Disclaimer: I do NOT own Final Fantasy X and Fire Emblem.
I. The Isle of Besaid
Final Fantasy X OST – Besaid Island
Berkut told a brief summary about his home, a bit about his life, and how he ended up here, though that part he told it rushed and skipped the most parts, mostly about Alm being his cousin and him sacrificing Rinea.
"Whoa…" Tidus said as they walked along the forest. "That's…quite a story. So, you hate commoners?"
"I…" he paused, thinking about what he said. Normally, he'd never even consider taking time to listening or even talking to commoners, as he is a noble, and he must stand above all others. But now, his old life ended, and now even he himself doesn't know what anymore. "I don't hate commoners. I just don't have time or place to mingle with them as I usually have business to do," he said, with a little haughtiness in his tone.
"Really…" Tidus replied. "So what does that make me? Not trying to be rude here, but does social status really matter?"
"Of course it does!" He caught himself as he nearly shouted at him. He sighed. "Or at least…I think I used to…Now…"
Tidus raised a brow. "Now….what?"
He shook his head. "Enough about me. This conversation is over." He scoffed farther away from the blonde teenager.
"H-hey! C'mon!" Tidus ran, trying to catch up to Berkut.
"You two okay back there?" Wakka looked back, then eyed on Berkut. "Don't you fall behind you hear? You look like someone who lost his parents."
Berkut glared icily at the red head. "I was only kiddin' ya! Calm down!"
"Just keep going," he said in a low voice, and Wakka obliged.
"Hey Wakka!" Tidus called out. "It's true that Zanarkand was destroyed, right? A thousand years ago? So it's just a big pile of rubble now, isn't it?"
"Long time ago, there were a whole lot of cities in Spira." Spira? That is the name of this world? Berkut still listened. "Big cities with machina-machines-to run 'em."
"Machina…?" Berkut suddenly asked, and both Wakka and Tidus gaped when he said this. How on earth could he not know about machina? "You…don't know what a machina is…?" Tidus slowly asked, hoping to not offend the man.
"No, I don't." For once, he felt lost. "Care to elaborate?"
"They're like…inventions made by humans," Wakka explained, struggling to find the right words so he could easily understand. "They are made to make life easier. There are many different kinds of machine. Some are for convenience, and some for weapons."
"I see…" Berkut did notice all the strange metal contraptions lying half buried in the ground. Are those the so-called machina?
"People played all day and let the machina do the work," he continued. "And then, well, take a look." He gestured towards the ruined machinas lying on the ground. Sin came, and destroyed the machina cities. And Zanarkand along with 'em."
"Sin?" Once again, Berkut felt lost.
"The hell brudda," Wakka said incredulously. "You don't know who Sin is?"
Before Berkut could say anything else, Tidus suddenly interrupted. "Sin's toxin must be affecting him so bad he must've forgotten." He looked at Berkut, and the man immediately remembered what Tidus had said to him earlier. It does feel foolish but for now, he must oblige, for his own sake.
"Y-yes… I haven't fully recovered from that. Maybe if you elaborate once again, I might remember…"
Wakka just scratched his head. "Oh alright…"
"Sin is a monster who came to this world a long time ago, and destroyed the machina cities. And if you ask me, Sin's our punishment for letting things get out of hand. What gets me, though...is we gotta suffer, 'cause of what some goofballs did way back when!" There was a hint of small anger in his voice and he said nothing. Wakka then, suddenly laughs. "Course, we must always repent for our sins! That's important!" he continued, his voice now calmer. "It's just that, it's hard to keep at it sometimes, you know?"
Repent for their sins? "Do you actually believe THAT would solve your problem?" Berkut asked haughtily.
"Of course we do! If we repent for our sins, then Sin will be gone one day."
Berkut gave a small hmph. Such foolishness. "Nothing but blasphemy," he murmured. But then in the end, how could he say such things after what he did?
"What was that?" Wakka asked.
"Nothing."
Wakka turned his head to Tidus and wrapped his head around with his right arm. "But you from the Zanarkand Abes-that was a good one! Hey, I'm not saying that team never existed, ya? But you gotta figure a team living in luxury like that'd be pretty soft, eh?"
Wakka walked ahead leaving Tidus on his own thoughts. "Zanarkand Abes?" Berkut asked.
"I'll fill you in on that one later!" Tidus said and ran past him. "C'mon!"
This is a whole new world for Berkut. This is also the first time he ever felt being lost and looking stupid. Never thought he would have to experience this with a man of status such as himself one day.
