Stone Cold
She is seven years old and the whole world is celebrating. Her world isn't very big right now, of course. She's quite sheltered.
Still, today, everyone is celebrating and she cheers along with them, her tiny voice drowned in the crowd. She knows why they're all so happy. Sin is gone because of her daddy, and she's so proud she can barely breathe.
Then she hears someone talking about High Summoner Braska. She knows these words. Braska is her daddy. High Summoners are the people who defeat Sin. She knows that High Summoners don't survive, but she hasn't put these facts together properly before now.
She is seven years old, and she doesn't understand. She starts to cry.
***
She is older now, almost eight. She lives in a village on a small island, a place that already feels more like home than the big city ever did.
There is something going on at the temple. She hangs back at first, shy, and then, later, days later, when everyone has lost interest, she creeps back to see what it is.
It's a statue, a tall grey one that towers over her tiny body. She backs away, and looks into its face.
"Daddy?"
When she places her hands on it, they are warm under her skin.
***
She returns to the statue constantly. She hides there talking quietly about the things she cares about. Her childish words become more serious, and the day to day events change, but the essence of what this means to her stays the same. She tells him that one day, she will visit him on the farplane, not fully understanding what this means. She brings him flowers, and sometimes she has to tell him why she's crying. This doesn't happen often. Her childhood is idyllic. Every time, the statue is warm to her touch, and she knows that her Father isn't really gone.
***
She is fifteen and Sin has returned. She is frightened, but tries not to show it.
Chappu has died fighting Sin, and when she sees the statue she can't hold back the tears.
When she touches the statue, it's cold under her hands. It's never been cold before.
She is confused, a little afraid. Then she realises. She can't rely on her father anymore. His influence has faded. It's time she grew up.
She begins training as a summoner the next day.
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