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year 5, quarter 3
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Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
The more life changed, the more it stayed the same.
”Square your stance. Keep your shoulders straight.” Celes paced around the man before her, eyes sharp. ”You’ll be knocked off balance like that.”
The man’s lips soured. ”I know how to use a sword.”
”And it’s nothing more than a stick once you hit the ground.” Celes stopped and put her hands on her hips. ”So why don’t you do what I say?”
The yard behind their base was about as big as the base itself -- that was to say, not at all. Celes could only gather about four men there (it was always men), and even then, it was far too cramped for her liking. With Caius out on missions gods knew where, she stayed behind to manage their jobs, their money, and any half-bit mercenary who wanted to make a name for themselves. After all her time living by her sword, it was a nice change of pace. When it went well, at least.
”Who says I have to be here?” The man (she thought his name was Jake) finally squared himself, but only against her. ”I’ve been going after monsters for ten years. I don’t have to listen to this.”
The other three men stopped from their exercises to watch. Celes remained unmoved.
”If you want to find work here then you do.” She’d long divvied their jobs by skill level -- green, yellow, and red. She kept a list of fighters for each category and only moved them once she was satisfied. So far, there were only four in the red. ”I know an eleven year old girl who could drive you into the mud.”
She saw the flare in the man’s eyes and knew what was coming. He had half a foot on her and at least eighty pounds. Men like him valued their pride more than their very lives. It was a thing best broken.
”You want to say that again?”
Celes met his eye as though she didn’t have to look up to do it. ”I know an eleven year old girl who could drive you into the mud,” she said evenly. She felt the weight of three sets of eyes on her, tense and waiting. She drew her sword.
”Fine. If you think you could best me then prove it.” She took a step back and held him at its point. ”The rest of you, watch closely.”
The man’s eyes wavered. ”That’s sharpened,” he said.
”You can use whichever sword you think best.”
He hesitated, a flicker of fear crossing him, before he steeled himself and glowered at her again. He asked for his usual sword -- an overlarge thing with a custom engraved handle -- and held it before him. She knew from the start he wouldn’t back down from her challenge. To men like him, humility was an unfamiliar word.
”Don’t expect me to hold back,” he said.
”And don’t expect the same from me.”
It was over in less than a minute.
He charged in with a brutish strength that she easily sidestepped. One parry later and she’d slashed him shallowly across the back. The pain staggered him and she took the opportunity to strike him twice more across the arm and chest. He was, in fact, unbalanced. She swept his legs and brought him crashing to the ground. He lifted his head to find a blade at his neck.
Celes’ eyes were cool. ”While you were fighting monsters, I was fighting men.” She withdrew her sword and turned away from him. He groaned in pain, touching at the bleeding wounds that soaked his shirt.
”Can anyone tell me what he did wrong?” She looked to the where the other three stood rooted in place. When none of them answered, she said, ”He moved thoughtlessly. Brute strength won’t get you far against someone who knows what they’re doing. If he’d been up against the kind of monster I fight, he’d be dead.”
She glanced to him again before sighing. ”If anyone knows white magic, now’s your chance.”
Yuna was excited to finally get to see the base of the Dragonblades. She suspected that she would have dropped by long before now if it hadn’t been for the mess that was happening up in Provo. The plague--or the scourge as Caius and Aera had called it--had kept her plenty busy to the north. Still, she was starting to miss her friends. Trying to save the dying would have been a lonely task even if she wasn’t constantly looking over her shoulder for a certain yellow-eyed unsent. Not to mention that she hadn’t seen Caius since his disastrous first flying lesson with Vordun. Yuna vowed to correct that the next time that she was in Torensten.
Her chance finally came as she and the blonde-haired oracle that she’d met at the Crystallus Divider agreed to travel together to Provo in search of Ardyn. Yuna was hesitant about the whole situation, but she was worried for Aera’s safety if the woman went alone, and she did want to finish things with Ardyn. Since he was a long-term unsent, it was her duty as a summoner to make sure that his soul reached the Farplane.
As the pair journeyed to Provo, they agreed to stop in Torensten to rest for a while. Yuna slipped off to find her fellow Dragonblades while Aera went off on her own separate errands. Normally Yuna wouldn’t have separated from anyone who walked with a cane, but she’d seen enough of the woman by now to know that she could handle most anything that came her way. Everything except Ardyn perhaps.
