The air feels heavier, more oppressive than before. The lingering presence of the Shadowfell, its malevolent voice still echoing in my mind, leaves me shaken. My head throbs painfully, the remnants of its cold, invasive words making it difficult to think clearly. Each step feels heavier than the last, as if the weight of the Shadowfell''s influence is pressing down on my shoulders, threatening to break me.


    I glance at Nikko, her small frame trembling beside me, her ears twitching nervously as she grips my hand with trembling fingers. She''s silent, but I can see the fear in her wide eyes, the way she clings to me for comfort, trying so hard to be brave despite the overwhelming dread that clings to us like a thick fog.


    Llamiryl walks ahead of us, her posture tense, her eyes narrowed in focus. I can tell she''s just as shaken as we are—though she hides it better—but even she can''t fully mask the strain this is putting on her. The Shadowfell''s words pierced through all of us, cutting into our deepest fears, our insecurities. And the worst part? It''s still out there, watching, waiting, always just beyond our reach.


    Nikko looks up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She''s trying to be strong, just like me, but I can see the toll this is taking on her. We can''t let the Shadowfell win. We can''t let it take Ryu.


    Llamiryl stops suddenly, her head tilting slightly as if listening for something we can''t hear. She stands there for a moment, her eyes scanning the endless hallway, her lips pressed into a thin line of concentration. I watch her closely, waiting for some sign, some direction that will lead us closer to our goal.


    "Do you sense it?" I ask quietly, the words barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would draw the Shadowfell closer.


    Llamiryl doesn''t respond immediately. Instead, she closes her eyes, her brow furrowing as she reaches out, searching the dark tendrils of these halls we''re trapped in. After what feels like an eternity, she opens her eyes again and turns to me.


    "It''s close," she says, her voice steady but laced with tension. "But it''s still moving... still slipping away."


    I bite my lip, frustration gnawing at me. "We can''t let it keep doing this. We have to catch it, before..."


    Llamiryl''s gaze softens slightly as she looks at me, as if sensing the fear beneath my words. "We will," she reassures me, though her tone is firm. "We''ve come this far. We won''t let it escape."


    She turns away again, her hand rising in front of her as she waves it slowly through the air. The hallway shifts slightly, the walls trembling as if reacting to her movements. And then, slowly, another door begins to form in front of us, materializing out of the darkness with a soft hiss. It''s the same strange, foreign design as before—alien and unnerving.


    Nikko tightens her grip on my hand as we step closer to the door, her small body pressing against me for comfort. I can feel her trembling beside me, the fear still radiating from her. I kneel down, brushing a few strands of hair from her face.


    "It''s going to be okay," I whisper, though I''m not sure if I''m saying it for her or for myself. "We''ll get through this."


    Nikko nods, though her gaze is still fixed on the strange door in front of us.


    Llamiryl steps forward, her eyes hard as she stares at the door, then glances back at us. "Ready?"


    I nod, my heart pounding in my chest as I brace myself for whatever lies ahead. Together, we step through the door, the blinding light engulfing us once more as we leave the endless hallway behind.


    As we step through the door, I''m immediately overwhelmed by the sight in front of us. The hallway is vast, metallic, and gleaming under the artificial lights that line the ceiling. It''s cold and clinical, unlike anything I''ve ever seen before. The walls are angular, lined with strange panels that hum softly, their purpose unknown to me. The atmosphere is suffocating, sterile, and charged with an energy that I can''t quite place. It feels... wrong. Alien.


    Nikko presses closer to me, her small hand clutching mine tightly, her eyes wide with fear. She looks up at me, then back at the scene in front of us—where groups of armored figures march in perfect formation down the hall. Their armor is dark, angular, and terrifying. The faceless masks they wear gleam under the lights, their red visors glowing ominously. Each step they take is synchronized, almost mechanical, as if they''re part of some larger machine, their movements devoid of any individuality.


    These must be soldiers... but I''ve never seen soldiers like this.


    Nikko trembles beside me. "Talia... who are they?"


    I don''t have an answer for her. I don''t know. All I know is that they scare me, and judging by the way Nikko is squeezing my hand, they terrify her too. Their appearance—those glowing visors, the way they move without hesitation, like they''re bred for nothing but war—makes my skin crawl.


