Chapter Five: The Sending
The boat docks at the ruined docks of Kilika harbor. Kain and Vorador have been revived and dried, and follow Yuna onto the deck along with Lulu and Wakka. She is instantly approached by several civilians of the small port. Instantly, Yuna forms into the prayer gesture.
Yuna
"Greetings."
"I am the summoner Yuna. I have come from the temple in Besaid."
Young Woman
"M'lady Summoner!"
Yuna
"If there is no other summoner here, please allow me to perform the sending."
Young man
"Thanks be to ye!"
Young Woman
"Our loved ones... We feared they would become fiends!"
Yuna
[nods determinely]
"Please, take me to them."
The man and the woman who've spoken to Yuna lead her into the village. Lulu, Vorador and the villagers follow after them. Wakka signals the blitzers to follow him. As they step off the boat, he turns to Kain.
Wakka
"We'll go see what we can do to help in town."
"Kain, look after Yuna, 'kay?"
With an approving nod from Kain, Wakka and the Aurochs run towards ruined docks. Half run into town to search for other survivors. Kain glances in the direction where Yuna was lead. Looking back at the Aurochs and Wakka, he mentally nods to himself, then runs towards the other docks. On his arrival, the civilians are standing, grouped together and gazing out at the water aled in silently. Yuna is at the foot of the dock, conversating with one of the civilians. Walking pass Vorador, who is in deep silence with his arms crossed, Kain approaches Lulu.
Kain
"What is this, 'Sending' she spoke of?"
"Are we going somewhere?"
Lulu
[chuckles and stares at him]
"You truly are clueless. Are you sure it's just your memory that's the problem?"
[she looks back at the water]
"The dead need guidance."
[Kain eyes her, confused, but stares at the water as well]
"Filled with grief over their own death, they refuse to face their fate."
"They yearn to live on, and resent those still alive."
[she lowers her tone]
"You see, they envy the living..."
"And in time, that envy turns to anger, even hate."
[she looks up at Kain]
"Should these souls remain in Spira, they become fiends that prey on the living."
"Sad, isn't it?"
"The sending takes them to the Farplane, where they may rest in peace."
Kain
"Summoners do this?"
Lulu nods, and the two turn to face Yuna. She gives another prayer gesture, then steps onto the water. She gently places her bare feet along the surface of the water, delicately, as if walking on thin ice. Below her, several cocoon-styled objects, most likely holding the bodies, are tied to the floor of the water to keep from raising to meet her. She moves to the center of the graveyard, then halts, her long rod in her hand.
Frowning with a depressing expression, the wind passes her by. She swings her rod across the front of herself, then swings it back again, kneeling down as she rotates to face the others. She straightens her posture, spins the rod over her head once, then kneels as she swings it again as she turns around, facing the sunset. Twirling the rod over her head again, she crosses both arms over her chest, then she extends them, twirling her rod while doing so.
Behind her, the sobs of depressed, heartbroken civilians are heard. Two are hodling each other crying softly. One elderly woman is doing the prayer gesture, and another girl is sobbing hysterically. Lulu, Kain and Vorador watch on, not making a sound. The summoner takes the rod in both her hands, kicks one leg upwards, then brings the rod over her as she knees down. From below her, small pyreflies rise out of the water, gathering upwards, circling around Yuna's figure as rises to her feet, twirling the rod above her head. Nearbye, several torches turn a light shade of blue in a single explosion, that distracts Kain for a moment, long enough to see Vorador's serious, solemn expression as he watches.
The water below Yuna rises into the air, bringing her up with it so the scenery looks as if she's dancing on a fountain. She continues to swing her rod repetively around her head, allowing it to swing down low, then rise upwards into the air as she twirls, her arm pieces and dress flowing with the wind. Pyreflies gather around her form as Kain watches, mesmerised, by the woman's motions. A girl beside him falls to her knees, sobbing harder and harder as a woman gently comforts her. But he pays little attention to the crying of the people, and keeps his eyes fixed on Yuna, who has twirled for the last time. She has her rod in both hands once more, raised above her head as she dances along the uprised water once, turns again, steps forward so she's standing in the center, then straightens her rod infront of her. The water slowly dies down as she returns to the others, her head hanging slightly.
Kain
"I suppose being a summoner isn't that great of an honor."
Lulu
"Yuna chose her own path. She knew from the beginning what it meant."
"All we can do is protect her along the way."
