Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Maleficent's voice broke the silence, smooth and tainted with a thinly veiled threat. "Do remember, boy, alliances forged in darkness can turn against you in an instant. You would do well to mind where your loyalties truly lie." Her words hung in the air, a warning wrapped in civility, and the shadows around her seemed to ripple as if feeding off her presence.

Without missing a beat, Helios leaned forward slightly, meeting her gaze with a boldness that seemed to surprise her. "My loyalties lie with myself; no one else. Nothing more, nothing less." He held her gaze, unflinching. "Just as yours lie with you. We understand each other perfectly, Maleficent. I'll learn what you're 'willing' to teach, but don't think for a moment that my ambitions end with that."

She tilted her head, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face. "Then let us hope that your ambitions do not overreach, boy. Remember, power respects only those who can wield it without hesitation."

Sephiroth, watching this exchange with an enigmatic smirk, finally spoke, his voice smooth but carrying an underlying edge. "Enough of this," he said, his tone as dismissive as it was commanding.

Maleficent's lips curled in faint disdain as she finished the last sip of her tea, setting the cup down with an almost theatrical precision. She rose from her seat without another glance at either of them, her dark robes trailing behind her like the wings of some predatory bird. As she left, the atmosphere lightened, though her presence lingered like a storm cloud hanging just out of sight.

With Maleficent gone, Helios turned his attention to Sephiroth, his expression shifting from guarded to a faintly amused smile. "So," he began, leaning back slightly, his gaze steady, "I think it's time we discuss what I owe you for our bargain."

Sephiroth's cold gaze met his, unwavering. "I spared your life," he said flatly. "That is enough. I owe you nothing."

Helios chuckled, a soft, almost mocking sound that filled the silence. "Oh, I'm not looking to preserve my life, Sephiroth," he replied. "If killing me truly fulfills you, then by all means—strike now. I'm sitting right here. But if you do, you'll lose what I promised you—a worthy challenge and, most importantly, a choice. A chance to be free of Cloud or to absorb him and finally become the dominant force within your shared heart."

Sephiroth's eyes narrowed, and the chill in his gaze could have frozen the very air between them. "State what you want, then," he said, his voice low and edged with deadly calm.

Helios held his gaze, his expression unwavering. "All I want is for you to train me in swordsmanship," he said plainly. "Until I can be considered a master in my own right. That's the only thing I ask."

Sephiroth's expression didn't shift, though his eyes held a glint of something unreadable. "You would put yourself through that? Swords are an extension of one's will. They reveal weakness, expose doubt, and cut straight through false ambition. I wonder if you understand what you're asking."

Helios smirked, his gaze holding steady. "I know exactly what I'm asking," Helios knew he was not like Sora with his boundless, effortless talent and his endless luck or plot armor. He didn't have that luxury.

"Skill, dedication—those I can acquire with the right teacher. I need this, Sephiroth. And besides," he added with a grin, "you want to see if I can survive the training, don't you? Maybe I'll be a worthy foe for you in the future."

A faint smile, if it could be called that, pulled at the corner of Sephiroth's lips. "Interesting," he murmured, his gaze calculating. "And your aim in all this, boy? Surely it's not simply to gain sword skills."

Helios shrugged, his smile fading into a look of cool determination. "I have my own goals. And for those to come about, I need power—not just in magic but also in combat. There are things magic alone can't solve."

Sephiroth considered him for a long, tense moment, and Helios could feel the weight of the scrutiny as though Sephiroth were dissecting him, searching for any sign of deception. Finally, he inclined his head, just barely. "Very well. I'll train you in the art of the blade," he said, his tone carrying an almost amused indifference. "But you should know… my training is relentless. I don't hold back."

Helios's smirk widened, his resolve unshaken. "I'd expect nothing less. If I want to be the best I need to be taught by the best."

Sephiroth rose to his feet, the movement sharp and commanding. His voice cut through the air, each word precise and cold. "We begin at dawn," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his gaze. "You will need every ounce of strength you possess, and from what I've seen even that will not be enough. I almost forgot—magic will be prohibited during our lessons."

Helios nodded. He knew Sephiroth's training would be brutal, perhaps even deadly. He would likely walk away bruised, battered, and drained of every ounce of energy he had. But he also knew it would give him the edge he needed. Every ounce of pain, every grueling hour—he would endure it all for the sake of achieving his goal, for the sake of bringing his parents back.

As Sephiroth turned, his presence radiating an aura of unspoken finality, Helios took a breath, calming himself. It was quite nerve-wrecking to be dealing with these powerful dark beings who could annihilate him with minimal effort.

With his magic recovered Helios used it all to recover his body to peak conditions. With the pain now gone he stood up and picked up the tea cups which the two had used and washed them. He disliked how they made him a maid and anger boiled within him but he calmed himself with the thoughts that in what he assumed would be a couple of weeks he would more or less be free of those two.