Chapter Seven: The Memory
Outfitted in the thick, hot acolyte garb, Sitaten slowly followed Baralai. Every now and then she would grab the silver angel pendant that hung from the thin, leather rope around her neck, nervously licking her lips and eyes darting here to there.
"Calm down, Sita, you're doing just fine. Remember the protocol and we'll succeed." Baralai whispered to her as they began their trek down to the Djose temple. Crossing the cobble stone bridge, Sitaten felt and eerie sense of calm settle over her. This place, whatever power was surging through the earth at this moment, was suddenly being channeled into her, producing an extreme calm. She looked around to see if any of the pilgrims or peasants noticed. None seemed to, even Baralai continued his sure pace through the crowds, talking to people every now and then and shaking a few hands. Taking a deep breath, she slipped into her role, choosing to ignore what was happening until she was back with the group. "Please do not crowd, we must get to the temple post-haste." Sitaten pushed through the crowd and hung onto Baralai's arm. "Yes, I am very sorry, perhaps I could meet with you all at another time, but I must be going now." Baralai smiled sweetly.
"To be in your presence once is blessing enough for these old bones," an old woman who appeared to have a hump on her back croaked.
"Ah, but that pleasure is reserved for me, alone, Ma'am." He bent to kiss her hand and then beckoned Sitaten to follow him to the temple. "Just keep it up, young Acolyte, you're doing well." he said. "Wow..." in awe, Sitaten let her awe escape her as the rocks that blanketed Djose temple shook and broke free from the structure, revealing two large double doors and a bit of the silver metal structure beneath the stone.
"Keep yourself in check." he warned. Sitaten swallowed and then nodded. It would not do well to show that she was not well traveled. The doors swung open to reveal a dark, cold nave. Stepping inside, Sitaten's ears were filled with the song of the fayth, its rumble seeming to resonate in her chest cavity and ring in her head again and again. Immediately, her nostrils were filled with the scent of heavy incense, offerings left in front of the High Summoner statues that encircle the room. Sitaten held onto the silver necklace again, the song magnifying.
"Please...find him for me..." "Who? Who do you want me to find?" "He'll...he'll know what to do." "I don't understand." Like a distant memory, the words came flooding back to her. The voice, it sounded familiar enough. But where she heard it, and those words... what did it all mean? Perhaps her mind was just playing tricks on her again. Sitaten shook her head and released the locket from her grip.
"We have been expecting you, my lord," a priest descended the long flight of carpeted steps leading to the cloisters and prayed in greeting. Sitaten and Baralai followed suit.
"Is everything well, here?' Baralai asked. "Yes, of course," the priest replied, leading them into one of the small adjoining rooms. The rectory was cluttered with pillow cushions set around a small, short table with a lamp and ink set complete with parchment and quill. The walls were littered with scrolls with Yevon teachings in bold black and other miscellaneous items and such. The priest directed both Sitaten and Baralai to take a seat. Finding a satin blue pillow, Baralai made himself comfortable.
"And the young acolyte?" the old man asked, his crinkly green eyes turning to her. "I would prefer to stand, your grace." Sitaten bowed slightly from the waist.
"Of course, what protectress wouldn't want to be prepared for battle at all times?" he chuckled lightly, "So, what weapons do you specialize in?" "The staff," Sitaten replied. He nodded, "Oh, so you're a summoner in training, eh?" he asked, misinterpreting her meaning of which staff she used.
"Magic has never been my forte." Sitaten replied, leaving enough room to either correct his assumptions, or let him run with them.
"Ah, don't worry. I remember when Lord Braska came here to pray to the fayth. Don't tell anyone but, he needed a bit of practice, himself." he whispered conspiratorially to her. Sitaten chuckled.
"You give much confidence, jii-san." she smiled, feeling slightly guilty for deceiving him. He patter her on the cheek and then turned to Baralai.
"You have a sweet young girl, on your hands, Baralai." "Only if you're nice to her." Sitaten blushed and averted her eyes. Baralai and Rikku were the only two she enjoyed speaking with. Gippal was constantly condescending, Paine was always surly, and Shuyin rarely strung more than two words together unless he was insulting someone.
"And who wouldn't want to be nice to such a beautiful young girl? She must be Besaidian. Only people from the southern islands have that coloring." he was prying too much. Sure, Sitaten was a deep honey, her hair and eyes a dark brown, and that type of person was only found in the hotter regions near the sea. He was trying to narrow down the possible places she was from. Baralai cleared his throat.
"Has everything been made ready in the cloisters?" he asked, interrupting their conversation, and saving Sitaten from her predicament.
"Oh, please forgive me, yes. No one will be allowed near the Chamber of the Fayth until you have emerged from the cloisters. Good luck and, keep this pretty young miss safe, eh?" he winked and kissed her hand. "I will." Baralai said, nodding to her.
"You are prepared to enter the cloister trials?" the priest atop the stairwell asked. Baralai nodded. "This is my guardian." he said, waving in the direction of Sitaten. The priest nodded and then opened the doors.
Stepping inside was like walking into a freezer. The cold stones of the walls and floors reverberated the emptiness of the enclosure. As soon as the doors closed, it seemed as though the rest of the world fell away with the sound. The only thing that could be heard was the voice of the singing fayth and the distant sound of thunder. Here, they were standing before two grand double doors that towered several feet above their heads. On the two side walls, there were small fountains with hand-sized orbs that glowed a bluish white.
"You stay here. I will sort through the cloisters, and when I have finished, I will come back for you. Make sure no one enters through here. No one." he said. Sitaten nodded, and then he was gone.
