Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable in this story. They are owned by Square Enix. I just play with their characters. Familiar dialogues came from the game script.
Chapter 10: The Famous Daughter
Yuna
If I could count the things that one should see in Spira before one dies, I would include the temple of the Fayths in that list. Every single one of them, because they really are a sight to behold. Like each one was an embodiment of the personality of the Fayth sealed within it.
The Lightning Temple of Djose, for instance, was magnificent in itself. If a Summoner was inside, the rocks surrounding atop the temple would float but stay in place due to the heavy electricity the Fayth of the temple was emitting.
"Awesome!" I heard Tidus exclaim, before we entered the temple.
There we met another Summoner coming out of the Cloister of Trials. He must have just finished praying to the Fayth; he had two guardians with him, one was an older boy and the other was a younger one. He had a kind face, and he asked for my name. I told him mine, and I learned that his was Isaaru.
"As I thought, the daughter of Lord Braska. You have the look of your father." He said, reverence clearly shown in his face.
I always received this reaction all the time. There were even times that some strangers would want to shake my hand. I think I was in Bevelle when it started – when the news came that my father had defeated Sin. People were parading in the streets. Trumpets, bands, and the local circus were marching all around. I was out with a strict warrior monk assigned to guard me. And I wished for nothing more but to have my father, Uncle Auron, and Uncle Jecht to be beside me. Then before I knew it, the old lady who was managing the café my father and I frequented to embraced me. She muttered something about how his grandson would be able to grow up without Sin. She thanked me, but I knew that it shouldn't be me she should be thanking. It was just that the person they have to thank was already gone. Dead.
My father was gone. When the news of his victory hadn't come yet, I would fool myself into thinking that he would think twice about the pilgrimage and come back to me. But then, the hard reality struck me. He was dead, and I was going to have to live with it. My seven year old self locked herself in her room for days, crying. If only these people who throw adoring looks at me knew the truth.
"Since I was a child, I've always looked up to Lord Braska. I wished I would someday become a High Summoner like he was." Isaaru began, "You must have some of your father's talent in you! I believe you might someday defeat Sin."
"I'm not really… I've only just become a Summoner." I told him. These praises were nothing new, but every time some people bestow it upon me, I wished they would see the real me.
"Of course, I've no intention of losing, either. So perhaps we should race to see who can defeat Sin first, no?" Isaaru suggested, but there was no air of arrogance in his voice.
Race to defeat Sin? It was a wild idea. He might as well have suggested that we race and see who's going to die first. But he had a playful countenance as he said it. The challenge may as well motivate him. "Very well, then. I accept your challenge." I said and faintly smiled at him.
We bid our farewells and said our good luck's, then my Guardians and I entered the Cloister of Trials. We solved the trials as best as we could, and we reached the antechamber. I braced myself as I entered the Chamber of Fayth.
No one really knows what happens to Summoners when they are inside the chamber but themselves. The truth was we just talk to the Fayth, and the Fayth assesses if the Summoner was worthy to call the Fayth as their Aeon. If he or she was, then they'd have the power to call the Aeon anytime. The hymn would always be there as well in the background, a soothing sound that sometimes calmed a Summoner's nerves.
"I am Summoner Yuna. I am here to call upon the Fayth of the Temple of Djose and beseech you to become my Aeon." I said, kneeling down and looking at the statue glowing underneath the transparent floor tiles.
After a few moments, a relatively old man appeared, he had a long, white beard and an equally long, white hair tied in a ponytail. His green eyes were unbelievably kind, like that of a grandfather's. He was dressed in yellow robes, and he was holding a wooden scepter. His face had an amused expression on it. "Yuna. I remember that name. Now when have I heard it?"
"I wouldn't know, your grace." I told him, a bit surprised. The other Fayth had never mentioned knowing my name before.
"Ah, I think I remember now. There was this Summoner named Braska who said he wanted to rid Sin for his daughter Yuna. Doing it for the rest of Spira was just a consolation prize. Yes, it was the most honest answer I received in a while." The old man mused and paused for a bit. "Oh, where are my manners. I am Ixion - the Lightning Fayth. I know that perhaps there are many named 'Yuna' in Spira, but are you, by any chance, that man – Braska's daughter?"
"Yes, I am, your grace."
"I see, so the child follows after her father's footsteps. Is that why you decided to become a Summoner? Mind your answer now, little one. My allegiance to you rests on your most honest response." Ixion warned, though his smile never faded.
"No, I…" I stammered, trying to think of the most honest answer to his query. There was always a standard line a Summoner uses when asked about why he or she decided to become a Summoner. To save Spira and bring the Calm. When they say that it's not worth it because Sin always comes back, we say there was always a chance it won't come back this time. But I knew somewhere buried deep inside my heart was another answer to this question. The one that I never spoke of to others. I breathed in and out, as I searched for the words to explain it to the Fayth.
"I wish I could tell you that I'm doing it all for Spira," I told him. "but I'm doing it for myself as well."
"Yourself?" Ixion raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. In fact, very interesting. Tell me why."
"Yes, because there is nothing else…" I continued and looked into his eyes, "I look at my life, and I see it with nothing else being good for but for this. Being a Summoner… it gives me meaning. Like I'm more than something worthless in Spira's cycle of death."
"Ah, finally an honest answer. You're the second one today to give me that. This must be a special day."
Ixion stated while brushing a hand over his long, white beard. "Finding your worth in this world has always been the youth's problem. But I can feel your determination burning, child. You are still young, yet I will not insult you longer by asking if you are certain. I would be glad to help you in your pilgrimage. You may consider me now as your ally."
He dissolved into pyreflies and the glowing orbs entered me one by one. This was it. He was part of me to be called as an Aeon now. I stood up from where I was kneeling and headed for door of the chamber, exhausted and fatigued. The whole process of talking to the Fayth and absorbing them as a part of you always left the Summoner as such. When the door opened, Kimahri was right beside me in an instant.
I didn't expect Dona to be there though. She was the Summoner we met at Kilika Island, and she had a bit of an attitude. I thought we'd be glad to see each other again, but she was somehow lividly staring at me. I wondered what happened between her and my Guardians.
"You owe much to your father. All these guardians, and Sir Auron, too? And I hear Maester Seymour's quite taken with you. The world must look different when you're the daughter of Lord Braska." She said scornfully to me.
"This has nothing to do with my father! I am travelling on my own, as a full-fledged summoner!" I countered. My voice reflecting the anger that was hidden deep in my heart every time another person spouts insults like these at me because of my father.
"Oh, is that so? Then try standing on your own two legs for once. Your guardians won't always be there to protect you when the time comes." She replied, before going to the chamber. I realized that she was the type of person who wanted to get the last word every time.
"Don't mind her, ya?" Wakka said to me, putting his arm around me to comfort me.
"What… What happened when I was away?" I asked, and everyone suddenly reddened and was trying not to laugh.
A smooth, baritone chuckle resonated in the room, and I noticed it came from Sir Auron. "...Something she would never tell anyone."
Everyone laughed at that except for me. I was still confused at Dona's behavior. Then Tidus winked at me and said, "We'll tell you when we get to our quarters."
I smiled at them then, forever grateful that I have the best of my friends as my Guardians. Without them by my side, maybe I would have never pushed through in this pilgrimage.
AN: As a show of gratitude towards my kind readers and reviewers (and to CupofTeaforAliceandHatter and Golden Asp who are excited to have Rikku back), I have decided to post two chapters today so that on the next post we'll have the chapters where Auron and Rikku meets for the first time. So go on and click for Chapter 11, it's already up and posted. (^_^) Have a nice day everyone!