When O'aka of Coral Hill announced that he would be celebrating his one hundred and eleventh birthday with "A party the likes of which has never been seen on Besaid!", it aroused curiosity and excitement.
O'aka had been the wonder of the island for sixty years, ever since his unexpected departure and even more unexpected return. Rumour had it that he had returned with a great wealth of treasures from his travels across Spira and kept them in his peculiar house in the hill which he called his home. This house was an oddity on Besaid as islanders tended to live in huts with thatched roofs as this suited the islands very warm and tropical climate. O'aka however had chosen to live in a house of his own design, a house that seemingly delved deep into the hillside.
If his departure and choice of housing was not baffling enough to the islanders, furthermore O'aka looked remarkable for his age. He remained relatively unchanged and at over one hundred years old, looked much the same as he did at fifty. When asked about this enigma of nature, O'aka would merely laugh heartily and say it was his home grown pipeweed that did the trick, and that he was selling it for a very generous price. Indeed, O'aka had always been fond of pipeweed and it was very characteristic of him to be seen sitting in the peace and quiet enjoying his home grown comfort. His weed was not only a local delicacy but it was also sought after in parts of Kilika and even the city of Luca, and it was not uncommon for merchants to come to Besaid seeking his goods, and he was always happy to sell to them as he took great pride in his leaf and it was good business.
For all that made O'aka a curious being, it did not make him unpopular to the people of Besaid. In fact he was held in very high regard, as he was a generous and kind man, wise and respected. He was also a family man and had two grandchildren, Wantz and O'aka (the twenty-third of his name). His son, also of his name, had joined the crusaders and died in service many years ago. His wife who had already been aged and feeble had not been able to bare the grief of losing her only child and departed to the farplane only days after receiving the news. As painful as it had been for him to lose both his wife and son, he took comfort in the fact that his grandchildren were alive and well, and he loved them as his own sons and made O'aka XXIII his next of kin. He had even offered to take in a young orphan girl that had arrived ten years previously from Bevelle at the beginning of the last calm. She had been accompanied by a Ronso and had been taken in by the temple and raised by the nuns, but the villagers nor the temple forgot his offer of kindness.
The orphan, who was called Yuna, was daughter to High Summoner Braska, the one who had conquered Sin. This had made her a celebrity of sorts on the island, and she was held in high regard by the temple. Even the Ronso seemed impressed with her, as he had opted to stay as a personal guardian of sorts and had remained on the island ever since their arrival. The entire village (and to a lesser extent, the island) had taken this young girl under their care and she was never deprived of help nor affection. She was a bright young girl, and was an eager learner. The temple taught her how to read and write, which is more than can be said for many of the villagers. She became increasingly adept at curative magic and was soon able to aid the temple in its duties to injured travelers and the village. As the years went by she became knowledgeable in Spira's history and her fathers legacy. She approached womanhood quickly, and many commented on her beauty and a determination and ambition which the temple likened to that of her father. Eventually the village began to whisper and speculation concerning her motives and future began to spread. The village which had taken care of her since she was a child had grown fearful, and for good reason. At the tender age of fifteen Yuna announced that she wished to become a summoner, like her father before her. This brought bitter-sweet feelings to the village, it was a great honour to have a summoner from the village, but also a great tragedy as everyone knew what a summoners path meant.
The reactions to her decision were as expected. Her closest friends on the island, two brothers, Wakka and Chappu, as well as a young woman, Lulu, took it the hardest as they were like true siblings to her. The villagers had done much to hide their tears from Yuna, and all the children had failed to do so. For all her intellect and abilities, she had always found it difficult to be the bearer of bad news and see others come to harm because of it. However, both she and the village knew that there was no easy way of saying what had to be said. O'aka had been sad to hear the news himself, although he could not honestly say he was surprised, he just wished that somebody else would do it, and that she would stay on Besaid and live out her life in the service of the temple, with the villagers as her family as she had done the past ten years. He knew that this was not possible and so resigned himself to being the warm and supportive man that was expected of him.
He was sat on his chair made of wicker one evening, gazing out at a red sunset and enjoying a particularly fine blend of his own pipe-weed when Yuna came to him.
