There was something intimate about waking up beside Braig beyond the aftermath of the night they'd shared. The unguarded look on his sleeping face, so uncharacteristic, spoke volumes about how much his secrets weighed on him despite his good humor. As much as it hurt that he couldn't be open with her yet, Mira understood. She wasn't eager to talk about the shield around her heart or Smiley, never mind how much she cared about him. Some things were easier to handle alone, especially when there was nothing anyone could do about the former and she didn't know whether the latter was real...

With a sigh, Mira got up from bed to take a seat beside the window. Braig didn't stir, not that she expected him to. He was decidedly not a morning person. Dawn wasn't far off yet had not begun to illuminate Radiant Garden with a new day. The countdown continued. But the situation was not as dire as she'd originally assumed. Ansem didn't want to host her in the castle anymore, fine. That didn't mean she was banished from this world altogether. She knew the castle layout like the back of her hand; if she truly needed to get inside, she could do it. There were options as far as where she could stay as well. The inn, for one, if she wanted to remain in Radiant Garden. Or she could return to her master's home. Either way, she had enough munny to sustain herself for a time without issue.

Arms wrapped around her shoulders, draping her in warmth. She smiled, leaning into the embrace. "You okay?" Braig mumbled, kissing the top of her head.

"Weird dream, that's all. What about you? You were snoring away a minute ago."

"Snoring? As if." Braig huffed and she turned to face him, though he was obscured by darkness. "I felt you get up but when you didn't come back, I thought..."

Her eyes softened. "I don't regret last night, if that's what you're worried about. Did you think I would?"

"Not necessarily," he murmured, stroking her cheek with his knuckle. "Just had to check." Mira smiled, though he couldn't see it, and reached up to kiss him. It was too bad nights like these were numbered; out of everything in Radiant Garden, she'd miss him the most.

Mira looked down at her possessions strewn across her bed with a frown; Braig had convinced her to return to bed and sleep more, but he eventually had to report for guard duty. Thus, packing. Clothes first, then trinkets – namely golden Mira and the Christmas presents she'd received. With her wayfinder safe in Braig's care, she didn't have much else, and all that remained was the gift her master had gotten her. To think, it had waited all this time undisturbed. Perhaps she'd been avoiding it, but the reality was something closer to having forgotten about it completely. Surely there wasn't any harm in opening it now... it wasn't like her master was returning any time soon to chastise her anyway.

Ripping off the brown paper and twine, carefully setting aside the tag with his scrawl, she lifted the lid, revealing a twinkling star-shaped gem emanating a teal glow. She blinked. There was no way. Mira scrambled out of her chair and yanked her door open, racing down the hall.

Mira's chest was heaving by the time she reached the moogle's shop; perhaps she ought to learn to use the dark corridors – if nothing else, it was more efficient than running through town like a psycho.

"Oh, it's you again, kupo. Look, there's no point in talking about your project without-"

"This?" she asked, setting the box on the counter and lifting the lid.

"...Are you messing with me?"

"Of course not-"

"It's only been a day!" The moogle threw its stubby little arms in the air. "This is incredible! Do you realize how much this will expand the field of synthesis?! Where did you find it?!"

"Uh... Believe it or not, it was a gift from my master."

The moogle drooped at that. "Then it was probably intended for your keyblade, you know. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

If Master Xehanort was comfortable enough leaving such a rare material lying around the cottage unattended, then surely there were others, she reasoned. Items could be replaced. And once he returned to a body of his own, he could procure another. If she was feeling vindictive, she might even argue that he owed her another. "I'm sure. And I know it hasn't been long, but have you had a chance to think about the recipe? What else do I need to get?"

"Well, this isn't gonna be exact – we can't afford to waste the orichalchum+ though so I'd said you need to get a lot of crystals. In synthesis, you can sometimes make amazing things and cut corners here and there with the purity of your materials, but there's a risk it won't work. Gems are often easier to find, but crystals are the purest, most potent form of a material to work with, kupo." Mira nodded, and the moogle went on, "I think our best bet of synthesizing a stable vessel would be at least 30 lucid, power, twilight, and mythril crystals. Actually – add serenity crystals for good measure – they add stability."

"And I can find these where?"

The moogle's gave her a flat look. "Usually by destroying monsters. Though if you have lots of munny, high-end moogle shops have them."

"Is your shop 'high end?'" she asked, glancing around the small space. It was clean and tidy, but certainly did not scream affluence or quality. "Actually, how do I know you're even qualified to synthesize something as complicated as a vessel? Like you said, I really can't afford to waste this orichalchum+ and I have no reason to trust that you won't just run off with it since it's so rare."

Sighing, the moogle floated toward the wall where a framed certificate hung. "See this? I'm rank S – the highest one there is. I have a lot of experience making complicated items and meeting ridiculous customer demands."

"Then why do you work in this tiny shop? Radiant Garden doesn't seem like the kind of place someone of your supposed caliber would set up a business."

"That's not really your business, now is it, kupo? I'm qualified and probably the only one who'd be willing to help with such a suspicious commission."

Mira stared at it longer, weighing the risks of potentially losing the orichalcum+ over not taking the chance. Her shoulders relaxed. "Fair enough. Back to my question then: do you carry any of the needed materials?"

"As a matter of fact, I have most everything except for the twilight crystals, though they'll cost extra."

"Munny is no object." Not if it worked, at least. There was no way rare pure materials came cheap, but if her plan succeeded, she could pass the bill to her master. He was the one benefiting, after all.

"That's what I like to hear, kupo! In that case, twilight crystals are found in places where darkness and light touch."

"Like the border worlds that sit between?"

"Yeah, those are a safe bet. But the best crystals originate where darkness and light clash."

