Chapter 4
The training of a Padawan

Coruscant - 23 Years To the battle

Eriaar walked silently through the dark, empty corridors of the Jedi Temple. What he had heard that afternoon sent chills down his spine. It had taken far too long for them to realize that Nephyl was not like other Jedi. Her connection to the Force was extraordinary, but it wasn’t the only power the girl possessed.

He had known from the very first moment he saw her sleeping in that dark cave, dimly lit by a small blue flame. Nephyl was a witch, and besides the Force, she also used a different type of magic - similar to the Nightsisters... and to his own. Eriaar had always known he had to hide his powers, but Nephyl had grown up on a small, isolated planet. How could she possibly have known about the Jedi rules, which had been growing increasingly strict over the years?

The Force swirled around him, warning him of a human presence. Eriaar quickly called upon his powers to hide himself within the Force. His ability to Morph within the Force was particularly useful for espionage missions, as well as for wandering around undisturbed at night. Over the past two years, he had worked hard on himself and his abilities. With regular nutritious meals and a pinch of help from the Force and his powers, Eriaar had grown in stature, reaching an average height for his age. He had also built considerable muscle, reclaiming the vigor typical of a Nightbrother.

He was proud to say that he could now stand toe-to-toe not only with Master Talira but also with Grand Master Valen Korr himself. Naturally! Nightbrothers were born warriors. He had never received formal military training on Dathomir, but life on Coruscant was a whole other story. When it was time to construct his lightsaber, the Kyber Crystal that called to him was a magnificent blue crystal - the color of the Jedi Order’s warriors.

As for his other abilities... he was quite capable in those as well. He was a master of Dark Illusion and was no slouch with Psychic Bond either. Except for the latter, these were not skills he could hone within the confines of the Jedi Temple. He had found a suitable training location a few hundred kilometers away and visited it whenever he had free time - be it from missions or training Robin.

Even his Padawan worried him: the Force told him Robin was hiding something, but he couldn't exactly interrogate her. Kai and three-quarters of the Jedi Council would gladly press her for answers, but Eriaar was different, and he intended to stay that way. Robin would open up to her Master as soon as she felt safe and protected. He just had to continue proving himself worthy of her trust.

He stopped in front of Nephyl's quarters. What he was about to do went against every Jedi rule and even his own good sense, but the words Master Thal had spoken that afternoon kept echoing in his head.

«There’s something that worries me, Valen,» Thal had said to Valen. «It concerns Nephyl.»

Valen had raised a hand, stopping the heavy projectile hurtling toward his face, mere inches from hitting him. «It must be serious for you to disturb me about your Padawan.»

Thal had sighed, his voice barely louder than a whisper. «She doesn’t just use the Force. I believe she’s a witch.»

«A witch?» Valen had turned toward Thal, now entirely focused on the discussion. «Are we training a witch?»

Thal had nodded slowly. «I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I felt it was my duty to warn you.»

«Keep an eye on her,» Valen had ordered. «If it turns out you’re right, we’ll do what must be done to protect the Galaxy - and the child of the prophecy.»

The blood in Eriaar's veins froze completely: they wanted to kill her! He had been surrounded by murderous intent throughout his childhood, so he would recognize it even from light-years away. And to think, he hadn't even meant to be in the training hall that afternoon, but the Force had nudged him toward a little extra practice. He had to protect Nephyl, just as he would protect Robin. He needed to teach her to hide her powers and use only the Force; but he also needed to help her grow her true powers, to keep them under control and prevent them from erupting in times of danger.

He concentrated, lifted his hand, and made a gesture in the air: the door before him slid open instantly. The girl’s room was lit by a small blue flame, floating above Nephyl’s head as she slept deeply. Her power was truly extraordinary! She was fueling her magic even in her sleep. Eriaar closed the door behind him, then placed two fingers on her temple and shut his eyes.

He let his power flow, imagining it seeping into the microscopic cracks in the young witch’s mental walls. Deep in slumber, she noticed nothing. 

Nephyl couldn’t even recall what she had been dreaming before a human figure, calling her name, appeared in the distance. She made her way toward it and stood astonished to see Master Eriaar before her, standing in the center of a vast cyclone of water and snow. She could see his lips moving, but no sound reached her; his voice was carried away by the wind.

Looking down at the icy surface below, Nephyl placed a cautious foot on it. Hearing no ominous creaks, she carefully stepped forward toward Eriaar. When she was close enough, the Jedi raised a hand, and the storm calmed instantly.

Nephyl lifted her eyes to meet Eriaar’s deep, gentle gaze, and he smiled at her. It wasn’t his usual smile, though - it was clearly tinged with worry, poorly concealed. He wasn’t a good liar, which perhaps was a good thing. Over the past two years, he had grown taller, his face had lost all traces of youth, his hair had grown longer, and he had become much more athletic. He had worked ten times harder than everyone else to reach his current form, given the pitiful state his body had been in before.

He placed a hand on Nephyl’s head, and she felt his power course through her veins, warming her. «Meet me at the hangar, and hurry.»

With those words, his image became ethereal and dissolved into the still air left in the wake of the tempest. Then, suddenly, she was no longer asleep. Sitting up, she looked around: the small flame she always kept alight dimly illuminated her room, but there was no sign of life. She placed a hand on her temple, feeling a slight warmth. Eriaar had left behind a significant trail of power. Had he really managed to bypass her mental barriers? That Jedi possessed considerable strength. Nephyl wasn’t sure if the Jedi truly understood how lucky they were to have him on their side rather than against them.

She recalled his words and slid out of bed. Changing into her white tunic, she tied her long, white hair into a braid and left her room. She ran silently through the dark, empty corridors of the Jedi Temple. She knew she couldn’t be seen by anyone; otherwise, she wouldn’t be the only one to suffer the consequences. She didn’t want to get Master Eriaar in trouble.

Fortunately, as one of the safest places in the Galaxy, the Jedi Temple didn’t require tight surveillance. The few Jedi on guard were scattered far apart. She reached the hangar quickly. Eriaar was waiting in front of his ship. As soon as he saw her, he lowered the boarding ramp.

She reached him, out of breath. «Master Eriaar… I’m sorry… I came as quickly as I could.»

Eriaar placed a hand on her head, and Nephyl glanced up at his smiling face from behind his arm. «I’m the one who should apologize for pulling you out of bed at this hour, but it’s of vital importance that you come with me.»

Nephyl nodded, and Eriaar boarded the ship. She took a deep breath and followed him. Heading to the couch, she was ready to buckle her seatbelt, but Eriaar stopped her and motioned for her to follow him. Together, they entered the cockpit, and the Jedi sat in the captain’s chair.

Noticing that Nephyl was still standing, he nodded toward the co-pilot’s seat. Master Thal never even allowed her to enter the cockpit, let alone sit in the co-pilot’s seat. Happy, she obeyed. The seat was clearly adjusted for Robin, his Padawan. Nephyl swallowed a huff; Robin really was lucky! Her Master was Eriaar Shehol, one of the most powerful Jedi in the Order and one of its strongest fighters… and she was stuck with a relic that hadn’t yet turned to dust by some miracle. Master Thal was incredibly intelligent and powerful, skilled in the dark side of the Force, and a master manipulator of the Force - but he simply wasn’t Eriaar Shehol.

Eriaar powered up the engines and made an almost imperceptible gesture with his hand, but it was enough to open the hangar's massive doors. Yes, he was indeed very powerful. Nephyl had grown accustomed to the vacuum of air that always accompanied a ship lifting off the ground, but she still didn’t know where they were headed.

Of course, she would follow Eriaar to the ends of the Galaxy and back, but her curiosity was piqued.

The ship left the Jedi Temple and rose a few hundred meters, clearly not intending to leave Coruscant’s atmosphere. «Master Eriaar, where are we going?»

Eriaar winked. «To my secret place!»

It should be illegal to be this handsome!

The Jedi increased the ship’s speed only once they were far from the inhabited center. Nephyl leaned forward to gaze at the sky: it had to be the dead of night! The silence was abruptly broken by the radio crackling to life.

The astonished voice of a space traffic controller filled the cockpit. «LJ-117, where are you heading?»

Nephyl saw Eriaar roll his eyes before pressing the button to respond. At that moment, she felt an electric jolt run up her spine. «You have never seen me. Forget you contacted me. Forget my ship’s registry number. You know nothing.»

His words seemed to reverberate in her mind, so much so that Nephyl covered her ears with her hands. Every syllable spoken by Eriaar carried immense power, but…

That’s impossible… He’s trying to control their mind through the radio?

Nephyl tensed, expecting an explosion of rage from the controller, who would surely alert the Jedi, condemning them both to exile. Instead… the radio fell silent, signaling that the line had been disconnected. Eriaar sighed, removed his finger from the button, and further increased the speed.

Nephyl was literally left gaping.

He did it! He actually did it! Who is this man?!

Eriaar must have sensed her staring because he turned his gaze toward her and burst out laughing. Then, with two fingers, he tapped her chin. «Close your mouth, or you’ll catch flies!»

Nephyl quickly shut her jaw, making him laugh even more. Eriaar shook his head, clearly amused, and ran a hand over the back of his neck. Her attention shifted to the muscles of his forearm, which flexed visibly for a moment: this man wasn’t just a powerful Force user but also a well-built warrior.

«We’re almost there.»

His voice drew her attention to his face, where his eyes still carried a smile. A smile reflexively spread across her own lips. She shifted her gaze to the scenery outside the window: they were flying over a forested area, but up ahead was a vast clearing, hundreds of kilometers away from civilization.

Why did he bring me here?

Eriaar landed the ship smoothly; he was also an excellent pilot… Was there anything this man couldn’t do?! He shut off the engines and turned to her, gesturing for her to follow. Nephyl slid off her seat and exited the cockpit. She pressed the button to open the hatch and lower the boarding ramp. Eriaar thanked her, then stepped off the ship, with Nephyl close behind.

The cold night wind made her shiver slightly. «Are you cold?»

Nephyl shrugged. «I’ve endured worse, Master Eriaar.»

«Eriaar. There’s no need to emphasize the title when we’re alone,» he said while removing his heavy cloak, draping it over her shoulders. «I should’ve warned you to dress warmly as well.»

At that, Eriaar sighed and turned his back to her. His concern vibrated through every particle of energy surrounding him. Nephyl wrapped herself tightly in the warm cloak and took a deep breath: Eriaar smelled of desert and night... perhaps because he was born on Dathomir, the ancestral planet of the Nightsister Clan. She didn’t know much yet, but she knew enough to understand that Eriaar was an exception to the rule.

She wondered if he, too, had been saved from the clutches of those who didn’t love him.

Startlingly, she straightened, pulling her nose away from the fabric just as Eriaar turned toward her, offering a weary smile. «You’re in danger, Nephyl.»

Those words froze the blood in her veins. «What…? Why?»

«Because you don’t just use the Force,» Eriaar explained gently. «Because there’s another power flowing through your veins. Because you’re a witch.»

«A… a witch?»

It was the first time anyone had called her that. Hearing it from Eriaar didn’t make it sound negative, merely factual, but she knew the Jedi Order didn’t see it the same way. From what little she had learned in the past two years, the Jedi were terrified of something and were hunting creatures called Sith… Witches, like the Nightsisters’ Clan and anyone who didn’t exclusively use the Force or its light side, were considered enemies of peace by the Jedi. As such, they were to be hunted and eliminated.

