~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Castle In The Sky
By xaphanea
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Three: Diving Into The Onslaught
I whipped around quickly, hiding my eyes from whatever Maere was doing. My cheeks flared in embarrassment at her immodesty. Talyon stood stock still, shamelessly staring as the odd Al Bhed girl unzipped her form fitting suit. I felt Talyon lightly smack my upper arm, and I chanced a small peek over my shoulder. It was then that I realized Maere was fully clothed beneath her foreign garb. I laughed nervously, facing her again, and marveled at her unique clothing. She was wrapped in a billowing white top that showed off most of her upper chest and midsection, and glossy bright blue pants that rested on her hips. Hanging haphazardly around her hip to thigh was a wide red leather belt, and her feet were clad in black boots that climbed halfway up her calves. I had never seen such a free spirited looking creature, and Maere's appearance brought a bright smile to my face. Talyon looked cheerful as well, only I knew he was admiring her differently than I was.
"Frana yna drao kuehk yvdan Mily?" Her satiny voice was aimed at Caledon, who indifferently piloted his fluid vehicle. Talyon finally managed to pull his gaze away from the revealing girl and winked at me, focusing on the water below. I shook my head, smiling nostalgically as I remembered Talyon and his wonderful way with women.
"Rune ec dnyjammehk du Wyhyngyht yc y Cissuhan, fedr Talyon yc rec kiynteyh." Caledon replied in perfectly fluent Al Bhed, as if he had spoken the language all his life. I found myself feeling terribly ignorant and premature, not knowing enough that would make me somewhat wiser on my journey. Although learning the Al Bhed language would be futile, considering what I was going to do when I reached Zanarkand. With a pang, I realized that there really wasn't much that I did know about the lands outside of Kilika, as I had never left them. In all of my studying at the Temple and growing to be a Summoner, I never thought to study other lands, and educate myself for my pilgrimage. But, there was still hope. Talyon knew a lot about the outlying areas, as he had traveled some, and been educated my many farther traveling Crusaders. I was greatly indebted to him for that trait, as well.
I shot Caledon a questioning gaze, wondering why he had used our names and what Maere had asked of us.
"She wanted to know where you were going." He seemed as if to read my thoughts, and I cocked my head at her curiously. She seemed innocent enough, but the Al Bhed had been so against pilgrimages so long ago that I nearly feared her intentions. If she was truly against my journey than she might gather her kinsmen and try to stop me by force. Yet, that was another obstacle that I'd have to overcome. Bevelle would be trying to do the same thing to ravage my hopes of defeating Sin.
"E fyhd du yllusbyho dras du dra Suuhvmuf." Maere glanced at me shortly, before averting her attention back to the Aeronaut. "Ra muugc mega ra luimt ica yhudran kiynteyh, yht E sicd lnucc bydrc fedr cusa udran Al Bhed drana." After saying that, she turned away from everyone and leaned on the corner of the basket. She crossed her feminine arms and rested her chin on them daintily, staring out into space. I would have given anything to be able to read her mind at that moment. She seemed to have such insight traversing through her brain, and I wished to be a part of that simple beauty.
"You have a new comrade, then." Caledon smiled at me, and my brow furrowed in question. "Maere will travel with you up until the Moonflow. That is, if it's alright with you." Talyon side glanced me from where he stood, and I knew that he was perfectly fine with the idea of having Maere in our company. I shrugged, honestly apathetic either way.
"Would be my pleasure." I assured him, and then silence ensued, each one of us retreating to our thoughts. I found myself hoping that maybe Maere could learn a little Common Tongue, or I could learn some Al Bhed. Otherwise, we would have no means of communication. And I wasn't about to pay a translator to accompany us all the way to the Moonflow. In any case, we'd have to figure something out, or she'd have to remain silent the entire time. Although, I was sure that Talyon wouldn't mind one bit. He seemed to be utterly content just staring at the young girl. She was somewhat desirable, but nothing exceptional by my standards. I kept finding myself comparing her to Seneca, and in my mind, no other woman could compare to Seneca.
