The field was a contained mass of water held together in a spherical shape by a rotating instrument designed fifteen years ago by Tato, an Al-Bhed hired by Yaj Yeshe, chiefly for the first public Blitzball game. Inside, players from two competing teams trained in the technical prowess of holding their breaths underwater for an absurd amount of time were floating at their assigned stations. Positioned as the Left Forward in the western side of the field was a blonde man who was observing his surroundings with his opal blue eyes, and reiterating in his head the strategy that his team had agreed to employ. At the blowing of the whistle, the clock started ticking on the time board. Since the blonde man's team already scored two points against their opponent's zero in the previous round, they had exactly another five minutes or less left to win the game.
The game's first pass was made by the Midfielder from the blonde man's team, who flung the ball into the hands of the Right Forward. The Right Forward dribbled away, nimbly enough to avoid three pursuers, only for her passage to be blocked by a bulky and taller player who managed to catch up to her. She searched through the crowd of defence ahead of her and found that the Midfielder had set himself a few distance behind her blocker. A confident grin from the Midfielder gave her enough assurance to throw the ball. It flew from her hand at such a high speed and hit the long arms of her blocker who fell into a slumber.
The Midfielder caught the ball in his hands once again and swam forward towards the opponent's goalpost, baiting a group of four to follow. The blonde man had already been swimming towards the opponent's territory, moving his arms and legs fast like the fins of Piranhas. When the blonde man was positioned a few metres close to the goal, the Midfielder's movements ceased as he adjusted his stance to aim a pass. The ball soon swooped past the hands of the four blockers – three poisoned at the slight touch of the ball, and one was able to avoid the poisonous pass but failed to catch the ball.
The ball landed effortlessly into the blonde man's hand like a hilt would against the blade of a sword. A handful of players from the opponent's team had already appeared in front of him with grimacing faces, for they knew what he was capable of. He could smell their fear and did not bother to dribble away. Instead, he executed his special technique: he first sent the ball flying towards one blocker's face with a kick; the ball bounced off, reaching the edge of his foot again when he did a somersault, knocking another blocker down with the ball; the ball returned and a slight punch from the man plunged it to the next blocker's face; then finally, he leaped and twirled in the air like a pile driver, before kicking the ball past the last blocker and the goalie, and straight into the goal.
At the sound of a whistle, the scoreboard lit up, adding another point to the team named 'Zanarkand Abes' and electrifying their supporters who stood from their benches with arms high up in the air while screaming their name. At the sight of the frenzy, the blonde man laughed and exchanged a few high-fives with his teammates.
Elevated above the grandstand was an enclosed area where leaders from all over Spira were watching the games behind glass panels. Yevon witnessed with unconcealed pride as the team from his city scored further points following their second goal. He expected nothing less from them, considering that the sport originated from Zanarkand before it was popularized elsewhere as part of his effort to promote Zanarkand's way of living.
"That's Shuyin, isn't it?" Zako remarked, eyes fixed onto the blonde man. "What an exceptional Blitzball player he is. No one plays like he does. He harnesses his own special skills unlike other players who are content with abilities that are easily copied. I've to be honest with you and tell you that I've instructed our own Blitzball players to watch and emulate him closely."
"I'm grateful that Lord Zako thinks so highly about one of our players," Yevon said placidly, hiding his genuine surprise at Zako's sheer interest and approval of the Zanarkand player he had spoken of.
Zako's mouth formed a knowing smile, "I don't think I'm the only one who's impressed with Shuyin." His eyes lingered on Shuyin's figure, tracking his movements across the water field like a compass would. "I heard that he's also one of your Warriors. I trust that he excels in the field of defence and security too since it's not any different than a game of Blitzball."
The newfound affability that he felt for Zako quickly dimmed away like a small flame blown into a smoke by a single breath. Now his anger was climbing inside him and he wanted to flip the Zanarkand Dome upside down to hunt the traitors who supplied Zako with information. "Yes… he does. It's what we hope for from all members of our armed forces."
"Naturally… you have talented residents in every corner of Zanarkand after all. Surely many of them are masters in the art of war," Zako returned with a note of derision in his voice that Yevon did not miss.
If it were not for the need to maintain diplomacy, he would have pummelled Zako with his fists right there and then. He knew Uma, who had been sitting next to him and listening throughout the conversation, was equally enraged. The hand he was holding gave him a brief squeeze, most likely a way for her to clip herself to the last few of her remaining patience.
