Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

[Darth Carnifex]

His back was turned to her, his hands clasped as he stood there as motionless as a statue save for the subtle rise and fall of his shoulders every time he inhaled and exhaled deeply through his nostrils. He didn't need to turn around to know that she was there, nor did he even have to hear her arrival to know. Her presence in the Force was now unmistakable to him for he had familiarized himself with it, learned to recognize the sensation he felt creeping along his skin every time he tasted the scorn and loathing he projected towards him whether she consciously meant to or not. That was good, hate was a marvelous motivator and energy source for a blossoming Sith neophyte, and he would continue to teach her to harness that disdain to empower herself. Finally, he turned around to face her, his expression impassive as he returned Calina's greeting with another.

"Moae bossra koqur aeui."

He didn't bother to translate it, but it was a common Epicanthix greeting that loosely translated to: "Let battle favor you." An unsurprising greeting for a species that prided itself on battle prowess and war, no doubt Calina would hear many variations of the same expression during her tenure here at the God-King's citadel. "You seemed to have made an adequate recovery from yesterday's little sparring match, and as it so happens fortune smiles upon you today little shrew." He extended his left hand, telekinetically summoning a massive leather-bound tome that had been resting on a nearby table pushed up against the balcony's far corner. To the God-King the book seemed relatively average in his callous hands, but compared to Calina it was massive, and without warning he lightly tossed it into the air for Calina to catch it with the best of her ability.

"I assume Anaya instructed you on the importance of knowledge at least once or twice when she still had you in her clutches." Contrary to popular belief, Kaine was not just some dimwitted illiterate brute that swung his blade around like a berserk chimpanzee (or your Star Wars equivalent), he had an extensive formal education during his youth and had only furthered his understanding of the galaxy through intensive study of both natures of the Force, ancient Sith arcana, and a myriad of other oblique subjects besides those most common to an intellectual. Kaine did nothing to quash the stereotypes levied against him, for if his enemies thought him to be only a bludgeon-happy mook then it was just that easier to outmaneuver them with his hidden cunning. "I want you to read that tome, it will be the stepping stone you need on the journey that lies ahead."

[member="Calina Ovmar"]​

 

[Mia Monroe]

The weight of the tome threatened to topple Calina as it was launched at her. She caught it, though only just. She ran her eyes over its leather cover, resting it across a forearm she thumbed briefly through the pages.

"My Master has had me study everyday since I've been in her care. Information she has collected over the years, names of power, places and faction histories. She has access to things she should not, allowing me to study the greater myths the force offers us."

She looked up, he hatred abated somewhat. She had a great love for reading, there was something glorious about delving into the histories of old and gathering knowledge from. She slid the book closed hugging it against her chest.

"As you wish."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"You will need more than the history of names and places if you are to become a proper Sith, little shrew." The tome that she held in her arms contained a number of ancient incantations and rituals used by many long dead civilizations over the eons of existence, some of them were left untranslated and had been written in a language long since lost to the sands of time. Those that had been translated had been done so by the God-King's own hand, his handwriting distinct and done so in a dark crimson ink reminiscent of blood; but whether or not the Dark Lord had actually used blood to ink down these translations was something that was perhaps best left unanswered. "I have long since familiarized myself with the culture and rituals of long lost societies, and within that pursuit of dead knowledge I have learned many things others never knew existed."

He reached out to pluck a pitcher of water from the same table that had previously held the tome that now rested in [member="Calina Ovmar"]'s hands, and held it aloft with his left hand on the handle and his right hand beneath it palm facing up. Gently he poured the pitcher down towards his hand, water spilling from the angled edge to tumble down to hit his hand, but as the water touched the glove pulled over his hand it turned turgid and black, a rancid odor exploding forth into the air. The black ichor that now pooled and flooded off from Kaine's hand quickly assumed rigidity, shattering apart into many different forms before finally solidifying in the form of scorpions that skittered about on the ground where they had fallen. By the time that the pitcher had run out of water there was a good several hundred scorpions running amok across the balcony.

But with a wave of his hand the scorpions dissolved into the water from which they had been born, and with another subtle gesture that watcher evaporated into steam and disappeared. Then with another smooth, casual motion the Sith Lord seemed to pull the water molecules from the very air itself, and right before Calina's eyes the pitcher was refilled right up to the brim with liquid. "Mostly trivial little parlor tricks like this, but they all serve their purpose. One day you will discover exactly what the purpose is."

