The Gaurdian's Code (FF thread)

[Wrath]

There was a man standing outside the temple. He was wearing a decorated robe, but robe didn't seem to be the right word because it made him seem like a priest. Far from it. It made him look somewhat mysterious. His hair, which had once been black was now flecked with silver, but he was not old, only weathered, and experienced. His left arm appeared to be in a sling, but again, it was not clear because of his robe. And his right hand held a wicked looking sword, a giant katana, which he leaned casually over the back of his shoulder.

Glasses covered his eyes; the shaded kind, the ones that were there to hide the wearers eyes. Deep red sleeves covered up his bulky arm muscles, scarred but still capable. The collar of his...what you might call a robe- covered his lower face. This was not his village, and his village would not remember him, if he had ever stayed there for more than a month.

It was a sunny day, and he was in a pleasant village, an island not far from Besaid. Children ran about in front of the temple scattering rose-petals, preparing for the good-bye ceremony. Today was a special day, the day the village summoner would start the pilgrammige. The man was waiting outside for the summoner to emerge, and his name was Sir Auron.

[Naucoaran]

A man clothed in black walked through the heavy doors of the temple that Auron stood just outside of and stopped somewhat close to him, close enough to talk and hear over the playing children. His hair was an eerie white, although he still had many, many years to live, if he wasn't killed. His skin was also pale and naturally cold to the touch, it seemed like his skin was always cold, and they were never warm, even in the summer. The sword that hung loosely on his back was of special make, it was forged by obsidian way making it black and charred in color. The blade was twisted and evil in a sense, and also sharper then a razor blade. Despite all of this, nothing would make him stand out more then his eyes, if he had his black glasses off then his eyes would be glowing a cynical crimson red full of evil and hatred. Demonic some called him, other feared to even look at him, nor dare speak his name.

In a gruff voice he spoke to his fellow comrade, so to speak, "What do you think of this summoner? Young, I say inexperienced by the look." His comments were always rude, rarely if that would you hear something nice emit from his pale lips. He coughed and spat to his side, off the temple, knowing that he would be punished for disgracing a temple, and then drank from a hip flack that he kept hidden under his layers of satin black robes.

[Wrath]

Auron let his eyes wash over the new, somewhat evil looking man. He took no notice of if the man really liked his being 'looked over', but Auron took his time. He might not have time to later. Even if he showed his eyes, I would not trust them. Auron noted. This man might be useful in the magic department, he fit the look of a mage, with pale skin and somewhat odd manners. An old friend of his had been a student of the black magic (somewhat of an untrue and formidable name), and she wore black. This man wore black.

The man eyed him warily as if expecting an answer. The old warrior had half a mind to call him an unrespectful bastard, but his sane half rebuked it. It was a long time after the remark by the man when Auron finally answered him. It might have seemed like too long to wait for an answer, but the young man could wait. It seemed too stupid of a remark for a justified answer, so Auron took the high road.

"They...never are. What do you expect.......the experienced ones don't need gaurdians." Auron kept his scowl on, but his voice, on his last statement, he had let his voice grow silent, for the benifit of the nearby children.

Idiot...a truly experienced summoner does not make a second pilgrammage. Thiey have excepted thier fate, and for you to show disrespect to them, after this sacrifice, I will not tolerate any more of it.... All of this Auron seemed to say without words, looking at the young man, penetrating those dark glasses, of the man whose name he did not know. Of course, an introduction for himself was not needed, Sir Auron's fame had spread to almost every corner of Spira.

[Wrath]

(((okie dokie i will just join with a second charrie as a summoner since no one else is. Bess please join as a Ronso! T'would be awesome! Ah well you can catch up with us later down the road!))


Melena slowly cracked open one of the temple's doors and peeked outside. She had been alone in the islands tiny temple, praying for a safe journey. They would, after all, have to go by boat. She stepped with soft, graceful footfalls down the steps. All of the people of the village she had grown up with, were outside waiting for her. Some were crying. The children seemed happy enough though, so Melena put on a practiced smile and strode out. Two strangers she noticed right from the start. They looked dangerous, which might be good or bad, depending if they were the ones to be the gaurdians.

