Path of a Summoner

Between Kilika and Luca, the trip took a day to complete. The trip to Besaid was shorter, only a few hours, but before they departed again, Wren had business to take care of in Kilika, and wanted some downtime from being on the ferry for a whole day, to stretch her legs.

She took her sphere recorder with her, the other two of them pushing through the fiends prowling the old path to the temple. Though she felt she should have been helping, she had been too excited to stop in the market, and still had no conduit to direct her magic. She would admit to taking some recordings of their movements.

Twill was almost immovable, casting spell after spell without their own conduit, though they carried their spear on their back. Wren guessed that they probably wouldn’t like to be filmed if she asked them to show her some moves with their spear, knowing they were capable of wielding it as well as magic, but it was amazing to watch nonetheless. Wren’s magic wasn’t nearly as powerful, and Twill did all that they did with minimal movement, not allowing the fiends to come near them as they cast. Perhaps they knew Wren was filming, and were trying to keep their identity hidden, or maybe they were really that good.

Merris was almost the exact opposite of Twill. He fought with his fists, and could easily take on a single opponent, darting back and forth despite his size, able to dodge attacks from the formidable ochu plant. He seemed to know just where to hit it in order to stun it, preventing it from attacking, and Wren suspected he knew some kind of magic of his own. His style was impressive, a powerhouse that only needed his own body to survive a scrap with a fiend.

Both of her traveling companions were pretty amazing.

They arrived at the temple. Wren paid her respects to the high summoners, bowing lowly in prayer in respect of their tradition, then disappeared into one of the wings of the outer temple to speak to the clergy inside.

Of the temples in Spira, Kilika was one of the more kept ones. The people of the port town were still divided on the teachings of Yevon, but it did have a dedicated set of followers, and those who never abandoned their work at the temple. As many temples took in those in need, the sick, injured, and orphaned, even becoming a shelter in times of need, the upkeep of a temple in such a small place was important, regardless of belief.

The woman Wren spoke with gave her information about the temples and their upkeep, and the many summoners who had passed through Kilika Temple’s arches, even during her lifetime. She also told her of a former summoner living in Kilika. Wren thanked her for the information, and for allowing her to film, then returned to the others, who waited outside.

Apparently, Merris had some questions for Twill.

“It is because I am a Guado,” Twill answered politely, keeping their voice low.

“Oh?” asked Merris, blinking at them. “Oh yeah, that makes sense. Sorry, man, I was just wondering. I just like to know who I’m traveling with.”

“It’s just the way I choose to dress,” said Twill, shaking their head. “I understand being cautious. I’d normally ask someone to mind their own business, but as I’ve already told Wren, I believe that we should trust each other as long as we are together. That’s why I chose to answer your prodding truthfully.”

“That’s all fine by me,” said Merris, nodding. “I guess all that really matters is that we all watch each other’s backs.”

Wren tilted her head, approaching them. If there was a conflict, they’d worked it out. They were just getting to know each other, taking turns testing the waters.

“I think I’m finished here,” she said, nodding.

“You’re not going inside?” asked Merris.

“In the cloister?” she asked, her eyebrows going up. “No, no, it’s kind of against the rules, plus the inner trials of the temples can be dangerous these days. I think they hire specific people to clean them out every now and then, but I heard the temples have been having troubles with fiends for a few years now. Minor stuff, mostly, but no one really goes in, since the Fayth disappeared when Lady Yuna defeated Sin.”

Merris nodded a little. “Oh yeah, I’d heard that. Djose Temple was having troubles too. I think they got it under control, but now that you mention it, I guess it wasn’t just them.”

“It’s gotten much better since the fiends first appeared,” said Twill. “There used to be very strong ones pouring from inside the temples, but they’ve calmed down, it seems. Mostly all you see now are the little ones.”

Wren gestured towards them for them to follow as she departed the temple. She smiled a little to herself as she prepared her equipment.

“Before we set off again, there’s someone I want to try to meet,” she said. “The priest said that there was a former summoner living in town. If she’s in a mind to speak, I want to try to get some footage from her.”

-

Wren stood before the hut with its hanging cloth drawn aside. Merris had followed her with nothing better to do, but Twill excused themself, leaving just the two of them.

“Lady Dona?” asked Wren softly, though she didn’t peer into the hut for fear of being rude.

There was a shuffling noise from inside, but no one came to the door. This time, Wren did look. The room was empty, it seemed.

“Who are you?” asked a voice from above them.

Wren looked up, stepping back to look at the second floor, where a woman stood on the deck, looking down at them with a hand on her hip. She didn’t appear to be annoyed, per se, but she did look confused, maybe frustrated.

“Are you Lady Dona?”

The woman wrinkled her nose. “Just Dona. If you know who I am, you must know I’m no longer a summoner.”

“Of course! I’m sorry,” said Wren.

“Nevermind that. What have you come here for?” asked Dona. “Wait there.”

Dona disappeared back into the hut, then the sound of someone descending the stairs was heard, before she reappeared in front of Wren, studying the two before her critically.

“My name is Wren, I’m making a movie sphere about the summoners and their pilgrimage, and I was wondering if I could ask a few questions?” she asked.

Dona frowned slightly, looking at her for a moment. “I... suppose so.”

“Both of you come in,” she said, stepping aside.

It was nice to be in the shade again, Wren thought.

“What about you?” asked Dona, pointing at Merris.

Merris blinked, surprised when it suddenly turned on him. “Oh, I’m, uh. Just hired hands.”

“We’re traveling together,” said Wren, laughing quietly. “I can’t fight for myself very well, so I asked around for people willing to escort me while I do my research.”