"Until the end."
Kain
[faces her]
"What do you mean by 'The End'?"
Lulue
[visibly frustrated]
"Until she defeats Sin." [she walks away as Yuna approaches her]
Yuna
"I hope... I hope I did okay."
Lulu
[embraces Yuna]
"You did very well."
"They've reached the Farplane by now. But...no tears next time, hm?"
"As strange as it may sound, coming from one such as I"
"I loathed an idea of a next time."
"No more humans being killed by Sin..."
"And no more sendings for Yuna."
"Everyone stood there, watching her as she danced..."
"As the spirits of dead humans spiraled lovingly around her."
"It was hauntingly beautiful, yet at the same time...horrifying."
"I never wanted to see it again."
A day has passed since the Sending. Kain awakens in one of the inns. After stretching, he leaves the inn. Datto, a blitzer from the Aurochs, runs up to him to great him.
Datto
"Hey Kain!"
"Cap'n Wakka's waitin' for you!"
Kain scowls, then procedes to a damaged boat, where the Aurochs and Wakka had tried to repair. Wakka sees the two and smiles.
Wakka
"Ah, there you are!"
"Besaid Aurochs! Huddle!"
[The Aurochs leave the boat to rejoin Wakka and Kain]
"On to the temple, where we pray for victory!"
[The Aurochs leave]
"High Summoner Ohalland used to live in the Kilika temple here."
"Yep, Lord Ohalland was once a great blitzer, you know?"
Kain
"Wakka..."
Wakka
"Hm?"
Kain
"Praying for victory may seem to be the right thing..."
"But is the timing appropriate?"
Wakka
"Aw Kain, you got it all wrong."
"This is the only time!"
"The players fight with all their strength: the fans cheer for their favorite team."
"They forget pain, suffering... only the game matters!"
"That's why blitz has been around for so long."
"Least that's what I think."
Kain
[crosses his arms and walks pass him]
"Whatever makes you happy..."
Wakka
"Yeah..."
[he points towards a tropical forest]
"Temple's beyond the jungle there. Let's go!"
Kain lowers his arms, and nods at Wakka. The two move down the docks, passing by ruined houses and the graveyard where Yuna had preformed the Sending. As they passed, Kain eyed the scenery... even though the graves were solemn and at ease, a haunting sensation seemed to engulf him. Shivers trailed up the vampire's back, he could almost hear his own undead heart throbbing. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and the vampire halted. Wakka, sensing some type of distress, came to a halt as well, looking at Kain. The vampire approached a small platform of crumbling stone, hearing small sniffing sounds.
As he approached, his eyes trailed over the wreckage, realing a small, human children trembling. The child looked up at him: a small, darkly-tanned girl with black hair, her dark eyes overflowing with tears. Kain saw his own shadow towering over the child, watching as she grew fearful by the moment. Just then, a loud cracking was heard, as if something had snapped. With incredible speed, Kain lept onto the platform, swiping the girl in one arm, then leaping off as the platform crumbled beneath him. Landing on one knee, the human cradled in one arm, Kain looked behind him, astonished by what he had accomplished. The human struggled in his grasp. Kain looked down at the child, then released his hold on her. She landed on her feet, turned around to face him, and smiled thankfully before running in the opposite direction.
Wakka
"Woah! That was amazing!"
"I didn't even see her there! You're not such a bad guy, you know?"
Kain
"It was nothing, I was only surprised to see her there."
"That's all..."
Wakka
"Riiight. What confidence, huh?"
Kain
[eyes him in a glance of annoyance]
"Shouldn't we be heading to the jungle?"
Wakka
"Right. Let's go!"
The two continue along the docks, and then make it to the opening of the jungle. Kain sees Lulu and Yuna in the open, and Vorador leaning against the tree in the shade. Wakka approaches the women.
Wakka
"What's up?"
Lulu
[eyes Kain]
"Yuna's saying she wants you with us."
Kain
[surprised]
"What?"
Yuna
"I want to ask you to be my guardian."
Wakka
"Yuna! What? This is no time for jokes, ya?"
"I mean..."
[he whispers in a low voice]
"The man's really stiff, you know? A real crab apple, ya?"
Yuna
[smiles]
"Not a guardian, then..."
[looks at Kain]
"I just want him nearby." [Wakka is very surprised]
Kain
"Me? What drove you to that desire?"
