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Chapter 33: Abyss of Memories

His dreams bore semblance to his plummet. As he fell down an imagined abyss, full of nothing and blackness, he remembered his selection trials.

What an ordeal, an ordeal much preferred forgotten. It was…harrowing, Sephyr the grand Captain of the deadliest mortal wardens in all of Ivalice was not daunted by the long, dark fall, he was however daunted when he was handpicked by the first ruling house of Archadia to undergo the training and selection. He was only a small boy plunged into a world he knew nothing off, the feeling of unfamiliarity and homesickness was like falling into a dark abyss. He was horrified. Now as he fell, accompanied by fine shards of glass form Ortal's window, he tried not to be afraid, his efforts were great to stave off the mere memory of the daunting feeling he had.

The abyss narrowed as lower buildings quickly took up the space. The abyss, too, grew narrower during his childhood. It became darker, more horrifying than anything he had ever imagined to have lurked under his bed. It was not claustrophobia which claimed his young heart at the time but rather the loss of freedom and friends. Ten were the contenders who survived the rigorous training. Five were left. From those five, one would be selected captain. He had bested them all, the rest were executed. He was made captain; his hands were stained by the blood of his own friends. The others were brought into commission after they, too, killed their own friends. It made him…horrified. Now, as then, his feelings started to cloud his judgment.

When at last the killing stopped so too did his ill feeling. The ill thoughts ceased as soon as he had planted both feet breezily upon the cobblestones. His mind, having been modified to expect the unexpected, usually went out of control and allowed memories to flood back whenever there was an incident that made a perfect metaphor for it. He shook his head, attempting to force the wayward reminiscences back into neglect.

Sephyr closed his eyes.

The memories faded.

'Splendid show.' A silky voice said behind him. Sephyr quickly bolted round and assumed a fighting stance.

'You knew of my presence all along, did you not, Scipio?' Sephyr glared at Scipio menacingly.

If there was one man he never dreamt of working, talking or breathing the same air with, that was Scipio. Even now, he was so disgusted. Every breath Scipio drew was an insult to him. Scipio had an air of traitor about him, so too did Ortal. The verity of their treason was not hard to ascertain, even in thought. Yet Sephyr was rather shocked even if he did expect that they were the perpetrators; Scipio was still a Judge and he was sworn to overlook Archadia, not betray it.

'Of course I did. Wonder why there was such a light guard upon the complex?' Scipio asked flatly. His eyebrows did not rise nor did his tone seek to mock Sephyr. He was rather serious and spoke as though something utterly grave was afoot.

Sephyr scowled in reply.

'I wanted you to come and hear the little chat I had with the senator,' Scipio unfolded his arms and balled his fists, 'we are both unarmed save for our gauntlets. I wager your strength be no match for my prowess.' Scipio lowered himself and returned Sephyr's scornful gaze.

'Attack!' Scipio shouted.

Sephyr lunged and laced the fingers of both hands whilst in mid-jump and brought them above his head. Scipio dashed forward and buried his armored knuckles deep into Sephyr's gut. The grip of Sephyr's finger faltered as he was launched away with that one blow.

'Ha! Is that the best the Captain has to offer?' Scipio walked slowly towards Sephyr who struggled to get up. The wind had been blown clearly out of his respiratory system.

Lightning cracked the night sky as thunder rattled in the void. Rain started to pour heavily across the streets.

'How convenient,' Scipio said as he was momentarily bathed in the luminescence of lightning, 'our bout here will take place under the roaring downpour!' Scipio lifted both arms at the sky, welcoming the cold and heavy raindrops. He was half bathed in shadow yet Sephyr could clearly see his figure looking up at the sky.

He finally found the strength to rise again. As soon as he had reached his full height Scipio's head quickly averted sight from sky to Captain. No sooner had Sephyr sensed this that Scipio had pounced on him and had started to slug him. Blow after blow found their mark and every strike was Sephyr tried to parry and counter.

At last, an opportunity. Scipio prepared to take his face from the left, Sephyr quickly jabbed the side of his skull with a right. It was sufficient to weaken the hook Scipio had for him and Sephyr managed to create a small gap between them. He quickly maneuvered forward and wrestled Scipio to the ground.

