Chapter Three- Summoner Yuna

The village is quiet today. News of the boy and Yuna have spread like wildfire. Everyone is concerned for Yuna yet curious about the boy washed up at sea.

It reminds me of their reaction to me, ten years ago.

Hmm..

"You should take a look around the village, then present yourself to the temple high summoner over yonder" Wakka says, him and the boy walking down the village path. The boy looks puzzled as Wakka points to the temple.

"You remember the prayer right?" Wakka seems boy shakes his head.

"Oh man. Here, watch me" Wakka places a leg behind him, drags his arms upwards and brings them together; the prayer of Yevon.

"Now you try" He copies Wakka, seemingly not as unfamiliar with the prayer as he thought.

"Good, now go present yourself to the temple summoner" He nods and scuffles his boots in the direction of the temple.

"Wakka" I call as soon as he is gone.

"Ah, hey Saaki" I tread my way over to the village entrance.

"That boy, is he staying?" Wakka scratches his head.

"For now, i'm taking him to Luca"

"The blitzball tournament?"

"Ya, someone is bound to know him there" I stare at the temple once more.

"I guess..but i've never seen anyone wear clothes like his before"

"I know. He says he's from Zanarkand"

"And you believe him?"

"Ha ha ha, of course not. You know what Zanarkand is now Saaki, it's just a pile of rubble"

"Maybe so but.."

"But what Saaki?" I shake my head.

"Nothing. Let's go into the house" I sigh as we walk over to the tiny, circular hut.

Just because Zanarkand is rubble it doesn't mean people can't live there. Maybe some people survived Sin's attack 1000 years ago. Wakka is always quick to assume, his faith set firmly in Yevon. I may be a besaid villager now, but secretly i don't agree with everyone Yevon says. I disagree, i don't know why. Something just doesn't feel right about it.

"So, are you going to see how Yuna is doing?" Wakka sits against the bed. I stay standing.

"We can't interfere, it's a rule"

"It's not interfering! Aren't you worried about her!?"

"Of course-"

"Hey Wakka, what's up?"

"Ah!" He's stood right behind me, how long has he been there!?

"Sorry man, it's not time for lunch yet. Take a nap, you look bushed"

"Um, sure" Without pausing to kick of his shoes, he leaps sideways onto the bed. His eyes close immediatly, his mouth opening just a little. Wow he must have been tired.

"Well Wakka, i'm going to check on her whether you come or not" I swing around and walk through the door. Wakka is left behind, stunned.

"The fayth is still singing Wakka, i'm sure Yuna is fine" I try to reassure him. The Temple summoner stands firmly at the feet of lord Ohalland. He seems unconcerned despite that Yuna was his Apprentice.

"Is something wrong?" The boy who i am told is called Tidus has appeared beside us, the yellow glow of the temple fire lighting up his features. His hair looks like a mop of fire in this light.

"The summoner hasn't returned from the trial" Wakka folds his arms, twisting his torso to peer at the door again. The red steps are seemingly glowing.

"Eh?"

"Well apprentice summoner really"

"Ah?" I shake my head. He was innocently clueless.

"There's a room in there called the cloister of trials. Beyond is where the apprentice summoner prays" I explained, his mouth closing a little. I think it was starting to make sense.

"If the prayer is heard, the apprentice becomes a fully-fledged summoner; remember?" Wakka takes over, nudging Tidus. Tidus brings his arm behind his head awkwardly.

"So..someone's in there, and they haven't come back out. Right, got it"

"Well i suppose that's a simple way of putting it" I smile at him, trying to be as bright as possible.

It's strange, but you ever feel like no one notices you? That you fit in to well after a while? Well i felt like that. I may be a guardian to Yuna but i was old news, i was plain; just another guardian.

Tidus was different and new, he didn't know me. I wanted him to recognize me, perhaps even love.

I think..i think i have a crush on him. His piercing blue eyes, as bright as the sea. With the same mystery too. I have never felt anything like this for someone, it's abnormal.

"A day's already gone by" Wakka gazes wistfully at the entrance follows his gaze. Sweeping up the steps and onto the brown oak doors.

"Is it..particularly dangerous in there?"

"Sometimes, yes"

"Why don't you go in and help?" I agree with Tidus. We didn't even have to go in the fayth, but getting through the cloister of trials would be better than just standing here at the feet of some dead summoner.

"There's already guardians in there, besides, it's forbidden" Tidus frowns. He faces the door and flies up the steps, much to the horror of the people in this temple.

