The temple itself is an imposing stone structure with arches and pillars, looking the kind of old that a stone building does when it's several centuries old but has been taken good enough care of. But the most striking features of the temple are the flames: a multitude of torches decorate it, lit even in the middle of the day, plus a myriad green glass spheres of many sizes with magic fire inside them, flickering with unfelt winds. Some people are milling about, talking to each other or sitting on stone benches or kneeling in front of a flame in what looks like prayer.

Kilika Temple

And they can also hear, very faintly, that same song from Besaid temple, that same song the dead sang while Zei Sent them, and like in Besaid it is a single voice rather than a chorus, a deep bass repeating the non-words without stop.

"This hill used to be a volcano," explains Lulu, folding her arms. "When Ifrit became fayth, he empowered himself with the surrounding magic. The volcano no longer erupts, and summoners can partake in Ifrit's gift of fire."

...is she talking to him? He thought Zei'd told them he'd recovered his memories, so why is she doing exposition? Well, he'll ask Zei later.

"It's beautiful."

"Mm."

"Anywho," says Wakka. "Let's go, ya? We don't have all day."

Into the temple! The main entrance is a set of stairs going underground into a large hall decorated with statues, pillars, runes, and, of course, flames.

Atrium

Across the hall from the entrance is another set of steps up to a closed door, framed by four statues and yet more flames, a fire-themed version of the equivalent room in Besaid temple. A priest walks up to the group when he spots them, and Zei takes the lead.

"Milord summoner? I am father Pell," he says. "The chamber of the fayth is presently occupied, but it should be available to you soon."

"Thank you," Zei says, nodding. "We can wait a while."

Most of the blitzballers spread around and kneel before statues and flames to start playing, but the guardians and Zei huddle together in a corner, sitting on their heels, too.

"The summoner wasn't in Kilika for the Sending, so they must have been here a while. Hopefully they'll be done soon."

"We can eat while we wait." They all spread their rations, dried fruit and nuts and bread, and have their late lunch.

They eat quietly for a bit but eventually Azym breaks the silence to ask, "So, how does this work, exactly? Zei mentioned trials, but..."

"The Cloister of Trials bars the way to the Chamber of the Fayth. A summoner and their guardians must go overcome it together, and it is meant to test our virtue and the strength of our bonds. The trials are not always the same; they are personalised to the people who go in."

"So you won't be allowed inside," he tells Azym. "It's not done, for an outsider to come in."

"...but if I were to become your guardian, I would be able to?"

"You must not become a guardian out of mere curiosity," says Kimahri, with a small growl.

"Being a guardian is a big deal, ya? It's a commitment, you're—"

"The summoner's light and comfort. The ones who will be there for them, come what may, and who will dedicate our lives to them. We will be to the summoner what the summoner is to the people of Spira: hope, strength, resolve, support, love. We only exist in the summoner's shadow, and our name is only spoken if the summoner's name is spoken first. We leave no mark in history of our own, and we are only remembered by their side. By his side.

"I know."

Lulu blinks and tilts her head. "Hmm. Indeed."

"...won't you find your people in Luca?"

He shakes his head. "I don't have any people. I lost everyone to Sin. Everyone. And I...

"...I want to defeat Sin."

"Well. We can talk about this after I've gone through these trials. If you still feel that way when we get to the temple of Djose, then... I would be honoured to have you as my guardian."

"I will. I know where I'm meant to be. But I won't push."

What a bizarre human.

After they finish eating Zei hops to his feet and goes to talk to a priest about lodgings for his non-guardian friend.

But before they're done talking, the doors to the inner chambers up the stairs open and a pair of people step through. The woman walks down the steps slowly and precisely, but from the way presumably-her-guardian hovers, she must be drained from the over-a-day-long affair.

She spots the group on the way down, and her eyes lock with Zei's. "Ah, another summoner, are you?" she says with affected incuriosity.