7 The Academy.

With her stamina restored, Djaeric and Korey once again resumed their trek through the dark Tomb of Ajunta Pall. After having been accosted by a small party of raiders, Djaeric was on guard completely for the rest of the way.

They eventually came to a chamber with four different pathways, and upon Korey's suggestion, they took the path that led to the far right. At first Djaeric was unsure about the decision, but as the two explored the long path way, they eventually came upon a small chamber.

" What is this place?" Korey muttered. She looked around at the sith acolytes all around the room, practicing against dummies.

It seemed they had been there for quite some time, evident by not only their age, but the weathered and exhausted look on their faces.

And then there at the center of the room, on a pedestal standing high above the rest, was an old man meditating.

" Wanna bet, that's Spindral?" Djaeric asked the girl.

Djaeric took the lead and brazenly walked up the stairs towards the old hermit, all the while the other acolytes watched from below.

" Slaves, welcome to my humble home." Spindral, without even turning around, spoke to the two acolytes." I believe you two are here for my trial, yes? To learn the ways of the sith from a doddering old man in a tomb?"

" I find it's the old men, who have lived this long in such a war-torn profession, that are often the wisest." Djaeric muttered.

" Ah, now that's a first. Respect for the elderly." Spindral spoke. He turned around and looked Djaeric and Korey over, examining them both carefully. " I see. I see. If you wish to return with my mark of blessing and pass your trial, you must first pass a trial of blood. If you survive, I will teach you what I know." Spindral pointed to the combat arena below his altar.

Djaeric nodded.

" Come, Korey. We must fight." Djaeric told the woman. He turned and started slowly marching back down the Altar with Korey beside him.

The other acolytes in the room all, stopped and turned to face the two, grabbing their blades and igniting them. They were ready to kill.

" These men are ready to kill us, you must fight back Korey. Fight or die."

" I understand."

" Good."

Djaeric and Korey both grabbed their sabers and ignited them. Djaeric leaped off the stairs and landed in the middle of the Acolytes, six in total, three for each.

Djaeric immediately raised his saber and parried an oncoming strike, and returned a slash of his own, cutting the acolyte across his chest with ease.

Korey took advantage of the distraction Djaeric created, by stabbing one of the acolytes through the back with her blade, killing him.

However, this caused her presence to be noticed and one of the four remaining men, turned and attacked her with his blade.

He slammed his blade down on top of Korey's training blade and Korey was knocked to the ground.

Seeing the acolyte's blade coming right for her, Korey quickly rolled out of the way and slashed the man across his hip, cutting him deeply.

The spray of blood freaked her out quite a bit, but with the constant fear of death on her own life, Korey composed herself and attacked the injured acolyte.

Sticking low, to the ground, Korey easily outmaneuvered the injured acolyte, sliding across the ground and cutting him across his back as he tried stabbing at her.

The acolyte dropped to the ground, clutching his back, and Korey, with one swing of her blade cut his head clean off.

Across, the room, Djaeric watched as Korey successfully dispatched her foe, feeling a sense of pride in how she managed to hold her own. But now, that she was out of danger, it was his turn.

Djaeric switched his stance, and instead of parrying the oncoming slashes from the two acolytes, he started striking back.

The acolytes quickly found themselves being overwhelmed.

Each of Djaeric's strikes pushed the acolytes back, each blow buckled their wrists. Slowly he was overpowering them.

" HAGH!" Djaeric slammed his training blade down on one of the acolytes jolting his body, and leaving him wide open for Djaeric to take his head.

One remained.

He lunged at Djaeric, jumping in the air.

Djaeric easily knocked the blade to the side as it came crashing down and ran his blade straight through the man's chest.

" You... Will never be Sith."

Djaeric looked the man in his eyes and scoffed, throwing his ignorant proclamation to the side.

" Shut up."

Djaeric ripped his blade from the man's gut and sheathed it as he fell to the ground.

" Korey!" Djaeric called out to the woman, and she looked directly at him. When their eyes met, Djaeric nodded his head, and Korey smiled. The pride in his eyes was strong.

" Well done! Both of you." Spindral bellowed. His voice was strong.

He walked down his altar and stood in front of Korey and Djaeric.

