#khbc

After Luxu left, the Master individually met with the other apprentices – the Foretellers. Ira was the first among them. As the eldest and de facto leader of the Foretellers, much to Aced’s disappointment, he was trusted and respected. They all looked to him for guidance. This didn’t escape the Master’s eye. In fact, he found his status among them intriguing – so much that he officially appointed Ira to lead the Foretellers in a long letter. Despite how massive of an undertaking that was, but he didn’t seem to mind.

The end of the letter, which was full of details and notes about his role, had a request for him to meet with the Master at Daybreak’s Peak during the next morning. When he arrived, he found the Master standing at the edge of the peak. It overlooked all seven of the districts in Daybreak which surrounded the city’s massive Clock Tower. Although the air was misty, the morning sun shone vibrantly over the horizon. Without turning to face him the Master asked, “So, did you look through the letter I sent you?”

“Yes. It was rather lengthy. But I’m still analyzing it.” Ira replied.

The Master finally turned to face him. “Wow. No quick skim for you, huh?”

“I just prefer to be thorough.” Ira clenched his fists. “Master, is what you said in that letter – you know, about you leaving – is that true?”

“Oh, yeah that. Bummer, huh?” the Master replied, turning back to the sunrise. “By the way, whenever I do suddenly disappear, I’m counting on you to keep the others calm. Okay?”

“Huh? Disappear?” Ira replied, watching as the Master walked to the cliff’s edge and sat.

“Vanish? Dim? Fade? I don’t know how to explain it. Don’t worry about it.”

The Master took a deep breath. “This universe is full of light. It’s comprised of many smaller worlds, all connected, stretching out further than one could imagine. At the core of this universe is the one great light that protects all of existence. Its ethereal light is spread across the universe like streams in an astral river. But in sharing that light, we also share its fate.”

“I take it you’re talking about the Great Heart, the Heart of Kingdoms.”

“Yep. You’re right on the money. People believe that the Great Heart’s light will last forever. But if its light were to disappear, the universe would be enveloped in darkness.”

Ira nodded. “I understand. That’s why you’ve granted us the keyblades. With them, we can spread the teachings of light and protect the Great Heart from the –”

The Master cut him off. “No. They’re not for protecting the Great Heart.”

He stood up, dusting off his back, then looked over his shoulder. “They exist for another purpose.”

“But isn’t it our duty to protect the Great Heart from the darkness?”

“Nah, not possible” the Master said then stretched his arms above his head. “Do you really think that thing can be protected by just seven people? Listen, what’s important is that we focus on what comes after – you know, assuming the worst-case scenario comes to pass.”

“But we have to at least try! With enough Guardians we could –”

The Master cut him off again. “Well, if you wanna give it a shot…”

“Yes.” Ira valiantly nodded.

The Master turned from the cliff’s viewpoint and walked toward Ira. As he passed by, he tapped Ira on his shoulder and chuckled.

The Master of Masters, an enigmatic genius inventor, presided over the world Daybreak – a beautiful and vibrant world separate from the lanes connecting all the worlds beyond. Prior to the birth of Daybreak, the Master created a sentient book called the Book of Prophecies. Its sole purpose was to observe, record, and archive all aspects of existence throughout time. So, he placed the book somewhere it could perform its duties undisturbed – a place no one, not even himself, could easily access. Even so, he kept a link to the book via his Gazing Eye; his own eye that he implanted on his keyblade. But even that vanished in time.

The Master used the Book’s descriptions to create various machinations such as the World Replicas, the Chirithy, and even keyblades. It was all part of his objective to “protect what comes after”. At the heart of this objective were his six apprentices Ira, Aced, Gula, Invi, Luxu, and Ava. He taught and trained them until they mastered keyblade. He then instructed his apprentices, whom he called the Foretellers, to form unions that each would preside over. Their objective was to train prospective guardians to protect the worlds beyond from the darkness and cleanse their corruption.

Unfortunately, the Master wouldn’t be around. For some reason, he strangely disappeared without a trace. Before that, he left each of his apprentices with important objectives of which they were instructed not to disclose to the others. Luxu, his most valued apprentice, was the first to be given his objectives. Luxu arrived at The Master’s chamber wearing a smaller version of The Master’s black coat that only he was given. The reason was never clear.

“But why am I the only one who doesn’t get a flashy robe?” Lux asked him.

“Because I said so, humph!” The Master replied, childishly folding his arms. “Also, I ran out of ideas for designs. But don’t get all mopey about it. I think it suits you.”

The Master threw his arm around Luxu’s shoulder. “Look! Now we’re twins!”

“Uh huh…” Luxu then replied, unconvinced.

The Master sat at his desk flipping through an alchemy book. He turned to Luxu and spoke, “…so that makes you the indispensable number seven”.

Confused, Luxu blankly stared. The Master stood from his seat then held out his hand. Streaks of electricity writhed in his palm, and then a black and silver keyblade appeared. He handed it off to Luxu who couldn’t help but notice the strange eye implanted near the tip. Before he could ask about it, the Master tapped the keyblade’s sharp edge and chanted “Behold, the Gazing Eye!”

“The Gazing Eye? So, that’s the name of this keyblade then?”

“That’s not what it’s called. Hmm...come to think of it, it doesn’t have a name.”

Luxu examined the keyblade, gliding his hand across it. “No name, huh…”

“Well, gazing or not…” the Master sighed, titling his head back. “That keyblade does have an eye in it – my eye, to be exact”.

“Ew!” Luxu winced in disgust.

“Oh, you think that’s GROSS do ya!?” the Master shouted, somewhat annoyed. “Anyway, about your objective. I need you to pass down that ‘nameless’ keyblade to your apprentice, and then them to theirs, so that I can observe the future as it unfolds.”

“Observe? Wait, does this have something to do with the Book of Prophecies?”

The Master smirked. “Bingo! Since my link to the Book was severed, I can’t see its archives. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen next – well, not entirely. The Book doesn’t dictate fate – it only records what it sees. So, by my telling you this, you’ve already succeeded. That means you found an apprentice, passed down that handsome keyblade, and fulfilled your objective! Congratulations!”

The Master clapped hysterically, ignoring Luxu’s confused face.

(Why’s he all giddy and proud? I haven’t even done anything yet.)

“Unfortunately…” The Master clasped his hands then stretched his arms. “You’ll be on your own from here on out. Nothing to keep you company except for that keyblade and –”

The Master suddenly slapped his fist into his palm.

“Right! I completely forgot. Hold on a sec.”

The Master rose from his seat. He pulled a large and dusty black chest from underneath his desk, then dragged it to the center of the room. It had strange red and silver symbols all round its sides, and a large symbol with arrows pointing in every which way on its lid.

The Master cleared his throat. “As I was saying, it’ll just be you, that keyblade, and this chest. Once you’re completely out of sight, all you have to do from then on is watch with your own eyes – and my eye, of course – as things unfold. Then when the time is right, go off and do your thing.”

“What’s in it?”

The Master began to giggle uncontrollably.

“It’s a secret. And, well, you see, the thing is…you can never open it!” he said, nonsensically, then slapped his hand onto Luxu’s right shoulder. “Buuuut since I’m feeling generous, I’ll indulge you. This secret stays between us though, and you have to promise to never open the chest.”

Luxu nodded. The Master leaned in and quietly whispered into his ear. Luxu hung on to every word. The realization of what lay inside the box shook him to his very core. He stared at the man he admired and followed, bewildered, then asked “But why?!”

The Master smirked while staring him in the eyes. “You’ll see…”

Day #24 "What is life but the crumbs of bread?"