Chapter 3

Aerith sat in the infirmary with the strange boy Cloud and Leon had brought back. Judging by his movements, he was getting ready to wake up. She cast one last healing spell on the boy so he would have the strength to move, and leaned back to wait.

She didn't have to wait very long. Only a minute after the spell ended, the boy opened his eyes slowly. He slowly looked around with blurred eyes until he could focus. He realized he was in a bed. Where in the world am I? He asked himself. Then he noticed the woman sitting next to the bed.

He sat straight up, hoping beyond hope that his clothes were still on. It had become a habit to him after waking up several times after a gruesome fight to find he had nothing on. Lucky, he didn't have to worry. He did indeed have his clothes on, but his head was now swimming from the sudden movement.

"You're finally awake," the woman said. She had a sweet soothing voice. "What's your name?"

"Um…" he wasn't sure if he could trust the woman, but seeing as he in her hospital or something like that, he decided to tell her. "Will, my name is Will."

"My name is Aerith. Do you remember what happened before you got here?"

Will tried to think. He remembered the cave, and those creatures. He'd used that fire spell that sapped him of his strength. Some guy in a black, fur-lined jacket had then picked him up and carried him away.

"I remember some of what happened in the cave. But most of it is a blur," Will said, raising a hand to his head. Aerith watched him, intrigued. "Who was the man in the black coat?"

"That must have been Leon," Aerith replied. "Speaking off which…"

Aerith removed a small device from her hip. Will recognized it as a communicator of some type. "Leon?" she said into it.

The gadget crackled a response, "What is it Aerith?"

"Or guest is awake," she replied, smiling at Will. He looked no older than eighteen.

"Good, bring him up. Riku and the others will be here soon."

"Riku? Wasn't he supposed to go to the castle?"

"There have been a few problems. Meet us in Ansem's study as soon as you can."

"We're coming."

She turned off the communicator, a worried expression on her face.

"Is something wrong?" Will asked.

"Leon said 'Riku' and the others would be here soon. Why didn't he say 'Sora' and the others?"

"Sora?" Will asked, his interest peaking. "The savior of Kingdom Hearts?"

"Y-yes…how do you know of him?"

"I had been searching for him some time ago. I may need his help."

"Then lets not do anymore dilly-dallying. Can you walk?"

Will replied by flinging himself off the bed. He landed gracefully; surprised that he should feel almost completely healed. Aerith smiled and led him out of the infirmary.