Thanks again for the reviews guys. Also, thanks for telling me that I blocked anonymous reviews…I honestly had no idea. Also, Landien is the summoner, not Ilised. I'm sorry if I sorta confused anybody.

Like, I'm glad that you liked the first chapter, I hope you like this one two….

----- FLASHBACK (start and end)

… TIME ELAPSES

NOTE REGARDING IT FOLLOWS AT END OF CHAPTER

CHAPTER 2

"Ilised, is it suppose to take this long?" asked a concerned Lydia, disrupting the tense silence that hung in the atmosphere of the chamber deep inside the Besaid temple. "I don't know…" replied her male companion who leaned on the opposite wall, unsure of his own answer. "But hey, this is his first time." He continued cheerfully, hoping to encourage his childhood friend who sat slouching dejectedly in the other corner. But the young woman saw the uncertainty in his azure eyes and decided to resume her worry-filled sulk. 'Oh, I hope he's alright.' Lydia thought to herself.

These two guardians have been anxiously awaiting the return of their soon-to-be-summoner from the Fayth for what seemed to them almost half a day.

From the moment they arrived here in Besaid earlier in the day, the older guardian, Ilised had been feeling quite uneasy. Perhaps it was because of the constant stares they were getting from the people or maybe it was because he knew this was going to happen. 'Oh why Landien? Why must you become summoner?' he lamented silently as he knew not the answer.

Almost a year earlier, Ilised asked this very same question.

-----

It was another peaceful, sun-filled day on the big island of Hadura. The people were happy because it had been months since Sin's last attack. The village was already getting steady trade with the other islands, which was first in over three years. The townsfolk were hoping that this would last forever, but they knew better… this calm would only be short-lived until a summoner would defeat Sin again.

On the far side town, away from the docks, in the fringes of Hadura's deep woods where only the brave or foolish would venture, three youths were diligently honing there skills for a battle they would face in about a year or so. One masterfully swung his long blade in a complex exercise. His already firm muscles were getting stronger with each swing. The second focused all her energy into a powerful spell that burnt a tree to a cinder when she unleashed it. While the third sat under the shade of an ancient tree meditating.

"Hey Lyds, do you want to take a break?" called out the swordsman as he peeled off his sweat-soaked shirt, revealing his taut, tanned muscles and tied back his shoulder-length blonde hair. "Yeah, why not?" replied the young woman as she extinguished her fiery spell.

"Do you think we should 'wake' Landi?" asked Lydia as she took a cool sip of water from their jug. "Nah! Look at him, he's not even sweatin'." Replied Ilised as he caught the jug that was casually thrown to him. "I suppose, we don't want to disturb him anyway." Mused the spell-caster as she sat under the tree directly in front of her older brother who was totally engrossed in his meditation. She was certain that only a hard blow to the head would bring him out of his trance-like state.

The sight of Landien's calm face and seemingly relaxed posture made his younger sister ask herself whether or not he felt as collected as he looked. Just thinking about the trials and hardships her brother was about to undergo sent a chill up her spine. 'How do you do it, Landi, knowing what will soon happen to you?' she secretly wondered. These thoughts made her knit her eyebrows together and wring her hands apprehensively.

"Do you think I should cut my hair?" asked Ilised off-handedly as he joined Lydia under the tree. His light-hearted voice brought the mage out of her reverie. "Yeah, you should…" she replied hastily, trying to hide her unease. "Cause you're beginning to look like a girl." She teased, giggling at her own humor.

"It's alright to be worried," said the swordsman, looking intensely at his meditating friend. This put Lydia's girlish giggles to an abrupt stop as she stared wide-eyed at her companion. Ilised met her unwavering gaze, her face was set into a forbearing expression. She said nothing but her expression spoke volumes of the fear and uncertainty she felt but knew that she had to overcome. "I am too…" he said softly, reluctant to admit his own fear.

