The blizzard had faded into one peaceful, tranquil fluttering of delicate, tiny and light snowflakes, ones that melted almost as quickly as they touched Kimahri's thick, bluish fur. Tidus, limping his right, hind leg, followed the ronso through the snow, climbing higher up into the mountains and entering through the razor rocks and sharp edges, covered in soft, creamy snow. The path was not excessively long, not even reaching and hour and a half, but the walk was tedious due to the thick layer of snow, and due to the injured leg.
"We are here!" mustered the ronso in a loud, powerful voice, yet vibrating with a reverential delight and amazement.
Tidus was so tired of climbing through the mountains and walking past the snow that he hadn't realized they had reached a dead end. He looked up in time to analyze every single detail from the small area. It was free of snow, mainly because the rocks that created the small circular, chamber like area were of monumental heights, forming a rather tall but narrow chimney throat, preventing large amounts of snow to fall through it.
That was not the most amazing fact about the area, but the figures and actions carved and shaped onto the rock. They seem as ancient as time itself, but of a mastery in the work belonging to the most experienced artists. He paced calmly around it, paying attention to the figures, blurry due to the erosion of time and elements, but some of them so clear it was impressive. The forms were almost realistic, yet worshipping an style he had never seen before, yet he was not very good at arts himself.
He saw a large city, Zanarkand, there was the stadium, the enormous building where he lived, at the attic, the presidential palace, and other buildings of importance. Then the next image showed people, humans living with humans, however some humans had strange carvings on the chest, possibly to point them out for something. The next image showed a meeting, the very same meeting he had been at in his dreams. He looked around, and recognized Aerun, Yethas, and the old Vaslek, and some of the people from the meeting, but he was not there. There was a figure however, standing close to the old Chief, who he didn't remember seeing, hence appeared to be very familiar. The next scenes showed various events of the meeting, Aerun standing up threatening, the Chief pointing out the final decision.
Suddenly, Tidus' heart skipped a beat as he saw another carving, one of a woman with delicate, gentle features, smiling so lovingly and happily, as if her life was pure bliss, while a hand rested on a very swollen stomach. It was Lya. He sighed deeply as some unbearable pain throbbed inside his veins, tearing him deeply and stabbing his soul, shattering it cruelly. The Vihur whimpered lightly as he observed the beautiful, accurate carving, glancing at him with the immortal factions of youth carved on stone.
"That is the woman?" inquired the ronso delicately, not wanting to interfere into such personal moment aggressively.
"Yes, that is Lya!" whimpered Tidus desperately, as if all happiness had been drained from him forever.
He kept observing and saw some very curious scenes. He saw the stadium, he saw such structure collapsing onto the ground with all its greatness, and he saw figures collapsing along with it. Then Sinh appeared on scene, finally the figure that brought havoc to Spira dared to appear in the carvings. He saw Sinh in all his terrifying glory, surrounded by winged fiends, battling a group of humans armoured with fire weapons, unknown in the present reality. The next scene was the downfall of Zanarkand, one very blurry scene were nothing came clear, not due to erosion, but due to a shaky hand carving it. The final scene was a boy Tidus had never seen before, standing on the entrance of this very place, torn his clothes, and weak looking, yet strong and proud. The boy deduced this was a portrait of the artist.
"It's a story!" commented Kimahri calmly, breaking the silence, "it's the story of how Sinh appeared and the world had to submit to his destructive glory. But I don't think the author had any idea of why Sinh came, he only explains the fight." The ronso explained shrugging.
"How do you know?" the Vihur's voice was strangled and weak, the emotion still fresh in his heart.
"I've been studying this carvings for a long time, I like them, and I like to compare them with the legends and the art of my people. You know? There is one curious story that says that the first Summoner there ever existed came from Mount Gagazet." Kimahri pointed out rather excited with his discoveries, "I'm trying to relate this carvings with that tale, but that's not the most interesting thing we are going to find on this pictures!" the ronso shrugged again, seriously, lacking importance to his words.
"Really? What is it then?" Tidus inquired, mildly interested on the Summoner story, yet now his attention was full and vivid.
"The author of this carvings signed his art!" Kimahri pointed at the upper left corner of the woman's drawing.
Tidus approached the carving that represented Lya, realizing now that there was a blurry, yet deep gash on the rock, one that seemed to melt into various forms of letters. The reptile had been so focused on the figure itself that he didn't realize about the existence of this signature, now so vivid and clear. The deep gashes on the stone mustered one name, one that filled Tidus with confusion and somewhat a slight fear, for there, appearing before his eyes like a ghost, it said:
"Tidus.L."
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Rikku's eyes fluttered open gently, absorbing the impact of intense brilliance of light into her orbs. Not a wince, not a single stinging sensation hit her, it was night, a dark, thick night. Sparkling stars welcomed her in her sudden awake, and the silent, crescent moon was shyly saluting from her hidden corner. Rikku took a peek around, it was the room she had been assigned, the same bed, and the same cold, dark walls engulfing her spirit. A shadow shifted in the darkness, which alerted her survival senses.
