The Dark Academy on Korriban

Slyvain nodded. "I see. So what times would you use your lightsaber? When is a violent action permissible in your path?"

He tilted his head, "For instance, if you knew an 'evil' man was about to kill thousands it would probably be justified I assume... but if they were going to harm just one person... let's say one that you care about, would it be justified to kill them first?"

“If he gave me no other choice and if that evil man was armed, I might just his hand. A Jedi should no act emotions of attachment though, we have to be above that, it’s hard,” she said.

“Attachment is one of the easiest paths to corruption.”

"How does one develop compassion if they detach themselves from others?" He asked.

“It’s not specific to a person, it’s compassion for all things. I value life, even if that life is trying to kill me,” she said with a light laugh.

“Life is varied but all worth preserving. Even the Sith, I guess. Master Xe’fi would say that showing compassion to an enemy is the greatest victory one could achieve. I had much to learn.”

“Maybe I learned it?” she said optimistically.

"Maybe, we all strive to live up to the expectations of those who guide us." He said with a slight smile.

"Your ways seem quaint. You care for 'all' beings and wish to 'protect' them all? What of that that is of no value, or of significantly negative value. Surely in your paradigm the Sith are a force that inflicts damage upon many, and detracts from your concept of 'Peace'; and the galaxy would be better without their presence. But also why would the Jedi stand idly by while the Republic allow its technocrats and merchants to abuse the systems you create and forcefully enslave your people. Why would the Jedi wish to protect such a corrupt system?"

“I don’t have any good answers for that. I’m not a politician. There is a lot of stuff that was hard for me to pin down on how I felt. But even the Sith are horrible, they were not above redemption. I have to believe that.”

“Value isn’t a factor for me, just life,” she said finding something that gave her comfort.

"Life for what purpose though?" He asked befuddled. "Just by a thing's mere existence it is important?"

“All things are manifestations of the Force, all things are important,” she replied.

“I am but a single life in this galaxy, I am no more important than anyone else.”

Manifestations of the Force? What would we say.... how to translate that concept... Sylvain worked hard for a moment trying to mill over what she said in her mind.

"Perhaps we would say... that everything has some form of functional utility... While all are not the same, they are appropriate for the thing that they are destined to accomplish. Nothing is entirely un-important, nor entirely over-important."

Then pausing, "What of the Dark-side then in your paradigm? How is the Dark Side an important manifestation of the Force? What purpose does it serve?"

“I guess it is selfishness. The Force just is, it’s all around us how we use it colors how it manifests. If we utilize anger or selfishness, or other dark, base emotions then in turn the Force matches our intent. Korriban is steeped in blood and war, it colors how the Force manifests here,” she responded.

“A Jedi strives to act in stillness; emotion does not guide our hand.” She smiled proud of what she had just said.

The Torsin boy nodded at her response, "I think I am beginning to understand what you are getting at."

"The way one acts enables them to access certain aspects of the world around them. For you priority is put on the more 'benevolent' interactions that exist in nature... a sort of symbiosis between different actors. Is that correct?"

“Yeah I think that makes sense, we are all connected through the Force, you know,” she replied with a nod.

“Our actions leave impressions on the Universe.”

Torsin nodded, "I'm not sure I see the universe in such cosmological terms... but I can understand the desire of not wanting to do damage to yourself out of short-sighted selfishness. A military unit works in tandem with one another, while the roles are different, they work with much more efficiency if their efforts are collaborative than if each individual does their own thing."

He chuckled, "That's probably my father speaking. He's a Military officer in our Imperial Army."

“Oh? Well maybe that is why you see things from a military perspective? Exposure to his ideas have molded you? That just makes sense right,” she said with a warm tone.

He smiled, "You're most likely right. Though I'm sure he and you would not see eye to eye on this discussion we are having. to him there are tools that have no use in his profession and tools without the views are disposed of, or put to better use elsewhere."

“Yeah I don’t think we would agree on much then,” she said in response.

“He sounds very severe and focused.”

"Quite. One needs to be in his role." He said with a forlorn smile.

"I'll think you'll find me to be a little more open than him."

“Well as far as Sith go, you are not terrible, but the bar for that is rather low, I guess,” she responded.

He laughed heartily, "I could say the same for you. It's a shame I can't take you back to my room in real life and show you the better aspects of my 'Dark Side' like you suggested earlier. And I doubt if I found you in real life you'd want anything to do with a boy like myself."

“I think I am old enough to be your grandmother… probably not though as Jedi are discouraged from becoming parents. We try to avoid umm… things like that,” she said tentatively.

"Entirely?" He asked incredulously.

“I mean it happens I guess but we don’t talk about it, it’s not good. Entanglements like that lead to suffering, attachments cloud judgment,” she said in a rote manner.

“I don’t know, it’s something we don’t talk about. Or maybe I just tried to focus on being a good Jedi. I mean I am a sentient and I have all the same emotions we just control them.”

"Is there not good that comes from meaningful connections? I think the only redeeming and compassionate qualities in my parents come from the fact that they have a son. By themselves... they'd be even worse in your eyes, I assume."

“For non-Jedi sure, but for a Jedi… well that’s how you get Sith,” she said bluntly.

"If I remember correctly... one of your Republic's current heroes is a descendant of Jedi lineage... Sat... Sateen Shan? Do you get expelled from your order if you have children?"