Chapter III – The Sending
As Cid pursued his summoner, many faces were seen to be of grief and sorrows and fear and tears. Sara was full of determination to destroy Sin. Cid tried not to let any hint of his emotion through the bond. The last thing Sara needed on her journey was the weight of emotions of others. He knew how the pilgrimage would end, and part of his training was not to let emotions interfere with his job.
They stopped at a place where the planks became steps into the graves of others in the water. A small number of people had gathered at the spot. The old man pointed into the water. Sara stepped into the water smoothly and was not surprised that she was walking on top of the water. She let her hand loosen to dip her staff into the water as she stood motionless, mentally preparing for a Sending. Cid crossed his arms across his chest. Edgar was arriving while Alexander and Lulu were two steps ahead of him. Cid glanced at some torches, standing upright and firing up a bright red flame. The color of the lights flickered once for a split second. It flashed again, this time longer than the previous one. Finally, the flame grew taller and lost all of its crimson color. Instead, blue radiated from the torch. The dead accepted Sara to be their guide to the Farplane.
Sara drew a large circle around her, cutting smoothly through the waters of the ocean with a gift from one who cared so much about her. One fluid movement of drawing various symbols of the Teachings of Yevon in the air and water was followed by a flowing motion into summoning the spirits of the dead. Their souls rose in the form of a miniature, multi-colored meteor, called pyreflies. They gathered at Sara's feet, like a librarian reading to children. A tower of water fabricated under Sara's feet, suspending her into the air. The dead souls glided around Sara. Dancing to the dead, she moved from one step to another in a river of fluent movements. The essence of the dead dashed through the air and vanished, resting peacefully in the Farplane. Sara held her staff with both hands as she brought it down slowly.
She came out of the water slowly. Sara looked very unstable as she took steps closer to Cid. Suddenly she fell heavily on to Cid's chest.
Cid patted her back gently. "You did fine." He wiped her tears with a gloved hand. "Next time, no tears, okay?" He led her into the forest of the island. Edgar and the others were next to Cid, supporting Sara and keeping the publicity away from her. They made a camp with great haste, rolling out a bed roll and placing blankets over them. Sara wriggled in there and fell asleep as quick as lightning. Her guardians positioned themselves around her sleeping form. They never went to sleep that day, watching over Sara was their number one priority. Her even breathing was cut short as a faint sob was heard. Cid turned his head around to check on Sara, only to find that a smooth cycle of air had started again.