"Ugh, back in here again," a deep voice, which I assumed belonged to the uncooperative prisoner, sighed. "What's wrong with a man taking a walk every now and then, hm?"
Braska, I thought. You had better know what you are doing…
I heard all the warrior monks kneel and bow to Lord Braska as he entered the room.
"Who are you?" asked the captive.
"You are the one they call Jecht, the man from Zanarkand, are you not?" Braska inquired.
"What of it?" he replied.
I burst into the room. "Watch your tongue, knave!"
Braska shot me a sort of "let-me-handle-this" look, then turned back to Jecht. "Ah, my apologies. I am Braska, a summoner. I've come to take you from this place."
Jecht stood up from the rotting wooden bench within the cell. "Hmm. Sounds sweet. What's the catch?"
Braska chuckled. "That easy to see, was it? I soon leave on a pilgrimage… to Zanarkand."
Jecht looked excited. "Seriously?"
Braska nodded. "Mm. I would like you to join us. It will be a dangerous trip. Yet, if we do reach Zanarkand… my prayers will be answered, and you will be able to go home, we think. What say you?"
"Great! Let's go!" Jecht shouted.
"Hm. So quick?"
"Tch, anything to get outta here!"
"Then it's settled," Braska declared.
"But I must protest!" I exclaimed. "This drunkard, a guardian?"
"Hey! You wanna step in here and say that?" Jecht threatened. I shot Braska a reluctant look.
"What does it matter? No one truly believes that I, a fallen summoner wed to an Al Bhed, could possibly defeat Sin. This is what they say. No one expects us to succeed."
"Braska—sir…" I tried again.
"Let's show them they're wrong," he said, determination building in his voice. "A fallen summoner, a man from Zanarkand, and a warrior monk, doomed to obscurity for refusing the hand of the priest's daughter. What delightful irony it would be if we defeated Sin!"
"Stop gabbin' and get me outta here!" Jecht yelled.
I sighed, in no way attempting to disguise my disapproval as Braska nodded to the closest guard. He also shot him a wary look, but unlocked the cell anyway.
Jecht stepped out and rubbed his wrists. "Ahh, free at last!"
"Now, Jecht," Braska said, more seriously. "I am in your hands until we reach Zanarkand."
"Right, right," he nodded, seeming to be only half-listening. "So, what's a summer-ner, anyway?"
I sighed again, in annoyance this time, as we left the room containing the cells, Braska attempting to explain a summoner's duty to Jecht.
"Hey, Auron!" I heard just before we left the temple. I turned around to see Kinoc running toward me. "Auron, can we talk for a moment?"
I looked back at Braska, who nodded. I turned back to Kinoc. "Yes," I said.
"Come, to our headquarters," he said, signaling me to follow him.
I threw one more glance back at Braska and Jecht, who were still conversing by the doors, before I took off after Kinoc. He led me to an area out behind the temple.
"So, I hear you are to leave?" he asked.
"Mm," I nodded. "Thanks for everything, Kinoc."
"I know I don't need to tell you this, but guard Lord Braska well."
"That I will," I assured him. "And you'll be busy, too. I heard they made you second in command."
Kinoc sighed. "You know that promotion was meant for you. You were always the better one, even until the end."
I snorted. "You make it sound as if I was going to die or something. I will see you again."
"Yes."
"Well, then…"
"Going already?"
I nodded.
He returned with a nod of his own. "You will tell me about Zanarkand when you return, won't you?"
"Mm." I nodded again. "Farewell."
I left him standing there and found my way back to Braska and Jecht.
"I think I get it now…" Jecht said. "So, we're going on a trip, then?"
I shot Braska an inquiring look.
"It was the best way I could explain it," he said with a shrug. "Let us be off, then."
"Hey, can't we wait a day or so?" Jecht begged. "Lemme get the prison smell offa myself, or at least take a nap in a decent bed?"
I sighed. "Lord Braska, we really should get a move on."
"I think we can stay one more night," he said. "We'll all go back to my house. And tomorrow, he can freshen up… maybe meet Yuna."
"As you wish," I said, nodding.
With that, we proceeded back to Braska's home and all rested for the night.
:::
The following morning, we paid Braska's surprised sister a visit.
"Father!" Yuna said, running to him and hugging him. "I thought you said you were leaving!"
"I am, Yuna," he said. "Just not until tonight. I wanted you to meet the man who's coming with Auron and me. Jecht!" he called over his shoulder. "Come here, please."
"Eh?" Jecht said, walking over to Braska. "What is it?"
"Wow," Yuna said, looking up at him. "You have a very big picture on your chest."
"Yeah, guess I do," Jecht said, shrugging.
"What's it of?" she asked.
"That," Jecht replied, "is the symbol of the best blitzball team in Zanarkand, the Zanarkand Abes!"
"Really?" Yuna gasped.
"You betcha," Jecht nodded. "And I'm their star player!"
"Star player," I echoed in sarcastic disbelief. "I don't believe the star player of any team would get so drunk as to have himself thrown in prison. I'll believe it when I see it."
"You wanna see it, Auron?" he said. "Fine. Anyone got a blitzball around here?"
Yuna picked up a blitzball that happened to by lying on the ground and threw it to Jecht.
"Well thank you, little lady," he said, giving her a little bow. She smiled and folded her hands in front of her, a slight blush creeping over her already rosy cheeks.
"Come on, outside," he said. Braska and I exchanged a look, and we all followed him out into the street.
"Could any run-of-the-mill blitzer do this?" he asked. He kicked the ball against the house, kicked it as it came back, bopped it with his head, then hit it once more. The blitzball then soared up into the air, and he jumped up after it. He spun around rapidly, to the point where we could hear the sound of air rushing over his body, and then kicked it far off into the distance.
"WOW!" Yuna exclaimed. "Sir Jecht, that was amazing!"
"Thank you, little lady," he said, smirking triumphantly. "I call it, 'The Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III.' Catchy title, ain't it?"
"Sir Jecht?" Braska asked, looking over at him.
"Yeah?"
"Would you entertain us all with a story or two about Zanarkand?"
"Of course!" he replied, sitting down. "Gather 'round and listen good, 'cause I ain't repeatin' this. Zanarkand is a city that never sleeps, full of lights, games, and every sound you could imagine…"