Come, Anima!

baajisms​:

“Truly, in the end the others in my place had survived. Freed to live as they please. But had I let fear overcome me I would not be standing here talking to you.” 

She continued to listen as the woman spoke. So. This world was called Spira, certainly far away from the forests she once knew. And the forest she was in ran along this area called Moonflow and a city Guadosalam. Odd names for places though she did think Moonflow sounded like a very pretty name. Amalthea then shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I had left my own forest and cannot return, so leaving will not be a problem.”

She’d be fine. Amalthea was grateful for this woman’s concern but she could handle herself. “I do not want to stay if fiends whatever they may be prowl here though. And if I head with you towards the city, perhaps it would be better if I take on another form. As walking into a city with a unicorn perhaps would raise questions.” And it would be no problem for her to change into her other form of a woman. 

“I hope that brings you some comfort.” She mean that sincerely. It must had been a great feeling to be able to experience, if the creature was able to feel it at the time. “Fear can be a powerful emotion, I’m glad you were able to overcome it.”

Even as the creature seemed to mirror a human characteristic, Anna couldn’t help but admire the beauty and the grace in it. Such a beautiful thing that stood in front of her and only now was she able to appreciate it’s beauty. “So long as it does not bother you.” It seemed that even a different forest bore no comfort. The differences must have been striking if one knew what to look for. Not that Anna would be comfortable leaving the other in such a place. Hearing that such a being later wound up dead would forever leave a mark on her consciousness.

“Perhaps. You mentioned before that you were able to change, will you be alright?” Anna wondered if it was painful to do such a change. “Maybe we should find a more secluded place for you to change. If a stranger happens to wander past, I might get labelled as something more than I am. Much less, you might get labelled as something someone wants to capture.” Neither would be ideal and Anna didn’t want the creatures experience with Spira to be tainted but such an act. While Spira had indeed changed, she wondered if it had changed enough. For if someone wandered past while a creature such as this changed into a human, they might brand Anna as a new type of mage. She had wanted her new life to be one of peace and rumours like that wouldn’t help.

“Will you be...” There was no easy way to say her next question. “Will you be clothed when you are human, my dear?”

@baajisms​ ♡’d!

     Blurred memories tried to make their way through, though Vanille couldn’t make sense of any of them. Slowly, she drifted back into consciousness, the wet sensation of water becoming apparent when it began to sting in her nose. Startled, she inhaled, causing herself to choke and cough. Thankfully, the water wasn’t very deep, so she must’ve been washed ashore – even if it was dark and she could barely see a thing, she began to crawl out, just to get out of the water for now. She assumed it was nighttime, though she wasn’t really sure. Perhaps her senses have yet to fully return to her after whatever it is that knocked her out. Finally, she stood, still letting out a few small coughs.

          “Ahh, where am I~?”

Taking a walk along the docks of Luca had become one of her favourite past times. Having spent the majority of the day in the shop, Anna nearly always felt the need to get out for a walk sometime during the evening. While she loved the smell of the flowers, sometimes they got a little overpowering. The sea breeze was the perfect aroma to counterbalance it. It was toward the edge of the docks, where the docks and the concrete ended, that Anna heard a sputtering, coughing and something that didn’t sound like the usual crash of waves. Edging a little bit further, being careful not to get too close in case it was a fiend, Anna peered into the darkness. Granted, the darkness didn’t help her with trying to see who was making the noise, but she could make out the same of a human all the same. The words that travelled toward her confirmed it as much.

“Are you alright over there? It’s not well lit around here and you could hurt yourself being that close to the water.”

It was true. There wasn’t much light around this part of Luca, though there probably should have been. It was still part of the docks and to avoid any ships potentially crashing into the main city, there needed to be plenty of light. 

“Come, let me help you. Mind your footing.”

Now that she was sure a fiend hadn’t washed up on shore, though why would it, Anna confidentially moved forward. A hand outstretched as an offer of help for the uneven ground between where the person stood and the pathway where Anna was.

baajisms​:

» ⑆ ❀  “ Perhaps that I am so caught up in the what-ifs that I’m not focusing on the present. I’m also worried that if I were to use an Aeon against Sin, would Sin use the Aeon to be reincarnated? I would presume not— but we never had this path before. I’m going to remain hopeful for this.” Sighing heavily, Yuna stared at her dirtied black boots. “ I just… Don’t understand why our Maesters would keep a false belief around knowing that innocent lives would be taken forever.”

