Now that I've seen this place, I have no idea why this is considered one of the smaller temples. And I'm pretty sure that I don't want to see the main one. The pointed roof reaches so high it looks like it is scraping the clouds. There are so many intricate artworks sculpted into the building that it is impossible to make them all out. And I think that parts of the building are laced with diamonds.
The front door is so tall that all six of us could stand on each other's shoulders and we still wouldn't be able to touch the top. But it is surprisingly easy to open. Inside there is an entrance hall which is completely empty. Our footsteps echo off the hard marble floors. This place just jumped way up on the creepy scale.
The plan calls for us to enter without our Keyblades drawn. This is a decision that I have quickly come to regret. Nyzol thought that this place would be full of people and that Keyblades would just attract unwanted attention. But with this place completely empty, who know what could be waiting just around the corner.
At the end of the entrance hall, there are three flights of stairs. One leads straight while the other two go off to each side. This is the point where Nyzol's maps become unclear. He has never been past the entrance hall so all he has to go on our other people's reports of the rest. I'm not very confident on the accuracy of those reports.
"We're going to split up here." Sora faces us. Without Nyzol present, he doesn't have to fight for leadership anymore. "Riku and I are going to take staircase leading straight. Roxas, you and Kairi take the one to the left. Dexlin, you and Namine go to the right. And we all know the signal if someone is in trouble."
This part of the plan has been decided for a while now, but it doesn't hurt to have them repeated. It will also give me a few seconds to postpone facing whatever is up there.
We start to split up, going to our separate staircases.
"Dexlin, wait up." Riku is walking over to me. I stop while Namine continues to go up a few steps. He stands in front of me looking directly into my eyes. "Take care of her." I can feel the seriousness in his words.
"I will. I promise."
I turn and run up the stairs to catch Namine, who is not very far ahead of me.
Soon the stairs start to twist around to where I'm not quite sure which direction we are headed in. We continue climbing through the twists and turns for what feels like hours, ignoring the halls and doorways we pass. I hate to admit that my legs are starting to hurt a little. Even worse for me is that Namine seems to be taking it all in stride.
"You know why Sora and Riku took the middle staircase, don't you?" I'm sort of mad at her because she can talk without being out of breath.
"Because they're fairly sure that that one leads to Lyx's chamber or chapel or wherever it is. We're just getting the scouting work."
"They always have to be the heroes, don't they? Not that I'm complaining or anything. Sometimes I enjoy being the sidekick."
"I guess that's just one of the perks of being Nobodies."
Finally the stairs end. This is the point where it was decided that we should draw our Keyblades. But before I can go any farther, I have to rest for a minute. I lean against the wall and stare at the beautifully crafted doors we are standing in front of. There are more designs etched into it, including two Keyblades crossed over one another.
It doesn't take me long to catch my breath. I call for my Keyblade and put one hand on the door. Namine does the same thing. Together we push it open to reveal a massive room. This part truly doesn't really resemble a church. There are no benches, no altar. It's basically just an empty, giant room. Walking through it gives me the feeling of being trapped at the bottom of a very deep well.
"Namine, do you get the feeling that these Church of the Keyblade people don't exactly have an idea of how to efficiently use their space."
Her giggle echoes around us.
"How very kind of you to critique our interior design?" The voice is coming from every direction. "We don't get many visitors in this area so we don't often get anyone's opinion. Though I daresay that your opinion does not matter very much to me. I never take the thoughts of an error into account."
My heart is thumping in my chest. Something is wrong. I recognize the voice from the island, but it isn't the squeaky, cowardly one that belongs to Lyx. It's Hubrin's. He's here. None of our plans took this into account.
A pool of light appears on the floor not far from where we are standing. Slowly, Hubrin rises from the pool. His dark red eyes burn holes into me.
"I knew you would come here. You couldn't resist being the heroes. I've been watching you long enough to know that. And no doubt Nyzol is assisting you now. He has always been predictable in is meddling. It was a little too easy to get you to walk straight into my trap."
I concentrate as hard as I can until Riku's Keyblade appears in my hand. This is the signal that we agreed upon and if this doesn't count as trouble I don't know what is. Holding both Keyblades in front of me, I prepare for Hubrin's attack.
