She summons another door, the familiar light spilling from the frame. I glance down at Nikko, gently wiping away her tears. She nods at me, her grip tightening on my arm, her courage slowly returning.


    As we step through the door, the surroundings shift, and we find ourselves on the bridge of a ship hurling through that strange, mesmerizing tunnel of light—hyperspace, as Ryu once called it. The room is quiet, save for the soft hum of the ship''s systems. Ryu is seated behind the controls, his hands moving swiftly across the console as he adjusts a few settings. His dark, menacing armor gleams in the dim light of the bridge, and even though I''ve seen him in it so many times now, it still sends a shiver down my spine. It feels wrong, like the Ryu I know is lost somewhere behind that cold, impenetrable exterior.


    In the corner of the room, I notice a strange, squat mechanical being—some kind of droid, I assume. Its appendage is extended into the wall, spinning with loud, rhythmic clicks. It moves with a purpose, though I have no idea what it''s doing. I''ve seen enough droids by now to know it''s a machine, but this one seems... different. It''s smaller, more compact, with a domed head and a cylindrical body. I glance at Llamiryl, but she''s focused on Ryu, her brow furrowed.


    Suddenly, Ryu messes with a few controls, and the ship lurches slightly as it exits hyperspace. Before us, the swirling tunnel of light vanishes, replaced by the vast, dark expanse of space. But it''s what lies ahead that steals my breath. A new world.


    The planet is shrouded in thick, swirling clouds, its surface barely visible beneath the dense, misty atmosphere. Unlike the other worlds we''ve seen, this one feels... different. The colors are muted, greens and browns blending together, and the air seems to ripple with a strange, otherworldly energy. Even from this distance, I can sense the ancient, wild nature of the planet. It''s unlike anything I''ve ever seen, and yet, despite everything we''ve witnessed so far, it''s still mesmerizing.


    "So, this is Dagobah," I hear Ryu mutter to himself. His voice is low, almost contemplative, though his posture remains rigid, focused.


    The ship begins its descent, moving gracefully through the planet''s dense atmosphere. As we break through the clouds, I catch my first glimpse of the surface. It''s a swamp. A vast, endless swamp. Thick trees twist and curl towards the sky, their roots tangled and gnarled in the murky water below. Vines hang like webs, draping the landscape in eerie shadows. The air is heavy, thick with moisture, and the fog rolls across the ground like a living thing. Dagobah feels alive, in a way that''s unsettling. The whole environment hums with the presence of something ancient, something primal.


    The ship touches down softly, the landing far smoother than I expect. Ryu moves quickly, his fingers flying over the console as he powers down the ship. I glance around, still captivated by the view outside, but my attention snaps back to Ryu as he stands from his seat.


    He presses a button, and the landing ramp begins to lower with a mechanical hiss. But before stepping out, Ryu turns toward the small droid. "L5, stay with the ship," he orders, his tone firm but not harsh.


    The droid lets out a series of beeps in response—almost like speech, though I can''t understand it—and retracts its appendage from the wall. It turns around, obediently following Ryu''s command.


    Ryu takes a deep breath, stepping to the edge of the ramp, surveying the swampy landscape before him. I can''t tell what he''s thinking, but he seems tense, more so than usual. The swamp stretches out in every direction, its thick, humid air clinging to everything. The smell of wet earth and decaying plant life fills my senses, and the sounds of strange creatures echo through the trees. It''s like stepping into a forgotten world, one untouched by time.


    The environment is oppressive, heavy with the weight of history and something more... sinister. Ryu steps forward, his boots sinking slightly into the soft, damp ground. I follow close behind, with Nikko gripping my hand tightly. Her wide eyes dart around the swamp, a mix of fear and fascination on her face. Even Llamiryl, who has been through so much already, seems unnerved by the place. It''s not just the landscape; it''s the feeling that something is watching us, hidden in the shadows of the trees. Dagobah is alive in ways that I can''t quite comprehend.


    Ryu moves with purpose, but there''s a tension in his posture that I haven''t seen before. He''s preparing for something, though I''m not sure what. As we follow him deeper into the swamp, I can''t help but feel that whatever lies ahead will test him—and us—in ways we can''t yet imagine.


