"So how are we going to do this Auron?" Braska asked grimly, nodding towards the guards at the entrance to the main Temple. "You were right; they aren't likely to just let me walk into the Cloisters without applying for entrance, at least not without a fight…"
Auron nodded as he absentmindedly adjusted his sword, and watched the various people walking across the open plaza. "Ahh," he said softly. "There's the man we need. Come on," he instructed and then moved off quickly towards a tall man in an officer's uniform, walking with several low ranked guards.
"Lieutenant Rimmon, could I have a word with you please?" Auron asked quietly as he approached the group. The guard's Second Officer stopped and then waved the other guards on without him.
"You three go take up your posts, I will join you later. Meanwhile work on memorizing the new regulation book." Rimmon advised, knowing that Captain Kinoc was planning a surprise inspection later, and he loved to quiz the guards on the regulations, some of which made no sense whatsoever. "So, Captain…I'm surprised to see you here, but it's a pleasant surprise..." his voice trailed off as he turned to look behind Auron and nodded politely to Braska. "What has happened?" Rimmon asked, his expression turning serious as he looked at their grim faces. "You both look awful."
"We need to get into the Cloisters, preferably without anyone knowing," Auron stated quietly, looking into his friend's eyes. "It's important."
Rimmon reached up and scratched the side of his nose as he thought. "I think I can do that, but you will pardon me if I ask why?"
"I need to see the fayth," Braska responded finally, his eyes shadowed with pain. "I am a Summoner, it is my right to see the fayth," he continued firmly when Rimmon seemed to hesitate.
"I'm sure you would be admitted if you asked…" Rimmon started to say, then broke off when Auron shook his head.
"We aren't in especially good graces with the Maesters right now, and I don't think we would be able to get in without a long argument. It is important that we get in quickly, and we don't want to deal with the bureaucracy," Auron answered, looking down at the paving stones for a moment as he thought. "If you can you get us to the hallway behind the Prayer hall, and distract the other guards for just a moment…I think we can handle things from there."
Rimmon considered that and then nodded. "Alright, I can do that, but you do realize that you'll almost certainly be detained on the way out?" Braska and Auron both nodded, understanding that he would not be able to protect them if that happened.
"That will be enough, my friend. I don't want you to risk your position. Bad enough you have to work under Kinoc," Auron answered with a wry smile as Rimmon led them towards the doors. "Let's get out of here before someone spots us."
"Follow me," Rimmon said quietly, as they entered through the main doors of the temple. "I'm sure you know the way, Auron, but all visitors have to be escorted, according to the new regulations, and you'd attract attention if you weren't with me." He ushered them towards where the stairway to access the upper floors began, and the three climbed the stairs to the second floor, then quickly moved into a smaller hallway leading deeper into the temple complex, the opposite direction from where the Council chambers were located on the third floor.
Rimmon unlocked a side door as soon as they were alone in the hallway and waved them through an unoccupied office, before leading them quickly into a rats maze of tiny offices and small cubicles occupied by acolytes and lower level priests toiling over the records kept by the Church of Yevon. Rimmon finally brought them back down to the main floor by way of a small service stairway. "This is as far as I can take you," he said as he motioned them into a small room used to store old wall hangings, dusty from their lack of use, and extra candles for the Hall of Prayers.
"This will do fine, Rimmon," Auron said, patting his friend on the shoulder. Braska looked at Auron questioningly, and he pointed towards a small door on the opposite side of the room. "The entrance is out that door and across the main Hall," he advised Braska as they moved cautiously to the other door, cracking it open carefully to peek out at the guards standing beside the doorway leading to the Cloister of Trials.
"You sure you want to do this?" Rimmon asked from where he stood beside the first door, puzzled but happy to assist his former Captain, especially if it was sure to annoy his current one. Auron turned and nodded his agreement. "Then wait till I draw the guards away," Rimmon advised. "You'll only have a couple of minutes to get through." He waited for Auron's nod of understanding then stepped back out into the hallway. "Good luck, with whatever you have planned," he murmured as he turned to softly close the door behind him. "I hope it's worth it."
