Kleis POV
It was an odd feeling drifting down a sea of darkness. The last thing I remember was falling on my face and blanking out from holding Castorice's hand too long. I felt like flowing down a stream into a never-ending realm of darkness — no sound, no light, just pure darkness. As I flew down, a bright light filled my vision, and there it was. A glass-stained tower that was covered in what appeared to be a static field of red and black. I fought to stop falling, but I was helpless. My sandal grazed the glass tower, activating the field of black and red data. Agony erupted in my leg, a sign of the Black Tide.
I gritted my teeth as pain filled my entire being. With my vision blurry, I could see different codes flashing in front of me. No matter what I tried, I couldn't let out a scream. If I did nothing, I was sure I would without a doubt die, so I did the first thing that came to my mind. I summoned my Keyblade. It answered my call in a flash of light, and I slammed into what I thought to be my Station of Awakening.
The world turned bright before the sound of cracking entered my ears. All around I could see the parts of the Station breaking apart. I could see parts of it flying away into the abyss. Bits and pieces of the Black Tide chipped away as my Station of Awakening brightened like the sun, forcing it away. The light became so intense I had to cover my eyes with my arm and look away, or I felt I would become blind.
I was amazed at what I saw when the light disappeared. There I was, lying down with Keyblade in hand, as I could see that the background was of Okhema and in the outer ring all thirteen coreflames in each circle. All around me, I noticed that there were no faces that appeared anywhere. I was confused until I realized that since I was in the physical representation of my heart, naturally, I wouldn't see anyone. I wasn't really close to anyone in this life. Maybe one day this glass panel of mind would grow, but not today. What I found most curious was the mural of me; my eyes were closed.
But why was I here? I already had my Keyblade, and I couldn't recall any other reason I needed to be here. Don't get me wrong, I was happy that I could get the taint of the Black Tide off me. The way the Black Tide looked off to me though. It looked oddly familiar; I could have sworn I had seen it, but where? I pondered before it occurred to me.
"Was that an actual manifestation of my programming that kept me shackled to the scepter?" I spoke out loud, my voice echoing through the darkness. Whenever Phainon exited his ultimate, what looked like the coding of the scepter had appeared. But what now? I can't just stay here forever. Looking around, I tried to see some type of exit, but nothing was in sight except darkness.
Yet I can not help but feel something was off. It couldn't be that easy to get the shackles off the scepter off me. I had a feeling that was more than one station to fulling get rid of my shackles.
"The connection to the scepter must be in the deepest part of my Heart. Just how deep does the scepter have a hold on me? I would imagine that, me just being an NPC, means my shackles would not be as heavy as one the Chrysos Heirs." I mutter in thought, and suddenly a sound caught my ear. It was faint at first before growing in sound.
"Crack," "Crack,"
Suddenly the glass panel cracked up before and then three podiums erupted from the ground. "Okay, real funny! Turns out my Heart has a sense of humor," I said with a snort. Since I never completed my tutorial, my Heart is giving me the full experience.
'It's odd that I can see nothing on the podiums though, why is that?' I thought as I walked up to the middle podium, as I walked closer, an image appeared, and with each step I took, it became more and more clear. When I fully approach I nearly fell back into shock. The reason was the symbol of Destruction in front of me.
"But why is this here?" I asked in shock. I calmed myself with a deep breath and brought my hand to my chin in deep thought about how this could have happened. "Is it because I chose Pathstrider, unlike everyone else here in the scepter? Zandar, Irontomb, Me, and possibly Phainon and Cyrene are the only actual Pathstriders. All the other Chrysos Heirs are only simulated Pathstriders.
"Back when I made the choice to be a Pathstrider, did I open up a door for myself?" I mused as I stared at the symbol of Destruction. Hesitantly, I reached a hand out to touch the symbol. As soon as I contacted the symbol, I heard it.
"The power of Destruction.
Reckless strength born from ruin.
It is a force that destroys everything in its path.
"Is this the power you seek?"
A soft voice whispered in my ear, causing me to freeze. Now, I was expecting many things when I touched the symbol of Destruction. What I didn't expect was to hear her voice.