" These former acolytes wanted nothing more than to earn their second chance for glory by killing you and taking your places. But your desires proved stronger, and their blood became the mantle of your victory. Well done."

Djaeric and Korey both bowed to the older man in respect.

" But you are not Sith yet. Listen closely, to the creed of the Sith. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through Passion I gain strength, through strength power, Through Power I gain victory, through victory my chains are broken. The force shall free me!" Spindral exclaimed. " This is the Sith code. Commit it to your heart and you will have the strength to crush your enemies. Do you understand?"

" Of course, sir."

" Good. Then go, return to Harkun and nurture your hatred for him. Use your fear to grow stronger, he may raise his fist to strike. But it is lord Zash who will determine where the blow goes." Spindral told the man. Spindral grabbed both Korey and Djaeric's hands and placed a mark on them.

Djaeric accepted the mark with pride and would have left then, but there was something he needed to know.

" How, do you know Harkun and Zash?" Djaeric asked the man.

" They have both been through here in my time and they have both gone their separate paths since." Spindral explained. " Now, go, but before you leave, one more word of advice, boy. Your dueling skills are impressive, but they are lacking severely. If you were to face a true Sith in battle, you would find that you nothing."

" Then what would you suggest, sir?"

" Go to the libraries in the academy, within them there are tomes, teachings of the seven saber forms as well as uses of the force to enhance your abilities. Read them and learn properly how to fight, like a Sith. You may find that there are some things natural strength alone cannot overcome. For example-" Spindral stuck his hand out and fired a torrent of lightning from his fingertips.

Djaeric and Korey both, were mesmerized by this deadly feat.

" How did you do that?" Djaeric asked the man.

" It was simple. By turning the force into a weapon and bending it to my will, I called upon the power of lightning. Let the power flow through your body, and out through your fingertips."

Djaeric closed his eyes and raised his arm outwards. The feeling of the force was something akin to flexing a muscle, that's how Djaeric came to understand it. It is a natural part of his body, and he merely needed to think in order to use it. Feeling the power churning within him, it was like a hurricane.

" Yes, feel the power. But do not be afraid of it. Instead, bend it to your whim, make it yours to command. And when you are ready, make it strike!"

Djaeric followed along with every word that Spindral muttered. Every breath feeding his own, and finally, as he found that force within, he struck.

Lightning erupted from Djaeric's fingertips, striking out into the air.

" YES! THAT Is what power is, boy! Remember that feeling and remember it well, it might just save your life someday." Spindral exclaimed.

Djaeric looked at his hands with a great big smile on his face.

Oh yes, that was electrifying! Exhilarating, but also somewhat tiring.

Djaeric's breathing was heavy, as if he had just expended a load of energy, but his eyes were lit ablaze. Nothing in the entire world could equate the feeling he was experiencing now.

" Thank you, Spindral. I will remember this for the rest of my days."

Djaeric bowed to the man, and Spindral nodded.

" Good. Now leave me, to my peace." Spindral turned on his heel and returned to his altar, leaving Djaeric and Korey alone, to finish their trial.

" Come, Korey. We have a trial to finish." Djaeric told the woman.

He started walking away, with a slight burst in his steps, leaving Korey to try and catch up with him.

" W-Wait for me!" She shouted as she ran after the man.

As they left, Spindral had a fleeting thought in the back of his head.

" What a magnificent little monster, you've found Harkun. To grasp the concept of Force Lightning after only seeing it once. Why most Acolytes need at least five months before they can bend the force to their will at such a level." Spindral muttered. " This should be fun."

...............

It took some time, but finally, Djaeric and Korey emerged from the other end of Ajunta Pall's tomb and immediately, they were greeted by the wonderous sight of the Sith Academy.

" Wow... This is amazing!" Korey muttered.

" It sure is." Even Djaeric had to admit that he was impressed by the size of the Sith Academy. The building itself was made of stone, in the shape of a triangle on the outside, but on the inside, it was black and red, with tapestries of the Sith insignia plastered all over the walls. There were large statues, most likely of old Sith lords, standing in tandem everywhere. And standing at guard to the entrance to facility, was the empires Dark Honor Guards. The elite of the elite.

Guards personally trained to protect the emperor himself.