«But… I’m a Padawan!» she tried to defend herself. «I’m Thal Marun’s apprentice! I’m doing everything I’m told to do!»

«For now,» Eriaar agreed, placing his hands on her shoulders. «But what will happen when the Jedi give you an order, and your witch’s nature tells you to do the exact opposite?»

Nephyl lowered her head, hot tears spilling from her eyes and streaking her cheeks. She had truly thought she had found a home, a safe place to learn to control her powers and have a purpose in life. Could it be that her own Master wanted to harm her?

«Nephyl…» Eriaar’s voice was little more than a whisper, gentle and soothing to her troubled mind. «You don’t have to be afraid. I didn’t tell you this to scare you, but because you deserve to know what lies ahead. I’m sorry for Master Thal, but you must not trust him. I’ll teach you to use only the Force and to control your other power.»

She needed reassurance. «Eriaar… You… You’re like me, aren’t you?»

Relief flooded her as he nodded. «Yes. I come from Dathomir. My mother was a Nightsister, and I inherited her powers, even though, theoretically, men aren’t born Force-sensitive. I was an outcast, but Kai saved me and brought me to Coruscant. I trained hard to use the Force and to avoid giving the Jedi a reason to fear me." His smile quickened her pulse, though not from fear. "Don’t worry, Nephyl. You’re incredibly powerful, and I have no doubt you’ll become a very strong Jedi. I’ll help you if you’ll let me.»

«Yes!» She clamped a hand over her mouth, embarrassed by her outburst of joy. Blushing fiercely as understanding dawned on his face, she tried again. «I mean… You’re strong, so I accept your help.»

«Oh, so I’m strong, huh?»

Eriaar burst into laughter, and Nephyl hid under his cloak, making him laugh even more.

As long as she had Eriaar by her side, she could sleep soundly. She would work hard and become a powerful Jedi, one that would make Eriaar proud! Yes, she would succeed, no matter the cost! 

Coruscant - 22 Years To the battle

Nephyl swung her legs back and forth as she waited for her Master to return. He had been in a meeting with the Jedi Council for half an hour now. She would have much preferred to train, but Thal had ordered her to wait there. Luckily, Robin was now by her side. The two had become friends. With just a year between them, they shared a unique connection to the Force.

Robin was Eriaar’s Padawan, and Nephyl knew how proud he was of her. She envied her - Robin could see and speak to him whenever she wanted, while Nephyl always had to do so in secret. Robin hadn’t yet noticed her friend’s fondness for her Master, but honestly, who wouldn’t love Eriaar?

Not only was he a handsome man, big and strong, but Eriaar was also extremely protective of his Padawan, who followed him everywhere. No matter what threats they faced, the Jedi always ensured Robin’s life came first, shielding her with his own body more than once, regardless of the danger. He treated her well and made her laugh. Robin disliked physical contact with others; in fact, she detested it. But she trusted Eriaar enough to seek comfort from him, which was no small thing.

Nephyl, on the other hand, would rather be hugged by a Rancor than by her “ancient mummy” of a Master, Thal. Of course, after learning that he was watching her and harbored murderous intentions toward her, she trusted him even less. Trusting Eriaar, however, was almost second nature.

Over the past year, she had improved remarkably, thanks to Eriaar’s secret lessons. However, there were times when the Jedi’s powers frightened her. He had shown her various abilities forbidden by the Jedi but utilized by sorcerers like them: the Dark Illusion ability allowed him to create incredibly believable illusions to confuse his enemies and sometimes drive them to madness; the Dark Summoning ability enabled him to summon creatures with his magic to fight alongside him; Force Morphing allowed him to conceal his form and transform into any animal he desired - an ability shared by certain Jedi as well; he was also a Necromancer, though to demonstrate that, he would need a corpse, which wasn’t exactly easy to come by; finally, there was the Ichor Manipulation ability, which involved a glowing green substance native to Dathomir that Eriaar could use for healing, creating shields, or even projectiles; the Psychic Bond ability was another skill frowned upon by the Jedi, but both Eriaar and Nephyl had a knack for controlling others’ minds.

All the other skills, however, she could safely train with Master Thal. It was a pity that the Jedi Order forbade the use of Dark Summoning. She loved creating a magnificent white-furred wolf to aid her during training sessions with Eriaar, and it would undoubtedly have given her an edge against Master Talira. But it was better not to push her luck. Eriaar himself concealed his true power from the entire Jedi Order. Perhaps the only one with a vague understanding of it was Master Kai… and he still gave her the chills.

Every time they crossed paths, his smile was cold, and his eyes were icy. Eriaar had assured her that he wasn’t a threat, but she wasn’t sure she believed him on that point.

She had been so proud when she managed to transform herself into a wolf, especially because she had seen the pride in Eriaar’s eyes. She could admit to herself that she had a huge crush on the man, but honestly, who could resist him? He was perfection personified!

He was a Jedi Master, one of the youngest ever to achieve the rank. He was incredibly powerful, with a connection to the Force that grew stronger each day. He had another power, equally great, that allowed him to perform extraordinary feats. And last but not least, he was the best fighter in the Order. She knew he had defeated Master Talira in combat, while Grand Master Valen avoided him at all costs to preserve his title as the “unbeaten Jedi.”

Eventually, Eriaar will catch him, and then Valen won’t be unbeaten anymore!

She sighed and refocused on Robin, who had just suggested they play cards while they waited. Using the Force to hold the cards aloft in their makeshift game area - compensating for the absence of a table - they began to play. Unfortunately, they hadn’t even made it halfway through the first round when a Jedi Master summoned Robin for training, leaving Nephyl alone to wait for her Master.

She was on the verge of dozing off when, finally, the Council chamber doors opened. Nephyl stood up and greeted the Masters as they filed out, searching for her “ancient mummy.” He was the last to emerge, still engaged in a conversation with Grand Master Valen. The two stopped in the doorway, speaking in hushed tones - whatever they discussed must have been serious, given their grave and worried expressions.

Finally, Master Thal noticed her. «Thank you for your patience, Nephyl. I’ll be with you shortly.»

He waited for her nod of acknowledgment before turning back to Valen, resuming their quiet conversation. It would have been all too easy for her to use the Force to sharpen her hearing and eavesdrop on their discussion. However, Thal would have caught her immediately, and Grand Master Valen was no novice either. At least they weren’t talking about her or debating the best way to kill her.

She bit her tongue to avoid sticking it out at them both. Over the past year, thanks to Eriaar’s training, Thal’s suspicions of her had diminished, but they hadn’t disappeared entirely. She always remained on high alert around him.

Valen placed a hand on Thal’s shoulder. «Why not ask your Padawan for advice? Often, our young and promising future Knights have excellent ideas.»

«I will, Master Valen,» Thal replied.

The Grand Master gave Thal a polite nod, smiled at her, and walked down the corridor. Thal approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling kindly. Thal wasn’t entirely bad, but again, he wasn’t Eriaar. Without a word, he started walking, and Nephyl followed in silence.

She glanced at his darkened expression. What could have happened that was so serious? So deep in thought was Thal that he didn’t even realize they had left the Jedi Temple and were now amidst the bustling crowds of the main street, teeming with creatures from every corner of the Galaxy.

He finally looked up when a woman’s frightened scream pierced the air. Nephyl quickly grasped the situation: a man was running, carrying a bag full of stolen provisions.

«Master…?»

Thal exhaled slowly. «I’ll handle this, Nephyl.»

The Jedi raised his hand, and the thief’s feet lifted off the ground. The man floated ten meters in the air, spinning on his axis due to inertia. Nephyl stifled a giggle as she followed her Master.

Thal gestured with two fingers, and the stolen goods flew from the man’s hands into Nephyl’s waiting grasp. The woman ran over, and Nephyl handed back the stolen items, just as several patrol officers approached to arrest the thief. The woman offered them two juicy, sweet meiloorun fruits in gratitude.

«Is it good?» Thal asked her, giving her a gentle pat on the head. «If you like it, I can get you some more.»

Nephyl devoured her fruit, then shook her head. «It’s good, but don’t worry about me, Master. Instead, what was Master Valen talking about?»

Thal’s smile froze, and his face darkened once more. «We’ve received a distress signal from a rather important planet, both for the Republic and for us Jedi. Apparently, a powerful Sith has taken control of the entire planet and rules with an iron fist. He’s executed anyone who’s dared to oppose him, and the population is in despair.» He sighed, scratching the back of his neck. «Master Valen intended to handle it personally, alone, but we managed to convince him to assemble a team. You and I will go with him, as I’m the only one familiar with the ways of the dark side, and you’re my Padawan. But I don’t believe we can do much on our own. Valen is powerful, no doubt, but he’s also old, and I’ve never been much of a warrior.»

Nephyl didn’t have to think long. One name immediately sprang to mind. «Why don’t we ask Master Eriaar? Isn’t he one of the Order’s best fighters?»

Thal’s shoulders relaxed at her words, as if a great weight had been lifted from him. «Valen was right.» He smiled, placing a hand on her head. «You Padawans have excellent ideas.» 

Finding him wasn’t easy. Eriaar was particularly skilled at disappearing when he wanted to. Nephyl and Thal split up to search the entire Jedi Temple… assuming he was even in the Temple. Robin hadn’t mentioned any missions, so it was unlikely he had left Coruscant. He had to be there somewhere!

Frustrated with wandering aimlessly, Nephyl decided to try something else. She looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then closed her eyes and focused on Eriaar’s energy in the Force. Slowly, in the darkness of her mind, a human figure appeared in the distance. She channeled her power to reach his mind, distinctly feeling the Force and his magic collide with an immense, impenetrable wall; Eriaar was another who always kept his mental barriers high.

She had no intention of breaking through them, of course. Instead, she simply knocked on his mental door and sent a message, just as he had done with her.

Eriaar, where are you? I need to talk to you. It’s urgent, about Master Valen.

She remained still, perfectly immobile, continuing to channel her power into the telepathic ability and waiting for a response. After a few seconds, she was certain she had failed. She reopened her eyes with a huff: perhaps she wasn’t yet ready to use that skill.

Her last resort was to ask Robin, but she had no idea where her friend was either. Surely, finding a thirteen-year-old girl would be easier than finding her twenty-year-old Master, right?

She had barely taken a step when a strange tingling sensation at the base of her skull stopped her. Someone was trying to enter her mind. It took her a moment to realize it wasn’t an attack: the Force was calm, and her own powers were still. This could only mean one thing…

Eriaar!

She closed her eyes and slightly lowered her mental barriers - just enough to let him in.

I’m training in the main training hall. I’ll wait for you here.

Nephyl’s legs moved before she gave them any conscious order, and she found herself running through the Temple’s corridors.

The main training hall was massive, capable of holding up to two hundred Jedi in training. It was equipped for every type of practice: physical training, hand-to-hand combat, lightsaber duels, and Force techniques. It was typically where Padawans were taught combat by Master Talira.

She reached the hall, out of breath, and entered. Strangely, it was completely empty, except for the Jedi Master, who appeared to be sparring against… himself?

Nephyl approached cautiously, keeping a safe distance, intrigued by the duel. Eriaar was battling an exact replica of himself, and as such, he struggled to break through his opponent’s defenses.

She sat cross-legged on the ground to watch. Eriaar’s body temperature was naturally high, and he warmed up easily during training. His Jedi tunic was made of a much lighter material than those worn by others. When training, however, he usually practiced shirtless, a sight to behold.

