Private To Learn from a Student

[Kaila Irons]

Kaila was quiet for a time, considering how to address the many questions asked of her, and more importantly, the implications of what Tamsin was saying.

"You deserve," she sighed

"...more than what fate decreed of you"

"We both do." she brought her knees in close, resting her chin atop them.

"...you don't owe me anything, Tamsin... But perhaps It's time I was more honest with you. I do believe I would have freed you regardless, even if it meant begrudgingly accepting if you'd chosen to walk away with the Jedi that day... but It was always my hope, from the moment I felt your connection to the force, to train you as my apprentice"

Her voice was hushed, somber almost.

"I have lived, since you age, much like the Mandalorians do. The life of a sith is... utterly lonesome. We're all competing for some reason, backstabbing and politicking our way up the ladder of rank and power. I'm not even sure If I have what it takes to teach you properly, but I dread the idea of putting you amidst the chaos of it all. There are no friends of sith, only pawns too useful to kill for a time. I got so bloody tired of using people, and being used, so I became a seeker. I've wandered the land alone for years, disguised as a mercenary whilst collecting old books and artefacts.

I... I hate them, Tamsin." she glanced at the girl, the golden fire in her eye seeming dim for but a moment, until looking to her.

"This empire I serve, built on lies. But then I found you, and I thought... Maybe we don't have to be this way forever? Maybe, the empire that I so distantly call home, can change. I thought maybe if I could just teach a new kind of Sith, we wouldn't all be so alone. I wouldn't be so alone. I still believe in what I teach, of course, and I dread to think what would have happened if fate had been allowed to choose, I still think you're in better hands."

"I do not mean to say that I am merely using you, Tamsin" she added, averting her gaze, staring into the mist

"But I cannot deny what I am, either. That I am a selfish creature, it is simply... nature. I am Sith, and I always will be"



It was a long answer, but not to a single question Tamsin had asked. Rather it was a response to a statement, something that Kaila saw as a false notion of the girl's place in this world, in this relationship between teacher and student that seemed almost too improbable to work. Yet, she couldn't help hoping that the girl would would stay, even despite the kind of person that Kaila was, and the kind of person Tamsin might become if she continued down this path.



Tamsin Graves

 

[Tamsin Graves]

Those words hung heavy on Tamsin as Kaila spoke them, she let the woman let it all out not saying a word to break it up. An explanation of who she was, what she was, and what she wanted to be. A woman caught in the world she was raised into and wanting to escape its grasp, to be something different. Like a caterpillar crawling into its cocoon with dreams of being a butterfly and not the moth.

"It isn't just the sith." Tamsin finally spoke after she thought on all the words Kaila had laid upon her. "I may know little of the Jedi, Sith, or even about much else in the Galaxy. Yet what I do know is I see people everywhere, even on this beautiful world struggling, fighting for a position or prominence or power. They all fight to be seen and heard, for their voice to matter. They are willing to backstab and destroy lives just so they can have a piece of power."

It was something she thought about a lot just watching the people in Blougah's court. How they all wanted to be noticed by that disgusting Hutt who could give them a small bit of power in his court.

"From what you have told me, it seems the will wants us to fight each other. It keeps us occupied from fighting the real threat, itself. From what you have told me, it is all built on lies and manipulation by the will. You shouldn't hate them; you should pity them for they are themselves enslaved to the very thing they proclaim to fight."

Tamsin had no idea where these words were coming from, she had never thought herself profound or deep. Yet these were the words she felt in her heart, a burning taste of rebellion in her heart.

"You make your home, you make your family, you make your faith, and you make your choices. You fight the will that controls fate so you can do those things and be free. Fate is just its tool of the will, and you…no we have the power to manipulate and defy it. Kaila you are what you make yourself, and we are all selfish creatures. Greed is the most powerful of all emotions it can drive even the most innocent to kill in the name of self-preservation." It was the truth thinking your life more valuable than another was selfish even if it meant you died. "I'm not as innocent as I may seem, I have done things for my own survival."

She didn't want to go into detail about the things she had done for her own survival. Though she had never directly bloodied her hands for her own gain, she had manipulated situations for it that got people put in crosshairs. She also didn't want Kaila to think of her as some innocent flower, she may be naïve about the greater the greater galaxy but she had an understanding of human nature most turned a blind eye too. "You will teach me what you can, as best you can. The whole Galaxy walks alone but we can walk alone together. We will serve ourselves, not owing each other anything but friendship. If that's what you want, then I make that promise to you." Tamsin held out her hand towards Kaila to shake on it.

"Some cultures I have heard of cut the palms of there hands and seal the deal in blood."




Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

Tamsin was insightful beyond her years, and in that moment she knew it would prove useful to them both for years to come.

But Kaila also knew that she had misjudged her. There was a darkness in Tamsin's soul, as if the corrupted force had touched her heart long ago, feeding off the trauma behind eyes that had seen too much, taking in the sensations of bloodied hands. It was something that no child should ever have to go through, and Tamsin hadn't been an adult for long. Yet it was something that all the most powerful sith had, and perhaps should if they were to draw power from the dark side.

