Around noon, they reached the barren Great Salt Lake. Squall figured that within two hours, they should be at Esthar’s gates. The wind blew some dirt and tumbleweeds at their feet. Celestia scanned the horizon.
“Wait here…something does not feel right.”
She
climbed the skeleton ridge quickly and silently ran away from the group. She was gone for about ten minutes when she
came running back.
“What’s wrong?” Zell asked her when he noticed the concern on her face.
“We’ll have to take the ridge. There are too many Esthar soldiers on the
low path.”
Laguna
stepped forward when he heard about the Estharian soldiers on patrol.
“Then that shouldn’t be a problem. They are probably part of the resistance.”
“No…”
He started off down
the low path.
“I’ll be back soon…I’m going to go talk with
them. They’ll let us through.”
“Laguna…Wait!”
Celestial
shouted at him before he could take another step. He stopped and turned around.
“What?”
“They are not…normal. Adel’s power…I felt it emanating around them. They are here to keep us out…and most likely
to take your head back to her.”
‹She could be right…and I trust her. Cetra were known to sense things that are potentially dangerous.›
“Alright…” Laguna ran back over to the
group. “So…the ridge it is then…”
The
group began to climb the ridge and Celestia took the lead. She guided them around the guarded
outposts. Once they reached the other
side, Celestia checked her GF junctions.
Squall took a moment to address the group.
“You may want to take a couple moments to
quickly organize your junctions and your items…We are very close to Esthar, so
be prepared for the unexpected.”
Once
everyone was finished with that task, they quickly pressed on, keeping an eye
out for any enemies and troops. When
they reached the canyon near Esthar, the ground shook and a Vysage appeared
right in front of Celestia. The Vysage’s
left hand used an Aero spell and knocked her off the edge before she could
react. Squall summoned Alexander, which
destroyed the Vysage with its attack “Holy Judgment.” Laguna and Rinoa went over to the edge and looked down, searching
for Celestia.
“Celestia…you alright?”
Laguna
heard a faint voice reply. It came from
near the bottom.
“Well…sort of…Nothing is broken…yet~”
Her
voice was cut off when Abadon appeared and grabbed her. Then, Abadon leapt up onto the ridge, with
Celestia struggling to release herself from its grasp.
“Hey!
Let her go!”
Laguna shouted at the
creature…and it became angry. Abadon
responded to him by backhanding Laguna, sending him flying.
“La…Laguna!!”
Laguna
landed about ten feet away and slowly stood up. He hurried back to the group and smiled up at Celestia,
reassuring her that he was fine. Zell
cast a Curaga spell on him, and Laguna used Scan on Abadon.
‹Hm… it
is an undead creature…›
Laguna
found an Elixir in his pack and used it on Abadon.
“Reowrr!!!!!”
Abadon
howled with rage and pain, tightening its grip on Celestia. That was the exact opposite of what Laguna
and the others had hoped.
“AH!!!”
Celestia
cried out in pain. Abadon’s claws were
beginning to pierce her skin, allowing blood to slowly flow. The symbols upon her forehead began to glow
and the sky darkened. Her eyes gave off
a faint silver glow as lightning flashed overhead.
«Odin!!! Help!»
Her plea echoed in
all of their minds…and all they could do was watch.
***
The sky over Esthar mysteriously darkened and lightning erupted. Adel, who was in the Presidential Palace, rose from her chair and scanned the area with her mind. A strong magical presence was detected near the gates of the great city.
~Hm…a Cetra.
So, that impudent fool Laguna has recruited a Cetra…~
Adel
walked off to prepare.
***
The group watched as the
Cetra glowed. However, the light she
emanated was fading and Odin was nowhere in site. Zell turned to Rinoa.
“Who’s Odin?”
Rinoa
thought for a moment. Then, she looked
at Zell.
“Odin is a Semi-GF that lives in the old Centra
Tower…remember?”
“Oh…the big guy on the horse. Yeah.”
Before
Zell could say anymore, Odin appeared.
Using a single strike with his mighty sword, Odin destroyed Abadon,
reducing it to a pile of bones. He then caught the Cetra, who was unconscious
and injured. Odin healed her wounds,
but she was still unconscious.
“My lady…art thou awake?”
No
answer…
“My lady…please awaken…”
No
answer once more. Odin laid Celestia on the ground and knelt beside her.
“My lady…I beseech you…please awaken.”
Celestia
stirred and struggled to open her eyes.
Slowly, they fluttered open.
“O…Odin?”
Odin
cradled the exhausted Cetra in his arms.
For her to call him from such distances depleted much of her
energy. By now, the sky had returned to
normal.
“Art thou feeling better?”
Odin
looked into Celestia’s eyes. He was her
guardian. Before the Lunar Cry had
devastated the Cetra village near the Tower, her parents asked the GF to
protect her if anything should happen to them.
She knew what he was thinking.
He felt that he had failed to protect her, for he had never seen her
like this.
“Do not worry Odin. You have not failed me at all.”
Odin
nodded slowly; concern was still carved upon his face.
“Whilst thou be well?”
“I’ll be fine Odin. You must leave though…Adel might sense your presence as well.”
“My lady…I am concerned for thee.”
“I thank you for your concern, but I am no
longer a child. Please leave now…before
Adel decides to strike at you.”
Odin
set her down and looked at her softly.
He quietly nodded and walked to Sleipnir, his horse. Then, he rode off and vanished in a flash of
magic. Laguna and the others walked
over to her.
“You okay?”
Celestia
looked at Laguna and faintly smiled.
“Yes…I will be.”
Celestia
felt a wave of exhaustion over take her.
She fell forward as her knees gave way.
The last thing she felt was someone’s arms catch her and a familiar
voice cry out her name. The world then
faded to black.
