Speculum

Chapter 5

Those on the boat stood still and silent as Kilika’s ruins lay about in the deep red-orange waters, the color reflecting the sun as it set: deep oranges, reds and violets did not look calm, but horrified as if the sun itself was grieving over the loss. Some docks remained, for the most part, in tact, but there were only a few huts still standing after the attack. By the time the boat was docked, most of the remains had been gathered and placed into caskets decorated with Yu Yevon’s symbol and put gently into the water, not far from where the boat was docked.

Yuna, Seymour, Kimahri and Wakka stepped off the boat and looked around with a heavy heart. As the other occupants piled off the boat, all still in shock, trembled as they looked around, some with tears in their eyes as they greeted the surviving villagers.

An elder villager and his wife approached Yuna and bowed politely to her, “Lady Summoner?”

“Yes, I am Yuna… have you found anyone to do a sending yet?” She asked politely.

“No, my lady, would you please send them?” the elder woman asked, taking a deep swallow as her tired eyes swelled with tears.

“I would be honored to…” Yuna paused and turned her head to look at Seymour, “…unless,” she raised her eyebrows.

“Come,” Seymour grabbed Yuna’s arm gently and ushered her over to the gravesite.

Tidus stepped off Sio Sion and looked around before kneeling down beside Seymour’s son, who was stretching and sighing as he watched Yuna and his father speak with the nearby villagers.

“What’s a sending?” Tidus asked Sion.

A couple of the villagers who still remained around the boat turned their heads and looked at Tidush dih disbelief.

“He got too close to Sin, so… he’s a little messed up.” Sion announced before Tidus could open his mouth.

Their faces dropped with sardonic smiles as they nodded at Tidus before turning to their original conversation again.

“A sending is when the people who die go to the farplane… if they aren’t sent, Yevon says they turn into fiends.” Sion turned his head towards Tidus, pale lavender eyes meeting his blue.

“Fiends…? But why?” he asked.

“Because some people are filled with jealousy and envy over the living… to the point where they want to kill us.” Sion replied, “Come on, Yuna will show you.”

Sion grabbed Tidus’ hand and dragged him over to Seymour, who, along with Kimahri and Wakka, stood silently as Yuna removed her boots and set them aside.

Slowly, the summoner walked towards the water, her bare feet making soft noises on the wood until her feet touched the water. Slowly, Tidus came to a sudden realization that Yuna had started to walk on the water until she positioned herself in the center of the grand circle of graves submerged in the deep crimson waters, appearing stained with blood from the dying light of the sun. Taking in a small breath, Yuna raised her arm and swung her staff around elegantly with her as she began a complex, macabre dance. She continued to dance for some time until a pyrefly emerged from the grave and out of the water, encircling her. Then, more pyreflies surfaced and danced around with her until there were so many, the water itself started to rise up around Yuna as she continued the dance for the dead.

Tidus watched with a soft expression of sadness, although his eyes were filled with the horror of what he saw.

It seemed like hours of Yuna dancing, as the pyreflies around her had vanished into the air and the water calmed to its normality. Yuna’s back remained towards the docks as she looked out to sea, subtly bringing a hand to her face to wipe the tears that had fallen down her cheek as she performed the sending. Turning to face the villagers, she calmly walked back up the dock and bowed to them.

Seymour approached her and lifted her chin up, “You did well, Yuna.”

A small smile formed on her face as Tidus stood back and watched her for a moment before turning towards the water and the sliver of sun that was left above the horizon. He never wanted to see that again.

As night fell, the summoner and her guardians received a free stay at the inn for their services to Kilika. Slowly each of them retired except Seymour and Tidus; Tidus turned towards Seymour and watched him calmly as Seymour simply stared ahead, ignoring him.

“So, you’re a summoner, too?” Tidus asked, trying to make conversation.

Seymour’s eyes hadn’t moved until Tidus had spoken. As if broken from a chain of thought,

Seymour’s pale eyes turned towards Tidus.

“I beg your pardon?” He asked as his eyebrow rose.

“Are you a summoner?” Tidus asked curiously and more cautiously.
“You could say that, I suppose.” Seymour sighed as his gaze returned to its previous spot on the wall.

“So, why didn’t you go on a pilgrimage?” Tidus asked another question and almost immediately regretted it.

“Because I was too young. Now, I have promises to keep.”

Tidus watched Seymour calmly, almost letting out gh ogh of relief that the older man hadn’t snapped Tidus’ head off.

“So-”Tidus started to inquire.

“You should rest. We need to get moving tomorrow so we can be at Luca on time.” Seymour said calmly, signaling that he wasn’t going to say anything further.

“Right. Well, are you going to sleep?” he asked.

“Eventually.” Seymour stood and nodded, “Get some rest.”

Tidus watched until the half-guado disappeared into a room not far from where they sat. Sighing and leaning his head back, he eventually stood, stretched and started to walk towards the room that he, Wakka and Kimahri would share, but paused upon hearing voices.

“Do you think that he’s really from Zanarkand?” A child’s voice, who could only be Sion, asked Seymour, the only other in the room.

“I’m not sure, Sion,” Seymour paused, “He is… different. Like Jecht was.”