The two men watched silently as Rimmon entered the Chamber of Prayers a few moments later and walked briskly up to the two guards, speaking to them briefly before he left again, with them following.
"Now, let's go! Walk slowly, as if you aren't in a hurry," Auron advised as they slipped quietly out the door and began to move towards the doorway to the Cloisters. "We'll be safe as soon as we're through the door, the guards can't follow us there."
Braska nodded in understanding, and placed his hands in a position of prayer as he followed Auron slowly across the large domed chamber, both stopping to bow in front of the statues along one side of the room. A number of people were praying quietly in front of the statues of past High Summoners, and the two attracted little attention as they passed by. "Apparently, the news that Sin has returned hasn't gotten around," Auron said as he quietly opened the door and ushered Braska through, closing it quickly as he heard the sound of heavy boots approaching the hall of prayers.
"Now, do you know how to reach the fayth from here?" Auron asked quietly as he turned back to look at Braska. He knew the layout of the rest of the temple because he'd been in charge of its security, but only Summoners and their Guardians were allowed past this point, and Braska had quit his pilgrimage before they reached Bevelle.
"No, but we'll figure it out," Braska responded grimly, moving at a fast pace towards the first Trial.
It was several hours later when they finally reached the entrance to the Chamber of the fayth, tired and irritated by the multitude of challenges they had faced to reach this point. Braska had been required to activate numerous spheres, using the mental talent that made him a summoner, and then place the spheres in the correct positions to open passages. Only a summoner was able to activate the spheres, so Auron had been unable to help his friend. They gratefully walked up to the final doorway.
"You're on your own now," Auron said quietly, opening the door to the Fayth's chamber. "I'll wait here." Braska only nodded and stepped through, entering the room holding Bahamut's fayth. He turned and carefully shut the ornate door behind him, watching as lowered slowly into a slot in the floor, then leaned his head on it for a moment, tears starting to spill from his eyes.
Auron leaned his head against the other side of the door, a single tear trailing down his cheek as he waited for his friend to return. There was a chance he would not…some Summoners died trying to gain a fayth; falling when their minds were unable to hold the power their prayer's had granted them. He wondered wearily what Braska really had in mind, if he was planning on returning to his previous pilgrimage? He brushed the tears out of his eyes and wearily settled on the low steps leading to Bahamut's chamber, his head in his hands as he remembered what had happened earlier that morning, just as the sun was rising.
Yuna had woken as Braska and Auron were leaving, coming sleepily down the stairs to meet them, stumbling up to Braska's side and wrapping her little arms around his leg.
Braska knelt down to hug her, then picked her up and moved to sit on the bottom of the stairs, settling her into his lap. "You should be in bed, Yuna," he told her softly.
"I woke up," she mumbled sleepily, pulling her thumb from her mouth. "I heard people talking." She tilted her little head up to look at her father, frowning as she saw a tear slide down his cheek. "What hurts Daddy? I will kiss it and make it all better," Yuna said, reaching to kiss his cheek. He shut his eyes and turned his head away, unable to look at her as another tear found its way down his face. Yuna looked worried as she turned in her father's lap to peer up at Auron, just in time to catch him wiping his eyes, and Roggis's face starting to crumble as he tried not to cry. Norris was standing behind Roggis with Tami in his arms, patting her back as the young woman cried softly. "Daddy? Why is everyone crying?"
Braska looked into her frightened eyes as he wiped the tears from his and took a shaky breath. "Yuna? Mommy was in an accident," was all he could choke out before he had to stop.
"She will get better - you can do a healing on her?" Yuna asked, pleading for reassurance as tears started to fill her eyes.
"She won't be coming home," Braska explained, his voice failing him. "Mommy won't be coming back, her ship sank," he continued, holding Yuna close as he said that. "It is too late - she has already gone…." He stopped, unable to tell his daughter the entire truth – her mother was never coming back, she would never reach the Farplane. "Mommy's gone…"
"I love you Daddy, I'll stay with you," Yuna promised with a whimper, patting his cheek gently as tears streamed down his face. Braska pulled her closer and began to rock her as she started crying, holding her until she cried herself to an exhausted sleep. He climbed the stairs slowly, taking her back to her bed, his determination strengthened as he watched her sleep.
