So sorry, that it took me a while to update. You see I was in the hospital for a couple of days and well, they didn't allow laptops in the room…so I was stuck with a notebook and pen. Well, I hope you'll like this one!

CHAPTER 5

It was just past midnight when the SS Winno finally left Kilika waters, bound for the island city of Luca. Most of the vessel's passengers were fast asleep, saving their energy for the coming day. Others were up and about below deck, conversing animatedly about who would win the Blitzball Tournament this year. But as these individuals slept or talked, a young blonde woman lay on her bed alone in the cabin she shared with her brother and childhood friend, wondering about what her companions were doing.

Up on the main deck, a man stood looking contemplatively out into the dark night. His long, black hair and colorful cloak were billowing wildly about him as the vigorous sea-wind tore through them. If any of his fellow villagers from Hadura were to see Landien now, they would hardly recognize him for the entire left half of his face was covered in bandages. The summoner's visible right eye was dull with despondency, yet, filled with renewed confidence. 'I may be a pathetic excuse of a summoner…but I am still a summoner.' He thought with aplomb.

Behind him, on the opposite side of the deck, stood Ilised. His eyes carefully watching his friend's form with much concern. "I should have been there for him…" whispered the guardian to the wind, his voice filled with guilt.

-----

"Are you sure you're up to this, Landi?" asked Lydia apprehensively. The summoner knew that she was worried for him. During their training in the past years, his sister had shown reluctance toward his decision in becoming a summoner. But despite her disapproval Landien had not relented in his pursuit.

But now, in light of his grueling experience in Besaid, the unpracticed summoner was also beginning to have his doubts. 'Perhaps I do not have what it takes…' he suspected. 'No! I should not be thinking this.' Reasoned Landien as he approached the open doors to the Chamber of the Fayth. "Yes, I'm sure." He lied in response to his sister's inquiry as he quickly entered the doorway to avoid further conversation.

'Oh how I wish Ilised were here.' He lamented. 'Ili, would have given me the confidence to do this…' mused the summoner as memories of how his best friend had encouraged him in the past. 'But now is not the time for this.' He concluded as he tried to clear his mind of all doubt in preparation to pray to the Fayth.

But even as he knelt and began his silent supplication, uncertainty tainted his every petition. No matter how hard he tried, Landien could not banish his anxieties. "Please, grant me the gift of your favor, sacred Fayth of Kilika. And bestow upon this humble servant of Yevon the power of the mighty Aeon of this temple." Implored the summoner, rather weakly.

"Hear my voice, know my petition, feel my sincerity and grant me my request." Landien cried out, but there was no conviction in his words. Suddenly the temperature in the chamber dropped. This abrupt change sent a chill up the summoner's spine. He knew what was to come next; however this surprised him for he did not expect it to happen so soon.

A sharp jerk at his heart followed and then a stinging sensation in his eyes, which them water; but, before he could react to any of these stimuli, they disappeared. And before his eyes was the Fayth, manifesting itself in the form of woman with flaming vermilion hair, who was engulfed in fire. "Summoner," addressed the Fayth in a deep, masculine voice, which contradicted its form. "Stand and approach." It ordered at a deafening volume.

Landien was intimidated by this and hastily complied. When he stood directly in front of the Fayth, he realized that the 'woman' was taller than any living man could possibly be. Suddenly, the room's temperature rose and it become overwhelming hot. The summoner was convinced that he would die from this unnatural heat.

When he thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. An intense burning sensation erupted from within him, completely consuming him. He badly wanted to scream but his mouth was dry and his voice was utterly lost to him. The pain he felt was so excruciating that Landien collapsed to ground, shuddering violently and desperately gasping for breath. But as the summoner tied to inhale, the air hurt his singed throat.

"I am Ifirit, the Aeon of Kilika temple," declared a booming voice inside the summoner's head. It was the very same voice that came from the Fayth, "I shall lend you my power." As the voice spoke, the pain began to subside allowing the suffocating young man a breath of air. "But you must swear to never again allow your convictions to waver. Do you swear?" asked the Aeon.

