Private Serve, And You Will Be Powerful

[Second Son]

"Drenn Calgemerr?" The day had started like any other. The classes were the same. The lessons furthering what had already been taught as always. The only thing different was the appearance of a Sith Trooper into the room. A Sith Trooper looking for him. He'd be hurried along and removed from the class, walked down the main hallway, and brought to the main office of the head Overseer. Except, the Overseer wasn't there. In their place stood a tall, black clad figure with a mask over their head. The expressionless visor watched as the acolyte entered, then motioned to a seat.

A heavily modulated voice would echo from the being as he took his own seat. "Please. We have much to discuss."

 

[OrbitingWords]

Every morning he was awake before dawn practicing his skills within his room. He never slept long these days, and even less so whenever he was about to accomplish another task or test placed before him - which was to say, too often. There was a time when those close to him would've cautioned that he would tire his body, and in a way Drenn knew that the manic energy that seized him at these junctures was not wholly healthy. But he'd never been able to stop himself all the same, and presently, the vitality and clarity of mind he received from dueling was much more attractive than lazing in bed studying. He liked to keep strong and ready, able to defend himself; he had thought poorly of others who would waste away simply because they could for years now. With a particularly rapid series of lunges and parries against an imaginary opponent, he maintained a steady rhythm of a form that he was starting to become one with. The rapturous look that could only come from satisfaction one derives from meting out vengeance lit up his face.

He was satisfied.. For now.

Classes resumed later in the day as always and it required minimal effort to maintain focus. Relentless desire for both knowledge and power drove him forward, when little else could have possibly served to stimulate him. The journey at the Academy hadn't always been pleasant; even so there had still been a number of days he found himself staring out feeling empty, devoid of both name and history, and occasionally purpose. There were many here stronger in the Force than he was. Drenn was set on proving his worth one day.

His lips made the slightest shape of a smile as a Sith Trooper entered one of his classes, but there was no joy in him. He had forgotten long ago how it felt to be truly happy. Drenn felt like he’d always known when things like this were happening, prior to becoming aware of his Force sensitivity. It was part of the reason he had grown more powerful; he knew when people were trying something, were messing with him, and especially when they were in close proximity. Rarely did his senses or intuition ever fail him. He paused to clear his throat of a sudden tightness before acknowledging his name being called and proceeding to follow him.

It was only a matter of minutes before entering the office and proceeding to take a seat several feet away from Second Son. They have crossed paths several times at the Academy since he was recruited, but still knew very little about him.

 

[Second Son]

"I have been watching your progress." The Son leaned back in his chair, scanning over Drenn curiously. In secret he'd been having the acolyte tested for various things. Aptitude with the Force, determination they might have. If they were a Sith with the rare ability to use Sorcery. It was the last that had brought about this meeting. Calmly the masked figure folded his hands over one another.

"You are to be my apprentice. Of this, you have no choice. You're rare, able to use the Force in a way few can. But also expendable. If you survive, I can teach you how to truly be powerful. But you will face death." From nearby a simple, empty tome floated and landed before the boy. And a blue crystal laid atop it. "I apologize for the haste, but there is something that needs to be done. Your training begins now. Do you know any Sith Runes?"

 

[OrbitingWords]

Drenn took a steady breath while listening carefully, trying to silence his rising frustration momentarily by reminding himself how much more humiliating things could be, to balance the knowledge of everything he had learned thus far in the academy. The various written forms of the Sith language had proved to be a challenge for him initially in the past, and rather than attending to weaknesses in his study he had chosen to sharpen what strengths he already possessed.

There was something of the surreal in the silence of that moment as the book and crystal landed before him. His eyes dilated. Drenn stared, transfixed by his eyes. For an instant, he seemed paralyzed on the threshold of indecision, even though he wasn't given a choice on the matter. Then, teeth slightly clenched, he said, "I do."

Regardless, he stood out enough from training to become his apprentice--Or at least earn the opportunity to become such.

The Sith closed his eyes and tried to ignore the sensation. "Nu adata vel laviti." It would be clear the language was not his mother tongue, nor dedicated the time required to master such, but he was sure the words spoken were still translatable to anyone listening.

 

[Second Son]

"Good. Have you bled a crystal before?" The Son watched patiently as he awaited an answer from this acolyte. He didn't expect the man to know all the answers right away, otherwise he'd of been a Lord, but he did need to learn just how much Drenn did know. The sorcerer pulled out his own spellbook and laid it open on the very first page. A simple spell. "Bleed the crystal and make this rune in your book. Be warned, not only are you breaking this kyber's will, but you will be destroying it for your ink. It will fight back."

Mentally, of course. The crystal, while attuned to the Force, was still just a rock. No means of moving on it's own. But as Drenn would soon learn, touching upon it with the Force would have it immediately start trying to tear down his mind. It knew what was going to happen, and it was going to fight to protect itself.

