DAY 8 - 10
The next day, Callum had the pleasure of partnering with Larxene once again for his next mission. At least this time she was actually helping him. Their exchange of words was shortened to none. She was probably still ticked off that he called her out the last time. She deserved it. They returned to Twilight Town and defeated the Watchers hiding around the town. What kept him going was the thought of returning to the clock tower when his mission was done. Every time his eyes cast up to the looming building, his chest bubbled with excitement. Once the mission was done, he raced to the tower, where Roxas and Axel waited for him with a fresh ice cream bar. He gladly accepted it with a smile.
Before Callum set off on his next mission, he ran into Xion again. She silently stared at him with a small smile. That day, he returned to Twilight Town with Marluxia to collect more hearts from the Heartless. As a final test, the two Nobodies faced against a Dual Blade, which showed remarkable strength and speed, but they defeated it. Each stroke of his Keyblade against the creatures of darkness resulted in unease building in his mind, but it all faded when he returned to the clock tower.
A change of pace occurred the next day, because Callum's mission for that day was to test his endurance in the Castle that Never Was. For one minute, he fought against a never-ending stream of Dusks. Exhausted and drained, Callum returned once again to the clock tower, where the familiar combination of salty and sweet rejuvenated his senses.
DAY 15
"Callum, today your mission is mandatory. I have assigned Roxas as your partner." Saix said.
Callum's ears perked up and he nodded, but he tried his best to hide his excitement from Saix, for fear he would change things at the last minute. The two Keyblade wielders arrived at the Station Plaza through the dark corridor.
"Okay, so we have to find a Guardian?" Callum said.
"Yeah." Roxas said.
The two ran into the tunnels and fought off the Heartless that got in their way. The tunnels led them back to Market Street and they headed to the Sandlot, where they found the Guardian, which was a like larger version of the Watchers surrounding it.
"You ready?" Roxas said, summoning Kingdom Key.
"Yeah!" Callum said, summoning Omega Weapon.
The two boys charged. They took out the Watchers first before they directed their focus on the Guardian. Light gathered at the tip of the Guardian's head.
"Look out!" Callum gasped as he shoved Roxas out of the way. A giant ray shot towards Callum. He brought his Keyblade up and blocked the ray, sending it back into the Guardian. The force sent Callum sprawling to the ground. Roxas lunged at the Heartless and slashed one more time before it shriveled away.
"Are you okay?" Roxas said, kneeling at Callum's side.
Callum crawled onto his hands and knees and looked up at Roxas. "Yeah."
"Thank you. For saving me."
Callum smiled. "What are friends for?"
The blonde smiled back at him and they both stood up. Callum's eyes trailed to the giant heart released from the Guardian and watched it twirl up into the air. He watched as darkness suddenly swallowed it up and it disappeared. Callum bowed his head and shut his eyes up tight.
"Are you okay?" Roxas said.
Callum's eyes trailed to Kingdom Key in his friend's hand. "Why is the Organization collecting hearts? This Kingdom Hearts concept makes my head dizzy."
Roxas lowered his eyes to the ground. "I know it's confusing. I don't know much about it myself."
"And the Keyblade." Callum said, holding out Omega Weapon. "Why did it choose us? What makes us so special that it wants us to wield it? Are we the only ones who can wield the Keyblade, or are there more people?"
Roxas shook his head. "Again, I'm as clueless as you." Their eyes met and Roxas smiled. "Hey, you know, you've come a long way in just a handful of days. You've been here for over two weeks now. The time is flying by."
Callum's smile returned to his face. "Thanks. We should get going. Axel's probably wondering where we are."
Roxas nodded, and the two boys headed towards the clock tower.
"I'm gonna miss this ice cream thing we do." Axel said, staring at his half-eaten ice cream bar.
"Huh?" Roxas said.
"Gonna be away for awhile... starting tomorrow."
"Oh..." Callum said, bowing his head.
"I can fill you guys in. You know... since we're friends." Axel said. The two boys cast their eyes on their fiery-haired friend. "I'm gonna be at Castle Oblivion."
"I've never heard of that place." Roxas said.
"The Organization's got a second castle in the world between worlds. It's called Castle Oblivion. Got it memorized?" Axel said, tapping his temple as he uttered his iconic catchphrase.
"I wish somebody told me these things." Roxas grumbled.
Axel stood up. "Well, I gotta head back and get ready. Nothing but fun, fun, fun..."
Axel walked away, clutching his ice cream bar in one hand, and left the two boys.
"Castle... Oblivion..." Callum said, staring at his ice cream. The name rolled off his tongue uncomfortably.
"Hey, look!" Roxas tapped Callum's shoulder repeatedly until Callum looked over at what he was so excited about. His ice cream was gone, and he still held the wooden stick of the bar. On the side was the word "WINNER" with stars around it. "Axel told me about these. I can't wait to show this to him! I'll try to catch him tomorrow before he leaves."
I'm starting to get the hang of these missions. But as I continue to work for the Organization, their mysteries pile up one after another on top of each other. One day, I might not be able to bear such a burden. I wonder how Roxas can handle it. I wonder how anyone could handle it.