The base was smaller than she had expected, but Caius had told her that he was still looking for a more permanent location, so she supposed that made sense. They were still an up-and-coming group after all. To her disappointment, Caius appeared to be out on a mission, but Yuna perked up when someone said that his co-founder was out back with some new recruits. She had yet to meet Celes, but after hearing the glowing way that Caius talked about her, Yuna knew that she must have been an amazing woman. She couldn’t wait to finally introduce herself.
Slipping into the yard out back, Yuna paused as she saw that they appeared to be in the middle of a sword lesson. She didn’t want to interrupt so she hung back hesitantly near the door as a man squared up to fight the girl standing in front of him. She assumed that this must have been Celes since she was the only other woman in the yard. She was a tall, slim woman with lovely blonde hair that flowed down her back. At first glance, she didn’t look particularly dangerous, but as she expertly dipped into a stance with her sword, Yuna could make out the corded muscles in her arms. The man challenging her was bulky and looked more intimidating on the surface, but Yuna was suddenly betting that he had made a mistake.
The fight was entirely one-sided in Celes’ favor. Yuna had expected that from the way that Caius had talked about her skills, and it sounded like the man had deserved the harsh loss from provoking her. Still, Yuna gave her a slightly reproachful look as she slashed at the man and took him down. She wasn’t really a fan of using force to change people’s minds, though she supposed that she couldn’t argue with results as Celes sheathed her sword. She had won their respect, and something about her aloof stance now reminded Yuna of Sir Auron. The thought made her smile slightly even if she wasn’t pleased about the hurt man.
“Yes. I can help,” she offered, stepping away from the door and approaching the group as Celes called for a white mage. Kneeling down next to the man to inspect his wounds, she paused in slight surprise before holding out a hand to cast a simple Cure spell. She had assumed that she’d need something stronger, but the cuts were actually fairly shallow. Celes’ attacks had been expertly done to debilitate instead of damage, and Yuna gave the woman a more genuine, knowing smile as she finished up and rose to her feet.
“I'm sorry to interrupt. I’m Yuna.” she introduced herself as she clasped her hands together and gave her a short bow. “I've heard so many stories about you from Caius. I'm so glad to finally meet you. Would you mind if we spoke more after your lesson?”
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
Silence. Celes let the moment sink in for anyone who still had doubts. If they did, she wasn’t likely to hear them. She’d more than proven herself to these half-bit monster hunters, and she doubted she’d need to demonstrate her skills again.
”No one?” She looked out at them again though she couldn’t say she was surprised. It was rare for anyone to train in magic when they could already manage a sword. It wasn’t something that men tended to value anyway. Celes brought her hands together, already muttering a spell, when a voice sounded behind her.
”Yes. I can help.”
Celes turned to ask who she was, but the girl was already striding towards the wounded man as though no one could tell her otherwise. She crouched by the man and inspected his wounds with a practiced ease, healing him far faster than Celes could have dreamed. The girl was no native here if her patterned silks and beaded jewelry were anything to go by. Celes could have guessed anyway. No one here was so skilled in magic.
”I’m sorry to interrupt,” the girl said as she turned to face her. ”I’m Yuna.”
”Yuna?” Celes looked her over again. She’d heard stories about her, all glowing in a way that only Caius knew how. Still, there was a certain kindness to her voice that made Celes believe them in an instant. Minus the embellishments, of course.
”Now’s fine.” Celes smiled at her before she turned, shoved her hair over her shoulder, and squared herself against her men again. ”I’ll be cutting this short. Practice on your own if you care enough. Anyone who thinks it’s not worth the effort won’t learn anything.” She cast a disdainful look towards the healed man on the ground before turning and striding towards the door. Only once it had closed behind her did she laugh.
”Sorry,” she said. ”That was a terrible impression, wasn’t it? I thought I’d meet you better than this.” She turned towards Yuna and shook her head. ”I’m Celes though it sounds like you don’t need me to tell you that. If you’ve heard as much about me as I’ve heard about you then I doubt I’ll have to tell you anything about myself again. Caius has a way with words.”
She smirked, her eyes teasing. She’d defend Caius to the death, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have her fun with him. He was an easy target.
”Well? Want to find somewhere to talk? If that idiot comes to have it out with me again, I don’t think my second impression will be much better than the first.” She waved for Yuna to follow before starting out the door. She could use some time away anyway. Her nerves were getting the better of her.
