A grin spread through the rosy lips, proud, knowing and cheery. Her mind concentrated, racing through the different abilities that were to be summoned in her aid, and pleading words prayed to her spirit, begging to own the powers of it. The call that bloomed within her blood rippled, allowing the young Sorceress to know she had been gifted. There was affinity with the animal within, and the beast was pricing her with the qualities that well defined it.
"Let's begin." Smiled Laethos at the woman, seeing the conflict inside her troubled soul vanishing.
A misty haze, like the thread of fog Tidus had seen on his path through the corridors, appeared before the woman. It immediately became a young man, with dark hair and a proud smirk. The youth smiled at her with dominance, but Rikku didn't let herself be tricked by this mental effect.
"You are both to fight only by the use of the gifts your Animal Spirit has lent you!" roared the voice of the High Priest stronger and more powerful than Rikku had ever heard it.
"This is not a fight to death, simply an exhibition, so the warrior that is thrown out of the platform first is automatically defeated. Use your brains and play with strategy!" Laethos continued.
Immediately, a strong trail of light encircled the boy and the young apprentice. Rikku thought quickly, ignoring most of her own gifts, and definitely not knowing the Animal Spirit of her opponent. At one sign from the High Priest, the fight began. Measuring themselves, both fighters taunted the battlefield, observing, thinking and planning.
The boy attacked the girl, a leap that was so strong and quick it took her completely off guard. But then again, her inherited instincts took the fighter off guard as well, and the girl leapt to the air, flying without wings, simply flapping her arms as such. The boy nearly fell off the ring, but landed agile and swift, on his feet like a cat. A cat! Rikku saw on the moment that the boy was a feline, a large feline, probably a black panther, from the black hair and glowing green eyes.
"Good movement!" praised the High Priest, smiling gently at the woman.
Rikku realized her vision had turned very sharp, and she could see the smirk of the boy as closely as if she was inhaling his breath. The boy was getting ready to pounce again, or so she thought, but instead of leaping the dark figure vanished, becoming invisible. The girl understood he was not really invisible, but moving silently like all cats, and blending with the murky shadows that sneaked here and there into the ring.
This was an intelligent strategy, confuse her, not letting her know from which side he would attack. He did not expect, however, her intelligent attack. Inhaling an enormous breath of air, her lungs exploded in such a sharp and acute screech that even Laethos had to cover his ears, shutting his eyes and wrinkling his forehead with an expression of pain. The panther boy rolled out of the shadows, moaning and covering his ears, his very keen sense of hearing becoming an inconvenient, as his head throbbed about to explode.
Rikku didn't loose a second, this was her fight, and she had already won it. The boy laid on the ground, confused, close to the luminous limit of the platform. Using all her strength, the young Sorceress began flapping her arms strongly, a gust of cold wind being released from her gifted wings. Screeching again, the boy, who was clawed to the ground, released his hands and let the wind carry the light body out of the ring.
"Rikku of the Al Bhed!" thundered Laethos' voice, "You have passed your first trial satisfactory!" he explained with a broad, gentle smile.
Rikku landed softly, agile and silently like a feline herself, her gifts being retreated for the time being, but the soft screeching in her ear told her she was allowed by the animal within to use such gifts. Her eyes were misty, confused, and dreamy, sparkling with the delight swelling inside her prideful. A hand took a hold of her own, and she was tugged back into reality by the firm but noble grip of the High Priest. Laethos smiled at her, and she grinned happily, cheerfully, registering still the events and her well deserved triumph.
"Rikku, I would be pleased if you should accompany me to dinner tonight, that way we can speak about your second trial, and I can give you some tips myself." Laethos said with a smile, placing his lips softly over the girls hand.
"Oh…!" the young sorceress was taken by surprise, but she soon regained her integrity and smiled, "It would be a pleasure!" she said happily, smiling gently at the handsome man, gazing at the sparkling blue eyes.
