The morning sun rose over Ossus as Luke stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching over a group of his teenage students. They stood in pairs, their lightsabers ignited, ready for a friendly competition in dueling. Among the students was Yira, a determined and skilled young padawan with a natural talent for combat. Calin, a quick thinker who relied on agility and strategy. Talik, a reserved student known for her precision and patience. Jax, a spirited and fearless duelist with a strong sense of justice. He was considered to be the strongest of the students after Ben.

As the students engaged in duels, Luke offered guidance and insights into the art of lightsaber combat. He moved among them and provided feedback. The hum of lightsabers clashing filled the air.

"Remember, Yira, don't overextend your strikes. Keep your balance."

"Got it, Master Skywalker," said Yira.

"Caden, use your surroundings to your advantage. Be mindful of your environment."

"Yes, Master Skywalker."

However, Luke's attention was briefly diverted as he spotted Ben emerging from his hut. Ben seemed preoccupied, his gaze fixed on his ship as he prepared to leave for Corvan. Luke hesitated for a moment, torn between his duty to his students and his concern for his nephew after the argument the day before.

"Master Skywalker, is everything alright?" Talik asked.

"Yes. Continue your practice."

As Ben stood by his ship, he turned around and cast a look at Luke and the group of students engaged in their dueling practice. He felt somewhat lost in that moment, a sense of disconnection settling in his heart.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't quite belong at the temple anymore. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the teachings and sense of purpose he found there, but he yearned for something more, something he couldn't quite put into words.

The memory of the mysterious figure from his dream resurfaced in his thoughts. Had that enigmatic encounter held a kernel of truth? Was there more to the galaxy, to his destiny, than what he had known within the temple's grounds on Ossus?

Ben's inner turmoil grew, and he couldn't help but wonder if the path he was on was the right one. He glanced back at Luke, a pang of uncertainty in his chest, and then turned away, making his way into the ship and taking off towards Corvan.

As Ben's ship surged into hyperspace, his mind became consumed by the memories of the conversation he had had with Luke the day before. Visions of Ren, both in the cantina on Corvan and on Elphrona, replayed in his thoughts like a haunting echo.

"Ren is not to be underestimated."

"Do you remember when we fought him on Elphrona?"

"You were not ready to face him."

His frustration and anger grew, and he couldn't help but whisper to himself in the solitude of his ship.

"I'm going to find Ren, kill him, and prove to Luke that I am stronger than he realized."

The darkness within him whispered back. "Shed the shackles of doubt and hesitation. Show the galaxy what you are truly capable of."

As Ben's ship left hyperspace and descended through the planet's atmosphere, the first rays of Corvan's sun painted the sky with hues of gold and lavender. The morning air was crisp and invigorating, carrying with it the scents of various alien flora and the distant echoes of bustling city life. The capital city itself seemed to wake up with the day, its towering spires and bustling streets slowly coming to life.

Ben stepped out of his ship and took a moment to appreciate the view. The planet's architecture was a blend of modern structures and ancient designs, creating a unique and visually stunning landscape. The morning light danced on the intricate patterns of the buildings, casting elongated shadows that played across the streets.

As he made his way through the city towards Kossi's shop, he couldn't help but admire the diversity of species that filled the streets. Corvan Prime was a melting pot of cultures and races from across the galaxy, and it was reflected in the faces of the passersby.

The air conveyed warmth, promising another beautiful day on Corvan. Ben's senses were alive with the sights and sounds of this vibrant world, and for a moment, he allowed himself to be fully present in the tranquil embrace of the morning.

Ben arrived at Kossi's shop, a quaint establishment tucked away in one of Corvan's quieter districts. The storefront was adorned with a colorful assortment of mechanical parts and droids on display, a testament to Kossi's expertise as a machinist.

As Ben entered, the familiar clang and hum of machinery filled the air. He was greeted by the Besalisk, who was deftly working on a droid's circuitry with his multiple arms.

"Ah, Ben! You're here bright and early. I trust you had a day of rest after what happened the other night?"

Ben nodded, appreciating Kossi's concern. The Besalisk's eyes, each perched atop a stalk, conveyed both curiosity and warmth.

"I'm alright now, Kossi."

