Tyhlan sung a jaunty tune as she and Elma performed drills. Her Al Bhed threaded in with her Spiran, and she stumbled over the words for a moment before flowing back into the mainlander's language. Elma bit the fingernail of her ring finger, trying not to think. She asked Tyhlan questions about Al Bhed as she tried to figure out a way to get away from the main camp, to find Reia. It was a little chilly today; Djose, and the area surrounding it, were not often as warm as the islands of Besaid and Kilika, and Elma shivered, tugging on her sleeves and moving closer to Tyhlan for warmth. She was unused to the odd weather in Djose. Occasionally, there were thunderstorms, and Elma glanced up at the dark, thick gray clouds overhead. It would rain today. Tyhlan seemed a bit more comfortable with the weather, but not much. She bit down hard on her bottom lip to keep her teeth from chattering. Save for Tyhlan's odd, disjointed, lyrics threading throughout the air, it was mostly silent. Elma frowned, and started to ask questions, unused to the quiet. "How do you say, 'hello' again?" "Rammu." The blonde girl responded. "Though, we usually say, Knaadehkc, which means, 'Greetings.'" "Oh, and, what about..." she thought for a moment. "How would you say my name?" "Amsy," Tyhlan said. "Anything else?" "Thank you is, 'Dryhg oui,' right?" "Oac." Tyhlan chirped. "That's 'yes,'" Elma said, without missing a beat. "Wow! I'm learning, huh?" "You are," Tyhlan agreed warmly. "Your accent is really nice. I bet you'll be a pro within a year." "E ruba cu, so vneaht," Elma responded. "A little formal...but that can't be helped for now," Tyhlan muttered, flipping her sword around. It slipped out of her hands, and she hissed a sharp curse in Al Bhed before picking it up again. "You're getting really good though. Wow...I haven't been able to have a conversation in Al Bhed since mom...I can't wait until you're fluent. Spiran was hard to learn. I was lucky though. Most Al Bhed don't know Spiran at all." "Where are the Al Bhed?" Elma asked. "They don't travel mainland much. I never see any of them." "Ahh...can't tell you that, sorry. It's a secret," Tyhlan muttered. "Vydran Cid...he wouldn't be happy if a Spiran found out where we were...no offense. I wonder how Vydran'c daughter is doing. She was just a baby when I saw her last." "None taken," Elma responded. "Vydran? Father? Is that the leader of the Al Bhed?" "Yeah, that's the leader. He's really gruff, but he's a nice guy. If...mother and I hadn't traveled so far up mainland, we would have been able to return Home, but we were too far off. He would have taken care of us...but mom, she thought that Yevon..." Tyhlan trailed off and shook her head. "But if we had been with Vydran Cid, I wouldn't have met you, huh?" "That's right," Elma agreed. "Hey, what about your name?" "Huh? Oh...it means 'dancer.'" "Hmm..." Elma bit her lip, raked her fingers through her hair. A sharp wind blew past them, and Elma imagined she heard a thunderclap in the distance. She shivered. It was time to go. "Tyhlan? Can you cover for me?" "Cover?" "Yeah! I um, I have to go somewhere! I'll be back in...five minutes, not even that!" Tyhlan frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You sure have been acting weird lately...geez, you know, you're weird all the time...but, okay, I guess. If I get in trouble though..." "Right," Elma finished dryly, already trotting away from the training area. "I owe you one!" -------------- The Girl was looking for her. She called her the Girl because that's what everyone else called her, so why shouldn't she? 'That Girl is pretty good with a sword, I heard the Girl is doing well in Captain Lucil's ranks...and who does well with Lucil? She's tough.' The Girl had given her a name, sounded a bit like the name of a tree. Willow, was it? Did it matter? She hadn't watched the sphere, which was probably why the kid was lurking around, searching for her. She didn't tell secrets and she wasn't nosy; she'd tell the Girl that when they met up again. The other one though, that was a bit different. An Al Bhed. She would have thought they stayed away from groups like the Chocobo Knights. She knew those eyes though. A different color, but the tell-tale swirl remained, a symbol of her heritage. Why an Al Bhed would join the Knights was still beyond her, but prying wasn't her thing. Besides, she was just a runt anyway, a sand mouse. She waited for the Girl. What was taking her so long? "There you are!" Right on time, Girl. "I've been waiting for you," Reia remarked. She looked the Girl over, trying to remember her name...ahh, Elma. That was it. "Where's your little friend?" Elma started in surprise, and then frowned, her eyes darkening. "You leave her alone. She's done nothing to you..." "I don't intend to do anything. Do you think I'm malicious? If the little mouse fancies herself to be a Knight, let her. It's none of my