He pauses at the door.

"Hey, but what if something happens! What if the summoner, dies!"

"The precepts must be obeyed!" The temple summoner throws out his hand in an attempt to halt him.

"Like i care!"

There are gasps of shock as he throws open the doors, disappearing into the infinite black. The doors slam behind him.

"Think he'll survive the cloister of trials?" Wakka asks curiously. Actually i think he will. But we'd better go in just in case.

"Let's go see" The temple summoner nods his approval as we rush up the steps, lifting his arms in prayer of Yevon.

I fling my arms out front, pushing the door open with my magick; an unseen force. Supposedly the power of Yevon. That's what i was, a mage guardian to Yuna. I could fight with a sword but i normally used was the only thing i was good at, after all.

The darkness clears as we push our way through, leading us to the cloister of trials i was familiar with. It was a series of small paths and rooms, leading to the elevator that took us to the fayth.

"Want to do the honours Saaki?" Wakka pauses as the doors slam, green glyphs shining bright on the crumbling grey walls.

"Sure, why not" I lift my hand and press it firmly on the closest glyph. The energy resonates through my hand and the wall shakes before sliding upwards. Some thought that just anyone could touch these glyphs and get through, but no. The glyphs resonate with a scanning energy, only letting good and kind-hearted people through.

Our steps are silent as we glide down the worn steps, the glyph sphere that should have been in it's hold was gone. It seemed Tidus was well ahead of us.

At the bottom the door is already open, and i can hear the scraping of a pedestal against concrete. We pass through, watching Tidus as he pushes the pedestal into position for the elevator. As it clicks into place, Wakka steps forward.

"Hey! What's gotten into you?" Tidus swings around.

"I-"

"It's okay" We follow him onto the red platform, the thing that will take us to the fayth. As we stand, the glyph in the centre glows red and we shake as the platform descends.

We are completely surrounded by stone wall.

"Only summ0ner's, apprentice summoner's and their guardians are allowed through here" Wakka states.

"What about you two?" I see his eyes flicker on me.

"We're guardians" I tell him.

"Guardians?" Wakka buries his head in his hand.

"Summoner's go on a pilgrimage to pray at every temple in Spira. Guardians protect them. The guardians in there now, one of them's got short fuse, and who knows what the other's thinking" I can tell his mind is on Lulu.

The platform jolts to a stop as i peek at Tidus, now having reached the bottom. The fayth is singing louder in here, it's tune is strangely comforting. I can already see Lulu sitting on the steps, and Kimarhi is stood; arms folded, at the bottom of them.

"Well, now that we've come this far. Might as well go all the way" The two watch us as we walk forward into the glowing room, Tidus seemingly awestruck by it's beauty. The walls are shining many tones of yellow and orange. The flame of torches flickering from the unearthly voices.

Lulu stands, her many belts jangling as they hit each other.

"What are you doing here? Didn't think we could handle it?" Her tone is silky, always a dangerous sign.

"No, it's uh..it's just.." Lulu looks from me to Wakka and slowly glides forward. Wakka nervously nudges Tidus.

"See, i told ya she gets mad easy" He whispers, Tidus is still looking stunned.

"Is the summoner okay?" He asks as Lulu reaches us. She gasps and turns her icy glare upon him.

"Who..are you?" There is silence for a moment before there is a spirit's cry and the sound of a door opening reaches us. We all turn to the entrance to the chamber of the fayth, it's spiraling case sliding up into the ceiling. A fayth is crying, the sound of death.

I can here the swish of her skirt before i see her. First her black leather boots appear into sight, then her long purple skirt; and finally her bent face. Her short brown hair is a curtain over her features, her body sloping to a side as she struggles to stand.

Tentatively she takes a few steps forward, wobbling dangerous above the carpeted steps. Her head lifts, her eyes are closed. Beads of sweat are running down her cheeks.

I peer at Tidus, his eyes are fixated on Yuna. He looks surprised but also entranced.

Yuna tilts before her legs give way to the steps before her, and it is timeless as she falls through the air. I gasp, we all do. Tidus steps forward, a hand outstretched. But it is Kimarhi who runs, bounding up the steps and catching her lifeless body between his arms. He sits her on the step, and her eyes fly open.

She brushes of his hands reassuringly and stands; gazing in wonder at us all. Her green and blue eyes spread wide and she gasps.

"I have done it!..I have become a summoner!"