Sometimes the Sky's Too Bright

[Setzi Lunelle]

After the One Sith invasion of Contruum, Pyrrhus and Azurea kept traveling through space on The Pirate's Foe. Returning to Glee Anselm was not an option at the moment - not when Azurea was in such an emotionally distraught state of mind. After she had found out from Jedi Master Taeli Raaf that her sister, Chastity, was alive on Voss, the Sith Knight was literally obsessed with going to find her. Nothing would appease her. Not reason nor threats from Pyrrhus that she was bordering on the unreasonable and insane. And after a particularly nasty argument, where she almost abandoned the Togruta Sith Lord to run off and find her alone, he suggested they needed to take a break. Together.

But this would be no ordinary vacation. Darth Pyrrhus promised that as soon as they were finished what he had planned, Azurea would be more than ready to storm Voss, nearly on her own, and rescue her sister from the Silver Jedi.

It was that promise that finally soothed her mind. The brunette human began focusing on what she would need to do. From one of the lockers in her sleeping quarters, she pulled out a beautiful, lavender dress. The last time she wore a gown as stunning was during a ball-turned-bloody-massacre on Mindabaal. Sitting down at a small vanity, she styled her hair, so that cascaded down to her shoulders in long waves and applied some rouge on her cheeks to make them glow. Rising and taking the dress with her, she came out to the bridge and asked Pyrrhus: "Do you need me to wear the dress now, or after we land on Kursid?"

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The arguments had been many and heated. Sith, after all, didn't believe in restricting their emotions. He hadn't used the Force to compel her, partly because he suspected she would find out, and partly because it would be a hollow victory. He needed her to agree, to understand. Pyrrhus would not force her into submission. The Dark Side had always been her choice. Standing by his side had always been her choice, and hers alone. He only sought to make that option the most compelling one.

Their compromise led them to a planet forgotten by the galaxy, but not by certain Sith. It had its obscure references, but in his studies of Sith history, he had found it. They were picking up an ancient tradition, first started by the Rule of Two Sith of old. Perhaps one day, Azurea would bring her own apprentice here? Or perhaps this would become their training ground. It was a test of their power, as much as an effort to refine it. He was sure Azurea would blossom here.

Pyrrhus turned to her, looking at the dress, then back up at her. It was a beautiful dress, and he was sure it would look wonderful on her. Truthfully, he didn't want to wait, to see it now, but for the sake of the mission, it didn't matter. "Wear it when we first set foot on the planet. The rest is up to you" he said. The Togruta's tone wasn't necessarily cold, but it worked with a certain level of clinical professionalism. "Oh, and Azurea." he added, pausing for a moment "You look beautiful"

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Azurea's cheeks flushed at the compliment from Darth Pyrrhus. She may be Sith now, but she was still human and enjoyed flattery like most sentient beings did. Although the inhuman side had been slowly taking over, both her mind and her body. Possessed now by the Dark Side had turned her iris's yellow. She was prone to fits of rage, jealousy and anguish. Her connection to the Togruta was what grounded her for the most part, and assured her that the beast inside would not completely overtake her soul. Although this is probably what Pyrrhus wanted, a fact she blatantly ignored due to her love and devotion for him. "Thank you," she said. She squeezed his strong, red-skinned hand in appreciation, but like the Togruta, began to focus on the task at hand.

As they entered the atmosphere of Kursid, they both sat on the cockpit of the Pirate's Foe, watching the stars and space debris in the Esstran sector. And like a falling star, the two Sith would soar down to the remote planet, with Azurea as a Sky Visitor. The humanoid natives were still highly primitive and superstitious. The hope was that they would view her in her dress, surrounded by an illusion which would make her glow and shine perhaps, and they would immediately accept her as a Goddess. Darth Azurea would be the marionette in this training exercise, and her Togruta Master would be puppeteer, as had been the normal structure of their relationship.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

For now it would seem that he had found a way to contain his love, to set her on the path of saving her sister, but at a pace more fitting him. It was perhaps a rare trait among Sith Lords, but Pyrrhus valued patience. But she was a wild thing, and powerful. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep her from seeking out her sister, and so, they were here. Preparing.

The journey here had been spent in large parts with Pyrrhus trying to pass on his knowledge of illusions, and affiliated abilities that she may be more familiar with. Anchoring the new knowledge with something that was already familiar to her would help her learn quicker. The rest had been a series of demonstrations and her trying to replicate what he had done. They had, of course, had to go over mind tricks and the like, but this seemed like familiar grounds to her. The true test would come once they reached the planet.