Wakka led the both of them to cliff overlooking a cliff. To Berkut's displeasure, Wakka pushed him off the cliff and into the river. Tidus soon followed. They both teased him at first, thinking he couldn't swim, or with the armor he was wearing, he would just sink. Berkut glared daggers at them. "How dare you! Who do you think you are! Of course I can swim!"
"Oh we thought someone with high status such as you didn't need to know!" Tidus remarked with a giggle, and Berkut started swimming head on towards him. "Hey! Relax! I-I was only kidding!" He swam away. Wakka could only look at them and laugh. "Looks like you two are already best friends."
"We are NOT best friends nor he is even my friend to begin with," he grunted. He had always believed that the fate of a great man is to have no one he might call a friend.
Wakka suddenly snuck behind Tidus and gave him a headlock. How childish, Berkut said in his thoughts. He couldn't believe he has to deal with these two idiots. "Got a favor to ask ya," he said.
"You want me on your team, right?" Tidus said, and Wakka let him go.
The red head nodded. "A major blitz tournament's coming up. All the teams in Spira'll be there! It's so huge, I'm sure someone there will recognize you! Then you can go back to your old team, right? It'll be fun! What do you say, huh? Come on, come on!"
"Sure thing," Tidus said flatly.
"Blitzball?" Berkut suddenly asked, and once again Wakka and Tidus looked at him incredulously.
"You…don't know Blitzball?" Wakka said wide eyed. "Just what kind of world did ya live in?" He shook his head. "This isn't good. Sin's toxin must really got you bad. I'll explain as soon as we get on shore."
Berkut grunted. It's not his fault he doesn't know. How he deeply wished he was dead again, rather than living like an ignorant fool.
As they kept on walking, Wakka and Tidus explained to the prince about Blitzball: how things in the game work like being a skilled swimmer to last in the giant orb of water, getting the ball and make sure the other team doesn't grab it from you, and making it to the goal. Berkut tried to visualize the whole thing, but such a sport like that which never existed from where he came from, it was hard to picture it. The most sport and entertainment he mostly had in his life was training, horse riding, and battle strategy. Having fun wasn't in his noble agenda as he believed his duty comes first.
"Still, I can't believe you don't know Blitzball!" Tidus said, trying not to offend the man from his lack of knowledge about it. "It's the best sport ever! And it's fun! What do you do for fun?"
"The only 'fun' I had was training and riding a horse," he said flatly. "I never had time for such things."
"Riding a what?" Wakka asked. Does this man ever heard or seen a horse before?
"Some fun. Well, once you see it, you'll know," Tidus gave a cheeky smile. Despite his claims, Berkut does admit he wanted to see what this sport looks like. Learning and seeing something new isn't so bad.
Wakka led them to another cliff and just beside is a small, ruined statue. Spreading out below them is a village. "This is where I was born," Wakka said as he stared at the village below. "I started blitz when I was five. I joined the Aurochs at thirteen…ten years ago. Ten years…and we never won a game. Well, after last year's tournament, I quit. Time seemed right."
Goodness. Ten years without a win? That's just pathetic. Berkut's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Tidus' stomach grumbling. Then he realized, his stomach felt the same way too.
"So, after quitting, I got this new job, ya?" Wakka continued. "But every time my mind wandered, I thought about the game."
"How about ten years without winning?" Berkut chimed. "How will your mind ever get over something like that?"
Tidus nodded. "Can't argue with him there."
Wakka grunted. "My first match last year was my big chance. But something else was on my mind. I couldn't focus."
"That sounded more like an excuse to me," Berkut replied. "If you want to win, then don't lose your focus. Focus on winning." What he said was true, it was the same in combat. Once you lose focus, you're better off dead.
"Hey, hey!"
"Berkut's right you know!" Tidus pumped his fists. "So you want to win the next tournament–go out with a bang."
Wakka nodded.
"So, what's our goal?"
"I don't care how we do. Long as we play our best. If we give it our all, I can walk away happy."
The blonde teenager shook his head. "No, no, no, no, no. If I say, "What's our goal?" you say, "Victory!" When you play in a blitzball tournament, you play to win!"
Wakka blinked. "Victory? You serious?"
Tidus nodded, then turned to Berkut. "You sure helped! You gave pretty good advice! That sure was nice of you."
"I did nothing of the sort," His eyes turned to Wakka. "Let's go."
They made their way to Besaid Village. Along the way, they've encountered two men; one was taller and had red hair like Wakka's but a little darker, and the other was somewhat shorter than the other man. His hair is tied back in a ponytail.
"Ah, the one from the sea!" The red head exclaimed.
