Allowing the disagreeable Blitzer to help her to her feet, Amal bit her tongue when he recommended she sit this next round out.  She didn't like him, she realized, but losing her temper to a complete stranger wouldn't be very becoming.  Tired or no, she could still cast and sometimes action was better than words.<br/><br/>Before she could finish gathering a spell, the temple doors burst open, and Ethan staggered out.  Amal felt relief wash over her as she followed his movement with her eyes.  She held both of her hands over her heart and whispered, "You came back."<br/><br/>When she watched what he did next, however, she felt her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach with worry for what his altruism might have cost him.  He'd… he'd prayed at the temple.  Ethan had gone inside earlier to pray… and now he was a Summoner with all the hopes and prayers of Spira on his back.  He had become all of these things before anyone in Bevelle had been made to know of Sin's return.<br/><br/>Raising her forearm above her eyes as four bright spheres of light shot out of the ground and into the air, the mage felt her feet leave the rocky soil.  She recognized the glowing blue sword strapped to Chappu's back and forced herself to relax.  As the warrior placed her back on her feet at the foot of the steps to the temple, Amal turned to witness the power of Ethan's first Aeon:  Valefore.<br/><br/>'So we witness the power that can defeat Sin, but his life shall be the price,' she set her jaw as she began the slow process of rationalizing these new circumstances.  Wrapping her arms protectively around herself, she shuddered for the haunting beauty hidden within Valefore's victory cry.  Amal watched silently as the Aeon ascended skyward to disappear.  Her pale green eyes fell at last to the Summoner, and her chest constricted when she watched him fall forward in exhaustion.  She closed her eyes in sadness, thinking, 'This is the beginning of the end.'<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Amal was utterly ashamed of herself for thinking the worst of Ethan when he'd disappeared into the temple.  Even for as little time as she'd known him, she knew with certainty he was a selfless man.  It had been fear for herself and Chiron, she realized, clouding her judgment of his earlier actions.<br/><br/>Frowning, the mage shifted from where she sat with her back pressed against the wall.  She sat up straighter, stretching her spine, and looked across the hasty bed the villagers had managed to assemble for the new Summoner.  Harris and Chiron were seated on Ethan's other side, and Amal could tell they were as anxious as she was for the moment he would wake up.<br/><br/>Whether irritated with the silence or wishing to find a way to break the tension in the room, Harris smirked when her eyes met Amal's and leaned forward.  Her voice was quiet, however, to avoid waking Ethan when she said, "Who'd have guessed your spells would actually pack a punch, eh, Amal?"<br/><br/>Raising an eyebrow, the mage crossed her arms over her chest but didn't reply.<br/><br/>She'd known her spells would be sufficient, and she'd shown Chiron how powerful black magic could be before they'd ever left Bevelle.  Why should she have needed to prove herself to Harris?<br/><br/>"I had a different idea of the sort of woman you were going to be," Harris continued, her eyes shining in the dim light of the main chamber of the temple.  It was where all of the surviving villagers were keeping safe until Ethan would awaken to perform the Sending.  If Harris realized she was edging dangerously close to offending the mage, she seemed not to care and continued, "Don't get me wrong; you're fragile, but most mages are."<br/><br/>"Thank you," Amal replied in an attempt to end the conversation.<br/><br/>When the silence settled, once again, she returned to her thoughts.  Ethan was the first Summoner in the era following Lord Braska's calm.  Their journey was no longer a simple trek to follow the footsteps of Spira's last High Summoner.  They were on a pilgrimage.  Ethan's pilgrimage.<br/><br/>As Amal tried to make herself feel something for her new friend, all she could find was pity.  Pity for the man who would so willingly die by the teachings if he was to be successful; her mind sang in remorse, 'Spira didn't deserve another Summoner, Ethan, and we especially did not deserve you.'<br/><br/>"I think you'll be useful," Harris continued, as though Amal hadn't just ended the conversation.  When no one responded, the Blitzer continued, "You know, for the Pilgrimage.  Chiron, well, of course, he's useful, and I'm pretty handy with a lance, but you… I wasn't sure about you."<br/><br/>"I was terribly worried over your good favor," Amal closed her eyes and let the sarcasm coat her words.  She wasn't so presumptuous to assume Ethan would ask any of them to be a Guardian, yet Harris had already signed herself up for the journey.  Having been a dragoon on the Highroad, Amal was confident he'd have no shortage of qualified, professional warriors who would aid him.  Why would he want any of them?<br/><br/>"Well, no need to be," Harris smiled, completely missing Amal's sarcasm.  "Not anymore."<br/><br/>The mage sighed and looked down at the priest, who was resting his head on her Moogle.  It was the only suitable artifact they'd had for him, as both women had flat out refused Chiron's 'generous' offering of his tunic.  The Moogle seemed to agree with Amal that it was alright to be irritated with Harris for her prying, forward nature.