"Sirs, I am lady Melena, daughter of the preist Khilin. Today is the day I start my pilgrammige." Auron thought, yes, she did look young. Well, plenty of time to grow up on the way. He replied back- "Would you accept me as your gaurdian, Lady Melena?" Melena was overjoyed, but hid it with a smile. "Sir Auron, it would be an honor!"

((okaaay- youre turn...))

[Naucoaran]

Fell, the name the evil mage took up, turned to look at the summoner. He slid his sword out of its sheath and watched in glee at both Auron and Melina’s nervous shifts at the notion. The sword slid out of its ebony colored sheath with ease and as it did so you could see the dark magic swirl around it. He abruptly put the tip onto the cobbled floor and bent into a low bow, something that rarely happened if it ever did. "I pledge my sword and my dark arts to you, lady Melina." he said then quickly stood. From his prone position and looked to Sir Auron, "I know your name, Auron, before it was spoken. Well, I'm sure you know not mine, not much speak it."

He stood proud and put his sword back in his sheath and with a snap of his hand took off his black glasses and stared at him "I am fell," the name rolling off the tongue "on more then one level." he said as he flashed a devilish smile then replaced the dark glasses. He looked over to the boat that bobbed in the small waves. It would certainly be a long trip...and he awaited the battle, the dark mage lived for it.

[Wrath]

Melena was naturally shy and quiet, and her cheeks turned pink as she now had two very capable looking gaurdians offering thier services. "Thank you, Fell. Now we should get going to Besaid, it is a short journey by boat, and the first aeon is there as well!" There was a little ways to travel down a hill to get to the docks, and Melena took the lead, using her staff like a walking stick. It was a small beaten path, and her two gaurdians walked behind her abreast, though they just barey fit onto the path. The natural jungle of the island soon formed on both sides, like a wall, which had the occasional fiend lurking inside.

As if it had been expecting them, a small wolf-like fiend, followed by a fire flan emerged to bar thier way. Melena froze for a moment, then darted behind Auron and Fell. Auron himself let the one sleeve that his arm was resting in fall from his shoulder, and swung the katana from his opposite shoulder into a two-handed grip. Jumping forwards, he cut down the wolf in a single, well placed, diagonal stroke. It was a lucky shot, he knew. If it had hit anything other than the head, it would have taken two strokes.

Auron was surprised he had even hit the wolf. Usually, small, nimble fiends escaped his huge swings of the katana. He watched the red colored fire flan with a nervous eye. To a person who had never seen a flan, it seemed to be a large piece of living jello, with facial figures sticking out creepily. No matter how hard you hit it, it seemed to have little effect, only black magic could defeat it. The fire flan had black magic too, of course. A fire spell was cast at him, and he stepped to one side, but it still burnt his bare shoulder. The old warrior looked to Fell. "I believe this would be your department..."

[Naucoaran]

Fell popped his neck at the sight of the two beasts. He had heard of the brute force that Auron was capable of unleashing on an enemy. The wolf-like fiend dropped to the mossy floor and its bark blood spilled out of its mortal wound. Auron looked to the mage, and in turn Fell pulled his dark glasses off and the fire that was in them grew. The fire flan cast another spell this time at Fell but the made, still in his youth quickly rolled to the side and dodged the blast. Now in a prone position the mage smiled and threw his pasty white hand in the beasts direction. He cast a low level blizzard spell but he knew that I would work on the foe. It's face contorted into a dying expression then slowed and stood still in the same position. It started to melt down into a pile of goo then dissipated into nothing.

The mage walked over to where the beast once stood and stooped down and picked up a sphere, tossed it in the air, then placed it into his folds of his robes. "Shall we continue?" he asked as he slipped the glasses back on his face and blinked a couple times. The sun had always hurt his eyes, for some reason his eyes were severely sensitive to light but it allowed him to pierce through the darkness. Nonetheless he always took them off to fight, even though it hurt him the bonus to them was acute sight so that he would almost never miss a spell. He stood up straight and looked down the path, he could smell the sea air so he knew it was close.