”Caius isn’t here if you’re looking for him. He's out on another job like he always is. You’ve likely seen him more than I have lately.” Celes glanced to her. ”Did you need help with something?”
Celes looked her over, and Yuna unconsciously straightened her back slightly under the scrutiny. The woman naturally had very challenging eyes, and Yuna hoped that she had passed her test as Celes suggested that they could talk now before barking at the men to keep training if they wanted to. Celes started to march off back to the base afterward, and Yuna shot the men an apologetic glance before scrambling after her. Celes was turning out to be far more intimidating than Caius had described, and Yuna was almost a little worried to be alone with her after the door shut behind them with a click.
As soon as the men were out of earshot, Celes changed her tune entirely, laughing good-naturedly and shooting her a smile. Yuna giggled in return, shaking her head and clasping her hands in front of her as the blonde woman bemoaned that they’d had a terrible first introduction.
“I can’t say I would have done that, but he was a bully,” she admitted. “So I can’t say that I entirely blame you either.” Celes introduced herself, though Yuna had already guessed her identity. She pressed a few fingers to her lips as Celes poked fun at Caius, not wanting to laugh at her friend though it seemed they both knew his love of sharing stories.
“Yes. He always speaks so highly of you,” she smiled at Celes, hoping to brighten her day slightly by sharing how much Caius seemed to rely on her. “He was having a lot of trouble finding a purpose in Zephon or coming to terms with his past before he met you.”
Celes gestured for Yuna to follow her outside, and Yuna privately agreed as they walked out through the front door. She rather liked the fierce woman when they were alone, but her worst sides seemed to come out when she was challenged. Yuna didn’t really care to see that again.
“No, I was told he wasn’t here. That’s alright. At least I finally get the chance to meet you,” Yuna said when Celes informed her that Caius wasn’t at the base. Truth be told, she was disappointed, but as she'd said, she was pleased to finally meet the co-founder of the Dragonblades.
“Did you need help with something?”
Yuna hesitated, glancing at the woman out of the corner of her eyes. She hadn’t really come here for help, even though Caius would be furious if he knew that she was planning to march straight into Ardyn’s arms alone with only a woman who needed a cane. She knew it was a horrible idea, but seeing Aera’s determination and drive had touched something in her. She hadn’t been able to say no. Yuna knew the woman would never rest until she’d set eyes on Ardyn herself, and she’d probably limp all the way to Provo alone if she had to. At least this option was safer for her.
“Ah...no.” Yuna said, forcing a smile perhaps a touch too late. “I really just came to say goodbye. I’ll be heading to Provo for the time being.” Not wanting to dwell on that topic, she quickly glanced at Celes. “What about you? Do you train people here often?”
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
”He was what?” Celes threatened to stop where she stood, half affronted and half dumbstruck. ’He was having a lot of trouble finding a purpose before he met you.’ Was that what he was telling people? Celes felt heat rise to her cheeks. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t told her that, but going on about it to stray girls he met on the road…?
Well, she couldn’t honestly say she was surprised. He’d spoken of his past in exactly that level of detail when they’d first met. Why wouldn’t he speak the same of her?
Yuna had come without expecting to find Caius, but it didn’t seem like she’d come explicitly for Celes either. She was rather flighty on what exactly she had come for, and it didn’t take a genius to see through her lies. Why pretend she didn’t need help?
”Came to say goodbye to who?” she asked. ”I thought you weren’t looking for Caius.” Celes didn’t want to call her out -- really, she didn’t -- but if Yuna was in trouble then it wouldn’t do any good to skirt around it. She didn’t know if it was pride or fear or just not wanting to be a nuisance, but something was holding Yuna's tongue. It would be stupid to hold it any longer.
She would have to come back to that later.
”While Caius is off swinging a sword, I’m usually here taking care of everything he left behind.” Celes glanced to her. ”Not that I mind. One of us has to lead the charge, and one of us has to stay. He’s always been a mercenary, but I haven't. I was trained as a general. I’m used to staying off the front lines.”
Nearly as used to it as she was in fighting to survive. Though that was not a state that she particularly missed.
”I know it looks harsh,” she said. ”But Caius and I have a reputation. If any of those men accepted the kind of missions we go on, they’d die.” Celes pushed her hair over her shoulder. ”I’ve seen soldiers like him before. Men like that have never been told they’re not good enough. I’d rather break his pride now than watch him bleed out on the field.”