"Rikku, relax!" murmured a soft, gentle voice she had gotten to know very well, "It's me." The voice was soft, and she shadow grew in height.
"Laethos, what… what happened?" the girl inquired fearful of the response she would get.
"You fell, you were unable to maintain your animal shape for the whole battle." There was this quiver, this deception in Laethos' voice that affected the girl profoundly.
"I… failed, right?" it wasn't a question, the sorceress knew the answer.
Nothing came from the man's mouth, but the head nodded tremulously, slowly as if saddened by such result. The gentle moon tore silver blazes from the hair of the young man, and the beautiful blue eyes were suddenly illuminated with that watery blue colour, which seemed so familiar and so different at the same time. There was something, however, that startled Rikku more than the terrible fact of her failing, which, sincerely, she couldn't have cared less. The strong, galliard, and handsome man she had grown to admire, and like, had humid tears trickling down his cheeks.
"Are you crying?" the girl ventured to question, ignoring completely the fact that this man was her superior in the Conclave.
"I promised…" hissed the man with a hoarse, strangled voice.
The girl's brow frowned as if considering which promise he had made. It was a sparkle, a second, one brief instant before the light of remembering illuminated and erased the shadows of oblivion. She was leaving to find Tidus, to try and convince him of not committing such crazy ordeal as fighting a dragon, or to battle by his side if his obstinacy was greater than her hard head.
"I'll come back to see you, I promise…" Rikku felt her throat constricting as well, emotion filling her heart.
The man looked up, and his blue eyes sparkled for a second. Rikku didn't know how to define it, however she swore there was some change affecting this strange Priest. The eyes had always been blue, an intense shadow of oceanic blue, however the eyes lacked a glitter of life, the very warmth of the soul, something Tidus possessed in excess. The sorceress needn't have to say it, but there was this impulse that urged her forward.
"Look, I don't know you, and at first I have you say I found you quiet eccentric. However, you are the most wonderful man I have ever known, after Tidus of course. I like you… I like you a lot, I won't deny it, and perhaps this attraction might have become love if destiny had wanted it such way. However, you must understand something, destiny brought me a man, destiny took it away, and now it has brought me this Vihur who was once that man." Rikku sighed and inhaled one deep breath before continuing, "I love him with all my heart, and I must go and save him. I can't let destiny take him away again, without doing anything to avoid it." She finished glancing at the man seriously.
"I understand Rikku, and know I wish you the best of lucks." The man sighed and managed a gentle smile, visible only in a glimpse of silver light touching his pale skin, "There is a chestnut chocobo ready for you!" the youth said lowering his head, knowing and accepting that he had lost the girl forever, unless he did something drastic against it.
"Oh, thank you Laethos!" the girl giggled cheerfully and engulfed the man into a tight, euphoric hug. "But…" the girl resumed seriousness again, "you said you would take me there." She commented calmly, glancing at the man with worry.
"And I will… I will protect you from all dangers, you just will not be able to see me… It's better that way Rikku!" the man motioned extending a hand and lowering his head when the girl opened her mouth to protest.
Rikku gave up, resigned with the guilt of having hurt this considerate, loving man. The girl raced towards the door, picked up her staff which leaned against the wall lazily, and trotted happily outside the room.
"Rikku!" Laethos' voice summoned all of a sudden.
The girl stopped obediently, her body in the running posture, unbalance yet very stiff, very aware of the events surrounding her. She glanced at the man, curiously, very awake and attentive with whatever he had to say.
"Come back soon!" the man's smile illuminated his face, making his skin glow with an almost silvery purity, and his eyes sparkle with that lively glitter for one brief second.
"I will!" affirmed the girl convincingly, smiling happier and more animated than before.
Rikku vanished into the dimly illuminated corridors, leaving Laethos alone, with his despair as only companion. The man sighed desperately, sadly, glancing at the vast extensions of time, gazing at the distant, exotic charm of a past long gone.
"Tidus, hurry up…" muttered the man almost angrily, his heart squirming in its cage, agonizing with the pain, with the deception, and with the regret he felt for some actions taken long ago.
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Tidus fell along with the stadium, the coldness of the wind subsided into a sudden warmth, and the fear he might have felt mitigated to be replaced by excitement. The boy felt such energy surge and sail through his veins, gallop over his skin and slither around his bones, making them tear and shatter with a painful agony. This terrible sensation vanished as soon as it began, and the approaching ground as left behind when Tidus elevated himself into the skies.
In the distance he could see Sinh, shooting beams of energetic magic at everything, attacking the city with vice, and attempting to squish the place as if it was a bug. Somehow Tidus was conscious that there was something missing, a part of the story was wrong. He knew he was supposed to have survived the stadium's collapse, and that Auron would come and get him 1000 years in the future. Another part of him told him that this was the truth, that this is what really happened.
The boy, gliding miraculously through the sky, speeded towards the monstrous creature, clenching his fists until it was painful. Enormous birds, the size of Valefor, or even much larger, spiralled and flew over the terrible head, which emerged from the oceans. He observed the magical glitters of all colours and natures that often glowed and glittered in the distance, and he also was conscious that those powerful attacks were a mere itch of nasty mosquitoes. This deceiving fact was not a condition to back away and flee cowardly. Tidus went towards his destiny valiantly, with courage, and would fight to death if necessary.
