Rising up into the highest rafters and vaulted architecture of the ancient hall, the resounding clang of reverberating metal striking metal bounced off the marbled walls...the shock of the impact traveling all the way from the blade throughout Aqua's being and reminding her that she wasn't the only one putting her all into the training session. After all, one day they would face each other in a similar fashion for the real thing – the Mark of Mastery – with no holds barred, and neither intended to fail.
Bracing herself against the strike to parry, she caught her opponent's visage over the edge of the great keyblade he wielded, a piercing blue. While jarring, it did little to throw her off-guard; Aqua took her training seriously, and contemplating the anomaly that was him – Terra – at close range was not something she cared to focus her attention on. It was only for a moment, after all. Magic surged through her, and he sensed it...just before she channeled it into her weapon, she felt the briefest increase of pressure of the clashed blades against one another as he launched himself backwards and away from her. A trail of coiling ice crystals followed in his wake, pursuing him, but Aqua wasn't surprised when he shattered them with the flat side of his keyblade, sprinkling the polished floor around them with a light diamond dust. It crunched beneath her armored toe as she adjusted her footing just slightly, a subtle movement as she prepared to close the distance between them and attack again...
"That's enough."
Both of them ceased immediately mid-attack, banishing their summoned weapons at the sound of their master's voice echoing throughout the chambers of the training hall. Even years later, Eraqus's presence alone commanded respect, his voice strong and resolute...descending from the observation throne like many masters before him, he approached Aqua and Terra as they stood to attention facing him, his expression stern but not disapproving.
"You both did well," he acknowledged, and Aqua felt both relief and a sense of accomplishment wash over her; they were ready.
"As you know," Eraqus continued, "my good friend, Master Xehanort, will be accompanying us tomorrow to observe your training and take note on your progress. If the two of you are to test for the Mark of Mastery one day, I suggest you take heed of what he has to say."
"Yes, Master!" they spoke in unison.
"Good." Eraqus placed his hands behind his back as he oversaw the two of them, his expression unsmiling. "I expect you to have made good progress by now. And, let us not have another repeat of Master Xehanort's last visit, either...is that understood, Terra."
From the corner of her eye, Aqua caught the rigid profile at her side straighten still further to attention, though she dared not look his way.
"Yes, Master." It had been a while since she had heard him speak, took note of the quiet determination in his unflinching tone. "I won't fail you again."
"See that you don't." Hands clasped behind his back, Eraqus turned away. "Dismissed."
From her arched window high in the east tower, Aqua found herself contemplating the stars that were shyly beginning to emerge from behind the sky's orange canvas. Countless worlds, their light shining down over the ancient, barren foundations that sprawled across The Land of Departure...each of them teeming with life and love and friendship and all kinds of people that only the liveliest imaginations could conjure. As Keyblade Masters, they would be expected to travel to the far reaches of those worlds as peacekeepers, driving out the darkness and maintaining the light. One day, they might even work toward returning those worlds to their former glory, mending the severed bridges between them and restoring the great World...as Master Eraqus had often said, they were the Ambassadors of Light, and it was their duty. A duty that no one but wielders of the Keyblade could fulfill.
For Aqua, such things were hard to imagine. For as long as she could remember, she, Terra, and Master Eraqus had been alone in The Land of Departure. No other inhabitants roamed the rolling grounds, no neighborly residents dwelt within the ancient towers the way that, once upon a time, countless wielders in training had traveled far and wide to occupy, and no visitors frequented their doorstep save for one. Master Xehanort visited on occasion to look upon their progress with the wisdom and insight of a fellow master. Once as a young child, Aqua had also met Master Yen Sid before he had retired his mantle of Master and bid them adieu; he had told her stories of how he, Xehanort, and Eraqus had grown up together in much the same way Aqua and Terra, how they had trained together in the ways of the Keyblade and eventually become masters.
