Chapter VI - Land Ho![hr]
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The remainder of the voyage to Kilika Island was spent partly with Rio singing song after song that had Wesley clapping cheerfully and both Sav and Shion sharing a mutual interest of annoyance with the bard and his lyre. Among this, those also traveling to Kilika struck conversation with Wesley for they were Priests from Bevelle that were traveling the seas, spreading the message of acceptance and love that the Teachings of Yevon emphasize. While Wesley happily welcomed them to spread it like an eagle spread its wings, there was a lack of encouragement from Shion. Wesley hadn’t noticed, of course, so he simply gave them his attention while Rio had started to sing.

At some point, the group of four saw the sight of Kilika Island come into view. This had been both Wesley and Savayna’s first time leaving the island of Besaid and as their eyes looked on at the pork getting closer and closer to them, they looked at each other with their own smile. Wesley had an expression of child-like wonder while Sav was more in the lane of amazement that she was finally getting to see the world of Spira, though deep down, she knew this would bring her closer and closer to getting to the truth of her origins.

As the ship anchored itself at Kilika Port, the group had made their way off the boat, their belongings, few in the numbers as they were, in their hands. “It’s so amazing being here in person. Kiat has told us many things about Kilika, has he not, Savayna?”

“He did,” Sav nodded, admiring Kilika in a more subtle way that Wesley was.

Seeing the natives greet them with a smile only increased Wesley’s enthusiasm. “Truly a remarkable place.”

Shion didn’t give their surroundings a second glance, simply enjoying the wind for a moment before stepping off the boat. To her annoyance, the sound of the lyre followed her as she approached Wesley and Savayna. Rio happily hummed as he played, clearly interested in the group and either oblivious or outright ignoring Shion’s unamused glare.

“If it’s your first time, the least I can do is show you to the temple,” Rio helpfully offered, his fingers still strumming. “Kilika’s sights are few, but the road to our temple is a journey in itself.”

“I can show them the way,” Shion said, clearly unwanting the bard’s help.

“You could, but not the way a native can,” He cheerfully replied.

“It’s a straight road.”

“A road much better enjoyed with song!”

Savayna rolled her eyes, walking forward. It wasn’t that long of a walk to get from the port to the gate that was in sight. That’s what she had to assume where the entrance to the Kilika Jungle was. There was absolutely no way she was going to stick around listening to Rio’s singing or Shion argue with him as he sang. And she knew Wesley was too polite to say anything about it. 

“Oh, I guess we’re walking now,” Wesley said, seeing Savayna walk first. Wesley proceeded second, following his close friend, the sounds of her metal boots creating a clinking sound against the wood beneath them.

Not long after they had started walking did Wesley and Savayna go into high-alert mode as the cries of the Kilikan natives and them running towards the band of four. “Fiends! By the gates! Hansen..” One of the running villagers said, running past the group.

“Hansen?” Savayna seemed to ask herself, looking back to Rio for answers.

“One of the village's warriors,” Rio explained, frowning slightly. “How strange, the fiends don't usually make it this close. Something must have happened.”

Shion’s eyes lit up as Rio spoke. With her hand on her hilt, she looked towards the area where the villagers were running from. “A fiend infestation? Something my blade will enjoy at last,” She stated as she continued forward.

Rio’s eyes widened, the man finally stopped his playing and even going so far as to put away his instrument. “It could be dangerous,” He said.

The woman stopped, looking back at Rio with a rather confident expression. “Then it's best you stay back and let me handle this,” She replied.

“I think you mean me,” Savayna added, her spear drawn. If there was a battle on the horizon, there was no way in hell she was going allow, of all people, Shion to upstage her. If there was one thing Sav excelled at more than her witty comebacks, it was battle. She has been training for this moment since she showed up on the shore of Besaid ten years ago.

Wesley offered Rio a smile. “Do not worry, my harmonious friend. We shall not let these fiends hurt your people. By Yevon’s grace, we will protect Kilika!” Wesley assured Rio, gesturing the singing Kilkan to follow him and the others as they made their way to the gates.

His mouth opened slightly as the trio continued forward. Scratching the back of his head as he placed one hand on his hip, he frowned. He wasn't exactly sure if the group alone had what it took to handle the problem, but at the very least he could offer his support. Fate worked in funny ways, it seemed. After letting out a sigh, Rio jogged after the group to catch up.ch up.

Shion scanned the area where there was more fiend than friend, fingers itching to pull out her blade. It seemed to be more concentrated towards the temple. Letting out a huff of disappointment, the blue haired woman shook her head. What a waste.

Finally catching up, Rio let out a huff, a small gathering of pyreflies forming a makeshift bow as he looked around. “Why are there so many?” He asked, frowning.

“It matters not. Take out the leader, then the rest will fall,” Shion informed him, once again running forward.

“Ah--wait! Shion!” Rio called as she ran.

The swiftness of Shion and Savayna leading the charge with a bow-clad Rio and a staff-drawn Wesley arrived at the gate within record time. Though Wesley’s robes forced him to arrive last, being their resident mage-healer, it was best he hung back next to Rio. With the powerful duo of spear-user of Savayna who has demonstrated lancer and dragoon abilities and Shion, the katana-wielding enigma that Wesley has yet to see in battle, how could they possibly lose?

