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THE THIRD GUARDIAN
Chapter 8
The long walk continued as many days and weeks turned into months of non-stop walking and fighting.
Auron calculated that they were actually only covering about twenty miles per day, maybe less. Having to stop and fight so frequently was really slowing them down, as well as wearing them down.
Combined with the stops they would be making in temples, necessary periodic rest breaks plus whatever unexpected delays they would inevitably encounter, he estimated that it would be at least another seven or eight months before they reached Zanarkand, probably more. Thinking of all the walking yet to be done, he was thankful for the high quality of his sturdy, black boots.
The topography of the land had gradually changed from the warm, humid coastal lowlands of Luca to more of the characteristics of an upland plateau with rocky outcroppings on the outer edge that dropped straight down to the ocean far below. In a few places the nature of the land softened a little and there were short stretches of accessible beaches.
Past Mushroom Rock itself, the quartet finally reached the Djose Highroad, then began the arduous climb into harsh mountainous terrain. With luck they would reach Djose Temple in a few days.
Enemies encountered were many but the Guardians handled them all. Their purse was filled to capacity with all the gil collected and both Raiel and Auron were filling theirs with the overflow. Auron made a mental note to get one for Jecht at the first available shop.
On this day, rather late in the afternoon, a pair of Basilisks attempted to ambush them but the trio of Guardians engaged quickly. Jecht hit each fiend hard with the blitzball, managing to both Silence and Blind them. Auron attacked one with his immense katana while Raiel and Jecht, with their lighter weapons, made a continuous, coordinated attack on the second one.
Protected from the Stonegaze spell by their synthed items, the Guardians felt they could concentrate on their offense. However Auron took a major hit from the Basilisk he was fighting and fell heavily. Despite being badly dazed, he became aware of the cool, refreshing wave of Curaga that Lord Braska had cast on him but had to wait moment for his head to clear and for the spell to more fully take effect.
As soon as Raiel saw Auron go down, she stepped to the left and attacked his fiend with fast slashing blows, giving him protection from its attacks until he could recover enough to re-engage.
As soon as Auron returned to the battle, she rejoined Jecht in the fight against the second fiend but almost immediately Jecht was dealt an enormous blow which knocked him completely out of action.
Hearing Braska yell, "Aeon!", she and Auron immediately disengaged, grabbed Jecht and dragged him back to safety with them. Knowing that the summoning had Lord Braska's full attention, Raiel selected one of the Al Bhed potions from her pouch for Jecht and, with Auron's help, got it into his mouth. Within seconds, his eyes opened as his recovery began.
The Guardians watched as beautiful Valefor blasted the two fiends with her Energy Ray, blowing up the ground beneath them, dealing horrific damage to both.
The Basilisks tried to mount an offense against the Aeon but were now too weak to be effective and Valefor's powerful Sonic Wings finished them off.
Raiel smiled with delight as the mystical creature struck something of a victory pose for the benefit of the small humans below it. A fleeting glance in the direction of the Guardians told Valefor that her efforts were indeed appreciated. Raiel laughed to herself, 'Aeons have egos! Who knew!'
On their way again, Raiel had taken Point to allow Auron and Jecht a little more time to recover from their injuries. Spells and potions are wonderful but, as Lord Braska was so fond of saying, the human body simply requires time to completely restore itself. The entire party was looking forward to an end to this day.
Not long afterward, she spotted a large, heavily forested area that included a tall rock formation that looked as if it might provide good shelter and protection for them. Halting the party, she checked it out and was gratified to see that the site appeared to be more than adequate and the sound of a gurgling stream somewhere nearby was a welcome bonus.
Auron looked over the site and agreed with her choice. He wasn't looking too well, though he'd never admit to feeling it. Giving Lord Braska a look that asked him to back her up, she told Auron and Jecht to stay put while she went to check out the water source and gather some firewood.
Before they could object, Braska said cheerfully, "Yes, I'll go with Raiel. The two of you rest here. I'd like to see what is around besides fiends!" Circumvented by their Summoner, the two Guardians stayed but clearly didn't like it.