"Cyrene!?" I said in shock. Why was I hearing her voice? I know that Sora heard Mickey's voice back when he was in his station of awakening. But that was because Mickey was attempting to contact individuals with strong hearts to help close the Door to Darkness, more specifically seeking a Keyblade wielder. As far as I know, I hadn't met Cyrene in this life at all.
"Cyrene shouldn't be able to contact me at all. Even if this is a different cycle, I reincarnated now, not before. Could it be…? Is that our Hearts are connecting beyond time? I know it's possible for Hearts to transcend time," I mused, trying to figure out just how Cyrene was contacting each other. I shook my head. There is no point in thinking of this now, not when I won't be able to leave without finishing all of this.
I pulled my hand back from the symbol of Destruction. I wasn't accepting any power from HIM, especially for all the pain the Destruction has been causing to Amphoreus. Turning my head, I walked to the second podium. Just like with Destruction, I couldn't see what the symbol was until I reached it.
With each step I took brought the symbol came into sharper focus. When I finally came before the podium, there it was: the symbol of Erudition. Staring at the symbol, I couldn't help but bring my hand to my chin and rub it in thought. From what I've seen, I could probably guess the last symbol on the third podium. It was most likely Remembrance.
I prepared to hear Cyrene's voice again as I stretched out my hand towards the symbol of Erudition. As soon as my fingertips made contact, my prediction came true.
"The power of Erudition.
Knowledge sharpened into clarity.
A mind that sees all questions… and dares to find the answer."
"Is this the power you seek?"
Cyrene's voice, once more, echoed in the darkness. The symbol of Erudition held my serious stare as I considered the power. I knew Amphoreus cycle of death and Destruction all started because of HIM, but I wasn't really concerned about its involvement. I knew the scepter used to be part of the Erudition, but I am grateful. If it weren't for the Erudition, I wouldn't have ever met all these wonderful people. Just thinking of the recent memories of my life here, despite everyone being data, they were truly alive.
The biggest temptation for me to pick the path of Erudition was the possibly of meeting Lygus on some type of footing. While our footing is massively apart, I needed some type of footing. I knew that having the Keyblade made up a lot, but I didn't want to put all my eggs in one basket. That's why I needed to be a Pathstrider; I needed every sort of advantage against him. I wasn't sure if Lygus still had the power of an Emanator while playing. I could never find out. It was better to be safe than sorry and just assume Lygus still did.
Beating Lygus in wits would not happen, so I needed to outsmart, outmaneuver and finally overpower him. Combing the power of Paths and the Keyblade go lead to favorable results. There was even a thought that appeared in the back of my head. Could I open a path to the path space with the Keyblade to contact an Aeon? Of all the Aeons I knew, Erudition seemed like the only possibly to become an Emanator myself.
If I could research the Heart, could the Erudition really ignore that? Coming into contact with such an unknown topic that appeared out of nowhere. While that wasn't a guarantee for me to become an Emanator of Erudition, it was a chance. My chance of becoming an Emanator of Destruction or Remembrance was zero. I have no desire to become one of the Destruction's Lord Ravagers, and I wasn't a cute pink-haired girl, so the Remembrance wouldn't care about me.
I looked at the last and checked whether my theory was right. As I walked to the last podium, its image became clearer. When I reached the podium, the image was what I expected. The symbol of Remembrance. That had confirmed my theory. Looking at the other two symbols, it was clear these paths were most likely only the paths in Amphoreus I could travel on. I looked back at the symbol of Remembrance and reached my hand out to touch it. Just like before, when my fingertips made contact, Cyrene's voice rang out.
"The power of Remembrance.
Echoes of what was… shaping what may be.
A heart that carries memory like a blade of light."
"Is this the power you seek?"
I had to say, Cyrene's voice really liven this dreary place. For a moment I considered accepting the power of Remembrance but changed my mind. I could always in the future do so. It wasn't impossible to use the power of other paths. Herta could do so as she used a type of power that resembled the power of Remembrance when trapping that memo snatcher in her space station. Heck, every single Lord Ravager seems to use more than one path. I looked back at the symbol of Erudition and made my choice.
