Sowing the SeeDs : Part 6 a fanfic by His lordship Chaos additions by Greenbeans edited by Helen Fong based on the world of Final Fantasy 8 created by Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. - Quistis - The chronometer was relentless. Incessant ticks and tocks that Quistis usually tuned out were resonating with a near bellicose, mind-shattering brutality. The idyllic twisting in her swivel chair became too much; it was the best if not only way she could describe it. There was too much movement, too much to watch and see when all she had was some form of emotional oblivion. The open textbooks and studypads messily sprawled out before in a chaotically artistic fashion were just blurs of words and facts. Nothing wanted to gel in her mind. And her mind didn't want to accept anything she had been trying to read. There had once been a time--not even two weeks ago, though even now that seemed like a distant recollection--where such a vast assault of knowledge would have kept her enthralled for hours. Usually far beyond the point of lights out where she would read in the dark, underneath the covers with a penlight. The fact that everything was scattered across her desktop was a deliberate one. It was an attempt to focus her mind, give her reason to slowly close the books and set aside the studypads one by one as she met their challenges of logic and, as always before, succeeded. More than anything Quistis wanted to satiate her hunger for knowledge. But the head could do nothing for her when her heart refused to participate. The problem of what to do with herself during the winter break demanded to be worried about. As much as a part of her didn't want to, Quistis knew she'd stay at the Garden again this year. The time alone was already being hard on her. The place would have only a handful of people at most to whittle away the days with. She wouldn't venture outside the Garden complex; not when there was a chance of meeting a monster along the way to Balamb... Quistis looked around the dorm room. She was now the only one left. And without Xu, everything seemed a lot bigger than before. Strange how something that now appeared expansive could be so suffocating. Brief yet horrific visions found a means of returning to haunt her, and once again she saw Sean's lifeless body within the jaws of the T-Rexaur. Her eyes closed, tears squeezed out and running down her cheeks as she tried to squeeze out the memory at the same time. The difficulty of breathing came from her shallow gasps as she fought back the urge to break down sobbing again. The closest people she had ever known were now gone. Xu for what now seemed like an eternity already. And Sean was already lost in that eternity. At first there had been a gaping maw, a black hole that left her drained and void of rational thought and feeling. Balamb Garden became like living in insomnia, where sleep and awake were blurred. But the face of her home, her family, had changed. The gaping maw was closing. Its legacy for Quistis to bear was one of pain. And loneliness... The winter break passed on, and though the skies for the most part remained blue, Quistis' world remained gray. The entire Garden had been subdued by recent events; few people were displaying the vigor that was typical for this time of year. Winter break was upon them, but few spoke of the excitement that the season would bring. There was a time, not so long ago, when many cadets were looking forward to remaining at the Garden and getting involved in the now infamous snowball wars. Many of the students who had once wanted to remain at Balamb and take part in the snowball wars left--though a noticeable amount of them still remained (mainly due to prior arrangements that couldn't be changed this late). Cid used the snowball wars as a catalyst to dispel the gloom Sean's death had cast over the Garden. Within the first few days a small tournament had been established, with many of the events being special team missions such as Capture the Flag. After the first week, much of the melancholy among the students had lifted somewhat. The enthusiasm for the games increased, and the tournaments were no longer seen as a distraction from grieving. In the last few days before the winter break drew to an end, other cadets were starting to trickle in from their own vacations. Stories were being swapped, and the winter tournament was soon going to feature its final wintry melee. And fortunately for all involved, the evening before the event found a snowfall that would ensure a good game. Most of the cadets were in the Cafeteria at this time, laughing together in the warmth of comradery. Most of the cadets were there, but not all. Headmaster Cid and Doctor Kadowaki quietly watched Quistis shuffle along the edge of the Quad, absently kicking at the snow with her boots. There was no joy on her face; her expression was drained, void of emotion. The cool, fresh air was usually something she savoured, but right now life looked as if it had gotten the better of the young cadet. "She hasn't been joining in the games," Cid said, his voice reflecting his own sadness over her plight. The winter tournament was a voluntary sign-up. He had considered forcing her to take part in the games, but in her fragile state he feared that would do more damage than good. The advantage with it being winter break was that Quistis could see Doctor Kadowaki on a daily basis. Ideally she would recover from the shock enough to attend classes once they resumed. He turned to the doctor. "How is she doing?" Kadowaki sighed, leaning a shoulder against the window. "Physically, she's in perfect condition. I was worried that she'd stopped eating, but it looks like she's found her appetite again. Psychologically, though, she's still in shock. Quistis hates the fact that everyone's approaching her because of Sean. That only drives her grief and guilt even further. She's been trying to isolate herself from everyone else, spending a lot of time in her room or outside when no one else is around. I can only hope it doesn't continue like this into the new semester." "I fear how much of this is my fault," Cid admitted. "Much of this was an unforeseen tragedy, but were we expecting too much of young Miss Trepe?" "Nonsense!" Kadowaki said, showing some annoyance with the Headmaster. "Under the circumstances, you've done the best anyone could have. Even when she first came here, you already had a network of friends to help her along." Cid nodded, his hands behind his back as he continued to watch Quistis. "The problem is that our old network has been dispersed. I don't know how easily it will be to create a new one to assist Quistis' growth, especially with how she feels now." "Give it time, Cid." The doctor's voice was quieter and more sympathetic. "A number of the cadets who were close to Sean will be returning shortly. Ideally we won't have to create her friends; they will go to her themselves." "Indeed," Cid agreed. "If you can, keep your eyes open for them; they have to be the ones to make the first move. From there, perhaps we all can co-ordinate our efforts." For as many strings as he could try to pull in helping Quistis become a SeeD, Cid had to silently acknowledge his own limitations. He may have set the ball in motion for Quistis gaining friends, but he was