Legacy

Thinking and discussion had taken us to Bevelle, to discover what Mika might know. As it turned out, the answer was simple: "Not much". But Tidus and Yuna held a conversation with the fayth that brought us many answers. After sharing what they had learned, we decided to sing the Hymn in hopes of making Sin docile, and then to attack the creature head-on. Our goal was to find our way inside, where we hoped to find Jecht and Yu Yevon, the summoner responsible for creating the monster in the first place. The plan seemed workable, and Jecht had not contacted me with anything better, so I had agreed to it, in theory.

First, however, we needed to prepare. The battle before us posed a daunting challenge, so we began seek out training opportunities, exploring Spira using the airship, which opened up the world to us in a way that no one had known for a thousand years. And so one day, we found ourselves exploring the caves at the Mushroom Rock shore.

"Check this out," Tidus called to the party, pointing out a passageway leading off the main road, which opened out into a small cave where we found a lift sitting on the floor. We crowded onto the lift and rode it to a ledge that sat just over our heads.

"Who's that?" Rikku asked, indicating the statue that greeted us as we disembarked from the lift.

"Lord Mi'ihen," Lulu said. "He was the founder of the Crusaders."

An ancient glyph glowed in the cliff wall behind him. The others went to examine the symbol, but I found myself drawn to the sculpture. A carving of a dead behemoth lay at Lord Mi'ihen's feet, along with several rusty swords. Without really thinking about why, I pulled my own sword from its sheath and added it to the collection, slamming the point into the ground.

The earth shuddered beneath our feet, and a crack opened in the glyph, revealing a nook in the rocks behind it. Tidus, who had been standing closest, took a step back. "Whoa," he murmured. I walked toward the broken glyph, the crowd of guardians splitting to make way for me. Then I reached into the fissure and pulled out a sword.

As I brushed dirt off the scabbard and freed the blade, I could see that it was a beautiful weapon, more intricately worked than any I had ever handled previously. It was double-tipped, flanged at the hilt, and inlaid with colored metal. My first impression was that it might be more decorative than useful, but a moment's examination corrected that notion; the metal was forged strong, and there seemed little chance of breakage. It crackled with enchantment as well, though it would take some practice to determine its exact nature. Perhaps Rikku would know -- I would ask her to take a closer look when we made camp tonight. If nothing else, some magic had kept the edge keen for a long time, possibly even for centuries. My hands curled around the hilt, which felt as if it had been custom-made for my grip. When I took a practice swing, the weapon's weight brought me nearly to my knees.

"What is it?" Tidus asked me.

I sheathed the sword. "It is called Masamune," I told him. The name simply came to me, along with the knowledge that I would have to leave my old sword behind. It was a trade, an offering to Lord Mi'ihen, and as I walked past the statue, I paused. That weapon had no name, but it had been with me a long time -- it was the sword that Maester Brac had presented to me in honor of my promotion to captain of Gray Squadron. It was a superior weapon and it had served me well, but it also represented the last link to my past life as a warrior monk and a defender of Yevon. Finally, the time had come to leave it behind me.

I touched two fingers to my lips and then to the hilt of the old sword. "Thank you," I said in a near-whisper, to Mi'ihen, to Brac, to my true brothers in the Order. Then I followed the others onto the lift and did not look back.

"Have you been to Bevelle before?" Maura asked Arelle as the group approached the entrance to the old temple.

"Once," Arelle replied. "A few years ago, I met with a merchant who wanted to sell my pastries at the Macalania Travel Agency." She looked around, shrinking back a bit from the building that towered above them. "I've never been here, though. And it's strange to visit it now."

"Because of my father?" Liss, standing on her mother's other side, took her arm.

Arelle nodded. "This was a part of his life that I could never touch, the part that took him away from me. Perhaps it makes me a little jealous, seeing this place that was his home and never mine." She smiled at her daughter. "That sounds silly, doesn't it?"

Liss's hand tightened around Arelle's elbow. "Not at all." As she spoke these words, the rest of the party caught up to them, Paine walking with Baralai, the two boys a few steps behind. Sam joined the women at the front, taking Liss's other side.

"You ready?" he asked.

Liss looked over to him. "I am."

Now Paine and Baralai took the lead as the group reached the doorway that led into St. Bevelle. The guard saluted. "Welcome back, Lord Councilor," she said.