business who or what she is." "Little...mouse?" Elma mumbled in confusion. Reia frowned. What was it to her what she called the other one? "Yes. Now, if you're done..." she waved her hand irritably. This was the Girl? She was hardly fascinating. "Fine! But you better not mess with Tyhlan!" A challenge? Very well. "Or what?" "Or I..." Elma's eyes flashed dangerously. "I'll make you pay for it," she whispered. "I'll hold you on that promise," Reia responded coolly. "Now you best go back and check on the little mouse. I'm sure she can only lie about your whereabouts for so long. That's what she's doing, isn't it?" "Huh? Oh! I...I have to go! Oh no, I hope she's not in trouble!" Their confrontation forgotten, Elma dashed off in the direction she had come from. Reia watched her go, and then walked away, rolling her eyes. "Silly Girl." She was loyal then. Good. ---------------- "Oh man, oh man, Elma better hurry up!" Tyhlan muttered worriedly, marching back and forth mechanically. What was that doofus doing anyway? It wasn't like she could sit around here forever covering for her. Elma was really silly sometimes. Tyhlan had told her she'd be happy if she and the captain hooked up, but geez, was that a dream or what? Tyhlan knew better; relationships like that never worked out. She had seen them crash and burn personally. Traveling alone forced her to experience a lot. Elma sure was different. She was totally naive, yeah, and a complete idiot when she was within five feet of Captain Lucil, but she was one of the best people Tyhlan had met. Spira needed more people like her. The captain, Tyhlan thought, would have to be either blind or completely oblivious if she didn't notice how much Elma cared for her. Or maybe both. They were both stupid. Lucil would have to be a total moron, captain or no, if she were to turn down Elma because of stupid Yevon or because she was older or whatever. Whatever excuse it was going to be, it wouldn't be good enough for Elma. And if it wasn't good for Elma, it was terrible for Tyhlan. She bit her lip and shifted from side to side. Poor Elma was going to get her heart broken. Geez. And she was such a nice girl too, and pretty, and awesome with a sword, and compassionate, and well, Elma was just cool. That was the word. She wasn't just cool though, she was, well...the coolest. There wasn't anyone better. "Cadet?" Aw, geez, Tyhlan thought, glancing up at Captain Lucil. Out loud she said, "Why captain, you're looking much better today! Is your leg alright?" "My leg is quite alright, cadet. Thank you for asking." Lucil graced her with a rare smile, and Tyhlan bit her lip to keep from exploding into girlish giggles. She wasn't completely obsessed with the captain like Elma was, but the lady was pretty attractive. "You're welcome, captain! Uh, what can I do for you?" Geez, where did that come from? 'What can I do for you?' How lame... "Well, I was wondering...where is Elma? She seems to be missing." Lucil gave the blonde an odd look. "Have you seen her?" "Uh..." Come on, Tyhlan, think! You can do it! Geez, think of something! "No?" Oh yeah, so smart. "You haven't?" Lucil frowned. "Cadet, do you know the penalties for lying to a superior officer?" Oh no... "Um, no ma'am? But it doesn't really apply to me...right, captain?" Lucil's eyes darkened. "Don't be cheeky cadet," she said sharply. "Where is Elma?" "I er, I...really don't know captain," Tyhlan admitted, glancing down at her feet. "She left a little while ago. I'm sure she'll be back soon." "That isn't the point," Lucil remarked coolly. "She should not have left without permission, and you," Tyhlan winced, and Lucil continued, "should not have allowed her to go wherever she went without telling me about it. Come with me." "Huh? What? Why? I mean, what did I do?" "Come with me, cadet. We're going to find Elma." "Uhh..." Tyhlan struggled to find something to waste time. "It's about to rain, captain!" "Will you melt?" Lucil was already walking ahead. "Consider it a training exercise. It will prepare you for whatever punishment I deem appropriate later." Tyhlan pouted, and a raindrop fell on her nose. Elma was so going to pay her back for this. --------------- Elma walked in the rain quickly, humming under her breath. The sound of thunder grew closer; the drizzle would turn into a full-out storm soon enough. She wasn't bothered by it, however. She felt decidedly more cheerful than she had been earlier. She was pretty sure Reia wouldn't do anything to bother Tyhlan now. She was pretty weird, granted, but she seemed honest enough. "A little mean though," Elma admitted to herself, scratching her head. She hadn't been gone long, so Tyhlan had most likely managed to keep the captain from getting suspicious. Elma grinned brightly, thinking of the older woman. She was so happy she was back! She saw a streak of lightning flit across the sky, and was about to break into a run, when