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The throne room was dimly lit by the amber glow of lamps and a few flashing lights from the bustling city beyond the grand window.
Most of it silhouetted the centerpiece of the room: the throne that sat up on a black durasteel dias. It wasn’t overtly extravagant, but there was a clear weight that it held over the room.
Ezra felt impossibly small and inconsequential as he knelt before it. How he, a street rat, found himself kneeling here before the most powerful being in the galaxy was a conundrum.
The throne itself was enough to remind him of his humble beginnings, but the being that sat upon it reminded him of how hard he’d have to work to rise above that.
The Emperor, the one who had saved Ezra from a life alone on the streets, who had taught him how to control his power, how to be strong; the one that Ezra’s whole life was devoted to now, Emperor Maul Opress.
His yellow eyes seemed almost to glow in the dark as he gazed down from his seat, to where Ezra was humbly kneeling before him, and Ezra met his gaze steadily.
When he was first brought under his master’s wing he never dared to meet the ruler’s eyes. But Lord Maul was incredibly generous towards him, even allowing him to speak freely when not in public.
“My lord,” Ezra said, his voice reverent, “I have dispatched the rogue Jedi, as you commanded.”
Beside him, Tano sniffed, disapproving.
She was tall, taller than he, with long blue and white montrals and piercing gold eyes much like Maul’s. She had been serving under the Emperor for far longer than he had and had even helped him rise to power.
Ezra almost couldn’t believe the fact that Lord Maul hadn’t always been in power, it seemed completely ridiculous.
“I cornered him for you.” Ahsoka said. Her voice was cold but Ezra was familiar enough with her to recognize the tiniest trace of amusement in the words.
“But I’m the one who ended his life.” Ezra shot back, a rare bit of humor shining through.
The two of them stared at each other for a long second and Ezra kept careful watch over the aura she radiated into the force, it was mostly relaxed at the moment, but there was still that sharpness, like a predator lying in wait…
“I am the one who cut off his hand.” She said, and Ezra sure he almost saw her lips twitch upwards.
“A mere scratch.” Ezra retorted as a small smirk of his own twisted his mouth.
Abruptly, the grand force presence of their master shifted and both of them snapped back to attention. Lord Maul sat up from his usual lounge and studied them for a moment.
Ezra didn’t tremble anymore under the gaze, but he did still feel the slight apprehension, the fear that he might be found lacking in the eyes of his master.
But all that came from the cool appraisal was a deep sense of satisfaction, and… perhaps approval?
He didn’t dare to hope. His master stood slowly, he was also taller than Ezra and always so much faster in their duels- but Ezra was certainly improving if his latest battle was any indication.
With perfect elegance Lord Maul descended from the dias, and approached them both.
Ezra knew better than to move from his spot unless commanded to do so, but there was still that very faint spark of instinct warning him that danger was approaching.
“You have done well,” His master stated, looking from one to the other. “Both of you.”
Ezra relished in the surge of pride that the words filled him with. His master did approve of him. He let the tiniest bit of gratitude and respect flicker across the training bond they shared, and to his surprise the faintest impression of fondness was returned.
“Lady Tano,” The Emperor turned his attention to his second in command, “Take your command ship and go to Dathomir, there have been reports of smugglers attempting to form a base there, and I will not tolerate their desecration of my homeworld.”
“I will eradicate them.” Tano dipped her head slightly in deference, but the lack of any honorary titles was apparent.
She never called him Lord Maul, or master, or any other sort of title befitting his status, unless there were others present, and even then she did so sparingly.
“Shall I go with her, my lord?” Ezra asked, his voice was laced with eagerness but he kept his face mostly blank.
“No.” It wasn’t said harshly, but it was firm and no explanation was offered. “You will remain here.”
Ezra wasn’t interested in asking for one anyway, his master didn’t have to explain his decisions to him. He simply nodded shortly.
“Of course master.”
