Post by Solana on Apr 10, 2014 12:12:44 GMT -5
Chapter Two- Peril In Paradise
Two friends... there are stronger forces on earth perhaps, but few as tenacious and enduring as the bond between true friends.
Merlin, Stephen Lawhead
Solana bit her lip as she stared at Merna's two Guardians in shock. One moment she had been washing her hands after another healing lesson with Oriana, and then she had been called to talk to both her healing teacher and Bachlan and had had a bombshell laid down on her. She possessed a fairly good command of the Universe's common language and had been improving during her time on Merna, but was certain that she had just mistranslated Oriana's words. "I'm sorry, you want me to what?"
Oriana rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Darling, we're asking you if you wish to serve Merna as our Water Guardian. You know that we need one for our waters, and I would think that someone with your-" she hesitated, not wishing to bring up a painful subject with it being so raw yet.
Bachlan appeared to have no such qualms. "You are an Atlantean. There probably isn't another race in the Universe who is so obsessed with water, and since you're the-"
Oriana angrily shushed him, but he'd made his point. Solana looked down, trying very hard to swallow a sudden lump in her throat. It had only been a few months since Kiel had sent her to Oriana as a student healer, and only a few weeks had passed since she had learned that Atlantis had sunk beneath the glistening Marble Sea. Broken ruins and the memories of one young woman were all that remained of her once glorious kingdom.
Since then she had lost weight, lost sleep, and tried to drown her sorrows in her studies and taking away the pain of others. Oriana had done her best to help her through her grief, but it hadn't been enough. Gone was everyone she loved, the rest of her kind, her pod of Atlanteans and dolphins and Kiel... mostly Kiel who had raised her and loved her like his own daughter.
Solana fought back the tears that burned in her eyes. What she wouldn't give for just one moment to tell him that she was sorry for not being there when he needed her.
Oriana instinctively hugged her, then kissed the top of her head. "Oh, my dearest, I am so sorry. I know that Merna can never take the place of Atlantis in your heart, and it shouldn't. Perhaps we should not have asked...."
"No..." Solana sniffled, as one tear escaped to trail down her cheek. "It's... it's all right. You do need someone to look after Merna's waters, and if I can't...." She swallowed hard, trying to push past the misery in her heart. "...if I can't help protect the ones at home, maybe I can still be useful here."
"Perhaps this wasn't wise," Bachlan asked, narrowing his eyes. There was a look of distaste in his eyes at Solana's reaction, but better that Oriana handle that sort of thing than him. "She is young, and apt to run off and leave us behind at the first sign of trouble."
"You once told me that you needed those with passion for the elements, but it is up to her," Oriana replied demurely. She reached into her gown pocket for a handkerchief, then handed it over.
Solana accepted it and blew her nose gratefully, thinking it over. What were her choices now? She could stay here in Sagia and become a scholar, or continue studying to become a great healer. Perhaps even a bit of each.
But if she became a Guardian, she could do for Merna what she had always wanted to do for Atlantis. And oh, there was so much to learn here, and so many places to see and people to meet. Solana had come to love this world as a guest, and maybe in time she could learn to love it as a new homeworld, too. To work with her beloved seas, and to stay with Oriana and continue to learn- this seemed to be the best that she could hope for if she had to stay here.
Even so, she was not a fool. Solana raised her head proudly to meet Bachlan's eyes. "Before I can accept, I have to ask- what does it mean to be a Guardian here? What do I need to know?"
A feeling of weightlessness, the shimmering dance of sunlight as it refracted through the crystalline waters, the brilliant colors of rainbow fish that came to investigate this curious being that also belonged down here- Solana could never decide which part of the seas she loved the best. Clad in a special wetsuit that also offered protection against attacks or overinquisitive fish, her kamas and pearl pendant tucked away and plastic tablets and a wax pencil to take notes in her hands, she was quite literally in her element here in the warm waters that bathed the island of Kilika. With her Atlantean blood, she never needed to surface for air or be encumbered by bulky oxygen tanks; she was free.
Solana had spent all morning researching the exquisite reefs that adorned the island like a jeweled necklace. While the Al Bhed had already picked out any potentially useful bits of machinery, the real treasure of the deep still lay below. Sketches of new kinds of fish, notes about rock and coral formations, and countless observations had been scribbled onto the tablets already. A yellow butterfly fish came swimming right past her, lacy fins just tickling her ear. Underneath a rock opening, a coiled eel waited patiently for its next meal. A beautiful but deadly lionfish hovered over a mass of green brain coral, while various sharks came by to stop for a tooth cleaning by the tiny fearless fish known as wrasses.
Solana could have spent all day down there, but it was time to meet with Aryn for some lunch and a break. She reluctantly swam back to the dock and climbed up the ladder, taking her first breath of airborne oxygen in a few hours. Her lungs and eyes automatically adjusted from underwater to atmospheric conditions. The cry of gulls and chatter of the locals replaced what had been almost total silence.
Near a fisherwoman were the towel and clothes she had left behind. After thanking the woman for keeping an eye on her things, she went into a changing area on the docks and slipped into a sea green off-the-shoulder dress printed with rainbow batik dolphins. She tied a lilac sash around her waist to hold her kamas, then topped it with a beaded cord to hold it in place. Next came silver lace-up sandals and a wristful of shell-plated bangles. She decided to let her hair dry naturally on her way into the lovely little city of Kilika.
It had been hard leaving behind their home and family in Lunar and the survivors of her people in Lantias a year ago, as hard as when they had begun this journey forty years ago. With things in the universe seeming to be at peace for the time being, Solana knew that it was past time to carry out her vows as a Guardian to her second homeworld. Aryn was still nervous about the land of her birth being left in Bachlan's "care" and had been quick to agree that it was time to get back to work.
But they were at a stalemate with Bachlan. It was likely that he still wanted them to return their elemental essences or even to finish them off, but what about the others back in the Crystal Citadel? The pair could count on Oriana to help them, and it was likely that Trista and Joshua would still back up Bachlan, but there was no way of knowing Raoul's or Eziban's minds. Despite Aryn's continued insistence that they could finish everything in one good ambush, Solana wasn't ready to rush in blindly again. The last time had almost cost her her life.
So they decided that they could continue their research while planning their next move. Spira had proven to be an ideal destination, having a variety of environments tuned into the various elements. The Guardians had wound their way southward from Mt. Gagazet, (skipping the monkey-ridden Zanarkand), concentrating on areas such as Lake Macalania and the Thunder Plains and ending up here. The magical book that held all of their work since they had left the Crystal Citadel all those years ago was getting thicker by the day. All of it was knowledge to be incorporated into Merna's own stewardship one day.
