So much music. So many voices. So much celebration. So little time. Luca looked more like a giant park than a city. Remora saw that there were more boats around the port and there was a huge crowd of people standing at the port too as though they were waiting for someone to arrive; mainly a maester or two. Remora looked further past the port and saw that Luca was a very active city of sorts. Little kids ran around in circles with balloons in their hands, many adults were conversing in each and every spot, and a whole lot of other things Remora couldn't imagine. Everyone on the boat walked up to the front where she stood, also taking a big look at the crowd ahead of them, everyone including Seymour and Mika, who Remora forgot was on the boat too.
"Nervous, child?" Mika asked, slightly chuckling.
"Will they all know who I am?"
"It'll be announced. All of Spira deserves to know who you are, Remora." Seymour stated.
"...Wow." Remora replied, feeling astonished.
It was a few moments before the ship had took a slow stop in front of the port. The crowd cheered loudly as the people onboard the boat walked to the bow, but Mika and Seymour continue to walk forward until they got off the gangplank.
"That's a Guado, right?" A stranger questioned.
"Who could it be?"
"Isn't that Maester Seymour?"
Seymour stepped more forward till he reached the crowd, and then faced the boat to face Maester Mika with the others as everyone did the prayer routine towards him. Mika smiled generously.
"People of Spira, I thank you for your generous welcome." He started. "Rise, Maester Seymour. And all of you as well."
Everyone stood, staring at the two maesters standing before them. Remora was behind them both still on the boat, yet sat on the ledge to watch the welcoming act as soon as it was Seymour's turn to speak.
"I present to you… the son of Maester Jyscal Guado, who departed for the Farplane a fortnight past." Seymour closed his eyes to bow towards the crowd appropriately. "As some of you already know, he has officially been ordained a maester of Yevon."
Remora turned her head slightly to see Seymour face the crowd once more, guessing he was going to make a speech to the crowd. She then figured out that she wasn't the only one that wasn't as well known as Mika or any other maester, so she began to listen to him talk to find out more about him if possible.
"I am Seymour Guado." He introduced himself. "I am honored to receive the title of Maester." He most likely knew that Remora was behind him, seeing if she could learn more about him, yet it didn't distract him from his speech. "In life, my father Jyscal worked to foster friendship between man and Guado. I vow to carry on his legacy, and to fulfill my duties as maester to the best of my abilities."
There were a few whispers in the crowd, and most of the people just stared at him. Remora didn't know whether to clap or stare either, and just when she thought about what the crowd would think of her, Seymour turned to face her and smirked. He hand-gestured her to come to him, possibly to introduce her to everyone. Well, lets see what they think of me.Remora walked down to where Seymour was standing and they both then turned to the crowd.
"We have another new hope with us. Yet this is something that no one's ever thought to occur."
Seymour had grabbed Remora's hand to raise it to the air with his own. Then Mika stepped next to her from the other side.
"Let us introduce you...to Remora! A new summoner, yet a girl from another world." Mika stated. There were a few awestruck people then in the audience, and the questions and statements builded up and were easily heard in the crowd.
"Another world? Can we trust her?"
"Is she even human!?"
"Well, from Spira or not, she looks trusting enough, don't you think?"
"Daddy, she's really pretty!"
So many sudden questions and outbursts, Remora felt that the people would need to get to know her by talking to her herself than just take words from two special maesters.
"Maester Mika, may I speak?" Remora asked generously. Mika nodded and backed away by two steps with Seymour, leaving Remora in front to talk to the citizens. She cleared her throat before beginning to speak.
"Citizens of Luca- no...People of Spira. This may sound a little confusing to most of you, but it is true. I am from another world. Yet, I promise I am no different than you are. I am human, just like you. And to the face that I just became the summoner was alarming at first...but when I look at all of you right now, it reminds me that there is so much to protect. I have no doubt that Sin has caused you much grievances. But it will all change soon. I will try as hard as I can to keep all of you in safety. Don't take it the wrong way that I am somewhat different than all of you, if someone else tells you or if it's me that tells you. But I'll tell you all right now, that I care for you all dearly, summoner or not, and you can put faith in my hands."
Remora bowed politely to the silent crowd. As soon as her head rose, there were a few claps from the audience, then nearly the whole crowd cheered. Remora scratched her head, feeling helpful towards everyone. The clapping stopped, but most of the remaining talking became normal. Seymour stepped forward once again with Mika, both at them at her sides.
"Remora...you know how to make a load of people feel cared for." Mika said.
"Thank you."
Seymour nodded. "However. We shall let you depart and roam around free at this point. That's the whole reason you came. Right?"
"Yes. I see your point."
"Well...this is a popular city, I assure you might be able to find yourself some trusting guardians, especially with the words you clearly gave them." Mika agreed.
"Until we meet again, Remora. Use your time wisely."
