AN: Hello, I know everyone who has read this story before must be pretty ticked off, that I keep asking to come back and re-read because I've made so many changes. I just wanted to let everyone who didn't know, that this story is a collaboration between myself (My name is Morgan! :D ) and my sister (The owner of the account, and the authoress of Apprentice and all of Rin's chapters. I will be the first to say that I'm not as great of a writer as my sister, and I still have a long way to go before I will be good at it. However, I want to do good by this story. That's why I keep changing it, hopefully to make it better. I don't think I'll mess with anything major after this, so don't worry. This is where I would really appreciate reviews and criticism, I really would love to learn what you guys think, and just want to thank anyone who has decided to click the button to read this.
This whole story is technically a crossover, with all of my chapters taking place in FFX, starting around the beginning of the game. :)
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The day was slipping into evening. The bright fusion of colors backed a small party of three traveling across the Calm Lands. A High Priest and his two guards took out any fiends who were unfortunate enough to cross their path. At a leisurely pace, they made their way in the direction of the tranquil Monster Arena. One of the keys to the door was there.
This man, this – monster arena keeper - had the key the High Priest was looking for, and he was hoping, for the man's sake, that the owner would give it over quickly.
"Good day, sir," The priest smiled as his group approached the owner, who seemed to be organizing or cleaning, as many possessions were strewn across the small lawn in front of the dungeon-like entrance. The man looked to be in his mid forties, and quickly came over to greet his visitors."Not receiving much business of late?"
The man made the sign of Yevon and replied, "Afraid you are correct, your Grace. No one wants to see the Arena with no fiends." The man chuckled sadly to himself. The Priest made the sign of Yevon in return.
The Priest's guards loitered at the entrance, while he walked slowly around the scattered trophies and treasures strewn around the small lawn. "Actually, I was wondering if you were in possession of a rare artifact. I am aware that your family was charged to keep it safe years ago, when Remiem Temple was sealed off."
"The Blossom Crown, your Grace?"
The priest nodded, smiling. The man's face, which had at first held a concentrating expression, now relaxed. His eyes became distant, and shifted his stance, folding his arms. "One moment your Grace, if you please." The Priest nodded again. The Monster Arena Keeper disappeared into the entrance of the Arena. The three visitors were quite still, and the yard was quite tranquil, if you don't mind the strange mechanical serpent thing wiggling up and down constantly.
The man came back outside, now holding a sphere in his hands, and beckoned the High Priest over to him. He joined the arena keeper, and peered over at the sphere viewer. The man activated the sphere and two children sprang up in the projection. One was a girl, not quite a teenager, and the other a very young boy, maybe six or seven years old.
"M'children," the man said, a proud gleam in his eye, "this was when my eldest, Sophia, was leaving for the mage school, Munda. They're both there now, at Bevelle." He motioned to the girl, and pointed to the crown on top of her mage hat. "I gave it to her when she left. It was her mother's before she passed away with our second, Mal… My wife inherited the Monster Arena, and it was hard to take over for her when she died, and attacks before the Calm ten years ago destroyed part of the Arena, causing the source of our income to disappear… sorry to ramble on like this Your Grace, but my point is I can't simply tell my daughter to send it back to give to you."
"No." The Priest said slowly, cutting him off while thinking of his options.
Bevelle… The priest had to return there soon to meet with Mika… Yes… he would just go to Bevelle and get the crown while he was there, while taking care of some other business.
"Your daughter, she attends the university?" The man nodded solemnly. "I will see her there and hopefully barter for it then." The Priest began to gather up his retainers and prepare to leave.
Sophia's father raised an eyebrow curiously. "Have a safe journey then, High Priest Seymour… and praise be to Yevon," he added as an after-thought.
Sophia's P.O.V.
Sophia gave a deep sigh. All that was planned ahead was just more hospital visits. Nothing exciting like field trips to Sin-torn places to help out the wounded... Just sitting around in Bevelle, doing the same things over and over, slowly gaining experience. After a student mastered the white or black magic (usually at about the far-off age of twenty-three or so) he or she usually left for a life of adventure. Some went alone, but many traveled the world together, some becoming guardians, to help defeat Sin. And of course, some traveled to collect treasure and riches and to become famous.
That was the way of life for a student at Munda, and success was not guaranteed. The entire university consisted of thirty-three students at the present time, and no one without supreme talent could get in; the entire school was funded by Yevon.
All Sophia ever dreamed about as a child was being a summoner- having such an immense power and connection with other beings. She remembered finding a dusty old rod in one of the dungeons at home and dancing around with it, waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened with the rod, but later in life her potent magic skills showed themselves, and she was accepted to Munda. She was referred by a traveling nun, and as a result, Sophia's little ten year old brother was sent too. Some day he would surely be even stronger than Sophia, or her father.