Sitaten, having been left alone to entertain herself for at least half an hour, was starting to grow bored. Every few minutes she began to dance a bit to keep herself awake. Tossing her head and lip -synching words to an old ballad. She was beginning to enjoy herself when she heard footsteps beyond the doors. Furrowing her eyebrows, Sitaten determined there were four sets, and voices accompanied them. Upon remembering Baralai's words, Sitaten stepped out and looked to find a stone path, illuminated with lightning, lead to a circular pad in the middle of the room. In a room beyond, there was a lot of energy, screaming and lighting the entire area. More importantly was the middle, where she was sure she had seen a disc of white light float into the ceiling, a pair of white legs donning dark blue boots upon it, more distinguishable from the others. Sitaten rushed to the spot just below and cried out when it began to move up. Looking at the newly formed hole in the ceiling, she figured there must be another level to this dark, cold, enchanted place. Once on the next level, Sitaten stepped off the platform for fear hat it might bring her back down to the lower level. Her head snapped up when she heard the clicking of boots again.
"Who's there? No one is allowed in the cloisters until Summoner Baralai has left." she stepped into the adjoining room to find a single girl muttering to herself, pushing little podiums back to the wall. Each time she was successful, the rod leading from the niche to the light source in the middle of the ceiling began to crackle with lightning. Although she was speaking, Sitaten could not hear her words. They were very rushed, and far between.
"You must stop!" Sitaten pulled out her staff. The girl either could not see her or chose to ignore her, because she stood in the center of the room and began talking in hushed tones again, her eyes locked on some unseen force. Was she mad?
And then se remembered seeing that face before. With large brown eyes stained with kohl, the girl shivered, her dark bangs were wet, slicked down on her forehead, the rest of her short locks as flat and languid. She had an extremely long ponytail covered in blue lace that reached her waist. Wearing a blue duster and denim skirt, her denim boots matched perfectly, giving her the appearance of a drenched songstress.
"I don't want to hurt you, so stay there!" Sitaten swiped once with her staff to get her attention, but to no avail. The girl looked past her and began to run straight for her. Sitaten crouched down into a fighting position, preparing fo the impact until-
She went right through her. The warmth seemed to be sucked from her body as the image continued to run, but disappeared as it went through her, the glittery gold tails of pyreflies being the only traces of her form left. Sitaten sucked in a breath, her berry red lips turning gray and her skin paling. "What on earth?" Sitaten looked around for the intruder, but to no avail. And then she heard it- something was running again. Turning back, Sitaten found that there was now a set of staircases leading to where she supposed the Chamber of the Fayth would be. Darting up the stairs as quickly as possible, she was just in time to see the girl step through the golden mask that kept others out of the chamber.
"No, stop!" Sitaten continued on, but the mask slid back into place, blocking her from the other side. She dropped to her knees. What would happen if she finds Baralai? They would never trust her with anything so big again.
"Oh, Yevon..." Sitaten began to hyperventilate.
"Sitaten?" Baralai emerged, his face contorting with worry. He ran by her side and knelt down.
"Did...you....see her?" she asked between breaths.
"I don't understand your words, calm down first." Baralai advised sternly. Immediately, Sitaten forced her breaths to even out, and waited until her heart beat at a steady pace. "Did you see her?" Baralai furrowed his eyebrows and looked to the large mask "See who?" "The girl," Sitaten stood, looking toward the chamber.
"What girl...slow down and explain." "There was an intruder, a girl...I'm sure of it." Sitaten eyed the mask warily.
"I didn't see anyone, Sitaten. The mask will only allow one person to enter at a time, surely you know that." Baralai took her hands in his and peered into her face.
"But I'm sure of it...I saw someone. Oh, maybe I was hallucinating." Sitaten gave in, but she as not convinced. She was absolutely certain that someone had stepped inside the Chamber of the Fayth, without restriction. "You probably passed out...you're ice cold!" he began to lead her down the steps slowly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here." "It's alright, you thought you saw something, and you chased it. No harm done. In fact, you were actually doing exactly what I asked you to." "Did everything go as planned, your grace?" the old priest asked as the two emerged from the trial. "Very well, thank you." "Will you be staying the night?" the priest asked as they met him at the bottom of the stairs.
"I am honored by your invitation, but I must decline. I have very many things to do before I return to Bevelle." "Ah, yes...of course. We have prepared a basket of items for you for your journey: potions, scrolls, ether...the usual." "We appreciate it very much, thank you. If you will, we must be going." Both Baralai and Sitaten bowed. They turned around and walked away until they were upon the door, where the old priest called to them again.
"Just do me on favor, Baralai?" "Yes, Father Pompeii?" "Take care of that girl, she looks like she's seen a ghost!" "I told you not to take her on the mission...she couldn't even do as you asked her." Pain uncrossed her arms and walked away.
"Paine...go easy on her. She thought she saw someone." Baralai was helping to wash the cookware that night. Paine, Rikku, and Gippal were with them, but Shuyin had went away on a reconnaissance mission.
"Oh, and what did this apparition look like eh?" Paine turned her crimson eyes onto Sitaten, causing her to shrink away nervously.
"She had long brown hair, most of it was stuffed into a long ponytail that reached her back." she started, awarding her stares from all around.
"What? You want me to continue? Okay- she wore this blue songstress outfit and, to tell you the truth, she was really pretty. But she had this one thing about her that freaked me out...if not for her eyes, I would have sworn it was Yuna." She had this faraway look in her eyes, holding the pendant that rested on her breast.
"What did you say?" Rikku stared at her blankly.
"Yeah! She looked a lot like Yuna!" Sitaten exclaimed, smiling triumphantly at them. She immediately lost her disposition when she saw the looks on their faces.
"What?" "Never mention that again." Paine went back to scrubbing her pot.
"Why not?" Sitaten furrowed her brows and looked around the campfire.
"Do you need an explanation for everything?" Paine glared at her from beneath her brows. The look had its desired affect- it silenced her for the rest of the night.
"I'm going to bed." Sitaten tossed her iron pan into a bag and then walked away.
"You don't have to go so hard on her, Paine," Gippal began to scratch the back of his head.
"If she ever said something like that to Shuyin he would have killed her on the spot. I think I was more than nice." "She didn't know!" Rikku exclaimed, "You can't keep treating her like that!" Rikku put her the utensils in the bag and stomped away.
"Nice going, Paine..." Gippal scratched his head and chuckled. "Do you want to get hurt?" she glared at him.