The Summoner and his smallest Guardian left the camp and vanished into the surrounding dense forest of sweet-smelling evergreen trees, following the sound of water until they came to a crystal-clear stream less than fifty feet away. Raiel filled a unique water container she had gotten the last time she had visited Home. Though made of a sturdy cloth-like material, the Al Bhed had found a method to treat it in such a way that it would not only hold water but, if positioned so that it was not directly in flames, it could be used to heat water or food. When not in use, it could be tightly folded and easily carried in a smallpack.
Braska carried the water container as Raiel gathered wood. Returning to camp, a crackling fire was started which gave a much more cheerful ambiance to their rocky camp enclosure. Smiling at Lord Braska, she asked, "Want to go see what we can find to eat?"
Braska grinned. "I'd love it!" Two rather unhappy Guardians were again left behind, though each would have to admit to feeling the negative effects of his injuries.
Game was nonexistent, but after a time they did find a very large pool of clear, cold mountain water full of fat, unsuspecting fish that were lazily swimming around.
Braska muttered unhappily, "Hmph, I do love fish, but we have no way to catch them."
Looking into the pool, Raiel thought, then said, "Maybe we do, Sir. How about a little Thunder to stun some of them?"
Braska perked up, then sighed, "That would work but we still have no way to collect them."
Raiel grinned and removed her smallpack. Digging through it, she held up a small roll of something black: her bikini.
Once he realized what it was, Braska let out a huge laugh. "Raiel, you never cease to amaze me! Your wonderful inventiveness is a great credit to your heritage."
She laughed and said, "Turn around and let me change." When given permission to turn back again, Braska looked at her and grinned as he thought, 'All the gods in the heavens have indeed smiled upon me!'
On her slim but nicely endowed frame, now perfectly toned by many long months of walking and fighting, the black bikini was just modest enough to be considered tasteful. With her long dark hair and its braid, colorful beads and feathers, she could have just stepped out of a travel poster for the tropical islands.
Standing at the edge of the flat rocks surrounding one end the deep pool, Raiel cast Thunder as gently as she could, trying to just bounce it off the surface of the water and was pleased to see only a dozen fish float to the surface. Then she dove into the cold mountain water and retrieved them, tossing them up onto the rock surface where she had entered the water.
Lord Braska had to extend a hand and help her exit the water as the rock sides were too steep and rough. He laughed, "I can't wait to see the expressions of Auron and Jecht when they see that we'll have fresh fish to eat." He thought but didn't add, '...and when they see you!'
Raiel gathered her smallpack and clothing and followed the Summoner who was carrying the fish.
Lord Braska strode into camp, grinning ear-to-ear, followed by a still-wet Raiel in her little black bikini. Jecht got slowly to his feet and breathed softly, "Wow, Raiel..." Auron didn't speak unless you counted his eyes and the expression on his face. Braska thoroughly enjoyed the moment.
He told how they had gotten the fish, then asked, "Auron, would you mind loaning Raiel your coat for a while so she can warm up? That mountain water is quite chilly."
Auron stood, unbelted and removed his red coat, placed it around her and just nodded at her soft, "Thank you, Auron." She sat on a flat rock near the fire, huddled in the big coat, welcoming its warmth. That water was really, really cold!
Raiel glanced at Auron, then her eyes snapped back to him again in a classic double-take, her mouth slightly agape. Oh, wow. She had never seen him without the coat. The cut and form of every visible muscle was perfectly displayed by the golden firelight, and made even more impressive by the thin, black sleeveless shirt he wore neatly tucked into the waist of dark blue - almost black - pants. When Auron looked in her direction, she dropped her eyes quickly and sank deeper into the folds of the coat that was pooled around her. Quietly observing, Braska smiled to himself.
Jecht and Auron cleaned the fish, speared them on sticks, sprinkled them lightly with some of the salt and spices from Lord Braska's prized packets and carefully positioned them over the small fire. It wasn't long before the fish were sizzling and their hot meal was ready.
