บท 15: C15 The Sith & Balance?

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On his first day of training with his Sith Master, Peter found himself in a frenzied escape, circling the shrine like a mad man, running for his life. Behind him, Darth Revan, his ghostly master in the dark and twisted ways of the Sith, pursued with relentless determination, his lightsaber casting a sinister glow that painted the ground in hues of red and orange.

Peter's heart pounded in his chest, each beat a loud drum echoing the rhythm of his force empowered sprint. His breaths were sharp, curing through the silence of the underground. "This is insane!" he shouted to no one in particular, half-laughing, half-crying at the absurdity of his situation.

Revan seemed to savor the chase. "Faster!" he called out, the malicious amusement clear in his voice. "Your life quite literally depends on it!"

The chase went on, minutes stretching into what felt like hours, the relentless pace a brutal reminder of Peter's weak body.

His limbs felt heavy, each movement a testament to his determination and will to survive, his earlier laughter long gone, replaced by a very real need to survive.

At first, it was kind of fun to run around with the force propelling his body forward, but as the minutes turned into hours, and the personification of death hot on his tail, swinging his lightsaber like a maniac, Peter began to lose all hope.

"Okay… You can stop now!" Peter shouted behind him, but Revan didn't seem to be listening.

Instead, he swung his sword at Peter's leg, chuckling as his apprentice leaped away.

Finally, after spending a majority of the night struggling to survive, Revan relented, "Alright, that's enough." He said, not winded whatsoever.

After all, he's a ghost.

Instantly, Peter collapsed, his body screaming in protest, his lungs begging for air. His whole being ached, the after affects of overusing the force straining his body.

Exhausted, he lay sprawled on the cold, stone floor before the imposing steps of the Sith shrine. His breath came in heavy, labored gasps, each one a testament to the grueling ordeal he had just endured under the watchful eye of his sadistic master.

The latter sat perched on the steps, his lightsaber extinguished, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips as he observed his pupil's struggle to regain composure.

"What did you learn?" Revan's voice cut through the heavy silence of the chamber, imposing with a hint of amusement.

Peter's reply came between breaths, laced with a mix of exhaustion and defiance. "That you're a sadistic psychopath that preys on children?"

Revan's response was a snort, his hand instinctively reaching for his lightsaber. But before his fingers could graze its hilt, Peter hastily added to his answer, a sense of urgency in his voice, driven by a genuine fear of enduring more 'training.'

"I learned... to run for my life," he managed to say, his tone serious yet hinting at the underlying humor he found in the absurdity of his situation.

Revan's expression shifted, a brow raised in mild amusement as he reached for his saber once again. Yet, Peter was quick to continue, "And... that I should respect my master?" he added, a tentative question in his voice, hoping to appease the Sith Lord.

The corners of Revan's mouth twitched upwards into a smile, seemingly pleased with this answer, at least for the moment. "Good," he simply said, his tone carrying a note of approval that was as rare as it was fleeting. "Now don't get too comfortable. The chase may be over, but the lesson has just begun."

Peter groaned from his place on the floor, his gaze turning to Revan. "As long as I don't have to stand up, you can teach me whatever you want…"

"Good, now for a history lesson. The Sith," Revan began, his voice echoing off the ancient walls, "originated long before the Republic, in an era where force users were first discovering the depths of their powers. Unlike the Jedi, who mask their emotions and desire in pursuit of a false sense of peace, we Sith embrace the full spectrum of emotion. It is through passion that we gain strength, through strength we gain power, and through power, we achieve victory."

Peter, too spent to muster a retort or even to sit up, could do little more than listen as Revan delved into the annals of history.

"Our purpose," Revan continued, his tone somber yet imbued with a sense of undying conviction, "is not merely to dominate, but to liberate. The galaxy chains itself with laws and morals, but true freedom lies in the acceptance of one's nature and the will to act upon it."

Peter's mind wandered as he listened. The idea of freedom had always resonated with him, which is why he planned to leave the Jedi temple in the future, yet the Sith's interpretation was a bit off. After all, some laws and morals are very much needed in a functioning, healthy society.

Revan, sensing perhaps a shift in his apprentice's thoughts, paused before proceeding. "You must understand, Peter, that the mindset of a Sith is one of relentless pursuit. We are never satisfied, for satisfaction breeds complacency, and complacency is the death of progress."

"Okay, It's a bit extreme, but I get it." Peter nodded, not sure if he wanted to adopt these beliefs, at least not to such an extent.

The lesson shifted then, from history to the practicalities of Sith training. "Every Sith apprentice undergoes trials," Revan explained. "Trials of pain, of strength, of wit, and more. These trials will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine, but they are essential. They forge us into the weapons we are meant to be."

"More trials? Haven't I done enough already?" Peter complained. After all, he was already forced to undergo trials yesterday.

