Once her elation settled, Mira gaped at Master Xehanort standing a scant few feet away. He was early and she had not yet mentally prepared herself to question him about his absence. Instead, she observed him, unknowingly doing her best impression of a fish. It was dark outside, casting long shadows into the dimly lit study, but she could see him perfectly. He hadn't changed a bit – still hunched, still bald, and always smirking. Eraqus said something that she didn't catch, then stepped out of the room, granting them privacy.
After a long appraisal, he finally broke the silence. "You've grown, Mira. Eraqus has kept me apprised of your progress, and I am pleased with his account." All business, as usual but the sound of his gravelly voice was like a weight lifted from her shoulders, like she was home again.
Oddly shy, she stuttered, "I – yes, thank you master."
"He also mentioned that he is concerned for you," he remarked, quirking his lips and folding his hands behind his back. "He says you study avidly and ask many questions about things that haven't even crossed the minds of your peers."
"What's he worried about?" she grumbled. "Is there something wrong with learning now?"
He chuckled, inclining his head. "There is no harm in questions, but he fears where your curiosity will take you. Since I entrusted you to him, he has tried to protect you, in his own way." Xehanort placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "Your eagerness to learn has made you an excellent student, but as we enter a new chapter of your training, you must temper your curiosity with caution."
"In other words, you're worried too?" she pressed. Ever since she met him all those years ago, he had groomed her to ask questions and not accept anything at face value – to find the truth that others failed to see. "But..." she trailed off. "I don't understand. I thought I wasn't supposed to fear the dark." Her master never contradicted himself – was this a test?
"Caution is different from fear," Xehanort said gravely. "Many seekers have fallen because they allowed their curiosity to lead them into situations they weren't prepared for. And with what I aim to teach you, caution is imperative. There is a high price to pay for the misuse of such power."
"Price?" she asked, non-plussed. "What is this power?"
He waved her off. "All in good time." Mira rolled her eyes. "At any rate, I have come to retrieve you-"
"A week before the exam?" she interrupted. "Why not after?"
"Oh," he raised his brows, "do you have plans of greater importance than your training?"
"No, but you seem to," Mira grumbled loudly enough for him to hear.
His smirk disappeared and he placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "I know this arrangement was not ideal for you, but it is important for you to be acquainted with your fellow keyblade wielders."
"Well, we've had two years to get acquainted," she said sourly.
"And?"
Mira looked away, crossing her arms. "I guess we're friends now," she mumbled with a pout.
Xehanort nodded, smug. "Then they have served their purpose."
"Purpose?" She cocked her head to the side, frowning.
"To challenge your mind and sharpen your skills," he remarked as if it was obvious, before adding, "and because it's beneficial to spend time with peers near your age."
"And what if I liked it here so much that I wanted to stay?"
Her master laughed; it was a rare thing to witness his amusement exceed a chuckle or smirk, but it was a treat to see him relax enough to express himself openly. Especially after so long. "Forgive me, but your place is at my side, Little Star."
Her cheeks warmed and she fought to hide her smile. "You don't have to embarrass me... I'll go get my things." He nodded in acquiescence, and she hastened to her room. Mira itched to demand more information but there would be opportunities to ask questions later; the truth would reveal itself in time. Ultimately, he was right: she belonged at his side.
Opening the door to her room, Mira grabbed her bag from the corner and slung it over her shoulder. All that was left were the wayfinders she and Aqua had made. She sighed and scrawled a quick note to her friend, leaving it on the desk. She'd miss them… but maybe if they were fortunate, they would meet again someday. She took a deep breath. With her worldly possessions on her back, it was time to leave as quietly as she'd arrived.
Master Xehanort and Mira traveled through the dark corridor in comfortable silence; even though she burned with questions about the mysterious 'business' that kept him abroad, she voiced none of it, content to enjoy the moment. Travelling with him once again was surreal; she hadn't left the Land of Departure since arriving. Master Eraqus did not take them to see the outside worlds, nor did he allow them to travel on their own. But she was going home at last – she had yearned for this, and yet, there was no closure for her time with the other apprentices. When would Aqua discover the note and charms? Would they be hurt that she didn't say goodbye? The darkness swirled around her like a caress, hardly the frightening miasma the others had depicted it to be. Would they be afraid to travel this way, or be angry with her for doing so? What would they think if they knew the kinds of things her master taught her-?
"What troubles you, Mira?"
She jumped, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Just being sentimental, I guess," she mumbled.
"You knew your time there was only temporary," he remarked, expression inscrutable.
His dry honesty was a familiar comfort, but it did little to soothe her melancholy. "Yeah, but do you think..." she bit her lip, "do you think they would understand?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific."
"I meant...," she struggled, "Do you think the others would hate me if they knew how close we tread to the dark?"
"Do you value their opinions more than what the worlds, light and dark, have to offer?" She didn't look at him, but something in the way he asked his question suggested he was paying very close attention.
