabre deactivated, hissing to silence, as he saw her swaying on her feet, had he... no, even the fire could not have caused anything like this. To call her simply tired too would be inaccurate, he saw her limbs, her entire swaying form, none of them seemed exhausted, indeed they seemed...

Oh no.

"Nou- Falentra!"

It was her weapon fell on the floor, as she stumbled forward, and fell on her knees, that Malum knew exactly what had happened.

She had healed from surgery without any complications, apart from of course the most important one of them all.

No matter what had been attempted, as close a match as could have possibly been found.

The heart that struggled to beat in her chest, was not hers.

Not simply as an individual, but as a species, it did not belong to her.

Malum rushed forward, cradling her form, as gently as he could, hearing her struggling breaths, and knowing, something had certainly gone wrong.

"You stupid girl..." He whispered, standing back up, cradling her still, as he without any caution, rushed to the infirmary.

They needed a solution, and they needed one fast.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Gently, she was lifted up from the ground. She hated feeling so vulnerable, unable to get herself up on her feet on her own. Though she did not need to worry about that.

Her consciousness was dwindling. She was in so much pain, within her chest cavity, that heart was trying so hard to support her over exerted body. It was only a matter of time before she blacked out.

Stupid girl. She heard him utter. Actions had consequences, and hers stemmed from driving a lightsaber blade through her chest cavity. Indeed, stupid. Would she have done things any differently? Probably not.

“If you have to pull the plug, do it.” Voice hoarse, she croaked out. “It was nice knowing you,” She chuckled. What were they going to do? Get her a new heart? Where would only be the same complications in the long run.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

A new heart would have to be secured. Even if this one was failing, even if this one was not built for her, it was still likely better for her to have a beating heart than a broken one, it would hopefully give them more time.

"Prepare the infirmary, Falentra's heart is failing, with irregular beats and a weakening pulse, prepare for a transplant," Malum spoke into his wristcomms, with a certain ease that was not at all reflected in how he truly felt, as his feet rushed him to the location, he might have shifted through time and space.

Indeed he was sorely tempted as his legs, as swift as they were, beating across the sand, up the arena, as they rushed to the hallway, were not fast enough in his view.

However, even with how little of a shift it might be.

He would not risk a failing heart on that journey.

He quirked an ear as her words struck him.

Almost skidding him to a stop as his mind had to process what he was hearing.

A growl erupted out of his lungs.

"Fight, damn it, fight, tell me you want to live, or what is the point of existence?" There was something truly wrong with her, the girl he had watched grow, to simply try to... kill herself, not in a way that was painless mind you, but that might have maximised her agony should she have survived.

Why?

He still could not answer, as he kept running.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Who knew a new organ could cause her so much pain? The pain from healing from the surgery that put it in or the blow of the saber before that was nothing compared to what she was experiencing now. Truly, her body was rejecting it in what she felt was a full blown tantrum. The irony of it all, she was just as stubborn as it was.

Despite the pain and her life fading, she felt safe. This man, sith or not, had went out of her way to keep if alive, even if it had only extended her life for a mere two weeks. There was a part of her that she did not want to let go off. "The darkside has no place for me, the Jedi - the lightside - is all I've known..." Yet those Jedi had instilled bias into their children, to dissuade them from the dark.

"What's the point of existence? You see my potential, but I've dissappointed Grrwunhoool and I will only dissappoint you too."

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"Some of the greatest of our Order were once Jedi, this Order was founded by Jedi, do not be so foolish!" He near hissed at her, as his legs carried them ever forward, he was nearing the infirmary he knew, but feeling her grow colder in his hands, feeling the beat of her heart lessen and lessen, he could only hope he was not too late.

Bogan why had he not noticed?

Why had he not been more cautious?

Only for her words to...

...Fulfil him with such sombreness, as he continued forward, ever forward, "...The Wookie was a worthy trainer, but he has become ensnared by the chains of the Jedi and the Force, you did not disappoint him, you merely began your first steps to break your chains," He had met Jedi before, none were so... unstable like her... he had viewed her for so much of her life, yet he could not even say why she was so... so self-destructive, "You have only disappointed me insofar as you do not believe you are worthy of life, when you are, there is so much to live for, if you truly believe you have disappointed me, then I tell you, fight damn it, fight for your redemption, fight for your atonement, fight for yourself!"

He burst through the infirmary doors, his medics, doctors, and nurses all at the ready, as he desperately laid her out on a bed, pulled back, as his breath drew deeply.

As those experts in their fields, conducted their magicks.

She had to be okay.

She had to be.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Although Falentra only knew Malum for less than a few weeks, the other knew her very well from the years of watching her through the eyes of a crow. Would he be so feverent for her to live if he had not? In truth, Falentra did not know the history of the Sith well, how could she? She never had much passion about the histories either, regardless, she knew some about the infamous fallen jedi across the years. Unlike them who had choosen the path of darkness, Nouqai did not.

Those chains... she had committed to the NJO wholy to achieve Jedi knighthood, believing that through her knighting she would finally be able to attain her freedom, to do as she pleased. Only she failed... and fell. All those years wasted. A king wanted her to live, had given her another chance, yet her will was already curtailed. Wether it was the overwhelming pain or emotions, or both for that matter, her eyes began to glisten, the tears streaming.

Fight. When there was so little will left. Redemption? Atonement? Had she sinned? A change of name did not make her new. For herself, no, she did not believe she could. Falentra looked up at Malum, he was desperate, so desperate for her to live. Even as her consciousness was at its brink. Falentra reached with a clawed webbed hand to touch his shoulder. "I cannot. " She said, with a shook her head. "I will fight for you. " An ultimate drive was someone to live for... if not die for. "If I live, show me what else there is that is not for the light."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

When she said she could not, his heart fell, after all, that he had encouraged her, after all which he revealed to her, what was he left with? Someone of such strength who was simply so... defective? He could spend all his resources to aid her... but what was the point if she was so broken? He had said he would be there for her, and he would...

...But what could he do with an apprentice who was so weak in spirit?

He blinked such thoughts away as he felt amphibian webbed hands upon his shoulder, red eyes gazing down upon blue, as the doctors and nurses begin their preperations.

...She would fight for him?

...Show her what there was other than the light?

His hand came to gip hers, and as he leaned down, as she declared that she would fight for him... it could be useful... she might not be his successor... but she could be something else entirely, but still, his duty, shined through even now, "Fight for yourself, as well as me, and I will show you the truth of the darkness."

One of the doctors signalled to him, the anaesthetic was ready.

He gave as most comforting squeeze as he could manage, as she prepared to drift off, and they would carve into her chest, to learn what was wrong.

Nouqai Veil