A gasp escaped from her, but she quickly chastised herself by biting her lower lip. But as she forced her lips to not tremble, tears began to form in her amethyst eyes. And for a brief moment Ilised saw terrible pain and dread in those normally cheerful eyes. He looked away so as not cause her any embarrassment.

As Ilised turned away, Lydia could no longer hold back the tears and they began to trickle down her golden brown cheeks, which were slightly red from the frustration she felt from allowing herself to manifest emotions she thought she had buried long ago. 'Damn it! I thought I put all this behind me…' she swore in her head as she attempted to calm herself, only to go into a new fit of crying spasms. "It's all right, let it out." Comforted a mystified Ilised as he awkwardly embraced her and ran a hand up and down her back.

"I don't want him to d..di..die…" said the whimpering Lydia in between choking gasps. He wanted to say more but he couldn't find the words, all he could do was hold her tightly to his chest hoping to somehow magically absorb some of the pain she felt. They stayed this way for a few short moments before Lydia roughly pushed Ilised away.

He was hurt by this but did not say anything more about it. They sat there quietly, each to his and her thoughts. An eerie silence settled over them. The wind in the trees seemed deafening. The buzzing noise of insects seemed too unnaturally loud. Even his own breathing seemed alien to him.

As Lydia's crying began to subside, a muscle on Landien's face or hands would suddenly twitch, signaling the end of his meditation. By the time the summoner-in-training fully regained consciousness, his sister's tears were long dry and her heated emotions kept hidden and all he saw was a bright and cheerful smile.

'Oh why Landien? Why must you become summoner?' thought Ilised quietly to himself, utterly dejected as he stood up to hand his newly awakened friend a drink of water. As he assisted the younger boy in stretching out his cramped legs, a small voice in his head said, 'When he becomes a summoner, this is all you will ever do. You will help and guide him…' the voice trailed off. But Ilised knew the end of that sentence, 'To his death.' Finished the soon-to-be-guardian. 'Oh why Landien? Why must you become summoner?' he asked himself again.

-----

Another hour or so would pass before the newly full-fledged summoner would emerge from the Fayth, his clothes clinging to him and his long, black hair moist because of the sweat. He barely made it through the stone doors before he collapsed to floor out of sheer exhaustion. As soon as his head hit the ground Lydia was by his side, quickly scooping up his head in order to lay it on her lap. Ilised then quickly gave him a restorative potion to give him some much-needed strength.

"Please be alright. Please…" mumbled the worried, short-of-breath mage as she stroked her brother's hair away from his sweaty face. Ilised knelt beside her and checked Landien's pulse, just in case. "He's going to be fine. Just give the potion a second or two." He declared confidently as stood to pick up their packs, which were left in the corner nearest to the chamber's entrance.

As Ilised turned around to check on his companions, Landien was already beginning to sit up, much to the relief of Lydia, whose breathing was returning to normal. "Are you all right?" asked the blonde man. "Yes, just a little tried I suppose, my friend." Responded the exhausted-sounding summoner. "Do you think we could rest for tonight?" he continued, hopeful to have his small request granted. "Of course, silly!" exclaimed the lady mage as she jumped to her feet and began to assist her older brother in getting up.

"Right, Ili?" she suggested threateningly. "Of course, it is our Lord Summoner's wish, isn't it?" replied the swordsman playfully, giving Landien a most quizzical look and an exaggerated bow. The summoner only smiled. 'That's right, Landi. You are now officially a Summoner.' Ilised thought to himself as he handed the packs to his companions. 'This is only the beginning of your pilgrimage to Zanarkand, Lord Summoner. I can only pray to mighty Yevon that it may somehow become easier as we go along the way…'

But this guardian knew it would not be so. He knew that the hardest part of this journey was yet to come… the day when he would have to let Landien go and call upon the Final Aeon.

