When Dreams are more Real than Life

[courageisthekey]

Dromund Kaas:
Ireial City, City Orphanage

Swiftly the guards moved, walking alongside the carriage. Each carried a sword in hand, ready to defend their Empress. Ready to defend me. Today was an important day. A Duke from a county many miles away was visiting the Citadel. Recently his processor had died, and he wished to meet the woman he would serve for the rest of his life. Hopefully he'd be more complacent then the man he's replacing. I don't want to kill yet another soul... at least not yet.​

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Energy pummeled into the side of my ride, knocking it over. We were under attack. Someone- or something- was trying to kill me! Damn it, who could it be? Perhaps an ally of the sorcerer I betrayed years ago?... No, it couldn't be... Quickly I scrambled out of the carriage, dragging my staff with me. I would not go down without a fight. Troops rallied around me, while watching our surroundings, trying to find our adversary. By the time she was spotted it was to late.​

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"You fool! Die already! You killed the one who was supposed to teach you! Wake up! Wake up Tai, wake up!" Wait, what? My name is Vanessa... Vanessa Nacht Seele. Not Tai, and I am very much awake... Aren't I? This world is so real, it has to be real. I am awake, not asleep! This woman is the fool-​

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Shooting forward I looked around, trying to see who woke me up. It had been a wonderful dream- no... it had been memories. This was the dream, wasn't it? So the question was who put me to sleep? Quickly my eyes spotted the culprit. My right hand moved forward, preparing to punch the fiend. But I stopped it midair once I realized who my target was. It was Sierra, my sister. A tall, kind Umbaran. Out of everyone in this dream world, she was the only one I truly trusted. For she was all I 'remembered' from this place. It was likely that she was my dream world's version of my real sister of the same name, who served beside me, advising me on more delicate matters.​

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"C'mon Tai'ko! It's time to get up now. The others already let you sleep in. But you're gonna miss breakfast if you don't get moving!" Sierra said, placing a pale hand on my boney shoulder. Slightly annoyed I rolled my eyes, not wanting to get up. It was bad enough I was stuck in this dream world. Everyone inside it was trying to get me to do pointless things, and prevent me from returning home... Or at least what feels like home. Only in my 'sleep' (dreams inside dreams) do I get to remember my past and my people. It always ends the same. Someone attacking me, telling me that when I killed the sorcerer, I killed my chances of ever learning.​

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Which was one of the reasons I was formulating a plan. A way to escape this prison, this 'orphanage'. According to this world's records, I was 22. Old enough to legally live on my own. However they considered me insane, and had kept me under close watch. That was not something I was okay with. Escaping was my number one priority. Finding a sorcerer in this world was my second. There had to be a reason my mind was sent to this dimension. If logic served me right, it was to right a wrong. To be taught by another magic (or force, as they call it here) user. Perhaps then I could finally return home.​

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Sighing I got up and stretched. Three hours remained until I initiated my plot.​

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Blood. So much blood. Dripping down the knife, staining my hands, and emerging from the gap in his chest. He had been a city guard. Had tried to stop me, prevent me from fleeing to the spaceport... It was all I could do. Stab him, let him bleed out on the ground. But now others were staring, watching me with shocked expressions. What have I done? A corpse lay where a living, breathing man had once been. I have to go. I have to get out of her before they come and take me away again. This time I won't get off so easily. Being labeled insane was one thing... killing a man was another.​

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Bolting off I ran as fast as I could, rushing for the spaceport. Those behind me were still in shock, there would be time before someone was sent after me. Not much, but enough to get out of the area. My knife was thrown into a trash bin, hitting the container with a thud. The blood on my hands couldn't be discarded so easily... Dashing into a cantina I went into the bathroom to wash it off. So far so good. No one following me, at least as far as I could tell. Guilt filled my chest, and even though I knew the man didn't actually exist, I felt horrible.​

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Someone came in behind me, and I tensed up. When I turned around I found out it was just a thin rodian wearing a heavy cloak. A cloak I needed. Quickly I moved, hitting her on the back of the head and knocking her out. Strength wasn't my thing. Luckily pressure points and the body's weak points were. In a few seconds I had the cloak wrapped around myself, hood up. Then I left, walking confidently into the spaceport. Once again fate was on my side, the cloak contained just enough credits to buy a ticket off the planet. I didn't bother checking the end destination. As long as it was off planet I would be fine... City guards wouldn't chase me that far.​

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Picking an unknown arrival point had been risky. Now I had no idea where I was, or where to go. All I had with me was a bag of dream world items, including some clothes, and a few spare credits. How the hell was I supposed to find a sorcerer with these? Somewhere on this planet had to be someone who knew... Or at least someone with an idea of how to get home. I was empty of hope as I left the ship, my boots hitting mystery soil on a mystery surface in a mystery system.​

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Perhaps freedom wasn't as good as I had imagined.​

@[member="Jacques Cavill"]​

 

[Malok]

GAULUS SECTOR, RYLOTH​

JOREIKNA, SPACEPORT​

Whilst in the days of history long since past, the city of Joreikna had been nothing more than a glorified mining town, the current incarnation had been blessed with the presence of modern amenities. In fact, ever since coming into the possession of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the world had been liberated of the blight of slavery and the city itself had been upgraded into a bustling spaceport. Now, denizens from all across the stars frequented what was once a humble congregation of rocks, ryll, and ramshackle huts. It was here that the young woman seeking a Sorcerer had come to land...and it was here that a Sorcerer could be found.