 

[OrbitingWords]

"Only once." He affected a nonchalant tone while looking over to the spellbook presented before him. Memoirs of the first time he bent a kyber crystal's will flooded returned. It had nearly proved devastating for him back then, but he had been successful none the less.

Drawing in a deep breath, the young Sith reached out to the crystal. Instantly he drifted into a daze, spots coloring his vision and his head aching as though slammed into a wall. Sunlight felt as though it had blinded him temporarily, warming his pale cheeks. The intensity of it all pained him immensely at first, and he found himself not wanting to open his eyes. Limbs instantly felt heavy, as though dragged down with weighted chains. His head felt as if it were composed solely of lead, its present position leaning far back as he remained seated in the chair. But he couldn't sit still, not after the events of - when was it -both his childhood and first year at the academy-- came flooding all at once.

He began sliding down in the chair, but his hand instinctively flew to his temple as he forcefully dragged himself back to an upright position. It then touched the side of his face where it tried to rest. Despite everything in the given moment, his mind was still sharp enough to remember the reasoning behind all of this.

Drenn's muscles became so tense that the ones in his forearms were rigid and defined. The skin on his face tightened in rage, bad enough to where he wanted to snarl, but instead, his mouth curled in dislike. But his black robe and everything else seemed unchanged; if he had no other comfort, there was that. Teeth began to grind as his jaw clenched, while his gaze slowly shifted towards his new Master.

Another minute passed.

The kyber crystal had given him a fight indeed, yet now it lie in his grasp both manipulated and red in color. Breathing heavily, the Sith began to copy the details of the rune onto the empty tome given to him without saying another word, merely awaiting the next instructions

 

[Second Son]

The Son watched in silence. The process was not an easy one, but the fact Drenn had done it before would make it.. Easier, at least. But sure enough, the crystal's will would be broken. Piece by piece the blue shifted to red. Purple first, then slowly getting more and more to that deep, blood red color known for the Sith. When it was clear the boy had finished his task the Son nodded, though stopped him from copying the details. He pulled out a bowl and a knife. Within the bowl was an inky black substance.

"Crush the crystal and mix it into this bowl with your blood. Then use it to draw the runes. It will make the runes attuned to you. Make it easier to cast the spells of the Sith."

 

[OrbitingWords]

Although Drenn had known calmness in this moment, it was but a prelude to the horrors to come. Whatever shores breached later would be haunted by his appetite, and even though a humble seed was currently being planted in the Sith, there was no doubt a noose was ready to coil around the throats of other planets someday.

But that time would have to wait. Even Drenn knew that you had to be the nail before you could become the hammer. There wasn't much need for any words in the moment, if any--his lack of understanding with certain studies was obvious now.

Drenn's hand snaked out and clenched the handle of the knife, its bloodthirsty edge pointed towards his arm as if to deliver judgment. A tiny sliver of light pierced the darkness and he saw the blood-crusted metal wink. His focus returned to the crystal once more, and with seconds that passed, the first crack would become visible, though barely the length of a hair pin.

Kyber crystals were alive in a strange way. They formed bonds with individuals who were force sensitive, capable of feeling pain, along with the emotions of those that use them. Elongated nails were raking around the crystal as if studying it and eventually scraping over the cut to where crimson liquid oozed. The blood poured into the bowl was required to nourish it with strength and vitality.

The cracking in the crystal accelerated, branching like a spider's web before shattering. The breaking has no resistance to offer compared to the raw emotions of anger and hate within. Though hesitant at first, he would then return to attempting to copy the runes as ordered.

 

[Second Son]

"Good." The Son nodded his approval once more as Drenn completed the task set before him. Making the crystal shatter was no easy task, but it would be a rewarding one none the less. A new type of connection could be felt for the Acolyte. One to the very runes he transcribed. "Tell me, what do you know of Sorcery? What sort of lessons have the teachers here brought about?" And now, the true lesson could begin. He leaned comfortably in his seat, watching for any error in the transcribing.

 

[OrbitingWords]

Drenn could feel the power of the Dark Side radiating from the mixture in the bowl upon completion and went about his work.

He thought on the words from his Master's question for a moment. "That it is not enough to be the last survivor, you must pass all your trials regardless, that this is not a selection by default..we must be stronger in every aspect as opposed to pathetic predecessors that were gunned down by old droids." The younger Sith had been rather blunt. As a human surrounded by other's with a naturally stronger biological make-up, he had been demoralized countless times since beginning his studies.

"I've only yet briefly learned how to cultivate my raw power into something refined, something powerful, though I still continue to rely heavily on being a more martial acolyte." He paused for a moment. Drenn had been told when first arriving here that The Force flowed through him like a raging river, so much energy, so much power, all waiting to be unleashed. "I've learned how to use several simple spells while focusing on precision with some success but I've not found consistency. I mainly have lacked on it due to needing to divide my concentration between melee combat and trying to cast a spell. I have been consistent with my meditations, however."