Wrappers saved from meal packets that Rin had given them served as their dinnerware and the delicious, crisp fish were eagerly devoured by the hungry party. It wasn't often that they had such good fare on the road. Lord Braska commented, "Raiel, I think next time we could get a few more, don't you think?"
She grinned, "I just hope the water is warmer next time!"
Auron's coat and the hot food had restored her body temperature. Standing she looked around for a private place to change her clothing. Not seeing one, she shrugged out of Auron's coat and held it out to him saying, "I need your help."
"With?"
"Put that on but hold the the fronts out to the side. It will be my curtain."
Somewhat embarrassed to be serving in that capacity and doing his best to ignore Jecht's grin, he somewhat reluctantly did as she asked. He learned that there are some things that simply cannot be accomplished with any measure of dignity or aplomb!
Dressed again in her long slacks, shirt and boots, Raiel thanked Auron with a radiant smile, then turned to hang the bikini on the branches of a bush to dry. Three sets of eyes seemed to find the the black items dangling from the branch endlessly fascinating.
Looking at the way the campsite was almost completely enclosed by the high rock formations, Auron decided that he would sleep across the opening and they could forgo their normal night watches.
They made themselves as comfortable as was possible on the hard rock floor of the enclosure but still slept soundly from sheer fatigue. At first light, Auron awoke and sat up, stretching stiff muscles, examining the large bruise on his shoulder. The camp was quiet and all seemed peaceful. Lord Braska was softly snoring, Jecht was sprawled out oblivious to the world and Raiel was scrunched up in a tight ball as if she was cold.
He looked at the branch where the pieces of black cloth still hung and a small smile inched across his mouth as he wondered how many other bodies of water they might encounter that would be suitable for fishing.
Only a few minutes later, he heard stirring and saw that Raiel was awakening. When she saw that Auron was awake, she quietly left her place and picked up the water container. A whispered "Good morning" to him and she gestured that she was going for fresh water as she stepped over him.
He nodded and watched the direction she took, wary of possible fiends lurking anywhere nearby. He hated to admit it but he still felt the toll taken on his body by the Basilisk yesterday. The human body resents such rough treatment. He looked at Jecht and wondered if his sleeping so late was an indication of his condition. Wouldn't doubt it.
A soft rustling in the trees as she brushed through them alerted him to Raiel's return with the cold water. What he wouldn't give for a hot cup of Rin's rich, wonderful coffee! As if reading his thoughts, she whispered, "Sure wish we had some of Rin's coffee, don't you?"
He smiled and nodded, then turned as he heard a stirring and a loud yawn behind him. Jecht sat up blinking blurry eyes. Raiel couldn't keep a grin from her face as she looked at the container of cold water, then at Jecht.
Seeing her face and the glint in her eye, Jecht froze as he studied her through slightly narrowed eyes. Rising to join the other two Guardians, he asked softly, "What are ya up to, little girl?"
Still grinning, she answered, "Not a thing, Jecht! Just thinking."
"Hmph! That's prob'ly not a real good omen for the rest of us."
With an innocent smile, she asked, "Now whatever can you possibly mean, Jecht? I'm just sitting here enjoying the morning."
Jecht's deep growl commented, "Yeah, lookin' like the cat that ate the canary!"
After a long stretch, he asked, "What's for breakfast?"
Raiel's face lit up with sudden inspiration. She looked up at him and said, "Fish!"
A huge grin spread across his face. "Hey, that'd be great! Get changed an' I'll go with ya."
Raiel laughed. "Uh-uh, big guy! You're always bragging about how good you are in a pool. Your turn!"
"Aw, come on, Raiel!"
"Nope! I've just gotta see if you actually can swim in that absurd outfit."
"Now don't be runnin' down my gear."
"Gear? Is that what you call it?" Pointing to the long yellow attachment covering his right leg she said, "I can't imagine what purpose this serves, but that" - pointing to the black accoutrement on his left leg - "looks like it came from an enormous toilet plunger!"