“I wish I was old enough to remember Jecht, Braska and…”The small voice trailed off into silence.

“You’ll meet him, one day, Sion.”

“Do you miss him?” Sion asked.

“I do.”

The voices stopped after that and Tidus stepped back from the door and stared at it for a moment in silence. He was in complete shock. Turning towards the hallway, Tidus walked briskly into the room with Wakka and Kimahri both fast asleep. His mind a mess, he decided that he needed an answer right now to what he had over heard, so he crept over to Wakka’s bed and shook him violently until Wakka’s eyes opened and he glared a grumpy, childish glare at the blonde.

“Whaddya’ want?” Wakka whined.

“Wakka… Jecht… who…” Tidus paused, thinking how to ask the question.

“Jecht?” Wakka sat up and rubbed his eyes, “You mean Braska’s guardian?”

“Jecht…” Tidus sighed.

“What are you blabbing on about?” Wakka raised his voice.

A small growl was heard from Kimahri’s direction as the ronso turned around, his back towards the two men.

“Jecht is… was my father.” Tidus finally said. “How could he have been here? He died ten years ago.”

“Braska and his guardians, Jecht and Auron, defeated Sin ten years ago.”

“Auron?” Tidus looked up again, his voice becoming louder than intended.

Kimahri stood up and threw the blankets off of him as he stomped out of the room, making it perfectly clear that Wakka and Tidus had both pissed him off.

“Oh he’ll be a fur ball of sunshine tomorrow…”Wakka threw his head on the pillow.

“Jecht, Auron, Seymour and Braska were the ones who defeated Sin ten years ago. That’s the way it is, so let me get some sleep!” Wakka grabbed the blankets and threw them over his head.

Tidus sighed and laid on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, he thought angrily for the next few hours until he simply tired himself out and fell asleep, only to wake the next morning with Seymour staring down at him.

Startled, Tidus almost fell off the bed before he was able to gain his balance and enough sense to stand.

Seymour walked closer to him and stared down, using his height to intimidate the young blitzer.

“So, you say that Jecht is your father?” Seymour asked, his eyebrow rose curiously.

“Who-who told you that?” Tidus stuttered, afraid that Seymour knew that he was eavesdropping the night before.

“Wakka said you came into the room last night completely irrational, claiming that Jecht is your father. I simply want to know if it holds any truth.”

“Yes, it does… he is my father and I…”Tidus began.

“You heard my son and I talking, Tidus, I know you did. If this is true, then there is something you’ll need to find out sooner or later.” Seymour looked down at him, still.

“What?” Tidus asked.

Seymour studied his face for a moment then walked towards the door only to shut it and turn towards Tidus again.

“I knew your father, Jecht. As well as Yuna’ father, Braska.” Seymour looked at him, waiting for a reply that Tidus never gave. “We defeated Sin ten years ago.”

“Braska is Yuna’s father? Wasn’t Auron with you?” Tidus asked.

Seymour turned his head sharply towards Tidus, hesitating, “Yes, to both questions.”

“I don’t understand…” Tidus sighed.

“Your father made a sacrifice… a sacrifice that cost many things from all of us.”

“Seymour?” Tidus looked at Seymour and inquired after a brief silence.

“Yes?” Seymour replied, remaining still.

“My old man disappeared ten years ago… do you think he could have come here?” Tidus finally let out, shutting his eyes tightly as he waited for some sort of explanation.

“Your father said he was from Zanarkand, and entered the pilgrimage in Bevelle before I even knew of Braska, Jecht and Auron.” Seymour hesitated before looking at Tidus again, “You must keep what I tell you between us, do you understand?”

Tidus nodded, a little confused and fearing the worst.

“Braska sacrificed his life along with Jecht… and Jecht is Sin.” Seymour said calmly, watching Tidus’ reaction intently.

Tidus simply stared up at Seymour blankly. “I…”

Seymour walked towards the door and opened it.

“I don’t believe you!” Tidus screamed, cupping his head in his hands. “None of this makes any sense!”
Seymour turned around and looked at Tidus, “Believe what you will, but it is the simple fact. Don’t tell Yuna. Don’t breathe a word or I will kill you. Do you understand?”

“No I don’t, but I’m not going to say anything… I just want to understand what’s going on.” Tidus shook his head back and forth; trying to cope with the news Seymour had given him.

“I’ll give you five minutes to fix your composure, but we are heading to Kilika Temple and Yuna has asked that you are with her. So don’t disappoint her.” Seymour had turned and walked to the door, opened it and walked out after he finished his sentence.

Tidus sat there on the bed for a moment before getting up and meeting the party outside of Kilika, towards the inland temple.

Immediately, Yuna ran up to Tidus with a bright smile on her face, “Tidus,” she paused as she looked at his face, “what’s on your mind?”

“Nothin’ Yuna, don’t worry about it.” Tidus tried to smile his best, but couldn’t, even for the cute girl.

Yuna smiled and waved her hand for Tidus to follow as the party made their way through the dense jungle foliage towards the temple deep within.

After Yuna prayed to the fayth, the party made it back to the docks on time to leave for the evening ferry to Luca.