 

[Second Son]

"That is why I've given you this book. That spell is the simplest you can have. A blast of the Dark Side to harm your foes. It usually would take your focus, especially with how inexperienced you are. But with these runes you will be able to rapidly channel the Force through it and release the blast. Even in the middle of melee combat." A sorcerers largest weakness had always been their reliance on their spells. Without adequate training with a saber, they would often be overwhelmed and slaughtered if their foe got too close. The fact Drenn had started with his martial training was a good sign for his progress.

"When you've finished copying that rune you will come with me and leave this place. You will no longer be here in this academy. I shall be overseeing your training until you either perish, or complete it. I shall teach you how to harness the Dark Side and use Sorcery. I shall teach you how not to fall prey to the cost it brings for this power. And you will serve me. Fight my enemies. Scour ruins under my direction. Whatever I need of you."

 

[OrbitingWords]

In the past, skepticism would have been unavoidable when others presented some promise of power. Several before Second Son had floated such propositions toward the younger Sith attempting to appeal to a greed they equated with their own, but these were parasites attempting to leech off of a power they could only imagine possessing.

But this encounter had already been different from the beginning, and Drenn had not been given a choice. He felt how strong he was in the Force from the moment he entered the room.

A cold and cruel smile curled at the corners of the fiend's black lips as he listened to his Master's final words; soon even more anger and hatred would bloom about him like flowers, and be revealed for a far greater harvest later to be exploited when seeking out these enemies he spoke of.

"There will be no man nor beast I can not brutalize when the time comes, Master."

Many opposed to the dark side of the Force has a differentiating power in belief, a strength sapped from souls which eagerly embraced death, in the name of love, or loyalty to one's cause-- something Drenn would never understand.

Copying the runes was as if the future battle had already been brewed, yet but a small step before things went into full swing, all triggered by a series of actions that had worked in tandem. While eager to leave the academies scenery and Dromund Kaas itself, his pace would remain slow and steady, careful as to not overlook any details before him. Not all translations were ones Drenn was familiar with, but with copying them they would all become part of his arsenal.

It wouldn't be much longer before he finished his first task

 

[Second Son]

"Of that, I've no doubt." It'd be impossible to know, but the Son was smiling behind his mask. Drenn's promise for such violence was good. He would serve well. Whether or not he'd become a proper Sith or just another tool in the Second's armory was still to be determined. When that first spell was finally finished being transcribed the figure would raise a hand and bring his own book back to his side. Until he mastered the simplest spell there was no reason to show him much more.

"Come. Now we will see if you can truly cast spells. I've just the test in mind." The tall figure stood from his seat and made his way out of the room, not bothering to check and wait for his apprentice to follow. The apprentice should know better than to keep his master waiting, after all. They'd go through the academy to the training rooms, though they were noticeably empty. "Ancient Sith is what will unlock the runes in your book. Simply focus and channel your power into the words Qyâsik Mnaiaza, and you should unleash a blast of the dark side. While hard to control at your level, it will batter your opponents and send them back. As you get stronger, you'll be able to outright destroy matter. Living or not."

 

[OrbitingWords]

No footfalls disturbed the hush of the academy as the Drenn worked his way from the room and down the corridor, floating as if he walked upon the very shadows that surrounded him. “This is not where I belong.” His whispered to himself, words drifting through the air, echoing from the weathered stone of walls.

Obsessions could be harmless, so long as they remained trapped inside, imprisoned and held firmly; and should temptation be a key, he had failed to bury it deep. In the back of his mind a old voice chattered with excitement. Slowly, painfully, he forced the feeling to the back of his mind, confined it, and held it tight as though it was screaming to get out. It was one he had never truly abandoned.

Now in the same as his Master once more there was darkness in the back of his mind where it dwelled, in silence it writhed, a scratch at the back of Drenn's consciousness. For what felt like minutes had it lingered there. He felt the power of the Force as it sprung from various nodes in his body and around him, yet he still had said the true words to unleash it.

Words rolled in upon his thoughts like waves, syllables which sounded now like honey laced with velvet, where once their baritone had crackled his subconscious mind like thunder.

Twisting two gloved fingers, the young Sith sealed their pact by twirling these digits through the air, enacting ancient symbols both ancient and beautiful in their intricacy, as he drew upon the reservoirs from the Force found through the dark side.

"Qyâsik Mnaiaza."

This power to Drenn was a palpable thing, a phenomenon so primal that he could almost taste it upon his tongue as the force blast was released; and much like wanting to brandish his saber for a duel, his gaze lingered hungrily now while indulging in senses which transcended sight alone.

The Sith savoured the moment

 

[Second Son]

"Good, very good." The son gave an approving nod as the power was demonstrated by Drenn. But that wasn't going to be enough to truly test him. The masked figure raised a hand, calling over the acolyte's saber to his own grasp before calmly putting down beside him. Nearby a growl echoed from the shadows, and slowly a Tuk'ata stalked out. Eyes focused on the acolyte.

"Now survive without your weapon of choice. Or be eaten. I will find someone to replace you if you die."