Sophia came from a line of potent mages, dating all the way back hundreds of years; her family had built the Monster Arena, and had the magic to keep the monsters they collected IN it. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, but it was always theirs. It was only natural that descendants would upkeep the impressive but perhaps secluded Arena. Recently business had become non-existent due to lack of monsters in the arena, as well as a lack of warriors to fight them. Sophia and her brother Mal were raised to remedy that. After a successful career at school, Sophia would be strong enough to search for powerful monsters herself and make a good life for her father and little brother.
Sophia had been minding her own business all day, preparing for an upcoming exam on advanced biology. She had been traveling back to the sleeping quarters after meeting up with a few friends when an elder student came running up the stairs behind them. The boy panted and addressed Sophia.
"High Priest Seymour of Macalania is here to see you. Go – to the dean's office." The elder student waved his hand at Sophia, and then sat down on a step to rest for a bit. Sophia shifted the biology book she had in her grasp and sighed again.
"You'd better go Soph." Sophia's friend took her Biology book and put it over her own.
"Yeah, you should hurry for a High Priest, sounds important." Another girl added.
"Thanks for telling me." Sophia said to the elder student with a quick bow, and started descending the stairs to the main part of the school. There was plenty of time on the way down to think about why a high priest of Yevon would want to speak with her.
When she arrived at the Dean's office, the Dean himself was waiting by the door. All he did was give her a curt nod and allow her to enter. She was greeted by the sight of a Guado in the garb of a High Priest standing behind the Dean's desk.
"Evening, young one, please, if you could sit down?" Seymour said, as she entered. "You are Sophia correct?" he continued, gesturing a hand to a chair.
"Yes Sir." Sophia bowed slightly. Seymour wasn't staring directly at her, but rather at her head. She pretended not to notice however, and made her ears available for explanation.
"The reason I have sought you out is to locate a certain artifact. An artifact that I'm most certain is on your hat." Sophia straightened.
After Sophia had received it from her father as a birthday gift almost five years ago, she had taken to wearing the beautiful coronet on top of her hat.
"You mean the Blossom Crown?"
"Yes." He said simply.
"Why do you need it?" Sophia countered; becoming defensive.
"To open the door in Remiem Temple." He again said with the same tone of unnerving simplicity. "Perhaps you have seen this door?"
Sophia, growing up on the Calm lands, had seen Remiem Temple once. Once in every great while the moon turns bright red in the sky, giving off an eerie light. A perfect night for a stroll on Alex, the family chocobo. Remiem Temple was constructed with an odd metal that when exposed to the red moonlight, shimmered. Sophia saw the great Temple from a distance. It was in the middle of a ravine, and largely out of anyone's reach. At least… she thought so. Still, she perked up in curiosity.
"No, I've only ever seen Remiem Temple from far away. Is there something there that interests a High Priest?"
Seymour thought carefully about his explanation. The door, in Remiem Temple, which according to the single elderly traveling nun who visited annually, had begun to emit a strange aura. Not an evil aura, but neither a pure one. The nun who felt its presence described it as dark, and consuming - No doubt a great new power had manifested itself there. News of the dark, consuming presence spread throughout the top ranks of the Yevonite council, and it was decided that the Temple should be investigated, and who better for the job than the still-relatively-new Seymour Guado? He had recently been brought back from exile, and the Yevonite council was testing their trust in him. They did not seem too worried or interested in their investment though, which was fine with Seymour.
They doubted that there was any danger in Remiem Temple; the seal on that Temple's inner sanctum was remarkably strong due to the altercation that led to the sealing of the temple, and the clergy was sure it would cause no problems if no one came to visit it.
Seymour, however, was very interested in this new manifestation. Could something have corrupted the fayth? Had something possessed the fayth, or was it just feeding off of it? The questions were endless, and if something had scared that hardy old nun away, it had to be powerful.
"A strange dark aura has appeared there, invisible to the general senses. The Maesters are concerned, and want me to examine it. It could be dangerous." This was not the first lie Seymour had told. Lately he seemed to lying a lot; something he never did in his youth… But things were different now. He had a mission.
"I can imagine…" Sophia had the vague impression that she was not receiving the whole picture, but didn't care too much. Dark auras… uncanny temples… it actually sounded quite interesting…
"Well? Will you be willing to part with it?" Seymour was prepared to bribe if need be.
Sophia gathered up her nerve. She was prepared to fight for this. "Sure, I'll give it to you." Seymour smiled. "On one condition. You take me with you, as your apprentice, a black mage." His smile faded. It was common knowledge he was a great Black mage. But this girl was clearly a White mage.
