Hopefully, the mood has lifted from the last chapter and we're moving on a little – the journey begins! I'm not very sure about the boat trip bit of this chapter working. As always, feedback is very much appreciated.

As they made their way out of the Cloister of Trials, the Head Priest was waiting for them to know how they had done. When Makoto told him that the Fayth had accepted him, he gave an ecstatic shout.

"Well done, my boy! Well done! I knew you would. I'll tell them to ring the bells!"

And ring the bells they did. The bells let everyone from temple to the village know that a Kilikan Summoner had been made, so that they could come and see the first Summoning and celebrate. It was an achievement that the whole village would take pride in. As they waited, the priests took him into the acolytes' chamber to give him the rewards that were due for a Kilikan Summoner who passed the trials – a small chest of gifts that would make the journey easier, containing such items as Potions and accessories and the like.

While Makoto bowed his thanks to the priests, who then left them alone to gather their things, Nagisa peered into the chest with wonder, rummaging through the items and trying on a few experimentally. "Wow, these'll come in handy. It's a pretty good haul, Mako-chan!"

"Nagisa! You can't say that – these are gifts to aid us on the pilgrimage!" Makoto looked a little scandalised that Nagisa wasn't being more reverent with them, but Nagisa didn't seem to notice as he picked up a bangle and twirled it around his fingers, before dropping it in favour of an armguard.

"Hey, Haru-chan, you should try this on!"

"I already have one." Haru looked at it sceptically, crouching by the chest too.

"Yes, but this one's better. See? "

"There's a lot in here. It's unnecessary. How will we carry it all?"

"They're gifts from the temple, you two – we should be grateful for them. Haru-chan, you mustn't call them unnecessary." Makoto whined in the background.

"Drop the –chan."

"Well, it might come in handy later – we can always sell it off when if we get short on gil. That one's definitely worth at least six-hundred." Nagisa replied blithely to Haru's question. "I say, we take the lot."

"Sell it! Nagisa, what are you saying?!"

"Hm. Ok, we'll take it." Haru nodded and that was that. The decision was made. Makoto sighed in the corner, a defeated little sound.

It didn't take long for the villagers to gather at the open square, some of them seating themselves on the stairs around it, waiting for the spectacle of Makoto's first Summoning to start, their families among them. Makoto's younger brother and sister were bouncing excitedly, but his parents kept a firm hold of them and smiled at him in encouragement. He walked out the middle of the space, holding his staff in front of him and got into the ready position then began twirling it, closing his eyes and calling to that warrior's presence that now lived inside of him.

The ground under him erupted as a flaming beast burst out of it, leaping into the sky and taking him with it. But the gentle catch as it carried him back down belied Ifrit's ferocious roar and Makoto felt safe and sheltered and powerful in his presence. With his feet back on the ground, Makoto put his hand out to the beast-like form and stroked its face, gazing at it in wonder. The aeons were such truly majestic creatures and he thought that this form was fitting to the fierce presence of the Fayth he had met in the Temple. He bowed in respect and thanks, conveying his thoughts through their mental link and Ifrit nodded back in acknowledgement and dismissed himself, disappearing into thin air.

When he turned around, the villagers were cheering in delight. Haru's eyes had widened in awe of the creature he had seen and Nagisa and both the twins were running forward and launching themselves at him, causing them all to fall in a heap on the floor.

"That was awesome, Mako-chan! And the fire – whoosh! It was so dramatic."

"Wow, Brother, that was so cool! Can I have a ride too? I want to go up in the air like you did!" Ran bounced in excitement.

"Me too! Me too! I wanna ride too!" Ren was determined not to be left out of the fun.

Makoto couldn't help but laugh at the twins. "Ifrit isn't a ride, Ren, Ran. He's a sacred Aeon. You should be respectful. He's a warrior who fights Sin." He admonished them gently then relented a little. "But I'll give you a ride back down the stairs, if you like, ok? And so will Haru."

Haru drew up next to him. "Don't just volunteer me for things." But there was no bite to his words and the children cheered, satisfied with their compensation ride.