She’d seen it before. Too many times, in fact. The men who challenged her were always the one too thick-headed to follow orders when it mattered. They were the kind of go over her head when she refused to promote them, and they were the kind to throw themselves into situations they weren’t ready for. Now that she was in full control, she refused to let it happen again.
”Thanks for healing him by the way.” She laughed a little. ”I would have done it if you hadn’t stepped in, but it looks like you outclass me there. It’s still funny to see so much magic here. It’s rare where I come from.” Rare to the point of nonexistence. If Celes could have thrown her magic right back where it came from, she wasn’t entirely certain she wouldn’t.
”Maybe you could teach me?” She glanced at Yuna with a slight smile. ”Everything I know I had to learn myself.”
Flushing slightly, Yuna watched the path ahead of them as Celes asked who she had come to say goodbye to. She didn’t want to worry the woman that she had just met. Nor did she want Caius to be disappointed in her choice to guide Aera straight towards Ardyn, so she shook her head instead, a slightly awkward smile reaching her lips. “I’m sorry, I was unclear. I did come to say goodbye to him, but it appears he’s not here. That’s alright.” Hopefully she’d have the chance to see Caius again.
Thankfully, Celes accepted the change of subject, and Yuna listened with a bit of relief as Celes explained that she was used to training people because she used to be a general in her own world. “A...general?” Yuna asked, considering the term. “Then you led an army? In wars?” She knew the concept of war of course--Yevon’s teachings always instructed that greed and forbidden machina would lead to war--but it hadn’t been prevalent much in Spira for the past thousand years or so. Most of the world was united in common purpose to defeat Sin for their own survival, so they had a plethora of guardians and crusaders instead of soldiers.
“That makes sense,” She gave Celes a slight smile as she explained why she’d been hard on the men. “You just don’t want them to get hurt.” It was the same reason why novice summoners and guardians weren’t sent out on a pilgrimage right away. You wanted to be sure that they'd had enough training first, and the priests had always been hard on her for that reason. They wanted her to succeed. It was probably the same for Celes with those men. The blonde general may have been kinder than she appeared at first glance. Though Yuna wasn’t sure that the tough woman would be happy to hear that compliment.
“I’d love to teach you sometime,” Yuna said, brightening slightly at the question. “I was taught in the temple where I trained. That’s amazing that you’ve picked up so much on your own. It isn't the easiest branch of magic to learn, and you're already so skilled with a sword.”
In the back of her mind, Yuna worried that she wouldn’t make it back from Provo to be able to keep her promise, but she tried to banish the thought. She wouldn’t let memories of yellow eyes and sadistic smiles ruin her first meeting with Celes.
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
Yuna had a kind demeanor. Almost too kind really -- at least for Celes’ tastes. Celes simply wasn’t used to it, not when she’d lived her entire life by a set of cold expectations, and not when her world had been such a hostile place. There had been Terra she supposed, but they’d never really gotten along. Celes simply didn’t know what to do with someone so uncomplicated.
Not that it was their fault of course.
”I’ll look forward to it,” she said. ”I’ve only ever used magic in a fight. It would be nice to help people now and then.” She paused. ”Healing them, I mean. When I’m not driving off some monster or another.” Celes scratched at the inside of her palm. ”I don’t really know how to do much else.”
Why was she still talking. She probably sounded like some bumbling fool. This was why she’d always avoided Terra. What did they really have to talk about?
”I could teach you how to use a sword if you want to trade,” she said though knew fully well that Yuna wasn't the type. Maybe Terra had learned, but there was something different here. Somehow, Celes doubted that Yuna would ever feel comfortable running something through with a blade.
It was something to talk about at least.
”It’s easy enough to pick up the basics. Really, it's got nothing to do with strength. Just balance and control -- no matter what some men will tell you.” She smirked and tried to keep herself from sounding too bitter. Was that idiot still on her mind? She shouldn’t have expected her frustration to dissipate so easily.
”If you’re going about on the roads then there’s nothing to stand between the monsters and whatever else but yourself. The world isn’t exactly forgiving.”
Was she giving her general’s speech? She stifled a groan.
”Maybe we can both learn from each other,” she said. She tried for a smile. ”Most people don’t ask for my help when they're not running from something or another. I’ve been told I’m not always the most approachable.”
