2019-09-06: Respite Before Danger
- Log: Respite Before Danger
- Cast: Belize, Ena, Yuna
- Where: Guadosalam
- Date: September 6, 2019
- Summary: Two summoners take a brief respite from their duties and assisting refugees, joined by a novice. Soon after, a terrible portent is heard.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
The attack on the Djose Temple might not have been successful, but it's left many members of the Church of Yevon jittery. It's not well understood how the Guard did what they did, but it *is* well understood what they tried to do, and the horror of sealing away a fayth--an aeon, the only surefire means of fighting against Sin, no matter what the Otherworlders say--is enough to put plenty of people on edge. There are others who are cheerful for the victory, but...
Well, Belize knows that Althena's Guard won't stop there. The only question is if they'll try to attack Djose Temple, or if they'll instead target another one. In fact, they may have already sealed one fayth--after all, the Kilika Temple is occupied territory...
Thus, while they may be assisting in setting up some of the displaced peoples in Guadosalam for the time being, they can't do so with a reassuring smile. The city wasn't able to take in everyone, but this is as far as many people can go. There's no way the sick and elderly can take the trip across the Thunder Plains, for example. But it's also cruel to have to split families apart... It's an unpleasant process, one way or another.
For the time being, Belize bows to some of the other volunteers setting some of the refugees up, then splits away to take a break. They eventually come to a seat on the bench not far from the entrance of the Farplane. They fold their hands in their lap, shut their eyes, and bow their head in silent prayer. "...."
<Pose Tracker> Ena has posed.
It's easy to become despondent or hopeless in a situation such as this. It's true that Yevon have been on the back foot against the invaders all that time. It seems all they can do to hold ground, let alone taking any of it back. It takes a lot to keep morale from failing. But it seems that Ena seems to be trying to keep her cheerful earnestness, in the hopes that it might spread. Or at least, stave off a little despair.
"Everything will be alright, just follow this monk here." Ena gives a warm smile as she walks a child to another volunteer, handing him off in the hopes of not losing anyone in the chaos. The moment the child is out of sight, she sags a little. It's not easy, trying to convince people that everything will be okay when you don't necessarily believe it.
Her path back takes her past the bench where Belize is sitting, and Ena stops. She waits for them to break in their prayer, before interrupting. "Summoner Belize, are you well?" She asks. Concern breaks through in her voice. "Can I get you anything?" Perhaps rest is all that's needed, but if not, well, Ena can at least try to be helpful.
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
At the farplane, there's been a strange and deeply disturbing public incident. It occurred only minutes ago, and as its nature, and that of the Guado, is to not speak of it, the ripple of its rumor will not travel fast or far; not even to this bench, not yet. Still, there's a subtle shift in the air of the city, the collective subconscious knowing more than its individual inhabitants, and it is a shift towards tension.
Yuna approaches at its vanguard, the crest of the wave, which is only fair, really. She is tucking something away in her obi -- it's remarkable, really, how many clever little pockets Lulu has sewn into the sash -- and other passerby, also leaving the vicinity of the farplane, are giving each other troubled looks, when they don't stare at her openly. There's no resentment there, just... profound, powerful concern.
The same can be true of Yuna herself. She looks rattled, deeply so, a face she rarely allows herself to show in public. Even now she's obviously trying to bring herself to heel. With every passing step, a line is smoothed from her brow by main force of will. By the time she's passing the bench, her frown is banished in favor of carefully cultivated neutrality. No doubt a false smile is imminent.
Kimahri, who is shadowing her, is giving her nearly as worried a look as the Guado.
Maybe moreso. He isn't much of an emoter, so this level of expression on his face might as well be a shout.
She joins Belize in the final moments of her prayer, making the gesture and bowing her head with intensity that might be odd in some but is, perhaps, typical for a summoner.
Still -- she must have really felt the need to pray.
As she reopens her eyes, they settle on Ena, and the warmth in them is unfeigned. "Ah, I recognize you from Djose... then and now, thank you for all your help..."
Her voice is breathy, which might be disguising weariness, or perhaps not.
"I don't think we've been introduced? I am the summoner Yuna, from the Isle of Besaid."