only a catalyst. For the people who truly *were* her friends, they would do anything they could for her regardless of his influence. Cid's greatest fear laid in seeing just how many would prove their worth as Quistis' friends, now that her old ones had gone. And he had no idea how many there were, if any. Should none decide to prove themselves to Quistis, Cid feared that she would be like this for good. The Headmaster took one final look at Quistis, sighed deeply, and then joined Doctor Kadowaki in walking down the hallway. Quistis didn't notice the Headmaster's face disappear from behind the window. She hadn't even noticed his face being there, watching her, in the first place. Lost in a walk that bore no thoughts, save for a draining melancholy, Quistis continued to stare at the snow she was crushing beneath her boots. The evening winds were absent. The skies were mostly devoid of clouds, letting the moon and stars shine down. It was a beautiful night, and under other circumstances she would have enjoyed it. She was still reflecting on everything that had happened, as well as the loneliness she was facing now. Quistis abruptly lifted her head as she heard a second set of footsteps crunching in the snow. Another cadet was meandering her way, apparently doing the exact same thing she was. He didn't seem to notice her until they crossed paths. It was Eugene; she recognized him from Sean's funeral. Regardless, her tone wasn't exactly pleasant with him. "What are you here for?" she asked. Her voice was subdued, though not without the obvious fact that she didn't want to be talking to him. Sorrow and exhaustion had weakened Quistis' defenses to a bare minimum tonight. Eugene suspected she'd use all her remaining energy to keep those defenses up once the Garden began its training again. There was no way she could continue her SeeD training and maintain this wall at the same time. Something had to give. "I was out for a walk," he replied, his own tone coming out leisurely--yet with the authority of an upperclassman to ensure Quistis wouldn't try to brush him off. "Saw you, thought we might as well make tracks in the snow together." Quistis backed down. Everyone who tried consoling her always anxiously said their condolences and then left. This was something she hadn't expected--especially given how involved Eugene had been in orchestrating and performing the blood oath. She nodded, and trudged alongside him as she wandered the snow-covered Quad. Side by side, it was quite the contrast to see. Eugene was tall and had muscle to fill out his frame. Compare to him, little Quistis was but a shadow. At best she came up to his shoulders. There was no fixed pattern they took, unless she happened upon a previous set of her own tracks. More often than not Quistis then chose a different route. It took her about five minutes before realizing that Eugene was following her lead and going at her pace. He seemed perfectly content to remain this way, looking out at the barren trees and lights stretched out across the Quad. For some reason, Quistis felt annoyed that Eugene seemed to be paying more attention to watching his own breath than to her. "Well?" she finally asked. Eugene took his time as he turned away from looking at the Quad to glance down at Quistis. "Well what?" "What did you want to ask me?" Quistis kicked at the snow, sending a white spray into the air with her boot tip. "Nothing," he answered, returning his attention to the serene beauty of the Garden. "You're in no mood to chat, and neither am I. As I said before, I'm just out for a walk." He continued to walk, even though Quistis had stopped and was staring at him in surprise. She quickly got over it and raced after him. Eugene said nothing once she caught up with him, and said very little else for the rest of the night. He only answered anything she asked him first. And somewhere along the way, even though she herself didn't fully realize it, Quistis' hand reached up and gently held onto Eugene's. He only tilted his head for a moment and then went back to watching the scenery. It was a few days later that a new family decided to forge itself, a new set of brothers (and in time, sisters) to take up the gauntlet thrown down by a fallen comrade. Brotherhood--as all family matters are concerned--is not bound strictly by the blood that runs through one's veins. Yet in a sense, there was family blood involved. And it was a blood found in an oath taken during Sean's memorial. The three of them had taken up the knife and pledged to make his sacrifice and death an act of honour--one that would be carried on in their own lives. SeeD to SeeD, brother to brother. The Cafeteria closed at 2100 hours. A half-hour before the closing time found the place deserted, with the exception of some kitchen staff minding the counter and beginning with final clean up for the day. A pair of cadets abruptly entered, though not as customers looking for a late night snack. Shortly thereafter another cadet strolled in. "I'm glad you could make it," LeVar said, nodding to the others as he sat down opposite them at the table. "Now then, down to business." "I assume we're here to discuss Quistis," Eugene said, an elbow propped up by the table with his chin resting on his hand. "I feel a personal responsibility to this, I admit. Hell, I hosted the ritual. Because of that, she has that scar on her hand." Jessie shrugged, leaning back in his chair as much as he could without toppling over. His arms were crossed over his chest, giving him a philosophic look. "That's not to say it's a bad thing. If anything it shows her level of commitment to honour the pact we all made that day." He abruptly cast a glance over at the food counter, and then got up. "Could you hang on for a minute?" Eugene looked curiously at Jessie. "For what?" "Ten gil says its hotdogs," LeVar glibly remarked. "When you two are involved, somethin' like that isn't even a bet," Eugene sighed. "It's an inevitability." Jessie laughed and bowed in a comical gesture to his friends. "Everyone has their sinful indulgences. Mine happens to be a little more infamous than others." "Yours also happens to be a little more gag-inducing than others too," LeVar retorted. "This from the cadet who has a few books of questionable virtue in his personal library," Jessie scathingly shot back. Eugene raised his hands, motioning for a verbal cease-fire. "Children, children, we have something of a more urgent nature to talk about." "I'll be quick," Jessie reassured his friends, swiftly walking across the Cafeteria for his precious snack. Once he claimed his meal, he walked back over to continue the discussion. "We all know that right now ain't exactly a high point in Quistis' life," Eugene explained, starting first with the obvious. From there they could work up a 'program' of sorts on how to deal with this. "Sean's dead, and her surrogate big sister Xu is gone to Galbadia. In a loose sense she's become an orphan all over again." "And we're here to solve that, right?" Jessie said between chews. LeVar nodded, though his face seemed rather grim as he talked. If anything, it just showed how deeply he was thinking about the situation. "To an extent, yes. However Quistis isn't some machine you just wind up when it breaks down. She's a lot more complicated than