She found herself in the locker rooms where Wakka was talking animatedly to his Team. Blonde boy was standing nearby and cheered as well until he saw Riona. "Hey there, good fight earlier!", he reacted upon seeing her looking confused. "Name is Tidus by the way. So uhm, what are you doing here?". Point was she did not know either. She shrugged her shoulders, ready to leave but was stopped by a woman in a tight fitting, dark dress with belts in front of the skirt, the likely summoner Yuna next to her. "You... I have seen you fighting. What are you doing here?", she demanded to know.
Riona noticed that she had two different eye colours and one with a small spiral in it. Could it be? "Maybe Yuna" came to help: "It is okay Lulu, you don't have to be overly suspicious, I doubt she will do us any harm. Besides, we have Tidus and Wakka here to guard us." A glance to the blonde haired boy told the group he was absorbed in celebrating the Aurochs victory.
Riona was coughing nervously as she tried to explain but mid-sentence realized how weird it sounded. "Oh, I have just been here to watch the game until the fiends appeared. Later then a man shoved me in this direction and then I ended up here. I ... will leave now. Sorry to bother you."
"Wait a second!", Yuna interrupted her move. She looked to Lulu who cocked her head slightly to the side but then nodded, the tiniest nod, and Yuna continued: "We can always need fighters like you. If you want I would like you to accompany us for a while. We are leaving in 2 hours and meet at the balcony leading to Mi´ihen Road. I'd be happy to see you then."
Outside the stadion Riona felt like she could breathe again. Now the crowd had calmed and was wandering almost relaxed trough the city, except for the many merchants that were always busy. She could now get her sword and then get another contract. Or just leave the city? Join the summoner? She harrumphed. Of course, she would become a summoners guardian after she resisted so long to fulfill this old-fashioned duty. She was a sell sword after all! But why was there this feeling like she was about to miss something? If she had her sword it did not matter what happened she told herself and so she headed to the smith.
"Here ye are! Yer sword was missing ye, girl!", the smith shouted just as he caught a glimpse of her. Riona entered the shop and found even more swords lying around than yesterday. It was nice that the smith had found the time to take care of hers. He took out a long blade, polished and visibly sharpened. "Gave it some of ma special treatment, should slice trough fiends like butter now." She nodded and took the blade in one hand, swinging it as she heard it cutting the air. "It is good. How much do I owe you?" The smith burst out laughing. "Ye should see yeself girl, are yer always this dead serious? Lighten up a bit, would ye? Do owe me 450 Gil." As the money changed its owner the smith began to bid her farewell: "If yer ever have something that needs a bit attention show it to me, it's clearly better than those dull swords there.", his huge hand pointed to the row of swords leaning at the wall. "Ah, and 'm Eddie by the way." A strong handshake. "I am Riona. Thank you, I will. And here is the dagger you gave me. It was a good idea." And with this she left, slightly touching the hilt of her sword now that they both were unified again.
She found herself facing the balcony heading to Mi´ihen road. Spotting the smaller Ronso, Wakka, Lulu and summoner Yuna she hesitated. Was this what she wanted to do? Another client would have brought her a few more Gil until she came to the next town and did the same thing. She did this for seven years now and felt that it began to wear her down. Maybe she could learn a thing or two from the mysterious swordsman or get to know a summoner? If she could see this as a vacation she was free to end anytime perhaps this could work. Nobody had said a thing about officially becoming a guardian after all.
Reluctantly she reached the balcony and was soon greeted by a smile from Yuna. Wakka looked confused whereas Lulu and the Ronso watched her every step. "I knew you would come!", the summoner greeted her while the others simply nodded. "We are still waiting for Tidus but then we are ready to leave." The orange haired guy she already knew as Wakka made his way to stand in front of Riona. "Hey there, I am Wakka. Have seen ya at the game, nice fighting you did back there. If you want to accompany us be sure to take care, ya?" "I will." Yuna smiled and Riona took a place near the
Yuna smiled and Riona took a place near the Ronso who stood there stoically. It was plain they were waiting for somebody else and she heard the three talking.
"Do you think he's gonna stay here?", Wakka began.
"Sir Auron knows him, apparently. You were right. He did meet someone he knew.", Lulu, the older black dressed woman explained. "Do you think he'll find a way back to Zanarkand?", Yuna asked but Wakka waived it off. "In any case, I'll miss having him around."
Riona could feel them growing nervous with every second that passed until the summoner was about to turn and was taken aback by surprise. "He's still in town, isn't he? I think I'll go see him… Oh! ... Sir Auron?"
Yuna, Wakka and Lulu were bowing as the red coated man, presumably Auron or Sir Auron, with Tidus following approached them.
"Yuna.", he said. "Sir?" It wasn't hard to feel the aura of respect that surrounded Auron. "I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?" It was more a statement then a question, nevertheless Yuna let out a small gasp, accompanied by a "Are you serious" from Wakka. "You refuse?" Yuna almost shrieked: "No, no! We accept! Right, everyone?" "Of course! No problem at all!" Lulu regained her composure and was the first one to ask: "But why?" Auron shifted. "I promised Braska." Yuna looked puzzled for a moment but then bowed deeply before Auron. "Thank you, You are welcome to join us!" Auron yanked Tidus forward. "This one comes too. I promised Jecht." Tidus bowed awkwardly as he now stood in the small circle that had formed. "Hey guys.."
After this Tidus roamed around while the others relaxed, waiting for some kind of signal to break up. Riona decided to get to know Lulu better since she was sure the Ronso, Kimhari, would not talk again today now that he already revealed his name in one short sentence. She slowly approached Lulu, who was staring at the city. "Hey." Lulu turned around. "So you accompany us too. Not as a guardian, however. Tell me a bit about yourself." Riona was startled. If there was something she loathed it was "go ahead and tell me about yourself". "I.. well I am a sell sword but I decided not to get another contract right now. Your group seems clearly more interesting." Lulu chuckled. "Yes, you can say that. I feel it will get even more thrilling. I am the blackmage of the group if you should have wondered." A small stab of regret passed trough Riona. "Oh, that's cool. Did try this when I was younger but I failed miserably. Can you turn water while in a glass into small ice cubes?" Lulu hesitated for a moment, clearly taken aback by that unforeseen question. "Yes, I can. We could try to train this sometime if you feel bored with that sword." Both chuckled at this and Riona felt the tension leaving her body.
Only then they heard the bizarrest laughter coming from Tidus. He stood at the balcony with Yuna , who laughed about him but joined his strange laughing a second later. The guardians exchanged quick glances but had to smile afterwards. Only Kimhari and Auron remained dispassionately.
As the finished laughing, Wakka shouted: "We were just worried you guys might've gone crazy!" Are we ready to go?" Yuna took the lead. "To the Temple of Djose. And guardians, don't forget to smile!"
Riona joined the ranks but made sure to stay a bit behind, she disliked walking in front and always made sure she was the last one to follow. But now Auron claimed this place. She could feel his eyes watching her trough the sunglasses he wore but remembered it was only natural to not trust any newcomers the first day they joined. Especially if you had to guard the hope of Spira.
