To Kilika!

The crash of waves came over the edges, spilling out onto the deck with every dip of the water. The sound among the gulls that cawed, and flew overhead, provided a duet to serenade the trip. A mesmerizing lullaby if anything short of nature’s symphony. It was calming, and provided Yuna an air to think as she stood at the bow of the ship, eyes fixated sternly upon the growing island in the distance. The envoys from Bevelle were expected to be delayed, allowing her time to make a hasty trip to the neighboring island of Kilika. After weeks of unanswered prayers to Valefor, she found the state of Ifrit’s Fayth worth investigating. Yuna needed to know what was going on, a small fear in the back of her mind telling her that her dreams, were simply more than dreams. Thinking back to the events that took place on Kush’s Besaid- Yuna couldn’t help but start to think this had to do with him somehow.

A heavy sigh came at the thought.

The High Summoner shook her head at these notions.

She didn’t want to believe the two were linked in any way. Though she refused to accept that it was simply coincidental these strange things were happening now. There was an undeniable truth that something brought on the return of the Fayth. Yuna was determined to find out what that something was, and let the aeons return to rest once more. The young woman simply stared off into the distance, affirming these tasks to herself in silence. Nor the chattering crowd about the deck, or the erupting splashes of water could seek to break this chain of thought. Yuna’s mind whirred with intensity, turning and looking upon every avenue of possibility as to the source of these disturbances to the people’s Calm. To her Calm. How was it that only more trouble seemed to follow Sin’s final defeat?

The unrest between the then growing factions. The sphere hunter renaissance that swept Spira like a tide. Vegnagun... Shuyin & Lenne…

Now this?

Yuna felt her stern gaze fall, as uncertainty put her in a vice grip of doubt. Was this truly Spira’s fate? To spiral forever within a cycle of strife and death? Would she stand before the flood gates every time to hold back the darkness? Was she, no- Spira, never allowed to know true peace? Were the Fayth permitted to dream? These ideas all frustrated her, none holding any fairness in her eyes. Though life was never fair, Yuna knew that truth with a cold certainty.

As her focus returned to the growing sight of Kilika Port, Yuna recalled her many visits, most notably during her pilgrimage. Sin had attacked that day, yet in spite of how awful everything had been, she had her guardians- her friends by her side to keep her smiling. She had him to stand there by her side too. Even in the years after the dream had ended, she still had Rikku and Paine, almost attached at the hip, to keep her company. Long before that, when she was but a child, even Kimahri was there. Now that she stood on this ship alone, Yuna began to realize just how strange it felt to travel without anyone. As strange as it is- I know I’ll never be alone. A hand rested over her chest, as Yuna smiled to herself as the captain bellowed out from across the deck.

”Now entering Kilika Port! Stand aside! Make way!”

A whistle rang out as the ship came to a slow, several crewmen tying off their lines to the clefts on the dock, before hopping over the sides to prepare the loading boards. The crowds about the deck all bustled about the exit, despite the captain’s instructions not to. Yuna stood at the edge of this crowd, taking the time to let those in a hurry make their ways off the ship, before she would nod in thanks to the captain upon making her own leave. She took her time in her passage through the port, noting how much more it had grown since her days in the Gullwings. Kilika had really blossomed into a bright, thriving place in Spira, despite being nearly wiped out by Sin nearly three years ago. The way it looked now, one would never guess that it had ever paid a visit. The cheerful, smiling people, the busy shops and boats, it was almost as though Yuna had sailed into a different world altogether. The path of the priestess took her to a bridge near the middle of the port, which allowed a fair view to most of Kilika’s coast. Here Yuna cast a glance back to the ship taken from Besaid, when she began to hope she would be able to catch it in time, after her pressing self imposed mission. Turning her focus to the distant temple steps barely visible beyond the jungle, she began to remember how long of a walk it was. No sweat. I can do this! Yuna would make an affirming nod to herself, before starting off again through the busy fishing port.