They took the boat out of Baaj. Seymour watched at the railing as the ruins and the dark island disappeared on the horizon. Anima sat in a chair on the deck watching him her arms wrapped around her knees in insecurity.
"Anima," She heard Meena say to her. "Anima you act as if at any moment this boat will turn around and put you back on that Island."
Anima kept staring at Seymour at the railing.
"He is a precious child." Meena said following her sisters gaze. "One day that son of Spira will become a great man, I know it…You should be proud of him."
"He will become great," she said sighing to herself. "He shall become the hope of Spira someday."
"Sister, forgive me if I am out of line. I am so angered, when I think of your husband sending you away to Baaj." She said gripping onto the side of her chair.
"Not the most beautiful place, but seeing the hostility towards us he wanted to put us where we wouldn't be bothered." Anima said defending her husband.
"It still angers me." She said holding a balled up fist.
"Don't be angered, our ways are not like the Guado. Hopefully someday Jyscal will regain the people's faith and they will become accepting. One day he will send for his son to come back to Guadosalam."
"When that day comes sister, I shall go with Seymour back to Guadosalam."
"You would leave home to live there?" Anima said in shock.
"I would want to, besides I have not met my brother-in-law Lord Jyscal. I would want to be there for Seymour also."
"Your big heart." Anima said with disbelief. She looked at Meena through her long black hair and smiled. "Your heart may be stronger than your common sense." She warned her sister. "I hope for your sake the Guadosalam I knew will be different than the one you will come to know."
The skies cleared as they moved towards home. Bright blue skies and large navy waves lapped at the ship's hull. Birds started becoming visible as they neared the lush green island. Flying alongside the ship as if to hurry it into dock the birds cawed excitedly. The boat had finally reached its destination it pulled into dock slowly as the crew lashed its ropes onto the dock to secure it.
Anima looked with shaded eyes at the island. It took her a moment to start moving to get off the boat.
"Come Seymour." She said taking her sons hand.
"Where are we Mother?" He asked as he stepped onto the dock into the alien environment.
"This is where I grew up." She answered him. "Walk proudly, do not hide your face." She told him sternly.
Meena finished paying the captain and hurried off the boat to her sister.
"It is so wonderful to have you back home once again." She said hugging her. She looked down at Seymour. "Seymour, you will like it here." She said kneeling and touching his head with her hand. "And here I've got this for you." She opened her hand to reveal a piece of tasty candy for him.
"eh," Seymour said in surprise. He gently took the candy with his long delicate fingers. He looked up at her. "Thank you." He said with wide eyes.
Anima smiled at Seymour and then at her sister.
"Thank you for bringing us here." She said in appreciation. "You are being so wonderful to Seymour, he is not used to this." She said gesturing to Seymour who was already relishing the taste of the candy he was given.
"He is family, Anima, you should expect no less." Meena said smiling. "Now let us go it is a bit of a walk from here to the house."
They walked together through the town. As they did some people looked strangely in their direction at Seymour. Seymour saw this and almost looked as if he was bracing for the worst. Anima ignored them. But instead of yelling and pointing out at the child people were restrained. They mostly gave a curious look, but did not bother them continuing on with their business. On the way a few curious faces even gave way to friendly smiles. They started upon the road, the views were beautiful as they saw the beach and waves from their vantage point as they continued onward. As they passed a bright blue spring Seymour looked very interested. Meena saw this.
"Perhaps later we can all go swimming there." She said cheerfully.
"Seymour hasn't seen a view like this before, it's all been forest." Anima said remarking at her child's wide and bright eyes.
As they neared the end of the path they heard soft and sweet notes start to fill the air. Before them was Anima's childhood house. It had remained largely unchanged. Outside on the front porch was their Father, he sat strumming on a mandolin. He looked like a different man to Anima, his appearance had changed he was dressed nicely and was smiling.
"Father!" Meena yelled and waved to him.
Their Father stood up and put his instrument down he came hurriedly walking out from under the awning. As he saw Anima he stopped. His hands fell at his sides as he looked at her. Sadness came over his face.
"My little girl," he said breaking into a run. He swept her up into his arms and started weeping. "I missed you, I am so sorry, I am so sorry." He said squeezing her tightly. He let her go and took her hands looking at her. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at the daughter he had not seen in years.
"And…!" he said looking down to see Seymour.
"This is Seymour, my son." Anima said holding Seymour by the shoulders.
"Seymour!" He said still tearing at the eyes. Suddenly the burly man grabbed Seymour up into a hug. "My Grandson!" he said excitedly. Seymour gasped in shock as he wasn't expecting it. The man twirled around holding Seymour and then sat him back down.
"He is wonderful," he said looking over him. His Guado features didn't seem to bother the human grand-father at all as he gleamed with pride looking at him. "Don't you let anyone tell you different. You are perfect." He said wagging a finger at Seymour.
"Father," Anima said trying to take in the moment. "You have…changed entirely." She said remarking at his bizarre behavior.
"I have yes; I have realized that no one should be judged. Especially based on who they marry, what they are made up of, or who they associate with. There is so much death in Spira, we have enough problems with Sin, we don't need to make more for ourselves by quarreling with each other…and that my dear is exactly what you told me when you had decided to leave and go marry Lord Jyscal. I was wrong for judging you." He said biting his quivering lip fighting back more tears.
"I'm going to make it up to you; I want you and Seymour to stay here. I'm going to take care of you, I want you and your son to enjoy the time you spend here."
Anima of course knew that when her Father said he wanted her to enjoy her time with Seymour he meant that she should be cherishing her last moments with him. Her throat clenched at the thought of this kindness as she nodded while blinking back the tears.
"Come inside, let us get you both settled." Meena said guiding her sister into the house.