Chapter Nine: The Maesters and Their Guardians
The sun glows on the city of Luca as the SS Winno pulls into the harbor. Kain stands on the deck of the boat, gazing at Luca's stadium and the city with amazement. Ignoring that fact that the city was filled with humans, he actually saw masterpiece and amazement within the massive city. The SS Winno pulls into Luca's dock as the voice of an announcer is heard:
"Ah, over there! The ships carrying the players are arriving now!"
"This would be dock number 2."
Bobba
"All the way from Kilika, it's the Kilika Beasts!"
[The Kilika Beasts walk out and wave to the crowd]
"High Summoner Ohalland used to play for them--a big name to live up to."
"Their hometown was recently attacked by Sin. Isn't that right, Jimma?"
Jimma
"Yes, Bobba. They're going to be pulling out all the stops to try and bring back the cup this year."
Bobba
"Exciting, isn't it, folks?"
"Our next team off the ramp is..."
[The Besaid Aurochs step off the boat]
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the Besaid Aurochs!"
"They're a living, breathing, statistical impossibility! I've never seen a team this bad!"
"That's right! In twenty-three years they've never made it past the first round!"
"Only a few die-hard fans are in the audience today."
Jimma
"Best of lucky to them, and a safe journey back to Besaid."
Bobba
"Right, Jimma."
"Moving right along, our next team is..."
"Here they are, folks! Our very own Luca Goers!"
[The Luca Goers exit the boat, yet keep a safe distance from Kain]
"They've got power! They've got speed! They've got teamwork!"
"They're an all-around first-class team! And they're back home in Luca!"
Jimma
"Without a doubt, they are the favorite this year, Bobba."
"And after the way they dominated last year, it'd take a miracle for them to lose today."
Bobba
"You can say that again, Jimma. Look at the crowd, folks! Look at the crowd!"
"Looks like all of Luca has turned out to cheer the Goers on!"
"They know, I know, and you know, folks!"
"The Luca Goers are number one!"
The Aurochs move into the city. Bickson, who had survived the night and made it to Luca in one piece, makes eye contact with Kain, then quickens his walking speed. Kain smirks, crossing his arms arrogantly. Wakka reconizes the glance and lightly elbows Kain's bicep.
Wakka
"It's like this every year, ya? Don't let it bother you."
Before Kain can reply, three people sprint pass the group. One of them, a young girl, trips and falls onto the ground. Wakka walks over to her, helping her up, but she's already buzzing with excitiment.
Girl
"Maester Mika is here!"
Wakka
[surprised]
"Already?"
Girl
"Yeah! The number 3 dock!"
Wakka
"We'll be there!"
The other two wave for the girl and she sprints away. At this time, Lulu, Yuna and Vorador step off the boat to join Kain and the others.
Kain
"What's afoot?"
Yuna
"Maester Mika has arrived, that's what!"
Kain
"Mika? Maester?"
Lulu
"Maester Mika is the leader of all the peoples of Spira."
"He's come all the way from Bevelle. The tournament is being held to honor his fifty years as maester."
Kain
"Fifty years? And he's human?"
Yuna
[cautiously]
"Yes..."
Kain
"I am over 400 years old and probably look younger than your leader..."
Wakka
"Hey! Mind your mouth, now."
"You could upset somebody."
Yuna
"Let's all go see him!"
Kain uncrosses his arms and follow the three from before. Both vampires eye the stadium and the city... it was so strange how the city seemed much different than Meridian, even Coorhagen. Both cities were unimaginably large and highly populated, yet the population was mostly hidden for fear of Sarafan and vampires alike. Here, humans ran freely, and here and there, he saw at least one or two inhuman creatures, some resembling large, cat-like demi-humans, the others strange amphibian creatures. Kain and Vorador's thoughts were cut shortly as they neared Dock 3, where crowds of people block the sights of Yuna, Lulu and Wakka. However, being seven feet tall, Kain and Vorador have no problem with their vision.
Wakka
[groans]
"Can't see a thing!"
Yuna
"Shhhh!"
