(no subject)
Quiet research in the library. The young apprentice, hard at work, didn't notice anything was up until a voice sounded above his shoulder.
"Xehanort, I would like a word."
He whipped around. "Master?" he asked, voice a little concerned.
Ansem shook his head. "That's what I want to talk to you about. Come."
They walked through the castle, to Ansem's study, to the window. Below them, the beauty of Radiant Garden's buildings and waterways stretched onwards to the city walls.
"One day, I will be gone. But this world I have made will go on, and I will require a successor."
He looked over. "And I want it to be you."
"Me?!" Xehanort sputtered. "But - why? I'm just an apprentice..."
"Not just. You're smart, quick-witted - ever since I've known you, you have been able to adjust to anything and learn everything. What's more, I trust you to continue my research - while I trust the knowledge in the hands of the others, when their time comes, they will leave here. Even Ienzo will.
You are the best hope I have."
Xehanort couldn't reply for a moment, as he took it in. "I see," he eventually whispered, quietly.
"You understand."
"I do. I'd just - never expected this." What had he expected from life, though? He'd never really thought about it. If he had at all, it'd vaguely involved growing up, finishing his apprenticeship and moving away, going off to do some field research for a while, perhaps... settling down in the end, somewhere, taking on an apprentice of his own. Not this.
"This won't be easy. There is much you will have to learn. But I have confidence in you."
"Alright - " he span words around in his head for a moment, finally settling on simply " - Ansem."
The pair shared a tiny, nervous smile.
"Xehanort, I would like a word."
He whipped around. "Master?" he asked, voice a little concerned.
Ansem shook his head. "That's what I want to talk to you about. Come."
They walked through the castle, to Ansem's study, to the window. Below them, the beauty of Radiant Garden's buildings and waterways stretched onwards to the city walls.
"One day, I will be gone. But this world I have made will go on, and I will require a successor."
He looked over. "And I want it to be you."
"Me?!" Xehanort sputtered. "But - why? I'm just an apprentice..."
"Not just. You're smart, quick-witted - ever since I've known you, you have been able to adjust to anything and learn everything. What's more, I trust you to continue my research - while I trust the knowledge in the hands of the others, when their time comes, they will leave here. Even Ienzo will.
You are the best hope I have."
Xehanort couldn't reply for a moment, as he took it in. "I see," he eventually whispered, quietly.
"You understand."
"I do. I'd just - never expected this." What had he expected from life, though? He'd never really thought about it. If he had at all, it'd vaguely involved growing up, finishing his apprenticeship and moving away, going off to do some field research for a while, perhaps... settling down in the end, somewhere, taking on an apprentice of his own. Not this.
"This won't be easy. There is much you will have to learn. But I have confidence in you."
"Alright - " he span words around in his head for a moment, finally settling on simply " - Ansem."
The pair shared a tiny, nervous smile.