The Heartless never quite reached them. Oh, it tried, certainly, pitching and weaving in midair like it was drunk, or too exhausted to keep its altitude. By the time it managed to get close to them, though, it was just..... breaking to pieces. Dissolving, as everything that held it together unraveled. It wasn't nearly as quick and neat as any typical spell--this was like pinning an enemy down and casting continuous Fire spells until it was nothing but ash and cinders. This was like holding someone underwater until they drowned, kicking and fighting the whole time, or cutting them open and watching them bleed to death.

Xikkuyo was devouring them alive, in the most basic way possible, and she could see absolutely nothing wrong with that. This hungry plague that had descended over her town..... what was more fitting than the hunters becoming the hunted, than prey taking back what was rightfully theirs? This was the right thing to do. This was good.

It took a moment for Xikkuyo to realize there was nothing left to take, by the time the Heartless had broken down entirely. Her mind was buzzing, nerves singing with the surge of stolen power. But there wasn't anything left to fight..... Xikkuyo let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and turned to hurry back to Axel's side, thoughtlessly turning some of the power loose once more like opening a cage full of doves. The breath of wind that caressed him was warm and sweet, and the glow of magic that seeped into him gentle and soothing, just like any Cure spell ought to be.

For her mentor, she had no reason to be anything but nurturing; the expression of concern was one she readily knew how to wear. "Are you alright?"