Chapter 26

Helios chuckled, playing along with Cid's light-heartedness. "Of course, Cid. Merlin might have found me first, but your work seems just as interesting. Besides, I'm always up for learning more about technology and, well, just about anything in this world."

Even gave a brief nod, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Curiosity is a powerful tool, young man. Proper guidance can lead to great things. But be mindful," he added with a touch of gravity, "curiosity can also lead you down paths from which there is no return."

Helios met Even's gaze, he almost couldn't stop himself from laughing due to his foreknowledge about Even doing just that. "I understand, and I'll keep that in mind," he replied, feigning innocence. Even who would become Vexen in the future a man obsessed with experiments and understanding till the day he was destroyed.

Cid stretched and gave the machine a satisfied pat. "Well, now that this thing's back in action, I say it's time to hit the road, kid. Let's get you back before Merlin starts sending out search parties."

As they turned to leave, Helios caught a glimpse of someone entering the room from the corner of his eye. It was Xehanort who had then over Terra's body, his white and yellow eyes signature reminder that he belonged to darkness. He wore the lab coat and composed expression he always carried, a mask hiding his dark intentions. Helios knew better than to stare, but although subtle and nearly non-existent he could feel the darkness that seemed to emanate from the man's presence, even from across the room.

Xehanort acknowledged Cid with a brief nod before turning his attention to Even. "Is the console operational now?" His voice was smooth, almost soothing, yet Helios only felt a chill up his spine.

Even nodded. "Yes, Xehanort. Cid and his new apprentice have restored it."

"Good," Xehanort replied, his eyes flicking briefly toward Helios, studying him with a curious intensity. The look was brief, yet sharp enough that Helios felt it pierce right through him.

Helios forced himself to remain calm under Xehanort's scrutiny, giving a polite nod before looking away. Under the weight of Xehanort's Helios' mind began to wonder if this Xehanort had regained his memories as Master Xehanort yet or was his amnesia still in effect.

"Let's go, kid," Cid muttered, nudging Helios toward the exit. Helios didn't need to be told twice.

As they walked away from the castle, Cid glanced back, making sure they were out of earshot before he let out a sigh. "That Xehanort's an odd one, isn't he? Gives me the creeps every time I'm around him."

Helios feigned a casual shrug, though inside he agreed completely. "Yeah, something about him seems… off," he replied carefully.

Cid nodded in agreement. "You're not wrong there. Always talking about stuff way over everyone's head, and he's got a way of looking at people that makes your skin crawl. Like he's not really looking at the guy in front of him but a toy he can do with as he pleases." He paused, glancing at Helios. "Merlin's been looking out for you, right? So take my advice, kid. Keep your head low when you're near that one. Oh and don't head to the castle with me or Merlin tagging along."

"I'll keep that in mind," Helios responded, fully understanding the caution in Cid's voice.

Back at Merlin's cottage, Helios took a moment to compose himself, letting the familiar comfort of the warm, book-filled space wash over him. Now calm he immediately began his magic practice until Merlin returned to the house.

The flickering lights cast long shadows as Xehanort and Even descended into the cold, dimly lit corridors of the castle's underground section. Their footsteps echoed against the stone walls, accompanied only by the distant hum of machinery reverberating through the sealed-off tunnels.

As they walked, Xehanort's gaze turned inward, yet his tone was conversational. "So, Even, what do you make of the boy? Helios, was it?"

Even adjusted his lab coat, a casual gesture, though his mind was undoubtedly dissecting every detail of Helios. "Interesting, certainly. Though, hardly surprising that he should bear such darkness. It's hardly unusual for those who appear here to carry remnants of the darkness that separate our worlds. You, too, remember, arrived in Radiant Garden much the same way," Even noted, glancing briefly at Xehanort. "Though, in your case, any remnants of darkness have long since been purged."

Xehanort offered a slight smile, one that never quite reached his eyes. "Purged, you say?"