"Mister O'aka?" said Yuna, approaching him with the air of somebody who had something terribly difficult to say.
"Yuna! Sweet child! Why don't you come and sit down and have yourself a cup of tea? For you look sorely troubled and I think I have just the thing to raise your spirits!"
Yuna managed a weak smile, although it looked sad. "I am afraid I cannot stay, mister O'aka. But there is something I need to tell you. I..I have decided to become a summoner! Although I fear you may have already heard this from the village, but I wanted to tell you myself." It had troubled Yuna to say this as she had known the man since she had first come to the island and knew he had wanted to take her in as his own. Ever since then they had shared many pots of tea together, discussing her life on the island and her happiness, and she had always been eager to hear the stories of the O'aka's youth, back when he went off gallivanting across Spira with the Al Bhed in search of adventure. She had many friends who she considered family on the island, many of the children she looked at as siblings, and many of the adults her many mothers, fathers, aunties and uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers, but O'aka was different. He was always willing to listen to her and hear her troubles and spend time with her when she needed somebody. He was a true friend and father figure and was truly fond of him. The thought of leaving him behind and never seeing him again, watching a warm sunset together and hearing his counsel over a soothing cup of tea was almost too much for Yuna to bear.
O'aka remained silent for a moment, Indeed he had already heard the news yet he appreciated hearing it from Yuna all the same. Only after breathing in the smoke from his pipe and swirling it around his cavities and felt the sweet taste of his blend and then finally exhaled did he speak again. "Oh Yuna, or should I now address you as Lady Yuna? Why must you choose to burden yourself with such a thing?"
O'aka's obvious display of concern yet lack of strong emotion encouraged Yuna. He had always been very easy to talk to.
"I am not a summoner yet, only an apprentice summoner at the temple. They are all confident that I will be a summoner someday though." said Yuna.
O'aka studied her carefully. He saw fear in her eyes, and in spite of this fear he also saw a burning determination, this satisfied him and he smiled widely. "Then you have my confidence also!" said O'aka.
And so two years went by in Besaid village, although not without incident. One year after Yuna had decided to train to be a summoner she received the news that Chappu had joined the crusaders and been killed defending Djose from Sin. This was a terrible blow to the village, especially to Wakka, who was his brother and to Lulu with whom he had been romantically involved. Whilst Yuna also grieved the loss of her dear friend and brother, it also strengthened her resolve and her determination and her training intensified. O'aka kept an even closer eye on Yuna as he watched her progress in her training, knowing that the day was fast approaching where she would be ready to pray before the Fayth in the hopes of being declared a true summoner and be able to begin her pilgrimage. Finally, another year or so later talk in the village became full of speculation and rumour, and talk of Yuna being ready to face the Fayth began to spread. This was confirmed one fine morning when O'aka was awoken by a frantic knocking at his door.
"Hold your chocobo's and let an old man get to his door!" he said. As he opened his door he saw a red faced looking Yuna, bent over and breathing heavily.
"My apologies mister O'aka!" replied Yuna, looking flushed and out of breath. "I ran all the way here, the priests say I am ready to pray to the Fayth!"
"That is indeed excellent news!" said O'aka. He gestured for her to come inside. "Please do come in!" Yuna sat down and he poured them both tea. O'aka took a deep draft from his mug before speaking.
"So you feel you are prepared for the trial?"
"Yes. I believe I am truly ready to begin." said Yuna, over her own mug. O'aka looked at her thoughtfully.
"Have you decided who will be your guardians yet?" asked O'aka, although he already had an idea of who she would be taking with her.
"Yes. Kimahri, Lulu and Wakka." said Yuna. O'aka smiled, he had thought as much, although he not been so sure about Wakka who as he remembered was a Blitzball player and the opening tournament in Luca was drawing near.
"So Wakka is to be your guardian despite his other commitments?" O'aka asked. Yuna had set her mug down and a look of sadness crossed her face.
"He had intended to play this year but Wakka has decided to retire from Blitzball. He learned about Chappu's death in Luca last year during the tournament. Blitzball was something that they had always done together and Wakka had always hoped that Chappu would come back and play again one day. But now.." Yuna trailed off. She did not need to finish her sentence, O'aka understood. It must have been too hard for him to carry it on after the death of his only remaining family.