The next few days passed by in relative silence, no one wanting to broach the subject of Sitaten's unknowing transgression. The girl herself, walked in front, directly behind Shuyin, occasionally stepping on the soles of his boots, muttering her apologies each time. Finally, Shuyin abruptly turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. The others were a long way behind them, as Paine was trying to bully Rikku up a particularly steep hill.
"What's your problem?" he snapped.
"Sorry...I just wasn't paying attention." she muttered, blushing under his sharp gaze.
"It's annoying the hell out of me." "Sorry," Sitaten lowered her eyes. The young man before her took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
"If you want to keep pace, walk beside me instead." Sitaten's head snapped up and she smiled.
"O-okay..." he turned and began to walk again, this time, with her beside him. "How did you know about the fiend?" he asked.
"Huh? What fiend?" she searched her memory-"Oh, now I remember...I thought I saw something, and I warned you about it." "You're lying." he simply stated.
"N-no I'm not. I'm telling...well...I- I can't really explain to you how I knew." she did not want to lie to him.
"You can trust us." "My kidnappers? I think not. Besides- just know that I can tell when something sinister is nearby, so long as no one breaks my concentration." "Is that what's got you muttering and biting your lip while you walk?" he asked, keeping his eyes trained on what was before him, every now and again allowing hem to dart to and fro in search of something.
"I-no...it isn't, but I can't say..."she mumbled.
"Any secrets that you keep from me could become a liability later on. I suggest you tell me what has been bothering you." he said. Sitaten narrowed her eyes. Did he really care? Using her abilities she found that he was only slightly interested, the only emotion he really showed.
"It might make you mad." she whispered.
"If you tell me now, I'll try to hold back my anger." he said, his confusion and interest boiling.
"I-I don't know what made everyone else so mad but, remember what Baralai told you... about me leaving my post when we were inside the cloisters?" she winced.
"Yes," his voice was harsh.
"Well, he told you that I thought I saw something, but I'm sure I did!" she said, grabbing the silver pendant under the cloth of her tank top.
"Go on," he pushed.
"Well...I saw this girl... a really pretty girl. She stepped right through me, and everything went ice-cold. When I ran inside the hall before the chamber, she walked past the mask. It opened a passageway for her!" she exclaimed, but then settled down. "You don't believe me..." "It was a memory. Probably one of a summoner who went to pray to the fayth." he replied.
"I think so, too. Why else would she enter the Chamber?' Sitaten raised an eyebrow.
"Has this ever happened to you before?" he asked. Sitaten bit her lip in contemplation.
"Once but I didn't see anyone, I only heard her voice." both fell silent and continued their walk. By this time, they were nearing the end of the rocky path, slowly mother nature shifted, the trees providing an outer ring to the forests. Suddenly, she felt a lot of pressure weighing her down, almost as though the air around her was charged with evil energy.
"Do you feel that?" Sitaten asked, finally looking at her.
"Do I feel what?" Shuyin spun around, searching for something.
"The anger..." she whispered more to herself than anyone else, "WATCH OUT!" Sitaten pushed him out of the way just as a tall, thick white snake struck at him. He rolled into a fighting position and withdrew his sword. Immediately, the creature struck out at Sitaten, who dodged the attack by three backflips. Withdrawing her staff, she knew that this fiend would be too quick for Paine, Gippal, or Shuyin to handle. Just as she thought, Rikku and Baralai came to her side. Both had their weapons drawn and were crouched down into position.
"What is this creature?" Sitaten asked.
"It doesn't matter. Don't look into its eyes or it'll petrify you." Baralai warned.
"How fast is it?" She asked.
"Very quick..." "Maybe I should just check to see if it's lifted any items off anyone..." Rikku smirked, darting to the fiend, and jumping back before the creature had any time to register what happened.
"Aha....this 'soft' might come in handy." she tucked a small glass bottle full of silver liquid into her pouch. Baralai took advantage of her inaction and used an attack called 'Glean' where he spun his staff several times quickly, smacking the fiend in the face on the last go. Supposing that it was her turn to do something as they were all 'ganging up' on this creature, Sitaten made use of her Divine Wind, or Hurricane technique. Holding her staff while doing a series of backflips to the creature, she perfectly executed her attack when she round-kicked twice, rolled, and came back up as she smashed her boots into the creature's barred fangs. Unfortunately, she was unable to jump back to a safe distance before the creature struck at her, and managed to sink its poisonous fangs into her am.
"Hey...let go!" Rikku rushed forward and sliced the fiend across its belly twice, pulling Sitaten back when it began to rage.
"Are you okay?" Rikku asked, tossing her an antidote. Sitaten stuffed it in her pocket for later. The battle was yet to be won. "Kyaa!" Shuyin, out of absolutely nowhere, jumped into the air, and thrust his sword down on the fiend, easily splitting it in two. After getting back to his feet and sheathing his sword, the demon dissipated, the lost souls floating away in the wind.
"Ku, that was easy." Rikku said, putting her daggers away. Unfortunately, Sitaten failed to share the same sentiments. Sinking to her knees, she threw up on the ground, hoping that the pocketed antidote would make the poison disappear quicker than the fiend.
"The antidote was made to counter the poison, Sitaten..." Damn Gippal and his patronizing drawl.
"I know that, you dolt." she snapped, reaching into her pockets. Efficiently, she withdrew and uncorked the bottle, downing it within seconds.
"Better?" Rikku sympathetically asked as she kneeled to her level.
"Much." Sitaten stood and waved them all away. Casting a simple healing spell, she quickly rid her body of any evidence the battle.
"I didn't expect you knew how to cast white magic." Shuyin commented, shifted his weight to his right leg.
"Eh...it's required of all acolytes to know a few spells for everyday cuts and bruises." she shrugged.
"Good, then you aren't really useless after all." Shuyin began to walk away.
"Hey...I fought." Sitaten protested.
"And chucked up all of your breakfast from poisoning. I notice that you try to be agile." he started.
"Well...I'm considerably fast..." she shifted slightly.
