Open Playing With Lightning

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn watched the fight and hated every minute of it, but he had a confidence that Vahliri would come out on top. It had been a mess of blows and strikes, lightning and punches, but the moment he saw that blade cleave through Vahliri's arm, his gut dropped.

His hand fell instinctively to his lightsaber, but it would be too late. Not that he'd ever make it to her. Raze would stop him or any of the dozen other people here. The moment seemed to freeze and Varyn was shocked when it was Raze that stepped in to stop the final blow.

He wanted to rush over to her but he knew he couldn't. Even she wouldn't have appreciated it if he did. It would have only made things worse, so he stood there, hand squeezing the lightsaber hilt on his belt not because he had any intention of drawing it but just because he knew the metal of the hilt wouldn't buckle under the pressure of his death grip.

He was overwhelmed with a flood of emotion. He worried for her. Genuine fear. Not the thrill of a scary movie or rush of a wild starship ride but that aching, gnawing fear that you felt in the pit of your stomach and never told anyone about. A primal feeling that no matter how hard one tried it was impossible to stamp out entirely. The kind that made you feel sick to your stomach and like a grip around your heart. He was afraid she would die, that she could have died. He was afraid of what might happen to her now.

And the fear was quickly replaced by another feeling. An anger that welled within him that was overpowering. An anger that made his hands tremble as he clenched them even tighter. Not anger at Caelian or Raze but at himself. An anger that he wasn't strong enough to stop this all from happening. A pure and overflowing rage because he was helpless. It was a sickening feeling that made him want to tear the entire galaxy apart at its seams. It was the primal need for control and the sudden realization that he would do anything to get it. To make sure he never had to watch something like this happen again.

 

[Sol Kenuk]

He doesn't care about anyone else. Doesn't look at Draugr, or Raze, or John Q, or Bel. Doesn't look at anyone, except Vahliri and Caelian. The fight was a lethal dance, a dangerous flurry, and the air sizzled with electricity, burned with rage and agony. In truth, Sol is certain that Vahliri will win. Her reputation preceded her, and while Sol himself had no fear of the woman, he knew well enough that she had earned the respect of the Sith. Bitter and petty as the Kel'dor may be, even he was not so prideful as to disregard such things. The half-Annfyn had earned her place. Caelian had not.

But the tide changed, shifted like a desert wind. A critical hit nearly knocks the Champion to his knees, but he recovers as if with newfound determination. A single misstep, and the hissing blade slices through the woman's arm, just above the elbow. It's... rather shocking, really. Sol is quiet, merely stares, because he hadn't expected it, and he thinks that nobody else in the group had either. Caelian had not only won the fight, he had come out on top in a seemingly slam dunk sort of way. He had severed Vahliri's arm. The man had certainly earned a reputation, good or bad. Just as Vahliri had long since earned her place among the Sith, it seemed that Caelian had just done the same, and with such a decisive victory.

Perhaps the fight would have continued a bit longer, but the agony of loosing one's arm, not to mention the disadvantage of such a thing, had already sealed the deal. Darth Raze puts an end to the fight, and in truth, it doesn't surprise Sol. He would have done the same. Vahliri had proven herself useful to the Sith, and the Empire, and now Caelian had done the same. Allowing either to die would be a waste of resource and talent. Both would benefit the Sith more alive than dead. Better still, Caelian is placed under Draugr's tutelage. Sol himself had witnessed the skill of the Sith Master. Caelian was being granted a worthy opportunity, should he decide to capitalize on it.

Some might see it as a punishment, but Sol saw differently. Caelian had already shown that he was skilled and precise. Training under Draugr would only further that ability. In this battle, the other Champion had proven his dedication to the Sith, and the future looked bright. All he had to do was stay away from the Jedi, at least in friendly terms. With the fight over, and the victor clear enough for all to see, Darth Raze would leave the arena behind him. As for the class, there was no point in trying to continue it now. Everyone had gotten something a bit different than intended, a high stakes duel. Inevitably, while they might not have practiced Sith Lightning, the outing had still been a worthy one.

Sol doesn't look at Vahliri, pointedly ignores her. He does offer Caelian a stiff nod of his head, though. He had earned the Kel'dor's respect, and he had earned his life within the Sith. That was good enough for now. With a cold drawl, Sol speaks smoothly, "Class dismissed. But pay attention, I will host another in the near future." And with any luck, that one would go as planned. Sol was inclined to kill somebody if the next class was disrupted, but no. He had to control himself, like the good little Kel'dor that he was. Throwing a tantrum over nonsense was hardly becoming. Regardless, he'd leave the arena behind him for now, and use it for another opportunity.

Ultimately, it seemed that everyone had grown a bit more during the course of today's experience, Sol included.

[exit thread]

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

While he had started to watch the fight as if it was a simple curious event, as it came to an end, Caerllion’s mind was full of a mix of emotions. He felt respect for Caelian not only having survived it, but also coming out as the winner. The Annfyn wondered if the Echani would take advantage of this new opportunity that was being given to him. Never Raze would allow him to live if he messed things up a second time.

Another thing that he was feeling was realization. He couldn’t act like an idiot or let his noble inclinations make his slip. It could make him end in a duel like this one. The Annfyn was going to do his best to fulfill his job as a Sith, while also finding a way to use the things that he was learning for the good of the Empire.

However, the strangest emotion that he was feeling at the moment was the confusion regarding Vahliri. The Annfyn thought that he would be happy for her defeat and a bit disappointed that she only lost a simple arm, but it wasn't what he was feeling. The Acolyte felt relief.