    "They... they must be some sort of soldiers," I whisper, my voice barely audible as the squad moves past us, their heavy boots echoing against the metallic floor.


    Ahead of us, I spot strange droids moving through the halls, their cylindrical bodies rolling on wheels. They''re small, but their mechanical parts whirr and click as they move, making them seem almost... alive. They stop momentarily by some of the armored soldiers, beeping and clicking before rolling on. I don''t know what they are, but they''re just as unsettling as everything else in this place.


    Llamiryl steps forward, her eyes narrowing as she scans the unfamiliar surroundings. "This place... it''s like nothing I''ve ever seen before," she murmurs, more to herself than to us. She crosses her arms, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "These... soldiers. The way they move. The air around them... it''s different."


    Nikko shivers and presses against me. "I don''t like it here," she whispers, her voice trembling.


    I don''t either. Everything about this place feels wrong. The dark metal walls, the harsh lights, the soldiers that pass us by, their movements devoid of any humanity—it''s unsettling, to say the least.


    I look over at Llamiryl, my heart pounding in my chest. "Is there any way you can... I don''t know... figure out where we are?" I ask, my voice shaking slightly. "What is this place?"


    Llamiryl is silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the strange machines and soldiers that pass by. Then, slowly, she smiles—a small, knowing smile. "Let''s see if this works," she says quietly, closing her eyes.


    "What are you doing?" I ask, watching her intently.


    "Tapping into Ryu''s knowledge," she explains, her voice calm, though I can sense the effort it takes for her to concentrate. "We have access to his memories, yes... but if I can go deeper, perhaps I can access what he knows—his understanding of the things he''s seen."


    I watch her carefully as she stands there, eyes closed, her hands clenched at her sides. She''s still for what feels like an eternity before she finally opens her eyes, her expression unreadable.


    "This place..." she begins, her voice steady but low. "We''re on a Harrower-class Dreadnought. A starship to be precise. The ship''s name is... the Right Hand."


    A cold chill runs down my spine. "Starship?" I murmur, the word foreign on my tongue.


    "The Sith Empire''s flagship class," Llamiryl continues, her gaze distant as if recalling knowledge from deep within. "These ships are built for war, for conquest. The Sith Empire is... vast. A force of darkness that spans across the stars. They are warriors, rulers, and oppressors. Their empire is one of tyranny and control."


    I feel my heart race, the weight of her words sinking into me. "The Sith Empire..." I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper. "Ryu''s master..."


    Llamiryl''s expression darkens. "Yes. The one who raised him, trained him. He is a Sith Lord—a servant of this dark empire."


    A shiver runs down my spine, and I can''t help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. The thought of Ryu being raised in such a place, surrounded by such darkness—it terrifies me. But before I can dwell on it further, I spot something ahead.


    Ryu.


    He''s walking down the hallway, his dark robes flowing behind him as he follows closely behind his master—the same man we''ve seen in the earlier memories. Ryu''s face is cold, emotionless, his eyes focused ahead as if nothing else matters. It''s strange, seeing him like this. I''ve never seen him look so... distant. Detached. His master walks with purpose, his dark cloak trailing behind him, and though they pass by officers and soldiers, no one dares approach them.


    I can see the curious glances from the officers, the soldiers—they watch Ryu, their eyes flicking toward him as he walks past. But they don''t say anything. They don''t question him. They know better.


    Nikko tugs on my sleeve, her wide eyes locked on Ryu. "Talia... why does he look like that?"


    I swallow hard, unable to answer. I don''t know why. But it scares me—this cold, unfeeling version of Ryu. This isn''t the man I know. It can''t be.


    As we follow them, I notice two figures standing near the edge of the hall, their dark robes and menacing masks making them stand out among the soldiers and officers. They are silent, their faces hidden behind angular, metal masks that glow faintly under the lights. Their presence is... unnerving. They stand still, watching Ryu as he passes by.


    "What are they?" I stammer, my voice shaking as I take in the sight of them.


    Llamiryl narrows her eyes, studying the figures. "They are Sith Acolytes," she says softly, her voice laced with quiet disdain. "Initiates of the dark side. They train in the ways of the Sith, learning to harness the dark power that their masters wield. They are dangerous... ambitious. They serve the Sith Lords, but they are always seeking more power."


