Final Fantasy X: Braska's Journey
Chapter 1- Setting Sail.
It was a great day for traveling. The sun was out, the sky was clear, the paths were worn well, and the water was as clear as Yevon's own mirror. Braska, a Bevellen priest who had recently mastered the art of sailing, planned to set a voyage someday and today would be it.
"So you're finally doing it, huh?" Marx observed as he was helping Braska lift a large sack full of supplies, the first of many, onto his ship from the shoopuf-driven carriage he had carted them on. He was fairly thin and didn't look quite like he should be loading heavy things like this. But he certainly had the strength for it, despite all appearances.
"You bet it is. Just look around you." replied Braska. "It's so beautiful out. Yevon himself has cleared the way for me, as he knew I was going to do it eventually. He just needed to give me the signal." It impressed everyone around him how convinced about this trip he was. It was no small thing to say that something was given Yevon's seal of approval, and right now, it could certainly be believed.
He was headed for Bikanel Island, the desert of which was home to the Al Bhed, an indigenous and ancient race of Spirans who rejected the teachings of Yevon. Particularly those regarding machina. In fact, they had been at war with the Yevonites because of this, and their language -an odd tongue few on the mainlands understood- was initially devised as a cipher to allow them to communicate amongst each other without being intercepted by their enemies during this time. It had become its own entity over the years, as generations continued to converse in it long after the wars ended.
Unlike the Yevonite priests and warriors of old, however, Braska was rather accepting of them. Even if they weren't completely agreeable on religious matters, their intelligence and culture intrigued him. Even if he wouldn't exactly want to partake of it all.
Danic, the most muscular one of the lot, put his two cents in: "I've always wanted to see Bikanel Island, and its people. If things go all right, It'll be quite the learning experience for us as a people. If they don't, well, I'm prepared for that", he finished as he punched and kicked the air, demonstrating his knack for unarmed combat.
"Good luck trying to talk to them!" A passer-by advised them as he heard them, "And I don't mean because of their language. All they're gonna see is a couple of strangers from the mainlands coming into their area unexpected. The last few hundred times this has happened have usually ended in tears."
Braska was fairly quick to reassure the stranger. "Don't worry", he said. "I picked up a bit of their tongue when my dad took me on his travels. And besides, I have an interpreter with me."
Zysac, his interpreter, was a native Al Bhed who converted to Yevon ten years ago after a near-death experience in Bevelle when his airship was struck by lightning. He now worked as an interpreter. Despite having openly rejected the ways of his people and changed his identity almost completely, he hasn't turned his back on the people themselves. He has dedicated his life to using his talent to end the strife between the mainlanders and the Al Bhed, which is why Braska invited him.
As Braska, Zysac, Danic, and Marx loaded the last packs onto the ship, they decided that they were ready. After giving the All Clear signal, they raised the anchor and set sail for Bikanel Island, leaving the rest to the grace of Yevon.