He had no idea why he felt relief for the fact that the half-blood was alive. It was really stupid from his part to feel this way, when he had wanted her dead so many times before. Perhaps it was because he had started to love the fact of hating her. He made up so many funny nicknames for her that if he couldn’t do it anymore, the Annfyn would feel sad. This could be the only explanation, because the other option made him too sick to ever think about.

After Sol finished the lesson, Caerllion left discreetly. He took mental note of the events that happened today, using them as an opportunity of learning. Meanwhile, he did for the first time something that was considered a taboo for his species. The Acolyte decided to suppress his feelings regarding Vahliri.

Exit Thread/

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr had been watchin on scanning everyone. The fight had intensified, lightning had been blasted and lightsaber swung. It had shown some skill with the force between the two. Vahliri had been known for her strength and victories, and to see Caelian giving her a run for her money was eye opening for the Sith Master. Perhaps Caelian will prove to be a strong Sith at some point. Then his attack had struck.. Vahliri's arm had been severed. She was bested, Caelian had shown his skill and overcame his execution. The Zabrak was prepared to see him finish Vahliri, to show he was not afraid to kill.. but Raze spoke up.

Caelian was to be his new apprentice. The Zabrak looked to Raze, and would bow slightly, "I will see it done my Lord." Then with Raze's exit Draugr had panned his focus on Caelian. The newly appointed apprentice. His face plain, stoic. His glowing yellow eyes on the Champion. The Zabrak walked forward, and as he made it by Vahliri he stopped and looked at her. Looking down at her had high expectations of her.. No words were said, just the look of disappointment in his eyes before continuing to stand in front of Caelian.

"Your reformation begins tomorrow... now kneel." The Zabrak stood tall in front of him, and his eyes focused on the Champion. The once trusted Sith was now under watch. A rehabilitation into the darkness will be made for him per Draugr. He wasn't much of a fan of taking another apprentice, but it was ordered and now he shall. So the newfound apprentice will be broken in properly. He would held to another standard that the common apprentice was, for both being a Champion as well as an apprentice of Draugr.

@Xorism @allyallotherpeeps

 

[Caelian]

Before the fight could escalate any further, the dark lord's voice boomed through the arena, abruptly ending the duel. The Echani froze mid-action, before pulling back away from Vahliri still mindful of her actions, switching his lightsaber off but still in hand.

Listening intently he heard the commands issued, his life was to be spared for now - but instead finding himself given over as an apprentice to Master Draugr in a weird twist of fate. An honour indeed, if not for the knife held to their throats over the matter, but still it presented a glorious opportunity and one that Caelian sought not to squander.

Taking a look around the room to a stark silence, the realities of what had transpired begun to weigh upon the Echani. His eyes met the Kel'dor instructor, whose class he had originally arrived to attend - sharing a momentary nod before moving on. There was little to do but wait as the dark lord finished speaking with Draugr, who in turn approached Caelian himself.

The Zabrak was menacing enough on a happy day, but now who knew what this turn of events would have in store for the wayward champion. Acting as instructed, Caelian lowered himself to take a knee in the soft, blooded sand awaiting whatever fate his new master had in mind.

@Scoobert

 

[Luwalhati]

Through the grit of whirling sabers and flashing lightning, a certain grace – albeit with danger attached – ebbed and flowed in the way the two Champions exchanged blows. On first impression Vahliri Kahtal seemed to be the more superior fighter. Lu watched her movements with rapt interest, amber gaze trying to keep up with her footwork and bladework. She fought ruthlessly, and almost gracefully. The outcome of the duel looked to be in her favor, but in a surprising turn of events Caelian had proven not only his prowess and worth but also the fact that he deserved to be given a second chance and live.

The deadly dance ended with a dismembered arm on the sand, and Lord Raze instructing Master Draugr to take Caelian under his wing. With a final word to Champion Kahtal the Dark Lord of the Sith left, leaving Lu and the others free to rise from where they knelt on the sand. The petite Acolyte's gaze trailed after the Sith Lord, shifted to the armored arm on the sand and to said arm's owner, then over to Caelian who was summoned to bend to his knees before Master Draugr. Only when Champion Kenuk dismissed the class did Luwalhati remember that they were originally here to learn about Force Lightning – a goal the Acolyte did not achieve given how the class turned into an impromptu execution to which they spoke against it.

Caelian was not a friend nor their Master, but Lu had been prompted to speak against the Echani's execution. What made them decide that their fellow Sith deserved to live after Lord Raze revealed the man's weaknesses, the Acolyte themself didn't fully know. Perhaps they believed in second chances, or maybe they wanted to see if Caelian deserved to remain alive and a Sith, and to prove his worth over his victory against Vahliri.

Lu glanced over at Vahliri one last time to offer her a respectful incline of their head. They did, by no means, intend to offend with such gesture, only to quietly convey that they admired her for standing by her decision and intending to fulfill it – even if it cost her an arm in the end. Her defeat did not make her a weakling in the Acolyte's eyes; if anything Lu actually envied her for turning her words into actions and not backing away from it. (@Altaris)

Stepping forward, the pink-haired Acolyte raised their voice to call Caelian's attention (@Xorism). Should the Echani spare the Acolyte a glance, he would see Luwalhati offering him a respectful and congratulatory bow. Rising back to their full height, Lu then would give the Champion a quick smile and wave, before turning away to let him focus back to Master Draugr.

The spectacled OW1 they brought (Lu hadn't realized that it had flown off when they were pushed away and forced to kneel) flew back towards the Acolyte, perching itself once more on their shoulder. It clacked its beak at the Acolyte, a signal telling them thay it had recorded today's proceedings. Amber eyes widening behind their glasses, Lu left the arena with a surprising spring to their steps, glad for the educational material they had received and looking forward to watch the duel's recording.

Maybe they could learn what they had missed from the fight and apply what they learned later on.

[EXIT THREAD]​

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