The next day, Naricia quickly prepared and headed for the Overseer's chambers. Located on the first floor, it did not take long for her to find them. However, as she was going down the hallway, she saw two acolytes seemingly waiting for her. 'Here come the irritating random acolytes. How unpleasant,' she thought.
"Hey there, acolyte," said one of the men. "Hold a moment. Let me get a look at you. Hmm. So you're Overseer Tremel's secret weapon, huh? Impressive, to be sure. Afraid the old man waited too long to make his move, though. I'm Vemrin, and unlike you, I've fought and bled for everything I have. I demand respect."
"Are you insinuating that I do not deserve my place here?" retorted the young woman.
"Please, everybody knows what Tremel is trying to do. If he had made his move a year ago, when I first arrived, you might've had a chance. But now, too little, too late."
"This is ridiculous, Vemrin. Let's just kill her and hide the body," interrupted his companion.
"We're not on Balmorra anymore, Dolgis. There are rules. Traditions. We'll leave the shortcuts to Overseer Tremel and his last pathetic hope here. Not that it'll be much of a competition, she doesn't even use the dark side."
"You have no right to tarnish my honor and my strength!"
"We'll see about that. Coming, Dolgis?"
"Be right there, Vemrin."
Without another look, Vemrin exited the hallway, leaving Naricia and Dolgis.
"Listen to me, you useless pawn. Acolytes aren't allowed to murder each other. But accidents happen. It isn't murder without witnesses. No more warnings. Vemrin's the alpha monster here. You go after Vemrin, you die," hissed the man before leaving.
'Damn it! How dare they? They don't know a thing about me! Typical Sith!' Naricia fought not to let her anger get the best of her. 'They are right about the rules though. We are not allowed to fight in the Academy. I guess the best way to get back at them is to outdo them during my trials. That shall teach them not to underestimate me.' The young woman took a few deep breathes before heading to the Overseer's chambers. As she arrived, she noticed that he already had a visitor, a young woman with long claw scars over her left eye. When she entered, they interrupted their conversation.
"Good, you're here, Lady Tivero. You seem to be in one piece," greeted the man. "Tell me, how do you like your new blade?"
"I supposed it will be sufficient for the trials," she answered.
"What are you doing, Father? I only got my warblade, and I've been here for six months," interjected the dark-skinned woman.
"I have my reasons, Eskella. And you will not breathe a word of this to anyone. Do you hear?"
"Yes. Yes, Father."
"Acolyte, this is Eskella, my daughter. She's one of the advanced students here. On her way to becoming Sith, if she minds herself."
"A pleasure," greeted Naricia.
"I'll keep quiet about your new charge, Father. But I won't be there if whatever you're planning blows up in your face," warned the acolyte before leaving.
"Don't mind her. She's just sore that I'm keeping secrets. She growls but she's loyal. Now, I thought I heard Vemrin's voice in the adjacent chamber before you arrived. Did he make his move so soon?"
"He just introduced himself to me."
"If he didn't attack, he must not fully comprehend the threat you represent. Good, good."
"He also called me your secret weapon and your pawn. That is not something I appreciate, Tremel. You have been hiding your true goals from me, and I will not let you manipulate me any longer."
"You are much like your mother," sighed the older man. "Her pride and her passion led her to a seat on the Dark Council and I have no doubt you will accomplish great things for our Order. That's why I called you here, so that you may answer to a threat that can destroy us from the inside. In a drive for sheer numbers, the criteria for Academy admittance has been… relaxed. Now anyone with Force sensitivity is allowed entrance. Vemrin is an example. He is mixed blood. The invisible rot eating at the foundation of the Empire. He must not be allowed to advance."
"You're an elitist snob."
"You say that like it's a bad thing. It's the Sith way. Only the best, only the most pure, should be good enough. Unfortunately, Vemrin's caught the eye of Darth Baras, one of the most influential Sith Lords. He's being groomed to be Baras's future new apprentice. As Darth Baras's apprentice, the power at Vemrin's fingertips will be considerable. He could change the Sith for the worse. You must proceed to your next trial immediately. I want you to interrogate three prisoners in the Academy jails and decide their fates. Consider each criminal's story carefully. The decisions you make will be scrutinized, so let your passions guide your judgment."
