章 13: Chapter 13: Fly me to the Moon.
I stood silently in the massive assembly hall, surrounded by a gaggle of other young Sith dressed in formal robes. All eyes were focused attentively on the imposing figure at the front - the Duke of Korriban. His deep, authoritative voice echoed through the cavernous room as he delivered the ceremonial speech to our entering class.
"You are the elite, handpicked from across the galaxy to train in the illustrious Sith Academy," he proclaimed with Gusto. "It is here you will unlock your full potential and ascend to greatness. The Republic and their Jedi allies are a plague that seeks to restrain true power - but we will crush them!"
A wave of cheers and applause erupted from the students around me. I remained still, keeping my expression neutral.
'You're all morons. You're all so weak-minded. You don't even see how this school was designed to coddle us, do you.'
Korriban has changed a lot since the times of the old Republic. Its now separated into two distinct schools. Upper academy and Lower academy.
The Upper Korriban academy, reserved solely for the offspring of nobility and the elite, stood as a disgusting megastructure. A single gigantic tower
pompously lording over the Valley of the Dark Lords. The Lower Korriban Academy was everything Korriban was and should continue to be. It was exactly how it looked in The Old Republic. Sandy, tombs everywhere, and best of all, completely fucking cutthroat. All non-noble Force, sensitive potential Sith were dumped into there.
'I have to assume that kind of environment makes stronger Sith than this disgusting anime college megastructure? Right?'
My eyes scanned the grand hall where the Duke was talking to all the Sith of nobility, taking in the ancient statues and artifacts depicting great Sith victories. So much violent history.
'Hype as fuck'
The Duke's speech droned on, extolling the virtue of Sith teachings. My mind wandered, thoughts drifting all over the place.
'Is Kanye still alive? I've been here for 14 years. That guy always made me wonder if he'd kill himself. Or maybe he's president? hmmm.'
As the Duke concluded his Mid as fuck speech, the Sith around me clapped.
"You are the future of the Sith Order. Wield your power without mercy. Bring honor to your houses. And remember, through victory, your chains are broken!"
The students erupted again, fueled by his words. I also started clapping because the Sith code is unironically a banger and hype as fuck.
*****
Apparently, the way upper Korriban works is that every student is ranked. The higher your rank, the better you and your house are seen to be. My sister in her class was Ranked 1. Sola was ranked 2, just behind her. Right now, I'm in line to force-push one of our professors as some sort of test. He's a big fat guy. He seems nice enough, except for the weird shit he keeps saying.
"Come on, push me to the moon! I want to go flying to the moon, you little puddles of Jedi Cum!"
'Lot to unpack with that one.'
I'm around 8th in line waiting to force-push this dude. I guess this is part of determining our rank but its so stupid.
I take a deep breath and focus my energy as I step up for my turn. The professor taunts me again with his weird words.
"Oh looky, the little baby boy thinks he's gonna ragdoll me."
No one laughs as I try to tune him out. I raise my hand, feeling the currents of power flow through my body.
'Let's just limit myself to only the full strength of the Sith Warrior. I'd hate to accidentally kill a teacher on the first day. It'd be so awkward.
With a swift motion, I unleash a half-hearted Force push towards the professor.
To the horror of the class, I completely misjudge my own strength. The wave of force energy barrels into the professor with the fury of a wrecking ball. His body is flown backward, smashing into the durasteel wall of the academy hall with a sickening crunch. His body sloppily left a trail of blood as it slowly slid down the wall. His body crumpled as it reached the floor. Just a pile of gore surrounded by a pool of blood. The other students gasped and stared in shock.
"Hey! Don't be dicks I tried not to do that."
I stand there awkwardly as the other students stare at me in disbelief. I didn't mean to completely obliterate the professor. I was trying to hold back, but I guess I don't know my own strength.
"Look fine, this one's my bad, alright guys."
I state that I am simply trying to take responsibility but also kinda not.
The pool of blood slowly spreads across the floor. Some of the other students look like they are about to be sick. I probably should feel some remorse for turning the professor into a pile of gore, but thanks to my Momma, I don't feel anything at all. Oh well.
'Turn all sith here into a pile of blood. Bathe in a monument of your godhood.' my pet schizophrenia rears its cute head in the back of my mind.
'Nah king, not today.'
I bark back at my edgy dark side. The blood of my enemies would be terrible lube.
Just then, Lord Elama, another teacher at the academy, comes rushing over. I brace myself for an awkward lecture about using restraint, but instead, she smiles at me.
"Excellent work, Vex! You demonstrated tremendous power today. The other students could learn a thing or two from you about drawing on your emotions to fuel the Force," she says.
