Standing on one of the many balconies that were placed around the Shamar mansion Faro looked down upon his courtyard. In the center of the courtyard trained two children that couldn't have been any older than the age of eight. One had dark crimson skin and the features key to a Sith such as the cheek tendrils, and prominent chin tendrils. While the other only sported one visible feature. His bright red skin was a giveaway to his past Sith heritage, but besides that he appeared no different than an average human.
"You're making them train again?" said a feminine voice from behind Faro before he found himself embraced from behind. A new warmth flooded the Sith as his wife burrowed her face into his neck and lightly kissing him.
"You can never start to soon. I want them to excel when they enter the Sith academy. We both know how dangerous it is. Students attempting to kill one another, setting each other up to fail. To many other dangers to even list." Faro said as he watched Ishval and Niro finally begin their third engagement for the morning.
Ishval was armed with a staff made of a tough wood while Niro was granted one the length of a regular sword. Ishval was the physically superior one out of the two, and the staff allowed him to deal power blow after power blow in quick succession. While Niro was easily faster and more agile. The boy was prone to dodging and flipping whenever he saw a attack more so than blocking outright.
"Even then. They have each other Faro. I don't think that anyone can kill them when they are together." Zima said grasping Faro's chin and broke his gaze on their children. Leaning in Zima's lips were within centimeters of Faro's grazing each other but she stopped as a powerful presence pushed open the door to the room.
Standing within the door-frame was a human male with thick white hair that cascaded down her back. The women had seemed to age gracefully the signs of dark side degradation near nonexistent. "Aw my dear Faro! I hope I wasn't interrupting anything?" The women asked eyeing the two Sith as they broke apart with Zima bowing to the women.
Nodding his head and waving a dismissive hand Faro waved Zima out the room who closed the door.
"What is your business with me today Nilina? It's not everyday a council member visits the other without trying to kill the other." Faro said taking a seat in one of the lush chairs that filled his private chambers. Sitting across from him and steepling her hands in her lap Nilina eyed her contemporary.
"Funny. But I acquired the file you were looking for." Nilina said placing a datapad on the table between them. "I believe I need not remind you how dangerous this information is? If even a hint of what we are doing is leaked us and our families lines will end." Nilina warned. "Though I believe I must warn you that what you'll see and read is disturbing... Even for us Sith."
Reaching into his pocket and retrieving a golden amulet with a golden colored gem in the center Faro placed it on the table as well. "This was the Sith amulet you wanted in return correct?"
"Yes. That's the exact one." Nilina said picking up the amulet examining it, and waving a hand over it. "It contains more power than I had anticipated. She said sliding it into the pockets of her robes,
"It was hard to acquire that amulet. I had to use all my resources to even be able to track it down."
"Well I thank you for the effort you put in. I assure you I put in no less to acquire this information." Nilina said raising from her seat. "Now I do believe that if our exchange is over I have a child to train as well." The Sith said turning her back on Faro and leaving the room.
Looking down at the datapad Faro scooped it up, and as he activated the pad he saw the a picture of a planet that even through the picture seemed devoid of life. Faro felt a cold shiver retreat down his spine and almost as if someone was watching him. Scrolling down beneath the planet the name Nathema stood out boldly.
Meeting each other in the center of the courtyard the two eight year olds clashed. Weapons locked in a stalemate both the boys eyed each other determination burning as bright in them as their father. Ishval was holding up quite well besides for the collar of sweat that had formed around his neck. Niro on the other hand could be seen struggling against his brothers strength as his feed kept sliding backwards. Niro's once light gray shirt had turned dark due to how much sweat it had absorbed.
Breaking the deadlock Ishval pushed against Niro's weapon and breaking the others guard. Without any hesitation Ishval dived into an intense offensive raining down blows with his staff. One from the top right then quickly reversing bringing the other end around from the top left. These variations continued and within three seconds Ishval had delivered fifteen strikes.
As the attack came down from his top right Niro raised his own weapon to intercept it's path and predicting the next blow Niro instantly blocked the second attack. As a blow aimed to trip him came Niro flipped backwards over the staff landing on his feet in time to intercept a multitude of blows from Ishval. Retreating backwards Niro jumped up onto the edge of the fountain where Ishval pursued in his devoted offense. Jumping and spinning in the air Ishval delivered five more consecutive blows to Nero. Left, right, above, below, the attacks were completely random. However Ishval lost his footing as he landed on the wet edge. Falling off backwards Ishval caught himself rolling backwards as Niro pounced striking out at the opening. Wooden sword colliding with the hard ground where Ishval had once been Niro dashed forward delivering a crosscut at Ishval as he got to his feet.
Bringing one end of his staff around to intercept the blow Ishval spun backwards putting distance between him and Niro. Breathing heavily both the boys faced each other moving in counter to the other keeping a distance between them. "What type of Sith runs from a fight?" Ishval asked as he finally relaxed and stood up holding the staff off to his side.
"The same type that had you on the run a few seconds ago." Niro responded to his brother relaxing as well and sitting on the ground.
"You're just lucky I was going easy on you this time." Ishval said through his labored breaths.
"Yea... Doesn't seem like that to me." Niro said a snicker in his voice.
"Oh you want a rematch?!" Ishval exclaimed entering a stance with his left leg forward and the end of the staff pointing at the ground.
"Yea I do!" Niro said jumping to his feet sword at the ready.
"Enough!" Faro said from above projecting his voice with the force. "You've done well today. Now get in here and begin your force training." Faro said as he turned back entering the mansion.
"Yes father." Both the boys said in unison before making their way inside the mansion.