Chapter VI: Of White and Black Magic

The majestic sun was ready to wake itself up to begin yet another distinctive day of selling custom-made potions and healing wounds for a small fee for Yuna. Although she somehow couldn't endure the jeers of some of the aristocratic village people, not counting Seymour and Giera for that matter, she still took a deep breath as she gazed at her other self on the mirror. An innocent vibrant maiden was staring back at her, forcing a smile to begin the day with happiness and optimism. She neatly combed her hair and attached her long blue tinkling earring on her right ear and took the basket of potions on her bedside table.

As she advanced upon the doorstep, the first thing that greeted her was vibrant sunlight. Somewhat miraculously, it gifted an internal confidence boost. The chirping of the birds and the high peeps of the Chocobos were perfect to complement the environment. The wind blew gently across her face, blowing her hair backwards. It was as if the wind was encouraging her to move on. Yuna breathed in again and approached the day with a smile on her face.

Since her cottage was located in the outskirts of the village, Yuna had to make half an hour's worth of walk to make it to the central square by perfect sunlight. As she treaded the rocky and dusty road, Yuna couldn't help but let unexpected visitors of thoughts invade her mind.

I wonder how Father is doing? I hope he's making a good deal with his Vitalixir right now in Bevelle.

It did take Braska almost half a year to develop his latest and most effective brew. One toss of the potion in the air and it will rejuvenate a party of wounded people back to their full health as well as rid of them of any abnormalities such as being poisoned and petrified. Half a year's worth of patience and effort and a healing effect that powerful is sure to promise a good financial deal. And to think that Bevelle is one of the most prosperous settlements and quite a number of peers of the realm reside there.

Father promised me a more flourishing life. I wonder what sort of life that would be?

Surprisingly, Yuna never really worried about money or the state of being rich and wealthy. She has known many people who could have all the material items in the world yet could not attain the amount of happiness they wanted. Yuna knew deep down inside that she didn't need money to be happy. She just needed money to survive. But if money wasn't the answer to her happiness then what is? Although her mother was gone, her father was still there to look after her and at least they were happy.

Happy…

She was happy with her father yet there was something else… Friends? She was verbally insulted by some of the settlers in the village but still she had friends. Those she always helped for free and would pay her simply by showing their appreciation. Yuna was already happy with that. Her life didn't revolve around money unlike majority of the people. Besides other people, Yuna would sometimes spend her free afternoons playing with the village children. Yuna may not have friends her age but still…

I was happy…

"So happy to come across you today, Yuna."

Thoughts of happiness were suddenly vacuumed out into a mental black hole. It was Seymour and his subordinate, Giera.

"Yeah, boss. Now you have her alone again and in a not so crowded place this time." said Giera.

Yuna let out a light-voiced groan. "Why is it that I always come across you two when I least expect it? Can't you just leave me alone?" she said with still a hint of politeness in her voice although internally she was irritated.

"I have absolutely no idea on that, my dear." answered Seymour maliciously. "Maybe it was fate that we are brought together in a moment like this and in such a… sensual place."

It was rather a sensual place. Nothing but trees and shrubs in their surroundings, not a cloud was in the sky and there was no one else there but the two of them. It felt so desolated and spine-chilling to be with someone whom you want to avoid in the first place. The spine-chilling feeling felt even shakier as she felt Seymour's arm snake itself eerily around her waist, slowly pulling her body close to his.

"Stop it!" Yuna cried as she pushed herself away from Seymour's grasp. The force sent her backwards. The moment she regained her balance, she just found herself being caught in the clutches of Giera.

"Think you can get away this time girlie?" He said with a wide grin as he crossed Yuna's arms behind her back for her to be unable to escape. "You may have almost fried me the last time but I'm not the type who falls for the same trick twice." He slowly crawled his hand from Yuna's wrist up to her joint and lightly placed his index finger there. She felt his touch slowly hardening as it rested under her elbow.

"Ouch!" Yuna felt a stinging pain on her joint. "What did you to me?"

Seymour sneered unkindly and leaned his face towards Yuna until their eyes made a surprisingly close contact. "Calm yourself, Yuna my dear. It won't do anything lethal to your physical status. That was just a small nullification syringe that Giera injected in your veins. It is a special liquid I developed to disable you of your magical abilities. You can say goodbye to your scrawny White Magic for now."