Tano spun on her heel and left the room, without sparing a second glance at Ezra, he felt no offense at the action, nor loss at her absence. He just raised his eyes to his master, awaiting orders.
Lord Maul didn’t move until the doors shut behind Tano and the throne room was completely silent, only then did he turn to Ezra.
“Rise, my apprentice.” His voice fell out of the strictly formal cadence and Ezra smiled ever so slightly.
Obediently he pulled himself smoothly to his feet. The feeling of pins and needles reminded him that he had been kneeling for quite a while, but he easily ignored it.
Lord Maul watched him for a long minute, taking in his stance, his expression, the open force bond between their minds, as if searching for any sign of weakness. But Ezra remained steadfast until the examination was over and his master nodded once.
“Your skills are progressing well.”
Again, Ezra basked in the praise.
“But,” Lord Maul continued, “You still have much to learn.”
Of course he did, he was nowhere near his master’s level. So he must be better, after all he didn’t want to reflect badly upon Lord Maul’s teaching abilities.
He’d long grown past that point.
And of course past the point where he was young and foolish enough to think his master was evil, back when he would occupy himself with pointless escape attempts.
As if his master would ever let him go.
It was a ridiculous thought, and a dangerous one. His master was an excellent teacher and a merciful ruler, but he tolerated no backward thinking from his apprentice.
Which was perfectly understandable, Ezra truly had an honored place at the Emperor’s side, and he just couldn’t go around behaving as if he wasn’t grateful.
His master set a hand on his shoulder, still looking at him rather intently. Ezra stared back, he had nothing to hide, the bond between them was always clear and open, reflecting his every intention and emotion.
“You will begin the next phase of your training here.” Lord Maul declared after a while, “I will personally oversee your advancement, and once you are ready we will make the announcement public.”
Ezra made it a rule to never question his master, but this time he could feel something big on the horizon, something that would change his life forever.
His mouth grew dry and his feet shuffled slightly as he worked up the courage to look up and meet his master’s gaze.
“What announcement, my lord?”
The Emperor, for the first time in Ezra’s recollection, smiled. Not a dangerous smile that warned of incoming wrath, or a cold smile that drained any hope from his bones.
No. It was a real smile, there was no warmth to it, nothing kind or gentle about it… in fact it was rather sharp, almost clinical, but it was pleased. There was a genuine quality to it that Ezra hadn’t seen before.
“You have passed your first test child.” Lord Maul informed him, “If you continue to progress, then you will be worthy.”
He had killed a Jedi, that was a test… he hadn’t realized at the time, but now he could see it clearly. But why was he being tested? Was he not a good enough weapon already?
“Worthy of what, my master?” He asked, ducking his head slightly at having questioned his master twice in one day.
Long fingers slipped under his jaw, tilting his head back up. His eyes met those of the Emperor and he forced himself to hold the gaze.
“Being my heir.” His master explained, “You will be crowned the Imperial Prince, and will someday rule in my stead.”
An odd strangled sound of shock escaped him and he would’ve dropped to his knees again if the grip on his chin hadn’t tightened.
“Th-that is an honor too great for me, my lord.” He choked out, his eyes wide with wonder and terror in equal measures.
Lord Maul’s eyes narrowed, “You question my judgment?”
Immediately Ezra shook his head- as much as he could with his chin still held in place.
“No my master, of course not.”
“Excellent.” The Emperor smiled again, this time a little calmer, and released Ezra.
The announcement was overwhelming, entirely too much for Ezra to comprehend at the moment. But surely if his master thought it was for the best then it was right.
The assurance didn’t calm his racing heart or the rush in his mind. But it did set them to the side so that he could focus on his master and what was required of him.
“Now, my apprentice,” Lord Maul said, turning away, “We have much to do.”
‘No kidding.’ Something deep inside Ezra remarked as he followed after his master. His mind buzzed with a million and one thoughts, and yet he didn’t linger on them.
He had no reason to worry about any of it. After all, his master knew better than he did.