[Wrath]

Auron stepped forwards and claimed the single sphere that rolled on the blood covered moss. Ironically, it was an Agility sphere. I have never heard that fiends mock people....but this is crazy. I will put this to use on the ship ride, I'll have some spare time. He tucked it into a leather pouch hanging from his belt and continued on his way towards the ships. He stopped again as he realized Melena was not following him.

Melena stood over the bodies over the dead. Colored bits of light, followed by tails of blue and green, floated up above them. Taking her staff, she lifted it with both hands in front of her into the air. The pyreflies circled around it for a while, and then floated higher and higher, going to the farplane. Auron waited patiently, and then they continued to the docks. There were no more battles, and it was a silent trip, for the three hardly knew each other.

It was the first sending that Melena had ever performed, and she hoped that it wouldn't have to be done frequently. Those fiends had been people....unsent people, and had to stay on earth in the form of hideous monsters. Now that she had finally sent them, they would rest in peace at the farplane.

When they arrived at the docks, there was another crowd of crying people, waiting for them, and some gave out Gil and healing potions, telling them that they would pray for them. It was very nice for Melena of course, but Auron felt a pang of familiarity coming back to him. That pang hurt. They stood on the deck of the ship, watching the small island slowly fade on the blue horizon, the sound of the sea and fresh salt air filling thier lungs.

[Naucoaran]

Fell pushed through the crowed, not thrilled that there was this much attention focused his way, even if it wasn’t really his attention but rather Melina’s'. Fell, not being a muscled man, but stronger then ever in the dark arts couldn't successfully push through the thicker part of the crowd so he worked the edges where the smaller women and children were. Shoving a small boy out of his way he finally reached the boat and stood near the front, tapping his foot impatiently. The other two finally came onto the ship. Auron had a look to his face, he didn't know what yet but Fell knew something was wrong deep inside this veteran warrior.

The dark mage wet his pale lips and strode over to Auron. "It looks as if I am not the only one who does not like what just happened." he said as he faked interest in the what-looked-like-troubled mans problems. "What happened...what happened so long ago..." he whispered more to himself then Auron as he tried to read his expressions. This was one of his tactics for anything. Find a weak spot, then twist them into submission, it didn't always work though... "Something you did maybe? Somthing you’re ashamed of?" he questioned again silently, but made a point to speak loud enough to communicate.

Fell rubbed his hairless chin as he stared deeper into the man, his pricing gaze almost burning a hole through his dark glasses and straight into the man. Grunting the mage backed away and went back to the front. A light fog rolled around the ship as it dipped and rose in the small waves. "Hm......." he mumbled as he tried to look through the uncanny haze. The surroundings were all gray, even the ship gray. Taking off the glasses and folding them into his robes he squinted then looked around. There wasn't enough light to hurt his sensitive eyes but the change was sudden and he needed to adjust.

His gaze fell upon Melina, such hope; such survival all relied on her. Everything replied on her. Such an odd thing to lie on her shoulders…and she looks so young! Does she even contain the power to accomplish this? He ran his fingers through his somewhat-silky hair and shook his head, "We sail to our deaths..." he concluded and averted his gave as he realized that she had been looking at him.

[Wrath]

Auron stood behind him; his glasses were off too, revealing his scar. He had been listening to the young man. "Maybe." He said at his last comment. "But that is the gaurdian's code." Fell turned around to face him. "Fell...listen. Milena can not die." Fell gave him a look. "Her story will be different.....different than Braska's...." His voice grew quieter as he spoke, in his eyes there was the same pained expression. "I promised him I would change it. But she cannot know until the time comes." He started to walk back to the cabin, the grey fog swirling about him. I wonder....is the fog cold, still? It used to be so cold.... He looked back seeing Milena shivering, staring off at the water. He did rember how the water felt. Smooth.