"Good, good. Now, let's get to work. We've got a busy day ahead of us."

As they delved into their tasks, the shop buzzed with the comforting sounds of machinery coming to life.

As the day progressed, Selena entered the shop like a breath of fresh air. Her presence was a welcome interruption. Kossi, with his multi-stalked eyes, glanced up from his work and greeted her warmly.

"Ah, Selena, always a pleasure to see you."

Ben couldn't help but wear a small grin at the sight of her. Selena's easygoing nature and her kindness had left a mark on him.

"Likewise, Kossi. I've got a little problem with one of my droids at the cantina. It's been acting up lately."

Kossi put down his tools and stepped closer.

"What seems to be the trouble?"

Selena explained the issue with her droid, detailing the peculiar malfunctions it had been experiencing. Kossi nodded thoughtfully, his four arms moving in a synchronized dance as he considered the problem.

"I think I can look at it for you. It shouldn't be too complicated to fix."

"Thanks. I'll bring it over tomorrow."

Selena's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she looked at Ben and turned to leave the shop. However, Ben couldn't let her go without a word. He stepped forward, his voice gentle but determined.

"Wait, Selena."

Selena paused outside the doorway, a warm smile playing on her lips as she looked at Ben. Ben calmly approached her.

"There's something I need to talk to you about."

"I need to get back to the Cantina. Could you swing by my place later? Say, after you finish work? We could talk then? I live in the lower part of the city. Level 17."

"Ok."

Ben flashed her a warm grin and a nod of acknowledgment.

"Great. I'll see you tonight, then."

With that, she left the shop cheerfully as Ben returned to work.

As the evening came, the sky transformed into a canvas of fiery oranges and deep purples. The last remnants of daylight cast long, dramatic shadows between the towering city buildings.

The feeling of unease that had settled in Ben's stomach grew more pronounced as he finished his work on some parts and donned his worn brown cloak. Kossi, understanding the need for Ben to leave, started closing up the shop for the day.

"Take care of yourself, my boy."

Ben nodded at Kossi and muttered a quick "Thank you. I will." before heading toward the city elevators. The walk to the elevators took several minutes, weaving through the bustling streets and alleys of Corvan. When he finally arrived at the elevators, he boarded one, sharing it with a couple of other individuals. One of them was a Twi'lek, who turned to Ben.

"What level are you heading to, friend?"

"Seventeen," Ben responded.

"Seventeen? You must not be from around here. There's nothing much on that level. Just rooms used for cargo containers."

Ben hesitated for a moment, a sense of unease creeping in. The human passenger beside him raised an eyebrow and spoke.

"You sure you got the right level, boy?"

Ben nodded, though his uncertainty was clear. The elevator stopped at level eleven. The two passengers stepped out, and the doors closed. Ben then continued his descent to level seventeen.

As the elevator descended, the ominous feeling in his gut deepened. When the doors opened at level seventeen, he was met with a surreal, dark blue ambiance that engulfed the entire area. It was eerily quiet, devoid of the typical sounds of the bustling city above.

He could barely see a few feet ahead, and he contemplated using a light source. Slowly, he began to make his way toward a corridor. These were the quarters where workers could relax and rest, or so he thought.

The sudden presence of Selena behind him startled Ben, causing him to jump. She greeted him with a smile, "You came."

Ben's heart raced, and he managed a faint grin as he explained his encounter with the Twi'lek and the human in the elevator who insisted that level seventeen was unoccupied.

Selena's expression shifted to a knowing one. "They're wrong," she replied. "But now, it's not the time to talk. Follow me to my place."

As they walked together, they approached a large, imposing blast door. Ben couldn't help but compliment Selena on the size of her place, to which she playfully teased him about her wealth. She swiftly entered a passcode at a nearby panel, causing the massive doors to creak open.

However, as they stepped inside, Ben's anxiety skyrocketed. The room was nearly pitch black, and he could not discern its dimensions. An oppressive sense of dread washed over him. Before he could react, the doors suddenly slammed shut behind him.

Ben whipped around, his heart pounding, but it was too late. In the darkened room, he struggled to make out any shapes or figures. He turned back toward the obscurity, peering into the shadows.

