A week had passed since Shaylex had first joined the organisation and boy was it a busy one. Shaylex had, by then, learnt all that there was to know about fighting. The techniques that Axel, Xemnas and the other organisation members had taught her had helped her become a better fighter, not just against the heartless, but against other foes that she might encounter in other worlds. She had also learnt how to smoothly block and dodge melee and magic attacks. She couldn't wait to show Sora, Riku and Kairi everything she had learnt. At least she could protect them, better than she could herself. And as the week progressed, she became stronger and powerful. The more she used her keyblade, the more skilled she felt at it. She still had to learn how to use magic attacks and learn how to make the dark corridors but once she did, then she would be out of there.
Shaylex put her pen down, she had just finished her diary entry for the day and was ready for dinner. She looked back over at her journal entry, today she met Marluxia and he lectured her about other worlds and the world order, which meant that she would be going to another world soon. Then she sparred with Axel and his flaming chakrams. Shaylex smirked at the memory of knocking one out of his hand, catching it and throwing it like a frisbee towards him. He dodged clumsily and fell backwards onto his ass. Shaylex then stood on his arm that was holding the other chakram and pointed her keyblade at his head. The two of them had gotten closer in the week. They were sparring buddies and most nights, Axel had gotten them dinner. He also came to check on her in the night to see if she was ok. The mark he had put on her was working, Shaylex didn't have any more nightmares which was a relief to Xemnas when he found the mark the next day. Axel had other plans tonight so Shaylex was going to have to make dinner on her own tonight. She sighed as she closed the journal, placed it into her desk drawer and left her room to go to the kitchen. She entered the kitchen to find Luxord sitting there, eating a pork chop with fries and vegetables on the side. Luxord looked up from his meal as Shaylex walked in and smiled. "Ahh. The prodigy. How has your first week been?" He asked as Shaylex moved to put together a quick and simple meal of grilled cheese. It was probably the only thing she could make besides from toast.
"It's been good. I've learnt all sorts of fighting techniques. How was games night the other day?" She asked, realising that she hadn't spoken to Luxord since her first full day in the organisation. Luxord smiled and he stabbed a few fries with his fork.
"Marvellous. I walked away as the victor, again. Although Xigbar almost had me one round of blackjack. I'm planning another one tomorrow if you would like to join. You don't have to play, you can observe, understand the rules, the stakes etc." He offered. Shaylex simply shook her head.
"Thanks but I'm not much of a gambling girl, I'm only 15 by the way" she mentioned lightly "and I guess I'm still trying to adjust to this new life. I'm not sure if people like me or not" she added as she took a bite out of her grilled cheese. It wasn't the best but it was food and that was all that mattered. Luxord just laughed at the blonde girl sitting opposite him.
"After the way you acted the first time we met you, they like you. Larxene takes time to warm up to someone as you've seen but everyone respects you. You're gutsy. You have a can do attitude. You don't take shit from anyone" he explained as he finished his dinner and moved to clean his stuff up. Shaylex recalled the first time she met Larxene that week. She did not go easy on her when fighting each other. Played dirty during the fights which threw Shaylex off balance but eventually, she found her strength and used that to throw Larxene across the room. She hated that and was about to unleash a large attack on Shaylex when Xemnas stepped in. Now, every time she saw the blonde nymph, she would give Shaylex daggers. Shaylex hoped that they wouldn't work together in the future. Axel said that he would see if he could talk to Saix and Xemnas about that. Shaylex finished her grilled cheese and cleaned up. Even though it had been a week, she never stopped thinking about her friends. Sora, Riku and Kairi. She wondered where they were and if they were alright. She knew they hadn't become like her because she was pretty sure Xemnas would've snatched them up for his organisation. She finished cleaning when she heard someone clear their throat. Shaylex turned round to see Saix standing there. His same sullen facial expression plastered across his face.
"Shaylex. Xemnas wishes to see you tonight. You're to go to the training room in one hour. Don't be late" he said in his cold, callous voice and departed from the room. Shaylex groaned lightly, said her goodbyes to Luxord and went back to her room to rest before she had to go see Xemnas. She quickly freshened up in her bathroom, threw on a clean coat and left her room. She eventually came to the training room. She was 20 minutes early. She entered to see that no one was there yet. She walked over to the weapon rack and took out a long staff. She twirled it about in her hands feeling the balance of the staff move against her body. She took up a fighting stance and began doing a few moves where she was fighting an invisible foe. She practiced her dodging techniques and her attacks. After a while, she put the staff away and wiped the sweat off her brow. She turned around to see Xemnas standing there. His white hair perfectly in place, his yellow eyes piercing her soul. Watching her every move.
"You've improved greatly. I'm glad to see that you are practicing with other weapons." He said. Shaylex nodded.
"You wished to see me this evening sir?" She asked. Xemnas nodded and glided over to her.
"Yes. I believe it is time to move onto the next part of your training. You have improved in your combat skills but I think you're getting a bit restless stuck inside this castle all day. Correct?" The older gentleman asked staring down at Shaylex. Shaylex dropped her head and nodded.
"Yeah. It has become a bit boring. I lived on an island for a year. I'm not used to being caged up like an animal" she explained crossing her arms. Xemnas just smiled.