that. For all the prodigy in her, in many ways she's still a child." "A child who's seen some rather adult things," Eugene soberly added. "My point is this," LeVar continued, "while we can throw our entire heart and soul into helping her overcome this tragedy, a significant degree of our success depends on Quistis herself. If she doesn't want healing, all our efforts will be a waste." Jessie swallowed another large chunk of the three hotdogs he was voraciously devouring. "Kinda like 'lead a Chocobo to water, but you can't make it drink', right?" "Something like that, yes," LeVar said. "But I honestly believe that if we want to approach this right, we have to let Quistis know where we stand. We're not here to coddle her." "If we mothered her to death now, that could seriously threaten her chances of being a SeeD later," Eugene stated. "Grief's not an easy spiral to escape from. But whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." LeVar sighed and lifted his chin off his laced fingers. His eyes were very precise as he looked at each of his two friends and fellow cadets in succession. "She's fallen, and hard at that. Our hands are extended to help pick her back up... but unless she makes the effort on her own to place her hand in ours, there's nothing else we can do." Jessie pushed his plate away from his pleasantly full stomach. Despite having been quite involved with his eating, he had been listening intently to the entire conversation. "We make a point of being a part of her life from here on in." "It's better than sittin' here on our butts and doing nothing," Eugene agreed. "We'll also have to work on building up the ranks of the Trepies. That might be where my expertise is needed most." As someone intimately connected with Balamb Garden's information network, he was one of the best cadets for the job. None of the three were certain how much of the Trepie conspiracy the Headmaster was parry to, but felt confident that he wouldn't disapprove. Eugene held out his arm, his palm hovering just over the tabletop. "Are we in agreement then?" LeVar didn't hesitate to place his hand upon Eugene's. "For as long as we remain cadets, and as long as Quistis will let us." "I'm definitely in," Jessie added, enthusiastically slapping his palm down on the others. Eugene and LeVar abruptly groaned and withdrew their hands. "Geez, Jessie," Eugene lamented as he appraised his mustard-stained fingers. "Wipe your hands off before you do somethin' like that." Time passed, in both the brevity of a few days, and a slow crawl of infinity. Amidst the excitement of returning to classes, a number of cadets were lamenting about their academic workload. The return to the Garden only served to put the pressures back on them to graduate as SeeDs. Quistis had to admit that she wasn't feeling very chipper herself. She leaned back from her reading and scanned the unusually quiet Library. There was perhaps a handful of other cadets milling about. A pair over in the corner was quietly talking. That could have easily been Xu and Sean talking over there. But it wasn't. It was too much. Everything was too much. Sean... Quistis bit back the tears that wanted to form. She couldn't cry for the rest of her life. She needed to move on. Xu was strong; she didn't spend all of her time mourning. And now Xu was off in Galbadia learning to be an Instructor. That still didn't stop Quistis from missing her terribly. A tear slipped down her cheek. During the day she tried to be strong, to not show how lonely and afraid she was feeling, but at night she cried herself to sleep. At night she was left alone with the hurt she was feeling. She wasn't paired up with a new roommate yet. That would happen soon, now that the break was over. Spending time in the Library outside of classes and meals helped to relieve the loneliness some. The books would always tell her a story, and she could finally read again what they had to say. But more people were coming up to speak with her now; it was as if Sean's death pulled her out of the shadows and thrust her into the spotlight for all to see. She felt awkward having all these people she'd only seen in passing coming up to introduce themselves. And given the nature of their motives for approaching her, this wasn't the sort of attention Quistis wanted. Not at all. Death seemed to be a reoccurring theme in her life. Witnessing Sean's death was bad enough, but she'd experienced worse. No matter how hard she tried to avoid it, in intimating about Sean's death Quistis found herself reliving the memories that 'worse' dredged up. She recalled when she learned of her parents' deaths. Time had ebbed away much of the considerable hurt she'd felt then. Now all that remained of her parents and the pain of losing them were seemingly distant childhood memories. So much had happened in the course of then and now, much of it for the better. Perhaps the passage of time would take the edge off of her memory of Sean's death. Quistis realized that while she could hope this would be so, she couldn't be sure. She was very young when her parents died, and only had fleeting images of them. Memories were there before her mind's eye like a scattered collection of postcards. Most of what she could recall was a moment captured in still life. No real details or dialogue, but the hazy warmth of simply remembering the good times and bad. Sean she knew better. It'd be hard to forget him, not that she wanted to. But the image of his limbs dangling out of the jaws of a T-Rexaur was what she wished to forget. The horrific sound of bones crunching and popping, only to be drowned out by her own screams of-- Someone abruptly tapped her on the shoulder. Quistis turned around in her seat to see three upper-classmen ranged around her. One was Eugene. The others she recalled seeing hanging around Sean from time to time, but didn't know their names. Odds were they were making themselves visible for more condolences; the wall within Quistis went up instantly. To these cadets, more than anyone else, she had to prove herself strong. Even if the loneliness of braving it alone was wearing her down in every sense of the word. "Yes?" she asked politely. "We need to have ourselves a little chat, Quistis," Eugene said. The two cadets with him moved in closer so that she was boxed in between them and the desk. The privacy of their conversation was assured. