Chapter V

The Maester

The young woman helped the trespassers up and silently led them to town. The town was small and seemed to be on giant tree, each hollow forming a different house or shop. Dawn was close, as Bergljot could see the faint grey behind them. The woman took them to the largest 'house' in the city.

"Please, come in," she offered, standing to the side so they could pass. She closed the doors and made to go into a room across the hall. "Please wait here for a moment."

"So this is Ogden, huh? I guess stepping on it worked, eh?" Anselm asked as he glanced at his brother.

"Yeah. That woman must have gone to get Maester Renatus. She must be a servant. What do you think, Bergljot? Bergljot?" Gwandoya looked up to find her walking up one of the two sets of stairs in the room.

Pictures of strange looking men with stranger hairdos and long beards lined the walls. Two caught her attention. One was a man with brown hair and brownish veins. He looked very old. The name underneath it read 'Maester Jyscal-Guado.' Looking at the picture next to it, Bergljot was shocked to see a major difference in the two. This man had stiff blue hair and blue veins, but no beard. He looked almost human. The nameplate read 'Maester Seymour-Guado: The link between humans and Guado.' She walked down to her fellow travelers and told them about the pictures. They jumped when they heard a voice from the door where the woman had disappeared.

"You must be the visitors. My name is Gillespie. I am the servant of Maester Renatus-Guado. If you need anything during your visit, please inform me. I will be honored to assist. Now if you would please walk this way, Maester Renatus-Guado has insisted on a feast for you," said the young Guado. She was tall, but had a hunched back. Her hair was green as were the veins on her face. She led the group into the dining hall, where a small table was filled with fresh fruit and larger tables were filled with meats, breads, wines, and cheeses. "Maester Renatus-Guado shall join you in a few moments," Gillespie bowed and walked out.

"This is great! We haven't even met the Maester yet and we get a feast! I'm starving!" Anselm tried to run at the food, but found he could not go anywhere. Bergljot had grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"I think we should wait for Maester Renatus. It would be rude to just dig in without him."

"She's right, bro," Gwandoya said.

"That won't be necessary. And I resent being called 'him,' came a voice from the other side of the room. The woman who had brought them there stepped forward. "I am Maester Renatus-Guado."

"Oh, I apologize," Bergljot said, kneeling.

"Is that supposed to be a bow? This is how we bow here," the Maester explained. She spread her arms and extended her left leg behind her. She brought her arms and leg in at the same time. Her arms swung forward and returned at her midsection. Both hands were cupped, left palm up and right palm down. Renatus bowed in that position and then straightened. "Now that you know who I am, I would like to know who you are."

"My name if Bergljot Skylar-Hammond. This is my husband Anselm Hammond…" -she nodded to Anselm- "And this is my brother-in-law Gwandoya Hammond." She nodded to Gwandoya who flinched at the sound of his long name. "Sorry. He prefers to be called Doya."

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. Let us eat. Please, sit down. I saw your ship enter the atmosphere and crash. I went to investigate and found you three sprawled on the ground. I have just sent my builders to retrieve and fix it. We have never had visitors from another world. My people will be very excited," Renatus excitedly explained as she sipped some wine. Her blue-silver hair was down to her mid-back and her bangs curved upwards and then downwards, almost as Seymour's hair did in his portrait. She had blue veins around her blue-grey eyes. She wore a long-sleeve blue top with red spots along the sleeves. The front was closed by two clasps sitting between her breasts, exposing her stomach. Her pants were blue and her boots were bluish-black with silver metal plated down the front to almost her toes. She wore a silver necklace with a dragon pendant around her neck. "What has brought you here?"

"I am the master of the Keyblade. It is my duty to protect the worlds from the Heartless," Bergljot began. "We just released our world from them yesterday and have come here to protect this world."

"Keyblade? Heartless? What are those?"

"The Heartless are the ones who shot us down. They are shadows, born from the darkness in a person's heart," Gwandoya explained darkly.

"My brother and I are sworn to protect Bergljot on her journey," Anselm added.

"As for the Keyblade…" Bergljot stood and drew them both. "These are the Keyblades. The silver opens or closes locks from the outside, but the gold opens or closes from the inside."

"I have never seen such weapons. I have yet to see Heartless on this world," Renatus shrugged. She kept her eyes on the keys. "How do you know they are here?"

"The Heartless' ships were hovering a short way from the planet. That's when they shot us down," Bergljot said and shook her head. "They may not have reached this part of the world yet. There is a Keyhole somewhere. That is how the Heartless get on planets. Some pilot ships to try and drive us away from the area. Needless to say, they aren't very successful."

"I see. Well," Renatus sighed as she stood. "I suppose I will join you in your search of this world."