"Well you will be very lucky to have him, I hear he is already experienced as a guardian?" O'aka inquired.
"Yes." Yuna nodded. "Both Lulu and Wakka are. They guarded Father Zuke together, and Lulu also has guarded once before that too."
"And a Ronso is a Ronso!" O'aka chuckled. "Yuna I believe you truly are in very capable hands." Yuna laughed with him.
"Oh mister O'aka I wish I could have you with us, I want my pilgrimage to be full of laughter!" said Yuna. O'aka noticed her eyes appeared watery, although it was ever so subtle. "I truly worry about leaving this place. I have known it my whole life, and I love everything about Besaid and I just cannot bear to see so many of my loved ones in tears. I know If I become a summoner they will congratulate me but I know they will look at me like I am already gone." O'aka placed a fatherly hand on hers and smiled warmly. He had a plan.
"Well then, that settles it! What we need to do is make sure everybody is comfortably distracted and far too contented to even comprehend feeling such despair!"
"What ever do you mean mister O'aka?" asked Yuna.
"It is very simple really. As you know, my one hundred and eleventh birthday party is coming up in just less than a month and it shall be an all day afair. If you can hold off your meeting with the Fayth until then, then we can have a joint party, we can celebrate our success together! What do you say?"
Yuna's mouth was slightly open in surprise and then broke into a wide smile and a tear ran down her cheek.
"Oh mister O'aka do you really mean it? It would be so much fun! Everyone would be smiling and the village would be full of laughter, wouldn't everyone be so surprised if I came back as a summoner and joined in the fun?" Yuna was overwhelmed with a fit of giggles and took a long, generous draft of her tea.
"Of course they would! And it would be the perfect distraction. If we can keep their attention focused on this party then it gives you the perfect opportunity to slip into the temple unnoticed. There will be the select few who would have to be informed of course, but I think with a bit of planning we can pull this off quite nicely." said O'aka.
"Thank you so much O'aka, this means so much to me!" said Yuna.
"Anything for you my dear!" said O'aka, smiling.
The next day, a notice appeared on the door of Coral Hill: NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON PARTY BUSINESS. O'aka was busy writing invitations (some of which had destinations far across Spira) and arranging the more intimate details of his party, as well as making private plans of his own. He was also frantically rearranging his house in preparation for a very important guest he would be expecting in the following weeks.
Days past with little word from O'aka and the villagers began to get curious. Children could be seen sneaking up the hill and trying to peak through the window only to run off laughing when O'aka opened his door to shoo them away. One evening it was reported that a large machina ship had moored on the southern coast of Besaid, near the ruins of the old machina city. A group of machina vehicles driven by Al Bhed and loaded with unfamiliar packages had been seen entering the outskirts of Besaid village heading in the direction of Coral Hill. They attracted the stares and loud whispering of many villagers who made comments among themselves about their eccentric clothing and goggles. According to several of the children who had been spying on them, they were staying on their ship down by the coast and were likely to be attending the party. The following week a cart rolled off of the S.S Liki and headed in the direction of Besaid Village. What appeared to be a middle-aged woman was driving it alone. She wore a lavishly decorated emerald green robe with a matching cloak and had dark brown hair with a bright yellow flower on the right side. The cargo she carried were fireworks, some of the finest in Spira.
Her name was Belgemine, although over the years she had earned the nickname 'the wandering lady' due to the fact that nobody really knew her true purpose in the places that she went. In Besaid and Kilika she was well known for her fireworks and magic tricks, so it was widely assumed that she was a travelling magician. Her real business was far more sinister and dangerous, but to this, the islanders were oblivious.
As Belgamine rolled along the path towards the village she heard rustling in the grass at the side of the road.
"You're late." said a gentle voice, with a tone of mild annoyance. Belgemine stopped the cart.
"A magician is never late, Yuna. Neither is she early. She arrives precisely when she means to." replied Belgemine, turning to look at Yuna. They both stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. Yuna leaped onto the cart and threw herself into Belgemine's arms.
"It's wonderful to see you Belgemine!" squeeled Yuna.