The guards surprisingly bowed to Djaeric and Korey as they entered into the Sith academy, quietly showing their respect and welcoming the two newest additions to the Sith empire.

" This place is amazing. But where do we go next?"

" I'd assume this way. It seems to be where other acolytes are gathering." Djaeric told the woman. He pointed his finger down a long narrow corridor, were many other Acolytes of different races and sizes were gathering. " Come, let's see if we can't find Harkun."

Korey nodded, and followed behind Djaeric, who started wading his way through the crowd of people.

Djaeric got through the crowd of people and looked up at the names listed on the wall.

" Cantina, Tremel, Slave pins...." Djaeric looked over the directions on the walls until he found the way to Harkun's office. " Harkun. Okay, Harkun's office is this way. Korey, come on." Djaeric shouted.

" Yes, sir."

Korey followed after Djaeric as he made his way to the Overseers office, unaware of the passing gazes that they were getting from the other acolytes. Gazes of contempt and pity.

Harkun was sitting in his office, explaining the next part of the sith Trials to the Acolytes that had arrived, when suddenly his doors opened up and in stepped Djaeric and Korey.

" Ah, the last to arrive Acolyte Keto and Acolyte Korey. I assume you've seen Spindral?" Harkun asked the two of them.

" Yes, overseer." Djaeric and Korey spoke.

" Good, then let me see." Harkun extended his hand towards the both of them and Djaeric and Korey both presented their marks to the man.

Upon seeing the sign of approval from Spindral, Harkun became visibly upset.

" I see. Well, do not let what that lunatic says get your hopes up. You should all count yourselves lucky. No one dies today. Today that is. But do not be fooled. You slaves will not become Sith. Allow me to properly introduce to you Acolyte Fon Alt. This is real Sith strength, and he will tear you apart and crush your bones Slaves. Look on him! No connections left in the world but Pure Sith blood. This! This is lord Zash's future apprentice, not filth like you." Harkun explained.

" Arrogance is the quickest path to death. You'd be careful to remember that, Fon." Djaeric told the man. Uncaring of the overseers angered expression.

" I will crush you, Slave. You're nothing but a tattered fool from a broken-down rock." Fon stated.

Djaeric smirked and faced Fon.

" Enough, Step this way slaves." Harkun said to Djaeric and Korey. " The rest of you know your trials, begone. You too Fon, Spindral is waiting for you in the tomb of Ajunta Pall." Harkun quickly dismissed the remaining Sith Acolytes and turned to Djaeric and Korey. " Acolyte Korey, your are to make your way upstairs to the training area, there you will speak to masters. They will begin teaching you combat techniques. Do you understand?" Harkun asked the girl.

" Yes overseer."

" Good, dismissed."

Korey bowed to the man and turned to walk away.

" Be careful." She said to Djaeric on the way out.

Djaeric did not respond, instead he merely smiled and nodded his head, letting the woman know he appreciated her concern.

Djaeric was glad, Korey was going to get a chance to actually learn how to fight proper, and it was certainly a better next exam than whatever Harkun had waiting for him.

" Now, that we're alone Slave, you listen to me. Spindral is a lunatic, his opinion means nothing. You are filth. And you will die. Is that clear?" Harkun asked.

" It will take a lot more than your threats to scare me, Harkun. You aren't as scary as you think."

" Shut your mouth wretch!" Harkun exclaimed.

Djaeric kept quiet, but the smirk on his face was more than enough to pick at Harkuns nerve.

" Now, your second trial, is a special trial for you, which you will no doubt fail. Go to inquisitor Zyn in the jails, he will fill you in on the details, and most likely hasten your demise." Harkun told the young man.

" Don't count on it, Harkun. I don't die easily."

" Don't boast, Slave. I don't want to see you again, until you are back from the jails. That is all."

Djaeric gave a slight bow to Harkun, and then quickly departed his chambers and made his way straight to the jail cells on the upper levels of the temple, following the directions as best he could.

The sooner he finished his trial the sooner he would have free roam of the academy. There were still many things he needed to get a handle on. But more importantly, he wanted to get to that library.

On the upper floor, Inquisitor Zyn was waiting for Djaeric right outside the Jail pens.

