Candle on the water
He breathed in deeply, feeling the burning sensation deep inside of him. He knew the emotion. It was shame.
Half-Guado. It didn't sound like much. Half-Guado. What was wrong with that? The cold stares from the other worshippers answered that question…
He was "unique". That was the word his parents gave him. "Special. "The only one". The only one… and it was not something that could be hidden easily, either. He was abnormally tall, with unruly blue hair and long talons for fingers. But the thing that he hated the most was his face. Long, blue veins formed a pattern over his forehead… he was not "different". He was a freak.
They were talking about him now… their whispers gnawed away at his mind. He knelt before the statues of the great summoners and prayed to Yevon… Usually he prayed for the calm, as was expected. After all, what more could one ask for than peace and freedom from what plagued the world most? However, recently he had been thinking… he remembered the last calm, many years ago when he was a child. With no Sin life had returned to normal… people had started to notice him one more. His fellow children would taunt him; beat him, making a game of whoever could burst one of his delicate facial veins first. Then Sin came and it all went away…
He looked up at the beautiful figure of Yunalesca and prayed silently… "Take them away. Let me live. Let me be your servant forever if it will only stop… give me this I beg you…"
He stayed there as people came and went… finally he stood and tuned to the entrance. As he walked over to leave he was pushed back by a young male… Kilikan, by looks. Behind him, a young female entered, carrying a large staff. A summoner.
He prayed towards her as was expected. She was here to acquire the Shiva Aeon, no doubt. She noticed his attention and smiled warmly at him. Seymour could not believe it. A stranger smiled at him without a second thought…
Her three guardians stood behind her as she accosted the high priest in a rich voice. One was the Kilikan, one was a young Lucan, all kitted out in the official Blitzball robes, and the last one… he couldn't tell. He was hidden under a long black robe…
"I wish to take the Fayth, sir. Please let me pass"
"I am sorry, Lady Belgemine, but another is already in the Cloister of Trials. If you would wait, then I would be most grateful."
The woman sighed softly. "As you wish sir. We shall rest until morning."
She nodded at her guardians who rushed to her side. The priest offered his prayers and asked her "Will you offer a prayer to Yevon before you leave? It would honour us greatly-"
"Yes. Of course we shall. Averus, Touka, come pray with me. Behel, you may go get us rooms in Guadosalam."
The priest shot her a confused look. "Surely your friend will pray with us? We welcome all here"
Seymour could feel his face burn. They all looked at him, pitifully. He looked straight at the summoner, waiting for her to turn. Instead she held her gaze at the high priest. "If you please Sir, Behel will pass this time. It will be far more constructive for her to get rooms for us."
Behel was close to Seymour. She was the robed guardian… a female too, how very rare … he could hear her breathing… there was a slight snarl to it. He looked closer at the shadowed face of the woman… all he could see was a dainty nose, breathing deeply… then he noticed. Instead of nostrils, she had slits… slits that pulsated with each breath. He leant in to talk to her.
"Lady Behel, may I accompany you to Guadosalam? I will be going in that direction anyway…"
She said nothing, and continued to stare at her charge. He smiled and leant in closer. "You are not human, are you?" he whispered. She turned suddenly and looked dead into his eyes. He could see her face more clearly now. She had sharp eyes and dark lips…
"Do not worry. I am not out to hurt you. I am… not of any fixed race, as you can tell."
He could see her lips form a slight smile. "Come." She spoke sharply, indicating towards the exit. Seymour gladly followed her, watching the faces of the worshippers as he departed.
"Wait!" called out the high priest, coming towards them. "You must pray, it is fitting!"
"I believe you heard Lady Belgemine's wishes, Taurokmaun" said Seymour softly. "She wishes her guardian to leave-"
"Stay out of it, Half-blood!" sneered Taurokmaun, grabbing the hood of the cloak. Behel went to run, and the cloak fell to the floor.
The whole room stood in shock.
Behel stood, holding Seymour's astonished gaze. Indeed, she was not human. He could not tell what she was…
Her hair was blue, much like his… but she was no Guado. Her eyes were dark and wide, her nose was cat-like and-
Cat-like. That was the only way to describe her. She was poised and elegant, but still strong and ferocious.
"Wh-what is that!?!" shouted Taurokmaun, pointing at Behel. Almost instinctively she ducked down as if about to pounce. "You shall not talk of her like that!" hissed Belgemine furiously. "She is my guardian!"
Behel took one last look at her and ran out of the temple. Seymour too, ran… he did not quite know why, but he followed none the less…
"Behel!" he called to the creature. She stopped and looked at him. "Come to stare and scream like others?" she spat, turning away once more.
"No! I am to accompany you to Guadosalam, as I promised. Do not tell me you have forgotten so soon?"
She paused and turned back smiling. "I would know your name, sir?"
"I am Seymour Guado, though the name is not entirely fitting. I am half-guado, as the High Priest sad in the temple."
"Called you half-blood."
He bit his lip at the word. "Yes. Not Guado, Not human, just Seymour."
Her smile vanished. "Behelkhia Yudesca. Half-Ronso, Half human, there is only Behel."
"Then you are the only one of your kind?"
She nodded. "Only one Seymour?"
He smiled. "Yes. I never thought anyone else could ever understand."
"No identity…"
"Exactly! I am not Guado, I am not human-"
"Then what?"
They looked at each other for a matter of seconds. He had found someone, someone who knew…
Then he took her hand and lead her long the path to Guadosalam.