His chest, shoulders, and back were adorned with black tattoos - the only marks that distinguished him from the other Jedi and served as a reminder of his origins as a Nightbrother. Nephyl observed the tension in his muscles, the pulsing veins in his arms, and the way his tied hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat.

Suddenly, Eriaar turned toward the doors and made a gesture with his hand. His copy vanished into thin air, replaced by a training droid. Nephyl was momentarily confused by the change until the doors opened, and Thal entered.

Eriaar had already resumed his training, though at a noticeably lower intensity than moments before.

Of course… Dark Illusion is a skill forbidden by the Jedi Order.

Just as the Jedi kept an eye on her, it was certain they also monitored Eriaar closely, especially since he was such a powerful Jedi, and the Council was well aware of his origins. It was strange that they had accepted him at all, given their fear of anyone using powers beyond the Force.

Thal reached her, and Nephyl stood up. «I found him!»

«Yes, I noticed,» Thal murmured before rolling his eyes. «You also forgot to inform me - and I’m starting to understand why.»

Nephyl blushed, her shoulders slumping. «Master, what are you saying? It’s nothing like that.»

«Master Thal!» Eriaar’s voice drew their attention to him as he dodged a right hook from the droid. «Give me a second, and I’ll be right with you.»

«Take your time, Master Eriaar,» Thal reassured him. «Those droids aren’t easy to—»

Before he could finish his sentence, Eriaar dropped low, putting his full weight on one hand and sweeping the droid’s metal legs out from under it. The machine lost its balance, and Eriaar pushed himself up into the air, landing gracefully a few meters away as the droid attempted to rise.

Raising a hand, Eriaar lifted his opponent off the ground and then slowly closed his fist. The sound of bending metal filled the hall as the Force crushed the droid under the Jedi’s command. Within seconds, the droid was nothing more than a compact cube of metal that thudded to the floor.

Eriaar lowered his hand slowly and gestured with two fingers, summoning his tunic to his shoulders. Walking toward them, he smiled kindly at both. Nephyl glanced up at Thal and noticed he had turned visibly pale.

So much for not scaring the Jedi!

She was distracted as Eriaar placed a gentle hand on her head. «Sorry to have caused trouble; I didn’t know you needed me. What can I do for you, Master Thal?»

Thal was still fixated on the compacted cube of metal that had once been a training droid. «M-Master Eriaar, those droids are expensive, you know. Has no one ever told you that?»

Eriaar glanced over his shoulder at the crushed droid. «Ah… I may have gotten carried away. It won’t happen again, Master Thal, I promise.» He spoke sincerely, but when he looked at Nephyl, he winked, and she almost burst out laughing. «Now then, what were we saying? What do you need from me?»

Master Thal straightened up and cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. «We need your help with a mission.»

«What kind of mission?»

The air between the two Jedi Masters grew heavy. «We’ve received a distress signal from one of our allied planets. A powerful Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Nexar, is ruling with an iron fist. It’s a miracle they managed to contact us. We must intervene!»

«And what does this have to do with me?» Eriaar asked, incredulous. «Why have you come to me?»

«The Grand Master Valen is old now; he’s no longer the warrior he once was, and I’ve never been skilled with a lightsaber,» Thal explained irritably. «We need a young fighter, someone like you, who can stand up to Nexar.»

At this, Eriaar turned his dark gaze to Nephyl. «I hope you’re not planning to bring your Padawan along. The mission is dangerous, unsuitable for young girls their age. I’ll join you, but Robin stays here.»

«That’s not how it works, Master Eriaar. Master and Padawan—»

«Always travel together, yes, I know,» Eriaar interrupted, his tone sharp. Nephyl instinctively stepped back, sensing the Force swirling dangerously around the young Jedi. «But her life is my responsibility, and I insist that she remain safe on Coruscant.»

«Then don’t come!» Thal snapped, turning his back and storming toward the doors. He stopped suddenly. «You would do well to stop challenging our rules, Master Eriaar.»

Nephyl panicked when she saw Eriaar’s eyes flare with anger. Without thinking, she threw herself at him, clinging to his arm. The Jedi lowered his fiery gaze to her, and she shook her head.

A second passed… then another…

Eriaar’s shoulders relaxed, and the Force around him settled. Nephyl exhaled in relief and released his arm. His gaze seemed to pierce her through and through. He wasn’t just furious; he was deeply worried. He cared more about his Padawan’s life than following the Jedi Council’s outdated rules. But by doing so, he risked alienating many Jedi, which was not ideal.

At that moment, she felt a tingling at the base of her skull. She immediately lowered her mental barriers.

Don’t go with him. You could die, Nephyl. Thal isn’t capable of protecting you, and neither is Valen!

Nephyl bit her lip, then timidly connected to Eriaar’s mind.

Then… come with us. You can protect me… Protect all of us.

Eriaar averted his gaze.

My priority is my Padawan’s life.

Ouch! That stung. Even Eriaar must have realized it because he sighed slowly, offered her a sad smile, and gently patted her head.

It will all be fine, Nephyl.

He didn’t believe it himself, but he was trying to stay positive for her sake. Nephyl lowered her gaze and gave him a stiff bow before running off. She barely heard Eriaar call her name but didn’t stop or look back. She was going with her Master!

If Valen and Thal were too old to defend themselves, then she would have to. She had grown much stronger since joining the Jedi Order. She could do this! She just had to be careful not to use her true powers and rely solely on the Force. 

He drove his lightsaber into the chest of his clone, which dissolved instantly, before raising it to block the lethal strike of another figure. He needed a break, a way to distract himself and stop thinking. He was certain the mission would be a disaster. No one would come back alive. He had seen it…

He had had a terrible nightmare the previous night: a powerful Dark Lord of the Sith, a planet, an aging Grand Master Valen Korr, Master Thal Marun, and his young Padawan… Valen was the first to fall, followed quickly by the other two. He had awoken in a pool of sweat, his heart pounding at an alarming rate.

That was why he had spent the entire day training, trying to drive his mind away from that horrific nightmare, which he prayed would remain just that - a nightmare. Everything changed when Nephyl approached him, and the conversation with Master Thal had nearly made him lose his temper.

Risking a Padawan’s life on such a clearly suicidal mission, all for the sake of outdated and rigid rules, was absurd to him. He would never, under any circumstances, allow anything to happen to Robin.

Eriaar was so engrossed in his training that he didn’t notice Robin arrive. The Force always warned him if an enemy Jedi approached, someone hostile to his true powers, but his Padawan was not among them.

Kai had entrusted Robin to him for a good reason. Robin came from Dathomir; she was a Nightsister, possessing the same powers as him. Entrusting her training to anyone else would have been dangerous. She wasn’t ready to talk about her powers yet, and Eriaar wouldn’t force her. She would eventually trust her Master completely, just as Nephyl did.

A small smile crossed his lips: things were certainly easier with Nephyl, given her crush on him.

Finally, his eyes noticed Robin, floating mid-air, intently studying his sparring match. He smiled at her before raising a hand and striking the ground, releasing a powerful wave of Force energy that instantly dissolved his clones.

He had trained enough. His muscles ached from the exertion.

He approached Robin, who handed him a towel. «Thank you.»

«What’s wrong, Master?» His Padawan was particularly sensitive to emotional shifts in those around her. «You seem worried. It’s not like you to miss someone arriving.»

Eriaar sighed slowly, carefully choosing his words. «Something terrible is going to happen to Grand Master Valen, Master Thal, and his Padawan.»

«Nephyl?» Robin grabbed his arm. «Nephyl is in danger? We have to help her, Master!»

«It’s too dangerous.» While he agreed with his Padawan and didn’t want Nephyl to die, the risk of losing two Padawans instead of one was too great, even to entertain the thought. «The Dark Lord of the Sith they’re going to face is too powerful. This is a suicide mission.»

«It’s a suicide mission for them alone,» Robin pleaded. «Master, I know you’re worried about me, but you’re their only chance of surviving. I promise I won’t get into trouble. I’ll stay by your side and won’t do anything reckless. As Jedi, it’s our duty to protect the Galaxy and its people, right?»

She wasn’t entirely wrong. It was no secret that Eriaar had joined the Jedi Order for purely selfish reasons. He didn’t want to die on Dathomir, and as soon as someone offered him a way out, he had accepted without asking questions or aspiring to become a champion of justice. Over time, though, he had learned to appreciate the Jedi Order’s ideals and actively participate in the defense of the Galaxy, first as a Padawan, then as a Jedi Master.

The idea of an allied planet in such dire straits angered him. But he feared for Robin’s life.

He looked down at her. Her eyes burned with the desire to protect her friend and the innocent population oppressed by the Sith.

He leaned toward her, looking directly into her eyes. «You’ll do exactly what I say, when I say it - no arguments, no questions. Am I clear, Robin?»

Her face lit up, and the girl began bouncing with excitement. «Crystal clear, Master!»

Robin hopped around joyfully, and Eriaar relaxed his tense muscles, smiling and shaking his head at his Padawan’s excitement. He needed more information about this Dark Lord of the Sith. It was always better to be psychologically prepared for a confrontation, especially if the enemy was someone so powerful.

He retrieved his tunic, draped it over his shoulders, and instructed Robin to follow him.

The two left the training hall and headed to the Archives of the Ancient Masters - the great library on Coruscant, where all the knowledge the Jedi Order had accumulated over millennia was stored. There had to be something about this fearsome Sith. He needed to uncover the Sith’s weaknesses, history, fighting style, and the identity of their master - how they had risen to the highest rank in the Sith Order.

Fortunately, in that regard, the Jedi Order rarely disappointed. The Jedi spies, still working undercover throughout the Galaxy, were unparalleled - even the Republic had to acknowledge the Order’s effectiveness on that front.

The Sith Order, on the other hand, was too proud to infiltrate the Jedi Order. They didn’t have a prophecy weighing on their shoulders.

He handed Robin several files. She needed to understand what awaited them on Nerathos.

Nerathos was a planet inhabited by a particularly advanced, ancient, and wise civilization. They had designed the blueprint for the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and possessed extraordinary architectural knowledge. Abandoning them in their time of need, after everything they had done for the Jedi Order, would have been cowardly. And if there was one thing the Jedi were not, it was cowards!

As for the Dark Lord of the Sith…

Darth Nexar... He is possibly the youngest Sith to ever ascend to the rank of Dark Lord.

The Sith Order typically preferred older Sith with considerable experience to lead them, but Darth Nexar had always distinguished himself on the battlefield. He had once had a companion, a certain Lady Selene, who, as far as the Jedi knew, had left the Sith Order. The reasons, however, remained unclear.

Eriaar was about to set aside her file when something caught his attention: Selene’s home planet was, strangely enough, Nerathos.

Is this… revenge for being abandoned?

The pieces slowly came together to form a clear picture: Darth Nexar had faced no difficulty in subjugating Nerathos’ intelligent and wise population because his companion had told him about their history, culture, and which cities to bend and which to destroy.

Darth Nexar was a clever man, and they needed to be careful. Grand Master Valen had likely underestimated him, assuming he was just another old grump, incapable of wielding a lightsaber and not particularly bright. 

The Jedi often succumbed to arrogance, which could easily become a fatal flaw. 

The following morning, at dawn, Nephyl found herself with Master Thal and Grand Master Valen at the latter’s ship. Valen seemed far too calm, while Thal’s face was dark: he knew perfectly well that they were embarking on a suicide mission.

