Chapter Eight
"How much farther is the temple?" asked the dark-skinned boy, wiping sweat from his forehead. Kecci had been following the older man up the winding jungle path to the broad steps that lead to the Summoner's Temple of Kilika. Although he was trying not to show it, the shorter boy was getting winded from the long climb, while his guide expressed almost no signs of exertion whatsoever.
Roth continued climbing the stone steps that had been hewn from the mountain centuries before. "Only thirteen more flights of steps to go," he said off-handedly, as though it didn't matter. "We're almost there."
Inwardly, Kecci groaned. They had been climbed a seemingly uncountable number of stairs already, and there were still thirteen flights left! Feeling a bit short of breath, he waved for the muscular redhead to stop for a moment. Kecci slowly walked over to the side of the staircase, laid his staff down on one of the steps, and sat down on the edge, looking down at everything below him.
Kilika Island was shaped like a four-pointed star, rising in the middle to a single peak, a mountain that had once been an active volcano, millennia before. Nowadays, the fires at the top of the summit were ceremonial and sacred torches, to honor the fayth that was housed deep within, beyond the Cloister of Trials, within the Summoner's Sanctum.
When the temple had been constructed, long ago, the makers had chiseled countless flights of steps to make it accessible to the worshipers. The feat in itself was impressive, but what made it even more so was that they hadn't even used a single machina tool to help them get the job done. They had been constructed totally by hand.
Kecci looked out over the deep blue sea, so placid and serene, trying to orient himself. The sun was slightly to his left, and it was still morning, so that meant he was facing south. He was looking away from Luca in the north, looking away from his sanctuary, his home.
The steps wound down the mountain, slowly fading into the dense jungle below, the green that lined the path and wreathed the top of the peak with a verdant halo. The dark-skinned boy tried to look for the small port he had arrived in, but didn't find it.
"The port's on the north side of the island, you can't see it from here." Roth spoke up from behind him, as if reading his thoughts. "Kilika's main city is on the east, though." he pointed off to Kecci's left-hand side, where the younger boy could see what looked like the fringes of a large town before the mountain cut off his view. "It's quite a sight, huh?"
The shorter boy nodded. "I'll say. In Luca, everything's so flat and close together. I've never seen anything like this before."
Roth laughed, a deep boom that was made more endearing because of his accent. "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my home. the Calm Lands." he propped one massive foot up on the edge beside Kecci. "If you're high up and near the edge. like in my town. you can see for miles. It's completely open and empty." He sighed. "It's beautiful."
Kecci was struck by the sense of loneliness in the larger man's voice. He looked at Roth, whose long red hair was gently blowing in the breeze. "Why'd you leave and become a guardian?" he asked, hoping he wasn't prying too much.
For a few moments, Roth was silent, and Kecci wished he could take the comment back. At long last, the guardian spoke. "Yeah, you don't see many Nagijin summoners or guardians, do you?" Kecci shook his head, feeling uncomfortable, and neglecting to mention that his own guardian was, in fact, half-Nagijin. "I guess one of the reasons that Nesici and I chose our path was to break that stigmata that we have as cousins to the Al Bhed."
The larger man stood up and turned around, walking a few steps before stopping. "I mean, everyone assumes that we don't believe in Yevon or the fayth or the Farplane just because we share a common ancestry with the Al Bhed. When you get right down to it, we all share roots, don't we?" Roth sat down again on the steps, softly stroking his goatee. "Another reason would have to be Nesici. wherever she goes, I go." Roth chuckled. "Kinda pathetic, don't you think?"
"No, actually, I don't think it's pathetic at all."
Roth shot a sapphire glance at the smaller boy, and their eyes met. He held the gaze for several seconds before breaking away, chuckling. "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but that'd be a lie." He stretched, his muscles rippling. "So, how long have you and her been an item?"
The summoner immediately flushed a dark red, and tried to cover the dull ache in his heart by laughing. Somehow, he didn't think Roth was fooled. "Well. actually, we're not. I mean, she's my best friend in the world. I wouldn't want to ruin something like that, you know?"
"Yeah, I know." This time, Roth's voice was knowing, understanding. "I've been in your shoes before." Kecci didn't ask him about that, not wanting to pry any more than he felt he had already been doing.
The two of them sat in silence for a minute or so, taking in the view, when Roth spoke up again. "Can I trust you, Kecci?"
"I don't see why not." For some reason, the fact that the Nagijin had called him by his name made the question feel slightly more important, more urgent.
Roth looked down at the stone steps, before closing his eyes and speaking. "The third reason I wanted to become a guardian is because of my brother. well, because of the Gray Hand, actually."
Raising an eyebrow, Kecci looked at the red-haired man. "What's that? The Gray Hand, I mean?"
".well, I said that the Nagijin aren't necessarily like the Al Bhed, right?" Kecci nodded, and the taller man continued. "Well, that doesn't mean they're fully Yevonite or anything either." He swallowed before continuing. "The Gray Hand is a cult that worships Sin. or more accurately, thinks that Sin is a blessing to purge the world of the unclean."
A flash of rage welled up within Kecci's stomach, a burning anger as he remembered the blitzball tournament and the attack of Sin. Those people hadn't been unclean. Sin was a vile monster, nothing else. how could people worship that beast?
The Crusader, Gim. to even suggest that he had been unclean, that he had deserved the cruel death he had received was sacrilege, nothing more. The dark-skinned boy began to tremble with anger, when Roth held up a hand.
"I know, I know, it's horrible."
"Horrible doesn't even begin to describe it," whispered Kecci, making a fist.
Roth sighed heavily. "You're telling me this? The worst part about the Gray Hand. once you get in, you can't get out. I'm not talking about being shamed or ridiculed if you quit. the Gray Hand can do something to your mind. You become an agent for them until you die, whether you like it or not, and there's nothing you can do about it. You become trapped."
The massive Nagijin leaned back, eyes open, staring at the empty blue sky. "My twin brother, Loye, was always my best friend. We played together, played pranks together, fought together. he was the one who actually introduced me to Nesici. I didn't think anything could come between Loye and me, but I was wrong. The. the damn Gray Hand." he said, slamming his huge fist into the rock, angrily. "They corrupted him, and now he's one of them."
The dark-skinned summoner, anger under control for the moment, looked over at his newfound friend. "So you want revenge? That's why you and Nesici chose the path you did?"
Rubbing his eyes, Roth sat up. "You could put it like that, yeah." He stood up, brushing the dust off his black coat that he wore over his bare chest, clearly not wanting to talk about his brother Loye anymore. "So, come on, let's get moving to the top! After we're done up there, we gotta come all the way down again, so get used to it!"
For a few seconds, Kecci watched the muscular guardian walk away, puzzled, before picking his staff up and following him up the steps.
* * *
Kecci and Roth had just reached the top of the stairs when a man, dressed in the white robes with purple trim of the Yevon Priesthood, came down the steps to meet them. He was a short man, somewhat big-boned, with a pleasant smile on his face. "I know you, Mr. Kage," Kecci looked around in confusion before realizing, with some embarrassment, that Kage must have been Roth's last name. "But you, I don't know." He turned to the shorter boy, looking him up and down. "You're here to be a summoner, are you not?" he said at last.
"Y-yes," Kecci stuttered. "I.ah. my name is Kecci Hayado. I just arrived on the boat an hour or so ago."
The priest beamed. "Ah yes, Mr. Hayado. we had word you were coming. My name is Father Hukaso. I'm the priest in charge of summoner training at this temple," he said, bowing and cupping his hands in front of him in the traditional prayer gesture, which both Kecci and Roth returned. After a moment, he straightened up, a somewhat puzzled look on his face. "I believe that Brother Roth here is the guardian to Miss Kyn, and not to you, Brother Kecci," he said with a wink. "So where might your own guardian be?"
