Mark of Mastery exam
I haven't quite got the fine points down, like...when, or where... It just kinda kicks in whenever it wants to.
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The Master Qualification Exam is an event debuting in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a test for those strong of heart that have been chosen by the Keyblade to become Keyblade masters. The Exam is taken by both Terra and Aqua, their friend Ventus not allowed to participate. As stated by Tetsuya Nomura, apprentices of Keyblade masters that pass the test have one of two choices, allowed to take on their own apprentices and reshape their world to one more of their liking as Master Eraqus did, or strike out on their own as Master Xehanort chose to do. Should one choose to embark on their own journey, many different paths open up to them.
Story
After an intense evening of training, Terra and Aqua arrived before Master Eraqus, their friend Ventus eagerly looking on. Eraqus announcing that his old colleague Master Xehanort had come to judge their skills, he then warned Terra and Aqua of the strong heart and will required to pass the test, and that their fate was to be decided through the Exam. As soon as his apprentices were ready, Eraqus proceeded to summon several levitating spheres of light for them to battle, oblivious to the fact that Master Xehanort had manipulated the darkness to make the stationary orbs attack. Ventus joined Terra and Aqua, ignoring orders to return to his room due to danger, as he was looking forward to seeing his friends become masters.
Once the orbs had been destroyed, the second stage of the Master Qualification Exam began. Terra and Aqua engaged themselves in a fierce battle, Terra victorious, as he utilized his darkness to gain the upper hand. When the battle had ended, Eraqus acknowledged Terra's great strength, but chose Aqua to become a Keyblade master due to Terra's reliance on the darkness. Eraqus stating that he expected Terra to try harder the next time, he then told Aqua he would later inform her of her new duties as a Keyblade master, leaving behind a confused Terra, who remained with his friends until deciding he needed to be alone.
After the Exam, Terra found himself contemplating the darkness, his failure to achieve his dream, and that he had the power to withstand the dark. Master Xehanort soon appeared behind him, telling Terra that Eraqus had a great fear of the darkness, and as long as he stuck to his principles, would never allow Terra to become a master. When Terra asked what he must do, Xehanort's response was simply to learn to control the darkness. A strange bell led Terra back inside, where Eraqus had been speaking to Aqua about her new duties. Terra and Aqua told of Master Xehanort's disappearance and the appearance of the strange Unversed, Eraqus promised that depending on how Terra did on his quest to stop the creatures and find Xehanort, he would reconsider his decision of making Terra a master.
Trivia
- King Mickey and Sora are the only two characters to become Keyblade masters without taking the Master Qualification Exam.
