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Every night for the following week, whenever Rey joined Kylo Ren through their connection, he didn't utter a word. He completely ignored her, and despite her master's hopes, Rey was perfectly happy about it and didn't try to speak to him, knowing well how that would end.

She spent her days alternating combat training and meditation. Luke was still teaching her how to shield her mind, but more often than not, Rey's thoughts were so unruly and churning that she never managed to reach the mental serenity that would allow her to make any actual progress.

Kylo Ren was brought into his room by two stormtroopers and thrown carelessly on his bed. The pain made him wince, but by the time his jailers locked the door, he was out cold.

He found himself surrounded by darkness, deep, stifling and viscous. He felt smothered, helpless and unable to breathe, when he saw a flicker of light. It was twinkling, inviting him to come closer. He managed to do that, and instantly he was transported out of the darkness and on a rocky barren clearing. He squinted his eyes against the blinding sunlight and looked around. The ground was interspersed by bright green tufts of grass, but what really took his breath away was the view of sapphire water all around him. He recognised this place. He had seen it in the girl's mind, a long time ago.

If I'm here she mustn't be very far…

Suddenly he heard faint noises coming from his left. He took a few steps in that direction and saw her: she was training, performing complicated combat moves with a long staff in her hands. Her movements were so fast and sinuous they looked effortless, but he knew better. Her skin glistened with sweat, her expression hard and determined.

He turned, his back to her. He didn't want to interrupt her; honestly, he didn't even want to talk to her. He sat down, looking out to the sea, letting the blue fill his vision. Blue was such a rare colour for him.

Rey decided to take a break from her training when the ache in her muscles became too much to bear. She stepped towards a small boulder where she had placed a towel and a water flask, and while she was drying off her sweaty brow, she caught sight of a lone figure sitting down not far from her. She immediately recognised his profile. Her heart skipped a beat in surprise.

Rey knew she'd have to approach him eventually, but she observed him in silence for a little while, frowning: he was in a bad shape. His naked torso and back were almost unrecognisable under a bloody criss-cross of red welts.

Tortured again.

He was gazing at the sea, a pensive look on his face. Rey wondered what he was thinking.

"How much longer are you going to lurk over there?" he asked her.

She flinched, and walked towards him. "I wasn't lurking," she said hastily.

He lifted his head to look her in the eyes, and arched an eyebrow. "If you say so."

"What are you doing here?"

"I didn't come here on purpose. I must have passed out."

Rey snorted. "Passed out? Why? Weren't you the one who said the bruises didn't hurt very much?"

"I guess my torturer was a bit too enthusiastic today," he answered quietly. Rey bit her lower lip, feeling somewhat ashamed of her mocking reaction.

"I need to speak to Luke Skywalker," Kylo Ren declared all of a sudden.

"You…you do? Why?" Rey asked, shocked.

He grimaced. "My reasons are my own. Go fetch him."

Rey pressed her lips in a thin line. "I'm not a dog. And anyway, how do you know he'll be able to see you?"

"How do you know he won't be? He's a Jedi," he answered haughtily.

Rey felt her hands itching to slap him, but she released a sigh and got away, looking for her master.

Luke Skywalker had aged. His face bore the marks of time, the lines on his brow and cheeks deeper than he recalled. Kylo Ren regarded him coolly, in silence.

The man greeted him. "Hello Ben."

Kylo Ren didn't pause to think about what it felt like to be called with that name from that man. He pretended not to be affected at all.

"Uncle," he answered curtly. "I need to discuss something with you." He briefly glanced at Rey, who stood beside Luke. "Alone."

Rey raised her head, outraged. "You know I'll learn about it the instant I choose to enter your head! Why exclude me now?"

Luke had been observing his nephew's face very closely. He saw something there, something that made him say "Rey, please, leave us."

"But–"

"Please."

Rey fell silent; she nodded, throwing a furious glare at Kylo Ren, and stepped away.

"Talk to me, Ben," Luke said once Rey had gone.

His nephew bit the inside of his cheek. He looked conflicted, but Luke waited patiently. Ben hadn't changed much in this respect: back when he was his padawan, he always used to hesitate before confiding in him.