Caledon snapped me out of my thoughts with a bark, pointing to the bustling town of Luca nearing underneath us. I gawked at the size of the Blitzball stadium, and the sheer intricacies of the town itself. It was beautiful, by any standards, and although I loved the rustic feeling of Kilika, Luca's modern style was definitely intriguing. Caledon sent Rasha down to scout out some Inns with free rooms for us to stay in, and Maere gave the magnificent bird a loving pat before she dove down towards the whitewashed city. I was in awe, and my eyes couldn't drink in the detail quickly enough as we soared above. There were people standing in the streets pointing up as they looked in awe at Caledon's bright balloon. I waved at them, and they smiled up at the excited expression on my face. There were little stores and houses everywhere, and a great café that I had heard about from Talyon. Apparently, the Luca café had a legend of it's own. There had been many showdowns there, between all kinds of races. One of High Summoner Yuna's guardians, a Ronso named Kimahri, fought with two of his kinsmen in there. Once a full scale brawl started, started by a Guado and an Al Bhed arguing over two Blitzball teams. It ended up with the bartender throwing everyone out, casting black magic all over the place. He had to redecorate the entire interior of the café after that incident.
Caledon picked a soft landing spot just outside the town on a grassy path. There was a large stake with a metal hole protruding from the top of it, around which he coiled a large rope. I supposed that it was especially for the Aeronauts, who so frequently came to watch Blitzball games. We hopped out of the basket with ease, and stretched our arms and legs. A few people entering Luca from the path stopped to speak with Caledon, and I stood awkwardly with Talyon, awaiting Rasha's return. Maere leaned down, plucking a white flower from between the blades of grass. She twirled it between her fingers, watching intently as each silky petal reflected the sun's fading light. It was then that I realized it was almost dark out, and blinked at the extensive hours we had spent over the ocean. Eventually I heard the beating of familiar wings on air as Rasha landed on Maere's shoulder gracefully. She had obviously seen that Caledon was busy, and so relayed her news to the young Al Bhed. I chuckled, happily enjoying the adorable movements that the great bird made with her feathered body to communicate with Maere. It was obviously a meticulous language that they shared, and I was curious as to how Caledon had come up with it, let alone taught it to a bird. Maere turned to us, and pointed out over the city. I managed to follow her finger to a cathedral inn, titled the Hunskan Stay. It appeared to be clean and sturdy, but cheap enough for Talyon and I to afford. I bowed politely at the striking bird, and she seemed to laugh at me. But with a flick of her wings and somewhat of a nod of her head, I was relayed a sense of thanks from her motions. Caledon eventually dispersed his crowd, and took Rasha onto his arm easily.
"Well, folks, this is where I leave you." He bellowed, a grin spread widely across his face. "I have to get to Macalania for some shipments. Great seeing you both again, and good luck on the pilgrimage. Keep the lady out of trouble, too." He winked at Talyon, who shook his hand respectfully. I inclined my head, and Maere waved quaintly. With that, Caledon gracefully swung back into his balloon, loosened his rope, and the machina sprung to life.
"Thank you!" I called, and he waved, taking to the skies once again.
It didn't take us long to settle a cheap price for a room at the Inn. Each room had four beds, which suited us just fine. There was plenty of room for all of us to sleep and relax that night before setting off to the temple in the morning. Maere stood out on the balcony, leaning over the railing and watching children chase each other in the square. The square was the very center of the town, and in the darkening atmosphere was littered with brightly shining torches that kept the area maneuverable. It was quite a spectacle, to see such organization in what should be the hugest magnet for Sin in Spira.
I glanced over at Talyon, who was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling restlessly. I knew that he wasn't tired, and that he was more of a night owl than a morning glory. Even I wasn't very fatigued, considering the amount of sun and traveling we had been embracing that day. Maere seemed as spunky as ever, smiling broadly as she looked out over the busiest part of town.
