The first epic of Mia begins. You don't know how long I've waited to write it down, but it here it is, restored and all.

This is the big day-I should be well-prepared for what must be done. When Xevia enters my bedroom, I look up and feign a smile at her. Today would be the last I have to see her annoying face and hear her annoying voice. "You brought it. I owe you my thanks."

"Are you sure this is for Seth?" she asks suspiciously. "I want to give him the amulet myself."

I chuckle. "No you don't. You're too afraid to do anything near him in fear that you'll do something embarrassing." When her peach face turns tomato, I smirk. "I am right. I told you already that I would give it to him and say it is a gift from you. Don't you trust me?"

"No! I-I'll-!"

"Tch, what?" If I have to spend another day with her, I will hang myself from the highest tree and I will sway beautifully in the wind like drying laundry on a clothesline. In the end, her gullibility will overpower her conscience because she truly believes Seth will like her if I give him the amulet. "You're already in trouble with Master for stealing the amulet." The black diamond in the center of the platinum amulet glistens when Xevia drops it in my hand. Trapped Dark aura is what is going to keep my alive when I visit World 75.

Xevia frowns guiltily and crosses her arms uncomfortably. "You're…you're really gonna tell him that it's my present?"

"Of course."

"But Seth...he doesn't really like you that much." I close my book, putting it down, and shove Shadow's Kiss into my vest pocket.

"I am but a messenger. No one hates a messenger, correct?" I scratch my nose, it itches terribly this evening, or afternoon, or morning. Who knows if the sun is truly shining or if the moon is watching me? At some point, this world used to be something else, something beautiful. But the overwhelming Darkness from the hearts of the living beings devoured it and bred creatures without hearts. It was never saved by the purifying Light like the other worlds and I'm glad it wasn't. Now I don't have to worry about the time, or the weather, or about other people. This world, World 15, is a blessing from God.

When Xevia reluctantly leaves my bedroom, truly believing my promise, I lock the door and take in a deep breath. Under the bed, I pull out the training axe Noxio gave me the first day I arrived here. It's coated in violet, concentrated Darkness, capable of corrupting the most innocent maiden. I carry out the next step robotically: my mouth opens and I inhale the gassy Darkness. "Ew! It tastes like stale meat." I rememberXevia complained the first time we tasted Darkness. Seth simply said, "Olives." To me it tastes like a sweet, ripe pomegranate. Once the axe is drained of Darkness, my cheeks puffed out with the syrupy Darkness settling on my tongue, my hands squeeze the weapon until a thick coal aura coils around it. The heated Darkness smelts the axe into shiny goo. This will be the hardest part. I pull out the amulet, scrutinizing it for any flaws that I should note down. It's a fairly simple accessory to clone. Seth only saw it once, there is no way he will tell the difference.

"Seth, my star pupil, give me a few words," Nox said when he entered Seth's room. Both of them would prove to be useful to my design, I was sure. My underlying doubt transformed into a foundation of confidence. "I have crafted this." I heard the ching of the soft chain being pulled out.

"What is it?"

"Something that can protect you from the Light. I call it Shadow's Kiss. I want you to have it when the time comes for the 75th World to fall." I could sense Seth's steadfast ego grow ten times bigger. But I know he was confused, he was unsure of it.

"Why are you giving this to me?" asked Seth tentatively. "I haven't done anything to deserve this."

"Oh but you have. You are making tremendous progress Pupil and for that you deserve to lead the attack on World 48. There is another surprise for you in my chamber for when that time comes." I heard him rise from the bed and move towards the door. Stealthily, I retreated to the railing, jump down and land on the lower level without a problem. The way I moved, there was no way that he could have heard me. I made my way to the Master's chamber, opening two secret doors, and sprinting down an unlit hallway. Training in night vision has served its purpose. His chamber was unlocked and fortunately, he was seldom in there. I stepped into the plain room, drowned in thick, midnight darkness; there was no need to search hard for it-the blade hung over the bedframe majestically. The black blade shaped like a key with a blood red hilt reeking of pomegranates: the Keyblade of People's Hearts.

I lift the silver chain to thine eyes, proudly studying my masterpiece. When I release the Darkness from my mouth onto the chain, it seeps into the amulet and the chain glows an unnatural jet black. The quasi jewel created from my Darkness shows me my reflection. I have baggy eyes from last night, assuming it was nighttime, and a red scratch from scratching myself in my sleep. When I stick out my tongue, its burnt black but I don't feel the tingling sensation I did the first time I tried this. Getting to my feet, I fall back on the bed and let the new Shadow's Kiss hang off the bedframe to cool off.

' ' '

The hideout has been prepared, the Keyblade in my possession, and nobody suspects a thing. Telling Seth of my plan won't affect a single thing-isn't that humorous? He wouldn't dare lift a finger to help his former friend because he knows better. He's teaching himself restraint and by saving Mia, he would only regress. Seth glares at me when he reaches the top of the stairs. "What?"

"A present from an admirer," I reply with a patronizing curtsy. Never let him see or understand you.

"Which one?"

"Me of course." When he doesn't smile, I add, "I've been infatuated by your looks Seth. Please take this as a present." When I pull out Shadow's Kiss, he gawks at it. My visage is automatically blasé.

"How did you get that?" he asks, baffled, but trying not to show his confusion.

"Xevia got it for you. I am simply the messenger." That's it, just take it. Come on now. He reaches his hand out and opens his palm. I open mine as I place it in his hand.

"Why would she take it?" Oho, pretend that you don't know see a reason why she would give it to you. Xevia's crush on Seth lacks subtly and a good liar can see through a bad lie. "She-she has no reason to-"

The pseudo amulet teeming with Darkness glistens in his palm as he brings it to his face. "Love is her only reason. Now if you excuse me." I turn his back to him and head back to my room. His hand slams on my shoulder. "Problem?" Everything is going according to plan, no need to fret over a simple touch. Seth is too dumb to tell the difference.

"Why-is your tongue black?"

"Looking at my tongue?" I turn halfway and fix my face into an amiable, irresistible countenance. "Would you like it inside you? I doubt Xevia would be pleased." He briskly lets go and shoves past me to go back to his room. Making people uncomfortable is why I succeed at what I do. Master even told me once before, "Nate, you are no fighter like Seth. But you most certainly are the most cunning and for that reason, you are brilliant."

"Thank you." I replied.

"It is for that reason that I can never trust you," he added with a deep frown.

The amulet clicks together behind my neck and I can already feel an invisible shield surrounding me. Remember, the cavern by the fourth pillar is where you'll take her in World 50. Taking Mia away will be the simplest part of this elaborate design. It's unfolding like taking apart sophisticated origami.