The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting pale golden stripes across the wooden floors. The faint aroma of bread and berries wafted in from the kitchen where Skuld was preparing breakfast.
Helios stretched lazily, wincing slightly as his muscles protested. The events of last night flickered through his mind—the cold weight of Kurai straddling him, her hand plunging into his chest, and the searing pain that followed.
"Morning," Kurai's voice cut through his thoughts.
She was already seated at the edge of the table, arms folded, silver eyes fixed on nothing in particular. As always, her presence was an oppressive calm, like a coiled serpent waiting for the right moment to strike.
Helios smirked. "Ah, my nurse is still watching over me. Should I be worried you're planning another 'midnight checkup,' Kurai?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't respond.
Skuld looked up from the bread she was slicing, blinking in confusion. "Midnight checkup? What happened last night?"
Helios leaned back in his chair, expression easy and teasing. "Kurai tried to cook a midnight snack for me. It was terrible."
Skuld tilted her head. "Kurai… cooked?"
Helios nodded solemnly. "Burnt darkness on toast. Truly horrifying."
Kurai remained utterly silent, refusing to dignify his jab with a single word.
Before Skuld could question further, Zack sauntered in, a bright grin plastered on his face. "Morning, everyone! So… Helios and Kurai, huh? Midnight date?"
Helios burst into laughter. "Oh, Zack. Always the romantic. You need to get your mind off girls all the time."
Skuld's brows furrowed, and she glanced between the two. Even Cloud and Thalen, usually content to watch in silence, turned their eyes to Helios.
Sephiroth, sitting in the corner with arms folded and eyes closed, didn't even flinch.
Helios waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. It's a joke. Kurai and I didn't have any midnight rendezvous. What we did decide last night is that we're leaving today."
The room fell silent.
Even Sephiroth's eyes opened slightly, his gaze cutting toward Helios.
Skuld was the first to speak, her voice tight. "Leaving? Where?"
Helios smiled faintly. "Somewhere dangerous. Somewhere I'll need you and Kurai's help."
Thalen shifted uncomfortably, opening his mouth as if to protest. But before he could utter a word, Helios raised a hand.
"Zack," Helios said smoothly, "can I ask you for a favor? Watch over Thalen while we're gone. Train him like you do with Cloud. Help him sharpen his skills."
Zack blinked, glancing at Thalen, whose expression was tight with frustration. "Uh… shouldn't you talk to the kid first? He looks like he's about to bite your head off."
Helios' eyes softened for a fraction of a second before hardening again. "It doesn't matter. Where we're going is far too dangerous for him to follow. This isn't up for debate."
Thalen's hands curled into fists at his sides, but he didn't speak.
Kurai's cold voice broke the silence. "You're wasting time, Helios. The longer we linger, the more likely we'll be noticed."
Helios chuckled, though there was no warmth in the sound. "And there's the ever-patient Kurai, reminding me why I rely on her."
Skuld's eyes darted between them. "Why her? Why me? What's going on, Helios? You're hiding something again."
"Maybe," Helios admitted, his tone soft but unyielding. "But it's not something I can explain here—not yet."
Sephiroth finally spoke, his voice cool and sharp. "You're planning something reckless again."
"Maybe," Helios repeated with a shrug. "But reckless plans are my specialty, aren't they? Besides, they end up working well enough, so why change?"
The tension in the room thickened like a storm cloud ready to burst. Zack clapped his hands suddenly, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Alright, alright. No more long faces." He grinned at Thalen. "Hey, kid, think of this as a chance to get stronger. I'll run you through my special training course—you'll thank me later."
Thalen looked away, biting back his retort.
Helios exhaled and stood, brushing invisible dust from his jacket. "We leave in an hour. Kurai, Skuld, be ready."
Skuld hesitated. "Helios…"
He smiled faintly, his blue eyes glinting. "Trust me."
Not wanting to discuss it further, Helios went outside for some fresh air.
The air outside was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and stone from the nearby woods. Helios exhaled, tilting his head back to let the morning breeze brush his face.
Footsteps—quiet but unmistakable—followed him out.
"You're going to say something, Sephiroth?" Helios asked without turning. "Or did you decide to start practicing stealth kills?"
Sephiroth stepped into view, his long coat barely rustling as he stopped a few paces away. His jade eyes, calm and sharp, regarded Helios in silence for a long moment.
"You're leaving." It wasn't a question.
"Right to the point, huh?" Helios smirked faintly. "Yeah. I've got business to handle before things get… complicated again."
The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Sephiroth wasn't a talker, and Helios had grown used to filling the gaps with his own voice—or letting them linger.
"Not a farewell," Sephiroth said at last.
"Not unless you want it to be," Helios replied lightly. "But don't get all sentimental on me. That'd ruin your whole 'stoic swordsman' act."
Sephiroth's gaze didn't waver. "A spar, then. Quick."
Helios blinked, then chuckled. "Really? Is this your way of saying you'll miss me?"
"No."
"Right, right," Helios said, rolling his shoulders. "You're just curious if my little 'rehabilitation tour' has made me soft."
Sephiroth didn't reply, only resting a hand on the hilt of his blade.
Helios grinned. "Fine. I'll play along. But don't go easy on me—I like these moments. Makes my head go quiet."
The two moved without another word, stepping into the clearing where the earth was packed firm and flat. Sephiroth drew the Masamune, its long silver blade gleaming faintly even in the muted morning light.
Helios' hand tightened around Equilibrium as it materialized, the weapon humming faintly with energy. He shifted into a relaxed stance, his whip-sword still in its compact form.
Then Sephiroth moved.
A blur of steel lashed out, fast and precise. Helios deflected the strike just in time, his arm trembling slightly from the sheer force.
"Still fast as ever," Helios said, his grin widening.
Sephiroth didn't answer, launching another flurry of cuts—each faster, each sharper. Helios stepped back, whip-sword snapping out to create space. The blades clashed, sparks flashing in quick bursts.
For several minutes, the clearing echoed with the sound of steel.
Helios ducked low as the Masamune's edge whistled past his cheek, retaliating with a sharp flick of his whip-sword. Sephiroth twisted his body, the long blade slicing through the air in a graceful counter, forcing Helios back again.
"You're reading me better these days," Sephiroth said quietly.
"Don't sound so surprised," Helios shot back. "I've been paying attention."
The clash continued, neither holding back, neither aiming to kill—just testing, pushing, learning. For Helios, every strike, every parry was like breathing. His mind cleared, the weight in his chest easing for the first time since last night.
Sephiroth halted suddenly, lowering his blade. "Enough."
Helios exhaled, rolling his shoulder with a small laugh. "No 'good fight'? No 'you're still sloppy'?"
"You've improved."
"Coming from you, that's practically praise."
Sephiroth sheathed the Masamune, his expression unreadable. "Don't die out there."
Helios smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it. You'd get bored without me around."
Sephiroth turned, striding back toward the house. "If you do, I will come for you. Don't make me hunt you down."
Helios watched him go, then let out a quiet laugh, running a hand through his hair.
"Don't worry," he murmured. "I'm too stubborn to die just yet."