The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain reclined back on his bed, staring up towards the ceiling while he levitated his holocron a few inches above his hands. It'd been a busy day. Too busy to talk to the Jedi... who unfortunately may not have been as helpful as he would've hoped. He didn't feel up for it now either; she'd probably have some emotional reaction to the news that her master had died, and Syl was just too emotionally drained to have to talk to a hologram about it.

But the practice helped him keep his mind on something other than the mix of emotions that he was faced with after such a busy day.

As he sensed footsteps approaching his door, he quickly put the holocron into his cloak and sat up to face the door...

Outside the door he could hear his father’s voice, “I will need a few minutes with my son, tell Darth Marr I will join him shortly. Now good day.”

There was no knock and the security detail for the Minister of War steeped aside as he entered and looked his son over with a critical eye. He entered and the door closed behind him, he was crisp in his Imperial dress uniform.

He sighed as he gathered himself and allowed a long moment before he said, “Your mother sends her regards.”

Sylvain stood up sharply and presented himself as a dutiful son would upon seeing his father enter the room.

"Thank you. Tell her I greatly appreciate her thoughts." He then let the smallest smiles out, "I talked to Lord Zash about her designer. Lord Zash seems willing to help mother find that dress she wanted. I hope she'll be pleased."

He did not seem overly impressed and said, “I will pass that on, but I did not get you assigned here to play tailor for your mother. You are a Torsin, it is expected that you will serve at the highest level. Darth Vengean can easily find you a posting with some of the best Sith in the field, but you digging up tombs is not going to win this war.”

Do something nice for someone, and someone else is sure to resent you for it. Sylvain nodded affirmatively in response to his father.

"You are right sir of course, someone like Lord Baras would be an excellent fit for someone of my abilities. The only danger would be in the waste associated with two individuals occupying a similar role in the group dynamic. It might be possible for me to be of more use to the Empire and my new master if my skill set differed a little."

He stood at attention while offering his opinion, "And there are some practical applications to things that can be found in caves. Though I do not assume to know enough to be able to adequately argue that effectively at this moment."

He stood tall, like a man of the Torsin line would when being pressed down upon, "For now I find it most effective for me to keep my options open until the path that would benefit the Empire becomes clearer."

“At ease, son. I saw Shaisha, she looked well and Kristal too, her father is quite proud, I wish I could match his enthusiasm,” he said inspecting the room.

Sylvain took a military 'ease' position, slightly opening his legs open wider and locking his hands behind his back.

"Kristal is doing quite well. Her father deserves to be proud of her actions." He replied.

"What is it that I could do to raise your enthusiasm sir?"

He waved away the concern, “You are looking well. I should tell you, mother has been sick lately. I have enlisted the best physicians and doctors.”

He took a seat and let out a heavy sigh, “She has taken a turn for the worse, despite my efforts.”

Sylvain's eyebrows burrowed downward at that revelation.

"She was fine just a week ago... Is it some type of power play by someone else?" He asked with concern.

“No, she has been sick awhile we just didn’t want to concern the family, or give our rivals ideas. If it is a power play then it is a new one, one that our doctors cannot counter,” he said firmly.

Sylvain was less than happy with almost everything that was happening in this conversation. Mother being sick created a problem for father. Them not telling him suggested they did not trust him. And not knowing the nature of the illness meant they didn't know how, why, or who was causing it.

"What is to be done then? This certainly changes how we as a family should act going forward."

“All the reason for you to excel,” his father replied.

“It was your mother that wanted to keep this from you, she felt you had so much already. I did not agree, but she is my moon and stars and I will not deny her.”

Sylvain chuckled, "Aramis Torsin, swayed by sentimentality. I'll keep that secret for you too. Can't let your rivals know you have a heart."

His laughter turned into a confident smile, "There's much overconfidence here... I feel I can thrive if this is my competition."

He rose and put a hand on his shoulder, “You are my son, I have no doubts you will excel. Even if I choose to be more muted with my accolades. You are the best of me and your mother, you are my greatest legacy.”

“I will give mother your love, and do not worry for her. She is stronger than both of us,” he said confidently.

There is a knock at the door and voice, “Minister, your shuttle is here.”

Sylvain looked into his father's eyes as he spoke and then nodded in affirmation.

"I'll not let you down." He said with that same confident look in his eyes from before.

“Good,” he patted the shoulder and then departed in a rush of his entourage and official reports being fed to him.

As the door slid shut behind him Sylvain slouched down onto his bed.

Reclining back again he stared at the ceiling. As if I didn't have enough shit to worry about as is...

He withdrew the holocron from his robes again and began flipping it over and over again in his palm.

Almost subconsciously Sylvain started to feel the Force course through him as he sought insight on these new revelations.

He opened his eyes as the holocron in his hand began to light up as he called on the force.

OOC: Activating the holocron?

(OOC: Yup. If it's not too much trouble. Fine to put it off if that's better.)

Thy appeared after a moment just as she did before, dressed in typical Jedi garb with a warm smile and a look of serenity. “Greetings Mister Sith, how can the Light serve you today?” she said in a cheery tone.

Sylvain's black eye would have been obvious to the young Jedi, but his spirits weren't dampened at all despite the rugged appearance.

"Evening Fair Knight, how's an exchange of information sound? You tell me what it is that is saved on your holocron and I let you know what happened to your master." He offered with a friendly smile and sincere tone.

She was puzzled and said, “If you want to know something just ask, a Jedi freely gives of themselves. Are you okay?”

She gestured towards her eye.

He chuckled, "Had a bit of a rough afternoon. A powerful sith ghost found my body an interest place to inhabit... Anything like that in your field?"

“I have heard of it, and there was areas on Korriban we were never supposed to go, which meant of course that we went and well… they are very dangerous. Many of them were steeped in the dark side and in death they know no peace only rage and dark emotion. I don’t know how you get rid of them, best to avoid them?” she said honestly.

“Maybe if you were more specific?”