"Rune?" Talyon shuffled slightly, adjusting his position so he was comfortably lying on his side. I made a small noise in reply, and brushed a lock of flaming hair that blocked my vision of my trustworthy guardian. "Maybe we should go mingle a while. I know you wanted to see the café... that is, if you're not too tired." I knew how much he wanted to visit with people, maybe run into some old friends, or make new ones. Preferably women, I presumed. I stifled a knowing smirk as I stood, clapping my hands together as if to catch my own attention. Maere glanced at me, and I extended my arm, pointing down at what I could see of the legendary café. Talyon leapt to his feet, securing his sword into place and flinging the door open with glee. Maere nodded excitedly, and bounded after him. I shrugged, and told myself that romping the square was more interesting than fidgeting at the Inn. So I slowly exited as well, taking care to lock the door in case of any rogues in the area. They were known to stay around Luca, as it was the richest town besides Bevelle. But no rogue in his or her right mind would even think of trying to rob anyone in Bevelle. The magic was just far too strong for anyone disorderly to handle directly.
The square was quite large, and covered much more area than the small portion I had seen from the window. There were various types of people everywhere, blitz players with a ball under each arm, children chasing one another and carrying balloons, lovers whispering to each other as they meandered hand in hand along the fountainside, elderly folks bartering with merchants who tried ever so hard to gyp them, and the odd Crusader wandering alertly about. My senses drank everything in, the sights, the scents, the sounds of item upon item, weapon upon weapon, laughter upon small talk. It was a complicated place, but everyone in it was so simple. My heart felt as if it would burst, and it gave me a sudden boost of strength. For the very first time, I really and truly knew what I was saving. I was saving the hope and happiness of these people. So that the children could grow, worry free, the lovers have children of their own, and the merchants to provide for their families so that they could grow. There was an expansive smile across my features as I entered the café with Talyon. It vanished when we both saw that another possibly legendary brawl had arisen.
There was a loud clash as a table was hurled across the room. Everyone in the bar seemed to jump up at the same time, but the movements of the two women were swift and quick. My heart stopped when I realized that one of them was Maere, a look of determination and vigor in her face. All of the onlookers were breathless as the brawlers stayed perfectly still. Maere had claws protruding from the bands around her knuckles, and one of them was poised deadly to the other woman's throat. Yet she too, carried two dagger like weapons, and one of hers was primed dangerously near to Maere's lifeblood. The woman was clad in a very unique outfit, and I was hit with the same impression I was plagued by when I first saw Maere strip to her everyday clothes. She had a red sleeveless top that clung to her skin seductively but comfortably, and very short black tight shorts, covered with a red slit skirt type article with two full pockets on it. Her black boots came up just under the knee, and she had two black bands around her thighs that housed the daggers she so expertly wielded.
Maere's eyes narrowed, and her opponent raised an eyebrow.
"Been a long time, Maere." She said, voice husky and seemingly unused. The young Al Bhed's features broke out into a friendly smile, and she retracted her sharp claws.
"Cu kuut du caa oui!" She exclaimed, and the curly haired woman sheathed her weapons with ease and embraced Maere tightly.
"Do you still remember what little Common Tongue I taught you, or do we have to speak Al Bhed?" As if nothing were in disarray, the tall brunette pulled out a bar stool and sat down on it easily. Maere scurried over as well, sliding in beside her friend, and everyone inside went back about their business. My blood began pumping again, my heart working overtime to cure the adrenaline that had been fearing for Maere's safety. Talyon still had a look of indifference on his face, and it soon turned into a cocky leer. He shrugged, eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Welcome to Luca." He laughed, and approached Maere quietly, plopping himself down beside her scantily clad friend. I trotted after him, planting myself modestly beside Maere. "Old friend, Maere?" Talyon causally asked, catching both girls' attention. I chuckled under my breath, knowing all he really wanted was the brunette's attention.
"Drec ec Talyon yht Rune." Maere motioned to each of us simultaneously. I hardly noticed, as I was quite mesmerized by her friend. She was very striking, in the least, but there was some underlying sense of power beneath her exterior that drew me to her. "E dnyjamat qear dras eh Caledon's pymmuuh." I assumed Maere was telling her friend about the balloon ride, and watched as her eyes seemed to smile at me. She had long brown curls that traveled all the way down to her lower back, and her eyes were a beautiful steel silver.