"You aren't built for speed, but for strength. You have a heavy hand." he said. Sitaten narrowed her eyes sharply and then rounded them in surprise She supposed that would be the closest thing to a compliment she would ever receive from him.
"My mother trained me a bit when I was younger...it continued with my father later, but he believed women should use agility. I've been trying to lighten my weight, but..." she said, blushing.
"You'd be of better use to us if you used your fists rather than your staff." he commented lightly as Baralai helped her to her feet.
"I've noticed much the same," the priest admonished.
"But..." she fingered her staff, the familiarity of the cool metal beneath her fingers, the indentations and emposse. The thought of not having it by her side in a fight was little more than frightening. The staff seemed a lot like an extension of her body more than an inanimate object, and it tugged at her when she began to think of it belonging in her mother's hands.
"I couldn't give up my staff...it's too" she choked.
"You'd do much better without it, but if you want to remain weak, that's entirely up to you," Shuyin started to walk.
"Ku, What a jerk." Rikku crossed her arms over her chest.
"If you can't find yourself parting with your staff, I'd be more than happy to train you, Sitaten." Baralai offered. Sitaten muffled a slight sob.
"No, he's right. I don't have the build to be very agile. I'm made for strength." The rest of them began to walk.
"Are you going to give up on it?" Paine asked, for the first time speaking to her without any obvious sign of loathing.
"No. If my mother could do it, so can I. Come to think of it, the women from her island used katanas, the second form of the staff. But if only I could remember the third form..." "You don't seem to remember very much at all," Paine commented.
"Are you teasing?" Sitaten asked, watching her face for any indication. Just as she suspected, Paine's mouth twitched.
"If it helps you sleep better," she said, speeding up a bit. Trotting to catch up with Shuyin and keep pace, she wondered whether they were traveling so slow because of her, or if it was because of the difficult terrain. She decided it must have been the former, seeing as how he slowed a bit when she fought to keep up with his long strides. And then it occurred to her-
Perhaps Shuyin was not as cold hearted as she once believed him to be.
"Shuyin?" she ventured.
"Yes?" "If I did give up my staff, would you... I mean, if you could...would you help me with my training in using my hands?" There, she had asked. And although she expected that he would turn her down- perhaps even laugh in her face- somehow she believed he might actually consider it because she would be of much use to them if she used her strength. He must of thought along the same lines because he replied with a "Yes." "You wouldn't mind? I mean..." Sitaten started in surprise.
"I will warn you that I am not exactly the most patient teacher." "No, I figured that you wouldn't be." Sitaten looked down at the ground for a moment. "But I'll try my best not to annoy you too much." "Too late for that." he sounded amused, and, upon using her ability to read into emotions, she confirmed that he, indeed, was in a pleasant mood.
"I think I'm getting used to you and Paine's quirky sense of humor. At first, I thought you guys were actually insulting me..." Sitaten began to watch where she was going, as the path became stony. "Actually, we were quite serious when we were assessing your qualities. It has helped you deal with some of your weaker attributes, has it not?" Sitaten's shoulders sank.
"Yeah, I guess so, but you guys don't have to be jerks all the time." "And it would probably be best if you didn't wear your heart on your sleeve all the time." Sitaten was shocked and hurt by his comment.
"Well perhaps you should stop pretending that you don't have one!" She responded, crossing her arms over her chest in the same fury as a child would. Shuyin chuckled.
"And you should grow up a bit. The temples can't protect you anymore." he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Calming herself, Sitaten supposed she should get used to hearing the unadultered truth from Shuyin. Walking a mile in complete silence, Sitaten was left with her thoughts. Paine had brought up an interesting fact earlier. Why couldn't she remember anything? At first she though that maybe the stress she endured for the past two years was what was causing her lapses, but then it occurred to her that simple calming spells would have cleared that up in no time- and she was no stranger to that form of magic. So what could possibly be causing her memory loss? Trying her best to narrow down the time she lost her memory, she tried to remember everything about her mother, father, leaders, fellow acolytes-
And then there was her image again. Long, flowing brown hair, large brown eyes decorated in the traditional paintings of Sitaten's home island, her long white acolyte dress. Yes! She was a student in Bevelle. But for how long? Furrowing her eyebrows, Sitaten looked down and bit her lip in contemplation.
"Why can't I remember...?" she whispered to herself.
"Remember what?" The sound of Shuyin's voice surprised her. "The girl I saw in the temple...I knew her from Bevelle. She was a fellow acolyte...but that's all I remember about her. I don't even know her name." she frowned.
"That is strange..." Baralai, who was catching up with them quickly finally cut in.
"Why?" Shuyin asked.
"The acolytes of each temple are like a single family. We know everything about each other from battle strategy to favorite food. We eat, sleep, and train together. If she was an acolyte, then I should know everything about her." Sitaten furrowed her eyebrows.
"Have you been under a lot of stress lately? A simple calming spell would help" Baralai suggested.
"Yes, and I've already tried that. It's just that some things I can remember, and others are like a hazy blur." "How long has this been happening?" Shuyin asked.
"I don't know, but everything about her is jumbled." "Do you at least remember her name?" Sitaten shook her head.
"That is odd." Baralai nodded.
That night Sitaten was plagued by a series of dreams, some of them snippets of her life, others showing things that have yet to come to pass. Twisting and turning in her sleep, she caught glimpses of the woman she had seen in the temples.
"Sita! Are you all right?" The Yuna look-alike bent over her and helped her to stand on her feet.
"Yeah... it's just all these emotions embedded within the temple walls are clouded my sight." Sitaten panted and stood erect.
"Maybe you should sit down for a little while. We'll make it to the chamber soon." Sitaten looked around to find herself underground, in a stone passage lit with small purplish orbs held in grooves atop small podiums lining the walls.
"I know, but...I," Sitaten's face grew serious. "I can't let my father down. I need to get to the Chamber, and bring him back a..." the last word died on her lips.
"Hnnn...." Sitaten turned over and whimpered in her sleep. She had turned in for bed some time leaving the others to split her portion of the meal and tend to the fire.
"What's up with her?" Gippal nodded to the girl lying inside a sleeping bag.