"Do you really think that you have the power to take me on?" His spear of light appears in his hands. "I'll be glad to relieve you of that delusion." Hubrin lunges at me with his spear. I block him with both of the Keyblades. Sparks start to fly as we push into each other. He is stronger than me. I can feel him pushing me back, but I'm holding on the best I can. "Did you think that you were safe just because you were born differently from the other abominations? Is that what Nyzol told you? Well, you aren't exempt from my punishment."
Sweat starts to roll down my forehead. "What exactly is our crime?"
"Existing."
My feet start to slide back. There's no way that I can hold him off, but hopefully I won't have to for long. If I can just keep him busy until the others get here, then we actually stand a chance. "Namine…get back…go show the others where we are." If I am having this much trouble with Hubrin, there is no way that Namine will be able to stand up to him. Besides I made a promise to keep her safe and she's not going to be if she stays here.
Hubrin swings his lance around quickly, catching me off guard. It catches me right in the back, throwing me into the air. I'm flying fast towards the wall. At the last second I manage to spin myself around and hit the wall with my feet. Bracing myself so I don't break my ankles, I push off and shoot myself back towards Hubrin. He has his back turned from me, focusing on Namine running towards the door. This will be the perfect opportunity to catch him off guard.
I point my Keyblades straight out in front of me, aiming them directly at Hubrin's back. If Namine can just keep him occupied for a few seconds more, I'll have him. The tips of my blades are just inches from him when he swings around, slamming his lance into my side. I fall to the floor feeling a sharp pain in my side.
Hubrin stands over me. I stare into his dark red eyes as a grin spreads across his lips. "I'm almost disappointed at how pathetic you turned out to be." He raises his lance with the tip pointing towards my stomach. I never thought I would be in this position again. "Your death will serve the purpose of cleansing the purity of the Keyblade. You should be proud." The lance starts to move closer to me.
Suddenly, Hubrin is knocked off his feet and is sent flying across the room. Namine is standing behind where Hubrin was, her bright pink Keyblade held like a Struggle bat.
"You talk entirely too much."
I jump off the floor, not paying attention to the pain in my side. Unfortunately, the pain will not be ignored. It only gets worse as I point my Keyblade straight up. "Cure!" My voice echoes throughout the large room as a green halo surrounds me. The pain instantly subsides. It doesn't hurt to breathe anymore.
After the last time with Xemnas that is a little piece of magic that I made sure to learn.
"I told you to leave, Namine."
"You're welcome for saving your life."
"I'm serious. It's not safe for you here."
"Because it's so safe for you!"
On the other side of the room, Hubrin picks himself up off the ground. He straightens his white robe. "You're a lucky one, aren't you, girl? Don't expect to get an advantage like that again."
Before he has a chance to attack us again, I lunge at him with my Keyblades held high. He has a chance to defend himself with his lance. He moves with an ease that I do not have, blocking every swing that I make. But I refuse to give in. The blades are moving so fast, they are nothing but a blur to me. I don't know how he can see where they are going.
I'm so focused on trying to break through his defense that I don't notice that his hands are starting to glow white. He takes one hand off his lance while still managing to block my attacks.
"Enough of this foolishness!"
Suddenly I'm hit with a bolt of light that comes from his hand. Pain like I've never felt before courses through my body. It blocks everything out so that I can't even hear myself scream.
"Dexlin! No!"
Through the pain I can feel myself being pushed and flying through the air. As the pain slowly starts to fade, my vision comes back into focus. From my upside down position, I can see the bolt of light surround Namine. Her scream fills my ears. I'm still flying through the air and can't right myself to help her. Tears start to fall from my eyes.
As I flip through the air, I can see the others rushing through the door. Their eyes immediately turn to a screaming Namine.
I still can't make myself change directions. I'm helplessly flipping through the air. All I can think about is how I need to stop so that I can help Namine. I promised I would take care of her and I'm not. She's in pain and I'm not doing anything to stop it.
I hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me. I force my head up to see what is happening. The others have stopped in their tracks halfway across the room, watching the scene in front of them. Turning, I see the light around Namine start to fade away.
It feels like all the air is sucked out of the room as I watch Namine start to fall to the floor. She crumples up like a little rag doll.
I don't have to be told what is happening. I know it already. Know it with every bone in my body.
Namine is dead.