Seeing more in Seymour
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Final Fantasy Ten. (This is my fan fiction, meaning certain things that happened in the game will not be mentioned or will be twisted in the ways I see fit. Thanks, enjoy!)
Wakka led the group out of the stadium, the aeon still fresh on everyone's mind. They walked up the steps that separate Luca from the Mi'ihen Highroad. Yuna had been daydreaming again, when she looked back at her guardians. 'Something is missing… Where's Tidus?'
"Wakka wait, we have to go back. Tidus is gone!" Yuna said as she hurried back down the stairs. She ran until a large body stopped her. "I'm sorry sir..S-sir Auron?" Yuna said as she looked at him in disbelief. Tidus stepped from behind Auron.
"Yuna." Auron said in a stern voice.
"Sir?" Yuna answered.
"I wish to become your guardian, do you accept?" He asked.
"You're serious?" Lulu chimed in.
"You refuse?" Auron asked challengingly.
"No, no! We accept! Right everyone?" Yuna asked, looking at all her guardians. Lulu looked puzzled, and Wakka seemed thrilled.
"O-of course! No problem at all!" Wakka said hastily.
"But… why?" Lulu asked, looking at Auron perplexed. Auron looked away, and then looked directly into Yuna' eyes.
"I promised Braska." Auron said as he adjusted his shades. Auron grabbed Tidus roughly by the forearm and threw him in front of Yuna. "He comes too. A promise to Jecht." Yuna nods.
"Yes." Yuna nodded in agreement.
"Let's go, there's no time to waste." Auron said as he led the group up the remainder of the stairs.
Yuna had never traveled the Mi'ihen road by foot before, and it seemed like such a long road. Fiends were everywhere; Yuna could have sworn the fiends were attacking everyone few minutes. Her guardians would fight with all their strength, and Yuna got some practice in on summoning her aeons. Every time she summoned, she couldn't help but think of Maester Seymour's aeon. It was simply the strongest creature she had ever laid eyes on. Her guardians noticed Yuna's lack of enthusiasm in the battles. She was simply too distracted to fight.
'That aeon, I've never heard of it before. It was just so… strong. I wonder if there are other aeons as rare as that.' Yuna imagined outlandish creatures, in hidden temples all over Spira. 'With training, maybe I'll be able to summon it too.'
The group got to the edge of the road, and saw an array of crusaders, chocobo knights, and some Al Bhed.
"What's up with this..?" Tidus said irritated. Wakka shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh well." Tidus said as he walked through.
"Halt!" An officer said. "I'm sorry sir, but I cannot let you through." Tidus looked at him in disbelief and began to walk back.
"You're a summoner and her guardians, right? Sorry for the inconvenience, we are still preparing for the operation down this road." Another officer said apologetically.
"Operation?" Wakka said confused.
"The Al Bhed, Chocobo Knights, and Crusaders are gathering sin spawn together in an attempt to draw sin into a trap." The officer said with a throw of hi balled up fist.
Yuna gasped at the idea. 'This isn't the way to exterminate sin. It won't work, and it's against the teachings.' She shook her head slowly and turned to walk in the other direction. When she looked up again she saw the good Maester, she couldn't believe her eyes. He walked so gracefully, as if he walked on air. She noticed the two guados he had with him; she guessed they were his guardians. She prayed to Yevon before he stopped in front of her.
"So we meet again, Lady Yuna." Seymour said, he voice sounding pleased.
"Y-yes." Yuna nodded nervously.
"You look troubled. Is there anything I can do?" Seymour asked, his body leaned toward her slightly. Yuna looked back to the officers.
"Well…" She said, not really knowing how to ask.
"I see." Seymour said, acknowledging the unspoken request. He walked towards the commanding officer, who saluted him. His guardians stood behind him defensively.
"Maester Seymour, let me show you to the command center-" Seymour stopped him.
"Hold." He brought his hand up. "I have a request."
"Yes, your grace?" The officer asked concerned.
"I need to have Summoner Yuna and her guardians let through to the command center." He said.
"But Maester Seymour… Maester Seymour sir…" The guard said as he began to scratch his chin.
"Do not worry I will take full responsibility." Seymour said, the truth evident in his voice.
"Very well, they may pass." The officer said, knowing he couldn't deny the request of a maester; he stepped to the side to allow them passage. Seymour turned back to Yuna, and smiled.
"It is done." He nodded, smiled, and slowly walked away.
"Thank you, your grace." Yuna said and she bowed in thanks. Lulu patted Yuna on the shoulder.