The young apprentice summoner gave a barely noticeable sigh. Ever since Neirana had stormed off after the impromptu blitzball match, he hadn't seen her. Even though his conscience told him that she really had no reason to be angry, it still hurt. "She's still down at the port," he sighed. "Where she is specifically, I don't know."
Hukaso raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "I see. well, we'll send a messenger down for her." He smiled again. "When we train summoners and guardians, obviously we can't have them sleeping in the temple, there's just not enough room! So, we house them in the port town you arrived in. you will be sharing a hut with one other person until you have become a full-fledged summoner and leave Kilika to go off into the world."
Up until then, Roth had been looking off the steps at the surrounding forest closely, but he turned his attention back to the priest. "Father Hukaso, that reminds me. has the person who's going to be sharing my hut arrived yet? Or is there still no word?"
The priest chuckled. "As a matter of fact, your bunkmate arrived today. And apparently, you've already met him and seem to be getting along rather well. Brother Kecci, you will be staying in the same hut as Brother Roth here."
The two men looked at each other, and Roth laughed, extending a hand to the apprentice summoner, as if meeting him for the first time. "Well then, Kecci, nice to meet you. C'mon, let's go get you settled in!"
Kecci smirked and shook the larger man's hand, before groaning as he realized it meant another long trek down the mountain.
* * *
After the two friends had reached the port again, Kecci noticed people were shooting angry glares at Roth because of the incident earlier with Andresen, but the massive Nagijin paid them no mind. Roth led Kecci to the small thatched hut they would be sharing-barely big enough for the two of them-and Kecci put his belongings away and gotten settled in. Kecci, thanking the guardian for helping him, left the hut to reflect on the day's events.
He walked down the wooden planks that comprised the streets of the small village, held above the water by logs. As he walked, trying to expel the enormous weight he felt pressing down at him, he found himself at the docks. The ship he had arrived on had left an hour so before, so that particular area was empty. Kecci took off his sandals and sat down at the edge, dangling his feet in the water.
There were two young boys, brothers probably, who were playing with a small blitzball on another dock about thirty feet away. The younger of the two went to kick the studded ball, but missed and fell on his back. As he cried, his older brother went over to him and gave him a protective, reassuring hug, trying to cheer his sibling up. As he saw this, the dark- skinned apprentice summoner smiled, feeling a warmth wash over him. There was good in this world, not just Sin.
Lately, it seemed he had been forgetting that.
As Kecci slowly dangled his toes in the gently lapping water, he lay down on his back, looking up at the sky, slowly reddening as the sun continued its long journey down to the horizon.
A minute passed, or maybe an hour, Kecci didn't know. He lost track of time, watching the gulls gliding overhead in the sea breeze. Above him, the few clouds in the otherwise empty sky took on a soft gold-crimson hue as the sun began to set. Kecci heard footsteps behind him, and sat up, turning to see who it was.
"This seat taken?" Neirana smiled, slipping her sandals off and sitting beside her best friend. Her summoner. The blonde girl exhaled softly, reaching beside her and taking out her hair-tie, letting her sun-bleached hair fall down around her shoulders. "So, what's a nice boy like you doing in a place like this?" she asked with a wry grin. "Why are you sitting out here all by yourself?"
Kecci found himself at a loss for words, feeling rather vulnerable at the moment. "I. I guess I was just thinking about everything. you know, being a summoner and all that." He looked up at her, arching an eyebrow. "So, you're not still mad?"
His friend's energetic smile softened, becoming gentle and sincere. "You know I can't get mad at you. you're my best friend, Kecci." Neirana reached over to him and playfully mussed up his dark hair. "Granted, I'm not very happy with what your new-found friend did," she said, frowning. "But Olawa's fine now, so everything's good."
The apprentice exhaled a subtle sigh of relief, brushing his hair back into place. "Well, I don't think you can really blame Roth. I mean, Olawa was being pretty antagonistic."
Neirana bit her lip softly, pulling her legs out of the water and hugging her knees to her chest. "You're right. you should've heard him when he woke up. He was ranting about those 'damn Nagijin,'" she lowered her voice to imitate the blitzer, "and how 'they don't know their place.'"
"Did you tell him that you're half-Nagijin yourself, 'Rana?" The dark- skinned boy looked at his friend.
"Well, no." Neirana looked down. "I mean, he was kind of mad, I didn't want to make him even angrier. But he was only kidding, anyway!" she added quickly, forcing a laugh. "He didn't really mean anything he said."
The friends stayed silent for a while, watching the sun creep lower in the sky. Kecci broke the quiet, asking her a question. "What do you think a summoner's pilgrimage is for, 'Rana?"
"Isn't that obvious?" His friend sounded a bit confused. "The pilgrimage is to destroy Sin."
"But is that all? I mean. is that all we have to look forward to? I have a hard time seeing that. look at what other summoners become. They teach apprentices, they become priests. I can't believe that Sin is the be-all and end-all of the summoner's path."
Neirana's voice took on a quieter, gentler tone. "The summoner's path begins and ends with Sin. but I don't think it's the most important thing." She turned, and leaned back against her friend, resting her head on his lap. Kecci softly stroked her hair, listening. "I think it was my dad who told me this, a long time ago: 'your destination doesn't matter, it's the path you choose to get there.'"
She closed her eyes and continued. "If the pilgrimage is only about Sin, that makes Spira only about Sin. But the journey isn't about Sin, it isn't about death."
Kecci finished the thought for her, feeling some of the weight on his shoulders melt away. "It's about life."
"Right. The journey isn't about destroying Sin, it's about healing the pain of everyone who lives. about friends and family." The girl opened her green eyes again, smiling up at Kecci. "If you didn't mean the world to me, I wouldn't be here right now, you know."
His breath caught in his throat, and Kecci felt his face flushing a dark scarlet. He couldn't say something, but for some reason, felt that nothing needed to be said. The two of them remained in that position, with Kecci softly stroking her hair, for a while longer.
This time, Neirana broke the silence. "Hey, Kecci?"
"Mm?"
".have you ever been in love?"
Whatever question Kecci was expecting, that was definitely not it. A thousand different responses ran through his mind: 'I'm in love with you,' 'Of course, can't you see it,' 'You're beautiful and you make me feel warm and content, and I love you, damn it!'
".no," he lied, at last. He couldn't say it.
She smiled. "Well, I'd hope not!"
Again, her answer took Kecci by surprise. Was she. did she really mean that.? "Wait, what do you mean?"
"I'd have hoped that if you ever were in love, you'd feel like you could tell your best friend about it," she laughed, reaching up and squeezing his hand. "Just so long as you aren't keeping secrets from me."
'If you only knew. oh, Yevon. if you only knew, 'Rana.' Kecci faked a smirk, the calm he had been feeling replaced by a million uncertainties. "Well, maybe I have been, you know? A few dozen girls on the side really doesn't mean too much in the grand scheme of things, does it?"
Neirana gently thwacked him on the arm. "Don't even joke about that."
"Sorry. but out of curiosity, 'Rana, why do you ask?"
The emerald-eyed girl paused for a moment before answering. "Because I think I'm in love with Olawa Andresen."
This time, Kecci had been expecting the response. It didn't hurt any less, though. The dark-skinned boy wanted to shout at her that the blitzer didn't deserve her, that she was being stupid, that he loved her and that she was breaking his heart. But still, he remained quiet, trying to ignore the avalanche of boulders that seemed to be pouring into his stomach. "Oh."
