'Ugh!' Reis cried, sitting up as she felt a hand press against her aching chest, 'Stop that! It really hurts!'

'I'm sorry, Reis…but it has to be done,' Yuna whispered softly in her ear, muttering a Cure spell.

'I know you have to, but do you have to press so hard on it?' Reis growled, as Yuna pressed her hand again on her ribs.

'I have to. You've just about pulverised your ribs after you performed that spell,' Yuna said, frowning, 'What was that? I certainly don't want to use that if I had to, even if it did destroy half of Sin,'

'What happened to the other half?' Reis asked; biting her lip as Yuna compressed her ribs once more, 'Wasn't my spell powerful enough to destroy it?'

'The other half escaped. Thankfully the remaining Crusaders could be saved. Yevon knows what Sin could've done to them, once he had destroyed all the Al Bhed Machina,'

All of them…? No more cannons left? And all the operators…dead?

'I only did what I had to do. That is, to protect you. My duty as a guardian,' Reis croaked, coughing in embarrassment, 'What's wrong with my voice…it doesn't…seem right…somehow,'

'Reis…' Yuna said, gesticulating for a word, 'You nearly died performing that spell. Why, why did you risk your life? I wouldn't have been prepared for such a sacrifice,'

'Please, Yuna. I need to know. What happened to me?' Reis repeated, her voice growing hoarse.

'You've…permanently damaged your throat,' Yuna said, bowing her head, 'Blood was spurting everywhere, out of your mouth. I couldn't do anything more than to attempt my feeble curative spells on you. But none worked; none at all. Maester Seymour attempted his best, but only succeeded in slowing the blood flow. We feared…that you would die. We thought that you inflicted a mortal wound on yourself. Well, it eventually stopped…but that…that…left your throat in a very bad shape; we could tell that something was badly wrong; there was swelling…we had no other choice. Either you would die or we had to do something about your throat…we…we—oh dear Yevon, I can't say it…'

'We gambled on your life,' Lulu added, staring coldly at Reis, 'We cut open your throat to let whatever it was out. The blood flow stopped, at least after I had sealed the wound with a fire spell,'

That…that's…I can't believe this…they had to destroy my voice to save my life?

'…' Reis mouthed, attempting to speak; the pain in her throat ascended to the point where she was forced to fall silent. Yuna pushed her gently back down onto the coarse woolen bedsheets of the tent bed; putting a glass of water next to Reis, she left the room, bowing to Seymour and Kimahri as she left.

Heat was throbbing in her face. How could I be so reckless? Why must I perform that spell? The spell of which I knew the after-effects; which I've used before.

Picking up her dress, she slipped herself into the folds of the warm, white cloth; biting her lip, she placed the black crystal breastplate over her chest; it pressed rather tightly, a little uncomfortable, with the slightest tinge of pain. Sliding the other pieces of armor over her legs and arms, Reis felt a powerful wave of emotion surge through her like an earthquake.

Why did I save their lives? Why did I bother to do that and place myself into danger?

Is it all because they can't look after themselves? Because they cannot defend themselves? Why can't they fight their own wars, their own battles, and not have to have me torture myself for their sake?

An anger like no other flowed through Reis' mind. Furious at herself for sacrificing her voice, and even more so at the men that she had saved, she grasped the black crystal spear on the table, striding out of the tent; masking her anger behind a cold smile, Reis sat on the edge of the feast outside, under an overhanging ledge, watching the stars and the black night sky.

A hand pressed against her backside, then scrabbling up her chest; reflexively, she grabbed it with her hand, and staring over her shoulder, she saw a half-drunken Crusader; untidy, and covered in filth and dirt, as though he had been in a brawl.

'What do you think you're doing?' Reis rasped, gripping the Crusader's wrist in an iron grip, 'You think that's the right way to respect a woman, do you?'

'Yeah, I do. Women are just whores, to be coupled with a man. Say, how about you stay with me for the night, you look mighty fine to me,' he slurred, slightly laughing into Reis' contorted face.

That did it. I will teach this man a lesson.

'You think this will show you my answer?' Reis growled, resisting the burning pain in her throat as she crushed the Crusader's wrist, 'You think this will show my anger? If you were any fiend, I will finish you off like this…Crush Punch!'