"Bad dreams..." Paine shrugged it off.
"Or bad memories..." Shuyin poked at the fire.
"Calm down, Sita, you're doing just fine. Remember the protocol and we'll succeed." Baralai whispered to her as they began their trek down to the Djose temple. Crossing the cobble stone bridge, Sitaten felt and eerie sense of calm settle over her. This place, whatever power was surging through the earth at this moment, was suddenly being channeled into her, producing an extreme calm. She looked around to see if any of the pilgrims or peasants noticed. None seemed to, even Baralai continued his sure pace through the crowds, talking to people every now and then and shaking a few hands. Taking a deep breath, she slipped into her role, choosing to ignore what was happening until she was back with the group. "Please do not crowd, we must get to the temple post-haste." Sitaten pushed through the crowd and hung onto Baralai's arm. "Yes, I am very sorry, perhaps I could meet with you all at another time, but I must be going now." Baralai smiled sweetly.
"To be in your presence once is blessing enough for these old bones," an old woman who appeared to have a hump on her back croaked.
"Ah, but that pleasure is reserved for me, alone, Ma'am." He bent to kiss her hand and then beckoned Sitaten to follow him to the temple. "Just keep it up, young Acolyte, you're doing well." he said. "Wow..." in awe, Sitaten let her awe escape her as the rocks that blanketed Djose temple shook and broke free from the structure, revealing two large double doors and a bit of the silver metal structure beneath the stone.
"Keep yourself in check." he warned. Sitaten swallowed and then nodded. It would not do well to show that she was not well traveled. The doors swung open to reveal a dark, cold nave. Stepping inside, Sitaten's ears were filled with the song of the fayth, its rumble seeming to resonate in her chest cavity and ring in her head again and again. Immediately, her nostrils were filled with the scent of heavy incense, offerings left in front of the High Summoner statues that encircle the room. Sitaten held onto the silver necklace again, the song magnifying.
"Please...find him for me..." "Who? Who do you want me to find?" "He'll...he'll know what to do." "I don't understand." Like a distant memory, the words came flooding back to her. The voice, it sounded familiar enough. But where she heard it, and those words... what did it all mean? Perhaps her mind was just playing tricks on her again. Sitaten shook her head and released the locket from her grip.
"We have been expecting you, my lord," a priest descended the long flight of carpeted steps leading to the cloisters and prayed in greeting. Sitaten and Baralai followed suit.
"Is everything well, here?' Baralai asked. "Yes, of course," the priest replied, leading them into one of the small adjoining rooms. The rectory was cluttered with pillow cushions set around a small, short table with a lamp and ink set complete with parchment and quill. The walls were littered with scrolls with Yevon teachings in bold black and other miscellaneous items and such. The priest directed both Sitaten and Baralai to take a seat. Finding a satin blue pillow, Baralai made himself comfortable.
"And the young acolyte?" the old man asked, his crinkly green eyes turning to her. "I would prefer to stand, your grace." Sitaten bowed slightly from the waist.
"Of course, what protectress wouldn't want to be prepared for battle at all times?" he chuckled lightly, "So, what weapons do you specialize in?" "The staff," Sitaten replied. He nodded, "Oh, so you're a summoner in training, eh?" he asked, misinterpreting her meaning of which staff she used.
"Magic has never been my forte." Sitaten replied, leaving enough room to either correct his assumptions, or let him run with them.
"Ah, don't worry. I remember when Lord Braska came here to pray to the fayth. Don't tell anyone but, he needed a bit of practice, himself." he whispered conspiratorially to her. Sitaten chuckled.
"You give much confidence, jii-san." she smiled, feeling slightly guilty for deceiving him. He patter her on the cheek and then turned to Baralai.
"You have a sweet young girl, on your hands, Baralai." "Only if you're nice to her." Sitaten blushed and averted her eyes. Baralai and Rikku were the only two she enjoyed speaking with. Gippal was constantly condescending, Paine was always surly, and Shuyin rarely strung more than two words together unless he was insulting someone.
"And who wouldn't want to be nice to such a beautiful young girl? She must be Besaidian. Only people from the southern islands have that coloring." he was prying too much. Sure, Sitaten was a deep honey, her hair and eyes a dark brown, and that type of person was only found in the hotter regions near the sea. He was trying to narrow down the possible places she was from. Baralai cleared his throat.
"Has everything been made ready in the cloisters?" he asked, interrupting their conversation, and saving Sitaten from her predicament.
"Oh, please forgive me, yes. No one will be allowed near the Chamber of the Fayth until you have emerged from the cloisters. Good luck and, keep this pretty young miss safe, eh?" he winked and kissed her hand. "I will." Baralai said, nodding to her.
"You are prepared to enter the cloister trials?" the priest atop the stairwell asked. Baralai nodded. "This is my guardian." he said, waving in the direction of Sitaten. The priest nodded and then opened the doors.
Stepping inside was like walking into a freezer. The cold stones of the walls and floors reverberated the emptiness of the enclosure. As soon as the doors closed, it seemed as though the rest of the world fell away with the sound. The only thing that could be heard was the voice of the singing fayth and the distant sound of thunder. Here, they were standing before two grand double doors that towered several feet above their heads. On the two side walls, there were small fountains with hand-sized orbs that glowed a bluish white.
"You stay here. I will sort through the cloisters, and when I have finished, I will come back for you. Make sure no one enters through here. No one." he said. Sitaten nodded, and then he was gone.
Sitaten, having been left alone to entertain herself for at least half an hour, was starting to grow bored. Every few minutes she began to dance a bit to keep herself awake. Tossing her head and lip -synching words to an old ballad. She was beginning to enjoy herself when she heard footsteps beyond the doors. Furrowing her eyebrows, Sitaten determined there were four sets, and voices accompanied them. Upon remembering Baralai's words, Sitaten stepped out and looked to find a stone path, illuminated with lightning, lead to a circular pad in the middle of the room. In a room beyond, there was a lot of energy, screaming and lighting the entire area. More importantly was the middle, where she was sure she had seen a disc of white light float into the ceiling, a pair of white legs donning dark blue boots upon it, more distinguishable from the others. Sitaten rushed to the spot just below and cried out when it began to move up. Looking at the newly formed hole in the ceiling, she figured there must be another level to this dark, cold, enchanted place. Once on the next level, Sitaten stepped off the platform for fear hat it might bring her back down to the lower level. Her head snapped up when she heard the clicking of boots again.