 It really was no use to worry about it. Her questions would go unanswered. 

 “ They were dead themselves. It makes no sense, Anima,” head resting against the paint chipped wall, eyes looking up at the ceiling above, “ what would happen if Spira noticed they were not with the living but among the dead? Would the people have revolted in fear? I wonder if my father knew the truth. I assume Auron knew all the along and hoped I would make the right choice—- huh?” 

 “ The path…? At first, it was a way of thanking the temples for taking care of me, for being closer to my father, and hope that I could give his wish of ending it all… But throughout the pilgrimage, I realized how selfish Spira has become. Maesters for themselves, people praising so high of Summoners after they had shunned them. They turned their back on my father for marrying an Al Behd and had me. Once he chose to become one, they thought of him as a fool… Then he brought a calm.” Hands clenched. It pissed Yuna off.

 Braska went through hell, suffering every waking moment to give a world where Yuna could be herself. “ Then they treated me like I was fragile. I was his blood, daughter of the High Summoner… I wasn’t Yuna. I was Braska’s daughter. That was all I was ever known as.” Yuna’s eyes darken slightly, wishing she was raised as someone else. “ Now, I will gladly die for the people of Spira to prevent their tragedy. I will give them a reason to live instead of surviving. That is my new purpose. Whether my father had wanted me to follow his footsteps or not, it is my decision to make. No one can take that from me.”

 While Yuna loved her father dearly— she wished he was here instead of risking his life. “ Can you tell me about Seymours? You were supposed to be his Final Aeon, and yet… I had to kill your son to prevent him from ever becoming Sin, that is if he hasn’t tried to follow us again. I… I’m really sorry for that.”

She felt the young woman’s words in her soul. There had been countless times, even when she was so sure of herself and the actions she’d chosen, that she had wondered about the ‘what-ifs’. What if the Guado had accepted her and Seymour instead of shunning them? What if they had stayed in Guadosalam that little bit longer? What if she hadn’t forced Seymour on his pilgrimage. There had been some days when those questions had swamped her mind and threatened to overwhelm her. She had managed to push through, but it had taken her being a Fayth for her to do it fully. She would not wish others to do the same purely for that purpose. But, Anima had come to the conclusion that it was not worth dwelling on such things. Their actions had led them to this moment. They had chosen their path and they must walk it.

“What-ifs are a part of life, Yuna. While it can be necessary to think about them to help us reflect on our chosen course of action, thinking about them too much stops you from being able to appreciate the present and look to the future.” It was something Anima learned too little, too late. Hopefully Yuna would not make the same mistake. “I cannot answer that, I know about as much as you in that regard. We will have to experience it together.” She was a Final Aeon, but would a Final Aeon used in the wrong person’s hands be enough for Yu Yevon? She wasn’t sure. She didn’t think so. Yu Yevon needed that bond, the strength, between the Final Aeon and the summoner. Without that, Anima doubted it would be the same. But she couldn’t be sure. 

“I can only speculate at their motivations at keeping that information close to their chest. As can you. Neither of us will truly know their intentions other than them wanting to perpetuate the cycle. To keep everyone enveloped in the embrace of Yevon for as long as possible.” With how indoctrinated Spira had become under Yevon, Anima wondered whether the people would revolt. Perhaps she had too little faith in the people considering they had seemingly not changed much. While humans and the Guado had accepted Seymour as a Maester and the leader of the Guado, they still actively shunned the Al Bhed. If they had found out what Seymour had done and that the majority of the Maesters were dead, would they truly be that shocked? Would there be some great revolution? Would their faith be shattered enough for them to raise up? Part of her doubted greatly, but perhaps Yuna was right. Perhaps her optimism was in the right place this time. 

