Helios awoke after a night’s rest and stretched as this might have been the best sleep he had in months. As Helios y on the bed, his mind began to drift, pting the events that had led him to this moment. The room was adorned with simple yet f decor, and the soft glow of the mp on the bedside table cast a warm ambia was in this seremosphere that Helios found himself p the path ahead.

  Later, a gentle kno the bedroom door interrupted his thoughts. Merlin's voice followed, permeating the room. "Helios, if you are ready, I would like to tinue our versation," the wizard called out.

  Helios sat up, adjusting his posture and clearing his mind. He responded, "I am ready, Sir. Please, give me a moment to get ready and I’ll join you soon."

  Helios rose from the bed and made his way to the small bathroom adjat to the bedroom. He freshened up, spshing cool water on his face, and ran a b through his hair. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he steeled himself for the versation ahead. It was clear that Merlihe key to unlog the answers he sought, and he o approach the discussion with both resped determination.

  As he emerged from the bedroom, Helios found Merlin waiting in the main room of the cottage, a warm smile grag his features. The wizard motioned for him to take a seat at the cozy table, where a steaming cup of tea awaited him. Helios settled into the chair, the st of the fragrant brew filling his senses. "First, let us address the darkhat surrounds you," Merlin began, his voice calm yet firm. "It is a powerful force that must be uood and purged, lest it es you. Tell me about what happened?"

  Helios nodded, his gaze focused on Merlin, ready to absorb every word of wisdom. "I have sehe darkness within me, and it frightens me," Helios admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "When my world was beiroyed my parents and I were suddenly attacked. The creature grabbed them and I was swallowed by a swirling bck hole. I started to hear the voiy parents but something was off as they told me to give in to allow myself to be ed. The st thing I remember is twht lights proteg me and I swear I could hear my mom and dad’s voice tellio never give up and that they’ll alrotect me."

  Merlin listetentively, his gaze filled with a mixture of and uanding. "Your experience is both harrowing and perplexing," he remarked, his voice filled with empathy. "The darkhat surrounds you seems to be iwined with the loss of your family and your world. It is not unon for such traumas to leave a sting mark, but there is more to this darkhahe eye."

  Helios leaned forward, his eyes searg for answers. "What do you mean, Sir? What could be causing this darkness, and how I rid myself of it?" he asked, faking the mixture of hope and desperation in his voice.

  Merlin took a deep breath, his expression grave yet determined. "The answers lie in uanding the nature of darkness itself," he expined. "Darkness is a force that lead to corruption. It is often drawn to pain, loss, despair, aive emotions seeking to exploit those emotions and twist them into somethiructive. Your e to the darkness may stem from the traumatic events you witnessed."

  Helios nodded, abs Merlin's words with a mix of trepidation and resolve. "What must I do, Sir? How I front and overe this darkness?" he inquired.

  Merlin pced a hand on Helios' shoulder, his touch reassuring. "You must let go of the ive emotions and trauma. This however takes time and it is most likely not something that be done soon. The power exists within you but never use it or it shall take trol of you," he replied. "I will o sult some of my books to see if there is a way to help seal that power."

  Helios looked at Merlin, "You seal darkness, Sir? that truly help me be free of it?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

  Merlin's smile widened, filled with a mix of wisdom aement. "As I said I’m not sure I may be able to do so but to truly be rid of it requires the strength of your heart," he answered. "Now enough of that, I will expin to you what those creatures who attacked your world were.”

  Helios nodded, his eyes fixed on Merlin, pretending eager to learn more about the heartless that already had knowledge of. "Please, Sir, tell me about those creatures. Who were they, and why did they attack my world?" he inquired, his voice ced with a sense of anticipation.

  Merlin took a moment to gather his thoughts, his expression growing serious. "The creatures that attacked your world are known as Heartless," he began, his voice carrying a weight of caution. "They are the embodiment of darkness, born from the hearts ed by the shadows. Their purpose is to seek out and devour the light, plunging worlds into darkness."

  "But why did they specifically target my world? Was it random, or was there a reason behind their attack?" Helios pressed, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and a subtle rage.

  Merlin's eyes narrowed, his voice tinged with a somber tohe Heartless are drawn to worlds that possess strong ties to the power of the heart," he expined. "Your world must have had a signifit presence of light as, making it a prime target for the Heartless. They aim to engulf and e the hearts within, spreading darkness and chaos. That man in the bck coat you spoke of must have drawn a few to your world and they brought the rest."

  Helios ched his fists, his anticipation growing stronger. "Then is there a way to restore my world and its people," he asked, his voice filled with resolve.

  Merlin saw Helios’ eagerness and was sad to shake his head as he said, “As of this time I know no way of rest things taken by the heartless.”

  Of course, Helios khat already and he knew how to restore his world but he needed Merlin to feel bad for him to increase his ce of getting a positive respoo his questiohen said, "If I ’t bring them back then I want to learn how to fight back, to be able to find what remains and protect it. If I survived then there may be others who did too, so please Sir you help me? You seem powerful you teach me to fight to prevent them from harming those I care about."

  Merlin observed Helios carefully, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and caution. "Your strength of heart is endable, Helios," he said, aowledging the siy of Helios' request. "To stand against the Heartless, you will o embrace the power of your ow and wield the power of light. I guide you and provide you with the knowledge and training necessary to front them, but I must warn you, that the path you seek is perilous and fraught with challenges."

  Helios nodded, his resolve unwavering. "I uand, Sir. I am willing to face whatever challenges lie ahead. I want to protect those I care about and prevent further harm from befalling our worlds," he decred, his voice filled with determination.

  Merlin's smile widened, his eyes refleg a mix of mentorship and support. "Very well, Helios. Your jouro bee a wizard begins now," he affirmed. "But remember, the power of magies with great responsibility. You must learn to trol it and wield it with a heart of pure goodness."

  Helios nodded, his gaze fixed on Merlin, ready to absorb every lesson and guidance. "I will do my best, Sir. Please teach me," he requested, his voice filled with gratitude and eagerness.