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Raven awoke to the ethereal glow of the moon casting silver threads across her new quarters in the Castle That Never Was. The luminescence was a stark reminder that no sun would greet her here, only the ever-watchful eye of Kingdom Hearts in the night sky. She stretched, her muscles protesting slightly as she remembered—today was a reprieve from the unending missions. A "vacation" as Xemnas had called it.
She rose from the bed, the fluttering in her chest intensifying at the thought of him. Raven drew a deep breath, trying to quell the ridiculous stirrings of her heart; attraction to the enigmatic leader of the Organization was a complication she didn't need. Shaking her head, she pulled on the standard black coat, its fabric whispering against her skin. With deft fingers, she fastened the silver clasps, her movements automatic, yet her mind whirled with insecurities.
"Does he see just another pawn? Or something... more?" Raven pondered, gazing into the mirror. Her dark wavy hair cascaded around her shoulders unrestrained. Her greenish-blue eyes searched her reflection for answers that refused to come.
***
As Raven wrestled with her thoughts, Xemnas stood in his quarters, methodically fastening the straps of his boots. He had long grown accustomed to the process of dressing himself in the Organization's uniform, yet today, he found himself hesitating, his mind wandering to thoughts of the girl who had joined their ranks.
"Focus," he whispered, forcing himself to suppress the emotions that threatened to bubble up within him. He refused to allow sentimentality to interfere with his plans—he could not afford any distractions.
"Raven is just another piece on the chessboard, nothing more," he reminded himself, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. But even as he spoke them, he knew that they were only partially true. Something about her stirred something deep within him, awakening feelings he had long thought buried.
"Emotions are a weakness," he hissed, clenching his fists. "I must remain in control."
He turned away from the mirror, his golden eyes darkened with an uncharacteristic storm of emotion. As he strode down the corridor, his thoughts were consumed by the struggle to maintain his composure; every step seemed to echo like thunder in his ears, drowning out any remnants of reason.
"Focus," he whispered again, as if the word alone could dispel the turmoil within him. "I must not let her get under my skin."
***
Though she had told herself countless times that it was pointless to dwell on such thoughts, Raven couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as she decided to go to the Altar of Naught. It was a place high atop one of the castle's towers, where she could escape the suffocating darkness that seemed to permeate every corner of the Organization's fortress. There, she would be able to gaze out at the distant horizon, its perpetual twilight a haunting reminder of the eternal night that enveloped her new existence.
"Perhaps Xemnas will be there," a thought whispered in her mind, a secret hope she had been unable to suppress completely. The idea sent a shiver down her spine, and she caught herself clutching the folds of her black coat, feeling both excited and apprehensive at the prospect of encountering him once more.
As she climbed the winding staircases, her heart raced, and her breathing grew labored—not from exertion, but from the gnawing uncertainty that weighed heavily upon her.
"What if he is there?" she wondered. "How will he react? And what am I expecting from this encounter?"
The biting wind greeted Raven as she finally reached the Altar of Naught, causing her wavy hair to flutter wildly around her face. She wrapped her arms around herself, attempting to ward off the chill, and took in the breathtaking sight before her: an endless sea of darkness, punctuated by the soft glow of myriad stars scattered across the heavens, and the tall dark buildings of the World That Never Was surrounding the castle. It was a sight that never failed to leave her awestruck, despite the somber undertones that tainted its beauty.
As Raven gazed at the vast expanse of darkness before her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping up on her. The eternal night that enveloped the world was beautiful in its own haunting way, but it also held a sinister quality that seemed to echo the shadows that lingered within her own heart. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Suddenly, she felt his presence behind her - silent and powerful. Xemnas had approached her so quietly that she hadn't noticed him until he was almost upon her. Startled, Raven jumped slightly, her foot slipping dangerously close to the edge.
"Careful," Xemnas warned, his voice a deep rumble like distant thunder. He grabbed her arm with surprising gentleness, steadying her and pulling her back from the brink. His touch sent shivers down her spine, and she could feel the heat radiating from his hand through the fabric of her coat.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Th-thank you," she stammered, trying to hide her surprise as she looked up into his golden eyes. She noticed that he was doing his best to maintain a stern demeanor, burying his emotions beneath a mask of stoicism. But she couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath that carefully constructed facade, what hidden feelings threatened to break free from their confines.
"Perhaps you should not stand so close to the edge," Xemnas suggested, releasing her arm slowly. Raven nodded, taking a step back and swallowing hard, her heart pounding in her chest. It was difficult to tell whether it was from the near fall or from his unexpected touch, but she knew she had to regain her composure.
