Helinized Cid immediately as he walked out of the door. He had pyed the Kingdom Hearts game and was familiar with Cid's role as the gummi ship engihe man Cid would be responsible for building gummi ships that allowed Sora and the gang to travel through space to reach other worlds. However, sihis was their first time meeting in person, Helios decided to act like a stranger and not reveal his prior knowledge.

  Helios approached Cid with a polite smile. "Hello there! I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've met before. My name is Helios. I’m o this pd I currently live here."

  Cid raised an eyebrow, eyeing Helios with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Huh, guess that expins why I’ve never seen you around before, kid. I'm Cid, resident stist."

  Helios nodded and smiled at Cid’s bragging. Besides gummi ships, Cid was also versed with teology and puters a skill Helios cked so befriending him would be useful. "Wow, it’s a pleasure to meet someone as great as you, sir. If you’re looking for Merlin, he headed out this m, and said he would be batil te in the night."

  Cid's expression softened slightly as he listeo Helios. "Merlin, huh? Yeah, he's always off doing his own thing. 't say I'm surprised. Well, thanks for the heads up, kid. I needed his help but I guess I'll just have to tinker around until he gets back."

  Helios nodded uandingly. "Well I’m here and if you need any help with anything, I'm pretty handy with tools and teology. I'd be happy to assist you if you'd like sir."

  Cid's eyes narrowed, studying Helios ily. "You've got some skills, huh? Well, I could use ara pair of hands around here. Alright, kid, show me what you've got."

  Cid told Helios to follow him as he walked toward the castle in the ter of the town. This castle beloo Ahe Wise and it was where he and his apprentices ducted their experiments. Most importantly it was the current location of Xehanort.

  ‘I think it’s a bit early to head to the castle, but this is the best ce to create a reason for being able to ehe castle ter iure. I’ll just do my best to avoid drawing too much attention to myself,’ though Helios.

  When they arrived at the castle two men were guarding the entrand blocked it with their ons an axe and a spear. They wrey uniforms with white cuffs and a red heart on the chest. There were blue hearts on the cuffs of both of their gloves.

  The man holding the axe had very angur and stroures, with a square , straight nose, and sharp cheekbones. He had blue eyes and somewhat small eyebrows. His hair was ginger and slicked bato messy spikes.

  The man holding the spear had hair that was bd worn in long dreadlocks. Most of his dreads were tied into a low ponytail, but one dangling over the right side of his face. He also had thick sideburns, thick eyebrows, and violet eyes.

  “Hold, state your business,” said the man holding the axe.

  “Really, Aeleus you see me every other day. Do ya gotta ask me this questioime?” asked an irritated Cid.

  “State your business,” repeated the man named Aeleus.

  “It’ll go faster if you just do it,” said the other man holding the spear.

  “Sure, Din I’m here because your boss demanded me to e fix up a broken puter. This here is Helios he’ll be assistioday,” answered Cid.

  “You may both pass. Do as Master Ansem asks and leave,” said Aeleus.

  “Sure, whatever. e on, kid,” Cid said, striding ahead.

  “O…oh yes, sorry. I’m ing,” Helios replied, hurrying to catch up with Cid.

  For a moment, Helios had spaced out, looking at the real-life versions of Aeleus and Din who would ter lose their hearts. They would bee superior nobodies of the anization Lexaeus who had the epitaph of The Taciturn Stalwart and Xaldin who had the epitaph of The Whirlwind Lancer.

  As Helios followed Cid into the castle, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and intrigue. The realization that he was standing before individuals who would ter bee key figures in the enigmatic anization XIII made him feel something he couldn’t expin.

  Ihe castle, Helios and avigated through the corridors until they reached a spacious chamber filled with various maery and equipment. In the ter of the room stood a rge puter sole, its s dispying plex diagrams and data.

  o the mae was a young man with dirty blond hair, that was long with two slightly shorter bangs that framed his face. He also had rather rge, bright green eyes. He wore a long white b coat, grey vest, white colred shirt, and a purple ascot. He also seemed to wearing bck pants and silver-lined boots.

  “Sup Even. So whatcha got for me this time?” asked Cid

  “Ah yes. I suppose I should respond with a ‘sup’ too yes. Regardless the main puter seems to be having some problems, so Master Ansem requested that I call you.” said Even

  Helios observed the iion, noting the professional and cordial atmosphere of the room. He stood by, ready to assist Cid with whatever was needed.

  Cid leaned over the puter sole, examining the diagrams and data on the s. "Alright, let's take a look at this problem then," he muttered to himself. Helios watched, intrigued by the intricate teology at py and Cid's skilled expertise.

  Even turned his attention to Helios. "And who might you be young man? I'm Even I suppose it's o meet you. I hahe teical aspects around here."

  Helios nodded, extending his hand in a friendly gesture. "Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Even. My name is Helios. I'm here to assist Cid in any way I ."

  Even shook Helios' hand with a smile. "My what a polite young ma's see if we get this puter ba w order."

  As Cid and Even delved into the teical issues of the puter, Helios observed, abs as much as he could about their methods and troubleshooting process. It was a valuable learning experience, and he couldn't help but marvel at the advaeology that Ansem and his apprentices had at their disposal.

  After a period of intense focus, Cid straightened up and grinned. "There we go! Fixed it. Just needed a bit of tinkering."

  Even chuckled, relieved. "Excellent work, Cid. Your skills are as reliable as ever."

  Cid waved it off with a grin. "No big deal. Just doing what I do best."

  Helios hadn’t done much but hold what Cid told him to hold and type whatever Cid instructed. As they ed up, Cid turo Helios. "You're a handy oo have around. Thanks for the help, kid."

  Helios smiled warmly. "It was my pleasure. I like doing things like this so if you ever need help then I'm always up for a challenge."

  Evan chimed in, his curiosity was evident. "You mentioned earlier that you're o this pce. Where are you from?"

  Helios preteo hesitate for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I... don't remember much about my past. It's all a bit hazy. But I've been staying with Merlin, trying to find my pce."

  Evan nodded uandingly. "Well, we're a diverse bunch here, all with our own stories. You're wele among us, Helios."

  Cid cpped a hand on Helios' shoulder. "Hey now, don’t go poag Merlin’s little helper without his permission. Besides, if the kid’s gonna join anybody it's gotta be me right kid?"

  AnnouI'll be busy tomorrow so I'll go ahead and upload tomorrow's chapter today.