DATHOMIR

Diane, Cal, and BD-1 had gotten to the temple, but unfortunately, a Nightbrother slowed them down by throwing a boulder on the wooden platform that had been standing on. The angel had once again, slid down a muddy slope. When they'd found themselves at the end, Diane had been completely covered in mud.

She turned and saw Cal with a sheepish smile plastered on his face.

"We made it."

"Bee-boop boo beep!"

With a wave of her hand, all three of them were clean.

"You sure know how to have fun," he said to BD.

The droid's head bounced happily. The trio found themselves at a dead end. Diane saw a platform and flew them up on it. Cal didn't say anything as he examined an opening in the wall in front of them.

"We could crawl through here."

Before Diane could speak up he said, "Please let me just crawl through. I already feel like puking."

She nodded her head and flew to the inside of the area, waiting for him to catch up. When he did, the trio carefully examined the room they were in. There were massive round-shaped objects hanging from the ceiling.

"You will go no further," a familiar voice boomed.

It was the Nightsister from earlier.

"Stand aside," Cal said, igniting his lightsaber.

"No," she replied. "He was right about you."

"W-Who... What?"

"Jedi are thieves and selfish liars that bring nothing but death."

"He is neither of those things," Diane spoke up. "Who are you to judge his character when you've not met him yourself?"

"Do you know him well enough to say that?"

"I know enough," she said, staring her down. "I can see his soul."

Cal glanced at Diane.

"Wait, really?"

"And I can see yours too," Diane told her.

This intrigued the Nightsister.

"How?"

"I'm an angel."

"What?"

"It's true," Cal said. "She can turn people into salt."

"This place," Diane said. "I can feel its energy. You mourn."

This angered the Nightsister.

"Enough," she said. "If you will not listen to me, then maybe you'll listen to my murdered sisters."

The green mist appeared again and the objects from above opened. Skeletons popped out. That's when Diane realized; they were standing in a graveyard. The green mist was not mist. No, she knew what it was.

Magick.

"Fwoo trill-dee."

"Yeah you said it," Cal replied, getting a better grip on his lightsaber.

⸻╳⸻

"How does that Nightsister keep following us?!" Diane asked.

"Cere called 'em force wielders, but I've never seen it used this way!"

The trio had fought off waves of Dead Nightsisters and were currently trying to make their way out of the ruins. In the corner of her eye, Diane saw a massive winged beast.

"That one doesn't look friendly," Cal said.

"Bo-boop."

"Let's hope we don't find out."

As they journeyed further, Diane could sense something weighing on Cal.

"Just ask," she said.

Cal looked down, suddenly taking an interest in how the ground looked.

"Earlier," he said, "you told the Nightsister you could see my soul... Is that true?"

Diane nodded her head.

"I can."

"...What does it look like?"

That was the question Diane was afraid of. Yes, an angel can see the souls of mortals. But to describe one? How would one describe a soul? You could go one way about it and say it glows or looks dim. But in all honesty, there was no way, no words in any language that could describe what Diane was seeing.

It had no shape. Cal's was pure light. Sure it had a few dim spots but it was perfect in its own way. It had its own shadow encircling itself. Like it was protecting it from other souls. She'd noticed it had been cautious of her own presence. But it'd slowly come around to where Diane had felt it'd his soul was slowly entangling with her true being. Nowadays she's able to see it more clearly.

His soul was not like a bright sunny day. It was like those days when the sun hid behind the clouds, allowing a bit of blue to appear from behind. Like a gentle breeze that weaves through trees and your hair. His soul was like those evenings when the sky was so clear you could see the stars sparkle upon you.

Cal's soul was special. It was the first mortal soul she encountered after entering their world. It'd be the first one she'd protected.

Knowing this, how was the angel supposed to answer?

"It's lovely." Is what came out of her mouth.

"Lovely?" Cal cocked his head, amused. "Huh."

"What?"

"Just... Not the answer I was expecting."

"I know," she said. "But the answer you were expecting does not describe you."

He laughed.

"You're full of surprises Dee."

"Bee-boo!"

They stopped along their route and saw carvings in the stone next to them.

"Nightbrother runes?" Cal said.

"Maybe there's a village nearby?" Diane asked the two.

"Trill!" BD glanced between them.

They saw a climb up ahead of them and Diane flew them upward only to realize that they'd have to walk downward.

"Why are there so many slopes."

"Well, at least we don't have to slide down!"

Diane gave him an unamused look as he walked in front of her. She noticed at the end was a cave-like entrance. There were low makeshift steps leading somewhere. When they were close enough, they heard a voice.

"Turn back."

Green magick appeared and Diane knew it was the Nightsister.

"Not a chance," Diane told her, walking through the particles that were left behind from the Nightsister's disappearance.

"Whoa!"

Cal stopped himself from falling over the edge. The wooden bridge that led to the other side was broken.

"Diane?"

The angel looked down and saw a creature that looked like the one from earlier when they'd arrived.

"Round Two?"

Cal ignited his lightsaber.

"Round Two."