 

[Mia Monroe]

"Sorcery." She breathed, her grip,on the book tightening slightly. Anaya had taught her a little, simple spells that allowed her to see in the dark, and a slightly more complex one of false light side aura. The ease at which Kaine displayed his skill was worth the way her skin crawled as the scorpions scuttled about their feet. In that moment Calina developed a level of respect for Kaine she did not have before. Whatever hell he would put her through now, would be worth every moment if she could walk away from this with such knowledge.

"An illusion?" She asked as the jug appeared full once more, no trace of the black critters in sight.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

He shook his head, "Not an illusion, transmutation. Through the ancient science of Sith Alchemy I am able to manipulate the building blocks that comprise every living creature, molding them to my will until their very composition is completely changed. Turning water into scorpions is a trivial feat, by solidifying the water into a turgid sludge I am able to split it into hundreds of segments and give each of those formless fragments a true shape. Scorpions was but one of an infinite amount of things I could've turned that water into, and if I had so willed it I could have turned them into snakes, spiders, blood, feces... Anything my mind could envision I could make reality." He couldn't help but let the sin of pride permeate his words, his eyes beaming with it as he explained the manner in which he controlled reality, but what he didn't divulge to the girl was how far he could go with the knowledge he possessed.

Oh, the atrocities he could inflict upon nature were insurmountable and maddening.

"That book should allot you an early understanding of what I'm talking about, but there will be many months of torment before you can finally grasp the knowledge locked up in here." He tapped his left temple to punctuate his point, and then waved her away. "My guards will escort you to my library, you have four hours before we resume combat training."

[member="Calina Ovmar"]​

 

[Mia Monroe]

She bowed deeply, following the guards out, almost with a skip in her step. Her mother placed knowledge of people high on the scale of importance. Knowing weaknesses and how to exploit them, understanding what buttons to push and when, Anaya's strength came in manipulating people. It was how she had climbed the ranks. Calina's had no desire to follow in her mothers footsteps, she witnessed first hand every day I ghee life the cost that came with playing with people.

Her heart skipped a beat as she stepped between the huge double doors into the library. The walls were lined floor to ceiling with books, a long mahogany table rested among the towering shelves and Calina dropped the time on it with an almighty thud, eyes scanning the books around her.

"I need one of these." She muttered, adding 'big fething library' to her slowly growing list of things she wanted. She collected parchment and pens, settling herself in the middle of the great table and opening the tome.

***
Four hours was not nearly enough, she made her own extensive notes, throwing herself into the task with enthusiasm that made her forget her concerns from the night before. She was pacing behind her chair, the tome resting open in the crook of her elbow, she was frowning deeply, lips pursed in concentration. She paused, scribbling a note on the parchment, lifting her gaze up as the guards re-entered the room.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The creaking of the library's iron double-doors heralded the guard's arrival, the pommels of their polearms clinking against the marble floor with each disciplined step. Neither of them said a word, but the one closest to [member="Calina Ovmar"] took an extra three paces towards her and tapped the base of his weapon against the marble floor three times to urgently signal the young neophyte that her time in the master's library had come to an end for now. Fortunate for Calina they wouldn't move to wrench her by her arms as they had done previously so long as the girl was receptive to the master's beckoning and came willingly, otherwise the same story would repeat again and more bruises would be gifted by their callous hands. After Calina had been removed, forcefully or by her own volition, from the library the two guards would close the iron doors and return the locking mechanism to its previous state before she had been admitted, effectively sealing off the library.

They would escort her through the winding, labyrinthine halls of Vain Hollow, again passing many rooms filled with servants, family members, and even a chamber filled with esoteric men and women dressed in macabre ecclesiarchal robes and headdresses performing what appeared to be some profane ritual on an unseen occupant whose escalating muffled screams could still be heard long after the chamber entrance had been barred shut by one of the occupants after noticing Calina's presence beyond the threshold. Many dark and twisted things occurred within the walls of the castle, and despite the regal splendor that coated the interior of the citadel's mighty bastions and holds it was obvious that not all of the darkness and brutality that shrouded Kaine and his minions was solely confined to the dungeons buried deep beneath the foundations of the mountain.