She had heard him murmuring apologies as they walked to the hangars. None of them would survive without Eriaar’s help. She had begged Thal to reconsider and try to contact the Jedi Master. There was no shame in wanting to protect one’s Padawan, was there? Some Jedi rules were truly absurd, and following them blindly would cause more harm than good.

Eriaar understood this and would always prioritize his Padawan’s life above all else, even if it meant angering certain members of the Council.

But Thal had been adamant: the Jedi rules must be followed to the letter, or one wasn’t even worthy of being part of the Order.

The first time Nephyl had discovered Thal’s murderous intentions, she hadn’t wanted to believe it. Now, she wondered how she hadn’t realized it on her own. Her Master was more concerned with following his precious rules than saving his young Padawan’s life. She had been hurt by Eriaar’s refusal, but now she understood how right he had been.

The two Jedi Masters began boarding the ship, but Thal stopped when he noticed his Padawan still standing motionless. «Nephyl, we need to go.»

Nephyl cast one last glance over her shoulder, sighed slowly, and joined her Master. Fear tightened her throat as Thal reached for the button to close the ramp. The stench of death hung in the air… None of them would return to Coruscant alive.

The fact that she could do absolutely nothing to change her fate, that all she could do was accept it, was unbearable!

Thal’s fingers hovered over the button when a voice called out from outside, dispelling her fears. «Wait for us!»

They turned in unison toward the hangar, where Robin was running toward them, followed closely by Master Eriaar. She barely heard Thal’s sigh of relief. What she distinctly felt was the aura of death being swept away by the mere presence of the Jedi Master and his Padawan.

It was as if an enormous weight had just been lifted from her shoulders.

Nephyl smiled and ran to Robin, taking her hands. «Are you coming with us?»

Robin nodded confidently. «We couldn’t possibly let you go alone!»

Eriaar walked past them, placing a hand on Nephyl’s head before continuing toward Masters Valen and Thal. «I’ve gathered some information on Darth Nexar.»

«And who would that be?»

Eriaar seemed momentarily taken aback by Valen’s question. «The Dark Lord of the Sith we’re about to face… You didn’t even know his name?!»

Master Thal physically stepped between the two. «Excellent work, Master Eriaar. You can brief us on your findings during the journey.»

Robin leaned closer to Nephyl and whispered in her ear. «My Master says Valen’s arrogance will be the death of him someday.»

Nephyl couldn’t help but agree. «The arrogance of the Jedi Order would have killed me, too, if I hadn’t convinced your Master to come with us.»

Master Thal called the two girls to order, and they boarded the ship. This time, it was Nephyl herself who pressed the button to close the ramp. Everything was going to be fine. Eriaar was with them, and he would protect them.

She didn’t care much about Thal and Valen’s lives. In fact, she had questioned why Thal had insisted on bringing someone else along! They could have rid themselves of a pompous, arrogant relic if they had let him go alone.

The three Jedi Masters secluded themselves in the cockpit, while the girls went to sit on the semi-circular couch. They buckled their seatbelts, waiting for the engines to fire up.

There was the usual vacuum of air as the ship lifted off the ground, leaving behind the Jedi Temple and Coruscant’s atmosphere. Nephyl closed her eyes, sensing space and time bending around the ship as it accelerated instantly, launching into hyperspace.

The journey would take about two hours. Robin quickly pulled out a deck of cards, suggesting they play. Nephyl, however, wanted to learn more about the Sith they were about to face. Fortunately, Robin had spent the entire previous evening studying the files on Darth Nexar.

He was roughly the same age as Master Kai-Dar Vantos and was possibly the youngest to ever climb to the top of the Sith Order's hierarchy. Apparently, his companion, Lady Selene, had left him and the Sith Order to live a normal life with her new partner. Out of spite, Darth Nexar had decided to seize control of her home planet.

They weren’t dealing with a complete fool, as Grand Master Valen likely assumed, but with someone who had carefully studied a potentially valuable planet for the Sith Order and used that knowledge to easily take control of its population.

He was a cunning and intelligent creature who could not be underestimated.

Eriaar had saved everyone’s skin. Nephyl could sense the tension in the cockpit: Valen and Thal weren’t taking the news about Darth Nexar very well. Perhaps they were beginning to realize the danger they were heading into and the certain death they had narrowly avoided, thanks to Eriaar’s intervention.

Nephyl exhaled slowly. «You have no idea how lucky you are to be Master Eriaar’s Padawan.»

Robin looked at her as if she were crazy. «Lucky? Eriaar is insufferable as a Master! Always trying to hug me and annoy me!» Her eyes turned dreamy. «I’d much rather be Master Kai’s Padawan.»

«Kai?» Nephyl shook her head emphatically. «No, no! Kai is creepy.»

Robin pouted. «You’d be creepy, too, if you had to deal with Naitsirk all day, every day.»

Nephyl couldn’t argue with that; Naitsirk got on her nerves too. «Kai is creepy regardless! And besides, Eriaar is on a whole other level.»

Robin opened her mouth to respond, then squinted at her, scrutinizing her closely. Nephyl raised her eyebrows, wondering why she was being stared at like that. Two seconds later, Robin burst out laughing. Had she lost her mind? Had Kai toyed with her brain a bit too much?

Between fits of laughter, Robin managed to get out a few words. «Don’t tell me you like Eriaar?»

Nephyl slumped her shoulders, understanding her friend’s reaction, and pouted. «You like Kai!»

Robin’s laughter grew louder. «Exactly! Eriaar is unbearable, while Kai is tall, kind, and handsome.»

«Would you stop laughing?!»

The temptation to Force-choke her grew suddenly intense, but Robin didn’t notice and kept laughing.

The cockpit door slid open at that moment, and Eriaar stepped inside.

He looked at the two girls, raising an eyebrow. «Well? What’s going on here?»

Robin wiped her tears, then shot her Master a playful look. «Oh, nothing, we were just talking about how insufferable you are, Master Eriaar.»

«Robin!?»

Eriaar wasn’t offended. Instead, he laughed along with his Padawan. «Ah, so I’m insufferable, am I?»

In the blink of an eye, he had thrown her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, making her laugh even harder. Nephyl realized only afterward that he was tickling her. Jealousy clawed at her heart, but she tried to shake it off: Robin was her friend, and besides, Eriaar saw them both as just two Padawans… She slumped her shoulders slightly.

But... he prefers Robin.

Eriaar finally set Robin back down and sat between the two of them. Nephyl suddenly stiffened as she felt his strong arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. The warmth of Eriaar’s body seeped into her very bones, heating her from head to toe. She felt as though she were burning up, but she could sense the sudden change in Eriaar’s mood. Just seconds earlier, he had been playful and happy; now he was serious and worried.

The gesture of pulling them both close wasn’t one of affection - it came from a need to protect them.

She tried her best to focus on the mission, but having him so close made it hard to even breathe.

Eriaar began explaining how the mission would unfold, but all Nephyl could think about was the raw strength contained in the muscles of Eriaar’s arm and the warmth of his body. Despite this, she kept her eyes fixed on his dark face and carefully followed the movement of his lips.

They had just intercepted a transmission between the planet Korriban and Nerathos. Robin asked for more information about Korriban, and Eriaar explained that it was the cradle of the Sith Order.

Thousands of years ago, some Dark Jedi, exiled from Coruscant, had landed on Korriban and found an intelligent civilization devoted to the dark side of the Force. They joined them, merging the culture of the Jedi Order with the native one, thus creating the Sith Order. Korriban was also Darth Nexar’s home planet.

As for Nerathos, it was a peaceful planet. Its advanced civilization had once built the Jedi Temple on Coruscant with their own hands. They were among the best architects in the galaxy. Nerathos was home to many architectural wonders; under different circumstances, visiting the planet would have been an educational experience for Padawans like them.

Eriaar tightened his grip on their shoulders: the intercepted transmission spoke of an entire battleship departing from Korriban, packed with Sith, and landing on Nerathos. The intent was clear to Eriaar: they wanted to turn the planet into a Sith stronghold. The mission had just become even more dangerous. Awaiting them would not only be Darth Nexar but also hordes of Sith.

The Jedi placed a Holocube on the table before them and activated it. A map of a large city appeared, with massive buildings constructed at impossible angles, seemingly defying gravity, surrounding an immense castle.

Apparently, it was there that Darth Nexar had settled, and it was the only structure capable of housing so many Sith. Once, it had been the beating heart of the planet’s social and political life.

Their objective was to drive the Sith out while minimizing risks to both the population and themselves.

Robin asked her Master if they had a blueprint of the castle, and Eriaar confirmed. He pressed a button on the Holocube, and the image changed.

What…? It’s a labyrinth!

Robin shivered. «It looks like the Night Sisters’ fortress on Dathomir.»

Eriaar chuckled grimly. «You’re not entirely wrong. Normally, our old fortress would be much more dangerous than this castle, but Darth Nexar has turned it into a deadly trap. We’ll need to be cautious with every single step we take. Once we’re there, focus on the Force. Listen to its faintest whispers, and everything will be fine, I promise.»

He looked from Robin to Nephyl. The two girls nodded, though their worry was evident. Eriaar himself was tense, but he tried to remain calm, at least in front of the Padawans.

He advised them to mentally prepare and meditate for a while, leaving the card games for later. Then, he stood up and returned to the cockpit.

Nephyl looked at Robin, who shrugged and put the cards away. It was better to do as Eriaar said: the mission was becoming more dangerous by the second. 

Nerathos - 22 YEARS TO THE BATTLE

The ship landed at a safe distance from the city. The group of Jedi descended the boarding ramp, with Grand Master Valen at the front and Master Eriaar bringing up the rear. With some luck, the anti-radar shields had concealed the ship from the Sith's prying eyes, who were undoubtedly monitoring space traffic around the planet. They would still need to stay vigilant. To blend in with the local population, they had brought traditional clothing of the planet. They had already changed, and, as expected, the only one who looked good in those clothes was Eriaar. Robin kept scratching herself... Indeed, they were not the most comfortable clothes Nephyl had ever worn.

Before them stretched a forest of gigantic trees. Beyond it lay the city of Harmonia, the planet's capital, where Darth Nexar had established his base, expanding his dominion over the entire Nerathos. Nephyl glanced at Robin, slightly concerned: Valen wanted to reach the city quickly, intending to use the Force to enhance their leg muscles and run at superhuman speed. She had never done it before and wasn’t sure if she could. Eriaar had given her some tips, but putting them into practice was another matter. Robin, on the other hand, seemed quite calm. She was bouncing on the spot, warming up her legs as the Force swirled around her, ready to be manipulated by the Padawan. Nephyl noticed she wasn’t the only one preparing: even the Jedi Masters were summoning the Force, which flowed restlessly among them. She hurried to close her eyes and connect with the energy around her. As soon as the Force began coursing through her veins, a veil of calm settled over her shoulders. She had to admit it was a pleasant sensation, different from when she used her witch powers. The Force was a calm and stable energy, while her magic was cold, tempestuous, and irascible. Nephyl took a deep breath, just as Valen gave the order to move out. A blink later, she and Robin found themselves alone in a small clearing. They exchanged startled looks, then focused the Force into their legs: Nephyl took a single step toward the forest, but as soon as her foot touched the ground, she was already deep within the woods.

Fantastic! Robin caught up to her, and the two increased the Force flowing to their leg muscles, speeding up even more. They reached the Jedi Masters, who had stopped to wait for them, before continuing together. The Force didn’t just strengthen their leg muscles but also guided them through the forest, indicating which obstacles to avoid, when to jump, and when to slow down. Eriaar led the way, his eyes glowing with power.