"What?" Yuna suddenly reacted as she struggled in Giera's grip. "Seymour you monster! I can't believe you would even think of creating potions that are harmful to our fellow human beings! My father would never do such thing!"

"Of course you father would never do such thing, my dear." Seymour replied. "After all, he is just a crazy staggering old fool who can't even decide what to do with his life but to play around with potions that can't even heal simple cut. His skills don't even reach half of mine now that he is unwilling, or rather unable to create a silencing tonic like I can."

"My father's not a fool and he is not unable!" Yuna now angrily shouted as she tried to force herself although she can't overpower Giera's hold on her. It was not a common sight to see Yuna lose her temper. Although Seymour was pushing her anger past its limit, Yuna was not the type to resort to violent and ballistic reactions. "Don't you ever speak ill of my father in front of me you dirty rat!"

Seymour's grin grew wider after hearing Yuna's reaction. He slowly but eagerly slid his hand across Yuna's face and it stopped on her chin. He used his thumb to trace her soft lower lip and it stopped to hold her chin firmly and tilted her head upwards, forcing her to meet his malicious eyes with her angry ones.

"I guess I'll have to tell you three things, woman." Seymour began. "First of all, I am not a dirty rat. Second, it has come to my knowledge that it greatly rages you when I don't speak nice of that idiot father of yours. Now for the third and most important thing, I am here to offer you a deal you might not want to refuse."

Although Yuna never trusted Seymour just from his words, she was somehow intrigued by that deal Seymour was about to offer. "What deal is this?"

"It's actually very simple, my Yuna." Seymour replied.

My Yuna? How dare you! I don't belong to you, you snake!

He continued, "Since it throws you into a calm rage whenever I insult your father, here is my interesting offer. Starting at this very hour, I shall cease speaking ill of your father and will no longer call him names that will ruin his ego. In fact I will even show respect to his powerful White Magic and his fantastic potion-making skills."

Yuna's expression was from aggravated to puzzled. Just why is Seymour suddenly being friendly and principled? The next sentence he is about to say doesn't seem to be promising.

"A very interesting offer but I have to give something in return, am I right?"

"Correct." said Seymour. "I'm amazed you're not as stupid as your father… Oh gracious, my mistake. I did swear that I will finally stop talking trash of your father, but I suddenly remembered that you haven't complied to the deal yet, my dear."

"And what do I have to do to comply?"

"Simple." Then he grinned evilly. "Agree you'll become my bride."

Yuna's eyes suddenly flew wide open and her hands closed into fists.

"What?"

"Didn't you hear me? Agree to become my bride and I'll-"

"Never!"

Seymour's wicked grin was wiped from his face. His next reaction was his teeth gritted together and a burning flame of anger to ignite in his empty gray eyes. He slowly leaned forward closer to her, took a stray lock of her hair and put it behind her ear. He then traced his hand back to her chin and held it even more tightly. Yuna let out a small cry of pain.

"What did you just say to me, woman?"

"I said I'll never marry an arrogant self-absorbed cockroach like you!"

"You are ending my patience, woman." He quietly said as he held Yuna firmly by her neck, not caring if she was already uncomfortable of his sudden invasion to actually get hold of her. "I see you need a little more convincing… You're a very beautiful maiden, Yuna. It's just unfortunate that my next way of convincing will have to ruin a part of that beauty."

Yuna abruptly looked alarmed. "What are you going to do to me?"

Seymour conjured a ball of fire in his hand. "I suggest we change your skin color, my dear. Your ivory white skin is already starting to look too bland on you."

"No! Let me go!" She screamed as she fought hard to free herself from Giera. "Stay away from me! R-Reflect! Reflect!"

Giera laughed wickedly as he easily kept Yuna confined in his grip. "It's no use, girlie. That nullification syringe is still in effect."

Yuna's heart beat twice as fast and she was shaking all over. Seymour was going to badly injure her and he was not joking about it. She better think of a way to get out of this quandary before something horrible happens to her…

"Hey!"

The ball of fire that was hovering on Seymour's hands was suddenly vaporized with a quick swish. All three of them turned their heads to the direction where the voice came. There was a little girl standing on that spot. She had medium-length purple hair, around three feet tall and looked no older than seven years old.

"Leave Yuna alone you two big jerks!" shouted the little girl with a sort of childish tone in her voice yet she sounded commanding.

