We took an hour by the water's edge to collect ourselves, eat a quick meal, and prepare for the next leg of the journey. Yunie had told me our next destination would be the city of Guadosalam, the ancestral home of the Guado people and the location of the only known overlap between Spira and the Farplane. On the road to the city, we passed many of solemn travelers each making their own pilgrimage to say final farewells or seek counsel from dead friends or relatives. I silently admired the courage of those who braved the dangers of the fiends and the elements in order to make the journey. While we Al Bhed don't share that belief, I could understand what would drive a grieving or lonely person might seek comfort from memories of their loved ones. Everyone needed someone to turn to in difficult times, well, almost everyone...
Our arrival in the cavernous city of the Guado it seems, was expected. I'd never been to Guadosalam before, and was just beginning to take in the sights of the city when we were approached by a servant of the Guado leader. He promptly ushered us off to a large residence in the center of the city that could only be the manor of Maester Seymour himself. While we were treated with the respect due honored guests, there was no warmth in the servant's empty greetings and stiffly formal introduction. He was completely his master's creature, unable to think for himself, living only to deliver us into the hands of the man who commanded his loyalty. So, I reflected, Seymour's control of his own people was frighteningly efficient. He had indeed been quick in uniting the Guado behind them after the passing of his father, Lord Jyscal.
Although I considered myself a good judge of character, I wondered if I was being a bit harsh in my evaluation of the Guado. I glanced around, eager to see what my companions were making of the situation. Yuna's face betrayed confusion and apprehension. What could Seymour want with her, anyway? Tidus, Wakka, and Lulu conversed among themselves, presumably voicing the same question that pervaded everyone's thoughts. Kimahri stood alone, eyes never once leaving Yuna. Of the group, Auron stood furthest apart from them, wearing the same cold, distant, and yet thoughtful look that I'd come to know as his trademark. Did the man ever smile or betray any hint of emotion? Was he even capable of feeling anything?
I pondered the enigmatic man for a moment. He had not intervened when Seymour's servant led them away to the manor. In fact, I recalled, Auron hadn't said a word since we departed the banks of the Moonflow. Despite his silence, or perhaps because of it, I began to believe that Auron might have the best insight into what exactly was going on here. That thought both comforted and frightened me. If Auron knew something, that probably meant he wasn't going to share his thoughts, not unless they had a direct impact on Yunie's ability to continue her pilgrimage. I silently cursed the older man. What right did he have, what right? Didn't Yuna deserve to know everything, especially since he mercilessly held her to a path that would claim her life at its end? Maybe, just maybe, Auron was in Seymour's service too. From that moment on, I redoubled my efforts to keep a close watch over the elder guardian's behavior.
At length, the servant returned to guide us into what appeared to be a dining room. Every detail of the room was designed to impress from the décor to the food. Before I could consider the possibility that the food might present a danger, I found myself eating as much as I could as fast as I could. Who knew when we might see this much food of this quality again, if ever?
Tidus appeared to wander around aimlessly, trying to engage the different party members in a conversation, anything to pass the time I suppose. We didn't have to wait long for Seymour to make his grand entrance and interrupt the servant's ceaseless prattling about the greatness of the current and past Guado leaders. Seymour was a magnificent actor, every statement he made was carefully calculated to bring out some specific kind of reaction in his audience. He motioned for us to follow him deeper into the room, where he proceeded to play his trump card.
The lights dimmed, and the room became a giant recreation of an ancient city dominated by machina. I had only imagined what these cities must have been like when they stood all over the world...my people were only beginning to recover the treasured machina that were buried with them when they were leveled. This particular city could only be Zanarkand itself! Tidus voiced what I was thinking, and Seymour confirmed it. The vision began to fade slightly.
"She once lived in this metropolis," Seymour said in preparation for his next move.
I could have sworn I saw Auron's expression change for the first time since meeting him. It might have just been the shadows playing across the exposed part of his face, but I'm pretty sure his high collar obscured an ironic smile. So Zanarkand had some kind of meaning for the legendary guardian...enough to evoke a response from him at least. That, in itself, was no mean feat. And, Zanarkand was where we were ultimately headed...what did this man know?
The scene changed to show Lady Yunalesca, the first person to save the world from Sin, to hear Seymour tell it. Auron's face appeared to harden a bit more. He must have caught me glancing at him, because in the next moment his expression assumed its customary, detached look. Whatever thoughts or memories Seymour's display had brought to the surface were gone, Auron retreated back into his protective cocoon of dispassion. Had the vision of Lady Yunalesca upset him, or Seymour's reference to Braska's wishes for his daughter? What connection did Auron have to all of this, and why was it shameful for him to show it?
Seymour's image now showed Yunalesca embracing an elaborately dressed Lord Zaon. He continued to talk, addressing Yuna directly and taking her off to the side. Seymour whispered something in her ear and her face took on a panicked look. She dashed back to the table and gulped down a glass of water. Immediately, her guardians with the exception of Auron were at her side, reassuring her.
"Wow, your face is beet red!" Yeah, it was obvious to anyone who looked at her, but someone had to break the silence.
Tidus was equally unable to say anything insightful. "You okay?" he managed. Of course she wasn't, you dolt!
Still visibly shaken, Yuna finally spoke. "He...he asked me to marry him!"
"You serious?" asked Tidus.
Auron finally reacted, moving to insert himself between Yuna and Seymour, and trained a disapproving gaze on the Guado. "You know what Yuna must do."
Seymour played his part well, maintaining his dignity under fire and launched into a speech. "Of course. Lady Yuna--no, all summoners--are charged with bringing peace to Spira." He paused for effect. "But this means more than just defeating Sin. She must ease the suffering of all Spira. She must be a leader for the people."
Seymour paused again and made a sweeping, magnanimous gesture with one long Guado hand. "I proposed to Lady Yuna as a maester of Yevon."
But Auron saw through the ploy and ceded no ground in the argument. "Spira is no playhouse. A moment's diversion may amuse the audience, but it changes nothing." Even though I wasn't sure I agreed with Auron's assessment of the situation, I respected his resolve. Of the group, he was the only one who stood up to the master. Although...a marriage to Seymour might not be a bad thing after all...it held the possibility of shielding her from her pilgrimage, didn't it?
Seymour was prepared for Auron's objection. "Even so, the actors must play their parts." Turning to Yuna, he continued fluidly, "There's no need to answer right away. Please, think it over."
Auron took the opportunity to end the discussion and extricate the party from Seymour's territory. "We will do so, then. We leave." I privately wondered how much of "we" actually included Yuna and her wishes. Or would Auron take it upon himself to make the decision for her?
We began to leave the dining room when Seymour decided to take a parting shot at the scarlet-clad guardian. It would be a long time before I knew enough to fully comprehend what it was Seymour hinted at that day. "Why are you still here, sir?"
Seymour bowed, and addressed the rest of us. "I beg your pardon. We Guado are keen to the scent of the Farplane." Was that intended to explain his words to Auron? Tidus apparently thought so and stepped closer to the enigmatic guardian, sniffing him.
Auron shoved the boy away and led the party out of the residence. No one bothered to challenge his authority then. I think we were all just relieved to be away from the Guado leader.