Helios's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as he slowly regained awareness of his surroundings. The first thing he registered was the cold, tallic floor beneath him, and then the stinging pain in his body as he shifted slightly. Looking down, he saw he was lying in a large pool of his own blood, the thick red liquid spread across the floor like a grotesque painting. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. Sephiroth had left, which likely ant the barrier containing their duel had broken as well, and the brutal exercise was over.
Summoning every bit of remaining strength, Helios managed to lift his hand and began casting Cure spells over himself, each one draining him further. Green, healing light flickered over his injuries, slowly knitting together torn flesh and sealing wounds, though the pain remained a dull throb in his bones. It took nearly all his reserves, but eventually, he found himself able to move—if only just barely.
Helios struggled to his feet, wincing as he took in the sight of blood splattered across the floor, walls, and even so of the machinery in the room. He'd need to clean this ss up before anyone ca across it. He cast a Water spell, carefully controlling the liquid as it flowed across the floor, encapsulating every trace of his blood. With a steady hand, he condensed the water into a dark, crimson sphere, freezing it into a small block of ice that he slipped into his pocket for disposal later.
Next, he used Aero magic, creating a gust of wind around his body to dry the blood clinging to his skin and clothes. Though he still felt faint, he knew he had to get out of the facility before soone spotted him in this battered state. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he began the slow trek up the stairs, one hand braced against the wall for support as he climbed.
The journey was painful and grueling, each step a reminder of the brutal lesson Sephiroth had imparted. Helios had thought he knew pain, but today had shown him a new level of it—one that felt like it had burned into his bones. When he finally reached the exit and stepped out into the fresh air of the Outer Gardens, he let out a relieved sigh, though he quickly straightened up as he noticed a small figure up ahead.
It was the little girl he'd encountered before—the one with the bright eyes and the pure, innocent curiosity. Kairi.
Kairi's eyes widened when she saw him, and she quickly ran over, looking up at him with a concerned expression. "Big brother, are you hurt?" she asked, her small voice filled with worry as she took in the sight of his bloodstained and tattered clothes.
Helios managed a strained smile, doing his best to mask the exhaustion that weighed on him. "Oh, this?" he said, glancing down at his clothes. "Nah, I'm fine. I just…fell into a paint bucket. I was just on my way ho to change."
Kairi tilted her head, clearly unconvinced but too polite to press further. "Okay…if you say so." She then bead up at him. "I'm picking flowers for my grandma! She loves it when I bring her pretty flowers."
Helios raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the desolate, off-limits area they were in. "Isn't this place supposed to be off-limits?" he asked, his tone light but curious.
Kairi nodded, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, but a nice older brother with white hair brought here once. He said the flowers here were really special."
Helios's mind imdiately flashed to Xehanort. Putting two and two together, he realized that Xehanort had sohow t Kairi and brought her here. Though he couldn't fathom why, it sent a chill down his spine.
Kneeling down so he was at eye level with her, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Kairi, you should go ho. It's not safe for you to be here alone."
Kairi looked at him with innocent defiance, her small hand reaching up to grip his tightly. "But I'm not alone," she said with a smile. "You're here with ."
Helios's shoulders slumped, a faint sigh escaping him. This kid was persistent, but her innocence was refreshing, even in a world so fraught with darkness. "All right, then. I'll take you ho. Make sure not to co her again." He extended his hand, which she took with a delighted smile, her trust in him absolute.
As they walked back toward town, Kairi chatted animatedly about her grandmother and the flowers she'd collected. Helios listened, offering polite responses as his mind worked over the encounter with Xehanort. He would need to be more vigilant about this girl's safety; whatever Xehanort's intentions were, they couldn't be anything good. Everybody could die except this girl and he needed to make sure to send her to the Destiny Islands.
When they reached Town Square, Kairi's hand slipped from his as she saw soone familiar and called out, "Big sister Tifa!"
A woman with waist-length brown hair and striking rust-colored eyes turned at the sound of her na. She wore a black leather tank top, a layered black and white skirt, and gloves that hinted at strength beyond her slender fra. Her gaze landed on Helios with a hard, assessing look, clearly distrustful of him. She crossed her arms as Kairi ran over, her face softening as the girl hugged her.
"Who's this strange guy?" Tifa asked, her tone guarded as her eyes flicked back to Helios.
"Oh, he's the big brother who fell in a paint bucket!" Kairi explained enthusiastically, oblivious to the tension between the two.
Helios stifled a sigh, recognizing that this was rapidly going sideways. Stepping forward, he offered a brief nod of greeting. "Apologies for the state I'm in. I ran into Kairi in an off-limits area and thought I'd make sure she got ho safely."
Tifa's gaze softened, though only slightly, as she looked back at Kairi. "Thank you for looking out for her," she said, though her tone remained wary.
Helios shrugged. "It's no trouble." As Tifa prepared to take Kairi's hand, she hesitated, glancing back at Helios. "By any chance…have you seen a blond boy around? Spiky hair, blue eyes?"
Helios thought for a mont, realizing she must be looking for Cloud. "I thought I saw soone like that with two friends of mine—Lea and Isa. They were around the gardens earlier, so maybe they know where he is."
Tifa nodded, a flicker of relief crossing her face. "Thanks. I'll check with them." She took Kairi's hand, and as they walked away, Helios watched them go, feeling a strange pang of…sothing. Attachnt, maybe?
He shook off the thought and turned, heading back toward rlin's cottage. The exhaustion was starting to take its toll, and every step felt heavier than the last. By the ti he reached the cottage, his vision was blurring, and his limbs ached with the mory of Sephiroth's strikes.
Once inside, Helios imdiately headed for the small washroom, drawing a bath and sinking into the hot water. The heat soothed his aching muscles, and he let out a long sigh, allowing himself a few monts of peace before he returned to the arduous training ahead.
After bathing, he dressed in fresh clothes and made his way to the main room, where Maleficent awaited him. She was seated by the window, her gaze distant, but she turned as he approached, her eyes narrowing as she took in his slightly disheveled appearance.
"You're quite late. Ready for another lesson?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of impatience.
Helios t her gaze, feeling his resolve harden. "Yes, I apologize," he replied, his voice steady. He had co too far to let anything—Sephiroth, Xehanort, Maleficent, or even his own body—stand in his way.
Maleficent's eyes glead with approval, though her smile held an edge of condescension. "Good. Today, we'll be focusing on the subtler aspects of dark magic—binding spells, illusions, transformation, and… manipulation. The true power of darkness lies not just in brute force but in control. You must learn to bend your surroundings—and those within it—to your will."
Helios nodded, and a spark of interest stirred within him. As brutal as Sephiroth's training had been, the pain had only solidified his commitnt. Master Xehanort was a master swordsman and mage so he needed those skills fast and ti was running out. Although Maleficent and Sephiroth would both still be available after Radiant Garden fell; he had no intention of extending such a dangerous and toxic relationship by even an extra day. Once he got what he needed and gave them what they wanted he would leave to never see them again.
He took his place across from Maleficent, his expression calm as he prepared to dive back into his training.
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