"Do you know what you've done?" Braska asked in a voice rough with suppressed tears as he finally stepped forward to kneel beside the twisted figure of the fayth. He put his face in his hands as he began to sob then spoke again in a choked whisper. "Do you know the horror you have allowed, because you have done nothing?" He continued, his voice rising as he bent forward to put one hand on the clear glass covering the fayth. "Do you know how much pain and grief you have allowed to happen?" He slammed his hand down, clenching his fist as he looked at the fayth, a male figure in gold and purple, twisted around with its face hidden. "Do you know how hard it was to tell my little baby her mother was never going to come back!" he screamed, his voice raw with grief and anger, his entire being focused on his pain as he slammed his fists down again and again. "NO! Never again! No more!" he screamed, falling forward to put his forehead against the glass.
"No more deaths, no more pain, no more, please…" Braska pleaded, pushing his feelings outwards trying to reach the fayth with his summoning talent. "It has to stop! You have to wake up!" he closed his eyes, raising his hands to his mouth as he cried - his sobs choked and broken sounding. "She's gone, because you let Sin return… Leyona is gone!" He bent forward and flattened both hands against the glass once more. "WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO US!" he shouted, thrusting his demand roughly at the fayth of Bahamut, much as he had sent his gentle prayers to the fayth's of Ifrit and Ixion. "WAKE UP, DAMN YOU!" Braska shouted over and over until he was hoarse, pounding his hands on the glass until they began to bleed. Finally he collapsed, lying on the floor of the chamber sobbing.
"Why are you crying, sir?" A child's voice asked quietly, the soft sound seeming to echo in Braska's mind.
Without looking up Braska replied between the tears. "My wife has been killed by Sin and my soul has been torn from me. And the fayth do nothing but dream of the past."
"You will see her again on the Farplane," the boy replied.
"No, I will not, because all the souls Sin consumes turn into fiends who despise the living," Braska answered bitterly, sitting up to look at the fayth standing in mid air over his resting place. Braska's eyes widened as he realized that the fayth of Bahamut was a slender child of perhaps ten or twelve, most of his face shadowed by the hood of a short robe. The only fayth he'd seen before had been Lady Reena, even though he possessed the aeons of Ifrit and Ixion. He had prayed at their temples, and felt an unseen presence, then the power of the aeon had poured into him; that was the way all Summoners received the aeons.
"Their souls do not return to the Farplane," Braska stated finally, in answer to the fayth's question.
"I don't understand," the boy replied. "How can the act of committing a sin keep someone from reaching the Farplane?"
"You don't understand because you have been dreaming for a thousand years," Braska explained bitterly. "The summoner Yu Yevon did a special summoning when Zanarkand fell. He called an aeon then created armor for it that he called Sin, to reap revenge on Bevelle for the destruction of Zanarkand." He stopped and wiped his eyes, his grief turning to angry determination as he continued. "Sin has caused untold death and destruction for nearly a thousand years. Spira has suffered, people have died, and entire cities have been destroyed. The only way we have found to defeat Sin is for a Summoner to obtain all the aeon's who remain, then go to the ruins of Zanarkand and speak to the ghost of Yunaleska, and obtain the Final Aeon, supposedly the aeon of Lord Xeon, husband of Lady Yunalesca…," he paused, overwhelmed by the feeling of betrayal he felt.
"I know of her," Bahamut said quietly. "But there is more, I feel your anger…."
"The aeon no longer exists – his fayth has faded. I have found out that Yunalesca creates a new aeon, an aeon created from the life force of a companion or beloved of the summoner. This aeon costs the Summoners life when it is called." Braska looked up at the fayth again, anger plain in his voice. "The summoner always dies! But this is the only way to defeat Sin, since the rest of you sleep...," he stopped, unable to continue for a long moment.
Bahamut sank down until he knelt before Braska, a frown of concern on his face. "Sin can be defeated?"
