Ask Ziost Just Sell-este Your Soul

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn listened to her answer and smirked slightly as she mentioned obstacles. It was the easy thing to say to yourself, but the reality was that when one used a weapon, those "obstacles" were people.

You need to be honest with yourself. You can call them obstacles if you want, but when you raise that weapon and bring it down on someone, you're taking a sentient life, he said. It was something that was hard for many to digest, and while he had faith that most Sith had come to terms with it, she had walked a very different path for a time.

Is that something you're prepared to do? To take the life of an innocent to save the Empire? he asked. Though he hadn't told her, he knew more about her from their meeting on Rattatak than it appeared. He knew that she historically would have hesitated or outright refused. He knew that he would have in the past as well.

Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. And they're difficult sacrifices, he said.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

His smirk told her that he understood what she meant, but she had no idea he immediately wanted to elaborate. It was a good thing though, because being actually confronted with the issue was necessary. She had changed a lot, but her development wasn't fully over yet.

"I know..." she replied quietly. She had taken many lives, not just in the name of the Empire, but also on Rattatak. There had been quite a few warlords who had never considered negotiations and so she had won some over by force. "And I am completely honest fo myself when I say that I am prepared" she added, knowing damn well that not long ago, Varyn had done the same of Mustafar, when the resistance had attempted an invasion.

"I am not afraid and I have no doubts anymore. If you would have asked me the same question months ago, my answer would have been different though, because I had hadn't been honest with myself for years..." she explained truthfully. In general, her answer had been rather direct and he would see that she was being honest. She meant exactly what she said and still knew about the consequences.

"Exactly. Sacrifices are often necessary..." her voice slightly trailed off as the memories forced themselves into her consciousness. Killing her former lover had been a sacrifice, too...A sacrifice for a greater purpose, as painful as it had been, she had squeezed the life out of him. She was all in. Now, being back on the right track, there was no half-heartedness. Her ambitions were clear and her opinions had changed, now that she finally saw the truth.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

As much as Varyn was here to teach her about saber combat, there was much more to her retraining than just that. The Jedi had historically called it Form 0: a study in when and how to use a lightsaber. For her, it may be that this was the most important part and the piece that most instructors failed to teach on at all.

He nodded as she talked about how her answer was different now from what it used to be, and it led to the next logical question: And what changed?

He paused a moment before speaking up again, carrying the question further. Well known FWA Senator, traitor to the Sith, and then suddenly you return, ready and willing to fight it out, he said. It was a long series of steps to take.

How did you make it from Rattatak to Ziost? he asked.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Apparently, this wasn't just about training. And apparently, he was more curious than the usual instructor. She couldn't quite tell why, but he posed a whole series of questions and she was willing to supply honest answers, however she didn't quite know whether she could fully trust him.

Her gut told her yes and he actually gave her no reason not to, but her eyes slightly narrowed. The smirk, however, never left her lips as she tilted her head to the other side. "A question many raise" she pointed out, however she hadn't even talked to too many people here. So far, not many knew she was here and that she had changed so vehemently, but she was ensuring it was staying that way for now. Everyone was.

For a brief moment she kept pondering on the question, however she decided to gave him the blunt truth after all. "Everything changed...I finally realized that I've been misled and blinded by naivety. I always tried to suppress the darkness and ended up wasting so much potential. I've been in tons of stupid, life threatening situations because I thought there was a peaceful way to negotiate...And I haven't been honest to myself. After some...admittedly fatal events I was confronted with the truth. I've closed those chapters from my past and I realized that I should have never tried to leave. I took a detour, but I'm glad to be back, even if that meant penance first". The marks left on her back still burnt and what Raze had done to her occasionally came back up to...but unfortunately she had deserved that all. She was on a good way to leave that temporarily given rank behind again and finally pursue her true ambitions. "Have you ever questioned what you were doing?" she obviously wondered whether there had been times, in which he had been hunted by doubts, so she returned that question. She was not just curios, but really hoping he would elaborate, too.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He listened to her answer and considered it for a moment. Perhaps it wasn't "relevant" to the lightsaber, but he found it interesting nonetheless. It was relevant in its own way, even if not directly. The entirety of the training that Sith went through was intertwined. With a lightsaber, philosophy was action because philosophy was the Dark Side.

