Now you see why I wanted to cut it there :) An added conversation between Tidus and Auron at the end, just because I felt Tidus had something he needed to say.
"The high court of Yevon is now in session."
True to Maester Kinoc's word, the group was taken directly from the Chamber of the Fayth to the High Court of Yevon within the palace. There, they were relieved of their weapons and Yuna was allowed to change back into her summoner's outfit, minus her staff. As she was the summoner of the party she was allowed the dubious honour of facing the court first, both to hear the charges and to argue her case.
The rest of the party were made to wait in a dock to one side of the enormous court room while Yuna was led to a smaller dock, where she was expected to face the Maesters of Yevon. The court room itself was vast and intimidating, but Yuna stood with her chin up despite her pale appearance.
On a long balcony above the accused, the four Maesters of Yevon stood. Tidus recognized all but one, a Ronso who, as it happened, was the first to speak.
"The sacred offices of this court seek nothing but absolute truth, in Yevon's name," the Ronso went on, his deep voice echoing though out the court room, "To those on trial: Believe in Yevon, and speak only the truth."
Lulu, who was standing to Tidus' left, leaned over marginally, "Maester Kelk Ronso," she murmured to him, identifying the only Maester that the blitzer was unfamiliar with. Despite the situation Tidus took a moment to smile at the black mage's need to explain.
After taking a moment to allow his words to register, the Ronso went on, "Summoner Yuna," he said causing the young summoner to jump slightly, "You have sworn to protect the people of Yevon, true?"
Yuna nodded, "Yes."
"Then consider," Maester Kelk went on, a frown marring his face, "You have inflicted dire injury upon Maester Seymour Guado." Here the Ronso gestured to his right, where Seymour stood, a faint smile gracing his face.
The Ronso went on, "Conspired with the Al Bhed and joined in their insurrection. These are traitorous and unforgivable crimes that disturb the order of Yevon," he paused and then, "Tell this court what possessed you to participate in such violence."
Yuna looked down for a brief moment before lifting her chin again, "Your grace," she started, her voice strong and clear, "The real traitor is Maester Seymour. He killed his father Jyscal with his own hands."
"What is this?!" Maester Kelk demanded in reply, sounding outraged. He turned a questioning gaze on his fellow Maester.
"Hmm? Hadn't you heard?" Seymour wondered, with no attempt to deny the accusation.
Kelk hesitated at this blatant disregard, looking troubled he turned to Mika who stood to his left but the eldest Maester seemed almost amused by the revelation.
"Not only that," Yuna went on, "Maester Seymour is already dead." She seemed about to go on but hesitated upon seeing the reaction her words garnered. Of the four Maester standing atop the balcony only Kelk Ronso looked troubled.
"It is the summoner's sacred duty to send the souls of the departed to the Farplane!" Lulu interjected at this point, seeing the young summoner pause, "Yuna was only doing her job as a summoner."
"Grand Maester Mika, please send Seymour now," Yuna added, appealing to the Maester's sense of duty.
But the Grand Maester only seemed amused by her request. His mouth curved into a smile as his shoulders shook lightly at a chuckle, "Send the unsent to where they belong?" he said wonderingly.
"Yes," Yuna said but her reply only caused Mika's chuckle to mature into a laugh, "Maester?" she questioned uncertainly.
"Send the dead, hmm?" Mika went on, still smiling to himself. Abruptly his mirth vanished and with that a few pyreflies strayed from his body labelling him as an unsent.
Yuna gasped, a hand straying automatically to her mouth in surprise.
"What!?" Wakka blurted, looking just as shocked.
From the rest of the party there was a rippled of unease at this revelation, save for Auron who looked unsurprised but not altogether unconcerned. Tidus just stared at the Grand Maester then switched his gaze to Yuna, who was looking pale and confused. He suddenly felt the need to be at her side.
"Grand Maester Mika is a wise leader. Even in death, he is invaluable to Spira," Kelk told them, surprising them yet again with his show of support. Tidus would have guessed the Ronso knew nothing of Mika's status as an unsent given his reaction to Seymour's transgression.
"Enlightened rule by the dead is preferable to the misguided failures of the living," Kinoc added, speaking for the first time since the hearing started.
"Life is but a passing dream, but the death that follows is eternal," Seymour said, looking at Yuna. Tidus paused to wonder at the glazed expression the youngest Maester seemed to have adopted. He was looking towards Yuna but not at her. His gaze seemed to fix on nothing.
"Men die. Beasts die. Trees die. Even continents perish," Mika went on, "Only the power of death truly commands in Spira. Resisting its power is futile."
A stunned silence enveloped the court room following this proclamation. The Maester's stood impassively, united in their beliefs despite Kelk's earlier concern.
"But..." Yuna started to say, seeming unsure of her words but the set look on her face betrayed her sudden anger, "But what of Sin?"
This seemed to catch the Maester's attention, especially Mika who smiled again as if he already knew what the summoner was going to say.
Yuna went on despite this, "I am a summoner, my lord, like my father before me. I am on a pilgrimage to stop the death that Sin brings." She spoke slowly at first, reiterating what everyone already knew but Tidus understood her need to make a point. Her trust in the Maester's had been shaken.
"Are you... Are you telling me that that too is futile?" Yuna asked, her voice hitching for a just a moment. She paused, then went on, her voice strong, "Grand Maester Mika, I am not alone! All the people who have opposed Sin...their battles, their sacrifices...were they all in vain?" This last echoed around the vast court room like an accusation, but it did little to stir emotion in the Maesters, who still watched her impassively.