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced," the dark-skinned cadet to her right said, inclining himself in a brief bow. "I'm LeVar and the fellow behind you is Jessie." She looked at the three cadets ranged around her. At her left, Eugene was the largest of the group in terms of mass. A head covered in wavy blond hair topped his broad shoulders. The fiery red stubble that blanketed his chin indicated the necessity of shaving often to maintain a clean look. To her right, LeVar stood a few centimeters shorter than Eugene did. His dark hair was shaven short, and a pair of round-rimmed spectacles balanced on the bridge his nose. He kept his hands folded together in front of him as SeeD training dictated while at ease. She had to crane her neck awkwardly to see Jessie; he had a long tail of braided, dishwater-blond hair trailing down his back. The hair on the top of his head was cut short and spiked. He didn't have the solid build of either of his mates, but Quistis was smart enough to realize that nasty surprises could be hidden in unassuming packages. "It's good to have names to put to the faces," she replied. "What do we need to talk about?" "We've been watching you," Eugene admitted. "And you are spending far too much time alone," LeVar continued the thought. Jessie gave her an enthusiastic wink. "So we're going to fill up your time!" "Not quite," LeVar muttered dryly. Eugene gave them both a look that plainly said to knock off the banter. "It's like this; you're a SeeD cadet, but you're not much of a team player. Sean and Xu had a pretty solid lock on you while they were here. Now that they aren't around, you're left without a posse--and that isn't going to cut it." LeVar and Jessie made their agreement with this statement clear. Quistis cringed inwardly underneath their gazes; this was by far the most interaction someone else had initiated with her. "As upper-classmen, it's our obligation to pull you back into the fold with us mere mortals," Jessie quipped with a lop-sided grin. LeVar whacked him upside the skull for saying that. "Ow! What was that for?" Jessie snapped, rubbing the back of his head. Quistis wasn't sure if she should be offended, or something completely different. "What do you mean?" "Sean and Xu are in a class of their own. You're also a member of that class. You *will* help shape the future of SeeD, there's no doubt about that. It was good for you to be among your true peers... but now that they're gone, you'll have to make due with the rest of us," LeVar explained as Jessie still sulked and continued to rubbed the back of his head. "You don't have to be that callous with it, LeVar," Eugene said. "You make us sound like a sack of potatoes." LeVar gave a grudging grin to his companion. "It's all a matter of what your basis for comparison is, my friend. That's what most people look at in defining themselves." Quistis nodded, only half understanding the philosophy behind what LeVar was saying. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she made a mental note to ask him later and abate her rampant curiosity. "Don't get the wrong impression when I say this, Quistis," Jessie said. "I don't want to come off as callous, but it's a basic fact that life happens while you're making other plans. Sean's death was a serious blow to all of us; no one expected or wanted it to happen." "But now comes the time where you discover just how strong you really are," Eugene continued without missing a beat from Jessie's statement. "Quistis, there are two types of people in this world: those who get back up after they've been knocked down, despite the pain, and those who stay down out of fear of gettin' hurt again." The two turned to LeVar, who seemed to be the one ready to wrap up the core of what they had to say. Quistis honestly found herself at a loss; they were flowing smoothly from one to the next, but everything they spoke seemed unrehearsed. Her heart was fluttering in her chest as they brought the reality of her situation directly face to face with her. "I won't say you'll be back to your old self in a few days," LeVar told her. "You won't be the same after what happened--none of us will. But if you have the strength to get back up, for no matter how long the process takes, we'll be here for you. If you need us to help pull you up, our hands are being offered." Eugene smiled and gave her a nod of encouragement. "We'll do our best to help you stretch yourself to meet new challenges. See, fighting is my thing; I'll gladly practice weapon skills with you." "If you joined the study group I'm a member of, it would be beneficial to us all." A small grin tugged at LeVar's mouth. "Having a study partner does help, no matter how smart you already are." "And when you're not looking for brains or brawn, I'm your man!" Jessie's broad grin grew even more so. "You actually have something to offer her?" came LeVar's rapid reply. "And here I thought we kept him around for no apparent reason." "Do not mock the man who can cure you of insomnia," Jessie playfully threatened his colleague. "I have a pouch of Sleep beads and I know how to use them." "How ironic that he's always the last one to stop talking and actually go to bed," LeVar dryly retorted. Eugene rolled his eyes at that. "Here we go again." Thankfully, Jessie ignored the added barb and returned his attention to Quistis. "I'll introduce you to some of the guys--er, and girls--that are fun to be around when you have free time." "Yes, we mustn't forget the girls," Eugene remarked, stifling an amused laugh. "Jessie here knows many of them on more than a mere first name basis." "Ah, jealousy rears its ugly hydra head yet again." Jessie sighed, looking angelically up to the ceiling. "Seriously, Quistis, there are some amazing Triple Triad players around the Garden if you play." "Don't you have anything practical to offer her?" LeVar said under his breath loud enough for all of them to hear. "I have a level five Ruby Dragon card she can try to win off of me," he commented, not seeming to notice the implied insult. Eugene glared at them again in fatherly exasperation. "Don't let their nipping fool you, Quistis. LeVar is a good study partner. I wouldn't have passed my physics class last term without his help. And Jessie is a skilled magic user; he could teach you a lot." Jessie snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! Magic! That, I can do," his smile turned sheepish at forgetting his forte. "I recently learned how to refine mid-level magic from the low level magic that can be found around here. I'll make you some Cura beads and let you practice with a spell that has a bit more punch." "I don't know what to say..." Quistis admitted softly. "'Yes' works," LeVar drawled. Eugene took her hand up in his and lightly traced a finger along the scar on her palm. "We're your brothers, Quistis." She looked at her hand in his. The faint line would always be there, she was certain of that. The emotions then balled up in her throat. At realizing that they wanted to make good on this promise, it threatened to bring tears to her eyes. "You're not going to be alone anymore," Jessie assured her, his light tone betraying the seriousness of the moment. Quistis smiled, and for the first time since Sean's death it was an actual sincere smile. Nothing was forced. "Thank you," she whispered. Having people to spend her time with would be a great relief. But it was more than that. She could sense a feeling of concern and genuine interest in her well being from them. They weren't just concerned well-wishers. They wanted her to join them. "Group hug!" Jessie suddenly announced, holding out his open arms towards the others. Eugene and LeVar instantly shot him very unimpressed looks. Jessie feigned pouting at that. "Somebody's insecure about their--" "Shut up," the other two guys chorused. "He does this all the time," LeVar told Quistis. A sideways glance was cast back at the chuckling Jessie. "I think he usually does it just to get the female cadets in his embrace." "I don't hear said female cadets complaining," Jessie retorted, still acting as charmingly angelic as possible. "Save it for later," Eugene said. He kept hold of Quistis' hand as she stood up from her chair. "C'mon, let's