"That has something to do with it," he admits. "But it's mostly your eyes."

Azym smiles. "Long story short, I had a run-in with Sin, and when I woke up floating by the beach I had no knowledge of... almost anything." The priest gasps, and the people who are close enough to overhear it also seem shocked. "Crusader Luzzu suggested a priest might have a better idea of what to do about that."

The priest thinks about it for a moment, then shakes his head. "Prayer, and time. I know not of other treatments for Sin's toxin."

"Well... maybe you could answers some questions I have and that could help? Also, ah, someone mentioned the temple might have food, and I'm rather starving."

He nods. "Yes, that could help. Come, I'll get you some food and we can converse in more privacy," he says, then he leads Azym through one of the side doors into a small mess hall. The priest excuses himself to fetch Azym something to eat, and returns with a serving of beans and meat and bread and a glass of fruit juice.

"So, you had questions?"

Azym had already dug into the food so he has to finish chewing and swallow to reply. "Uh, I guess a big one is, what's a summoner?"

The priest doesn't gasp this time, opting to merely do the prayer gesture. "You must have been exposed to Sin for very long, to have forgotten this much."

A thousand years, Azym doesn't say, choosing to just nod instead.

"Summoners are practitioners of a sacred art, sworn to help and protect all who need aid. Only a select few people can learn this art, and they gain the power to summon forth creatures of great power, which we call aeons," he explains. "Aeons are Yevon's blessing, answering the summoner's prayers to help them fulfill their duties."

"And what's a high summoner?"

The priest nods. "The highest calling of a summoner is the pilgrimage. They travel across Spira and pray at multiple temples to compact with the fayth and receive the blessings of the aeons. Once they feel prepared, they travel all the way to the ruins of Zanarkand, where they learn how to perform the Final Summoning."

...so that's why it's sacred. Also, Azym has literally never heard of this summoning thing. Or any magic, really. This does make it more likely his own Zanarkand is made up, if it's so different from what this place is like. And yet...

"A summoner who successfully completes their pilgrimage in that way can use the Final Aeon to defeat Sin, thus earning the title of High Summoner."

"Wait, defeat it? But—then how is it still around?"

"Summoners give us reprieves, periods of calm during which Sin is gone. But it returns, after a while. As Yevon teaches us, we will only be rid of Sin when we have fully atoned for our sins and attained purity."

Wow that sure sounds like a load of bollocks. "Wakka—uh, he's—"

"I know him. We all know each other, here," says the priest, smiling.

"Right. He mentioned there was someone called Zei who was trying to become a summoner?"

The smile vanishes. "Lord Zei is High Summoner Braska's only child, and he recently decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He's in the chamber of the fayth as we speak, praying to be granted his first aeon."

"But?"

The priest sighs and shakes his head. "Lord Zei is a bit unconventional."

"Unconventional how?"

"It is not my place. He holds some unorthodox views... but then again, so did his father. And none can doubt his devotion; not even Lord Braska had such fire in his heart."

"Buuuuuut?"

He sighs again. "He's been in the chamber for over a day. I... worry... that he may not be sufficiently spiritually aligned with Yevon to become a summoner. Or maybe just not have the ability. It would crush him, if so; it has been his dream and only purpose since he was old enough to understand what it meant."