Would she be able to deceive them? What would happen if they saw through her schemes? Had this been one of Pyrrhus' regular apprentices, the risk of failure might have been the natives being allowed to tear the apprentice to pieces, but Azurea was no regular apprentice. Today on Kursid, ignorance was bliss. For anyone who dared seek harm upon Azurea would find nothing but Ruin.

Pyrrhus prepared himself as well. Dressed in his standard dark robes, his appearance was more typical for Sith Lords. Of course, the planet had been visited by many such beings as himself, but he imagined it might've been centuries or more since last time. Regardless, it would matter little. Azurea was the star of the show. He was but a puppeteer, but one who would cling to the shadows. He would make sure they did not spot any strings. In fact, if all went according to his design, they would not spot him at all.

"Are you ready?" he asked, as the ship neared the planet's surface. Where would she decide to take them down? In the middle of no where, near a settlement, or straight on top of it? The Togruta was content to take a backseat role in this, and merely reward or punish as was befitting.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S98Q11zhS-g&ab_channel=banksVEVO​

Azurea glanced at Pyrrhus once more, and then she programmed the ship's coordinates to finally land. She would guide the Pirate's Foe to a small clearing outside of a cluster of settlements. Yes, the Kursid natives would see a vessel on the horizon, but it was far enough in distance that the two Sith had time to prepare without being menanced by a group of confused or angry natives.

The Pirate's Foe was a rugged ship and able to land on nearly any surface. The brunette Sith Knight rose from her seat, and in the back of the cockpit, she stripped off all of her clothing. There was no need for modesty around her companion, though the worst that could happen was a sublime distraction from the mission. While tempting, she quickly redressed in the lavender dress.

Spoiler

She would step foot onto Kursid weaponless. Today would be an ultimate test of Azurea's advancement in the art of Illusions. If she faltered, and her paramnesia upon the Kursid natives didn't work, even for a second, she could be killed in a variety of ways. Did the humanoids have advanced weaponry or were they the bow and arrow type? Did they favor a swift execution or a long slow torture? Darth Azurea couldn't think about that now or else she would begin to lose focus. She needed intense concentration for what she was about to do.

The Lord-in-training turned to the Togruta and smirked, giving him a sly warning: "No interference now. We have very little time to get out there and convince our greeting party of our plan." But the longing in her voice would leave him unconvinced. In the long, chiffon gown, she felt much like the Goddess she would portray. If Pyrrhus took her right now in the cockpit, he would be sacrificing their mission, but a true Goddess would demand a sacrifice.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Azurea's choice of landing spot had bought them some time. Time Pyrrhus was determined not to waste. A Sith was always prepared to come out on top, regardless of how inconvenient the situation was. Or was that just the excuse he used, to rationalize his desires as he gazed upon his dear companion? It was a miracle she managed to get her dress on. She looked stunning, and it fit her perfectly. That did not help his self-restraint.

"Indeed" Pyrrhus replied in agreement, as he got up from his chair. He heard her warning, and her point about lack of time was solid. "Sith Lords wait on no one. They, however, will wait at our leisure." they'd just have to be quick. Perhaps it might even benefit their cause, to give her a little extra glow when trying to present herself a goddess. The longing in her voice told him everything he needed to know, and it was that last drop that pushed him over the edge. Today, patience was not his virtue. Instead he pushed Azuea up against the wall. The Goddess demanded a sacrifice.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

No clothing needed to be shed. They were able to consummate their desire with just a few strategic movements - a button or two undone and fabric pushed aside. Such was the luxury of being close companions. Choreographed to be not only satisfying but quick, Azurea took a moment to catch her breath and then they were off to exit the ship.

Pyrrhus was right. The human Sith now had a rosy glow in her cheeks.

As they walked down the ramp, she could hear nothing but the sounds of faint birds and the wind as it blew through the trees. But she knew the natives would be close, most likely coming to investigate the ship. Passing near a row of tall jungle flowers, she picked a few and wove them throughout her long brown hair, fashioning them into a makeshift flower crown.

Her feet bare, the dress flowing around her and petals floating down from around her head, she moved slowly towards a clearing where the Kursid humanoids would be soon appearing. She could hear their footsteps now and their voices murmuring in a language that she couldn't understand. She closed her eyes as she walked and channeled the Force into the illusion she wanted to project. She could still feel Darth Pyrrhus behind her, but likely he would find a good hiding place. Their experiment was about to begin.

