do you want to die together

[summonerd]

Sheena hadn't really expected this whole summoner thing to work.

The temple at Luca is a temple in little more than name only, small and humble in a way that she remembers Kilika Temple wasn't, without even statues of the high summoners. The little statue that houses its fayth is well-tended, but it sticks out like a sore thumb in a building that might have been a little-used warehouse a few years ago. Even the cloister of trials doesn't feel complete, easy enough even for Sheena to figure out on her own, but none of that really matters, in the end - what's important is the fayth itself, and her ability to pray to it to its satisfaction.

She hadn't been able to shake the feeling that it wouldn't work - that no fayth would ever accept an Al Bhed summoner despite her upbringing, that she'd pray for days with no response - but in the end, it hadn't taken more than a few hours before she'd been answered. Let me come with, her new aeon - Corrine - had requested, and Sheena had been so grateful to them for her success that she'd agreed.

Really, the looks on the temple guardians' faces when she'd walked out with an aeon almost as tall as she was at her side had been more than worth it.

It's sunset when she untangles herself from the small crowd that had gathered to see Spira's youngest aeon, and she can see the sun flashing brightly through the gaps between buildings as she makes her way outside. She rests her hand on Corrine's shoulder lightly for a second without thinking, then realizes her mistake and jolts, pulling it away - but they just laugh silently in her head, nudging at her hand playfully.

There's a second building just adjacent to the temple, a more traditional Martelite affair that existed long before the fayth's temple did, and as Sheena gets closer to it she can hear a commotion of some kind, a woman's voice raised in annoyance and a lower voice answering her. She considers just leaving, the tension of her trial starting to evaporate in a way that makes her long for her room at the inn, but there's no way back to her lodgings without passing by, anyway. Might as well see what's happening. So she puts her hand back where it was, asks Corrine softly not to wander too far as they head towards the source of the noise.

Comments

WHAT'S UP I THINK AEONS SHOULD VOTE

[presidentheartbeat]

"You were supposed to begin your pilgrimage last week."

"Eh, but I don't have guardians! A summoner going on the roadtrip on his own? Now that would've been real stupid."

"I've told you, boy, if it's guardians you need we can hire as many mercenaries as needed."

A scoff. "Yeah, right! Because mercenaries will be so much help in Zanarkand."

The small growl caught in Mylene's throat makes its way out of her lips despite herself, and upon hearing it, Zelos smirks. His mother's eyes narrow at the sight, but he's struck an uncomfortable cord with that, he knows, and so their argument uselessly goes back to square one: complete and utter silence.

Sunset colours the streets of Luca differently, giving the seaside city an almost ethereal look as lights slowly come alive, as the water soaks up the last rays of sunlight. It's very different from Zelos' memories of Guadosalam, back when he was a child. And really, the only reason why they're even here in Luca now in the first place is because for some reason Mylene has decided that her son has come of age and is perfectly eligible for a pilgrimage himself; something about their family saving face, about the hope of the world, and blah blah blah whatever.

Zelos crosses his arms and groans, rolling his neck and shoulders as Mylene finds new words to terrorize her son with. If you ask him, just because his father was a summoner doesn't mean Zelos should follow family tradition too, but apparently Mylene has different ideas in mind. She is a woman of the Church of Martel, anyway. And, Al Bhed or not, her husband was a pivotal figure of the faith in the city. The people need someone to believe in, is what Mylene keeps saying. Well, Zelos thinks the people can shove it up their collective asses. Just lay down and let Sin destroy it all already, for crying out loud.

Mylene clears her throat.

"Luca's temple may be new, but it already houses a Fayth in it. You will pray to it and depart on your pilgrimage tomorrow," she instructs, an air of cold finality in her words that Zelos glares at. "It's time to stop putting it off, Zelos."

Oh for the love of fuck. What the hell! Zelos feels his blood boil, a million excuses already coming up to the surface and causing his jaw to drop in anticipation of saying them, but no words come out. His breath gets caught in his throat, dual coloured eyes catching sight of something coming in from the corner leading up to the temple--or rather, someone. And when he sees the girl just casually walking around with Spira's youngest Aeon by her side like it's no problem at all, Zelos gets an idea.

"Hey, you!" he calls out, shoving past Mylene. "You with the Aeon!"