The trip wasn't only about work, however. Solana was finally learning to truly appreciate the present for itself, rather than just planning on how to use something for the future. The miracle of having Kiel and many more of her people back in her life had taught her that each day with the members of her pod was a precious gift that should never be taken for granted. The pair had learned to ride chocobos on the Calm Lands with Clasko, caught a few blitzball matches in Luca, and were planning a few days of just lying on Besaid's beach once they were done here.
In the meantime, there was plenty in Kilika to enjoy. Countless little straw or wooden huts and bungalows were built on wooden docks right over the water, with boats able to carry one from the outer city towards the land in a short time. Tropical flowers blazed in pots and in the hair and clothing of the people, and exotic bird songs filled the air. Fresh fish and tropical fruits were being sold directly from counters or cooked up in open air restaurants, competing with the lovely perfume of the ocean's spray. Bits and pieces of the city had called back fond memories of her beloved Atlantis.
Solana found the restaurant called the Salty Dog that Aryn had wanted to investigate, but it took a bit of searching before she located her best friend behind the biggest bowl of soup that she had ever seen. It looked to be a fish and potato soup, with a faint hint of citrus, probably lime, being given off in the steam.
The Fire Guardian's hazel eyes were half-closed in bliss as she sampled the soup. She loved Kilika and its food and had also tapped into the tropical spirit. In addition to an orange tank top and loose black cropped pants, she wore a yellow and gold sarong printed with suns. It had been carefully tied to allow access to the morningstar at her hip, and her sword was hanging on her back. Her red-streaked black hair had been braided into a few dozen cornrows and tied out of her way. Aryn's olive complexion had turned almost bronze from all the outdoor sparring on this trip. Her only leather today consisted of her sandals, weapon harnesses, and two small bracers on her arms.
Spotting her best friend, Aryn raised the hand whose spoon had just deposited a mountain of fresh fish from the soup into her mouth in greeting. "Hesho laah! Dersh pley he, sho dien!"
Solana laughed merrily as she sat down at the table, noting with pleasure that there was another steaming bowl waiting for her. "Enjoying yourself, my friend?"
Aryn blushed and swallowed, then took a sip of water to make sure everything went down okay. "Yeah, this soup is incredible! There's a special herb to cut the fishy smell and some lime, but other than that, I can't figure it out." She eyed the soup as if compelling it to give up its secrets, then shrugged and spooned some more into her mouth. Solana picked up her own spoon to try it for herself and had to agree- the fresh and zesty soup was like nothing they had tried before.
"Did you have a good dive?" Aryn asked, adding a few squirts of Tabasco sauce to the bowl on her end. She knew from experience how dangerous a question this was to pose to Solana, but she also enjoyed hearing her best friend get sentimental and sometimes squeal over the critters down there.
Solana smiled triumphantly and held out the plastic sheets she used to take notes underwater, coated front and back with sketches and odd Atlantean writing, and began explaining each new discovery and its habitat. Aryn was impressed at how much had been uncovered in only one morning.
"...and finally, there were little wrasses down there, too. How was your morning finding out if this place is a volcano like you thought?" Solana asked, gratefully reaching for a cherry blossom pink smoothie to soothe her throat after talking for so long.
Aryn let out a long-suffering groan. "You're never going to believe this. I found this guy Barthello to spar and talk with. I figured- he lived here, he was a summoner's guardian, and he was a member of New Yevon. He should know about it, right?"
"Right?"
"Wrong!" Aryn waved an arm in exasperation. "I bring it up as we're starting to swap blows, and all he can do is talk about Dona. Then he starts saying how his life would be nothing without protecting her, and goes nuts as we're sparring." She slapped her forehead in disgust. "Man, I've never seen a guy so whipped."
"So what's your next step?" Solana asked curiously, taking another sip from her glass.
"Go check out the temple for myself, of course. Doesn't your Kiel say it's best to see things with your own eyes and heart?" Aryn asked.
"He does indeed. He even wants to read up on everything we learn on this trip." Solana laughed. "Sometimes I think my days as a student turning in homework haven't ended yet!"
Aryn chuckled along. She really liked the former Elder who had been her best friend's father in so many ways and had so many interesting stories from Solana's childhood. Kiel had been happy to share recipes from his homeland with her, and happier still to try her results. He'd been pretty good about Solana needing to leave Lantias on this journey, understanding that she was still one of Merna's Guardians.
With that thought, Aryn got up with a groan, patted her full stomach, then tossed her share of the gil for the meal onto the table. "You're meeting that fisherman here, right?"
Solana nodded. "He's been fishing the seas here for longer than most of our friends have been alive. It should be fascinating to hear how the seas here behave as compared to the ones back home in Merna."
"Right, well, you have fun with that. Catch ya later!" Aryn waved and took off at a jog for the gate that lead to the temple that crowned the island.
Solana wasn't fooled in the least. Aryn could joke and pretend this was a vacation all she liked; she knew that Aryn took her responsibilities as a Guardian as seriously as she did, if in a different way. Solana knew very well that she would have never gotten this far on her journey alone. As she had so many times in the past, she gave a silent thanks that Aryn had agreed to accompany her.
A waitress came by to clear the empty bowls and glasses, breaking her reverie. "Everything taste all right, miss?"
"Yes, it was wonderful. I don't suppose you'd be willing to share the recipe?" Solana asked hopefully. "My best friend loves to cook, and would very much like to know how to make this delicious soup at home."
The waitress smiled smugly, her eyes dancing in pleasure at the compliment. "I'm sorry, but chefs have their secrets just as magicians do. Would you like anything else?"
"Yes, a tankard of rum and another of these smoothies, please. I'm expecting a guest," Solana explained.
"Of course," the waitress replied, taking away the dirty dishes and returning shortly with a second smoothie and the promised rum.
Solana thanked her and dug out her magical book, transcribing the notes from her undersea research while she waited. The structure of the reefs and seafloor definitely supported Aryn's theory that Kilika was volcanic. Several of the organisms that she had glimpsed were characteristic of seas nearby volcanic islands, but something was a bit off. The reefs were thriving with rainbows of beautiful fish, but something in the volcanic vents wasn't quite right. She hadn't quite been able to put her finger on it...
Her guest suddenly appeared, breaking her train of thought. A grizzled old fisherman, Chaskel was knocking on the door to seventy but was still in marvelous condition. His family had been in the business for generations, and he'd added much to their knowledge. Better still, he was a good talker and had agreed to an interview after meeting Solana on the docks during her investigations.