He’s using the Force Guide ability!

Suddenly, the Jedi raised a hand, and the group stopped. Nephyl couldn’t halt in time and crashed straight into Robin. They tumbled to the ground, only to be immediately pulled back by the Force—or rather, by Master Thal, who was now glaring at her alongside Grand Master Valen. Eriaar averted his gaze, hiding a smile from the two young Padawans. Nephyl blushed as red as Robin’s hair and stood up, helping her friend to her feet. She muttered an apology under her breath, but Robin dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

At that moment, the sounds of a city reached her ears. Lowering her gaze, she noticed they were now on a beaten path through the forest. They had reached the city of Harmonia in less than ten minutes! This time, Valen took the lead, and the group of Jedi marched toward the city. Nephyl’s eyes widened: the buildings looked just like they had in the HoloCube’s reflection. Some were tall, others short, and their shapes defied the laws of physics to stay upright. The city itself was a marvel of galactic engineering.

The people, however, did not reflect the vibrancy and eccentricity of their city. There was a heavy, gloomy atmosphere; they moved like androids in orderly lines, among which walked figures dressed entirely in black. A shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively moved closer to Thal: they were Sith. The group merged into the city's flow of people, blending in perfectly and trying not to draw the Sith’s attention. Nephyl glanced at Eriaar, walking ahead, holding hands with Robin, and focused on his mind, requesting access.

How many do you think there are? A hundred?

Eriaar gave no sign of having received the message, continuing to walk straight ahead. Nephyl slumped her shoulders, but at that moment, she felt a tingling at the base of her skull and had to fight a smile that threatened to brighten her face.

It would be a pleasant stroll if there were only a hundred. From the intercepted communication, I’d say we’re surrounded by at least two thousand Sith, if we’re lucky… and I’m not sure how much luck is on our side.

Nephyl shivered. 

Two thousand? But there are only five of us!

Rounding a corner, a massive shadow fell over them. Nephyl raised her eyes slightly, and the enormous castle - once the hub of social and political life for Harmonia and all of Nerathos - came into view. They needed to be cautious: the flow of people on that road had thinned considerably. She saw Eriaar approach Grand Master Valen to say something, but he raised a hand, silencing him immediately. The young Jedi bit his lip, probably to avoid arguing, and returned to his place in line, squeezing Robin’s hand tighter. A moment later, his voice filled her mind.

If we keep going like this, they won’t even let us reach the castle.

Sure enough, two Sith stepped into their path. Nephyl tensed; a fight here would draw the entire Sith army’s attention. She looked up at Thal, panic threatening to choke her: he was pale and kept glancing at Valen as if trying to warn him.

«Hey, you.» A cold woman’s voice broke the heavy silence that had fallen over the city. «Identify yourselves.»

«Master Valen…» 

«Silence.» The Grand Master immediately rebuked Eriaar. «Leave this to me.»

Nephyl saw him reach for his lightsaber, prompting the two Sith to do the same. Then Eriaar grabbed his wrist. «I’m sorry, Master Valen, but I won’t tolerate your suicidal instincts.»

Valen didn’t even have time to scold him before Eriaar’s eyes lit up with an intense fiery red. The Jedi raised a hand, moving it in an arc from left to right before his face. The two Sith froze suddenly. The woman had her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out. Their hands moved away from their lightsabers, and without another word, they turned and walked back the way they had come.

«Psychic Bond…» Master Thal murmured beside him. «Well done, Master Eriaar.»

Valen freed his wrist with a jerk and turned to face the younger Jedi. «You dared to stop me?»

«If you want to die in battle, that’s your business,» Eriaar growled softly so only Valen could hear him. «But you’re not alone on this mission, and as strong as I am in combat, I can’t take on an entire Sith army by myself!»

Master Thal intervened at that point, stepping between them. «I must agree with Master Eriaar on this: we must not draw attention to ourselves. We need to move more cautiously toward the castle. Master Eriaar, if I’m not mistaken, you’re skilled in Force Metamorphosis. Can you conceal us from the Sith’s sight until we reach the castle?»

Eriaar relaxed his shoulders and nodded. «There are many of us, but I should manage.»

Thal nodded, and Eriaar closed his eyes. Nephyl felt the Force swirling around them faster and faster, the pressure on her ears becoming almost painful. When the Jedi reopened his eyes, they were once again alight with power. He gave a barely perceptible nod, and the group resumed their journey. They were no longer stopped; in fact, it seemed as if the Sith didn’t even notice their presence. The closer they got to the castle, the fewer civilians they saw in the streets. Even the number of lights in the buildings steadily decreased.

They were almost there when a powerful and terrifying disturbance in the Force froze her legs, rooting her feet to the ground. A drop of cold sweat rolled down her forehead and traced her entire face: she had never felt such a negative energy before. That Force-wielder wasn’t just powerful but malevolent beyond imagination.

Stay calm!

Eriaar’s voice commanded in her mind, and she saw that the Jedi was watching her, his eyes still blazing with power. How could he not be afraid? How could he be so calm? Or perhaps, more likely, he was simply hiding it. After all, he had avoided an open battle with the Sith army because he knew he couldn’t face so many enemies alone. Yes, Eriaar was scared too, but he didn’t want to show it. Nephyl refused to believe there was a part of him that couldn’t feel fear because only a dark soul feared nothing and no one. 

Meanwhile, Eriaar placed a firm hand on Nephyl’s shoulder, urging her forward. He could feel his connection to the Force weakening; he wouldn’t be able to keep them concealed much longer. Sure, he could use his Nightbrother powers to guide them all the way to the throne room, but Valen was already irritable enough - he might kill Eriaar himself if he demonstrated mastery over energies beyond the Force. Like Nephyl, he had sensed the overwhelming disturbance caused by Darth Nexar, likely the same presence that had terrified her. Even Robin’s hand, still tightly gripping his, was trembling, though she hadn’t frozen. He was too preoccupied with frustration over Valen’s reckless actions to feel much fear. In fact, he was almost relieved, knowing he could vent his anger on someone other than the Grand Master. Otherwise, driving a lightsaber through him might have been frowned upon… or perhaps not?...

Robin wouldn’t stop me, Nephyl hangs on my every word, and Thal… His mind has weakened with age. It would be easy to alter his memories.

He shook his head. A Jedi wouldn’t think that way. Well, unless that Jedi were Kai-Dar Vantos, who had no qualms about manipulating memories and emotions to please everyone. But the justification behind Eriaar’s hypothetical plan went against the core ideals of the Jedi Order. Sighing, he picked up his pace toward the castle, using the Force Echo ability to scan the perimeter for entrances, exits, and Sith guards. Echo was particularly useful for missions like these. They couldn’t exactly march through the front door, after all…!

An unguarded or lightly defended entrance... There must be one! 

Even the Jedi Temple on Coruscant had blind spots. No structure was completely and perfectly secure. He stretched his remaining energy to expand his search to the castle's entire perimeter. His legs felt weaker, cold sweat dripping down his neck and face from the effort, but finally, just as he was about to give up, a glimmer of hope appeared: there was a drainage channel leading directly into the castle dungeons, with no sentries in sight...

«Follow me,» Eriaar motioned, guiding the Jedi off the main road. 

With Force Guide, he knew exactly where to go, which intersections to turn at, and where dead ends lay. Plus, he continued scanning their surroundings with Force Echo, locating potential threats around every corner. For a Sith like Darth Nexar, the castle’s security left much to be desired…

They easily reached the drainage canal. It was sealed by a massive grate, but that was the least of their problems. Eriaar raised his hand and focused on the Force: he couldn’t afford to make too much noise, as it would alert the patrolling Sith. He had to succeed on the first try.

The massive bolts anchoring the grate to the castle’s foundation began to spin, faster and faster, until they fell into the stream of runoff below. Only then did Eriaar clench his hand into a fist and pull it back. The Force yanked the grate from its bed... Perhaps he had used too much energy, as the heavy metal slab flew over their heads and landed several dozen meters away.

They all glanced nervously toward the castle, certain that someone would have noticed the anomaly. But after several minutes of tense silence, their muscles taut and ready for combat, no one came to investigate. The group of Jedi let out a collective sigh of relief.

«Master Eriaar,» Thal called, motioning toward the drainage canal. «Lead the way.»

Infiltrating the castle had been almost too easy! The smell was nauseating, but they had to endure it for the sake of the mission. Robin pinched her nose, and Nephyl wrinkled hers, but neither dared complain. They didn’t have to travel far before finding the exit.

Eriaar made sure there were no Sith patrols waiting behind the hatch before climbing the small ladder and opening the manhole just a crack. He scanned the area, double-checking that it was clear, then fully opened it and climbed out. He helped the others up and carefully closed the hatch behind them. From that point on, they would have to proceed with far greater caution.

Darth Nexar had turned the castle into a deadly trap, with hazards potentially lurking at every step. Even for him, it would be difficult to detect them all in advance. Eriaar closed his eyes, using the Force Guide ability to locate the throne room - the chamber that had once been the council hall of Nerathos. It was quite far…

«Let’s move!»

They followed Eriaar’s lead. Just reaching the ground floor was a trial, with their lives at risk at every hallway they entered. The Force guided them, telling them what to do and how to move, but it quickly became clear that Eriaar had to save both Grand Master Valen and Master Thal from danger time and time again. Fortunately, the two Padawans seemed to handle themselves quite well.

They turned yet another corner, and the Force immediately alerted Eriaar to an ambush. He raised a fist, halting the group. Scanning the corridor, he spotted tiny holes in the walls all around them. What they concealed… he didn’t want to find out. Lowering his gaze to the marble tiles, he did the same.

«Be careful. Some tiles are pressure-sensitive and will trigger a trap,» Eriaar warned. «Stay directly behind me. Step exactly where I step… Valen!»

He grabbed the Grand Master by the collar, pulling him back just before his foot pressed a trigger tile. «I said stay behind me.»

He infused his words with the Force, letting them reverberate through Valen’s mind, weakened by age. The Grand Master did not resist, his will bending to the younger Jedi’s command. Eriaar exhaled in relief and began moving from tile to tile. Only once they were safely past the trap did he release his hold on Valen’s mind.

Valen clutched his head and shot Eriaar a fiery glare. In that moment, Eriaar glimpsed a flood of thoughts from Valen’s mind: the Grand Master had sensed that his life was nearing its end. That was why he had wanted to face Darth Nexar alone, to die honorably in battle. Being forced to form this team annoyed him, making him indifferent to the lives of his companions.

And this is supposed to be the Grand Master of the Jedi? The embodiment of the Order’s values?

Eriaar realized the next danger too late, distracted by trying to organize the chaotic thoughts invading his mind.

«Master Eriaar!»

Robin’s shout snapped him back to reality just in time to pivot and catch the wooden shaft of a long, pointed spear, its blade mere inches from Valen’s face. The color drained from the Grand Master’s features as Eriaar raised an eyebrow.

So you’re afraid to die, but you won’t admit it…

He muttered a phrase often used by Kai. «Only a fool does not fear death.»

If looks could kill, Valen would have struck him down right then and there. Only Valen seemed to understand the remark, though.

Eriaar tightened his grip on the wooden shaft, snapping it in two, and resumed walking. Robin ran to his side, clinging to his arm. He looked down at his Padawan and smiled, patting her head. She would be rewarded once they returned to Coruscant.

