‘’In front of you lie the secrets of the Sith and the Jedi, your enemies and allies. Choose carefully your allegiance, for you will have to think in black and white, not gray. Tell me, traveler, are you ready to face your destiny?’’ The young Voss woman told Kylo while looking away from him. Both stood in front of an old temple in the middle of the desert. It didn’t seem like a good idea for Kylo to continue. What did he even expect out of this madness? Could there be an escape even? He was afraid.

‘’I sense your fear, young man, but to go back it is no option.’’ The lady spoke calmly.

‘’What if I refuse to go in? What happens then? I need more answers, I can’t continue in blind!’’ Kylo was mad. Mad at himself. And worried. Worried for Rey.

‘’If you refuse to go in, you will be stuck between the two worlds. There will be times when travelers like you will want to come inside and pass this trial. Some will succeed, some will not. Tell me, what do you know of the third test?’’

‘’Nothing. I know nothing…’’ Kylo didn’t think his strategies before, he just went in, in a rush to complete his training and find out what he really is destined for. Only now he saw his true colors. He was weak. Scared. Lonely.

‘’What makes you so afraid to continue off alone? Do you feel like something is stopping you? Like the Force is telling you not to go in yet?’’ The lady was genuinely worried for him. She had the ability to read his thoughts, but she preferred to have a normal conversation, make him feel at ease, or at least, to understand him. She’s been a gate opener for many, but she never saw anyone to back down like the young man in front of her did.

‘’I’m not a coward.’’ He spoke calmly after he took a seat on the stairs at the entrance of the temple. ‘’I came here by will to search up answers. But instead of doing it alone, I’ve dragged the woman I have feelings for after me as well. And she is not here and it feels empty. I saw my parents earlier and I felt at peace. My uncle, Luke, told me there is an old prophecy that the Force forbids him to give off any details. He told me I will find my destiny on Korriban.’’

‘’But Korriban is a ruin. It’s the ancient Sith world. You would not be able to handle even five minutes on that planet. The dark energies in there are so strong that you would go insane. Literally.’’ She spoke as she took a seat near him.

‘’What do you mean insane?’’ He looked at her suddenly.

‘’Us, Voss, call it the planet of hatred. Many ancient Sith Lords and Emperors are all buried there and their energies are as alive as they once were. All of the manuscripts lie there, in the temples, but not even the Jedi dared to go there after the unsuccessful delegations of the finest politicians and Jedi knights never came back. Some say they went insane and joined the dark side. Some say they became suicidal and took their own lives… Nobody knows the truth, but nobody dares to go find out either.’’

‘’How do you even know these things? How long have you been here as a gatekeeper for?’’ Asked Kylo after a long pause.

‘’Long enough, but by will. I was once alive as well, but I found out one day about this place like you did. I was so curious about it, fascinated by the unknown, that I came here too. I passed all 3 of the stages, but in the third one, I was given a choice. One of the options was to remain here as a gatekeeper. It was a gift of the Force that I have received. The other choice was to go back, but what awaited me would have been far too painful. So, I chose this. I am happy here. We may be in the middle of the desert, but I always meet new people that come here and some of them stay to talk to me as well. Sometimes it gets lonely, but I’ve made a friend who has the ability to contact me from where she is. She is lonely too. She’s got a tragic destiny as well, but she went back, thinking she can change it and whatever she saw behind this door, was just rubbish. Turns out it was not…’’ The Voss lady was sad. She hadn’t told this to anyone before. It felt good to be with someone, but she was afraid to get too attached to the idea of having company, because afterwards she would suffer again after he would leave.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

‘’Who is she?’’ Kylo’s interest was rising out of nowhere.

‘’A victim of a prophecy. What prophecy you ask? I do not know and neither does she. Her parents kept her hidden from the other Sith Lords at that time, but the Emperor found out about her whereabouts. He wanted her dead because she was deemed as a threat to him and the Empire as we once knew it. Curious because she was not a Jedi, but a Sith herself and he could have recruited her instead. She trained in secret, her parents did everything they could for her to keep her away of prying eyes and deadly Secret Intelligence. One day, they taught her how to reach this realm as they hoped she would learn how to get out of the situation she was in. There was nothing else they could have done for her. She came here and that’s how I met her. She was very kind and polite, but also sad. Both of us were lonely and both started sharing our life stories before she finally made up her courage to go in. Funny, because now when I think of it, she somehow reminds me of you. Very analytical mind, she wanted to know what awaited her and what her options were, but unfortunately, I couldn’t give her the answers she was hoping for, simply because I did not have access to them. I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t do more than be a moral support. She went in and after a long time that passed, she managed to get back out. She was livid and fell in my arms, crying, saying she saw horrible things happening in there and that she was scared, that she did not want them to happen. She had a choice, to stay here with me or go back, but her love for the family was stronger than her fear. She asked me to lead her to the next step and I did. Needless to say, she was not able to change her destiny as she wanted, and when she came back here to try again, no matter how many times we tried, we couldn’t get to open this door. Not anymore.’’

‘’What is her name?’’

‘’You seem awfully interested in knowing more details about her than your own mission you have to do. Why?’’ The lady was eyeing him cautiously this time.

In that moment, Kylo asked himself the same question. Why? Maybe because he was curious what that woman saw behind that door. Maybe he would have same choices as her. Maybe, maybe, maybe. These questions can be easily answered by the gatekeeper, yet, I am more interested in finding out who that woman is. Why was she a threat to the Empire? What the prophecy was? Would I find it on Korriban? Would she be an ally or an enemy? Would I need to destroy her or save her? How the hell do I even go on Korriban if I cannot handle the atmosphere? Luke, where are you sending me?!

‘’Your answers will not be here, but behind the closed door. Go in and find out. Maybe your destinies are intertwined. If they are not, DO NOT ask for her. A change of fate comes at great costs that are most of the time not worth it.’’ Her voice was not calm anymore

He remained silent. It was not how he imagined things would go like. If before he felt discouraged, now he felt different, complete, like the Force wanted him to find out this piece of information before going in. He got up and thanked her for the kindness and understanding she showed towards him then headed towards the door and put his hand on it. He was ready to go in.

‘’Her name is Sekvath.’’ The Voss told Kylo while the door was slowly opening to allow him access inside the temple. ‘’Be careful!’’ She added when she saw him turn around.

‘’I will be back.’’ He answered then disappeared in the darkness behind him.

----------------------------------------

‘’In front of you lie the secrets of the Sith and the Jedi, your enemies and allies. Choose carefully your allegiance, for you will have to think in black and white, not gray. Tell me, traveler, are you ready to face your destiny?’’ The young Voss woman told Rey, while analyzing her.

‘’Yes.’’ Answered Rey without any sign of hesitance.

‘’So shall it be. Put your hand on the door and it will open. Good luck.’’

Rey went in without looking back or answering. She was ready to face whatever the Force would throw at her. I can do it.

Outside the temple, the Voss lady watched the door slowly close back.

‘’It is done, my Lord.’’ She said then turned around and waited patiently.