"Traveling partners? You little social butterfly." She winked, and waved at the bartender to bring her another drink. She flicked her wrist gracefully and he set a greenish liquid in a vial before her. I wasn't sure what it was, but it looked rather nasty, considering that I had never consumed alcohol before.
"Butterfly?" Talyon laughed, his charm easily keeping the pretty girl's eyes fixed on him. "She almost killed me when we first met." He crossed his arms, leaning on the counter in mock hurt. I rolled my eyes at his way with the lady, and Maere giggled girlishly.
"That's my girl." The stranger grinned at Maere, and then turned her attention to me. "I'm Arathena." Her quicksilver eyes studied mine, and I felt as if she was almost reading my soul. I felt a coolness course my veins, and as she locked out gaze my limbs began to freeze. My entire body screamed at me to look away, but I couldn't tear my eyes off of her. Suddenly, Arathena smiled, and the bone chilling feeling drifted away. I flexed my fingers absently as the warmth returned. There was definitely more to her than met the eye, and I desperately wanted to haul Talyon away from her. "So, where are you headed?" She casually asked, brushing her incredulously long hair over her shoulder. I had a feeling deep in my stomach that she already knew that information, and shifted my weight. Knowing Talyon would jump in and answer if I hesitated, I decided it would be best to answer honestly.
"To Zanarkand." I swallowed forcefully and tried to calm my racing nerves as I remained captive under her deep gaze. "I'm a Summoner, and Talyon is my guardian." I felt my skin crawl and I shivered as her expression faded into seriousness.
"You offer that information to me freely. Surprising." She raised an eyebrow, downing her odd looking liquid in one long swig. I shivered absently, feeling a chill in the air even though it was hot. Talyon was unnaturally quiet, and for a moment I almost thought that maybe he was experiencing the same vibes from her. But then I realized he was staring at me with an odd manifestation on his face. I suddenly felt faint, and then reeled back in pain as I suddenly received a harsh vision of flame.
END CHAPTER 3
Castle In The Sky
By xaphanea
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Three: Diving Into The Onslaught
I whipped around quickly, hiding my eyes from whatever Maere was doing. My cheeks flared in embarrassment at her immodesty. Talyon stood stock still, shamelessly staring as the odd Al Bhed girl unzipped her form fitting suit. I felt Talyon lightly smack my upper arm, and I chanced a small peek over my shoulder. It was then that I realized Maere was fully clothed beneath her foreign garb. I laughed nervously, facing her again, and marveled at her unique clothing. She was wrapped in a billowing white top that showed off most of her upper chest and midsection, and glossy bright blue pants that rested on her hips. Hanging haphazardly around her hip to thigh was a wide red leather belt, and her feet were clad in black boots that climbed halfway up her calves. I had never seen such a free spirited looking creature, and Maere's appearance brought a bright smile to my face. Talyon looked cheerful as well, only I knew he was admiring her differently than I was.
"Frana yna drao kuehk yvdan Mily?" Her satiny voice was aimed at Caledon, who indifferently piloted his fluid vehicle. Talyon finally managed to pull his gaze away from the revealing girl and winked at me, focusing on the water below. I shook my head, smiling nostalgically as I remembered Talyon and his wonderful way with women.
"Rune ec dnyjammehk du Wyhyngyht yc y Cissuhan, fedr Talyon yc rec kiynteyh." Caledon replied in perfectly fluent Al Bhed, as if he had spoken the language all his life. I found myself feeling terribly ignorant and premature, not knowing enough that would make me somewhat wiser on my journey. Although learning the Al Bhed language would be futile, considering what I was going to do when I reached Zanarkand. With a pang, I realized that there really wasn't much that I did know about the lands outside of Kilika, as I had never left them. In all of my studying at the Temple and growing to be a Summoner, I never thought to study other lands, and educate myself for my pilgrimage. But, there was still hope. Talyon knew a lot about the outlying areas, as he had traveled some, and been educated my many farther traveling Crusaders. I was greatly indebted to him for that trait, as well.
