Author Notes:: Alright, I forgot to mention it, but black mages are considered evil and people are very prejudice against them. *wink* That means our young Aria isn't welcome most places.
Disclaimer:: RE-CHAN!!! I DON'T OWN FF10!!! WAHHHH!!!
Chapter Two: Arrival and Introduction
Aren was barely making sense out of the incident in Aria's cabin when they arrived on Kilika the next morning. Aria had reverted back to her ice queen status already, but he could tell she was shaken up pretty bad.
He sighed as he brushed some of his dark hair away from his face and shouldered his pack. "Are you ready to go, sis?" he asked. Aria glanced up at him and nodded.
"Of course." she stated. She stood up and headed towards the gangplank, not waiting. He easily caught up with her.
"So this is Kilika? It's quaint." he spoke. She nodded in agreement, but her face was still stony. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes searched the people that stood to greet him. She stopped at the bottom of the gangplank and slid off to stand at the left side.
Aren sighed. He stopped just at the bottom of the ramp.
"Lord Summoner! Welcome to Kilika!" one person called. The rest of the crowd called their own greetings and he sighed a bit, but planted his smile firmly upon his face.
"Thank you, thank you." he spoke. He extended his hands to try to get them to quiet, or maybe let him pass.
"Lord Summoner!" one of the little kids called. He smiled and knelt next to the child.
"What's your name, little one?" he asked with a grin.
"My name is Ri." the boy spoke. Aren ruffled the boy's hair a bit.
"I'm Aren." he replied. The boy laughed happily as Aren stood and turned to glance at Aria. His twin had successfully melted into the scenery, and was leaning against a crate on the dock, carefully studying her amulet.
"Where are your Guardians, Lord Aren?" one of the young women asked. He gestured towards Aria.
"I have only my sister, there." he replied. The woman gasped and eyed the black mage carefully. The crowd seemed to tense as they realized that Aria was there.
"But... but milord... she's a... black mage..." one of the elders stuttered. Aren darkened.
"She is also my Guardian, and the person I trust the most in my life." he snapped. Aria had drawn her gaze to the growing conflict, and Aren saw that she was trying her hardest not to snap out on them. "If you'll excuse me." he spoke curtly. He motioned for Aria to join him and pushed through the crowd.
They parted for them finally.
When the two were away from the gathering, Aria finally spoke up.
"It's my fault that things are already going sour." she spoke. He glanced over.
"Things aren't sour, the people are." he replied. She eyed him.
"And the difference would be?" she asked. He sighed and entered what he assumed was the inn.
A young woman stood behind the main desk, her attention fixed on whatever she was doing so that she didn't notice their entrance. Upon approaching, Aren realized that she was mixing up a potion with a collection of herbs.
Wavy red/brown hair falling into her eyes, tip of her tongue peeking out between deep pink lips, concentration totally fixed on her task. Aren found himself staring.
"Are you a white mage?" he asked finally. She started, inadvertently knocking the bottle she was mixing in off the counter. It hit the floor and shattered. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Aren spoke, walking around the desk to help her clean up the mess.
She knelt, a few pieces in her hands already. "It's alright, sir. I shouldn't have gotten distracted." she replied, tone apologetic and a bit nervous. They both managed to get the mess cleaned up in a moment and she looked up at him with a thankful smile. He was taken aback by the intensity of her ice blue eyes.
"Thank you." she spoke.
"Don't thank me, I shouldn't have startled you." he managed. The two stood and Aren found he couldn't stop staring.
"My name's Ellyse. My grandmother owns this inn." she introduced. Aren laughed a bit.
"I'm Aren, and this is my sister Aria." he responded, motioning to the black mage. Ellyse glanced at Aria.
"A black mage? Impressive." she commented. She turned back to Aren. "And you're a summoner?" she asked.
"Yeah." he managed, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Aria noted this with a half grin.
"I'm a white mage." she replied. He shook his head slightly.
"I thought you were. Not many others can mix up potions from scratch." he explained. She smiled slightly.
"I'm not that great at it, but my potions work. And it brings in some extra money for my grandmother." Ellyse explained. She blinked innocently, and turned her attention back to where the herbs were laid out. She precisely began to pack them into pouches to be stored away.
"Let me help." he offered. She glanced up and smiled.
"Sure." she replied. Aria coughed once.
"I think I'm going to go look around the village a bit, Aren." she spoke. Aren looked up a little startled and red in the face. But Aria was already gone.
Aren helped Ellyse pack up the herbs and she slid them under the desk. "I assume you're in Kilika to go the temple?" she prodded.
"Yeah..." he trailed. "I'm on my Pilgrimage."
She smiled up at him. "Can I tell you something without you laughing at me?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow.
"Sure."
She laughed slightly. "I've always wanted to be a Guardian and go on a Pilgrimage with a summoner." she spoke. Her cheeks began to redden a bit and she looked up at him.
He smiled in return. "You'd probably make a great Guardian." he commented. She smiled.
"Really?" she asked. He nodded.
"Of course."
It was a taxing time.
Finally she decided to venture to the forest. "Maybe some time alone among nature will help." she thought with a forced smile.
The path was wide, but the forest around it was thick and heavy. The air was significantly cooler here, and much darker.
She liked it instantly.
Following the path, she found that she really was alone here. She saw no people at all. It was peaceful. A bit further down the path, she found a wide, shallow river. She grinned and took a seat by it's banks. The sound of the water was very soothing.
She pulled her boots off and dangled her feet in. She closed her eyes and sighed.
She was too deep in relaxation, a rare state for her, to hear the approach of someone... or something... from down the path.
So it was a surprise to her when something tackled her from behind and she ended up face first in the water with a reasonably large something on her back.
She panicked.
She thrashed hard, but the creature was obviously stronger than her. It had claws too, she noted, because it was now tearing into her back. She could see crimson streams surrounding her in the water and she forced her eyes closed.
She was drowning, and being torn to shreds. Either way, she was going to die here soon if she didn't act.
She pushed upward as hard as she could, but it was too heavy. With a forced thought, she called a Thunder spell to mind and pushed it outwards from her. She felt the shock just as well as the monster did, though, and her world went black.