In that case, worlds falling to darkness or coming to light would be her best bet. The latter wasn't well-documented as a world returning to the light was a long process. Wounds had to heal, and healing took time. A long time. But at least she had plenty of options on where to source the necessary crystals.

Mira swaddled herself in Braig's duvet while he readied himself for the day. It was a shame she wouldn't have the opportunity to get used to sleeping beside him each night; his presence was a comfort she would miss when they parted. She sighed, flopping onto her side, staring at his back, a frown tugging at her lips.

"Hey Braig?"

"Hm?" He paused tying his bandana and glanced behind. "Yeah?" She floundered for the right words, a way to convey the truth in her heart, but simply pressed her lips together instead. He took a seat at the edge of the bed and cupped her cheek. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah... must still be tired," she mumbled, breaking eye contact. Coward. "By the way, uh, I went by the inn the other day to talk to Gast. He said there have been disappearances lately. Do you know what's going on?"

He grimaced. "Yeah, I do."

"Is it something I can help with?"

Braig shook his head, frowning. "No. It's better you're not involved, Mira."

She let out a sharp exhale. "Then you need to fix this because Radiant Garden is turning into a ghost town and people are afraid."

He smirked. "You can count on me, Princess. How's the progress with the vessel? Do you know where you're going to get the twilight crystals?"

"Well... not exactly. I thought the orichalcum+ would be the hardest part, but honestly, but the thought of going back to the Land of Departure..." She couldn't get near that castle or its white rooms again. There was no telling what she'd see or whether she'd escape a second time. "I can't. I just can't go there again."

"So don't." He shrugged. "There are plenty of worlds to choose from. It may be easier to harvest them from a world that darkness is consuming, since you'll get them as they're formed. Though it'll be more dangerous."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And," he began, turning away from her, "since you're staying close by to monitor the vessel, you could just move into my room instead of staying at the inn."

If only. "Too risky."

"As if. I could teleport you to and from town-"

"You know it'll draw suspicion if I'm still around but not staying anywhere. And you'd be the first person they'd suspect because of our relationship."

He let out an aggravated sigh. "So get Gast to say you're staying at the inn. People are going missing, and it'd be better for you not to be mixed up in-"

"Then fix it already, castle guard." She stood firm, levelling him with a look. He made a good point about using Gast as an alibi, but it didn't feel right to put that on the innkeeper when he had enough to worry about. "I shouldn't have to remind you that I'm not helpless."

His shoulders slumped. "That you aren't. Can you blame a guy for being worried though?"

Warmth suffused her cheeks. "You should get going. Don't want to be late now."

Braig smirked. "Yes dear."

In the dark just before the dawn of her departure, Mira pressed her palms to her forehead, and let out a forceful exhale. Every night, the same hazy dream. It was like she was being called to that hidden place yet foiled before she could reach beyond the vines. Mira got up and padded toward the window. The barest sliver of moon shone its light upon the world, scarcely breaking through the thick shroud of night. Even if they were only a figment of her imagination, the prospect of Smiley waiting there chilled her to the bone. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her, akin to the time in the white rooms. Smiley was surely borne of her doubts and fears; it could do her no harm unless she allowed it-

Arms wrapped around her middle, pulling her against a warm chest. "You're up earlier than usual."

She relaxed in his hold. "I could say the same for you. Trouble sleeping?"

Lips pressed to her shoulder. "You could say that. You've been tossing and turning."

"Sorry," she mumbled. "It's just... I've been having weird dreams lately."

"Weird how?"

"It's the same scene every night. We're in a place I've never been before, a town with a huge clock tower, then we walk to the beach on the island where I grew up. When I blink, we're on the play island and it's like there's something there, calling to me."

He was quiet for a moment. "Do you think you're homesick?"

"That place hasn't been my home in a long time."

"Doesn't mean there aren't things you miss."

The ocean and salty spray came to mind like a mother's caress. "I never looked back when I left but... maybe I should visit." If nothing else, to put her fears to rest.

"And after that? Where will you go?"

"Not sure. I'm gonna keep an eye out for dying worlds and go from there. I need those crystals. The sooner he's back in a body of his own, the better off everyone will be."

"And what about Terra? He's not going to leave quietly."

Mira glowered. "He should focus on waking Ven up and finding Aqua. What they choose to do after is their choice. I only hope Master Xehanort's plan will be successful before they can organize themselves." It would break her to turn her keyblade on her friends, even if they no longer saw her as such.

Braig eyed her strangely. "You know, I'm surprised you support his goals. You do know what he's planning right?"

"I do."

"And you think it'll work?"

"I don't know, but I have to believe in him-"

His hold tightened and he murmured, "No, you don't. It's well and good to support your master, but there comes a time when you need to think about what you want at the end of all this. You don't have to go along with something just because someone you care about wants it."

"Even you?"

He huffed, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. "Especially me." She brought his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles.

They stood, watching the sun rise on the last day of life as she'd known it. Another departure, another change in her life. But for the first time, she was going alone. And for the first time, there was someone waiting for her to return.

With an orichalcum+ in hand, the hardest part of her plan was complete. Procuring twilight crystals would be child's play in comparison to what the search for the rare and elusive synthesis material would have been. Her finding it in the gift was almost too good to be true and yet, there it was. Could the old coot have planned that far ahead or was this simply good fortune? Maybe it didn't matter; with a viable solution to the Xehanort problem in sight, perhaps they wouldn't need to continue these awful experiments. The suspicion of the townspeople was a strong argument toward slowing the rate of abductions. If it spared more people while Mira and the moogle did their work, all the better. With Mira striving toward her goal far away from Xehanort, he could rest easier, even if he'd miss her.