Azurea began to glow even brighter, much brighter than her normal after-glow. An aura formed around her, one which sparkled like gold. She manipulated the illusion to show the wind whipping around the lavender dress, clouds roiling and undulating as though the weather itself was heralding her return to the planet. If her deception worked, the natives who greeted them would think that Darth Azurea was a Sky Visitor, worthy of worship.

Once she had gained their trust, she wasn't sure what her Togruta Master had planned but assumed it wasn't going to be pleasurable for the Kursid people.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Well that was a lovely way to start a mission. Pyrrhus certainly felt energized and ready to go. As they reached the end of the ramp, Pyrrhus slowly slid more into the background. This was Azurea's show. Its outcome, their success, depended entirely on her. So he watched her as she prepared herself.

While she picked flowers to complement her divine-like appearance, the Togruta stood very still. Closing his eyes, he saw with the Force, allowing his presence to wash over the small clearing they found themselves in, and into the trees. He could sense them. They were coming to investigate. While Azurea would no doubt dazzle them with her illusion, as would Pyrrhus unleash his own illusion upon them. His, however, was much more subtle. His intent was nothing more than have them see exactly what they would expect. Nothing. Nature. Everything but him. They had never seen him before, nor would they now, as he blended in with the background behind them. This task was made easier by their expectation, but a large part thanks to all the attention Azurea was drawing.He was hiding in plain sight.

The Kursid humanoids came into the clearing. Curious at first, though that emotion was quickly replaced with fear. They gripped their primitive weapons, cowering for a moment as they took steps back. They were brave warriors, no doubt, with a tradition for fighting against overwhelming odds and celebrating it. However, this was different. How could they fight this? This being that seemed a force of nature, something not of this world. She glowed. In addition to this, she seemed a friend to the winds, and the wind responding to her presence with a gentle caress.

They exchanged looks, as they considered what to do next. Flee? Engage? Stand and stare? Drop their weapons? They paused in hesitation, reactionary, as if waiting to see what she would do. She had revealed herself to them, but what did this mean? Their destruction? They were as willing to lay down their weapons and drop to their knees, as toss them at her before falling back.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Azurea was so proud of the illusion she had created, that she nearly lost her focus for a moment. But in witnessing the reaction from the trembling Kursid natives, clenching tightly to their spears and bows, her confidence was bolstered, and she was able to continue to appear as a Goddess.

But looks would not carry the ruse alone, so Darth Azurea spoke. She tried to mask the hesitancy in her voice with another illusion, making her sound melodic and almost sultry as though she could heal all of the galaxy's woe with a flick of her wrist.

"People of Kursid, I have returned to you. My name is Azurea, and I am the Daughter of Agony. I will take your pain, and make it mine so you do not have to suffer. I will heal your wounds and your emotional scars. You only have to let me in."

But the brunette Sith Knight was juggling too many illusions now, and the façade began to break. Darth Pyrrhus would be able to see the illusion start to disapate. But perhaps it wouldn't matter now. Perhaps she'd convinced the Kursids that she was here to save them from their superstitious fears.

Or they may see right through her. The next few minutes would be key to the failure or success of this mission.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

While Azurea played the part of goddess, Pyrrhus wandered amongst the people. He was removed from their sights. None of them were trained masters of the Force, and most of them were too preoccupied watching the seemingly divine woman in front of them. He became the unseen demon within their ranks, always watching, always ready to strike. Their lives hung in the balance, yet he made no effort to interact with them. Should they decide to attack Azurea, would he intervene? Or would he see how she fended for herself? Surely he would expect his apprentices to show both the will and skill to survive. It was hard to imagine he wouldn't hold his mate to similar or higher standards.

But for now, it seemed that Azurea did not need to display her skill in battle. The natives were still amazed at what they were witnessing. If they acknowledged her as a god, with it they acknowledged her superior power over them. On the topic on whether or not to fight, they for now opted out. Perhaps was it curiosity, perhaps was it a willingness to please the Daughter of Agony.

Some bowed their heads, some even dropped to their knees. Other watched in awe, while others again couldn't seem more eager to get away. It was the first time Azurea was attempting something like this, and it was likely a strain on her; or so Pyrrhus thought when he saw the cracks of her illusion show. The natives didn't seem to respond to that. It was likely they were too preoccupied with other thoughts, but her flickering form might have been accepted as part of her divinity, in that she belonged to a different realm.

