"Welcome to Luca." Stella announced. They had arrived just as the town was waking up. Construction crews were still working to repair the damage from Sin's attack. "What happened here?" Mia asked astonished.
"Sin attacked about 5 days ago." She walked toward the town's square, "Uncle Marcus and the Crimson Blades fought Sin off but it managed to take half of the town with it."
Garet looked around the town. The townspeople looked so miserable. "Come on. We can rest at our uncle's place before we move on the Mi'ihen Highroad." Mia said leading the way. Marcus's butler answered the door immediately after Mia's second knock. "Miss Mia…Miss Stella right this way; Master Marcus is in the parlor." They followed him into the parlor. "Uncle!" Mia and Stella yelled together.
"Girls!" He jumped from his chair and hugged his nieces, "How have you been? Stella I'm so glad you're safe. I thought I told you couldn't become a summoner! You snuck out of the house and became one anyway. You're so stubborn just like your mother."
Stella lowered her head and smiled, "I'm sorry about that."
"Who's this?" Marcus asked pointing to Noah and Garet.
"Oh these are my guardians, Noah and Garet."
"Are you ladies
hungry? Head on into the kitchen and get something to eat." Once
they were out of earshot, Marcus turned to the boys. "So you two
are guarding my niece?"
"Yes sir." Garet said, "I've
been with Stella since she left Besaid."
"I just joined up
with them in Kilika. I'm Noah, Captain of the Kilika Temple Warrior
Monks."
"I've heard about you…You're a good fighter."
"Best black mage in the ranks." He replied proudly.
Marcus smiled and nodded, "You should look into joining the Crimson Blades. Or actually we're the Crusaders now. Name change went through about two days ago."
"I don't think I would be good enough to join the Crimson Blades or Crusaders."
"Sure you would." Stella and Mia returned munching happily on their snacks, "Are you spending the night?" he asked them.
"We really should head for the Mi'ihen Highroad." Stella said looking at her guardians.
"Oh come on Stella. The Highroad isn't going anywhere."
"All right Uncle. We'll stay the night."
"Great, I'll have rooms prepared for all of you." Marcus said leaving the room.
"Go explore the town. Dinner won't be served until 7:00 anyway." Stella said shooing the boys away. Noah and Garet looked at each other and shrugged. "I'm going down to dock 4. Come get me when dinner is ready, okay Mia?"
Once Mia was alone, she quickly ran to find Marcus. "So how is the plan working out?" he asked her.
"I'm not sure. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to her alone. But from what I gather, she's not wavering."
"Have you spoken with any of the other Al Bhed?"
"Yeah they're gonna get her at the next temple in Djose."
"Try to talk to her before hand. If there are no changes go ahead with the plan."
"Yes Uncle."
Stella leaned back on her arms as she looked up at the stars. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. "It's nice out here." Garet said sitting down beside her.
She sat up and opened her eyes, "Um yeah. This was always my favorite spot. It's the seldom used dock so not a lot people come here. I can sit and think. This is where I was when I decided to become a summoner. Is Zanarkand like this?"
"Does that mean you believe me?"
"Um…maybe. There are a lot of things I do not understand but…"
"But?"
"Pameaja eh dra ihpameajypme."
"What?"
Stella smiled, "Believe in the unbelievable. My grandmother always told me that."
"I heard you and Mia talking like that on the boat. What is that?"
"It's the Al Bhed language. I hardly ever talk in it. Mostly when I'm angry or frustrated."
"Can you teach me?"
"I can try. Here say this: Hela du saad oui."
"Helly do sad wee…"
Stella giggled, "No like this: Hela du saad oui."
"Hello dud sad we? Like that?"
She scratched her head, "Maybe you should ask Uncle Marcus to help you. I'm not a very good teacher."
"Ah it's all right. I'm sure if I listen to you and Mia long enough, I'll pick up on it pretty quickly."
She nodded and smiled up at him. They remained silent for a while until Stella spoke again, "You never answered my question."
"Oh about Zanarkand?"
"Yeah."
"The best time of day is just when the sun's setting. It's so pretty. It goes from red to bright orange almost like it's on fire. I always went down to the beach and watched it."
"I would love to see it."
"Hey maybe we can go after you finish your pilgrimage. I can show you around and we can watch the sunset together."
Stella didn't reply; she just continued watching the stars, "Was there anyone special to you in Zanarkand?"
"Um…no not really. All the family I have is my sister and her little boy Jecht. My parents were killed a few months after my sister was born and as for a girlfriend. Forget about it. I was too wrapped up in my blitzball career to have time for a girlfriend."
"What happened the day you came to Spira?"
"I was out practicing Blitz with Jecht, when this little kid in purple showed up. The world around me froze. And it was just me and that kid. He said 'we've been dreaming for so long. Are you the one who will stop our dreaming?' It was really weird. That's when Sin attacked us. That kid touched my arm and I fell asleep. When I woke up I was here in Spira. I looked everywhere for that kid. I hoped he could send me back but I couldn't find him. Then I met you."
Stella smiled, "Great
timing huh?"
He nodded, "I don't know that much about this
place but I can't help but notice people hate you, Mia, and even
Noah. Why is that?"
"Because we're Al Bhed."
"That doesn't mean anything though does it? I mean you have five fingers and five toes like everyone else. What makes you so different?"
"My people use the forbidden machina-machines-and that goes against Yevon's Teachings."
"But I saw that this place is filled with machina. Is it really so bad to use it?"
"Yevon decides which machina we may use and which we may not."
"Does Yevon decide when you eat and take a piss too?"
"Garet…Yevon has been our only hope for all these years. You shouldn't say bad things like that."
"Garet…There you are. Oh hi Stella. Dinner's ready if you guys are hungry." Noah said walking up to the couple.
"Great. I'm starving." Garet stood and touched Stella's shoulder, "You coming?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in a second." She said turning her head back to the water.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Go ahead. I'll catch up."
"All right I'll wait for you in front of the stadium."
"Okay." She said as she watched Noah and Garet walk away.