Dona gave a small hum, then offered both of them a seat, taking her own seat on the bed.

“Alright... so what do you want to know?”

Wren sat down and pulled out a pencil and paper instead from her bag, thinking. “Well... why did you become a summoner?”

“Starting from the beginning, huh? Hmmmm....” Dona made a face like she expected that, then began to think about it, pursing her lips tightly.

“I grew up with the temple, first of all. I didn’t have much choice on that front, naturally. But apart from that, it’s hard to put into words. I can’t say that wanting to receive praise for my work wasn’t a small part of it, but I guess I felt a sense of duty,” she said. “I used to tend the temple here, when I was little. I saw summoners come and go, and I guess I was inspired by them. I wanted to be the one to defeat Sin, after Lord Braska’s Calm. It was what I knew, and I was willing to work for it.”

Wren hummed, almost in agreement.

“And... how did your journey end, if you don’t mind?” asked Wren.

Dona sighed quietly. “In the end, I pulled out of the race before it was even over. One of Lady Yuna’s guardians, a boy, spoke to me after... Well, first, I should mention, for a time, summoners were disappearing from the roads mysteriously. It’s not uncommon for summoners to die on their pilgrimage, but not in such numbers. It was a handful of us who had been kidnapped by the Al Bhed in an effort to protect us.”

Merris snorted at that, nodding. “Yeah, I remember that. I wasn’t at Home when it was destroyed, but I knew about a group from Home scouting out summoners and their guardians, taking them off the roads.”

Dona glanced at him briefly before continuing. “Right, and then the Guado attacked the Al Bhed Home. Most of the survivors escaped on their airship, but it was hard on all of us. After talking to that boy, I decided not to continue my pilgrimage. My confidence shouldn’t have been shaken so easily, but after being shown up, kidnapped, and then nearly killed, I didn’t know how much more I could take. I counted my blessings, and decided to leave it to the others. It just... wasn’t for me, anymore. After all that time training, right?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” said Wren, smiling softly. “You’re alive... You just made the best choice for yourself.”

“Well, for myself, but also for my guardian,” said Dona. “I had to think for both of us. I wonder what might have happened if I hadn’t quit, sometimes, but a summoner’s life is dangerous. It might easily have ended in tragedy.”

“What are your thoughts on Yevon now that you are no longer a summoner?” she asked.

Dona made a face as she thought on that one for a few moments. “I’m... cautious. I’m disappointed that many of the things I once trusted turned out to be false, and I can’t trust the practice any longer.”

She frowned, then continued. “However, my guardian, Barthello, is still a follower of Yevon, and I’ve had to make peace with that. But I’m willing to be supportive, within reason. I owe that to him.”

“That’s amazing,” murmured Wren, smiling at her. “Sorry, it’s not really my business, I know, but it’s really great that you’re so close. The bond between a summoner and their guardian is really amazing.”

Dona seemed embarrassed, and waved her hand to try to brush her comments aside, snorting. “It’s not that special. It’s the least anyone could do for another person.”

“That’s fine,” said Wren. “I really appreciate your answers.”

The questioning went on for several more minutes, and Dona cooperated easily. She was occasionally sensitive on certain subjects, but she was polite to the young recorder, and answered as honestly as she could. Wren could tell she had a certain amount of pride, and that she was fiercely competitive, but Dona was very relaxed as she spoke to her. It surprised her that she had viewed High Summoner Yuna with such a harsh rivalry.

A large man entered the hut, carrying a proportionately large fish in his arms, wrapped in a cloth, but the smell gave it away instantly. He looked at the two strangers sitting in his home, then looked to Dona, blinking in surprise.

Dona explained the gist of it quickly, introducing the man as her former guardian, Barthello. Evidently, he was now a fisherman by trade. The work day had been slow, but now it was time for dinner, and he had brought a lucky catch of considerable size with him.

Wren and Merris were invited to stay for dinner, and politely accepted, informing them as well that they’d like to take something home to Twill as well. The fish was huge and fatty, so there was plenty for everyone after cooking, and the couple offered the remaining fish to the two travelers, and sent them off to the travel agency with their leftovers.

Dona stopped Wren before she left. “I doubt you came to Kilika just to see me, correct? You’re going to see the high summoner in Besaid, aren’t you?”

It was Wren’s turn to be embarrassed. “A priest from the temple advised me to come here. It was a happy accident, but I want to include accounts of as many summoners as I come across. Lady Yuna is... kind of like my hero, I guess. I’m sorry if I’ve insulted you.”

“No, I’m not bothered by that,” she said, shaking her head. “Everyone in Spira owes her their gratitude at least, I really don’t care. I’m just someone who got outshined by her work, I don’t expect recognition for my failed pilgrimage.”

She frowned a little, but continued. “Just be sure you’re prepared to deal with her guardians. Two of them live in the same village, and it is the Blitzball off season...”

Wren’s eyes widened for a second. “Oh! So Sir Tidus will be there? I completely forgot to make the connection between the season ending and him visiting home...”

“You don’t sound that surprised, though. Have you met him before?” she asked.

“Once or twice,” admitted Wren. “I shoot most of the games, so I meet a lot of the players, if only in passing... He’s kind of intimidating. I’m a little nervous about seeing him outside of bumping into him on the job...”

“You won’t have to worry about him, it’s the others you’ll have to get through to see Yuna,” laughed Dona. “She’s a busy girl. World famous. It will take some convincing. If you need to use my name, tell them that I’ll vouch for you. And they can make the trip over here to prove it.”

“Thank you,” said Wren, smiling. She turned away, waving goodbye to the other woman.

“Don’t miss the ferry out of here,” said Dona. “It sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”