Jecht gasped and was about to mount a colorful verbal defense when a loud, delighted laugh behind them interrupted him. Lord Braska was propped up on one elbow, looking at his Guardians, his blue eyes sparkling. "And a wonderful good morning to each of you! There is nothing like starting off the day with a good laugh."
Jecht looked miffed, Raiel looked happily impish (a look that Rin would have instantly recognized!) and Auron looked amused.
Raiel said brightly, "Lord Braska, Jecht is going to get some more fish for our breakfast. Isn't that kind of him?"
Jecht sputtered as the Summoner responded, "Jecht, that is extremely kind of you. I dearly love crisply cooked fish! Thank you very much. This will truly be a special treat."
Auron had to turn his face away as Raiel stood and took Jecht by the arm, saying, "Come on! I'll show you the way and throw the spell for you, Jecht. Auron will have the fire ready by the time we get back, won't you, Auron?"
After they left the camp, laughter could be heard behind them. Raiel looked back and asked innocently, "Now what can be so funny, I wonder?"
Jecht grabbed her from behind in a big bear hug, momentarily lifting her from her feet, and growled, "It's a good thing I love ya, little girl!"
Both laughed as they continued on to the pool.
Once there, Raiel studied the angle that she wanted to throw the spell and Jecht asked, "What ya doin'?"
"If I can get the right angle and throw it easy enough, I can sort of bounce the spell off the surface and get a partial hit. That way we only get enough fish for our meal and not hurt the rest."
Jecht looked at her with amazement. "You can do that?"
She nodded. "After you learn a spell, you have to learn how to control it and to know exactly what each level will do. I did it last night...now if I can only do it again..."
Finding what she hoped was the same angle, she again threw Thunder as gently as she could and smiled when she saw just fourteen fish float to the surface.
Jecht looked at her with serious brown eyes. "Damn!" he muttered to himself. Then looking at the cold water, he sighed. "Okay. I'm up, huh?"
"Yep! Any time, Mr Blitzball!"
Taking a deep breath, he dove in surfacing some distance away, sputtering. "This has gotta be the coldest water there's ever been that didn't have ice floatin' in it! An' you came in here last night?"
"Yes, I did. And without complaining about it, I might add."
Jecht muttered, "Raiel, ya got a cruel streak, ya know that?" Quickly flipping the fish onto the flat rocks where Raiel stood, he heaved himself out of the water as his dark muttering continued. They gathered the fish and returned to camp. Jecht was so cold, he didn't even object to being wrapped in Auron's coat.
Auron cleaned the fish and prepared them for roasting over the fire.
Lord Braska asked, "So, Raiel, can Jecht really swim as he said?"
She grinned as she answered, "I don't know, Lord Braska. He was in and out so fast, it was hard to tell!"
Nothing like starting out the day with a hot breakfast and a good laugh.
Finally, Djose temple. The day was far gone when they arrived so they went straight to the small inn adjacent to the temple. This time each member of the party had a room.
Jecht grinned, "I'm gonna miss wakin' up beside ya, Raiel!" She just grinned back and laughed. The clerk behind the counter gave them a very odd look.
Taking advantage of the food available, they enjoyed a hot meal in the inn's small dining room before retiring to their rooms for hot showers and a long night's sleep.
They were up at first light and had the luxury of fresh hot coffee to go with their breakfast, for which Auron, in particular, was especially appreciative.
Leaving the inn, they entered the temple where the temple guards took in the seasoned appearance and no-nonsense, professional demeanor of the Summoner's party and stood a little straighter, a little taller. Braska's sharp eyes noted this and savored a moment of quiet pride at the respect his Guardians garnered. He knew they were the best and enjoyed it when others recognized it, as well.
Before them were the stairs leading to the Cloister of Trials. Flanking the stairs were two small anterooms which the party ignored.