Milena, teeth chattering, finally pulled herself away from the vast grey sea and hurried into the cabin, thinking How can those guys stay out here it's so cold! She was inside. There was an old lady sitting in her room. Surprised as she was, Milena polietly put her anhands as a prayer and bowed. "Oh, Milena I have something here for you." It took Milena a few seconds to realize who the woman was and said. "Ms. Tarna, what brought you on a ship like this?" "Oh it's alright my dear, I was on my way to Kilika, and the next boat would have taken months to arrive back at our little island, so I decided to come on this one. I've always wanted to see Besaid, anyways." Milena felt uncomfortable. Sin was likely to attack mostly by sea, and old Ms. Tarna was frail. "Don't worry about me dear, take these. They're very old. They belonged to my grandmother, she was a grand healer. I thought they might help you on your journey." Milena took the bag from her. It was medium-sized, with a shoulder strap, all of it, inside and out, was covered in thick tan fur. Inside it contained books- white magic books! Milena was overwhelmed. "Ms. Tarna- I- these are wonderful! Thank you!" She hurriedly made a prayer and bowed again.

After many repeated thanks, the old lady left her cabin and Milena sat down and studied. She studied for about an hour, and came back outside, remembering Auron. She ran into his cabin, he was sitting there holding a speed shere in his hand. It disappeared, and Auron turned his head. "Auron, I remember you were burnt by that flan!" Auron hesitated. Burnt? That was right, the flan had attacked him. So that was the advantage...no cold but no burn either? He nodded his head and gently removed his sleeve. Milena smiled. "Watch!" Concentrating, she lifted her staff, and used Cure, the result of her studying. The wound disappeared slowly, a few seconds later his skin was perfectly normal. One side f Auron's mouth curled upwards. "It's good to see you're making yourself useful."

[Naucoaran]

Fell shrugged when Auron left and went back to the railing. He never preferred a big company but rather solitude, he liked it alone. He took in a deep breath that left the salty taste in his mouth and he spit it into the dark water that they seemed to glide across. Something wasn’t right...He didn't know what but he had that gut feeling. He sighed and started to make his way to his cabin when he thought he saw a shadow cut through under the water. The mage quickly looked at the water again but concluded that he had imagined it all. "I need some sleep..." he mumbled as he walked into his dimly lit cabin.

The room was lit with a single suspended candle, no light filtered in through the tightly closed off windows. He took off the top section of his black robes, trimmed in dark red strips on the seams. His white figure was unappealing and the purple veins that ran his whole body only amplified that affect. He took out the sphere that he had gotten earlier and quickly used it to better his magic skills. He then blew out the candle leaving him on the darkness. He quickly made his way to the bed and fell down on it, finding sleep with more then little trouble.

[Wrath]

It was dark and cold. So frigid, it seemed real. Auron was underwater, and looking up, he could barely see the distant rays of moonlight break the surface. He was breathing...he was breathing in the water and it served him fine.

The hymn of the fayth played as a distant echo in the back of his thoughts. If he focused on it too much, the sound would dissipate, but came back as he got distracted with the coldness of the water. It wasn't long before he heard a familiar voice vibrate throughout his head.

Auron...you have to help me...it's taking over...

Auron snapped out of his sleep and bolted upright, breathing hard and sweating. He slowly eased himself back to his pillow and comforted himself, that he would make a difference this time around. He hadn't contacted Auron very often, so he had to have been close.

Auron spent the reaminder of the evening staring up at the ceiling, until the faint glow of the sun peeked through the cracks of his cabin's door.

[Naucoaran]

Fell woke the next day rather early, or that's what he guessed. He had specially asked that his room be sealed so that nothing could get through except air. The mage groggily put on his shirt, gloves and then glasses. Stepping out side the bright rays of sun bombarded him, making the man slightly dizzy. Leaning against the rail Fell orientated himself and looked around. He was the first out? shrugging it off he stifled a yawn and continued to move about.

Walking to the dining hall, if you could call it that, he plopped down and ate the bad eggs and stale toast. Looking out the window he saw a land form slowly getting closer. "Bout time," he grumbled as he stood up and went to the dorms where the others still probably slept. He knocked on Melenas door first, "Were nearing land, get up." He said then before there was an answer he moved over to Aurons door, "Auron, get up were nearing land," he said, and again without waiting for an answer he went over to the front of the ship and looked at the island that was slowly getting bigger.