Chapter 11

Jecht observed the preoccupied Auron closely as the three of them made their way into the Gagazet mountain cave.

Although he had known about it all along… the fact that Braska was really on his way to die was only hitting him now. I could feel his resolve faltering. But to be honest, the only one of us not faltering then… was Braska. I don't know how he did it, but there wasn't a second he lost sight of what he was going to Zanarkand to do. He wanted to beat Sin – and he wanted to beat those kids to it. If either of us could've had half of that determination, I guess we woulda been pretty darn amazing guardians.

The men performed in silence the tasks the cave required them to do to progress, then made their way to the exit. Outside, another guardian fiend soon appeared.

"Another one!" Auron exclaimed.

The Spectral Keeper was far a more challenging opponent than its predecessor, and by the time the men were finally able to bring it down, they were absolutely exhausted. However, they decided not to rest until reaching Zanarkand, and continued down the trail towards the ruins of the ancient metropolis.

Seeing the city for the first time, Jecht halted immediately.

"…This is my Zanarkand," he then stated quietly.

"…It is?" Auron asked in surprise.

"…Yeah," Jecht laughed. "You don't think I'd recognize my own hometown?

" But… you said…"

"I think he means it's the same city," Braska whispered to Auron, "but not as he remembers it."

"Ahh…"

Braska and Auron gave Jecht a moment to gaze across the ruins of his hometown, until the guardian signaled he was ready, and the three of them continued on.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Arriving in Zanarkand, Jecht, Braska and Auron set up a campfire, and sat down around it to have one last rest before the Zanarkand Dome.

"Come to think of it, Jecht," Braska then began, "you never got to finish that story about how you and your wife met."

"I told you," Jecht insisted. "It's not that great of a story."

"Come on, Jecht," Auron urged. "We really want to hear it."

Jecht cast Auron a lazy glance, well aware that the guardian wanted to postpone Braska's death more than anything.

"Why don't I tell you another story much better than that one?" he then suggested.

"What's that?" Braska inquired.

"Well, it all began one day, when my kid was about to kick a blitzball…"

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

By the time Jecht was finished with the story, night had already fallen. Jecht and Braska began to set out, but Auron was still reluctant.

"Shouldn't we rest just a little longer?" he implored. "Once we reach the Dome, there is no turning back, and I…"

"Auron," Braska began sternly, looking him hard in the eye.

Auron stared back at him, pain and desperation visible on the guardian's face.

"…We should go," Braska finished the sentence.

With that, the summoner headed off, Jecht directly following in his wake. Auron remained still for a while, his hands slowly falling to his sides and clenching into fists. Then, with a quiet groan, he gave in and followed the two.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

On their way to the Dome, the men suddenly became aware of three other figures running alongside them – a young woman, a young man and an elder man.

"Corentin… I'm scared," Indira groaned. "I just can't shake the feeling that something awful is going to happen."

"Indira," Corentin responded, "you know what's going to happen. And yes, it's awful, but it's also wonderful. Soon, we'll be greeting a new Calm, together!"

"Will we really…?"

"Well, the…"

He glanced at Ohalland, walking well ahead of them.

"…The two of us."

"…You won't… leave me alone, will you?"

"What are you talking about?" Corentin exclaimed.

"I'm just… afraid of losing you," Indira spluttered.

"Indira, how can you be worried about me when we're about to lose our dear friend?" Corentin rebuked his fiancée. "He's giving up his life so you and I can live and get married!"

"I know… I know," Indira said quietly. "You're right, it's him I should be sad about."

"Come on. We've no time to waste."

"What was that just now?" Jecht exclaimed as the specters disappeared.

"A memory from twenty years ago," Braska replied.

"Indira and Corentin?"

"…Yes."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Hey, Braska. You don't have to do this," Jecht suddenly blurted out on impulse, as they were barely a stone's throw away from the Dome.

"Thank you for your concern," Braska said calmly.

"Fine," Jecht grunted. "I said my piece."

"Well I haven't!" Auron cut in. "Lord Braska, let us go back! I don't want to see you… die!"

"You knew this was to happen, my friend," Braska responded.

"Yes, but I… I cannot accept it."

"Auron, I am honoured that you care for me so," Braska stated as patiently as ever. "But I have come to kill grief itself. I will defeat Sin, and lift the veil of sorrow covering Spira. Please understand, Auron."

Auron looked as if he was about to spout another argument, but Braska bluntly walked off before he had the chance to.

Shortly arriving at the Dome, the men proceeded to the entrance to the Trials.

"Are the Trials ahead?" Jecht asked.

"Probably," Braska replied.