"Cyrene, I am sorry, but we will not be Remembrance twins." I said, but we needed as many options as possible to save Amphoreus. Walking back to the symbol of Erudition, I was once again met with the same question.
"The power of Erudition.
Knowledge sharpened into clarity.
A mind that sees all questions… and dares to find the answer."
"Is this the power you seek?"
"Yes." As the words escaped my mouth, I felt the wind knocked out of me. My entire body felt supercharged. I could feel a foreign source of power it every nerve in my data body. I stood for a second waiting to hear Cyrene's voice, having a feeling of what she would say next.
"Now, friend, what will you give up in exchange?" Cyrene asked, I couldn't help but frown. It seemed like Cyrene was watching me somehow. Shaking my head, I immediately walked to the symbol of Destruction. I would give up Destruction in a heartbeat. This was my way of not bowing to the Destruction. I would save Amphoreus by denying the Destruction with each step. I marched to the symbol of Destruction and touched it again, hearing Cyrene's familiar response.
"The power of Destruction.
Reckless strength born from ruin.
It is a force that destroys everything in its path.
"You give up this power?"
"Yes," I said firmly. I watched as the symbol of Destruction disappeared from my eyes. I couldn't help wondering what was coming. From what I remember, I was supposed to fight heartless but Sora only fought Heartless because Mickey wanted to show him what he faced in the future. Cyrene's voice cut my thoughts off as it rang out in the darkness.
"You chose the power of the Erudition.
You've given up the power of the Destruction.
Is this the form you choose?"
Taking a deep breath to prepare myself. "Yes," I said, preparing for the glass to shatter under me. But unexpectedly, instead of the glass shattering like I was expecting, I saw another station of awakening appear in the distance. I watched as a rainbow path made itself known, connecting both stations. Although I couldn't see what image appeared on the station in the distance. What I could see was an ominous purple. Preparing for my first fight, I summoned by Keyblade and traveled across the rainbow-colored path.
Climbing up the path, I finally reached the station. Taking a quick glance, I saw that the path behind me was gone. Great, just what I needed. I knew it would happen but kind of hoped it wouldn't. I sighed tiredly and took a proper look at the image on the station and grimaced at what I saw.
There he was, Lygus, arms wide as he was greeting me. I could already imagine what he would welcome me in that voice that would make me want to cut his head off. I stepped closer to the light that was emanating from the middle and prepared for what I would fight. At first nothing happens, but then I heard something climbing the station, and then it appeared. Directing opposite was some type of being I had never seen, but what I saw was the telltale symbol of a nightmare.
From the station's edge, a tall, jagged figure emerged, alive with violet energy. Magma-like, crimson-orange lines run under the armor, breaking the obsidian body. Its hand clutches a huge, corrupted blade of pink-purple hue, resembling a natural extension of its form. The head turns slowly, and you see a burning eye slit, like a predator that is watching you. Its chest bears a warped Nightmare sigil, pulsing with malice, and connected to its core. Void energy tendrils, writhing and seeming alive, trail its limbs. As it moves, it leaves a faint trail of darkness, like reality is being torn.
I stagger back, eyes wide with disbelief at what I saw. I knew it was a Nightmare, but one I had never seen before. It looked like someone had combined a Black Tide monster and fused it with a Nightmare. I took another step back out of fear. Just as I was about to take another step, I felt something push me forward.
What's the matter? I don't remember you ever being this frightened, friend. You will face much scarier things in the future. Take a deep breath and trust in your Heart. After all, didn't you promise to create a new page with me? You mustn't give up before we reach the first page of the story." Cyrene whispered to me; out of the corner of my eye, I saw a slight flash of pink.
Before I could say anything, I saw a flash of purple rush at me. I felt a flash of insight hit where I brought my arm up and summoned by Keyblade in a flash of light.
"Clang,"
When our weapons touched, the Nightmare didn't stagger me, which surprised me. With all the strength I had, I pushed the Nightmare away, knocking it away. Not wanting to it the chance to do anything else, I rushed the Nightmare and swung my Keyblade with both hands, trying to split it in two. When my Keyblade contacted the Nightmare, I grunted at just how solid it was. The Keyblade slid halfway into the Nightmare and then stopped. I knew something was wrong when the Nightmare didn't dissipate. As I watched, it raised its weapon in horror to cleave me. I immediately jumped back, letting go of my Keyblade.