    I feel a chill run down my spine as I stare at the Acolytes, their masked faces watching Ryu with an intensity that unsettles me. I don''t know what they are capable of, but I can feel the darkness radiating from them, thick and oppressive.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Beside me, Nikko mutters softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Acolyte..."


    I blink and turn to her, the word catching me off guard. "What was that, Nikko?" I ask gently, kneeling slightly to meet her eyes.


    She hesitates, glancing toward the two figures, her small hands gripping my sleeve tightly. "Papa... he said he''s an Acolyte," she says, her voice barely audible, as if she''s afraid of saying the words aloud.


    My breath catches in my throat as I follow her gaze, my eyes landing on the Sith Acolytes once more. My heart pounds as I take in their full appearance—their dark robes, their angular, metal masks, and the way they stand so still, so emotionless, yet radiating a palpable power. But then my eyes fall on something else. Hanging from their belts, I see it—lightsaber hilts, dark and ominous, like weapons of pure destruction.


    A cold dread settles in my chest. "Is... is he like them?" Nikko asks, her voice trembling slightly as she continues to stare at the Acolytes.


    The question lingers in the air, hanging there like a storm cloud waiting to break. I glance between Nikko and the Sith Acolytes, my mind racing. Is Ryu really like them? Those... menacing figures, cloaked in darkness, with the weight of something terrible about them? The thought claws at my insides, making me feel cold and distant, as if the air around me has thickened.


    No. I shake my head slightly, trying to push the thought away. Ryu is nothing like them. He''s... he''s kind, protective. He saved Nikko, he''s always looked after us, fought for us. He''s not like those faceless, emotionless beings. He can''t be. Can he?


    But even as I tell myself that, the doubt creeps in. I look back at the Acolytes, their cold, distant presence still looming nearby. Their lightsabers hang at their sides, a symbol of power, of the darkness they wield. And Ryu... Ryu has a lightsaber too.


    I clench my fists, my thoughts racing, but I refuse to believe it. Ryu is different. He has to be.


    "N-No," I murmur, shaking my head again, this time more firmly. "Ryu isn''t like them. He... he can''t be."


    But the question lingers, gnawing at me, refusing to let go. Is Ryu really so different from them? I don''t want to believe it, but for the first time... I wonder.


    ?????


    We follow Ryu and his master through the winding, cold corridors of the ship, the echoes of our footsteps swallowed by the vast, alien surroundings. Each turn brings more unfamiliar sights—figures in dark, angular armor moving with precision, mechanical beings rolling past, whirring and clicking as they interact with the soldiers. It''s unsettling. None of this belongs to the world I know.


    Eventually, we step into a massive chamber, and my breath catches in my throat. The space is vast—so large I can barely see the ceiling above. Strange vessels, dark and menacing, hang suspended high up in neat rows, their sharp wings stretched out like claws. They gleam under the cold light, lined up in perfect formation, waiting for something. These aren''t the ships we''ve used to travel back home—no, they are something more powerful, more dangerous. I don''t know what they are, but I can feel it in my bones—they''re built for war.


    Below them, larger crafts are arranged in groups. Their hulking bodies are bulky, with strange doors and long, wide wings stretching out from their sides. Some have strange marks and symbols along their hulls, but the purpose of these markings is lost on me. They seem to be for transporting something—or someone—but I''ve never seen anything like them.


    At the far end of the chamber, the room opens to the void. I can see nothing but an endless stretch of darkness beyond, dotted with small, twinkling lights. And there, in the distance, looms a massive, forbidding world. Its surface is cracked and harsh, the deep reds and browns of the land marred with jagged lines that stretch like scars. Something about that world fills me with unease, as if it holds some ancient, malevolent force within.


    "Korriban," Llamiryl murmurs beside me, her voice barely above a whisper.


    I turn to her, confusion pulling me from my awe. "Hmm?" I ask, my voice low.


    She points toward the dark world in the distance. "That... world, in their ways, is called Korriban. The ancient birthplace of the Sith."


    The weight of her words sends a shiver down my spine. I don''t know much about the Sith—just what I''ve seen, what I''ve felt—but to think that Ryu''s master came from such a place... the thought fills me with dread.


    "Papa told me that''s where he grew up," Nikko whispers, though her voice is distant, her wide eyes still fixed on the strange ships and the darkness beyond. She looks like she''s still trying to make sense of it all, as if the horrors she''s witnessed are slowly sinking in.


