When he arrived in Bevelle, the city was like nothing he had ever seen before. There were tall, stone buildings with beautifully ornate decorations, tons of people in odd clothing, and, strangest of all, machinas, here and there around the city. Auron knew that they had been forbidden, but remembered his mother telling him that certain ones - machinas not meant to hurt people or that were approved of by the church of Yu Yevon - were allowed. Auron recollected this talk with his mother with a pang; he would never again hear her voice, her wisdom, her stories…
"Auron?" The priest called him over and he walked up solemnly. "Are you alright?"
Auron gave him a morose look.
"Ah, of course not, how silly of me…"
Auron still did not speak, only kept his eyes on the people around him. They seemed richer, more prosperous, more carefree… he envied them. Normally those in his situation were left to fend for themselves in the village, cared for by those who were willing. He thought about it. Why did this priest bring him here, then? Was there no one that wanted to take him? He didn't think he was a bad boy… in fact, he thought he was the most mature of all the children in the village. But then it dawned on him… the children in past years that had been left orphans went to the homes of their friends. Since Auron had had none (and this was well-known), the priest had probably found out from the boy's neighbor and agreed to take him. That was why she had been pushing him in his direction. But Auron suddenly remembered what the priest had said…
"They will take you in gladly…"
Was he to be adopted by the temple? Did they do such things? Why wouldn't the priest take him in? Was it the same reason that no one else in his village would? Was he not good enough? He looked up to the man, but he only gave Auron a sympathetic smile as they walked into the enormous temple. The priest bowed to a rather tall woman with dark skin, her hair done up beautifully with beads and jewels. She smiled down at Auron.
"Who is this, Medwin?"
He looked down at the boy and gave him an encouraging smile. He stepped forward nervously, gazing up at the beautiful woman.
"My name is Auron," he said meekly.
She grinned and knelt down to be eye-level with him, which was difficult due to her height. She placed her fingers under his chin and lifted up.
"I heard Sin attacked your village. For that, I am sorry."
Auron was a little confused.
"Do you control Sin?" he asked.
"Heavens, no!"
"Then what have you to be sorry for?"
The woman stood and laughed heartily, though there seemed to be a deep, underlying sadness in its tone.
"He is wise," she said. "Inadvertently or not. What reason have you brought him here?"
"His parents were killed by Sin."
"I guessed, after Lord Eruss had told me of the attack, and you brought him here," she said, gesturing to Auron. "But I heard there were survivors in that village… many more than we could have hoped for. Was there no one that would take him?"
The priest, Medwin, took the woman aside and they began talking in low tones. Auron, however, who had always had a keen sense for it, could hear what they were saying.
"…So, since there were no family friends, he had no where else to go."
"Would no one else have him? What kind of village is this that goes against the teachings? And human decency, for that matter?"
"Most of the adults had died, and most of their homes with them. Room is stretched as it is, and only his neighbor was willing to take him."
"Then why didn't he?"
"She said she would not be willing to do so without her husband. He perished, too, you see. She was quite devastated."
"That was his only hope?"
Medwin nodded.
"He could do well here. His neighbor told me his father trained him well to be a guard of the village."
"Monkhood, then?"
"I believe he would do well there, yes."
They turned around to face Auron, who looked away guiltily. The woman knelt down again.
"Auron?"
"Yes?"
"Would you like to stay here, at the temple?"
He looked up at her. Her green eyes sparkled brightly, full of hope and love, and he couldn't help but some close to smiling.
"You will adopt me?"
The woman's smile faded instantly.
"I'm afraid I cannot. I must go on a pilgrimage, soon. I could not put you through that."
Auron looked down. He expected to be hurt, but instead, there was just a hollow numbness that somehow seemed to fill him. She lifted his face again.
"But if I can bring the Calm, would that not make you happy?"
"It will not bring my parents back," he said.
Suddenly, tears burst from his eyes again, and he began crying as if he had never stopped. The woman tried to console him, but Medwin stepped in.
"I will have you meet my daughter tonight; she is about your age, and I'm sure she will keep you good company." He gestured to a guard.
"Give him a room here," he said. "Make sure he is well rested."
The guard nodded and escorted him away. The woman gave him one last, sad look before turning away and following Medwin out the front door.