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"Biran the Summoner"

Kilika Temple seemed abnormally quiet; following the defeat of Sin, not many worshippers visited the temples anymore. The years since, vines from the surrounding jungles had begun to encroach upon the ancient temple. They'd twined themselves around the statues of former summoners, each of whom Biran Ronso recognized from the many stories of his youth. Many old priests of Yevon had been excommunicated, but those zealous enough to continue to pray tended to visit the more populous temple in Bevelle. The muscled Ronso approached the door leading into the temple and pressed the palms of his hands against it, pushing forward. He growled as showers of pollen and dust fell down across his head and made him sneeze. He took a step back to wipe his eyes out and stood staring at the door. It had been quite thoroughly sealed, but nothing would beat back a Ronso's strength. He had been summoned here for a purpose and he would see that purpose fulfilled.

With a furious roar he slammed his foot into the crease between the doors and they exploded inward, making a loud, echoing crash as they about fell apart hitting the limits of their swing. Biran thought nothing of it as he brushed the dust off his shoulders and looked inside.

There was nothing inside the temple to illuminate the passage, only the filtering of sunlight at the warrior's back that was mostly full of dust particles floating into the old building as everything fell still. Dusk was the best placement of the sun as it faced the temple entrance perfectly, but as he made his way to the bottom of the steps, he realized that the sun did not extend into the temple interior. "Yenke? Where are you?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder to see the dark haired lion following just behind him. "Biran not see a thing."

"Biran not remember how to illuminate? Yenke help." He said as he came down the steps slowly behind the other warrior and placed his hand on the wall.

There was a soft dinging noise that echoed through the room as lights began to illuminate outward from Yenke's hand, filling the corridor, then up to the ceiling with an almost-sunlit brilliance. The room did not appear any better than Biran had expected it; debris from neglect had piled on the floor from up above, leaving minute holes in the dome above the main room, the stairs leading up to the room of trials and the summoner's chamber was in utter disrepair, the stone having worn apart and the banister that once stood attached to the steps was now broken and leaning off to one side. "This is what is left of Yevon's temple?" Biran asked looking around. "After only a few years, it looks like it has not been touched in decades."

"What we doing here, Biran? Yenke did not want to leave Gagazet, but Biran insists this is important."

The larger of the pair looked at Yenke. "Biran not leave Gagazet unless there were an important reason." He said. "Biran has had a dream; an entire fortnight of dreams that Biran is to become a summoner. Biran must seek out a powerful warrior spirit to summon... Ifrit was powerful warrior, Biran summon him."

"The spirits of the Aeons vanish with Sin." Yenke objected. "How they answer to Biran's call?"

Biran shrugged and began to follow the steps upward. Yenke paused for a moment and started to follow but Biran stopped him. "Biran go alone." He said.

"But..." Yenke objected. "You have Yenke come, then you have Yenke wait?"

"If something goes wrong, I expect Yenke to come help. But Biran do this alone."

The stern tone of the larger warrior's voice was enough to pause Yenke in his tracks. "Yenke follow to summoner door." He said. "Then Yenke help if Biran get in trouble."

Biran sighed and rolled his eyes before continuing on, not objecting to the other lion's comments. Yenke followed and stepped into the cloister of trials. The tasks were simple, as there was no power to prevent them from simply moving from chamber to chamber without difficulty. It did not take long for the pair to arrive at the door that led into the Fayth's chamber door. That was where Biran stopped. Yenke halted just behind him and watched as the lion began to disrobe.

"Wh-what Biran doing?" Yenke asked, feeling his face burn as the ronso's muscular form slipped out from under its cover.

Biran did not answer for a moment, instead removing his belt and slipping from the cloth that hindered his body. All that remained was a coiled pair of undergarment that left nothing to the imagination as he stepped out of his armor and glanced at Yenke's mouth-open expression. "Biran must not present threat." He said. "Dreams say so."

"Those must have been... some dreams." Yenke responded, clearing his embarrassment with a clearing of his throat. "Is Biran sure?"

Biran said nothing and walked toward the chamber door. Unfortunately, as before they were not responding. He looked around for some switch or something that would allow him access, but saw nothing. He crouched down and pressed his fingers under the door, finding grooves that just barely fit his claws. He grunted as he began to pull up, flexing his leg muscles as his tail swung wildly behind him. Through the corner of his eye, he saw Yenke moving toward him, but he barked out toward him. "No! This is... Biran task..." He said as he struggled. "No help. Not with this."

He tightened his grip and felt his back bulge with the muscle useage as he pulled upward, feeling the door finally starting to give way. He exhaled sharply, flexing every muscle he could to pull the door upward. The leaflet panels that surrounded the door also began to fold away as he lifted it, and soon he was able to pull the metal door to the top of the frame. Exhaling loudly as he held it completely open. The door still had a weighted feel to it, if he were to release it then, he knew it would slam back shut. He ducked under the door and stood on the other side. Turning his gaze to Yenke, the pair passed a nod of understanding and Biran stepped inside, the door slamming shut as he released it.

The chamber was illuminated as Biran stepped into it, still sweaty from lifting the heavy door. It was there that he removed his loincloth and let it fall to the floor. Biran adjusted his balls and allowed them to enjoy their freedom as he stepped toward the archway before the Aeon sigils. He found it strange that in this room, the sunlight reflecting through made it feel like it were still the middle of the day, and that the visage of the aeon had turned black as coal. Biran admired the statue for a moment, grazing his claw among it, but it had been distorted from the Ifrit's form he had come to know in the past. The glass over the fayth was also shattered and looked empty; how would this summon work if there was no fayth to call upon?

He made his way to the front of the room, facing the chamber directly in front of him. Biran closed his eyes and made a delicate attempt at Yevon's prayer bow. Instantly, there was a thud against Biran's body. It was as though he were hit by a wave of energy that shocked through his skin. It felt like he were standing at the edge of the ocean and had allowed the water to collide with his body. He lowered his stance, then made the gesture of Yevon's bow once again, perfectly emulating what he had seen summoners do in the past. A second wave washed over him, this one felt even more taxing on him than the first and he instantly felt a heavy weight come down on him, trying to force him into a kneeling position.

Biran did not relent, he dug his feet into the floor under him and managed to force himself to stand once more, curling his hands into the shape of a ball at his chest. "Biran summons you, warrior." He spoke aloud. "A powerful spirit to do my bidding, Biran calls you. In the name of Spira; in the name of Yu Yevon..." He opened his eyes and watched as a flickering ball of energy appeared before him and fell to the floor like a raindrop. It rippled outward, covering the entire floor and filling the room with a brilliant light.

A shape came from the floor; a creature that Biran did not recognize was etched in stone that rose from the light and into the room. As the lights faded, again, Biran stared awkwardly at the statue that had appeared on the fayth's chamber.

It resembled Ifrit somewhat; wild hair that was brushed back behind his shoulders. Two horns about six inches or so in length on top of his head, but this one had a beak that Ifrit did not. He was smaller and more lithe than the powerful warrior of fire had been. This was not the Ifrit; it was some sort of imposter.