She knocked on the door ever so lightly, her light blue nightgown brushing her pale ankles. She knew he could hear. He wouldn't be asleep yet. Even so, the silence was unnerving. Her hands pushed past the wooden barrier nonetheless and quietly closed it behind her.
"Couldn't sleep?" came the familiar voice from across the room. She shook her head, soft hair tickling her cheek as it swept from side to side.
"I'm a bit too nervous," she replied honestly. With an awkward twist of the foot, she kicked the floorboards, which squeaked in protest at the abuse. He looked and waved her closer. She obeyed eagerly and curled up beside him on the bed.
"What about you?" A deep laugh erupted from the man's throat. He waved her off nonchalantly.
"Me? No way. I'm perfectly fine!" Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but it was enough that the brunette noticed.
"What?" She sighed and looked towards the large window streaming moonlight across the bedding.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" His gaze slid away from her pale face and towards the stars where hers rested. He grunted, but said nothing.
"You don't have to be, you know. You'll do fine and show the Mark of Mastery for sure."
"And what if I don't?" he replied harshly. Her gaze softened as she turned again to face him. Before she could reply, he spoke again.
"It isn't the same for me as it is for you. You're never had a problem with your darkness. You're the most talented magic user in the history of probably forever. I feel like all I've been doing this whole time is running around trying to catch up to you!" He slammed his fist down on the mattress.
"Terra. Terra, look at me. How old is Ven?"
"I don't know. Nobody knows. Why does it ma-"
"Make a guess."
"Fifteen? Sixteen maybe?"
"He's younger and he's trained a lot less than either of us. Yet he's much faster than you and I. He learned his own unique way to wield his keyblade and he wields it well. Everyone has their strengths, Terra. You worry too much." He sighed and leaned back on the bed.
"I guess you're right. I'll just have to take things one step at a time." She nodded and smiled lightly.
"I'm glad you feel better. I'm gonna go back to bed." As she got up and turned to leave, he caught her wrist in a grasp light enough for her to escape from, but tight enough to convey his message. Will you stay? Her breath hitched in her throat for a moment before she turned to face her friend.
"If Master Eraqus comes to wake me in the morning-"
"Ven will be up and looking for you long before that happens. If by some strange miracle he doesn't, you can say you came to wake me up and fell asleep." For a few moments she was silent, which to Terra was the equivalent of decades.
"I don't like lying," she said, even as she climbed into the bed beside him.
"Sometimes I feel like he doesn't trust me."
"Ven?"
"Master Eraqus."
"Don't say that, he just worries is all. And its not like you can't try again if you mess up on the test." He wrapped his strong, tanned arms around her, the contrast striking considering that they spent about the same amount of time training outdoors.
"When we become Masters, we'll have our own place to ourselves, and I'll be like this everyday with you, okay?" Aqua laughed.
"We're already together everyday."
"Won't we always be?"
"Of course, Terra. Now try to get some rest."
"Goodnight, Aqua."
That would be the last night we ever spent beneath the same stars.