Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Chapter 42

Two weeks passed in a blur for Helios, filled with rigorous training under Maleficent's stern tutelage and long hours in Cid's workshop. By night, he honed his dark magic, learning hexes, curses, and complex spells that Maleficent seemed to pull from an endless arsenal of knowledge. During the day, he would slip away to Cid's workshop, ostensibly to help with repairs and upgrades but mostly to work on his programming skills and explore the world of Gummi technology. Merlin's prolonged absence surprised him; he hadn't expected the wizard to be gone this long, and he often wondered what could be keeping him away.

The progress Helios made was both exhilarating and daunting. He had fully mastered the hexes Maleficent had taught him and moved on to slightly more advanced spells. His command of elemental magic was now solid, and he could now infuse these spells with darkness, creating twisted, potent versions of familiar magic: dark blizzards that sapped warmth from the target like an infection, dark lightning that struck with a crackling intensity, and a dark aura that he could channel into physical strikes. He'd even begun to work on drawing out the light within himself—a project that was slow and, frankly, uncomfortable, but necessary. He needed to be proficient in both light and dark for the path that lay ahead.

One night, as he sat alone, practicing a technique inspired by Riku's method for creating a shadow Sora. Whilst trying he felt the unmistakable sensation of a deeper darkness within himself—a flicker of light blazed to like and began to resist his usual dark magic. It was faint, more of a whisper than a glow, but it was there. The progress was minor, but it fueled his determination.

Other developments moved at a startling pace as well. Xehanort and Even had managed to draw Braig, Dilan, Aeleus, and Ienzo into their Heartless experiments. Under Xehanort's influence, the group had rapidly accelerated their research, focusing on finding a way to artificially create Heartless. Using the captured Shadow as a base, they had finally succeeded. Helios had watched through the hidden lab's monitors as the first Emblem Heartless emerged—a Soldier Heartless, clad in dark armor with a vicious energy about it.

The Soldier Heartless stood tall and imposing, its muscular form wrapped in a dark blue body suit emblazoned with a golden, twisted heart emblem—the design Xehanort had crafted and convinced the others to adopt as a means of categorizing their "creations." The Soldier's helmet and wrist guards gleamed with an eerie metallic shine, and though its appearance mimicked that of a noble knight, the creature's movements were feral, almost bestial. Helios couldn't help but feel a pang of satisfaction; this was the beginning of a massive shift, one that would ripple out and affect not just Radiant Garden, but countless worlds.

Meanwhile, Cid had finished both the Highwind and the Gummi Ship that Helios had designed, which Helios had named the Eclipse Drifter. True to his vision, the Eclipse Drifter was sleek and powerful, with an elegant design that made it appear as though it could cut through the stars themselves. Cid had tried to name both ships after himself, but Helios had managed to dissuade him, arguing that the names reflected their individuality better. Cid, perhaps reluctantly, had agreed, and they had spent the last few days fine-tuning each ship's flight systems. The completion of the ships marked a significant milestone, one that made Helios feel as if everything were aligning, ready for the inevitable chaos that would soon befall Radiant Garden.

One evening, as he stood on the outskirts of the town, watching the glow of the newly completed Gummi Ships in the hangar, he felt Kurai's presence stir within him.

"Impressive progress, wouldn't you say?" Kurai's voice echoed in his mind, sounding in a manner that could be misconstrued as almost... proud. "Your power grows. The Heartless multiply. Even the people around you have played their roles with remarkable precision."

Helios smirked, though he kept his gaze on the ships. "Indeed. Soon, everything will fall into place. Xehanort and his apprentices are creating an army without realizing they're setting the stage for the downfall of this world. And the ships... they'll ensure that when the time comes, there's a way out of this for the major player and myself."

Kurai's voice softened to a dark whisper. "You're prepared, then? The downfall of Radiant Garden will not be a gentle one. Hearts will break, alliances will shatter... and those who cling to hope will suffer the most. Soon a symphony of despair will sound throughout this world."

Helios nodded, feeling the weight of Kurai's words settle over him like a cloak. "Let this fall. I have no attachments here."

Yet, in the back of his mind, he thought of Cid and the hours spent in the workshop, of Lea's earnest persistence, of Isa's quiet looks of judgment. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task ahead.

As he returned to the cottage that night, he found Maleficent sitting waiting for him, her eyes glinting in the dim light. "The time is nearly upon us," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "As you last reported soon the Heartless will multiply. I still haven't found a place to stay yet but I've grown rather fond of that castle. Soon, the darkness will spread unchecked, and I think the castle would be a quaint place to stay. Don't you think so?"

Helios met her gaze, his expression unyielding. "Yes, I do. When the city is overrun, no one will be there so if you want it then take it."

Maleficent raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her lips. "Always so unbothered and practical, aren't you? Remember, young Helios, that when this world succumbs, my influence will stretch far and wide. You would be wise to have aligned yourself with me."

Helios smiled and took a seat across from her. "I will uphold our bargain. However, I have my goals, and you have yours. As long as our paths serve each other, then we'll be allies."

Maleficent's gaze grew colder, sharper, but she offered no rebuke. Instead, she gestured to the cottage's dimly lit interior. "Continue refining your magic. There are spells yet to master, and if you are to be of aid to me, you will need every bit of power at your disposal."

Helios nodded, hiding his resentment at her condescension. She was his teacher, yes, but he would never bow to her or let her forget that he was not merely her apprentice, but an equal in ambition. His silence seemed to amuse her, and she rose from her seat, her eyes glinting with satisfaction.

"I shall expect greater results from you soon, Helios," she said, her voice like a velvet blade. "Do not disappoint me."

With that, she turned and left, vanishing into the shadows of the cottage. Helios remained seated, staring at the flickering candlelight. The room felt colder, Maleficent's presence lingering like a dark cloud. But he shook off the feeling, refocusing on the goal.

Helios smirked, his eyes hard. "What a fool. Let her think what she wants. Kurai I need a favor."

Kurai materialized for the first time in a long time since leaving the dark realm. A miasma of dark energy with a humanoid shape with no definable features could be seen within the miasma. "What favor could you possibly need from me 'friend'?"

With a cold look, Helios turned to Kurai. "I need you to hide inside her heart and slowly amplify her darkness. She's not as evil as she should be. While you're doing that observe her every move."