I shot Caledon a questioning gaze, wondering why he had used our names and what Maere had asked of us.
"She wanted to know where you were going." He seemed as if to read my thoughts, and I cocked my head at her curiously. She seemed innocent enough, but the Al Bhed had been so against pilgrimages so long ago that I nearly feared her intentions. If she was truly against my journey than she might gather her kinsmen and try to stop me by force. Yet, that was another obstacle that I'd have to overcome. Bevelle would be trying to do the same thing to ravage my hopes of defeating Sin.
"E fyhd du yllusbyho dras du dra Suuhvmuf." Maere glanced at me shortly, before averting her attention back to the Aeronaut. "Ra muugc mega ra luimt ica yhudran kiynteyh, yht E sicd lnucc bydrc fedr cusa udran Al Bhed drana." After saying that, she turned away from everyone and leaned on the corner of the basket. She crossed her feminine arms and rested her chin on them daintily, staring out into space. I would have given anything to be able to read her mind at that moment. She seemed to have such insight traversing through her brain, and I wished to be a part of that simple beauty.
"You have a new comrade, then." Caledon smiled at me, and my brow furrowed in question. "Maere will travel with you up until the Moonflow. That is, if it's alright with you." Talyon side glanced me from where he stood, and I knew that he was perfectly fine with the idea of having Maere in our company. I shrugged, honestly apathetic either way.
"Would be my pleasure." I assured him, and then silence ensued, each one of us retreating to our thoughts. I found myself hoping that maybe Maere could learn a little Common Tongue, or I could learn some Al Bhed. Otherwise, we would have no means of communication. And I wasn't about to pay a translator to accompany us all the way to the Moonflow. In any case, we'd have to figure something out, or she'd have to remain silent the entire time. Although, I was sure that Talyon wouldn't mind one bit. He seemed to be utterly content just staring at the young girl. She was somewhat desirable, but nothing exceptional by my standards. I kept finding myself comparing her to Seneca, and in my mind, no other woman could compare to Seneca.
Caledon snapped me out of my thoughts with a bark, pointing to the bustling town of Luca nearing underneath us. I gawked at the size of the Blitzball stadium, and the sheer intricacies of the town itself. It was beautiful, by any standards, and although I loved the rustic feeling of Kilika, Luca's modern style was definitely intriguing. Caledon sent Rasha down to scout out some Inns with free rooms for us to stay in, and Maere gave the magnificent bird a loving pat before she dove down towards the whitewashed city. I was in awe, and my eyes couldn't drink in the detail quickly enough as we soared above. There were people standing in the streets pointing up as they looked in awe at Caledon's bright balloon. I waved at them, and they smiled up at the excited expression on my face. There were little stores and houses everywhere, and a great café that I had heard about from Talyon. Apparently, the Luca café had a legend of it's own. There had been many showdowns there, between all kinds of races. One of High Summoner Yuna's guardians, a Ronso named Kimahri, fought with two of his kinsmen in there. Once a full scale brawl started, started by a Guado and an Al Bhed arguing over two Blitzball teams. It ended up with the bartender throwing everyone out, casting black magic all over the place. He had to redecorate the entire interior of the café after that incident.
Caledon picked a soft landing spot just outside the town on a grassy path. There was a large stake with a metal hole protruding from the top of it, around which he coiled a large rope. I supposed that it was especially for the Aeronauts, who so frequently came to watch Blitzball games. We hopped out of the basket with ease, and stretched our arms and legs. A few people entering Luca from the path stopped to speak with Caledon, and I stood awkwardly with Talyon, awaiting Rasha's return. Maere leaned down, plucking a white flower from between the blades of grass. She twirled it between her fingers, watching intently as each silky petal reflected the sun's fading light. It was then that I realized it was almost dark out, and blinked at the extensive hours we had spent over the ocean. Eventually I heard the beating of familiar wings on air as Rasha landed on Maere's shoulder gracefully. She had obviously seen that Caledon was busy, and so relayed her news to the young Al Bhed. I chuckled, happily enjoying the adorable movements that the great bird made with her feathered body to communicate with Maere. It was obviously a meticulous language that they shared, and I was curious as to how Caledon had come up with it, let alone taught it to a bird. Maere turned to us, and pointed out over the city. I managed to follow her finger to a cathedral inn, titled the Hunskan Stay. It appeared to be clean and sturdy, but cheap enough for Talyon and I to afford. I bowed politely at the striking bird, and she seemed to laugh at me. But with a flick of her wings and somewhat of a nod of her head, I was relayed a sense of thanks from her motions. Caledon eventually dispersed his crowd, and took Rasha onto his arm easily.