A reasonable question to raise, he countered at her opening statement. Side switching was no small thing... he knew that better than most.

Ultimately she turned the question back on him, and he didn't avoid it. On Rattatak he had been unable to share much of anything for fear of what she might discover about him and the danger it might put him - and others - in if she did. Here, however, he was far less reserved with his answers because there was far less risk involved. At least... to some extent.

Every day, he said, smirking slightly and knowing that was likely not the answer that she was expecting.

I have little patience for people who don't ever consider the alternatives. People who are convinced they are always right and drive on bullheadedly usually find quick deaths and make little impact on anything, he said before shrugging.

Or they're just tools of the intelligent. The people who look at things from a million different perspectives, he said.

The galaxy is a big place with innumerable paths laid out in front of us that are infinitely different from each other. Every day, I confirm to myself that I'm where I'm supposed to be, he said.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

There was a tension that was hard to grasp lingering in the room while she waited for his reply. It were just a few seconds, but she was hoping she would get a honest answer. And then it came. And even though she couldn't quite tell what exactly she had expected, his answer suprised him.

She opened her mouth to reply, but immediately closed it again, placing her thoughts in order first. However, he started elaborating anyway and so she listened to him first, internally marveling at his reflectiveness. In fact, she immediately noticed that he was apparently a good partner for deep, perhaps even philosophical discussions and there were not many people fit for that, so she was even more grateful for having been matched with him as a trainer.

"Absolutely true..." she remarked in regard to what he said about bullheadedly clinging to some way. She had been rather entrenched in old patterns before, but she was much more flexible now. Also, she had learnt that by believing she was on the right path and almost desperatly holding onto that, she had taken a whole series of stupid, unnecessary wrong turns.

She was here to serve, but she would still never stop thinking critically and always reflecting on her choices. In fact, there was not even a day in which she didn't. "I agree with that philosophy and it's definitely worth holding onto. I feel like not many share those beliefs though...". Unfortunately, her experience had shown that many people thought otherwise. Still, she was happy he had given her a seemingly honest answer after all. He had worded it beautifully and confirmation was an important keyword. Despite the humiliation and degradation she had experienced, she still woke up in the morning feeling like she was doing the right thing and that was what mattered.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

She seemed to like his answer, and that was both refreshing and unsurprising. The reality was that despite the two of them being in very different situations, they were still the same people that they had been when they first met.

And many people are in dead-end roles, he said. It doesn't take much of a brain to swing a lightsaber, but ascending in the Sith does. I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I intend to do, he said.

Tell me a little bit about how the rest of your training has been going, he said. Call it his own curiosity and it was certainly less related to their present training, but he didn't really care. A few minute's detour wouldn't kill either of them.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

He seemed satisfied with her replies and they also seemed to agree on a lot of things, however it also seemed like their interesting conversation was far from over yet. "Also true. My ambitions are just the same...I was always very driven and even if the road is rocky, I'll never give up". It would take some more time to work her way up, especially because she had to start from the very bottom for her initial defection, but it had been fair.

When he talked about ascension, it seemed like he had already come quite far. He had saved Mustafar after all and the Sith wouldn't put just anyone in the position to train others like this. A slight smirk crossed her face when he raised another question, because it proved how curious the Champion was. He was not actually asking for information he necessarily needed right now, but he seemed rather interested in her path. "It's all going really well. At first I was mainly put into positions where I had to fulfill rather...degrading tasks, but I've recently started actual training again, especially with the Force". She remembered the interrogation she led well. It had been quite some time until she was retrieving information like this, but with her powers now rather unleashed, rummaging though the traitors mind hadn't been too difficult. "I can finally feel my powers growing and my potential enfolding again. I've suppressed the darkness for too long..." she explained. It had been painful and also overwhelming to some extent, but she had remained in full control of what she did. Once Vahliri was done with her, she was expecting to be led to Raze again, but time would show what he had planned.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn nodded as she described how things were going for her. Overall, it sounded like she was making progress in the right direction, and, of course, she was lucky not to be executed after everything she had done. Yes, because he was one to talk.