They locked upon each other, punching and strangling, not daring let the other go. Scipio's blows were not as powerful as Sephyr had imagined yet the attacks were so well placed that every successful hit jangled his senses.

Scipio pulled away by pushing Sephyr forcefully with his forearm. Sephyr could not find his footing immediately and lost balance. He tumbled upon the cobblestone while Scipio fell thrashing upon him. Sephyr tried to kick him away, he was able to land a few successful punches yet Scipio would still not yield. Scipio's gauntlets started scraping away flesh and drawing blood. He could feel wetness on his cheeks and forehead. Against the lightning-slashed night he could see the evil glee etched across Scipio's face. His red eyes were, oddly, visible. Every flicker of light form the lightning showed that Scipio was smiling murderously as he continued to assault Sephyr.

Scipio gave Sephyr a blow to the jaw, the grip of Sephyr's mind to consciousness started to slacken. Scipio had mounted him and would not cease attacking. Sephyr could not find the strength to fight back anymore.

Another blow, he coughed out blood.

And another, his vision started to get hazy.

He pitied himself, and was damaged physically and spiritually. What a shame that he still had a good deal of give. What a shame that his journey would end thus, in the hands of a madman.

Nay! He would not allow being undone so easily! Sephyr shouted and caught Scipio's fists, he then pushed them aside and, using Scipio's shock, swung the back of his hand hard at Scipio's face.

Yet still Scipio would not give. Scipio quickly recovered from the shock and pummeled Sephyr's skull. The last Sephyr remembered, before losing his consciousness, was an evil laugh resounding across the raining night.

XOXOXOX

Every inch of his upper extremities ached. Something cold and tight bound his wrists and suspended him from a height. The rain still poured.

'You're awake. Its only been half an hour since your pathetic defeat.' The voice was rather inaudible but even with half hazy senses he knew it was that demented Judge Majister.

The rafters which suspended Sephyr rattled in the howling wind. Scipio was talking but Sephyr could only make out faint noises which had little meaning to him.

Finally, after perhaps another half hour, Sephyr was fully conscious and had total control over his senses. He now had the capacity to rebut Scipio's remarks, which he did.

'You are pathetic.' Scipio said mockingly.

'And you Judge Majister, have gil where bourgeois people have hearts!' Sephyr had a demonic urge to strangle Scipio, his hands were bound though so he only mad the rafters rattle more.

'Bah. Who is to say that I am conventional? I am Judge Majister.' Scipio replied with a dignified tone.

One of Sephyr's eyes could not see as well as the other. He could still, however, that Scipio was pacing back and forth and was gesturing with his left arm. The men and women of Ivalice who fain to tear their beholder's ear off through speech annoyed him. He gave Scipio a look of chagrin, even if his other eye would not open fully.

'You will die someday Scipio, by my hand or some one else's. You shall be felled by your own blade!' Sephyr was shouting through the roar of the wind and rain. The rafters were shaking more violently now and he had started to spin about.

'And you my friend have an ungainly mind.' Scipio remarked.

'Shut that opening you call your mouth!' The rafters began to rock and creak and Sephyr's turns became more full circle.

Scipio laughed, 'Captain, you keep getting funnier every minute.'

Sephyr growled in response.

He wanted to do something, needed to do something. Alas, all he could do was spin round like a wayward pendulum and appear a total fool.

'Ah, well. I shall help you to a ship.'

'That would be convenient.' Sephyr replied sarcastically.

'Seriously.' Scipio replied. This declaration coaxed a raised, skeptical, eyebrow from Sephyr.

Scipio gestured at the rafters and the chains which bound Sephyr were severed. Sephyr fell to the ground with a dull thump.

'Who knew that the Captain would be ousted so easily and that he'd resort to "crouching",' Scipio gestured the quotation marks with his fingers, 'really, I would have expected you to hide in the ceiling or something more typical.'

'My survival is determined by my being "untypical"'. Sephyr hissed, massaging his aching wrists.

'If that is true then, you will not assay my life but you will instead follow me to the hangar.' Scipio replied in that easy drawl of his, turning and dismissing Sephyr as if their conversation was over. Sephyr, on the other hand, was not be swayed so easily.

'If that is true.'