Obviously, Kecci hadn't hid his distress well enough, because Neirana sat up, looking at him with concern on her beautiful face. "Kecci," she sighed, squeezing his hands. "I know you don't like him, but don't worry about it. It's just a stupid little crush, nothing more. I promise you that nothing bad will happen. and he's going to be training down here with the Beasts, he probably won't even have time to do anything. and that's even IF he were interested in me!"
She leaned in close, and hugged her best friend tightly, an embrace that he returned weakly. "First and foremost, I'm your best friend, Kecci Hayado." Neirana softly kissed him on the forehead. "And even more than that. I'm your guardian. Nothing will come between us, I promise. After all, I am the guardian."
The guardian. His guardian. His Neirana.
High above the friends, the first star of evening twinkled into being.
Neirana softly smiled, once again ruffling his hair. "And now, I think, it's getting late, and it's time for good apprentice summoners and their guardians to go meet the people who they'll be living with for quite a bit of time." She frowned. "I hope I don't end up with an Aurochs fan. That wouldn't be fun."
"What if you ended up with Lyska Guado?" Kecci squeezed her hand, standing up and helping her to her feet.
His best friend made a face. "Ew. Jecco Tilber, maybe, but Lyska? Just. ew." Neirana smiled and hugged the apprentice summoner. "Kecci. I love you, you know that?"
The dark-eyed summoner began to respond, but found his breath caught in his throat as he returned the embrace, burying his face in the taller girl's shoulder. Once he had found his voice once more, Kecci smiled at her. "I know, 'Rana. I love you too." As he broke off the embrace, he once more caught her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he turned and walked off down the docks.
Once he was sure that the blonde-haired guardian couldn't see him, Kecci sat down on a wooden pylon by the water's edge, and held his head in his hands. "Oh, holy Yevon, I love you."
Vision after vision flashed in his mind's eye-Neirana smiling at him, giggling at something he had said; Neirana standing up with Quicksilver in her hands, a fire in her eyes, fiercely loyal to those she cared about; Neirana fighting back tears as her best friend chose his path on the beach.
He loved her. Why couldn't he tell her that? Kecci had envisioned it so many times. he would march up to her, proud and brave, and announce that she was his world, and that he was completely in love with her. She would then at him, tell him that she loved him in return, and they would a warm, loving, kiss.
The young summoner lifted his head, looking up at the few glittering diamonds in the pale orange sky. That fantasy wasn't her. it was just in his head, nothing more. It wouldn't ever be anything more. Neirana loved him, yes, but only as her best friend. nothing more. She didn't want anything more.
And that was good enough, right? They weren't meant to be anything more than lifelong friends, were they? They were summoner and guardian, not lovers. and that was all right with Kecci. He forced a smile onto his face, and got up from his seat, pushing his doubts down for the time being. It was good enough for him.
Wasn't it?
* * *
Neirana climbed the wooden steps to her own hut. Unlike the others, which were all clustered together in the little port village, the one that the girl had been assigned to was on a small bluff overlooking the beach below. Although the hike was a bit annoying, the guardian smiled. The view was worth it.
Above the gently curving horizon, the sun fell, shimmering, wreathed in a golden flame. It cast long, scarlet shadows on the docks below, as mothers ushered their children inside, and the working men hauled in their boats, hung up their tools, or wrapped up whatever it was they did for a living.
The young guardian was struck by the sense of community she felt here. In Luca, people knew each other, of course, but it was a big city. People came and went, friendships were forged and fell apart. The immutable stone buildings housed impermanence, housed change. Here, people knew each other. It was virtually impossible to not be well-acquainted and friendly with your neighbors and your neighbors' neighbors.
One thing in particular caught the blonde girl's emerald gaze-a young, dark- skinned, dark-haired boy walked along one of the wooden docks, his earthen cloak trailing behind him.
Neirana smiled, a warmth growing in her stomach. She had told Kecci that he meant the world to her, and she had meant it. ever since they had been children, she had connected with the quiet boy better than anyone else.
She sighed, pulling her hair back and tying it into a ponytail once more. Lately, it seemed as though her best friend had been pulling away from her, had been more distant than ever before. Almost as if there was something he was afraid to tell her, really.
All of a sudden, Neirana felt the impulse to laugh. Kecci was her best friend, and she his. he knew he could tell her anything, of course. And if there was anything that needed to be said, she knew that the young summoner would say it in good time.
As she watched, the distant figure disappeared behind a hut, and the green- eyed girl turned to enter the hut.
Neirana brushed aside the woven mat that functioned as a door, entering the hut. The small thatched building was circular, about twenty feet across. It was laid out like a compass, with the door at one pole, a small storage space for personal belongings directly opposite it, and two beds at both of the sides.
The small hut was being lit by a flickering oil lantern, the flame casting dancing golden and crimson shadows on the walls. Right next to the lamp, a wooden staff with a golden rose figurehead was leaning against one of the hut's support beams, and the blonde guardian knew right away that her roommate was a summoner. That particular roommate was a young woman-she looked to be slightly older than Neirana, although not much so-who was lying on one of the beds, barefoot, poring over what seemed to be an aged piece of papyrus, marked with runes that Neirana felt she should have remembered from her temple studies, but didn't.
As far as Neirana could tell, the other girl was shorter, and she was clothed in a bright emerald dress with various gold and blue patterns, loose and flowing, and looking very elegant. Her brown hair was worn up, in a bun, and she gave no indications whatsoever that she had heard the younger girl enter, so caught up was she in her studies.
Neirana dropped her bag on the floor and rapped her knuckles gently against the doorpost. "Knock-knock." she said in a teasing tone.
The summoner started, bolting upright like a scared cat. Neirana raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "Oh!" began the other girl, flustered. "I. I didn't hear you come in!"
Fighting a snicker, Neirana walked inside the hut. Although small, it was quite comfortable. "That much is obvious. so. I guess we'll be living together for a few months, huh? My name's Neirana Sutir. nice to meet you." She extended her hand to the other girl.
The brunette smiled shyly at her new roommate, taking Neirana's hand and shaking it gently. "Well, I guess so. pleased to make your acquaintance as well." She gestured to the flowerhead staff leaning against the walls. "I'm studying to be a summoner. my name is Belgemine."
"Belgemine, huh?" Neirana walked over to her own bed and sat down on it, opening the sack full of her belongings. "So, got a last name?" she winked at the older girl.
The brown-haired summoner looked down at her slender hands. "Actually, no, I don't. I'm an orphan." her dark eyes were sad, yet the sorrow seemed mute, as though it had been lessened over the years.
In an instant, Neirana's attitude plummeted, and her face fell with it. "Oh. I'm sorry." Because of the constant and unrelenting attacks of Sin, it wasn't uncommon that children would grow up having only one parent, or possibly even orphaned. In the past few decades, however, there had been a growing rise in those who believed that all Yevonites were really the children of Yevon, and as such were a family unto themselves. To reflect this bond, it became the custom for orphans to drop their last name to signify that they had become a member of the greater clan.
Belgemine waved it off. "It's okay. You had no way of knowing, there's really no need to feel bad. I know you didn't mean any offense." She looked at the floor, and then back up at the blonde girl. "It was a long time ago. and besides, I have a home. I live at the temple on Tsani Island."
Tsani was a small island located to the west of Kilika. Unlike that relatively large island, or even the more sparsely populated Besaid, Tsani had only one large town. The temple in the middle of that settlement was actually larger than most, because it had two purposes. Not only was it a summoners' temple, housing one of the powerful fayths, but it served as a home for abandoned and orphaned girls, who ranged in age all the way from pre-adolescence to mid-twenties. There was another haven on Tsani for boys the same age, and also for younger children of either sex, but that was its sole purpose-there was no temple there.