Everything went smoothly until they reached a fork in the path.

«Which way do we go, Master Eriaar?»

Eriaar closed his eyes and used Force Guide to see where the two corridors led. The good news was that they couldn’t go wrong - both paths led to the throne room. The bad news? Both were filled with enemies and traps.

Opening his eyes, he sighed. «Both corridors lead to the throne room, but I sensed multiple dangers along the way, both human and otherwise.»

When Valen opened his mouth to speak, Eriaar’s body tensed. But for once, what the Grand Master said was sensible. «We’ll have to split up. Let’s keep combat to a minimum. Master Thal and I will take the left path. You take the right.»

Master Thal turned to Nephyl. «I leave my Padawan in your hands, Master Eriaar. Take good care of her.»

Eriaar gave a slight bow. «As if she were my own, Master Thal.»

And so the group split up. Eriaar took a deep breath of relief. Not having Valen and his suicidal instincts around anymore lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. With him, Robin, and Nephyl together, they would be safe.

They moved faster than they had before. The two Padawans were constantly attuned to the Force, enabling them to avoid every trap along the way. Eriaar simply followed, ensuring they didn’t miss anything that could endanger their lives. At one point, the two girls even started chatting as they dodged a series of darts fired in their direction.

Eriaar surrounded himself with the Force, allowing the projectiles to bounce harmlessly off the invisible barrier.

They turned into a slightly wider corridor than the one they had just left, and that was when Eriaar sensed a sudden and far-too-close disturbance in the Force.

As fast as lightning, he reached for his lightsaber and activated it, blocking the red blade of a Sith who had appeared from nowhere behind them. The Sith’s strike came within inches of slicing Nephyl in half.

Eriaar pushed the Sith back with the Force, sending him flying several meters until he rejoined seven other companions.

«Go on ahead,» Eriaar instructed the girls, spinning his lightsaber and physically positioning himself between the Sith and the Padawans. «I’ll deal with our friends and catch up to you.»

«W-what?!» Robin clung to his waist. «I’m not leaving you here alone! You’re outnumbered - how will you—»

«Robin!» He snapped, turning his head to glare at her. «What did I tell you about questioning my orders? Do as I said!»

His Padawan took a step back, her face pale, but she knew disobeying would only make things worse. Finally, she lowered her head and grabbed Nephyl’s hand, forcing her to move and run away.

Eriaar sighed in relief before turning to face the Sith group. He spun his lightsaber again before deactivating it and attaching it to his belt.

Laughter erupted from the Sith ranks, and the one who had attacked first stepped forward. «You should have listened to your Padawan, Jedi. You’re vastly outnumbered, and what do you do? Turn off your lightsaber? I can’t tell if you’re simply mad or just incredibly stupid.»

Eriaar’s eyes lit with the power of the Nightsisters, illuminating his face, twisted into a fierce grin. «Are you sure I’m the one who’s outnumbered?»

The next instant, the Sith found themselves surrounded by dozens of Eriaar’s clones.

«Grand Master Valen ordered us to limit combat, so don’t take it personally if my illusions end up killing you instead.»

As soon as he finished speaking, his clones transformed into swarms of deadly Skirix.

Panic overtook the Sith. They all drew their lightsabers, slashing wildly at the nonexistent creatures, only to end up striking one another. Eriaar stood motionless, watching the pathetic spectacle.

Within minutes, the last two Sith slit each other’s throats and collapsed to the ground, dead. Eriaar’s illusions vanished like smoke on the wind.

«Idiots.»

He turned his back on the mangled bodies of his enemies and sprinted down the corridor. He had to catch up to the girls -  no matter what! 

Nephyl and Robin kept running until her friend came to a halt, completely exhausted. Nephyl wasn’t in much better shape - her lungs burned, and she couldn’t stop worrying about Eriaar. Sure, he was strong, possibly the best warrior in the entire Jedi Order, but those Sith hadn’t seemed harmless at all.

She glanced back down the corridor they had just escaped, then at Robin, bent over and struggling to catch her breath. There was no way Robin would let her disobey her Master’s orders and go back - that much was certain. Robin had told her that Eriaar had given her specific conditions for joining the mission, including never questioning his decisions or orders. Robin would follow his words to the letter, but Nephyl didn’t have to. After all, she wasn’t Eriaar’s Padawan - she was Master Thal’s.

Clenching her fists, she straightened up, her eyes fixed on the darkness of the corridor. She was determined to run back to Eriaar and help him fight the group of Sith. But just then, the Force warned her of a much closer danger.

«Robin, look out!»

She threw herself in front of her friend, shielding her with a Force barrier that absorbed the Sith’s attack. The impact pushed Nephyl back a meter, but at least they hadn’t been slammed into the walls.

Robin quickly moved to stand beside her, as the red glow of a lightsaber illuminated the cruel, amused face of a woman. Nephyl’s eyes darted to their only escape route - the corridor they had come from, where a battle was likely still raging.

They had a better chance of defeating one Sith than trying to fight seven of them.

«Have the Jedi lost their minds?» the woman sneered, circling them like a predator with wounded prey. «Leaving two young Padawans all alone?»

In unison, Robin and Nephyl ignited their lightsabers. They could do this! It was two against one. Sure, the woman had far more experience on the battlefield and was a powerful manipulator of the Force, but again - it was better to face one enemy together than seven with backup.

Nephyl exchanged a glance with Robin, who nodded, and they attacked. Nephyl spun her dual lightsabers, aiming for the Sith’s throat, while Robin targeted her stomach. The woman’s face twisted into a wicked grin as she blocked both of Nephyl’s blades and sent Robin flying backward with the Force.

Nephyl didn’t give up and pressed her attacks, swift and precise. The Sith parried each one with unsettling ease. Behind her, Nephyl heard the rapid footsteps of Robin drawing closer. Her friend leaped, landed on the wall beside them, ran along it, and launched herself at the Sith.

The woman cursed under her breath, barely dodging in time as Robin’s turquoise blade grazed her nose and sliced through her belt, opening her heavy black robe.

Nephyl stood frozen for a moment, mouth agape. She had never imagined her friend was such a skilled fighter. Then again, Robin was the Padawan of the Order’s best warrior. Of course, Eriaar was teaching her some particularly effective tricks and techniques.

Yes, they definitely stood a chance of winning!

They exchanged another nod of understanding and attacked together once more.

The Sith was fast, but the two girls quickly realized their fighting styles weren’t just compatible - they formed a perfect blend of offense and defense. As long as they kept up the pressure, their opponent would have little chance to counterattack or land a blow.

Robin used everything in her environment to her advantage, while Nephyl focused primarily on defense. She could see the Sith’s frustration and anger growing. The Force swirled dangerously around the woman.

Nephyl barely had time to react.

The Force struck her, slamming her into the wall behind her. The impact knocked the wind from her lungs, and for a moment, she saw three enemies instead of one. She staggered to her feet, only to be knocked down again by Robin, who crashed into her.

The breath was once again forced from her chest, leaving her on the ground, exhausted and dazed. Every muscle in her body burned. She had never fought for her life before. Training with Master Talira had been no walk in the park, but it paled in comparison to the fatigue she was feeling now.

The red glow of the Sith’s lightsaber grew brighter as she approached.

«Not bad for two young Padawans,» the woman said, her voice dripping with condescension.

Nephyl struggled to her feet and positioned herself between the Sith and Robin.

«You know, I truly pity you. In the end, the arrogance of the Jedi will be the cause of your deaths.»

The Sith raised her lightsaber, and instinctively, Nephyl shielded Robin with her body.

…

A second passed.

…

Then another.

I’m… alive?

Terror dulled the sounds around her - the crackling of the lightsaber, the labored breaths of the two girls… and the sinister gurgling coming from the Sith.

Nephyl looked up.

The woman’s lips were turning blue, her eyes bulging. Suddenly, she dropped her lightsaber, the red blade extinguishing as it clattered to the floor.

The sound of heavy footsteps broke the oppressive silence of the corridor.

The Sith rose into the air, her hands clawing at her throat, her body desperately searching for air.

Eriaar’s low, resonant voice filled the space. «You dared to touch my Padawan?»

The wall of darkness was sliced apart by Eriaar’s blue lightsaber. His face was a mask of fury and hatred, his eyes glowing with an ancient, terrifying power.

He wasn’t using the Force - Nephyl could feel it in every fiber of her being.

Eriaar raised his hand, and the woman’s body followed his movement, rotating to face him, her back to the girls.

When Eriaar clenched his fist, there was a sickening crack of bones. Nephyl found herself staring into the Sith’s lifeless, glassy eyes.

He broke her neck…

The woman’s corpse crumpled to the ground, and Eriaar’s gaze shifted to the two girls.

«Are you okay?»

«Master!»

Robin pushed herself to her feet and ran into Eriaar’s arms. The Jedi let out a relieved sigh, holding his Padawan close and gently stroking her head.

Nephyl glanced at the Sith’s lifeless body.

Eriaar’s ruthlessness frightened her more than Kai’s Psychic Resonance ever had. She was almost certain that killing without remorse wasn’t something a Jedi should be capable of. And yet, Eriaar seemed far more concerned for his Padawan than the life he had just ended.

«Nephyl?»

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized that Eriaar was calling her and watching her with concern.

«Are you all right? Are you hurt?»

Nephyl could only shake her head, and Eriaar exhaled in relief once more.

«If something had happened to you, Master Thal would’ve given me an earful,» he said, deactivating his lightsaber and hooking it back onto his belt. «We need to keep moving. Let’s go.»

Eriaar scanned the labyrinth once again, searching for the throne room, then began running. The two girls had to summon the last of their strength to keep up.

His face was darker than it had been moments earlier, when he had killed the Sith. Had something happened to Masters Thal and Valen?

Nephyl focused on her Master’s energy. It was restless, but he seemed fine. Master Valen’s, however, was harder to pinpoint. She didn’t know him well enough, and with age, he had spent less time training recruits in combat, leaving that to Master Talira. Eriaar had likely spent much more time with him over the years.

At this point, what worried Eriaar wasn’t Master Thal but Grand Master Valen.

They encountered no further dangers along the way. Robin let out a sigh of relief, but Eriaar quickly corrected her.

«This isn’t a good sign.»

It meant the Sith had discovered their intrusion, or, more likely given Eriaar’s abilities, they had found Thal and Valen wandering the castle corridors. Nexar had likely ordered his forces to regroup in the throne room, recalling all the other Sith.

They’ve captured Valen?

Sure, the Grand Master was old, but honestly, Nephyl had expected more resistance from someone so arrogant as to call himself the greatest warrior in the galaxy.

She shook her head and refocused on the path ahead.

As they neared the throne room, the corridor widened. Eriaar suddenly stopped, and Nephyl and Robin nearly ran into him.

The Jedi gestured for them to remain silent, then leaned slightly forward.

For a few moments, there was nothing but stillness.

Then Nephyl felt Eriaar’s presence reach out to her mind.

Can you both hear me?

Nephyl glanced at Robin, who nodded. She mimicked her friend, and Eriaar’s voice echoed in her thoughts again.

We’re in trouble. Valen and Thal have been captured. Just as I feared, Nexar has gathered most of the Sith in the throne room… There are at least a hundred of them in there.

Robin’s voice filled Nephyl’s mind next.

Master, what do we do?

