Roxas sat up as he heard the sound of rushing air, his eyes darting about his chamber in silent fear. An arc of darkness rose from the ground by his door and spread into a portal of moving darkness. Saïx stepped out of this portal, his gloved hands held out to Roxas inviting him to follow him back into the darkness. Hesitating Roxas leant forward as if to get up, but stopped before leaving the bed.
"Roxas…It is time you were tested." Saïx said softly, "You must follow me into the darkness."
Roxas got up slowly before forcing himself to walk closer to the portal. Every cell in his body urged him to turn away, he could almost taste the evil inside it, but Saïx's command forced him to ignore his instincts and walk into the darkness.
The other side of the portal was enveloped in silence and darkness, yet Roxas could see everything on every direction. It was the strangest feeling in the world, and he felt comfortable here, but yet unwelcome. He looked at Saïx who had been standing next to him in silence. "What is this place…and why do I feel like this?" Roxas asked, his eyes darting back around the area, the feeling of discomfort growing worse as time went on.
"This…is the realm of Darkness. The way we travel from place to place, using the power of Darkness."
Roxas nodded slightly, that still didn't explain the contradicting feelings that swam around his head and heart, he was about to repeat the second part of his question when Saïx began again. "It is strange that you use the world feel…for we do not have hearts Roxas. We are beings who live in the Twilight between light and darkness, and yet…we are not beings at all. That is what we hope to change, so that we may become complete. You are different however, that much is clear. You have no memory of your previous life before you became a Nobody, and you still feel. Xemnas should be pleased to hear this. Now….you too have the power of Darkness within you, use it to imagine a portal back to your chambers and then release the power to create it."
Half an hour later Roxas had become adept at opening doors into the darkness and back out of them, even into places he had not been yet. All he had to do was think of the name and the Darkness itself would direct him there. Saïx said little during this lesson, only opening his mouth to give small directions to improve the release of power. It was after this that Roxas was taken to the lower levels of the Castle That Never Was, into a square room that housed a smaller cage and many computers.
Another cloaked person was there, his back turned to them as he tapped on the keyboard of the computer. He was a small person, around Roxas' size, and he had grey-blue hair. "Ah…I was wondering when you were going to bring him down to be tested Saïx, he seems to have taken longer than the others have. There were not…any problems I assume?" the small man said, still not turning around.
"Zexion there are certain things which I shall tell you at a later time, as well as the Superior. I'm sure you will be interested to hear them, as will the other Elders, I know how much you scientists need to be informed about things."
Zexion turned and smiled coldly, brushing the long blue fringe from his grey eyes "I see. Well…lets continue with the test, hopefully I can get out of this place and spend some time preparing Castle Oblivion, I heard that Naminé has been found in Twilight Town, Larxene was sent to retrieve her."
Saïx nodded curtly, "Very well. Roxas, stand in that cage. No matter what happens, remember to follow your instincts."
The door of the cage slammed shut, leaving Roxas trapped. Closing his eyes he forced himself to relax, nothing bad could happen, Saïx and Zexion had brought him here to test him, that was all. A distortion in the air signalled the beginning of the test, it wasn't like the portals that Roxas had been making into the darkness, but they felt similar, but instead of Organisation members, grey shadows seeped into the cage with him. Swearing Roxas swung his fist at one but it simply sank through the creature and had no effect on it.
Saïx and Zexion watched on, saying nothing but jus nodding as Zexion jotted down notes and they muttered to each other. Grunting Roxas covered his arm as one of the grey shadows went to scratch at him. It was then, as he saw the blood trickling down towards his wrist that Roxas began to get angry with these things. His eyes narrowed and he went to swing again at one again but his arm was jarred backwards and something resembling a key appeared in his left hand and another in his right.
Saïx's gasp was audible above the noise of the shadows in the cage. Grunting Roxas swung again and again at his foes, the keys killing them instantly. Everything seemed so natural to Roxas and it was as if he had been using these weapons for years. Did it have something to do with who he was before?
Stepping out of the cage Roxas looked at Saïx and Zexion who were smiling to themselves as if they had just found a way to fulfil all their dreams at once.