Chapter Text
He felt at ease, it’s has been a very long time since he felt like this. Something warm touched him, like a touch that he longed for, it was very caring. He opened his eyes, the brightness blurred his vision, making him squint. Why is it so bright? He covered his eyes with his hands, since when the land of darkness has been this bright?
Rattling noises startled him, who’s here with him? Blue eyes roamed around the room and locked on the blue-haired young woman that was organizing a pile of herb medicine. She was speaking to herself and writing down notes on a journal.
Now that he thought about it, he wasn't back at Tenebra, he was somewhere else, a place he thought he would never step a foot back in. This place is filled with light and just by being here, it make us him believe that he is in Lux.
He didn’t notice how long he was staring at the young woman but he heard her gasp when she turned around and both locked their gaze at each other.
“You’re awake?” She asked .
He frowned, by the look of her face, it seems he was sleeping for a good while. He tried to sit up but a sharp pain shocked his lower body.
“Careful, you’re still healing.” She was next to him, her hands were on his bare broad shoulders trying to maintain his balance. He grunted in pain, noticing his lower body was covered with bandages.
He glanced at her, her face was really near him. Her bright blue eyes looked worried as she still holds him. He looked away from her, “I’m fine.” He grumbled.
She leaned back from him, “Don’t try to push yourself or the wound will open up ”
“ And you are?”
“I’m Aqua, my wielders and I found you and brought you to Lux to get you properly healed.” The girl, Aqua answered him.
“ Lux, you said.” He scowled, “ Why? Why did you risk your life for the sake of mine ” He clenched his fist and looked at her, she stayed quiet for a bit, trying to figure out what would she would say to him.
Aqua clench her hand on her chest and avoided the man stare “ I don't know why I did it. But I just couldn't leave you behind. You were badly hurt, leaving you there wouldn’t be right.”
“ You should have. I didn’t ask you to save me. I wasn't aware a Master of Light was capable of saving an enemy. I was fine letting the darkness consume me. I was at my end after all." He laid back down and turned his body around facing the wall. He didn’t want to talk anymore nor see the girl. It’s better to ignore her as much as he can.
Aqua frowned, there’s no point to arguing, the man had his back to her, a sign that he wanted to be left alone. She heads toward the door but before leaving, she stood in the front the door, “ Why you let the darkness consume you if I can still sense light inside of you." She murmured to herself, “ I'll be back with something for you to eat, I won't take long." Aqua opened the door and left.
He heard the door the closing, his jaw tightened, he heard what she said. There’s still light in him? It can’t be… the little light that he had left, is not there anymore.
“ What does she know…” a sigh escape from his lips.
~~
Days before
Aqua and her wielders arrived at Lux, safe. Other light wielders came to help them with the injured and take them to the Healing Room to get treated.
“ What do we do with him?” Ven asked. He pointed at the dark wielder that Aqua saved. He has a bad feeling about this… what would they say if they get caught by the Masters?
“He’s going with the others, let’s take him to the healing room.” Aqua grabbed the wielder, Ven went to help her. They both held him and drag him out of the ship.
“Aqua, Ven”
Both of them looked up and saw Master Eraqus in front of them. Ven looked at Aqua, who maintain calmed. ‘No point to panic’ he thought to himself.
Master Eraqus eyed at them, he noticed the unknown wielder both of his students were carrying.
What’s the meaning of this?” He asked them. He eyed at the injured young man, Eraqus frowned at the sight.
“Master Eraqus, please I will explain later but he needs to get his wounds tended immediately.” Aqua pleaded.
The Master noticed the concern of his student, the worried look on Aqua for trying to get this dark wielder help, made his anger go away. "Very well, take him to the Healing Room. Aqua, I will wait for your explanation."
Aqua nodded, “Thank you, Master Eraqus.” She gripped her arm tightly around the wielder, “Ven, let’s go” she said to him.