Remora gave Seymour and Mika one last wave before they walked off into the city at different directions, knowing she had to do the same. The crowd seemed curious but nice enough to her. As she was about to head her way into the lobby, a little tug to her dress had halted her. Turning, she saw a little girl, looking about 4, holding on to Remora and beaming at her face.
"Y-you're a summoner...?"
Remora kneeled down so she could match the little girl's height. "Yes. I am a summoner. Here to protect you all." She nearly chuckled.
"You're really pretty.." The little one smiled. Remora ran her fingers through her little strawberry blonde hair.
"Thank you. You are a cute one yourself."
The little girl giggled as Remora patted her head for a moment, then she stood up, feeling stiff from the crunched position. "What's your name?"
"Hanna."
"Well, I hope we can cross paths again." Remora replied.
"We will. I promise." Hanna said as though Remora was uncomfortable with the thought. She waved goodbye to Remora as she walked away. Remora smiled as the child ran back to her parents, yet her expression then became blank as she saw two men dressed a little differently from afar seemed to be staring at her and talking at the same time. Everyone else did the same thing now and then, but they seemed a little more suspicious. Remora, however, just ignored them and walked off to the center lobby from the port bow. As she walked off, she could hear running footsteps coming towards her from behind, and soon a voice.
"Hey wait!"
Remora slightly froze to his voice, for it didn't seem like a random stranger just calling out to her, yet it sounded like a certain someone that she met in illusion. Is it...is it-
Remora turned to find a boy who looked about her age stopping towards her once he caught up. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and looked like an active person. Perhaps the same man that she saw in her dream in experience to Zanarkand.
"T-Tidus!?"
"Wow. You know me, but we never met before. Really weird."
"Actually...I think we...I don't know. I had a dream before, and you were in it. And that's what you told me your name was."
"Ohh, so you met me in a dream. Even odder, considering anything in those can happen."
"Are you one of the blitzball players in the tournament here?"
"Yes I am, actually. I'm with the Besaid Aurochs."
"Didn't you used to play for a team called the Zanarkand Abes?"
When that question was asked, Tidus looked a little stunned and stood quiet for a moment. "Wait a minute...how much do you know about me?"
"Not much. Just your name and your old team, if that was a team you played in for real."
"Uhmm..yes, I used to play them too. You're a little mind reader, aren't you?"
"Naw, you just told me a lot in my dream." Remora smiled a bit.
Tidus chuckled a bit. "Well, it's odd how we met for a first, but I'm cool with it."
The two were soon accompanied by a little posse of other people, queer looking ones at that. She saw two other females and two other males. One of the woman was mostly in all black, and was slightly pale like Remora, but then again she looked like some kind of spell caster; a mage. One of the men...didn't look like a man at all. It was a tall bluish creature with hair of white, and most of the armor it wore was of either fur or leather. She then figured it was a Ronso, but it looked of no harm. The other man was tan and looked built, seeing a blue ball in his hands, she figured he was another blitzball player, with his orange hair in the air. The other girl looked a bit like Remora, but she had brown hair instead, and she too wore a dress of different patterns and the like. She was the one that Remora had second most wondered about.
"Ah...Remora, is it?" The girl in the white/blue dress asked.
"Um, yes, I am Remora."
"We were listening to you talk on that ship where Maester Mika rode on. You sound deep about this..."
"Well, I mean no harm to anyone here."
"Well, pardon me, but I must introduce myself. I'm Yuna, a summoner just like you. I know you're from another world, so you probably won't say much if I tell you I'm the daughter of High Summoner Braska; Lord Braska, everyone calls him, and he vanquished Sin years ago."
"He did?!"
Yuna giggled a bit. "Yes."
"Where is he now, if you don't mind me asking."
"...He's gone."
"Oh wow...I'm...sorry." Remora at this point felt as though she asked a bit too much.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but you came all this way by yourself?" The ember hair man asked.
"Well, technically. I got most of my help from Maester Seymour and a little bit more from the other two maesters. I came here from Macalania, and the people there were really helpful too."
"As much help as you get, as a summoner you're going to need more than that."
"Oh?"
"I see you don't have any guardians! Nothing is safe without any around."
"I've been told that a couple of times. But it seems like no one is offering help, as much as they look like they want to."
Tidus busted right into the conversation. "Come with us, then! We're guarding Yuna here, and it shouldn't be too much work to do."
The lady in all black then came in. "You need to learn to think before you speak." Tidus then rubbed the back of his head, with a doubtful face.
"I'm Lulu, by the way. Don't take it the wrong way on how I just sounded, and we'd all want to offer our help, but we have to think about this for a moment. You're a new summoner, and it is a guardian's duty to protect one, but before we accept to that, I have a question. Back while you were talking to us all, you admitted you were from another world, and as trusting as you sound, you're not hiding anything from us, are you?"
"Of course not! Nothing common or personal."