"It has been defeated a few times, but Sin always returns, still fighting a battle that has long been forgotten. Two lives sacrificed -to gain a few years of calm -and then Sin returns. It always returns!" Braska lifted his head and met the intent gaze of Bahamut's deep brown eyes, then continued to explain the dire facts of life to the youthful fayth, his own eyes pained and grief filled as his anger left him. "The Spira you once knew is no more - the people of Spira have been trapped in this cycle of death for a thousand years, and there is no hope of breaking the cycle while the fayth sleep, the church has made sure of that," Braska concluded bitterly. "They have changed the teachings in order to gain complete power over Spira; few dare defy the Church of Yevon."
"Then you must take me to the others so I may awaken them," Bahamut said firmly. "Take this necklace," he paused as he reached up into his robe and removed a silver chain with a pendant from around his neck. "Call me when you find the other fayth – I can awaken them, but I do not know where they have gone."
The fayth cradled the chain in his hand and looked at it for a long moment, as if he were weighing his words carefully. "This will allow me to join you when you find the others." Braska looked with amazement as the fayth held the necklace out then dropped it gently into Braska's cupped hand.
"I don't understand," Braska gasped, shocked as the cool metal slid into his grasp. Nothing he'd ever heard or read had suggested that a fayth could do something like this. "You will be able to come to me, as you are now, if I have this?" He touched the necklace hesitantly with one finger, turning the pendant over to see a symbol he'd seen only once before, in one of the oldest books in the archive, a book reputed to have come from the temple in Zanarkand.
The fayth nodded solemnly then looked down at the necklace in Braska's hands. "The people of Zanarkand hold us within their dream, as you hold my necklace now, and only someone from that dream can release us." Bahamut looked up to meet Braska's eyes once more. "I will send you a champion, for only someone who does not believe in this cycle can break it. You will know him by this," he instructed, with a gesture at the pendant.
The boy fayth arose from where he knelt and once again floated over his resting place, looking down at the shaken summoner with a slight smile on his lips. "I grant you my aeon, use it well Braska," the fayth said quietly, before a sudden surge of power tore through Braska, and everything went black.
Braska slowly regained consciousness, his entire body aching from the time he'd spent laying on the cold stone floor of the fayth's chamber. He reached one battered hand up and pressed it to his chest, feeling the pulse of power within him, the gift from Bahamut, then looked down with wonder at the sliver necklace in his other hand.
"How…it wasn't a dream…but how?" Braska whispered hoarsely to himself. He'd entered the chamber with no expectations, merely wanting to vent his anguish on one of those he held responsible. He'd certainly never expected a result like this!
Braska rose stiffly, and staggered to the door, pushing the lever that would open it, and nearly fell when it slid upwards.
Auron jumped to his feet, rushing forward to catch his friend as he slumped to the floor again.
"Braska, are you well?" Auron questioned quickly, helping Braska sit on the steps and pulling out his pocket flask to offer him a sip of sake. "You need to rest at least," he insisted as Braska brushed it aside with a shake of his head. Auron drew a breath in through his teeth with a hiss as he saw Braska's bruised and bloodied hands. "What have you done to your hands?" he exclaimed, reaching for Braska's hand to examine it.
"I woke him up…," Braska answered softly, smiling slightly as Auron's eyes widened "…and he gave me something." Auron's face paled as Braska turned one battered hand over and opened it, showing his friend the necklace. "He says he will come with us to wake up the other fayth."
"Can you cast a healing spell on yourself? I think we need to get out of here. I'm betting we'll have company when we leave the Cloisters but you're in no shape to fight if we have to," Auron stated, easing Braska back into a more comfortable position on the stairs. He didn't know what to say about Braska's wild sounding statement, so he concentrated on what he could do something about. "We didn't think to bring any food or water, so we can't stay here and wait them out."
Braska nodded and then sat up and struggled for a moment to open the clasp on the chain, then fastened it around his neck and tucked it inside his tunic. He closed his eyes to concentrate then cast a healing spell on himself. To his surprise, it worked easily, the power flowing through the spell without hesitation. He looked down, watching as his hands healed, leaving only a faint pink scarring where his knuckles had been split and bruised. He took a deep breath and realized he didn't hurt anymore, the muscle aches he'd had when entering the Cloisters were gone and he felt rejuvenated.