Eriaar stepped back from the enemy’s view and let out a slow sigh. Nephyl could almost see the gears in his mind turning at an alarming speed.

We don’t have time to call for reinforcements… We’re on our own.

The Force swirled around him, as though he had just made a difficult decision.

We’ll have to use Dark Illusion.

Nephyl frowned.

What the hell is Dark Illusion?

She glanced at Robin, whose eyes widened before she shook her head in terror.

Master, no! Thal might let it slide, but Valen will have us all executed!

Eriaar rolled his eyes.

Then I’ll just have to toy with their minds. For now, let’s focus on saving them.

Robin opened her mouth to protest again, but Eriaar turned his back on them and rounded the corner.

Nephyl exchanged a worried glance with Robin, who drew her lightsaber and followed her Master. After a deep breath, Nephyl did the same.

«Well? Throwing a party and not inviting us? That’s not very polite of you, Lord Nexar.»

Panic threatened to paralyze her as the entire room turned to look at them.

Eriaar hadn’t exaggerated - at least a hundred Sith stared at the intruders. Almost in unison, they ignited their lightsabers, bathing the massive throne room in a menacing red glow.

Robin moved closer to her, trembling. Or was Nephyl the one trembling? More likely, they both were.

For the first time, she regretted following the Jedi to Coruscant. If she had stayed on Nydrion, she would’ve been an outcast, but at least she’d still be alive.

«Master Jedi Eriaar Shehol,» Nexar’s voice rumbled, low and menacing, sending chills down her spine. «These two have told me much about you. A rather unusual Nightbrother, but exceptionally powerful. I’ve seen how you killed my Sith… Are you sure you’re truly a Jedi?»

Eriaar remained perfectly calm. «Only a Sith deals in absolutes, Lord Nexar.»

The Dark Lord’s icy laugh seemed to lower the temperature of the room further.

«You should tell that to Grand Master Valen. He wasn’t very pleased with your… performance, Master Eriaar.»

Nephyl glanced at Valen, who was indeed glaring daggers at Eriaar. The younger Jedi met his gaze with equal intensity, his expression cold and unyielding. Eriaar’s expression darkened further, his face twisted in the same way it had been when he killed the Sith woman earlier. He looked at Valen with a mixture of disappointment, irritation, and outright contempt.

Clicking his tongue, he turned away from the Grand Master. «I suppose I’ll have to save his skin anyway. So… how about a deal? You let us go, and I don’t wipe all of you out on the spot. How does that sound?»

The entire room erupted into laughter, but not Nexar. The Dark Lord’s face paled slightly, and his eyes glowed with the dark power of the Sith. Unlike the others, he understood the threat Eriaar posed. Despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, Nexar knew that victory was far from guaranteed.

«We’ve already struck a deal,» Valen’s voice interrupted. «I will face Nexar. If I win, we go free. If I lose, they take our lives.»

«You’ll lose for sure,» Eriaar muttered, stepping forward. «Let me fight him.»

«Do not be insolent!» Valen roared, stepping up to confront the younger Jedi. «Remember to whom you are speaking, Master Eriaar.»

«I know perfectly well who I’m speaking to,» Eriaar growled, taking another step closer and forcing Valen to retreat slightly. «I’m speaking to an old man who’s good at putting on airs. You’re three times Nexar’s age, and he’s known as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Are you seriously asking me to entrust our lives to you?»

A heavy silence fell over the room as Nexar rose from his throne.

«I’m afraid you’ll have to, Eriaar. You know, I might even take pity on you. Someone as powerful as you could be very useful to me.» Nexar moved to the center of the room, his red lightsaber igniting with a sharp hiss, its glow highlighting his predatory grin.

«Shall we begin, Grand Master Valen?»

Eriaar growled something under his breath, then turned to Thal. He grabbed the elder Jedi by the collar of his tunic and dragged him away from the combat area. The shackles binding Valen’s wrists clicked open and fell to the ground with a dull thud.

The Grand Master drew his lightsaber, the blue light of the Kyber crystal illuminating his worn, weary face. Eriaar was right - there was no way he could win against a young and vigorous opponent like Nexar. In short… they were doomed.

Nephyl glanced desperately at Eriaar and Thal, but the younger Jedi was merely watching Valen with a scornful glare, while her Master wore an expression of utter resignation.

Really? They’re not going to intervene?

She noticed Robin tugging on Eriaar’s sleeve, catching his attention. Relief flooded her when he smiled at Robin and patted her head. He whispered something to her, but Nephyl was too far away to hear. Thal, however, heard it and raised an eyebrow, giving the younger Jedi a confused look. Eriaar simply shook his head and focused on the duel.

He has something in mind… but what?

Her thoughts were interrupted as Nexar launched his first attack. The power behind it could have cleaved the Jedi in two. Valen stood motionless, seemingly waiting for the end… until he suddenly moved.

For a man of his age, his speed was extraordinary. Valen sidestepped the blow and brought his lightsaber down on the Sith, who barely managed to block it in time. A second later, and Nexar would have lost an arm.

From there, Valen pressed the attack, unleashing a flurry of precise and rapid strikes.

««The old man’s still got it,» Eriaar remarked with a chuckle. It was clear he still believed in Valen’s inevitable defeat.

Thal rolled his eyes at yet another display of the younger Jedi’s insolence, reminding him that Valen was the best warrior in the Jedi Order. Eriaar snorted in response, muttering under his breath that Valen had always avoided the challenges he had proposed. It was easy to remain the best without ever truly putting oneself to the test.

Despite everything, Valen was holding his own against Nexar.

The Sith, though younger and stronger, struggled to keep up with the relentless onslaught of the older Jedi. Nephyl had never seen a Jedi move so quickly - not even Master Talira. Or at least, not during training.

Now that she thought about it, this was the first time she had seen Jedi Masters truly in action.

Within the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Jedi always held back, never using their powers to their fullest extent and certainly not showcasing their battlefield experience to train new recruits. Some were stricter than others, like Eriaar. His physical training regimen for Robin was infamous for being one of the most grueling in the entire Temple.

Eriaar, like all the Nightbrothers, had literally been born to fight and defend. No one had been surprised to learn that Robin was already one of the best duelists among the Padawans.

Nephyl, who had seen Robin in action, could confirm it. She might not yet be on Valen or Eriaar’s level, but she was certainly better than Nephyl, who was still getting used to wielding two lightsabers. Master Talira had been thrilled when she had expressed interest in learning the dual-wielding technique.

Her thoughts snapped back to the present when Nexar let out a roar and unleashed a powerful Force explosion.

Valen, however, managed to block it. The Sith seemed to be struggling, while the Jedi showed only the faintest trace of perspiration.

It seemed everything was going well. The victory, once so assured for Nexar, now appeared to favor the Jedi.

And yet…

The Force… I can feel a strong disturbance in the Force…

Nephyl placed a hand over her chest, which suddenly felt unbearably heavy, making it hard to breathe. She looked around, hoping she was the only one who had sensed it, but Thal’s face had also darkened.

Eriaar’s sly smile had vanished, and Robin clung to her Master’s robes.

Nexar straightened and took a long breath. «I must admit, I underestimated you, Grand Master Valen. You’re still a formidable warrior.»

Valen resumed his defensive stance. «Let’s finish this, Nexar.»

Eriaar clicked his tongue, drawing Nephyl’s attention. «There it is again - the fatal flaw of the Jedi: arrogance."

No one had time to ask what he meant, because Valen launched another attack. Valen lunged forward, his lightsaber aimed straight for Nexar. The Sith didn’t flinch, making no move to dodge.

Nephyl saw the glint of victory in Valen’s eyes, the small smile beginning to form on his lips.

Then, in an instant, Nexar spun on his heel, switched his grip on his lightsaber, and drove it into Valen’s back, straight through his heart.

The smile froze on Valen’s lips, his eyes widening in shock.

«Valen!» 

Eriaar closed his eyes. Things had been going so well, but as usual, arrogance had consumed him. He had failed to notice that his opponent, slowly but surely, had begun to study his fighting style, improving his defense in the process. To kill Valen, Nexar had used the exact same technique the Grand Master had employed at the start of their duel.

If Valen had stayed focused, he would have sensed those small shifts in the Force, which had tried in vain to warn the Jedi.

With age, Valen had not only grown physically weaker but also lost much of his connection to the Force.

It’s time for Plan B.

Eriaar grabbed Thal before the elder Jedi could rush toward Valen’s body and imbued his words with power. «Sleep.»

Thal collapsed instantly, his mental barriers shattered by Eriaar’s mastery of the Psychic Bond ability. He could have kept Thal awake and altered his memories later, but even Eriaar had to admit that when it came to manipulating minds and emotions, Kai was far better than he was.

He glanced at the two Padawans behind him and connected with their minds.

Stay with Thal. I’ll handle getting us out of here.

«So, what’s it going to be?» Nexar’s voice, more like the growl of a feral beast, grated on his nerves. «Eriaar, join us and save your life.»

Eriaar stepped toward the center of the room, gathering power. «You made a mistake striking a deal with Valen. You should have accepted mine.»

A cold wind began swirling around him as he slowly lifted off the ground, his eyes glowing with the power of the Nightsisters, ready to unleash at his command.

«I will not allow you to harm my Padawan. And as a Jedi, it is my duty to avenge the death of the Grand Master.»

His face twisted into a fierce grin, more menacing than Nexar’s own.

Nexar froze, watching as Eriaar unleashed his true power.

«It’s my turn, Lord Nexar.»

Eriaar pressed his fingertips together, forming a pyramid, and poured his strength into the Dark Illusion ability. The shadows of every Sith in the room began to tremble, then exploded, creating exact replicas of their owners. The only distinction was the unsettling, vicious grin distorting the clones' faces.

The clones were the first to ignite their lightsabers and attack the Sith. Chaos erupted instantly: those too slow to defend themselves were impaled by their duplicates, who then performed an unsettling dance over the corpses, laughing shrilly and inhumanly.

Those who managed to block the first strike found themselves in desperate combat against their clones, though most quickly fell.

Eriaar often trained against his own clone - he knew full well that he was his own worst enemy.

As his feet touched the ground again, Eriaar ignited his lightsaber and leapt into the fray, dodging blows from all sides.

He stopped one Sith, already kneeling in defeat, with the Force and used his back as a ramp to launch himself directly at Nexar. The Sith barely managed to raise his lightsaber in time.

The two began circling each other like predators battling for territory.

«What an honor, Master Eriaar,» Nexar sneered. «To kill two Jedi in a single day!»

Eriaar assumed a defensive stance. «The honor will be all mine, Lord Nexar.»

The duel began, immediately ferocious. Eriaar gave Nexar no time to study his fighting style, constantly switching from one form to another with every strike.

Valen had been arrogant. Eriaar was smart.

Though Nexar was clearly fatigued from his fight with the Grand Master, he used the Force skillfully to enhance his stamina. He was a formidable warrior and a dangerous manipulator of the Force. Underestimating him would lead to certain death, just as it had for Valen.

Eriaar pushed Nexar back with the Force, giving himself a moment to assess the Padawans.

Good - they were doing exactly as he had instructed.

The sounds of battle around them had drastically decreased: his illusions had done their job, killing their targets. Only two Sith remained standing, both gravely wounded and unlikely to last much longer against their clones.

Nexar, too, realized the dire situation. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and his gaze turned to Eriaar, filled with pure hatred.

«Damn you, insolent Jedi…»

«Make up your mind, Lord Nexar,» Eriaar mocked him. «Am I damned or insolent?»

