Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Arriving back at her estate Kristal Serasai walked past the benches, tools scattered about, of the work crews that were busy restoring the holdings of the Serasai name. Looking for Harad, or any, who would properly direct her to her mother, and that of Sylvain. Still wearing the dress from the party.

She is shown to a guest room where her mother is resting, her face is battered and the physician has just sedated her and set the bones in her leg. Raven Torsin is resting next door in a similar state but decided to forego the drugs to be sedated.

Harad comes to attention when Kristal enters.

"Report," she enters, nodding to Harad and crossing her arms behind her back. Looking back to her mother, sedated as she was.

“She is resting now; her leg was broken in several places it seems she gave as she good as she got. She will probably be more coherent in the morning, Lady Torsin is lucid though,” he responded.

Kristal nodded, looking upon her mother, it was the fight any Serasai would have given. If only, she felt, she were there, there might have at least been a few more bodies for it. Allow them to challenge a Sith, good and proper, "I wish to know of any changes in status, for the better or worse, but... get some rest yourself Harad. Have someone you can trust take over for monitoring the situation for you here."

"I may, I believe, speak with my other mother. Now that I've the occasion," she said.

Harad nodded and said, "As you say my Lord."

He seems reluctant but does as commanded with Imperial precision.

"Thank you, Harad," she said, her voice breaking in with a bit of sincere earnestness that almost seemed softer than usual.

With that, she exited the room and endeavored a journey to find a one Raven Torsin.

Face battered and brusied she was sitting up tapping at a datapad and said, “The things we endure for our children, yes?”

"Everything, and more," she said, entering the room fully.

"To think, we have not spoken in years and yet we do so near a day after my wedding and it is because you have been delivered to my home beaten and bloodied."

“I believe they intended for you to kill me t the Emperor’s behest but when they did not need me, I was delivered here,” she replied tapping at her datapad.

"Particularly cruel, if they took you and my own mother for this very purpose," she said, "Jaheem Abasi was forced to killing his mother, but to have a single Aspirant be charged with both."

“I think they had your mother planned for Lord Tenebrous,” she responded.

Kristal was quiet, for a moment, "Ah, I see the test in it now. Responsible for the death of one of my parents, I see how this would have been the better test of allegiance for her," she said.

Kristen looked at Raven, then away, "After your ordeal it is best you rest. You will have these quarters for as long as you require, what aid you might require, and should you wish of it what transport you require. It is, after all, my responsibility for your current state."

“I won’t stay long, I have things that need doing,” she said calmly.

“I doubt Shaisha would have done it, but it may not have been an easy decision for her.”

Kristal shook her head, "Perhaps, the Shaisha we knew. However, the Shaisha I have seen of late... she is more of a mystery than I have ever known. Both seeking to allow our connection to embolden and yet casually admitting to having had to think long and hard about having to kill me during these trials, and if she would have done it."

"Luckily, it is not a question we will have need to address. She has made her choice to avoid that decision, and has decided against needing to kill me."

“You need to do better in the trials to be anything of a challenge to her,” she added.

“If it comes to pass kill her, there can be no hesitation.”

"I shall not be seeking the death of my fellow Aspirants, they may yet serve the Empire when this is through," she said, raising her shoulders a bit, "but I shall not forget what it is that I must do to secure the safety of the Empire."

“An obvious and foolish weakness, easily exploited. This isn’t a time for mercy, in this game you either kill or be killed,” she responded with a sigh.

“Foolish and unwise.”

"Many have claimed that my insistence upon offering my enemies, those who serve the Empire, a chance to walk away is a weakness. Any chance that they are removed from their ability to contest me longer, and thus granted a chance at survival, is a weakness."

"I do not believe it so," she said, "they will have their chance to survive, or they will fight me and risk losing everything. They will be allowed that choice, that mercy. That will better the Empire, that will keep us whole."

“Giving people chances is a weakness, one your enemies may one day capitalize to your ruin,” she countered.

“But I am not in the mood for this, you have more important things to do then dote on old women.”