She let the young woman talk. The words seemed to flow out of mouth well enough. It was interesting Yuna’s reasoning and she could draw parallels between her story and Seymour’s. Anima knew how and why Seymour had become the way he had, but she wondered what it would’ve been like if he hadn’t. It was one of the what-if scenarios that she had looped around in her head in the early days of becoming a Fayth. It had reappeared once she had learned what sort of man he had become, after he’d finally accepted her Fayth. “That is very noble of you, Yuna.” It seemed to tiptoe on the line between selfless and selfish. Selfless in the respect that she was still willing to go through with defeating Sin, despite not knowing how it would end and after the way the rest of Spira had treated her. Selfish in the sense that she was doing it for her own reasons and not because of what anyone else said she should do. She could’ve quit a number of times and didn’t. 

baajisms​:

The question was brought up as Fang had them crest a hill. Over in the distance a log cabin stood along with a small lean too and a shed. Hearing Anna, the woman turned and nodded her head in the direction of the buildings. It was obvious it was only a few yards off and then they could rest. Fang intended to set the horses out into the small corral and get them some feed out once Anna was able to relax a bit.

“Right ahead. We’ll dismount and then I can help you get settled.” Her horse pushed on ahead and within minutes Fang was dismounted. The pack horse remained by the house as she left it ground tied along with her own horse. The two stayed still and watched her move to the front of the house and inside.

Taking a look through, Fang had her gun in hand just to make sure a clear sweep of the small place was clear. Once satisfied, she opened some of the windows to air out the place a bit. It was a bit stuffy and Fang set to work dusting out the things that needed it. Her work was quick taking count of the bedroom and the small kitchen with a main room. There was also a small room where a bare washroom was. An old school tub which would need to be hand filled from buckets at the water pump out to the side of the house. There was only one bed given it was a cabin on a string line for the ranch of her grandfather’s. There had been no need to make it fancy and large when only a hand or two were able to rest there for a few weeks at a time.

Stepping back outside, Fang rolled up her sleeves and glanced toward Anna. “It’s all clear and safe inside. Feel free to stretch out and get yourself comfortable however you wish. There is an outhouse not too far from the cabin in the back, and a washroom inside once I get it set with water in the bowls. If you need a bath, I’ll get to work bringing in the water from the pump.”

It would be rustic yes, but they were safe from any harm out this far from other people.

It seemed her questioning was in vain as they crested the hill. She had asked a few seconds too soon. It didn’t mean she regretted it, for they could have been another hour away and Anna would’ve been none the wiser. Whether Fang could see her nod was another question but Anna felt no need to reply back. She could feel her legs aching already and she wasn’t even off the horse. It would take a few moments for her to get used to being on her own too feet again. She supposed Fang was used to this.

Once they were outside the house, Anna dismounted as gracefully as she could. Thankfully, she didn’t get tangled in the stirrups or the reigns so both feet hit the ground without her tumbling over. She still held onto the reigns for a few moments to regain her balance though. The pressure on her thighs was gone but even after a couple of hours riding, her legs felt off. Leading the mare over to where the other two horses were, she thought it best not to try tying it up like Fang had. Having little idea of how to properly tie horses up, she didn’t want to attempt to, only for the mare to end up untied and off somewhere in the woods in the middle of the night. Anna figured as long as she kept an eye on the animal, she would be okay to stay where she was for the time being.

Fang had seemed to have gotten the good idea of checking the house for possible intruders. Without having to say a word, the woman had already gone off to do it. Part of Anna relaxed slightly at that. She had learned well. The house didn’t seem terribly big, so it was no surprise that Fang returned rather quickly. Perhaps it was the demounting that had kept Anna busy that she hadn’t noticed the time go by. 

At the mention of an outhouse, Anna’s ears perked up. If she hadn’t needed to relieve herself before, she did now. “I may need to visit the outhouse sooner rather than later. Would you mind sorting the washroom out first?” She paused, contemplating whether she wanted a bath now or later. “A bath would be much appreciated. Perhaps a little later on though.” She needed to stretch out her legs anyway and a walk to the bathroom and then around the house would be beneficial. She doubted the house was big enough that Fang would need to give her the tour. Anna would be able to find out where things were easily enough.

