Chasing Eternal Calm - A FFX Roleplay [Aorigami & RyuHll]

[RyuHll]

Renok shook his head. "Eilie went up...Kato went outside, I think," he replied, scratching the back of his head. He shivered at hearing the thunder crash again. "How he can stand this weather, growing up on an airship, is beyond me..." He looked down at what he had been trying to do to busy himself. He was taking apart his rifle, cleaning the separate pieces so they'd be ready next time he needed to fight. Of course, the rain must be hard on the weapons so this area made him pay more attention to their condition. It was also a good way to keep himself distracted from the lightning and thunder.

Kato, for his part, had taken a spot outside, letting the rain come over him as he tried to concentrate. He reached up to undo the bandage, but thought against it, letting his arms dropped. He could see why Renok was so frightened. Though, he had always been calmed by rain. It helped him clear his thoughts. Well, that was before he had lost his sight. Now it just muddled his senses. He couldn't sense as well with the rain and thunder.

[Aorigami]

"Oh, okay..." Sera stepped back as the Al-Bhed returned to his activity, feeling a tad bit intimidated by his rifle. Nevertheless, she offered him a sheepish smile before retreating. "Try to get some rest, all right?"

Sera saw Kato almost immediately after exiting the hut. She was carrying an umbrella lent to her by the clerk, though the reason why the Crusader's Hut still bothered to provide one was slightly beyond the summoner's understanding. Some say that storm that plagued the Thunder Plains is an eternal one, and it's as much a curse as Sin itself. Nevertheless, Sera opened the umbrella and reached it out to above Kato's head when she got close enough to the blind Al-Bhed.

"A penny for your thoughts?" she asked.

[RyuHll]

Kato was surprised. He didn't even feel Sera approach him. This land was dangerous for him. Not that it was a bad surprise to be near Sera. He smiled gently at hearing her voice. "It's nothing. We're close to the end of our journey. One more temple and we head to Zanarkand," he explained. He stepped closer to her, letting her stay more easily under the umbrella.

[Aorigami]

"Yes. We've gone already quite far, haven't we?" Sera smiled faintly. "I heard the temple in Macalania is really beautiful as well. It is said that the Macalania Woods and its surrounding are blessed and protected by many fayth. That's why the place always looks so pristine and magical. Many accomplished writers from different parts of Spira travelled at least once through the forest in search of ideas."

Sera stopped then, realizing that she was babbling. "I'm sorry," she said then, looking down at the muddy ground. "I wish that... you would be able to see it, too."

She looked back up to Kato a moment later. "I should thank you. If I didn't meet you back then in Bevelle port, I probably wouldn't be able to get this far," she said before pausing a bit. The tone of her voice turned slightly gloomier. "Kato, are you going with us to Zanarkand as well?"

[RyuHll]

Kato smiled a bit. He moved in front of her, taking hold of her free hand lightly. "Don't apologize," he said softly. "I've been able to see quite a bit traveling with you. I can't physically see, but I like to think it was still quite an experience. Especially travelling with you. Honestly, I should be thanking you for letting me come with you." He paused then, thinking about Zanarkand. Did he really want to travel that far? To his destroyed homeland?

The answer was kind of simple. "I'll be going to Zanarkand, yes," he said. Though, he didn't say he was going with them. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to after what he had done in Guadosalam.

[Aorigami]

Sera's smile widened momentarily at Kato's answer. Then she let out a sigh and placed his hand on her cheek. The feeling of his battle-hardened palm brushing against her cheek was a calming contact. "I know it might be hard for you to be in Zanarkand... But we will all be there, too," she said softly. "You don't have to face everything alone anymore."

[RyuHll]

Kato was quiet for a moment. But then he reached up his other arm, pulling her to him lightly. He bowed his head to her a bit and smiled again. "Thank you, Lady Sera. I truly do appreciate it," he said softly. "You've been so kind to me despite how...off setting I can be. Any reasonable person would have cast me out from their group after the attack..." He bowed his head a bit more, his lips touching the top of her head. "Thank you." He couldn't bring himself to tell her that he wouldn't be going with her. That his problems had to be dealt with by himself alone.

[Aorigami]

Sera felt her cheeks warmed slightly the moment Kato's lips touched her scalp. It wasn't the first time that the both of them got into such close proximity - what happened at the Mushroom Rocks was a perfect example - but it was the first time that the summoner felt as if something shifted in her chest when they did. Did Kato felt the same too? She shook the thought away from her head and then smiled gently at the guardian.

"Shall we return back into the hut and rest?" suggested the summoner. "We have a long way ahead of us."

[RyuHll]

Kato smiled and gave a nod. Rest would be good for him. It'd give him time to think of what he'd have to do next. With Seymour gone, he'd have to think of the consequences. Yevonites would be up in arms about it. And, the worse part was, Sera would be linked to it. Silently, he let that thought settle in as he walked back with her, keeping the happy facade until he reached his own room, letting Sera leave for the night. Once he was alone, though, he let it settle, trying his best to get some sleep.

THe next morning wasn't any better. He still thought the same way and realized what he might need to do to help her. It was hard for him, but he had to accept it. It was doubtful that they would reach Zanarkand together. Despite this, he put on his normal facade once more, hiding his feelings as he went down to meet with the other Guardians, ready to continue their journey towards Macalania.

[Aorigami]

In the morning, Sera woke up feeling more well rested that she ever felt since starting the pilgrimage. When she joined the others in the lobby, Eilie was ready with a bag full of supply. When asked if it would weigh her down when walking across the rest of the Thunder Plains, she simply snorted and said she was used to carrying weights because of her trainings as a Crusader. Having found no argument to retaliate with that, Sera left her be until the group departed out of the hut and into the showering rain, resuming their journey to Macalania.

It took Sera and her guardians another full day until they walked past the Plains. On reaching the dry but dim part of Macalania Woods, the summoner suggested that they camped for the night. "There should be a really lake somewhere near here, where many pyreflies gather." She paused to try looking past the thick vegetation that came into their way, where she had seen a glimpse of pyrefly lurking about. "Maybe we can find interesting spheres."