"I understand. But today, I shall teach you how to harness your dark energy and convert it into magic and use it to control the darkness. Including creating the dark corridors." Xemnas explained.
'Finally' Shaylex thought to herself. She looked at him "so how do I control my darkness?" She asked looking at her superior with a curiosity in her eyes.
"You must first accept the darkness that has been growing inside of you. Everyone has darkness inside them. You need to learn how to control it." Xemnas began to explain as he closed his eyes and a dark aura surrounded him. "Darkness is everywhere."
"So how do I tap into my inner darkness?" Shaylex asked. She would do anything to learn how to make the corridors and get out of the castle.
"First. Concentrate. Close your eyes" Xemnas began. Shaylex obeyed and closed her eyes. "Now cast your mind back to a dark memory where you felt lost, alone, desperate" he explained. Shaylex didn't need to look too far. There was only one dark memory that she had, the day she lost her heart, seeing Riku's face as he let go of her. It filled her body up with hatred and anger. She felt a strange power surround her as she focused on the memory eating away at her as if it was a parasite, intent of destroying her. "Open your eyes Shaylex. But don't let go of that thought. Keep it fresh at the front of your mind" Xemnas commanded as Shaylex opened her eyes and saw that she too was surrounded in a dark mist, but it was flying all over the place, as if it wasn't under any control. She let out a laugh, she was beginning to master her dark powers, even if they weren't under control yet. Xemnas smiled and continued "good work. Now, dark magic can be unstable so you need something to reel it in and keep it under control. Think of a happy memory. A memory that you can't help but smile at. A memory that, if you had a heart, fills you with indescribable joy" he explained. Shaylex again didn't have to think long. She cast her mind back to her 15th birthday, when Riku and herself were sitting on the paopou fruit tree and Riku giving her the necklace. She clutched the necklace as she felt her power increasing and the black mist became more tame and shrunk back and began to surround her slowly and mysteriously just like Xemnas had done earlier. Shaylex smiled as she felt the power surge through her. She summoned her keyblade 'Love's promises' and felt that power grow. She could master the darkness. And then protect her friends. Xemnas smiled and began clapping. "You surprise me Shaylex. You have indeed grown in your training and have become stronger." Xemnas said as Shaylex dismissed her keyblade and let her mist disappeared, but she could still feel it. "That will be everything for today Shaylex. Dark magic depletes rapidly like normal energy. And your dark energy is still slightly weak. We will continue practicing honing in your dark powers for the next week until you have developed a strong enough connection and control to create the dark corridors." Xemnas explained. Shaylex nodded.
"Thank you sir. I promise you, I won't disappoint" she said bowing politely and leaving the training room and heading to her bedroom. The minute she entered her bedroom, the exhaustion hit her, she looked at the clock. '21.50' it read. Shaylex ran a hand through her hair and groaned. Another week stuck at the organisation learning how to control and strengthen her dark magic. She felt the grease in her hair and decided to take a quick shower before heading to bed. She went into the bathroom and jumped into the shower, letting the hot water run down her body. "Just hold on a few more days guys, I'll find you. I promise." She mumbled to herself as she washed her hair and body, letting the soap suds lather up and wash away her troubles. She turned the water off, stepped out of the shower and went to the mirror. She looked at the paopou mark on her neck. She smiled slightly, the mark hadn't faded and was working as Shaylex hadn't had any nightmares since. She exited the room to see Axel sitting at her desk, reading her journal. "What are you doing in here?" She exclaimed loudly "you could've at least knocked!" She added as Axel turned around to her. Shaylex then realised that she was wearing her towel and suddenly grabbed clean underwear, clean leggings and shirt and went back into the bathroom to change. "Shit. He's reading my journal. Shit" she muttered as she discarded the towel on the rail after getting dressed. She was scared that he had read about her escape plan from the castle. She finished dressing and left the room to see Axel still sitting there, staring at the door.
"Sorry. I had to see how you were doing. I did knock but you didn't answer so I waited. And yeah I got a bit nosy. Sorry." He stuttered our as Shaylex walked over to him and pulled the book away.
"This is private. Not for your eyes" she hissed looking at the page he was on, he had made it to the page where she had begun to talk about possibly finding her friends. Axel stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Look I'm sorry. I got curious. I saw that poking out from the draw and wanted to see. I didn't mean to begin reading it but seeing how you're doing and adjusting to this new life from your perspective interested me." Axel tried to explain as Shaylex closed the book and held it close to her chest.
"Yeah. Well, you don't know what it's really been like for me. You grew up with half of the organisation. You know them. I don't know anyone here and that's scary. No one really knows me. Just my friends and I don't know where they are. And like I said, it is rude to go through things that don't concern or belong to you. Now get out. I'll see you in the morning" Shaylex lectured. Axel just dropped his hands in defeat and went to leave the room before turning back to Shaylex.
"I know you want to escape and I won't tell anyone. But the organisation will hunt you down and try to destroy you if you do attempt to escape" he said "it would be better if you remained here. They'll not only destroy you, but your friends as well." He added. Shaylex just looked at him, clutching her necklace.
"You don't know them. They'll protect me and I'll protect them. No matter the cost" she explained as she turned her back to him and went to lay down on her bed. She heard Axel sigh and close the door. She lay on the bed, still clutching the journal close to her. "I know you guys will accept me. No matter what" she whispered as she yawned and fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.