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Tidus had been pacing back and forth through the corridor, nervous pads clawing the tiles of the floor, a crystalline chime echoing through the empty corridor. Pale eyes gazed profoundly at the door, oceanic orbs staring eagerly at the large, wooden door. Nothing, no sound, no spark, no voice, except a thick and an empty silence escaped the tightly shut portal. He was growing worried by the moment, time ticked past emphasizing the seconds, and centuries appeared to have flown past the white, scaly body with cruel laughter.
"Rikku…" Tidus whispered worriedly, glancing from time to time at the room's entrance while his feet padded back and forth.
A screech, a tearing sound similar to that of ancient trees being swayed by gentle gusts of winter breeze. Ice that shot back towards the door in time to see a fissure growing steadily. And out she came, exhausted, with her cloths ruffled, her hair untidy, her skin pale and her whole body drained of all energy. But she was glowing. Spiralled eyes sparkled as they contacted so sweetly with the young fiend, and a radiant smile spread through her mouth, stretching her lips.
"I did it, Ocean!" were her faint, feeble words, mustered through a noticeably tired voice, but delighted all the same.
Tidus emitted a bark and galloped towards the girl. Rikku spread her arms as if they were wings, preparing herself to receive the scaly body in a tight embrace. Her eyes closed with delight as she allowed her body to lean against the boy's warmth, resting so gently and placidly against Tidus that Rikku exhaled a pleased sigh. Her slender and elegant arms closed around the hard muscles, the well formed and broad back, the curt, tan skin. A pair of strong arms squeezed her gently in such an amorous hug Rikku felt light headed, as if present in a dream. Then she gasped as soon as realization dawned in her mind. Closed eyes shot back open, and she pulled back slightly to gaze at the handsome figure, threads of golden hair falling over crystal eyes, and gentle lips smiling so happily and softly at her.
"Tidus!" she gasped startled at the presence of the human boy.
It was then that Tidus realized, he glanced at himself and observed his human body embroidered in his old Blitzball clothes. He was far too glad with Rikku's passing examination to worry about this curious phenomenon. The boy shrugged and grinned at the woman, showing his collection of pearly teeth, where Rikku could distinguish a pair of larger, sharper fangs.
"Congratulations again Rikku!" Laethos walked past, interrupting the situation with a coldness and a calm that was unnatural, even for the High Priest of the Mirage Tower.
Tidus and Rikku glanced at him with a very fix and stunned gaze, not out of disrespect or dislike, simply of amusement towards this curious character.
"Oh…!" exclaimed the man all of a sudden, apparently repairing on Tidus' presence, "Interesting, very interesting!" he mumbled walking away, commenting to himself something about "curious reactions".
"Lets go back to the room, you need to rest!" said Tidus suddenly exploding in a flash of bright light, and turning back into the Vihur.
"You are right!" Rikku felt slightly weak, her legs were numb, and a yawn escaped her mouth.
Her passiveness around Tidus transformation was not due to lack of interest or surprise, mostly because of the fact that she was completely exhausted. There was a hope shinning within her as well, illuminating her soul. Rikku fervently believed that the stance in this tower will greatly benefit Tidus, and maybe this sudden shape shifting was only a sided reaction to the change that was to happen permanently. Tidus, on the other hand, knew better, and was appearing happy, joyful, although deep inside he was slowly dying with the knowledge that the only way of recovering humanity was risking his life. Of course, he would not tell Rikku just now and blow away her happiness so cruelly. So he just smiled at her and talked, mostly listened to the fight's events.
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A gentle knocking on the door echoed through the dark, silent room. Tidus had been laying comfortably on a cool spot next to the bed, he was vigilant, hence he was also dozing slightly due to the afternoon warmth and the silent shadows that crawled over his eyelids. His head shot up and he proceeded to open the door. Standing up of his hinds and pawing the bar shaped door hinge, the wooden item swayed open emitting only a gentle screech. Rikku whimpered lightly and shifted under the covers, resuming her sleep without perturbation. Tidus looked at her with observant eyes, and once he was convinced she was profoundly asleep, the vihur walked outside.
