A Jedi's Grace

Chapter II: Korriban

Vexok savaka

Hivall gasped for air as she stood up from the cold sheets, hitting her head on the ceiling of the bunk bed. She hated having these nightmares that have been haunting her for the past months, she thought coming to Korriban would make them stop at once, but it only made them get more frequent. The distress sounds of Bee-Bee made her sigh and look down to her small companion.

"You tried to wake me up, huh? Sorry I scared you, buddy." Hivall got up again, this time more carefully. "Yeah, it was one of those nightmares again. Don't worry."

So, they have arrived at last. It was a dreadful feeling, and even though droids cannot be Force sensitive, Bee-Bee hated this place as soon as the planet appeared in the ship's windows. Everything looked dead, abandoned, yet haunted by lost moments and voices. The ship had landed on a deserted arrival port, but it was still a small walk to the point of interest: the Sith Academy. Obviously forsaken as everything else here.

The first steps outside of the ship weren't easy. This place, although lost to time, was still very much alive with its memories that echo through the valleys and mountains. Hivall could sense it, through the Force, as if for one moment she was transported back in time, when the Academy shined with new Sith students, this port was where they'd drop off potential acolytes. She could feel the excitement some of them had, just like what she felt when she first stepped into the Jedi Temple for the first time. She wondered if her ancestor, Elyir, felt the same thing she was feeling now, or perhaps she felt excited like the others.

"Ouch!" Hivall looked down to see the red droid hiding behind her leg, gazing at something on the other side of the port. A shadow moved to hid behind a pillar. "We need to be careful, Bee. Nothing is what it seems to be around here. C'mon, let's go."

Everything here was frowsty and dry. Unlike any other planets, like Naboo, there was no tree or lake in sight. Hivall had studied the planet's fauna before, and it was one of a kind. Due to the power of the dark side that resides here, Korriban's fauna was known for being vicious and dangerous. The natives were also horrible, often being big insects with venom. According to Surike's list, it is not a good place for a vacation.

The map she held had two points of interest marked; The Valley of the Sith Lords and the Sith Academy. Both dangerous places, but she was prepared.

The academy was established in 3996 BBY, it was dedicated to training Force-sensitives in the ways of the Sith and running archaeological projects in the Valley of the Dark Lords, which Hivall hoped were left behind or part of them. To nobody's surprised, entering the academy was not easy. To be admitted, the student had to impress one of the teachers or students or kill another student and take their medallion. Backstabbing and students dying was common around here, but again, it was of no surprise.

But with her ancestor, it was a different story. She did not impress anyone, instead, she was a slave brought to the Academy, reason still unknown.

A tiny voice in Hivall's mind sometimes whispers that she's just chasing ghosts, and maybe focusing on her Jedi studies would redeem her family's story.

"Bee? What- woah." Her eyes looked up to the towering pyramidal stone structure. The entrance was located at the top of a wide staircase and framed by two kneeling humanoid statues representing slaves. Oh, it was scary and interesting to look at. "It is bigger than I thought. Look at the statues!"

Hastily walking to the entrance, the Jedi could feel something pushing her inside, calling out to her. She didn't try to resist, she embraced the feeling and stepped forward. Alone, the sound of her feet echoed through the academy's walls and a part of it scared her; afraid something would hear her coming.