Private Revenge is Sweet

[Lilianna L'lerim]

Crown Princess of Aaven, Priestess of Ashla

Information

Objective: To meet her new tutor
Location: Imperial Citadel, Aaven City, Aaven
Equipment: Noble Attire | Ashlan Rosary || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Sorren Moonstrider

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I was back home again, in Aaven; the overall picture of the planet was quite interesting. After my parents arrived to technologically upgrade the planet and they became the local rulers, they built Aaven City and the Imperial Citadel in it. This city is the most modern place on the planet, it's at a higher elevation, surrounded by mountains, and even has a spaceport. Although it has natural defences, it is surrounded by huge walls and ramparts. The site is at once embellished with local archaic features and the exaggerated architectural solutions of the HPI. The whole place is huge, Gothic, and even a huge cathedral was built for Ashla. I think it's bigger than the one on Ession.

What I didn't like was that because of that, there were very few gardens and trees in Aaven - that's what the locals call the city, because they are ancient people and don't know technology and don't call the planet that. The whole place was built more with stones or metal that resembled stones and looked like stones or wood. Although there were gardens and trees in the noble quarters, the outside looked more like Nar Shaddaa, Ession, or even Coruscant. The top level was well above the 'ground level' and the foundations were provided by the lower levels. From the top level, especially the Citadel, you could see the snow-covered mountains, lakes and forests. I also had a suite with a wonderful view of these.

And of course, the Citadel also had smaller and larger biodomes and indoor gardens. Some of them I was able to visit even when I was ill, because they had been rebuilt so that I could go there. I loved being in these places. Some were in the open air, others were actually in the building. Around here the weather was quite cool and rainy. Although there was a shield around the town and it could have been a normal climate, the locals and my father insisted that we stick to nature at least for that. Only in the very cold winter weather was there an environmental control system for the shield...

… oh I think i got too caught up in describing where i live. My instructors told me a few days ago that I will get a new teacher. Although no one has told me what kind, I have heard rumours that my new instructor will theoretically give me basic combat training. Self-defence, some swordsmanship, maybe lightsaber. Of course, when I asked about it, everyone denied it, but I was very nervous. This meant that I could finally start studying to become a Crusader myself, which was my huge dream; but my state of health did not allow me to learn such a thing before.

But now I'm stronger, and my immune system is also stronger, so it might actually happen. With the teacher, whose name I didn't even know, I didn't really know anything about them, except that I was told that I had to come here now to one of the inner gardens because I would have to meet them here, whoever they were. I was there a few minutes before the time I was told and I was waiting for the instructor to arrive. I haven't been so excited about something for a long time...

 

[Sorren Moonstrider]

​

Jedi for a day.

What a stupid job, and a stupid plan. I'd thought my master to be a smart man. I think that's certainly how he wanted to be seen. But here I was in the heart of enemy territory pretending I was one of them, to recruit some messed up girl.

Wearing billowy brown Jedi robes, I couldn't have been more unhappy. Were Jedi allowed to look pissed off, because wandering the fancy halls of the Citadel I certainly was, I probably looked damn out of place for it too. I'd even had to bring my new Jedi lightsaber, the one I'd rightfully claimed from a slain Jedi, that I should have bled already. But Vinaze wouldn't let me. He said this was more important.

We had begun the process of building an order of assassins to serve the Dark Side, and when it had just been me convincing old friends from the Force Corps that continuing to work for the Empire was better than getting killed by the ISB or by the Sith, well shit that had been easy.

But when Vinaze had told me our next prospective convert was an Ashlan? On an Ashlan world? I'd been far less enthused. As well, to learn that she suffered some kind of genetic disorder that made her weak made me wonder why the hell my Lord wanted her. The whole point of the Sith was strength. Vinaze had said her weakness would make her easy to bring to the Dark Side, but I was ready to call bullshit as I made my way to meet her and see for myself.

As I winded through the garden courtyard I saw her. Pure white hair, pure white dress. Was this a joke? Or a test of some kind from my master? I couldn't conjure a more innocent looking girl in my imagination if I wanted to.