Long, confident strides bore him through the crowded streets, yet not a single being dared bumped into the hooded individual. For, even coming within inches of his presence, unease fell upon them. As if invisible hands reached into the pit of their stomachs and unsettled them...as if an unseen cold sent chills down their spines...they felt unease of the highest caliber by being in the company of this man. Though ignorant to the source of this sensation, it was simply a spell weaved through the Dark Side of the Force; known as Aura of Uneasiness. Its magnitude was significantly lower than the norm, enough to keep the riffraff from brushing against the one who sought the throne of the Sith Empire.

He was the "Heir", quite literally born to rule. And to him, the name Jacques Cavill was given.

What had brought the young Sorcerer to Ryloth of all places was the will of the Force, coupled with curiosity. History spoke of ancient, Sith ruins which once were an Academy centuries prior; and it was Jacques' ambition to search these ruins for any trace of scrolls of holocrons pertaining to the arts of Sorcery. In particular, his search had brought him to Joreikna, for he was seeking a guide to lead him to the Ruins safely. However, the will of the Force had different plans in mind, for as he rounded the corner in the spaceport, his confidence in his newly learned spell had overshadowed his common sense. He was absolutely certain that all would divert from his path, yet he ran into a young woman of pale complexion.

"Argh." he growled initially, his focus broken, thereby ending his spell, "Pardon me."

@[member="Vanessa Nacht Seele"].

 

[courageisthekey]

Minor exploration, along with a few well-timed questions, and I had learned my location. Ryloth, in the city of Joreikna to be exact. A well dressed man, one who I assumed was a guard of sorts, informed me of the some of the town's history. Previously it had been used for mining, and remained that way for some time. More recently the Confederacy of Independent Systems (a Government of some kind I guess) had taken over. Apparently they transformed the area into a spaceport, where travelers flocked. Someone else, who was likely a local nut, told me Sith ruins could be found on the planet. At first I was unsure how to react, not knowing who the Sith were. When I asked the man laughed, and said they were force users.​

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Sorcerers. Or at least close enough to that. If any of these Sith remained, or wished to see their history... I could learn from one. Temporarily give them my allegiance in exchange for knowledge. Oh, how that would be perfect! Upon learning of the mages (even though the source of information was potentially untrustworthy) I set off, going to find an exploration to join. I was so overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of returning home that I didn't pay to much attention to where I was walking... and ended up colliding with a young, but tall, man. Something seemed off about him, and initially I felt an odd uneasiness. Within another few seconds the latter had worn off, leaving a... fascination.​

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The man in front of me was ruggedly handsome, appeared strong, and held himself highly. My first thought was that perhaps he was a noble, or otherwise a leader. Then I realized he could just be an arrgant fool. Of course, arrogance doesn't usually come with manners, which he seemed to have. For a moment I was distracted by what I noticed, and stood with my mouth slightly open, an expression of surprise locked on my features. What a horrible first impression on someone who could be royal.​

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"Oh, forgive me sir. I... didn't see you there." My voice came out quietly, then slowly rose to a more acceptable level. I sounded distracted, and probably seemed like a fool. That irritated me slightly, and I took a moment to just breathe. While waiting for a response I looked over the man again, trying to take in any details I missed at first glance. What was different about him?... It was clear he wasn't just an ordinary lad.​

@[member="Jacques Cavill"]​

 

[Malok]

Perhaps it was the fact that the young Heir was entirely focused at the task at hand...but the fact that was lost to him about the woman he bumped into was as clear as day now. Now that Jacques had released hold upon the Force, he could look upon the woman with fresh eyes...and was amazed at what he saw. That what he beheld was not something that could be seen with organic eyes, but only through the blessing that was the Force. The young heir did not see a woman of petite build before him, no, he saw an ember. It was faint, as if two stones had struck together and caused the beginnings of an inferno within vegetation. This fire, weak yet very much alive, was none other than the presence of the Force. It was not swayed to one persuasion, Light or Dark, but had been untapped and uncultivated.

This woman had potential...and under the right tutelage she could prove useful...

Ah, the sin of ambition reared its ugly head within the heart of the young Heir once more; and a warm smile graced his lips. The gruff, heartless display of manners which had been extended in response to the bump was replaced with a warmth that was far from being false. After all, Jacques had something to gain through this encounter; and as such he was as polite as the future Emperor of the Sith Empire could have been expected to be. His form lowered to a bow momentarily, and whilst he demonstrated this display of tact, the young Heir introduced himself. "It's quite alright miss, I was not paying attention." he began, rising to his full height once more. "My name is Jacques Cavill, it is a pleasure to meet you." There was a pause as he took a moment to look the woman over.

