Chapter 10: The Cosmic Algorithm
It had been a long time since Tidus had been anywhere near the barren wasteland formally known as Macalania woods. He was disheartened at how cities like Bevelle and Luca were prioritized for urban development, yet no one even considered planting some trees to replace the dead twigs, which stood erect in the middle of what had once been a place of majestic beauty. It was a shame, really. Those woods held a special place in his heart and he knew they had for his wife as well.
"Tidus, we make a left here!"
"Huh? Shit!" he cursed, slamming his foot down on the breaks. Having been so engrossed with lamenting over the loss of Macalania, he had almost driven past the dirt road, leading to a small out of place forest he had never seen before today.
"Do you want me to take over?"
"No, I'm fine," he insisted, shifting the vehicle in reverse. "Did you talk to Rikku, yet?"
"I just got off the mobile sphere with her twenty minutes ago. Were you not paying attention?"
"No Yuna, I've been driving. I was watching the road."
"Like you were, just now?"
Clearly she was in the mood to argue and he wanted no part of it. He just wanted to find Maechen along with some hope for the future. "What did she say?"
"She's on her way over to our house, right now. She should be there by the time the twins get out of class. They're not little kids anymore, you know."
"They're certainly not adults either," he stressed, turning onto the shallow dirt road. "And with the situation being what it is…I don't want them alone. I dunno how long this is gonna take and it's not like Luca is just down the street from here."
Her lack of response led him to believe he had won their little tiff—not that he was about to gloat or anything, but it sure felt nice to win at something lately.
The path into the forest ended where a dense population of tall, purple-leaved trees began. He put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition, staring out the windshield at the vast foliage in front. "I sure hope we didn't get hosed by that sleaze."
"A million gil for a location? Oh, I'd say we got hosed pretty good."
He couldn't argue that point, but the alternative was certainly not an option he would have ever considered. "I guess we walk from here."
The strange forest was just that—strange. Not only were the color of the leaves on the trees unlike any other in Spira, but the sap oozing from the bark was oddly purple as well. It was as if it were part of another world—one that had a peculiar sweet smell lingering in the air. There was also an eerie sense of calm the deeper they delved into the woods, that is, until Yuna let out a loud grunt.
Startled by the sound, he flinched and looked at his wife, who was swatting at a fly that wouldn't seem to leave her alone. He tried to suppress a laugh but it didn't work.
When the insect finally 'buzzed-off', she shot him an icy glare. Her reaction put an abrupt end to his laughing fit, but he couldn't wipe the smirk off his face. She was too cute—not to mention, incredibly sexy in the shorts and tube-top she chose to wear for the day.
After venturing a little further into the woods, they stumbled upon a small rundown wooden house that looked more like a survivalist's hideaway than a place of residence.
Yuna's shoulders slumped in a way that suggested she was disappointed at their discovery. "This is the house?"
"Shack is more like it," Tidus quipped with a chuckle. "Hello? Maechen, are you in there?"
"Haven't you heard of knocking?" she chided.
"I'm afraid it may cave in if I do that. I mean, look at this place." Tidus poked the wooden door and was surprised when it creaked open. "Guess we'll let ourselves in."
The inside was equally unimpressive as the exterior with the sun's rays peeking through the open lattice windows, barely illuminating the countless dust particles floating in the air. A small wooden table sat off to the side with stacks of papers scattered on top and four chairs pulled out on each corner. Several cushions and sheets littered the ground as if the place had been ransacked by thieves. It was evident no one had lived there in a very long time.
"Now what?" Yuna groaned.
One thing Tidus could always count on was his gut feelings. And right now, he had a very strong urge pulling him toward the papers sprawled out on the table. "There's gotta be something here that'll lead us to Maechen. Or at least something significant he left behind."
"Like what?" Yuna asked, leafing through the sheets of paper.
"I dunno, but I'll know when I find it."
After about twenty minutes of sifting through the mountain of useless documents, a peculiar looking map caught Tidus' attention—more specifically, the name on it, which he hadn't seen since his graduating year of high school in Zanarkand, during a class lesson on ancient folklore.
"What? What did you find?"
"It's a map of a place I never believe existed." He set the faded yellow parchment on the table for his wife to see and pointed at the name on top.
Yuna arched a brow in response. "Eorzea?"
"In Zanarkand, we never believed in anything we couldn't see with our own eyes. It's why when I came to Spira the whole Yevon religion seemed rather strange for me. However, some of Zanarkand's elders were of a different mindset. They believed in this theory of twelve gods who resided in a land called Eorzea. Each god harbored the power of an element and were connected to Hydaelyn—a supreme entity who took the form of a crystal and ruled over all. They swore they had evidence of their existence. But they later claimed it was destroyed by some ancient deities who wanted to hide the truth. After hearing that explanation, no one ever took them seriously. We just called them old kooks."
"That's quite a tale, Tidus."