"Hi Tidus!" smiled Laethos with a blissful gaze directed at the darkness of the room, "I see she is sleeping, pity, I was wiling to talk with her personally. I guess that leaves us time for one of our little chats!" commented the priest turning to look at the vihur.
"Yeah, I guess so!" sighed the youth, he was not looking forward to another chat with the eccentric and curious man.
His blue eyes examined the new extravagances of the man. This time, the boy seemed to be covered by some kind of dark, stain armour, formed out of scales. The gauntlets and the boots had claw like blades, and the helmet he was carrying on one hand was crowned by a pair of small horns, and the hole that allowed vision was the shape of a dragon's open mouth, representing the fangs that served as protection for the eyes and mouth. Trailing his back was a tail, so real it almost seemed to be part of his anatomy, and folded elegantly behind were a pair of leathery wings. Tidus' scaly eyebrow raised amused.
"What are you supposed to be now?" inquired the boy glancing at the man as if he was a madman, and unconsciously recoiling one step back.
"Isn't it obvious?" Laethos inquired, and seemed almost hurt when he saw the bewildered glance being sent at him, "I'm a Guardian of Bahamut!" he bellowed proudly.
"Hush!" Tidus winced, glancing at the sleeping girl with worry, "She's sleeping!" the Vihur's sever whisper seemed to flow deep inside the man's eccentricities, and his gaze softened.
"The Guardians were an ancient order of dragon warriors. Before the summoners, people of Spira believed in the existence of this gods, the ones called Aeons afterwards. Bahamut was one of them, and their worshippers, the Guardians became fierce warriors, and they also adopted some of the dragon traits, like the wings, and the tail to manoeuvre." Laethos explained with his gaze staring into the depths of time, nostalgia shading his features, "I used to be one of them!" he murmured so sadly that Tidus swore he had seen tears in his eyes.
"You were a Guardian? But that's impossible, they must have lived more than a thousand years ago!" snapped Tidus staring at the boy suspiciously, and repairing on something Laethos was carrying on his right arm, something that resemble perilously to a brilliant, sparkling dress, long to the ankles and the colour of pearly snow.
"And what is that for?" gasped the Vihur defensively.
"I saw your transformation today, Tidus, very amusing!" commented Laethos either ignoring completely his questions, or he simply hadn't noticed.
"I found that curious as well." Tidus relaxed slightly, being boarded the one doubt that assaulted him, "But hey, you didn't answer to my questions!" the boy returned to his former doubts, speaking a bit too loudly, making a slight manifestation of his anger.
"I think it's emotions!" commented Laethos as if Tidus was simply a wall with whom he was discussing some theory.
"Excuse me?" inquired the vihur, his head tilting to one side, confusion was becoming something very common in his life lately.
"Yes, you see Tidus, it's not ecstasy what forces your humanity to bloom, but strong emotions!" Laethos seemed very pleased with this deduction, but there was some tint of pain written in his features, so subtle, so faint, but there it was.
"Strong emotions?" inquired Tidus, catching the drift only faintly.
"Yes, anger, delight, joy, fury…love!" this last word whispered, this last voice strangled in his throat as the man's blue eyes looked down painfully.
"But you don't think that means there is another way of becoming human, do you?" inquired Tidus who had understood the man's words.
"No!" exclaimed the man rather abruptly, startling the Vihur, "not unless you can find another way of maintaining your body in an altered state of emotion for twelve hours!" commented Laethos looking at Tidus once again.
"I will never survive a fight of twelve hours against Soletha!" moaned the white reptile, staring at Laethos with a pleading gaze.
"Have faith!" where the High Priest's only words.
Laethos deposited the beautiful dress on the ground, at Tidus feet. No words pronounced, only a glance that spoke of misery. The man stared at the fiend with a look that spoke of a slight, healthy jealousy, and a faint smile almost murmured about some luck Tidus owned that he, himself, as powerful and strong as he was, lacked completely.
"We are not so different, you know?" Laethos mustered, and he turned around, allowing his paces to take him away.
