~Chapter One~

~An Absurd Request~

(Auron's P.O.V.)

"It's not too late, you know… You could still go back and accept I'm sure."

I heard Kinoc say to me as I stared up at a statue of a High Summoner. We were currently in the temple deep inside Bevelle. Not that I was supposed to be, being the disgraced monk I now found myself to be. Having not accepted the hand of a high ranking priest's daughter, I had been denied my promotion and my favor with all higher ranking officials fell as quickly as it had started. I had my own reasons for not accepting, but those reasons were unknown to most everyone.

"You marry her then if you like.", I found myself retorting, as if Kinoc had greatly insulted me, which was not exactly the case.

"Auron… Just because you have no love of women doesn't mean you can't marry her for show…", Kinoc muttered, wearing a large frown. He clearly did not approve of my stubbornness.

"And make her live a loveless marriage at my side?"

"Not loveless. Since she seems to like you well enough… Maybe just one sided…", Kinoc sighed, shaking his head back and forth with his arms raised in defeat.

"Kinoc, please…", I muttered, tired of talking of such things.

"Alright, alright. You win. Get demoted if you really want. Remember, Auron, I tried to talk you out of it.", Kinoc said with a disapproving sigh as he gave up trying to talk me out of it for today.

That was when I heard the doors of the temple opening. I couldn't quite explain why, but I had the urge to glance in that direction. Looking to the left, I saw him for the first time.

Braska.

He was covered head to toe in his robes, only his face and the slightest view of his hands could be seen. Many priests wore such am outfit, though I never understood why they wore so heavy an outfit. I watched as he paused his steps and began to look around the room as if searching for something or someone.

"Braska. I hear he's training to become a summoner. Heh. He's a disgrace too it seems. He wed an Al Bhed woman. I can tell you that no one here was pleased about that one. Perhaps you two are kindred spirits, Auron.", Kinoc taunted, causing me to sigh.

It was then, as I watched Braska's head turn towards me, that I saw his smile for the first time. He quickly headed towards me as if I had been the target of his search.

"Excuse me, but might you be Auron?", Braska asked me without even giving notice to my company.

"I am. You must be Braska.", I stated as if I wasn't sure. Though I did trust Kinoc's words, I was more or less just asking confirmation to be polite.

"I see my reputation precedes me.", he replied with a charming chuckle.

"Indeed it does. What business do you have with Auron here?", Kinoc asked, sounding as if he was insulted since he was ignored so far.

"Ah. Forgive me. I simply wondered if I might have a moment of your time. Perhaps we should speak alone?", Braska stated and suggested at the same time.

"Humph… I'll be seeing you later, Auron." , Kinoc muttered, taking his leave of us since he knew well that this business was meant to be private. At least, that's what Braska sounded like it should be.

I watched Kinoc exit the area, leaving myself and Braska to speak a little more privately. This place was not empty, since it was a public prayer area, but no one was close enough to eavesdrop at this moment. Now I saw Braska smile a little more with Kinoc gone. Just what did he want?

"What is it you wish to speak to me about exactly?", I asked, wanting to get to the point already.

"Directly to the point? You're as serious as they say.", he commented with his smile not waning in the slightest.

"I didn't know they talked about me to dishonored priests turned summoner.", I retorted coldly with a single brow slightly raised.

"Haha. I suppose you're right. I will admit I simply overheard talk of you. Though if that talk is correct, you too are now to be considered dishonored. ", Braska replied with a slight chuckle, clearly finding this conversation amusing in some way.

"Humph… What of it?"

"I've come to ask you to be my guardian. Seeing as how we are both disgraced, I figured it was fitting enough. Unless there's some sort of career advancement to being a dishonored warrior monk these days.", Braska said as if he was joking, yet I sensed just how serious he was.

"…Why… Me?", I asked, shocked and staring with wide eyes.

Sure, my fighting skills were better than most, but to be asked to be a guardian by someone I had never even heard of before just now?! What sort of joke was this?!

"Why not you?", Braska questioned in return, his smile something I was becoming used to.

"…I…."

I was still a little stunned from the pure absurdity of the offer and by the time I had thought of several reasons as to why someone would not want me as their guardian, Braska spoke again.

" By now I hope you see that I do not care about your fallen status. Let the high ranking priest say and think what they will of both of us. That is no reason why we cannot team up together to defeat Sin.", he gave as his reasons, though that wasn't reason enough for me.

"That still doesn't answer my question. Surely there are others who you would prefer to guard you."

"You make it sound as if I'm popular. To be honest, I have no doubt in my mind that you would make a perfect guardian. I have asked no one else, nor have I thought of asking another.", Braska said with a very intense stare. It was the first time I had ever seen him look so serious yet.

My thoughts were paused as I continued to stare at him, this man who so easily threw his trust at me. I could not believe it really. Most summoners choose someone they trusted, someone they knew well for several years. Not someone they had only met today!

"Forgive me. Surely this sort of decision takes some thought. Please. Take some time to think it over. I usually come here to this place around noon. So you may find me here whenever you've decided.", Braska said with his smile returning to his face.

Without a second moment passing, without even waiting to see if I'd reply to him, Braska wandered off into a side room in the temple and out of my line of sight. I couldn't believe it still. Such audacity! It didn't take me long to make a decision. In fact, I knew what I wanted to say to him as soon as I walked out of the temple. It was more that I wanted to see what my friend would say to such a thing more than anything else. I knew Kinoc would be close by still, waiting for me to appear so he could force the information out of me.

"There you are! About time too.", I heard Kinoc's voice cry out as if on cue.

"Heh. As if I were late.", I commented with a chuckle. Typical Kinoc.

"I didn't think the conversation would take so long… So what exactly did he want with you?", he asked, so unnecessarily too since I already knew what he wanted of me.

"As if you haven't already guessed.", I chuckled, knowing my friend to not be a stupid man.

"So it's as I thought… But why would he ask YOU of all people to be a guardian?"

"How would I know? It sounded as if he thinks it will be a grand joke on all the officials should two disgraced men such a us defeat Sin.", I said, not realizing I was smirking fondly.

"So what did you tell him? Did you agree to such an outrageous thing?", Kinoc asked, looking serious now to the point of frowning.

"I didn't say anything. He gave me time to think on it."

"But you've already decided it sounds looks like…", he muttered, sounding a little on the dejected side.

"What do you mean?", I asked, looking more directly at him.

"Heh. Don't try to fool me Auron. That smirk of yours says it all. Come on. Let me treat you to a stiff drink before you go off to save the world.", Kinoc chuckled weakly, patting my back as he knew me too well.

As Kinoc started walking, I finally felt the smirk on my face. Maybe my answer really was that obvious. However, before giving my answer to Braska, I would let my best friend buy me a drink. Tomorrow I would become a guardian.