Another bow and prayer, this one less intense and more casual. And yet -- she does mean it, every time.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
The prayer ends. Ena speaks up. Belize lifts their head and sees both her and Yuna. "Ah," they utter, expression softening a mite. They also spot Kimahri not too far away. They've been too busy assisting with the refugees to have heard of The Incident, so the Ronso's unusual expressiveness seems... concerning. Is there something the matter with Yuna?
Still, they can't ask her in mixed company; it might be something personal. Honestly, it might not be for them to know at all. So, instead, they hold up a hand to Ena. "I'm fine, thank you. I wouldn't mind a glass of water, but I can fetch that for myself on the way back." They give her a small smile. "I appreciate your concern, though. And all of your hard work."
Yuna likewise thanks her for her help during the attack on Djose Temple. Belize nods their agreement, and almost introduces the two--but Yuna gets that started for herself, so Belize allows Ena to speak for herself instead.
<Pose Tracker> Ena has posed.
It's hard not to notice the pair coming from the Farplane, and Ena finds her eyes drawn to the summoner. Indeed, Ena watches Yuna intently as she comes down the path to the bench. But being thanked for her help, catches Ena seemingly offguard. She bows and returns the prayer, before speaking. "I don't know if I was much help, Lady Yuna. It was mostly Summoner Belize who did the fighting." Still, when properly introduced, she responds in kind. "I am Ena, of Kilika. I'm training to become a summoner myself. But I'm not very far along yet. It's an honour to meet you, Lady Yuna." She bows again, deferentially.
She returns her attention to Belize, and nods to them. "If you are sure. It's no imposition on me, you're working much harder than I am." That may not be true, but Ena seems to think it is. She may just be bad at gauging her own effectiveness.
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
Kimahri shakes his head so fractionally that it might just be the air ruffling his ruff of fur, when Belize looks at him inquisitively. Yuna fails to notice; she's focused on Ena in the moment, after all.
"Ena," she repeats, the name a tenderness upon her tongue. She studies the girl as intently as she herself was studied a moment ago. Then...
"You did everything you could," she points out to the trainee, with her characteristic gentleness. "I am more grateful to you, not less, for the risk you took was greater than our own." Since they have aeons, and Ena does not. "Truly," she concludes, wide-eyed and solemn, "Please, don't discount your contributions, or yourself, so easily."
She glances over to Belize, and produces a small flask from her person, offering it freely. It's very pretty; someone took the time to imprint or carve the shapes of ferns into the sides. Undoubtedly one of a million gifts pressed upon her by supporters of the pilgrimage -- more than she could ever carry or keep.
"No need to wait," she suggests, the warmth in her eyes beginning to infect her lips into a smile. After a grave shock, there's no better antidote than the company of friends, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
"No need to be too modest," Belize tells Ena. "Your courage against that cowardly warmongerer was a great help. Your fighting skills were impressive too. If you were not working towards becoming a Summoner, I would say you would make a fine Guardian." Perhaps she still will, if her training doesn't pan out--but Belize is not so cruel as to say that aloud, especially given *why* Ena wants to be a Summoner.
They glance past Yuna's shoulder as Yuna likewise reassures Ena. Hmm. Kimahri's shaking his head... Or is that just a breeze through his fur? No, he's shaking his head, they decide. They'll keep their peace, then. Yuna *does* seem more harried than usual right now, even if she's trying her best to hide that.
When she looks back at the two, Yuna is offering her a flask. Belize is so surprised by this that they gape in shock, before realizing that the younger Summoner didn't just pull it out of thin air. They even manage a laugh as they accept it from her. "It turns out that neither of us had to get up for it," they remark to Ena with a wry smile. To Yuna, they nod in gratitude. "Thank you. The ocean is far too salty." This odd non-sequitur said, they open the flask and drink freely. Once they're done, they stopper it, then move to one side, allowing enough room for Yuna and Ena to both join them on the bench.
"I'm glad we were able to meet here, Yuna," they add, demeanor sobering. "There's something I wish to ask you, in light of what happened at the Djose Temple... and I think Ena would wish to hear this as well." They glance at the Kilikan, then at the Besaidan. "You have Ifrit as one of your companions... Is he..." They clear their throat delicately. "Is he well?"
No need to explain what they mean by that.