"Scrutinized? Who presumes to judge my actions? You?"
"Of course. When Darth Baras catches wind of you, it's going to be my neck on the line as much as yours. Go to the Academy prison. Speak to head jailer Knash and return to me after you've passed judgment on the prisoners."
Naricia saluted Tremel before exiting the chambers. 'This truly was enlightening,' she thought as she made her way to the prison. 'But how can he not realize I am not the best candidate if he wants to preserve the current Sith ways; I don't agree much with them, that can literally be seen it in my eyes. Still, gaining the position as Darth Baras's apprentice and seizing more power and influence could be useful. I almost feel sorry for you, Vemrin. But from now on, it's your wish against mine.' As she entered the jail, she overheard a man talking:
"One more chirp from you, little bird, and you'll regret it."
"Chirp, chirp, chirp," answered a female voice but she was interrupted when the jailer activated her electric collar. "Ow! Jerk. If you don't like that, just say so. I can do other animals too. Dire-cat, frog-dog, Kowakian monkey-lizard, you name it."
Naricia barely spared the Twi'lek a look as she entered the prison and turned to face the older man.
"You. I'm Jailer Knash. I run these cells and slave pits. You're the acolyte Tremel sent for the test, right? Hrmph, he thinks highly of you."
"Then I shall repay his faith by accomplishing my mission."
"You should know the situation is highly unusual. Normally, an acolyte goes off-world for interrogation. Overseer Tremel had these three shipped in for you. He thinks you're the next coming of Exar Kun. But you ought to know, Tremel isn't the only one paying attention to you. Now, these three prisoners have been transferred here for your inspection. You gotta interrogate them as needed and then decide their fates. The convicted are usually executed or given a trial by combat to see if they're worthy. Whatever you decide, you will be the one to carry out the sentence."
"As it should be."
"Hrmph. Fine, let's get started. This one on the left…"
"You freaks aren't getting anything new out of me," interrupted the woman. "Just do whatever you're gonna do."
"You can either talk to me or to the inquisitors. And I promise, I have a much sunnier disposition," clarified Naricia.
"Get lost. I've been through this routine. I already know all your inquisitors by name."
"Impudent to the last. As I was saying, she was sent to kill an Imperial spy in the Yavin system," explained Knash. "Throughout her torture, she maintained that she was hired anonymously."
"Get it through your damn head. I had no idea he was Imperial and I don't know who hired me," continued the caged woman.
"So, you're telling me you're not a Republic assassin?" questioned Naricia.
"I am not political. I work for whoever pays," she replied.
"The point is, she doesn't deny the charge. So, now you must decide: execution or trial by combat. Which do you choose?" asked the jailer.
Naricia looked at the woman. She was able to find and track an Imperial spy. She was good. It seems there might be a way for her to survive and for the Empire to gain a new ally. "Neither actually. She could prove useful. Send her to Imperial Intelligence."
"I won't work for free," pointed out the woman.
"Hrmph, you spared her. Interesting."
Moving to the next cage, Naricia took a look at the older man inside. His clothing seemed of good quality for a prisoner, despite the dirt, and did not show any marks of torture.
"Please," the man pleaded. "I am a fellow Sith, judge me with an open mind and grant me trial by combat. I beg you."
"Who are you?" asked the Pureblood woman.
"This pile of waste is Devotek," explained Knash. "Once a valued Sith champion until he botched an important mission and caused thousand Imperial deaths. Now, look at him."
"I served faithfully for twenty-four years, then one mistake and they threw me away," replied the former Sith. "Now, I have been left here to rot. Please, let me feel the weight of a weapon once more."
Naricia looked sadly at the man in front of her. The path she decided to walk on said that she should let him live so he may have a chance to redeem himself. But she knew that would not happen; not because of him but because the other Sith will never give him a second chance. And he knew it. He knew he was going to die and only ask for a Sith death. Letting him rot in his cell would be too cruel. She let out a sad sigh before delivering her judgment:
"I will grant your wish. A warrior should die with his boots on."