"Only, it may actually be true."
"Why? Because of this map?"
It was all coming back to him—everything he learned in that class—the names of The Twelve, and one in particular stood out like a white chocobo in amongst a herd. "Now I know why the name Maechen used struck a chord with me. Thaliak commanded the element of water. He was the keeper of knowledge and a reserved scholar. Come to think of it, those ancient deities the elders referred to may very well be Zanarkand's keepers. Do you know what this means?"
The questionable look on his wife's face indicated she still needed more convincing. "You think Maechen is one of these twelve gods?"
"He said so himself. Think about it. He always had knowledge of things in Spira that no one else knew. Not to mention, all this new information we discussed the other night. He commanded a wave to knock me and Trista off the pier. The old fossil never ages. He isn't an unsent. And he disappears without a trace then can appear outta nowhere. Who else can do that?"
Yuna pursed her lips to the side in thought. "You have a point."
"If he's one of the twelve, then maybe he can stop the realm keepers and end all this before it even starts."
"That's assuming he's on our side and not theirs. Even so, how are we gonna find him? Are we gonna magically travel to this Eorzea?"
A low menacing growl came from outside. Tidus froze and stared at the half-open door. Of all the times to be left unarmed. Over the years, fiends had become all but extinct with attacks being an extremely rare case. He and Yuna had stashed their weapons in a trunk in the attic years ago, hoping to never use them again—a decision he now regretted.
The garbled growls grew louder as a dark silhouette shifted behind the partially-open door. Before he could find anything useful to barricade the entrance with, the wooden slab flew off the hinges, and crashed into the wall on the opposite side of the room, shattering into splinters.
A thin, pasty-colored being stood in the doorway with tattered flesh, and a face so deformed it looked like it was made of melted wax. Its dark eyes darted between him and his wife, preparing to choose its victim. There was no question in Tidus' mind this thing was an undead. "Yuna, cast holy on it now!"
The spell struck the being in a bright blast, forcing it to stagger a few steps back, but otherwise proved to be ineffective from how it lumbered toward them.
"I don't understand," Yuna said, panicked. "That should've killed it!"
The demonic looking creature bared its sharp teeth with a hiss and pounced on Yuna, knocking her to the ground.
With his heart pounding wildly, Tidus sprang into action, grabbing the creature by the neck as he wrestled with it in an effort to pry it off his wife. Yuna's fearful cries echoed in his ears. At that moment, he felt something stir in him like never before. Initially, he had thought it was just a surge of determination, but he had experienced that many times. This was very different. It was power like he had never felt before.
A fiery sensation rushed through his veins. Feeling like he could hoist a vehicle over his head, he tossed the pasty being off his wife and stood gasping for air over its mangled looking form.
The undead creature quickly regained its footing and lunged at Tidus.
Just then, a bright blast erupted from his palm and exploded against the being, vaporizing it in a single blow.
Everything had happened so fast. He didn't know what he had done, or how he had done it, but at this point it really didn't matter. Whatever that thing was, it was dead. He quickly returned to his wife, who was now sitting up and rubbing her arms. "You alright?" he asked, helping her to her feet.
Yuna nodded and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Thank you."
He was a little taken aback by her response. She was his wife and the mother of his children. Did she honestly feel the need to thank him for saving her life? "You may not love me anymore, but I'll never stop loving you."
"Is that what you think?" Yuna pulled back from his embrace and frowned. "You think I can just switch off my feelings like a lamp?"
Now he was more confused than anything. "Your actions speak volumes. And just earlier today at Rin's office, I could see the uncertainty in your eyes when I asked if you still loved me."
"I've had a lot to digest over the past twenty-four hours. My emotions are all over the place—fear being the biggest one. And yes, I'm angry with you—furious even. But that doesn't mean I don't love you."
He'd been so sure his marriage was over after his confession the other day that he'd managed to convince himself that his wife no longer loved him. Relieved to learn he had misinterpreted her actions, he let out a long breath, and caressed the side of her face. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."
The unmistakable love she now had shining in her eyes quickly faded into concern. "What was the spell you cast on that thing?"
And now, he was posed with a question he really didn't have an answer for. "I honestly don't know. When I heard you cry out, something in me snapped. It was just like raw power. I dunno how else to explain it."
"You know, it's almost exactly what Trista described doing."
"You mean this force magic you were looking into?"
"Yeah."
He had to admit the uncanny similarities were there. What did that mean, exactly? Spira's keepers led him to believe his daughter would be the only one with such power. Now, he wasn't so sure. This spell he had cast only supported Maechen's claim about something powerful in his bloodline. Which begged the question, just who exactly were his ancestors? "I think we're done here. Let's get going, before something else attacks us."
"Leaving so soon?" The elderly scholar stood in the doorway, leaning against the tattered frame. "What a pity. And here I thought you came all this way seeking answers. Perhaps, I was wrong."