"Well, folks, this is where I leave you." He bellowed, a grin spread widely across his face. "I have to get to Macalania for some shipments. Great seeing you both again, and good luck on the pilgrimage. Keep the lady out of trouble, too." He winked at Talyon, who shook his hand respectfully. I inclined my head, and Maere waved quaintly. With that, Caledon gracefully swung back into his balloon, loosened his rope, and the machina sprung to life.
"Thank you!" I called, and he waved, taking to the skies once again.
It didn't take us long to settle a cheap price for a room at the Inn. Each room had four beds, which suited us just fine. There was plenty of room for all of us to sleep and relax that night before setting off to the temple in the morning. Maere stood out on the balcony, leaning over the railing and watching children chase each other in the square. The square was the very center of the town, and in the darkening atmosphere was littered with brightly shining torches that kept the area maneuverable. It was quite a spectacle, to see such organization in what should be the hugest magnet for Sin in Spira.
I glanced over at Talyon, who was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling restlessly. I knew that he wasn't tired, and that he was more of a night owl than a morning glory. Even I wasn't very fatigued, considering the amount of sun and traveling we had been embracing that day. Maere seemed as spunky as ever, smiling broadly as she looked out over the busiest part of town.
"Rune?" Talyon shuffled slightly, adjusting his position so he was comfortably lying on his side. I made a small noise in reply, and brushed a lock of flaming hair that blocked my vision of my trustworthy guardian. "Maybe we should go mingle a while. I know you wanted to see the café... that is, if you're not too tired." I knew how much he wanted to visit with people, maybe run into some old friends, or make new ones. Preferably women, I presumed. I stifled a knowing smirk as I stood, clapping my hands together as if to catch my own attention. Maere glanced at me, and I extended my arm, pointing down at what I could see of the legendary café. Talyon leapt to his feet, securing his sword into place and flinging the door open with glee. Maere nodded excitedly, and bounded after him. I shrugged, and told myself that romping the square was more interesting than fidgeting at the Inn. So I slowly exited as well, taking care to lock the door in case of any rogues in the area. They were known to stay around Luca, as it was the richest town besides Bevelle. But no rogue in his or her right mind would even think of trying to rob anyone in Bevelle. The magic was just far too strong for anyone disorderly to handle directly.
The square was quite large, and covered much more area than the small portion I had seen from the window. There were various types of people everywhere, blitz players with a ball under each arm, children chasing one another and carrying balloons, lovers whispering to each other as they meandered hand in hand along the fountainside, elderly folks bartering with merchants who tried ever so hard to gyp them, and the odd Crusader wandering alertly about. My senses drank everything in, the sights, the scents, the sounds of item upon item, weapon upon weapon, laughter upon small talk. It was a complicated place, but everyone in it was so simple. My heart felt as if it would burst, and it gave me a sudden boost of strength. For the very first time, I really and truly knew what I was saving. I was saving the hope and happiness of these people. So that the children could grow, worry free, the lovers have children of their own, and the merchants to provide for their families so that they could grow. There was an expansive smile across my features as I entered the café with Talyon. It vanished when we both saw that another possibly legendary brawl had arisen.