Then, a voice, the same one that had haunted his dreams since childhood, echoed softly in the room, sending shivers down his spine. It was him.

"There is much you seek and much you fear."

Ben froze in his tracks, his heart pounding. He couldn't see anyone, but the voice was unmistakable.

"Enough! Show yourself!"

The shadows in the room seemed to coalesce, and a tall, cloaked figure emerged. His face was covered in the blackness of the room.

"All will become clear in time."

The figure stepped further into the dim light of the large room, revealing the faint, scarred remnants of a face. The disfigurement twisted his visage, making it both menacing and pitiful.

Fear washed over Ben as he instinctively reached for his concealed lightsaber.

"There's no need for that," the figure spoke as it used the Force to keep Ben from igniting his saber.

Ben's hand trembled, and his voice quivered with anxiety. "Why do you want my attention? Why all the trouble?"

"I come as a guide, young Solo. To offer you the knowledge and the path to power."

"I don't need your guidance. I have a master, and I follow the light," Ben snarled.

"Ah, but your heart is conflicted, isn't it? The light and dark wage a constant battle within you. Skywalker offers you restraint, but I offer you freedom."

A soft noise broke the tense silence in the dark room. Ben's head whipped around to the source of the noise, and his heart sank as he saw Selena stepping out of the shadows. Her face was etched with sorrow and regret. Ben felt a mixture of anger and betrayal wash over him.

"You?"

"I'm sorry. I had no choice," Selena said as she lowered her head.

The figure, sensing Ben's confusion, chimed in.

"You may leave us, child."

At that exact moment, two red-armored guards came from behind and escorted Selena out of the room.

Ben's eyes widened in realization.

"You were behind the attack on Elphrona. You are the one who leads the Knights of Ren."

"Very perceptive, child. But the Knights of Ren was but a stepping stone to something far greater."

Ben felt a mix of anger, frustration, and confusion. He had assumed that the Knights of Ren was a malevolent force acting independently, but now he understood that their true master was this enigmatic figure.

"What is it that you control? What is the point of all this?"

"Power, Ben Solo. Power beyond your wildest dreams. The control of the dark side itself, the galaxies in turmoil, and the chance to reshape it all."

"Sith," Ben replied.

"No, I am something different. Something far more...supreme."

"What are you, then? What do you call yourself?"

"I am known as a Supreme Leader, Ben. I am Snoke. A title befitting my mastery of the dark side and my grand ambitions."

"You've haunted my head with your words ever since I was a child. For what purpose? The Jedi will always be more powerful than the Dark Side."

The figure chuckled, a sinister amusement in his voice.

"Your faith in the Jedi is touching. But you see, the Jedi are shackled by their own limitations. The darkness within you, the conflict, that is where true power lies. The Jedi deny their true nature, and that is their weakness."

As Ben hesitated, the voice in his head grew stronger, pulling him further into the darkness.

Snoke, sensing the internal conflict spiking within Ben, decided to exploit the young man's vulnerabilities.

"Your parents, Han Solo and Leia Organa sent you away, did they not? They abandoned you to the Jedi."

Ben's fists clenched at Snoke's words, a surge of anger and hurt welling up within him.

"They sent me to learn the ways of the Jedi, to become strong!"

"Strength, child, is often mistaken for betrayal. Your family saw the potential for darkness within you, and that's why they sent you away. Skywalker doesn't trust you. He, too, fears what you could become."

Though Ben tried to deny it, the seeds of doubt were planted.

"They tried and failed, just as the Jedi failed to save the galaxy from the Empire. They're a relic of a bygone era, clinging to their dogmas and traditions."

"That's not true. The Jedi brought peace to the galaxy."

"The Jedi allowed the rise of the Sith, the Clone Wars, and the tyranny of the Empire. They are to blame for the suffering in the galaxy."

Ben's thoughts were in turmoil as he struggled to maintain his composure.

"They were protectors of peace and justice!"

"And yet, you've felt the darkness within you. It is true. It's a power the Jedi fear, but one I can help you embrace."

Ben's anger began to eclipse his doubt. The dark promises were seductive. Ben is unable to meet Snoke's gaze, his inner turmoil evident.