For now, she hadn't lost them. Though anything could happen, the plan was moving along as it should. It would be interesting to see how Azurea progressed. How would she play this? Would she have them guide her to their homes, or continue to play with them here? It was Azurea's show, Pyrrhus merely the observer; his role was minor.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

The illusory enhancement waned, but surprisingly, the Kursid natives did not notice. In the flowing purple dress, her long, brown hair adorned with colorful flowers, Darth Azurea did resemble a goddess, albeit a dark one. She still had the hallmark yellow eyes of a Sith. Friendliness and generosity did not emanate from her as the darkside of the Force that fed upon her would prevent a warmness from coming through.

And furthermore her beauty would only get her so far in the psychological game the two Sith were playing with this primitive society. She needed to give them a hint of her magic and power. She wanted them to worship her by the end of this trip. Azurea would demand no less. And perhaps she and Darth Pyrrhus could return periodically so the Kursids could commune with their new religious figure. But she needed to do something to solidify their faith.

They watched her, staring with wide eyes. The Sith Knight nervously shifted from one foot to the other until a female approached her.

A mother with a child - a young boy between the age of eight and ten. The child was wounded quite gravely - a badly broken femur, possibly a shattered pelvic bone by the looks of it. Darth Azurea was no doctor, but if that wasn't treated soon, the boy would be unable to walk and would possibly die. The Daughter of Agony crouched to examine the child. To heal him, a sacrifice elsewhere would need to be made. Darth Azurea would need to extract the energy from someone else. However, she could not choose a Kursid as her target for this referred energy.

But Darth Pyrrhus was out there somewhere in hiding. And if Azurea had her way, his role would not be minor in this charade. She sent him a telepathatic message:

I need to use you to heal this child.

She wasn't asking permission. Darkside healing required a penance, and that would take the form of pain and agony for either the subject of the healing or another target. When she was Setzi Lunelle, she had felt this pain herself, and it was truly hell on earth - the sear of a thousand whips cracking her skin at once. Pain so intense she almost passed out. What she was proposing was to inflict this pain momentarily on Darth Pyrrhus so that she could heal the Kursid boy and solidify their trust.

By her hand, he experienced great pleasure earlier, and now Darth Pyrrhus would experience the opposite.

Unless he had cause to protest and in that case, she would listen.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The Togruta continued to observe from the sidelines. He didn't attempt to touch their minds with the Force to persuade them, but he did try to discern what their next move would be. So far, they were buying Azurea's deception. They needed something more, however. Something to help place her on either side of the spectrum, and to evaluate her power. Surely they had other gods. Where did she stand in relation to them? If she failed to leave them with a sufficient impression, they might denounce her in favour of their other gods.

Then she was provided with an opportunity. At first Pyrrhus was puzzled by the woman, but open closer examination it became clear. The presence of the child she carried was weak, slowly fading. The boy was dying. His tiny body was incapable of keeping him alive, and as such, he was destined to perish. Pyrrhus did not feel an ounce of sympathy for him or his mother upon this realization. It was the way of nature, of the Force. This was how it had to be.

To save a child, to go out of ones way to heal it and save it from demise, was a waste of both time and energy. It was clear that this was what the mother wanted. Yet saving this child could serve a purpose, to secure Azurea's position in their community and secure the success of her attempt. With this in mind, it made sense that Azurea would attempt to save him. This wasn't what surprised him, but it was the way she asked. She needed to use him? What. Pyrrhus was slowly being drawn in from the sidelines.

He could have gone on a rant about her needing to find that power within, and if she relied on him to succeed it was not true strength. However, to maintain the illusion, heal the child and endure the pain that came with the process, all at the same time, would become too taxing. He wondered what would look better, if she visibly experienced the agony, literally taking the pain away as she said she would, or if it would appear as if she felt no pain. After all, would a goddess wail in agony?

The effects better not be permanent. He knew pain. Pain he would master. Though to take pain so that another would not feel it was new to him. Was that his breakfast he felt? For the sake of not becoming the piece that brought their whole plan down, he sought to remove himself from the crowd. He had never gone through this process before, only heard of [member="Darth Azurea"]'s experience. There was a chance it would break his focus and force his illusion to fade. He would not risk it. Instead, he drew away into the forest, safe behind the cover of trees and leaves.