They wound about a final turn and the high-arching exit leading to the courtyard quickly came into view, but it was uncertain if this was even the same courtyard that they had practiced in yesterday for the castle was so massive that many courtyards were arranged outside of the primary spire that drew itself up far beyond the clouds that loomed ominously in the darkened sky. Standing at the center of the yard was the God-King himself, once again dressed sparingly and armed with similar blades like the ones they sparred with before. At her arrival he slightly turned to regard her with one eye whose baleful pupil burned especially bright as a dark smile curled his lips. The same routine played out before them as Kaine finally turned to face her completely and tossed her one of the swords at his side before removing his own from the leather scabbard and brandishing it with a great flourish.

"Ready for round two, little shrew?" The God-King is also a poet, and he didn't even know it. Who'da thunk.

 

[Mia Monroe]

Calina stuffed the notes she'd made inside the tome, marking where she'd gotten to before closing it, her mind buzzing with ideas. "Yes, yes alright." She told the guard, setting down her pen and sweeping past him. They feel into a step together, one in front one behind.

Calina's curiosity was growing with each passing moment as doors were shut to keep her prying eyes at bay. She wanted to explore, and was hungry to learn. Once in the courtyard she swept her eyes over those in the parapets, Gavin outwards protecting this place from external attack.

She caught the blade tossed towards her with nimble fingers, rolling her shoulders an expression of grin determination settling on her face, as she slid into a defensive position.

"Yes." She replied curtly.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Very well."

He was upon her in a moment's breath, the air trembling as he crossed the distance between them with a single leap, his blade lashing out like a viper's bite. The mannerisms of the Dark Lord's fighting style were roughly similar to those he employed yesterday against Calina, there was hardly any real deviation between both instances. But even so there was a sensation that Kaine was not truly giving it his all, that no matter how ferocious and unrelenting he became there was something more being kept locked away. One would have to witness Kaine in an actual battle to comprehend the vast depth of his power and skill, and as it stood right now Calina was only being exposed to the very surface.

The first indication that Kaine was actually going to incorporate something other than the traditional strikes, jabs, and slashes of his lightsaber was the sudden turning of his body as he swung his foot out to catch Calina right in the ribs or the stomach depending on how close he was, or if he was far enough for Calina to dance away from his attack.

[member="Calina Ovmar"]​

 

[Mia Monroe]

Feth he was fast, keeping on the move she could barely keep up with his scrap is and powerful strikes, each one made with such little effort. Her jaw tightened with concentration as she tries to read his moves. The subtle shift of muscle...

Or the sudden turn.

She danced away, the kick merely grazing her. Seizing opportunity her free hand pushed forward, slamming a fairly powerful force push his way, intending to throw him off balance while he was on one leg.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Balance was a fragile thing once put into question, and Kaine's advantageous kick left him open for a strategic counter like the one [member="Calina Ovmar"] now employed against him. He could feel the world tilt around him as he was knocked off-balance by her telekinesis and quickly enough his decades worth of combat experience and instinct kicked in, his outright fall morphing into a backwards roll that left the Sith Lord in a crouching position, his stance wary. He reached out to feel for Calina's own legs, and with a swiping gesture he sought to knock them out from under her with a sweeping telekinetic swat aimed at her knees. The Dark Lord followed up on his retaliation by funneling the Force into his legs, the muscles straining as he lunged straight out of his crouch to cover the distance between them. Mid-flight he angled his blade downward towards his apprentice with the intent to pin her into the ground with his sword.

[member="Calina Ovmar"]

 

[Mia Monroe]

The wind rushed from her lungs as she hit the floor hard, but she had no time to contemplate the pain, rolling away sharply as [member="Darth Carnifex"] blade point came crashing down, slamming into the courtyard where she'd been a heartbeat before. She rolled into a crouch, force propelling her forward again she brought her blade in a sweeping arc up from the ground, looking to cleave through flesh and bone and remove his arm at the elbow.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

His blade sunk deep into the ground, sparks flying as the metal scraped along the stone beneath. His eyes followed Calina as she rolled away from him, his muscles straining as he yanked the blade from where it had been embedded. Her roll transformed into a crouch, and like a loaded bullet she propelled herself forward towards the Sith Lord, blade coming in from below in a sweeping arc to sever his arm right at the elbow joint. The Dark Lord twisted his body to face her, his blade held at a horizontal angle that once fully turned would bring it into contact with Calina's own, effectively parrying the strike aimed at his arm. He followed through with his open hand by curling his fingers inward and moving to deliver an open-palm strike directly to Calina's midsection to send her careening back, doubled over by the debilitating hit.

[member="Calina Ovmar"]