    The journey feels endless as we continue through the swamp, the thick air weighing heavily on my lungs. Every step feels labored, the moisture clinging to us, seeping into our bones. The sound of the wildlife is eerie—soft chirps, distant growls, and splashes that send ripples across the murky water. The occasional glint of movement beneath the surface makes me quicken my pace, instinctively wanting to move further from the water''s edge. But Ryu, with his dark, menacing armor, strides forward with purpose. He seems to know exactly where he''s going, his steps deliberate and sure, as though something unseen is guiding him.


    Then, just ahead, the trees part slightly, revealing what he''s been searching for. A cave. But this is no ordinary cave. Even from where I stand, I can feel the malevolence radiating from it, an almost tangible darkness that pulls at the edges of my senses. The entrance looms before us, twisted roots and vines hanging down like skeletal fingers reaching toward the ground. The air around it feels colder, denser, like it''s a different world entirely. The mouth of the cave is wide, but it feels as though it''s swallowing light, drawing everything toward it in a slow, inevitable pull. I feel a shudder run through me. This is no natural place.


    And then I see him—a figure seated on a large rock just beside the cave entrance. The man is old, his long, gray beard reaching down to his chest, his robe worn but neat, draped over his thin frame. He puffs on a pipe, the smoke curling lazily upward, and next to him, leaning casually against the rock, is a long wooden walking stick. His eyes... they are milky white, unfocused, and I realize with a start that he''s blind. Yet, despite his blindness, he seems at ease, entirely aware of our presence.


    Ryu stops a few paces away, his hand hovering over the hilt of his lightsaber. The tension in his posture makes my stomach twist in fear. I glance at Nikko and Llamiryl—both of them are staring at the old man, uncertain. A part of me dreads that Ryu might strike him down without a second thought, but there''s something different this time. He hesitates, his hand lingering over the weapon, studying the man before him.


    Then the old man speaks, his voice low and gravelly, yet calm. "No need to draw your weapon."


    The man''s head turns slightly, his clouded eyes locking onto Ryu as if he can see him clearly, though he''s blind. How? I can''t understand it. Ryu was moving so silently, so carefully. How could this man know?


    Ryu''s stance doesn''t change, though his hand remains close to his lightsaber. "You guard this place?" His voice is measured, calculating. His eyes shift between the old man and the cave beyond, clearly assessing whether this frail-looking elder is a threat.


    The old man chuckles softly, taking another drag from his pipe before letting out a slow puff of smoke. "Guard?" His lips curl into a smile. "No... I am merely a watcher."


    Ryu''s posture relaxes slightly, his hand falling back to his side, though he keeps his gaze locked on the old man. "Then you''ll let me pass?" His tone is laced with doubt, as though even he isn''t sure whether he truly believes the man will allow him to enter so easily.


    The old man doesn''t. Ryu starts moving towards the cave, his gaze occasionally drifting to the old man. The old man meanwhile simply puffs on his pipe, the smoke swirling lazily between them.


    "Your path is not destined yet," the old man then says, his voice gentle but firm, the words stopping Ryu in his tracks. Ryu turns, his brow furrowing beneath his mask, as if unsure what to make of this stranger. "You believe you have no choice," the old man continues, his blind eyes seeming to pierce through the layers of Ryu''s armor. "But that isn''t true. You always have a choice."


    Ryu stiffens at that, his voice low and dangerous. "What could you possibly know about me?" His tone suggests he''s on edge, but something in the old man''s words is getting through it seems.


    The old man takes another slow drag from his pipe, exhaling thoughtfully as his smile fades. "I know you feel a weight that you cannot shake," he says, his blind eyes seeming to look straight through Ryu. "A burden you carry, heavier than your armor. It clings to you like a shadow, even when you believe you''re free. You were sent here to meditate, to quiet the storm inside you, to seek peace. But you believe that peace can be found inside that cave. Don''t you?"


    Ryu remains silent, the tension in his stance betraying the conflict within him. His gaze remains fixed on the old man, processing his words.


    After a moment, Ryu finally speaks, his voice low and uncertain. "Won''t it?"


    The old man chuckles softly, tapping the side of his pipe. "You already know the answer," he says, his tone calm and measured. "Whatever you are looking for, inside this cave you will find it."


    Ryu turns his gaze back toward the cave entrance, the darkness within it almost calling to him. He glances back at the old man, who gives a simple, peaceful nod, and without another word, Ryu takes a deep breath and steps toward the cave.