She was beautiful, of this there was no doubt; but she was petite. There was not much strength to be had there...but speed, ah she had the potential for Makashi...As these thoughts filled his mind, his smile only grew. "Come, the least I can do is make amends for this encounter; and it is not everyday that I have the opportunity to meet a new soul in such a manner. Allow me to treat you to a drink...and tell me, what do you know of the Force?" With that said, he motioned for her to follow and began to stride off in the direction of the cantina that was not too far off from their current location. There, they could talk and not worry about prying ears; for the constant consumption of alcohol and ryll would prevent such passions. Here, he could secure her interests...and perhaps walk out with a new apprentice.

@[member="Vanessa Nacht Seele"].

 

[courageisthekey]

Knees bent and head bowed, I curtsied to the man. Not many people I had met in this realm had many manners, and even those that did rarely acted like such a gentlemen. Being bowed to? That hadn't happened since long ago, in the forgotten worlds... where I was Empress. Oh, how I missed that place. For there everything was wonderful. Flowers were twice as beautiful, people more kind, and the magic felt more real. If only the men in this place acted like this man- Jacques, as he said he was called. Of course he could just be trying to get lucky, or otherwise manipulate me... Eh, at least he's more handsome then that town nut I met earlier.​

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As there was still a good chance he was either noble or sorcerer, I stayed with him. Perhaps we would be beneficial to each other? The idea was strengthened when he asked me about the force. Naturally a part of me grew wary with his inquiry. But whatever logic I had swayed me to trust him for now. Chances are, based off his question, he was either seeking ruins and Sith like I, or he saw potential in me. While considering the latter I realized he could be seeking to be taught by me. Gods that would be awful. Or entertaining, depending on how gullible he was.​

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"Greetings Jacques, I am Vanessa Nacht Seele, of Ireial." Step 1: Introductions completed. Now to answer him, and see if we can assist each other. Once he started walking I followed, keeping my pace equal to his. For the most part I stayed a foot or two behind and to the right, in case I had to flee. Hopefully that wouldn't be necessary. "I know little of the force. What I have been told is that it is a great thing that connects us all, and that some are able to harness it, letting it power them further. Similar to the magic back home..." My voice drew quieter as I finished, remembering all those I had left behind. Then I shook my head lightly, from side to side to clear my thoughts. I would return to my kingdom one day.​

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Today just wouldn't be that day.​

@[member="Jacques Cavill"]​

 

[Malok]

The long, confident strides of the young Sorcerer ultimately led the duo into the doorway of the bustling cantina. The space was large, with tables and chairs strewn about the establishment. A bar was to the left, complete with a number of stools, and lining the walls were a several booths. It was in one of these secluded, corner booths that Jacques had elected as the location for the continuation of their conversation, and as such he led the way over and seated himself. One of the things that set this particular establishment apart from those found across the stars was it's value on personal privacy, as evidenced by the fact that they were not greeted by a waitress or host on the way in. Instead, a terminal was quite literally built into the table face and would receive their orders and payment; and once complete a simple service droid would deliver their beverages accordingly.

"Please, order anything you like Miss Seele." he said electing a simple water flavored with lemons as his beverage of choice. Then, once his fingers had completed their dance across the surface of the terminal, he directed his attention t her once more; his eyes meeting hers in a rather deep gaze. The young Heir was contemplating a great many things, about how, if this conversation went correctly, he would train her. First and foremost, he would need to be certain that she was able to utilize that which he had to offer...but that would come later! He had to, of course, seal her trust and faith in order to even get that far in the planning process! As such, his smile of warmth only grew and he began to respond to that which she had said.

"I see," he began, his tone soft, "well, you certainly do not know as much as others on the subject...but there is truth to your current knowledge. The Force is an omnipresent entity whose essence saturates life itself. Some are gifted with its presence and can utilize this connection in order to accomplish great feats. From the utilization of the connection comes the two opposing sides of the famous coin: Jedi and Sith...Now then, I bring this up to you for a single fact. You, my dear, are brimming with the Force...but it is but an ember."

He stopped here, allowing his words to linger before continuing on. "I know that I have only just met you, but there are certain things that a man of my...talents...cannot ignore. The simple fact is, your ember can be cultivated into an inferno, and you will be capable of the same feats of magic that are native to your home; if not greater. You see, I am what some call a Force Sensitive; as are you...and with my experience, I could lead you down a path tread by very few. The Path of Sorcery."

True, he was being very forward, but he was also thriving off the fact that the woman had mentioned magic in her homeland. This small piece of information was enough paint for him to create a masterpiece of a mental picture with his worlds. If all went well, he hoped Vanessa would contemplate utilizing the magic of her home...and sincerely hoped that those wielding said magic in her native land were not tyrants that she feared. "Ah," he said at last, after another pause, "but perhaps you would like a demonstration, no?"

@[member="Vanessa Nacht Seele"].