A female figure with a stature as short as a regular child came approaching, drawing the attention of all the seated Spiran leaders. As she stood near Ofer – leader of Luca, the host city – the look on her face revealed her actual age more than her physique would. She had a pair of big golden eyes that were as round as an Ahriman and a mouth that was tipping slightly downwards to the left, making her appear rather inimical. When she spoke, her voice was shrill but controlled to match her stern demeanour. "The banquet has been served, my Lord."
Ofer lit up with excitement. "Ah! Looks like it's time for us to move on to our main event!" Numb from prolonged sitting, he stood up clumsily before motioning to the other Spiran leaders to leave the Stadium with him. "Are the Hovers ready, Malka?" he shouted, glancing at the short woman who was trailing far behind the head of city-states as they were all walking.
"Yes, my lord. You'll find five of them by the entrance of the Highroad," the woman named Malka replied piercingly as if she was reporting for duty to her commander.
Ofer grinned, then whispered close to Yevon and Zako, "A highly intelligent woman she is. I'm glad that she's not wasting her talents away in Moonflow."
"I know, Lord Ofer," Zako sneered, his eyes smiling with intent. "You told me that many times."
A wordless glance was exchanged between Yevon and Uma. No words needed to be said; they were sharing similar troubling thoughts. At the southern frontier of the Stadium, they climbed a long flight of stairs until they reached the tread, a designated entrance to the Highroad. There were five Hovers prepared and manned by officers with full-body protective suits, just as Malka had told Ofer. Seth walked by, drifting Yevon's eyes to him as he climbed into one of the vehicles with Rubathar and Kula. He caught the Al-Bhed chieftain briefly dipping his head at Ofer and Zako who were offering him mild, almost guarded smiles from another Hover.
…and that's why Gul and Arkaim are absent today, Yevon observed.
He also had an inkling as to why a Machina-powered mode of transportation was readily available in a non Al-Bhed city like Luca, when the Al-Bheds forbade its use outside of their territories.
"Are you not joining us, Lord Yevon?" Ofer called, breaking him out of his musings.
"Let's… go," Uma mumbled to him, her apprehension was never more telling than the scowl she was barely hiding on her face. But she had no intention of amplifying the sentiment, for she knew – they both knew – that keeping up appearances for a little bit longer would save the day from trouble.
As soon as they joined both Ofer and Zako in the Hover, the entourage began to move along the Highroad at Ofer's instruction. The path they were crossing was continuous and lined with endless rows of buildings packed with people who were watching them from their yards and balconies. Unlike in other parts of Spira, there was no uniformity in the features of those residing at the Highroad. Here, humans, Guados, Hypellos, Pelupelus and Ronsos were living together as one people; none of them rejoiced at the sight of figureheads from their former homelands.
Somewhere at the curved pathway leading to the Grand – the city of Luca's seat of government, an encounter was made with a group walking on foot in long thick red robes, garbs that were customary to the city of Bevelle. Their passive faces twisted into a glower that was beyond contempt as they saw Zako.
"I hope they're not causing you any trouble," Zako remarked, smirking. Their loathing of him seemingly had no effect except in furthering his hubris.
A quiet chuckle escaped out of Ofer. "Not at all. They've become productive citizens, just like all the others who came to live in this city."
"I'm relieved! If it weren't for your acceptance of them here, Lord Ofer… I wouldn't know what to do with them." Yevon noted the deceptive show of concern in Zako's manner of speaking.
"Luca isn't known as a city of immigrants for nothing, Lord Zako…"
They arrived not long after at the Grand, a five-storey structure built wide enough to cover the entire precinct, and were ushered immediately by Malka and her helpers to the second floor dining hall where a marble statue of a celestial man holding an ewer stood tall as a centrepiece.
As fabled by the Zanarkand myths, the content of the ewer – the 'Nectar', was what helped the celestial man with Juggernaut horns rescue Spira from annihilation. After the first eruption of Gagazet, a frightening beast that was fifty-times larger than Behemoths had awakened from its scorching magmas to feast on those who lived across Spiran lands. Aware of the enfeebling quality of his Nectar, the celestial man with ewer bestowed rivers of the liquor to the celestial man with Juggernaut horns, who then used it to intoxicate the beast, botching its plans and sending it to an eternal sleep. The people of Luca and those who wanted to offer their gratitude to the celestial man with ewer would be able to do so during the Feast of Nectar.
Food served for the feast reflected the city's character: a melting pot combining different philosophies and traditions from all over Spira. The only served item that was produced exclusively by the city was the main beverage – bottles of purple wines dusted with edible pure gold.
"Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate Luca's annual Feast of Nectar, where we drink to our heart's content for those Worshipped." Ofer said, standing as he addressed the hall and the statue. When his eyes met Seth's, he raised his glass, "A special welcome to Lord Seth and the Al-Bhed tribe of Thunder Plains for their first attendance." Those seated at the table including Yevon followed suit and raised their glasses to Seth who returned the same.
Ofer's speech resumed as they lowered their glasses, "I hope today has presented an opportunity for us all across Spira to maintain close relations with one another… even if we don't in other avenues." He halted his speech again to press his lips together, showing a look of regret that Yevon thought was deliberate.
"Though we have a list of plans readied for tomorrow, as you all must be aware of… only the visit to the temple in Djose will go ahead. For national security reasons, we'll not be able to bring you to the Mushroom Rock Road and I sincerely apologize for that." When no one spoke in return, Ofer gestured to them with an open arm, "Without further ado, please enjoy the feast."
"What a waste not to walk them through the Mushroom Rock Road!" Zako, who was two seats away from Yevon, complained as Ofer settled onto his chair. "They would have seen how much of Luca's military defence has developed over the years."
"You're overpraising us, Lord Zako. The developments are all thanks to your support… but they're nothing compared to your city," Ofer countered, putting a strip of steamed Chocobo meat into his mouth. "Then again… none of us would want to make our cities vulnerable by exposing our military secrets to others now, do we?"
As the pair descended into unreserved laughter, others at the table looked on with blatant discomfort. The conversation included none of them but it was tacitly meant for all ears to hear. With him losing appetite, Yevon was eating as little as he could. The probing about Zanarkand's plans to combine magic with Machina that he expected from Zako did not occur but he understood that it was replaced with something else more menacing.
There was something about the danger of being surrounded by those they deemed untrustworthy that ignited the passion between Yevon and Uma as they were left alone in each other's company. The blusterous rain was pelting against the roof and the autumn cold was seeping into their barely lit chamber but all were disregarded as they sought to fill one another through the entangling of limbs. Their intertwining shadows danced on the walls like a flickering flame.
His every touch seemed to set her ablaze, and she would return them all with a touch of her own. At times, he would bury his face into her hair, or on her chest and he would let her scent send him into a place beyond their corporeal existence. As she sighed his name unendingly to his ears, it burned him hot with desire that refused to quieten down even after spilling himself in her. By the end of their third coupling, they were thoroughly sodden and drained but not quite keen to rest.
"I can't wait for our return to Zanarkand… I've had enough of this place… and these people," Uma said, turning to him and reaching out a hand to caress one side of his face.
"As do I," he echoed, moving in closer and planting a fond kiss onto her forehead. He was grateful that it was her who was by his side. As much as he would appreciate Zaon's grounded company, Uma's presence kept him anchored without restraining him. He knew that he could always tuck himself underneath her embrace as merely the man named Yevon and not the head of a city-state holding the expectations of those he was protecting.
Uma circled an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. "I didn't think that Ofer would turn against us… he and Zako never saw eye to eye."
"Zako must have made an offer that he couldn't refuse. That's just the way Zako is. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants."
"Even the Guados are not on our side…"
"Well, that's hardly surprising," Yevon said, smiling ruefully. "There's more hope that our next meeting with the other cities will bear fruit."
She looked up to him, her honey brown eyes glazing with alarm in the dimness as she asked, "What do you reckon is happening at the Mushroom Rock Road?"
Seeing the look on her face urged him to embed a hand into the lushness of her delicate silver white hair. "I wouldn't be surprised if it's an auxiliary base for Bevelle's armed forces."
She let out a resigned huff. "Forgive me for realizing all this a little too late…"
Yevon shook his head. "There's nothing to forgive. I should've been more honest with you."
He sat himself up, then went to kneel at the edge of the bed before gently prying her legs apart to reveal her opening that was already moistened by his seeds and her trails of desire. He ran his fingers along its outlines, eliciting moans out of her that hardened him once again. "Let's leave all those thoughts at bay… and think of only the two of us."
The rain showed no signs of slowing down; the innkeeper could be heard humming down the hallway; for the laypeople at the Highroad, the festival was far from over as they helped themselves to another few rounds of drinking; insects buzzed around lamps hanging outside bedchambers as people lied asleep in their beds. Yevon and Uma's shadows were becoming one again as they clung onto each other as though tomorrow would never come.