    I feel a lump in my throat as I follow him, with Nikko and Llamiryl close behind. Whatever lies inside this cave, it feels as though it will change everything.


    Inside the cave, Ryu ignites his lightsaber, the yellow glow casting an eerie light across the cave''s damp walls. The darkness seems to ripple away from the blade, retreating but still present, clinging to the cave like an oppressive weight. His armor, heavy and menacing, reflects faint glimmers of light, and his masked face reveals nothing of his emotions. The red visor on his mask gives him an almost inhuman appearance, a figure of power and intimidation.


    I follow behind him, trying to keep my breath steady, but the air in here is thick, suffocating. It clings to my skin, to my lungs, like the cave itself is alive. Something moves along the side of the cave, shifting between the shadows. I feel Nikko tense beside me, her grip on my hand tightening. I can barely make out the form—a silhouette pacing, lurking, but always just out of sight.Stolen story; please report.


    Ryu notices it too, turning his head slightly in its direction, his lightsaber raised as he approaches. The roots hang down like skeletal fingers, obscuring the figure in the darkness. He moves closer, and the shadow suddenly lunges. A flash of motion, the grotesque form surging at him, but it''s stopped by the roots. I flinch, my heart racing as Nikko lets out a frightened gasp.


    Llamiryl''s face remains calm, though I see the flicker of tension in her eyes. The figure presses against the roots, its body decomposed and decayed, skin hanging in sickly patches. And then, more emerge. Arms, faces, all twisted in unnatural ways. They thrash at the roots, grotesque bodies swaying, but never breaking through.


    Ryu swings his lightsaber in response, its glow tracing through the air as more rotten arms lunge at him. He cuts through the long, hanging roots, and that''s when I recognize some of them. The Jedi. The ones he killed. Their faces—those faces! Twisted, distorted in agony. The whispers surround us, their words lost in the echo of the cave, unintelligible, yet filled with a deep, haunting sadness. I shiver, and the air grows even colder, the temperature sinking as the figures lurch and sway.


    And then, just as suddenly, they stop. Frozen.


    Ryu looks around, his breathing heavy beneath the mask, though his face remains hidden. He exhales slowly, his armored form casting long shadows on the cave walls. The bodies hang there, lifeless now, no longer reaching for him. He stares at them for a long moment, as if waiting for them to move again. Then, he turns away.


    I follow his gaze, but when I look back—there''s nothing. The corpses are gone, vanished into the shadows, as if they had never been there at all. Nikko grips my arm tighter, confused, and I feel a chill crawl up my spine. It was like they were never real.


    Ryu says nothing, pressing forward into the thickening mist that fills the cave, his yellow lightsaber cutting through it, though barely. The mist seems alive, swirling and heavy, almost pushing back against the light of his blade. I can''t see more than a few feet in front of me now, but I stay close, my heart pounding in my chest. This place... it''s more than a cave. It feels alive, malevolent, like it knows us, knows him.


    And then, through the haze, we see it. A child, suspended in the air, shackled and bound by chains. My heart stops. It''s Ryu. The young version of him, the one we saw back on Kessel, in that awful memory. He''s wearing those same tattered rags, his face drawn with exhaustion and pain. The chains pull at him, binding him, holding him in place like a broken doll.


    "Ryu..." I whisper, barely able to get the words out.


    Suddenly, the sound of chains echoes in the air, metallic and cold. I flinch as I see them—chains that weren''t there before. They wrap around Ryu, the present Ryu, coiling around his arms, his legs, a slave collar snapping around his neck. The sound of it locking into place is like a crack of thunder in the silence.


    Ryu tenses, grabbing at the chains, trying to break them, but they don''t budge. His muscles strain, the chains clinking and tightening, pulling him down. His breaths come in harsh gasps, and he grits his teeth, pulling harder, his lightsaber shaking in his grip. But nothing works. The chains hold him fast, dragging him down.


    Nikko''s small voice trembles beside me. "Why is this happening to him?"


    Llamiryl''s voice is quiet but certain. "Because the chains never left. They were always there... invisible, but real."


    I can''t tear my eyes away, watching as this powerful figure, this warrior, is reduced to struggling against his metal bonds. He pulls and pulls, but the chains only grow tighter. His movements become frantic, desperate, and his masked face turns toward the younger version of himself—still shackled, still bound in the air like a symbol of everything he can''t escape.


