Chapter 35

Another 3 days passed, and business seemed to resume it's normal pace. The building that had served as the field hospital was mostly cleared out. Only the most severely injured remained there, and arrangements were being made for them to recover in a quieter location.

Lea had returned with Isa to Hollow Bastion, leaving Ven, Aqua, and Kairi behind as the only three there who were neither injured nor working as healers. Yen Sid had released Kairi and Aqua from their duties as healers as the number of injured diminished to more manageable levels.

Sora and Riku were both well enough to walk around on their own, but still had to be watched closely for complications. Yen Sid also began to fear the nature of both boys' injuries would begin to affect their psyche, and was watching their behavior. Ven and Aqua listened and waited nervously, but there was still no word on Terra. The only thing they had heard was that he had been struck by a draining blade.

"My guess is they've been too busy watching his condition to keep you informed if that's the case..." Kairi told Aqua solemnly as they strolled around the building for the hundredth time that day. "Draining blades are lethal, I've seen their effects firsthand, I can only pray for Terra's sake that a shard didn't break off in his body." Kairi looked down as memories of the grisly procedure Riku endured to have a shard of the same type of weapon removed from his body. She didn't see most of the ordeal- she had spent most of it clinging onto Sora for dear life- but she could guess how excruciating it was based on how loud Riku's screams were. He nearly died as a result.

"What happens in that case?" Aqua exclaimed, understandably anxious at the news.

"Based on my own observation... and what Yen Sid told me... my guess is that the metal is enchanted with some kind of magic or curse that leeches away the mana and life force of anyone who remains in contact with it. The victim slowly gets weaker until he no longer has the energy to keep his own heart beating. It's a silent killer. I remember wondering why Riku seemed to get sicker even though he was in drastically better conditions than that filthy, cold prison the organization was keeping him in. He hadn't been vitally wounded! But it makes sense now..." Kairi said, deep in thought.

"I had a feeling you were referring to him. Just how much hell has that boy been through since Terra passed him the power?" Aqua exclaimed in disbelief as she heard Kairi's story. "But aside from that- how long would it take for such a blade to finish someone off? It's been seven days since I last saw Terra- for all we know, it could already be too late!"

"If he has a strong will, I know he'll pull through..." Kairi answered quietly.

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Meanwhile, Ven was off wandering aimlessly in a different part of the building. He kept lingering over the things that Lea said to him, and over his own concerns of the past few days. Xehanort was finally gone, but he had taken so many important things and people with him. Roxas had returned to Sora yet again, and he didn't know if it was for good this time. There was still no word of Terra.

The only thing he knew was that he was found unconscious on the battlefield- cut up, beaten, and with a cursed knife buried in his stomach. They were either keeping everyone in the dark about Terra's whereabouts and condition, or had been too busy aiding him to speak to anyone else.

Aqua frequently sought out Yen Sid for news, meaning that Ven would often find the two in a heated discussion outside one of the bedrooms. They did it so often that finding Yen Sid without Aqua berating him with questions was becoming something of a strange sight to Ven, which would explain why he was surprised to find the aged wizard wandering the same hall he was at that moment, clearly in a hurry to find someone. He nearly crashed into Ven in his haste.

"Ventus! Where is Aqua? Is she nearby?" He exclaimed, startling Ventus by his unusually rushed demeanor.

"I-I think she went with Kairi, to visit Sora!" Ven stammered.

"Come with me!" Yen Sid exclaimed, not giving Ven a chance to react or answer as he grabbed the boy by the arm.

"Why are we in such a hurry? What's going on?" Ven was becoming increasingly startled by the master's behavior. Yen Sid stopped and looked at the boy solemnly before answering.

"Terra was stabbed by a draining blade- I imagine you already knew that though. We've worked really hard to retrieve a shard of the blade from his body- it was deeply buried in him, and it was a difficult ordeal for everyone involved. Everyone felt it was best to keep excitement to a minimum until we knew for sure what was going on- that's why we've kept you in the dark about all of this, I'm deeply sorry for placing this much concern on both of you, but it had to be done- I know how you two were liable to react if you saw him sooner... Well, I managed to remove the remaining shard two nights ago. Terra finally woke up earlier- I think we can now safely agree that he is finally out of danger. He has asked for both of you, I told him I'd bring you to him as soon as I could... I know you've both waited long for this moment!" Yen Sid said, a relieved tear flowing from his eye.

End of Chapter 35