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The white vihur whimpered miserably, shaking his legs in his mattress on the floor, clawing the thick, rough cloth as his dreams were invaded with uneasy images. The ronso examined the small creature with curiosity as his lips absorbed a good cup of warm vodka. Kimahri was amused by the efficient predator, considering with a sigh that this was, with a considerable difference, the oddest thing that ever happened to him.
Tidus was oblivious to all of this thinking, and his mind was focused on the shaky dreams. They had gotten worse, more vivid, and more violent as time passed, and the vision of the mural shattered the barrier between dreams and reality. The animal was deeply immersed into the dream, living everything with all the fury and all the heart it required, as if it was his life.
Images flashed between the dream, interrupting the flood of chaotic images with a warmer and kinder instant of relaxation. It was only one very brief glimpse of someone he knew, of someone he loved, the cheery smile, the untidy, golden hair and the sparkling green, spiralled eyes.
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There was some part missing, part of the dream that wasn't clear, but it was mainly the battle, a battle that flashed with blurry traces due to the fury blinding him. That was something that happened to him way too often, during the ecstatic delight of a battle, Tidus was bound to loose control, allow his fury to fight for him, hence he would not be completely conscious of what was going on around him.
But this time, however, there was a moment that everything became very clear for him. Night had fallen and his muscles were weary and tired, becoming numb due to exhaustion. Sinh had not recoiled one single bit, and most of his allies were either dead, fainted, or had ran away. The few that remained were risking everything to grant the city a chance, to grant people one single chance of living. Tidus felt his strength abandoning him, but his will was far stronger, images of Lya flashing through his head. He began to doubt he would ever see her again, but gaining a safe place for her and his girl was all he wanted at the moment.
Nightmare dawned over him, only over his figure. Whether it had been during his thinking, or it was something that occurred afterwards, Tidus ignored it. However the time in which everything took place was so small, so feeble and insignificant that Tidus almost didn't realize it until everything had happened. Sinh was visibly bored, resisting the enormous efforts his winged enemies were doing to defeat him.
There was a bright, silvery white flash appeared before the boy's eyes. That was the moment Tidus regained the control over himself, all fury and hatred vanished in a brief instant. A dragon, a beautifully white dragon with amber eyes had thrown itself upon the enormous enemy. It clawed, bit and tore the hard, thick flesh, then attempted to go for the monster's eyes.
"No! Get away from there!" barked Tidus with a loud, booming voice.
Was it the dragon's actions, or was it simply the fact that Sinh was tired of playing, Tidus didn't know. The truth is that the monster suddenly opened his mouth, his innumerable eyes glowed with some ancestral magic, and one terrible attack was released. The night became a day brighter than summer itself, brighter than the sun falling over the earth. Tidus went blind, his body was pushed away by some kind of force, and his back slammed hard against a building. The boy collapsed onto the ground, onto an enormous pile of rubble.
The light vanished and Tidus' eyes sparkled with colourful lights. He felt dizzy and numb, his back ached and he swore there was one or two bones broken. There was a knowledge in him that he would not be able to fly for some time, until he could heal all his wounds properly. But that didn't matter, there was something more important now in his head.
His eyes accustomed to the precarious light once again. A pale, strong hand touched his pained back, massaged the bones roughly, and adjusted every part of his body. The young man leapt off the rubble, initiating his descent away from it. Blue eyes sparkled with worry, gazing at the enormous buildings about to collapse, with one or two walls still standing. He was not too worried about the buildings, there was something more important in his mind, the silvery white dragon.
Tidus ran across the streets, leaping over corpses, glancing at the agonizing figures of humans, elves, and other breeds, pleading help or simply dying docilely. Yethas was laying on one corner, trembling, curled on a pained ball. Aerun was also laying nearby, he was yelling with all his might, every single bone of his body was shattered to dust, and he could not move any more. He felt pity for Yethas, annoyed that he couldn't stop and check on her, but Tidus couldn't care less for the prideful and arrogant Aerun. Tidus was not cruel, he simply never liked the way this man attacked him without any apparent reason.
Finally he reached his destiny, and he would have very well wanted to loose his eyes such that he would never have to gaze at such horror. The white dragon was laying on a broken heap on the floor, her chest was moving up and down on her sided position. Tidus saw the breathing was regular, but very continuous, nervous and almost ragged, which meant the animal was hurting inside. He didn't see any wound, apart from a few scratches and minor gashes from the collision with rubble and hard floor. There was a rather expensive car emerging from under the animal, completely shattered and squashed into an iron medley. It wouldn't have mattered had it been his own car, for the being laying over it was the most important thing in his life. Tidus was suddenly very afraid of loosing that importance.
To Be Continued…
AN: Almost there, don't worry, everything will be revealed very soon, and you will understand many things. Who is the dragon? Don't forget to read my other stories.