go get ourselves some dinner. No more eating meals alone, got that? Not unless you're in such a rush that you can't sit down at all." Quistis smiled inwardly as Eugene escorted her to the Cafeteria, with LeVar and Jessie bringing up the rear. "Yes, sir," she answered. It was the first meal Quistis enjoyed since Xu left. The food suddenly had renewed its melange of tastes, and was no longer a bland substance to be stabbed at by her fork. Truth be told, it was the first time she cleaned her plate since then as well. Eugene encouraged her to keep eating. LeVar then added that the quality of the food mattered and to not go around eating lots of sugar (unless she wanted to end up like Jessie). To his credit, Jessie took no offense at the dig. He instead suggested she avoid prunes unless she wanted to become as socially bland as LeVar was. "And you'll have no fun in life if you're like that," he added with a wink. "None of that," Eugene interrupted before he could say more. "We agreed to play it straight, didn't we?" LeVar stabbed his fork into his meat for emphasis before cutting it with a knife. "Stick close to me, Quistis. I'll keep you from being corrupted by their filthy minds." "Bitter that I've had girlfriends and you haven't?" Jessie gave him a pointed look. He then leaned back in his chair with a smirk. Strangely enough, that drew a chuckle from LeVar. "Unlike you, *I* have standards. My female's ability to walk on two legs is one of them," he cut into Jessie's taunt savagely. The smirk on Jessie's face turned cold. Eugene slammed his hand down onto the table. "Enough! You're going to give Quistis here the wrong idea. They're just playin'," he explained hastily. A stern glare went to the other two cadets. "RIGHT?" Quistis blinked, still trying to figure out what LeVar meant by 'having to walk on two legs'. Jessie looked away, abashed. LeVar coughed into his fist. "My apologies; we didn't mean to act crude in front of a lady." "Yeah, I'm sorry," Jessie chipped in. Quistis inclined her head, not entirely sure what had just happened, but willing to nod and smile in response to it. At least things would be interesting with them around. "I think that's enough for today," Doctor Kadowaki made a final notation on her clipboard before setting it aside. Young Quistis sat across from her with her hands clasped together on her lap. It was another painful therapy session for the girl. Kadowaki's heart went out to her. Losing a close friend was never easy, especially at her age. And after losing her parents as well. In Kadowaki's mind, Quistis had seen too much death for a person so young. She regretted that. She also regretted that this wouldn't be the last time Quistis would be faced with the subject. SeeD was a dangerous line of work; the risk of death was a constant factor in their lives. Was it cruel to force her into such a grizzly profession? Ultimately that decision wasn't Kadowaki's to make. It was her job to assure that Quistis was up to the task at hand. The fact that a few of her fellow students--those ruffians that used to hang out with Sean, no less--had taken her under their wing was reassuring. Kadowaki could have wished that they were better company, but they seemed to have turned a new leaf after this tragedy. Death was humbling. Quistis was spending time with two of them--Eugene and LeVar if she recalled their names correctly--nearly every day. The third one, Jessie, acted as an alternate if those two weren't around. The company was good for her. The doctor could already see the effects of their reassurances on the girl. Quistis was starting to open up again like she used to: still somewhat insecure about herself, but no longer sealing herself in. They may have a better chance of working her through the anxiety she felt when they discussed fighting. It wasn't the fight that Quistis feared, but the monsters. Reluctance after falling from the saddle was to be expected, just so long as she got back up eventually. At least she had friends to push her and or pull her back as the need required. Kadowaki once again considered calling the boys in to have a chat with them regarding their handling of her, but struck the idea down. If nothing else, this was a test of their ability to work through the difficulties of a team member. It was a responsibility they didn't have to take on, but if they were up for the challenge, let them try to work it out on their own. Keeping Cid's fingers out of the pot would be the difficult part. Kadowaki was certain he knew about Eugene and had privately discussed a few matters regarding Quistis. And he'd already meddled to some degree when it came to assigning Quistis a new roommate. She'd have to introduce Quistis to her new roommate gently, lest she dredge up more grief. "The Headmaster informed me this morning that your new roommate will arrive tomorrow. Would you like me to tell you about her?" Kadowaki tried to sound enthused about the newcomer, but it came out flat at seeing the expression of disinterest on Quistis' face. She forged ahead any ways. "She's a transfer student from Galbadia Garden in her last year of SeeD training. Her name is Skye Reynolds, seventeen years old. She was born in what is now Galbadia. Cottage Grove to be exact." Quistis' head snapped up. 'I knew that would get your attention,' the doctor thought to herself. Cottage Grove was one of the small villages lining the shores of Lake Obel. Nearly fifteen years ago it was part of the disputed territory between Galbadia and Timber. Galbadia finally settled their differences by seizing the entire region. The village itself was true to its name. Small cottages and a laid back lifestyle defined the people there. It was a quiet corner away from the bustle of the busy world. It was also Quistis' place of birth. "I don't remember much about Cottage Grove except for a lake that spread out for kilometers," the girl admitted. Yes, the lake. There was good reason for her to never forget it since her parents died in a boating accident. Perhaps partnering Quistis with Skye wasn't as good of an idea as Cid made it out to be, Kadowaki reflected. "Will it bother you to be roommates with Skye?" she asked. It wasn't fair to Skye to change her quarters solely for this reason, but she was willing to be a bit unfair to spare Quistis additional grief. The winter break had been a trying ordeal for them all to begin with; Quistis didn't need this compounding the pain and wounds she was slowly working to heal. The girl shook her head. "As long as she's nice..." Kadowaki smiled faintly. "From what I've read, 'mellow' is closer to the truth." Eugene caught up with Quistis in the Cafeteria later that day. She was still a little damp from her shower after weapons training. The smile on her face was encouraging to see, especially given how exhausted she looked. Her weapons instructor seemed to be pushing her as hard as it could--not that Eugene objected. "Working hard, I see," he remarked, sitting down with his tray across the table from her. "At least you smell springtime fresh; some of the male cadets I know enjoy the overwhelming scent of sweat. Personally I find myself struggling not to gag." That got a giggle from Quistis. However, Eugene noted that she was also rubbing her hands very tenderly. It wasn't out of nervousness, that