"You didn't think I'd miss O'aka's birthday?" said Belgemine, looking at Yuna fondly. The cart resumed its course along the path. "So how is the old rascal? I hear this is to be a party 'the likes of which has never been seen on Besaid!'" said Belgemine.
"Oh you know O'aka, hes got the whole place in an uproar, bursting with anticipation."
"Well that should please him!" chuckled Belgemine.
"So many people have been invited! What seems like at least half the island, and then a large group of Al Bhed arrived on the southern shore about a week ago and more people arrive everyday!" said Yuna, in awe.
"He sounds like he paying the price of popularity my dear Yuna!" said Belgemine.
"To be honest with you I have a bad feeling. I don't really know why, it's just a feeling that something is not quite right with him, like he is hiding something from me. He has been very busy, and despite his enthusiasm he is old and I worry about him oh so much. When I've been over to visit lately I've found that hes been looking at old maps and things from his travelling days. I'm worried that hes getting lonely." said Yuna. She hung her head slightly and looked down at her feet, fearing that she had said too much. When Belgemine said nothing, she looked up and thought she saw a glimmer of knowing in her eyes.
"Alright then, keep your secrets!" Yuna teased. "But I know you have something to do with it!" Belgemine turned to Yuna with a look of surprise on her face. "Good gracious me."
Yuna nodded with a look of mock solemness on her face. "According to the temple before you came along O'aka was a very respected member of the community. Was helpful and kind and was always relied on to do the right thing. Never went on any adventures or did anything unexpected."
"If you're referring to the incident with the Evrae, I was barely involved. All I did was give O'aka a little nudge out of the door." Belgemine explained.
"Well, whatever you did you've officially been labelled such things as the 'mistress of mischief' and 'the mad magician' and the most sinister branding of all, a disturber of the peace." laughed Yuna.
"Oh really?" said Belgemine, looking around thoughtfully. The cart was rolling through Besaid Village now and people were starting to point and stare, some with suspicious eyes. When they reached the edge of the village Yuna turned to Belgemine.
"Belgemine, I'm glad you're back." she smiled, and hopped off the cart and waved before turning and making her way back into the centre of the village.
Belgemine continued on until she reached the top of the hill. She stepped off the cart, pulled out her long wooden staff from the back of the cart and walked forward. She could not help but laugh at the notice she encountered on the door. She knocked loudly on the door with her staff and waited. From behind the door she heard a flustered, if not stressful sounding reply.
"No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well wishers or party merchants!"
"And what about very old friends?" inquired Belgemine, loudly to the door. A frantic noise came from behind the door as it scrambled closer. The door burst open and there he stood. "Belgemine?" said O'aka, looking at her like he could not believe his eyes.
"O'aka XXI." Belgemine said, smiling at her old friend.
"My dear Belgemine!" O'aka yelped. He ran over to her with open arms and they embraced tightly. When they finally pulled away from each other Belgemine looked at her old friend carefully. "One hundred and eleven years old and you haven't aged a day!"
O'aka laughed cheerfully and invited her in. "Come in! Come in!" he said, excitedly as he took Belgemine's staff and placed it by the door. "Would you like any tea? Or perhaps something stronger? I still have a few bottles of the old Djose wine left! 897, a very good year and it's almost as old as I am! Lets say we crack open one?" said O'aka as he paced down the hall and into the kitchen, gathering various mugs and bottles.
"That would be most welcome, It's been a long journey." Belgemine called after him. She shrugged off her cloak and looked around the house, and she smiled fondly, she always felt comfortable in O'aka's house. He was a man who truly enjoyed comfort, looking around her Belgemine could see various pouches of pipeweed and incense candles with the most relaxing scents and on the walls there hung paintings of some of the most beautiful landscapes. As Belgemine continued to look around the room she noticed piles of old parchment. Thinking O'aka wouldn't mind she grabbed a pile and began to search through them. It was as she thought, they were various maps and letters from his adventuring days, tattered and worn with age. Belgemine heard his footsteps drawing closer and she put the parchment back where she found it and sat down on one of O'aka's deep, comfortable armchairs. O'aka returned with a couple of mugs and bottles of wine. "I've been wanting to find a good excuse to crack open one of these for years, and now I have!" he said happily. He sank into the opposite arm chair and began to pour a mug of wine for each of them. They raised their mugs to each other and drank. Belgemine drank the wine deeply. The wine was a fine wine, soft and fruity. It immediately filled her with warmth and content and she settled deeper into her armchair. "Very fine." said Belgamine cosily, gazing into her cup. O'aka drained his mug and reached for a refill. "What a cosy life you have here." said Belgemine.