…

The sun had set hours ago. The village of Besaid was fast asleep under the starry night sky, except for the Crusaders who patrolled the town's perimeter and the lone summoner who lie on his bed, wide-awake in his room at the temple. His two guardians were in the adjacent room, sleeping soundly.

When they exited the Cloister of Trials late in the afternoon that day, Ilised remembered how the some of the villagers, especially the younger ones who knew of them and their "unusual" heritage, stared wide-eyed in shock as the new Summoner called upon his very first Aeon. Ilised could still feel the delightful vibrations that ran the length of his body when he first called out to Valefor. Whatever fatigue he felt seemed to disappear the moment this magnificent Aeon manifested itself.

He felt utter satisfaction with himself when he saw the Aeon first descend. He knew that all the hard mental and physical training he put himself through back in Hadura was worth it. He no longer cared about the criticism and ridicule others had subjected on him when he announced that he would begin his training in order to become a summoner.

-----

About seven or so years ago, in the seventh year of High Summoner Braska's Calm, a young boy of eleven vowed to prove his worth to all of Spira and in the process bring honor to his race, or rather his mother's race if you wanted to get technical. Despite his youth, he felt the determination of a man twice or even thrice his own age and only half of the unnecessary quandary.

He knew that he would have to work hard and sacrifice many of his childhood privileges, but he was whole-heartedly willing to give everything up in order to achieve his goal. And so, on the eve of his twelfth year, he decided that he would proclaim to whole world (that for him was the main island of Hadura, which he had never left) his ambition and intention to become a Summoner and defeat Sin.

It was still very early that morning when Landien, son of Darion, the half-Al Bhed boy, decided to wake and get dressed. At this hour only the local fishermen were awake, casting their nets into the deep waters of the Handurian Sea. 'I can do this. I can…I really can.' Thought Landien as he tried to tie the laces of his sandals, in a feeble attempt to calm himself and collect his wits for the day to come. His clammy hands trembling as they wove the leather cords of his sandals into a knot. When he finished with his footwear, he began to pace around his room.

'Breath in, breath out. In, out, in, out…' thought the anxious boy as he tried to regulate his breathing. As he continued to do this for about half an hour, a little voice inside his head began to taunt him. Saying, 'They will all laugh at you and pelt you with pebbles for your impertinence.' And snickering as it did so. He stopped his nervous pacing at this. 'No! That's not true.' Retorted the boy, and voice replied, 'Even your family will laugh at you. You can never ever become a Summoner.'

'No!' mentally screamed Landien. He banished these doubtful thoughts with his iron will and said in a seething whisper, "I will become a Summoner…no matter what." With his conviction intact, the young boy began to pace again and commenced his breathing exercise: 'In, out, in, out…'

…

When the sun rose that morning, Landien walked out into the town circle and waited for his fellow villagers to step outside. He lingered there for almost an hour. And when the circle began to fill with people going about there daily chores, not noticing the little boy who stood amongst them, Landien raised his voice and shouted, "Hear me out!"

His cry caught the attention of those nearest to him; he shouted again, "Hear me!" catching the attention of others. He repeated this until he had the majority of the village's attention. The awaiting crowd included his perplexed parents, sister, closest friend and all the elders. "I stand before you today," he began nervously, unsure of what he was saying, "To announce my earnest and noble intention." These words caught the attention of the suspicious crowd.

As the young boy paused to look into the eyes of those directly in front of him, he saw the apprehension and confusion within them. "I wish to become a Summoner!" he finished. His final words brought shocked amusement to the once fervent eyes of his listeners. Those at the back began to laugh, their laughter spreading through most of the crowd. With the exception of his family, Ilised and the wisest of the elders, the crowd was snickering at him, amused by his childish aspirations.

