The Dark Academy on Korriban

Zeno on the other hand was quite fine with living by the Sith code and fighting for the Empire. The only questions he sought answers for were how to gain power for himself and how to wield it against his enemies, whoever they might be. Violence was an aphrodisiac for him.

"They're pretty good," he said with a nod. "I'm not much of a drinker and tend to stay away from alcohol, but today seemed like a day worth celebrating. Others are up at that banquet doing just that, which I'm glad not to be at, but no sense in not taking a moment to relax and spending time with friendly faces."

Sylvain nodded but tilted his head, "You didn't want to be up there with the Empire's elite?"

"I wouldn't mind meeting with the Empire's elite, but I don't like banquet settings. Too formal, too many rules, and not enough privacy to talk about anything truly important to my future without others overhearing," he explains as he takes another sip, taking his glass to half empty.

Another one not worthy of the party entered, although she was technically doing a bit of moonlighting on the side. The Rodian sauntered around the cantina, looking for a certain Ensign . . .

The two Aspirants already present were not the droi . . . . people she was looking for.

"If you want to be a player, you have to play the game." Sylvain said with a smile.

He nodded faintly to the Rodian that had arrived.

"The game can be played behind closed doors in private meetings as well," he says with a shrug.

"It can, but other aspects of the game happen out in the open. I understand your aversion to it... but it is something that shouldn't be looked past." He said in a supportive manner.

He took a sip and frowned at his cup. "Same thing my mother says. Visible power just as important as any other power. It seems so tiresome and wasteful to me."

"It never was my father's favorite either. Fortunately he had a wife who excels at it. And he makes sure not to neglect it or her." He said before taking the last sip of his drink.

"It's something I'll have to do eventually, I'm sure. But my father is much like yours I imagine," Zeno says. "Though maybe a bit more bloody minded and chaotic."

Sylvain chuckled, "It's probably just different uses of violence."

"I suspect that your father's a bit more professional and restrained in his application of personal violence. Lord Mennius, has a love for the act of killing. He's probably where I get that from." Another sip from his glass, before looking to Sylvain. "Although for me it's less about the death and more about the violence. Something about it draws me in."

"There is something exciting about the thrill of contest. I may not be as martially skilled as you, but also enjoy testing myself against others in more subtle or indirect ways." He says with a smile.

Zeno nods. "I am going to have to see about getting in another fight out in the wastes tomorrow and make it three for three," he says with a chuckle.

He chuckled, "I think I want to be on your side of a fight with those numbers."

"If you're interested, you can come out with me tomorrow," he says while raising his glass to his lips.

He nodded contemplatively, "Where're you going? Anywhere in mind?"

"I was thinking of going a bit deeper and poking around the Valley of the Dark Lords. Hoping to find something of some sith relevance. But I might just look for ruins in the deep wastes."

"Dangerous to go out there without a group... Even one as impressive as you are." He replied. "I can check with my friends and see if their up for it. I know they've been itching to give it a try themselves."

"I love the danger of it," Zeno replies. "It's exciting. Really gets the blood pumping."

"So Shaisha and others?"

"Shaisha maybe... she was mentioning having some obligation or something... I'll have to check with her. But I have another close friend named Kristal Serasai who's usually up for this type of thing... If I push her a bit. She's a quality aspirant, tough as nails. Emotionally unflappable."

He thought, "I also came across a couple other people who expressed an interest, but I don't know of their quality just yet."

"Well, find out if Shaisha's available and we'll work something out," he says with a nod, before finishing off his drink. He waves down a servant and orders water. "It's I would be good with three though. Well, to be honest I'd be happy walking around out there alone but I imagine that seems a bit foolhardy, no?"

"It doesn't seem like that would be the best idea, no." He smiled. "I'll ask Kris tonight, after she gets out of the party."

"I'm getting excited," he says with a grin. "After the exams this morning and my work with Lord Zash this evening... this graduation promises to be very exciting."

He smiled on the exterior but very much wanted to have been part of the 'helping' of Lord Zash on the interior. "I'm sure it will be. If another opportunity arises to help Lord Zash... please let me know."