Yes, Master.

[Arthemise Xius]

Her mind raced, her thoughts tangled and incomprehensible as she fought the pain that ravaged her small frame. He wanted her to break down, to beg him to stop so that she could catch her breath, but that would only prove that she wasn’t ready to become a true Sith. It would do nothing for her reputation but to sully it in front of him and to show that on the surface, she was still the frightened girl he had taken from Nar Shaddaa. She wasn’t that same girl and as much as she wanted to plead with him to end the pain, she wouldn’t.

When Evandrus released his hold on her arms, she forced herself to remain on her feet, to draw her shoulders back despite the cries that escaped her lips. Her movements where shaken, but she raised her hands and called desperately upon the Force.

Arthemise narrowed her vision towards Evandrus, his figure blurred as she reciprocated his attack, attempting to disrupt his concentration. Electricity shot from the tips of her fingers, directing the attack back towards her Master. She held it, despite the threat of collapse and held her breath to mute the screams that wanted to escape her lips, repeating to herself that she was capable of overcoming this and that she was ready to be considered a Knight within the Empire.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

Excellent.

She had learned the lesson that was to be learned here and she had attempted to attack him. He said attempted because although she did succeed in sending lightning his way, it was so weak compared to his own that he was able to catch it in his free hand using tutaminis to condense it into a ball, which he held in his hand as he stopped his own lightning attack.

Once she was finished with her own attack, he would throw the orb of her power away to the side, allowing it to hit a small tree - tearing straight through it with it's released power. With his apprentice now released from his attack, Evandrus ignited his lightsaber and held it in front of him.

"Kneel."

It wasn't a request and there was no explanation.

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Her heart pounded in her chest, limbs still trembling as she stared up at him in absolute silence. Her breath was labored and the pain had no subsided, but she remained standing in front of him. She could feel her knees threatening to give out beneath her, but fought to maintain her balance as she waited for him to speak. Had she done something wrong? Was this a lesson or another test? Her eyes searched for the answer in his expression, but she found none.

Evandrus broke silence, his tone demanding as he lit his weapon. Kneel was all that he commanded and she felt her stomach twist into knots, sure that he would punish her for her unrealized errors. Still, she obeyed and fell to her knees at his feet, her head bowed and platinum hair obstructing her view. She felt physically sick, fearful of what he might do to her, but she wouldn’t question him.

There was no place for her in the galaxy if not by his side and if he no longer wanted her, it was best she die by his hand no matter how fiercely she feared death.

Aria rested her hands on her thighs and took a deep breath to calm her shaken nerves. Pain ravaged her body, but she knelt still as stone, just as he had commanded of her.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

The red glow of his lightsaber illuminated them both.

He held his blade in his hand, ready to either strike her head from her shoulders... or not. In the end, Evandrus stared down into her eyes. She looked down, bowing her head, and Evandrus scowled.

"Look at me."

It was a command she wouldn't have the chance to obey or disobey as he grabbed her head using the Force, forcing her to look up into his eyes. Where before they had been a warm and welcoming dark blue, now they were a cold and hard gold. His use of lightning brought out the Dark Side and it showed as he stared down at her.

He stared at her in completely silence before resting the blade of his lightsaber just above her right shoulder... before moving it above the left shoulder. The lightsaber extinguished and his eyes began to return to the dark blue they were known for. A tiny smirk wormed it's way onto his face.

"Rise now, Arthemise Xius not as an apprentice - but as a Sith Knight in truth."

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

Her head was thrown back, eyes meeting his own. They weren’t inviting and she sensed no small amount of raw power within him. For the first time, Arthemise feared Evandrus and still her respect and dedication to him did not fade. He had taken her and molded her into a dauntless and unforgiving Sith, for which she would never be able to repay him. He had shown her power in its truest form and given her the tools and resources to take it for her own.

Arthemise felt the warmth of his blade, rested just above her shoulder, but her eyes never left his. His golden eyes stared back and she felt her heart race again in her chest, unsure of what was about to happen. In a moment he could take her life, but she trusted him and if that trust was misplaced, she wouldn’t live long enough to regret it.

She steadied her breathing, watching as he moved his blade to her left shoulder and silently preparing for the bite of pain to follow. It never did, but there was no relief in her expression. She listened to him as he spoke and then rose as instructed, ignoring the pain that still surged through her muscles.

Arthemise watched as the fire burned out in his eyes and bowed her head respectfully once he had finished. “I won’t give you reason to regret it, Lord Evandrus.” She hid the exhaustion from her tone, and offered him the smallest of smiles in return, unsure of how to respond.

 

[Darth Evandrus]

She was tired, she was in pain and she was afraid but she still just stood there, waiting for orders. It seemed that he was right - his little Aria was ready to be a Sith Knight. Hells, she was getting close to the same level of power as some of the Sith Masters within the ranks of the Empire as it was.

Naturally, she wasn't ready to become a Master.

Just as there was more to being a Sith than just being able to use the Dark Side, there was more to being a Sith Master than just the required power to call yourself such. In the end though, he knew she would be ready at some point. He smiled a little wider as he clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt,

"Good." he responded simply before reaching out and ruffling her hair a little bit, "Alright then Aria - that's all for today. I think it's time for you to head on off to your quarters for the night."

He paused before adding,

"Yes, your quarters will be upgraded as well. You're not an apprentice anymore."

@MatureContentWarningx

 

[Arthemise Xius]

It hadn’t been easy to overcome the trials Evandrus had laid before her, but still she succeeded. She was tired, her body ravaged by pain, heart still racing in her chest but she didn’t move. Her eyes, trained him him, waiting for him to speak. Arthemise knee better than to walk away from him or to let her fears control her, she knew not to fall at his feet no matter how hard it was for her to stand.

He reached out to ruffle her hair and she felt her muscles tense. She sighed, her shoulders falling as he dismissed her and she gave him another smile, this time more genuine than the last. It was done and soon she would be able to relax and to recover.

“Thank you,” she offered, at the opportunity to leave, brushing her hair from her face. She watched him for a moment and then turned to leave, retiring to her quarters to think on the days lessons.

/end thread.