"Thank you, Teera," said Baralai with a small bow. He swept past the guard and into the complex, and the others followed as they made their way down the outdoor walkways and to the temple proper. At the entrance to the old Maester's Court, he halted.

"Auntie Relle, private quarters have been provided for you," said Paine. You'll be just down the hall from our rooms; Baralai will show you the way, and I'll meet you there soon. Lissira?"

"Captain?" Liss snapped into a formal salute.

"You four cadets will be staying with the New Yevon guard. Follow me."

Liss quickly hugged her mother goodbye, with a promise to see her tomorrow at the ceremony. Then she waved her team into the corridor that Paine had started down. Before long, the cadets found themselves in a small barracks room, which contained four bunk beds and a faded wall hanging, which depicted the old symbol of Yevon in green on an orange background.

"These are former warrior monk trainee quarters," said a man who appeared behind them in the doorway. The cadets and Paine turned to look at this member of the New Yevon guard, who winked at Paine, then saluted the younger fighters. "Now we use them to billet visiting soldiers. Welcome; my name is Paxton, and I'm the Captain of the New Yevon Guard. I hope you'll join me for dinner in the mess hall tonight."

"We'd be honored, sir," said Liss, returning the salute.

"Excellent. See you then. Captain Paine?"

"Yes, just a moment." Paine exchanged nods with the guard, then turned back to her students. "Have a good evening. Liss, I'll meet you here at this time tomorrow. Be ready for the ceremony." And then she was gone, she and Paxton leaving together, already talking shop.

Maura sighed and dropped her bag on the floor. "Man. It'll be nice to sleep in a bed tonight." She laid down on one of the lower bunks and stretched out with a sigh, rolling toward the wall. Then she peered at it more closely. "Hey, there are names here."

"Warrior monk graffiti?" Sam asked with a grin. Liss laughed, then sat down on the lower bunk opposite, stretching her legs and then her arms. Sam dropped to the floor at her feet, leaning his back against her calves as she rested her arms over his shoulders. The two of them had kept a formal distance through most of the journey here, since Liss was serving as his commanding officer. She kissed the top of his head with a satisfied sigh -- it was nice to have the freedom to touch him with open affection again.

"Yep. All names, lots of them. Carved into the wall." Maura continued to examine the writings as Repparu climbed up to the bunk over her head and started to search the wall next to it for other names. Then Maura gasped.

Sam sat forward. "What?"

"Check this out, you guys," she said, her voice oddly strangled. She sat up on the bed as Sam and Liss scrambled to join her. They both read the name that Maura had pointed out to them, then looked at each other.

"No way!" Sam's eyes went very wide as Liss shook her head slowly in disbelief.

"What is it?" Repparu asked, hopping down from the upper bunk.

"See for yourself," said Maura, moving aside to make room for the Al Bhed boy. He took a seat and read the name out loud: "Kinoc." He, too, looked at Liss. "Who's that?"

Sam's eyes were still round as dinner plates. "That means…"

Liss nodded. "Our fathers lived here. And your uncle."

"That's a pretty damn incredible coincidence," said Maura.

Thinking back to Captain Paxton's wink, Liss started to laugh. "Maybe. But probably not." She jumped off the bed, clambered up to the upper bunk, and started searching the names on the wall there. It didn't take her long to find the one she was looking for. Then she turned back to the group, smiling. "C'mon," she said. "Let's explore the temple complex before dinner."

The next evening, Liss returned to her temporary quarters after a day of training with her friends and several members of the Guard, followed by a stop in the showers. She changed into the only dress she owned, a calf-length black gown, and pulled her hair back, leaving her small braid swinging free as usual. She had capped its end with dark red and gold beads today, and Sam walked into the room as she put in matching earrings.

He favored her with a soft smile. "You look great," he said, placing his hands on her waist.

"Thanks," she replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him close. She planted a gentle kiss on his mouth, which he returned, a hand sliding up her back to cup her neck. Then she pulled slightly back, tipping her head slightly as she looked into his warm hazel eyes. "I wish you were coming along."

"Yeah." He ran his fingers through her hair, careful to keep from mussing it. "But I understand why Lady Yuna wants to keep the gathering fairly small."

"Still." She moved in to kiss him again, when she was interrupted by a throat being cleared from the doorway. Both cadets' heads turned to see Paine standing there, dressed in the deep blue of a Defense Force dress uniform, hair styled into a soft wave over her eyes. Both were a rare sight; she generally favored her more casual black leathers and her hair in its artfully messy spikes.