She would not allow herself to be it's cause, not like Carnifex. But she had learned well the value of her master's lesson.

Pain is the scalpel of all creation.
​

And so this new breed of sith would be taken from the downtrodden and the outcast. Those with a desire for revenge against the greater will which had fated them to suffer from their very first breath. And it seemed her first student was perhaps her most eager warrior in the battles to come.

"...Tamsin"

She exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of the complex feelings welling within.

Kaila had treated the girl like a naïve child and sought to give them a better life than she ever lived. But the truth was that she was far too late to save her from that life, she had only prevented fate from finishing the job.

Yet there was a silver lining to it all. This was by no means a fortunate turn of events, and Kaila's sympathy for the young woman would have been enough to make any other woman cry, but it was fortunate they'd found each other. They were perhaps perfect for one another. For there were always two, a Master and an Apprentice. It was time she looked at Tamsin as such.

"I am... sorry, for misjudging you. I will not make this mistake again"


She turned to face Tamsin completely, leaning forward to look upon her student, her ally, her... friend.

who would soon be bound by pact.

"Know this," she took her hand

"I take oaths very seriously. I neither break them, nor do I tolerate those who shirk them."


From the opposite wrist, a narrow blade deployed from the gauntlet, tip gleaming in the sunlight.

"Are you absolutely sure...?"

​

Tamsin Graves

 

[Tamsin Graves]

"You didn't misjudge me, you were just getting to know me, Kaila. I did not lie to you when I said I am a bad omen." She said as Kaila grabbed her hand and then brandished the blade for the blood pact. The darkness in Tamsin's heart was there, she hide it but she did not ever lie about it being there. "I am absolutely sure." Her eyes wide and she looked up at Kaila directly in her eyes as she said it.


It was weird Tamsin did exactly know what was coming over her but she was absolutely sure of this path. "I give you my word, the one thing I have to give freely. I will keep my oath to you." Yet she wanted to be sure this was the path Kaila wanted to take. "If you are absolutely sure, then cut my palm and yours then we let our blood mingle together."



Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

"I... would like this to be first and last time I hurt you" Kaila said, her stomach twisting knots.

Yet there was resolve behind those eyes as they looked into Tamsin's, knowing what they must do.

And so, tracing her thumb over Tamsin's palm, she reluctantly held the young woman's hand out flat, and carefully pressed the tip of her blade against it. It was quick, the way she slid the edge across with a sudden pull. It was sharp, clean, and it would sting but it would easily heal with proper treatment.

When she let go, she tore the glove away with her teeth before pressing her own palm into the knife, more slowly but equally precise. Pain was an old acquaintance to Kaila, eliciting little more than a quiet inhalation to greet it. She flexed her fingers, straining the skin of her palm to spread, making way from the blood which trickled down with a pitter patter sound against the stone.

She took Tamsin by the hand again, bloodied fingers intertwining and locking them together.

The stinging sensation had brought the dark side out of her again, her eyes burning just a little brighter as she looked to her oathbound companion, gritting her teeth as she pressed their palms together tightly.

"From this day forward, We are Two: Master and Apprentice. One to decipher the power, and one to carry on the legacy. I will teach you all I can, in every weapon against the greater will, and every power I know, and one day you too shall claim the mantle of Darth, as a dark lord of the Sith. The road will be long and arduous, But I promise to prepare you for it."

"So decrees Darth Anathemous, dark lord of the eleventh sith empire."



Tamsin Graves

 

[Tamsin Graves]

The blood trickled and mingled between them as Kaila spoke her oath and promise to Tamsin. The blood flowing between them trailing down to their wrists and dripping to the stone path at their feet. Kaila's eyes glowed just a bit brighter and in unison the orange rings around Tamsin's eyes began to glow a sulfuric orange and the rings themselves grew just a tiny bit bigger. Their eyes locked and their grasp on each other's hand tightened.

We are now a sisterhood

Our oath bound in our blood

Forever intertwined

We shall stand at each other's side

We shall face down our foes together

Our Bond shall never be broken

For we are now family forever united​

The words tingled in the back of both of their minds, as if the universe itself was ritually bonding them together. The words spoken in flowing rhythmic tone, like a chanting of witch's dance around a fire on full moon night. A slight violet glow formed around Tamsins hand then encompassed Kaila's hand it last but a moment a sign that the two were now tied together. Their blood would now always lead them to each other Blood Trailed to one another by the ancient magicks unknowingly.



"From this day forward, We are Two: Master and Apprentice. One to light the fire and one to carry the torch forward. I will learn all your words; I will study all your movements to fight the will. I will achieve the mantle of Darth, Lord of the sith in your name and honor. I will be prepared by your wisdom."



"So, decrees Tamsin." She thought for a second and then declared it. "The Dark Omen enemy of the will of Empires unknown."

Their words bound in Blood

Bound by the ancient rites of Sith

Bound by the heart of Dathomir

Bound by the Dark​

How long they had been there among the steam pools of Canto Bight on that mountain from dawn to now sunset. The ritual allowing time to speed around them their connection being written into the stars. Their story just began but together they would forge their path.


Kaila Irons