I blink in surprise. Guess the Sith aren't big on mercy or restraint. Lord Elama gestures for some custodial droids to come clean up the mess I made of the former professor. She then turns back to address the rest of the students.
"Let this be a lesson to you all. Passion and power are the ways of the Sith! Vex has embraced that today."
One of the students pukes at the continued site of the mound of carnage. Other students murmur nervously. I stand up a little straighter, trying to look pleased with myself instead of mildly annoyed at my lack of control. 'Oh well, I'm sure I'll get the hang of this whole Sith thing eventually.'
*****
Next is mock saber duals. Of the group of around 100 noble sith im with. My group was only 20. But they were all terrified of me. Lord Elama who at this point told me she'll be my home room teacher was unhappy as I stood in the Mock battle arena.
Lord Elama stands at the edge of the training arena, her piercing gaze fixed on the hesitant students gathered before her. Though they try to avoid meeting her stare, their unease is palpable.
"Well?" Elama demands, her voice sharp. "Who among you has the courage to face Vex in combat?"
The students shift uncomfortably, eyes darting around the room, but none step forward. Elama's expression hardens.
"Cowardice ill becomes those training to be Sith," she admonishes. "Power is achieved through testing one's limits, not shying away from challenge."
Still, the students remain silent, fearfulness rolling off them in waves. I feel kinda guilty.
'How the fuck am I supposed to make friends if they're all terrified of me?'
Elama's lip curls in contempt. "If none of you have the backbone to duel Vex, even with training sabers, then you are not worthy of being here."
Elama's impaling gaze sweeps over the silent, trembling students. Her anger had an aura unto itself, seeming to charge the very air around her.
"Pathetic," she hisses. "Is this what the future of the Sith has to offer? Weaklings and cowards, too afraid to test their strength?"
'I wonder if they have a Burger King in the cafeteria?'
The students flinch under her verbal lashing, shame and resentment burning in their downcast eyes. But still, not one steps forward to challenge me. Lord Elama shakes her head in disgust.
"Vex has already proven himself stronger than the lot of you combined. He killed Lord Revos in a fair duel, and that is only because Revos dared to test him."
'Fair? He asked to go to the moon. I simply obliged him.'
I shift awkwardly at the extremely recent memory. Elama seems determined to use the incident to put me on a pedestal above the others. Elama gestures sharply, her robes swirling around her, showing off her fat udders.
"Get out. All of you. I can see there will be no progress made here today. Return when you find some shred of courage...if you ever do."
The students scramble from the arena, relief mixing with simmering envy and fear as they give me a wide berth. Soon, only Elama and I remain.
She turns to me, expression softening.
"Do not mind them, Vex. Jealousy is the nature of the weak. You will outrank them all soon enough. Of that, I have no doubt. Actually, because they all turned your challenge down, technically, that means you defeated 19 Acolytes."
Elama chuckled with a look of exhausted anger.
"It seems youll be ranked number one for sure due to your achievments today. Youre parents will be proud."
I nod, unease still twisting within me. I never wanted to stand out like this. But it seems I have no choice...the power within me demands to be unleashed, no matter the cost.
*****
Sola's POV
I make my way swiftly through the academy halls, the click of my heels echoing off the ancient stone. Other acolytes and instructors step aside, bowing their heads as I pass. Power and status command respect here, and as the daughter of Korriban's ruler, I have both in spades.
Approaching the carved obsidian doors to my father's study, I pause to collect myself. As both his child and his heir, I must tread carefully in these conversations. Information is the currency of the Sith, and I found a goldmine.
The doors slide open at my approach. Inside, Father sits at an elegant desk, scanning reports from across the Sith territories. He does not look up as I enter.
"Father. I come with news of the boy."
At this, he sets down the datapad, leaning back in his chair to fix me with an intense gaze. His eyes remind me of sharpened blades.
"Speak, daughter."
I fold my hands demurely before me, the picture of Sith restraint.
"He is powerful in the Force, beyond anything I have sensed before. After only half a day of training, he already mistakenly killed one of his teachers. His fellow Acolytes were too afraid of sparring with him after that. Lord Elama bluntly stated to me that he was already ranked number one during this trial period.
The Duke's expression does not change, but I sense a ripple in the Force around him. Anticipation. Ambition.
'Father was never good at hiding his emotions from me."
"This is most promising," he says finally. "Continue to watch over the boy. Guide him, and he will make a fine consort for you someday." His mouth curls into a smile. "And for the love of the empress, please stay close to the boy's sister as well. Your mother said her sister is someone we should be very eager not to make an enemy out of."
I bow in acquiescence. "Your will, my lord."
As I turn to leave, the Duke calls out once more. "Do not fail me in this, daughter. The potential of this child could shift the tides of our order."
My mouth twists into a smile confidently. "I know."
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