Loud, joyous music fills the air. Several guards armed with weapons similar to the ones the Al Bhed had been armed with step off the boat. Behind them is a short elderly man with a white beard and bushy white eyebrows, dressed in nobel clothing. Another person steps off the boat... both Kain and Vorador's eyes widen...
Kain
"No..."
Several people drop down to do the prayer gesture...
Before the Sarafan Lord...
Vorador
[sees Kain's shock]
"Kain, don't...!"
Kain unsheaths Chappu's sword and catapults over the crowd, towards the Sarafan Lord. The demon's eyes widen, leaping back and avoiding Kain's attack. Several people gasp and scream in shock and terror.
Vorador
"Kain!"
Kain
"At last! I was hoping to return to Nosgoth to confront you!"
Sarafan Lord
"What living soul disturbs my order?"
Kain fuels with fury, his eyes burning with rage.
Kain
"You know me!"
Sarafan Lord
"No, you were utterly destroyed."
"So easily your name was drowned in the backwaters of passing time."
"All your plans were set alight and seared to smoke and ashes."
Kain
"Let those words be your epitaph!"
Sarafan Lord
"You dare dream of killing me?"
"That fantasy was questioned in blood long ago when I defeated you."
"And yet, you have learned nothing."
"Such a pathetic creature."
"Dare you to challenge me again!?"
Kain growls and leaps forward for an attack.
Kain
"Die, fiend!"
Screams and gasps erupts from Mika and the crowd. Kain swings the sword for the Sarafan Lord's head, which is blocked. He goes for a stab, which is deflected. After a yell of anger released, the sword slices against the Sarafan Lord's chest, causing him to fly back a few feet. Before Kain can counter with a follow up attack, and strong force slams into him with a powerful "THWACKING!" sound that sends him flying through the air, and before he can smash into a wall or even the ground, an invisible force claws against his chest and throat, sending him flying back towards the other face, only to fall hard on the ground. For moment, he winces in his agony, but just as he begins to leap to his feet, another force comes flying at him, clawing against his back, making him hit the ground. A shadow falls over his figure...
Male voice 1
"Well well, our lord was correct, you are alive..."
"Do you remember me Kain, who served you so well?"
Kain's eyes widened as another shadow falls over him.
Male Voice 2
"So the rumors speak true..."
Another shadow falls over Kain's fallen body.
Male Voice 3
"Behold the great Kain, now a common, weak assasain..."
Kain rolls on his back and flips up, seeing three visages from his past... his eyes widening in disbelief. All three are inhumanly tall, yet each uniquely different in appearance. The first was deathly pale, donning a strange, burdungy suit, and keeping his long, raven hair in a ponytail. The second, too was deathly pale, only donning blue robes. His head held no hair, yet showed a strange attractiveness. The third had a lightly green tone in his skin, his voice was split as if two people were speaking in unision. His wardrobe consisted of silver armor, a long blue cape, and a helmet.
Kain
"Faustus..."
"Marcus..."
"Sebastian...."
"You serve this vile demon!?"
Faustus
"Never speak of our lord in such a tone!"
After saying this, Faustus swings out with his arm in a mix of a slap and a claw against Kain's face. Before Kain could react, Marcus joined in with a claw across his chest, and Sebastian joining in with the impaling of Kain with a large broadsword. Kain released a holler of agony as his blood poured from his face, chest and stomach. Before much torment could be carried out, a flash of green was shown as all three vampires fell to the ground. Vorador had cleared over the crowd with a powerful projectile that had blasted the three assasains away, landing beside Kain. And pushing her way through the crowd, Yuna fell to her knees beside Kain.
Yuna
"Sir Kain... I...."
[she stiffens]
"Hold on... this won't take long..."
Yuna gestured her fingers in several positions, and then touched Kain's face and chest. In a flash of white and light blue light, the wounds had engulfed into Kain's body, and the wounds sealed. The people gasped in horror at the sight, and gasped again as the sword appeared in Vorador's claws. Yuna jumped to her feet and sprinted to Mika, doing the prayer gesture, then dropped to her knees.
Yuna
"Maester Mika.... please forgive him!"
"He... He was near Sin."
"His mind isn't in order, he wasn't sure of who he was..."