" Ah, you must be the slave overseer harkun told me about. You've arrived and not a moment too soon. Harkun has given me specific instructions." Zyn explained. " You were raised as a slave but must discard those traits and learn to control others, and I have just the task in mind. I want you to meet this driveling acolyte." Zyn gestured to one of the many acolytes in the academy, strapped to a table. " He will be your victim."

" I don't much like the sound of victim. Especially if he's supposed to be one of us." Djaeric told the man.

" I personally prefer the word subject, myself. But most people can only comprehend my work in crass terms." Zyn told the man. " Now, a short while ago, there was an unauthorized murder here in the academy. A rivalry among apprentices that resulted in death. Your task is to interrogate him and uncover who committed this crime, by any means necessary. Understand?"

" Of course, sir."

" Wonderful! Get to it then. I look forward to watching you work." Zyn told the man. He gave a slight bow to Djaeric and quickly departed to the next room, to watch.

Djaeric turned to the man on the table and approached him.

The man, of course, started to tremble.

" Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you." Djaeric told the man.

" Yeah, right.... I know what you want, and I'm going to tell you now, I don't know anything." He spoke.

" Now, we both know that's not true. If you didn't know anything, you wouldn't be so afraid. But I find those with something to hide are usually the ones who snivel the most. Now, there's two ways this is going to go. The first option is you tell me what I want to know, and I take care of you, clean and simple. This is the option I would take. I'd even go out of my way to ensure you are properly looked after for the rest of my time here. That is a promise. Of course, you'll serve under me. Or option two, you die. Plain and simple. We both know the inquisitors are going to torture you to get the information they want, and then there's also the matter of the guilty apprentice, he'll most likely seek you out to silence you before you can speak. And of course, the master is going to want revenge for the death of his student. So, either way. You're dead. It looks to me, like working with me is the only option you have left. So, I ask, what will it be? Will you tell me what I want to know, or will you be left here to die?"

The man was quiet for a moment, the conflict on his face spoke more than any words ever could.

" How can I trust? How do I know you can keep me safe?" He asked.

" What is your name?" Djaeric asked.

" Alif."

" Well, Alif-"

Djaeric held out his hand and let out a short burst of electricity from his fingertips.

" I have power. I can help you get stronger. I can even help you find somewhere safe if you merely want to hide. But I can't do anything at all, if you don't tell me what I want to know. So, what's it going to be?"

" Okay... It was an apprentice named Essor Kayin- I saw him murder his victim outside the library on the second floor." Alif told Djaeric. " Listen to me, Kayin's master is extremely powerful. He won't let Kayin be punished and Kayin will kill me."

" You let me, worry about that." Djaeric told the man. " Now, the answer to my final question?"

" I... I don't want to be here. I just want to be left alone. Alright."

" Very well. I'll see what I can do."

Djaeric gave Alif a nod and departed from the room without looking back. Though he was slightly disappointed. Extending his range of allies would be good for him in the long run, but for now, he supposed it wasn't necessary.

Entering into the main lobby of the jail, Djaeric approached Zyn, who appeared to be in a bit of a panic.

" Inquisitor Zyn? I've come to report."

" No, you don't need to tell me anything, I heard the name loud and clear, though I sorely wished I hadn't. Essor Kayin's master is a member of the Dark council, the highest position a sith can embody. It would not do well for me to oppose him. But that no longer matters. What does matter is your trial is done here. I will send my sign of approval to Harkun for a job well done, you may return to him now." Zyn told the young man

" And what about the murder?"

" Nothing sadly. The only thing I can do is inform the apprentice's master. Far be it for me to dispense justice especially not where the Dark council is concerned."

" If you don't make sure justice is concerned, not only will Alif die, but the authority and integrity of the academy will greatly be compromised." Djaeric told the man. He was playing on the pride of the Sith.

" It is none of your business whether or not justice is dispensed. Concern for matters that aren't your business will get you killed." Zyn explained.

" I am sorry, Inquisitor. But it is my business. How can I, let alone you yourself, be proud to be Sith if our pride is trampled over right in front of our faces, by such a disrespectful action?"

" What would suggest? I do not have the power to oppose a member of the Dark council and neither do you." Zyn told the man

" Ah, but there is an out sir. Merely keep him here under the eye of the inquisitors, while the masters deal with the situation themselves. Surely that would be better than letting some punk walk over you."

