DISCLAIMER: I do not own SQUARE, SQUARESOFT, SQUARE ENIX or the characters, places or ideas from their games. They own me.
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The door swung open and a footstep sounded through the now-empty cafeteria. Chella glanced up to see Kinoc stride imperiously towards her. She gave him the cheery smile that she had practiced often during the week since they had last spoken.

"Well?" She was pleased with the emotionless tone that she mustered.

Kinoc smiled widely, genuinely pleased with his announcement. "In effect tomorrow, your services are no longer needed in the mess hall."

At that perturbed Bran poked his head out the kitchen door. "What!" It didn't take the chef long to realize that he would never be able to serve all the monks as well as clean up after them without some form of help.

Undaunted by the incredulous man standing in the kitchen doorway, Kinoc continued, "You can move your things out of the caterer's quarters and into the officer's barracks."

Chella hesitated, pushing a dark strand of hair away from her face and tucking it behind an ear. "How will Bran manage without help?" She never once considered going against Kinoc, she just wanted to ensure she didn't leave loose ends.

"Oh, I've convinced the priests that it is proper for the warriors to serve themselves and clean up after themselves." He displayed his perverted grin, "It builds character."

Satisfied with that arrangement, Bran returned to order his kitchen.

Chella raised an eyebrow; she could play his game along with him and she might as well enjoy it. "Alright boss," she gave a little shrug, "if you give me five minutes I shall gather my things."

Kinoc nodded and watched her make her way around to the back of the hall. She was too young to effectively put up that facade - but she was improving almost by the minute. He could make a lackey out of her yet; half his work was done since she would do anything for her beloved Auron.

She reappeared within the five minutes and they quitted the large building. Outside monks toiled at their various activities: carrying fuel, studying ancient spheres, practicing their outdoor fencing.

Suddenly, a gong sounded. The bustle lulled and then came to a standstill.

A small crowd was making its way towards the temple. Every individual in the area quickly dropped to their knees as a sign of the highest respect: the new High Priest had arrived.

Chella chanced a stray glimpse at the holy man and his retinue. Following him was his wife - a plump woman, adorned in gaudy feathers and shining gems. Then at a respectful distance came their daughter. Rumor had it that at her tender age of seventeen the girl had already tamed innumerable hapless men. A full three years younger, Chella had never been noticed by the Monks - at least not as anything more than a younger sister or a fledgling waitress. Or a daughter...

Those thoughts inevitably lead her to memories of the gentle man who had been High Priest when she was being brought up. The venerable man was a far cry from this pompous replacement and his showy entourage. He had been humble and wise. He was the one who had convinced the other priests to keep the scrawny, bawling bundle that had been abandoned in their patch of Spira. He had passed on to the farplane the last year.

Sensing the others around her rising, Chella shook herself from her reverie and scampered after the swiftly retreating Kinoc. She wondered when she would have to attend to Auron; she would be able to touch him for the first time. Actually touch him. Still contemplating this, she nearly bumped into the back of the abruptly stopped Kinoc. Recovering just in time, she observed the small but sturdy cabin that was for the officers assistants.

"Don't plan on spending that much time here," the blond paused in the manner of a veteran story-teller, "Drop your things off and come to my room immediately." With that he left.

It was some time before Chella could find an available cot and unclaimed living space in the tight building. She made her way to Kinoc's quarters at a nervous pace wondering what he had in store for her. Nearly bursting in the door, what composure she had left faltered. Auron paused mid-sentence in surprise, who was she? He could have sworn he had seen her before somewhere. He glanced at his overbearing peer and then back at the girl, who was now standing still, head bowed in a posture of total submission.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything." The voice that came out couldn't have been hers - it wasn't shaking like her insides seemed to be.

"Of course not!" Kinoc seemed to be in an expansive mood, "You're just in time." He turned to the red-clad warrior he had been talking to, "Would you excuse us Auron?" the calculating gleam returned to his eyes.

With a hurt look, Auron turned on his heel and left, trying to determine what had just happened.

Kinoc explained his demands. He wanted Auron that very night. He would meet her at the hidden shed at midnight sharp. She should rest as much as she could till then. She needed to stop acting like a fearful waitress and carry herself as assistant of an important officer.