"Good to see you again, missy. It's always good to meet a youngster interested in hearing things from her elders. I can tell straight away, you've got the sea in your blood," he said happily, dwarfing her hand in his for a hearty handshake.
Solana was impressed at his strength, but decided to keep the fact that she was this man's elder many times over to herself. "Truly, the pleasure is mine. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions."
Chaskel shrugged modestly and eased himself into Aryn's abandoned chair. Spotting the tankard of rum, he pulled it closer with an appreciative grin. "'Tis no trouble, none at all. Now, what was your first question?"
Solana's magical book was open in a second. Glancing at the list she had compiled, she found the first question. "It concerns storms. It's well known how destructive they can be-"
"Yes," Chaskel cut in with a nod. "I've seen them sink many a man's ship, and have lost some craft myself to them."
"Yet, it's also hypothesized that they play a role in keeping the seas healthy, particularly in the temperate regions. How do you feel about this?" Solana asked curiously.
"My papa, he used to fish off the seas closer to Djose and the Mi'ihen Highroad. All the 'minnows', or new kids, would whine and complain about stormy days bringing in a loss of profit. But he told me that it wasn't so." Chaskel leaned in, his eyes holding a very serious look. "Things sink in the water, missy. Critters, leaves, everything that could serve as food to the bigger creatures. Storms are what bring the food back up to what needs it, and keep the cycle of life goin'."
Solana felt a sinking feeling in her gut, but tried to keep her voice as casual as possible. "If the storms were... were halted, somehow?"
Chaskel's eyes went wide. "Yevon forbid!" he yelped, then slapped his forehead. "That's right, we don't swear by him anymore. You stop the storms, you kill your seas, and that's all there is to it."
Solana took a few deep breaths, trying to quell her sudden anger at herself and the man she had served for millennia, and started going through the rest of the questions on her list. Chaskel was watching her with an expression of puzzled dismay as he answered her in between sips of rum, wondering what exactly was going on in that head of hers. Nature had her own laws, and even the best black mages would have to be fools to interfere with them. This woman did not strike him as such.
Yet, why was there such a haunted look in those deep silver eyes?
Finally, she got to her last question. "How do you determine quotas?"
"Each fish gets a different number each year. We figure it offa the stormy season, how much plankton there is, and how many predators we see," Chaskel explained, taking a healthy gulp of rum. "Each boat's gotta register and bring in their catch, you see. If the season's going worse than we figured, we'll drop the number. Take too much one year, and maybe there won't be as much for the next few years or our kids' time."
Solana quickly scribbled this down, asking for details on calculations. Her respect for the people here grew thousandfold, if they were willing to take less profit now so that their children could make a living later. If every generation thought like this...
"Chaskel! We have a load to bring in, so hurry if you want a piece of it!" a voice called.
The fisherman rose and drained the rest of his rum in a single gulp. "Been a pleasure, Solana," he stated with a smile. "Take care of yourself, and may your seas be gentle and your catches numerous."
"Thank you, Chaskel. I appreciated it," Solana replied. Chaskel nodded, flipped a coin onto the table for the waitress, and walked off to the docks.
Solana groaned and felt like banging her head against the table. So in Spira, or at least the tropical cities, it was obvious that storms were needed. The reefs and fish populations were among the healthiest she had ever seen in her life, and the people were careful to keep flourishing the seas that brought them life in the form of food and work.
Then a thought cheered her; if these people could do it, so could Mernans. Certainly it would increase the profits of those who lived off the sea to allow the storms, and give them time off during the winter season. Flipping to a fresh page in her book, Solana picked up her pen and began to write furiously.
Aryn strolled through the Kilika forest on her way to the temple that crowned the island, swinging her arms freely and whistling a Mernan folk song. The sun was shining, her belly was full, her body was well-exercised, there was a new volcano to check out, and they were finally getting back on track with squaring things away in Merna. Life was good.
There were some real advantages to traveling with a hydromaniac, such as many of their destinations being tropical islands. Granted, there were some strange ones such as living underwater with mermaids in the Sea Shrine for a while, but the mermaids teaching her their killer sashimi and the glories of Gurgu Volcano had more than made up for that one.
Her mind drifted over the variety of locations that had hosted them for the past forty years, with Lunar still holding the title as another home with more family. There would be many stories to tell when they finally got back to their beloved Merna.
Aryn's expression softened as she thought about the world that she protected. Being a Guardian, especially under Bachlan's ruling, hadn't left a lot of free time but she, Solana, Eziban, and Raoul had enjoyed traveling as a 'pack' as often as was feasible. They'd spent afternoons swimming on the beaches that bordered the Tethys and Boreas seas or going horseback riding across the plains or even trekking through the massive Great Simbel Range that rose like a wall in the deep south. Raoul had also enjoyed his solo trips to Deynain, and Solana had been very busy tending the element that covered so much of Merna's surface in addition to her healing and neverending studies, so often Aryn and Eziban had been on their own.
Now Aryn grinned at the memories that came to mind. If Solana was her dearest friend, Eziban was but a hair's breadth behind. There were millennia of memories of arm-wrestling contests and sparring, each trying to get the better of the other in weaponry and wit. He had helped her perfect many a new recipe in their kitchens, while she had supplied him with ideas and additional power for his experiments in working with stones. They had gone to funky restaurants together to learn more about their respective specialties. Eziban had helped her practice the art of teppanyaki. Aryn had cheered Eziban on when he'd won his first prize at a wine-maker's convention. She missed those days, but if all went well here, they'd all be able to build new memories again soon.
The forest cleared, Aryn began climbing the steps leading to the temple. She had sensed the fire power practically singing in the air the second they had arrived, and something about this place was a little odd. She knew volcanoes well, from her home and the ones she had tended in Merna to those in their travels. Her sparring partners hadn't been able to answer her questions, so it was time to go check out this crucible of nature's creation for herself.
Except that it didn't look like things were going to be that easy.
There weren't many kids running around with balloons, which was the first hint that something was off. Disgruntled mumurs got louder as Aryn finally cleared the steps to see a huge crowd of Kilika's residents assembled outside of the doors leading into the temple. There were grumbles of "What are they trying to hide this time?" and "Do they know what's been causing these tremors?" and "If Kilika's in danger again, we should know about it!" rising from the mass in waves of anger. No one was throwing punches yet or anything, but all this kindling needed was one spark to set them off.