The temple was a sanctuary, a walled compound, blocking the rest of the tiny island out, and for good reason. The rest of the village was infamous as one of the most lawless areas in Spira; it was poor and dilapidated, remote from the laws of the Maesters and the teachings of Yevon. It was no wonder that no men other than summoners were allowed inside the compound- the girls inside, sheltered from the outside world, were naïve and trusting, and the priestesses feared they would be taken advantage of.
As Neirana looked at the brunette sitting on the bed across from her, she found her thoughts wandering to what that life would be like. to never know anything but the world inside the walls, to be raised completely in the teachings of Yevon. Yes, the temple played a huge role in the upbringing of almost every child in Spira. but to be completely immersed in the role day in and day out. Neirana didn't know if she could handle that.
An awkward silence reigned in the room, before Neirana chose to break it. "So. you've always wanted to be a summoner?" she smiled, slowly reaching down to unpack her belongings.
Belgemine laughed, a warm, rich sound. Her voice was slightly deeper than Neirana's, well into the alto range. "Actually. no." the summoner returned the smile. "I wanted to be a gardener. At the home, I always used to work in the garden, making it beautiful, feeling it grow, enjoying the feeling of nurturing it. There's. just something incredibly satisfying about seeing the plants grow under your care. It makes you feel as if you are actually helping something, making something good in the world."
The emerald-eyed girl grinned sheepishly. "I wouldn't know. I've always been a blitzball fan. I guess that's why you're the summoner and I'm a guardian, huh?" Neirana slipped her sandals off, lying back on the bed.
"Blitzball?" asked Belgemine, smiling. "Oh, do you like the Aurochs? They're my personal favorite team. I heard they won the Cup this year! Wasn't that exciting?"
Neirana stifled a groan.
* * *
Kecci kept walking as day turned to night, not particularly caring where he was walking to, as long as he got there. The planks creaked under his feet as he strode along the docks, casting long shadows in the crimson light. A young fisherman, hauling in his daily catch, paused to wave at the dark- skinned Lucan. a bit puzzled, Kecci returned the wave, and walked on. Why were people he didn't know waving at him?
Then, the answer hit him. They weren't waving at Kecci Hayado, the boy from Luca, they were waving at Summoner Kecci, who would deliver them from the fiends and Sinspawn.
A summoner. He was going to be a summoner. No matter how many times he repeated it, the full impact of that statement hadn't hit him as of yet. The reverence that was bestowed upon them, the hearts that were lifted when they were around. the duties and tasks given to them. summoners were the superheroes of Spira. And now, Kecci found himself elevated to that elite rank. It scared him.
As he walked, he found himself on dry land now, walking into the jungle on the path that would eventually lead him to the Kilika temple. It was then that Kecci stopped. The infinite blackness that lay ahead on the path as the trees cut off virtually all available light daunted him, and frightened him not a little. He couldn't see anything that lay ahead of him, in the darkness.
He stood there, caught halfway between the slowly fading light of the small port town and the impenetrable twilight of the jungle that blanketed the temple path. Kecci felt, quite literally, that he was at the point of no return, and froze, unwilling to move.
It was a good thing that Kecci hadn't chosen to go on, because within moments, a piercing buzzing noise came to his ears. The summoner wrinkled his forehead, trying to concentrate, to find the source of the noise as it grew steadily louder.
Kecci's eyes widened in realization, and he threw himself to the forest floor as an enormous wasp, easily as long as his arm, zoomed over his head, stinger first. The dark-skinned boy picked himself up, looking at the fiend and swallowing nervously.
The Killer Bee swooped around the young boy, apparently angry at an intruder in its forest so late at night. It hovered, its long stinger glinting evilly in the waning light, and made another rush. Kecci twisted to the side like an acrobat, avoiding the charge narrowly, as the stinger tore through the fabric of his cloak.
As the bee was still recovering from its swoop, Kecci extended his hand, closing his eyes and mumbling softly to himself. In his mind's eye, he saw the wasp slowly change direction for another run. He felt the fiend's presence, knew it was coming. and then, he gathered the "chi" of the forest to him, tapped into the mystical leylines of Spira. A writhing ball of flame appeared under his palm, growing with every heartbeat, illuminating the dark jungle.
The young summoner's eyes snapped open, and the fireball elongated into a jet of flame, spewing out at the attacking insect, to incinerate the fiend. Kecci's magic spell worked perfectly.
Or, it would have, but the fiend was no longer there. An instant before Kecci unleashed his attack, there was a clap like thunder, and a flash of purple light, unlike any elemental spell that Kecci had ever seen. In that instant, the Killer Bee simply ceased to exist, exploding into pyreflies that gently wafted up into the air.
The young summoner's fireball continued, missing its target, and landed smack-dab in the middle of a young palm tree, igniting the plant in a burst of flame. Kecci swore again, and concentrated once more, this time conjuring up a stream of water to put out the fire that could have, if left alone, done a fair amount of damage to the surrounding forest. Steam billowed up into the air as the fire hissed itself away. Satisfied that his spell wouldn't cause any more damage, Kecci turned around.
The girl from the docks, with the long black hair and the pale green eyes was staring at him, the traces of a smile on her face. The young man looked into her eyes, and flinched, looking away, as a sharp tingle shot up his spine. Who WAS this girl, anyway? Her name was. Nesici, Roth had said. "That was you?" he said at last, referring to the spell that had obliterated the fiend in an instant.
Nesici nodded, not saying a word. The two of them stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity, before she broke the quiet. "You are Roth's new friend, are you not?" she asked, her voice soft, slightly deep, and more accented than her guardian. When Kecci nodded an affirmative, still unwilling to meet her eyes, she half-smiled. "Ah. He says you are very nice."
A half-smile found its way onto Kecci's face. "Well. thank you. Roth's very nice also. he helped me out on the beach earlier today." Naturally, his thoughts about Olawa Andresen weren't too positive at the moment.
Apparently, neither were Nesici's. Her pale green eyes narrowed slightly, and Kecci could have sworn the wind seemed to blow harder for a moment. "Ah yes. trust me, it was our pleasure to see that he got what he deserved. Olawa Andresen is no better than his brother."
"Brother?" Kecci raised an eyebrow. "He has a brother?"
The pale-eyed summoner sighed softly. "Yes, he does. Just as much of a," she said something in her own tongue that Kecci couldn't catch. "as he is." Nesici shook her head, her long dark hair softly blowing in the wind. "And unfortunately, Yunno Andresen is training to be a summoner."
Kecci's mental picture of the Andresen clan had been a group of brain-dead athletes who had nothing to do but take advantage of their adoring female fans, so the fact that Olawa Andresen's brother was studying to join the ranks of the summoners threw him. "A summoner?"
"Yes. As am I." The dark-haired girl cast her sea-green gaze on the young man. "As are you."
For a moment, Kecci wondered how she knew that, before remembering she had been on the docks when he had told the crowd. ".is he any good with magic?" he asked, still a bit intimidated by the sheer intensity the other summoner was radiating.
The Nagijin summoner shrugged. "No," she answered matter-of-factly, eliciting a small snicker from Kecci.
"So. I'm going to go back to my hut. do you want to come with me? To see Roth?" Kecci asked her, the strain of the day suddenly catching up with him. He yawned.
Nesici shook her head, and Kecci thought he could see the faint hints of a blush on her face. "No. I've already been with him tonight. And I don't think you would appreciate the noise while you tried to sleep."
Kecci's eyes widened, a bit uncomfortable with the pale-eyed summoner's lack of modesty, and he nodded. "Y-yes. I think that'd be best." He said, blushing horribly. And yet, Nesici didn't seem to notice the change in his tone. She smiled, bid him good-night, and then walked away.