There was a loud clash as a table was hurled across the room. Everyone in the bar seemed to jump up at the same time, but the movements of the two women were swift and quick. My heart stopped when I realized that one of them was Maere, a look of determination and vigor in her face. All of the onlookers were breathless as the brawlers stayed perfectly still. Maere had claws protruding from the bands around her knuckles, and one of them was poised deadly to the other woman's throat. Yet she too, carried two dagger like weapons, and one of hers was primed dangerously near to Maere's lifeblood. The woman was clad in a very unique outfit, and I was hit with the same impression I was plagued by when I first saw Maere strip to her everyday clothes. She had a red sleeveless top that clung to her skin seductively but comfortably, and very short black tight shorts, covered with a red slit skirt type article with two full pockets on it. Her black boots came up just under the knee, and she had two black bands around her thighs that housed the daggers she so expertly wielded.
Maere's eyes narrowed, and her opponent raised an eyebrow.
"Been a long time, Maere." She said, voice husky and seemingly unused. The young Al Bhed's features broke out into a friendly smile, and she retracted her sharp claws.
"Cu kuut du caa oui!" She exclaimed, and the curly haired woman sheathed her weapons with ease and embraced Maere tightly.
"Do you still remember what little Common Tongue I taught you, or do we have to speak Al Bhed?" As if nothing were in disarray, the tall brunette pulled out a bar stool and sat down on it easily. Maere scurried over as well, sliding in beside her friend, and everyone inside went back about their business. My blood began pumping again, my heart working overtime to cure the adrenaline that had been fearing for Maere's safety. Talyon still had a look of indifference on his face, and it soon turned into a cocky leer. He shrugged, eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Welcome to Luca." He laughed, and approached Maere quietly, plopping himself down beside her scantily clad friend. I trotted after him, planting myself modestly beside Maere. "Old friend, Maere?" Talyon causally asked, catching both girls' attention. I chuckled under my breath, knowing all he really wanted was the brunette's attention.
"Drec ec Talyon yht Rune." Maere motioned to each of us simultaneously. I hardly noticed, as I was quite mesmerized by her friend. She was very striking, in the least, but there was some underlying sense of power beneath her exterior that drew me to her. "E dnyjamat qear dras eh Caledon's pymmuuh." I assumed Maere was telling her friend about the balloon ride, and watched as her eyes seemed to smile at me. She had long brown curls that traveled all the way down to her lower back, and her eyes were a beautiful steel silver.
"Traveling partners? You little social butterfly." She winked, and waved at the bartender to bring her another drink. She flicked her wrist gracefully and he set a greenish liquid in a vial before her. I wasn't sure what it was, but it looked rather nasty, considering that I had never consumed alcohol before.
"Butterfly?" Talyon laughed, his charm easily keeping the pretty girl's eyes fixed on him. "She almost killed me when we first met." He crossed his arms, leaning on the counter in mock hurt. I rolled my eyes at his way with the lady, and Maere giggled girlishly.
"That's my girl." The stranger grinned at Maere, and then turned her attention to me. "I'm Arathena." Her quicksilver eyes studied mine, and I felt as if she was almost reading my soul. I felt a coolness course my veins, and as she locked out gaze my limbs began to freeze. My entire body screamed at me to look away, but I couldn't tear my eyes off of her. Suddenly, Arathena smiled, and the bone chilling feeling drifted away. I flexed my fingers absently as the warmth returned. There was definitely more to her than met the eye, and I desperately wanted to haul Talyon away from her. "So, where are you headed?" She casually asked, brushing her incredulously long hair over her shoulder. I had a feeling deep in my stomach that she already knew that information, and shifted my weight. Knowing Talyon would jump in and answer if I hesitated, I decided it would be best to answer honestly.
"To Zanarkand." I swallowed forcefully and tried to calm my racing nerves as I remained captive under her deep gaze. "I'm a Summoner, and Talyon is my guardian." I felt my skin crawl and I shivered as her expression faded into seriousness.
"You offer that information to me freely. Surprising." She raised an eyebrow, downing her odd looking liquid in one long swig. I shivered absently, feeling a chill in the air even though it was hot. Talyon was unnaturally quiet, and for a moment I almost thought that maybe he was experiencing the same vibes from her. But then I realized he was staring at me with an odd manifestation on his face. I suddenly felt faint, and then reeled back in pain as I suddenly received a harsh vision of flame.
END CHAPTER 3