Curious, Aryn managed to elbow her way through the people to get to the front. She absently noticed that the odd feeling she'd been having about the volcano had increased as she found some people who might be able to fill her in on what was going on. A black-haired girl in armor, whom Aryn quickly recognized as the Chocobo Knight Captain Elma, was arguing with a few guards. The former member of the Youth League had traded blows and sword secrets with Aryn throughout their stay here. Her armored chocobo stood nervously by, shifting from foot to foot and glancing around at the restless townspeople quickly. Knights' chocobos didn't spook easily.
"What do you mean, 'the temple's closed again'? Don't you know who I am?" Elma demanded heatedly, fists planted on her hips as her dark eyes flashed up at one of the guards.
The guard rolled his eyes with the exaggerated air of one who was hunting for a seventh way of his point across. "Yes, you've told me about half a dozen times. You've also introduced that bird another half dozen. I don't care if you're Baralai or even Lady Yuna- no one's getting in now."
The crowd roared at this, and some looked ready to start the promised riot. Aryn nodded her greetings to the boisterous brunette and turned to the guards, one hand lazily drifting down to her hip to be ready to grab her morningstar if need be. She kept her voice light and friendly. "What's going on here, boys? Some kind of danger, or is this place closed once a week for cleaning purposes?"
The guards traded an "is she serious?" look. "'Closed for cleaning'...? Girl, do you even know what this place is?" the talkative one asked, then pointed a finger at her. "You can't use the 'Sin's toxin' excuse anymore, like that blitzball player."
Aryn raised an eyebrow. "All I want is to get in and check out the volcano this place is sitting on. Is that really such a problem?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, because the priests have seen... are you all right?" the other guard asked, noticing that Aryn had gone pale.
Aryn scowled and shushed him. The odd feeling was growing...like a scream. Something was very wrong with the fiery forces that lay dormant under this island. Suddenly, she gasped as the scream came to a crescendo. "Everyone! Take cover now! Move it!" she shouted.
Some of the crowd dispersed immediately, recognizing the urgency in her voice. Others stared at her as if she were mad. "Why? What is it?" Elma demanded.
"No time!" Aryn snapped, shoving herself, the captain, and the chocobo along with the guards into the temple's doorway. One guard protested and the chocobo let out a disgruntled "wark!", but calmed as Elma patted its neck. Aryn ignored them, knowing that she'd be proven right in a few seconds.
Right on cue, the ground suddenly began shaking and trembling in violent undulations. It felt like someone was trying to shake the dust out of a giant stone rug underneath their feet. Those behind Aryn squeaked or let out "wark!" while the rest of the crowd went in search of safer ground at last. Loose stones were cracked and sent flying, and a brightly colored cloud of helium balloons rose above the trees after being abandoned. Terrified birds took to the air instead of braving whipping tree branch perches.
Aryn braced herself in the doorway with her hands, trying to concentrate enough to send her power down below them and figure out what the blazes was causing these quakes. Come on, what's going on down there? What's got you so mad?
Being jolted and thrown into the walls or the frightened chocobo behind her wasn't helping. After a few tries, she finally managed to get a rope of reddish gold fire power to sink deep into the ground to investigate. Her power didn't have far to go as it hit an enormous magma reservoir under the mountain. Understandable with it also serving as a volcano, the magma seemed a lot more active than it was supposed to be at this stage of life.
Why was it festering here instead of flowing freely under the earth the way it was supposed to? Had something happened deep underground to interfere?
As another shake threw her into Elma and nearly broke her hold on her power, Aryn thought wistfully of how well she and Eziban had worked together on volcanoes back home in Merna. They had been a perfectly matched team at dealing with them. The marvels encompassed both fire and earth, and he would be able to help still the ground so she could try to-
-concentrate, dammit! Walk down memory lane another time! Aryn shook off her thoughts and returned to her task. She glanced back over her shoulder at her sparring partner. "Elma, what were these temples used for again?"
"It used to hold the fire aeon Ifrit, but all the aeons are gone now with the Eternal Calm and Vegnagun's defeat," Elma replied. The talkative guard snorted at Aryn's ignorance.
Aryn knew that wasn't good enough. Solana had done some diving in Lake Macalania and had explored the now-underwater temple, and they had both checked out the one in Djose that the Al Bhed had been working in. Both of them had seemed normal. Besides, the trouble wasn't in the temple, but what lay below it. "What else? Anything underground?"
Elma bit her lip in thought, then her face brightened. "Oh, yes! Lucil told me that the temples became entrances to the Farplane. Giant holes opened in the Chamber of the Fayth to lead down into it."
"Are those holes still open?" Aryn demanded, gripping the doorway tightly to steady herself as a particularily nasty tremor came up. Everyone gritted their teeth and managed to ride it out without getting any more bruises.
"No, they closed up after Lady Yuna and her friends defeated Vegnagun. Why do you ask?" Elma asked earnestly, bracing herself against her chocobo to keep them both upright.
The shaking suddenly halted as the strange group let out a collective sigh of relief. After waiting a few tense seconds, it seemed like no more tremors would be following the quake. Careful at first, they made their way out of the temple doorway as Aryn put two and two together. The shifted ground, the strange earthquakes, the angry magma pool below them- it all made sense.
"Thank you for your warning. How did you know those shakes would be coming, miss?" the quieter guard asked curiously.
Aryn grinned cheerfully at him. "It's my job to know," she replied mysteriously, before her expression turned serious again. "Look, you're worried about these quakes? I can fix them for you, but I'm going to need some help." She turned to Elma. "You wanna take a trip to the Salty Dog and pick up Solana on that bird of yours? She's my friend that was bombarding you with all of those questions the morning before last."
Elma nodded and swung herself onto the chocobo. The large bird seemed eager to leave and took off with a grateful 'wark!' Next, Aryn turned to the guards. "Can one of you guys show me where this 'Chamber of the Fayth' thing is? I figure that's the best place to work from."
The talkative guard puffed up a little. "See here, just what are you planning to do? That temple's been barged into time and time again-"
Aryn rolled her eyes. Her tolerance for fools, normally slight, had evaporated completely. "I don't care about the damn temple, just what it's sitting on top of!" He gasped indignantly. "Now, what do you say you give me a hand so I can set it back to rights for you, okay?!"
The other guard poked the talkative one. "Go make sure our people in the city are fine. I will remain to assist her." The first guard grumbled, but threw a reluctant salute to his colleague and obeyed.
Aryn smiled her appreciation. "You have a little more sense than your friend there."
"I know what's more important. By the way, I am Uthel," the man replied, and saluted.
