Chapter 20 - Calm Before the Storm
Tara and Gian returned to Kilika for the first time since their journey began. The summoner was mobbed by the village children. She took the time to greet each of the children, and the rest of the villagers as well.
Gian was bewildered as he took a look at the landscape. The village had rebuilt in a major way. Kilika no longer resembled a tiny backwater island village. Rather, it now looked like a bustling marine port, twice the size of its previous incarnation. He looked up toward his cabin and noticed that whatever damage it had suffered in Sin's attack was completely repaired. He also noticed that somehow, the cabin looked very different. He made a mental note to thank the person who had done the work, after their journey was completed.
Gian stopped to talk to his friend Roman, the old fisherman.
"You've done well, Gian. All of Spira has hope now. Real hope. Everybody truly believes that the two of you will defeat Sin once and for all. And all of Kilika is thankful that you've protected Tara the whole time."
"Roman," Gian said, smiling, "When this is all over with, I'm really going to be hungry for some fish. Oh, and I might want to use your boat again."
"Well..." the old man laughed. "You might want to go take a look at what's behind your cabin."
Together, Gian and Roman made their way down the dock, reaching his cabin. The guardian noticed a ladder, leading down toward a lower dock. Moored to the dock was a gleaming new boat, capable of traveling the entire world of Spira.
"Roman!" Gian exclaimed. "What in the world is this?"
"Ah, it's just a little something that the villagers got, in appreciation for all you've done. Everybody chipped in. It's something they wanted to do. In case you haven't noticed yet, Kilika's doing better than ever!"
The guardian turned around to see a gathering of villagers, who smiled at him and began to cheer. He waved in return. Several villagers approached him, offering handshakes and hugs.
Moved, Gian could only offer a weak "Thank you, everybody. You don't know what this means to me."
Gian walked into his cabin and he could not believe his eyes. The entire cabin had been rebuilt, expanded, and remodeled. It was not only big enough for two, but it could hold a family as well. Gian stood amazed. The villagers of Kilika had not only accepted him, they made him their champion, along with Tara.
After saying goodbye to Roman, and the rest of the villagers, Gian rejoined Tara. Together, they made their way back to Kilika Temple, where they once again found themselves in the Chamber of the Fayth.
A vision of the aeon Ifrit appeared, which was replaced by a man dressed as a Crusader. The man appeared to be in a dream-like state.
Sin swam in the sea near Zanarkand.
Perhaps the dream city eased its suffering.
A person touched Sin, intending to destroy it.
How sad now, that she is caught in the tragic spiral.
She is Sin. She is lost.
"Who is he referring to?" Tara asked.
Gian looked downward. "I think I know who. She's waiting for us - inside Sin."
The pair left Kilika and traveled by airship to every other temple in Spira. Each Fayth had a story to impart.
In Besaid, the Fayth of Valefor appeared to be a young woman of the island.
Sin is cursed. Sin prays.
It curses its form, praying for dissolution.
Sin sees dreams of its own destruction.
Sin is looking at us.
We live in a fading echo of time left us, by the destroyer.
Free her from Yu Yevon.
Free her, the Fayth that has become Sin.
In Djose, the Fayth of Ixion appeared to be an older man of Luca.
For a long time, we had forgotten how to go forward.
You reminded us we must go forward.
Yes, we must run.
Let us go, and we will run till our dreams end.
At Remiem Temple, the Fayth of the Magus Sisters appeared to be children.
Why did we stay on Spira?
We had forgotten for so long.
We had forgotten to move forward.
We had forgotten to change.
At the Calm Lands Scar, the Fayth of Yojimbo appeared as the same masked warrior they had previously seen.
Our's is a fading dream, one that must fade away.
Spira will not forget the ones who saved us.
Onward, you must run.
Run on, into a future where Yu Yevon is a memory from the past.
In Macalania, the Fayth of Shiva appeared to be a little girl from Zanarkand.
Should you prevail, our dreams will end.
But do not weep, nor rise in anger.
Even we were once human.
That is why we must dream.
Let us summon a sea in a new world,
a new sea for everyone to swim.
Upon seeing the guardian, Shiva awakened from her dream-like state. She gazed into his eyes once again, as if she were seeing something familiar. She began to smile.
"You are willing to help us rest. For that, I thank you both."
Gian walked up to the fayth and knelt in front of her so he could look into her eyes.
"We should be thanking you for all the help you've given us. We never would have made it this far without you."
"You helped me and you showed me kindness. Thank you so much." Shiva continued gazing into the guardian's eyes. The guardian noticed the little girl staring straight into his soul. He was unsure of why, but he noticed that she seemed happy. Somehow, there was a connection between guardian and fayth, but Gian was at a loss to understand it.
"You know, Gian, I heard you when you called out to me in Zanarkand. Had we been in contact with each other longer, perhaps it might have been possible for me to come to your aid. Please forgive me?"
"It's alright," the guardian replied. "You will be able to rest very soon. Don't worry."
"We're so tired," the little girl sighed. "Thank you again, both of you, for all you've done to help us."
The little girl reached out to the guardian and touched his face. She held her hand in place for a several moments, smiled once more, then faded away. The guardian shook off a moment of dizziness then returned to his feet. He turned to see Tara smiling at him in a knowing manner.
"What?" the guardian asked.
"You'll find out. And you're going to make a wonderful father someday."
Making their way back to the airship, Tara looked over at Gian once more.
"Gian, they're tired. They want to rest. We must let them do that. They say that they'll help us, but it will really be us helping them."
Gian nodded as they boarded the airship. Making their way towards the command section, Gian looked solemly at Cid.
"It's time."
It was time to end Spira's thousand year nightmare.
It was time to face Sin.