<Pose Tracker> Ena has posed.
When faced with nothing but praise, Ena blushes bright red and looks down at her feet. "Th-thank you. Both of you." She says, taking a few seconds to let her face clear. "I will strive to live up to how you see me." Just take the compliment, Ena.
Ena watches, a bit surprised, as Yuna makes a flask appear from seemingly nowhere. A handy trick, certainly. She does glance at Belize, trying to make sense of their statement about the ocean, but she doesn't actually ask. Instead, she asks a different questions. "Is all well with you, Lady Yuna?" A question that may not get an answer.
Especially with the question Belize asks next, and Ena's eyes go wide. "You don't think...?" She doesn't finish vocalising the thought, the possibility running through her head at a hundred miles an hour now it's brought up to her. A part of her wants to say that even heathens wouldn't be that cruel, but as she saw at Djose, that's not the case.
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
You would not believe all the junk Yuna carries around because she's too polite to refuse gifts from well-wishers. Some might speculate that the real reason she needs all those Guardians is as porters.
She inclines her head to Belize curiously, but as an island child herself, does not find the comment about the ocean utterly strange.
But then the questions come, difficult ones.
She makes a point of accepting Belize's invitation to sit, first, and like the other summoner gestures for Ena do join them. Only once everyone is seated (or else, obviously not going to sit) does she address the matter -- though, of course, she's already answered it, in a way, simply by being so concerned about what the reaction will be.
"All of the fayth are in a clamour," she says to Belize, at last, though in a way this is answering Ena's query as well, since where she ends and they begin is a patchwork of soul that grows more confused with every passing day. "But Kilika's fayth... most of all."
Her eyes are terribly sad.
"I'm sorry," she says, mostly to Ena, daughter of the fiery island. She takes a deep breath, one that shakes at the beginning but is firm by the end, and gazes directly into the apprentice summoner's eyes. "I promise you, we will not cease until he is freed from this... mystical prison. And neither will he. Through our aeon," it isn't the royal We, but a literal one, his and hers, shared, "He still fights for all the peoples of Spira, to defeat Sin... He isn't locked away, not completely. He is with us even now."
From behind Yuna's eyes, a core of flame flickers and glows, like someone blowing on coals.
"Do not fear for him," she says, or perhaps they say together. "He is a soldier, a warrior. And now a prisoner of war. But he will not be broken."
She nods, and echoes herself, more gently. "We will not be broken," she promises.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
Belize gives Ena an approving nod, and even a smile, as she blushes and responds. "I look forward to seeing how you meet our expectactions," they reply. Perhaps being modest is just part of who Ena is. It's not a bad thing, they think. She's diligent and passionate. She'll go far as long as she sticks to her resolve. Though Belize isn't sure if it's fortunate or unfortunate for Ena that she had the talent after all... Or so Belize assumes. Ena's still here, so that must be it.
As for Yuna, Lulu *did* tell her to leave that big heavy luggage behind. *Someone's* gotta carry her stuff for her now. At least there's still temples for her to give gifts to on her journeys, huh? Regardless, Belize stoppers the flask and tucks it into one of their sleeves. Looks like someone else has secret pockets, too.
"Mmm... I had felt some of it, but my pilgrimage ended before I was able to reach Kilika Temple, so..." Belize murmurs, eyelashes fluttering downwards. So their suspicions *had* been correct. The Guard have already sealed the one Temple unable to fight back against them. Still, it seems as though Yuna, and her Ifrit, are not despondent. Indeed, they give quite fiery encouragement to Ena. Belize smiles to see it. They'd feared that Ifrit would not be summonable at all, but it seems as though that's not the case. That's a deep relief indeed, as galling as it is that the Guard have his fayth imprisoned.
And so while they sober again when they nod to Ena, their back is straight and their shoulders squared. "It is as Yuna says. We are not defeated. As a future Summoner, do not lose heart."
<Pose Tracker> Ena has posed.
When invited to sit, Ena sits down. She nods at Belize's comment, but her mind is too ocused on what Yuna has to say about Ifrit. It confirms her worst fears, and she looks down again, this time from anger and worry. Even as Yuna gives her reassurances that they will do all they can to free Kilika's fayth from Althena's guard, she can't seem to bring herself to look up. She should be taking the words of the two summoners to heart, but...
