No Matter How Dark the Night
Chapter 3
Disclaimer- I do not own rights to FFX or anything associated with it.
Ok, guys- here you go! Now is when things start getting interesting! Thx to Sakin for your great R&R on chapter 2.
As the months passed, Isthia's seemingly natural talent for the summoner's art gained her a lot of attention. Auron's prowess with the katana was making him into somewhat of a legend among the apprentice warrior monks, as well as earning him some admiration from the ever present females, all too eager for an excuse to watch him work. He smiled as he executed a somewhat difficult parry against his sparring partner, a faint flush creeping to his cheeks at the gasps and whispers from the girls gathered at the arena's edge. As his partner stepped back to regain his balance, Auron suddenly lunged forward, knocking his opponent's weapon from his grasp and sending him flying. "Bravo, Auron! One more down. How many does that make that you've vanquished this week? Six?" Auron twisted his weapon in a warrior's salute. "Actually, seven," he replied. Wen Kinoc, the Maester, smiled. "Keep this up and you'll be a guardian in no time." Auron pushed his hair away from his face, gathering the dark strands into a ponytail. Bowing formally, he sheathed his sword and helped his opponent up. "Good spar. We should do it again sometime." The young apprentice smiled at Auron, rubbing his arm ruefully. "Yeah, in about ten years when I've had as much practice as you." Auron grinned and made his way to the outskirts of the arena, trying to get past the girls who giggled and squealed at his approach. They scattered as he walked through them, save for one. Auron abruptly stopped when she didn't step aside. "Looks like you know your way around with that thing," the girl said in a surprisingly deep, sultry voice. Auron took in her measure. Tall, slender, golden hair and green eyes. "Thank you, miss-?" "Gaia. I'm Molkan's daughter." "Molkan? As in the high priest Molkan?" Auron was stunned. How did a girl like that come from someone as physically repulsive as him? Gaia smiled. "Not what you expected?" "Uh, no, I...just...didn't think he had any children, or...was married..." Auron trailed off, not really knowing what to say. Gaia laughed. "You're Auron, no?" "That's right," he replied, swinging his katana up onto his shoulder. Gaia stepped away. "Perhaps we'll meet again," Auron just nodded and watched her go. Certainly not a beauty like Isthia, but she had a very commanding presence. Must get it from her father, Auron thought absently, his feet taking him toward where he knew he'd find his Isthia.
At that moment, Isthia was finishing her lesson in second-level black magic. Having mastered both 1st level white magic and 1st level black magic, her instructor decided to move her on to second-level castings. After performing Fira several times, Isthia was confident that any fiend would think twice after she attacked with it. Her instructor was impressed as well. "Nicely done, Isthia. If your summoning arts are anywhere near as good as your magic, Spira has uncovered a great treasure." Isthia blushed. "Thank you, your eminence." The mage smiled encouragingly before patting her arm and walking away, her temple robe swishing softly. Isthia took a deep breath and massaged her temples, which ached slightly with the effort of concentrating so long. "That's good work," said a voice behind her. Isthia whirled, surprised. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," the speaker said. Isthia sized him up briefly. Brown eyes, tall, good build, with light brown hair falling over his eyes. Fairly good looking, but no heart-pounder like Auron. He held out his hand. "I'm Kirin Lighthand, priest of St. Bevelle. And you are?" "Apprentice summoner Isthia," she replied, shaking his hand briefly. "Mmmm....I've been watching you for a while now. Your talent is incredible, and I'm not just saying that. Most apprentice summoners haven't made it past 1st level by now, and you're well on your way to 3rd level. Before you know it, you'll be ready for the trials." Isthia blushed at the young man's words. "Th-thank you, my lord! That's very kind of you." Kirin smiled. "Please, call me Kirin. And it's not kind, it's the truth." Isthia lowered her eyes, not exactly liking the way his eyes lingered on her. Kirin studied her a moment before backing away, to Isthia's relief. "Well, milady, perhaps we'll meet again. May Yevon guide you," he said, bowing in prayer before walking away. Isthia returned the bow, then took up her staff and went to find Auron.
As she thought, she found him in one of Bevelle's many gardens. He embraced her, kissing her forehead tenderly. He noticed the weariness in her eyes. "Rough day?" he asked, his deep voice thrilling her to her core. She nodded. "Plus a rather tiresome priest who is 'amazed with my talent,'" Isthia cracked. Auron's hand moved toward his katana. "Do I need to take care of business?" He growled half-seriously. Isthia laughed. "No, I don't think so. How about you? Anyone new drooling over you today?" Auron smirked. "Yeah, the high priest's daughter. Actually, it wasn't drooling...I don't think. She was just being nice." "Uh-huh. Sure. Well, high priest's daughter or not, she'd better stay away, or I'll show her what my training has taught me," Isthia said playfully, her grip on her staff tightening. Auron laughed and put his arm around her slender waist. "Come on. Let's get out of here." Together, they walked away, arms around each other. The velvet darkness of night closed around them.
Well, that's it for this chappie. Looks like Auron and Isthia are turning some heads- think we'll be hearing from Kirin and Gaia again? Mwahahaha! You'll have to read the next chapter to find out! Coming soon to a website near you! ;-)
Disclaimer- I do not own rights to FFX or anything associated with it.