“Would you mind tying her up? I would have done it myself but I’m afraid my skills at tying up equestrians are minimal.” She gestured at the mare she had ridden in one, her tone taking on a teasing edge to it. “I’ll find you once I’ve finished getting settled. If there’s anything I can do to help unpack, I’ll be more than willing to help.” She wasn’t adverse to getting her hands dirty. Even if there wasn’t too much to unpack, there was bound to be something she could help out with. Would Fang let her though? Anna had a gut feeling that she’d take it all in stride and not let her lift a finger but perhaps the feeling would be wrong. She hadn’t brought much with her to relax with. A couple of books, maybe throw in a walk or two around the area. They weren’t there for all that long, but Anna still had the nagging urge to spend her time working and to do something. Perhaps it was a side effect of constantly working the past few months that meant she’d developed this feeling. Like this trip could’ve been spent doing something for the Guado or tracking down someone that needed seeing to or developing a relationship with a potential client. She felt like she needed to be doing something, anything, more than she currently was.

With a soft sigh, she turned and left Fang to do what she wished.

She made her way to the outhouse. It didn’t take her long and the walk helped her legs feel a lot sturdier. She did her business and before long, she had made it back to the house. Opening the door and taking a step instead, she was greeted by a sparsely decorated home. It didn’t bother Anna too much, it made the place seem rustic. Her own home had never been overly decorated and she wasn’t one for things cluttering up space. “Fang?” She called. The door closed behind her and she stepped further into what she guessed at was the living room. “I’m going to freshen up in the washroom. Is there anything I can help with?”

baajisms​:

“I’m not that far into the dark, although I have moments if I am shoved hard enough to get into that sort of mindset.” It was best to be honest and Fang was always that way toward her new boss. While they were still learning one another, the woman made certain she was an open book for Anna on any questions or concerns that had to be brought up. Fang could shift into a darker mindset in order to get more dangerous things handled. She was not one to shy away from making others scream if she had to, it just took getting into a solid mind to handle it.

Fang had always been a bit more warm to those that earned that right to see her. She had been kind to friends and family before being wrapped up into Anna’s life as a bodyguard. Her warmth still remained toward Anna and would eventually grow to involve those in the Guado as a whole. It would take time however for that but Fang would mix in just fine after getting through growing hurdles and learning how things worked in Japan properly.

“Those after you wouldn’t know my killing style yet or how swift I work. They won’t connect the dots.” Fang had been quite thorough in her job in dispatching the trouble. Working with those who had also come with Anna to her land, she made it clean and unknown. Knowing some background in keeping details away from being detected, she had worked in tandem well with the other bodyguards to keep things hushed. It was progress to show she had a chance to one day blend in with them all.

As the subject changed, Fang rose from her bed and adjusted her hooded sweatshirt sleeves down over her tattoo and along her other arm. She felt a slight chill and kept warmth that way. She listened as Anna spoke about the countryside in Japan for a moment as well as the remark of choosing to go with her back to her homeland. Since being picked as an American bodyguard, the Yun woman had kept Anna out of trouble and kept them blended in well enough. It would take time to adjust to life in Japan but she wouldn’t be able to go back to a normal life once it was discovered an American was around the Guado as a whole. People would eventually connect those tiny dots to realize she was who the details meant.

“ I will have to discover that peace and I intend to travel with you. I know the others will have to adjust to me as I have to with them, but I’m your guard. Where you go, I go.”

A wan smile pushed at her lips at Fang’s comment. Some of the other members were of a similar nature. Push them hard enough and the line between animal and human blurred for them. Thankfully, it didn’t happen often. Members of the family were often respectful, which seemed to throw those that they were harming. Fang was the exception to this. From being outside of the underground crime circuit for one and for not being introduced as a Guado should be, she was an anomaly. “Many of my family might consider otherwise. But it is good to know you don’t consider yourself too far gone.” Especially after what Anna had consistently put her through. It took a strong mind to be able to deal with this sort of job.

And part of her was glad Fang had stuck it out for as long as she had.