"I... of course not, Master, but isn't there some way to make them understand?"
"You can't always have it both ways, Mira."
She swallowed thickly. Stepping out of the corridor into the light, she shielded her eyes, allowing them time to adjust to the brightness. Her mouth popped open. The vision of the setting sun peeking through the spires of a majestic castle, casting its rays over an ornate fountain overflowing with sparkling crystal-clear water took her breath away. But the beauty was dampened by one irrefutable fact: it was not home. "Where are we?"
"This is Radiant Garden," he answered, gesturing around them, "home to a knowledgeable sage-king, Ansem the Wise."
"Eh... okay?" she said blankly. "Why are we here? Is... there something we need to ask this 'knowledgeable' king before we go home?" she asked, emphasizing with air quotes.
Xehanort smiled approvingly. "Good guess, but not quite. He has an extensive library which may prove beneficial to you-"
"Wait," Mira stopped in her tracks, gaping at him in disbelief. "You're not – are you leaving me here?"
"Now, there's no need to-"
"What knowledge could this library possibly have that requires me being stranded here?" she asked hotly. "I thought you said you were resuming my training."
"Interrupt me again and you'll receive no answers from me," he rebuked, staring down at her sharply.
"I apologize, master," she murmured, subdued. "Please continue."
With a perfunctory nod, he explained, "I've heard rumors that the sage-king wishes to study the heart; his research notes and library should prove useful to the next phase of your training."
When he gave no indication of speaking again, she asked, "How will I gain access to this research?"
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a sealed letter. "Master Eraqus is an acquaintance of the king here, and he has written a letter on your behalf. Be sure to deliver it directly to the king, as it details the nature of your stay. Give it to no one else, do you understand?"
She pocketed the letter. "And... my training?" she asked in a small voice.
"I will send you a message in two weeks with a location to meet me."
Mira exhaled softly; he wasn't completely abandoning her in another strange, beautiful place. "Understood, master." To her surprise, he handed her a pouch. When she opened it, Mira gasped at the munny within. "What-?"
"You will require lodgings and food; however, there is not enough to sustain you for long if you're extravagant." Xehanort patted her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I must attend to business. Find an inn to rest for the night and look for my note in two weeks."
"Yes master." She would need to get the lay of the land to find their meeting spots easily, but two weeks seemed like a long time given that, in just one week, she could have watched her friends take their exam, but his earlier scolding cowed any argument she might have made. Xehanort stepped into another corridor, leaving Mira behind in another bright and perfect world. She ought to get used to the image of him walking away. Would she ever return home? At least he would be back sooner than the last time. But in the meantime, she needed to find somewhere to stay before dark; she didn't fancy spending a cold night outside, and she needed to plan her next move: gaining an audience with this world's king.
The inn she settled on was clean, but sparse. And sparse meant affordable. On her first night, she slept fitfully, drifting in and out of slumber until the early morning. Adjusting to an unfamiliar bed was always difficult, and the dark circles beneath her eyes were a testament to that.
"Hey there girlie, 'bout time you decided to show yourself, eh?"
She inwardly grimaced, pasting a placid smile on her face. The innkeeper was a kind sort, but also nosy. He'd questioned her endlessly when she checked in – something about it being suspicious for a young lady to travel alone. "Yeah. I was tired, I guess." She was about to leave when an idea popped into her head. Surely, an innkeeper would have information, right? "Say, what do you know about that castle?"
He raised a thick brow. "Aside from the king living there with his apprentices?"
"Apprentices?"
"Yeh, three of them are guards and the other three are… bookish." He eyed her thoughtfully. "Why do you want to know?" When she didn't answer, he frowned and crossed his arms. "Hmm. You know, you're not the first to ask me for intel on the castle. I've got two other troublemakers around here that are constantly sniffing around for information. So, what's it to you?"
He was shrewd, perhaps honesty was the best road. "I heard the king is very knowledgeable – is there any way to speak with him?"
The innkeeper let out a loud guffaw. "Not a chance – not unless you see him on his way for ice cream."
Her eye twitched. "And how often does that occur?"
"Not often." He smirked. "I hope your munny pouch is full, because it could be a long wait." She glared at him, turning away with a huff, only to pause when he added, "If it's knowledge you're looking for, his libraries are open. If you want to poke around," he trailed off, voice full of implication.
"Thank you. Perhaps I shall," she replied cautiously. Her master had instructed her to deliver that letter; she could not allow herself to fail. She had to prove that she was worthy.
Stepping outside intent on trekking up to the castle, she didn't make it far before a red and blue blur rushed by her, rustling her short hair with their speed. What in the world...? Mira craned her neck to get a better view, not noticing their pursuer until he crashed into her, sending them both sprawling to the ground and knocking the air from her lungs. Instinctively, she summoned her keyblade, grateful it heeded her call, and jumped to her feet. Adrenaline pumping through her veins, she stared down her assailant.