Aryn caught his hand in a friendly handshake instead. "Aryn. So, let's go see what's ailing your volcano."
Two friends... there are stronger forces on earth perhaps, but few as tenacious and enduring as the bond between true friends.
Merlin, Stephen Lawhead
Solana bit her lip as she stared at Merna's two Guardians in shock. One moment she had been washing her hands after another healing lesson with Oriana, and then she had been called to talk to both her healing teacher and Bachlan and had had a bombshell laid down on her. She possessed a fairly good command of the Universe's common language and had been improving during her time on Merna, but was certain that she had just mistranslated Oriana's words. "I'm sorry, you want me to what?"
Oriana rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Darling, we're asking you if you wish to serve Merna as our Water Guardian. You know that we need one for our waters, and I would think that someone with your-" she hesitated, not wishing to bring up a painful subject with it being so raw yet.
Bachlan appeared to have no such qualms. "You are an Atlantean. There probably isn't another race in the Universe who is so obsessed with water, and since you're the-"
Oriana angrily shushed him, but he'd made his point. Solana looked down, trying very hard to swallow a sudden lump in her throat. It had only been a few months since Kiel had sent her to Oriana as a student healer, and only a few weeks had passed since she had learned that Atlantis had sunk beneath the glistening Marble Sea. Broken ruins and the memories of one young woman were all that remained of her once glorious kingdom.
Since then she had lost weight, lost sleep, and tried to drown her sorrows in her studies and taking away the pain of others. Oriana had done her best to help her through her grief, but it hadn't been enough. Gone was everyone she loved, the rest of her kind, her pod of Atlanteans and dolphins and Kiel... mostly Kiel who had raised her and loved her like his own daughter.
Solana fought back the tears that burned in her eyes. What she wouldn't give for just one moment to tell him that she was sorry for not being there when he needed her.
Oriana instinctively hugged her, then kissed the top of her head. "Oh, my dearest, I am so sorry. I know that Merna can never take the place of Atlantis in your heart, and it shouldn't. Perhaps we should not have asked...."
"No..." Solana sniffled, as one tear escaped to trail down her cheek. "It's... it's all right. You do need someone to look after Merna's waters, and if I can't...." She swallowed hard, trying to push past the misery in her heart. "...if I can't help protect the ones at home, maybe I can still be useful here."
"Perhaps this wasn't wise," Bachlan asked, narrowing his eyes. There was a look of distaste in his eyes at Solana's reaction, but better that Oriana handle that sort of thing than him. "She is young, and apt to run off and leave us behind at the first sign of trouble."
"You once told me that you needed those with passion for the elements, but it is up to her," Oriana replied demurely. She reached into her gown pocket for a handkerchief, then handed it over.
Solana accepted it and blew her nose gratefully, thinking it over. What were her choices now? She could stay here in Sagia and become a scholar, or continue studying to become a great healer. Perhaps even a bit of each.
But if she became a Guardian, she could do for Merna what she had always wanted to do for Atlantis. And oh, there was so much to learn here, and so many places to see and people to meet. Solana had come to love this world as a guest, and maybe in time she could learn to love it as a new homeworld, too. To work with her beloved seas, and to stay with Oriana and continue to learn- this seemed to be the best that she could hope for if she had to stay here.
Even so, she was not a fool. Solana raised her head proudly to meet Bachlan's eyes. "Before I can accept, I have to ask- what does it mean to be a Guardian here? What do I need to know?"
A feeling of weightlessness, the shimmering dance of sunlight as it refracted through the crystalline waters, the brilliant colors of rainbow fish that came to investigate this curious being that also belonged down here- Solana could never decide which part of the seas she loved the best. Clad in a special wetsuit that also offered protection against attacks or overinquisitive fish, her kamas and pearl pendant tucked away and plastic tablets and a wax pencil to take notes in her hands, she was quite literally in her element here in the warm waters that bathed the island of Kilika. With her Atlantean blood, she never needed to surface for air or be encumbered by bulky oxygen tanks; she was free.
Solana had spent all morning researching the exquisite reefs that adorned the island like a jeweled necklace. While the Al Bhed had already picked out any potentially useful bits of machinery, the real treasure of the deep still lay below. Sketches of new kinds of fish, notes about rock and coral formations, and countless observations had been scribbled onto the tablets already. A yellow butterfly fish came swimming right past her, lacy fins just tickling her ear. Underneath a rock opening, a coiled eel waited patiently for its next meal. A beautiful but deadly lionfish hovered over a mass of green brain coral, while various sharks came by to stop for a tooth cleaning by the tiny fearless fish known as wrasses.
Solana could have spent all day down there, but it was time to meet with Aryn for some lunch and a break. She reluctantly swam back to the dock and climbed up the ladder, taking her first breath of airborne oxygen in a few hours. Her lungs and eyes automatically adjusted from underwater to atmospheric conditions. The cry of gulls and chatter of the locals replaced what had been almost total silence.
Near a fisherwoman were the towel and clothes she had left behind. After thanking the woman for keeping an eye on her things, she went into a changing area on the docks and slipped into a sea green off-the-shoulder dress printed with rainbow batik dolphins. She tied a lilac sash around her waist to hold her kamas, then topped it with a beaded cord to hold it in place. Next came silver lace-up sandals and a wristful of shell-plated bangles. She decided to let her hair dry naturally on her way into the lovely little city of Kilika.
It had been hard leaving behind their home and family in Lunar and the survivors of her people in Lantias a year ago, as hard as when they had begun this journey forty years ago. With things in the universe seeming to be at peace for the time being, Solana knew that it was past time to carry out her vows as a Guardian to her second homeworld. Aryn was still nervous about the land of her birth being left in Bachlan's "care" and had been quick to agree that it was time to get back to work.
But they were at a stalemate with Bachlan. It was likely that he still wanted them to return their elemental essences or even to finish them off, but what about the others back in the Crystal Citadel? The pair could count on Oriana to help them, and it was likely that Trista and Joshua would still back up Bachlan, but there was no way of knowing Raoul's or Eziban's minds. Despite Aryn's continued insistence that they could finish everything in one good ambush, Solana wasn't ready to rush in blindly again. The last time had almost cost her her life.
So they decided that they could continue their research while planning their next move. Spira had proven to be an ideal destination, having a variety of environments tuned into the various elements. The Guardians had wound their way southward from Mt. Gagazet, (skipping the monkey-ridden Zanarkand), concentrating on areas such as Lake Macalania and the Thunder Plains and ending up here. The magical book that held all of their work since they had left the Crystal Citadel all those years ago was getting thicker by the day. All of it was knowledge to be incorporated into Merna's own stewardship one day.