"Yes, yes.." O'aka mused. "I am so very fond of life here but I've been getting a strong urge to leave. I miss travelling so very much. Life was so exciting back then."
"So you mean to go through with your plan then? I think you ought to know that Yuna already suspects you're up to something."
"I know." said O'aka, with a hint of regret. "All arrangements are made though, and when she leaves I will have no more obligations to stay here. I will dearly miss her, shes been like the daughter I never had."
"I know. But soon Yuna must embark on a perilous journey, and I fear that there will be very little you can do to help her when she leaves."
O'aka took a deep draft of his wine. "This party of mine, I want it to be special, not just for me, but for her. I see it in her eyes Belgemine. She is so terrified of hurting the village, everyone is being so brave but this is difficult for everyone."
"I know it is." Belgemine smiled sadly.
"Was there any news of Sin on your travels Belgemine?" said O'aka, biting his lip worryingly.
"None at all," she sighed. "From here to Luca appears to be safe for now. Although we all know how quickly that can change."
O'aka nodded sadly and drained his mug.
"Come now. Now is not the time to worry about Sin, we have a party to arrange!" said Belgemine.
The next day the villagers woke up to find that the tents and pavilions had gone up on the large patch of land overlooking the beach, next to the docks. O'aka and Belgamine had agreed it would be the best place for it, as it was easily accessible and it would leave Besaid Village virtually empty, giving Yuna all the privacy she needed to consult the Fayth. When the S.S Liki docked that day, it brought with it the largest number of passengers it had ever ferried in living memory. It brought with it the guests from Kilika, merchants and musicians from Luca and even some Crusaders who had agreed to provide security at the party, in case of fiend attacks, due to the large congregation of people. Soon the docks of Besaid had the appearance of a small town. There were tents all across the beach where people were staying until the party, as the temples were already stretched to capacity. Merchants wandered the beach selling novelty items such as balloons and toys, even the locals decided to take the opportunity to try and sell local Besaid products such as clothes and jewelry, as well as fruits and tea. Even the Al Bhed, who were often treated with suspicion, were welcomed into this makeshift town and managed to find some success in selling various pieces of old machina. There was a brief cause for concern when O'aka learned that a day before the guests had started arriving, the local Blitzball team, the Besaid Aurochs had found a boy who had washed up on the shore and had claimed to be from Zanarkand. This had led the temple to believe that as the boy was clearly suffering from the after effects of Sins toxin, that Sin must be nearby. They had later decided that there was no way of knowing for certain, and that it was likely nowhere near the island. Sin rarely went further south than Kilika, as Besaid was very scarcely populated. A large number of cooks, from all over the island arrived in Besaid Village on the eve of the party and excitement reached its height. The villagers had stopped working, even the clergy had left the confines of the temple to share in the excitement. That evening, Besaid experienced some of the worst humidity of the year and everyone became restless throughout the night.
Finally morning dawned and the humidity waned. Excitement filled the beach and the party began in earnest before the sun had fully risen. O'aka had called it a party but really it was a festival that could even rival the ones held in Luca. There was a large variety of entertainment from music to dancing and songs to games and the Kilika Beasts, the Blitzball team from Kilika even agreed to play a friendly surface game with the Besaid Aurochs on the shore. Then there was the food and the drink. Besaid had pulled out all the stops and some of the best cooks on the island had come to the beach to cook their favourite dishes. There were countless barbeque's, grilled chocobo, fried fish, the finest fruits from Besaid and Kilika, not to mention all the local wines and ales famous to the island, and of course pipeweed. There was a constant stream of people eating and drinking from late morning all the way through until the evening. When the sun went down the evening entertainment began. A theatre group from Luca performed a play on a makeshift stage built by the docks. Following this came Belgemine's magic show which stunned the audience. When she stopped off the stage to thunderous applause and cheers the fireworks began. The fireworks were of Belgemine's own design. They were the best the island had ever seen. They burst into many different colours and patterns. There were fireworks that burst into a thousand pyreflies and one which exploded into a flock of chocobos which charged down the beach. Aside from these major distributions, there was also a generous amount of the crackers, sparklers and torches as well as a selection of particularly colourful fireworks that appeared as a rain of arrows in the sky. Belgamines display was nothing short of spectacular and the cheers were deafening. However, her grand finale came when Yuna appeared with Kimahri, Lulu, Wakka and a blonde haired boy in odd clothing.