He didn't seem like much as he pulled himself off the cobbled street; his hair was dark, and he wore a uniform of some sort. A guard maybe? He was taller than her, fit and wiry. She could probably take him in a fight, if it came down to it. He groaned, shooting a wry look at her and drawling, "Are you planning on hitting me with that?"
Mira shot him a glare, heart racing. "Are you planning on running me down again?"
"As if," he snorted. "Who are you anyway? I haven't seen you around here..." He looked her up and down, and her cheeks reddened.
"Mira," she replied stiffly. As an after-thought, she added, "And you are?"
He grinned. "Name's Braig. Anyway, while it's always nice to meet pretty girls and all, I need to catch those idiots I was chasing. Ciao." Braig waved and disappeared.
Mira blinked. He didn't use a portal or anything – how did he do that? She shook her head; there was no time to get distracted. She needed to get to the king. Brushing the dust from her clothes as best she could and, double-checking she still had her letter, Mira hastened toward the castle.
Due to the twists and turns, the journey took longer than she anticipated. It was like the layout of the town discouraged people from approaching the looming structure. When she finally reached the gates, however, the late-afternoon sun cast its rays on two burly men with formidable weapons guarding the entrance.
"You there, girl!" the shorter male called out. "State your business!"
Even though he was the shorter of the two, both guards were hulking giants. They had the same uniforms as that other guy, Braig. Did they have magic abilities too? Doubt filled her mind and her stride slowed. What if they didn't let her in? Was a letter enough justification to allow her an audience with Ansem the Supposedly-Wise?
"Uh, hi." Mira halted a safe distance away from the men, giving a little wave. "I was told that I could visit the library..."
They scrutinized her, as if sizing up the threat she posed, then nodded. "Very well," the shorter one said. Turning to his companion, he muttered, "Why don't you have Braig take her in?"
Her ears perked up. "Actually, I saw him chasing someone in the town a little while ago. Dark hair, brown eyes, uniform, right?"
The taller one nodded. "Dilan, who knows when he'll be back. You know how he gets when he's chasing those two around."
"Fine. I'll take her," Dilan sighed, gesturing for her to follow. Mira bit back a sarcastic retort and they entered the castle. Thankfully, her guide was as unwilling to engage in banal small talk as she was, and they made their trek in silence.
As they walked through the corridors and hallways, past tall windows, and up winding flights of stairs, Mira couldn't help but feel self-conscious about her own home. Her master's cottage was comfortable and spacious, but it was a far cry from the castle's extravagance. Even the understated elegance and simplicity of the castle in the Land of Departure did not hold a candle to the wealth on display here. Keyblade warrior or not, she was a peasant by comparison. How would the king receive her? That is, if she managed to get an audience at all.
Dilan cleared his throat beside her. "Was there something in particular you were searching for?"
"Hmm?" Mira started. "Oh... Uh, I was hoping to poke around, actually, until I find something interesting." And by interesting, she meant a map of the immense castle that would lead her directly to Ansem the Wise. If such a map existed.
"Really now," he grunted, eyeing her mistrustfully.
She raised a brow. "Yes, really. Is that a problem?"
He halted, glaring down at her. Mira paused as well, expectantly. "That remains to be seen," Dilan grumbled. "I've never seen you around before, so here's a little word of advice: we do not take trespassing lightly, got it?"
"What an odd thing to say, since you invited me in," Mira pointed out, wearing a smirk. "But it sounds like you have a problem with breaking and entering..."
"Be that as it may, if you try to run amuck in here," he gestured to a set of double doors nearby, "I will deal with you swiftly."
"Despite what you think, I'm not here to cause trouble. Truthfully," she pulled out the letter, "I need to deliver this to the king, that's all."
Narrowing his eyes, Dilan held out his hand. "I can give it to him for you."
"I'm sure you can," she sniffed, "but I have no way of knowing you won't just throw it in the garbage, so no thanks. I need to deliver to him directly."
"And I have no way of knowing if you intend to do harm to my liege," he remarked. "Why should I trust you, take you into the heart of this castle on your word that you need to deliver a 'letter?'"
Her ears perked up. The heart of the castle? If it wasn't a figure of speech, that suggested that the king's space was in the center of the keep. That made sense, given that it would be the most defensible position. It wasn't a map, but even a small kernel of information was better than nothing. However, judging by the meandering hallways and twisted architecture, finding the king would still prove difficult. Especially if she had to dodge guards like this one.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, I get it. Do your job. Can I go in the library now?" He nodded, opening the door for her and following her in. Thankfully, he stayed by the exit and didn't hover while she perused. With any luck she would find a map or floor plans.