"You, a summoner? Ha! That's hilarious." One said. "Yeah! The little Al Bhed wanna be a big, strong summoner?" joined in another. "Who 'ya guardian gonna be, huh? No one likes 'ya!" taunted another. Landien was engulfed by these cruel remarks; every word spoken was like a punch in the stomach. He wanted to hold his parents for support but they were being pushed back by the crowd, their encouraging voices were drowned out by the relentless ridiculing. The criticism continued. It was almost unbearable until Sati, the wisest amongst the elders called for silence. The sneers and chortles stopped almost instantaneously.

"This young boy wishes to become a Summoner. This is a noble wish so there is no need for you to bully him." She declared to the throng in voice that seemed far too strong for such a frail looking body. Her granddaughter supported her as she made her way to the child in the middle of the gathering. "My boy, I am glad that you chose this path." She said to Landien in a soothing voice. "But, what they speak does hold some truth." She continued. These words disappointed the boy. "Who are to be your guardians? I doubt there is anyone willing here." She asked flatly. Landien had no answer to this, he hadn't thought this far yet.

"I will! I am willing!" came a muffled voice from behind. Landien craned his to see who it was. The crowd parted to make way for his sister Lydia; her long, blonde hair was still tousled from sleep. She made her way to stand beside him on his right and took his hand into hers and gave it a firm squeeze. "I will become his guardian." She announced proudly; Sati nodded at this. As Lydia looked to her older brother for approval she saw in his eyes his immense gratitude. She smiled brightly at this.

"And so will I!" came another voice from their left, it belonged to Ilised who had forced his way to the front. The slightly older boy, Landien's senior by only a year, then took his place on friend's left. "I too, I wish to become his guardian." He proclaimed as he placed a reassuring hand on his younger friend's shoulder. Sati nodded at this as well.

"So, Darion and Larra, do you accept your children's decision?" asked the wise matriarch. "Yes." Answered the couple, brimming with pride. "Very good." Continued Sati. "From this day forth, may all of Hadura know that Landien, son of Darion has decided to walk the path of a Summoner. And that his sister - Lydia and his friend and adopted brother – Ilised have decided to accompany him on this most arduous of journeys. And so, from this day until the day they leave our island, they train." Proclaimed the aged woman in a booming voice for all to hear. Some nodded in approval at this, but majority only sighed at the prospect of a half-Al Bhed becoming a summoner.

After Sati's proclamation, the town circle began to empty. The people resumed their business as if nothing happened. But in their hearts they felt utter contempt for the Al Bhed boy who dared to become a summoner and his Al Bhed guardians-to-be.

-----

NOTES:

"spell caster" – I'm not really sure whether Lulu was a black mage or not and because I based Lydia's skills on Lulu I just sort of improvised. Anyway, could someone please tell me whether Lulu was a mage or sorceress (like my friend says)!

"Lord Summoner" – I'm not sure if they ever used this term in the game but since a lot of people referred to Yuna as a Lady Summoner, I can only presume that this is how they addressed male summoners.

"Crusaders who patrolled…" – I just always presumed that Crusaders patrolled at night as well… I'm not sure if this was mentioned in the game, but I presume this must be so, right?

"Guardians sleeping inside the temple" – In the game, I'm pretty sure Tidus and company always woke up at the local "inn" after they would undergo a Cloister of Trials. If I remember correctly, in Djose, the party had to wait outside until Yuna woke up. Now I presume that the temple does not cater to such a large party as that of Yuna's but I think they wouldn't mind catering to small party of three, right?

"Summoner calls upon aeon" – I remember Yuna summoning Valefor in front of the entire town at Besaid. So I presumed (yet again) that the first aeon a summoner would acquire was to be summoned in front of a congregation in order to affirm his/her status as a Summoner. You know, like a ritual of sorts…

"Valefor" – I think I'll just keep the Aeons names or should I not?

"seventh year" – I think there were ten in Braska's Calm, right?

"to proclaim intentions" – I just thought it would be proper for one to announce to his/her village his/her intent to become a summoner or guardian. Also, their decision must be approved by their parents and proclaimed by one of the patriarchs/matriarchs of the village. It's just one of those ritual-things