I approached her, but I didn't sit, remaining standing before her, my arms crossed in my thick robe.

"Are you Lilianna L'lerim ?"

 

[Lilianna L'lerim]

Crown Princess of Aaven, Priestess of Ashla

Information

Objective: To meet her new tutor
Location: Imperial Citadel, Aaven City, Aaven
Equipment: Noble Attire | Ashlan Rosary || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Sorren Moonstrider

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I didn't have to wait very long, because the next moment I heard a voice from behind me. Surprised and scared, I jumped and turned around. A young man was standing in front of me, asking if I was me. I couldn't even answer him for a few moments because of the fright I had just felt. Was he my new teacher? I was used to them typically being older people, or even droids. I tried to speak, but I could feel myself stuttering, so I bit my lower lip in embarrassment and blushed slightly. I had not expected someone to surprise me so much in this place. I know that I was safe here, but I should have been more careful if I really wanted to be a crusader at some point in the future. Finally, with great difficulty, on the third try, I managed to speak.

"I... yes, it's me. Welcome!" I said, still confused, and offered him my hand.

Unfortunately I could not greet him by name, as I knew nothing about him. Why did my other instructors do this? Did they deliberately "throw me" into this situation? I know it would have been perfectly normal for others, but I've had so little face-to-face interaction with others yet. Holographic encounters and conversations are very different from that. There, if I was embarrassed or just didn't like the other person, I could easily send them away and simply switch off. Maybe I could continue in writing or at another time, but not here.

"You know more than I do." I smiled in embarrassment and blushed slightly as I looked at him. "You know my name, but I don't know yours. And I've only heard rumours that my newest instructor is arriving today, supposedly to teach me fencing and possibly lightsaber fencing, is that true?" I asked him.

Ashla was my witness that I couldn't deny that I was excited and curious. I held the rosary hanging around my neck in my hand in embarrassment, but then after a few moments I realised what I was doing and lowered my hand. I was born in nowhere near the position I was in now and it was still hard to get used to. I was only third in line for the throne, but my sister Ellayina betrayed us and our religion and joined the Dark Empire instead, and I didn't know where Tancred was. No one did at the moment.

"Shall we sit down somewhere?" I asked him, there were benches in the garden and you could sit down to talk by the fountain.

 

[Sorren Moonstrider]

Lilianna L'lerim
​

"My name is Sorren, and I think I'll stand." I replied bluntly, maybe a even a little scornful given my distaste for being here, only to remember that I ought to be nicer to her. I was a Jedi after all. They treated people with respect, even when they were clearly weak.

"You... might wanna do the same. But, uh... keep some distance, I'll show you something cool." I spaced myself apart from her, and unclipped the lightsaber from my belt.

Holding it with both my hands out in front of me, feet shoulder width apart in the most basic of Form I stances, I lit the wonderous azure blade before her eyes.

"Have you ever seen a lightsaber before?"

 

[Lilianna L'lerim]

Crown Princess of Aaven, Priestess of Ashla

Information

Objective: To meet her new tutor
Location: Imperial Citadel, Aaven City, Aaven
Equipment: Noble Attire | Ashlan Rosary || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Sorren Moonstrider

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I looked at the man, a little embarrassed, when he didn't take the seat, but preferred to remain standing. But at least I knew his name was Sorren. His tone of voice, of course, struck me as being a bit harsh and sarcastic. I have met people... or rather talked to people who were irritable when they were tired. I don't know what planet the man was from, but he may have been on the road for some time. I was momentarily embarrassed at how bad a host I had been...

"If you're tired, we can start tomorrow and you can go back to your quarters now to rest and meditate. I don't know how tiring your journey was... Sorren." I told him.

After all, he was the one who did me a favour by teaching me. I also felt embarrassed because he didn't behave like my other mentors and teachers. They were usually strict and treated me like a princess and then heir to the throne. Sorren, on the other hand, treated me like an equal. I wasn't familiar with what Jedi training was like these days, I was only familiar with the Ashlan teachings, as most of my family were Ashlan believers and crusaders or of a slightly more complicated rank.