"No. I cannot ask you to put yourself in danger," Bergljot said as she, too, stood.

"I am the leader of this world. I must fulfill my duty to protect them. If the Heartless are as dangerous as you say, I must help."

"Very well," Bergljot regrettably agreed. She doubled over in pain. "Ouch…"

"Are you alright?" Anselm laid a hand on her arm.

"I think I hurt something when we crashed."

"Is there a doctor here?" Gwandoya looked at Renatus.

"Of course. There is an inn near the entrance to the village. The keeper is a doctor. He'll heal her. After you feel better, come back here. We'll decide where to go from there," Renatus called after their fleeting backs. They left the house and Renatus collapsed into her cushioned couch. She had just closed her eyes when she was startled to hear someone talking to her.

"They will destroy this world."

"Who?"

"The strangers you have brought in here," The man said with a matter-of-fact tone in his slow, quiet voice. The blue-haired half-Guado walked over to his descendant. "They will destroy this place, not the Heartless.

"Just look at her weapons. Keys that can lock or unlock any door. No place is safe."

"But, Maester Seymour, what are we to do?" Renatus asked in a panicked voice.

"We will help them find the Keyhole. When they are ready to seal it, we will take the Keyblades and push the trespassers through the lock. In the meantime, we will make them think that we are there to help. Let them lead us there. After the Keyblades are ours, you can finish what I started one thousand years ago."

"Yes, I will master."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Maester Renatus-Guado seems nice enough, don't get me wrong, but I don't trust her," Gwandoya shook his head. Bergljot was sitting on a table in the inn with a towel draped across her front as the innkeeper spread herbs on her wounds.

"She did bring us here to help us," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but she seemed nervous when we mentioned the Keyblades and Heartless. Besides, you've always been an overly trusting person, Bergljot," Anselm smiled.

"It is not unusual for people to be mistrusting of the Maesters over the last thousand years," the innkeeper said.

"What do you mean?" Bergljot asked, turning her neck to look at the elderly Guado.

"One thousand years ago, this world was joined with twenty-five other worlds. At the time they were cities or ruins. During that time, the leader of this land was Maester Jyscal-Guado. He married a human who gave birth to a half-Guado, half-human son named-"

"Seymour-Guado," Bergljot finished. "So that's what the plate meant about 'the link between human and Guado.'"

"I see you found his portrait. Anyway, because Seymour was shunned as a child for being different, he and his mother fled to Baaj Temple. His mother died there and became a Fayth."

"Fayth?" Anselm asked.

"A spirit. Do you know of summoning?" The innkeeper handed Bergljot her clothes.

"Yes. We have one stone," she pulled it from her pocket and showed it to the innkeeper. She began to dress. Guado were obviously not shy about nudity, as the keeper did not acknowledge her nakedness. "I haven't tried summoning yet, though."

"This Aeon is Seraphina. She's a fire and thunder element. Very powerful. Keep it nearby," he said and handed it back to Bergljot who pocketed it. "Here, take this. A mere pocket is not suitable enough for summon gems," The innkeeper handed her a pouch that was adorned with a symbol on both sides. The symbol's 'head' was an oval with a circle inside it, making it resemble an eye. It had a 'body' and two 'wings.' Bergljot was reminded of a bird perched on a branch. She placed Seraphina into the pouch and tied it onto her belt.

"Thank you. Please, finish the story."