"My thanks, young warrior."
"Hrmph. This should be entertaining," commented the jailer before handing Devotek a sword.
This fight was short, Devotek having been weakened by weeks in jail. Yet, he smiled as Naricia ended his life with a large cut over his torso.
"Well, he didn't put up much of a fight, did he?" remarked Knash.
"That was not the point. He died a warrior."
"Hrmph. Well, this last prisoner is a bit of a puzzle. He's called Brehg and he's a jittery little wretch, suspected of supplying forged documents to Republic agents. Strangely enough, he maintains his innocence despite being severely tortured."
"That's because innocent I am!" exclaimed Brehg. "Believe me, you gotta – I had nothing to do with forging no papers. Set up, I was set up!"
"Are you trying to tell me you've lead a clean life?" doubtingly asked Naricia.
"Well, I never said that. Did some time, I did, in a Republic jail for forgery, so I was the perfect candidate to implicate in this. But straight I've been since getting out I swear!"
"Hrmph. He's never wavered from that line… and the evidence is circumstantial. I supposed it's actually possible he didn't do it. So, what do you decide?" asked the jailer.
Naricia took some time to concentrate and use the Force to scan the prisoner. She could not feel lies from him. Granted she was not the most talented at using the Force to scan people's emotions, but he had also withstood torture and there was no direct proof. Killing him when our own people made a mistake would not be fair.
"I think in this case we should release him. Let him go."
"Did I just hear you say that I think I heard you say?" jubilated the prisoner. "There's some justice in the world. Thank you!"
"Freedom, huh? That's a new one," commented Knash. "Hrmph. Well, that's that. You're an interesting one, kid. I can see why people are keeping tabs on you. Head back to Overseer Tremel, see what he thinks of your choices."
Naricia saluted the man before exiting the jail and heading back to the Overseer's chambers. 'See what he thinks of your choices... I already know what he will think of my third… What was that?' she interrupted her thoughts, frantically looking around. 'It's that familiar feeling again. It's strange, where is it coming from?' The young Pureblood tried to locate the source of the radiance in the Force. But she was unable to focus as she could hear the whispers of the acolytes around her, making her lose the trail. After sending them her darkest look, she tried to find the trail again but gave up after a few minutes and headed back to Tremel's chambers.
"Is this everything?" she heard the Overseer ask.
"Everything Lord Renning was able to obtain, yes," answered a young man.
"Then run back to your master in the beast pens, before I cut you in half," ordered the older man.
Naricia watched as the acolyte ran past her. Tremel got up from his desk and walked toward her.
"Sorry to make you wait, Lady Tivero. These interruptions are incredibly annoying. On to the business at hand: your test in the jails. First, the assassin, Solentz. She attempted to kill an Imperial spy but was unaware of her client's affiliation. You assigned her to Imperial Intelligence. I commend you, that was excellent thinking. Never waste a potential resource."
"Thank you, Overseer. I am glad you approve."
"What's more important is that Darth Baras would approve. Now, Devotek, the failed warrior. Why grant his wish for a trial by combat?"
"I did it out of respect for his service. He used to be a potent warrior."
"We don't have time to honor yesterday's accomplishments. Devotek was an utter waste of space. Once something is no longer useful, it should be eradicated. Remember that. Now, the last prisoner – the forger. Letting him go was highly questionable. Explain yourself."
"Keeping or killing him would be meaningless. Nothing would be gained by either."
"Innocent or not, he leaves here with firsthand knowledge of our facilities and procedures. It's potentially compromising to have him floating about in the galaxy. You must always be thinking, and considering every angle. Aside from a strong and skilled sword arm, that will be what impresses Darth Baras the most. You are beginning to understand what it means to be Sith, but you're far from being able to impress Darth Baras."
"I will try harder, Overseer."
"If you don't, you're doomed. Remember that. Because I forced you into the Academy ahead of schedule, Darth Baras will be predisposed to judge you severely. And by severely, I mean fatally. Now, we must hurry to your next trial. Every moment that passes we risk discovery before we're ready especially since all the Academy already knows you are here. In the caverns of Marka Ragnos is the beast he left to guard his legacy. Go there, sit among the flames and wait for the beast to come for you."