Suddenly he straightened up, and his face took on a look of determination. Finally ready, he spoke: "They're torturing me, as you can see. Snoke told me that he can still sense the call to the Light inside me, stronger than ever. And he intends to crush it, subjecting me to physical pain. That… That's nothing new. The issue here is… he also knows I've been having nightmares, that they're excruciating enough that he deems them an adequate punishment. But the nightmares– they weaken my mind… and when I wake up Snoke uses the Force to enter it. I don't know what he's looking for, but I know that if he finds out I have a bond with the girl, he'll kill her. I try to hide it from him, but when he delves into my mind he's… he's brutal and I can feel my focus slipping. I know I won't be able to hide the connection for much longer."

Luke could see, clear as day, how hard it was for his nephew to admit his weakness.

"What do you want from me, Ben?" he asked, not unkindly.

Kylo Ren frowned, his lips pressed together.

"I need you to teach me how to break the bond. Or at least, how to hide it completely from Snoke's prying." he said, clenching his fists.

Luke observed his nephew for a long time, in silence. He had turned towards the sea, his body rigid, tension oozing off him in waves.

"Ben, why do you want to shield the bond? Why would you want to protect Rey?"

His question was met with silence. This time though, Luke wasn't willing to wait.

"Ben, answer me."

"I don't know, alright? I hate her, I shouldn't care at all! But Snoke is right, the Light is calling to me! I don't know, I just… I thought I would feel better, stronger, I thought the pain would stop after, but…" his voice was full of an emotion so unstable and complex that Luke was having trouble deciphering it. "She's innocent I guess and… I don't know why the hell I care but she's innocent and she doesn't deserve to die."

Luke noticed his nephew's own surprise when he finished talking, as if such a concept had always been foreign to him. In a sense, it was a foreign concept. Caring enough about someone else had been something Ben Solo had done, a long time ago. It felt new for Kylo Ren.

Maybe he is coming back. He's coming back to being Ben.

"I can teach you. Not to break the bond– I don't think that's possible. But I can help you to keep it safely locked in a place inside your mind where nobody, not even Snoke, can sense it."

Kylo Ren didn't thank him out loud, but the relief in his gaze was unmistakable. "I'll come back here then. I don't exactly know how… I think it happens when I pass out, and possibly when I'm asleep. After torturing me Hux usually leaves me alone, and I try not to sleep if I can avoid it, because of my– but anyway, I'll– I'll be back."

Luke nodded.

Kylo hesitated. "I would be grateful if you didn't tell her. At least not– not about the reason I'm doing this. I know I don't deserve a favour from you but–"

"I won't tell Rey" Luke interrupted. "But you should. She'll know soon enough anyway. Why hide something actually good about you from her?"

Kylo ignored the comment about his goodness. "I don't– I can't stand that girl. I don't intend to have anything to do with her, not more than necessary anyway." He clenched his jaw tightly, frowning. She makes me feel too much.

Luke merely arched an eyebrow.

"One more thing," Kylo added. "I heard something that may be of value to you. The First Order is planning to lead an attack on Eufornis Minor. They need soldiers after the losses on Starkiller base, so they'll raid the villages and steal children from their families. I don't know precisely when, but it will be soon. A few weeks, a month maybe."

Luke gave him a sharp glance. "Why are you telling me this?"

Kylo Ren shrugged. "I don't like owing people."

"Are you sure you're not doing it because those children, too, are innocent, just like Rey?"

Kylo scoffed, but didn't answer. He started to turn away from his uncle, but before he could disappear Luke spoke again.

"Ben... what are your nightmares about?"

He didn't answer. He tightened his fists again, jerking his face away from Luke's clear eyes.

"That's none of your business."

"Are they about Han?" Luke insisted. "Do you regret killing your father?"

Pain, raw and merciless, flashed on Kylo Ren's face. Then he abruptly disappeared.

Rey had been sitting, perched on a high rock, and though she was too far to hear the conversation, she had observed the exchange between the two men very closely. Kylo Ren had looked tormented, his features almost twisted in anguish, while Luke's face remained oddly calm and serene. After a few minutes, Rey saw Kylo disappear.

Luke turned slowly, his eyes searching hers, while a small, genuine smile slowly spread across his features.