Land of Departure

The Land of Departure is a world in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. It is the original "hub" world of Kingdom Hearts 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 qualify for their Mark of Mastery.

Setting
The Land of Departure is one of few special worlds in the Kingdom Hearts universe that is located between the Realm of Light and the Realm of Darkness. The Land of Departure has physical qualities of several major worlds from the Kingdom Hearts series. The Land of Departure is shown in 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 resemblance to Twilight Town's clock tower. 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.

During Terra's scenario, he defeats Master Eraqus for trying to kill Ventus. While Eraqus is speaking with Terra, he is slain by Master Xehanort. Xehanort then blasts an orb of darkness into the sky, similar to the one that destroyed the Destiny Islands in Kingdom Hearts, causing the Land of Departure becomes shrouded in darkness and 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 Ventus in the middle throne and, using Eraqus's Keyblade, activates the device which transforms the Land of Departure into Castle Oblivion. She then leaves Ventus in a chamber, known now as the Chamber of Waking, which strongly mirrors a chamber in Hollow Bastion, the Chamber of Repose.

Trivia

 * The Land of Departure is one of three worlds to be known by two different names, the others being Radiant Garden and Keyblade Graveyard.
 * In order to complete the Trinity Archives in the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, be it Terra or Aqua, the player must at one point in the storyline return to the Land of Departure and locate the treasure chests before it is destroyed by Master Xehanort. Otherwise, these chests cannot be opened and the Report will remain incomplete. This is rectified in the English and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix versions of the game, where the Land of Departure remains intact afterwards for the battle with Unknown. However, the Forecourt area cannot be visited and the player cannot enter through its Save Point. Only the mountain areas can be visited.