Yuna
"It's just that, well..."
Lulu
"We're all going to the temple anyway. Can't this wait till later?"
Yuna
[nods and faces Kain]
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
Kain
"No need for apology. I'm merely confused."
Yuna
"My apologies..."
Kain watches as she walks away, holding her head with one hand as if she was embarassed. Vorador stands up, looks at Kain, then turns to follow the others. Still confused in what Vorador meant by his look, and why Yuna wanted him as her guardian merely two days after they just met, Kain brushes the thoughts away and runs forward. All is silent as they walk through the forest. He eyes the group individually: Yuna walks in the lead, her hand still pressed against her brow. Wakka walks behind her on her right, staring at the ground as he moves forward. Lulu, on Yuna's left, apparently was having trouble walking in her dress. HItching up her skirt above her ankles, she moves forward. Vorador walks in the rear, behind Wakka, his back straight, head high, and eyes fixed before him. It was then when Kain realized how different the group was to each other. While he and Vorador were stern, Vorador was mostly silent, saying very little. Yuna had good sense, yet very little self-esteem. Lulu, even when struggling and in pain, refused the request of help, remaining stoic and firm. Wakka was mostly energetic, yet confused, and at times even a tad too emotional. Before he could think much more, he notices the crusaders: Luzzu and Gatta before a large red tentacle monster. Gatta approaches the group.
Gatta
"Company, halt!"
Luzzu
"The fiend before us is Ochu, Lord of the Wood!"
"We've had trouble with this one before."
"Remember, discretion is the better part of valor."
Before they could say much more, Vorador, Lulu and Wakka move infront of Yuna. Kain halts for a moment, then moves forward as well. As they approach the best, Lulu glances at Vorador.
Lulu
"Vorador, why not use 'Lancet' on it?"
Kain
"Use what?"
Lulu
"Lancet. Vorador can steal the abilities of other fiends and cast them."
Kain
[glances at Vorador]
"I was unaware of this ability."
Vorador
"I adapted the ability from a Ronso tribe when I came to Spira."
That was the only thing that emerged from the vampire's mouth. Concentrating on his enemy for a short moment, and then thrusting out his chest, several beams of light emerged from the Ochu and then engulfed into Vorador's body. For a back up attack, Lulu swung back her arm as yellow spheres surrounded her, and then threw out her hand towards the Ochu as several bolts of lightning struck down onto the fiend. Kain flipped forward, bringing his blade down for a fatal blow. However, he seemingly forgotten of the long tentacles emerging from the creature's body. They whip out striking against his chest, causing the vampire to crash onto the ground. Blood erupted from his wound, and his flesh began to turn a slight shade of jade. He also noticed that the wound was closing slower than usual. Seeing this, Wakka fires his blitzball at the creature, followed by Lulu casting her fire spell at the fiend.
Kain winced, clutching the handle of his sword as the wound ebbed and throbbed with pain. Seeing this, Yuna charged forward, kneeling beside his wounded, disabled body. She positioned her hands before Kain as white light emerged between them. Bringing her arms in, then pushing out with her hands, the light engulfed Kain's body, and the wound sealed. However, the green hue hadn't vanished. Seeing this, Yuna gestured her hands in the same position as a light blue glow appeared. After casting that on Kain, the green had vanished. Kain looked at his chest, placing a hand were the wound had been, gawking in disbelief that she had actually healed him. Before a word was spoken, the Ochu whipped out a tenticle towards the two, aiming at Yuna. Seeing this, Kain wrapped an arm around the summoner and sprung up to his feet. All in one motion, he twisted his body, guarding Yuna as he swung out with Chappu's sword, slicing through the tenticle. Vorador, appalled by such action, forms his Bastard sword in his hand, catapults into the air, and then brings the blade down, annihilating the creature.
Gatta
"Whoooa!"
Luzzu
"A summoner and her guardians. Very impressive!"
Gatta
"Sir, we should fight, too!"
Luzzu
"We'll get our chance soon enough."
Gatta
[runs ahead while singing]
"Young Crusaders gather round!"
"We'll beat Sin into the ground!"
Kain smiles, shaking his head with mild humor. Releasing his hold on Yuna, the summoner turns to him, bowing.
Yuna
"Thank you, Sir Kain..."
Kain
"Where did you learn those abilities?"
[turns to Lulu]
"You as well."
Yuna
"Oh... I'm a white mage. I learned this abilities when I became a summoner."
