He tells Tidus the shoopuf story.

Water reflects. Like metal does but the reflection is off. Softer. Somehow the ripples in their distortion make it all seem like... a dream. Auron wants to scoff at that, but all he can hear is the inane babbling of that, that religion. That falsity. To think—no, he doesn't think. He cannot blame their faithfulness. Children are the most faithful.

Even if when he tells the story, he can see that the boy doesn't like hearing the truth. Some lose their faith earlier on then others. Fathers can have that effect.

"Sit down!"

Auron isn't a father but they listen to him like he is. It's almost ironic how easily they do. He need only raise his voice to Yuna or raise his eyebrow to Tidus.

In his musing, he almost misses her go into the water. And he can't dive in after her.

Maybe he should have learned to swim.

---

Unlike a father, he lets Yuna decide to keep the Al Bhed. He can see it in her mother's eye that she had chosen the moment the gangly little thing revealed herself. He is glad there are more children. The adults could use them.

The desert people were right. Maybe that was why Braska married her after all. He could sense that his God was dying and held onto someone that embraced life. Sometimes he wishes that she could have gone too. Maybe things would have been different if an Al Bhed had went along.

But he doubts that.

Yuna looks at him again, making sure he approves. The girl, Rikku, is already bouncing and fooling Wakka. But Yuna is asking in her silent way if he wants this coming along. He should tell her it has nothing to do with want, but duty.

She knows his nod and embraces the girl like a sister. Yes, this will be good for her.