Yuna excitedly announced that she had become a fully fledged summoner to the cheers and tears of the villagers and the roar of approval and gratitude of the party guests, many of whom raised their mugs with wide smiles and raised spirits and drank deeply to her success. After much encouragement and cheers, the crowd formed a circle and Yuna composed herself and began to summon. There was a burst of light which rose up and circled in the sky, and then a thunderous sound. An Aeon burst through the light and swooped down, landing next to Yuna. It was bird like in appearance with a beak, yet also had a reptilian element with horns on its head. The Aeon had a feathery torso and large, scaly wings. Its had long, lizard like legs with claws and a long tail. It looked majestic in appearance and whilst the crowd had cried out momentarily in shock as it had landed, it had a soothing presence and it had gentle, compassionate eyes.
As the night went on, O'aka made numerous attempts to make a speech. But with all the noise and crowds on the beach as well as on the docks, it had proven extremely difficult. Everyone was too absorbed in the food and drink and as the night had progressed, wine cask after wine cask had been drained. Eventually O'aka was able to take a megaphone off of one of the heavily intoxicated crew members of the S.S Liki, which had remained at the dock due to most of its crew having joined the party, and the captain having been reported found in a deep slumber in one of the many tents on the beach. After several attempt by O'aka to get the attention of the crowd by screaming down the megaphone, the crowd slowly started to quieten. He climbed up to the wooden stage, the megaphone in one hand and a large mug of the finest Besaid wine in the other. "My dear people," He began. The crowd cheered. "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!" The cheering became deafening, and the applause was thunderous. "My dear Besaiders, Kilikans, Lucans, Ronso and Al Bhed! May I just take this fine opportunity to thank you all for coming, I know it has been a very long way to travel. But you have made this birthday of mine a most spectacular one, and I hope you are having as much fun as I am!" There were large cries of "Yes!" and the banging of drums from the musicians in the crowd. Many of the Al Bhed, who did not seem to understand much of what was being said simply cheered along with the crowd. O'aka took this opportunity to take a large gulp of wine, which just made the guests laugh and cheer louder. When the noise began to subside again, O'aka continued. "I shan't keep you long! But I have brought you all here for two reasons! First of all, as you already know, to celebrate my birthday! The second of which is to give Yuna the finest send off a summoner has ever had!" There was a great outburst of approval.
"When Yuna arrived here on Besaid, she was only a little girl, no older than seven years. Yuna is the daughter of High Summoner Braska. She was practically taken in by the whole island, but it was the temple who made her their charge. They raised her well, trained her well. And soon she will leave the island a fully fledged summoner. Yuna is the sweetest and most gentle and fine young woman that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. So I would like you all to give it up for her, to Lady Yuna!"
"TO LADY YUNA!" The crowd roared.
"With that all said and done, There is still much food and wine left over, which is most disappointing, I expected better of you! Enjoy the rest of the party, and I hope you all have a very good night!" O'aka shouted to the crowd.
As O'aka stepped down from the stage and began to walk along the beach, many of the closest guests patted him on the back and shook his hand. As he past what was left of the food table he managed to grab one of the remaining grilled chocobo legs and refilled his mug with wine from one of the casks. O'aka took one last look around the beach. What a party it had been, he thought to himself. He looked at all the sleepy eyes, struggling to stay awake. Spirans could party hard when they wanted to, he thought to himself. O'aka also took one last look at Yuna, he did not know if he would see her again after this, as soon she would leave on her pilgrimage and he did not think that he would be around to see her departure. She was standing with her Guardians and that dim-witted blonde boy with the vacant expression. He saw that many of the guests were raising their mugs to her in passing, some even stopping to give her their best wishes. O'aka smiled sadly. He knew that their support would give her great encouragement, but he also knew where the end of her road lay, and O'aka found no comfort in thinking about it. He was tempted to go to her and give her a proper farewell but he felt it was too difficult, so he turned around and made his way back to Besaid Village and up the path to Coral Hill.