"How much farther is the temple?" asked the dark-skinned boy, wiping sweat from his forehead. Kecci had been following the older man up the winding jungle path to the broad steps that lead to the Summoner's Temple of Kilika. Although he was trying not to show it, the shorter boy was getting winded from the long climb, while his guide expressed almost no signs of exertion whatsoever.
Roth continued climbing the stone steps that had been hewn from the mountain centuries before. "Only thirteen more flights of steps to go," he said off-handedly, as though it didn't matter. "We're almost there."
Inwardly, Kecci groaned. They had been climbed a seemingly uncountable number of stairs already, and there were still thirteen flights left! Feeling a bit short of breath, he waved for the muscular redhead to stop for a moment. Kecci slowly walked over to the side of the staircase, laid his staff down on one of the steps, and sat down on the edge, looking down at everything below him.
Kilika Island was shaped like a four-pointed star, rising in the middle to a single peak, a mountain that had once been an active volcano, millennia before. Nowadays, the fires at the top of the summit were ceremonial and sacred torches, to honor the fayth that was housed deep within, beyond the Cloister of Trials, within the Summoner's Sanctum.
When the temple had been constructed, long ago, the makers had chiseled countless flights of steps to make it accessible to the worshipers. The feat in itself was impressive, but what made it even more so was that they hadn't even used a single machina tool to help them get the job done. They had been constructed totally by hand.
Kecci looked out over the deep blue sea, so placid and serene, trying to orient himself. The sun was slightly to his left, and it was still morning, so that meant he was facing south. He was looking away from Luca in the north, looking away from his sanctuary, his home.
The steps wound down the mountain, slowly fading into the dense jungle below, the green that lined the path and wreathed the top of the peak with a verdant halo. The dark-skinned boy tried to look for the small port he had arrived in, but didn't find it.
"The port's on the north side of the island, you can't see it from here." Roth spoke up from behind him, as if reading his thoughts. "Kilika's main city is on the east, though." he pointed off to Kecci's left-hand side, where the younger boy could see what looked like the fringes of a large town before the mountain cut off his view. "It's quite a sight, huh?"
The shorter boy nodded. "I'll say. In Luca, everything's so flat and close together. I've never seen anything like this before."
Roth laughed, a deep boom that was made more endearing because of his accent. "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my home. the Calm Lands." he propped one massive foot up on the edge beside Kecci. "If you're high up and near the edge. like in my town. you can see for miles. It's completely open and empty." He sighed. "It's beautiful."
Kecci was struck by the sense of loneliness in the larger man's voice. He looked at Roth, whose long red hair was gently blowing in the breeze. "Why'd you leave and become a guardian?" he asked, hoping he wasn't prying too much.
For a few moments, Roth was silent, and Kecci wished he could take the comment back. At long last, the guardian spoke. "Yeah, you don't see many Nagijin summoners or guardians, do you?" Kecci shook his head, feeling uncomfortable, and neglecting to mention that his own guardian was, in fact, half-Nagijin. "I guess one of the reasons that Nesici and I chose our path was to break that stigmata that we have as cousins to the Al Bhed."
The larger man stood up and turned around, walking a few steps before stopping. "I mean, everyone assumes that we don't believe in Yevon or the fayth or the Farplane just because we share a common ancestry with the Al Bhed. When you get right down to it, we all share roots, don't we?" Roth sat down again on the steps, softly stroking his goatee. "Another reason would have to be Nesici. wherever she goes, I go." Roth chuckled. "Kinda pathetic, don't you think?"
"No, actually, I don't think it's pathetic at all."
Roth shot a sapphire glance at the smaller boy, and their eyes met. He held the gaze for several seconds before breaking away, chuckling. "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but that'd be a lie." He stretched, his muscles rippling. "So, how long have you and her been an item?"
The summoner immediately flushed a dark red, and tried to cover the dull ache in his heart by laughing. Somehow, he didn't think Roth was fooled. "Well. actually, we're not. I mean, she's my best friend in the world. I wouldn't want to ruin something like that, you know?"
"Yeah, I know." This time, Roth's voice was knowing, understanding. "I've been in your shoes before." Kecci didn't ask him about that, not wanting to pry any more than he felt he had already been doing.
The two of them sat in silence for a minute or so, taking in the view, when Roth spoke up again. "Can I trust you, Kecci?"
"I don't see why not." For some reason, the fact that the Nagijin had called him by his name made the question feel slightly more important, more urgent.
Roth looked down at the stone steps, before closing his eyes and speaking. "The third reason I wanted to become a guardian is because of my brother. well, because of the Gray Hand, actually."
Raising an eyebrow, Kecci looked at the red-haired man. "What's that? The Gray Hand, I mean?"
".well, I said that the Nagijin aren't necessarily like the Al Bhed, right?" Kecci nodded, and the taller man continued. "Well, that doesn't mean they're fully Yevonite or anything either." He swallowed before continuing. "The Gray Hand is a cult that worships Sin. or more accurately, thinks that Sin is a blessing to purge the world of the unclean."
A flash of rage welled up within Kecci's stomach, a burning anger as he remembered the blitzball tournament and the attack of Sin. Those people hadn't been unclean. Sin was a vile monster, nothing else. how could people worship that beast?
The Crusader, Gim. to even suggest that he had been unclean, that he had deserved the cruel death he had received was sacrilege, nothing more. The dark-skinned boy began to tremble with anger, when Roth held up a hand.
"I know, I know, it's horrible."
"Horrible doesn't even begin to describe it," whispered Kecci, making a fist.
Roth sighed heavily. "You're telling me this? The worst part about the Gray Hand. once you get in, you can't get out. I'm not talking about being shamed or ridiculed if you quit. the Gray Hand can do something to your mind. You become an agent for them until you die, whether you like it or not, and there's nothing you can do about it. You become trapped."
The massive Nagijin leaned back, eyes open, staring at the empty blue sky. "My twin brother, Loye, was always my best friend. We played together, played pranks together, fought together. he was the one who actually introduced me to Nesici. I didn't think anything could come between Loye and me, but I was wrong. The. the damn Gray Hand." he said, slamming his huge fist into the rock, angrily. "They corrupted him, and now he's one of them."
The dark-skinned summoner, anger under control for the moment, looked over at his newfound friend. "So you want revenge? That's why you and Nesici chose the path you did?"
Rubbing his eyes, Roth sat up. "You could put it like that, yeah." He stood up, brushing the dust off his black coat that he wore over his bare chest, clearly not wanting to talk about his brother Loye anymore. "So, come on, let's get moving to the top! After we're done up there, we gotta come all the way down again, so get used to it!"
For a few seconds, Kecci watched the muscular guardian walk away, puzzled, before picking his staff up and following him up the steps.
* * *
Kecci and Roth had just reached the top of the stairs when a man, dressed in the white robes with purple trim of the Yevon Priesthood, came down the steps to meet them. He was a short man, somewhat big-boned, with a pleasant smile on his face. "I know you, Mr. Kage," Kecci looked around in confusion before realizing, with some embarrassment, that Kage must have been Roth's last name. "But you, I don't know." He turned to the shorter boy, looking him up and down. "You're here to be a summoner, are you not?" he said at last.
"Y-yes," Kecci stuttered. "I.ah. my name is Kecci Hayado. I just arrived on the boat an hour or so ago."
The priest beamed. "Ah yes, Mr. Hayado. we had word you were coming. My name is Father Hukaso. I'm the priest in charge of summoner training at this temple," he said, bowing and cupping his hands in front of him in the traditional prayer gesture, which both Kecci and Roth returned. After a moment, he straightened up, a somewhat puzzled look on his face. "I believe that Brother Roth here is the guardian to Miss Kyn, and not to you, Brother Kecci," he said with a wink. "So where might your own guardian be?"