The summoner looked appraisingly at his best friend, noting the dark circles around his reddened eyes, the slumped shoulders and haggard looking face; then he cast a different spell, one he'd learned when he was with the Crusaders, but had never been able to perform successfully – on Auron.
"What! No, save your strength Braska, I don't need…," Auron started to protest then watched as the light blue glow of an esuna spell flowed over him, easing the weariness he felt and infusing him with new energy. "How…," he began then changed his mind, he was going to have a long talk with Braska when this was over, but they didn't really have time right now. "Never mind," he said. "Thanks."
"Let's go?" Braska asked, standing to stretch wearily before he walked down the stairs towards the entrance to the Cloisters. They would have to reverse all the steps they'd taken to gain entry, and he wasn't looking forward to it. "It will be interesting to see what our reception will be." He turned to look back at Auron, and his eyes widened as Bahamut's fayth suddenly appeared, standing at the top of the stairs.
"I will be there if you need me," Bahamut spoke softly, then nodded slightly to Braska and disappeared once more.
Auron reached for the handle on the last door of the Cloisters, the exit to the Hall of Prayers, then paused and looked at Braska. "Are you ready? We might have to fight our way out of here."
"Try not to start it, but we'll fight if we have to," Braska replied, then took a deep breath and nodded. Auron opened the door to the prayer hall, and they stepped out, finding it occupied by guards, not believers. They walked down the stairs and out to the center of the Hall and then stopped, facing the guards.
Captain Kinoc stepped forward, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Guards, arrest them," he ordered, sending the first rank of guards forward towards Braska and Auron, guns lowered.
"On whose authority?" Braska calmly asked, crossing his arms and standing firm, Auron at his side.
"Mine, Braska," was the reply as Maester Kendale stepped forward through the group of guards, a scowl on his wrinkled face.
"That's Lord Braska," Auron corrected, setting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I was unaware that the position of Keeper of the Histories held so much power - to command the temple guard must be a real thrill for you."
Maester Kendale frowned, his face turning red. "You are a failed Summoner, and you are trespassing! You have no business here Lord Braska," was Maester Kendale disdainful reply. "And that disgraced Monk has even less of a right to be here!"
"The Temple of Yevon is open to all of Spira is it not?" Braska asked, clenching his jaw as he looked at the faces of the guards. "Then as a summoner, failed or not, I have the right to enter any temple on Spira that I choose, and pay homage to the fayth."
The guards start to murmur that this was a true fact. "Be quiet and do as you have been ordered," Kinoc roughly demanded, not happy at his orders, but equally unhappy to be loosing control of the situation. There came a sudden din from outside the Hall of Prayers, as of a mass of people demanding to be let in.
Braska looked Kinoc in the eye then gestured towards the main doors. "Are you going to deny them their right to pray as well?" He watched as the Captain of the Guard's attention wavered. Kinoc glanced back towards the doors as someone began to pound loudly, then back towards Maester Kendale, unsure of what to do. Braska paused and then continued, his words directed at Maester Kendale. "I would open those doors, because the news they carry is that Sin has returned, and you and the church will need to get the propaganda machine fired up to comfort the masses – and convince them that you have some control over the situation."
Kendale's face reddened with rage. "Heretic!" he screamed. "How dare you defile the Church of Yevon," he continued, nearly foaming at the mouth. Kendale moved suddenly, wrenched a rifle from the hands of a guard and leveled it on Braska.
Auron moved instantly, drawing his sword and stepping in front of Braska, ready to protect him if Kendale followed through with his attack. He watched as the Maester suddenly hesitated and lowered the rifle, his gaze moving up and beyond the pair, his jaw dropping open in shock. The guards showed an equal amount of shock, and began edging backwards towards the door, several dropping their rifles, to Kinoc's fury. He turned towards where Braska and Auron stood, as he yelled for the other guards to hold their places, but then fell silent as he saw what had frightened his men. Looking upwards, his mouth fell open as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing.
"Shoot! Shoot them!" Kendale ordered as he raised the rifle again, his voice rising shrilly over the sudden cries of the guards. Kinoc tried to grab the rifle, but Kendale pushed him away and fired at Auron.
