The three of them walked back to the temple and everyone looked at them in awe. The people of Kilika were grateful to the four of them because their home was safe and sound. Some people came up to them and thanked Lord Braska and his crew, while others offered them food and money for their trip.

Braska only accepted the praise, nothing else. Shannon was amazed at this behavior because she had seen the opposite with Gerald. Gerald would make people give him stuff, while Braska didn't. She enjoyed the selfless nature of her summoner.

They made it to the temple and walked inside. Shannon was shocked with how similar it looked to Besaid, at least light wise. It was dark and torches lit the area, making the area feel more like a castle than a temple. She saw Braska, Jecht, and Auron walking to a door and she followed them, waiting to see how they would react to her following. She stopped behind them and smiled, "Guess I'll see you on the other side then?"

Braska nodded at her, "Nope, you're coming. Whether you like it or not, it is a part of you agreeing to be a guardian."

Shannon saw the door open and bolted into the opening. She looked at her friends and smiled at them, "C'mon slackers, let's get going!"

The Cloister of Trials was a little bit harder than Besaid, but Shannon was able to figure it out fairly quickly. Braska, Auron, and Jecht were amazed at her speed, plus, they were able to relax a little bit as well. Shannon was amazed at the fire theme still, in awe of areas being protected by firey doors. She had to stop the crew a few times, in order to avoid them getting burned. As a result, she got burned a couple of times and her clothes were tattered and burned as well.

Once they reached where the Fayth was, Braska smiled at them and said, "See you soon."

Shannon smiled at him and said, "Good luck, my Lord."

Braska went inside and now, Shannon was stuck in a room with Auron and Jecht, desperately needing a change in clothes. She sat down and looked at her keys, wondering what she could do. Jecht and Auron were busy guarding the door, so she pulled out a golden key and said quietly, "I call upon thee, in the world of the celestial spirits! And now I beckon you to my side at once, pass through the gate! Open, gate of the maiden, Virgo!"

The ground started to rumble and shake, catching the attention of Auron and Jecht. They both summoned their swords and looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. Suddenly, a pink-haired maid came out of the ground and bowed to Shannon, "You summoned me, my Lady?"

Shannon smiled and looked at the maid, "Yes, I did, you have no idea how much I wanted to see you!"

"Is it because I'm being punished?"

Shannon nodded, "Nope, I actually wish to apologize for Gerald's actions. Plus, I also need a new set of clothes, if that's okay with you."

Virgo bowed, "As you wish, Princess."

Shannon disappeared into a cloud of dust, along with Virgo. Auron ran over and looked around the area where they were at and was confused, "She can't be gone, not like that!"

Jecht shrugged, "I've never seen anyone go away like that." He walked over towards Auron and looked, "There's no sign of Shannon here at all."

Suddenly, a golden light opened and Shannon appeared from it, falling onto the ground. She was now wearing a blue top and skirt, with long blue socks and sandal-like shoes on her feet. Her hair was down and her eyes were glistening with tears. She looked up at Auron and Jecht and smiled, "Sorry for that scare. I got to see all of my spirits again and made contracts with all of them. They're happy to be with me."

All three of them heard a door open and they saw Braska come out of it. Shannon rushed over to his side and caught him as he fell, shocking Jecht and Auron. She closed her eyes and started to heal Braska, "I'm sorry to abandon my job, but I had to arrange contracts with spirits, just like you were."

Braska looked up at the girl and smiled, "I forgive you. I figured it was you who somehow caused the shaking."

"How did you know?"

Braska lower his voice and whispered, "The aeon told me it was Virgo, a spirit of yours. It said that I have nothing to fear since you summoned it. It also said that you and I have a bond because we can both summon spirits of different types. We should learn how to work together, magic wise."

Shannon nodded, "I'll teach you soon, but you need to rest my Lord." The two of them got up and she smiled at Jecht and Auron, "Shall we depart?"

The four of them walked out of the temple back into the sunshine. Braska slowly regained his strength and he was able to walk out on his own two feet. Kilika was impressed and begged him to summon his newest Aeon. Shannon wanted to protest, since she knew Braska was tired, but he listened to the people. She stood near Auron and Jecht as they watched Braska summon this creature.

The Aeon rose out of the ground in a cocoon of rock and Braska was on top of it! Before the creature busted out, Braska jumped off and landed on the ground! The creature broke out and Shannon saw a dog-like fire breathing horned thing, more terrifying than the first Aeon Braska summoned. She was trembling a bit because it reminded her of Gerald.

The creature looked over at her and she gasped as she heard a voice, "Relax, just because I look hot-tempered doesn't mean I'm going to hurt you. Just like Virgo, I'm under Lord Braska's commands. You'll be safe near me."

She nodded and smiled at the creature, willing it to trust her and Braska's crew. The creature then faded away, just like the last one. Braska smiled at the crowd and approached Shannon, Auron, and Jecht, "Shall we head off?"

Shannon nodded, "Aye Sir!" The four of them then walked towards the docks once more, ready for a good night's rest and for the next adventure.

Shannon looked out into the water and swore she could still sense Gerald, so she stayed near the back of the group. The three men caught onto this and were wary when they entered Kilika's forests. She even let them walk ahead, fearful of what the water could hold for her in particular.

She did keep following them though through her timidness. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts that she heard Gerald say: You need to cover up your skin, you look improper for a housewife in that. Why don't you want to be with me? Someday I'll be the only thing in this world that you need and you won't have a say otherwise. Don't go running off on a mission, you're only going to make a fool out of yourself again.

She suddenly was snapped out of her thoughts by someone tapping her on the shoulder. She looked around in fear, thinking it was Gerald, but it was Auron. He asked her, "Are you okay? You've been acting weird since you returned to the temple."

Shannon sighed, "No. The spirits told me something about Sin while they were patching up my hands. I know who it is, it's Gerald."

Auron looked at the girl and saw her start to tear up a bit as she went on, "I don't wanna see him again, but yet, I did. My spirits were tormented by Gerald, beaten and they were just seen as a way to win. I saw them as friends and they thanked me for my kindness. Yet how can I repay them if their tormentor, the same man who tormented me is out there and can't be stopped?"

Auron hugged the girl as she sniffled, "We'll find a way, okay?"

Shannon smiled up at him as she nodded, "Sounds good to me."