Now Seymour had to do some quick thinking. The girl was fairly advanced for her age, obviously not afraid of monsters considering where she comes from, and he could possibly use her as an excuse to travel… he compiled all these reasons and more quickly. But still… toting around a human girl?
"Won't you miss your studies here?" It was Sophia's turn to smile. She wasn't so sure about leaving her friends, but this opportunity sounded way too exciting!
"I don't want to be a white mage anymore! I know you're one of the best black mages in this era, and I really don't want to give up my crown… it's a family heirloom." She said as she removed it, and then proceeded to stare longingly at it.
Seymour found himself contemplating just snatching it away from her, or killing her... He sighed, not frustrated only with her but also with himself. He was startled at himself for his eerie new types of thoughts; he didn't want to be rash or make foolish decisions.
"I… will think about it." Their gazes met, both on edge, both suspicious.
"In the meantime, you'd better prepared to leave everything you are here." Sophia smiled. "That is not a confirmation, however."
Seymour then looked down with a serious face on Sophia. She would need much training to be ready for what he could use her for. She had no idea.
Sophia's mouth perked into a gracious smile, "Of course, Your Grace." she said, making the sign of Yevon.
Seymour's P.O.V.
Seymour left the Mage University of Munda that night feeling very conflicted. Youth, potential… innocence, femininity… a girl. He couldn't do this. A human girl, in the midst of what to come? No. There was no way.
Her dean was quick to tell of her seriousness, potential, and eagerness to learn. She was raised to deal with fiends and monsters, it was her future. That crown… there were so many ways Seymour could get it that wouldn't end in an apprentice, or any deaths.
Seymour remembered his own childhood, and then the man at the arena. That man loved his children, took care of them, gave them the best, like his wife did before she died. Those children must be weak, he thought, being loved like that. She probably has many friends, people whom she could confide in, who will miss her when if she left. Everyone will be gone soon…
Remiem Temple… even if Seymour did get the crown there was still the Flower Scepter to consider. The books say it was given to a female summoner long ago, the last person to acquire the Magus Sisters. Their power was great, and they would not listen to men. So the Maesters ordered them condemned. The summoner sealed them away herself however, left her guardians, and was never heard from again. The crown was given to the keepers of the Monster Arena, as a reward for challenging her power with their fiends when she exercised her strength. That family could keep it safe, she knew, and they did. Sophia was proof of that. She would be proof of that.
The next day –
Seymour accompanied Sophia to the hospital where he watched her heal and get tested in biology. She had no fear of blood or gore. Or death. There were deaths while he was there, one person's wounds were too severe and they were too late reaching him. Sophia turned solemn but called for an elder black mage and a young priest. The mage casted Death to ease the man's suffering, and the priest sent him to the Farplane. Sophia watched with solemn interest.
"Everyone has to die sometime, sometimes I think it's just futile to keep trying to live a trivial life. I want to go and learn things. Truths, powers, it's all the same. Is that what Yevon has done for you, Your Grace?"
Seymour smirked at her naivety. He knew the suffering that life gave, and his plan he developed in Baaj was justified here in this hospital, where people were trying to prolong that suffering. "You enjoy philosophy?" Sophia turned serious again.
"One would be reckless not to, I think. But just because you read something, or are told something, doesn't mean it's true." She looked nostalgic. "I have no direction yet…"
Sophia relaxed and addressed Seymour again. "Please take me to see the world! There's so much out there. Sometimes thinking about how much of my life I'm going to spend in Bevelle, I might as well be on a deserted island. I know you're special, Your Grace. The Guado are so mysterious to us humans, it seems like you know so much, but keep it for yourself. I hate that feeling of being kept away from knowledge! I know being trained by you will be the best thing I could ever have for this life. I have nothing to offer but the crown. Pleeease, Your Grace? I promise I will work hard and make you proud."
Sophia was basically kneeling before him now, begging. The speech itself was nothing more than mere rambling, but the last word stuck out to him. Proud. She would make him proud? Her father… had said he was proud of her. Seymour's father… he was never proud of him, always ashamed. Ashamed of his human half. But his human half, his mother, had made Anima. Humans are not weak, they have the greatest potential to surprise you, but also can be the most naïve, holding to foolish and cliché hopes and beliefs.
Even though Seymour was disgusted by her impulsive behavior, he decided then that he would undertake this project, to make this human strong. A tribute to his mother, whom the Guado rejected. He wasn't sure exactly what his goal for Sophia was, but he would make her strong, like he had to become. He would use her to help save the rest of Spira, if they were lucky.
He told her it would not be easy.