"Yes, I swear." Replied Landien in a hoarse voice. "Then let this be a reminder of our pact!" exclaimed Ifirit as a flame ignited on the left side of the summoner's face. And as the doors to the Chamber of the Fayth opened, Landien let forth an ear-splitting scream that echoed throughout the Cloister of Trials, which sent Lydia running to his aid.

-----

"Are you sure you want to continue this?" inquired Ilised shyly as he approached Landien. The young summoner remained silent at this, his back still turned to his guardian. "You don't have to, you know…" continued the older man cautiously. The young immediately turned at these words, "But I do!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms up in frustration. "I know nothing else but this life, Ilised." He said coldly, but there was clearly no anger in his voice.

"I am now a summoner, hence, it is my responsibility to do whatever it is in my power to defeat Sin or at the very least, die trying." Proclaimed the younger man. "And it is my responsibility to make sure you don't die…" argued the guardian as shook the bandaged summoner by the shoulders desperately. "Until I reach Sin." Said Landien in a soft voice. "What?" asked Ilised, confused.

"It is your duty to protect me, your Summoner and make sure I don't die…until I reach Sin." Clarified the injured Landien. The older man had nothing to say to this, his hands sliding down the slightly shorter man's shoulders in defeat.

As the younger man began to turn back to resume his brooding, the guardian whispered, "Landi…", trying to the find the right words to express his anguish for his friend's final decision. " It is all right, Ilised." Comforted the summoner as he began to peel his bandages away from his face. This made the guardian want to protest, but before he could, the younger man had gestured for silence. The older guardian complied, bowing his head for he did not have the heart to see his friend's injuries.

"Look at me." Ordered Landien in a voice that left no room for argument, when he finished unwrapping his bandages. Ilised reluctantly looked up. What he saw made his jaw drop. "How?" he asked dumfounded as he reached out to touch the peculiar fully healed scar. The guardian had never seen anything like it. Only hours ago, it was a hideous and severe burn, but now, it resembled a perfectly healed scar that would have taken at least a two decades to have lightened this close to the summoner's own pale skin. Furthermore, the scar's shape was reminiscent of a craving that the guardian had seen on one of the walls of the temple.

Landien then proceeded to narrate the events in the Chamber of the Fayth. The summoner even confessed his doubts to awestruck guardian. And he spoke of his renewed conviction to finish his pilgrimage at all costs. When he finished, Ilised could only think of one thing. "Does Lydia know this?" he asked calmly. "No." answered the summoner. "I see. Do want me to tell her?" offered the guardian, knowing that Landien did not have the heart to tell his sister. The summoner nodded at his proposal and resumed his brooding as Ilised made his way below deck.

-…-

It was a beautiful day in Luca. The sun was brightly shining and there was a soothing sea breeze blowing in from the south, it was prefect day for Blitzball. The yearly weeklong tournament was almost through. Only three more days until the championship match.

The SS Intrepid had set anchor at Luca's docks late yesterday afternoon. His cousin, Sesli, had greeted Olin and his private entourage upon their arrival. He decided to stay a night at the city upon the suggestion of Elohim, who had felt it was in his master's best interest to rest before they continue on their distribution route along the Mi'ihen Highroad. His widowed Aunt Iraselle and his three female cousins, Sesli, Lira, Briel were elated at this.

He had stayed with his Aunt and cousins, who lived at one of his father's houses just minutes away from the Stadium. He had declined the invitation to watch the tournament with his relatives for Olin did not want to delay his excursion so that he might be able to return to Bevelle sooner. From there, he would launch a search to somehow find his 'goddess'.

NOTES:

I just thought it would be nice to have the Aeon/Fayth to talk to the summoner. I hoped my rendition turned out okay.

Like, when my friend was reading this she got confused with the timeline and how it corresponds to Yuna's timeline… so just so nobody gets confused (the first is Yuna's location and then Landien's):

Left Besaid and in Kilika - training in Hadura

Arrives in Luca - Leaves Hadura and in Besaid

Tournament in Luca begins – Arrives in Kilika and undergoes the Cloister of Trials (note: The Blitzball Tournament takes about a week to finish. In my opinion, the Aurochs were training for the first six days of the tournament and only played in the last because they only had to play two teams. I made this so in order for our party to catch up with Yuna and co. and overtake them. You'll know the reason why later on in the game.)