As I jumped away, I immediately called back my Keyblade, thankful it could be called back whenever. The Nightmare stagger its head, started to slowing split with both sides falling the opposite direction. Before the Nightmare's head fell further apart, it grabbed its head on both sides and pushed the sides together. I watched with horror and mild intrigue as a flash of purple appeared. When the Nightmare let go of its head, it looked completely healed.
That is horrifying. I don't even know what Heartless will be like. The Nightmare jumped into the air before spinning like a buzz saw trying to shred me apart. My eyes caught its movement, so I did the first thing I could think of.
"Thunder!" I yelled as suddenly lightning that appeared above it struck the Nightmare. I thought about using something else like fire or blizzard, but I wasn't confident in my aim, but I knew thunder was a spell that couldn't miss.
The Nightmare fell to the ground as it twitched in pain as I could see sparks flicker off its body. Knowing I wouldn't get another chance like this, I rushed forward and cleaved the Nightmare's head off. The cut of the Nightmare's head met no resistance, and my Keyblade clanged off the station.
I heaved off as I was tired after that small fight. I wasn't able to enjoy the minor victory as I heard more and more cracking as over the edge of the station more Nightmares appeared. From the abyss they appeared, all with eyes glowing red with hunger. Glancing all around, I remember what Cyrene said "Take a deep breath and trust in your Heart."
My teeth sucked in air, and I felt my lungs might burst, but I exhaled with a hiss. Before gazing at the Nightmares with newfound resolve, I touched my Heart. There was no way I could lose before the race started. Placing two hands on the handle of my Keyblade, I prepared for the next fight.
Talking the initial I rushed the first Nightmare, swinging the Keyblade and smacked the Nightmare with the side, sending it carting down the abyss. I felt a tingle down my back, but before I could respond, I hissed in pain, feeling the sword of the Nightmare slash down my back. Spinning around, I cleaved the Nightmare in two. I saw out the corner of my eye; I saw two more Nightmares closing in, two I pointed my Keyblade at them.
I chanted "Fire" as my Keyblade shot out a fireball. Though one Nightmare escaped, the other was less fortunate when it rolled, attempting to extinguish the fire. Tendrils of energy suddenly tangled my feet and rooted me in place. My eyes widened in panic as the Nightmare that escaped spun itself like a buzz saw. I brought the Keyblade up to hold the Nightmare back.
"Clang," "Clang," "Clang," "Clang."
I winced at the sound of our weapons ringing together. Watching the Nightmare spin and spin, I held my body up as it tried to shred me. I don't know long it was before the Nightmare finally stopped. Grunting and muscles straining, I launched the Nightmare to his ally that was getting up after it cleared the flame that was on its body.
I lifted my Keyblade over my shoulder and tensed my muscles and channeled as much imaginary energy as I threw my Keyblade in a makeshift strike raid. The Keyblade tore through the air heading for the Nightmares where, when the Keyblade's contact, an explosion of imaginary energy took place at the epicenter. When the dust cleared, the last two Nightmares were gone.
Huffing and puffing in exhaustion, I wince in pain from the slash I received on my back. "Cure," I chanted as small flowers appeared on my head. I felt much better as soon as I cast the spell, but I felt drained.
"I must have used all my magic. Are my magic and imaginary energy connected?" I thought out loud. Cautiously, cautiously I turned around, looking for any more nightmares, but the entire platform was now quiet.
A bright flash of light appeared before me, and I saw another station appear off in the distance. I couldn't help but feel nervous about what was next. Soon the rainbow staircase showed itself, inviting me to the next station.
"One last step, friend. Are you prepared, because everything will both begin and end here? I know you may feel doubt, but I know nothing will stop you from making this story beautiful. If you're so hesitant, I have just one thing to tell you, friend. Run! Pick up your feet and RUN, my friend! Just like you told me, just Run and don't stop, because this story isn't about hate. It's a story full of melancholy, defiance but, most importantly. A story of Love and Hope! So just RUN and TRAILBLAZE a new future for Amphoreus!" Cyrene passionately cried out, her words resounding deep in my Heart.