Unfortunately, her search was fruitless, and Mira spent the next two nights trying to map out what she remembered of the hallways, to no avail. Either she hadn't paid close enough attention, or they were intentionally designed to be confusing. Sighing and rubbing her forehead in frustration, she scowled at the omelet and rice she was eating. By no means was she running out of time or munny yet, but her lack of progress rankled. Whatever she did needed to be well thought out because she would have only one shot, but she was at a loss. Without floor plans or intimate knowledge of the castle, how was she going to get in? Much less find the king?
She had just finished her breakfast when fortune graced her in the form of two boys walking into the inn complaining loudly. "Look - all I'm saying, old man, is that you ripped us off! You said we'd get in for sure this time-!"
The innkeeper guffawed. "I said you'd get in for sure if it was unguarded. Obviously, it wasn't!"
Her brows rose to her hairline. The innkeeper sold information on the castle? It wouldn't be prudent to waste her master's munny but if all else failed... Mira glanced at the boys, narrowing her eyes. Something about their striking appearance was familiar, but wouldn't she have remembered such bright hair? Then it clicked: they were the ones running from the guard the other day.
"You tricked us! And Braig almost caught us!" the redhead yelled, face turning pink in anger.
"I'm surprised he didn't catch you!" the innkeeper boomed. "Where did you miscreants hide this time?"
The redhead opened his mouth to speak only to turn at the sound of Mira's chair scraping against the floor as she stood. She'd heard enough. "I wouldn't tell him if I was you."
The bluenette furrowed his brow, asking, "Why not?"
Mira crossed the room in a few strides and took a seat on one of the stools, staring coolly at the innkeeper. "You sell them information on the castle, right? Who's to say you're not then going to the guards and selling their hiding spots and escape routes, hm?"
Flabbergasted, the innkeeper regarded her open-mouthed, then let out a booming chuckle. "You got me girlie! I'm impressed you picked up on that – these two-"
"You what?!" the redhead screeched, practically frothing at the mouth. "All this time, you've been selling us out?"
The bluenette put his hand on the redhead's shoulder. "Give it a rest, Lea. We've been had." Despite his reasonable words, a cold rage burned in his eyes.
Lea ground his teeth, banging his fist on the counter. "C'mon Isa! It's not fair!"
"That's life." The innkeeper waved them off before lumbering into the back room.
Lea slumped over the counter. "Man... all that munny..."
"If you don't mind my asking, why do you guys want to break in so badly?" She kept her voice low in case the innkeeper was listening.
Isa leaned on his elbow, cupping his chin. "There's a rumor that anyone who successfully sneaks in without getting caught will be granted an opportunity to prove their worth and become one of the king's apprentices."
She blinked. So that was why Dilan had threatened her; he probably assumed she was in the same boat as these two. "Has anyone been successful?"
Lea shrugged. "Rumor has it that one of the current apprentices did."
"I'm surprised you haven't been arrested. What do they do when you're caught?"
"Community service."
"Slap on the wrist."
Her eye twitched; so much for not taking trespassing lightly. "So, basically nothing. It's like they're asking you to keep breaking in..."
"Pretty much," Isa said. "By the way, thanks for the tip about old man Gast. I should've known that he was playing both sides. These cups look too new," he muttered disdainfully.
"Yeah, I can't believe he's been playing dirty this whole time," Lea lamented, shooting a glare toward the back room. The innkeeper, Gast, still hadn't returned.
"Everyone's gotta have their side hustle, I suppose." Mira shrugged, glancing around the empty inn. "He suggested I could poke around the castle through the library."
"No way." Lea shook his head, waving a hand. "There's only one way in or out of the library and there's always someone guarding the door during visiting hours."
"I figured there was a catch. He was entirely too eager to throw that information around."
"What a crook-"
A hand slapped down hard onto the bar. Gast had returned, wearing an irritable scowl. "I know the three of you delinquents aren't just sitting here disparaging me-"
"Since when am I a delinquent?" Mira exclaimed.
Gast ignored her. "If you're not buying anything else, then leave. And you," he pointed at Mira, "you can go back to your room, but don't loiter down here. I don't want some shady girl driving my best customers away." He winked, looking at Lea and Isa meaningfully.
She snorted. "Fine, I'm gonna look around the town." The two boys followed her out.
Mira shielded her eyes from the bright afternoon sun, squinting around the town square. There was an ice cream shop, packed with customers, a few clothing stores, restaurants, a post office, and other buildings whose purpose she was unable to discern. She could check out the ice cream shop, since Gast mentioned the king sometimes went out for ice cream...
"Hey, wait up!" Lea called, hastening after her, Isa close behind. "We never caught your name!"
"Oh, I'm Mira."
Isa smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Mira. I'm Isa, and this is-"
"I'm Lea, got that memorized?" Lea interrupted, tapping his temple for effect.
She disguised her amusement at his graceless introduction as a cough. "Ah um, yes, I'll uh... do that. It's nice to meet you both."
