Ha, ha, I got this chapter up late, but hey, it's here! Sorry.
So, short chapter today, but the last one was long, so I guess it's okay.
Enjoy!


Chapter Twenty-One

The party passed back through the portal and back into Guadosalam. At the bottom of the stairs, Auron and Rikku sat, waiting.
"Thank you for waiting!" Yuna called out. "I'll go give my answer to Maester Seymour."
No one had a chance to reply, because several Guado guards stationed around the portal let out gasps. Everyone in the group spun around to see what was going on, and Tidus nearly tripped. The portal to the Farplane was shimmering, but there was something discordant about the flurry of colors rippling over the surface. After a few moments, Tidus could see something emerging from the portal; it was one of the ghostly figures they had seen inside, a Guado. He wore heavy robes and had windblown green hair, and he made an eerie moaning sound that made Tidus' blood run cold.
"Lord Jyscal?!" one of the Guado guards gasped in fright.
"He does not belong here," Auron hissed urgently.
"Why?" Yuna asked, eyes wide.
"Yuna, send him." Auron began to back down the staircase as he spoke.
Yuna tentatively took a step towards the unsent Jyscal and began to twirl her staff. She paused for moment.
"Lord Jyscal…" Yuna stared at the ghostly figure, frozen.
"He is Lord Jyscal no more," Lulu said firmly, stepping up to Yuna. "Send him now!"
Yuna closed her eyes and nodded. After a few twists of her sending dance, the former maester vanished. A glint of light caught Tidus' eye as something dropped from the portal where Jyscal had been standing. Yuna stood closest, and she seemed to notice it, too. She was bending over the thing when Auron spoke. "Talk later. We leave now."
Tidus turned around to see Auron crouched at the bottom of the stairs, clutching his chest. His words sounded ragged, too. But Auron stood back up quickly, leaving no chance for Tidus to ask what was wrong with him. He quickly turned and headed for the exit, and the others followed.

"W-What was that just now?" Wakka asked as the party hiked back down the tunnel from the Farplane. "Was that really Lord Jyscal?"
Yuna let out a sigh. "I don't understand how a man like Lord Jyscal could die and not be sent."
"I would think he was sent once…" Lulu began. "But he stayed on Spira. Something, a powerful emotion, could have bound him to this world. Such things happen."
Rikku looked back from where she bounced along near the front of the group. "That's against the rules, isn't it?" she asked.
"It means he died an unclean death," Auron said darkly without looking back. Tidus nearly stopped walking. You mean he was murdered? This just gets more and more complicated…

After Auron's chilling words, the party carried on in silence until they arrived at Seymour's mansion. Yuna turned back to face the group, her eyes not betraying her emotions.
"I will go… meet with Maester Seymour," she said. Her voice held some uncertainty.
"Yuna!" Auron looked sharply at his charge and spoke with an urgent voice. "Jyscal is the Guado's problem, not yours."
Yuna ignored him and pushed resolutely through the tall doors of Seymour's mansion. For a few moments, the party stood there, then they all went their separate ways. Lulu walked up towards the pathway overlooking the mansion, Kimahri headed for one of the shops, and Rikku and Wakka wandered off into the city in separate directions. Auron stood by the door, waiting for Yuna to emerge. Rather than following the others, Tidus decided to ask Auron a question.
"Hey, are… you alright?" he asked tentatively. Auron glared back at him.
"Of course," he snapped. "Why would you think otherwise?"
"Well, it's just, earlier…" Tidus stammered, breaking off under Auron's hot gaze. He pulled himself together, determined not to let Auron scare him out of getting his answers.
"You didn't look so good," Tidus continued. "Back at the Farplane, when Yuna was sending Jyscal. Did you… fall down the stairs or something?"
"I am fine," Auron replied, with the same hard, angry tone. "Why don't you go find somewhere to wait for Yuna?"
"Okay…" Tidus turned and left, knowing he wasn't going to get any more answers now. Maybe some time when Auron was in a better mood, Tidus could get more out of him. For the time being, Tidus headed farther into the city.

