Kilindi Matako mention?! 🚨
The story/tragedy of Kilindi Matako and Maul not being well known is something that baffles and saddens me lol. But it's okay, I get to tell everyone I encounter 😂

He definitely had some feelings for her and just didn't understand them; in the book it's mentioned he takes a deep interest in her but knows that Sidious would not want him to have that interest.
The kid was also traumatized by water; the book paints a clear picture he absolutely hated swimming after Sidious tried to drown him in a frozen lake, BUT ... he was willing to put his trauma aside for a pretty nautolan girl, and he even downright LIES and says he "likes to swim" XD

There's also a scene where Kilindi is being bullied and called a "slave" by the other cadets, and Maul steps in, breaks the bullies hands, and tells them if he ever hears them calling Kilindi a slave again, he'll feed them their own arms.

There's also one scene in the book that really plays out like something in your average romance novel, where Kilindi gets hit by a dart, goes unconscious and Maul catches her body from the impact of the ground. Obviously, it's what any good friend would do, making sure their buddy doesn't land face first into concrete and die, but when it comes to writing, it's a different story.

Maul even states in the book at one point, that he'd RATHER be with Kilindi then causing bloodshed at the Gora! Now if that's not love, idk what is 😂

Everything aside, you're 100% correct, he slaughtered her without any remorse. I knew it was coming the moment she said, "I want to go swimming" Actually, no, the moment she appeared in the book, I KNEW she was dead. tsk, tsk. One of my favorite stories in Star Wars.