Chapter 14 - Calm Lands
Tara and Gian surveyed the Calm Lands. They saw an endless expanse of hills, valleys, and mountains.
"The Calm Lands. This is where the High Summoners fought Sin," Gian explained. "The road ends here. From this point on, it's endless plains, mountains, and who knows what else."
"I just can't get over how big this place is!" Tara exclaimed. "It will take us quite some time to cross."
The pair started to make their way down the ledge and into the Calm Lands proper. Gian stopped, noticing something further down into the plains - something familiar.
"Is that what I think it is?" he asked.
Tara took a look in the direction that Gian had pointed to. She saw what appeared to be a building. As they made their way closer, they saw a person jumping up and down, waving, trying to get their attention.
As soon as they were close enough to see the sign that read "Travel Agency," Gian began to smile. The person waving at them was also familiar.
"Alyssa!" Tara exlaimed as she ran up and hugged the girl. "What are you doing out here?"
Alyssa pointed back towards the Travel Agency building. "Well, what do you think? Huh? You like it? Guess what! It's mine! Rin gave it to me!
"Really?" Tara remarked, "Alyssa, that's terrific! I'm so happy for you!"
"It's pretty cool, right?" Alyssa giggled. "He wanted to thank me for all my work since he got started with the Travel Agencies. So he gave this one to me as a thank you. Take a look! We have everything here, plus a whole lot of room for the chocobos!"
"You have chocobos here?" Gian asked, with a smile forming on his face.
"Not just any chocobos," Alyssa continued, "Your chocobos! I brought Coco and Diablo with me. And you can ride'em any time you want! A promise is a promise, right?"
"That would be a big help." Gian took another look at the vast expanse of the Calm Lands. "This place is huge!" He was feeling a sudden urge. "Um, Alyssa, I don't suppose you have..."
"Coffee?" Alyssa giggled. "Yes, Rin told me about how much you love coffee. He made sure I had plenty of it!"
Gian was so happy at the news, that he hugged Alyssa as well. Alyssa giggled loudly as she returned the guardian's hug.
"Let's go inside and rest!" the young shopkeeper exclaimed. "I'm sure you must be hungry from your trip."
After a wonderful meal prepared by Alyssa, the threesome went outside to the chocobo stables. Alyssa began to explain.
"Keep in mind, the chocobos won't leave the Calm Lands. If you dismount them, they'll wait for you in the same spot, unless you tell them to go. Then they'll come back here. But remember, they won't leave the Calm Lands!"
"Got it." Tara replied. "Alyssa, thank you so much for everything!"
"No problem at all!" Alyssa smiled. "Rin told me, above all else, 'You just make sure you take good care of Lady Tara and Sir Gian!'"
Tara and Gian mounted their chocobos and began to ride. Tara looked over towards Gian. "Where to?"
"Let's go back the way we came. I saw something I kinda want to check out."
They rode back towards the entrance of the Calm Lands and continued to the ledge where they could see a path off into the distance.
"You remember how to do this?" the guardian asked. He backed up to give Diablo some space, then proceeded towards the edge where Diablo jumped down onto a lower ledge that had access to the path that he had seen.
"Right behind you!" the summoner exlaimed as Coco made the jump.
Remembering that Alyssa had said that the chocobos would not leave the Calm Lands, the pair dismounted and made their way down the path on foot. What they saw next was beyond shocking.
They saw what appeared to be an old and abandoned temple, with a long bridge leading up to the entrance. Underneath the bridge was a downward expanse that appeared to be endless.
"Um.. Gian... this bridge doesn't look that safe. And my God.. look how far down that goes! If we fall, we're done for!"
"Tell me about it!" the guardian replied. "Just keep looking forward and don't look down!" The pair began to make their way across the shaky bridge. They hugged once they made it to the other side.
"What is this place?" Tara asked.
"Could this be... Remiem Temple?" the guardian asked. "Rumor says that Remiem Temple was in the Calm Lands but it's been abandoned for quite some time. Well, we're here, so we might as well take a look around."
Inside the temple they saw another familiar face.
"Lady Belgemine," the summoner spoke.
"Welcome to Remiem Temple, Lady Tara. How goes your journey?"
"We're making it, I suppose. What are you doing here?"
"This is my... home, for lack of a better term. Let's see how you've progressed. Are you ready for another contest? A friendly one, of course."
"Okay, I accept." the summoner said.
"Allow me to heal your aeons first." Belegime began her summoning ritual, calling for Bahamut. Tara responded by summoning Shiva.
Meanwhile, Gian had decided to explore the outer perimeter of the temple. He walked along a short path where he found a waiting chocobo. He read the sign next to the chocobo's stable.
A prize awaits the person who defeats the chocobo champion.
Gian wondered what that meant. He noticed the chocobo jumping up and down and he figured that meant the chocobo wanted to go for a ride. He took a look further down the path that spiraled to a point a couple hundred feet downward, toward an apex. He also took note that the path was only a yard and a half wide, with endless downward expanse on both sides.
"I think I'm gonna be sick..." the guardian moaned, as he mounted the chocobo.
