SPHERE 1:
Summoner Ankoku Yami's Pilgrimage, Day 1
NOTE: To keep in check the truthfulness of my story, I will report the dialogues word for word.
Last Goodbye
I had to thank all of my co-citizens, for having prepared the boat I asked. It didn't cost much, as I wanted it as sober as possible. It was a bit ironic because I had rarely spent time with them, due to my studies and travels during my childhood. I can't miss anything, as I never had time to attach myself to them emotionally… That's irrational: missing the lack of attachment. Anyway, I have no time to brood over this. I have a duty to perform.
"It will be rather sad not to see any of you, most of all my mom and dad! I will remember all of you, along with the one gesture, which could be the last! Hoping that this will be the definitive change of the plague we call Sin," I spoke with such vindication even though I had never been the best with speeches, but that's not what counted right at that moment.
"Don't worry, son! I am not a Summoner, but there are people who know me, especially at Besaid!" Yami Kurai, my father, clapped me on the shoulder as his smile shone with fatherly pride.
I hugged my parents and then passed to my co-citizens. I bid my farewell to them one by one: some of them didn't like it, yet they decided to set any negative emotion apart for this time. With a last wave of my hand, I went aboard my little boat and left.
Start of the Journey and the Meeting of New People
This was also a sort of final exam for me. A test to see that if staying with so much contact with water, I might get over my fear of it. I roamed the boat as long as I could, a bit annoyed at the mist along with the dark water; which hid everything beneath the surface from sight. Hopefully, I was going in the right direction. At least, according to my compass. When I got tired of roaming back and forth, I froze the water around the boat to block it. It was time to plan. I was taking off my papers to look once more at my notes, when I heard a resounding 'SPLASH'. A figure was coming out of water. I acted quickly and moved to save him (after having used fire magic to melt the ice). He was a human-look-alike and at first I thought he was an Al Bhed, for his blond hair, but his ethical characteristics didn't fully match (blond hair and green eyes).
Blond, tall, well built, dressed asymmetrically in yellow and black, wielding a sword.
He looked just a bit shocked, but otherwise he wasn't in bad shape. Having considered we were in open sea and the fact that he was underwater, I suspected he was either a Blitzball player (as it is a sport played underwater) or a fiend in a human form… Either way, I was prepared: Blitzball player saved equaled a good deed; fiend equaled a good deed and gaining experience of fighting.
We both happened to say: "Who are you?" at the same time.
I answered first: "Ankoku Yami, novice summoner! You?"
At first he looked at me a bit puzzled. Noticeably, it was when I said the word 'summoner'. Is it possible that someone did not know about Summoners? I found that completely ridiculous.
He told me his name (currently forgotten) and continued, "I just resurfaced from a place full of Ancient Ruins! Thank you for having saved me, Enkok!"
I had read something about nearby Ancient Ruins, but I think it was the first time I could get a confirmation about that rumor. Anyways, now was not the time to brood over a book.
"My name is Ankoku and…!"
Before we could keep talking, a large ship appeared from the mist. From the abundance of technology, I easily deduced that it was an Al Bhed ship… Unfortunately, those were moments before the large ship rammed and smashed my boat to pieces. Sad? A bit, as it was kind of a present, but at that moment, I was too freaked out to think of that.
Water, all around. Events much too similar. I felt my lungs being filled with water and my eyes full of tears due to panic, traumatic memories, and salted water. I soon lost consciousness with the fear that my Pilgrimage had ended before it even began.
Captivity
I had regained consciousness recently in a small room with the blonde in front of me asking if I was okay. Such irony! Just awhile ago our roles were the opposite.
"Enkok! Are you okay? You passed out as soon as you were fully submerged by water. What happened?" He asked. Well, that was nice of him. The good deed had worked.
"Nothing," I replied, "I'm fine. It was the shock, and my name is Ankoku!"
I looked around me; my staff was nowhere in sight, along with all my equipment, and the room we were in was plain gray with a single locked door. I put two and two together.
"Have we been taken prisoner?" I asked though the answer was pretty clear.
He nodded.
"I tried to talk with them, but I could not understand a word! They carried you away. Then a girl, who seemed to be the leader, punched me out… Maybe because I was talking too much!" The blond explained with a hand behind his head as if embarrassed.
Unfortunately, I hadn't studied any of the Al Bhed language. It was pride that kept me from doing so because I thought for sure I would never need to interact with them. I would need to repair this error of mine as soon as I got free. Yet, I could not show the blond any uneasiness on my part! Summoners must inspire trust in people.
Afraid of my voice deceiving me, I simply nodded to let him know I understood. We haven't talked since then, but he seemed too absorbed in himself to care about the silence. Wonder what happened to him, but I'm going to have to deal with this later. Right now I needed to think about the situation.
Not good. I find myself stripped of my equipment, with the exception of this sphere (Kept hidden in case I had to make my last will all of sudden) and with no knowledge of what was going to happen to us. Furthermore, being a summoner, and the Al Bhed must have understood from the staff I had been carrying, I doubt they'll ever release me. Need a plan to escape. Along with the blonde. Duty as a Summoner: protect Spirans. It should be 'from Sin', but another good deed won't hurt… I hope.
I am currently sitting against the wall of the room, in front of the door, both attempting to hatch a plan and recording the current state of affairs onto my sphere… I will need some time. About two or three hours. It would have been halved if I hadn't passed out, but I'll rely on my knowledge based on the books about Machina.
I am hearing steps. Still a bit far, but loud enough to snap the blonde back to reality. He must not have noticed me recording. Must stop talking and hide my sphere. I will inform you of all upcoming events later.
Ankoku Yami, Out. Hoping to record spheres once more.