The young apprentice summoner gave a barely noticeable sigh. Ever since Neirana had stormed off after the impromptu blitzball match, he hadn't seen her. Even though his conscience told him that she really had no reason to be angry, it still hurt. "She's still down at the port," he sighed. "Where she is specifically, I don't know."
Hukaso raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "I see. well, we'll send a messenger down for her." He smiled again. "When we train summoners and guardians, obviously we can't have them sleeping in the temple, there's just not enough room! So, we house them in the port town you arrived in. you will be sharing a hut with one other person until you have become a full-fledged summoner and leave Kilika to go off into the world."
Up until then, Roth had been looking off the steps at the surrounding forest closely, but he turned his attention back to the priest. "Father Hukaso, that reminds me. has the person who's going to be sharing my hut arrived yet? Or is there still no word?"
The priest chuckled. "As a matter of fact, your bunkmate arrived today. And apparently, you've already met him and seem to be getting along rather well. Brother Kecci, you will be staying in the same hut as Brother Roth here."
The two men looked at each other, and Roth laughed, extending a hand to the apprentice summoner, as if meeting him for the first time. "Well then, Kecci, nice to meet you. C'mon, let's go get you settled in!"
Kecci smirked and shook the larger man's hand, before groaning as he realized it meant another long trek down the mountain.
* * *
After the two friends had reached the port again, Kecci noticed people were shooting angry glares at Roth because of the incident earlier with Andresen, but the massive Nagijin paid them no mind. Roth led Kecci to the small thatched hut they would be sharing-barely big enough for the two of them-and Kecci put his belongings away and gotten settled in. Kecci, thanking the guardian for helping him, left the hut to reflect on the day's events.
He walked down the wooden planks that comprised the streets of the small village, held above the water by logs. As he walked, trying to expel the enormous weight he felt pressing down at him, he found himself at the docks. The ship he had arrived on had left an hour so before, so that particular area was empty. Kecci took off his sandals and sat down at the edge, dangling his feet in the water.
There were two young boys, brothers probably, who were playing with a small blitzball on another dock about thirty feet away. The younger of the two went to kick the studded ball, but missed and fell on his back. As he cried, his older brother went over to him and gave him a protective, reassuring hug, trying to cheer his sibling up. As he saw this, the dark- skinned apprentice summoner smiled, feeling a warmth wash over him. There was good in this world, not just Sin.
Lately, it seemed he had been forgetting that.
As Kecci slowly dangled his toes in the gently lapping water, he lay down on his back, looking up at the sky, slowly reddening as the sun continued its long journey down to the horizon.
A minute passed, or maybe an hour, Kecci didn't know. He lost track of time, watching the gulls gliding overhead in the sea breeze. Above him, the few clouds in the otherwise empty sky took on a soft gold-crimson hue as the sun began to set. Kecci heard footsteps behind him, and sat up, turning to see who it was.
"This seat taken?" Neirana smiled, slipping her sandals off and sitting beside her best friend. Her summoner. The blonde girl exhaled softly, reaching beside her and taking out her hair-tie, letting her sun-bleached hair fall down around her shoulders. "So, what's a nice boy like you doing in a place like this?" she asked with a wry grin. "Why are you sitting out here all by yourself?"
Kecci found himself at a loss for words, feeling rather vulnerable at the moment. "I. I guess I was just thinking about everything. you know, being a summoner and all that." He looked up at her, arching an eyebrow. "So, you're not still mad?"
His friend's energetic smile softened, becoming gentle and sincere. "You know I can't get mad at you. you're my best friend, Kecci." Neirana reached over to him and playfully mussed up his dark hair. "Granted, I'm not very happy with what your new-found friend did," she said, frowning. "But Olawa's fine now, so everything's good."
The apprentice exhaled a subtle sigh of relief, brushing his hair back into place. "Well, I don't think you can really blame Roth. I mean, Olawa was being pretty antagonistic."
Neirana bit her lip softly, pulling her legs out of the water and hugging her knees to her chest. "You're right. you should've heard him when he woke up. He was ranting about those 'damn Nagijin,'" she lowered her voice to imitate the blitzer, "and how 'they don't know their place.'"
"Did you tell him that you're half-Nagijin yourself, 'Rana?" The dark- skinned boy looked at his friend.
"Well, no." Neirana looked down. "I mean, he was kind of mad, I didn't want to make him even angrier. But he was only kidding, anyway!" she added quickly, forcing a laugh. "He didn't really mean anything he said."
The friends stayed silent for a while, watching the sun creep lower in the sky. Kecci broke the quiet, asking her a question. "What do you think a summoner's pilgrimage is for, 'Rana?"
"Isn't that obvious?" His friend sounded a bit confused. "The pilgrimage is to destroy Sin."
"But is that all? I mean. is that all we have to look forward to? I have a hard time seeing that. look at what other summoners become. They teach apprentices, they become priests. I can't believe that Sin is the be-all and end-all of the summoner's path."
Neirana's voice took on a quieter, gentler tone. "The summoner's path begins and ends with Sin. but I don't think it's the most important thing." She turned, and leaned back against her friend, resting her head on his lap. Kecci softly stroked her hair, listening. "I think it was my dad who told me this, a long time ago: 'your destination doesn't matter, it's the path you choose to get there.'"
She closed her eyes and continued. "If the pilgrimage is only about Sin, that makes Spira only about Sin. But the journey isn't about Sin, it isn't about death."
Kecci finished the thought for her, feeling some of the weight on his shoulders melt away. "It's about life."
"Right. The journey isn't about destroying Sin, it's about healing the pain of everyone who lives. about friends and family." The girl opened her green eyes again, smiling up at Kecci. "If you didn't mean the world to me, I wouldn't be here right now, you know."
His breath caught in his throat, and Kecci felt his face flushing a dark scarlet. He couldn't say something, but for some reason, felt that nothing needed to be said. The two of them remained in that position, with Kecci softly stroking her hair, for a while longer.
This time, Neirana broke the silence. "Hey, Kecci?"
"Mm?"
".have you ever been in love?"
Whatever question Kecci was expecting, that was definitely not it. A thousand different responses ran through his mind: 'I'm in love with you,' 'Of course, can't you see it,' 'You're beautiful and you make me feel warm and content, and I love you, damn it!'
".no," he lied, at last. He couldn't say it.
She smiled. "Well, I'd hope not!"
Again, her answer took Kecci by surprise. Was she. did she really mean that.? "Wait, what do you mean?"
"I'd have hoped that if you ever were in love, you'd feel like you could tell your best friend about it," she laughed, reaching up and squeezing his hand. "Just so long as you aren't keeping secrets from me."
'If you only knew. oh, Yevon. if you only knew, 'Rana.' Kecci faked a smirk, the calm he had been feeling replaced by a million uncertainties. "Well, maybe I have been, you know? A few dozen girls on the side really doesn't mean too much in the grand scheme of things, does it?"
Neirana gently thwacked him on the arm. "Don't even joke about that."
"Sorry. but out of curiosity, 'Rana, why do you ask?"
The emerald-eyed girl paused for a moment before answering. "Because I think I'm in love with Olawa Andresen."
This time, Kecci had been expecting the response. It didn't hurt any less, though. The dark-skinned boy wanted to shout at her that the blitzer didn't deserve her, that she was being stupid, that he loved her and that she was breaking his heart. But still, he remained quiet, trying to ignore the avalanche of boulders that seemed to be pouring into his stomach. "Oh."