"You think that's enough information? How about you tell me about this beast?"
"All you need to know is that it's ferocious and bloodthirsty, and in no way is it a trial for a normal acolyte. Return to the Valley of the Dark Lords and find the tomb of Marka Ragnos. I'll see you when the beast is slain. Good luck."
Tremel sat back at his desk dismissing the young woman with a gesture of his hand. Naricia offered a small bow before leaving. 'So now I have to slay a beast I know nothing about,' she sighed. She remembered from her history classes that Marka Ragnos had been a great Dark Lord of all Sith and had the habit of pitting his enemies against each other. Anything related to him was sure to be very powerful in the dark side. 'I need to find more information about it before going to the tomb. After lunch, I'll see what the library has on the topic,' she decided.
The Pureblood headed to the cafeteria and quickly ate her Gartro egg salad, ignoring the looks she received, before rushing to the library. She knew she would not be able to go to the tomb today, she could not take the risk of arriving there during the night, but she wanted to be ready to leave the next day at dawn.
The library had little information. After several hours of research, she only found a small text describing the torture Marka Ragnos had inflicted on the beast and that it had been fed with only blood. A drawing attached to the text pictured a gigantic animal with massive horn-like spikes on its head and back and large claws. It was strong, fast, and used to being attacked with the Force. 'This will be a great fight' she smiled. 'I can't wait. But I need to make sure I'm prepared for it,' She returned to her room and ordered her N8 to buy a new medpac. 'I need to go to the armory and buy new gloves and maybe new shoes. Then I should go talk to Overseer Rance; see if he has some time to teach me new moves.'
She swiftly finished her errands and spent the rest of the day with the Overseer in the training room, learning skills that would surely prove indispensable to defeat the beast. She returned to her room late that evening, bloody and sore but much more confident in her strength. The young Pureblood quickly took care of her injuries and went to bed to be in top form the next morning.
Naricia woke up a little before dawn and ran to the shuttle that would take her to the Lower Wilds. It would take a couple of hours to arrive and then another five hours of trekking to get to the tomb itself. 'Hopefully, I will get there before it becomes too windy,' she wished. Determined to catch as much rest as she could, she closed her eyes and meditated until the shuttle arrived at its destination.
"Thank the Force and N8 for those hand warmers!" she moaned as she pressed the hot compress against the back of her neck. The temperature was even colder than the days before and despite her quick pace, it was so strongly affecting her that she had to stop at a Laboratory midway of her trek to warm herself. After checking her datapad for directions one more time, she observed the scenery before her. The path to the tomb was pretty clear, but the dangers were many. Besides the cold, there were treacherous rocks that frequently fell down from the surrounding cliffs and the local wildlife, the Tuk'atas, were quick to notice any intruder and give furious chase. She had also been warned about some imperial soldiers that had been driven to madness by an unknown power and would attack her on sight. Harming her own people was not something she was looking forward to. 'How unpleasant, but that's the way it is,' she thought. With a sigh, she got up and headed for the medical droid to fill her water flask and got back on the road.
She finally arrived to the tomb three hours later. There seemed to be just as many people inside as in Ajunta Pall's tomb. Taking in the warmer air inside, she settled in a rather safe room to eat her nuna bacon sandwich before heading to the antechamber.
Her progression was slow, as she was regularly interrupted by mad soldiers and acolytes and checked her datapad at every corner. She certainly did not want to repeat what had happened in the previous tomb. She still had managed to get lost twice but quickly found her way, thanks to the tracker she had N8 install, which now also indicated her position on the map. A few hours later, she was facing the large altar upon which laid the carving of Marka Ragnos. Kneeling in front of the carving, she reached out through the Force to call for the beast. After a few minutes, the young woman felt the ground beneath her shake and turned as a powerful roar resonated in the room.