Ven held on to the body tightly and helped Aqua take him to the healing room. Master Eraqus watched them as they left. Who would have thought they would be residing an enemy here at their own Kingdom.
~~
Aqua and Ven walked out of the healing room, Kairi and the other healers were there taking care of the wielder injuries. No one said the word when they saw a dark wielder among them. Kairi promised she will be the one healing him and to leave everything in her hands.
“ Wish I could’ve helped, but I have to go speak with Master Eraqus.” Aqua sighed.
Everything is going to be alright.” Ventus said hoping to cheer her up , “Master Eraqus will understand why we helped him.”
“ I hope so, Ven.” Aqua sighed she couldn’t help but worry.
“ Don’t worry, Aqua. You know I always going to have your back.” Ven smiled at her.
Aqua return her smiled at him, “Thank you Ven, go get some rest. I’ll see you later.”
She waved goodbye to him and headed towards where Master Eraqus was. Her heart was beating fast; she doesn’t know what to expect from her Master. Is he disappointed in her?
Only one way to find out.
~~
Aqua saw her Master at the outdoor gardens, he noticed her coming towards his way. She stood next to him. Master Eraqus looked at her, “How’s the wielder doing?”
“ Kairi is taking care of him.” She answered back to her Master.
“ I see, Kairi is a good healer. He would be fine, you saved his life, Aqua. There’s no need to be worried about it.”
Aqua gasped softly, looking at her Master, he didn't seem mad. “You’re not mad?” She asked surprised .
“ Is there a reason for me to be mad?” He questioned.
She shook her head, “ No, I thought - what I did... it would cost my Mastery.”
“No Aqua. This was a decision you chose as a Master. You wanted to help the wielder, your light guided you to him. Now, if may I ask, what made you decide to do this?”
“ Hmm” she placed her index finger on her chin, “ When I found him, I sensed a very strong dark source in him, it was like someone wanted him gone... but when I got closer to him and healed him a bit, I noticed that there’s still a little a bit of light.”
“Light will always reside in darkness. It’s hidden inside of us. Light has always been with us. But we’re the ones who let the darkness in our hearts. As Masters, we need to guide them back to the light. We make our decisions, Aqua, even I have to make my own decisions to keep the Light in our way.” Master Eraqus explained.
“ I understand, Master Eraqus” she understood what her Master said, if her light guided her to the dark wielder… then it is up to her to help him.
“ I will not report this to the other Masters. This will be between us. Now, you must take care of the wielder and bring him back to health. You need to be there for him when he wakes up. He will not take it lightly where he is now. Especially if you said someone wanted him gone.”
Aqua nodded, she felt relief that Master Eraqus understood her. He’s always been someone that she can rely on. The weight on her chest is finally gone, she was worried that she would get in trouble for bringing an enemy at Lux. But her Master is right, this was her decision and it’s up to her to now to take care of the dark wielder.
“ One more thing, Aqua. He may be a dark wielder, the darkness has him under its control. It would be difficult for the darkness to leave. But there is a way for the Light to enter his heart… he needs to make the decision, what path he wants to take. You can guide him, but it will be up to him if he wants to accept the light again.” He said to her.
“ And what would happen if he chooses the darkness?”
“ Then there’s nothing much that we can do. We have to let them go.” Master Eraqus shook his head.
“ Then I will do my best, as Master, I will try” Aqua decided what she must do. Master Eraqus nodded and smiled at her. He placed his hand on her shoulder, “ Let the light guide you Aqua, may your heart be your guiding key.”
~~
Aqua thought of the conversation she had with Master Eraqus and everything he said was true. She was surprised to see him awake, confused at the unfamiliar surroundings. The idea of him being in Lux made him uncomfortable. Especially when he said that she should have left him behind and let the darkness consume him.
“ Try my best… huh," She said to herself, the promise she said to Master Eraqus and to herself to help the dark wielder is not going to be as easy as she thought. But she must have patience. In the end, it would be up to him whether to continue walking on the path of darknes s or walk again on the path of the light.