she bumped into something. "Hey, huh? Oh...um..." she grinned cheerfully. "Hi?" Lucil was standing in front of her, with a sullen Tyhlan trailing behind. "Hello. Skipping training sessions to take an afternoon stroll?" As if on cue, the sky burst above them, and rain fell down in thick sheets. Elma could only look down and groan. Busted. -------------- "Captain, please don't punish Tyhlan! It's all my fault!" "Yeah, it's her fault, captain." "Tyhlan!" Lucil closed her eyes and leaned against a wall, rubbing her temples. Although the mages had done a fine job of patching her up, she was still rather tired. They were only able to hold off the fiends for a short period of time; she would not be surprised if she was made to return to the battlefield. Her two cadets had fallen silent when she did not speak, and they both alternatively looked at the floor, then at each other. They looked quite chastised, and she hadn't even begun yet. "I'd like to know, first of all, why you disappeared," she remarked, addressing Elma. The young lady shifted guiltily before responding. "I was looking for someone," she mumbled. "A friend." A lie, that much was certain. She didn't even glance up at once, and Lucil imagined that, if she had, she would have seen the shame mirrored there. A significant other, perhaps? She had dealt with such before, but it seemed rather...unlike Elma to shirk duty for an afternoon tryst. The thought of it made Lucil a bit uneasy. She was the best cadet, and it would be a shame if she ruined her reputation as such. "A friend?" Elma's eyes shifted to Tyhlan for a momement. "Yes ma'am." Tyhlan however, looked as confused as Lucil felt. She gave Elma an odd look, as if to ask, What friend? The girl certainly did look very uneasy though...perhaps something had happened that she didn't want to share with them...but she had seemed awfully cheery, until she had bumped into them, that is. This was all very strange. She gave Elma a look, but the girl merely averted her eyes. Very well. She wouldn't force it out of her. "Since both of you have forgotten proper protocol, I have an assignment for you. You are to both travel through Djose and beyond, to help escort Lord Braska and his entourage through Mi'hen, which is still very crowded with rogue fiends. You'll be taking an older cadet with you. I expect you to follow her orders without complaint, is that understood? You'll be gone for a couple of days, at most." Elma looked less than excited, but Tyhlan visibly brightened. She most likely wanted to meet the 'fallen' summoner. "Yes ma'am," they chorused. Lucil nodded. "Very well. You are both dismissed." "Ma'am?" Elma finally asked. She bit her lip and brushed her hair away from her face, only to have it fall again. Lucil bit down a grin. "Might I ask who the older cadet is?" "Her name is Reia. She's very young, but she's an excellent fighter. I wouldn't be surprised if she had her own troops to train in a year or so." Lucil frowned when she saw a shadow fall across Elma's face. Tyhlan just looked a bit frightened. "You two don't know her, do you?" "No ma'am!" "Very well then..." Lucil's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You two are dismissed. Be ready early morning; she'll be coming to pick you up, is that understood?" Both of the girls nodded, saluted, and exited. Lucil closed her eyes briefly. "Odd girls..." Her decision had been just, however. She admitted quietly to herself that she most likely would have made them both go if they hadn't broken any rules. A bit of work with unfamiliar faces would do them good. Besides, she was almost positive they would be impressed with the Aeons Lord Braska had gathered. She doubted they had seen them all. She was a bit disappointed that she wouldn't be able to see the excited look on Elma's face when she did see the magnificent Aeons, but that was neither here nor there, was it? She coughed into her fist. She was thinking oddly; a nap would most likely be beneficial. Nodding to herself, she walked off toward her quarters. -------------- A/N: Yay for four different POVs! If you all like it, or dislike things this way, be sure to tell me. This chapter is a little short, I think, but that is because I want to save the meeting with Braska and his guardians(YAY AURON) for the next chapter. What would you call them? Um. ABJ or something? Wait. BAJ. I dunno. How about we just not call them anything. Catch the reference to a Final Fantasy in this chapter, and you get a parfait! Everyone loves parfaits! It is not from a previous game this time though, so remember that! Also, Chibi Yuna Slave, you are totally right! Good thing that mage in the last chapter didn't get to say his name, because it would have made the story a trippy crossover. It was a reference to Godo, from Final Fantasy VII. =P Anyway, I'll see you wacky dudes next chapter!
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