Maybe you'll be returned to a Champion again soon, she said, though he wasn't sure about that. He had no idea how long she would be required to remain an Acolyte for her retraining.

And what happens when you make it back to full Sith status? I'm sure you've already given it some thought, he said. Whatever else she may have been, she was ambitious to be sure. He was certain she already had plans in place, though where exactly those plans would lead, he didn't know.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

"That's what I dearly hope" she immediately replied, letting out a slight sigh but she was still grinning. In fact, she was even hoping to ascend further in the near future, not just because she was extremely ambitious, but because she was definitely not in the rank she was given.

Despite having suppressed the darkness for quite some time, she had already managed to unleash powers she hadn't even been able to conjure while she had still officially been a Champion, because she had never truly stopped to train. But yes, there was still the fact that she was still earning back trust and reputation and this definitely took some time, regardless of how much she wanted to come further already.

One way or another, being officially granted the rank of a Champion again would finally give her back some independence and she could bring some order back to Rattatak, so she was indeed hoping for change sooner or later. Still, she was extremely eager to learn and grateful for the opportunity, so she was definitely not complaining anyway.

Of course, there was yet another follow up question and his continous curiosity made her smirk once again. "You seem indeed quite interested in me..." she stated more amusedly then reproachful, but once again she felt comfortable enough to share her thoughts with him. Tilting her head slightly to the side again, her gaze briefly wandered across the room over the various banners and the carefully assorted training tools, before her gaze met his again. "Diplomacy has always been my strong suit. I could definitely imagine working further in the direction, but I will never make the mistake of trying to keep weapons away. I'll continue my training and serve in the best possible way". She was in fact even hoping Raze himself would teach her, but that was still to be seen."But what about you? You seem extremely valuable as a teacher, but I doubt you'll stay here at the academy forever. Where do you see yourself in the future?". Of course she was extremely curious about him too and he seemed willing to share information, so she obviously wondered what his ambitions where.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Did she think he was flirting with her? Was he flirting with her? He didn't think so, at least that hadn't been his initial intention... not that she wasn't quite attractive. But let's be honest, he wasn't really the flirt-first type. Even the flirting he had done with Vahliri had only been after she initiated it.

Wow, that was a derailed line of thought, and he pulled his mind back to the present situation. She moved on before he really had a chance to respond to her comment.

He listened to her as she talked about her history of diplomacy, and he couldn't fault her. The Empire certainly needed a good diplomacy and PR department for all of its expansion and also so that its people could be heard. As much as many people hated the Empire, it did good for a great many people and had the potential to do even more good. The voice of the people - while perhaps not always followed - was a valuable tool to the direction of the Empire.

The answer to his future, however, was more ambiguous.

I go where the Force leads, I suppose, he said, even though that was as much of a cop out answer as a true one.

I was auditioning for a Blademaster position here at the academy, and I might still get one. But I've also had an interest in other roles as well. I guess I'm more of a jack-of-all-trades, he said. These days, he thought it more likely he'd end up in intelligence. His experience as a Shadow certainly prepared him for work in the ISB. After the Yavin attack was finished, his past would be known and he wouldn't have to fear more investigation into who he was.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was a bit amusing for her to see that he seemed to slightly...well was that nervousity? There was definitely something, like a moment of him being slightly surprised of her reaction let another smirk crossed her lips. Well, if she really wanted to get fluster him, she could have been far more offensive, but that was not her intention, regardless of how much fun that would be.

She was here to learn and to practice and apparently to engage in some interesting conversations and she hadn't tested the waters with him yet, so she definitely couldn't be sure about how much playfulness she could allow herself. She rather focused on why they were here and thus curiosly listened to his own explanation.

His initial answer surprised her and she raised a brow at him, as this was an admittedly unusual reply for a Sith. She had heard Jedi speak like that before and how day followed the light side whenever it called to them, but she had never heard a Sith talk about it that way. Not that it didn't make sense...It was just new to her and she wasn't sure whether he was evading her question or really someone who just went with the flow. After all, the Force had led him into this very room too and in a way she had followed a similar calling when she had given in, and now she had gotten the chance to experience another refreshing, insightful conversation, so she was rather grateful for that.