The trip wasn't only about work, however. Solana was finally learning to truly appreciate the present for itself, rather than just planning on how to use something for the future. The miracle of having Kiel and many more of her people back in her life had taught her that each day with the members of her pod was a precious gift that should never be taken for granted. The pair had learned to ride chocobos on the Calm Lands with Clasko, caught a few blitzball matches in Luca, and were planning a few days of just lying on Besaid's beach once they were done here.
In the meantime, there was plenty in Kilika to enjoy. Countless little straw or wooden huts and bungalows were built on wooden docks right over the water, with boats able to carry one from the outer city towards the land in a short time. Tropical flowers blazed in pots and in the hair and clothing of the people, and exotic bird songs filled the air. Fresh fish and tropical fruits were being sold directly from counters or cooked up in open air restaurants, competing with the lovely perfume of the ocean's spray. Bits and pieces of the city had called back fond memories of her beloved Atlantis.
Solana found the restaurant called the Salty Dog that Aryn had wanted to investigate, but it took a bit of searching before she located her best friend behind the biggest bowl of soup that she had ever seen. It looked to be a fish and potato soup, with a faint hint of citrus, probably lime, being given off in the steam.
The Fire Guardian's hazel eyes were half-closed in bliss as she sampled the soup. She loved Kilika and its food and had also tapped into the tropical spirit. In addition to an orange tank top and loose black cropped pants, she wore a yellow and gold sarong printed with suns. It had been carefully tied to allow access to the morningstar at her hip, and her sword was hanging on her back. Her red-streaked black hair had been braided into a few dozen cornrows and tied out of her way. Aryn's olive complexion had turned almost bronze from all the outdoor sparring on this trip. Her only leather today consisted of her sandals, weapon harnesses, and two small bracers on her arms.
Spotting her best friend, Aryn raised the hand whose spoon had just deposited a mountain of fresh fish from the soup into her mouth in greeting. "Hesho laah! Dersh pley he, sho dien!"
Solana laughed merrily as she sat down at the table, noting with pleasure that there was another steaming bowl waiting for her. "Enjoying yourself, my friend?"
Aryn blushed and swallowed, then took a sip of water to make sure everything went down okay. "Yeah, this soup is incredible! There's a special herb to cut the fishy smell and some lime, but other than that, I can't figure it out." She eyed the soup as if compelling it to give up its secrets, then shrugged and spooned some more into her mouth. Solana picked up her own spoon to try it for herself and had to agree- the fresh and zesty soup was like nothing they had tried before.
"Did you have a good dive?" Aryn asked, adding a few squirts of Tabasco sauce to the bowl on her end. She knew from experience how dangerous a question this was to pose to Solana, but she also enjoyed hearing her best friend get sentimental and sometimes squeal over the critters down there.
Solana smiled triumphantly and held out the plastic sheets she used to take notes underwater, coated front and back with sketches and odd Atlantean writing, and began explaining each new discovery and its habitat. Aryn was impressed at how much had been uncovered in only one morning.
"...and finally, there were little wrasses down there, too. How was your morning finding out if this place is a volcano like you thought?" Solana asked, gratefully reaching for a cherry blossom pink smoothie to soothe her throat after talking for so long.
Aryn let out a long-suffering groan. "You're never going to believe this. I found this guy Barthello to spar and talk with. I figured- he lived here, he was a summoner's guardian, and he was a member of New Yevon. He should know about it, right?"
"Right?"
"Wrong!" Aryn waved an arm in exasperation. "I bring it up as we're starting to swap blows, and all he can do is talk about Dona. Then he starts saying how his life would be nothing without protecting her, and goes nuts as we're sparring." She slapped her forehead in disgust. "Man, I've never seen a guy so whipped."
"So what's your next step?" Solana asked curiously, taking another sip from her glass.
"Go check out the temple for myself, of course. Doesn't your Kiel say it's best to see things with your own eyes and heart?" Aryn asked.
"He does indeed. He even wants to read up on everything we learn on this trip." Solana laughed. "Sometimes I think my days as a student turning in homework haven't ended yet!"
Aryn chuckled along. She really liked the former Elder who had been her best friend's father in so many ways and had so many interesting stories from Solana's childhood. Kiel had been happy to share recipes from his homeland with her, and happier still to try her results. He'd been pretty good about Solana needing to leave Lantias on this journey, understanding that she was still one of Merna's Guardians.
With that thought, Aryn got up with a groan, patted her full stomach, then tossed her share of the gil for the meal onto the table. "You're meeting that fisherman here, right?"
Solana nodded. "He's been fishing the seas here for longer than most of our friends have been alive. It should be fascinating to hear how the seas here behave as compared to the ones back home in Merna."
"Right, well, you have fun with that. Catch ya later!" Aryn waved and took off at a jog for the gate that lead to the temple that crowned the island.
Solana wasn't fooled in the least. Aryn could joke and pretend this was a vacation all she liked; she knew that Aryn took her responsibilities as a Guardian as seriously as she did, if in a different way. Solana knew very well that she would have never gotten this far on her journey alone. As she had so many times in the past, she gave a silent thanks that Aryn had agreed to accompany her.
A waitress came by to clear the empty bowls and glasses, breaking her reverie. "Everything taste all right, miss?"
"Yes, it was wonderful. I don't suppose you'd be willing to share the recipe?" Solana asked hopefully. "My best friend loves to cook, and would very much like to know how to make this delicious soup at home."
The waitress smiled smugly, her eyes dancing in pleasure at the compliment. "I'm sorry, but chefs have their secrets just as magicians do. Would you like anything else?"
"Yes, a tankard of rum and another of these smoothies, please. I'm expecting a guest," Solana explained.
"Of course," the waitress replied, taking away the dirty dishes and returning shortly with a second smoothie and the promised rum.
Solana thanked her and dug out her magical book, transcribing the notes from her undersea research while she waited. The structure of the reefs and seafloor definitely supported Aryn's theory that Kilika was volcanic. Several of the organisms that she had glimpsed were characteristic of seas nearby volcanic islands, but something was a bit off. The reefs were thriving with rainbows of beautiful fish, but something in the volcanic vents wasn't quite right. She hadn't quite been able to put her finger on it...
Her guest suddenly appeared, breaking her train of thought. A grizzled old fisherman, Chaskel was knocking on the door to seventy but was still in marvelous condition. His family had been in the business for generations, and he'd added much to their knowledge. Better still, he was a good talker and had agreed to an interview after meeting Solana on the docks during her investigations.
