Helios's words still hung heavy in the air, his voice like a quiet dagger:
"You've now used up your question."
Aqua's breath caught, her eyes narrowing with a rare flash of frustration. "Then answer me this—do you at least know where the pieces of Terra are?"
Helios's lips curved into that infuriating half-smile of his, the kind that was both dismissive and calculated. Even weakened, leaning against the doorframe with bandages still wrapped around his torso, he carried himself with a kind of untouchable arrogance.
"I told you, Aqua," he said, his tone dripping with casual finality, "one question, one full answer. You made your choice."
Her fists clenched at her sides. "You—"
"But," he interrupted smoothly, raising a finger as if indulging her like a child, "I'll give you something. Call it generosity. Xemnas—the Nobody side of Terra—he's not wandering aimlessly. He's gathered others like him, Nobodies, into a group. They call themselves the Organization. I've seen the aftermath of their movements… and I've already crossed paths with them twice."
Her heart skipped. "Then—"
"Maybe if you follow us you'll come across their trail," Helios cut in, "you'll cross his again. Or maybe he'll find you first." His smile widened, sharp and unreadable. "You'll just have to wait and see."
And with that, he turned, slipping past the door like a shadow. His footsteps echoed faintly down the hall until silence reclaimed the room.
Aqua sank down on the edge of the bed, her fingers gripping the sheets until her knuckles whitened. Her entire body felt taut, like a bowstring drawn too tight.
Fragments of Helios's words spun in her head. Xehanort's heart inside Terra. Terra-Xehanort's Heartless whereabouts were unknown. Terra-Xehanort's Nobody leading an Organization.
Each revelation was worse than the last, yet at the core of it burned something she hadn't felt in years—hope. A chance. A path forward, however dangerous and twisted it may be.
Her chest ached as she exhaled, trembling slightly. Alone now, she allowed her walls to falter, her mind spilling into the places she had kept locked away in the darkness.
She thought of Ventus—his smile, his eagerness to prove himself despite his youth. She thought of Terra—his strength, his determination, his constant desire to protect them both. And she thought of herself—the one left behind.
Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I should have found a way sooner. I should have broken free faster. You needed me, and I was trapped."
The memories of endless moments in the Realm of Darkness pressed down on her like a suffocating weight. Every step there had been survival, every breath a fight against despair. And all the while… her friends had been fading further and further away.
"I failed you both," she whispered. Her eyes stung, though no tears came. Aqua had cried them all long ago, left with only guilt and a gnawing ache that never left.
But now—
Her hand moved instinctively to the small pouch at her side. She pulled it open, her trembling fingers retrieving a blue star-shaped charm. The Wayfinder. Its surface glimmered faintly in the dim light of the room, edges worn from years of battle and hardship, but still whole.
A Silent Prayer
Aqua slid down to her knees, clutching the charm to her chest. The floor felt cold against her legs, grounding her in the moment. She closed her eyes, shutting out everything except the voices that lived in her heart.
"Terra. Ven. I'm sorry." Her voice cracked, but she pressed on. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me most. But I swear to you—this time will be different. I will find you. I will bring you both back. No matter what it takes, no matter what I have to face… I'll save you both."
The charm warmed faintly in her hands, whether by magic or memory, she couldn't tell. And as she held it tighter, her thoughts pulled her back into the past—
The courtyard at the Land of Departure, sun-drenched and alive with laughter. Terra standing tall, keyblade balanced in his hands, his voice steady and encouraging. Ventus, younger and smaller, darting forward with wild swings that left him open every time. And herself, calm but firm, stepping in to correct Ven's stance or block one of Terra's overzealous strikes.
"You're too open, Ven," she'd scolded with a soft smile, nudging his keyblade aside.
"And you're too serious," Terra had laughed, lowering his weapon. "Lighten up, Aqua. We're supposed to be having fun."
They had sparred, teased, promised. Three hearts bound together by hope, each one dreaming of becoming Keyblade Masters. Each one certain that no matter what happened, they would always walk the same path.
The memory lingered, bittersweet.
When Aqua opened her eyes, the room felt different. Still weighed down with tension, still clouded with uncertainty—but inside her chest, a fire burned anew.
Dawn light seeped through the cracks in the curtains, soft gold spilling across the floorboards. Aqua rose slowly, the Wayfinder clutched tightly in her hand. Her legs were steady now, her shoulders squared.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled even slower. No more guilt. No more hesitation.
"I will save you," she whispered, voice carrying the weight of a vow. "Terra. Ven. Wait for me. I'm coming."
The Wayfinder shimmered faintly, catching the first rays of morning. Aqua tucked it back against her chest, letting it rest above her heart where it belonged.
She turned toward the door, ready to face the day, ready to carry the burden she had been given.
And yet—when she opened it, she froze.
Standing in the hallway, silent as stone, was Kurai.
The white-haired woman leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her silver eyes fixed squarely on Aqua. Her expression was unreadable—no malice, no warmth, only a chilling neutrality that carried the weight of judgment.
For a moment, the two simply stared at one another. Aqua's breath caught, her hand instinctively summoned her keyblade.
Kurai tilted her head slightly, as though measuring her, calculating whether she was worth the effort of cutting down now or later.
Aqua held her gaze, refusing to flinch.
Then, without a word, Kurai pushed off the wall and walked away, her presence dissolving back into the mansion's shadows.
Aqua exhaled slowly, her heartbeat still hammering in her chest. She tightened her grip on the Wayfinder, whispering once more under her breath. "Soon."