That night, the village held a feast in their honour and many of the villagers, who had known them all their lives, came to the trio over the course of it to give gifts and show their thanks. For Makoto, Haruka and Nagisa, it was also a time for them to say their goodbyes. They would be leaving early in the morning, taking the first ferry of the day to Besaid as Makoto wanted to visit the temple there and make it the first stop of their pilgrimage.

The next day, Haru stood outside Makoto's house, rolling his shoulders to loosen them and watching the sun rise as he waited for his friend to come out. When he stepped out a few moments later he was followed by his parents, fussing over him, and two sleepy children. They turned when they saw him and Makoto's mother – as close to being his own since his parents had died and his grandmother followed a few years later – took him into her arms as well.

As she stepped back from her hug, she held him at arm's length and looked at him. She had tears in her eyes that she was stubbornly holding in. "You've both grown so much. Even if we've known this day would come for a long time, we were still dreading it. You only turned seventeen a few months ago. But you've grown so strong." She brushed his hair out of his eyes and tugged him down so she could kiss his cheek. "We're very proud of you – both of you. I know you'll take good care of each other on your travels."

Haruka nodded, his face serious, wanting very much to reassure this woman who was his second mother. He would protect Makoto. She smiled in understanding, so much like her son and turned away. Makoto's father put his hand on Haru's shoulder, squeezing briefly to convey his regards, but said nothing else otherwise – the man had said his part to him last night, had made it a point to take him aside and tell him words similar to those of his wife and Haru thought he had no words left now. Then he picked up one of the twins and a pack and they walked together to docks where the boat and Nagisa was waiting for them.

After another short round of goodbyes, the boat was pulling away and the forms of Makoto's family waving from the pier were slowly receding into the distance. Makoto stood at the railing, hand still hanging in the air where he had not quite dropped it from waving back, watching as they got farther and farther away.

"Goodbyes are hard, huh, Mako-chan?" Nagisa titled his head to look at them.

Makoto's eyes slid to the side to acknowledge him without turning. "I think the hardest part was Ren and Ran. In the end...none of us could bring ourselves to explain it properly. So they think I'm just going away for a long journey." He sighed and dropped his hand to the railing, smiling wryly. "It was easier to lie."

"Its kinder that way. They'll understand when they're older." Haru knew the children adored their elder brother.

"Yes, but it also means they have hope, right? I mean, no one thought there was a way to defeat Sin, but Lady Yunalesca found a way to make Sin go away for a while. Maybe you'll find a way to defeat Sin without getting hurt yourself, Mako-chan." Nagisa tapped a finger on his chin as he thought out loud. "Maybe there's even a way to make Sin go away forever!"

"Ah...maybe." Makoto looked off to the side, thoughtful for a moment and then changed the subject. "Well, anyway, we didn't really plan out our route for the rest of the pilgrimage after Besaid, did we? Are there any other places to visit along the way? You've been to most of the places before with your caravan, Nagisa – you can tell us the most about these things."

"Eh, where's your sense of adventure, Mako-chan? Forget the map. Its better that way, right, Haru-chan?"

"Don't bring me into this. We'll go where we need to." Haruka turned back to the open view of the ocean, satisfied that Nagisa had successfully distracted Makoto from melancholy thoughts. He tuned out the sound of them bickering and let his thoughts go with the waves for the rest of the uneventful trip.

They landed at Besaid shortly after noon and walked at a leisurely pace up the beach. Makoto had pulled out a map from his pack and was looking at it as he walked, so Haru pulled even with him to make sure he didn't trip over anything because he wasn't watching where he put his feet. Nagisa ran out ahead of them and turned off the well worn path they were on.

"Hey, there's another way we can go – we get to swim through a lake and its really pretty. Let's go that way, ok?"

He ran through the bushes and they had no choice but to follow. When he stopped by the edge of a small cliff and pointed to the water below, Haru peered down and contemplated the dive. Makoto started backing off nervously.

"I don't know – it's pretty far down, Nagisa. I think it'd be better to stick to the normal path with everyone else."

Before Nagisa could start wheedling him into it, they heard a cry for help and frantic splashing. It was coming from down below.

Someone drowning? Who could it be? I wonder...