[Thread; Closed]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Characters: Celes and Matoya
Progress: On-going
Summary: Celes has taken a quick trip to visit a seer about her upcoming journey. She also didn't tell anyone she was leaving
Location: Matoya's Cave
Date: January, 1805, a few days before her big trip
Warnings: None that I can think of. TBA



The idea to visit Matoya sprang up out of nowhere. Celes had been meaning to see what the old woman was all about, as she'd heard of several people taking a trip out and coming back, but she was reluctant to go because she hated asking questions. It made her feel like she didn't have any answers or that she was helpless somehow and she hated both feelings. They never led very far. This time, though, she shoved past her initial misgivings. Maybe this would be a good idea. No one had yet gone to see what this Citadel of Trials was all about. How would she know if she was "worthy?"

After a few weeks of deliberating on that one question alone, she finally decided to go visit Matoya. Others had come back with answers from her and Celes could only imagine that the worst that could happen would be that she'd get nothing helpful or she'd be run out of the cave. Or she'd get so fed up with the whole thing that she'd leave first. Still, at least she'd have tried.

Opting to go alone and not bring anyone else just this once - mostly so she could figure things out for herself and not rely on anyone else this time - Celes made her way to the cave. She hadn't told anyone that she was going, as she knew they'd try to stop her. With any luck, she wouldn't be gone long enough for them to notice. Once at the entrance, she paused only long enough to tie her chocobo so it wouldn't run away before entering.

"Hello?" she called out, voice strong even as she tried not to sound threatening. "Matoya? I have a question if you'd permit an audience."

It couldn't hurt to be polite.

Comments

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

For the past handful of hours, Matoya had been watching Celes drawing closer to the cave through her seeing eye. So when the general finally arrived, it came as no surprise to her at all. However, she did hunker lower into her seat and harumphed. The manners were nice but it was still an invasion of her hermitage. "Yes yes, what is it General Chere?"

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The fact that this woman she'd never met actually knew her name was a surprise to Celes. Maybe they were right about her. The general quickly shook off her surprise and approached, stopping a respectful distance away and trying to seem as non-threatening as possible.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," she began, "but I wondered if..." She paused and thought very quickly.

"A moogle once said he took a trip to the Citadel of Trials on... Sinner's Isle, I believe is what he called it, but he said the being at the top wouldn't speak to him because he was not worthy." And that was the crux of her problem. "How does one know if they are worthy?"

Was it just subjective? Did she have to do something to prove her worth to this creature or person at the top? If she did, she wanted to know what she'd have to slay to do so. Or maybe it was a matter of redemption and in that case, she was pretty sure she couldn't do anything about it. Her redemption felt about as far off as the next year.

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

The best answer to that question was another question. Unfair perhaps but Matoya had spent centuries answering stupid questions. Answering a good one was a pleasant change for her. Or the closest to a good one she was likely to get.

She folded her age-gnarled hands together and fixed her sightless eyes on Celes. Unseeing and yet seeing straight through her. "Do you think you're worthy?"

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The question caught Celes a little off-guard, but she supposed she owed it to the woman, and herself, to answer honestly. She hesitated only a few seconds before looking away and shaking her head slowly.

"No. I'm not sure I ever will be."

Which begged the question of why she felt like discovering the Citadel's secrets. To be honest, it was the adventure and possibility of having someone else deem her worthy. In a way, it was the redemption she sought, the chance to prove her worth.

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

"If you said you were, you'd prove you weren't." For once a rather direct statement from the old seer. "Worth comes from the journey, not the destination. Do not be deceived, young lady." To climb to the top seeking atonement would hone her character far more than any task put before her when she arrived.

"It is your quest. Do not look to others. The doing must be your own. And take a Rat's Tail. He likes them."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Celes looked back up at that. It made sense in a way she hadn't really thought about. She supposed one could have lied in response to the question, but something gave her the feeling that Matoya would have been able to see right through it, so she was glad she'd never been tempted.

"A Rat's Tail?" That made her blink and she opened her mouth to ask why, but stopped, remembering her earlier words. She'd said she had one question. It wouldn't be fair to ask more of the woman than what terms she'd given at the beginning. Celes was nothing without the honor she tried to uphold these days.

"My quest," she mused. "Then the only thing left is to do what must be done. I'll... be sure to carry a Rat's Tail." Whenever she found one. Somehow, she thought Matoya wouldn't say something like that idly. "Thank you."

She didn't particularly want to leave just yet, but she also didn't want to impose on the older woman any longer than her presence would be tolerated, so she waited for some cue to tell her what would be best for her to do to avoid angering the person who had just answered a very important, and personal, question for her.

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Bother. The woman was waiting for a dismissal. Matoya wondered why everyone felt compelled to stay somewhere they really were not wanted. She let out an exasperated sigh. "They are sold at auction," she supplied. "And don't let that thief steal it for you." Oddly, Locke was one of the few she hadn't minded as much. He'd taken care of business and left. She liked that. "You've got you answers. Now get out."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

"I won't," Celes responded, inclining her head once before taking her leave. This had left her with quite a few answers, more than she'd expected to come out with, and it wouldn't do to remain where she was clearly unwanted. Whether Matoya cared or not, she'd been of great help and Celes appreciated it more than she could say.