"Good to see you again, missy. It's always good to meet a youngster interested in hearing things from her elders. I can tell straight away, you've got the sea in your blood," he said happily, dwarfing her hand in his for a hearty handshake.
Solana was impressed at his strength, but decided to keep the fact that she was this man's elder many times over to herself. "Truly, the pleasure is mine. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions."
Chaskel shrugged modestly and eased himself into Aryn's abandoned chair. Spotting the tankard of rum, he pulled it closer with an appreciative grin. "'Tis no trouble, none at all. Now, what was your first question?"
Solana's magical book was open in a second. Glancing at the list she had compiled, she found the first question. "It concerns storms. It's well known how destructive they can be-"
"Yes," Chaskel cut in with a nod. "I've seen them sink many a man's ship, and have lost some craft myself to them."
"Yet, it's also hypothesized that they play a role in keeping the seas healthy, particularly in the temperate regions. How do you feel about this?" Solana asked curiously.
"My papa, he used to fish off the seas closer to Djose and the Mi'ihen Highroad. All the 'minnows', or new kids, would whine and complain about stormy days bringing in a loss of profit. But he told me that it wasn't so." Chaskel leaned in, his eyes holding a very serious look. "Things sink in the water, missy. Critters, leaves, everything that could serve as food to the bigger creatures. Storms are what bring the food back up to what needs it, and keep the cycle of life goin'."
Solana felt a sinking feeling in her gut, but tried to keep her voice as casual as possible. "If the storms were... were halted, somehow?"
Chaskel's eyes went wide. "Yevon forbid!" he yelped, then slapped his forehead. "That's right, we don't swear by him anymore. You stop the storms, you kill your seas, and that's all there is to it."
Solana took a few deep breaths, trying to quell her sudden anger at herself and the man she had served for millennia, and started going through the rest of the questions on her list. Chaskel was watching her with an expression of puzzled dismay as he answered her in between sips of rum, wondering what exactly was going on in that head of hers. Nature had her own laws, and even the best black mages would have to be fools to interfere with them. This woman did not strike him as such.
Yet, why was there such a haunted look in those deep silver eyes?
Finally, she got to her last question. "How do you determine quotas?"
"Each fish gets a different number each year. We figure it offa the stormy season, how much plankton there is, and how many predators we see," Chaskel explained, taking a healthy gulp of rum. "Each boat's gotta register and bring in their catch, you see. If the season's going worse than we figured, we'll drop the number. Take too much one year, and maybe there won't be as much for the next few years or our kids' time."
Solana quickly scribbled this down, asking for details on calculations. Her respect for the people here grew thousandfold, if they were willing to take less profit now so that their children could make a living later. If every generation thought like this...
"Chaskel! We have a load to bring in, so hurry if you want a piece of it!" a voice called.
The fisherman rose and drained the rest of his rum in a single gulp. "Been a pleasure, Solana," he stated with a smile. "Take care of yourself, and may your seas be gentle and your catches numerous."
"Thank you, Chaskel. I appreciated it," Solana replied. Chaskel nodded, flipped a coin onto the table for the waitress, and walked off to the docks.
Solana groaned and felt like banging her head against the table. So in Spira, or at least the tropical cities, it was obvious that storms were needed. The reefs and fish populations were among the healthiest she had ever seen in her life, and the people were careful to keep flourishing the seas that brought them life in the form of food and work.
Then a thought cheered her; if these people could do it, so could Mernans. Certainly it would increase the profits of those who lived off the sea to allow the storms, and give them time off during the winter season. Flipping to a fresh page in her book, Solana picked up her pen and began to write furiously.
Aryn strolled through the Kilika forest on her way to the temple that crowned the island, swinging her arms freely and whistling a Mernan folk song. The sun was shining, her belly was full, her body was well-exercised, there was a new volcano to check out, and they were finally getting back on track with squaring things away in Merna. Life was good.
There were some real advantages to traveling with a hydromaniac, such as many of their destinations being tropical islands. Granted, there were some strange ones such as living underwater with mermaids in the Sea Shrine for a while, but the mermaids teaching her their killer sashimi and the glories of Gurgu Volcano had more than made up for that one.
Her mind drifted over the variety of locations that had hosted them for the past forty years, with Lunar still holding the title as another home with more family. There would be many stories to tell when they finally got back to their beloved Merna.
Aryn's expression softened as she thought about the world that she protected. Being a Guardian, especially under Bachlan's ruling, hadn't left a lot of free time but she, Solana, Eziban, and Raoul had enjoyed traveling as a 'pack' as often as was feasible. They'd spent afternoons swimming on the beaches that bordered the Tethys and Boreas seas or going horseback riding across the plains or even trekking through the massive Great Simbel Range that rose like a wall in the deep south. Raoul had also enjoyed his solo trips to Deynain, and Solana had been very busy tending the element that covered so much of Merna's surface in addition to her healing and neverending studies, so often Aryn and Eziban had been on their own.
Now Aryn grinned at the memories that came to mind. If Solana was her dearest friend, Eziban was but a hair's breadth behind. There were millennia of memories of arm-wrestling contests and sparring, each trying to get the better of the other in weaponry and wit. He had helped her perfect many a new recipe in their kitchens, while she had supplied him with ideas and additional power for his experiments in working with stones. They had gone to funky restaurants together to learn more about their respective specialties. Eziban had helped her practice the art of teppanyaki. Aryn had cheered Eziban on when he'd won his first prize at a wine-maker's convention. She missed those days, but if all went well here, they'd all be able to build new memories again soon.
The forest cleared, Aryn began climbing the steps leading to the temple. She had sensed the fire power practically singing in the air the second they had arrived, and something about this place was a little odd. She knew volcanoes well, from her home and the ones she had tended in Merna to those in their travels. Her sparring partners hadn't been able to answer her questions, so it was time to go check out this crucible of nature's creation for herself.
Except that it didn't look like things were going to be that easy.
There weren't many kids running around with balloons, which was the first hint that something was off. Disgruntled mumurs got louder as Aryn finally cleared the steps to see a huge crowd of Kilika's residents assembled outside of the doors leading into the temple. There were grumbles of "What are they trying to hide this time?" and "Do they know what's been causing these tremors?" and "If Kilika's in danger again, we should know about it!" rising from the mass in waves of anger. No one was throwing punches yet or anything, but all this kindling needed was one spark to set them off.