Tidus blurted again. "Then it's settled! With us around you have nothing to fear!" Lulu had slightly glared at Tidus, but then looked at Remora and nodded with a small smile. Remora realized that the Ronso was still standing, staring at her, but once when he saw that she was staring back at him, he approached her and patted her head, making Remora chuckle a bit.
"Who is this?"
"This is Kimarhi. Don't worry, he's harmless...I think." Tidus introduced. Kimarhi stayed quiet though, continuing to attempt to comfort Remora.
"Does he talk."
"Sometimes, but it's a rare occasion. Oh, and I'm Wakka. You going to cheer on the Besaid Aurochs?!"
"You're on that team too?"
"I'm it's captain, actually. We've actually lost the tournament 4 times, but this year, we're guaranteed to obtain victory!"
"I wish you all the best of luck, then!"
"Y-Yuna, why are we running!?" Yuna was running around the halls of where the locker rooms were located, dragging Remora along with her from behind as their hands were in a tight knot.
"It's Sir Auron! There's this rumor that he's at the cafe, here in Luca!"
"Sir Auron?"
"He was once the guardian of my father. He's a legend to Spira!"
Their paces got slowed down once she reached an open door to the Besaid Aurochs locker room. Inside was Wakka and Tidus and a lot of other players.
"Tidus, there's a rumor that Sir Auron's here in Luca. Come check with us!"
"Auron's here? For real!?"
"Hold up, Tides. The game's about to start, are you gonna make it back, ya?" Wakka questioned.
"Give me a few minutes. I'll be back!"
"Promise?"
"Promise!"
The purpose was to go to the cafe, yet Yuna and Remora got distracted by alot of things in the silver city along the way. Tidus tried to teach them both on how to do his little role call whistle, yet they both had difficulty. Yet he promised them that he will continue to try and teach them during their journey together. The last stop they made before entering the cafe was at the center courtyard, and Tidus had some questions about Remora herself.
"So, Remora...this dream you had back at your home, you said that I told you that I was with the Zanarkand Abes. Did it take place in Zanarkand?"
"Yes. It did. It was a marvelous city too. Most of it was made of skyscrapers, bridges, and lanes. And the whole city was on top of the ocean, and had some beautiful waterfalls there too."
"Tidus told me about Zanarkand on the way here. It sounds exactly the way you put it also. We all should totally go there." Yuna replied cheerfully.
"If we can." Tidus added.
"Hmm? If we can? What do you mean?"
"...I'm not sure myself, but there's this rumor that Zanarkand was destroyed by Sin a thousand years ago, and now it's all in ruins. I don't want to believe it, but there are facts too."
Destroyed by Sin. That reminded Remora of the end of the dream, when it became a nightmare. Alot of unusual things did happen at the end. It could possibly be connected with what Tidus just explained.
"...Did Sin attack during a blitzball tournament at that time?"
Tidus then gaped at Remora. "Yeah...actually I was there! I think. Ya know, when you put it that way, it almost seems like I had a dream too. I was playing in the tournament, yet in the end, everything got destroyed, and I had to fight through a whole lot of sinspawn with Auron to try and escape."
"When I first realized Sin attacked, I think the whole stadium was cut in half and disintegrated by a giant blow, as well as everything else."
"You seem to know alot."
"Well now that you added all of that to it, I'm not sure if it was real or a dream anymore."
Yuna waved her hand a bit. "Excuse me if I'm interrupting, but the cafe's right over there." Yuna pointed to a little door that was lead by an arch like pathway covered in red carpet.
"Let's go in." Remora replied. They walked inside of the small lobby filled with alot of people of many sorts, yet when they walked and looked around, they could find no sign of Auron, despite that Remora didn't know what he looked like, so she would have to count on Yuna or Tidus to point him out. The door opened behind them and Kimarhi stepped inside behind them, probably to keep the two summoners safe.
"I don't see him." Yuna said doubtfully.
Remora did see something else though, two rather tall and built Ronso were facing each other, yet if you looked close enough you could see they were rolling their eyes towards Kimarhi.
"Say Kimarhi, do you know those two?"
Kimarhi said nothing but did walk towards them. Yuna approached Tidus to glance yet still saw no sign of anything serious.
"We're gonna look outside again." Yuna told him.
"Go on ahead." Tidus allowed.
Remora and Yuna exited the cafe stepping forward, the courtyard being unusually emptier than they last saw. Yuna had looked down at Remora's charm to find a suprising result.
"Remora, your charm is glowing."
Remora looked down to find her Yevon necklace to be flashing a red color instead of green that moment. She didn't know what it meant, but she suddenly had a dark feeling that they were both being watched, and clutched the charm tightly.
"Yuna...do you know if it's usual for some parts of Luca to be empty?"
"Actually, now that you mention it, this does seem a little strange, even though most of the people are at the stadium, there are projection screens everywhere to see the tournament from."
"Well, maybe we should look somewhere else-" Remora started, but once she took her first steps, strong hands grabbed both of her arms. She cried out as she was pulled into the attacker's body.
"Going somewhere?"