"Here, too, huh? Gimme a break. I was expecting, you know, parades and… fireworks!" the guardian announced with blatantly false enthusiasm.

"You can ask for them after I defeat Sin," Braska responded plainly.

The three of them then entered and performed the very last Trials in two separate dark halls. As soon as they were done, the second room suddenly became pitch-black, as even the dim lighting it had enjoyed went out.

Then, abruptly, a door on one of the walls opened, and a distressed Eidel staggered into the room, falling on her knees in front of the men.

"Eidel!" Jecht exclaimed.

"What's going on?" Auron asked quickly.

"It's Gordan," Eidel wept. "I can't find him anywhere! We got separated while performing the Trials."

Braska offered his hand to help her to her feet, and she impulsively pressed up against him to sob quietly.

"I've got to… find him…"

While neither of them voiced it out loud, Braska and Auron both first expressed reluctance to help her search. After all, if the young summoner were found, he and Eidel would have no trouble outrunning them to Yunalesca, then to the Calm Lands to their deaths. And while Auron was first and foremost distraught over Braska, he seemed to have just as little desire to let Gordan die.

On the other hand, Eidel was clearly hysterically worried about her protégé, and it seemed too cruel to just leave her there and proceed onwards. So when Jecht urged his companions to help her find the summoner, declaring that it was "the right thing to do", they both knew it was.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

The Zanarkand Dome proved to be even larger than it had looked like from the outside, and finding the young rival summoner turned out to be no simple task. Finally, after at least an hour of searching, the party discovered a hidden long corridor on the uppermost floor, and recognized it as one of the last places they hadn't looked.

And sure enough, they soon discerned the familiar figure of a slight young man in the distance, approaching the four of them from the other end.

"Gordan!" Eidel exclaimed, her face lighting up as she dashed towards him, leaving the men far behind. Gordan raised his eyes, and an elated smile formed on his face as well.

Only inches separated the reunited young travelers, when Gordan suddenly let out a painful gasp and his face distorted in anguish.

"Hha…!"

"Gordan?" Eidel screamed in shock.

His eyes spread wide open, and he gave a hushed groan before collapsing in Eidel's arms, lifeless.

"Gordan!"

The summoner's falling body revealed his slayer, standing behind him with a bloody knife in her hand.

Lady Indira.

"…You!" Eidel cried in despair. "Why… how could you?"

"You were too close, my dear," Indira responded coldly. "The only way to avert his death… was by his death."

The maestress then raised her eyes to see Braska, Jecht and Auron running towards the scene.

"Oh… how very convenient."

She lifted up her knife again, preparing to fling it at Braska with the aid of a magic spell. Eidel, looking up from Gordan for one inexplicable moment, gasped in horror.

"No!"

With one swift motion, the knife shot through the air. Eidel immediately abandoned Gordan's body and darted towards Braska and his guardians. She could just catch the stupefied looks on the three's faces before throwing herself between Braska and the weapon, and taking the fatal stab in his place.

Her body fell to the floor with a terrible thud.

"Eidel!" Braska exclaimed in shock.

"You…" Jecht hissed as he saw Indira and the situation dawned on him.

"What have you done?" Auron cried.

"…The necessary," Indira replied icily.

"…You'll pay for this!" Jecht roared and charged towards the maestress.

This time the battle was far more even, as the men were now more driven than ever – driven by their anger for the murder of two heroic travelers, who had only ever wanted to protect Spira. Two mere children, who would now never open their eyes to see a world without Sin.

Again, Indira soon saw that she would not be able to defeat the men just yet, and promptly disappeared in the same fashion as the previous time, something of a smirk playing on her lips.

Braska crouched down to hold Eidel's lifeless body, removing the gory knife from her heart. Auron and Jecht hurried to inspect Gordan, finding him to be dead as well.

"She… saved me," Braska whispered.

"…Protecting a summoner with her life," Auron said quietly. "The mark of a true guardian."

"…But she was just a kid," Jecht muttered. "…They were both just kids."

After a while of silence, Braska quietly stood up and performed the sending.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

In low spirits, the three of them made their way back into the pitch-black room. Braska stepped on the elevator, and it took him down to the Hall of the Final Summoning.

However, the summoner shortly came back up with a confused look on his face.

"Auron, Jecht, come," he urged. "Something is not right."

"Huh?" Jecht said. "What is it?"

Jecht and Auron got on the elevator, and it took the three of them down to a round, dark room.

Braska gestured towards a translucent circle in the centre of the room, underneath which lay a worn-down, elaborate statue.

"This is not a fayth, but a mere statue."

At that very moment, a ghostly old man in temple attire entered the room.

