Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

The early morning air hung thick with silence as Helios moved through the dimly lit halls of Merlin's cottage. His body ached from the weight of exhaustion, the mental strain of his decisions, and the ever-looming presence of his enemies. He clenched his fists, pushing the fatigue aside as he approached the room where Sephiroth stayed. The brutal morning training sessions were one of the few constants in his chaotic life, but after his skirmish with Braig, Helios knew it was too risky to continue for now. He needed to lay low.

Stopping in front of the door, Helios took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness. For a moment, there was no response. Then, a calm yet commanding voice came from within. "Enter."

Helios pushed the door open. The room was sparsely furnished, much like the rest of the cottage. Sephiroth sat in a wooden chair, leaning back slightly, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes, sharp and calculating, opened slowly as Helios stepped inside.

"What do you want?" Sephiroth asked, his tone flat and uninterested.

Helios hesitated for a brief moment before speaking. "We need to pause our training sessions for a while," he said, his voice steady despite the tension he felt. "It's not safe right now."

Sephiroth's expression didn't change. He closed his eyes again, as if the conversation wasn't worth his full attention. "Okay."

The simplicity of the response caught Helios off guard. He blinked, frowning slightly. "That's it? You don't even want to know why?"

"I don't care," Sephiroth replied, his tone as indifferent as before. "Do what you want. If you don't wish to train, that's your decision. Now, leave me."

Helios stared at him for a moment, trying to process the unexpected dismissal. Sephiroth's demeanor was as enigmatic as ever, and Helios couldn't tell if he truly didn't care or if he simply enjoyed being difficult. Either way, the conversation was over.

"Fine," Helios muttered, turning on his heel and leaving the room. The door closed softly behind him, and he stood in the hallway for a moment, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. Sephiroth's cooperation, however begrudging, was one less problem to worry about—for now.

Since he was already awake, Helios decided to make use of the time. He returned to his room, retrieving the book on the transmogrification spell he had been studying. The spell intrigued him, both for its utility and its complexity. Unlike the raw, essence-based transformation magic Maleficent had demonstrated, this spell operated by harmonizing with the will of the world, allowing the caster to adapt seamlessly to the environment. It was a subtler, more versatile form of transformation, but its execution required meticulous control and a deep understanding of magical theory.

With the book in hand, Helios made his way to Merlin's study. The room was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of aged parchment and ink. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with books and scrolls that contained centuries' worth of magical knowledge. A faint glow from a lantern illuminated the space, casting long shadows across the wooden floor.

To his surprise, he found Skuld already there, seated at the study's central table. She was hunched over, her hands outstretched as she focused intently on a small orb of light floating above her palms. The light flickered and wavered, shifting colors as she struggled to maintain its form. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, her tongue poking out slightly as she worked.

Helios leaned against the doorway, watching her for a moment before speaking. "Did you even go to sleep last night?"

Skuld jumped slightly, the orb of light sputtering out as she turned to face him. Her expression was sheepish, and she avoided his gaze. "I… might have lost track of time," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Helios sighed, stepping into the room and setting the book down on the table. "You need rest, Skuld. Magic takes a toll on your body, and if you push too hard, you'll burn yourself out."

"I was so close to getting it right," she said defensively, though her tired eyes betrayed her. "I just wanted to try one more time."

Helios softened, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her. "You're making good progress," he said, his tone reassuring. "But you won't get anywhere if you collapse from exhaustion. Magic isn't just about effort; it's about balance. You need to let your body and mind recover."

Skuld nodded reluctantly, her shoulders slumping. "Okay," she said quietly. "I'll rest… after this one." She gave him a small, hopeful smile, and Helios couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fine," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But only one."

Encouraged by his approval, Skuld returned her focus to the light spell. She held out her hands again, her fingers trembling slightly from fatigue. A faint glow appeared between her palms, flickering like a candle in the wind. She furrowed her brow, her lips moving silently as she whispered the incantation.

The light grew steadier, its glow soft and warm. For a moment, it held its shape perfectly, casting gentle illumination across the table. Skuld's face lit up with excitement, but her concentration faltered, and the orb fizzled out once more.

"Almost," Helios said, nodding in approval. "You're getting better at controlling the flow of magic. Just a little more practice, and you'll have it."

Skuld smiled at the praise, her tired eyes sparkling with determination. "Thanks, Helios. I'll get it next time."

"Of course you will," Helios said, rising from his seat and gesturing toward the doorway. "Now, go get some rest. That's an order from your teacher."

Skuld hesitated for a moment, then nodded, stifling a yawn as she stood. "Alright," she said, her voice laced with fatigue. "But only because you said so."

Helios watched her leave, a faint smile lingering on his lips. Once she was gone, Helios turned his attention to the book on transmogrification. He opened it to the page he had marked the night before, his eyes scanning the intricate diagrams and dense text. The spell's complexity was daunting, but he relished the challenge.

As he began to practice the incantation, his mind remained focused, his movements precise. The study fell silent once more, save for the faint hum of magic as he worked. Time slipped away, and for a brief moment, Helios found solace in the pursuit of knowledge, the chaos of the outside world fading into the background.

Helios stood alone in the dim study, the faint glow of the lantern casting light shadows across the room. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of a turning page as he worked through the book on transmogrification. The diagrams were intricate, each rune and symbol carrying layers of meaning, and the accompanying text demanded his full attention.

The spell was unlike anything he'd studied before. It required him to achieve a rare balance that bypassed the raw transformative force of Maleficent's method. It was less invasive, more harmonious—a request to the fabric of reality rather than a demand. Helios appreciated its elegance, but the complexity of its execution made it clear why such a spell was rare.

He traced his fingers along the diagram of an intricate runes, his mind piecing together the spell matrix. Closing his eyes, he began murmuring the incantation under his breath. Magic hummed faintly in the air, gathering around him as he focused.

The first attempt fizzled out, the magical energy dissipating like a sigh. Helios frowned, adjusting his stance and trying again. This time, he felt the spell begin to take shape, the energy flowing more smoothly through him. But before it could fully manifest, a sudden knock at the door broke his concentration, the magic vanishing in an instant.