"So, what brings you to Radiant Garden?" Isa asked. "Or," he clarified, "I should say, why do you want to get into the castle?"
"Nothing nearly as ambitious as becoming some kind of apprentice." She laughed. "I need to deliver a letter to the king."
"A… letter?" Lea scrunched his brow in confusion. "Why not just use the mail service? Or give it to a guard?"
"I was instructed to deliver it to him directly." Mira ran a hand through her bangs, scowling up at the castle. "But it seems like it's going to be more difficult to get in than I expected."
The two boys shared a look. "Why don't we team up? You seem really smart, and we have a lot of information on how to-"
"Bad information, you mean." Mira crossed her arms. "Then again..." What if the information itself wasn't bad, but rather the timing of when they received it? If the innkeeper was selling intel to both the boys and the guards, then it made sense that he might tip the guards off to a break in. And if the boys were using the newest information, then he knew exactly where they would be... "Actually, you're right. We should team up – with the three of us, and the intel you guys have, we might be able to make a plan that gets us in undetected."
Lea grinned and pumped his fist in the air. "Alright! We're finally gonna break in!"
Mira blanched and Isa smacked the back of his head, ruffling the carmine spikes. "Not if you announce it to everyone in the square, idiot!" he hissed.
"Yeah, we need to be subtle." Her gaze swept over the square; no one looked particularly interested in them. "We can't let them or Gast know that we're making a plan, otherwise they'll be expecting us."
"Right. And in that case, we need to meet somewhere private." He and Lea shared a nod and Isa gestured to her. "Follow me."
They led her to the back room of the shop that belonged to Isa's parents. With both parents attending to customers, they slipped in without much hassle. The back room was decorated with schematics and plans, and the trash bin was full of crumpled papers. Wrappers and ice cream sticks littered the table.
"Eh, sorry about the mess," Isa mumbled as he cleared the table and picked up the trash. "It's usually just us..."
Mira waved him off, moving to take a closer look at a one of the hand-drawn maps on the wall. At the very center of the drawing was a circle with a crown inside. If the map was accurate, then her suspicions were correct: the king's study was at the center of the keep. But only two paths appeared to lead to it...
"Did you draw this from memory, or did you have a reference?"
Lea looked up from the trash and grinned. "That's the path we want to take to Lord Ansem's study. I," he coughed, cheeks reddening, "may have borrowed the castle's blueprints from the library..." Lea chuckled, shifting from side to side.
No wonder she couldn't find anything earlier. But that was perfect, if they had already plotted a route, then all that stood between them and the king was the initial stage of entering the castle. Mira sat at the table, nibbling her lower lip absently. "When you guys try to sneak in, what usually happens? What entrances have you tried exploring?"
"All of them," Lea groaned, slumping over the table and thumping his head.
Isa rolled his eyes. "We've tried sneaking through the underground waterways, the front door, the gardens, the above-ground aqueduct..." He sighed. "At this point, we're out of ideas."
Mira nodded sympathetically. "I imagine it's frustrating. Aside from the underground passage, it sounds like you've only tried to get in at ground level?"
Isa nodded slowly, with furrowed brows. "We're learning magic from a local wizard – Merlin. He lives in a house in the town square. But," he looked at Lea, "we haven't learned anything that would help us, yet. This one," he jabbed a thumb in Lea's direction, "is really good with the fire element, but not much else."
"Hey!" the redhead squawked. "If it comes down to a fight, fire would be really helpful!"
"Maybe in burning down the town," Isa retorted snippily.
She cleared her throat, pulling their attention to her. "Well, as it happens, I am proficient at using magic and," she smirked, "I think I have an idea..."
They spent a couple days ironing out the details of their infiltration plan and finally it was the day they would enact their invasion, as Lea liked calling it. When the sun set that day, the trio split up and staggered their arrivals in the gardens. They had argued about using the garden avenue, since the boys had been caught there before, but Mira insisted it was the best way to execute the plan. As luck would have it, there were no guards patrolling the garden that evening, lending further credence to her hypothesis that the innkeeper was a key component to their previous failures. The trio snuck toward the castle wall, below a second-floor window.
"Okay," Mira whispered, "I'm going to make sure the coast is clear, then you two go first, got it?" She cast magnet on her hands and feet, allowing her to scale the wall. The wall they chose to climb was in the shadow of the setting sun, but that didn't stop Mira from glancing around every so often. With any luck, the shadows would cover their infiltration. Pulling herself up to the window, she peered inside, sighing in relief when she didn't spot anyone.
Gingerly, her fingers probed for the seam between the wall and the glass, and she pulled when she found it. Except, the window didn't budge. It was locked! "Crap," she grumbled. There were limits to how many objects she could cast magnet on, but maybe if she cancelled the spell on one of her hands, she could direct the magic to the latch on the window... She would have to be quick, since she'd never diverted the same spell between two objects at once before.
