"Nope! No exposition. Tell me about, uh, tell me about Wakka and the lady with the belts and the lion guy."

Zei chokes on his spit. "Do not," he says in between gasping breaths, "call him that out loud. He is going to cut you and I'm going to have to heal you."

"Sure, I did not imagine that was the best term, but it got the meaning across."

"His name is Kimahri and his species is ronso. And the woman with the belts is Lulu."

"Presumably human."

"Yes she is. She and Wakka and Kimahri are my guardians—that means they've pledged their lives to me and my pilgrimage, and it is their duty to be to me what I am to the people of Spira."

"...to protect you and guide you and support you and comfort you. To be your light when you're in darkness and your lifeline when you're drowning."

"That's—yeah. Very poetic, but it gets to the core of it. I'm guessing no one actually put it to you that way."

"No, but I can see your shape. A thousand years of Sin, summoners being the only ones who have a chance to stop it however briefly. Everyone looks up to you and expects you to be strong for them and never falter, because if you lose it what else do they have?"

"Not... that dramatic. Most summoners don't complete the pilgrimage and it's understood that they're people and that the weight of the expectations is not light."

"Doesn't change what I said. Even if people know you can fail—you still need to act like you won't. And the guardians are the people you show your true self to, the ones who are allowed to understand the burden and share it."

"I guess you're more than a pretty face, huh?"

"Yep. I'm also great hair, a carefully cultivated physique, and a set of hard-won skills in bed."

Zei snorts but doesn't respond, as they're just arriving back at the village. The sun is almost entirely gone, now, and there is indeed a bonfire in the middle of the village's central plaza.

Azym hangs back after Zei excuses himself to go mingle. Wakka makes sure to properly introduce him to the rest of his blitzball team, and Azym once again notices himself not really chatting much.

Which he feels is uncharacteristic as hell. It's a party, why is he not partying?

Well, he's not the only one hanging back and not partying, if that helps.

It does, actually. He walks over to her to share the companionable silence.

She looks at him from the corners of her eyes and looks almost ready to be mad at him for it, but when he doesn't actually start any conversations or try to interact with her in any way she... relaxes. And gets back to watching the other people have their food and fun and chats. In companionable silence.

Zei meanwhile is a little social butterfly, trying to make sure to get some time with pretty much everyone there. He plays tag with the kids and he listens to the stories the elders have to tell and he reassures the adults who collectively helped raise him and he trades banter with the blitzball team (even though they're going on the same boat later) and he helps with cooking and distributing the food around.

It looks like he's having fun.

Except it... actually doesn't? It looks like Zei is trying to look like he's having fun, and it looks like something heavy is on his mind, and it makes Azym wonder about how... dangerous... this pilgrimage is.

It looks like Zei is saying goodbye.

Lord Braska succeeded at killing Sin ten years ago. That's how he became high summoner. And now he's... dead? And so is his guardian Auron?

Azym does not like the shape of this.

The bonfire party eventually winds down and people start going back home, one by one or in small groups.

Eventually the only ones left are Zei, Wakka, Lulu, and Azym. Wakka declares that the party is over, and marches Azym over to the Crusader barracks so he can sleep; they have an early day tomorrow.

Are they going out at sunup? Of course they are. Mad people.

Good night!