She was sure word had spread of Anna’s new bodyguard. An unseen face, one with a unique style of dispatching her leader’s enemies. It wasn’t something that was part of the Guado’s usual style, so who could it be? It was this reason that Anna enjoyed bringing in new blood from outside of the Guado’s usual style. It kept their enemies on their toes and taught the current members new ways of thinking. It would stop them growing stale and would keep their minds fresh. “The rumours that I’ve heard so far are still trying to decide what to make of you. You’re way of doing things are similar to that of the Guado, but not similar enough to make them think you are one of us.” A sense of pride edged into her words. “I think we have a few more weeks, if not a few months, before they connect the dots yet. Provided we don’t give away anything too obvious.” She knew her enemies weren’t stupid. They would figure out the connection sooner or later.

The jacket was rather warming and she found herself a lot warmer than she had before. She dared not take it off though, in case the chill came back and she was forced to put it on again. The weather hadn’t been the greatest that day and the despite the warmer weather they’d previously had, this seemed to be an anomaly. Not that she minded. It reminded her of home. It was small comforts like that that kept her feeling connected. 

“That is...good to know.” Originally, Anna hadn’t intended to take Fang back with her. Their situation was only intended to stay in America. But it had gotten to a point where that was no longer possible. Fang knew too much and it would pose a risk to the Guado if Anna left her in America. The amount of trouble they could find themselves in, even back in Japan, if Fang decided to switch sides was more trouble than bringing Fang back with her. “Though I had hoped...” She trailed off, a sense of awkwardness setting in. Perhaps she was lying to herself with thinking that they’d be able to shirk their duties to go to the countryside. Perhaps she was optimistic in thinking a job would take them out there. The slight optimism surprised her, she thought she’d run out of that. 

Standing, she walked back over to the window and looking out it. Trying to find the best possible words to describe it. “I had hoped I could show you without the job following us.” The words were quieter, almost as if they were spoken to her reflection in the glass rather than Fang herself. But Anna knew that wasn’t possible. The job would always follow them around. “I know that isn’t possible, so perhaps the best we can hope for is that our job will take us out there.”

“Things will be difficult, in your case.” She was still trying to wrap her mind round what the beast was. Spira was full of a variety of fiends and her initial thoughts had been that maybe it was a new kind. But then it talked. The fact that it had talked had knocked her theory of it being a special kind of fiend out of the window. Whatever it was, it did not seem to be dangerous to Anna.

“I cannot being to imagine what you must go through. To change between one thing and another would be terribly confusing.” Not to mention if this…unicorn could transform into a being unknown to them. To experience things that another of their kind could not, Anna was admittedly struggling to come up with a relatable experience. Or any proper words of wisdom that seemed to fit this beasts situation. “I cannot say that you will grow used to it, for you may never do so. But perhaps I may offer some guidance when you are in your new form, especially when you experiencing a new world.”

It had been so difficult. To adjust, to accept what had happened to her. There had even been a brief time where she almost completely lost herself, almost turning into a mortal woman forever. The unicorn nodded to the woman. “It was something I did not choose by choice. Rather it was too save my life from a rather frightening creature. Forgive me I have lived a long time and have experienced many things.” 

Amalthea listened as the woman spoke. At first she did not like the change, it was strange and new and frightening. Perhaps she would never grow used to it but it was a part of who she was now. Though if this woman could offer her some guidance then she would gladly accept it. “Please do. Any sort of guidance is appreciated. I never wanted to leave my wood before but I have there are new worlds and places to be explored. Tell me, what is the name of this place I am in now?”

That was disheartening to say the least. Such a beautiful creature transformed into something that wasn’t of her own volition. At least it survived to tell the tale. To see another day. To get transformed back into what it was meant to see. “I’m sorry to hear about that. Yet, here you stand, alive to speak about it and as what you meant to be. Such cannot be said for many others that might have been in your place.” It was nice to feel the slight optimism in herself again. She had long wondered if it was even still there.

“The name of this world is Spira. You are currently in the forests that run along the Moonflow and to the city of Guadosalam.” It was quite fortunate that the creature had come from a forest and now found itself in one again. That was how Anna saw it. “You need not leave if you don’t feel safe to. Though fiends do prowl this forest, so I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving you by yourself.” While she had been a skilled white mage, physical strength had never been her strong suit. Perhaps the creature was best suited for Guadosalam. She had seen many different species pass through there and perhaps one such as her companion might be more unnoticed there then anywhere else. 

