Journey till the end

by Queen Luana

DISCLAIMER: The characters and places etc. Appearing in this story belong to Squaresoft and are rightfully not mine. Just borrowing them. ;)

Chapter I

The dance

I closed my eyes, I could no longer see it. Pyreflies surrounded the entire town, while the summoner sent the souls of the people we had last to the Farplane. Warm tears ran down my cheek and dripped onto the ground. Beside me I could hear my mother cry over the death of our little brother. Her sobbing were heart crushing.

I eyed the other people of Kilika ; they were all in tears. The summoners guardians stood a couple of feet away from me, all carefully observing the dance. The one standing closest to me was a young main, I guessed he was near 18. His wild blonde hair waved gentle in the cool breeze. A guardian, what would it feel like being one ? Knowing the one you are protecting from death is because… he or she has to die ? I felt my stomach do a back-flip. I knew I could never.

Seeing the pyreflies flying up suddenly I could feel a strange emotion, I believe, a desire. A desire to matter. A guardian, no that was way out of my range. I would not be able to stand by a person like that, knowing I was protecting her for nothing at all. I forced myself to observe the young summoner again. While she danced her brown hair swept around, so did her long blue skirt. The sun reflected on her staf. I knew I could matter. Not a guardian.

I would be a summoner.

After the sending I left immediately, not crying anymore. My journey was set, I knew. As I crawled into my bed I kept staring at the ceiling, or at least, what was left of it. Yes, I would start my pilgrimage tomorrow. I would first recieve my very first aeon in Kilika Temple. Then I would take the ferry to Besaid and then I would travel past Luca. I wouldn't halt there, I would bring the Calm before the end of this year. While so many 'would's ran through my mind, I slowly fell asleep.

I got up early, kissed my mother and left for Kilika Woods. Outside everyone was trying to rebuild our town. It would be a much more simple way if I'd just do that instead of becoming a summoner, but I kept on walking.

Killika Port was quiet. No youthlings running around anymore, no old ladies sitting on the shore, watching the broad ocean. I reached the end of our town and went into the woods. Here I'd have to be more careful. Fiends were lurking between the trees. However, this day I ran into not a single fiend, and I reached the temple in a new record of 7 minutes.

I bounded up the stairs, passing other people who visited the temple to pray. I looked out for the young lady summoner but didn't see her. She must've been tired of her sending the other day. As soon as I enterred the main hall of Kilika temple, I heard the hymn of the fayth. There were four people in the temple. An old couple, praying at High Summoner Braska's statue and a slightly younger woman who was also praying. The fourth person was the priest standing near the stairs, leading to the chamber of the Fayth. He was the guy I needed.

I greeted him with the prayer and so did he. "Goodday, Jentl," he said warmly, his face showing even more wrinkles than it already did. "Came to pray for those we lost, have you?" This was it. I vowed my hands and shook my head, sweeping my long brown hair from one side to another. Worried he laid his hand on my shoulder. "Then what is it, dear?" "I..." I didn't know if I could say it. The lump in my throat was disturbing. "I want to become a summoner," I spit out the words.

I heard a few gasps of amazement going through the hall. The old couple did their prayer and when they got up they smiled. The priest however, did not seem as delighted as they did. His hand clasped my shoulder and he gently pulled me with him towards the exit. "Let's go have a walk, Jentl," he muttered.

We walked around a bit in front of the temple. "Where did you get this sudden thought from?" he asked. "Was it your family?" "No, I didn't even tell them yet," I mumbled, I didn't want anyone to overhear our conversation. "It was the sending, last night. I started thinking. What if Sin returns? Then everything will start all over. I want to matter. I want to help our town."

He sighed and observed me before sighing again. "Jentl," he then said slowly. "How old are you now." "Fifteen, but..." "Fifteen..." He shook his head in a disapproving way. "You do realise that if you really go on a pilgrimage, you'll be one of the youngest summoner who ever lived?" "Yesterday's summoner was young as wel," I protested. "But still quite a few years older than you. Besides, the summoner you saw last night, was Lady Yuna, daughter of High Summoner Braska. She has lived for many years under the circomstances of summoners, Sin and the Calm."

I was indignant about his reaction. What if I defeated Sin and brought back the Calm? He'd act differently if he knew what great things I would accomplish. Again he clasped my shoulders tighly. "I'm just an old man and you're still a young combative woman. If this is what you really want, I can't stop you. But you do realise what a summoner's duty is?" I stared straight into his eyes, without blinking, then nodded.

He stared back and nodded as well. "Talk to your family, find a guardian you can thrust and meet me in the temple." I nodded letting go a little smile and ran down the stairs. "And Jentl!" I stopped and turned around. He gazed at me with a look of pitty. "Take your time." I continued running.

I just stared at the fish on my plate. My mother had burned it a little and was still sobbing quietly while she, my older brother and I sat at the diner table. Joen, a muscular young man with long, brown, curled hair poured some water in his glass than drunk all in one time. I laid down my fork and knife, breathed in deeply and said in one breath: "I'm gonna be a summoner."

A glass fell into pieces onto the flour. My brother's jaw hung loose and his hand was shaking, my mother turned white. I don't know if it was rage, or fear, probably both. I glanced at both of them and continued. "I'm gonna look for a guardian. Then I'll recieve an aeon at the temple. And then I'll travel all around Spira. And I don't want either of you to stop me." My lip thrilled. I knew what my mother had been through the last days. Saying this was as hard for her at it was to me. Don't cry, mother, please don't.

"Jentl," Joen finally said after a long silence. "I won't stop you, but please think all of this through. Just a week ago there already came a new summoner. Remember Dona? And Lady Yuna..." "I don't care!" I screamed now on the verge of tears. "Haven't you heard the rumours? More and more summoners are disappearing! What if they disappear as well, then who'll beat Sin? But I will find a great guardian, who will protect me! And I'll make it to the ruins of Zanarkand and you'll be proud, just wait! Entire Kilika will be beaming with pride! I'll be the youngest High Summoner who ever lived!" I stood up and left the room. Inhaling deeply I threw myself onto my bed, afterwards I burst into tears.

So? What do you think? There'll be more soon, just give me some time. But in the meanwhile, please read and review! And be gentle! ;) Thanx.