    Tears well up in my eyes, and I hear Nikko sob softly beside me. "Why can''t he break free?"


    "He was never free," Llamiryl says softly. "The chains... they were always there, even if he couldn''t see them."


    Ryu lets out a frustrated, pained growl, his entire body trembling as he fights the bindings. The Jedi he killed, their faces twisted in torment, linger in the background, a haunting reminder of the lives he''s taken, of the guilt that festers deep within him.


    But the chains refuse to break. With one final, exhausted breath, Ryu collapses to the ground, his body bound, the collar around his neck glowing faintly, as if mocking his struggle.


    For a moment, all is still. The chains hang there, pulsing with their invisible hold, binding him to a past he can never escape. And then, as if the cave itself is relenting, the chains begin to disappear. One by one, they fade into the mist, leaving Ryu lying there, gasping for breath.


    Ryu lies on the ground, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his exhaustion. Those chains are still present in my mind. I can feel their grip, their suffocating presence. He doesn''t move right away—just stares at the spot where the younger version of himself was suspended moments ago, chained and helpless.


    But then, I realize with a sinking feeling that the younger Ryu is gone. No trace remains, as if the vision had never existed at all. The chains, the child, all of it—vanished into the depths of the cave, leaving only the heavy silence behind.


    Nikko lets out a small, confused whimper. "Where did he go?"


    Llamiryl''s face is tight, her eyes scanning the empty space where the young Ryu once hung. "The past is gone. But the weight of it... still remains."


    Ryu slowly pushes himself up, his movements sluggish, as though the struggle with the chains has taken more from him than just his strength. The dim light from his lightsaber flickers across the cave walls, casting long shadows as he stands tall once more. For a moment, he just stands there, silent and still, staring at the empty air, and I can almost hear the lingering echo of those chains that held him—chains that are no longer visible, but will forever bind him.


    Without a word, he turns, his back to the emptiness that once held his younger self, and he steps forward. The cave, thick with mist, seems to part as he moves. We follow behind, the eerie quiet of the cave pressing against us, as if the cave itself is holding its breath.


    Ryu walks toward the exit, his steps heavy, his presence quieter now. And though he''s left the vision behind, I know he carries the weight of it with him still.


    The chains, like the child, may be gone—but their presence remains.


    ?????


    We step out of the cave, my heart still hammering in my chest from what we had just seen. The serenity of Dagobah''s surface greets us like a strange, distant memory—a peaceful contrast to the horrors we had witnessed inside. The air feels thick with moisture, the distant calls of strange creatures echoing through the fog. The swamp feels alive, the moss-covered trees and murky waters shifting with unseen life. It''s a bizarre relief, like stepping from a nightmare into a strange but calming dream.


    Ryu steps forward, his boots sinking slightly into the wet ground as he surveys the landscape. His dark, imposing figure stands out against the eerie green glow of the swamp. He turns his gaze to where the old man had been sitting, but the rock is now empty, the old man gone as if he were never there. Ryu''s posture is tense, his breathing heavier, as if the weight of what he saw in the cave still clings to him. I can feel it too—the heaviness of it, the haunting realization that even though Ryu has no visible chains, they still exist.


    I glance at Llamiryl, who has her eyes on Ryu, her brow furrowed in concern. She can sense it too. "He''s... in turmoil," Llamiryl whispers, her voice barely audible. "What he saw... it''s shaken him deeply."


    Ryu takes a deep breath, then without a word, he disappears into the swamp, his figure swallowed by the thick fog and twisted roots of Dagobah. The soft sounds of his footsteps fade into the distance, leaving us standing there in silence. I want to reach out, to call after him, but I know I can''t. Not now.


    The memory flashes brightly, the swamp dissolving around us, and we find ourselves back in the endless hallway. The transition is sudden, the stillness of the void a jarring contrast to the heavy atmosphere of the swamp.


    My breath catches in my throat as I replay the memory in my mind—the cave, the shadows, the chains. The serenity of Dagobah feels like a distant echo now, replaced by the unsettling reminder of Ryu''s past. What we saw... the young Ryu, bound in chains, the figures lunging at him from the shadows—it''s a haunting image I can''t shake. And yet, it was all a memory. Something Ryu endured long ago.