"Anyway, when one summons, the Fayth becomes an Aeon and is able to fight. After the fight, the Fayth returns to the stone. Seymour mastered his mother's Aeon and returned here. At that time, this land was called Guadosalam. The entire nation, all twenty-six cities, was called Spira. Every ten years, a monster named Sin rose from the sea and terrorized the lands. Summoners from all cities traveled from temple to temple, praying and mastering the Aeons. There were nine Aeons, but only four remain. When a Summoner was strong enough and had the power of the Aeons, he traveled to a place called the Calm Lands and battled Sin. Both the Summoner and Sin perished. The last time Sin appeared, the daughter of Lord Braska, the Summoner before her, began her journey to destroy Sin. Lady Yuna was her name. She and her six guardians traveled as all Summoners did. There was a Blitzball tournament one day and it was learned that Maester Jyscal-Guado had passed on. His son became the new Maester of the Guado. During the Tournament, fiends were released into the stadium. Seymour summoned his mother and became a hero. He proposed to Yuna when her group arrived here, but it was later discovered that he had murdered his father. She and Seymour went to Macalania Temple to pray for the Fayth. That was the temple that the Guado controlled at the time. We have no temple now. As I was saying, the guardians went into the temple to help Yuna. They found a sphere in Yuna's room that revealed that Seymour killed his father. Seymour confirmed it when they went into the prayer room. Yuna and her friends battled and killed Seymour, but his servant Tromell took away the body before Yuna could send him. They were arrested for going against Yevon, our god. It was discovered that Seymour remained on the planet and kidnapped Yuna to marry him. Yuna only went through with it so that she could send him. The guardians crashed the wedding and were captured by Seymour's guards. The wedding was pulled through in the holy city of Bevelle, but Yuna leapt from the building they were wed on just after they were officially husband and wife and was caught by one of her Aeons. She gained the Bevelle Aeon but was forced to fight Seymour again outside. Seymour was defeated but showed up again on Mount Gagazet, home of a race called the Ronso. Again, he was defeated but not sent. He was the one who planned to release the fiends into the stadium to prove that he was worthy of the title Maester. He was fought for the last time just before Sin was destroyed. Yuna sent him and destroyed Sin. She was also the first Summoner to live. Apparently, Seymour wanted to marry Yuna so she would turn him into the Final Aeon and he could become Sin. There is an even longer story behind that one. Seymour had become corrupt and disgraced the Guado name. We left the city and hid in Macalania Woods out of shame. The Ronso wanted us destroyed, but Lady Yuna helped regain the city for us and change the Ronso minds. Shortly after, a large meteor hit the planet. Guadosalam was the only town to survive. It was renamed Ogden. All other life was destroyed, save what was in the city. His house is still here. Each Guado Maester for all the millennia has lived in that house. Maester Renatus-Guado is Maester Seymour's very great granddaughter. Yuna secretly had a child by him after he was destroyed. Despite her hate for him, she could not kill the child. She sent the child to be raised by Guado. The child never knew his mother, but he knew his father. Each Maester since Jyscal married either a human or another Guado. After the humans were eliminated from this world, every other Maester traveled to other worlds and found a husband or wife and brought him or her back. If a female went and the man refused to leave with her, she stayed on the world just long enough to become pregnant. The others married a Guado to keep the half-Guado race going. There is a rumor that Seymour speaks through death to his descendants. He gives advice, but waits for one who will be easy to manipulate and finish his work. Of course, it is only a rumor. Only the royal family knows if it is true."

"I didn't understand a few things. What is 'being sent?' What exactly is Sin?" Gwandoya asked.

"A sending is performed by a Summoner. The Summoner performs a ritual and sends the dead body's spirit to the Farplane. When the spirit is separated from the body, it becomes a ball of light called a Pyrefly. As for Sin, he was the armor of Yu Yevon. Yevon would take the person who became the Final Aeon and make it the armor. 'Dead for a thousand years; A great terror arose from the deep; It swept across the land; A lone past still lingers; Destiny can't be denied; A burden grows heavier; To the kingdom of the sun across a vast sea; The journey home begins.' That is what we say about Sin."

"The Farplane…" Bergljot whispered, "May we see it?"

"No. We are very particular about who enters."

"You said something about a Blitzball Tournament. What's Blitzball?" Anselm asked.

"Ah, Blitzball! The sport of Spira! There are six players on each team: A goalie, right defense, left defense, right offense, left offense and center offense. The players must be able to hold their breath for long periods of time. A giant sphere is filled with water and the players swim in it. There is one white ball with a blue stripe. The sport is very brutal, but before Sin and Yu Yevon were finally destroyed, it was the only entertainment we had. If not for Blitzball, we would have known nothing but sorrow."

"Wow…" Bergljot said. "Thank you very much. We would love to hear more, but Maester Renatus is expecting us back."

"Do not let me stand against the Maester's wishes. I hope you will return to hear more."

The trio left, never seeing the dark shadow that hovered above the keeper, waiting to smother him and steal his heart.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"They know."

"What, my lord?" Renatus asked.

"The fool of an innkeeper told them of summoning and Sin. He even told them of Blitzball and how I was killed."

"What are we to do?" Renatus sighed hopelessly. Seymour, seeing her mind weakening, began to slowly and subtly take control.

"He is already dead. They killed him after extracting the information they wanted."

"We must stop them…" Renatus trailed off.

"Stop who?"

"Oh, I did not hear you come in," Renatus said hurriedly. She quickly searched the room for Seymour.

"What are you looking for?" Gwandoya asked.

"Huh? Oh nothing."

"So, who do we have to stop?" Anselm repeated his wife's question.

"The Heartless," The Maester lied. "I sense death in this place. A heart has been taken in your absence. The innkeeper, I think."

"We just came from there and saw nothing," Bergljot looked at her partners, who shrugged.

"Perhaps we should begin the search," Renatus suggested.