Obviously, Kecci hadn't hid his distress well enough, because Neirana sat up, looking at him with concern on her beautiful face. "Kecci," she sighed, squeezing his hands. "I know you don't like him, but don't worry about it. It's just a stupid little crush, nothing more. I promise you that nothing bad will happen. and he's going to be training down here with the Beasts, he probably won't even have time to do anything. and that's even IF he were interested in me!"
She leaned in close, and hugged her best friend tightly, an embrace that he returned weakly. "First and foremost, I'm your best friend, Kecci Hayado." Neirana softly kissed him on the forehead. "And even more than that. I'm your guardian. Nothing will come between us, I promise. After all, I am the guardian."
The guardian. His guardian. His Neirana.
High above the friends, the first star of evening twinkled into being.
Neirana softly smiled, once again ruffling his hair. "And now, I think, it's getting late, and it's time for good apprentice summoners and their guardians to go meet the people who they'll be living with for quite a bit of time." She frowned. "I hope I don't end up with an Aurochs fan. That wouldn't be fun."
"What if you ended up with Lyska Guado?" Kecci squeezed her hand, standing up and helping her to her feet.
His best friend made a face. "Ew. Jecco Tilber, maybe, but Lyska? Just. ew." Neirana smiled and hugged the apprentice summoner. "Kecci. I love you, you know that?"
The dark-eyed summoner began to respond, but found his breath caught in his throat as he returned the embrace, burying his face in the taller girl's shoulder. Once he had found his voice once more, Kecci smiled at her. "I know, 'Rana. I love you too." As he broke off the embrace, he once more caught her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he turned and walked off down the docks.
Once he was sure that the blonde-haired guardian couldn't see him, Kecci sat down on a wooden pylon by the water's edge, and held his head in his hands. "Oh, holy Yevon, I love you."
Vision after vision flashed in his mind's eye-Neirana smiling at him, giggling at something he had said; Neirana standing up with Quicksilver in her hands, a fire in her eyes, fiercely loyal to those she cared about; Neirana fighting back tears as her best friend chose his path on the beach.
He loved her. Why couldn't he tell her that? Kecci had envisioned it so many times. he would march up to her, proud and brave, and announce that she was his world, and that he was completely in love with her. She would then at him, tell him that she loved him in return, and they would a warm, loving, kiss.
The young summoner lifted his head, looking up at the few glittering diamonds in the pale orange sky. That fantasy wasn't her. it was just in his head, nothing more. It wouldn't ever be anything more. Neirana loved him, yes, but only as her best friend. nothing more. She didn't want anything more.
And that was good enough, right? They weren't meant to be anything more than lifelong friends, were they? They were summoner and guardian, not lovers. and that was all right with Kecci. He forced a smile onto his face, and got up from his seat, pushing his doubts down for the time being. It was good enough for him.
Wasn't it?
* * *
Neirana climbed the wooden steps to her own hut. Unlike the others, which were all clustered together in the little port village, the one that the girl had been assigned to was on a small bluff overlooking the beach below. Although the hike was a bit annoying, the guardian smiled. The view was worth it.
Above the gently curving horizon, the sun fell, shimmering, wreathed in a golden flame. It cast long, scarlet shadows on the docks below, as mothers ushered their children inside, and the working men hauled in their boats, hung up their tools, or wrapped up whatever it was they did for a living.
The young guardian was struck by the sense of community she felt here. In Luca, people knew each other, of course, but it was a big city. People came and went, friendships were forged and fell apart. The immutable stone buildings housed impermanence, housed change. Here, people knew each other. It was virtually impossible to not be well-acquainted and friendly with your neighbors and your neighbors' neighbors.
One thing in particular caught the blonde girl's emerald gaze-a young, dark- skinned, dark-haired boy walked along one of the wooden docks, his earthen cloak trailing behind him.
Neirana smiled, a warmth growing in her stomach. She had told Kecci that he meant the world to her, and she had meant it. ever since they had been children, she had connected with the quiet boy better than anyone else.
She sighed, pulling her hair back and tying it into a ponytail once more. Lately, it seemed as though her best friend had been pulling away from her, had been more distant than ever before. Almost as if there was something he was afraid to tell her, really.
All of a sudden, Neirana felt the impulse to laugh. Kecci was her best friend, and she his. he knew he could tell her anything, of course. And if there was anything that needed to be said, she knew that the young summoner would say it in good time.
As she watched, the distant figure disappeared behind a hut, and the green- eyed girl turned to enter the hut.
Neirana brushed aside the woven mat that functioned as a door, entering the hut. The small thatched building was circular, about twenty feet across. It was laid out like a compass, with the door at one pole, a small storage space for personal belongings directly opposite it, and two beds at both of the sides.
The small hut was being lit by a flickering oil lantern, the flame casting dancing golden and crimson shadows on the walls. Right next to the lamp, a wooden staff with a golden rose figurehead was leaning against one of the hut's support beams, and the blonde guardian knew right away that her roommate was a summoner. That particular roommate was a young woman-she looked to be slightly older than Neirana, although not much so-who was lying on one of the beds, barefoot, poring over what seemed to be an aged piece of papyrus, marked with runes that Neirana felt she should have remembered from her temple studies, but didn't.
As far as Neirana could tell, the other girl was shorter, and she was clothed in a bright emerald dress with various gold and blue patterns, loose and flowing, and looking very elegant. Her brown hair was worn up, in a bun, and she gave no indications whatsoever that she had heard the younger girl enter, so caught up was she in her studies.
Neirana dropped her bag on the floor and rapped her knuckles gently against the doorpost. "Knock-knock." she said in a teasing tone.
The summoner started, bolting upright like a scared cat. Neirana raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "Oh!" began the other girl, flustered. "I. I didn't hear you come in!"
Fighting a snicker, Neirana walked inside the hut. Although small, it was quite comfortable. "That much is obvious. so. I guess we'll be living together for a few months, huh? My name's Neirana Sutir. nice to meet you." She extended her hand to the other girl.
The brunette smiled shyly at her new roommate, taking Neirana's hand and shaking it gently. "Well, I guess so. pleased to make your acquaintance as well." She gestured to the flowerhead staff leaning against the walls. "I'm studying to be a summoner. my name is Belgemine."
"Belgemine, huh?" Neirana walked over to her own bed and sat down on it, opening the sack full of her belongings. "So, got a last name?" she winked at the older girl.
The brown-haired summoner looked down at her slender hands. "Actually, no, I don't. I'm an orphan." her dark eyes were sad, yet the sorrow seemed mute, as though it had been lessened over the years.
In an instant, Neirana's attitude plummeted, and her face fell with it. "Oh. I'm sorry." Because of the constant and unrelenting attacks of Sin, it wasn't uncommon that children would grow up having only one parent, or possibly even orphaned. In the past few decades, however, there had been a growing rise in those who believed that all Yevonites were really the children of Yevon, and as such were a family unto themselves. To reflect this bond, it became the custom for orphans to drop their last name to signify that they had become a member of the greater clan.
Belgemine waved it off. "It's okay. You had no way of knowing, there's really no need to feel bad. I know you didn't mean any offense." She looked at the floor, and then back up at the blonde girl. "It was a long time ago. and besides, I have a home. I live at the temple on Tsani Island."
Tsani was a small island located to the west of Kilika. Unlike that relatively large island, or even the more sparsely populated Besaid, Tsani had only one large town. The temple in the middle of that settlement was actually larger than most, because it had two purposes. Not only was it a summoners' temple, housing one of the powerful fayths, but it served as a home for abandoned and orphaned girls, who ranged in age all the way from pre-adolescence to mid-twenties. There was another haven on Tsani for boys the same age, and also for younger children of either sex, but that was its sole purpose-there was no temple there.
