Introspection Through Destruction

[Prythian]

((Taking liberties with the charge time for my ability, of course.

July 23rd.))

CRACK!

The sound rang out as the large rock shattered into many tiny pieces from the mighty blow Lexaeus gave it with Skysplitter. His training was proceeding faster than normal. He was channeling all of his energy into training to avoid thinking about what Zexion and Vexen had ended up doing to him.

Both of them fools. He had been aware of Vexen's foolishness, but he had TRUSTED Zexion. And Zexion had broken that trust and ignored his advice in addition to that.

Lexaeus grit his teeth. Rock and water was all that surrounded him, and the near-frustration filled him. "HAH!" He cried out as he felt a surge of power, throwing Skysplitter forwards.

The sound of breaking rocks filled the air as Skysplitter broke through two more rocks ahead of him, then flew off in a different direction. Another loud crack, and Skysplitter returned to him, the black-and-red aura surrounding him as he breathed.

[Aerith]

I only wish to talk.
--------

Corridors of Darkness were wonderful things. They certainly made familiarizing herself with new worlds much easier.

This particular world was lush with vegetation and wildlife. A moist, earthy smell combined with the smell of sea-salt permeated the air. It was all very nice, if wilderness appealed to you.

The silence did not hold for very long. From where she stood on the sandy shore, Alanix could see the shape of Lexaeus out on the grey rocks. He looked to be training, obviously preparing for the fight against the Champion.

What to do about that? She could not fight on the side of the Champion, not so soon after joining the Organization. Well. She would have to cross that bridge when she came to it.

In the meantime, she wondered if Lexaeus might talk to her. Just in case, she made sure to shift her elemental resistance to earth. No need to sustain serious injury outside the real fight that would take place two days from now.

A Corridor opened on a nearby rock, well within Lexaeus' line of sight. She wouldn't risk going closer until he let her know that was acceptable.

[Summary:
Alanix used Shifting Soul; innate element shifted to earth.
Posts until next use: 3
Uses remaining: 4]

[Prythian]

The sounds of rocks crumbling faded away into some mere pebbles rolling about as Lexaeus ceased his attacks on the defenseless stone. He turned towards the Corridor, holding Skysplitter downwards against the ground as he waited. He wasn't aware if this was another Organization member or some other darkness user, but his strength was full and he trusted in his own strength.

If it was another Organization member, that wasn't entirely unexpected, considering what he now was.

[Aerith]

...So...hi.
--------

Alanix stepped out of the Corridor to find Lexaeus looking in her direction. She waited a moment, thinking he might say something, but then decided she should say something first. That was when she realized she was not sure how to properly address him. Was he still Lexaeus now that he was the leader? Or was there some title involved?

The next thing that struck her was the fact that she had no idea how to start this conversation.

Small-talk was perhaps best. "I have not been able to properly meet you yet. Though, I have not been able to properly meet any of the other members." She paused. "I seem to have joined the Organization in the middle of a quite tumultuous time."

[Prythian]

Skysplitter vanished as Lexaeus considered her words. "The Organization was not always like this." He remarked. "And the Organization needs all the strength it can get during this time." He shook his head. "A truly dangerous turn of events for us all." He crossed his arms as he looked at her, wondering what brought her here.

Then he realized she probably wouldn't anticipate his thoughts as easily as the other members did.

"What brings you to this place?"

[Aerith]

Forgive my confusion.
--------

Alanix could relax a little when that great weapon of his was gone. She made a mental note never to get into a fight with this one. Hopefully, she could keep her alliance with the Champion from forcing her into said fight.

"I have not traveled the worlds for very long, and I felt it necessary to familiarize myself with as many as possible before I go on very many missions."

She paused. "Perhaps you could explain things to me a little better. Why is there so much chaos in the Organization right now? If all was orderly under the old leader, why did... all of this happen?"