"That statue is what remains of Lord Zaon, the first fayth of the Final Summoning," the man explained. "Along with his soul, the lord lost his powers as a fayth nearly a thousand years ago."

"But… that can't be," Auron spluttered. "What about the Final Aeon?"

"There is no Final Aeon," the old man responded.

"Huh? What do you mean no Final Aeon?" Jecht echoed.

"But fear not, for there will be. Lady Yunalesca will help you claim it. Now, go to her," he gestured towards the door he had come through, "Beyond this door, she awaits you."

With that, the man turned away and vanished into the air.

"…I don't like the sound of this," Auron declared.

"Auron… we've come too far to quit now," Braska stated with ever-lasting patience.

The summoner then cast him a slightly stricter look as turned on his heels and entered through the door. Jecht and Auron followed in his wake.

The men found themselves in a large, well-lit hall, with a flight of stairs leading to an ornate door in the other end. The door shortly opened, and a beautiful tall woman with long, white hair came forth.

"Lady Yunalesca," Braska whispered.

"Uhh… aren't you cold, sister?" Jecht marveled at her scanty attire, and she gave a small chuckle.

"Welcome to Zanarkand," she then began. "Congratulations, Summoner Braska. You have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow upon you the Final Summoning. But first, you must make a choice. Who will be your fayth?"

"…What?"

Yunalesca gestured towards the two guardians respectively, "Will it be Sir Auron? …Or will it be Sir Jecht?"

Jecht and Auron turned to look at each other. Auron's eyes had widened with shock, but Jecht only gave a quiet sigh.

"Consider it your last duty before fighting Sin, Lord Braska… to choose the one whom I will change to become the fayth of the Final Summoning," Yunalesca clarified. "There must be a bond between chosen and summoner, a bond between lovers, family… or friends. The Final Aeon will be the very embodiment of this bond – when strong enough, its light will conquer Sin. Nearly a thousand years ago, I chose my husband Zaon as my fayth. Our bond was true, and it granted me the Final Aeon."

The three remained silent.

"Be not afraid," she reassured the men, turning on her heels to leave them to think in peace. "You will soon be freed of worry and pain. For death is the ultimate and final liberation."

The specters of Ohalland, Indira and Corentin now appeared again.

"No!" cried Indira.

"I cannot separate my guardians," declared Ohalland. "I promised they would live in a world without Sin, together."

"Guardians should be the ones to make promises to summoners," Yunalesca responded coolly.

"…And so I did," Corentin cut in. "I promised to stand by Lord Ohalland to the end. I volunteer as the fayth, Lady Yunalesca."

"No! Corentin, no!" Indira implored in shock.

"I'm sorry, Indira," Corentin said. "You must understand that there is no greater way to prove my love to you than this."

"He is right, my dear," said Yunalesca.

"But… you cannot leave me!" Indira wept.

"If I live through this, I promise, I will find you," Corentin reassured his fiancée.

"Corentin…" Indira sobbed.

"You've made your choice," Yunalesca announced. "Lord Ohalland, Sir Corentin… follow me."

"Corentin!"

"Goodbye, Indira."

A heavy silence reigned for a while, as Ohalland and Corentin ascended the stairs after Yunalesca.

"…You promise to find me?" Indira then whispered.

"I promise, my love," Corentin swore, proceeding to follow Yunalesca and Ohalland through the door.

"It is not too late!" Auron cried. "Let us turn back!"

"If I turn back, who will defeat Sin?" Braska reminded, his tone now harsher than even before. "Would you have some other summoner and his guardians go through this?"

"But… my lord, there must be another way!" Auron insisted.

"This is the only way we got now!" Jecht cut in.

"…Fine," he then continued in a slightly quieter voice. "Make me the fayth. I been doing some thinking. My dream is back in the other Zanarkand. I wanted to make that runt into a star blitz player. Show him the view from the top, you know. But now I know there's no way home for me. I'm never gonna see him again. My dream's never gonna come true. So make me the fayth. I'll fight Sin with you, Braska. Then maybe my life will have meaning, you know."

"Don't do this, Jecht!" Auron begged. "If you live… there may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!"

"Believe me, I thought this through," Jecht assured him. "Besides… I ain't gettin' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful."

"Jecht," Braska said, with slight surprise at his words.

"What!" Jecht yelled. "You're not gonna try to stop me, too?"

"Sorry. I mean… thank you."

"Braska still has to fight Sin, Auron," Jecht reminded, placing his hands on the summoner's shoulders. "Guard him well. Make sure he gets there."

Auron only managed a quiet, distressed sound.