Proceed

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

When Darth Pyrrhus said "Proceed," Azurea was almost a little surprised. She expected more of a protest, not because the Togruta was averse to pain, but because of his firm belief that she needed to be stronger, better and more resolute than the average Sith. It was a standard Darth Azurea had trouble living up to, and both of them knew it.

While she barely felt sympathy or pity for the Kursids, even the boy who lay limp in his mother's arms, she did feel sympathy for her lover who was about to experience a very intense pain. A lump of apprehension formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. Exhaling softly and slowly, she put her hand on the boy's flesh as had been done to her. As soon as her palm touched the pale, clammy skin, Darth Pyrrhus would feel an excruciating pain in his own leg. It was phantom pain of course. It wouldn't leave a scar. It wouldn't actually sear his red flesh and sturdy muscles, but the agony he felt would be as if someone were rending his skin straight off of the bone. It was a writhing, frenzied pain, and it would not stop until Azurea's hands were removed from the Kursid.

The small boy's bones, tendons, fractures, even infections in that area would begin knitting together, and finally the Sith Knight removed her hands. The Togruata would feel immediate relief from the relentless pain. And as Setzi Lunelle experienced that day, a near escasty would follow for him, brought on by a flood of endorphins. Darkside healing could be addictive in this way, but as history proved, it wasn't a power to dabble lightly in. Darkside healing robbed so much from both patient and victim. If used in perpetuity, the results could be permanent damage or even death.

The Kursid mother's began to cry, gratefully realizing that her child had been healed. This prompted a group natives to approach Darth Azurea with their own ailments.

"I can only heal one more. And then I will need food, drink and rest," she said. She wasn't hungry or tired, but she needed to distract these primitive humanoids so she could make sure Darth Pyrrhus was okay. She also solemnly realized she would probably have to inflict pain on herself, depending on what she needed to heal next. She couldn't subject the quite-willing Togruta to another round of torture in the woods.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

He knew the pain was coming. He had prepared for that. What he had not and could not have prepared for was the amount of pain he felt. It was excruciating. Moving out of sight had been a good move. Behind the covers of the bushes he would remain hidden. Pyrrhus uttered no sound. That didn't stop his body from from wanting to. By some miracle he managed to remain silent. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. His fingers clutched his thigh, digging deep into skin. Similar to that he dug deep within himself. Pyrrhus was accustomed to pain. He had after all been the apprentice of Darth Vornskr.

He recited the Sith Code to himself while in agony. It had become a familiar ritual and it helped keep the temptation to give in at bay. Had he only been able to unleash the pain upon those who inflected it or other bystanders. That was sadly not an option available to him. It would jeopardize their entire operation. Should they fail today it would not be because of him. That much he had decided. And so he kept to himself, down on all four in the forest. He left marks on the ground around him, of grass and soil grasped and ripped out of its place.

And then it was over. In the absence of pain a wave of ecstasy washed over him. It felt delicious. The trade-off was certainly one his body welcome. Yet in the second wave of release he felt the pleasure replaced with disgust. For a second, he had been relieved. It was the path to complacency. How eager he had been to welcome the soothing sensations angered him. Now he craved the pain. To live in discomfort. A warrior was forged through fire. He would not seek to escape it, he would become it. In the absence of that pain he felt a strong urge to inflict it upon himself. Once more he could taste it and he could overcome it. But even in that there was danger... It was slowly dawning on him how corrupt and dangerous Dark Side healing truly was. It was damaging. At first he thought it hurt his body, but instead it threatened the stability of the mind.

Azurea was wise to say she would only heal one more. If not she risked being stuck there for quite a while. Instead she could showcase her power and then be taken to their home. This way wasted the least amount of time. It was also the most efficient path to progress their mission. He wasn't sure how he would respond to another healing session however. His mind scrambled to make sense of the event and try to prepare for it as best as he could.

Meanwhile, the crowd parted. Two men walked towards Azurea. One was old. His body was still muscular and near completely covered in scars. There was no doubt he was a warrior. Judging by his age and scars, he had been quite successful. One did not go through all that and live to die of old age without showing a significant amount of skill. Yet the man he guided by the arm was different. He was younger. Their facial symmetry bore similarities. This was likely father and son. The son was prime age to become a fierce warrior. He had the body type for it as well. However, his face had some deep scars to them. Both his eyes were a pure white. The young man was blind, and he had not been blinded by birth.