    I bite my lip, glancing down at her with a heavy heart. She shouldn''t be here. She shouldn''t have to see all of this—her father''s dark past, this alien world filled with cruelty. But there''s nothing I can do now. We have to keep going.


    "We need to focus," Llamiryl says firmly, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts. She gestures toward the far end of the chamber, where Ryu and his master are approaching one of the larger crafts. I don''t know what it is, but its shape is strange, angular, with wide sides and a sloped entryway that seems to fold open like a gate.


    "Come on," Llamiryl urges, and we move quickly across the floor, following the shadowy figures of Ryu and his master.


    We manage to slip inside just as the gate-like entrance begins to fold upwards with a low hiss, sealing us inside the dark interior. The space within is cramped, with rows of strange foldable seats along the walls. Ryu sits in one of them, his eyes fixed forward, cold and distant, while his master takes the seat across from him. The silence between them is thick, suffocating, and I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me. There''s no connection between them—no words, no looks exchanged. Just silence.


    It makes me sick.


    At the far end of the craft, there''s an open doorway that leads to another room. Through the opening, I can see a strange, mechanical figure—one of the droids, I assume—moving its limbs in precise motions as it manipulates a series of controls. The hum of the craft grows louder, and I feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet as the ship starts to come alive.


    Suddenly, the craft shifts, and I brace myself against the wall, startled by the sensation. It''s so strange—so foreign. Slowly, the craft begins to lift, rising smoothly off the ground. I watch through the opening as the vast chamber below shrinks, the vast space disappearing beneath us as we leave it behind. My heart pounds in my chest, my mind struggling to make sense of what''s happening. We''re... rising, but I don''t understand how.


    The void outside becomes clearer as the craft moves higher, and I catch my breath as I see what lies beyond. There, floating in the darkness, are countless ships—massive vessels, larger than anything I could have ever imagined. They stretch out as far as I can see, their dark forms looming like silent sentinels. And around them, smaller crafts dart between them, their movements so fast, so precise, they remind me of insects swarming around a hive.


    The sight is mesmerizing... and terrifying.


    Nikko''s eyes are wide, her gaze fixed on the endless void outside. She''s never seen anything like this before, and neither have I. The sheer scale of it all—the number of ships, the size of them—makes me feel small, insignificant. But it''s also a reminder of the power we''re up against. The Sith Empire is vast, and we''re standing in the heart of it.


    Suddenly, the hum of the craft grows louder, deeper, and then... something changes. The stars outside the window blur, stretching into long, thin lines of light, and my heart skips a beat. My mind can''t comprehend what''s happening—the sky, the stars, they''re changing. The sensation in my stomach is strange, like I''m being pulled forward, faster than I can understand.


    "What... what''s happening?" I whisper, staring wide-eyed at the swirling lights outside the window.


    And then, the stars are gone.


    In their place is something entirely unfamiliar—an endless tunnel of light, twisting and swirling like a storm, but with no beginning and no end. It stretches out into eternity, a strange, ethereal pathway carved through the void. The lights pulse and shimmer, shifting in color—blues and whites blending together in a hypnotic dance. It''s as if the very fabric of reality is being torn apart and reformed around us.


    I grip the edge of the seat beside me, my heart pounding as the craft continues to hurtle through this strange, shimmering tunnel. The sensation of speed is overwhelming, like we''re moving faster than any living thing should be able to. My body tenses, the unfamiliar sensation pulling at my insides, leaving me feeling weightless and heavy all at once. It''s dizzying.


    I glance at Nikko, her wide eyes still fixed on the view outside the small window. Her face is pale, and I can tell she''s struggling to make sense of it too. Beside her, Llamiryl watches with a stoic expression, but even she seems unsettled by what she''s witnessing.


    The tunnel of light swirls around us, and the craft races forward, deeper into this endless void of twisting colors. I''ve never seen anything like it. It''s otherworldly—impossible to understand.


    And yet, here we are, traveling through it.


    The hum of the ship fills the silence, that strange tunnel of light still swirling outside the window, casting an otherworldly glow into the cabin. I''m still trying to process everything when Ryu''s voice suddenly breaks through the stillness.