Stabbing at a barrel of ale with the spear held in her other hand, she caused the steel hoops to burst, and the wooden planks to shatter into splinters; a pool of thick, dark beer remained behind.

'You're lucky you're not a fiend. However, I will not let you leave without greater…ah, let's say…enlightenment, on how to respect a woman. I will let you remember this day…from now on!' Reis growled softly into his face, smiling widely as the man screamed in agony; Reis had twisted his arm entirely around by the wrist, before crushing all the bones in his hand with a final, crushing grip. Kicking the weeping Crusader aside, she sat down under the overhang once more, relishing the moment of pain; that moment when the satisfying will to destroy emerged in her once more, as it did occasionally during her years as a dragon.

Silently summoning a pitcher of water from thin air, Reis looked onto the celebrations before her; a few buffoons in the middle were providing entertainment, dancing and chanting on top of the table in the centre; vast joints of chocobo meat were being hauled every few minutes to the hungry crowds, who feasted as they drank ale and wine. Yuna and her guardians were sitting next to Seymour, who appeared to be interested solely in the female summoner.

Why would he be interested in her…? Oh rats. Here we go again, me minding someone else's business. I don't care what Yuna thinks of him, and even less so what Seymour thinks of her. That's their business, not mine.

Gulping down a large amount of water, she then placed a hand on her thin stomach; little she ate lately, and this was slowly beginning to tear away at her health; less weight may help her move faster, but it definitely was not a good sign to see the way that her ribs showed clearly just above her stomach.

I've always been like this. I eat little, and sleep for long periods of time…it's the way I always was.

Holding her hand out, she created a few embers in her palm; creating a cascade of flames from her fingertips, Reis guided this stream of fire into a pile in front of her, creating a campfire. Lying down on the hard rock, she began to sleep.

I hate myself. I hate the way that I like to save others. I hate the way I don't care about myself. I want to keep myself as it is. And yet, there is an urge, from somewhere…that I must help others. I don't know why it's there, and yet…I obey that will blindly.

I've never felt this way before about helping others.

Why do I need to contemplate it? I've done that without any questions before.

But…why do I still help them, even if it means destroying myself, little by little?

It's as though it was my duty to do that.

Well, if it is my duty, I don't like it. And I will leave it if I don't like it. I'm free to do that.

'That I will do,' Reis muttered to herself, sitting up in the dawn sunlight. There were small bonfires still burning near the slumbering men; Yuna and her other guardians have apparently retired for the night, as they were not to be seen outside, sleeping drunkenly as with the Crusaders in the area.

Walking into the largest tent, she found Yuna sleeping in a comfortable bed, surrounded by her guardians. Creeping past the others, she tapped the edge of Yuna's bed.

'Good morning, Yuna,' Reis greeted her.

'Good morning, Reis, is there anything wrong?' she replied, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

'As a matter of fact, yes. I'd like to…resign. From being your guardian,' Reis said, her low growl beginning to return.

Yuna sat there, wide-eyed in disbelief. This was a guardian—one who was supposed to guard her to their deaths—and here was one, resigning? It was unheard of.

'Why so, Reis?'

'It is a reason…I cannot explain,'

'Please reconsider. In the hundreds of years that summoners have existed in Spira, not once has there been a guardian who withdrew from his or her task,'

'I am not bound by your laws,' Reis growled, raising her voice slightly, 'I am not of this world, and therefore not bound by your laws. I do not practice your religions and I do not obey your regulations,

Yuna bowed her head slightly, her light brown hair hanging lank. Reis could almost swear that she could see tears falling from Yuna's blue and green eyes.

'But please, can you at least stay until Macalania? It is not that far from here,' Yuna pleaded, her voice slightly higher.

'I will. And after that, I will take my leave. I don't know where I will go, and even if I am meant to be here,' Reis said, crossing her arms. Laughing bitterly, she walked out of the tent, inhaling the cool morning air, 'Since my childhood, I've been exposed to death. My parents died when I was a mere childling. A dragon adopted me, to be murdered only three years after that. And yet, I was adopted by its murderer. I could never forgive him for never telling me what happened to my caretaker…it's as though I don't belong anywhere. Exiled, adopted, ridiculed, envied. It's all not new to me. Maybe it was better if I had died with my parents. If I had died with the dragon,'

Burying her spear into the ground in rage, Reis wiped a tear from her eyes, 'I will guard you until the place that you call Macalania. Afterwards, I will leave,'

Marching off towards the entrance of the bay, she sat down in the corner, sharpening the black crystal spear that she held in her hand. Breathing fire upon the tip, she watched it glow a dull, eerie red, before fading away, shining and clear.