At the foot of the stairs, Lord Braska bowed politely to the temple Priest saying, "I am Summoner Braska. My Guardians and I will enter the Trials." The Priest silently returned a slight bow and nodded to two guards at the top of the stairs who opened the heavy, ornate double doors to the Cloister and held them as the party climbed the stairs and entered.
Heavy doors closed behind them leaving them alone in the silence and, for a time, cut off from the rest of the world.
The four stood together and looked around, taking in their surroundings. They were in a circular chamber about fifteen feet in diameter with what appeared to be a door opposite them that had a large round design on it. There was a lighted sphere in a recess on each of the two side walls.
Auron walked to the closed door that led further into the Cloister and saw the two empty recesses in the lower part of the design. It didn't take a mental giant to figure out that the two lighted spheres from the side walls would fit into those recesses and open the door.
Passing through the door, a short connector led to the second chamber.
The first thing Raiel saw was the large symbol of Yevon on the floor. Auron noticed the cold expression on her face as she stood motionless, staring at the symbol. What was that about?
Breaking from her thoughts, Raiel took a deep breath then turned her attention to the room. Jecht was studying the spheres and recesses. "Got three spheres, two recesses."
Auron suggested, "Why don't we try these two first and see what happens."
The spheres from beside the door placed into the recesses caused the glyph on the wall to light up as well as a pillar in the ceiling, but part of the symbol in the floor went out.
Jecht growled, "We musta done somethin' wrong already!"
After studying it for a moment, Raiel said thoughtfully, "Maybe not. See where part of the ceiling is electrically active? Let's see if this pedestal will move so that it will be under the one on the ceiling?"
Jecht pushed the pedestal as she suggested. The moment the pedestal reached its new position, sudden loud crackling and sizzling startled them as blue-white lightning from the ceiling connected with the sphere on the pedestal for several long moments, turning it green, and leaving the tart, acrid smell of electrical activity in its aftermath.
Auron looked at the now-green sphere and glanced around to see where it might fit. He first placed it into a slot to the left of next door but nothing happened. Then he tried it in the right slot and the door began to slowly open.
Through the door, they saw a chamber where the surface of the floor was interrupted by what appeared to be a very wide pit that was filled with the constant flickering and flashing of deadly bolts of electricity and lightning. There was no visible way around it though it was obvious that it had to be crossed; a pedestal and sphere could be seen on the far side. Braska watched his Guardians studying the dilemma, thinking.
Jecht said, "I don't see no more spheres that we can reach, so somethin' from the last room has to be changed."
They walked back into the previous room and thought some more. Auron finally said, "There are two slots on the pedestal. Let's try taking the two spheres from the wall and put them there and see what that might do."
That done without the desired change, they considered their options. Raiel said, "How about that floor switch over there? Maybe something needs to be reset." Auron stepped on it and they watched puzzled as the pedestal returned to its original position.
Jecht looked at the open pit and the pedestal, thought a moment, grinned as he said, "Check it out!" He gave the pedestal a shove that sent it sliding across the floor, straight into the lightening pit in the next room; both Auron and Raiel were about to yell at him when the heavy stone pedestal began to somehow float in the pit's center.
He grinned, "Ya thought I'd messed up, didn't ya? If it'll hold, ya might be able to get to the far side."
He started a run to jump onto it, but Raiel grabbed his elbow. "Wait! I'm the lightest one. I'll test it, OK? We don't know how strong it is or what it will do." He wasn't real happy with the idea but she did have a point.
She got a good running start and leaped onto the pedestal platform then, without breaking her momentum, made another leap onto the floor on the far side. Braska found himself holding his breath until she safely made it across.
"The only thing I see here is a pedestal that looks like it will fit into a nook. The pedestal has a sphere in it. Should I bring that back with me?"
Auron said, "First try pushing the pedestal into the nook and let's see what happens."
As soon as she slid the pedestal into the nook, a streaking flash of electricity flew along the sides of the walls to the other side of the lightening pit, raced along a track in the floor and lit up part of the Yevon symbol in the floor in the second chamber.
Auron looked at the partially lit symbol, "Try removing the sphere now."