"No, these trials aren't like the ones you've been through, they're much simpler actually…" He says as he goes on to explain each trial.

In the Trial of Skill Peter would have to fight his master in lightsaber combat. The test would allow him to use various techniques of lightsaber combat, mostly the technique of the Niman form, the Juyo form, and the Vaapad form.

In the Trial of Courage, Peter would have to face his fears, making him fearless and relentless in battle. Many Master's would encourage their apprentices to have the courage they will need to proceed throughout the Sith Trials, but in some cases, they would have to give them lessons.

For example, using a whip and lashing them numerous times to the point where they feel no pain.

"Jesus Christ that's f•cked up…" Peter commented, eying Revan warily. "Don't even think about coming anywhere near me with a whip. I'll go straight to the Jedi council and get your ghostly a•s exorcised…"

"What's the matter? Afraid of a little pain?" Revan asked, smirking down at his apprentice. "Then I'm afraid you won't make it through the Trial of Flesh…"

In the trial of flesh, Peter would have to face a terrifying outcome of physical pain. In most cases, the Trial of Flesh would involve the dismemberment of a body part such an as a forearm or leg.

"Eww… Just eww…" Peter commented as his master explained. "You know what? Screw these trials. No wonder you Sith were so messed up. You literally brought it on yourselves…"

Revan nodded his head. "I actually agree, which is why we won't be doing any trials. Though I do think the trials of insight and spirit might do you good…"

In the Trial of Insight, Peter would be tested on his wits and common knowledge through complex puzzles and riddles.

And lastly, in the Trial of Spirit, Peter would have to face himself in a mirror-like lightsaber duel. Those who come out victorious have the will and determination needed to overcome their own shortcomings and rise above the rest.

"Is there a trial for handsomeness and charm?" Peter finally managed to quip, breaking the heavy silence.

Revan's response was a rare, genuine laugh. "Sadly, no. The Sith can be charming in many ways, but its power that ranks the highest in the hierarchy. You can be an ugly mute, but if you're powerful in the force, the Sith will respect you…"

"Huh, makes sense, I guess…" Peter muttered, "For psychopathic Sith's, I mean…"

Ignoring Peter's backhanded comment, Revan stood tall and imposing as he fixed Peter with a gaze that commanded attention. "Now, sit up. It's time to meditate on the Code of the Sith." His voice was stern, allowing no room for protest. He recited the code once more, emphasizing each line with a solemnity that filled the chamber, "Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken."

Peter, still on the floor but now propped up on his elbows, grimaced. "Yeah, about that... If I meditate on that, I'm pretty sure I'll end up a psychopath like you. No offense." He wasn't ready to surrender his sense of self to a creed that would no doubt turn him into a monster.

Revan's expression darkened at the comment, but he held back any retort. Instead, he simply nodded, acknowledging Peter's resistance.

Peter, sensing an opening, pressed on. "What's wrong with the Jedi code, anyway? Isn't there some kind of middle ground?"

Of course, Peter had his problems with the restrictiveness of the Jedi code, but at the end of the day, he'd rather be a sane Jedi, than an insane Sith…

With a sigh, Revan recited the Jedi Code, his tone dripping with disdain for its teachings. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force." He shook his head. "It denies the very nature of life, Peter. Life is emotion, chaos, and, yes, death. The Jedi seek to deny reality itself."

Peter rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Okay, I see your point. The Jedi code is a bit... unrealistic. But turning into an emotion-fueled powerhouse doesn't sound too appealing either. Isn't there something else? Another way?"

Revan smiled, as if expecting his student to ask this, he spoke. "There might be. It's called the Grey Jedi Code."

He then recited the code: 'Flowing through all, there is balance. There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide. Knowledge fades without the strength to act. Power blinds without the serenity to see. There is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. The Force is all things and I am the Force'

"It recognizes the complexity of the Force and of life-"

As Revan's voice trailed off, Peter felt a strange calm descend upon him. The words seemed to echo in the vast emptiness of his soul, weaving through the shadows and illuminating a path Peter had never imagined.

Without realizing it, he had closed his eyes, his breaths deepening, each inhale drawing in the Force around him, and each exhale releasing a built up stress, which he didn't even notice until now.

'Was the Jedi code harming me in some way?' He wondered as he continued to recite the grey Jedi code in his head.

In this state of deep meditation, the lines between the light and dark blurred. Peter could sense the Force as a whole, not divided by ideology but as a spectrum of endless possibilities. It was as if the very essence of the universe was speaking to him, whispering secrets long kept from those who chose only to see in absolutes.

"?" Revan's eyes widened as he watched Peter lift off the ground, his body radiating pure force energy.

To be continued…

A/N: 2027 words :) BTW, Revans situation is complicated, which is why he doesn't recall his own grey code. All will be explained in time. Ps- I'm writing 4 chapters on patréon today, if anyone's interested…

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