Auron stood at the edge of the beach, letting the sea breeze tousle his long black hair. He watched the waves adoringly, how the white caps of them threw themselves down into the sand relentlessly. He felt his mother's hand on his shoulder.
"Auron?"
"I'm okay, mom, just… watching."
They stared out for a few moments.
"It is pretty, isn't it?" she asked.
Auron nodded.
"Is that why you like it here so much?"
"Huh?" He looked at her in surprise. "Why else would I?"
"Maybe you're trying to get away from us. You're seven, now, most of the other children your age have already stopped holding their mothers' hands or asking for their parents permission to go out." She looked down and knitted her eyebrows. "I know you want your independence."
Auron smiled and clutched his mother's hand tightly.
"I'm not like them," he said, an odd wisdom in his voice.
"I know, Auron."
"You just say that because you're my mom."
"No, I say it because it is true. When have I ever lied to you about things like that?"
He rolled his eyes.
"You say I'm the handsomest boy in the village."
Amma chuckled.
"You are, I see the
girls sigh over you."
"Yet I do not have friends."
His mother's smile faded instantly. She knelt down beside him in the sand.
"Auron, that is something that I have been meaning to speak with you about."
He looked at her calculatingly.
"What?"
"Why do you not spend time with the other children?"
He scowled.
"They're boring," he said unconvincingly. She sighed.
"If you do not wish me to lie to you…"
"I just don't like them!" he blurted.
"Why not?" she urged.
"They are… they just… I want to train, and hunt, all they want to do is run around and hit each other and make stupid faces…" He frowned even deeper, turning to look his mother in the eye. "They act so…"
"Childish?"
"Yes!"
"Auron, that's because they are children! They are not busy thinking of their future jobs or duties to this village! They are having what little fun there is to be had in Spira while Sin is gone! The Calm doesn't last forever, you know."
Auron turned to her in alarm.
"But Yevon says…!"
"Yevon… is not always right."
His jaw dropped, but Amma held a finger to her lips.
"Sin always comes back, and once he does, these leisurely times are not to be had anymore. Summoners must do their duty, and Guardians theirs, and that is the time for training. For now, Auron, have fun."
He shook his head.
"Better to prepare now than train too late."
His mother sighed, defeated.
"You are much too serious for a seven-year-old."
Auron gave a small chuckle that was dry and mirthless. Amma knew that he had picked it up from both herself and her husband, but she did not like it. It was… almost helpless, like defense in the face of an unchanging, uncaring world.
"If none of my peers are serious, who will protect them?"
"You can protect them and have fun, too, Auron," she whispered, almost pleadingly.
He looked back at his mother, and in a voice much too old for his age, answered, "I am destined to protect, and one day, I will protect you, too. I promise, Mom, I'll defeat Sin. For all of us."
His mother's eyes watered as she brought her son close to her, holding him tightly.
"I know you will," she said.