Tidus had always seen the sarcastic vision of the priest, but now he was staring at the human side of someone he always believed cold, inhuman. Tidus began to admired and respect Laethos, he had finally seen the emotive side, and found out that he could suffer. Although he ignored the reasons for this suffering, that was of little importance to him than the fact that this archaic figure could feel.
"Oh, and Tidus, you are right!" were his last words before he vanished into the shadows, never stopping, never turning, but speaking to the Vihur more directly than he had done in the last minutes.
Tidus didn't understand anything from this conversation. He always had a feeling of bewilderment after speaking with the priest, but this time his mysterious words had spoken more truth than the usual ethereal and spiritual conversation they had maintained. Eventually this conversations ended up revealing something that concerned him, but this time Tidus was bewildered. Nothing Laethos spoke this time made sense, except perhaps the emotion thing related to his shape shifting ability. Tidus took the gift (for that was very obvious) with his fangs, and carried it inside the room tenderly.
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When Rikku woke up, she found the curtains had been pulled back slightly, and the afternoon luminosity landed gently over a beautiful dress resting placidly over a chair. She saw it was long, a pearly blue colour, glittering like ice, strapless and with a handsome, rippling tail resembling the waves of a calm ocean. She shrieked in delight and glanced at the heavy figure who, tired of the cool floor, had decided to rest at the feet of the bed.
"Tidus, wake up!" Rikku kicked him hard, although not enough as to cause him an irremediable pain.
"Ouch, Rikku!" moaned the boy, his eyes fluttering open under the abrupt attack, "what's with you?" he inquired, glancing at the girl with something close to annoyance.
"Number one, why are you sleeping in my bed?" she inquired managing a very serious face.
"What?" Tidus tilted his head, really believing she was mad at his action, but then caught the grin she was forcing to hide, and couldn't help smile along, "you really consider yourself a friend? Big meany?" Tidus said pretending to be angry.
"Hey, stop stealing my sentences, you big meany!" Rikku spat crossing her arms, "and tell me if you know something about that!" her finger pointed at the night dress.
"That? Well, I could take the merit all for myself and pretend I bought it for you, you know, as a congratulation, but then I wouldn't sound believable, just imagine a Vihur buying a dress! When asked who is it for, what am I supposed to answer? It's for my human girlfriend?" Tidus grinned widely at his remark, but suddenly a sharp stab in his hear shook his insides, it wasn't painful, but it spread an uncomfortable warmth through his body.
"Oh, Tidus, you never had much of taste for clothing!" Rikku teased laughing, and threw him a pillow.
"Hey, that hurt!" the boy pretended to sound hurt, but that only made Rikku laugh even harder.
"It's a gift from Laethos!" Tidus admitted, regaining his composure, and smiling more softly, even with a tint of deception in his bright eyes.
"Oh, I forgot, the dinner!" snapped Rikku suddenly remembering the event Laethos had pleaded her to assist.
"Dinner? What Dinner?" inquired Tidus staring at her with curiosity, and some unhealthy suspicion.
"Laethos invited me to dine with him tonight, I must be getting ready!" commented Rikku feeling very nervous, her cheeks flushing with a light blush.
"I can come too, right?" Tidus inquired, gazing at the girl with pleading eyes.
"Oh Tidus, I would love if you could come but, I don't think it's a good idea!" Rikku explained with a gentle, guilty gaze in his eyes, as she finished applying makeup.
"I…I understand!" Tidus looked down disappointed, his longing heart ached painfully, stabbed my a million blades.
"I'm sorry!" Rikku said sadly, realizing how hurt Tidus felt, she then turned to leave the room, leaving Tidus alone with his despair.
The boy said nothing, laying on the bed, tearing his eyes away from her own, spiralled ones, feeling as miserable as he had ever felt. "I'm loosing her!" he thought feeling tears swell up in his eyes, "I'm loosing her and I can't d anything to avoid it because I'm a monster!" his inner voice was furious, and he emitted a terrible roar of anger.
"Damn you Fayths!" bellowed the Vihur, baring his teeth and allowing all his fury to flow through his chest and throat. "Damn you!" Tidus collapsed on a heap and cried, cried like his father always hated, cried his sadness, his anger, his despair, and his misery.
