Banished from the Eyes of Yevon
Chapter One: An Unlikely Stalker
An intricate
design of twisted steel, glowing orange with the heat of the coals it was pulled
from, looms inches before your exposed chest. Terror seizes you, your eyes
widen, and your heart drums in your ears as it draws closer, and closer. Then it
makes contact with your bare flesh, sending searing agony shooting along your
nerve endings. A strangled cry escapes your lips…
Your eyes fly open, and your body jolts into a sitting position, nearly causing
you to smack your head on an overhanging structure.
“Stupid jungle heat.” This is the first time in several months that you’ve had
that nightmare.
Subconsciously your hand strays to the raised mark between your collar and your
breasts, and you glance down at it, taking a moment to study the whirling
design. It’s strange how something so simple, almost pretty, can cause one so
much trouble. Then with a shake of your head you redirect your mind from its
current path, and focus on something more reasonable, like finding food.
You scoot toward the entrance of your shelter, and prepare to emerge when you’re
startled by the sound of footsteps. As silently as possible, you withdraw into
the shadows, slow your breathing, and cock your head to listen.
“Did you hear?” The speaker is a younger woman by her voice, and she sounds
ecstatic. “Another summoner is due to arrive at the temple tomorrow! They say
he’s from Bevelle. What do you think he’ll be like!? I hear he’s very handsome!”
You deadpan. Is THAT all? It’s truly amazing what will excite some people. Not
one for gossip, you try to ignore the rest. Unfortunately, your sensitive ears
won’t let you.
“Foolish youngsters! Don’t you go near him girl!” A crone’s voice responds. “He
married an Al Behd, he did.”
The maiden gasps.
The comment sparks something in your brain. Okay, now you’re interested. Could
this be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?
“And his guardians are even worse! A fallen monk and a drunkard! I swear, what’s
this world coming to! They’ll let anyone become a summoner!”
A cunning grin spreads across your face. It’s about time you got a break. Maybe
fate doesn’t hate you as much as you previously thought.
As soon as their footsteps recede, you slip back into the ruins that have been
serving as your temporary home, and gather your few belongings. You emerge into
the light of the setting sun, and take a deep breath of air. It’s going to be a
beautiful evening indeed! Giving your twin kodachis a celebratory twirl, you
fasten them to your belt, and head off in search of this infamous trio.
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Night descends on the isle of Besaid, blocking out the light, as well as any
further attempt at navigation.
“Jecht, you dolt! Where have you lead us now!” Auron complains with no small
amount of exasperation.
“Shut up.” The other man holds the worn map in front of him, turning it this
way, and that. His confusion is clearly written all over his face.
“You were holding it upside down!?”
“No…uh…” He squints his eyes at the offending piece of parchment. “…well…maybe.”
“At this rate we’ll never get to Besaid village!”
Braska sighs, and turns to the quarreling pair. “Auron, let it go. We aren’t
expected until tomorrow morning. We’ll set camp here, and continue at dawn.”
The guardian looks as if he’ll protest, but instead casts a withering look at
Jecht before joining the summoner.
“We passed a sheltered area a little ways back. We can rest there.” Braska, calm
as ever, turns and strides past Jecht, toward the mentioned location.
Certainly enough, they soon arrive at a niche in the roadside where the broad
leaves of lush tropical plants form a sort of canopy above them, while below is
a carpet of soft grass.
Jecht immediately flops upon it, and stretches his legs while Braska turns to
Auron. “We should gather some firewood.”
He shakes his head. “Please my lord, allow me. It might be dangerous.”
The summoner laughs warmheartedly. “Try to relax while you can my friend. Besaid
is a relatively peaceful island.”
“Yeah Auron, why do you have to be such a tight ass all the time.” The rougher
looking man complains.
“Might I remind you that we are on a mission?” Brown eyes glare daggers at the
sprawled guardian who only laughs.
Braska, use to such antics, eases himself to the ground, and leans against a
tree trunk.
Satisfied that his lord is safe and well, Auron sets off to gather the wood. As
he picks his way down the trail, collecting twigs and branches as they appear,
he can’t shake the feeling of uneasiness that creeps over him. Maybe it is his
imagination, but it’s almost as if someone is watching him. Normally, he would
investigate something this profound, but if he does turn out to be right, it
won’t do to stray too far from Braska’s side.
With one last look over his shoulder, he heads back, a bundle of wood in his
arms.
When he returns, Braska starts the fire, and breaks out the last of the trail
rations for them to share.
“Not this again!” Jecht moans, eyeing the jerky with distaste.
“If you wouldn’t have gotten us lost…” Auron pauses abruptly, and turns toward
the underbrush surrounding the campsite. He’s certain he just heard something.
“What is it, Auron?” The summoner frowns.
But he doesn’t hear the words of the man addressing him. All of his senses are
tuned toward a single spot. Slowly he rises, and takes his sword in his hand.
Before the others can question, his blade lashes out, and cleaves through the
trunk of a small tree. With a loud splintering, it begins to fall.
A startled cry pierces the night air, and a flash of silver streaks from above.
Auron raises his sword in time, but the downward momentum of the assailant
pushes him back. Before he can spot his attacker it besets him again with an
unrelenting flurry of strikes. He dodges every one, and swings his enormous
weapon. The wind whistles in its wake, and the mystery fighter dodges, coming to
rest only yards away. Auron’s eyes widen, as he beholds the cunning warrior.
Before him stands a woman, small and lithe with twin kodachis poised to strike.
hair frames a youthful though beautiful face that is currently drawn into
an expression of aggressive determination.
In the second he takes to study her, she launches another offensive, diving
beneath his counterstrike to land a blow on his midsection. The steel of her
blade rakes against his black armored shirt, sending sparks flying to the grass.
As she comes out of the crouch, he blocks her with his sword. Their weapons
lock, and she digs her heels into the ground as she struggles against his
greater weight. She fixes him with intense eyes that burn with unnatural,
almost primal rage.
She takes advantage of his surprise, by breaking away. Unfortunately for her, he
recovers quickly, and lunges for her. Her expression transforms to one of shock
and dread as he closes in.
“Auron stop!” Braska commands.
He skids to a halt. “But my lord….”
Suprisingly, she ceases as well, and doesn’t make the smallest move indicating
that she will attack or flee.
Not quite trusting the treacherous female, Auron snatches her by her arm, and
secures her tightly.
“Let me go you asshole!” She shreaks, and struggles with everything in her.
He twists her wrists painfully, forcing her to drop her weapons.
“Auron!” Braska warns, then turns to the girl.
“Surely you are following us for a reason. Would you care to tell us what it
is?” Despite everything that’s happened he remains polite.
She gathers her dignity, and stands as erect as her captor will allow. “Lord
Braska, I want to become your guardian.”
The summoner’s face reveals his surprise, as does Jecht’s, though the later is
more concerned with the woman rather than her agenda.
“Auron, let her go.” Braska orders.
Reluctantly he does as his lord says, and releases her.
“Please, step into the light where I can see you.”
She moves into the ring of illumination. The second the light engulfs her, gasps
are torn from the throats of the men.
“You’ve been branded!” His sight is fixed on the burned symbol above her
breasts. “What’s your name?”
“, my lord.”
“Braska is fine.” He pauses and stares into the fire for a moment.” Tell me, why
would a marked heretic of Yevon want to become a guardian?”
He indicates for her to have a seat, and she does.
“It’s a long story. I suppose you want me to start from the beginning?”
At his nod, the mysterious woman takes a deep breath, and begins her tale…
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Kaelea Majere
Edited by Moth - July 18, 2008