With a deep breath, Mira manipulated the energy on her hands and feet, shooting a small burst of magic at the latch, scowling when nothing happened. Pushing more force toward it, she grinned when it finally clicked open, and she cancelled the spell, only to lose her footing and plummet down to the hedges below. There was no time to cast gravity on herself and Mira landed hard in the perfectly manicured shrubbery. The soft leaves belied sharp twigs and thorns that scratched her exposed skin. Lea and Isa scrambled to the bush wide-eyed and panicked, reaching in and helping her out.
"What happened?" Lea hissed. "Did someone see you?"
Mira shook her head with a groan. "The window was locked, and I had to use magic to open it. But when I cancelled the spell, the magnet spell on me failed too." She picked a few leaves out of her hair, throwing them on the grass. "I think it's because I spliced the spell-" noticing their vacant expressions, she amended, "eh, instead of casting a new spell, I diverted some of the energy from the one on me, instead."
"Oh... so because you were using the same spell, when you ended it for the lock, you also cancelled it on yourself too?" Isa clarified, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
She bobbed her head and opened her mouth to speak, but Lea cut her off, "We're not gonna fall from the second-floor, too, are we?"
"No. I was able to unlock the window, so I can focus on maintaining the spell," she answered quickly. "But we should hurry, okay? Who's going first?"
Isa volunteered, and with Mira's help, he scaled the wall, climbing through the open window. Lea followed afterward at a much slower pace, his arms shaking as he climbed. When he finally reached the top, Mira retraced her path to the window, pulling herself through easily. Peeking out into the gardens, she stifled a laugh. From her vantage, she could see a perfect outline of herself from where she'd fallen into the shrubbery.
Beside her, Isa snorted. "Nice."
Judging by the dusty boxes stacked around them, they had climbed into a storage room of some sort. "We should go, guys," Lea whispered, still pale from his climb. They nodded and followed him out, only to be met with the smirking face of a guard. Braig.
"Well well well, what do we have here? Two little termites trying to slip in… again." He grabbed the two boys by the scruffs of their shirts. "And," his brown eyes slid to her, widening in recognition, "you're that girl from before..."
"Oh come on, Braig! Give us a break!" Lea exclaimed, struggling to break free.
Isa grunted and he jabbed his elbow at the guard's gut, only to miss. "You're just mad we got away last time!"
"Ah-ah-ah, that's where you're wrong moon-boy," he mocked. "The only reason you two got away is because I ran into her." He jutted his chin in her direction. "Speaking of which," he smirked widely, "did you miss me so badly that you needed to sneak in with these two miscreants?"
Mira scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."
His grin widened. "Do you know what we do to pests?"
"Let me guess..." she tapped her chin, feigning contemplation. "Hm, a slap on the wrist? Community service, perhaps?"
He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Usually. But somehow, we almost didn't notice you three coming in... Though I heard from a reliable source, that some 'shady' girl caught on to our little arrangement," he said, gazing at her pointedly.
Mira narrowed her eyes. The innkeeper. "But then how did you find us?"
"I happened to be taking a stroll and saw some weird girl fall from a window," he remarked with a shrug, and her cheeks reddened. "Naturally, I wanted to check it out, so I decided to wait for you up here." Braig readjusted his grip on Isa. "Look, I know why these two idiots are here, but what's your reason for trespassing?"
"I need to deliver a letter."
Braig gave a withering sigh. "If you're going to lie, come up with something better than that," he grumbled. "And let me guess, you two morons are just helping her deliver this 'letter,' huh?"
"Why, of course!" Lea feigned indignation. "What else would we have been doing? A lady was in need!"
"It's called chivalry, you wouldn't know it," Isa supplied.
Mira sniggered, drawing Braig's attention once again. He smirked. "As if either of you would know the first thing about helping a lady in 'need.'" The two boys flushed, and her jaw dropped at the implication. "Anyway, it's time for you kiddos to go; visiting hours are over." He pushed the two boys ahead of him, holding fast to their scruffs.
"Aww, c'mon Braig!" Lea whined. "She really does have a letter!"
"That again? If you needed to mail something, you should've used the mail service." He tugged them along, glancing back at her. "C'mon, I'm not dealing with anymore of this crap today."
She'd had about enough of this. Looking between Braig and the boys, then the hallway, Mira made her decision. She probably wouldn't have another opportunity like this one, and she was not about to waste it. Isa's eyes widened and Mira winked, before making a mad dash down the corridor. As she ran, a curse echoed after her, followed by whoops of encouragement. Thanks to the time they spent preparing for their infiltration, she had a good mental map of where she was going. Even if the halls were confusing, she was going to make it - she would find her way to the king –
"Ah-ah-ah." Two hands grabbed her ankles and Mira tumbled to the floor with a sickening crack. "Ah fu-"
Cradling her throbbing wrist, Mira scrambled to her feet and dashed away, tears streaming down her cheeks. Whispering a quiet "cure," the pain in her wrist dissipated. Her master would need to look at it later, to ensure it healed correctly, but at least it wouldn't hurt for the time being. She sprinted through the corridors, throwing panicked glances behind her as the pursuing footsteps grew louder - he was right behind her! Mira threw herself to the side, out of his path, chest heaving as she watched him with wide eyes.