much was clear. He'd been involved with weaponry and fighting enough to know irritated skin. And given that it was on Quistis' palms, that definitely wasn't a good thing for her own training. "You okay?" he asked. Quistis nodded, quickly pushing her hands into her lap. "I'm the weapons buff, remember?" he pressed, cracking a wry grin while boring into her eyes with a stern gaze. "Let's see your hands, Quistis." Meekly she complied--though after a few more seconds of hesitation. Eugene instinctively winced at seeing the calluses on her skin; it seemed odd if not unnatural for a girl so young to have the weathered hands of a seasoned fighter. But what caught his eye were the irritated red marks across her palms. "Is the whip pinching your skin?" he asked. He'd seen this sort of thing before and not just with the whip, and made a point of saying that to her. Quistis squirmed a little in her seat. "Yes," she finally owned up, causing Eugene to grin. She was certainly the stubborn type, not refusing to give in or give up. That was becoming more and more clear every day he, LeVar, and Jessie spent with her. "Meet me in the Quad on our off-day, early morning preferably," he said. Quistis nodded as the two agreed upon a specific time and place. Privately she was relieved that there was someone other than herself to fall back on when an obstacle came that she couldn't overcome. The Garden's classes were one thing; there it was a controlled environment, something that she could (to an extent) manipulate as she felt compelled to. If she wanted to showcase her skills she could, and if she wanted to shrink back into the crowd (which Xu and Sean had made a point of discouraging) that was just as easily done. But everything else to do with the Garden--to do with life itself--that was where the complications lay. Suddenly she was no longer a mere face in the crowd. There were people who were more unpredictable than books ever were. Quistis knew it was something she would have to face, but she still felt incredibly self-conscious when it came to her inherent talents. "Hey, don't worry," Eugene reassured her, winking in her direction. "We've got you covered." That drew a smile on Quistis' face and she nodded. The next day, Quistis was in her room reading when there was a quick tap on the door before it opened. The Headmaster himself escorted a female cadet to her new room. "Skye Reynolds, meet your roommate, Quistis Trepe," he said, introducing the two to each other. "Quistis, this is Skye. I believe Doctor Kadowaki told you about her yesterday?" Quistis nodded while standing up to properly greet the newcomer. Skye snapped a quick salute before sticking her hand out to shake. Quistis was mildly surprised; Skye seemed more than formal in her mannerisms. Maybe it was just the way Galbadia trained its SeeDs. Skye was taller than the Headmaster standing next to her and her hair was black and cut short with the longer locks on top streaked blonde. Everything below ear level was shaven. Her face was on the narrow side with high cheekbones that caused a person's eye to trace along them and into her eyes. The eyes Quistis met with were rich brown in color. Yet what caught Quistis' notice was that they didn't betray what Skye was thinking privately, as so many other's eyes did. The Headmaster slipped away as they studied each other. "I look forward to getting to know you," Quistis said politely. Skye nodded her agreement before bringing her bags in from the hallway. She wasn't as compact of a packer as Xu was, Quistis noted. Then again, Xu wasn't one for keeping baubles or indulging in frivolous things. "May I ask you a question?" Skye waited for Quistis' agreement before continuing. Quistis meekly nodded. "There used to be a Trepe family in my village. Would you happen to be related to them?" Quistis frowned. "Yes, I lived in Cottage Grove until my parents died," she answered. Skye winced slightly. "I'm sorry. They told you where I'm from, huh? I've sometimes wondered what happened to you. I remember my parents discussing how distressed the Mayor was at having to send you to an orphanage in Deling City. You didn't stay there long, I hope?" Quistis briefly considered telling her that she didn't want to discuss it. But a part of her was curious to know more about the home she barely remembered. The only way she would get the information was by building up a trust with Skye. Quistis sincerely doubted she could pump any of her three surrogate 'brothers' for this sort of information. Skye was her best--and possibly only--link to her past. "I went to another orphanage not long after arriving at the one in Deling City," Quistis explained. "I was treated very well there and given the opportunity to come to the Garden." "All's well that ends well, I s'pose." Skye began unpacking her duffel, tossing some of her clothes onto her bunk. "Would you mind showing me around the Garden if you have the time? It doesn't look as big as Galbadia, but I hate getting lost." "I'd be happy to." Quistis lent Skye a hand in putting her things away. Mellow was definitely the word to describe her personality. She didn't seem excited, nor disappointed by anything Quistis told her about the Garden. Every bit of info was greeted with the same amount of polite interest. It wasn't apathy, as far as Quistis could tell; just consistent digestion of new knowledge with nothing being given more notice than anything else. "Do you play Triple Triad?" Quistis asked as they walked down the corridor to the Cafeteria. "It's allowed?" Skye asked before continuing more to herself than her companion. "Of course it is. Martine isn't in charge here. I used to play, but I'm woefully out of practice." "Why would it not be allowed?" Quistis couldn't think of a reason why it wouldn't be. And from Skye's statement, she got the impression that it wasn't at Galbadia Garden. "I don't know. Headmaster Martine has many... quirks." Skye was careful to speak respectfully of her former Headmaster while still expressing her displeasure at his eccentric policies. Quistis instantly picked up on that, and felt a pang of concern for Xu resonate inside her. "I'll play you without trading any cards," the younger cadet offered. "That's kind of you." "That was the rule my last roommate and I played by. We'd also chose cards randomly to keep things interesting," she explained. Skye looked down at her blonde roommate. "You seem to think highly of her," she observed. "Did she graduate?" "Yes, Xu's gone to Galbadia to become an Instructor," Quistis explained while leading Skye into the Cafeteria. It was still early enough in the day that it wasn't slammed by the lunch rush. She wasn't ready to eat just yet, but Skye might be hungry if her body was reminding her that it was mealtime in Galbadia right now. Skye abruptly stopped following. Quistis paused with a questioning look. "Damn Martine," Skye hissed with an expression as hard as stone. "What?" "Nothing," Skye sighed heavily before moving up to the counter to order something to eat. The next evening found Quistis in the Quad with Jessie. Ever since the trio of cadets had 'offered' their services to her, Quistis felt like she was in a tag-team match. Whenever two or all three of them couldn't be around, they'd individually alternate. Practice with weapons and