While others might cower or be hesitant to proceed, the old man showed neither hesitation nor fear. He knew his time was about to come. He would willingly accept her fury if it gave his son the hint of a chance to regain his sight. It was impossible, he knew. Yet the old man could not give up on the hope. She had healed the baby. She was not of this world. If she could save his son, he would gladly give his life for her. Azurea's next task stood before her.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Darth Azurea tried very hard to not picture her Togruta Master out there in the woods alone and suffering. She needed all of her focus and concentration on the next round of healing that she had promised the Kursids. If she had witnessed his agony firsthand, she would have run to cradle his ailing, red body in her arms - both to his dismay and to the ruination of all they had worked towards today. They were so close to the natives showing absolute conviction that Azurea was the Daughter of Agony, their sky visitor coming to save them. She wasn't sure what either of them would do next, only that the Sith Knight needed to proceed to the next task, lest they be swarmed by angry natives. The two Sith were powerful, but there were hundreds of Kursid. The odds of striking down all of them without a scratch was slim to none, no matter how primitive they were.

Darth Azurea assessed the father and son with emotionless eyes. She knew that what was about to come next would be painful, but it would also need to be carefully hidden. Still, with more confidence than she had shown in the past, she put her hand over the son's eyes and let the Darkside of the Force swell in her mind, flowing through her body to her hands. But before she passed the healing onto the younger Kursid, she redirected the pain he would feel to the back of her own eyes. She let a pause happen before the energy would be both unleashed onto the son and simultaneously on her. But when she finally pressed her hand gently to him, and allowed the Force to be released, the agony she felt was incomparable to anything she had experienced. It felt as though her eyes were literally burning in her skull, a thousand times more painful than her lightsaber wound from Darth Pyrrhus. She desperately wanted to claw them out so much that her hands balled into fists, the nails of her fingers, digging into her palms. But she remained very still, her body trembling slightly. And even stranger still, the further the healing ritual went on, the more Azurea realized that she was actually enjoying the pain. It was intoxicating as the Togruta had gotten a glimpse of it after he had rejected the feelings of pleasure afterwards.

Darth Azurea had reached the point of no return from the darkside. Unlike the pain she felt in the speeder taxi on Ziost when she was healed by a Dark Jedi Master, the pain she felt today was even more excruciating, but she did not move or flinch. Darth Pyrrhus would see how far the Sith Knight had come, that she was able to withstand physical agony on that level. She had nearly become the Daughter of Agony now as she had portrayed.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Slowly, the Togruta Lord managed to get back up on his feet. The pain had faded, and his mind was recovering from what he had just gone through. That said, the memory still lingered at the back of his mind, like a light tremor that sent a shiver through his body every so often. On the outside he did not show it. Once more he was in control, and once more he cast the illusion on the natives that would have it be irrelevant whether he was hiding behind the cover of a bush or out in the open. They would not see him.

He had remained, thinking that Azurea would use him for her next healing ritual as well. Instead, this time Azurea took the pain. He could feel it. The same excruciating agony he had felt only a moment ago now surged through her body. Through passion I gain strength. There was no Sith without suffering, they took it and turned it into something glorious. Despite knowing this, despite knowing that if she overcame this she would only grow stronger for it, prove her power to both him and the Kursids, he couldn't help but feel that instinct in him that told him to go to her. Perhaps he could rip the pain away from her, take it upon himself... But no, that would only weaken her. Both as her master and lover, he could not allow himself to interfere with the ritual. So he watched, his left hand twitching. What little phantom or sympathy pain he felt was nothing compared to what Azurea was going through.

Even so, she stood firm. There were no cries of pain, no breaking down on the ground. Even he had been on all four, ripping at the ground beneath him. Yet she stood firm. In their eyes she was truly a goddess, and it was a view that was starting to rub off on him as well. She had come a long way indeed. He could feel her power, and it was only growing. Looking upon her now, he knew he wouldn't refer to her as simply Sith Knight for long.

The natives were equally amazed. Though largely unaware of the sacrifice she had taken, they still saw the fruits of her hard work. Father and soon looked upon each other again, truly looking. "Father" the son whispered, his hand now tracing the edges of his cheek. It was one thing to feel it, but finally... "I can see you" both were hard men, warriors with a lot of experience. Even so, it was a struggle to hold the tears back. It was a task they both failed. They embraced.

