Chapter II
Audax, Pyrefly and I
"Haven't you ever thought of being a guardian, Audax?" I dropped a hint with a little blush on my cheeks. It was midday. Until now, I hadn't find anyone who was willing to be my guardian. Most probably because I hadn't asked anyone. Audax shrugged and dipped his pensil into the brownish paint. "I don't know, why?" "Oh, just... You know," I muttered.
He slowly and carefully painted a beautiful flower on my upper shoulder, then decorated it with lines and bows.
Audax was the newest member of our beloved Kilika Beasts. He was keeper and was darn good at it as well. He was slightly muscular and half a year older than me. He always wore a short and a loose white shirt, different from all the other players of the Kilika Beasts. I was friendly with all of them, but I had a special place in my heart for Audax. And, so I heard, so did he with me.
He softly blew on my shoulder. "There, done." I looked at it and smiled. "Thank you." Then I gazed at the calm ocean. "You seem a little absent, today," Audax suddenly declared. "I – uh – don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled. "Come on, what?" he said stabbing me with his elbow. "No I..." "Eeeeey! What are the two love birds talking about, huh?"
Audax grinned. "Shut it, Isken!" he said. Isken just laughed loudly and wrapped his arms around the both of us. "Love is in the –aiiiiir!" he sang to the melody of the hymn. I slapped him in the face. "Leave it, we're not a couple. I need to tell him something." "You wanna kiss him?" Isken grinned and pouted his lips. This time Audax slapped him. "Get lost." "Oh come on! All of your most erotic secrets are safe with me," Isken dared us. "Just tell your uncle Isken, baby!" He pulled me tightly against his chest. "I don't want to!" "Come on, Jenny!" "I don't..." "Show it to the world!" I pushed him off. "I'm going on a pilgrimage!" I screamed irate.
They both turned pale. I could not look at them anymore and turned away. "Jen, geez, I'm so sorry," Isken whispered. After those words we were all struck dumb. "W-When?" Audax finally stumbled. "I don't know," I sighed pressing my eyelids closed with my hand. "I mean, I'm not even a summoner yet nor do I have a guardian but my decision is made, I'm leaving." Isken clapped his hands and stood up after Audax had looked at him. "I'm just gonna, you know, inform the guys..." After that he ran off.
We were silent for a while. Then Audax turned to me. "Jentl, I know you for a long time now and, although I am aware that ones you've found your guardian you leave, I'd be honoured, Jen. And with your approval, I'd like to be your guardian." I didn't know anything to say in response. I wanted him with me, that's what I had been thinking of all day. My long pause made him think I turned him down. "Uh, if you don't want me to be..."
I grabbed him at his shoulders. "Of course I want you! I want you more than anyone in all of Spira!" I quickly released him."But what will your parents say?" "What did your's say?" I swallowed away the lump and stared at my feet. "They weren't that happy." He slightly nodded. "I'm sorry." He hugged me and I closed my eyes. Something comforting went through me as he gently hold me in his arms. He'd be with me through all the hard times. Till the end.
Audax paced up and down in front of the stairs leading to the chamber of the Fayth. I had been in there for hours and he was slowly getting tired of waiting. Wait... Step step step, his footsteps echoed through the room. What time would it be? Near sundown? Step step step. He threw one look upon the door of the chamber the continued. Step step step. He ran up the stairs till the center, then ran down again and continued pacing. Step step step. He heard a soft rumble en then the door of the chamber slid open.
It was as dark back in the hall as it had been inside the chamber. The only light came from four torches, each placed in the corners of the room. As I staggered inside, everything turned in front of my eyes. Vaguely, I could see Audax standing near the stairs. I sank down onto my knees, all energy had been drained away, since that Fayth flew straight through me. I heard the heavy steps of Audax striding up the stairs and soon I felt his hands around my shoulders. "Jentl? Can you hear me?" I threw my arms around his neck happily. "I did it, Audax, I did it. Now I'm a summoner. Now I can make Kilika proud." Then I dozed off in his arms.
As the light outside the temple shined on my face I smiled. Audax supported me while we walked across the courtyard. He kept mumbling something in the way offf: "You can't handle this, Jentl, you're too young." Hell, I wasn't! I was a summoner, if I had been too young I was probably still inside praying. People ran to me and prayed. "It's okay," I whispered and stood on my own legs.
It was my first day as a summoner and already everyone adressed me with 'Lady Jentl' or 'Lady Summoner'. I smiled and prayed for them as well. I was so happy. Never before had I been that happy in my entire life. "Lady Jentl." An old lady approached me with unsteady steps. She held a long light blue staf in both her hands with at the end a round ball. She held it out to me. "It was my daughter's. She wanted to become a summoner just like yourself, until Sin came." A tear ran down her cheek and she closed my hand around it, tightly. "I want you to have it, Lady Jentl, please show us your summon."
I eyed the staf and then turned to Audax. He just nodded and I knew what to do. Everyone slowly backed off as I raised the staf. This was my moment, my pride. I swept it around and a large red glyph appeared on the ground, shining brightly. I kneeled and the ground was torn appart by a huge beast. It roared mighty as I was thrown into the air. I did not show any fear, there was no need to be afraid either. This was my aeon, my very first aeon. He was firy red and had large black horns.
As we came down he carefully placed me on his shoulder and we landed on the ground he put down and roared again. Some younger kids ran off in fear. I caressed his head. "Your name will be Mammoth." He roared terrifying and the people surrounding us prayed. Only Audax didn't. That did it. That was the start of my pilgrimige.
The whole town came to see us off. I was surprised, but most of all touched. They did care. Even my mother and brother came. Although mum was still very sad and actually didn't want me to leave, she made me a shoulder bag of Coyote leather and stuffed it full of Potions and Phoenix Downs and Remedies. I promised her I'd send her a sphere every time I stayed the night at a town.
I was wearing what I found the best outfit for going on a pilgrimage. Firm mountain boats and a long dark reddish cape with a cap. White top and sand-coloured shorts. Beside Audax, I wasn't travelling alone. Our dog which we named Pyreflywould go along on my pilgrimage. And the Kilika Beasts would go along till Luca, where the Blitzball Season was about to begin.
"All aboard!" the captain yelled. All the habitants of Kilika started waving and shouting. "Travel safe, Lady Jentl!" "Good luck!" "May fiends stay away from your path!" I waved when the first tears burned in my eyes. This was it. This was the last time I would ever see the town where I grew up. I prayed for them. Some kids jumped into the water and tried to swim after us but soon their mums called them back. It only took a few minutes, then Kilika went out of sight.