Tidus glanced at Wakka who had been fidgeting since learning of Mika status as an unsent being. He looked as pale as Yuna but now a look of anger also graced his face. Tidus gave a slight mirthless smile. He felt sorry for the blitzball captain having learned so much of late that contradicted his beliefs, but he also believed the recent revelations, shocking though they were, would ultimately be good for him.
Yuna was standing resolute in the dock, no longer looking confused. Her fury was also clear in her expression.
"Not in vain," Mika told her in reply, for a moment seeming kind, "No matter how many summoners give their lives, Sin cannot be truly defeated. The rebirth cannot be stopped. Yet the courage of those who fight gives the people hope. There is nothing futile in the life and death of a summoner."
Tidus was certain the grinding of his teeth was audible but Mika's words stirred this reaction from not only him.
"Never futile," Auron added, looking as angry as Tidus had ever seen him, "But never ending."
Mika nodded, not even looking at the legendary guardian but excepting his conclusion, "Indeed that is the essence of Yevon," he confirmed.
There was a sharp intake of breath from both Wakka and Lulu at these words and Tidus could just hear Rikku mutter something in Al Bhed under her breath.
"Lord Mika," Yuna appealed.
"Yevon is embodied by eternal, unchanging continuity, summoner," Mika interrupted abruptly.
Yuna shook her head, "No, that can't be right," she said, sounding shaken.
"Those who question these truths...they are traitors!" Mika snapped, cutting the summoner off abruptly. He gestured to guard, effectively ending the court session.
"Lord Mika," Yuna said again, but the Grand Maester had already turned to leave the balcony as the guards came forward to escort them away. Tidus tried to keep his eye on Yuna as they led from the courtroom but the party was soon separated and he lost sight of the rest of them save for Auron who was being escorted alongside him.
The guards placed them together in a nearby holding cell without a word. The holding cell was in a vast, floorless room with the only access to the suspended cells being a metal bridge that spanned the divide. Looking around, Tidus could see other holding cells suspended from the ceiling by heavy chains but they were empty
As soon as the guards had closed and locked the door behind them, Tidus pounded a fist against the bars in frustration.
"Get me outta here! I want out now!" he yelled, knowing it was pointless but feeling the need to vent.
"You waste your breath," Auron said simply. The man in red took a seat on the floor, leaning his back against the bars of their cell.
"Bastards," Tidus muttered to himself, before sighing and sitting down opposite the legendary guardian, "Man, I hope Yuna's okay."
"She'll make it," Auron replied, "She's strong." He sounded to Tidus' ears infuriatingly calm.
"She'll make it," the blitzer echoed angrily, "So she can die."
Auron didn't make any reply to this but he did raise his head to meet Tidus' eyes. His expression held touch of sympathy and a ton of resignation.
Tidus sighed again, "Why is it, that everything in Spira seems to revolve around people dying?"
"Ah the spiral of death," Auron mused aloud, giving a mirthless chuckle.
"Huh?" Tidus said suspiciously.
"Summoners challenge the bringer of death, Sin, and die doing so," Auron explained, his voice heavy, "Guardians give their lives to protect their summoner. The fayth are the souls of the dead. Even the Maesters of Yevon are unsent." He paused here no longer looking at Tidus but rather at memory, "Spira is full of death. Only Sin is reborn, and then only to bring more death. It is a cycle of death, spiralling endlessly."
Tidus stared at the man in red for a beat, momentarily stunned by the bitterness in his voice.
"And you're alright with that?" he wondered, already knowing the answer.
"No," Auron replied predictably, "But it the truth."
"You've always known, haven't you? About what Mika said," Tidus realized abruptly, "That's why you've been pushing this pilgrimage even though you know what will happen."
"Yuna needed to know the truth," Auron replied, "They all do."
Tidus paused, then, "Do you think Yuna will give up her pilgrimage, now that she knows?" he asked, wondering why his voice sounded so small.
"No," the legendary guardian said succinctly.
"You don't want her to?" Tidus wondered, studying Auron's face, "Why?"
"Tidus..." the man in red started, using a tone the blitzer hadn't heard in a while. One of exasperation.
"No!" Tidus said abruptly, cutting him off, "Why is it okay with everyone? How can everyone just go on with their lives knowing that summoner's are dying to save their skins?"
"It is the choice they make," Auron pointed out, "No one forces them."
"It shouldn't even be an option," Tidus snapped in return.
Auron smiled, "I agree."
Tidus blew out a breath, "Man, I swear you do that on purpose," he muttered to himself.
Any answer Auron may have given was interrupted as the door to their cell swung open revealing Kinoc accompanied by two guards. Tidus clambered to his feet, fixing the Maester with a glare. Auron also stood, more slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Your sentence has been decided," Kinoc told them.
Auron gave a chuckle at this, "Sentence? Don't you mean execution," he replied.
Kinoc's face became a mask of assumed innocence, "Really, now, what person would execute a dear friend?" he wondered.
"You," Auron replied bluntly.
Kinoc smiled and turned away gesturing to the guards, "Take them to the Via Purifico," he told them as he left.
"The what?" Tidus instinctively backed away slightly as the guards entered the cell.
"Don't worry," was all Auron said as they were led off by the guards. Once they'd left the cell block, the two guards went in opposite directions effectively separating them. Tidus gave Auron a parting glance, only to find the legendary guardian was smiling knowingly. The blitzer wasn't sure if this was purely for his benefit but it reassured him nonetheless.
Thanks for reading :) Next up the Via Purifico, which will have some changes for the sake of realism. I'm actually really looking forward to writing it. Not like the court session which was a bit of a drag to be honest.