It was only then she realized how neatly he had trapped her. She would have to watch as he violated the object of her affection - there was no other way she could ensure that their accord was honored. In fact, it was also the best way she could distinguish what damage had been dealt. She would have to watch. The spheres were beginning to turn shadowy, as though the memories were almost fading, almost lost. There was little time left for anyone who cared to view them.

Meanwhile Jecht wandered along the edge of the Moonflow. Even knowing that Auron was having nightmares, Jecht envied him for being able to get to sleep in the first place. He felt so bad, about the shoopuf, about the strange looks Braska was getting because of him…all that with the overtone of completely failing as a father. If he knew anything, he knew that he would hold to his vow of never touching alcohol again, and his silent vow of becoming a better person – not for him but for his son.

He sighed and stared out at the water and the pyreflies, wondering how it was that in the face of such beauty he felt so alone.

In the morning the trio set off once again, this time to the Djose temple where Braska would receive the aid of another aeon. The day had dawned in a stunning manner, the sun glinting off the pyreflies that still floated above the Moonflow and birds singing their joy at being alive. The companions could not help but feel lighthearted and jovial and even Auron caught himself smiling. As they walked Jecht fell into step beside his fellow guardian and after a moment spoke:

"What do you dream of?" Auron paused, trying to repel the immediate feelings of animosity he felt. Braska had talked with him earlier, urging him in the quiet, gentle way the summoner had to give Jecht a chance. Auron had committed to do so for lord Braska's sake.

When Auron still had not answered, the man from Zanarkand scratched his neck and broke the silence.

"I dream of my son." Auron glanced over at him, surprised by the tone of longing in the other man's voice. "And sometimes, in my nightmares I get so scared – scared that he'll drown or worse, scared that he'll hate me, y'know? Even though I already know he does…" here Jecht trailed off, lost in his own memories and regrets, the effects of the cheerful environment lost on him. He snapped back to the present when his rust-eyed comrade clapped him on the shoulder in silent companionship, no longer regarding him as an enemy. A few steps behind them Braska smiled, relieved.

The glowing spheres began their work again. Kinoc glanced up as Chella entered his quarters, "Sit down."

She complied differentially, no longer actually feeling any animosity towards him. The past year of her servitude to him had opened her eyes to many things.

As a matter of fact, Kinoc had been far too busy trying to control Arenia, the daughter of the High Priest; he did not spend near as much time abusing Auron. It certainly had not helped Auron's self-esteem yet Chella welcomed the additional peace of mind, small as it was.

Once Chella had, in a fit of rage, spoken back to Kinoc; that very night, after gallivanting with Arenia till nearly daybreak he came drunkenly back to Auron. Chella had to tend a broken collarbone, two black eyes and a bloodied split lip that morning. If anything, Kinoc was apt at getting his point across.

Chella sat down, wondering what it was that Kinoc wanted so urgently, sending a runner for her in the middle of the day. He finished part of the sphere he was working on when she came in and set it aside.

"You've been doing an extraordinary job lately. I think you deserve some time off."

She raised her eyebrows, the first leave she could take in a year of service? She wouldn't dispute that.

"Take a few days, four. Go have some fun, relax, do all that."

She nodded and at his gesture left the room. Almost running to her barracks, she grabbed her medical kit and made her way to the beach where she could collect more specimens of the strange plants and microscopic animals that had been found in the water. She had a lot to catch up with regarding her cures and salves; this short vacation was much-needed.

After hours of gathering and testing, Chella looked around to find the sun had already set, leaving the landscape lit by the millions of stars. With a long, contented sigh she contemplated what to do next with her temporary freedom. Maybe she should go somewhere to think. The cliffs were ideal for that, dark and deserted yet peaceful in their own steady way. Making up her mind, she walked up the winding path that lead back to the encampment and eventually the cliffs.

Auron paused to catch his breath outside the temple. His still-mending collarbone was giving him trouble when doing basic things like showering and dressing. As a result he had to rush from training to meals to combat practice to teachings, and it was wearing him out. He experimentally moved his arm, grunting when the pain shot up from his shoulder. He was healing quickly thanks to the girl, but not fast enough. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement from behind the temple and looked up to see Chella heading up the path towards the cliffs. While this was still registering, a fellow Warrior greeted him and ushered him inside the temple for the teachings that would begin shortly. He made his way inside, forgetting about her once again.