fighting was only just starting between her and Eugene. Quistis still wasn't sure what he had in mind for her on the weekend. LeVar had made good on his word to hook her up with his study group; the subjects they were studying were a little over her head, but it was good incentive for her to study even more and catch up. Now it was Jessie's turn to tutor her. Quistis wasn't really sure how enthusiastic to feel, given that this was the one skill she had only begun to develop right before Xu left. If anything, spell casting was her weakest ability. Although he didn't show it, Jessie knew that fact as well and was concerned about accidentally discouraging Quistis. Dressed in casual clothes--which consisted of jeans, and a faded emerald vest over a white shirt--Jessie gave a playful salute upon seeing her. "Xu's taught you more defense spells, right?" he asked once they briefly caught up with each other's lives. Quistis lifted the pouch that Sean had given her. Inside it were a number of beads she'd managed to amass from other cadets or Faculty members. There was a variety of them, but not many of any type. With a lop-sided grin, Jessie cracked his knuckles. "Well today, we're here to teach you how to be a true femme fatale. Those sort of supporting magics are all good and fine, but if you seriously want to inflict some damage--especially when a corresponding GF's involved--you need to know the heavier spells." Quistis nodded, making a mental note to again read some of the magic books in the Library. A lot of what Jessie was talking about was completely new to her; she hoped she would be able to keep up. "A lot of times," Jessie was saying, "the power of magic isn't inherently found within the bead you use. If anything, I'd say they act as a catalyst; the bead gives you a definite focal point. From there it depends on the energy quanta the caster holds. The more concentrated you can make your magic, the higher the level of casting you perform. "For example, ten Fire spells makes one Fira spell. Ten Blizzards make for one Blizzara. Ten Thunders give you one Thundara, and so forth." Jessie grinned as he stretched out his arms. "I think I've been pushing my poor Quezzy into overtime with all my work on Thundara spells." Quistis looked puzzled when she heard the name 'Quezzy' mentioned. "Who's she?" "He, actually," Jessie corrected. "Quezelcoatl's a GF who teaches you the skill for refining low level magic to medium level. You'll probably get him soon; Quezzy is a standard-issue GF at Balamb, along with Shiva. Cid's probably waiting for you to learn the basics before he sets you on the advanced casting." Intrigued, Quistis grilled her tutor on a number of the other GFs and their respective skills. Along with Quezelcoatl, Shiva was issued to all senior cadets. Jessie also informed her about the infamous Fire Cavern test, where one's GF skills would be graded in a battle against Ifrit. If Ifrit was defeated, then he would become the cadet's GF as well. It took Jessie a good twenty minutes to finally abate Quistis' deluge of questions. "Now how about we actually do some magic?" he remarked, producing a Thundara bead. "I'll show you what one of the bigger spells looks like." "Won't that damage the Quad?" Quistis asked. Jessie waved the fears aside. "Don't worry! I know my Thundara spells; the attack will be in mid-air. At worst it'll rattle a few nearby windows. And since there are no evening classes going on around here, we're safe." He had Quistis step back so he could show her the casting. The bead remained positioned between the tips of his index and middle finger. Quistis found it odd that Jessie didn't close his eyes as he began to gather his powers; she suspected that as one got better at casting, the focus came naturally. Abruptly Jessie brought his index finger right in front of his nose. Every muscle in his body was tense, and his face displayed the pent-up energy he was summoning. A blast of hot air blew past Quistis, sending her bangs of blonde hair dancing, as Jessie's eyes widened and he shouted, "THUNDARA!!" There was an explosive flash of light that momentarily blinded Quistis, followed by a crash of thunder. When she dared to open her eyes after the surprise Quistis saw a large black cloud slowly dissipating about ten feet from where Jessie stood. He glanced over his shoulder at her, an enthralled grin on his face. "Was it good for you too?" "That was incredible," Quistis breathed, awestruck. She had never seen Xu use such an intense spell like that before. Granted, Xu was more into hand-to-hand combat as opposed to sorcery. Jessie let out a deep breath, his shoulders slouching with the expulsion of magic. "As I said, that's a mid-level magic. You can also cast multiple spells in a single go--but it requires casting another spell first. Either Double or Triple, but it certainly makes for quite the effect." He gestured to the smoke still dissipating in the air. "You get the idea, Quistis. But we'll have to save that for when we're out of the Garden. Cid tends to frown on cadets demolishing a few of his classrooms." Quistis knew the devastating potential of magic. She'd heard about what Xu's Limit attack could do. "There's a lot more dangerous spells out there, Quistis," Jessie continued as he pulled out a Thunder bead for her to use. "According to some of the Sorceress War myths I read about in my earlier classes, there was some nasty spell called Ultima that was used by the sorceresses. Who knows; maybe Adel herself knows it? But regardless, that incantation isn't pretty, and can kill in a single blow." That was a lot to think about, and Quistis recalled from her history classes the infamous Sorceress War. It started as any other war starts, as a struggle for power, but how it ended was the mystery. One day, the world was fighting against the Sorceress and the next they were rebuilding their shattered lives. She knew that the Sorceress War had something to do with her home village being seized by Galbadia, or at least it happened around that time. Deling was like a wolf that took advantage of a weakened opponent and a world that was too afraid to fight back. Quistis was disrupted from her thoughts as Jessie placed the Thunder bead in her palm. Her fingers instantly curled around the bead. "Okay, your turn," he announced. Quistis looked down at the bead. "Do I hold it like I hold my Cure or Scan beads?" she asked. It was a valid question. She'd never used offensive spells before, and Jessie had a very different casting stance from what Xu taught her. "You can hold the beads any way you like," Jessie offered. "It usually reflects your fighting style. And since I'm so cool, my spell casting also looks cool." Once again, he managed to get Quistis giggling. Jessie pointed to a fair-sized boulder lying off to the side, close to one of the small flowerbeds. "Aim for that rock. Since you are a beginner in your *real* spell casting, it'll be great if you manage to get even a lightning spark." In her mind, she focused just like Xu had taught her in those early casting exercises. Except this time, she saw the rock in her mind and then saw a flash of light pulverizing it. Concentrating on the attack, Quistis felt the rush as she unlocked the power drawn from the bead. "THUNDER!" A surprisingly large burst of light