"Who's there? No one is allowed in the cloisters until Summoner Baralai has left." she stepped into the adjoining room to find a single girl muttering to herself, pushing little podiums back to the wall. Each time she was successful, the rod leading from the niche to the light source in the middle of the ceiling began to crackle with lightning. Although she was speaking, Sitaten could not hear her words. They were very rushed, and far between.
"You must stop!" Sitaten pulled out her staff. The girl either could not see her or chose to ignore her, because she stood in the center of the room and began talking in hushed tones again, her eyes locked on some unseen force. Was she mad?
And then se remembered seeing that face before. With large brown eyes stained with kohl, the girl shivered, her dark bangs were wet, slicked down on her forehead, the rest of her short locks as flat and languid. She had an extremely long ponytail covered in blue lace that reached her waist. Wearing a blue duster and denim skirt, her denim boots matched perfectly, giving her the appearance of a drenched songstress.
"I don't want to hurt you, so stay there!" Sitaten swiped once with her staff to get her attention, but to no avail. The girl looked past her and began to run straight for her. Sitaten crouched down into a fighting position, preparing fo the impact until-
She went right through her. The warmth seemed to be sucked from her body as the image continued to run, but disappeared as it went through her, the glittery gold tails of pyreflies being the only traces of her form left. Sitaten sucked in a breath, her berry red lips turning gray and her skin paling. "What on earth?" Sitaten looked around for the intruder, but to no avail. And then she heard it- something was running again. Turning back, Sitaten found that there was now a set of staircases leading to where she supposed the Chamber of the Fayth would be. Darting up the stairs as quickly as possible, she was just in time to see the girl step through the golden mask that kept others out of the chamber.
"No, stop!" Sitaten continued on, but the mask slid back into place, blocking her from the other side. She dropped to her knees. What would happen if she finds Baralai? They would never trust her with anything so big again.
"Oh, Yevon..." Sitaten began to hyperventilate.
"Sitaten?" Baralai emerged, his face contorting with worry. He ran by her side and knelt down.
"Did...you....see her?" she asked between breaths.
"I don't understand your words, calm down first." Baralai advised sternly. Immediately, Sitaten forced her breaths to even out, and waited until her heart beat at a steady pace. "Did you see her?" Baralai furrowed his eyebrows and looked to the large mask "See who?" "The girl," Sitaten stood, looking toward the chamber.
"What girl...slow down and explain." "There was an intruder, a girl...I'm sure of it." Sitaten eyed the mask warily.
"I didn't see anyone, Sitaten. The mask will only allow one person to enter at a time, surely you know that." Baralai took her hands in his and peered into her face.
"But I'm sure of it...I saw someone. Oh, maybe I was hallucinating." Sitaten gave in, but she as not convinced. She was absolutely certain that someone had stepped inside the Chamber of the Fayth, without restriction. "You probably passed out...you're ice cold!" he began to lead her down the steps slowly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here." "It's alright, you thought you saw something, and you chased it. No harm done. In fact, you were actually doing exactly what I asked you to." "Did everything go as planned, your grace?" the old priest asked as the two emerged from the trial. "Very well, thank you." "Will you be staying the night?" the priest asked as they met him at the bottom of the stairs.
"I am honored by your invitation, but I must decline. I have very many things to do before I return to Bevelle." "Ah, yes...of course. We have prepared a basket of items for you for your journey: potions, scrolls, ether...the usual." "We appreciate it very much, thank you. If you will, we must be going." Both Baralai and Sitaten bowed. They turned around and walked away until they were upon the door, where the old priest called to them again.
"Just do me on favor, Baralai?" "Yes, Father Pompeii?" "Take care of that girl, she looks like she's seen a ghost!" "I told you not to take her on the mission...she couldn't even do as you asked her." Pain uncrossed her arms and walked away.
"Paine...go easy on her. She thought she saw someone." Baralai was helping to wash the cookware that night. Paine, Rikku, and Gippal were with them, but Shuyin had went away on a reconnaissance mission.
"Oh, and what did this apparition look like eh?" Paine turned her crimson eyes onto Sitaten, causing her to shrink away nervously.
"She had long brown hair, most of it was stuffed into a long ponytail that reached her back." she started, awarding her stares from all around.
"What? You want me to continue? Okay- she wore this blue songstress outfit and, to tell you the truth, she was really pretty. But she had this one thing about her that freaked me out...if not for her eyes, I would have sworn it was Yuna." She had this faraway look in her eyes, holding the pendant that rested on her breast.
"What did you say?" Rikku stared at her blankly.
"Yeah! She looked a lot like Yuna!" Sitaten exclaimed, smiling triumphantly at them. She immediately lost her disposition when she saw the looks on their faces.
"What?" "Never mention that again." Paine went back to scrubbing her pot.
"Why not?" Sitaten furrowed her brows and looked around the campfire.
"Do you need an explanation for everything?" Paine glared at her from beneath her brows. The look had its desired affect- it silenced her for the rest of the night.
"I'm going to bed." Sitaten tossed her iron pan into a bag and then walked away.
"You don't have to go so hard on her, Paine," Gippal began to scratch the back of his head.
"If she ever said something like that to Shuyin he would have killed her on the spot. I think I was more than nice." "She didn't know!" Rikku exclaimed, "You can't keep treating her like that!" Rikku put her the utensils in the bag and stomped away.
"Nice going, Paine..." Gippal scratched his head and chuckled. "Do you want to get hurt?" she glared at him.
The next few days passed by in relative silence, no one wanting to broach the subject of Sitaten's unknowing transgression. The girl herself, walked in front, directly behind Shuyin, occasionally stepping on the soles of his boots, muttering her apologies each time. Finally, Shuyin abruptly turned around and crossed his arms over his chest. The others were a long way behind them, as Paine was trying to bully Rikku up a particularly steep hill.