Before she could pose a curious follow-up question, however, he was already elaborating. The way he left it rather vague at the end only raised her curiosity further, with the smirk yet again widened. "So far, I can see you as a Blademaster...but I wonder in what other roles you potentially see yourself. You seem so be quite a critical thinker, so I definitely see you in counseling positions as well..." she stated, her gaze still meeting his. Admittedly, she didn't know much about him, but from what she had learnt he was definitely ambitious too, and also someone very reflective, which was an important skill not to be wasted.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn actually laughed when she suggested counseling. Yeah, I don't think so. I don't get paid enough to listen to other people's problems, he said. It was insensitive, but he was a Sith, they didn't need to be sensitive. Not to mention most Sith weren't going to open up about problems anyway.

Maybe I just don't want to pidgeonhole myself, he said. I've considered a command position in the military or a role in the ISB, he said with a shrug.

He didn't have a lot of satisfying answers to give about his path, and it was ever-evolving, it seemed. He'd figure it out eventually...

I suppose it is time to get back to the dueling itself, he said, pushing himself back to his feet.

I expect you'll implement what we talked about, he said. Alternatively, we could go at quarter speed and talk through an exchange, he said.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Surprisingly his reply made her laugh as well, and as his laugh was infectious, she still chuckled when she said, "Understandable too...I spent years listening to other people's problems and dedicated way too much to that course...". She had built people up for years without ever receiving anything in return. They had leeched from her and she regretted not having realized it earlier...This was part of the reason while she had gotten in all this mess.

"Oh wow" she replied, "That's interesting, too...I never had much contact with the military, but now that you mention it, I could picture you with the ISB". He didn't need here to comment on that, but she someone felt like answering him. As perceptive as he was and the way he managed to think that analytically, he seemed fit for a role in the intelligence sector for sure.

It was not a bad thing he hadn't fully made up his mind. Neither did she and he had been right when he mentioned that following the Force aspect. They shouldn't be too restrictive in their choices and rather use each and every chance to reflect on where they were and where they wanted to be.

For now, however, the conversation had come to an end for now, but she didn't mind that at all. She was full of energy and eager to continue. "Sure, let's go". She got up as well, smoothing down her shirt. "Of course I'll try to put all that into practice, but admittedly, your offer sounds tempting". She had never done that in a duel before, but with his direct guidance, she thought she would learn even faster, because mistakes could already be corrected without even doing them.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He was a bit surprised when she said that he would fit the ISB well, but maybe he shouldn't have been surprised. It seemed people got that idea when he pointed it out... something about his feel, it seemed.

He reactivated his lightsaber in his hand, waiting for her to prepare herself before making his first move.

Okay, I'll talk you through my thought process, he said. His right foot slid back slightly and he paused for a moment to decide what he wanted to do as his opening strike.

After another moment he stepped forward toward her, bringing his saber up to swipe across horizontally at belly height where he was sure she would block it since it was at a deliberately slow speed. As soon as their blades struck, he paused.

Single strike, which still leaves me with a free hand to defend myself or adapt to you, he said. A horizontal strike that goes toward the arm that I'm using to strike lets me maneuver or step past or around you if need be, he went on. There was something to every single action that he took.

This position also allows me a great deal of maneuverability and movement with my wrists, he said, waiting for her to make a new move as well.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She walked over to the free space and reignited her lightsaber in her right hand before she nodded in his direction to signal him that she was ready. She watched him take his stance before she seemingly considered his options.

When he stepped closer and came at her with a horizontal slash, she instinctively wanted to step back and evade the strike at all, to do a follow-up Force attack, but she deliberately wanted to train her duelling skills with an emphasis on the lightsaber and so she was blocking his strike in the most early position possible.

There, she paused, just like he did and listen to his explanation while their lightsabers hissed inbetween them. "That makes sense" she said, the blocking allowing her to be on the inside though. She slighlty slanted the blade to her left by flicking her wrist, so that their lightsabers were still in contact though.

"If I step to my left now and lift the elbow, I would be able to stab forwards. What would you do?" she did as she said, elbow raised but the stab not executed, even if the angle was right, expectantly glancing up to him while the distance between them wasn't wide. She was wondering whether he would try to evade the strike, as this was probably easier than blocking, but they both had another hand free, too. "Especially when I could potentially conjure a Force lightning aimed at your lower body".

