Darth Nox: The Master of the Force

Chapter 33: The Balance of Light and Dark

The black spires of the newly rebuilt Sith Citadel loomed against the pale skies of Dromund Kaas as Darth Nox's ship cut through the clouds. The sharp lines of the Citadel reflected not only the ancient architecture of the Sith but also the subtle new touch of balance. Where once the design had been solely dark, oppressive, and gothic, it now gleamed with strange harmony—blended with neutral tones and flowing lines, creating a place that acknowledged both the Light and Dark sides of the Force. It was a fitting symbol of Nox's new vision for the Sith.

Nox guided his ship to the landing platform near the top of the Citadel, where the vast halls of the rebuilt structure awaited him. After the events of the past few months—his journey into the depths of the Force, his pilgrimage to the Dark Temple, and the reshaping of Kaas itself—he had returned to this place not only to oversee its construction but also to cultivate the future of the Sith in his image. The galaxy needed more than just Sith or Jedi now—it needed something stronger. Balanced. Complete.

As the ship descended, Nox could sense the presence of his companions in the Citadel below. Lana Beniko and Xalek were in one of the sparring rooms, their energies burning in the Force like twin flames. But even as he felt them through the ripples of the Force, something wasn't feeling right, a noticeable tilt towards the Dark. They had always leaned that way, as was expected of Sith in their time, but now Nox was all too aware of how the unchecked Dark had led the Sith, and even his Alliance, to ruin.

The landing struts hissed as the ship touched the platform, and the boarding ramp lowered with a mechanical hum. Nox stepped off, the wind tugging at the edges of his black-and-gray robes. His presence cast a palpable shadow across the area as he strode forward with purpose, making his way through the Citadel's corridors. His mind turned over the notion of balance, the delicate harmony between the Light and Dark sides that now guided his decisions.

Before long, he arrived at the large training hall where Lana and Xalek were locked in combat. The room was vast, its polished stone floors stretching out under arched ceilings, with the emblem of the Sith Empire subtly integrated into the walls—again, a mix of old and new. At the center, Lana and Xalek faced off, their lightsabers flashing in quick, precise strikes as the air around them hummed with the energy of their duel.

Lana's red blade moved gracefully, a testament to her mastery of Makashi, the second form of lightsaber combat. Her strikes were elegant, her footwork precise, but each of her moves was laced with subtle Force pushes and manipulations meant to throw her opponent off-balance.

Xalek, a hulking figure of pure fury, wielded his double-bladed saber with strength and ferocity, relying on the brute force of Juyo, the unpredictable and aggressive form. His strikes were powerful, intended to overwhelm, and though he was often described as a beast on the battlefield, his focus and connection to the Force were undeniable. Each slash of his crimson blade was backed by a raw power that threatened to shatter the very ground beneath them.

Nox stood silently at the entrance of the hall, watching the sparring match unfold. For several minutes, he observed their every move, his eyes following the intricate dance of combat. Lana's light and calculated movements contrasted sharply with Xalek's overwhelming darkness and aggression, yet there was a rhythm to their clash—a rhythm that, while skilled, lacked the very balance Nox sought to instill.

As their lightsabers locked in a blinding flash of light, Nox chose that moment to speak.

"You're unbalanced," his voice cut through the hall, echoing with the weight of the Force itself.

The duel came to an abrupt halt. Lana disengaged, her blade extinguishing with a soft hiss as she turned to face Nox, sweat glistening on her brow. Xalek grunted, stepping back with his saberstaff still ignited, but he lowered it, his body tense as he awaited further words from his master.

Nox walked forward, his piercing eyes moving between the two. "If balance is what we seek," he began, his voice calm yet filled with authority, "you must learn to fight with more than just the Dark Side. You both rely too heavily on it. Your forms reflect this—strength without finesse, precision without grace."

Lana tilted her head slightly, curiosity in her eyes as she deactivated her lightsaber. "We've always fought this way. Is this not how we were trained? To master the Dark Side, to use it to dominate the battlefield?"

Xalek grunted in agreement, his face hidden behind his mask, but his presence in the Force radiated the same sentiment.

Nox's gaze shifted out the large window that overlooked the Citadel grounds and the now-peaceful horizon beyond. "That was before," he said softly, almost to himself. "Before the Empire crumbled. Before the Eternal Alliance fell."

He turned back to them, his presence now commanding their full attention. "We are not who we once were. The Empire, the Alliance—they both collapsed because they relied solely on the Dark Side or the balance between two extreme factions, just as the Jedi relied solely on the Light. The galaxy is not so simple as to be divided in such absolutes."

He took a few steps closer, the energy in the room shifting, the Force itself responding to his words. "I have learned to wield both sides. The Light and the Dark are tools, not identities. Weapons, not masters. If we are to succeed in building something new—something stronger—then we must embrace both."

Lana crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face as she considered his words. "We've always walked in the Dark, Nox," she said slowly. "The Dark is what gives us strength, what makes us Sith."

Xalek growled, his impatience simmering beneath the surface. "Fighting without rage, without power—it is weak. Jedi talk of balance. Sith dominate."

Nox regarded them both for a long moment before speaking again, his voice sharp and unyielding. "I once believed as you do, Xalek. That rage, pain, and hatred were the only paths to power. And for a time, they were. But look at where that path has led. To ruin. Vitiate, the Sith Empire, even my own reign as Dark Councilor—they all fell because they clung to one side of the Force, ignoring the potential of the other."

He gestured toward the window, where the skies of Dromund Kaas were no longer the swirling, stormy chaos they had once been. "The planet itself feels the shift. Dromund Kaas was once corrupted by Vitiate's rituals, steeped in the Dark Side. But now, after I brought the Light to the Dark Temple, the storms have cleared. Balance is not weakness, Xalek. It is strength. It is power beyond what the Dark alone can offer."

Xalek grunted, lowering his saberstaff completely now but clearly still unsettled by Nox's words. Lana, on the other hand, seemed intrigued, though her skepticism remained.

"So, you want us to embrace the Light now?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

Nox's lips curled into a thin smile. "Not just the Light. You will continue to use the Dark. But you must learn to temper it, to wield both sides as I do. Only then will you be truly powerful."

Lana's brow furrowed as she considered his words. "How do we even begin? We've spent our lives mastering the Dark Side."

Nox stepped forward, his presence filling the room. "It starts here," he said, gesturing to the training hall. "