SWTOR: The Davire Legacy

[2018] Main Chapters: Part 1 - Korriban

~~~16 Years Later~~~

"Kehel, you must attack if Telo falters. Don't hesitate!"

"Yes, Mentor Seyje."

The two acolytes side-stepped around each other, their movements choppy and unbalanced. Seyje refrained from rolling her eyes and sighed.

"Stop."

Her two trainees paused, their heavy breaths filling the silence. Kehel was a dark-skinned, medium built male with an oval-shaped face and high cheekbones. He appeared older due to the fuzz mustache growing on his face, but was actually the younger of the two. Telo was a light-skinned, somewhat thinner built male with an egg-shaped face. Both had dark brown hair, Kehel's parted on the side while Telo's parted down the middle. Kehel wiped the sweat from his brow, hunching over to catch his breath.

"That was like watching a bantha drown," she snapped irritably. "Go again, and this time, focus."

"Yes, Mentor Seyje," they replied in unison.

The sounds of their training sabers echoed in the upstairs room of the Academy. Seyje's mind soon wandered away from her students. She had been raised in the Sith Academy on Korriban ever since she had been brought here as a six-year old girl. Lord Veshta had taken it upon herself to raise and train the child, noting her remarkable connection to the Force.

Being on Korriban was all about survival. Sith were as cold-hearted and merciless as they appeared, and it wasn't uncommon for apprentices to turn on their masters. Seyje had learned how to best observe her surroundings rather than race blindly into every situation. She was a calculative and agile combatant, and knew how to channel her emotions into her technique rather than letting them take control. Her appearance was deceptive, however. Pale skinned, blue eyed, and red hair, the young girl looked more like she belonged on the stage of a cantina than in the Academy of the Sith. Seyje was just as smart as she was stubborn, and she quickly learned what it would take to stay alive. Anyone who thought otherwise quickly learned what a mistake it was to underestimate her.

With time, Seyje had become one of the most advanced fighters among her peers, acolytes and apprentices included. She was granted the right to train others in small groups after besting Overseer Rance in a duel. Darth Acina of the Dark Council acknowledged her accomplishment, and granted her the rank of apprentice. However, she failed to assign her to a Sith Lord, simple saying Lord Veshta would not suffice and left her lacking a true apprenticeship. Instead, she was stuck in her role as a mentor.

Not knowing the reason behind Acina's choice tormented Seyje to no end. Why would they not assign me a master? I've more than earned it, or so she said. Why would they not follow through?

The Dark Council couldn't have figured it out. She hadn't told a soul, except for Lord Veshta, and nothing had happened that would have given it away. It was impossible for the Dark Council to have sensed it.

A grunt of pain broke through her thoughts, and she turned her head to see Telo standing triumphantly over Kehel as he lay on his back, grasping his left bicep and grimacing in pain. This time, Seyje did roll her eyes.

"Enough. We're done for the day."

Kehel groaned as Telo helped him to his feet. He all but cowered under Seyje's piercing gaze. "I expect more from both of you tomorrow. The Overseers won't give you the same chances I do." Her students bowed and left the room with a slight limp to their steps.

Seyje went out and stood on the walkway overlooking the main hall of the Academy. Everything here that wasn't a red imperial flag or an imbedded wall light was gray – gray walls, gray doorways, gray probe droids. It was a harsh and uninviting atmosphere, and a sinister feeling hung in the air like a choking fog. There was never a moment to let her guard down in the Academy's halls. That was a fact that Seyje had accepted a long time ago.