Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios leaned back on his bed, still breathing heavily from the chaotic clash with Braig. His muscles ached, his body felt drained, and his mind raced with thoughts of the encounter. Every step of his exhausting routine seemed to pile on more than his body could handle, and now this confrontation had added yet another layer of complexity to his already precarious situation.

Kurai's shadowy form loomed near the edge of the bed, its piercing, unreadable eyes fixed on Helios. "You're still alive, which means your little dance with Braig wasn't entirely a failure," it said, its tone edged with dry amusement.

Helios shot it a tired glare, brushing off the sweat from his brow. "It wasn't a dance. It was a mistake. He saw too much."

"Did he, now?" Kurai mused, its voice teasing. "Or did you give him exactly what he needed to see?"

Helios pushed himself to sit up, his gaze sharpening. "You think I wanted that fight? He saw the Keyblade. He saw and heard enough to raise questions, and questions lead to complications."

Kurai chuckled, a low, almost serpentine sound that filled the room with an unsettling resonance. "Complications are just opportunities in disguise. Besides, he didn't get what he really wanted, did he? Your name, your purpose, your allegiance—they're still your secrets."

Helios frowned, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "He doesn't need much to connect the dots. Luxu—or Braig, or whatever he's calling himself now—isn't someone I can afford to underestimate."

Kurai's form pulsed faintly, the shadows around it seeming to darken. "And yet, you stood toe-to-toe with him, even in your current state. Impressive, really. Though I suspect you'll have to adjust your tactics if you cross paths again."

Helios didn't respond immediately. Instead, his mind drifted back to the fight—the rapid movements, the chaos of falling crystals, the precision of Braig's attacks. Despite everything, he had managed to hold his own, even forcing Braig to retreat. It wasn't a victory, but it wasn't a loss either.

"I'll need to be more careful," Helios muttered, more to himself than to Kurai. "No more public displays, no more training sessions in exposed locations. Everything needs to stay low-key from now on."

Kurai tilted its head, its glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "And what of your dear housemates? Surely they'll have questions if you suddenly alter your routines."

Helios sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'll deal with them. Skuld doesn't need to know anything, and Maleficent…" He trailed off, his voice tinged with frustration. "She'll figure out something's up eventually, but I'll manage."

Kurai hummed in approval, its form flickering slightly as it leaned closer. "Good. Adaptability is key, my dear Helios."

Helios lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as the weight of his fatigue pressed down on him. The fight with Braig had been a stark reminder of just how precarious his situation was. Between Sephiroth, Maleficent, Skuld, and now Braig, he was juggling too many variables, each one capable of toppling his plans if mishandled.

Kurai's voice broke the silence, its tone softer but no less unsettling. "Rest while you can, Helios. I don't see you lasting much longer if you don't."

Helios closed his eyes, exhaustion pulling at him like an anchor. "I'll rest when this is over," he muttered. "For now, I just need to stay ahead."

Kurai chuckled softly, its form dissolving into shadows that melded with the room. "As you wish, my ambitious little friend. As you wish."

Helios lay motionless on the bed for a moment longer, the silence of the room settling heavily around him. Every muscle in his body protested as he tried to will himself into some semblance of focus. The fight with Braig replayed in his mind in sharp detail—the speed, the precision, the sheer unpredictability of his opponent. It wasn't just the physical toll that wore on him; the mental strain of being on constant guard, of outmaneuvering someone as cunning as Braig, gnawed at the edges of his resolve.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand across his face. The confrontation had been too close. If Braig had pressed harder, if the collapsing crystals hadn't provided a distraction, he might not have escaped. And yet, the encounter had revealed something valuable: Braig was watching, but he wasn't omniscient. Helios still had the advantage of secrecy—at least for now.

His thoughts were interrupted as a faint whisper echoed through the room, and Kurai's form began to materialize again, the shadows coalescing into its familiar, shapeless figure. "Still brooding, I see," it said, its tone laced with mockery. "You really do enjoy tormenting yourself, don't you?"

Helios shot the entity a glare but didn't rise to the bait. "I'm thinking," he replied flatly.

"Ah, thinking," Kurai mused, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "Of course. The ever-elusive solution to all your problems. Tell me, does it involve another brilliant plan where you teeter on the edge of death?"

Helios sat up slowly, ignoring the ache in his muscles. "What do you want, Kurai?"

Kurai chuckled softly, the sound slithering through the air like smoke. "Oh, I just thought I'd offer my… insights. Braig, Luxu, whatever he calls himself—he's a persistent one, isn't he? He attempted to trace your corridor but I led him somewhere else. However you can expect more encounters like this, you know. I suggest you refrain from using it for some time."

"I thought that might be the case," Helios muttered. "It's okay, next time I'll be ready."

"Will you?" Kurai countered, its tone taking on a sharper edge. "You're spreading yourself thin, Helios. A morning sparring partner who guts you every morning without breaking a sweat, a manipulative witch eager to test your limits and break you, a child overly relying on you to guide her—shall I go on? Add a hunter to the mix, and you're not juggling; you're balancing on a knife's edge. I really don't care if you die just make sure you do so after I accomplish my goal before you do."

Helios shot Kurai a dark look, his amber eyes flaring faintly as he leaned forward. "I'm well aware of how dangerous my situation is," he said, his voice cold and steady. "But if you're here to remind me of how precarious everything is, save your breath."

Kurai's form flickered slightly, its edges rippling like a disturbed pool of ink. "Touchy," it said with a faint chuckle. "But I'm not here just to gloat. If you want my advice—and let's face it, you do—you need to stop reacting and start acting. You have the pieces on the board. It's time you used them. If you don't I'll be forced to intervene again."

Helios leaned back, crossing his arms. "Don't do that. I am using them," he countered. "Every move I've made has been calculated."

"Has it?" Kurai pressed, its tone a mix of amusement and challenge. "Or have you just been keeping your head above water, waiting for the next crisis to pull you under?" Helios had been standing far from Kurai but before he noticed the inky black shadow was floating infront of him with its hands dangerously close to his neck.