Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios clapped his hands sharply, startling Skuld from her thoughts. She jumped slightly, her wide eyes snapping to his as he flashed her a disarming smile.

"Alright, Skuld," he said warmly, "I think we've talked enough for today. I don't want to overwhelm you, so let's pick this up tomorrow. You should get some rest."

Skuld blinked, momentarily thrown off by his sudden shift in tone. But as she saw the smile on his face, she felt a sense of ease wash over her. She nodded, her voice soft as she replied, "Okay. Thank you, Helios… for everything."

Rising from her seat, she hesitated briefly before heading toward the door. She glanced back once, as if to say something, but instead gave him a small smile before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Helios alone in the quiet space. The stillness didn't last long.

"Revealing so much, hmm?" Kurai's voice echoed in Helios's mind, low and amused. Its presence manifested like a shadowy mist curling at the edges of his consciousness. "I must admit, I'm surprised. You, of all people, chose to share so much with her. I thought you were aiming for her unwavering trust, yet here you are, shaking its foundation."

Helios leaned back in his chair, his smirk faint but sharp. "Trust," he said, his tone measured, "is like forging a blade. A blacksmith heats and tempers metal to shape it into something strong and unyielding. It's not a gentle process—it requires fire, pressure, and sometimes, a little breaking. Trust works the same way. Sure, her trust might waver for now, but once it's reforged, it'll be stronger than ever."

Kurai's laughter was cold, almost serpentine. "True, you haven't lied to her. But you've withheld just as much as you've shared. You're using her, manipulating her, turning her into something she may not wish to become. That, dear Helios, is a truth she might find… disagreeable."

Helios chuckled, the sound low and unbothered. "You say that like it's a revelation," he replied, his voice calm but laced with a quiet intensity. "Manipulation is the nature of our relationship, Kurai. It always has been. I'm not trying to hide it from her, and I'm certainly not hiding it from you."

Kurai's shadowy form flickered faintly, its presence tightening like a coil around his thoughts. "Ah, yes. A relationship built on convenience and necessity. But tell me, Helios… what happens when that necessity fades? When the people you manipulate see you for what you are?"

Helios's smirk widened slightly, his blue eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "That's the difference between you and me, Kurai. You think I care about how they see me. I'm fine with them hating me, so long as they do what's needed. The outcome matters more than their opinions. The type of relationships I build will not break until death parts us."

Kurai paused, as if studying him, before its voice returned, sly and probing. "Bold words. But let's not dance around the real question here. When you say 'until death parts us,' whose death are you imagining? Yours… or mine?"

Helios tilted his head, his gaze sharpening as he stared into the space before him, where Kurai's presence lingered like an unseen specter. His voice was quiet but firm, each word measured. "Preferably yours," he said with a faint, almost teasing grin.

Kurai let out a low, rumbling laugh that echoed in his mind like rolling thunder. "I'll keep that in mind, dear Helios. Though, something tells me that particular wish might not come true as easily as you hope."

Helios leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his hands steepled in front of him as he let out a soft sigh. The room felt heavy, the weight of his thoughts pressing down like an unseen force. After a moment, he broke the silence.

"Kurai," he said, his tone calm but carrying an edge of determination, "I need to know what's happening in the castle. Security must be tighter now, and if I try to sneak inside again, I'll be caught."

Kurai's presence pulsed faintly in the shadows of the room, its voice slipping into his mind like a coiling whisper. "And what do you plan to do about that, Helios? Surely you're not thinking of walking into their lair and hoping for the best."

Helios smirked faintly, pulling a small disk from his pocket and holding it up. The metallic object gleamed faintly in the dim light, its simple design betraying its importance. "No," he said, his voice steady. "I won't need to go there at all. Not if you help me."

Kurai's shadowy form flickered, its glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh? And what, exactly, do you need from me this time?"

Helios set the disk on the table, tapping it lightly with his finger. "This is a backdoor program. If someone inserts it into the computer in their secret lab, I'll have remote access to their security system. I won't need to sneak in anymore—I'll see everything from here."

Kurai was silent for a moment, its form shifting like a restless shadow. "And how do you propose I do that, Helios? In case you've forgotten, I lack a physical body. I can't simply walk in there and plug it in for you."

Helios's smirk widened slightly, a glint of mischief in his amber eyes. "I know. That's why I need you to possess someone who can."

Kurai materialized fully, its inky black form coalescing into a humanoid shape. It leaned closer to Helios, its glowing eyes narrowing as it studied him. "Possess someone," it echoed, its voice a mix of curiosity and caution. "And who, pray tell, do you have in mind for this little operation?"

"Cid," Helios said simply, leaning back in his chair. "He's the most inconspicuous option. He has access to a lot of places without raising suspicion, and no one would think twice if he wandered into the castle."

Kurai tilted its head, its shadowy face drawing closer to Helios. "Cid? That man is an ally of yours. You've been adamant about keeping these 'friends' of yours out of harm's way, yet now you wish to use him as a pawn? What's changed, Helios?"