I held my Heart and couldn't help but smile at Cyrene's words, all the doubt and fear replaced with resolve for now and the future. I couldn't help chuckling at first before I burst out laughing to the heavens.
"Hahahahahha. Okay, Cyrene, I hear loud and clear. I will run and keep on running into the future. Just wait for me there until we meet in reality." I said happily with a huge smile on my face. Cyrene's words my me feel like I could actually do this. I stretched, looking at the staircase that led to the next station, getting myself ready.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and then, without a moment of hesitation, I snapped them open and ran all the way up the stairs. If I had eyes behind my head, I would notice that I was out-pacing the stairs that were disappearing. Being always two steps ahead, as I got closer to the station, I saw it was a deep red that radiated hate. As I ran toward the station, I quickened my pace with each step, and what greeted me on the platform was precisely who I had expected.
On this station was Irontomb above Amphoreus, his figure towering above it. Even though it was just a painting, I could feel the hate it seemed to have for everything in life. Its presence suffocated the surrounding air. I knew right here this was the actual shackle to my programming. If I couldn't defeat what came out here, I would never be free from the scepter or save Amphoreus. I could see a light directing down to the center of the station, and I walked to it, Keyblade already in hand for the fight of my life.
It had already started forming as I got closer. First, it reassembles my shadow, then transforms into something abhorrent. My shadow pealed itself off the ground as its body changed, first its hands changed into claws, its feet into curling in on itself looking like some weird shoes, its head a mass of tentacles like hair with cruel red eyes, and finally a large hole in the shape of a Heart. The most damning of it instead of being the typical Darkside color, it was the haunting color of the Black Tide.
"You know I should be afraid, but I had a friend give me a pep talk about so I will beat you and break off my shackles, Irontomb. I will bring everyone into tomorrow. Let's do this, you hateful CLANKER." I yelled out, my voice resounding around the abyss.
The silence cracked before my Darkside let out a roar. At the edge of the luminous platform, where stained glass met endless void, a monstrous cry erupted—low at first, like the grinding of ancient stone, then rising into a cataclysm of sound. The air itself shuddered. Light fractured along the delicate patterns beneath my feet as if the roar had reached into the heart of the glass and threatened to tear it apart.
It wasn't just loud—it was oppressive. The sound pressed against my chest like an invisible weight, forcing the breath from my lungs. Every echo spiraled into the abyss below, swallowed and spat back distorted, as though the darkness was answering. My Heart shuddered from the sound, not from fear but in acknowledge of its enemy.
The Darkside roared as it swung its fist down at me, intending to crush me under its fist. Jumping back, a wave of the Black Tide virus spread throughout the station. There was no way to dodge, so I knocked back to the edge of the station. Using the Keyblade to stop myself, I let out a cough of pain, covering my mouth. I immediately noticed my hand and grimaced at the sight of it.
There it was crawling up my hand. It was clearly the Black Tide virus. Slowly but surely, I felt it crawling up me, eating away. I squeezed my fist, now knowing this couldn't be a fight of attrition and had to finish this as wick of possible. I saw my Darkside go bring its other fist up intending to throw another fist. Immediately, I rushed at it. Just as about to hit the station again, I felt the same twitch in the back of my skull and jumped onto the Darkside's arm. Stabbing my Keyblade into hand, I dragged my Keyblade up its arm, cutting my way to its head.
I immediately jumped and grabbed one strand of the Darkside hair and swung the Keyblade over and over trying to deal as much damage as possible. Suddenly, my Darkside grabbed and threw me into the air. I couldn't stop my arms from flailing from the sudden throw where I felt something tick at the back of my head.
By instinct, I swung and knocked away the Darkside's hand and rolled down its arm, landing safely onto the station. The Darkside and I locked eyes. Its eyes were full of hate, while my eyes were full of determination. I saw that the Black Tide had already traveled down my arms and was going up my legs. Knowing that I had little time, I continued to attack the Darkside.