“May I suggest we head towards the city? I was headed there initially to visit a friend.” 

baajisms​:

          「 I see, 」 she murmurs softly, nodding a bit. (She wondered, idly, what it looked like.) The inquiry that follows has Yeul growing sheepish, fidgeting a bit. 「 I … don’t know how to get there, 」 she admits, shaking her head. 「 And no one has been around in so long to ask… . 」 The words that come next have a murmur of surprise escaping, though there’s a hopeful gleam in her eyes. 「 Can I … ? 」    

The girl gave off a sheepish vibe after Anima’s probing. Perhaps she had inadvertently touched a nerve with her line of questioning. However, it was the girl’s next words that gave Anima pause and reconsider her initial thoughts. “Well, that can be easily remedied. I ” She wondered why the other Fayth had ceased to communicate with the long forgotten one. Perhaps it was because she was long forgotten and no summoner came to see her anymore. Perhaps it was her inability to go into the Dream. Whatever the reason, Anima couldn’t let such a sweet natured young girl sit on the side lines any longer. 

A smile crept up on her lips at the hopeful gleam in the other’s eyes. “I see no reason not to. You are a Fayth as much as I.” Neither knew of the other’s origins. Neither had gotten to that point in their conversations and Anima relished in the fact that the conversation could wait until another time. Picking at old wounds wouldn’t help them in their current situation. “Granted, my talents at entering the dream are not as refined as some of the other Fayth, but I can tell my process.” Partially due to the other Fayth having been around a lot longer than her. They’d had hundreds of years, whereas Anima had only had a few. She had felt like a child compared to them at first.

It had been difficult at first. She’d had not recollection of what Zanarkand, real or otherwise, had looked like. She’d heard the stories, yes, but they could’ve been myth for all she knew. Tales spun by Yevon to give a false illusion of what they deemed Zanarkand to be. “In the beginning, I found closing my eyes helped.” As a matter, she still did, provided she had manifested herself physically. Even when she hadn’t the illusion of closing her eyes and letting herself drift off had helped. “And usually I’ve found it easier to enter when we’re not manifesting physically, but it is doable when we are. Even when I’m not in Spira, the thought of closing my eyes helped too.” Anima didn’t really know how to describe the feeling. It felt like being pulled into a dream, but not. There usually had to be a conscious effort to go into the dream, but she had always felt the call to go as well. Like there all she needed to do was open a door, walk through and there she was.

“In truth, it is a little difficult to describe,” Perhaps this was the best way to start; by being honest. “When nobody is calling on my Aeon, my consciousness seems to drift toward it, as if I’m being pulled toward it by some unseen force. It feels peaceful and exhilarating all at once.” If she tried her best to describe what the process was like for her, the young woman would be able to conjure up the feeling as well. “Though I do not automatically go into the dream, I’ve always found that there’s a door there. If I choose to go into the dream, all I have to do is open it. If I don’t, it remains closed.” She wasn’t entirely convinced by the words the left her mouth, but it was the best she could do. “Sometimes it feels like I’m walking into a dream. Do you remember what they felt like? Dreams, I mean. Even more so when you realised that you were dreaming?” Anima wasn’t sure how long the girl had been a Fayth. Was it silly of her to ask if the other remembered what dreams felt like? 

“That’s how this Dream Zanarkand feels. You know it’s not real, but part of your brain convinces you that it is. In this case, you have to step into that feeling to be able to go there. The more you visit, the stronger the connection becomes. It becomes like second nature to visit and you do not have to think about it as much.” 

“ the lines begin to show when we feel broken to move on we have to drop the pieces we’re holding. ” / @baajisms​ lyric starter. 

Anna doubted the maiden knew of her past, how could she? It did not stop the words from piercing deep within her. To swirl the thoughts that had already made their way into her mind around a little bit more. For her to enjoy the new chance at life, perhaps she would need to drop the pieces of the past that she was holding onto. If she didn’t allow herself to move on from the past, she would be sure to find it seeping into her daily routine again.

“You are correct. If I do not let go of it now, perhaps I will never allow myself to.” She didn’t admit it with a heavy heart. There was no sag of her shoulders. She took it all in stride. There was no point in letting herself feel defeated over what had happened in the past any longer. It had happened and the best she could do was to grow from it. “Thank you.” She turned to the young woman. “I didn’t realise I was still holding onto things that I should have let go weeks ago.” 