Seymour and Giera did not know whether they should be irritated or amused. Of all people who would come to Yuna's rescue, it had to be a little girl. Not just a little girl but a bratty little girl into the bargain.

"Eiko! You have to get out of here!" Yuna screamed as she fought Giera's hold on her once more! "These snakes will only hurt you!" she exerted more effort by as she attempted to hit her captor with her elbows but it was only futile. Yuna wasn't strong enough. "Run Eiko!"

The little girl just grinned back at her. "Don't worry, big sis!" Then she winked at her. "I have a plan that will work! Trust me!"

"And what is that plan of yours, little girl?" Seymour keenly yet patiently asked as he walked away from Yuna and Giera towards Eiko who was only half his height. "Enlighten me!"

"THIS!"

Eiko yelled as she raised her foot and gave Seymour a good kick on his spleen. Seymour reacted as he gave out a scream of pain and indignation. For a little girl, Eiko could give one heck of a kick. Seymour held his mid-section tight as he got down to his knees from the pain.

"That maggot…" Seymour irritably whispered. "Giera! Get rid of her!"

"Sure boss!" Giera said as he absent-mindedly released Yuna and created magical frosty swirls of wind revolving around his hands. "I've practiced this spell for weeks! See if you can try to escape it! Feel my Blizzara-"

"See if you can even cast it first you ape!" Eiko retaliated as she dashed towards Giera and also gave him a powerful kick on the--

"YEOUCH!" Giera screeched in pain as he was slowly pulled down to his knees, clutching that area between his legs. "Why you little… I'm gonna kill you!"

"Come on, Yuna! Let's run!" Eiko hurriedly said as she grabbed Yuna by the hand and together they ran the steep narrow road towards the center of the village leaving Seymour and Giera moaning on the ground, holding their targeted areas tight and trying to ease the pain. Eiko wanted to stay to laugh at their helpless situation but Yuna just pulled her and hurried to the village.

"Damn that brat…" Giera whispered angrily and painfully as the pain the Eiko gave him still won't diminish. "I don't care if she's only six years old. One of these days I'm gonna get even with her!"

"And I also have to get even with you for letting that six-year old brat outwit you." Seymour countered as he was finally able to stand up on his own two feet unlike his minion who was still withering in pain on the ground. "And miserably for you, I'm going to have to double that punishment, Giera."

"Wh-What did I do, Boss?" Giera tensely blurted out as he looked up to meet his master's eyes, his hands still holding the part where it hurts.

"You let her escape, you moron!" Seymour's imposing voice conquered the area. Large streams of water began erupting from the ground and spiraled their caster in a majestic flow. There was a deluge of water that suddenly materialized that surrounded Giera as he fell back, pleading his master for mercy.

"Boss! Please give me another chance! I won't screw up again." He begged on bended knees as more streams of water shot powerfully from the ground and coiled themselves around their caster and his minion. More levitating rivers of water enclosed Girra in a large double helix.

Seymour released a hearty yet evil chuckle as the great swirls of water continuously circled him. "You fear too much, Giera. Consider yourself lucky that I am not even demonstrating the fullest of my anger." He grinned even more malevolently as he watched the feeling of relief take over horror on Giera's face. "These cascades are just the initial execution of my real chastisement though."

"What?" Giera said in disbelief as fright began to retake over his facial gestures. "B-But Boss! I-I thought you said you're not gonna show the most of your power yet!"

"You're mistaken, Giera." Seymour coldly answered. "This is simply just a trivial example of my power but almost the maximum portrayal of the end of my patience! You're privileged that I'm saving my most powerful spell for the one who will truly grant me a challenge. And sadly Giera, I'm afraid you're not even half a challenge to me hence I'm just going to have you taste just a crumb of my prowess."

Giera could not do anything but gulp and drown himself in cold sweat as dozen streams of water spiraled them violently. He was put into a shock as a huge torrent quickly encircled him and brought him to the air. He was then trapped inside a sphere of water with no means of escape. He just had to hold his breath.

"You know that water conducts electricity, right?" Seymour asked as he raised his hands. The twisting waterfalls too rose and gushed more swiftly and violently.

