Guadosalam, the city of the Guado... situated inside one giant tree. The tree's roots were surrounding the doors to their houses and shops, and various tunnels and bridges formed a truly bizarre landscape. And most outstanding, the manor of Maester Seymour.
When Yuna's travelling group entered Guadosalam, an elderly Guado was waiting for them. Like every Guado, he had a bizarre-looking hairstyle and elongated fingers. "Welcome, Lady Yuna," he said. "Welcome to Guadosalam! This way, mylady, Maester Seymour requested your presence..."
He was reaching forward to take Yuna's hand, planning to guide her to the manor. But Ranma rushed past him, Shampoo in his arms and said: "No time for this! Is there some sort of doctor in this town? A healer?"
"Yes..." the old Guado answered, irritated. "Yes, it's just down that tunnel, the door to the right..."
"Thanks! Sorry, Yuna, but I have to find some help for Shampoo. Go on to Seymour, I'll take care of her."
"I'll go with you," Nabiki said while following him. Kasumi decided to come along as well.
"Now, if you would come this way..." the man continued.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there," Wakka said. "Who are you?"
"Ah, my apologies!" The elder Guado bowed. "I am called Tromell Guado. I'm in the direct service of our leader, the great Seymour Guado. Lord Seymour has very important business with Lady Yuna."
"Business with me?" Yuna asked in surprise. "What could it be, I wonder?"
Tromell made an inviting gesture with his hands. "Please, come into the manor. All will be explained. Of course, your friends are welcome, too."
----
When Ranma knocked on the door, a young Guado girl answered. She let out a small gasp when she saw Shampoo.
"Please, can we come in?" Ranma asked. "She really needs help."
"Yes... yes, of course," the girl stuttered. "Please, this way... lay her down on the table..."
Ranma obeyed and the girl began examining the cat-furred amazon. Nabiki and Kasumi sat down in some chairs while waiting for the young healer's diagnosis.
"Interesting..." the girl murmured while stroking Shampoo's cat ears. "Certain body parts are made of pyreflies, similar to a fiend... but the rest of her body is human... how can that be?"
"We believe a second... conscience is inside her mind," Ranma explained. "And it's definitely trying to force our friend's original conscience out of her body. Is there an explanation for that?"
"Well, this state is definitely not natural," the healer explained. "It looks like someone with magical powers... has forced these pyreflies onto her body. It looks like she's fused with a fiend... but there's another strange magic inside her... I've never seen anything like it."
"Maybe the Jusenkyo curse," Nabiki suggested. "It's a curse that turns her into a normal house cat when splashed with cold water... well, at least before she changed into this..."
"I heard about a theory about how a fiend and a human would be able to merge using the human's natural magical abilities... but normally, the magical skills most humans possess do not tolerate the pyreflies' intrusion and will force them out of the body... but in this case... They are forcing the human's mind out of the body. I think it's because of that unknown magic inside her..."
"Can you do something about that?" Ranma asked the girl. "Please, she's a friend... I don't want her to suffer."
"Don't worry," the healer smirked. "Mia Guado is on the case. Until now, I've managed to satisfy every patient. I believe the best solution would be for her to visit the farplane..."
"The place where the summoners send the souls of the dead?" Kasumi wondered. Mia nodded. "Yes, exactly. Its entrance in the mundane world is here in Guadosalam. Most fiends are afraid of going there. It's a place of peace, which conflicts with their violent nature. If we are lucky, this will force the parasite mind out of her body."
"And what about her body? Will she return to normal?" Ranma asked.
"That I cannot say, for now," the healer replied. "But if I see how she reacts to the pyreflies in the farplane, I will be able to gather enough information to plan my next step. Don't worry!"
"Thank you," Ranma said with relief.
----
In the big dining room of the mansion, Yuna and her guardians were waiting for Maester Seymour. Tromell had already informed him and now returned to take care of his master's guest until his arrival.
"Truly, it is good to have guests again," Tromell sighed. "Since Lord Jyscal passed away, these halls have been too quiet."
"The death of Lord Jyscal was a great loss for all of Spira," Yuna agreed.
Tidus looked at a painting of Jyscal that was hanging on the wall. "Was this Maester Jyscal really such a great guy?" he asked.
"He brought the teachings of Yevon to the Guado," Wakka explained. "He was truly a great man."
"Truly, a great loss for us all," Tromell nodded. "But now a new leader, Lord Seymour, has come before us. Lord Seymour is the child of a Guado and a human. He will be the bind that ties our two races together. But that is not all, I think. Lord Seymour... He will surely become the shining star that lights the way for all the people of Spira."
"That is enough, Tromell," another voice said. They turned to the entrance. Maester Seymour had arrived. The leader of the Guado smiled. "Must I always endure such praise?"
He turned to his guests. "Welcome!"
"Y-you wanted to see me?" Yuna asked nervously.
"Please," Seymour smiled. "Make yourselves at home. There is no rush."
"Please keep this short," Auron said. "Yuna must rush."
"Pardon me." Seymour bowed. "It has been a long time since I had guests. Lady Yuna, this way..."
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:08)
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