"Right. I'll... I'll be more careful," she managed to say, forcing a small, nervous laugh. She glanced at him again, searching for any sign of emotion on his face, but found none. His expression remained unreadable, his eyes betraying nothing.
"Good," he replied simply, his voice as calm and measured as ever. He turned away from her, staring out into the darkness once more, his thoughts hidden behind a wall of stoic silence.
An unexpected shift in the atmosphere caught Raven's attention; Xemnas's posture softened as he lowered himself, sitting gracefully on the edge of the Altar. The sudden movement caught her by surprise, and she hesitated for a moment before joining him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Tell me about your world, the one you came from," Xemnas said softly, his golden eyes reflecting the endless night that surrounded them. His request was simple, yet it held an undercurrent of genuine curiosity that Raven couldn't ignore.
"Um, well, it's nothing special," she lied, feeling the weight of his gaze upon her as she tried to find the words to describe her home. "It is a vibrant town, full of life and people… The streets are paved with cobblestones, and the houses are old but well-kept."
She paused, allowing herself to get lost in the memories of her world as she continued, "The people are kind and caring. We have a marketplace where everyone gathers on weekends to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and there's a bakery that makes the most amazing bread you've ever tasted."
Raven closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as if she could still smell the scent of warm dough wafting through the air. Her voice grew softer, tinged with melancholy as she spoke of her loved ones.
"My family... they're everything to me. My mother has this incredible laugh that fills the entire room, and my father is always there with a hug when I need one. And my friends... we spent our days exploring the forest, discovering hidden waterfalls and secret groves. They made life worth living….yet I’ll never see them again now.."
As the gravity of her situation sank in, the corners of her mouth wavered, her voice cracking with emotion. Raven knew that she would never see them again; she had been torn away from her world, her family, and everything she had ever known. She had always d
"Raven," Xemnas murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "I understand that this is difficult for you. But know that you are not alone in your struggle."
His words struck a chord within her, and she found herself clinging to the fragile thread of hope that he offered. Raven looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she searched for some semblance of understanding in his stoic expression.
"Thank you, Xemnas," she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat as she wiped away her tears.
After a while, Xemnas stood up first, his posture regal and commanding despite the storm of emotions brewing within him. Raven hesitated for a moment before following suit, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to quell the rising tide of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her. She clenched her fists, willing herself to remain composed as she faced Xemnas, whose golden eyes seemed to peer straight through her and into the very depths of her soul.
"Raven," he said, his voice dark and resonant, like a distant roll of thunder echoing through the empty void around them. "There is a mission I need to discuss with you."
"Of course, Xemnas," she replied, attempting to maintain an air of nonchalance, though she felt anything but. The anticipation buzzed within her at the thought of embarking on a mission alongside the enigmatic leader of the Organization, and she struggled to keep her emotions under wraps.
The light of the moon cast a silvery glow upon them, reflecting in the tears that lingered unshed in Raven's eyes. Xemnas, ever perceptive, noticed this, but chose not to acknowledge it - at least, not outwardly. Instead, he suppressed the swell of concern that rose within him, the urge to comfort her momentarily pushing aside his usual stoic demeanor.
"Tomorrow, we shall venture into a new world together," he divulged, his tone measured and deliberate. "You must prepare yourself - both mentally and physically - for the challenges that lie ahead."
"I understand," Raven murmured, her mind racing with questions and uncertainties. She swallowed hard, forcing a determined expression onto her face. "I won't let you down, Xemnas."
"See that you don't," he responded coolly, though his words were punctuated by the slightest hint of warmth, which did not go unnoticed by Raven.
With a curt nod, Xemnas turned and began to stride away, the heavy black fabric of his coat billowing out behind him like a shadowy specter. Raven watched him go, her chest tightening with a mixture of trepidation and exhilaration - feelings she couldn't quite name or understand. She knew that this mission would test her in ways she had never been tested before, but the prospect of facing such trials at Xemnas's side filled her with a strange sense of comfort.
Raven walked away from the Altar of Naught, and stood at the threshold of her room, the heavy door creaking softly as she pushed it open. The dim, flickering light from the nearby torches cast dancing shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil that swirled within her. She couldn't shake the memory of Xemnas's touch - the firmness of his grip, the heat that seemed to radiate from his skin. Even now, a shiver ran down her spine as she recalled his unreadable expression and the fleeting flicker of emotion in his eyes.
"Focus," she whispered fiercely to herself, clenching her fists at her sides. "This is no time for fantasies."
She stepped into her chamber, letting the door close behind her with a soft thud. The darkness enveloped her like an old friend, bringing with it a sense of familiarity that did little to dispel the disquiet that gnawed at her heart. As she prepared for bed, her thoughts raced with questions and doubts, each one more persistent than the last.