Back inside the temple, the back and forth battle between Bahamut and Shiva was progressing. Shiva performed the same ice-shattering maneuver that she had performed outside Macalania Temple. Bahamut fell to his knees in defeat.
"Stop. That is enough," Belgemine stated. "Lady Tara, you have progressed extremely well. I think you may well be the one to defeat Sin."
"Thank you, Lady Belgemine. I look forward to learning more from you in the future."
Belgemine smiled. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Why not?" the summoner asked.
"With your summoning ability, combined with your expertise in black magic, you have progressed beyond the level of any summoner ever known to Spira. I'm afraid I have nothing more to teach you. My work is complete and now it is time for me to go." Belgemine hoped that Tara understood what she was trying to say.
Tara gave a knowing smile. "Thank you again for everything." Tara performed the sending ritual, and Belgemine dissolved into pyreflies.
Outside the temple, the race began. Gian closed his eyes, placing his trust in the chocobo he was riding. He only opened his eyes when he felt the bird come to a stop. He found himself at the apex he saw earlier where a small treasure chest awaited him. Opening the chest, he removed a small hand mirror that was cloudy from years of neglect.
I wonder what this is for?
The guardian figured that the item would not be in such an obscure, yet notable, location unless it were important in one way or another, so he decided to keep it for future use. He then mounted the chocobo again, for the ride back up to the main level.
Rejoining Tara, he noticed the sad look on her face.
"What happened?" the guardian asked.
"Lady Belgemine is gone. I sent her. I'm pretty sure that's what she wanted. She said she had nothing more to teach me and that I was now beyond any summoner who had ever existed. Me! Can you believe that?"
Gian took Tara into his arms. "Is that so surprising? We really have come a long way since we started."
The pair made their way to the back of the antechamber towards an unknown Chamber of the Fayth. As Tara approached, the door slid upward.
"Shall we?" the summoner asked.
"You go on ahead. I don't feel right being in there."
Tara smiled, "Okay, I'll be right back."
A short time later, Tara staggered out of the chamber.
"Are you okay?" the guardian asked, concerned.
Reaching for Gian, she collapsed onto him. "I'll be fine. There were... three of them this time!"
After resting for a short period, the pair exited Remiem Temple and made their way across the bridge leading back to the Calm Lands.
"We're done in there, right Gian? We won't have to cross that bridge again, will we?"
"Well, I'm not planning on it, I can promise you that much!" the guardian quipped.
Nightfall was approaching, so the pair returned to the Travel Agency, where they retired for the evening. The next morning, they awoke to discover that Alyssa had prepared an incredible breakfast for them, along with hot, fresh coffee.
Marveling at Alyssa's cooking skills, Gian made sure there were no leftovers. He looked over at Alyssa.
"You know, you're gonna make some future husband incredibly happy with cooking like this!"
Tara just shook her head, laughing.
Alyssa smiled "I'm very happy you like everything! Where are you off to today?"
Tara responded. "We're going to try to cross the Calm Lands, and see what lies beyond. We've been through a lot since we started, but I have a feeling we haven't seen anything yet, if you know what I mean."
"Well, you better eat some more then! You want to be full of energy to take on whatever's out there!"
"Well, if you're gonna twist my arm..." the guardian chuckled. "How about some more of those eggs?"
"Umm.. Gian, you ate them all!" Alyssa dryly remarked. All three burst into laughter. "There won't be any more until Rin send more supplies my way!"
Outside the travel agency building, the pair begain to make preparations to continue the journey.
"Alyssa, thank you so much for everything. We'll be back to see you again once this is all over with." She hugged the girl tightly.
"Best of luck to you, Lady Tara!" Alyssa replied, returning Tara's hug.
"Just Tara. We're friends. Remember that!"
"Stock up, I'll be hungry when we get back!" the guardian quipped.
"I"ll be ready and waiting!" Alyssa replied as she hugged the guardian.
As the pair rode across the Calm Lands, Gian looked over towards Tara.
"You really don't like being called Lady Tara, do you?" the guardian chuckled.
"I'm still the same person I've always been," she replied. "How about you with Sir Gian?"
"I've always been Sir Gian, even when I was a Guardsman in Bevelle. It's nothing new to me. I just don't pay much attention to it. But yeah, just Gian is okay as well."
The pair reached the exit of the Calm Lands and dismounted their chocobos. Remembering Alyssa's instruction, Tara looked over towards her chocobo and hugged the bird.
"Go Coco!" She watched as the bird took off, making her way back towards the Travel Agency.
Gian said his goodbyes to Diabo and sent the bird back to the Travel Agency as well. He then joined hands with Tara as they proceeded into the area beyond the Calm Lands.
"Remember that High Summoner Gandalf's Scar that I mentioned to you back in the Thunder Plains? We're about to see it. And this is as far north as I've ever been. Beyond this point, we'll discover everything together."
"Together," Tara replied. "I really like that word."
Gian looked deeply into Tara's eyes.
With everything she's seen and experienced, somehow, she still smiles.
"Do me a favor, Tara?"
"Of course!"
"Don't ever lose that smile."
Hand in hand, the pair began to make their way down into the Fayth Scar.