Chapter Thirty-One

John quietly sat in his room at the top of the second temple.

He was surrounded by tens of hand sized Kyber crystals. 40 exactly.

The door opened and two Sith pure-bloods entered the room.

"What is it Asha? Itsu?" John asked as a Kyber Crystal was forming in his hand.

The little girl from the elf manor now stood before John bowing, next to the nine year old, who also aged a bit.

When Asha spoke, her voice was full of respect. "Master, Darth Fain has returned from his search for the Outsiders."

"What has he found?"

"Nothing." Itsu spoke with an unimpressed tone.

"What is it Itsu?" John asked as the crystal fiancé's forming. He laid it gently on the ground as he stood up.

"Master, you have yet to make another one of us your apprentice. Darth Fain has been your only direct apprentice for the past four years!"

Asha hit him on the back to get him to calm down.

John sighed as he pulled a shirt over his chest. "You wish to become an apprentice? I will accept you as an apprentice once you stop hesitating. Darth Fain cut down his own flesh and blood. Your hesitation is why you aren't my apprentice."

"I understand, master."

John put on his armor and then left his helmet lying on the table.

"Helmet-less today too, Master?" Asha asked.

John nodded. "Where is Fain now?"

"In the new courtyard."

John walked passed them and he pulled his hood over his head. 'These Outsiders are becoming a thorn in my side.'

He walked out of the temple and was greeted by two Shadow Troopers with lightsabers by their sides. They escorted him through the streets of mostly human people and walked through a new looking gate.

Fain stood still, staring at a flower bed with a broken helmet in his hand.

"Fain, how did it go?" John asked. People cleared out when they saw him.

"Emperor, I was able to cut one down, but it was because they were injured from the battle at Mt. Holland." Fain passed the helmet to John, who now stood right next to him.

"Then this means they are powerful indeed. What I would expect from a space-faring people. Does this mean you saw their face?"

Fain nodded. "They're human, and one even pulled out a lightsaber, very similar to what mine used to look like." He activated his saber and a bright red blade illuminated the area.

John stared at the lightsaber for a moment. "It is true then. The visions of that librarian are based on truths. Could you see a level?"

Fain shook his head. "They didn't have any."

John rubbed his chin as Fain looked at him. "Why are you wearing a hood, Master?"

"I do not wish to show my face to most, but I did not want to wear a helmet. That's why I'm wearing a hood."

John and Fain split up and John returned to the temple to trade in the 41 Kyber Crystals.

[Gold Increase...]

[50% Increase due to traded items numbering more than 10.]

[Gold: 34,640,000 -> 40,790,000]

John watched the number go up and sighed. "I need skill points to upgrade this skill. If I could get it upgraded to 60 at least..." He sighed. "There isn't much I can do. It's not like I can create quests."

———

Arthur now wore white robes and carried a smaller sword on his side. He sat across from Yuri and a group of hooded individuals in white.

"What is this about, Yuri?" He asked.

"This is about the Empire, and it's leader." She responded. "I'm sure you've heard rumors of a group of people messing things up for them every now and then? Or the group that showed up during the battle at Mt. Holland? This is them. The Emperor calls them Outsiders, but they are called Je'daii."

———

John watched as the five Sith dueled with their lightsabers.

He had given them each crystals for their sabers, which the corrupted after John's instruction of how to do it.

The eldest, Yun, was the only one with a staff-saber. She jumped around like Darth Maul in season 7 of Clone Wars, making John smile.

'Darth Maul would be proud.' He cleared his throat, making his apprentices stop. They deactivated their sabers and bowed before him.

"Master." They said in unison.

The twins finished their duel as they also kneeled. "Master."

"As you five know, we are the last of the Sith. We still have 14 more years until your clones are finished." John took a deep breath. "That's why I want you to grow as efficiently as possible. So far, Yun has grown the strongest, but the twins have become the most cunning. They won't hesitate to cut an opponent down from behind, and they proved it at the Battle of Mt. Holland."

"Asha, you want to achieve victory so badly, but Itsu is always able to overpower you. Why do you think that happens, even though you have no chains?"

When Asha spoke, her voice was low. "I'm weak."

"No, he's strong. Although his chain makes him stronger, it makes him unworthy to be my apprentice." John looked at Itsu. "You must break through the visions, learn to use them. Control the chain that binds you."

"Yes, Master." Itsu looked up at John. "Master, was Darth Fain able to find the Outsiders?"

John nodded. "He was able to strike one down, but only because they were injured from the battle. If that is how strong these enemies are, then they are no normal Jedi. Take Squad 22 and go find them. When you do, contact us. Do not engage."

Itsu bowed "Yes, master."

John turned as he began to walk away, but he stopped. 'Maybe...' He began to walk again, but with a quicker pace.