[she runs to the Sarafan Lord and bows respectively]
"Please, Maester... any grudges you hold against him, please pardon them for now..."
"So many people have come to be in happiness..."
"To forget of their problems... please let this be a time of peace..."
To prove her point and try to persuade him, she casts and cure spell on his wound. Then she turns to the other vampires, still weakened from Vorador's projectile, and heals them as well. Kain eyes her with concern and fear. He knew that Yuna was doing all this... for him. She was endangering herself before a Hylden, just for him. The Sarafan eyes her, the two making a hauntingly horrifying eye contact, and then he waves his hands for Faustus, Marcus and Sebastian. The three glare at Kain, then take their place before their master. Yuna bows once again.
Yuna
"My sincerest gratitude, Maester...."
Vorador grabs Kain and tosses him over his shoulder as Yuna runs to their side, the three making their way through the crowd. The crowd breaks into two groups, creating a path for the summoner and the vampires to walk through as Lulu and Wakka rejoin them. Mika raises his voice.
Mika
"People of Spira, I thank you for your generous welcome."
"And all of you as well."
"I present to you..."
"the replacement for Maester Jyscal Guado, who departed for the Farplane a fortnight past."
"As some of you already know, he has been officially ordained a maester of Yevon."
Sarafan Lord
"I am honored to receive the title of maester."
"In life, Jyscal worked to foster friendship between the human and the inhuman."
"I vow to carry on his legacy, and to fulfill my duties as maester to the best of my abilities."
"The Sarafan Lord..."
"My sworn enemy, the leader of the Sarafan in Nosgoth..."
"He was now a leader in this world... in Spira?"
"And with him, my former soldiers?"
"Faustus... Sebastian... Marcus...?"
Yuna
"Sir Kain....?"
"Sir Kain... wake up..."
Kain slowly opens his eyes, bringing his hand up to his temple, massaging it gently. He is lying on a small bed (at least, small to a vampire) with his feet handing off the edge. Sitting up, he finds himself in an inn with Yuna, Vorador, Wakka and Lulu. Yuna was at the foot of the bed, looking up at him. Kain eyes her, then looks to Lulu... then Wakka... then Vorador... and a look of disgust and anger appears.
Kain
"You.... all of you..."
"You follow that demon? You believe he is a bringer of peace!?"
Vorador
"Kain...!"
Kain
[growls at Vorador]
"Don't you start!"
"You followed that bastard just the same as they did!"
"You're a disgrace to your race, Vorador!"
Yuna
"Lord Kain.... please, we didn't kn-"
Kain growled and sticks his face close to Yuna's.
Kain
"Don't you throw in your sympathy, human!"
"You bow before him with respect that he is unworthy of!"
"You speak of how you would long to go to Nosgoth and you bow before it's cancer!"
"So don't you even think of throwing in any of your pathetic, soothing sympathy!"
Yuna's eyes widen. Kain had wounded her... at least from the way he was staring at her. She shook her head with disbelief, almost kicking herself for wanting him to be her guardian. The summoner rose to her feet and turned, walking away from the raging vampire, setaing herself on another bed. Vorador glances to Wakka and Lulu and ushers them out of the inn. Kain looks at her, hearing unsteady sniffs and small breaths of air.
Kain
"Are you... crying?"
[Yuna shakes her head, but more sniffs are heard]
"Well... you should be! What were you thinking!?"
Yuna
"I didn't know he was a Maester..."
"He was recently elected as one... I didn't know..."
"I'm sorry..."
It is obvious to him that now, she was crying. Yuna's voice continues to shake, and Kain watches her bring her hands to her face, wiping away her tears. Again... he feels ashamed, and even ungreatful. It was true, she was risking her life before the Maester for the sake of him... even if it involved the healing of the Sarafan Lord, Faustus, Marcus and Sebastian. But swallowing his pride was like choking for Kain. Relunctantly, the vampire looked away from her...
Kain
"I apologize..."
[more sniffs are heard and Kain inwardly growls]
"I beg for your forgiveness..."
The crying halts... Yuna faces him. He looks at her sternly, but then his face loosens. She manages to smile... and nods.
Yuna
"I accept your apology... Sir Kain..."