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"Rikku, you are looking lovely!" commented Laethos once the woman joined him.
Rikku smiled thankfully, hence her attention was placed on the marvellous and impressive surroundings. The saloon was enormous, and as fantasious and unrealistic as the whole tower itself. It did remain faithful to the Mirage. The magnificent room had a ceiling so high a dragon would have fit in it so easily, and so vast this same dragon could have expanded both wings from end to end. The floor was a pearly grey, carved with runes in dark brown, all united to speak some tale, equally all bonded to form a shape which Rikku could not see. The walls were the colour of the moon, opaque but bright like beach sand. The vast ceiling was an enormous, crystalline glass, and the stars and a pale moon sparkled gently in the sky, observant and silent as they were, ancient than time, wise and secretive. A gentle song, suave, a simple chiming and the whistling of the wind in the trees performed a soft, beautiful music.
"Wow!" Rikku murmured, spiralled eyes glittering with dreamy delight.
"Impressive, isn't it? One of the wonders of this tower! Pity very few people can see the drawing on the floor, it's very interesting." Laethos commented with a smile, and a glint of knowledge seemed to shine in the depths of his watery eyes.
"What is it?" inquired Rikku curiously, glancing at him with the childish illusion of curiosity.
"Ah, my dear, you shall know soon, why reveal the surprise so early?" inquired the man smiling so gently and lovingly at the woman.
"Oh, you big meany!" exclaimed the girl with a vast smile, showing the man she was merely joking.
"Care to dance?" inquired the man, smiling gently and extending a hand, while the other one rested behind the back, pressing on the tunic.
Rikku glanced at the extended hand, hesitant, green eyes sparkling. Her right hand was placed over the rosy lips, while her left one shook lightly, trembling at the proximity of the contact. She felt nervous, and her stomach was filled with fluttering butterflies. Although this man was handsome, his sandy brown hair falling with streaks of platinum sparkles, his penetrating, blue eyes, and that beautiful smile curving his lips, accentuating his fine features. Finally she accepted, taking the offered hand with a gentle touch.
Laethos placed both of Rikku's hands around his neck, his touch so gentle Rikku could not help but shudder. Secondly his firm but elegant and soft hands were situated around the girl's waist, approaching the smaller body closer to his own. He smiled at the girl as the two dancers began swaying gently at the rhythm of an atmospheric music that flooded and filled the room as if it was the very same air. Eyes fixed, gentle gazes, eager lips parting ever so slowly, faces leaning in, and breath contended with anticipation.
There was a bright flash, something that sparkled like lightning, penetrating their vision through their closed eyelids. What the High Priest encountered was air, as he sensed the girl turning her face to avoid the contact of his lips. Laethos opened his eyes and smiled at the girl through gentle, ethereal eyes. It was the saddest smile Rikku had ever seen, so beautiful, so nostalgic, lacking all happiness. The Al Bhed then realized there was a mask covering this man's true sentiments, and once she saw through that mask Rikku saw a terrible loss.
"He is very lucky, you know?" explained Laethos with that sadness, "lucky to have you." He finished calmly.
"Who?" Rikku inquired with a high pitched voice, being apparent her shock at the quick deduction.
"I also loved someone, long ago, but I lost her. This is my gift, but it is also my curse. Don't allow that Rikku, don't risk happiness for something so futile as power or possession." Laethos explained, stopping his gentle paces and taking a step back.
Suddenly, the man's gaze was not present in the actual time, or even place, for he had lifted his head and had began gazing into the depths of memory. Rikku, out of automatic reaction, tore her gaze from the crystalline eyes and stared behind her back. The girl gasped so loudly out of pure instinct. It sure couldn't be.
To Be Continued…
AN: Ok, here goes another chapter, I hope you are enjoying it. Will Tidus find a different way of recovering his humanity, or will he have to face the terrible dragon anyways? I'm leaving hints here and there to the on goings of the story, but they are very subtle, so you will have to work hard to see them. If you suspect something you are free to post it in your reviews, I'd like to see what you think. Please, RR.