I looked at him questioningly when he said that I might not want to sit down either. Only Ashla would know why he said that. But I obeyed and took a few steps back. When he reached for his belt, my eyes wandered to that part and that's when I saw the lightsaber, which he took off his belt. I watched with a girlish adoration as he finally activated the weapon and for a few moments my eyes were completely absorbed in the colour of the weapon and the ozone scent of the heat of the blade. From somewhere very far away I heard him speak, when I looked up, I saw the young man's mouth move. It took me a few quick heartbeats to realise he was talking to me.

Blushing deeply, I tore my gaze away from the lightsaber and looked up at Sorren. Finally, with some difficulty, I managed to speak, though at first, I only nodded approvingly at the young man's words.

"Yes, I've seen a lightsaber. Not too long ago I received one as a gift from my father, the ruler. Although I had no one to practise with and no one to show me how to use it. It has two gold crystals, one is a training crystal and the other helps to focus and use Ashla's power." I told him, then suddenly asked him another question. "Shall I bring it here so we can start practising?"

I asked him, my voice full of enthusiasm, adoration and almost childlike innocence...

 

[Sorren Moonstrider]

Lilianna L'lerim
​

"No, don't bother. I came prepared. Perks of the comfortable voyage," I smiled, "If you're ready, I'm ready."

I closed the lightsaber again, and from inside my robes I pulled the hilt of another one, far more austere than the Jedi blade I was already holding on to. I reached out and passed it to her.

"This one will serve you much better than your own. Against a real lightsaber, your training blade could very easily be destroyed. And though I'm sure this Ashla crystal of yours is well and good, this one had a perfectly balanced kyber crystal inside of it. I promise you it will be better for learning how to focus your connection through the Force with your blade. Go ahead, activate it."

Would that she ignited it, she would see the brilliant white blade of a neutral kyber, the hallmark of Imperial-aligned force users, though I prayed she did not recognize it as such...

 

[Lilianna L'lerim]

Crown Princess of Aaven, Priestess of Ashla

Information

Objective: To meet her new tutor
Location: Imperial Citadel, Aaven City, Aaven
Equipment: Noble Attire | Ashlan Rosary || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Tag: Sorren Moonstrider

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I envied Sorren that for him the journey was relaxing. For me, when I had to travel, I was always very tired, even though I spent the trip resting. Maybe it was the knowledge that I had to travel and that I couldn't rest because of it, or maybe it was the different environment from what I was used to at home. Maybe it's my weak body. I think that only Ashla knows the real reasons for this. Now it was only morning here, I had just woken up and had breakfast, so now I was well rested. I didn't know if he was just being polite and saying it was okay or if he really felt and thought it was okay, but I was really rested.

"Alright, if it's fine with you, fine to me too. I'm going back to my room to get my lightsaber, just a minute..." I told him.

And with that, I offered to bring my own weapon again. I was a little surprised that this was not necessary, because he had another lightsaber. I listened carefully to what he said and nodded after the end. Although I have not yet understood why it was the way I said it, I suppose it is not too surprising. Although I was a little embarrassed by my ignorance. I had so much theoretical knowledge, but I rarely put it to use. And in many things even the young children were more experienced than I was. I was not insatiable, but rather infinitely grateful to Ashla that I could survive and now start to gain experience.

"Why is that? What does it mean to be a balanced crystal? I apologise that I probably don't even know these very basic things yet..." I told him confused and blushed a little again.

I took the lightsaber and activated it. At home I'm used to most people having a gold lightsaber because of Ashla, and in archaic shots I've seen green, blue, red and even purple, of course. I've read that there are a lot of colours of crystal, especially if they make synthetic crystals. Besides my regular crystal, the other crystal in my lightsaber was the synthetic one, specifically so it could be a practice blade. But I've never seen a lightsaber blade of this colour before. Impressed by the colour, I glanced past the blade to Sorren.

"It's the same colour as my hair." I smiled girlishly, then stared in confusion as my face turned completely red with embarrassment. "What do I do now?" I asked, slightly afraid.