"What's your problem?" he snapped.
"Sorry...I just wasn't paying attention." she muttered, blushing under his sharp gaze.
"It's annoying the hell out of me." "Sorry," Sitaten lowered her eyes. The young man before her took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
"If you want to keep pace, walk beside me instead." Sitaten's head snapped up and she smiled.
"O-okay..." he turned and began to walk again, this time, with her beside him. "How did you know about the fiend?" he asked.
"Huh? What fiend?" she searched her memory-"Oh, now I remember...I thought I saw something, and I warned you about it." "You're lying." he simply stated.
"N-no I'm not. I'm telling...well...I- I can't really explain to you how I knew." she did not want to lie to him.
"You can trust us." "My kidnappers? I think not. Besides- just know that I can tell when something sinister is nearby, so long as no one breaks my concentration." "Is that what's got you muttering and biting your lip while you walk?" he asked, keeping his eyes trained on what was before him, every now and again allowing hem to dart to and fro in search of something.
"I-no...it isn't, but I can't say..."she mumbled.
"Any secrets that you keep from me could become a liability later on. I suggest you tell me what has been bothering you." he said. Sitaten narrowed her eyes. Did he really care? Using her abilities she found that he was only slightly interested, the only emotion he really showed.
"It might make you mad." she whispered.
"If you tell me now, I'll try to hold back my anger." he said, his confusion and interest boiling.
"I-I don't know what made everyone else so mad but, remember what Baralai told you... about me leaving my post when we were inside the cloisters?" she winced.
"Yes," his voice was harsh.
"Well, he told you that I thought I saw something, but I'm sure I did!" she said, grabbing the silver pendant under the cloth of her tank top.
"Go on," he pushed.
"Well...I saw this girl... a really pretty girl. She stepped right through me, and everything went ice-cold. When I ran inside the hall before the chamber, she walked past the mask. It opened a passageway for her!" she exclaimed, but then settled down. "You don't believe me..." "It was a memory. Probably one of a summoner who went to pray to the fayth." he replied.
"I think so, too. Why else would she enter the Chamber?' Sitaten raised an eyebrow.
"Has this ever happened to you before?" he asked. Sitaten bit her lip in contemplation.
"Once but I didn't see anyone, I only heard her voice." both fell silent and continued their walk. By this time, they were nearing the end of the rocky path, slowly mother nature shifted, the trees providing an outer ring to the forests. Suddenly, she felt a lot of pressure weighing her down, almost as though the air around her was charged with evil energy.
"Do you feel that?" Sitaten asked, finally looking at her.
"Do I feel what?" Shuyin spun around, searching for something.
"The anger..." she whispered more to herself than anyone else, "WATCH OUT!" Sitaten pushed him out of the way just as a tall, thick white snake struck at him. He rolled into a fighting position and withdrew his sword. Immediately, the creature struck out at Sitaten, who dodged the attack by three backflips. Withdrawing her staff, she knew that this fiend would be too quick for Paine, Gippal, or Shuyin to handle. Just as she thought, Rikku and Baralai came to her side. Both had their weapons drawn and were crouched down into position.
"What is this creature?" Sitaten asked.
"It doesn't matter. Don't look into its eyes or it'll petrify you." Baralai warned.
"How fast is it?" She asked.
"Very quick..." "Maybe I should just check to see if it's lifted any items off anyone..." Rikku smirked, darting to the fiend, and jumping back before the creature had any time to register what happened.
"Aha....this 'soft' might come in handy." she tucked a small glass bottle full of silver liquid into her pouch. Baralai took advantage of her inaction and used an attack called 'Glean' where he spun his staff several times quickly, smacking the fiend in the face on the last go. Supposing that it was her turn to do something as they were all 'ganging up' on this creature, Sitaten made use of her Divine Wind, or Hurricane technique. Holding her staff while doing a series of backflips to the creature, she perfectly executed her attack when she round-kicked twice, rolled, and came back up as she smashed her boots into the creature's barred fangs. Unfortunately, she was unable to jump back to a safe distance before the creature struck at her, and managed to sink its poisonous fangs into her am.
"Hey...let go!" Rikku rushed forward and sliced the fiend across its belly twice, pulling Sitaten back when it began to rage.
"Are you okay?" Rikku asked, tossing her an antidote. Sitaten stuffed it in her pocket for later. The battle was yet to be won. "Kyaa!" Shuyin, out of absolutely nowhere, jumped into the air, and thrust his sword down on the fiend, easily splitting it in two. After getting back to his feet and sheathing his sword, the demon dissipated, the lost souls floating away in the wind.
"Ku, that was easy." Rikku said, putting her daggers away. Unfortunately, Sitaten failed to share the same sentiments. Sinking to her knees, she threw up on the ground, hoping that the pocketed antidote would make the poison disappear quicker than the fiend.
"The antidote was made to counter the poison, Sitaten..." Damn Gippal and his patronizing drawl.
"I know that, you dolt." she snapped, reaching into her pockets. Efficiently, she withdrew and uncorked the bottle, downing it within seconds.
"Better?" Rikku sympathetically asked as she kneeled to her level.
"Much." Sitaten stood and waved them all away. Casting a simple healing spell, she quickly rid her body of any evidence the battle.
"I didn't expect you knew how to cast white magic." Shuyin commented, shifted his weight to his right leg.
"Eh...it's required of all acolytes to know a few spells for everyday cuts and bruises." she shrugged.
"Good, then you aren't really useless after all." Shuyin began to walk away.
"Hey...I fought." Sitaten protested.
"And chucked up all of your breakfast from poisoning. I notice that you try to be agile." he started.
"Well...I'm considerably fast..." she shifted slightly.
"You aren't built for speed, but for strength. You have a heavy hand." he said. Sitaten narrowed her eyes sharply and then rounded them in surprise She supposed that would be the closest thing to a compliment she would ever receive from him.
