Land of Departure

The Land of Departure (旅立ちの地) is a World that will be featured in the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. It is the original "hub" world of Birth by Sleep, similar to Kingdom Hearts ' s Traverse Town, Kingdom Hearts II ' s Hollow Bastion, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days ' s The World That Never Was, and Kingdom Hearts coded ' s Disney Castle. It is in this world that Keyblade apprentices take their Master Qualification Exam.

Setting
The Land of Departure has physical qualities of several major worlds from the Kingdom Hearts series. The Land of Departure is shown in recent artwork to be set high in grassy mountains, surrounded by flowing water. The building itself decreases in width as it reaches the ground, tall spires protruding from the roof. Two lengths of golden chain connect the castle to twin peaks. Similarly to Twilight Town, there is one major building in this world's render; the main building also bears a resemblence to Twilight Town's clocktower. Like Radiant Garden, this world also has a circular area in the middle of it, with a large building overhead.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Not only is the Land of Departure the place where Keyblade apprentices take their Master Qualification Exam, but it is also where friends Terra, Ventus, and Aqua first make note of the Paopu fruit's legacy. Knowing they would be split up during a great adventure, Aqua distributes tokens to her fellow Keyblade apprentices, stating that through them they will always be together. However, only Aqua and Terra take their exam here, as Ventus will not be ready.

After Terra defeats/kills Master Eraqus, Master Xenahort summons a giant orb of darkness that makes the Land of Departure becomes shrouded in darkness. Because of this most of the castle is destroyed. After Ventus loses his heart and falls into a comatose state, Aqua returns to the destroyed castle with Ventus, carrying him on her back. She places Ven in the middle throne and, using Eraqus' Keyblade, transforms the Land of Departure into Castle Oblivion and leaves Ven in a chamber, known now as the Chamber of Waking, which strongly mirrors a chamber in Hollow Bastion, the Champer of Repose.