The temple was a sanctuary, a walled compound, blocking the rest of the tiny island out, and for good reason. The rest of the village was infamous as one of the most lawless areas in Spira; it was poor and dilapidated, remote from the laws of the Maesters and the teachings of Yevon. It was no wonder that no men other than summoners were allowed inside the compound- the girls inside, sheltered from the outside world, were naïve and trusting, and the priestesses feared they would be taken advantage of.
As Neirana looked at the brunette sitting on the bed across from her, she found her thoughts wandering to what that life would be like. to never know anything but the world inside the walls, to be raised completely in the teachings of Yevon. Yes, the temple played a huge role in the upbringing of almost every child in Spira. but to be completely immersed in the role day in and day out. Neirana didn't know if she could handle that.
An awkward silence reigned in the room, before Neirana chose to break it. "So. you've always wanted to be a summoner?" she smiled, slowly reaching down to unpack her belongings.
Belgemine laughed, a warm, rich sound. Her voice was slightly deeper than Neirana's, well into the alto range. "Actually. no." the summoner returned the smile. "I wanted to be a gardener. At the home, I always used to work in the garden, making it beautiful, feeling it grow, enjoying the feeling of nurturing it. There's. just something incredibly satisfying about seeing the plants grow under your care. It makes you feel as if you are actually helping something, making something good in the world."
The emerald-eyed girl grinned sheepishly. "I wouldn't know. I've always been a blitzball fan. I guess that's why you're the summoner and I'm a guardian, huh?" Neirana slipped her sandals off, lying back on the bed.
"Blitzball?" asked Belgemine, smiling. "Oh, do you like the Aurochs? They're my personal favorite team. I heard they won the Cup this year! Wasn't that exciting?"
Neirana stifled a groan.
* * *
Kecci kept walking as day turned to night, not particularly caring where he was walking to, as long as he got there. The planks creaked under his feet as he strode along the docks, casting long shadows in the crimson light. A young fisherman, hauling in his daily catch, paused to wave at the dark- skinned Lucan. a bit puzzled, Kecci returned the wave, and walked on. Why were people he didn't know waving at him?
Then, the answer hit him. They weren't waving at Kecci Hayado, the boy from Luca, they were waving at Summoner Kecci, who would deliver them from the fiends and Sinspawn.
A summoner. He was going to be a summoner. No matter how many times he repeated it, the full impact of that statement hadn't hit him as of yet. The reverence that was bestowed upon them, the hearts that were lifted when they were around. the duties and tasks given to them. summoners were the superheroes of Spira. And now, Kecci found himself elevated to that elite rank. It scared him.
As he walked, he found himself on dry land now, walking into the jungle on the path that would eventually lead him to the Kilika temple. It was then that Kecci stopped. The infinite blackness that lay ahead on the path as the trees cut off virtually all available light daunted him, and frightened him not a little. He couldn't see anything that lay ahead of him, in the darkness.
He stood there, caught halfway between the slowly fading light of the small port town and the impenetrable twilight of the jungle that blanketed the temple path. Kecci felt, quite literally, that he was at the point of no return, and froze, unwilling to move.
It was a good thing that Kecci hadn't chosen to go on, because within moments, a piercing buzzing noise came to his ears. The summoner wrinkled his forehead, trying to concentrate, to find the source of the noise as it grew steadily louder.
Kecci's eyes widened in realization, and he threw himself to the forest floor as an enormous wasp, easily as long as his arm, zoomed over his head, stinger first. The dark-skinned boy picked himself up, looking at the fiend and swallowing nervously.
The Killer Bee swooped around the young boy, apparently angry at an intruder in its forest so late at night. It hovered, its long stinger glinting evilly in the waning light, and made another rush. Kecci twisted to the side like an acrobat, avoiding the charge narrowly, as the stinger tore through the fabric of his cloak.
As the bee was still recovering from its swoop, Kecci extended his hand, closing his eyes and mumbling softly to himself. In his mind's eye, he saw the wasp slowly change direction for another run. He felt the fiend's presence, knew it was coming. and then, he gathered the "chi" of the forest to him, tapped into the mystical leylines of Spira. A writhing ball of flame appeared under his palm, growing with every heartbeat, illuminating the dark jungle.
The young summoner's eyes snapped open, and the fireball elongated into a jet of flame, spewing out at the attacking insect, to incinerate the fiend. Kecci's magic spell worked perfectly.
Or, it would have, but the fiend was no longer there. An instant before Kecci unleashed his attack, there was a clap like thunder, and a flash of purple light, unlike any elemental spell that Kecci had ever seen. In that instant, the Killer Bee simply ceased to exist, exploding into pyreflies that gently wafted up into the air.
The young summoner's fireball continued, missing its target, and landed smack-dab in the middle of a young palm tree, igniting the plant in a burst of flame. Kecci swore again, and concentrated once more, this time conjuring up a stream of water to put out the fire that could have, if left alone, done a fair amount of damage to the surrounding forest. Steam billowed up into the air as the fire hissed itself away. Satisfied that his spell wouldn't cause any more damage, Kecci turned around.
The girl from the docks, with the long black hair and the pale green eyes was staring at him, the traces of a smile on her face. The young man looked into her eyes, and flinched, looking away, as a sharp tingle shot up his spine. Who WAS this girl, anyway? Her name was. Nesici, Roth had said. "That was you?" he said at last, referring to the spell that had obliterated the fiend in an instant.
Nesici nodded, not saying a word. The two of them stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity, before she broke the quiet. "You are Roth's new friend, are you not?" she asked, her voice soft, slightly deep, and more accented than her guardian. When Kecci nodded an affirmative, still unwilling to meet her eyes, she half-smiled. "Ah. He says you are very nice."
A half-smile found its way onto Kecci's face. "Well. thank you. Roth's very nice also. he helped me out on the beach earlier today." Naturally, his thoughts about Olawa Andresen weren't too positive at the moment.
Apparently, neither were Nesici's. Her pale green eyes narrowed slightly, and Kecci could have sworn the wind seemed to blow harder for a moment. "Ah yes. trust me, it was our pleasure to see that he got what he deserved. Olawa Andresen is no better than his brother."
"Brother?" Kecci raised an eyebrow. "He has a brother?"
The pale-eyed summoner sighed softly. "Yes, he does. Just as much of a," she said something in her own tongue that Kecci couldn't catch. "as he is." Nesici shook her head, her long dark hair softly blowing in the wind. "And unfortunately, Yunno Andresen is training to be a summoner."
Kecci's mental picture of the Andresen clan had been a group of brain-dead athletes who had nothing to do but take advantage of their adoring female fans, so the fact that Olawa Andresen's brother was studying to join the ranks of the summoners threw him. "A summoner?"
"Yes. As am I." The dark-haired girl cast her sea-green gaze on the young man. "As are you."
For a moment, Kecci wondered how she knew that, before remembering she had been on the docks when he had told the crowd. ".is he any good with magic?" he asked, still a bit intimidated by the sheer intensity the other summoner was radiating.
The Nagijin summoner shrugged. "No," she answered matter-of-factly, eliciting a small snicker from Kecci.
"So. I'm going to go back to my hut. do you want to come with me? To see Roth?" Kecci asked her, the strain of the day suddenly catching up with him. He yawned.
Nesici shook her head, and Kecci thought he could see the faint hints of a blush on her face. "No. I've already been with him tonight. And I don't think you would appreciate the noise while you tried to sleep."
Kecci's eyes widened, a bit uncomfortable with the pale-eyed summoner's lack of modesty, and he nodded. "Y-yes. I think that'd be best." He said, blushing horribly. And yet, Nesici didn't seem to notice the change in his tone. She smiled, bid him good-night, and then walked away.