"Lulu's a black mage. While I cast white magic, she obtains black magic."
"You already saw what she can accomplish."
Kain
"So you're a healer, and she's an elemental magic caster, I assume."
Lulu
[crosses her arms]
"You were lucky on the boat..."
"But the next time you decide to catch a glimpse of my upper torso, you'll be no different than a piece of soot on a furnace."
Kain snickers, Yuna nods, then resumes to being the leader. Making their way through the forest was a simple task. Not many fiends had attacked them, possibly witnessing the battle with the Ochu. Yuna's hand has been removed from her brow, the embrassament had seemingly vanished. Eventually, the party arrives at a large collumn of stone steps. Wakka walks up to face everybody.
Wakka
"These stone steps have a history, you know?"
"Yep, Lord Ohalland trained here at his peak."
Kain
[notices the Aurouchs stretching]
"A race, I pressume."
[glances at Wakka with a smirk]
"Think you can beat me, human?"
Wakka
[smirks back]
"We'll see who's laughing once we reach the top.
[Wakka, Kain, and two Aurochs line up in a row]
"Yuna, if you would."
Yuna
[she stands before them and raises one arm]
"Ready?"
Usually, she would've dropped her arm, and the race would be on. With a giggle, she turns and sprints up the stairs herself. Wakka jumps in fake offence.
Wakka
"Hey! Hey!"
Kain
[chuckles]
"Beaten by a summoner? How embarassing."
Wakka
"I don't see YOU running, Mr. Big-Headed-Arrogant-Dude!"
Actually impressed that Wakka had "tried" to insult him without using any word of his species, Kain charges forward. Wakka and the Aurouchs follow after him. Charging up the steps at incredible speed, he catches up with Yuna and his speed slows down a tad. The two look at each other, Yuna smiling, when a sudden rumbling is caused. Stumbling, Kain loses his footing, fall back on the stairs, tumbling backwards and crashing into Wakka's shins, which causes him to fall forward. Yuna looks down from the stairs.
Yuna
"Everyone, quick! Sinspawn!"
Kain springs off of Wakka as the human charges forward with Lulu. Vorador takes four powerful kicks up the stairs, positioning himself beside Yuna. Kain glares, then leaps up the stairs to follow. Making it to the top, a large creature is at the center of the steps. It appears to be shaped like some sort of a plant or even a brain, toned shades of green, red and orange. Several tenticles form from the body, burrowing themselves under the stone, then appearing on both sides of the party, trapping the group in a triangular form. Lulu's form is surrounded by light blue spheres as she blasts ice shards at the closest tenticle... only to see nothing had occured, and no damage was caused.
Lulu
"This isn't good..."
"It absorbs all black magic spells with it's tenticles."
Kain
"Then we fight WITHOUT magic. Vorador and I are experts in this department."
Vorador
"Wakka, Lulu, take Yuna to the temple. We'll manage here."
Yuna opens her mouth to protest, then nods. Lulu and Wakka run with the summoner between them and sprint for the steps. Seeing the three fleeing, the Sinspawn whips out with one of the tenticles, only to be deflected by Kain's sword. The second tenticles lash for him, only to have Vorador slash out with his sword, deflecting the blow as well. Kain shifts his footing, the tenticles continously whipping towards him. He blocks the attacks... one, two, three.... then charges forward, slicing the base of the tenticle. Vorador leaps to the side, bringing his sword upwards to block an aerial attack, twisting to the side to block a blow to the side, then charging forward for a stab. Suddenly, a red hued formed around Chappu's sword... Kain's eyes began to glow a crimson flare, and his sword immediately worked on it's own, slicing through the tenticle with such a powerful force that he himself was unaware of. The tenticle literally disintegrated.
Leaping backwards, Vorador blasted a crimson projectile towards the next tenticle, causing the flesh to melt of in a single explosion as they tenticle fell to the ground in a red, X-ray version of it's former self. The two turned to the body now, but before either one of them could react, the same mystic slicing noise had pierced the air. From the sky, Valefor sped down to meet the two vampires. Throwing it's wings forward, powerful gusts of wind crashed into the Sinspawn. And before the creature could react, the same glowing light appeared in the dragon's mouth, then blasted a beam at it, causing the demon to explode as several pyreflies erupted from it's corpse.
And from behind the pyreflies was Yuna, her staff held firmly in her hands...