The fury in Nexar’s eyes ignited, and he attacked with renewed intensity. Eriaar shifted to defense, countering without ever striking back.

Finally, Nexar broke through his guard. His triumphant laughter filled the hall as Eriaar saw the Sith’s lightsaber plunge toward his skull…

«This can’t be…»

Nexar’s voice was now barely more than a whisper. The laughter had vanished as Eriaar tilted his head to one side, his figure growing increasingly ethereal.

«It seems arrogance doesn’t run solely in the veins of the Jedi.»

The real Eriaar stood outside the massive castle, the two Padawans at his side and the unconscious Thal slung over his shoulder. Nexar had fallen for it completely.

His Spirit Projection ability had proven useful, and with his powers of concealment, Nexar hadn’t realized he’d been fighting a phantom all along.

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble as the three turned their gaze toward the horde of Sith advancing on the castle. Nexar had summoned all his remaining troops.

Good.

Poor Nexar... You're in for another nasty surprise.

Eriaar closed his eyes again, focusing as he gathered more power.

Necromancy wasn’t an ability he excelled at, but with hundreds of bodies to work with, he should, in theory, be able to manage the flow of energy effectively.

Necromancy was forbidden by the Jedi Order, but right now, he was surrounded by Sith and accompanied by two Padawans with witch blood.

Of the only people who might have objected, one was unconscious behind him, and the other was dead.

He didn’t need to study to know the precise incantation or hand movements required to activate Necromancy - it was inscribed in his very genome.

Kharum Nocturis Infine Oxaryus

Raahmiun Umahn Wahriiom

Thruum Umah Exarys Ut Chummes

Tha Lyhsaam Reenew Fhaahlius Uster Wheratium

(From the endless darkness of the night

Rise, my soldiers

By my power and command

Let new life flow through your veins)

His body lifted off the ground as the ancient words, steeped in the power of the witches of Dathomir, reverberated through the air around him, the energy flowing from particle to particle.

When the incantation was complete, Eriaar let out a primal scream and slammed his open palm into the ground, pouring all his power into the earth itself.

He followed the energy’s flow into the throne room, where Nexar had been rejoined by his troops.

The Sith Lord was furious, cursing Eriaar in every language known in the galaxy.

Nexar had already settled back onto his throne, convinced he had narrowly escaped disaster.

The Sith had begun piling the bodies of their fallen comrades into a corner.

Then, suddenly, the hill began to quake, disrupted by the movements of hundreds of muscles as the dead slowly came back to life.

The Sith, too focused on their Dark Lord, didn’t notice the danger behind them at first.

It wasn’t until skeletal hands burst through the floor, gripping the Sith’s ankles, that Nexar finally realized the army of resurrected soldiers rising against him.

«Necromancy?!»

Perhaps Eriaar had used too much power - he hadn’t intended to raise even the dead civilians of Nerathos. They weren’t warriors, after all.

And yet, they did their job, holding the Sith in place while the reanimated soldiers lowered their lightsabers onto what had, until moments ago, been their comrades.

«Damn you, ERIAAR!»

Nexar’s roar of fury brought a smile to Eriaar’s lips.

He lifted his hands from the ground, hoisted Thal back onto his shoulders, and began retreating from the castle.

The soldiers resurrected by the Necromancy couldn’t be killed again. The only way to stop them was to cut off the source of power - by killing Eriaar.

But they wouldn’t be able to find him. Not in their current state, anyway. 

Nephyl watched the lone Sith ship lift off and quickly leave the planet’s atmosphere. According to Eriaar, the only survivor of that massacre was Nexar, though even he hadn’t escaped unscathed. She could almost feel the planet itself heaving a massive sigh of relief. It was over; no one would harm these people anymore. The Jedi mission, which at first had seemed hopeless, had been accomplished effectively and without any civilian casualties.

Master Thal regained consciousness once the situation was back under control. «What happened?»

Nephyl handed him a water flask. «Grand Master Valen is dead, but Master Eriaar managed to retake control of the planet and drive Nexar away.»

The Jedi slowly shook his head, massaging his forehead. «I assume he didn’t directly take on the entire Sith army?»

She carefully chose her words. «No, Master. We followed Grand Master Valen’s wishes and avoided confrontations. We ran. Nexar must have realized there was no reason to stay on this planet.»

«Let’s say I’ll believe that version,» Thal muttered as he stood, aided by Nephyl. «But only for the sake of peace.»

Thal accompanied her to Master Eriaar, who was still in a meeting with the senators overseeing the planet. The throne room had already been restored to its former splendor, as had the castle; the lethal traps had been disarmed and removed, the Sith were gone, and the old government was back in power. Everything had gone as well as it possibly could.

Senator Kaelis Morra welcomed Thal and Nephyl with kindness and joy. It was she who had sent the distress signal. It had been an act of bravery, considering her condition - she was due to give birth any day. She’d already been examined, and despite the fear and stress, the baby was fine, though somewhat cramped.

Eriaar greeted Master Thal and rested a hand on Nephyl’s head, smiling at her. Robin rushed over and the two embraced - they had been through a harrowing ordeal but had emerged alive and undoubtedly stronger for it.

Senator Kaelis returned to her seat. «I don’t know how to thank you… I know you’ve lost much during this mission, but you have my gratitude and that of all the good people living on Nerathos.»

Eriaar inclined his head. «We did what we had to. We knew full well the dangers of this mission, but it was the duty of the Jedi to help you.»

Thal agreed. «We hope that our next visit will take place under happier circumstances.»

«It will, Master Thal,» the Senator assured with a gentle smile before turning her gaze to Robin and Nephyl. «You were very brave to follow your Masters on this mission. You must have been very frightened.»

Robin was the one to respond. «Fear is a human emotion, Senator. It’s true, we’re only Padawans, but our Masters spend entire days teaching us how to control our emotions and use them to our advantage.»

Kaelis tilted her head, observing Robin closely. «You’ll go far, young Padawan, I’m sure of it.»

«Senator, we must leave now,» Eriaar interjected with a bow. «We must give our Grand Master a proper farewell.»

«Of course, forgive me - I always get distracted by the young ones,» the woman chuckled, rising. «I would accompany you to your ship, but I imagine you have some distance to cover. I wish you a safe return, and may the Force be with you.»

«And with you, Senator,» the Jedi replied, bowing in unison. 

Coruscant - 22 Years to the battle

Nephyl and Robin once again found themselves outside the closed doors of the council chamber. They had given Grand Master Valen a proper funeral, but now the pressing question was who would replace him and, more importantly, who would fill the vacant twelfth seat on the Council. The two girls were too exhausted to talk or even play. Over the past few days, they hadn’t had a single moment to catch their breath. Both had been interrogated, as Thal had been unconscious for quite some time.

Nephyl thought all the fuss over Eriaar’s actions was absurd. They had won, hadn’t they? They had defeated the Sith and driven them back to their planet. Senator Kaelis Morra had expressed her gratitude for the Jedi’s swift and effective intervention. So why was Eriaar on trial?

Robin had emerged from her interrogation utterly drained, which had infuriated her Master. He’d then locked himself in the council chamber for an entire day, arguing with the Jedi Council. When he finally emerged, his expression was so dark that Nephyl feared for the entire Temple. Then it had been her turn. She’d answered all the questions calmly, keeping her mental barriers high, especially given Kai’s presence on the Council. She’d sensed more than one probing attack but had held firm, revealing nothing to the other Jedi.

Now, both their Masters had been summoned back to the council chamber. She could understand Thal being called in, but Eriaar? She was starting to fear for his life. The Jedi might overlook the use of the Dark Illusion ability, but Necromancy? That was not only forbidden by the Jedi Order but also by the Sith. After all, even the Sith, who bent the Force to their will, were wary of those who defied the natural order to such an extent. She was certain Robin hadn’t mentioned it, and she herself hadn’t let anything slip, but… The ways of the Jedi were many and inscrutable. Whether that was a good thing was far from certain.

Finally, the doors opened, and the entire Jedi Council emerged. Eriaar immediately locked eyes with Robin and smiled at her. Both she and her friend heaved a huge sigh of relief. Master Thal ordered them to follow. It didn’t take long to realize that the entire Jedi Temple was gathering in the enormous entrance hall. Robin and Nephyl were instructed to join the other Padawans, as the announcement of both the new Grand Master and the new council member was imminent.

They obeyed and joined the other Padawans. There weren’t many of them, roughly fifty. Ahead of them, already seated, were the young Initiates, speaking softly among themselves - about a hundred in number. The largest group of Jedi consisted of the Jedi Knights. Fewer in number were the Jedi Masters, of whom twelve formed the Jedi Council, led by the Grand Master. Robin had always aspired to become a Jedi Master. Nephyl, however, felt more at ease remaining among the ranks of the Jedi Knights. She wasn’t sure she was cut out for teaching. She could never keep her composure as Eriaar had.

The massive entrance hall of the Temple quickly filled with Jedi. The older, fully trained Jedi stood in perfect military rows, the Padawans doing their best to imitate them, while the Initiates sat on the floor like normal children. All eyes turned to the twelve Jedi stepping onto the balcony.

Master Elera stepped forward and clapped her hands to draw their attention. «Thank you all for being here. As you all know, we have bid farewell to our Grand Master, leaving the Council suddenly without a leader and down one member.» A smile spread across her lips. «But there is no need to panic. These are difficult times for our Order. A prophecy looms, and the threat posed by the Sith grows more dangerous each day. For this reason, we are confident that the best choice to lead the Order is someone who knows the dark side better than anyone else. I give you Grand Master Thal Marun.»

Are you kidding me? I’m the Padawan of the Grand Master?

To say Nephyl was confused would have been an understatement. Sure, it was true that no one understood the dark side like Thal, but that didn’t mean he was remotely suited to lead the entire Jedi Order. A shiver ran down her spine - she had a bad feeling about this. The Sith threat Master Elera spoke of was nothing compared to the catastrophic consequences of a leadership driven by fear and ineptitude.

There was nothing she could do… The decision had been made, and Thal spoke his first words as Grand Master of the Jedi Order. «I am honored by this appointment and promise to work tirelessly to seek out and eliminate even the faintest shadow of the Sith from our galaxy.»

Exactly what I feared!

Fortunately, not all the news was bad. «But none of us would have returned alive from this mission if not for the courageous actions of Master Eriaar Shehol. I am firmly convinced that Master Eriaar is not only an incredibly powerful manipulator of the Force but also the greatest warrior of the Order. He distinguished himself in battle, defending the planet Nerathos from the yoke of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Nexar. For these reasons, and many others, we have decided to grant him a seat on the Jedi Council.»

She and Robin exchanged stunned glances - after all their worry that they might execute him, they just wanted to make him a council member! The Jedi Knights behind them nodded in agreement. Despite being much younger than many other Jedi, Eriaar had always proven himself capable, overcoming every challenge meant to block his path. He had become a Jedi Master at the age of seventeen, and now, at twenty, was the youngest Jedi ever to sit on the Council.

Eriaar stepped forward, bowing his head in thanks to Thal. «I know I am young. I am also certain that many of my brothers and sisters would be equally suited to this role, but I will do my utmost to prove myself worthy of this honor. I will defend the Jedi Order and the ideals we fight for with all my strength and to my last breath.»

Eriaar will never allow this to become a witch hunt… Yes, he’ll protect us, even if it means opposing the rest of the Council, I’m sure of it!