Ok, guys- here you go! Now is when things start getting interesting! Thx to Sakin for your great R&R on chapter 2.
As the months passed, Isthia's seemingly natural talent for the summoner's art gained her a lot of attention. Auron's prowess with the katana was making him into somewhat of a legend among the apprentice warrior monks, as well as earning him some admiration from the ever present females, all too eager for an excuse to watch him work. He smiled as he executed a somewhat difficult parry against his sparring partner, a faint flush creeping to his cheeks at the gasps and whispers from the girls gathered at the arena's edge. As his partner stepped back to regain his balance, Auron suddenly lunged forward, knocking his opponent's weapon from his grasp and sending him flying. "Bravo, Auron! One more down. How many does that make that you've vanquished this week? Six?" Auron twisted his weapon in a warrior's salute. "Actually, seven," he replied. Wen Kinoc, the Maester, smiled. "Keep this up and you'll be a guardian in no time." Auron pushed his hair away from his face, gathering the dark strands into a ponytail. Bowing formally, he sheathed his sword and helped his opponent up. "Good spar. We should do it again sometime." The young apprentice smiled at Auron, rubbing his arm ruefully. "Yeah, in about ten years when I've had as much practice as you." Auron grinned and made his way to the outskirts of the arena, trying to get past the girls who giggled and squealed at his approach. They scattered as he walked through them, save for one. Auron abruptly stopped when she didn't step aside. "Looks like you know your way around with that thing," the girl said in a surprisingly deep, sultry voice. Auron took in her measure. Tall, slender, golden hair and green eyes. "Thank you, miss-?" "Gaia. I'm Molkan's daughter." "Molkan? As in the high priest Molkan?" Auron was stunned. How did a girl like that come from someone as physically repulsive as him? Gaia smiled. "Not what you expected?" "Uh, no, I...just...didn't think he had any children, or...was married..." Auron trailed off, not really knowing what to say. Gaia laughed. "You're Auron, no?" "That's right," he replied, swinging his katana up onto his shoulder. Gaia stepped away. "Perhaps we'll meet again," Auron just nodded and watched her go. Certainly not a beauty like Isthia, but she had a very commanding presence. Must get it from her father, Auron thought absently, his feet taking him toward where he knew he'd find his Isthia.
At that moment, Isthia was finishing her lesson in second-level black magic. Having mastered both 1st level white magic and 1st level black magic, her instructor decided to move her on to second-level castings. After performing Fira several times, Isthia was confident that any fiend would think twice after she attacked with it. Her instructor was impressed as well. "Nicely done, Isthia. If your summoning arts are anywhere near as good as your magic, Spira has uncovered a great treasure." Isthia blushed. "Thank you, your eminence." The mage smiled encouragingly before patting her arm and walking away, her temple robe swishing softly. Isthia took a deep breath and massaged her temples, which ached slightly with the effort of concentrating so long. "That's good work," said a voice behind her. Isthia whirled, surprised. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," the speaker said. Isthia sized him up briefly. Brown eyes, tall, good build, with light brown hair falling over his eyes. Fairly good looking, but no heart-pounder like Auron. He held out his hand. "I'm Kirin Lighthand, priest of St. Bevelle. And you are?" "Apprentice summoner Isthia," she replied, shaking his hand briefly. "Mmmm....I've been watching you for a while now. Your talent is incredible, and I'm not just saying that. Most apprentice summoners haven't made it past 1st level by now, and you're well on your way to 3rd level. Before you know it, you'll be ready for the trials." Isthia blushed at the young man's words. "Th-thank you, my lord! That's very kind of you." Kirin smiled. "Please, call me Kirin. And it's not kind, it's the truth." Isthia lowered her eyes, not exactly liking the way his eyes lingered on her. Kirin studied her a moment before backing away, to Isthia's relief. "Well, milady, perhaps we'll meet again. May Yevon guide you," he said, bowing in prayer before walking away. Isthia returned the bow, then took up her staff and went to find Auron.
As she thought, she found him in one of Bevelle's many gardens. He embraced her, kissing her forehead tenderly. He noticed the weariness in her eyes. "Rough day?" he asked, his deep voice thrilling her to her core. She nodded. "Plus a rather tiresome priest who is 'amazed with my talent,'" Isthia cracked. Auron's hand moved toward his katana. "Do I need to take care of business?" He growled half-seriously. Isthia laughed. "No, I don't think so. How about you? Anyone new drooling over you today?" Auron smirked. "Yeah, the high priest's daughter. Actually, it wasn't drooling...I don't think. She was just being nice." "Uh-huh. Sure. Well, high priest's daughter or not, she'd better stay away, or I'll show her what my training has taught me," Isthia said playfully, her grip on her staff tightening. Auron laughed and put his arm around her slender waist. "Come on. Let's get out of here." Together, they walked away, arms around each other. The velvet darkness of night closed around them.
Well, that's it for this chappie. Looks like Auron and Isthia are turning some heads- think we'll be hearing from Kirin and Gaia again? Mwahahaha! You'll have to read the next chapter to find out! Coming soon to a website near you! ;-)