The recoil of the rifle was doubled as a rush of air hit Kendale and the nearby guards, knocking several off their feet. A huge pair of dark purple hands smashed down in front of Braska and Auron as Bahamut cupped them protectively within his grasp, the bullet ricocheting off one talon to lodge in the wall. Braska turned his head and looked up as Bahamut settled on his haunches behind them, his huge wings raised, their tips nearly touching the ceiling of the Hall of Prayers.
"How dare you summon an aeon against me?" Maester Kendale shouted, his fury turning his face red and his eyes wild. "Shoot them I say!"
A loud snarl of warning shook the room as the guards hesitantly lifted their rifles, reluctant to obey Maester Kendale.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Kinoc shouted, stepping in front of the guards with his arms spread.
"DO NOT FIRE!" A stern voice thundered out as Grand Maester Mica entered the Hall, surrounded by his personal guards. "Put your rifles down! Do not fire!" The old man repeated as he reached the front of the group and stopped to look up at Bahamut, whose hands were still cupped protectively around Braska and Auron. "Kinoc, control your men."
"What is the meaning of this?" Mica asked, turning to look at Kendale and Kinoc. "Who authorized this?"
Braska let his breath out with a sigh as he heard Mica taking charge of the situation. He knew Mica wasn't fond of him, but Braska respected him and knew the Maester would resolve the situation without further violence. He reached out and touched Auron's shoulder, then motioned him to one side. "I think you have made your point, my friend," Braska said as he reached out and put his hand on one of Bahamut's. "Grand Maester Mica is the head of the Church of Yevon; no one will go against his orders." Bahamut growled softly, at a pitch felt in the bones more than heard, then slowly pulled his hands away and placed them on the floor on either side of the two, his reluctance to move evident to everyone.
Mica turned to watch, unsurprised to see Braska and Auron. "This is the second time I've had an aeon summoned against my staff, and I don't care for it. I hardly think this situation demanded that kind of force, Lord Braska," Maester Mica stated coldly, his eyes set on Braska as he continued. "Bahamut, I dismiss you." Mica's eyes widened when nothing happened. He looked at Braska and frowned.
Captain Kinoc pushed to the front of the group of guards, and moved to stand beside the Grand Maester. "Lord Braska didn't summon the aeon, your Worship," Kinoc said, bowing his head respectfully. "I saw none of the signs of a summoning; Lord Braska did nothing, Bahamut just… appeared…."
Braska nodded his head in agreement, his expression calm. "I didn't summon, he came on his own initiative." He stepped forward, and then turned to look up at his powerful protector. "Bahamut?"
The room echoed as the mighty aeon growled, turning his head to look down at Braska. "I think we will be alright now. Thank you for your help." Bahamut growled more softly in answer and then his eyes narrowed as he looked at the guards and motioned to them with the talons on one hand, placing his other hand on the floor, palm up. The guards hesitated, and then moved forward, throwing their rifles onto his hand. Captain Kinoc reached over and took the rifle from his soon to be father-in-law's hands, throwing it to join the others. The aeon snorted softly and closed his hand over the guns, crushing them, then nodded to Braska and jumped upwards, disappearing in a flash of energy.
Maester Mica stood silently for a long moment, looking up to where the aeon had disappeared. "Maester Kendale, I expect an explanation for this…Captain Kinoc open the doors." He turned to look at Braska and Auron, who had sheathed his sword and was standing calmly beside his friend. "Lord Braska, you have received a new aeon?" He waited until Braska nodded, then continued. "I deeply regret your loss; our prayers will be with you and your family. I look forward to hearing about your progress on your pilgrimage." Mica looked up towards the spot where Bahamut had disappeared once more, then shook his head and motioned for his guards to escort him out.
Kinoc stood beside the main doors to the temple with Maester Kendale, watching Braska and Auron as they left the courtyard and started across the long bridge towards the city. "What are we going to do about them?"
"Nothing…this is better than I could have ever planned," Kendale answered. "If they fail, they die…and if they succeed, they die. Either way, it serves my purpose." He started chuckling and turned to enter the temple, Kinoc staring after him as a chill ran down his back.