'The drawing does not do it justice,' she decided. The creature was three times her height with claws as long as her forearms. The ground shook at each of its steps and the walls were breaching under its roars. The dark side emanating from it was so thick it seemed to cloak the animal in a black mist. Large spikes covered its arms, head, and back. Adrenaline fueled Naricia's body immediately. It would be an amazing fight. The Pureblood smiled as she grabbed her sword and walked toward her opponent, drawing its attention.
The creature roared and ran toward her, all claws out, but Naricia countered with her sword. She quickly rolled behind it and gave a blow to its feet, making the creature fall. The ground shook, causing Naricia a few precious seconds to regain her balance. By the time she was back on her feet, her opponent was already charging at her. They exchanged a few blows before she finally caught one of the spikes on its arms and used it to climb behind its head. She was going to strike when the beast grabbed her leg and hurled her off its back into the carving, which broke under the power of the throw. Naricia let out a groan as she felt pieces of stones pierce through her skin. Getting up with difficulty, she took a moment to assess her injuries: large and heavily bleeding cuts on her back and arms, several bruises, a broken hand and most likely a concussion. She reached for her medpac but soon realized that it was not in her belt-bag anymore. It had fallen close to the entrance of the room when she was thrown away. Cursing, she used the Force to jump and get it but the creature caught her midair and clenched her in his claws. The Pureblood screamed as she felt several of her ribs break. Focusing the Force in her blade, she cut the hand that restrained her and fell heavily to the ground. The beast roared in pain clenching its handless arm and took a few steps away from the young woman. Naricia cringed when she noticed it stepped on her medpac. 'I need a new belt,' she decided, 'One that actually keeps my things in place.' She would have to end the fight soon otherwise she would not make it. Remembering the routines Overseer Rance taught her, she shakily stood up and focused on the Force, letting it flow through her. She felt more than she saw the creature rushing toward her. The Force guiding her, she dodged its remaining claws and in a dance-like movement swiftly stroke the beast behind the knees, in the stomach, and in the neck. Unable to stand any longer, the creature heavily fell on the ground, causing the roof and walls to break and fall in large pieces around them.
Naricia looked down as her opponent moaned in pain. She kneeled down next to it and said: "It was a great fight. You were definitely the toughest opponent I faced. I really wish I could let you live so that we may fight again, but I have to kill you. I hope you will finally rest in peace." The Pureblood raised her sword and quickly delivered the final blow. She then limped to her medpac but quickly realized nothing was salvable. Dazed by the blood loss and the pain, she let herself fall on the floor and hazily looked toward the entrance. The damages caused by the fight had completely sealed the room. 'In my state, there is no way I can move those rocks and make it all the way to the Laboratory,' she sighed. 'I don't have a choice. Maybe it's a good thing the entrance is blocked. At least no one or nothing will be able to get in while I rest.' She raised a shaky hand to grab her pendant and sang: Seiwoss Igalima lyzen tron. She smiled as the obsidian stone on her artifact lighted up and a warm flow of Force engulfed her body. The pain started to fade away and she saw her wounds healing quickly. After a few minutes, the light disappeared and all her injuries were gone. She tiredly stood up and reached a corner of the room where she laid down, preparing herself for the exhaustion that came with using her artifact.
Naricia let out a moan of pain as she woke up. Her fever was still high. She slowly reached for her datapad and looked at the time. There were still several hours before dawn. Deciding it was safer to stay in the room than trying to get out in the dark, the Pureblood sleepily laid back down.
She was awakened again shortly after dawn by the alarm she has set on her datapad. Her body was still greatly weakened by a heavy headache, but she knew she could not afford to stay in the tomb any longer. The Pureblood slowly stood up and checked her body for any physical remaining injury. As always, her artifact had completely healed her, not even a scar from the beast's claws remained on her body. 'I can move now,' thought the young woman as she stretched her painfully sore limbs. 'I should be strong enough to head back to the Academy. I could go to the Laboratory and take the shuttle from there, it would be quicker.' She turned to the entrance and used the Force to move the rocks that blocked it.