Am I human…?

Humans can't breathe fire. You're a dragon…

Am I a dragon then?

Dragons don't have the wonderful appearance that you possess, Reis. You're both, and yet you're neither.

So I don't belong in this world, do I?

Yes, and no.

Can you please explain?

No. You will learn later.

Shaking her head in confusion, Reis looked up to find Yuna and her guardians running towards her, ready for travel, several chocobos behind them. None of the Crusaders were awake yet; all were asleep, under the influence of the ale and wine.

'Are we ready to leave, Yuna?' Reis growled, standing up, dark wings bursting from her back, coated in glistening red blood.

'Yes, I think so…Reis,' Yuna said, avoiding Reis' piercing gaze, glancing at the specks of blood on the floor behind Reis.

'Then let us go,'

The valley was dark and cold; sunlight was yet to shine upon the path that they were treading. Water dripped steadily down the rock overhangs; adding to the general discomfort of the group. Tidus shivered, huddling as close as he could to his chocobo; which gave him an irritated stare and simply resumed its striding gait.

'We visit the temple of Yevon at Djose,' Yuna said, peering into the distance to discern a cleft in the rock, which indicated a path, 'After that, it is Macalania,'

Yes…and I can be free. I will not enter the temple either, for their religion is not mine.

Emerging on the other side of the valley, the group walked along the sandy shores; rolling waves, white-crested and playful, lapped at their feet; Reis dragged her heel along the tops of the waters as she flew over the sapphire sea. Towering cliffs stretched on for as far as the eye could see, along the coast; Reis wondered how far Djose temple was.

Finding a crossroad, Auron pointed towards the eastern path, riding towards a building built in a cliff across a raging rapid. Foam was tossed up, high into the air; and onto the stone bridge that they began to cross. Ivies grew along the railings, covering the bleak grey stone with a welcome patch of green.

Enormous sparks of lightning carved up the cliff side; great chunks of the cliff shattered and broke away, held in stasis by the force of the flashing bolts, chaining each to the next. Spires of metal rose high into the sky, sending out pulsing, powerful waves of energy; steady, constant.

'I will wait here for you, Yuna,' Reis muttered, sitting on top of a rock outside the building, 'I assume that this is the temple of Djose,'

'Yes, it is-'

'Why do you say that you will remain outside?' Auron interjected, his hand on his sword handle, 'Guardians must remain with their summoner, until their death or the summoner's Final Summoning,'

'I am not bound by your laws,' Reis snapped, 'I am of Ivalice; and not of this world. I do not obey, nor do I recognise your regulations. I have guarded Yuna out of my own free will beforehand; no oath I have sworn to guard her to my death,'

'Insubordinance is not a trait of the guardian, Reis. Go in with Yuna. Now,'

'I will repeat what I have said before. I am not bound by your laws,' Reis said, grasping her spear rather tightly.

'Leave her here, Auron. If you're around, there should be enough guardians for me,'

Shooting a look of absolute loathing, Reis watched the experienced guardian follow Yuna into the temple.

Where did he get the idea that I am of this world and that I will listen to their regulations? Such an absurd thought.

…How long have I waited now?

…It's not that long, but why does it feel like so?

…Am I losing my patience?

Perhaps, and you're noticing it.

Then let it be lost!

I don't want to hold back, I want to express myself. My rage at how I am used. Used. Used as a tool, a weapon of destruction, armour of protection. How well I know.

I want to destroy. I want to kill.

You weren't like this before, Reis. Stop this insanity.

I want to kill. And nothing else. I want to have revenge.

Over what?

Over the sufferings that I've had. Years and years of it. My entire life had been of suffering.

Violence breeds violence, and it is the same with what you will attempt to do, if what you say is true.

Then let it be so!

Bowing her head slightly, she felt her eyes burn with heat, with rage, in anger. Anger at herself, and at the world. Leaping from the rock, she joined the rest of the emerging group, lowering her visor over her eyes.