Curious, Aryn managed to elbow her way through the people to get to the front. She absently noticed that the odd feeling she'd been having about the volcano had increased as she found some people who might be able to fill her in on what was going on. A black-haired girl in armor, whom Aryn quickly recognized as the Chocobo Knight Captain Elma, was arguing with a few guards. The former member of the Youth League had traded blows and sword secrets with Aryn throughout their stay here. Her armored chocobo stood nervously by, shifting from foot to foot and glancing around at the restless townspeople quickly. Knights' chocobos didn't spook easily.
"What do you mean, 'the temple's closed again'? Don't you know who I am?" Elma demanded heatedly, fists planted on her hips as her dark eyes flashed up at one of the guards.
The guard rolled his eyes with the exaggerated air of one who was hunting for a seventh way of his point across. "Yes, you've told me about half a dozen times. You've also introduced that bird another half dozen. I don't care if you're Baralai or even Lady Yuna- no one's getting in now."
The crowd roared at this, and some looked ready to start the promised riot. Aryn nodded her greetings to the boisterous brunette and turned to the guards, one hand lazily drifting down to her hip to be ready to grab her morningstar if need be. She kept her voice light and friendly. "What's going on here, boys? Some kind of danger, or is this place closed once a week for cleaning purposes?"
The guards traded an "is she serious?" look. "'Closed for cleaning'...? Girl, do you even know what this place is?" the talkative one asked, then pointed a finger at her. "You can't use the 'Sin's toxin' excuse anymore, like that blitzball player."
Aryn raised an eyebrow. "All I want is to get in and check out the volcano this place is sitting on. Is that really such a problem?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, because the priests have seen... are you all right?" the other guard asked, noticing that Aryn had gone pale.
Aryn scowled and shushed him. The odd feeling was growing...like a scream. Something was very wrong with the fiery forces that lay dormant under this island. Suddenly, she gasped as the scream came to a crescendo. "Everyone! Take cover now! Move it!" she shouted.
Some of the crowd dispersed immediately, recognizing the urgency in her voice. Others stared at her as if she were mad. "Why? What is it?" Elma demanded.
"No time!" Aryn snapped, shoving herself, the captain, and the chocobo along with the guards into the temple's doorway. One guard protested and the chocobo let out a disgruntled "wark!", but calmed as Elma patted its neck. Aryn ignored them, knowing that she'd be proven right in a few seconds.
Right on cue, the ground suddenly began shaking and trembling in violent undulations. It felt like someone was trying to shake the dust out of a giant stone rug underneath their feet. Those behind Aryn squeaked or let out "wark!" while the rest of the crowd went in search of safer ground at last. Loose stones were cracked and sent flying, and a brightly colored cloud of helium balloons rose above the trees after being abandoned. Terrified birds took to the air instead of braving whipping tree branch perches.
Aryn braced herself in the doorway with her hands, trying to concentrate enough to send her power down below them and figure out what the blazes was causing these quakes. Come on, what's going on down there? What's got you so mad?
Being jolted and thrown into the walls or the frightened chocobo behind her wasn't helping. After a few tries, she finally managed to get a rope of reddish gold fire power to sink deep into the ground to investigate. Her power didn't have far to go as it hit an enormous magma reservoir under the mountain. Understandable with it also serving as a volcano, the magma seemed a lot more active than it was supposed to be at this stage of life.
Why was it festering here instead of flowing freely under the earth the way it was supposed to? Had something happened deep underground to interfere?
As another shake threw her into Elma and nearly broke her hold on her power, Aryn thought wistfully of how well she and Eziban had worked together on volcanoes back home in Merna. They had been a perfectly matched team at dealing with them. The marvels encompassed both fire and earth, and he would be able to help still the ground so she could try to-
-concentrate, dammit! Walk down memory lane another time! Aryn shook off her thoughts and returned to her task. She glanced back over her shoulder at her sparring partner. "Elma, what were these temples used for again?"
"It used to hold the fire aeon Ifrit, but all the aeons are gone now with the Eternal Calm and Vegnagun's defeat," Elma replied. The talkative guard snorted at Aryn's ignorance.
Aryn knew that wasn't good enough. Solana had done some diving in Lake Macalania and had explored the now-underwater temple, and they had both checked out the one in Djose that the Al Bhed had been working in. Both of them had seemed normal. Besides, the trouble wasn't in the temple, but what lay below it. "What else? Anything underground?"
Elma bit her lip in thought, then her face brightened. "Oh, yes! Lucil told me that the temples became entrances to the Farplane. Giant holes opened in the Chamber of the Fayth to lead down into it."
"Are those holes still open?" Aryn demanded, gripping the doorway tightly to steady herself as a particularily nasty tremor came up. Everyone gritted their teeth and managed to ride it out without getting any more bruises.
"No, they closed up after Lady Yuna and her friends defeated Vegnagun. Why do you ask?" Elma asked earnestly, bracing herself against her chocobo to keep them both upright.
The shaking suddenly halted as the strange group let out a collective sigh of relief. After waiting a few tense seconds, it seemed like no more tremors would be following the quake. Careful at first, they made their way out of the temple doorway as Aryn put two and two together. The shifted ground, the strange earthquakes, the angry magma pool below them- it all made sense.
"Thank you for your warning. How did you know those shakes would be coming, miss?" the quieter guard asked curiously.
Aryn grinned cheerfully at him. "It's my job to know," she replied mysteriously, before her expression turned serious again. "Look, you're worried about these quakes? I can fix them for you, but I'm going to need some help." She turned to Elma. "You wanna take a trip to the Salty Dog and pick up Solana on that bird of yours? She's my friend that was bombarding you with all of those questions the morning before last."
Elma nodded and swung herself onto the chocobo. The large bird seemed eager to leave and took off with a grateful 'wark!' Next, Aryn turned to the guards. "Can one of you guys show me where this 'Chamber of the Fayth' thing is? I figure that's the best place to work from."
The talkative guard puffed up a little. "See here, just what are you planning to do? That temple's been barged into time and time again-"
Aryn rolled her eyes. Her tolerance for fools, normally slight, had evaporated completely. "I don't care about the damn temple, just what it's sitting on top of!" He gasped indignantly. "Now, what do you say you give me a hand so I can set it back to rights for you, okay?!"
The other guard poked the talkative one. "Go make sure our people in the city are fine. I will remain to assist her." The first guard grumbled, but threw a reluctant salute to his colleague and obeyed.
Aryn smiled her appreciation. "You have a little more sense than your friend there."
"I know what's more important. By the way, I am Uthel," the man replied, and saluted.
Aryn caught his hand in a friendly handshake instead. "Aryn. So, let's go see what's ailing your volcano."