"Yuna, it's time to go." She said as she led the way. Yuna followed and so did the rest of the group. She could feel a blush rising to her cheeks; he had gone out of his way to help her, such a kind gesture.
The group followed a good distance behind the Maester and watched him speak to the troops from afar. An officer stood beside him, calling everyone's attention.
"All hail Master Seymour!" He said, holding his arm up. Everyone, with the exception of the Al Bhed held their right hand across their chest.
"Brave crusaders of Spira, protectors of all Spira. Believe in the path you have chosen, let faith be your strength! I, Seymour Guado, maester of Yevon, will bear witness to your deeds today." He said loudly. He couldn't help but feel that he should not be here, that Mika should be here in his place. The conversation they had played over in his mind. Seymour had tried to convince Mika to stop this operation. He had a bad feeling about it, what with the machina and all. Mika assured him that everything would flow smoothly, and that success was within reach. Seymour gave up; Maester Mika only saw that this effort was to defeat Sin. He would not be here if not for Maester Mika, Seymour would have looked down upon this without a second thought. Why shouldn't he believe Maester Mika? He has been the leader of all Yevonites for a long time. He saw no reason to doubt anything he said.
"Sir!" He received a unified response from the watching crowd. Wakka gave a humph of disbelief.
"Why is Maester Seymour backing the Crusaders, eh? They're going against the teachings!" Wakka whined. Yuna looked down at her boots.
'I understand why he is supporting them, it is deeper than teachings, it's hope and the will to try and rid Spira of Sin.' Yuna thought, and then spoke without looking up. "Even going against the teachings... they are willing to risk it for the greater good. Wakka, I think Maester Seymour sees that too." Yuna said, trying to keep her voice from cracking. Wakka still could not understand why Maester Seymour was in fact siding with the crusaders. Wakka was complaining, and heard someone walk up behind him. Maester Seymour approached Auron and bowed.
"Sir Auron, it's an honor to meet you." Seymour said respectfully. Auron huffed and walked away. Seymour took no offense by Auron's gesture, and he walked in front of Yuna. "Sir Auron must be a great asset as a guardian." Seymour said, with his knowledge of the legendary guardian. Yuna quickly bowed, not having expected him to speak directly to her.
"Your grace." Seymour held up his hand and looked down.
"Please, there's no need for formalities." He shook the hand he had held up. Wakka walked between them.
"Excuse me your grace, but isn't this operation going against the teachings?" Wakka asked, as if to remind him of his duties as a Maester of Yevon.
"It's true." Seymour looked at him directly. "I should. However, both the Crusaders and the Al Bhed truly wish peace for Spira. This operation Mi'ihen was born from that wish they share. Although it may be sacrilege to Yevon, their intentions are pure. And I, Seymour Guado, the person, not the Maester of Yevon… as a denizen of Spira, I wish them well in their endeavor." Seymour said, his true feelings staying locked inside. He had prepared that speech for a case such as this. He could not betray Maester Mika…
"But, machina is bad though, right?" Wakka asked as he looked at the array of machina, in their various shapes, sizes, and colors. Seymour couldn't think of anything to back the question up.
"Pretend you didn't see them." As soon as it came out of his mouth he regretted saying it. Yuna and her guardians all gasped at the unexpected remark. Wakka walked up to him, raising a hand in confusion.
"Beg your pardon, but that isn't something a maester should say." Yet another question for which he had no answer. Seymour shrugged.
"Then pretend I didn't say it." Seymour said and then walked off to join his guardians. His last two comments, to Yuna, seemed unnatural. She shook her head disappointedly. All her guardians seemed taken aback, with the exception of Auron and Tidus of course.
"No time to dwell, let's go." Auron said as he walked away, not waiting on anyone. Tidus followed right behind him, mumbling something about not liking Seymour. Yuna jogged to catch up with them, and everyone else followed shortly. The group started their short journey to Djose temple, when a young man came running toward Yuna. He saluted Yuna, and then clutched his knees, as if he had ran a long way.
"Lady Summoner Yuna?" He asked, gasping between the words.
"Yes?" Yuna asked him curiously.
"The command center," He looked in the direction he had came, "Maester Seymour requests your presence there, ma'am." Yuna looked to Auron for guidance, and he nodded in reply. Then the young officer gave her vague directions, and asked them to take a detour due to preparations for the operation.
"Thank you very much." She did the prayer of Yevon and the young officer ran back the way he had come. Auron touched Yuna's shoulder briefly and nodded in the direction of the detour, and then headed that way.