O'aka opened his door and walked briskly into his house. He quickly took off his party clothes and changed into some old travelling clothes that had not been worn for many years. As he walked down the hall he saw a figure in the corner of his eye in the back room. Belgemine was sat in one of the armchairs, smoking and gazing out of the window that overlooked the beach.
"Belgemine! What are you doing up here?" said O'aka. Although he thought he had a good idea why.
"I felt the party was getting a bit too noisy for my tastes." replied Belgemine. "I only just got here mind, I stayed to listen to your speech and I didn't think you would linger too long afterwards."
"Well you were right about that! It's getting late and I'm not as young as I used to be." said O'aka, sitting down on his armchair. Belgemine studied him carefully. He was one hundred and eleven years old and yet he looked no different than the first time she had appeared at his door all those years ago, Belgemine thought.
"Are all you alright, O'aka?" she asked.
"Yes, and no." sighed O'aka. "I'm old Belgemine. I know I don't look it but I am beginning to feel it. I don't feel right at all. I feel stretched and thin. It can't be right. I need a change, I need to get out of here, see Spira again."
Belgemine looked at him curiously, and sympathetically. "No, that doesn't seem right at all. I believe your plan is a sound one. You have done everything I asked of you, my dear O'aka. There is still some things we need to discuss though, which is why I wanted to talk to you before you left. Have you said goodbye to Yuna?"
O'aka looked at Belgemine sadly. "No. I thought it would be too difficult, I couldn't bear it. I hope she makes it through this Belgemine, I really do. I have left everything to her, in the event that she does."
Belgemine raised her eyebrows. "Everything, O'aka? What about that curious relic of yours that you've been so secretive about all these years? You haven't forgotten about what we discussed, and what you agreed?"
O'aka stood up and pulled out a pouch of pipeweed, and lit his pipe with one of the matches on the table. "No, of course not. Its wrapped in cloth inside the wicker box on the mantlepiece." said O'aka.
Belgemine stood up and walked over to the mantlepiece and carefully opened the box. It was empty.
"Wait." said O'aka. "Well, no! It's right here in my pocket!" He laughed, and then hesitated. "Isn't that funny now?" he said softly to himself, almost in a whisper. "Yes, after all, why shouldn't I keep it?"
Belgemine walked cautiously towards O'aka, looking at him hard. She thought she had seen a disturbing, ill look on his face, and it troubled her greatly. When she spoke again, she spoke quietly and carefully.
"O'aka, have you forgotten our plan? Our agreement when Yuna first came here, ten years ago? I think you should leave that relic here, don't you want to?" She finished gently.
"Well yes - and no. Now that it comes to it, I don't like parting with it at all. I don't really see why I should." said O'aka, and a curious change came over his voice. It was on edge. Sharp, with suspicion and annoyance. "Why do you want me to?" Snapped O'aka. "For one of your unproven theories? For years you've schemed about Yuna, asking that I look over her until she becomes a summoner, and constantly keeping watch over my relic. Yuna knows what becoming a summoner means, why don't you just let her get on with it and leave me in peace?" said O'aka, with a venomous tone.
Belgemine blinked. O'aka's attitude took her momentarily off guard. His words hurt her, even if they were not truly his own.
"All relics are curious things, potentially very dangerous things. You said you need to get out of here, will you really need that relic where you're going? I don't think you will need it." said Belgamine.
O'aka flushed, and all kindness vanished from his face. An angry light appeared in his eyes.
"Why not?" burst O'aka. "And what business is it of yours what I do with my own things? It is mine, I found it, it is mine!"
"There is no need to get angry, O'aka." said Belgemine, becoming increasingly concerned.
"Well if I am angry it is your fault!" he shot back.