Zyn looked at Djaeric with narrow eyes, and then over to Alif, who was still trembling on the table the next room over.

" Hmm. Very well. I suppose I could keep him here, while the master of the murdered apprentice pursues justice. Perhaps they can even be made to believe the acolyte hasn't been broken yet. "

" That should be sufficient." Djaeric told the man

" It has been excellent watching you work Acolyte. Truly, I wish you the best of luck in your remaining trials. Be off now." Zyn complimented the young man and then waved him off to continue his duties.

" That should at least keep Alif, out of trouble. But I better be careful myself. Essor Kayin might be a problem to look out for. Then again, aren't they all?"

Having completed his Trial, Djaeric decided to make a quick detour, and made his way to the Library on the second floor.

Once there he approached one of the many inquisitors watching over the library of knowledge.

" Excuse me, Inquisitor, but I am a new Acolyte and I wish to study the seven forms of combat, could you please point me to the proper section and maybe recommend some of the records for me to study?"

" Certainly. Go up to the next level and four bookshelves down on the left-hand side is the collection of ancient texts and holorecording's, feel free to use any of them, but put them back when you're done. Seriously, don't destroy them!"

Djaeric nodded and gave a slight bow of respect to the Inquisitor before making his way up to the next floor.

Once there, Djaeric glossed over the many different texts and holo's that were located on the shelf and grabbed the ones that stood out to him the most.

Ajunta Pall and the forming of Shi'Cho.

Tulak Hord's Pioneering of Makashi.

Ludo Kresh's teaching of form three and the advent of blasters.

Darth Revan's revolution of Form 5 Djem So and Shien.

Exar Kun's knowledge of the seven saber forms.

" These look like a good start."

Djaeric cracked open the first text and started reading over Ajunta Pall's teachings in form one. The very basic form of lightsaber combat.

............

A few hours later.

After putting away the books, Djaeric finally decided to go see Harkun, or more like he was summoned by Harkun. It would seem it was now time once again for the acolytes to be given their next Trial.

Unfortunately for Djaeric, he didn't have the time the other acolytes did to study.

Entering into the overseer's chambers, Harkun immediately sighed. But more importantly, Korey had greeted Djaeric with a smile.

" Of course, last once again. You sure are a tiresome one, slave. Luckily enough for you, I don't have to cut one of you down, as it seems Nighlok has gone missing. Also, unsurprisingly, Fon has passed his first trial. It is only a matter of time before he pulls you all underfoot." Harkun explained.

" I'll tear you all apart, Slaves."

" Save it for later, Fon. An accident in the tomb is much convincing. The rest of you know your trials, begone. I wish to speak with Keto and Fon personally." Harkun muttered.

As Korey was passing Djaeric, she whispered to him two simple words. " Good luck."

With a nod, Djaeric and Fon both walked up to Harkun's desk.

" Zyn, says you handled yourself perfectly, and as much as it displeases me, Lord Zash is satisfied with his evaluation. Undoubtedly, Zyn helped you in some way. Unfortunately for you, Zyn will not help you this time. Both you and Fon will have trials of intellect. Trials to test your understanding of the force." Harkun explained.

" You don't think a slave will be a match for me in intellect? I've been trained by the greatest teachers-"

" Calm down, Fon. I don't expect this slave to be a match for you. That's why you will have separate trials." Harkun explained.

Djaeric rolled his eyes at the man.

" Truly, your generosity astounds me." Djaeric told the man.

" You're only digging you own grave." Harkun told the young man. " Fon, you will go to library on the second floor and translate the following texts for lord Zash."

" Yes, overseer."

" Slave, deep in the monster infested tomb of Marka Ragnos, is a Sith holocron, filled with deep and dark ancient knowledge. It is trapped within a monolith that no one has been able to open in over a thousand years. You will bring it to me. Or you will die. Understand?"

" Transparently."

" Smart mouth. You will bring back the holocron or you will hope the spirit of Marka Ragnos returns to destroy you himself, now go."

" Yes, Overseer." Djaeric gave the overseer a slight bow, to hide the contempt on his face. He would continue to play the overseers games and beat his challenges. No matter how the odds were stacked against him, he would succeed.