Giera, who was still contained in the sphere of water, could see the distorted vision of his master since one's eyesight underwater is normally hazy and unclear. One thing that he did not need his eyes to see was Seymour's anger and what was coming to him next. He then saw a faint yellow hue engender in Seymour's hands. His heart almost stopped… Water conducts electricity hence…

"Thundaga!" roared Seymour.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­"You alright Yuna? You sure those creeps didn't hurt you or anything?" Eiko asked as she walked alongside Yuna, looking up at her since she was two feet shorter than her. "Just why does that twirly-headed freak always have to follow you around?"

"Yes, I'm fine Eiko." Yuna vaguely answered as she walked ahead just looking at the world face to face. She couldn't believe Seymour would go that far in harassing her and would actually step past the line of defaming her father. As they walked, she was already having enough of staying in this backwater village mainly because of Seymour and only Seymour alone. She could survive the daily sneers and jeers of the aristocratic villagers but never that haughty thick-faced self-conceited heathen and his lumbering charlatan of a companion.

"If only I knew how to cast a Holy spell…"

"And what does a Holy spell do, Sis Yuna?" Eiko asked as she walked with light steps beside her. She had to make two paces at a time to follow up with Yuna's unusually fast walking and also because her legs are still a bit too short. "Is it also some sort of helpful White Magic that can make boo-boos and cuts not hurt as much?"

For once, Yuna forgot the flame of bitter anger burning within her and turned to her young friend with a smile. "No no, Eiko. A Holy Spell is a different sort of White Magic." She explained. "And it's really different from other sorts of White Magic such as Cure, Esuna and Life. Instead, Holy is cast to hurt…"

"But I thought White Magic was never made to hurt people, Yuna!" Eiko reacted with a slight shock. "You're a White Mage and you never hurt anyone! Black Magic is the kind of magic that reeeaally hurts!"

Yuna just giggled heartily at Eiko's naiveté yet she still explained. "White Magic existed to help those in need. White Magic is the exact opposite of Black Magic just from their names. Seymour's a Black Mage and he existed only to hurt. White Magic needed a way to protect itself from the repellent powers of Black Magic so the White Mages of the ancient times devised ways for White Magic to stand up for itself hence the Holy spell was born.

"Yet the White Mages were sane enough and were never corrupted by the great powers of the Holy spell. They used it for the greater good, punishing evil deeds and opening ways to a new light. It was one of the golden years when the White Mages were the great rulers. Everything was peaceful until…"

"Until?" Eiko asked as she listened to Yuna more eagerly. "Lemme guess! Did the Black Mages do something horrible?"

"Before I go on Eiko, this I should tell you. Not all Black Mages are misled and have lost sanity yet not all White Mages walk the path for good and righteousness. There are some Black Mages who still stay on the right side although they were misunderstood for being followers of evil while some White Mages took advantage of their false conceptions from the people and secretly used their powers for their own selfish benefits." She said as she lovingly patted Eiko's head. "What I'm trying to tell you Eiko is that the magic used is only as good or as evil as its caster. Both White and Black Magic are neither good nor evil. It is all dependent on the caster."

"Now to go on with my story." Yuna said as they walked along the narrow road to the village while holding Eiko's small hand. "The Black Mages found it absurd that a supportive spell from the ways of White Magic could ever overshadow the devastating powers of Black Magic. They could not accept that White Magic rules over Black Magic especially that Black Magic exists to hurt…to kill… Some of the world's most powerful Black Mages formed themselves in cults and began cooperating to develop a more powerful spell. A spell much more powerful than Holy itself. Thus the Black Magic Ultima spell was born."

"The Ultima spell was…beyond description. Only highly qualified and full-fledged mages could cast it at its fullest power. Even I am not competent enough to be able to perform it. Ultima was a spell solely for mass destruction. Only those noble and who would not abuse its power are those rightful to cast it, and very few are those just casters. You see, we were once taught that when man has power, he seeks to use it. Those who have the power to conjure an Ultima spell are sure to seek, or rather hunger after its power hence many are driven mad by it. Hardly anyone could take full control of that power. It truly is the most disparaging spell ever to exist in Spira, and one is yet to meet someone who is able to cast it. But there is one, Eiko."

"Wha? You mean there actually is someone who can cast the Ultima spell?" Eiko gasped with a hint of shock in her voice. "But he may use it to rule over the world or something like that!"