"My dear O'aka!" said Belgemine. "We agreed that you would pass on your relic, when the time came."
"You want it for yourself!" cried O'aka, pointing his finger accusingly.
"O'AKA XXI!" roared Belgemine. "Do not take me for a common thief!" The room grew cold, and dark. Belgemine took a step towards O'aka and she seemed to grow tall and terrifying, her shadow filled the room.
O'aka backed away against the wall, terrified. For a moment they looked at each other, Belgemine continued to glare at the man before she relaxed, and the shadow passed and the warmth returned to the room. "I am not trying to rob you, I am trying to help you." said Belgemine.
O'aka remained silent for a moment, his mouth open slightly, and then whimpered into Belgemine's arms. She heard him sobbing over her shoulder.
"All these long years, we have been friends. Will you not trust me now, as you once did?" She kindly removed herself from the embrace and wiped O'aka's tears from his face. "Let it go." she said, gently.
O'aka stood there for a moment, weeping silently. Finally, he spoke. "You are right Belgemine." O'aka sniffed. "The relic must go to Yuna. I trust you have confidence in this plan of yours, you will look after her, won't you?"
"Yes I have a plan. Not one I can share openly mind you, as it's success relies on as much secrecy as possible."
O'aka seemed disgruntled, but reassured. "Very well. I best be off. The road is long and I want to make it to the southern isles by midday tomorrow. He walked out into the hall, picked up his bag and travelling stick and moved towards the door.
"O'aka." said Belgemine, walking slowly out into the hall. "You still have the relic in your pocket."
"Well so I have!" laughed O'aka. He took something out of his pocket, wrapped in cloth, looking at it in his outstretched hand. O'aka stared at it for a good minute, his face unreadable. Belgemine dared not interrupt him, in case he changed his mind. Finally he tipped his hand and let it land on the floor, and in an instance he had opened the door and stepped outside into the cool, night air. Belgemine followed him outside to the doorway.
"Well, goodbye Belgemine!" said O'aka.
"Goodbye, my dear O'aka. Take care of yourself, won't you?" asked Belgemine.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'm off to find life again!" O'aka turned and began walking with a brisk pace down the path, singing softly to himself:
The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
He turned the corner, down the hill. And then he was gone, passed into the night. Belgemine stayed at the door for some time, staring after him into the darkness. "Goodbye, my dear O'aka - until our next meeting." she said softly and then turned and went back indoors. Belgemine moved cautiously towards the object on the ground, wrapped tightly in cloth. She bent down cautiously to pick it up, but as she bent down her heart felt heavy with dread, and the most terrible thoughts crossed her mind. Belgemine picked it up quickly and placed it on the table in the hall, by the door and returned to the back room and stared deeply into the fireplace.
Some time afterwards, there was a gentle knock on the door. Belgemine was much too preoccupied, lost in thought, to notice. The visitor let themselves in and it was Yuna's voice that called from the hallway.
"O'aka?" called Yuna. She searched all the rooms before she finally entered the back room and found Belgemine, sat on a chair in front of the fireplace, smoking and deep in thought in the dark, and apparently oblivious to Yuna's entrance.
"He's gone, hasn't he?" Yuna asked. When Belgemine didn't reply she continued. "He used to always joke about leaving, but I never thought he actually would." She stepped into the room and knelt down next to the fire and looked up at Belgemine. "Belgemine?" asked Yuna, uncertainly.
Belgemine finally roused from her musing. She looked down at Yuna and smiled. "He has gone to stay with the Al Bhed. He left several documents for you and a particularly important item wrapped in cloth, you will find them on the table by the door."
Yuna left the room and returned a moment later with several documents in her hand, as well as the wrapped item. She sat herself down on one of the armchairs and began to read.
"He's left me Coral Hill!" exclaimed Yuna. She frowned. "And it seems he has left me everything else as well. But why? I do not understand. He knows I am a summoner so he knows that I.." she broke off, unable to continue.
Belgemine got up and poured wine and passed a mug to Yuna, who looked at it apprehensively.
"Forgive me Belgemine, but I have little taste for wine." she said, apologetically.
"Well, you may change your mind when you hear what I have to say." said Belgemine, gravely.