“I don’t really know how to do much else.” Celes looked awkward at the omission, but Yuna didn’t think anything about that was shameful. Hadn’t she struggled when she’d first arrived in Zephon because she didn’t know how to live without walking the path of a summoner? Branching out from your comfort zone could be difficult. “There’s nothing wrong with that,” Yuna assured her with a smile when Celes looked uncomfortable. “I have a lot of respect for people who dedicate their lives to protecting others from fiends. In my world, we relied a lot on people who could use swords. I know that I did at least.” It was still hard to talk about her missing guardians, but Yuna was getting used to travelling alone and looking out for herself. It was starting to feel like another life when she’d been surrounded by guardians who had carefully guided her every step.
Celes offered a trade of their skills—she said that she didn’t mind showing Yuna how to use a sword while she was learning healing magic from her. She clearly meant well, and Yuna hesitated as she weighed being polite with being honest. Before she could decide on how best to politely decline, Celes offered a bit of persuasion that actually shook Yuna and gave her pause.
“If you’re going about on the roads then there’s nothing to stand between the monsters and whatever else but yourself. The world isn’t exactly forgiving.” No. The blonde general was right about that. The world was every bit a dangerous place, and she couldn’t depend on her guardians anymore. Curling a hand close to her chest, Yuna glanced to the side and wondered if she was being selfish by clinging to the old ways. All that she had to defend the people around her with was one aeon and some limited black magic that she still couldn’t remember learning. It wasn’t always practical to summon Shiva when innocent bystanders could get hurt, and she couldn’t rely on spells that she suspected she had learned on the fly during her pilgrimage. What if something attacked and people died because she didn’t know how to defend them? If Yuna had been able to use a sword as well as Celes could, then would Ardyn have been able to kill as many people in the hospital?
Yuna’s thoughts were spiraling, and she laughed weakly to break the silence. “I’m not sure that I’d be very good with a sword. I’ve never tried anything like that. I suppose I wouldn’t mind guns though.” Where in the world had that come from? Yuna blanched at how casually she had just said that she preferred forbidden machina to manual weapons. Something was wrong with her today. The thought of what was to come in Provo must have been throwing her out of sorts.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.” Embarrassed, she clasped her hands in front of her a bit as she looked up at the taller woman. “And I think you’ve been plenty approachable to me.” Not to the men perhaps, but she’d been willing to teach them at least. They had been the ones unwilling to learn.
Was Yuna unwilling to learn?
With her mind on the red-haired unsent awaiting her in Provo, Yuna let out a long breath before straightening to look at Celes. “You would…really teach me?” It was a wild choice. None of her guardians except for Tidus and Rikku would have approved. Maybe the version of herself that was starting out on her pilgrimage wouldn’t have approved either, but there was really one answer that her current self could give. It was too late to help against Ardyn perhaps, but if she managed to survive him, then there would always be men like him.
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
Yuna laughed nervously. Had something she’d said upset her? The moment she’d asked, Yuna had seemed a little paler and a little more on edge. Once again, Celes was left biting her cheek.
Yet another slip of her tongue. It was like she was incapable of talking to women.
By the time that Yuna answered, her mind was already reeling with possibilities. Perhaps Yuna'd had a terrible experience with a sword? Or was this something that women just didn’t talk about? Celes wouldn’t have known. She was so deep in her thoughts that she hardly noticed Yuna’s reservations. Not until she mentioned a weapon of her own.
”Guns?” Celes’ eyebrows shot up in surprise. Those little magiteck cannons? She hadn’t been under the impression that Yuna knew what those were any better than Celes did. While any idiot could fire off a mech at random, it took an engineer to really master it. Was it the same with guns? She imagined they’d take the same amount of maintenance at least.
”Ah,” Celes blinked at her before shaking her head. ”Well, I don’t know about that,” she said. ”You’re not likely to find them here. Not in this city at least. I don’t really understand them.”
And what use were they, really, when you could use magic and a sword? She wished Edgar was there to explain them to her. He’d have found them fascinating.
Yuna didn’t seem to mind Celes’ uncertainty. In fact, she looked almost embarrassed for herself though Celes had no idea why. Maybe Yuna had a secret interest in machines? Either way, Yuna tried to brighten the mood.