"Yes. I think we should go back to where we crashed, first. We'll explore the surrounding area afterwards," Gwandoya agreed. The trio walked out of the house once more.

This is too easy… Renatus thought. An evil smirk spread across her face as she followed the visitors.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The group traveled with little trouble, save a few Heartless that idiotically stood in their path. They were easily subdued. The group walked into the clearing and gazed at the surrounding forest.

Bergljot sighed. She took her gaze away from the forest before her and looked hopelessly at the wreckage as her fellows moved inwards. The Guado workers were busy repairing the ship, but it looked as though the ship would remain in tatters.

"Excuse me," she asked the nearest worker. "How long do you think it will be before it can fly?"

"At least one or two days," he replied in an annoyed voice. Bergljot walked away at a call from Anselm.

"So, where to from here?" Anselm asked as his wife joined them.

"The ship crashed over there," Renatus pointed. "How about spreading out and going over this whole clearing?"

"Okay. If anyone finds a Heartless, yell. If you find the Keyhole, whistle. No one go through the forest until we've all looked through here. I'll take the north, Maester Renatus take the east, Anselm take the west, and Bergljot take the south. Let's go," Gwandoya said, pulling out his shield. The group went their separate ways.

An hour passed before anything happened. Bergljot had been carefully turning over stones and keeping an eye out towards the trees.

Boy, that forest gives me the creeps. There must be some Heartless in there. But, why aren't they attacking me if they want the Keyblades so much? I'm alone; this would be the perfect time to strike… Bergljot thought to herself. A twig snapping nearby made her jump. Stay calm… it was probably a squirrel or something. That's it, a squirrel.

"UH!" Bergljot gasped as something touched her shoulder. The blades were poised to strike, but she stopped when she saw who it was and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You should have gone with your husband," Renatus whispered. "It's not safe for a young woman to wander alone, especially with such dangerous creatures crawling about."

"I haven't found anything yet. Have you?"

"No. But I think something's found us," Renatus looked up at the trees and saw no less than ten Heartless sitting in them. They greatly resembled wolves and large lizards.

"Anselm! Doya! Heartless!" Bergljot screamed. Renatus was uncharacteristically tense.

"We can handle these. Let's go get them," she said bravely. The Maester drew her staff and spun it, holding it near the top. When it settled, the staff had changed to a sword, the hilt resembling the head of the staff. They charged at the Heartless as they ran at the two women.

"Ah!" Bergljot yelled as the blades connected with a Heartless. It disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

"Take that!" Renatus muttered as she stuck a Heartless with her sword. It was gone.

"Wow. How is that so powerful?"

"No clue. It just is," Renatus said irritably as she stabbed another monster. Bergljot watched her suspiciously.

"Bergljot! We're coming! Duck!" came Anselm's call from behind them. "FIRE!" A large fireball shot over Bergljot as she dropped to the ground. Renatus remained standing and was caught in the middle.

"Oh, no…" Bergljot whispered. Gwandoya ran up and quickly destroyed the injured Heartless.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he helped Bergljot up.

"Forget me. Is Renatus okay?" She asked as she ran to where Renatus was surrounded by flame.

The fireball had been so large and hot, that it remained around the young Maester. She had her arms stretched out to her sides, the fire splitting around her and coming together behind her.

"Deep Freeze!" Bergljot yelled at the flames. The ice encased the flames and Renatus. "Maester! Are you okay?" she called. "What the fu…"
The ice ball was trembling. The inside glowed orange and the ball exploded. Renatus' head was reclined backwards and her arms were once again stretched at her sides. When she lowered her head, an evil smile was spread on her face.

"Maester?" Anselm whispered nervously.

"Yes," she said loudly. Her voice was echoing slightly, the echo sounding more masculine. "But not Renatus. Her mind is weak. She trusted her ancestor too much. He was able to corrupt her easily. And we will destroy you all with the help of Ansem and the Heartless. Now, give us the Keyblades!"

"You'll never get them, Seymour!" Gwandoya yelled as he stepped in front of Bergljot. "I never trusted Renatus from the beginning! If you want the blades, you'll have to go through me!"

"Me too!" Anselm added as he took his place at his brother's side. They both drew their weapons.

"So you have discovered the secret," Seymour whispered. He raised his voice to almost a scream. "Pitiful mortals. Your hope ends here. And your meaningless existence with it!"

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So, how's the story so far? Yes, this is yet another cliffhanger.

Coming in Chapter 6: Two huge battles, a chase, a sending, a sealing, and maybe even Blitzball!

This is the first reader feedback in this story, so I want responses! If you would like to see Blitzball played, let me know in a review. Let me know by June 1, 2004 at the latest and I'll see what I can do.