As soon as she lifted it, the electrical connection just established was broken. "No. That kills the circuit. Come on back."
Jecht called to her, "Ya got enough room over there to get a good runnin' start?"
She gauged the distance. "Noooo, not quite as much."
Auron advised, "Get the best jump you can and use whatever momentum you have to jump from the platform. We'll try to catch hold of you from over here."
A deep breath as she glanced at the ominous flashes in the pit. "Okay. Here goes!"
She started from as far back as possible, hitting the floating pedestal and vaulting off of it as hard as she could. Auron and Jecht stood ready at the edge of the pit and grabbed her arms as she was about to land. Heart thudding as she was pulled to safety, she breathed, "Wow. I sure hope I don't have to do that again!"
They again studied their options and decided to try stepping on the floor switch again to see what that might do. The instant Jecht stepped on the switch, the pedestal slowly rose from the lightening pit and repositioned itself back in the center of the room.
"Hmph! How 'bout that?" he muttered. "Now what?" he asked no one in particular. There were so many possible combinations!
They tried every location and combination with the spheres from the pedestal that they could think of without any luck. All four of them stood trying to think of something that had not been tried.
Finally, Auron said, "The only place we haven't tried is back in the first chamber."
As soon as the spheres were inserted into the wall recesses in that chamber, all but one piece of the symbol was lit. Seeing the unlit section, they were considering the real possibility that they had missed a step or combination somewhere. Would they be able to solve this puzzle?
Raiel sighed, "Think I better go back across the pit and get that sphere?"
Lord Braska walked to the door at the rear of the room and briefly studied it. "Well, we have yet to put anything in the recess to the left of this door. Let's try that."
Auron recalled, "I tried one earlier - but a lot has changed since then. It's certainly worth a try."
Braska reached for the closest sphere which happened to be the one to the right of the door, removed it, and placed it into the recess on the left. The Yevon symbol instantly lit completely, releasing a hidden platform in its center.
They looked at each other with big grins of relief.
Crowding themselves onto the platform, it began to rise, high, higher and higher yet, finally stopping in an elaborately designed circular chamber. Evenly spaced around the periphery of the chamber, there were five pedestals, each with a sphere, and behind each pedestal was an empty niche.
Above each niche, long decorative stanchions extended from above each pedestal and met in a point far above the center of the chamber.
Jecht commented, "Well, this looks simple 'nough. Each one gets shoved into the space behind it, right?"
Auron said, "So it appears. Let us hope so, in any case." The entire group had had more than enough of pedestals and spheres.
As each pedestal was pushed into its niche, enormous bolts of acrid electricity charged its stanchion. The sizzling and crackling grew more intense with each placement. As soon as the last pedestal was positioned, an incredibly huge blue-white bolt of electricity blasted from the apex of the center meeting point of the stanchions down to the floor.
Above the pounding of their hearts, they heard the sound of something of enormous weight moving, grinding and grating in its effort. Following the sound back to the vicinity of the platform that had brought them to this chamber, they found that a stairway had opened. After cautiously climbing the stone stairs, the party suddenly found itself in the antechamber of the resident Fayth.
They looked at each other with relieved smiles. They'd done it!
Braska looked at his three Guardians, saying, "I am extremely proud of you. That was not an easy puzzle to solve! I am most fortunate to have the three of you with me on this Pilgrimage. I just want you to know that."
His Guardians smiled, each feeling a measure of pride for having been chosen to serve this very special man on this most important of all journeys.
Braska continued, "Now I will go into the Chamber of the Fayth and begin my prayers. I hope I will see you very shortly."
Auron assured him, "We will be waiting for you, Lord Braska."
Braska nodded and said, "I know you will, Auron. I have no doubts about any of you." With a last look at them with clear, calm blue eyes, he turned and entered the Chamber of Fayth alone.
The very air in the silent antechamber seemed heavy after the Summoner disappeared through the doorway.
Jecht sighed, "Now we wait?"
Auron replied quietly, "Now we wait."