"Well, let's go," Jecht said and left his side.

"Lord Braska! Jecht!" Auron cried as the two of them started to leave.

"What do you want now?" Jecht grunted.

"Sin always comes back," Auron groaned. "It comes back after the Calm every time! The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing!"

"But there's always a chance it won't come back this time," Braska responded calmly. "It's worth trying."

"I understand what you're saying, Auron," Jecht said. "I'll find a way to break the cycle."

"You… have a plan?" Auron asked in disbelief.

"Jecht?" Braska was curious as well.

"Trust me, I'll think of something," Jecht replied and gave a hearty guffaw.

As Jecht and Braska then again turned on their heels, Auron fell on his knees in agony. The two were already at the door when Jecht then turned around once more.

"Can I ask you one last favour?" he requested, then quickly changed his mind, "Uh… Nah. Never mind."

"Out with it!" Auron yelled.

"Okay," Jecht consented. "Listen good. Take care of my son. My son, in Zanarkand. He's such a crybaby. He needs someone there to hold his hand, see? Take care of him, will you?"

"But how am I supposed to go to Zanarkand?" Auron asked in confusion.

"Hey! You said it yourself!" Jecht laughed. "There must be a way to get there, right? You'll find it."

"Alright, I will!" Auron promised. "I give you my word. I'll take care of your son. I'll guard him with my life."

"Thanks, Auron," Jecht said warmly. "You were always such a stiff, but that's what I liked about you."

Jecht gave Braska a quick glance, but still hesitated to follow him. Then, he suddenly pulled out the red longsword he had first used as his weapon, and handed it to Auron with a slight smile on his face.

"Here. Give this to him, will ya? You know... when he's ready."

Auron accepted the sword with a grim nod.

"…I will."

Jecht's smile broadened, but he still didn't look satisfied. Eventually, the guardian sighed, cleared his throat and struggled to get out his final words to Auron.

"…Ah, and tell him I… I, uh… I mean, you know. I just… didn't know how to say it."

"…Jecht, wait!" Auron still begged when he finally turned to leave.

"Nn?"

"What's your son's name?"

"…Tidus."

With that, Jecht turned away and followed Braska through the door.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Jecht and Braska silently walked up to the roof, where Yunalesca waited them under a starry nocturnal sky.

"Are you ready?" Yunalesca asked.

"…Yeah," Jecht replied.

"Take my hand," Yunalesca said and extended her hand.

Jecht stretched out his hand, and Yunalesca took hold of it with both of her own.

"Let us begin."

At that very moment, mysterious power began to flow out of Yunalesca's body in the form of bright, white radiation. Braska covered his eyes with his arm, unable to look at the light directly. Jecht groaned in pain as he slowly started to take the form of a gigantic, monstrous beast.

Finally, as he grew too large, Yunalesca let go of his now greatly distended hand and looked up. Jecht, now Braska's Final Aeon, still growled in pain, his voice now deeper and oddly distorted.

"Now, dismiss him," Yunalesca commanded Braska.

Braska stared at the sight, petrified.

"Summoner Braska," Yunalesca repeated sternly. "Dismiss your aeon."

Without removing his eyes from Jecht, Braska inattentively lifted his staff and dismissed the aeon.

"Call him forth when you reach the Calm Lands," Yunalesca instructed. "Sin will be there to fight you. Now go."

Braska nodded absently.

"Lord Braska," Yunalesca said with a hint of contempt in her voice. "This is the only way to defeat Sin. The only way. "

Braska raised his eyes to meet her glare, but stayed silent.

The summoner then slowly turned away to descend back into the hall.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Corentin!" Indira cried as she saw Ohalland emerging through the door.

The summoner shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Indira."

Indira fell on her knees, bursting into frantic tears. Ohalland crouched down to comfort her.

"…He is not dead. He promised to find you, no matter what. Wait for him, Indira. He will come back to you."

"I'm so sorry, Lord Ohalland," Indira wept. "My heart was never in this journey… it was always with him."

"…I know, Indira," the old man said quietly. "I know. "

Auron raised his head with a start the instant he saw Braska.

"Well…?"

"…It is done," Braska stated grimly.

"…Is Jecht really…?" Auron began.

Braska nodded.

Auron cringed and turned away.

"…We should go," Braska then said.

"…So that's it, then?" Auron whispered bitterly after a moment of silence. "We'll never see him again?"

"Auron…"

"He was right here a second ago!" Auron cried. "Why… why did he have to become a fayth?"

He cast Braska a desperate look.

"And why… why do you have to die?"

"…Because it is the only way to defeat Sin," Braska echoed Yunalesca's words. "The only way."