Even didn't seem to notice the cryptic edge in Xehanort's tone. He continued, "Indeed. And while the darkness in Helios is intriguing, there's little need to dwell on it. Cid would hardly allow me to study him, regardless. Besides, I doubt it would yield results we haven't already seen before."

Xehanort remained silent for a few paces, his gaze fixed ahead, but his mind clearly elsewhere. "I could have sworn…" he said, almost to himself, "that the boy's darkness was different. It wasn't simply the residue of a troubled heart; it felt… alive."

Even raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xehanort with mild curiosity. "Alive, you say?" he mused, though his tone held a hint of skepticism. "I saw no such indication. Perhaps you mistook it. Darkness takes on strange forms in those newly arrived."

"Perhaps," Xehanort murmured, his voice thoughtful. But his expression suggested he remained unconvinced, the notion of "alive" darkness simmering in his mind.

They walked in silence, neither breaking the tension as they descended deeper into the labyrinthine passageways. Eventually, they reached a large, reinforced door, rusted around the edges from disuse and age. Even withdrew a small key from his coat and inserted it into a barely visible slot near the handle. With a low hiss, the door unlocked, and they stepped inside, sealing it carefully behind them.

The room they entered was lined with strange devices, their designs alien and imposing, with monitors and control panels scattered about, coated in a fine layer of dust. The cold air was thick with a faint, almost metallic scent—a ghost of past experiments. In the center of the room, glass chambers lined the walls, each large enough to hold a human subject, now empty and filled with an eerie silence.

Xehanort moved slowly through the space, trailing his fingers along one of the glass chambers, his eyes distant. "Do you remember when we first began?" he asked quietly, his tone almost reverent.

Even nodded, eyes flicking between the monitors as he recalled those early days. "I do. Back then, we were convinced of the noble cause—to unlock the secrets of the human heart and discover the true nature of darkness and light." He paused, almost smiling to himself. "Yet, our master Ansem would have us halt it all. He fears what we might uncover, though I'm certain we've only just begun to glimpse the potential that lies within the heart."

"Fear," Xehanort repeated softly, as though tasting the word. He turned to face Even, a gleam of something dangerous in his eyes. "He lacks the conviction necessary to see this through. To understand true darkness, we must be willing to go further than he ever imagined." He gestured to the empty chambers surrounding them. "These were meant for that purpose. To explore the heart's potential, to see how far one could push the boundaries between light and dark."

Even nodded slowly, his fingers skimming over a control panel, his own fascination stirring. "You're right. Ansem… he limits himself by his own morals. He fears the potential he was so eager to tap into, and yet here we are, holding back at the cusp of something greater than he could ever comprehend."

Xehanort's gaze darkened, a flicker of disdain crossing his face. "Indeed. His so-called morals are but chains. This hesitation, his reluctance—it only serves to hinder progress. He told us to stop, to abandon our work, but as you know, Even… I have no intention of stopping."

Even offered a half-smile, caught between respect and the thrill of discovery. "Nor do I, Xehanort. Our teacher lacks the necessary vision. But we…, we can see beyond the limitations he sets. If he were to discover what lies within the heart without fear…" He trailed off, glancing at Xehanort with a glint in his eye. "We would be in possession of untold knowledge."

Xehanort's smile turned cold, a dangerous fire gleaming behind his gaze. He stepped back from the glass chamber, his eyes taking in the room with a sense of triumph. "Precisely. The heart holds secrets yet to be revealed, an endless potential that has only begun to be tapped. And we shall be the ones to uncover it all, to wield it as it was meant to be."

Together, they stood in the center of the room, the silent apparatus around them bearing witness to their dark intentions. Even's hand hovered over the control panel, his eyes flicking to Xehanort. "Shall we proceed, then? The experiments have only been paused. With your guidance, we can continue."

Xehanort nodded slowly, his smile never wavering. "Yes. Our work here is far from over, Even. Let us delve deeper into the heart's mysteries. For it is only through the shadows that we shall find the light of true knowledge."