The Dark Academy on Korriban

"Where would the holocron with that information be located?" Sylvain asked.

“I had thought it was hidden away, but if my apprentice took my life then they may have moved it elsewhere. I presume this individual who wishes my knowledge has found that location,” he says with nod.

“I have many insights on the nature of the Living Force both the Dark and Light. I focused my studies on the interactions of the Force with organic structures,” he says calmly.

''That research could be of use to me, I seek a similar path but with the inanimate and machinery''

"What is this 'Living Force' you speak of?" He asked with interest.

Zeno simply listens, happy to learn what there is to learn.

Master Hazzan smiles and says, “The Living Force is focused less on the destiny of things and on the connections we have in the now. All things living are connected through the force and we must be mindful of how we interact with those connections. It is these connections that define us and give us both strength and clarity. Even here on Korriban, as the Living Force is both light and dark and all things in between.”

“That is the briefest of overviews of that subject.”

"Question. If it's the Light and the Dark and everything in between why are Light and Dark powerful ends of the spectrum? Why not something in between being powerful? That explanation doesn't make sense with how things actually seem to work..."

“And how do things actually work?” the holocron asks.

"From how I see it, those who seem to be the strongest on the dark side of this equation seem to have the strongest connection to it. It would follow that the opposite is true for those on the light side. But why can nobody use the... I don't know, the slightly dim center and why would they not be capable of equivalent use of power?"

“It seems to reason that such balance would have its source of power or understanding. There are paths in the Force that do not see the Force structured as we do. Traditions in Wild Space that eschew any sense of balance between the light and dark. It is simply the paradigm of the Jedi and Sith that creates these extremes in the greater Galaxy. I cannot say if they hold the ultimate truth,” the holocron responds.

''That certainly is an interesting subject'' she says

''Do you know of such traditions?''

The words of the sage made a great deal of sense to Sylvain. There was something instinctively correct about this kind of philosophy. More so than the simple uses of the Light side Thy had spoken about 'protecting' others, it seemed as if this man knew much more on the nature of how things actually functioned in the Universe. While it was a dogma in and of itself, it was one with a paradigm that aligned closely to his own.

"This is an intriguing philosophy Master Hazzan." He replied. "It would seem that in different circumstances the 'Living Force' would require people to do what is best, rather than what is 'correct' according to their paradigm. Is that so?"

"I would think it's more than the Sith and Jedi creating this paradigm if it is living as you said, since it seems to be making connections and bonds between opposing forces. I'd say that seems very likely to lead to conflict. Almost as though by it's very nature it creates conflict. And you suggest that peace is the path to walk when following a thing that creates bonds between hated enemies and rivals?" Zeno quirks an eyebrow. "How did one such as yourself, who had fallen to the way of peace, resolve conflict?"

Moyr was no philosopher, but a practitioner. She followed the debate from 'would it even work?' mindset, but more importantly she tried to figure out how to draw some real, applicable insights from their find. She kept wondering where was the real power holocron, not this sentimental testimony of a quirky redemption story.

“That is one assessment it is not the place of light and dark to naturally be inimical to each other. They are opposite but opposites that cannot exist without the other. If there is no light then all is dark and the concept of darkness would inherently change… same with the Light. They are in part by what they are not.”

“As for defending myself the Living Force does not deny conflict, and defense of one self is natural. One does not call the tuk’ata evil for hunting down prey, it simply does what it must to survive. Natural life processes are not inherently dark, they simply are. This generates an interesting line of thinking, thank you for the question,” he says.

"How does one gain access to the 'Living Force'? Or how does one utilize it? Is it through the Light and or the Dark?" He asked, a bit puzzled.

“The Living Force is all around you, it is simply a different way of visualizing the Force and understanding it. Perhaps that seems too simplistic a notion,” the holocron responds.

"How does one come to sense it then? The other two sides seem much more readily available." He replied.

Baesal struggled not to roll her eyes

How about scientific mesurements? Gods darn it

"I never claimed anything to be evil. But in a universe where conflict is the way of things and even the two sides of the force are in conflict, I would view something that tries to enforce peace and harmony as evil, attempting to corrupt nature and the natural order."

And that is why you are the muscle and not the brain

''The universe is more complex then religious extremists would like us to believe.''

"It's not religious extremism. The natural order of the universe is conflict. The dark side finds power in that and promotes it. Can you not see that simple truth?" he asks curiously. "Rites and rituals have nothing to do with it. Simply by arguing the point with me you prove the point that conflict is a part of you. And being here at the academy going through studies in the force you have undoubtedly felt that the dark draws us to that. Why deny our true natures?"

Sylvain looked over to the man making his case. He felt pity for him that he hadn't felt before. The dogma had wrapped itself so thoroughly around his mind that he was unable to see anything else. Explaining it would make no difference. To those who 'knew' of a universal 'truth' there was only so much that could be said.

"That is how you see the world, yes." Sylvain replied. "I am merely inquiring how this man views it."

"It isn't just how I see it. The food chain is conflict and violence. That just is. Would you deny that? Even our friend here said that survival calls for conflict." he asks Sylvain. It's true, Lord Hazzan had said as much just a bit earlier.