"My mother trained me a bit when I was younger...it continued with my father later, but he believed women should use agility. I've been trying to lighten my weight, but..." she said, blushing.
"You'd be of better use to us if you used your fists rather than your staff." he commented lightly as Baralai helped her to her feet.
"I've noticed much the same," the priest admonished.
"But..." she fingered her staff, the familiarity of the cool metal beneath her fingers, the indentations and emposse. The thought of not having it by her side in a fight was little more than frightening. The staff seemed a lot like an extension of her body more than an inanimate object, and it tugged at her when she began to think of it belonging in her mother's hands.
"I couldn't give up my staff...it's too" she choked.
"You'd do much better without it, but if you want to remain weak, that's entirely up to you," Shuyin started to walk.
"Ku, What a jerk." Rikku crossed her arms over her chest.
"If you can't find yourself parting with your staff, I'd be more than happy to train you, Sitaten." Baralai offered. Sitaten muffled a slight sob.
"No, he's right. I don't have the build to be very agile. I'm made for strength." The rest of them began to walk.
"Are you going to give up on it?" Paine asked, for the first time speaking to her without any obvious sign of loathing.
"No. If my mother could do it, so can I. Come to think of it, the women from her island used katanas, the second form of the staff. But if only I could remember the third form..." "You don't seem to remember very much at all," Paine commented.
"Are you teasing?" Sitaten asked, watching her face for any indication. Just as she suspected, Paine's mouth twitched.
"If it helps you sleep better," she said, speeding up a bit. Trotting to catch up with Shuyin and keep pace, she wondered whether they were traveling so slow because of her, or if it was because of the difficult terrain. She decided it must have been the former, seeing as how he slowed a bit when she fought to keep up with his long strides. And then it occurred to her-
Perhaps Shuyin was not as cold hearted as she once believed him to be.
"Shuyin?" she ventured.
"Yes?" "If I did give up my staff, would you... I mean, if you could...would you help me with my training in using my hands?" There, she had asked. And although she expected that he would turn her down- perhaps even laugh in her face- somehow she believed he might actually consider it because she would be of much use to them if she used her strength. He must of thought along the same lines because he replied with a "Yes." "You wouldn't mind? I mean..." Sitaten started in surprise.
"I will warn you that I am not exactly the most patient teacher." "No, I figured that you wouldn't be." Sitaten looked down at the ground for a moment. "But I'll try my best not to annoy you too much." "Too late for that." he sounded amused, and, upon using her ability to read into emotions, she confirmed that he, indeed, was in a pleasant mood.
"I think I'm getting used to you and Paine's quirky sense of humor. At first, I thought you guys were actually insulting me..." Sitaten began to watch where she was going, as the path became stony. "Actually, we were quite serious when we were assessing your qualities. It has helped you deal with some of your weaker attributes, has it not?" Sitaten's shoulders sank.
"Yeah, I guess so, but you guys don't have to be jerks all the time." "And it would probably be best if you didn't wear your heart on your sleeve all the time." Sitaten was shocked and hurt by his comment.
"Well perhaps you should stop pretending that you don't have one!" She responded, crossing her arms over her chest in the same fury as a child would. Shuyin chuckled.
"And you should grow up a bit. The temples can't protect you anymore." he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Calming herself, Sitaten supposed she should get used to hearing the unadultered truth from Shuyin. Walking a mile in complete silence, Sitaten was left with her thoughts. Paine had brought up an interesting fact earlier. Why couldn't she remember anything? At first she though that maybe the stress she endured for the past two years was what was causing her lapses, but then it occurred to her that simple calming spells would have cleared that up in no time- and she was no stranger to that form of magic. So what could possibly be causing her memory loss? Trying her best to narrow down the time she lost her memory, she tried to remember everything about her mother, father, leaders, fellow acolytes-
And then there was her image again. Long, flowing brown hair, large brown eyes decorated in the traditional paintings of Sitaten's home island, her long white acolyte dress. Yes! She was a student in Bevelle. But for how long? Furrowing her eyebrows, Sitaten looked down and bit her lip in contemplation.
"Why can't I remember...?" she whispered to herself.
"Remember what?" The sound of Shuyin's voice surprised her. "The girl I saw in the temple...I knew her from Bevelle. She was a fellow acolyte...but that's all I remember about her. I don't even know her name." she frowned.
"That is strange..." Baralai, who was catching up with them quickly finally cut in.
"Why?" Shuyin asked.
"The acolytes of each temple are like a single family. We know everything about each other from battle strategy to favorite food. We eat, sleep, and train together. If she was an acolyte, then I should know everything about her." Sitaten furrowed her eyebrows.
"Have you been under a lot of stress lately? A simple calming spell would help" Baralai suggested.
"Yes, and I've already tried that. It's just that some things I can remember, and others are like a hazy blur." "How long has this been happening?" Shuyin asked.
"I don't know, but everything about her is jumbled." "Do you at least remember her name?" Sitaten shook her head.
"That is odd." Baralai nodded.
That night Sitaten was plagued by a series of dreams, some of them snippets of her life, others showing things that have yet to come to pass. Twisting and turning in her sleep, she caught glimpses of the woman she had seen in the temples.
"Sita! Are you all right?" The Yuna look-alike bent over her and helped her to stand on her feet.
"Yeah... it's just all these emotions embedded within the temple walls are clouded my sight." Sitaten panted and stood erect.
"Maybe you should sit down for a little while. We'll make it to the chamber soon." Sitaten looked around to find herself underground, in a stone passage lit with small purplish orbs held in grooves atop small podiums lining the walls.
"I know, but...I," Sitaten's face grew serious. "I can't let my father down. I need to get to the Chamber, and bring him back a..." the last word died on her lips.
"Hnnn...." Sitaten turned over and whimpered in her sleep. She had turned in for bed some time leaving the others to split her portion of the meal and tend to the fire.
"What's up with her?" Gippal nodded to the girl lying inside a sleeping bag.
"Bad dreams..." Paine shrugged it off.
"Or bad memories..." Shuyin poked at the fire.