“You may not need to use words to tell me that we are drawing to a close on our journey together. Pray tell me, young summoner, how are you feeling as we draw nearer?” Every time they connected, each time Yuna summoned her Aeon, Anima could feel how close they were to defeating Sin. She did not know the details. The conversations the two of them had had were not detailed in that regard. Rarely had they a chance to speak like this. The Guardians the Summoner chose kept her entertained enough, as did the other Fayth. Whatever the young woman did in how own time, Anima wasn’t privy. She could feel the drain on the woman though. But whether that was emotional, spiritual or phyiscal, she couldn’t identify right now.

“Are you resting enough for the final battle? I will lend you my strength, of course, but your endurance must be enough to bear the brunt of what will happen.” In truth, Anima had no idea what lay in wait for them at the end of this. This was an unknown. A branch that had never been explored before. Yuna had no Final Aeon. The closest thing she had was Anima herself. Though this was not all that Anima longed to talk about, the summoner’s health was just as important. They were alone, thankfully, which gave Anima a bit more leeway with trying to get the answers she sought. She wished to know more about the young womany’s journey prior to becoming a Summoner. Why did she choose this path?

» ⑆ ❀ Rest forced upon by the others knowing very well how their Summoner would lie saying she was fine; that she could push on through exhaustion, yet the moment they had left her alone, Yuna slouched against a hard surface with her heavy shoulders drooping. There was no reason to lie to a Fayth that entrusted her with their Aeon— since the trust was important. “ I am well as any other Summoner. Ready for Sin’s defeat once and for all.” Masking how exhausted Yuna was. “ I suppose some rest would do well. I would be of no use if I were to crumble before Sin.” 

 “ I have been unable to sleep well as of late, Anima. Worried that what we have done will allow Sin to come back once again- however if that is the case and I were to somehow survive, I will gladly come back to fight Sin again, and again as much as it takes.” Using Aeons continuously was great for bonding and strength— only in return to wearing Yuna out if her health wasn’t in excellent condition. 

 Braska’s young smiled. No matter what– with Anima’s help, with the other Fayths help, they would rid of Sin. Though… Yuna was worried about what would happen to them afterward. Would they cross to the Farplanes? Remain forever in their temples? Shaking those thoughts away. “ Is something the matter, Anima?” Concerned. “ Is everything okay?”

While her words said one thing, her body language said another. Anima could tell that the young summoner was not as rested as she let others believe she was. The slumped shoulders against the interior of the room was the biggest giveaway. “Yuna, we both know that is not true. Any summoner would know to rest well, regardless of if the fate of the world rested on their shoulders.” She had made sure Seymour had rested as well as he could during his pilgrimage. Even at the expense of her own health. She could not imagine Yuna’s guardians wouldn’t let her rest well. “You would not. Your guardian’s would tell you that as well.” The young woman would have it coming from all directions. From the Fayth she had built a connection with, the guardian’s that were there to protect her, from the people that Yuna had sworn to protect. All would want her to succeed in the fact of Sin.

Anima listened to the young woman’s woes. It was a cause for concern. Even if they had stopped Yunalesca from creating any more Final Aeons, that did not mean that Sin could not find a way to come back anew. “I hear your concern and it is one that troubles me too. Nobody has stood up to Yunalesca like you and your guardians have. I do not know the consequences of your actions.” Nor would anyone else in Spira. The cycle of the death had continued since the war between Zanarkand and Bevelle. Even Anima had sought to continue it with her own sacrifice. “But I cannot imagine a Sin without it needing a Final Aeon. There has to be some way of defeating it without one.” Or perhaps Yuna’s journey was pointless. Anima herself was a Final Aeon, though it was Yuna that was wielding her, would it have the same effect. From what she knew from the Guado, Anima doubted it would work if Yuna was the one wielding her. But it was worth trying.

For a brief moment, she had forgotten the reason she had set out to connect with the young summoner. Now that she had been reminded, her mood sobered even more. “If you do not mind me asking, how did it come to pass that you walked the Summoner’s path?”