"Be on guard. There're fiends on the road today!" said the other one.
"After surviving your run-in with Sin, 'twould be a shame if something happened now."
They both ran into the village leaving the three behind.
"Who were they?" Tidus asked.
"Luzzu and Gatta—Crusaders," Wakka answered.
Berkut tilted his head, "Crusaders?"
"Eh? Crews of what?"
Wakka stared at the two, hardly believing what he was hearing. "What, forgot that too?"
Berkut just grunted and Tidus sagged his shoulders. Wakka saw this and became apologetic. "Hey, sorry. Don't worry. I'll help you out."
"Cool," Tidus cheered himself up. "In return, come tournament time, I'll make sure we take the cup!"
As much as Berkut didn't want to, he had no other choice but to tag along with the two. He is in no way capable of going through this world without anyone's help. He will have to put up with their childish antics for now.
Besaid Village. It's just a simple village, not really much to see, except for that temple just ahead of them. The houses look more like tents and the population here is not much. Wakka pointed out the Crusaders Lodge, the large blue tent just on the left, however Tidus was more looking forward for the food.
"We'll get you something over there later. Right now, you two will have to present yourself to the temple summoner."
"Temple summoner?" Berkut asked.
"Yep. You two know the prayer right?"
Berkut crossed his arms on his chest. "I don't know any prayers." Of course he doesn't. He had never really needed divine providence in his life.
"I, uh, don't remember…" Tidus scratched his head.
Wakka sighed. "Over here," he motioned to the side of the main entrance so no one could see them. "Man, that's like the basics of the basics. Alright, I'll show you." He showed both of them; right forearm over left forearm, fingers spread out, hands curved in the shape of a circle, and bow. "Go ahead, you try."
"Like this?" Tidus did the same gesture, albeit clumsily.
"Hey, not bad," he then turned to Berkut. "Now you try."
Berkut never saw the need for him to do this, but he still did it anyway. He did the same prayer gesture, more refined and better than Tidus earlier. "That was perfect!" Wakka chimed. "Now you two go present yourselves to the temple summoner."
Before touring the village, they did just as Wakka said; they all went to the temple, while Wakka went back to his own tent. Upclose, the temple was huge, and inside were statues. Countless statues at both sides of the temple, and a small number of people who were kneeling and doing the prayer gesture Wakka showed them earlier. At the front were four huge statues, and just above them were another huge statues facing each other; on the left side was a man, and on the right was a woman. At the center was a staircase and a door, and just above it was a banner that showed a symbol of their religion. Berkut heard from Wakka and other folks called it Yevon.
Final Fantasy X OST – Song of Prayer
Tidus motioned towards the huge statue of a man holding a staff and examined it. Berkut followed and got a closer look at the other statues. Even he was amazed by the number of them that even Mila and Duma's temples don't have.
"Ten years have passed since Lord Braska became high summoner," said an old man who approached them. He was wearing robes, so he assumed he was a priest. "And finally we receive a statue for our temple."
Tidus turned to him. "What's a high summoner?" The question caught the priest off guard and a couple of other people who were nearby praying.
"Really Tidus?" Berkut whispered. He cleared his throat. "Please excuse us. We got too close to Sin's toxin." It was strange, saying that excuse over and over again and never really seeing that monster yet, some people would be at least suspicious by now. However, they still fall for the same, lousy excuse. The people began whispering amongst each other and the look on their faces showed pity for them. For Berkut, he didn't need anyone's pity.
"The summoners are practitioners of a sacred art, sworn to protect the people of Yevon," the priest informed them. "Only a chosen few become summoners, who call forth entities of great power: the aeons. The aeons hear our prayers and come down to us. They are the blessing of Yevon." The priest made the Yevon bow, and left the two.
"Summoners…? Aeons…?" he asked himself. Judging from how high they regard a summoner, they must be powerful.
"Man, I'm beat…" Tidus said. "I'm goin' back to Wakka's place. Gonna come with?"
The Rigelian prince shook his head. "No. I'll stay here a little longer. You go ahead…"
The teenager shrugged. "Okay then. See ya later!" And he ran towards the exit and left him alone.
Good. Now he had time to think all by his lonesome without anyone interfering. He's usually not a man of prayer, but for some odd reason, he was drawn to the place. This place is entirely different from Duma's Temple in Rigel. That place was cold, unsettling, fitting for a mad god, and the place was full of abominations, the Terrors, and Jedah's no good followers that consists of Arcanists, Cantors, and Witches.
This place however, it felt calming, but there's also sorrow lingering in the air. He remembered the priest's words about the summoners. Just what is a summoner's purpose exactly?