The natives were praising her now, offering words and chants that probably held great symbolism to them. She had healed their sick. In return, she had only asked for food and drink. The natives were eager to comply, and they now paved a way back to their homes to oblige the Daughter of Agony, goddess of the skies. Even Pyrrhus broke radio silence, and he let his voice be heard within her mind. "Excellent work, Darth Azuera" he put extra emphasis on the word 'Darth'.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Darth Azurea opened her eyes finally, but her vision was significantly impaired, most likely from the very physical, very real pain she had experienced in her optic nerves. Her heart beat a little faster with the thought that perhaps she had done some permanent damage. But the charade was not over yet. Somehow, she had to make it to the Kursid's primtive hutts and not let on that she was incapacitated. At this point, she longed for Pyrrhus's reassuring touch, but he was still in hiding.

The Sith Knight-goddess now stretched out her hand to the old warrior whose son she had healed. "Please, guide me with your own hand. I want to eat, drink and commune with the village." The old man appeared slightly bemused, but then hobbled over to her and clasped his gnarled hand to her soft, smooth one. She finally registered Darth Pyrrhus in her own mind, praising her. With her own mental missive she sent back, I can't see a thing right now. Do you think I've gone permanently blind?

There was enough of an jagged edge to her own voice that he had a right to be concerned. Darkside healing came with a terrible price. Perhaps the Togruta Master had fared better because he was a more advanced Sith Lord. But Azurea was still a Knight, still not as far along in her training. Therefore, could she be more susceptible to the detrimental effects of the energy referral.

Suddenly, he would hear her laughter, soft but also cunning: I won't be able to heal again tonight. Not if it will rob me of my eyesight, or worse, the use of my limbs or organs. You know what we need to do now.

Once Azurea was found to be a fraud, the two Siths would need to decide just how many Kursids would live today and how many would die.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Finally they had completed this stage of their deception, and proceeded towards the place that they called home. Both were suffering from the aftereffects of the Dark Side healing, though Azurea's situation was arguably worse. Not because she was weaker than Pyrrhus in any way, but she had most recently been exposed to its effects. Pyrrhus had been given time to breathe. And it would appear the aftereffect that she suffered was of the more noticeable kind.

'No' he replied with confidence. In truth, he didn't really know if this would become permanent. It was foreign territory to him. Was there a chance she would grow blind? What would this mean? He chose not to dwell on it. Her power was such that she would overcome any obstacle, at least so he believed. 'You will overcome this. You are Sith. Enforce your will and it will be done.' If blindness became her fate, she would find a way to conquer this state as well.

He felt some concern for her well-being, but her laughter eased this feeling in him. 'It's a fun experiment. But make no further sacrifices on their behalf. As their goddess, you should not need to prove your power to them for them to accept you. They need to worship you and go out of their way to show themselves worthy to be graced with your gifts.' There was little doubt that had Pyrrhus been considered a god, he would not have been viewed as a benevolent one.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

You will overcome this. You are Sith. Enforce your will and it will be done.

These words were spoken with such assurance. In his deep baritone, Darth Pyrrhus conveyed pure confidence that the two of them could do anything, including overcoming physical obstacles like her sudden loss of vision. Darth Azurea was frustrated by this - as she often suffered from self-doubt - but did not let it show. There were bigger things to deal with right now like the fact that she could not see.

Enforce your will. It will be done.

She had given the Kursids enough. It was time for repayment. Azurea wanted to glimpse the world again.

Lashing out at the nearest Kursid, a strong young woman around her own age, she suddenly ripped the energy from the native's body, which caused the woman to crumple down into the mud. Although she said she wouldn't, the brunette Sith used dark side healing once more - to heal her own vision. Startled cries and gasps accompanied this entire exchange of one life to mend another.

Able to see now and enraged at the fear she had felt - for like her Togruta Master, she began to despise any sudden bout of anxiety - Darth Azurea began to mindfully slaughter ever Kursid in her path. This was mostly done by slamming the primitive people into the trees, waves of Force Push causing them to fly backwards as though caught in an invisible tide. She began sweeping through the clearing, killing on sight - her lovely sight which was back now. But Darth Azurea was still outnumbered. It was now that Darth Pyrrhus would need to show himself. And if the Kursids thought Azurea was a goddess, they would likely think that the powerful and dark side-corrupted Sith Lord was the devil himself.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]