Tidus climbed up the arching tree root that made a pathway to the second level of the city. Up at its peak, the pathway was almost like a balcony overlooking Seymour's mansion. From up there, Tidus could still see Auron leaning against the doorpost, waiting for Yuna to emerge. Lulu stood farther down the pathway, and Tidus moved over to join her.
"So, Lulu," he started. "What do you think about Yuna getting married?"
"As long as the pilgrimage continues," Lulu replied, "either way is fine."
Tidus frowned. "That's it? What if she doesn't even like the guy? Is that okay?"
Lulu continued to look down at the mansion. "People marry for many reasons," she said simply.
"What's that mean?" Tidus scoffed.
"Sometimes marriage doesn't require love, you know?" Lulu began. "Defeat Sin, and bring joy to the people of Spira. Get married, and bring joy to the people of Spira. For Yuna, they're just two ways down the same road." Lulu paused and looked over at Tidus. "All you need is determination. If you have that, you don't need love."
Tidus felt his frown deepen. That just didn't sound right. "I don't know…" he replied, shaking his head. "I just don't get it."
Lulu looked back down at the mansion, but it was obvious her attention was on something in her thoughts. After a few moments, Tidus turned to leave, thinking the conversation over, but then Lulu spoke again.
"Listen," she said. "If Yuna gets married, then I…"
"What? That again?" Tidus cut her off. He didn't want to listen to her determination argument again.
"Yes." Lulu met Tidus' gaze. "If she is to marry, I would want her to marry for love."
Tidus felt a wave of satisfaction. "See?" he said with a grin.
"But…" Lulu continued, now looking at the ground. "If Yuna said she wanted to marry the one she loves, I would have to object."
"Huh?" Tidus rubbed the back of his head. "Uh, you're not making much sense."
A faint smile flickered over Lulu's face for a moment. "I know."
Tidus sighed. "Lulu…"
"I've talked enough about that," Lulu suddenly snapped.
"What?" Tidus nearly jumped.
"I'm sorry, just forget about it." Lulu looked back down at the ground.
"Geez!" Tidus scoffed. "Grumpy!"
"You'll understand one of these days," Lulu sighed. "I just don't want to give it words. Not yet." She turned and started to walk away. The she looked back over her shoulder and spoke again.
"I shouldn't have to say this, but don't fall in love with her."
Tidus felt his eyes widen. He hadn't been too shocked by Rikku's teasing outside of Seymour's manor, but he knew Lulu was always serious. When she said something, she always meant it.
"O-Okay," Tidus stammered in quick response to Lulu's command.
"That's fine, then." Lulu turned and walked away, back towards the manor. Tidus stared after her for a few moments. Maybe Lulu was right. Whenever he thought about Yuna…
But Lulu said not to and I said okay, so that's that. It's too late now. With those dismal thoughts, Tidus set off to explore the city a little before Yuna got back.

Tidus peered down a pathway to the left of Seymour's mansion that led downward. Though it led down, it seemed to be an exit. Listening closely, Tidus could hear the distant sounds of rain and thunder. Sounds like quite the storm is going on out there.
A woman in a heavy green robe walked up the pathway, shaking rainwater from her thick sleeves. Tidus recognized her as Shelinda, the acolyte they had met on the Mi'ihen Highroad.
"My, is the lady summoner not with you?" Shelinda asked.
"No." Tidus shook his head. "She's at Seymour's place."
Shelinda frowned. "That's 'Maester Seymour,' or 'Lord Seymour.'"
"Oh, I'll be careful." Tidus let out a chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry."
Shelinda's face softened. "That's alright." She nodded slowly and started back up the path. After a few steps, she turned around sharply.
"Oh!" she gasped. "Maester Seymour left Guadosalam a short while ago."
Tidus' eyes widened. "You serious?"
Shelinda nodded. "I believe he went to the temple in Macalania. Maester Seymour is also the high priest of that temple."
Tidus turned and sprinted up the path, leaving Shelinda standing there. "Whoa, I gotta tell the others!"

Tidus had met up with the others in front of Seymour's mansion, and they had all rushed inside to get Yuna. If Seymour wasn't there, there wasn't any reason for them to wait. Inside, Yuna stood on the staircase, looking at Jyscal's portrait. Her lips were moving, but Tidus couldn't hear her whispered words from down where he stood.
"Yuna!" Rikku shouted up to her summoner. "Let's go!
Yuna glanced back but didn't say anything. She nodded to Rikku then bowed to the portrait. After a few moments, she came back down the stairs and rejoined the others. They quickly exited Seymour's manor.

Outside, everyone gathered around.
"They say Seymour went to Macalania Temple," Tidus explained.
"Macalania Temple…" Wakka echoed. Tidus nodded.
"What I don't get is…" Wakka mused. "Why would the lord maester head off without a peep to anyone?"
"Maybe he wasn't expecting Yuna's answer so soon," Rikku suggested with a shrug.
Wakka jumped on this explanation. "Ah, that's probably it."
Yuna let out a sigh, the first peep she'd made since they joined back up.
Auron turned to his charge. "Yuna, what is it?"
"Oh, nothing," Yuna said, almost jumping as Auron stirred her from her thoughts.
Auron let out a chuckle. "You're a bad liar."
"It's true!" Yuna defended. "It's nothing." She turned her back and took a few steps toward the exit. Then she called back over her shoulder.
"Come on, let's go."