Chapter 2



A gentle tapping on the door startled the sleeping Seymour. He rose from his bed and approached the door, opening as he ran his clawed hands through his hair. He was slightly embarrassed to see Aurora standing before him. She smiled and looked down a bit.

"Did I wake you?" she asked quietly.

"No, I was cat-napping. Worry not, My Lady Aurora. Is there something I can help you with?" Seymour asked politely, looking for anything to sate his boredom.

"Well Your father wanted to show Guadosalam to me, but" Aurora began.

"Let me guess he is too busy to even show a summoner around our town?" Seymour finished.

"It's really not a big deal, Lord Seymour"

"Please, no formalities. Seymour will be just fine."

"Of course, Seymour. Lord Jyscal asked that you show me around, but if you are too busy" Aurora trailed off.

"I'm doing nothing at all. Please, it would be a pleasure, Lady Aurora." Seymour smiled, "Please, let me grab a few things before we leave."

Aurora nodded in reply, "I shall wait downstairs for you."

Seymour smiled, turned and walked to his bed and sat. Leaning down, he grabbed his shoes and put them on. After standing, he brushed the blue lock that hung over his face, glaring at it slightly. He pondered what Aurora meant by having heard of him. An uneasy weight fell in his stomach as the thought crossed his mind of his own heritage. A half-bred child like he may not go so well with such a beautiful summoner. Deciding on apathy, Seymour walked down the stairs and greeted Aurora with another smile.

"Forgive the wait." He said softly.

"Oh, I wasn't waiting long." Aurora smiled as she gazed at the pictures that decorated the stairways.

"The pictures are all of the Guado Lords who resided here in Guadosalam." Seymour answered her question that remained silent.

"And soon, your picture shall hang on these walls, will it not?" Aurora smiled as she turned and looked at him.

Seymour nodded, another smile creeping across his lips as he thought of his father's death.

"Well, Seymour, I'm ready for Guadosalam." Aurora walked to him, still smiling brightly.

"And I will be happy to show you around." Seymour returned her smile.

They walked out of the large mansion and started walking into a few homes and shops in Guadosalam, the people greeting both Aurora and Seymour with excitement. Aurora stocked up on a few more items and bought a new bangle of armor that protected against almost every kind of illness. The shopkeeper even gave her a few extra items free. After the tour of the town, Seymour began to lead her to the farplane.

"Would you like to go to the farplane?" Seymour asked.

Aurora paused and looked up at him with uncertainty, "I'd much rather just return to the mansion, if you don't mind. I'm just rather tired. Perhaps tomorrow if I don't leave right away, but the pilgrimage calls for me, so I better get some rest."

Seymour nodded, "As you wish. Let us return."

They walked back to the mansion, exchanging few words of small talk between each other. Seymour was attracted to her, his attraction obvious to him, but Aurora seemed quiet and reserved around him, and Seymour wondered why.

Is it because I am half Guado? Do I frighten you, Aurora? Seymour asked himself.

"Seymour?" Aurora asked as they walked up the steps to the mansion.

"Yes, Lady Aurora?"

"Thank you for showing me around. You are truly a wonderful gift to this town and to your people. Soon, you will be a great man, a great leader to all of Spira, as your father is now." She smiled.

Seymour turned his eyes away for a moment; I will be greater than my father was, for I will heal Spira!

Aurora opened the doors to the mansion and stepped in. He followed and led her to a spare bedroom that once belonged to Seymour's mother.

"I hope you find this room fitting, Lady Aurora."

"It's beautiful. Thank you again, Seymour. This evening is memorable and I enjoyed myself immensely." She smiled, tilting her head to the side.

"It was my pleasure. I am sure you will find everything necessary. If you have any troubles, do not hesitate to ask me for anything." Seymour's lips curled into a small smile.

She nodded her head.

"Now, I shall leave you to rest. Sleep well, Lady Aurora." Seymour walked out, shutting the door on his way out.

Aurora finally felt the freedom to blush. She had instantly fallen for Seymour, the first time she even spotted him in the inn. She had heard of him, the half Guado son of Maester Jyscal, but she did not expect to see what she saw. It was both pleasing and strange, this man was. He seemed gentle and happy on the outside, but Aurora saw something inside him that frightened her a little. He had a darker side, a much darker side. Whether or not she would ever see it, Aurora did not want to know.

Seymour walked to his room to discover his father waiting for him. Jyscal stood by Seymour's dresser, holding a picture of his mother.

"Your mother was a beautiful woman, Seymour. I am sure she is very proud of you." Jyscal set the picture down and turned to his son.

Seymour did not say anything. He simply stood and waited to see what his father wanted.

"I wish to speak to you about Aurora, Seymour. She has no guardians. I think it would be wise for you to become her guardian and lead her to Zanarkand. Defeating Sin will be impossible without guardians." Jyscal said after a moment's silence.

"Me, a guardian? Please father, you do not think that I-" Seymour began.

"I do not wish to see that woman die, Seymour. She could very well be able to defeat Sin and bring a long deserved Calm for Spira. I know you are capable my son. Your mother will come to your aid if you need it." Jyscal interrupted.

Seymour narrowed his eyes a bit. "I suppose it is better than waiting around here doing nothing. Besides, I'm fond of Lady Aurora." He locked eyes with his father, "And it's not as if you will have any time for me."

Jyscal frowned, but before he could reply, Seymour spoke once more.

"I shall go with Lady Aurora, father, as you wish. Now, if that is the case, I must be ready before she is to deliver the news that she has a new guardian. Goodnight, father."

Jyscal did not speak, as he should have. He simply turned and walked away from his son.

Seymour watched him walk out and glared for only a moment. His expression returned to its normal expression of false apathy as he lied down on his bed, not even bothering to remove his clothing. He closed his eyes and tried to forget the pain he felt. Perhaps Aurora would be able to help, he thought. He then laughed at his own thought for what could a summoner, destined to die by Sin, do for his pain?