[Prythian]

Lexaeus closed his eyes, mentally sighing. "Zexion claimed that the Superior was not loyal to our goal. If he spoke the truth, then there was no choice but to remove him. However, the timing of it was ill-planned. Zexion knew ahead of his destruction of Xemnas that the Champion would appear. With his hasty actions, we have lost a significant amount of power." Lexaeus shook his head again. "I am not so sure if Zexion spoke the truth or not."

[Aerith]

Trust is a fragile thing.
--------

Zexion had been the primary one responsible for this? Even though Alanix knew nothing about the former Superior, she also knew that people in high places should not be removed carelessly. Although... what if she and the other women of the temple had attempted to remove Muriel from power before the Heartless came? Perhaps the Heartless would never have appeared.

Playing the what-if game was useless now. And these were different circumstances. Still, perhaps Zexion should not be as trusted as much as she had originally thought. He had apparently hidden his actions from Lexaeus.

"I see. That was, indeed, not very wise. And you don't trust Zexion? Do you think he has a reason to lie about that?"

[Prythian]

"I did trust Zexion." Lexaeus answered her. "He was the member I trusted most of all in the entire Organization. Yet he used me to convince the Superior of a lie and did not tell me he was planning this." The only person he had trusted as much in the Organization had been the Superior. Now he simply didn't know what to think.

[Aerith]

This is the most enlightening conversation I've had with an Organization member so far.
--------

Betrayal. She was very familiar with that. Not from personal experience, except in the case of Muriel, but she had seen what betrayal could create within the upper echelons of society.

"Why would he do that, though? If you trusted him, surely, he must have trusted you." The question was mostly rhetorical, but if he chose to answer it, she wouldn't mind.

Another question came to mind, however. And this one, she did want an answer to. "What about that red-headed Nobody? Axel, yes? I think you mentioned that he was a traitor." She was going to leave it at that, but then she decided to tack on one last observation. "He gave me a strange look when he entered the room. But I've never met him before."

[Prythian]

"Axel is an unknown." Lexaeus explained. "He has betrayed several people several times. Ultimately, he may be loyal to the Organization's goals. I cannot afford to dismiss the power that he holds." He looked thoughtful for a moment, briefly closing his eyes again as was his habit. "Axel had a connection with the previous number XIII. At some point you should learn of the Organization's history."

[Aerith]

The most important question is...
--------

Well, that was an unexpected answer. Axel had betrayed multiple times, but apparently, he was too valuable an asset to punish right now. She wished Lexaeus had given more detail on this connection to the previous Thirteen. Wait. Zexion had said the previous Thirteen had been the Nobody of that Keyblade Master. Perhaps that was a significant part of the connection.

She nodded. "I'm sure it would help alleviate the confusion greatly if I knew more about the Organization's history."

Might as well go out on a limb. "Do you think we can win this fight?"

[Prythian]

"...The Organization teamed up with the warriors of light stationed in Radiant Garden..." Lexaeus stood still for a short period of time, lost in thought. "This will be one of the first times such force is ever arrayed against a single person. I have a hard time believing that any person could hold up against such power. And yet..."

Lexaeus shook his head. "The Champion is like no one that has appeared before. He is the greatest unknown variable. The amount of power he holds is unknown, yet we know he holds more than any other that has appeared before us. I have small doubts... but I do have doubts."

[Aerith]

There are only so many of us.
--------

"I see. Doubts are understandable. From what I hear, the Champion is not someone to be taken lightly."

She looked out at the ocean for a long moment. She was doing the right thing, wasn't she? If there was no more balance, then she could never get her heart back. And she wanted, needed her heart back.

"These people from Radiant Garden... are they all Keybladers, as well? How are we to defend so many?"

[Prythian]

"They are not Keybladers. They can, however, take care of themselves." Lexaeus said, shaking his head again. "There is uncountable strength in numbers. The greatest priority shall be to defeat the Champion, with a secondary priority of protecting any Keybladers that stand with us from him. However, I don't doubt that one of the Keybladers there will be Sora. He once nearly took down the Organization with only his friends. He is... formidable."

Lexaeus paused. "He would not have succeeded had the Organization stood as a whole against him as it plans to do against the Champion."