Except, it hadn't been the same at all. Aqua still recalled Yen Sid's stories, even though years had passed. They stood out in her memory far more vividly than an early childhood spent playing with Terra, try as she might to remember it. The tales the old sorcerer wove of afternoons sparring with his two friends, days exploring the ancient grounds, long and lively talks of the past and present and future, nights gazing up at the stars together...to Aqua, it was all just as fantastical as the legends of the keyblade forebearers that she read about in the musty books that adorned the walls of their great library. Even as she spotted Terra on the cusp of the terrace overlooking the hills and valleys of The Land of Departure, his gaze upturned to the stars the same way hers was, she knew she could not go to him, or even call out...let alone invite him to walk through the grounds and talk, study together or play board games, the way Yen Sid told her he had oftentimes done with his fellow masters in their youth.
She did not have long to contemplate it, however...in the distance, a bell tolled, and both Terra and Aqua looked toward the source of it. Slipping down from the window sill, Aqua cast such frivolous musings from her thoughts and turned her back to the stars once again.
Dinner was a sordid affair; at one end of the stretch of mythril tabletop sat Master Eraqus, his eyes warm but stern as he looked upon the humble spread. Aqua sat flanking the opposite end, facing Terra, though of course, the blue eyes she had caught sight of so briefly in their training were nowhere to be found; his gaze was cast firmly downward at his own plate, as her own should have been as well. Per usual, silence cloaked the stillness of the room, occasionally tempered with the tinkering of silverware while they ate.
"You must both be sure to rest well tonight," rumbled Eraqus, his tone imploring. "Now, I've received word from Master Xehanort. He is eager to see your progress tomorrow, but can remain with us for only a day. Therefore, please be sure that he sees you at your best."
"Yes, Master."
Despite herself, Aqua felt a flitter of nerves. Eraqus and Xehanort's expectations aside, she held herself to high standards, as well; she had no doubt that both she and Terra had improved under Master Eraqus's guidance since his colleague's last visit, but being at their best – as Eraqus had eluded to – was of great importance to her as well.
Only the best became masters of the Keyblade. And only a Master could be trusted to journey to other worlds, to see what lay beyond the barren, empty landscape that she had always known to be home, meet strangers in foreign lands and even befriend them...
"Aqua. Is something the matter? You're not eating."
Aqua started, looking toward Master Eraqus. From the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of blue as Terra glanced up at her as well.
"O-oh – no. I am fine, Master. I was just thinking about tomorrow."
Eraqus sat back with a brief nod of understanding. "You've nothing to fear. After all, you are the most promising student that Xehanort and I have come across in many decades. I know you will do just fine."
"Ah-," In a sudden rush of conflicting emotions, Aqua found herself unsure of what to say or how to react. Without thinking, she found herself glancing uncertainly toward Terra, but he had already returned his gaze to his food.
"Th...thank you, Master," Aqua managed at last, quickly looking back down at her own plate as well. "I'll do my best."
She dipped back into the sudden comfort of the silence, flustered, and remained still once she was finished until Eraqus rose to his feet and dismissed them. She knew he was right, it would be best to turn in early and rest up before Master Xehanort arrived the following day, despite her nerves. Ruminating, she cleaned her place at the table and excused herself, starting back toward her tower in the east wing. It would do her well to study up on her own for a short while before settling in for the night, which meant a stop to the library was in order-,
"Aqua."
Faltering, Aqua realized when she turned that it was not the familiar lines of Eraqus's ever-sincere features that greeted her...offering a quiet, firm smile, Terra was the one who nodded to her subtly in passing, and she felt the warmth of his gaze bear down on her.
"Good job today," he murmured, undeterred by her wide-eyed stare.
A beat passed before a smile broke over Aqua's face as well, her gaze fond as she lifted it toward him.
"You too."
"Aqua! Terra!" Eraqus's admonishing tone was too close for comfort as he advanced on them, his kind eyes hard. "You know you aren't to speak with one another outside of training!"
Both flinched and stepped away from one another as though electrocuted, and Aqua hastily turned her gaze to her feet, her heart thudding for a moment.
"Sorry, Master," they spoke in unison...finding herself inexplicably self-conscious all of a sudden, Aqua excused herself hastily from the dining hall, not looking up again until she had locked herself in her room and forgetting about the library entirely.