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Do it, he said with a nod, letting them execute the actions. As she stepped away and made her thrust, he stepped back and to his own left. The thrust found nothing but air, and his own blade came around to defend himself if she actually opted to execute the lightning attack.

Pause! he instructed again, allowing them both a moment's reprieve from the fighting. You retreated to your own left during your thrust- away from me. It not only lessened the power of your attack but also made pursuit of me after my stepback impossible and allowed me to put myself out of range of your strike, he said.

Pros and cons, though, he added. Your attack was more conservative and left you less open to attack, he said. They had somewhat reached the end of their first bout given the space between them, which would open things up to the second bout.

You have three potential points for defense and two for attack. Each hand counts for one of each, and your footwork - the most-forgotten of the triad - is one of the key points of defense. Not only that, but economy of movement can sometimes increase those numbers. Can a movement serve as both an attack and defense at the same time? he said. He liked her attack more than her previous, all-in attacks, but perhaps that was simply him and his own style. Or rather, Corvo Vis's style.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

A smirk started to form on her lips, because despite the serious nature of the training, she was having fun and even if it felt like a choreography, she found it super helpful. She was obviously not starting to focus on conjuring a lightning, but executed her thrust as described before she stopped again, like he instructed.

He analyzed what happened and she nodded again, replying "Yes, we've disengaged. I was assuming you'd evade the thrust, but the newly created distance isn't necessarily bad, is it?". He definitely had a point. Celeste had always stuck to a more defensive, defusing fighting style instead of aggressive offense, but he had a point. Defense wasn't everything. She needed to train her offensive tactics, too.

Being less open to attack this time had been her goal, as she was taking things careful, like she usually did. That was more her. When he mentioned footwork she nodded once again, as he was absolutely right: Most fighters neglected that important element while fighting. Footwork and the right stance couldn't enhance attacks, but most importantly, it could save your ass"[/COLOR]. She repositioned herself across from him, raising her lightsaber.

"I'd say that depends. If I step back while attacking, I lessen my attack, but it might bring me in a more advantageous position next, one that I can use for offense again". She reconsidered her statement though. "At the exact same time, it might be difficult though. Maybe an offense movement serves as some sort of secondary defense, however the first purpose might be a different one". Actually, those were separate things as well, weren't it? She corrected her statement once again. "Let's say I step forward to swing at you horizontally. You were about to start your next attack as well. By being faster and striking at you, I force you to stop your attack and block first, so that my move was both, offense and defense against your next strike, too". There were actually different perspectives on that issue...She had actually heard both explanations before as well, if she recalled that called correctly. After all, her last instruction had been quite some time ago.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

No, it's not, he agreed with her about the space not being a bad thing. His stance and posture relaxed slightly more as they paused between their strikes. Space can be your friend or your enemy. Nothing inherently good or bad about it, he said.

But most importantly, you didn't die, he said. It was really at the core of a lightsaber duel. As long as you weren't dead, that was the most important piece.

That can work, he said. But trying to outpace an opponent's attack brings risk of its own. It's hard to beat someone to the punch if they're already underway. But finding those opportunities can be a fight decider, he agreed.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Again, he had a point with what he explained. Disengaging wasn't always a bad idea, and usually she was the one trying to create distance in order to let her opponent start again, therefore giving her a chance to analyze the situation.

His next comment made her snicker a bit, because even though he stated the obvious, she knew how he meant it. In a fight, each and every second could potentially be the last, while every mistake could be paid off with a life as well.

"Yes...I'd say I'm quick and agile, but so are others. Let's continue". While the last word -one could almost say she had warner him first though- had left her lips, she immediately lunged forward with a slight smirk, weight shifted onto the right foot as she stepped forward with it in one swift motion just to carry out a horizontal slash from her left to her right at his belly height with her lightsaber.

Now she wanted to see how he used his defenses and whether he would block this time, especially because she was curious to see which counterattack he had in mind. Even if the training was of serious nature, she was enjoying herself and she was assuming he would either block or evade, so that they could pause next again, just to discuss the next step.

@Phoenix