Yuna laughed lightly once again at Eiko's ignorance. After all, she is still just a child. "I told you Eiko. Magic is only as good or as evil as the one casting it. Lady Yunaleska will never ever use her magical abilities for her own selfish profit."

"Lady Yunaleska?" Eiko asked wonderingly. "Wait! Yu…na…leska!" she uttered with heavy emphasis on the first two syllables of the heavenly goddess's name. "Hey! Maybe that's where Uncle Braska got your name, Big Sis!"

"Yes…" Yuna's eyes softened as she answered. "Father believed that I was born to bring a greater good to everyone. He named me after the Heavenly White Mage for he said I fitted her description but…I don't think it's rightful that I be called that. I've done really nothing to make a great difference for the sake of mankind. You know I can never equal Lady Yunaleska's powers."

"Well who cares if you're not her exact copy? No one's asking for that!" Eiko replied cheerily as she hopped around Yuna. "And what are you saying that you haven't done anything good? You've done a lot of great things for us already, Yuna!"

Yuna stared in wonder at Eiko. "Thank you Eiko… I'm glad to hear that." She said gratefully as she again gave Eiko a loving pat on the head.

"Hee hee! You know I'm always at your side, Sis Yuna! Anyway, we better empty that potion basket of yours so we can have some spare gil! Then after that, can we have some ice cream?"

"Of course Eiko."

­­­­­­­­­­Later that afternoon, Yuna said goodbye to Eiko and sat by the cliff again to watch the mild sunset upon her skin. It felt somehow good to be in that place. It's one of the few places in the village that's absolutely trouble-free with nothing but just the wind and sun to accompany her. She watched the sun slowly and majestically retires behind the horizon. The sun, no matter how powerfully bright it is, still gets tired and goes to sleep at night.

"I hear your voice echo far through the night…"

Yuna began to sing. It was the only hobby that could drain the loneliness inside her and that loneliness has only been greatened now that her father hasn't returned for three days. How she wished that he father would return with the sufficient amounts he acquired from Vitalixir. Afterwards, they would both leave this village and live on in Bevelle for a more lucrative life. There would have been many reasons why she wanted to abandon this village

"Good riddance to those aristocrats. They're nothing but a bother. And a far better riddance for that Seymour. He annoys me so much!"

Yet contrarily there are also very good reasons why she should not.

"But then what about Eiko and the other children of the village? Who will look after and play with them now? Who will heal their wounds if they get hurt while playing?"

And what are you saying that you haven't done anything good? You've done a lot of great things for us already, Yuna!

Eiko's cheerful words that afternoon echoed in her mind. Now suddenly, leaving the village seemed like a guilty and self-centered idea. Now the other part of her has decided to stay yet the other part continues to persist by tempting her with the thoughts of Seymour's permanent disappearance as well as his harassments.

"What am I supposed to do now? And what's taking father so long? I'm so worried about him."

Melancholic concern now conquered Yuna's feelings. Even the weather was complementing her aching heart. Nightfall was nearing and the wind wasn't blowing as vibrantly as before. Her feelings were already too much to be contained by her heart that a small part of them had to pour out of her eyes. This was the grief of being alone. No one to comfort you especially when you cry. How she wished that even just Choco was here just to take away a small bit of that grief.

"Kweh Kweh Kweh Kweh Kweh!"

And miraculously, appear did Choco as he came running from a distance. Yuna's heart stopped the moment she saw her loyal pet Chocobo scampering uncontrollably towards her. Her heart even refused to beat once more when she saw the Chocobo riderless.

"Choco! What are you doing here? And where's father?" she shouted as she held Choco by his reins and pulled his large feathery head towards her. "Why did you come back alone? What happened to father? Where is he?" she screamed as if she was losing sanity.

Choco just replied with incomprehensible Chocobo cries and continued going into violent tantrums. Yuna could sense that Choco wasn't telling any good news at all.

"Choco! Please calm down and wait here then take me to where you lost father." She said as she patted Choco's beak with assurance. She then ran to her cottage and later went back outside wearing a white hooded cloak with red triangles tracing the edges. Without another thought, she quickly mounted on Choco's saddle and thumped him to move forward towards the direction of the deep forest to begin her search for her Braska. As Choco advanced, a new maelstrom of emotions now invaded her. Worry, anxiety, guilt, loneliness and most of all, fear.

"Father… Please be alright…"