    "Master?" His voice is calm, but the sudden sound feels like a shock to the system after all the quiet. "Where are we going?"


    I turn, along with Nikko and Llamiryl, to face Ryu and his master. The older man, his features sharp and cold, shifts slightly, his dark cloak rippling as he turns his head toward Ryu. His gaze is steady, impassive, and I can feel the weight of his presence even from where I''m standing.


    "Your next trial begins, my Acolyte," the master says, his voice low and deliberate. "It is time you learn to survive on your own." He pauses, his words sinking in before he continues. "You won''t be seeing your home for a while."


    Though Ryu''s face remains as cold and expressionless as it has been, I can see it in his eyes—there''s a flicker of something. Nervousness, perhaps? Fear? I''m not sure, but I can tell that, beneath the surface, this cold mask he''s wearing is starting to crack, if only a little.


    "Calm yourself, Ryu," his master says, his voice carrying a note of warning. "I can sense your fear." He leans forward slightly, his dark eyes boring into Ryu. "What have I told you about fear?"


    Ryu doesn''t hesitate, his voice calm and measured. "Fear is a weakness, Master," he replies. "It clouds the mind, makes us vulnerable. It has no place in the mind of an Acolyte."


    The master nods, satisfied. "Good." He leans back again, his gaze softening, but only slightly. "We are going to Felucia."


    Felucia. I''ve never heard that name before, but the way Ryu''s master says it, with such finality, it sends a shiver down my spine.


    "Did you do the readings I asked you to do?" the master asks.


    "Yes, Master," Ryu responds immediately, his voice still calm, though that flicker of nervousness remains in his eyes.


    "And what can you tell me about Felucia?"


    Ryu takes a breath, his gaze fixed forward, but there''s a hint of unease in the way his hands rest in his lap. Still, he answers with confidence, his voice steady.


    "Felucia is a wild and untamed world," he begins. "It is covered in dense, jungle-like terrain, with towering fungal growths that dominate the landscape. The climate is humid, and the terrain is treacherous, filled with ravines and towering plant life that can make navigation difficult."


    I listen, fascinated but disturbed by the way he speaks of this strange place, his voice clinical, as though he''s reciting facts rather than preparing to face it.


    "The dominant species on Felucia is the Felucian, a native sentient species that has adapted to live within the dense jungles. They are tribal, often using the environment to their advantage. The world is also home to a variety of dangerous beasts, including the Rancor—a massive, carnivorous creature that roams the wilds, and the Acklay, an aggressive, insectoid predator with sharp, deadly limbs."


    I feel my stomach twist at the description. Beasts that size... how could anyone survive in a place like that?


    "The flora itself is also dangerous," Ryu continues. "Many of the plants are carnivorous, and some are capable of releasing toxins into the air. The entire environment is hostile. Survival there requires constant vigilance."


    The master nods, clearly pleased with the explanation. "Very good, Ryu. You understand the dangers you will face." He leans forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "But knowing the dangers is not enough. You must learn to thrive in them."


    I can''t help but feel a chill run down my spine as I listen to them speak. Felucia sounds like a nightmare, and the thought of Ryu being sent there, alone, to face these horrors... it fills me with dread.


    Ryu remains silent, his expression still cold and controlled, but I know better. Behind that mask, he''s nervous. He has to be. How could he not be, with what lies ahead?


    The silence between them returns, thick and suffocating, and I can feel the tension in the air. I glance at Nikko, who''s watching Ryu with wide, worried eyes, her grip on my arm tightening. Llamiryl, too, seems focused, her sharp gaze flicking between Ryu and his master as she listens intently.


    The ship continues to hum, the strange tunnel of light swirling outside, carrying us ever closer to whatever lies ahead. The droid''s voice echoes through the small craft, its tone mechanical and precise. "Exiting hyperspace in ten seconds."


    Hyperspace? I think to myself, trying to comprehend the word. Is this wonder I''m witnessing called that? The swirling tunnel of light outside the window has been mesmerizing, otherworldly, as if we''ve been traveling through the fabric of the universe itself. But now, it feels like we''re nearing something—something bigger.


    The ship jolts slightly, and suddenly, the lights outside the window shift. The tunnel collapses inward, shrinking into a pinprick before vanishing completely. In its place, the vastness of space reappears, but directly ahead of us, a massive world looms into view.