    Nikko is the first to break the silence, her small hand trembling in mine. "Talia," she whispers, her voice shaky. "Why was Papa... why was he still in chains? He''s been free this whole time, hasn''t he?"


    I hesitate, glancing at Llamiryl for support. The images of Ryu bound by invisible chains, struggling against the weight of something unseen, still swirl in my mind. "What we saw, Nikko... that was from his past," I say softly, kneeling beside her. "Back then, Ryu might have still felt like he was trapped. Even if the physical chains were gone, the things he went through still held him captive in other ways."


    Nikko''s brow furrows, tears brimming in her eyes. "But he got away. He''s not a slave anymore. So why... why would he still feel like that?"


    Llamiryl steps closer, her voice calm but filled with the weight of understanding. "The chains we saw were a reflection of what Ryu felt back then. He was still enslaved by his past, by everything that had been done to him. Even if he was no longer physically bound, the trauma, the darkness, it stayed with him." She pauses, her gaze thoughtful as she continues. "That was the cave showing him what he struggled with—what he had to overcome."


    I nod, my thoughts aligning with hers. "The darkness... the way he was raised, everything he went through... it left marks that are hard to erase, even when you''re free." My voice falters, the thought of Ryu carrying those invisible chains for so long tugging at my heart. "He must have felt that weight for a long time."


    Nikko wipes her eyes, her confusion still evident. "But... does he still feel that way? Does Papa still think he''s in chains?"


    The question lingers in the air, heavy and unsettling. I don''t know how to answer her. I look to Llamiryl, who glances down the endless hallway, her expression thoughtful. "We can''t be sure," she finally says. "That memory was from long ago. Ryu has come a long way since then. He''s been fighting those chains, trying to break free."


    I nod, pulling Nikko close. "He''s different now, Nikko. He''s stronger. But..." I trail off, wondering myself if Ryu still feels the burden of those invisible chains. "But maybe... maybe part of him still struggles with it. Maybe those doubts still linger, even if he doesn''t show it."


    We stand in silence, the weight of Ryu''s past pressing on us all. Nikko leans against me, her small form trembling. "I just hope he knows that," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "That he''s not alone anymore."


    I hug her tighter, my own heart aching with the thought. "We''ll make sure he knows, Nikko," I whisper, determination settling deep within me. "We won''t let him face those chains again. Not alone."


    I can''t help but let my mind wander, questions filling my thoughts. What will Ryu do now? He didn''t meditate as his master commanded. He didn''t confront or quell the doubts within him. What will he say when he returns? Will he lie? Try to deceive the Sith Lord who seems to see right through him? How would his master react when he finds out that the darkness Ryu was supposed to embrace still gnaws at him, that he didn''t overcome the turmoil within?


    The anxiety gnaws at me. I can''t shake the feeling of dread that builds in my chest. If Ryu couldn''t break free of those chains, if he couldn''t face his doubts, what will happen next?


    "Will his master punish him?" Nikko''s small voice breaks the silence as we walk through the threshold, her hand still clutching mine tightly. Her question, innocent and yet filled with fear, echoes my own thoughts.


    "I... I don''t know," I admit softly, glancing down at her worried expression. "But his master... he''s cruel, Nikko. He might not be so forgiving."


    Llamiryl, walking ahead of us, doesn''t turn but speaks with the same measured calm. "Ryu didn''t meditate. He didn''t release the turmoil within him." She pauses, her gaze forward. "But what''s important is that he''s still fighting. That struggle within him, it means he hasn''t succumbed completely."


    The thought brings a sliver of comfort, but not much. What would Ryu''s master, the man who shaped him into this weapon of destruction, do when he realizes his pupil is still battling doubt? My mind spins with possibilities, none of them good. Would Ryu lie? Would he admit the truth?


    I can only hope that whatever comes next, Ryu finds the strength to face it—not with the darkness that his master commands of him, but with the light I know still flickers somewhere inside him.


    How much longer can he keep up this fight?


    Llamiryl steps forward, her hand rising gracefully as she summons another door into the void. The familiar, glowing outline of the door appears, casting faint light on the shadowy expanse around us. We hesitate for just a moment, and I feel the weight of everything we''ve just witnessed pulling at me. Ryu''s memory, the chains, the young version of himself—the doubt that still lingered in his heart after all this time. I wonder if he''s ever truly broken free of it, or if those chains still weigh him down.