"Haven't they done enough?" She asks out loud, anger clearly seeping into her voice. She trie to rein herself back in. The fayth will fight back, and Yuna can still summon Ifrit to her side. It's not a lost battle. She can't allow herself to think like it is. "As you say, Lady Yuna."
When she finally looks up, there is determination in her eyes. Belize's words further encourage. "I won't." She says, a firmness in her voice that is rare for her. "I should follow Ifrit's example. I should be fighting just as hard for Kilika as he is."
<Pose Tracker> Yuna has posed.
"He's so angry," Yuna admits with a softness entirely the opposite of anger. "He's... always been. Before Kilika was invaded, even. Part of it is just... who he is. The core of the world is molten... he is fire, and fury... it is terrible that this happened to any fayth, but in an awful way, it is a blessing that it was Kilika's. The fayth are all very different from one another, in my limited experience -- I am but a newly fledged summoner myself, you know -- but Kilika's fayth is, um, resilient, in a way that allows his nature, his anger, to be a weapon now, instead of a weakness."
Her eyes, which have yet to leave Ena's, refocus from the middle distance, wherein she was looking more inward than outward. Now she looks upon the other girl with great care.
"It can be a fuel... but it is also a poison. Look what it did to Sir Leo. He's angry at Sin... anger is driving him to commit terrible deeds. Take heart from the fayth, Ena, but... it is a summoner's duty to care for their own hearts, as well. Please... be careful--"
That might have been the end of a sentence but now it is the sharp end of a syllable, as her eyes widen and shift, looking across Ena at Belize.
"...Besaid," she whispers, in the tones of someone whose worst fears are being realized. She feels the danger -- feels Belize feel it, through their shared bond to the fayth...
...of an innocent child.
She rises from the bench.
"We have to go," Yuna says. Kimahri, who has been quietly present throughout, growls softly. "We have to stop them!"
It's an open question how she's ever going to complete her pilgrimage with all these attacks recalling her further and further away from her goal, but one that, this time, she doesn't seem apt to contemplate.
Not today.
She won't hesitate for Besaid's fayth, the spirit of the sky.
<Pose Tracker> Belize has posed.
"I understand your anger well, Ena," Belize says, voice and demeanor grim. Their nails dig into their robe as their hands tighten into fists. Still, they don't want to teach Ena bad habits--their anger, their hatred, their grief, are all terrible traits, they know well. Their eyes narrow as they rest a hand on their chest. Yes... They know this well.
A good thing, then, that Ena is so determined to live up to Ifrit's legacy, and that Yuna is here to convey it to her with such eloquence. As Belize watches and listens to her, they find themself hoping--wishing--that Yuna does *not* manage to go on to defeat Sin. She could be such a wonderful teacher and priestess at one of the temples... They avert their eyes, lips pursing as they brush back their bangs. No, they shouldn't think that. And they mustn't. Yuna is one of their best hopes for crushing Sin. And if she can do it once and for all...
They squeeze their eyes shut, teeth clenching.
A resonance in their soul, like a rock hurled into a pond, like the early morning calm shattered by the argument of birds. They snap their gaze open and over to Yuna. "Besaid," they agree, grim and, yes, angry. So that's their earlier question answered.
They, too, rise. "Yes," they agree firmly. "Let us go!"
They don't stop to wait for Ena, who they assume will follow without question. The fayth of Besaid is in danger, and they will not allow this travesty to occur unopposed.
<Pose Tracker> Ena has posed.
Ena seems to listen to Yuna, her expression softening as Yuna expounds on the duty of summoners. "I see." She says quietly, trying to let the words soak past her immediate anger. Anger is powerful, but it's an easy emotion. Too easy to lose yourself in. But she doesn't get a chance to respond to Yuna's last point, as the summoner's train of thought is seemingly derailed.
"Besaid?" She asks out loud, but then, does not have a chance to get an answer as both summoners suddenly start moving. "W-wait!" She leaps up off the bench, trying to follow as close as she can. "What's going on?" She asks in vain, but finally manages to put the context clues together. "Oh no..." She braces herself. She should have known another attack would come. And so, wordlessly from there, she follows.