The blue flames of Hecate's portal flared once before fizzling out, leaving the world cloaked in silence. The courtyard of the Olympus mansion shimmered faintly under the glow of the moonlight. Then, in a sudden burst of displaced air, two figures collapsed onto the marble steps.
Skuld hit the ground first, her keyblade armor fading into flecks of light. Her chest heaved, her body slick with sweat and dirt. Aqua staggered beside her, knees buckling before she could find balance. Both of them looked like they had walked through the heart of a storm — burned, bruised, and utterly drained.
Hecate's laughter, soft and smug, echoed faintly as her portal vanished. "Do be a darling and don't die in your own courtyard," her voice teased before fading completely.
Skuld groaned and pushed herself up onto her elbows. "I… hate her," she mumbled breathlessly.
Aqua managed a weak smile. "You and me both."
They both staggered to their feet, steadying one another. The faint golden light of Olympus bathed the mansion's entrance ahead — warmth after hours of darkness. When they stepped inside, they were greeted not by chaos or concern, but by a strangely domestic sight.
Helios and Kurai sat across from each other at the dining table.
Steam rose from untouched plates. Kurai sat back in her chair, a wooden spoon idly twirling between her fingers, silver eyes flicking lazily toward the entrance. Helios, halfway through a bowl of porridge, froze as soon as he saw them.
For a long second, no one spoke. The contrast was surreal — the serene calm of the dining hall versus the two exhausted women dragging themselves in.
Then Helios stood, expression shifting instantly from composed to concerned. "What happened to you two?" he asked, his voice firm but not cold. "You look like you fought through all of Tartarus itself."
Kurai's lips curved into a faint smirk. "They did," she murmured, chin resting on her palm. "Or something close to it."
Helios ignored her tone and crossed the room in a few strides. His hand went instinctively to Skuld's shoulder. "You shouldn't be walking around like this. You're pale as a ghost."
Skuld tried to shake her head, stubborn even through exhaustion. "I'm fine—"
"You're not fine," Helios interrupted, his tone leaving no room for debate. His hand tightened slightly in silent disapproval. "You've overextended again."
Aqua watched quietly. She'd seen that same look before — concern, genuine and unguarded. It wasn't the face of a manipulator or a schemer. For all her doubts, she couldn't deny that the care in his voice was real. Perhaps that was what made him so dangerous: sincerity that made even the sharpest hearts hesitate.
Kurai, still seated, tilted her head, her silver eyes narrowing faintly. She said nothing — but her stare lingered on Helios's hand resting on Skuld's shoulder longer than usual.
Skuld's attempt at protest ended with her knees giving out. Helios caught her before she could fall, shifting her easily onto his back. "You're done walking," he said simply.
Aqua folded her arms, exhaling through her nose. "I'm surprised you can move around so well and even carry another person."
"Well, technically, I shouldn't, but circumstances call for me to do it. I can do a lot if I'm motivated, and I can be stubborn," Helios replied dryly, adjusting his grip on Skuld. "She's also pretty stubborn, too. Always has been."
Skuld groaned softly from his shoulder. "You're one to talk…"
Kurai's smirk returned. "She has you there."
Helios only rolled his eyes, then glanced toward Aqua. "Enough talking about me. Come on. You both need to get cleaned up. I'll take her upstairs."
The staircase felt longer than usual, the air heavy with the scent of healing potions and smoke from Circe's incense. As they ascended, the sound of laughter drifted from one of the nearby rooms — Circe and Helga finishing what sounded like a lesson. When they emerged into the hallway, the two women appeared, one flamboyant and the other stoic as ever.
Helga crossed her arms the moment she saw them. "You look like you just fought in a war."
Circe, by contrast, leaned lazily against the doorframe with a predatory smile. "Oh, but they did. And what a look! Disheveled, scarred, dripping with exhaustion — how wonderfully tragic." Her tone was mocking, sing-song, and cruelly amused. "I'd ask if the Underworld was fun, but judging by your faces—"
Kurai's voice cut through the air from below. "Quite."
That single word carried enough weight to make the sorceress stiffen. Circe blinked, then quickly composed herself, flicking her hair with feigned indifference. "What? I was being supportive."
Helga sighed, muttering under her breath, "Sure you were."
Aqua shot Circe a withering glare as she followed Helios upstairs, each step heavier than the last. The air up here was quieter, almost sacred — the quiet of Olympus restored.
Helios glanced back at Skuld's tired face. "You pushed yourself past your limit again. You're picking up my bad habits."
"I had to," she murmured weakly. "Aqua couldn't fight properly under the curse. I was the only one who could."
Helios said nothing for a moment. Then, quietly, "And yet you still didn't stop until you could barely stand. You don't have to prove anything, Skuld."
Her head rested against his shoulder. "Maybe not. But I promised… I'd never leave her behind again. I owed her that."
He smiled faintly, a rare softness in his expression. "I'm sure Aqua doesn't think you owe her anything."
They reached her room. He lowered her gently onto the bed, brushing stray strands of hair from her face. "Rest," he said simply. "That's an order."
Her lips twitched. "You don't get to order me."
"Fine, then it's a request."
Helios straightened, turning to leave, but her voice stopped him. "Helios… we got all the materials you asked for."
He turned halfway, curious.
"Every shard, gem, and crystal. But the Heartless… they're multiplying faster than before. Something's changing down there."
Helios's expression darkened. "I thought so."
Aqua, who just came over, leaned against the doorway, caught that tone — the faint edge of realization. "You expected this?"
Helios nodded once. "They're being called. The Heartless don't move with purpose unless something directs them. In this case, I assume it's the darkness in the hearts of the people."
Kurai's distant voice echoed faintly from the hall. "Well, regardless, for now they seem contained in the Underworld, so it shouldn't be a problem for now."
Helios's eyes flickered briefly with amusement. "Perhaps."
He turned back to Skuld. "You did well. The Moogles will be pleased when I bring them their materials. We'll leave after I return, so you guys should rest up."
"Return?" Aqua asked, frowning. "You're going somewhere?"
"Only for a short while," he replied, already moving toward the stairs. "There's… someone I need to speak with."
Aqua's instincts prickled. "Who?"
He paused at the threshold, the light from the hall casting his figure in silhouette. "Maleficent."
Kurai's voice carried faintly from below again, casual but sharp. "Don't take too long. Also, try to come back without her casting a spell on you this time."
Helios glanced down at her from the stairwell, a knowing smirk crossing his lips. "Wouldn't dream of it."
And with that, he was gone — down the hall, into the night.
Outside, the night breeze swept through the courtyard where he opened a dark corridor, curling faintly like black smoke.
"Let's see if you've found them yet… Maleficent."