2: Fresh Faces
I walked into the rainy streets of Burmecia, searching for a sign of the past damage I
had caused. Yet, here lay the land intact.
Burmecian children were playing, laughing and smiling amidst the vibrant gardens.
Homes were shell-like, adorned with the ancient hyrogliphics of the Burmician race, and twirling
crystalized roofs kept the shelters forever safe from the constant variations of downpour. The
scents were homely and cried out to my stomach, who graciously invited its first meal.
Overwhelmed by the land that lay before me, a headed into a cozy inn, searching for answers,
rest and a comforting soup.
The inn, Sashr'en's, as the sign implied, was gentle and dreamy. Artifical sunlight
streamed down from skylights in the ceiling, in the shape of a spiral pathway. Following their
lead, I headed up toward the front desk, wanting to reserve a room. This section of the inn was
dimly lit, and I could only see shadows, outlines of the owners behind the counters. Noticing
that I was there, a small girl jumped up from behind the counter. She leaned over the desk,
switched on a table lamp, and stared silently up at me.
"Ma!", the child shouted suddenly, with such energy I nearly fell backward.
The jumpy girl ran into the backroom behind the desk, searching for who was
presumably Sashr'en, the owner of the inn.
Moments later, a beautiful, womenly form entered the room, the small child clutching her
side. She glanced up at me, and for a moment I was mesmerized by her smile. Never before
had I ever thought a Burmecian to be beautiful, but for that frame of time, I would have married
her.
"How may I help you, sir?" Her blue eyes melted my heart.
"I... Are you ---?"
She coily smirked, " Am I Sashr'en? Yes, yes sir I am. Sashr'en Crescent, niece of the
famous Freya Crescent. And this is my daughter, Sadr'ena."
I watched, half amazed as the little girl gracefully bowed to me, but then realized what
the beautious Sashr'en had just said. She was the niece of Freya? Freya Crescent, a woman
whose sole purpose had been to destroy me, just as mine had become the reverse. But these
were thoughts of who I used to be, Kuja of Terra. Now I could live with a free slate, a new
name, and a relaxed heart.
"Sir?"
I came back to reality, facing her gentle eyes.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sashr'en and Sadr'ena, " I bowed for them, " I am... Kuja
Minerva."
Sashr'en looked slightly startled at my words. Then I thought on how much fear she
must have held toward that name.
"But, no relation to the terrible Kuja of Terra, of course. I was only a baby then."
"As was I..."
Sashr'en lowered her head, but from the corner of my eye I saw her smile return. She
could only denote our general commonalities, and lacked my knowledge of the past. Once
more, I was thankful to be free of my previous form.
"So, how may I help you, Mister Minerva? Would you like a room?"
I walked into the rainy streets of Burmecia, searching for a sign of the past damage I
had caused. Yet, here lay the land intact.
Burmecian children were playing, laughing and smiling amidst the vibrant gardens.
Homes were shell-like, adorned with the ancient hyrogliphics of the Burmician race, and twirling
crystalized roofs kept the shelters forever safe from the constant variations of downpour. The
scents were homely and cried out to my stomach, who graciously invited its first meal.
Overwhelmed by the land that lay before me, a headed into a cozy inn, searching for answers,
rest and a comforting soup.
The inn, Sashr'en's, as the sign implied, was gentle and dreamy. Artifical sunlight
streamed down from skylights in the ceiling, in the shape of a spiral pathway. Following their
lead, I headed up toward the front desk, wanting to reserve a room. This section of the inn was
dimly lit, and I could only see shadows, outlines of the owners behind the counters. Noticing
that I was there, a small girl jumped up from behind the counter. She leaned over the desk,
switched on a table lamp, and stared silently up at me.
"Ma!", the child shouted suddenly, with such energy I nearly fell backward.
The jumpy girl ran into the backroom behind the desk, searching for who was
presumably Sashr'en, the owner of the inn.
Moments later, a beautiful, womenly form entered the room, the small child clutching her
side. She glanced up at me, and for a moment I was mesmerized by her smile. Never before
had I ever thought a Burmecian to be beautiful, but for that frame of time, I would have married
her.
"How may I help you, sir?" Her blue eyes melted my heart.
"I... Are you ---?"
She coily smirked, " Am I Sashr'en? Yes, yes sir I am. Sashr'en Crescent, niece of the
famous Freya Crescent. And this is my daughter, Sadr'ena."
I watched, half amazed as the little girl gracefully bowed to me, but then realized what
the beautious Sashr'en had just said. She was the niece of Freya? Freya Crescent, a woman
whose sole purpose had been to destroy me, just as mine had become the reverse. But these
were thoughts of who I used to be, Kuja of Terra. Now I could live with a free slate, a new
name, and a relaxed heart.
"Sir?"
I came back to reality, facing her gentle eyes.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sashr'en and Sadr'ena, " I bowed for them, " I am... Kuja
Minerva."
Sashr'en looked slightly startled at my words. Then I thought on how much fear she
must have held toward that name.
"But, no relation to the terrible Kuja of Terra, of course. I was only a baby then."
"As was I..."
Sashr'en lowered her head, but from the corner of my eye I saw her smile return. She
could only denote our general commonalities, and lacked my knowledge of the past. Once
more, I was thankful to be free of my previous form.
"So, how may I help you, Mister Minerva? Would you like a room?"