"You give those twerps a run for their money," he panted, jogging toward her. "But seriously, you can't be here. I don't know what crazy rumors you've heard, but there is no reward for sneaking into this castle, got it?"
"I'm not looking for a reward," she snapped. "I need to give this," she held up the sealed letter, "to Ansem the Wise."
His jaw dropped. "Wait, you were serious? Why is it so important you deliver it in person?"
"Because my master instructed me to do so," she replied stiffly. "As far as I'm concerned, you have two options. You can either take me to your leader, or I will incapacitate you and go there myself."
They regarded one another, neither willing to make a move. Then Braig's lips stretched into a smirk, and he held his hands up in surrender. "Alright-alright. I'll take you to Master Ansem, but on one condition-"
"No conditions," she groused.
"Look," he grinned, "you're not really in a position to negotiate. If you were to incapacitate me – and I'm not saying you could – then things would look bad for you. Not only have you broken into the castle, but you'll have taken the crime a step further by assaulting a guard." He crossed his arms. "That would be enough to arrest you, for sure."
He had her there; damn him. "...What's the condition?"
His smirk turned devious. "You'll owe me a favor – I can decide what it is whenever I want." Mira opened her mouth to retort, but he interrupted, "And if you renege on our agreement, I'll have you arrested anyway."
What a complete prick. He thought he had the upper hand, did he? Depending on how long she was stuck in Radiant Garden, he may never get the chance to call in that favor... and when her master returned for her, the threat of arrest was moot.
"Fine," she said coolly. "I agree to your terms."
With a mocking grin, he murmured, "Right this way."
The first thing she noticed about the office was that it was too immaculate, clinical. There was no dust to be seen, not a single paper out of place, nor any trash in the bin. As if it was only for show. Even the man sitting behind the desk in the middle of the room reading her letter was just as neat. From his perfectly trimmed goatee and slicked-back blond hair to his pressed clothes, he was the picture of refinement. She unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt; was this what munny could buy? Sterile rooms lacking warmth? For how carefully guarded it was, Mira had been expecting something grander at the heart of this castle. She was almost disappointed.
Ansem placed the letter on his desk, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin atop them. "I apologize for not receiving you but… I wasn't aware you were coming." He chuckled warmly, a sharp contrast to the coldness of the room.
She offered a small smile. "Neither was I, until a few days ago."
"Indeed? I hear that you have gone through a great deal of trouble to deliver this to me."
"Yes, sir." Mira peered at Braig, who was leaning against the wall watching them. He winked. Mira scowled, returning her attention to the king. "You have competent guards."
He smiled, softening the lines of his face, lending a gentle air to his mien. "That's good to hear. Now, as for this," he held up the note, "it seems your master has requested allowance for you to study here. Based on what he's written about you, I'm inclined to permit this. Do you require lodgings?"
She could feel Braig's gaze on her, and her hand twitched. "I'm staying at the inn in town right now-"
Ansem held up a hand. "That will not do. I must insist you stay in the castle. We have room to spare, and you needn't worry about a thing."
Her eye twitched, room indeed. Even so, his offer was humbling, but living in this castle? How would her master reach her? "That's kind of you, but I don't want to impose..."
"Nonsense. It's no imposition."
She bowed slightly. "Thank you for your generosity."
Ansem cleared his throat. "Since my apprentice seemed so eager to escort you directly to me," he shot a look at Braig, "then he shall have the honor of being your guide for the duration of your stay."
Mira blanched. "Surely that's not necessary-"
"As if!" Braig scoffed.
Ansem silenced him with a look. "You will do as commanded. Think of it as a punishment for allowing this young lady to slip past our defenses."
Braig grumbled something along the lines of, 'Yeah-yeah Master Ansem'.
Ansem stood and approached them, placing a hand on Braig's shoulder. "Perhaps some responsibility will keep you from being reckless." Braig clenched his fists. Meeting with her master would be difficult with him hanging over her like a rain cloud.
Turning to her, Ansem's smile returned. "Welcome to Radiant Garden, Mira. Braig will show you to your room." With that, he left the two of them alone; the door shut behind him with an audible click, leaving silence in his wake. She picked at a stray thread on her grey turtleneck tank top, looking around the austere office and trying to ignore the way Braig's eyes bored into her.
"By the way," he started, expression pensive, "when you fell earlier… It sounded like you broke something. Are you okay?"