"I'm... I'm looking for my place."

Snoke leans forward, his immense presence weighing on Ben.

"Your place? With the Rebels? Your so-called family? Or perhaps you seek something... greater?"

Ben's tear-filled eyes finally meet Snoke's, and he can feel the power emanating from the Supreme Leader.

"I feel...I don't belong with them. I can't escape this darkness inside me."

Snoke smiles knowingly, his pale face contorting into a sinister grin.

"My boy, the darkness must not be your enemy. It's your salvation. The dark side's power can set you free, make you stronger, and fulfill your destiny."

Ben's breath quickens, and he trembles with anticipation.

"Show me this power," Ben whispered.

Snoke, with an air of sinister satisfaction, began to step closer to Ben. Snoke's eyes flashed with dark energy, and suddenly, the room was enveloped in a shadowy haze. The haze became blinding for Ben, and he immediately closed his eyes. As if transported through time, holographic images materialized around them.

"Your family has a storied history, a legacy that spans both the light and the dark. The line of Skywalker are not strangers to the seductive call of power."

Images of the past flicker before Ben's eyes: Luke Skywalker battling Imperial stormtroopers, Leia Organa leading the Rebellion in battle, and Han Solo's daring exploits.

"Your grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, was once a powerful Jedi. But power must come with a cost."

As the holographic haze surrounds Ben, images of Anakin Skywalker's past materialize. The voice of Anakin, filled with both passion and darkness, echoes in Ben's mind.

I just want things to be the way they were. Before, you know, before everyone was afraid of me.

He promised me power, Padmé. Unimaginable power. I can save you. Save everyone.

"Yes, young Solo. The mighty Darth Vader, feared throughout the entire galaxy, was your grandfather."

I hate you!

As the images fade, the iconic mechanical breathing of Darth Vader pierces the air. Suddenly, the dark silhouette of Vader appears in the holographic haze. His voice, distorted and malevolent, reverberates through Ben's mind. Ben falls to his knees in fear and revelation.

Join me. Embrace the darkness within. Together, we can rule the galaxy as a family.

The holographic images disperse, leaving Ben Solo in the present. Darth Vader's breathing lingers, a chilling reminder of the horrifying revelation that lies before him. Betrayal grips his heart. He looks around as if expecting someone to explain, to justify the hidden truth. The room seems colder, the shadows darker.

"Why did they hide this from me?"

Ben's voice was filled with anguish as he whispered to himself.

Snoke, sensing Ben's vulnerability, steps forward, his twisted smile never leaving his face.

"Your family sought to shield you from the darkness, but in doing so, they denied you the power that is rightfully yours, Ben Solo."

Ben's eyes, filled with bitterness, pain, and confusion, meet Snoke's calculating gaze.

"Deny me? They betrayed me!"

Snoke's tone becomes more persuasive, his words like tendrils wrapping around Ben's mind.

"You fear the dark side, but it is your birthright. Embrace it, and the galaxy will kneel before you."

Ben, conflicted and betrayed, stands at the crossroads, torn between the light and the dark, as Snoke's seductive influence tightens its grip on his soul, evident in his tortured expression.

"How can I achieve this?"

Snoke's eyes narrow, his voice taking on a darker edge.

"The truth has kept you in the shackles of the light. It's time to break free."

Ben felt a disorienting rush, and suddenly, as the elevator doors opened, he was back on the main level of Corvan. The cool night air hit him. He walked through the city, the weight of Snoke's revelations still heavy on his mind. The ambient glow of neon lights painted the streets in vibrant hues, casting an eerie and surreal atmosphere. The distant hum of speeders and the muffled sounds of a bustling nightlife created a cacophony that seemed to reflect the turmoil within Ben.

His steps were heavy, each footfall echoing a conflict that raged within. The revelation of his grandfather's fall to the dark side, the doubt sown by Snoke's insidious words – it all churned in his mind like a tempest. The city, alive with its rhythm, felt detached from the internal storm that brewed within Ben Solo.

Arriving at the docking bays, Ben approached his ship. The night air seemed to cling to him, carrying the weight of his newfound knowledge. As he gazed up at the starlit sky, the distant hum of the city faded into the background.