"Thunder!" I yelled as suddenly lightning that appeared above it struck the head. But besides a slight twitch, the magic hardly did anything. Darkness tangled my legs just as I was about to move them. I had little time to react as the same tick in the battle of my head itself knew again as had to bat away a ball of Black Tide Virus. My Darkside was holding an orb of energy that was brimming with the Black Tide and Darkness swirling in a deadly mixture. Its other arm already reaching to me to squeeze the life out of me. I tried to keep its hand arms, but I was powerless as it grabbed me, intending to either kill me by squishing me or by the Black Tide virus.
I grunted in pain, feeling my body being crushed. Using all the strength I had, I channeled imaginary energy into my Keyblade and threw it into the orb of Darkness and Black Tide. My Keyblade contacted the orb of Darkness and Black Tide, and it exploded, blinding me. Recalling my Keyblade, I waited for the light to dissipate and saw the Darkside was down one arm and on its knees. I didn't wait a single second as I rushed the Darkside intending to kill it. I searched for the same feeling I had when I first summoned my Keyblade, and I watched as my Keyblade glowed with the faint power of light.
Channeling as much imaginary energy into my feet, I launched myself into the air and brought my Keyblade down with a roar as I stabbed the Darkside into its forehead. The Darkside and I, my one last look of contact before it dissipated, darkness flowing into the air as I fell to the ground. I grunted in pain, looking at the Darkside disappearing.
As much as I wanted to enjoy my victory, I walked to the center of the station and brought my Keyblade up and aimed at the center of Irontomb. I watched as a glowing keyhole appeared, and by some type of instinct my Keyblade let out a faint glow out of its head. It shot a beam of light out the head and enter the keyhole. I smiled as it let out a small click before red and black shackles appeared around me before breaking apart. Never did I feel free until now.
"Well, that was easy," I said with a grin before grabbing my ribs in pain. I had to wonder what now? Before I could think of anything else, the station cracked, and it shattered into shards as I once again fell into the darkness. Why Heart!?
As I fell, I could see a glowing light that grew brighter every second when I heard Cyrene's voice one last time.
"Wonderful, my friend, just like that, keep winning until we can meet in the future, and remember as always."
"May your Heart be your guiding key."
I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Cyrene, and see you tomorrow!" I yelled into the darkness before light filled my vision.
I woke up with a jolt, finding myself in a medical bed in confusion before I remembered I was unconscious and was most likely taken to the Twilight Courtyard. I expected a lot of things waking what I didn't expect was Professor Anaxagoras standing before a kneeling Hyacine, and Castorice with an annoyed look on his face and the two ladies with embarrassed looks on theirs.
"What's going on?" I asked in confusion, seeing the odd sight. Hyacine and Castorice looked away with a blush, and Professor Anaxagoras sighed tiredly, holding his eyepatch. I had a feeling this would be a long story.
Cyrene POV
My eyes fluttered open to a room painted in the soft, dim hues of morning twilight. The air hung still and cool, brushing gently against my skin as I stirred beneath the weight of the blanket tangled around my legs. I blinked slowly, my vision hazy, shapes coming into focus one breath at a time.
The ceiling above stretched in quiet gray, shadows from the window blinds carving soft stripes across the walls. I drew a long breath, letting it fill my chest, grounding me in the silence. My muscles, stiff from sleep, resisted at first as I pushed myself upright. The mattress dipped and sighed beneath my shifting weight.
My hair clung to my cheek and collarbone in lazy spirals as I ran a hand through it, sweeping the strands back while my other hand braced against the bed. My bare feet slipped from the edge of the mattress and found the floor, the wood cool and smooth beneath them.
The faint scent of the night lingered—something like dreams and dust—slowly giving way to the crispness of the coming day. I sat there for a moment, poised between sleep and waking, my heart steady but my mind clouded, as if some distant memory clung to me just out of reach. Then, with a quiet exhale, I rose, the quiet world around me waiting.
"What an odd dream. It felt so real?" I whispered, I couldn't help but grab my Heart for some odd reason. "May your Heart be your guiding key." I smiled. How romantic!
Chapter One: Dive Into the Heart End