Naricia slowly made her way through the tomb, her pale silver eyes constantly looking out for danger. She was able to move but not in a state to fight with her mind clouded by the headache. She had to lean on walls and regularly stop to rest. Any unfortunate encounter, even with a weaker acolyte, could be the end of her. Several times, she had to resort to tricks to distract potential dangers: Force-persuade a mad soldier to attack acolytes to distract them, push rocks to make noise and attract foes in another direction… These tricks were not what she was best at and doing them tired her, but she smiled when she finally got out - without having to draw her sword once.
She frowned when she took notice of the time. It had taken her twice as long to exit the tomb and it was now too cold to travel, especially in her state. 'A minor setback,' she thought as she scanned the area for a peaceful place to rest, and found a small cave a little further away. The Pureblood hastily headed there to escape the freezing winds and let out a pleased sigh when she sat leaning against the warm wall. The air smelled cleaner and she could not feel the oppressing presence of the dark side anymore. 'Now would be a good time to meditate,' she decided. 'I need to rest as much as possible before the trip back.' The young woman straightened up and entered her meditative state. She smiled as she felt the Force entering her body and further opened her mind until she could sense all around her: Tuk'atas were resting peacefully in a nearby gorge, soldiers were still haunting an area ahead of her and moving toward the Laboratory, she would have to be careful. She let her mind wander in the Force until it reached the Academy and… there! 'It's that presence again! This light feels so familiar, it feels like…' she focused on the radiance when suddenly a flash of a purple stone pendant appeared in her mind. 'Impossible… After all these years searching for her. Could it really be…' Her musings were interrupted when she was brutally brought back from her trance. Hazily opening her eyes, she barely had time to dodge a blaster shot: a soldier had found a way in the cave. As he readied his blaster for another shot, Naricia reached through the Force to choke him. After he fell on the ground, she reached under her armored top to grab her pendant - the same pendant the Force had shown her. Only the stone adoring the jewel had been different: an amethyst instead of her obsidian. 'Luce.' If her Force-sister was really here at the Academy, then she had no time to waste. Despite her headache, she felt new energy burning inside her. With a grin on her face, she walked outside of the cave to check if the road was now safe for her.
She was surprised to see the setting sun. 'Have I really meditated that long? That's a first,' marveled the young woman but the coming night was not good news. While her meditation allowed her to rest a little, her headache was still strong and she was not sure she could make it to the Laboratory before the night. She had one, maybe two hours before dark. Naricia sighed until she spotted a speeder in a nearby soldier camp. With it, traveling to the shuttle station would take no more than one hour. She cautiously approached the camp. It would not be easy; there were at least five guards roaming around. The Pureblood frowned; she would have to kill them to get the speeder. Hiding in the shadow of a rock pillar, she waited until one of them came close before grabbing him and cutting his throat. The smell of blood seemed to attract a second guard and Naricia silently disposed of him. She Force-choked the soldier closest to the speeder from behind, before he could warn his companions and slowly made her way to the vehicle. The young woman was about to grab it when the two remaining guards spotted her. With a war-cry, they charged at her, guns blazing. She quickly used her sword to deflect the shots back to them, killing one, and Force-pushed the other one against a rock pillar, wincing when she heard his neck snap. She hurriedly turned the speeder on and stepped on the gas before other soldiers came.
The ride was calm despite being almost spotted a few times, and she made it to the Laboratory before nightfall. But her mood drastically worsened when she was told that there would be no shuttle back to the Academy until the next day. After half an hour of arguing with the shuttle droid driver, negotiating boarding the research equipment transporter, and a three hour ride, Naricia let out a sigh of relief when she finally set foot in the Academy. She quickly headed to her room and jumped in the shower. After she got out, she considered sending a message to Tremel before noticing her holocom had broken at some point during her mission. After a few minutes looking for her spare, she decided against spending hours hunting it down. She needed to rest, the headache would linger a few days but the more she rested, the more bearable it would be. She loved her artifact and the power it gave her but the side effects were a real pain. She instructed N8 to clean and fix her armor and weapon and to start looking at more functional belts and a new holocom. 'Tomorrow, Tremel, and after that, Luce. I will find you, Luce,' she promised before turning the lights off and falling into a restful sleep.