Right at the gate, which had been busted through the end that separated the woods and the village, over a dozen fiends of three kinds: Killer Bee, Dinonix, and a mini Lord Ochu all separated those trying to fend it off from the woods. Right off the bat, they were intensely hostile and they had lunged forward, hitting the warriors of the village. They parried, but the ochu’s vines tripped them, which gave the Dinonix a moment of opportunity as they lept, aiming for the head of the fallen warriors.

“Look out, Hansen!” A Kilikan warrior said, slicing through one of the chameleon-shaped fiends, though a Killer Bee came from above and struck the warrior in the back, causing blood to ooze out. He collapsed next to Hansen.

Without waiting, Savayna leapt forward. She jumped into the air and as her left hand gathered ice magic and shot it down to the killer bees, she struck another one with her spear, slicing it into the farplane. At the same time, Wesley conjured up a fire spell, vanquishing one of the Dinonix fiends.

“Hansen, was it?” Savayna looked to him, holding her spear ready, “if you can stand, take your friend and get out of here. We will fend them off.”

“Who are you--” As Hansen spoke, he looked around, seeing a familiar face. “Rio? Is that you?”

The bard immediately knelt down to the injured man, a small Cure bursting out and covering the injury with healing magic. “We’ll have to take it from here, get as many people out as possible,” He replied, throwing another Cure over Hansen.

Shion narrowed her eyes at the scene,  watching the Ochu. Despite its age it was acting awfully crafty all things considered. Making her decision, she walked forward with a serenity not usually seen in the battlefield. For her, she had nothing to fear--she was home. Taking a stance, her hand withdrew her sword slowly, the metal glimmering as she raised it. Pushing off the ground, she charged towards the vines, and with a single, vertical strike, the katana cut through them all.

Ignoring the people running, she gave her attention to the Ochu, who was less than pleased that its prey had escaped. Readying her sword once more, she went in to battle.

Plucking the string of his bow, a musical note was heard. An arrow of light formed as he drew it back and fired, pinning a Killer Bee to the ground until it burst into pyreflies. “The best course of action is to get rid of as many fiends as we can, the sooner we clear the area the sooner Kilika will be safe,” He said.

What Rio said was the truth, but it was proving to be more difficult than what they might’ve thought.

As the numbers of the first wave of fiends had decreased by more than half, things were looking up for the group of four and the native Kilikans that were thankful for their intervention. From Shion who decided to tackle the biggest obstacle in the form of the Ochu that wasn’t pleased with how she disposed of its vines. When one fiend disappeared and faded to the Farplane, more replaced it. 

“It’s never-ending,” Savayna said, slicing through three Killer Bees that flew towards the redhead. 

“We must not let up. Kilika’s safety depends on it!” Wesley urged them, conjuring up another spell. “Fire!” He shouted, a series of bullets of flame being fired at the Ochu as Wesley was intended to aid Shion in her efforts. Much to his delight, the fire had seriously damaged the Ochu. It’s entire body was set ablaze and the shrieks of horror could be heard from a mile away. “Shion now!” Wesley shouted.

Taking a step back, Shion’s stance widened slightly as she let her sword’s tip fall to the ground, her grip slightly slack. Taking in a deep breath, she blocked out everything but herself and her target: the Ochu. Focusing her energy oh her sword, she straightened up, holding her sword vertically as she closed her eyes. She could feel the wind blowing around her, Wesley’s fires nearly dying down. Opening her eyes, she slashed forward once and slowly sheathed her blade until the very end where she pressed down on the hilt. The Ochu froze in place for a moment, and in the next emitted a shrill shriek as it withered, pyreflies dancing from its corpse as it dissipated.

When that happened, something quite interesting seemed to happen. The moment the Ochu faded away, the remainder of the fiends that had pushed back against Savayna and Wesley’s efforts all faded as well, the pyreflies coming from their alive bodies and forcing their existence to take a one-way trip to the Farplane. “Well, that certainly was something,” Wesley commented, a somewhat intrigued expression on his face. He was both interested in why that happened the moment the Ochu was slain and grateful that it happened when it did. With the small amount rest he had throughout the night, a prolonged battle wasn’t in the cards for young Wesley.

“Nicely done,” Sav said to Shion, giving her the warrior’s nod. She didn’t like her, but from one warrior to another, she had respect for her as a warrior.

Exhaling slowly, Shion took her hand off her sword as she watched the pyreflies for a moment. Despite the victory, the disappointment on her face was apparent. She gave Savayna a short nod in response, looking at the area. Their efforts were not in vain, a majority of the citizens left unharmed. She supposed most people would be alright with that, but Shion would have liked a better challenge.

Rio clapped, relieved that it ended well. “I’m going to see if anyone else is injured,” He informed the party.

Though Wesley felt somewhat perplexed by what just happened, he put that aside for the moment. He knew what must take the priority: the villagers. They were what truly mattered right now. “I’ll assist you, Rio! I may not be a healer, but I can help with the lesser injured,” he informed Rio, following the bard.

Watching the pair stroll off, Shion stayed in place for a moment. Tapping the hilt of her sword with her fingers, she surveyed her surroundings for a moment. Narrowing her eyes, she paid no mind to the rest of the people as she continued along the path towards the temple. Something was amiss, but as to what it was, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“You must feel it too,” Savayna said to Shion, looking towards the forest, her eyes quickly glancing at Shion.

“Let’s go see what it is, Little Red,” She told her, continuing her walk into the forest.

Sav didn’t seem to appreciate the name, but she let it go as she approved of Shion’s suggestion. She gripped her spear. “Lead the way, Big Blue.”
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