It never failed. Every time Tidus thought the chips were down, things seemed to always play out in his favor. He wasn't sure if he was just that lucky, or if there was a greater purpose to all this. At this point, he was betting on the latter. "So, you knew we'd come looking for you?"
"I know many things. I'm sure you're aware of that now." The decrepit old man stepped inside the dusty confines of the ravaged house and pointed his staff over to the spot where Tidus had killed the undead creature. "Just as you're now aware of the power you share with your daughter."
"Wait, did you send that thing after us?" Tidus inquired, taking a step toward the old man in an effort to confront him.
"It was the only way to awaken your powers."
Yuna's eyes flashed with anger. "We could've been killed! What kind of twisted god are you?"
"One who wishes for stability in the universe."
"So then, you'll help us?" Tidus asked.
"Not in the way you envision. However, I can guide you down the correct path."
"I knew it," Yuna said, bitterly. "You're in league with Spira's keepers, aren't you?"
"No, my lady, that's incorrect. You see, I've become particularly fond of this realm. It's nothing like the world of Hydaelyn, but it does have a certain charm to it. Due to my bias nature toward Spira, I cannot physically intervene. However, I would love nothing more than for this realm to be liberated and for Zanarkand to remain unharmed."
Finally, some information he could pursue. "How do you liberate a realm?"
"You must first destroy the keepers of the realm in question. Then, you must earn the favor of a god. One who is willing to use their powers to liberate a world. Once a realm is liberated, it cannot be attacked by another realm and its keepers."
"Sounds like a tall order," Yuna muttered. "And let me guess, we can't earn your favor?"
"Correct, my bias excludes me from the equation. However, as one of the twelve I do have their ear."
"You're a god!" Tidus cried. "Or so you claim! Why does your bias matter? What rules do you have to follow?"
"The one's crafted by Hydaelyn, of course. I would never go against The Mothercrystal."
Yuna scoffed. "Why doesn't Hydaelyn just put an end to all this then?"
"Free will, my dear, is a gift. Hydaelyn never intervenes in otherworldly affairs, unless it threatens the entire universe. It goes against the very principle of all she created."
"So then, what?" Tidus crossed his arms over his chest, even more irritated than before. "We just wait and hope you can convince another god to join our cause?"
"I know of at least one who will be more than willing to lend you aid—Nymeia, The Goddess of Fate. However, it will be up to you to earn her favor. And I can assure you, earning the favor of a god is no easy task." Thaliak paused then looked Tidus straight in the eye. "Even if you are a descendant of one."
It felt like all the air had escaped his lungs. Had he heard him, correctly? No, there must've been some mistake. He was just a spoiled blitzball star from Zanarkand. He wasn't related to any god. "You're clearly mistaken."
"Am, I? You see, Spira's keepers were mistaken. They thought your father's bloodline was linked to Nymeia, all because he enjoyed blitzball as though it were concrete evidence of him harboring her element of water. It's why they pulled him from Zanarkand to Spira. Not once had they ever considered your mother and her lineage."
The shock he had been experiencing had quickly morphed into feelings of rage, now realizing his father's death had been in vain. His jaw tightened. Those realm keepers weren't only interested in claiming Zanarkand for their own, but hell bent on tapping into the power of one of the gods to further their future schemes. "It wouldn't end with claiming Zanarkand, would it? These keepers planned all along to use this power my daughter and I share."
"They may be cunning, but they're no match against someone linked to one of The Twelve. They're more afraid of you and your daughter than you realize. And they should be. Nymeia's blood runs through your veins. You're a threat to their existence. They'll become desperate once they realize they no longer have power over you. I recommend taking them out before that happens. In the meantime, I'll see to it Nymeia receives word of this undertaking. Once you defeat Spira's keepers, she'll appear."
"How do we earn her favor?" Yuna asked, clearly as surprised as he was about this new revelation from the stunned look on her face.
"That will be up to Nymeia when you meet." Thaliak reached into the pocket of his robe and pulled out a red crystal the size of a small rock then handed it to Tidus. "Here, take this."
"What is it?" Tidus inquired, studying the exquisite object in his palm.
"It's an aether crystal, containing a fragment of the soul energy from the keepers of this realm. You'll need it to summon the keepers in their physical form when you're ready to confront them. Blow on it and they'll appear. Just be aware it can have a delayed effect. I suggest waiting until you're in the Farplane abyss before using it. Contrary to popular belief, you'll be at an advantage there rather than anywhere else in Spira."
Yuna frowned. "I thought you said you couldn't physically help us in any way?"
"Handing you that crystal is not the same as aiding you in battle or choosing to liberate this realm."
Shoving the crystal into the back pocket of his jeans, Tidus gave the god of knowledge an earnest smile, grateful for all the aid he had already offered. "Thank you, Thaliak…for everything."
The ancient god smiled warmly in reply, his body growing translucent before fading away.