"Intrigued by the statue hm?" a priest said approaching him and stood next to him. "The high summoners, in order from the right: Lord Braska, Lady Yocun… Lord Ohalland, and Lord Gandof."
"High summoner?"
The priest nodded. "As you see the four statues before you, they are summoners who battled Sin in the past." Once again, the priest bowed in prayer. "They are saviors of Spira."
Berkut's eyes turned to the staircase and a single door at the center. The priest took notice of this and began to explain. "Beyond that door, lies the Cloister of Trials. Only summoners and their guardians may enter."
So summoners have people called guardians to protect them. So many new things he had to learn just to adapt to this world. This is a strange world indeed.
"Pray hard, and the toxin will surely release its grip on you," the priest said, did Yevon's bow, and left.
"Hmph. I don't need any."
Berkut got out of the temple and scanned around the village. This world doesn't have any kingdoms, nor any kings or queens; everyone only lived and followed the teachings of Yevon, whatever that may be. His eyes went to a certain tent, the tent of the Crusaders. He needed information so he wouldn't get lost in this world and stick out like a sore thumb.
He entered the Crusaders tent, and saw the same two men who ran past them earlier at the entrance of the village. They were at a table poring over what seemed like a chart.
The youngest Crusader was the first to speak. "Hey, you! You were one of the two who was attacked by Sin…right? The one who suddenly appeared on sea?"
"Yes," he said, though the part where he was attacked was a lie.
"You're an interesting one," said the eldest red head. "I've never seen clothing like that in Spira." He stood up, "My name is Luzzu. This one is Gatta."
"So, Sin can't be far right?" The man named Gatta asked. "You're not hiding anything are you?"
Berkut raised his brow, "Why would I hide anything?"
"If Sin is nearby, then it'll attack the island for sure," Luzzu placed his hand under his chin. "But it hasn't… I wonder why?"
The two Crusaders looked at him, hoping he would know the answer. "I apologize. I do not know anything right now."
Gatta slouched. "So much for getting a lead."
"You Crusaders," Berkut began to ask, "What do you do?"
The two looked at him bewildered. Oddly enough, he's getting used to it by now.
"You're kidding right?!"
"Gatta!" Luzzu snapped. "Remember, this man was infected by Sin's toxin. Tell him who we are!"
Gatta stood straight and placed his right hand on his chest, as if forming some kind of salute. "Yes sir! The Crusaders are sworn to battle Sin!" He began to explain. "We have chapters throughout Spira, accepting all who wish to join our struggle! The hero Mi'ihen formed the Crusaders eight hundred years ago as the Crimson Blades. Later, our ranks grew and we called ourselves the Crusaders. We've been fighting Sin ever since!"
The prince crossed his arms. "So, you've been fighting for eight hundred years, and still, you haven't defeated it?"
Gatta stammered at his remark. "Well, we've steered Sin away from towns many times!" Luzzu chimed in. "And that's all we can do. Nobody's ever been able to defeat it. Our mission as Crusaders is to protect the temples, towns, villages, and people of Spira."
"Isn't it a summoner's duty to defeat Sin?" Berkut asked and even Luzzu stammered. "So, why are you interfering?"
The two went quiet for a second. It's obvious that they were hiding something. "It's been a long day," Luzzu spoke again. "You should get some rest. Hope you and your friend regain your memories soon."
Berkut grunted at the mention of 'friend' but he let it slide for now. He got out of the Crusaders tent, but just before he went farther away, he still heard their voices.
"But soon, we may be able to finally defeat Sin," He heard Gatta's voice. "We've got a plan–one that'll go down in Crusader history!"
"We've been excommunicated from Yevon," said Luzzu's voice. "We must go, now. Everything is riding on our next…our last battle!"
Excommunicated? Huh. Some people prefer to bend the rules.
Everywhere he went, he would hear either rumors of two strange men suddenly appearing on the shores of Besaid Island and are "infected by Sin's toxin", or hearing about Sin terrorizing this world for centuries, and must always believe the teachings of Yevon. It's amazing how people could just blindly follow the teachings without even questioning them. It's the one thing he always hated; blind worship.
He went back to Wakka's tent, feeling exhausted. On the right side, he saw Tidus sleeping. "No lunch yet I'm afraid…Settle down for a while! You look tired." Wakka said, and Berkut sat down on one of the chairs just opposite of Tidus. Who would've thought living again, could be so tiring? He slowly closed his eyes, and drifted to slumber. The last thing he heard was a priest entering the tent.