"Captain," said Sam, stepping quickly back from Liss and saluting.

"At ease," Paine said, chuckling. "It's fine, Sam. You're off duty." He blushed, and Liss grinned at him. "Liss, are you ready?"

"Yes." Liss stroked Sam's arm fondly. "See you later."

"Have a good time," he said, dropping a formal kiss on her temple. Then she followed Paine out the door, and the two of them went together to the Hall of Guardians.

"You look nice," Liss ventured to say after they had been walking for a few minutes.

"Thanks," said Paine. She turned to her cousin with a sly smile. "A perk of serving in the military: the uniform works for everything. I never have to wear a dress again."

Liss laughed. "Seriously?"

"Seriously." Paine's eyes twinkled. "I didn't even wear one to my own wedding." She looked Liss up and down. "That's a nice one, though, and it suits you."

Soon they arrived at the entry to the Hall of Guardians. Paine pulled open the door, then ushered Liss inside. The girl stepped into the huge room, lit with blazing torches, the firelight illuminating the paintings. One large canvas was covered with a white sheet. Must be the new portrait, thought Liss as she turned her attention to the people who filled the hall, mostly dignitaries of varying levels of importance. She saw General Lucil and Commander Kal and a few other high-ranking Defense Force officers. High Councilor Winn was there, too, along with the rest of the Council, and of course the Praetor and a few other leaders of New Yevon. She also thought she recognized Cid, the leader of the Al Bhed. Rikku was standing with him, along with Wakka and her brother, and she waved at Liss, who raised her fingers in a tentative greeting as well.

Soon, though, she found the person she was really seeking: Arelle, who chatted in a corner with Sir Tidus and Lady Yuna. Immediately, she went to join them.

"Lissira," said Arelle, hugging her daughter. As soon as the embrace ended, Liss saluted Tidus and bowed to Yuna.

"Hi Liss," Tidus said. "We've been having a great conversation with your mom."

Arelle nodded. "It's so wonderful to finally meet both of you. So few other people in Spira really knew Auron; it means a lot to me to be able to talk about him."

"The honor is ours," said Yuna, smiling. "Have you seen Sir Auron's other portrait, the one that depicts him with Sir Jecht in honor of my father's pilgrimage?"

"I have not, my Lady."

"Well then. Follow me."

Paine had gone off her own way upon their arrival at the Hall, mingling with her comrades in the Defense Force and then seeking out Baralai, who stood in front of the portrait of Lord Zaon. He was chatting with Luzzu, Besaid's representative on the council. Lulu was with them.

"Hello Paine," said Lulu as she joined them. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

"Too long," said Paine, taking the black mage's hand. "And I hear congratulations are in order. When are you due?"

"In the fall. Six months." Lulu smiled, glancing at Luzzu as he took her arm, which Paine took as confirmation of the rumor that he was the father. "How have you been?"

Paine opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted when Baralai nudged her with his shoulder. "Look," he said, indicating the other side of the room. She followed his finger to the portrait of Auron and Jecht as young men.

"What?" she asked.

"Look," he repeated, and then Paine noticed the aspect of the scene that had caught his attention. Tidus, Yuna, and Lissira stood in front of the painting, gazing at it, near-identical expressions of reverence on their faces. Tidus had thrown an arm over Yuna's shoulders, and Yuna clasped Liss's hand tightly.

"Their legacy," Paine said quietly.

Lulu nodded. "And Lord Braska's, as well," she added, her voice also hushed.

Paine felt Baralai's fingers lace through hers, and she squeezed his hand as her eyes fell on Arelle. She, too, was looking at this portrait, but from a distance, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face more sad than reverent. Paine glanced up at Baralai and saw that he had noticed Arelle as well. Without speaking, the two of them went to her.

"Auntie?" Paine laid a hand on Arelle's shoulder. "Are you all right?"

The older woman turned to her niece and smiled quickly, dropping her tense pose even as a sharp jolt of pain crossed her eyes. "Yes. It was right for me to come here. Hard as it is."

Paine wrapped an arm about Arelle's waist. "I'm glad you decided to join us. Can I get you something to drink? The ceremony will be starting soon."

Arelle looked back at the painting of her lost love one more time, then nodded at Paine. "A drink sounds lovely. Shall we go find one together?" And the two women turned in the other direction, heading for the bar, arms around each other, as Baralai walked behind them.