Competition: Extinguishing the Light, Burning the Darkness

Finished
Extinguishing the Light, Burning the Darkness

Everyone has faced conflict with the opposite alignment of who they are. The light tries to brighten its presence while the darkness whispers words of temptation and desire.

Write about a time your character was faced with choosing one side and what they did against the other. If you're a grey, write about a time you struggled to maintain that balance and how you succeeded. The min. word count is 500 with no maximum. Grading will be based off the Voice Fiction grading rubric.

Competition Information
Organized by
Blade Mistress Shadow Nighthunter, Katyusha Neige
Running time
2017-02-18 until 2017-03-18 (29 days)
Target Unit
Clan Scholae Palatinae
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
Third Level Crescents and Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
8 subscribers, of which 3 have participated.
Results
Member
Adept Reiden Palpatine Karr
File submission
Light___Darkness_(10106).pdf
Placement
1st place
Member
Alara Deathbane
Textual submission

I had this SUPER awesome pdf designed with funky texts and everything only to have my computer fart on me at the last
minute. So instead, here ya go:

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The new Aedile gritted her teeth in frustration. She stared at the mirror before her and observed how her amber eyes flickered in the candlelight, the only source of light in the room. She was in a dormitory within the Tipoca II medical station, far away from what desolation her home Judecca had become. Tears streamed down her face as she tightened her fists which rested on the desk before her. Swirls of different emotions flooded the inner precincts of her mind: rage, fury, sorrow, mourning, anxiousness. What would happen now that the Cocytus System was lost? Where would the Clan go? Could she be the right Leader she needed to be during this suspenseful time? With the Grand Master practically on their tail with the whole Brotherhood fleet ready to slaughter them all, she wasn’t sure. Somehow she had to lead her new House into victory.

*Well, at least Braecen is here with us now. He’ll know what to do*, Alara attempted to comfort herself. Though she had not been under his leadership long, Alara trusted the Adept and his long experience which accompanied his wisdom. He had seen many a battle before. He’ll get them out of this one too.

*But against Grand Master Pravus and his maniacal schemes? * Alara sighed in disgust at the thought of them and lifted a hand to wipe the tears from her sharply sculpted cheeks.

*Follow his leadership. Allow him to shape you who you will become.*

“But will I truly follow him? To the ends of the universe?” Alara looked up at herself once more, inspecting her serious face and worry-filled eyes. “He’s a Sith, after all. A Krath adherent at that. I’m a Dark Jedi. I have to follow what I feel is true.”

But what is it that I actually feel? The different paths of the Force seemed to play tug-of-war with her heart which only made her question her instincts more. She venerated the power the Dark Side would bestow on her when she called. But inside her heart would ache and yearn to cling to what is true; to be a better version of herself.

The half-Sephi let out a scoff, blew out the candle harshly and flopped onto her bed. She tossed and turned in attempts to get comfy until she finally laid on her back to stare at the curved ceiling of her small room.

*It must be getting late.* She glanced over at her datapad that laid on the make shift end table beside her bed to quench her curiosity. *23:30pm. Oy.*

The Marauder wasn’t tired in the slightest. The torture of being torn separate ways fueled her energy far too much. She couldn’t stop worrying about which path to truly choose.

*The Dark Side provides such power. That kind of power could save the Clan. I know what I can do without it, imagine what I could be with it on my side. Within my grasp. But what will Shadow think of me? She’s Sith too, but even in her eyes true evil is unnecessary…*

Before she could release another sigh from her tensed lungs, her datapad beeped to announce an incoming message across its screen:

**QUA: Alara, come quick. Summit meeting in council hall. Now.**

Alara threw herself at the datapad in rushed attempts to respond:

**Alara: On my way.**

Adrenaline and anxiety jetted through her veins as she leapt from her bed and towards her dormitory’s exit.

Perhaps, at least for now, she would allow Braecen to guide her in leadership. However, she would follow her heart as a true guide that would deem what is necessary. This could be too much trust in herself, that is true. But it was all she could do right now. At least with not much thought.

*Oh Alara, you’re rather good at putting important decisions off… especially when they involve yourself.*

Placement
2nd place
3rd place
Qor Kith
Member
Qor Kith
Submission
Qor Kith opted out of publishing his submission.
Placement
3rd place