Her cheeks heated at the genuine concern in his voice. "I'm fine; I healed it."
"Ah, good. So, you're good with magic?" She shrugged. "Okay..." he dragged out the word. "Well, I guess I should show you to your room-"
"Actually," she interrupted, "I need to get my stuff from the inn first."
He shrugged. "Alright. Let's go."
"That's not necessary; I don't need an escort. Don't trouble yourself." She wanted time to think of how she could contact her master. With a castle as well-guarded as this one, sneaking out undetected would be difficult – if not impossible. She needed a plan.
But Braig wasn't having it. "How do you plan on getting back in, hmm? We've already locked the doors for the day."
"Then you can unlock them when I get back," she deadpanned, sending him a dry look. "Otherwise, I can climb through the window again. I don't care either way."
"And risk the hedges? I don't think so," he huffed, winking. "Besides, you heard Master Ansem. I was told to babysit you, so c'mon." Braig held the door for her, and she rolled her eyes as she passed him. Babysitter indeed.
Their trip to the inn was quick, though the amount of outright gawking unnerved Mira. When she asked why people were staring, Braig merely shoved his hands in his pockets with a noncommittal grunt. There was no sign of Lea or Isa to show they had escaped without repercussions. She hoped they were lying low and not in trouble. Biting her lip, Mira glanced at the guard, brow furrowed. Neither attempted conversation until they were well on their way back to the castle. By then, she was bursting with curiosity and a touch of concern that could no longer be contained.
Mira cleared her throat to get his attention. "So... What happened to Lea and Isa? Did they escape when you chased after me or...?" They had to have escaped, right? He couldn't have held onto them and run after her.
Braig snorted. "They're not in the dungeon, if that's what you're asking. They were thrown out and assigned the usual community service."
Dungeon? Was he being serious? "But how? I didn't see anyone else around to throw them out-"
"Dilan was within reach," he stated succinctly.
Within reach? He had grabbed her ankles to trip her despite being too far away, and he had been able to teleport when they first met. But to throw the two boys out of the castle when they were so far in was impressive to say the least. What other tricks was he hiding up his sleeve? She was itching to ask, but first things first...
"About that favor..." Mira began slyly, causing him to glance at her with narrowed eyes. "How you do you plan on arresting me now that I have the king's permission to reside in the castle?"
Amusement danced across his face, pulling his lips into a devious grin. "Don't overestimate your immunity here; why else do you think I was assigned to 'guide' you?"
That was a good point, but it contradicted what the king had said in his study. "Because you're too reckless, or so I heard."
"As if," he grumbled. "Some random girl shows up and breaks into the castle more efficiently than our most determined troublemakers just to deliver a letter? You're a suspicious character and I'm keeping an eye on you."
Mira scoffed. "It's not like I want to be here." But when he put it that way, he had a good point. She would be suspicious of someone under those circumstances too.
"Then why are you here?"
That was a good question – one for which she had no answer. Why was she there? Master Xehanort had alluded to the king's research being useful for the next phase of her training, but until he returned to meet with her, she was in the dark. She clenched her fists, frustrated, not for the first time, by her master's infuriatingly mysterious ways.
After a few minutes of silence, Braig said, "Look, I'll figure out your secrets sooner or later. I'm a patient guy, but make no mistake," brown eyes bored into hers, "I will be cashing in on that favor."
She glared, bristling at the challenge. "We'll see about that." He only laughed.
Once they'd returned to the castle after securing her possessions, Braig brought her to the living quarters. The apprentices shared a common room that led to a series of four hallways. They lived in small apartments, two per hallway, each outfitted with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette.
"Well, c'mon, your room is this way." He walked down the hall, not checking whether she was following or not. Mira trailed behind him eyes on the floor. To enter or leave, she had to pass through the common room. Would she be able to sneak out undetected when her master called for her?
He stopped in front of an unmarked door. "This is you. My room's just down there." He gestured lazily in the direction from which they'd come. "If ya need anything, don't hesitate," he murmured with a feral grin. Mira shut the door in his face, lips quirking when she heard a muffled chuckle. The building could be on fire, and she still wouldn't be going to his room.
Mira surveyed her new space; it was large… much too large for her alone. But the colors were simple and muted, and while everything inside was good quality, it was understated. Modest. She leaned heavily against the wall. The fact that this would be her home for an undetermined amount of time was beginning to set in; except this time, there was no Ven, Aqua, or even Terra. She was alone again.
He lay across his bed, arms behind his head, staring into the ceiling. It was time for him to step in and take a more active role in the events to come. The seeker of darkness would soon make his move... but he hadn't anticipated another keyblade wielder coming to Radiant Garden. Surely her arrival was no coincidence; and yet, he couldn't discern her purpose. Who was the master she spoke of? And the letter... what could be so important for her to break multiple laws simply to deliver it in person? He needed to know what it said.