All this time I have been hiding in the heart of the city, hoping the soldiers of Bevelle would not detect me. Before the war started, the Great Father warned us that this day of destruction would come. Controlling my fear, I mustered the courage to seek out survivors of the last attack within the city. Darkness quickly enveloped Zanarkand before I had time to search the rutted buildings and desolated streets. Exercising caution, I slowly followed a faint noise coming from the nearest building. Focusing on that sound, the noise turned out to be a cry for help from a young man. Grasping for breath, the young man reached out his hand toward me, gesturing me to come closer. “Help me please,” cried the young man, “I need you to help me lift this rubble off my legs…”
Inspecting the young man’s injured leg, I noticed a tattoo which resembled the Insignia of the Zanarkand high command. “J-Join me”, the man softly stammered, “Join me on my quest to reunite with the Zanarkand army…” Keeping my voice down, I wrapped up the man’s leg and inquired more of his quest. “Listen to me girl, Zanarkand is devastated, which means we have nothing left to stay for! Mapping out the remains of the city, I discovered more Bevellian soldiers coming into the city through the south gate…”
Navigating our way out of the rubble, the young man told me his name was Tidus, and the reason he had a high command tattoo was because his father was a Kindral in the Zanarkand military. Observing Tidus’ demeanor, I realized how spirited and brave he was. Pain must have emerged throughout his entire body, yet he kept walking talking to me… Quickening our pace, it took us less than 5 hours to reach the north gate of the city.
Reinforcements came safely into the city through the north gate to make a final stand against the Bevellian soldiers. Suddenly, I felt an intense pain coming from my right shoulder. Turning around, I saw Tidus looking in horror as I collapsed backward with blood gushing from my arm. Unaware that Bevellian soldiers had been following us, three other soldiers and I were shot at by a distant sniper. Vitalizing myself to stay alive, I put my left hand over my right shoulder to stop the throbbing bleeding. While the daring Zanarkand soldiers charged the Bevellians, Tidus stayed behind and held me in his arms.
“eXpecting to die, you saved me when I called for help,” Tidus distressingly whispered, “and I am going to repay the favor!” “Y-you are s-so kind and brave, but I wa-want you to save yourself” I stammered, exceeding my breath. “Zanarkand, my beloved city, farewell…”