”I think you’ve been plenty approachable to me.”
Celes stared at her. Then she laughed.
”Me?” Yuna must have been one of the most forgiving people in the world if she thought so. Or maybe she was too nice to tell the truth. After a lifetime of being called a bitch, Celes somehow doubted that she’d started giving off a warm impression now. Not that she wanted to. She wasn’t some silly girl too docile to stand her ground.
Still, she supposed she could stand to be a little nicer. When the people around her weren’t incompetent at least.
Yuna sighed. Then she looked towards her. ”You would really teach me?”
Celes blinked. She hadn't been under the impression that Yuna was the kind of person to ever want to touch a sword -- let alone use one.
”Of course I would,” she said. ”I did offer after all.” An empty offer, but an offer nonetheless. Celes must have been more persuasive than she’d thought. Yuna had as much to learn about hardening herself as Celes did the opposite.
”Then you'll teach me magic?” Celes tilted her head and tried for a smile. Now there was something they could talk about. Fighting. Or learning skills for it at least. What else did girls like to talk about? Feelings? Maybe if she could combine the two…
”I know ice spells, protective magic, healing. When I was little, the empire infused magic into my blood. Almost no one can do it where I come from.” Celes scratched at the inside of her palm. She’d shared a lot more about her history lately than she had in a lifetime in the empire. It was funny, really. Now that she had her distance, she didn’t particularly mind.
”I’m guessing it’s not so rare to you. It’s not to most people around here. It sounds so silly -- using magic like it’s nothing. It makes me a little less special, I guess. I don’t mind that.” Was she going too far? Celes had no idea. ”It’s strange, isn’t it? All of this? I thought I’d gone insane when it all first happened. Waking up here…”
Hearing the birds. Smelling the trees. It shouldn’t have been possible. Not in that ruined place before. Somehow, she didn’t miss it.
Celes seemed taken aback when Yuna tentatively accepted her offer, but she couldn’t blame her for that. Yuna was surprised enough at herself for the both of them. Still, she wouldn’t take her decision back. White magic and aeons were all that she would have needed on Spira when her path was laid out in front of her and with her guardians at her side. But on Zephon, it wasn’t enough. She needed to be more versatile. She needed some basic practical skills to be able to protect herself and other people.
“Thank you so much for your help then.” She gave Celes a faint smile. “And of course I’ll teach you white magic. I was taught myself in a temple.” She didn’t suppose that Yevon would have approved much of her showing someone the ropes who wasn’t an apprentice summoner, but that would be between her and the church if she ever made it back to Spira.
Celes ticked off the types of spells that she knew, and Yuna nodded along, a slight frown crossing her face when she mentioned that she was one of the only ones who knew magic on her world. “Infused into your blood?” She asked a bit hesitantly. “I don’t…quite understand. Magic is common on my world, though it does require study. That’s amazing though if you were one of the first. No wonder you had to teach yourself.” Privately, Yuna was worried about what she meant by an empire doing the procedure on her when she was a child. That sounded cruel and like it hadn’t been Celes’ choice. However, Yuna didn’t want to pressure Celes into sharing more than she wanted to on their first meeting. She’d let the blonde woman dictate how much more she wanted to say about that.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? All of this? I thought I’d gone insane when it all first happened. Waking up here…” Yuna’s smile faded a bit, and she was nodding in agreement almost before Celes had finished. “No, I understand. Even the small differences were hard at first.” Not to mention the big changes. The casual use of machina. The lack of oceans. How people could live their lives without the fear of Sin.
“I like it here though,” she confided. “This world has its own threats, but it’s so peaceful. People can build huge cities and live together in groups without being afraid. It’s what I want for Spira if we ever make it home.”
Yuna had mostly been musing, but she flushed a bit as she wondered if that had been a bit too much. Sin wasn’t a problem here, and she needed to stop bringing it up. It didn't matter anymore, but she still couldn't make herself forget. “I’m sorry.” Yuna clasped her hands in front of her as she changed the subject. “Um…when did you want to start? I should be in Torensten for a few days at least. After that I’ll need to head to Provo.” Yuna couldn’t have given Celes a timeframe for when she’d be back from Provo even if she’d wanted to. She didn’t know what awaited her and Aera there. She didn’t even know if they’d survive. But Yuna had always been a terrible liar, so she kept her mouth shut without even bothering to try. “What do you think?”