exploded from her hand. Moments later, the top half of the rock was reduced to a pulverized mass of dust. "Was that good enough?" Quistis asked, reeling a little from both the surge in her body and from the force of the spell. She was sincere, and evidently had no idea the power she was capable of unleashing. Jessie could only nod, his eyes wide in surprise. "Uh... yeah. Good," he stammered. She didn't seem convinced, especially given Jessie's stunned reaction. Her own thoughts were that he had expected more from her, and was politely trying to mask his disappointment; there was still part of the rock left intact, after all. "Are you sure?" she pressed quietly. "Quistis, when I began using aggressive magic, I was lucky to scorch the bark on a tree. But you... your first time out, and you pulverize a rock. And a big one too." He then muttered to himself, "Just what the hell was Xu teaching you?" Quistis pursed her lips, giving Jessie a pouting expression. "So that was good?" She still wanted final confirmation, it seemed. "That's a very good thing." Jessie was still shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't know whether Cid will be delighted or angry for the debris." Skye stood before Headmaster Cid in his office with her hands folded before her and her eyes locked forward. A part of her felt disloyal to Galbadia for what she was about to do, but the warning needed to be given. "What's on your mind Miss Reynolds?" The Headmaster's tone was gentle. He gave her his full attention after flipping off the screen to his desk terminal. His willingness to see her on such short notice, and then gave her his full attention, rocketed him past her former Headmaster. Martine didn't want to be bothered by his students and thus left everything to his aides. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing; Eileen practically ran Galbadia's Garden with all the organizing she did for Martine. "Yes, Headmaster." She tried not to fidget. This really wasn't the first impression she wanted to make--that she was a squealer--but... "Miss Trepe informed me that a SeeD Xu was stationed at Galbadia?" she asked. "That's correct." Skye swallowed, then continued. "Shortly before I left, we were told that a new Instructor was on her way. The rumor mill got to grinding and it was made clear that we should give her as much trouble as we could. They said that she was from the Anshin clan." She shrugged. "You have to understand how the rumor mill works in Galbadia," she continued. "Headmaster Martine controls it completely. The students may feed into it, but the source can usually be traced right back to him. In this case, someone who was blind, deaf, and dumb would know that he was the one who put out the word to haze the new Instructor." Cid leaned forward in his chair. "And you believe that it is SeeD Xu that will be hazed at Headmaster Martine's order?" He didn't condemn her for what would otherwise be considered traitorous statements. He wanted to know what she did before deciding. "Well, there weren't any Instructors coming from Trabia that I knew of. Is SeeD Xu from the Anshin clan?" Skye shook her head. "No, that makes as much sense as a Shumi SeeD. The rumor mill doesn't have to be logical if it's worked properly." "Is there anything else?" His level gaze met hers. She flushed slightly before answering. "No, sir. I apologize for wasting your time with this." His look softened at that. "Conveying a warning isn't a waste of time. I am concerned with the well being of my SeeDs and my students wherever they may be. Rest assured that I will look into this further." "Thank you, sir." She continued to blush; Martine would have tossed her out on her ear long ago. The respect Cid paid her was an unfamiliar courtesy. She could only hope that Xu would be lucky enough to find even a shred of that in Galbadia. Quistis was quite pleased with her recent raid of the Library. A new shipment of books had arrived earlier in the week and they were on the shelves ready for her greedy eyes to read through. The stack of books she carried in addition to her usual textbooks made for an awkward load. Thus it made her the perfect target for Murphy's Law. Most students who saw someone as weighted down with books as she was would have gone out of their way to avoid the person (if not offer to help carry the books). Instead, a pair of sprouts decided to break out into a fight right in front of her. Quistis couldn't avoid tripping over them as one boy slammed another against the wall. The boy with short blonde hair punched his fist into the dark haired boy's belly. The victim tried to shove his assailant away, but to no avail. "What are you doing?!" Quistis lunged forward and put herself between the dark haired boy and the blonde. "Git outta the way, Trepe, we're having a private conversation," the blonde growled. "I don't know who you are, but what you're doing isn't right. I demand that you back off or I'll turn you in to the Faculty," she kept the other boy covered from further harm. "Ha! You've been saved by a girl, Squall. What a pansy," the blonde haired boy pushed his fingers through his shortcut hair and walked away. "You shouldn't have interfered. Seifer would have hit you if he wanted," Squall stood up slowly. He didn't seem to be in too bad of shape. "I don't care what this Seifer character does. Beating up on a classmate isn't right," Quistis stated vehemently. Squall bent over to help her pick up her scattered books. They walked together to Quistis' room. She invited him in if he wanted, but he declined. "If you know what's best for you, you'll stay out of the way," he shoved his hands into his pockets and left. Quistis wasn't sure what to make of his attitude, but was certain that she didn't like the impression she got of Seifer. He was a bully, plain and simple. Squall was probably too proud to ask for her help. It was a shame. She would be able to help significantly if he'd only let her. With thoughts of Squall, Quistis diligently pulled out one of her textbooks. Once her homework was finished she could indulge her desire to read the newly acquired books. After an hour or so, the door to her room opened. Quistis looked up from her textbooks as Skye returned from the Headmaster's office. "You look like something's on your mind." Skye nodded, though didn't go any further. "It's nothing to worry about, I'm sure." It was an awkward situation for Quistis, this new roommate. She understood the need for group interaction, but that still didn't make up for the fact that Skye wasn't Xu. For two years she and Xu had lived together; if Xu had something on her mind, she usually told Quistis about it. They shared a lot. But with Skye things were different. Quistis could have easily chalked it up to their relative newness to each other, or else just Skye's laid-back disposition. "So how'd your day go?" Skye asked. Quistis paused from writing down solutions that LeVar's study group was currently working through. The problems were of an ethical nature, and the Headmaster was going to be doing some lecturing for the class in the near future. As a result, everyone in the class wanted to be as prepared as possible for the debate/discussion. Sometimes Cid was known for playing Devil's Advocate. "Okay, I guess," she answered. Did her run in with Squall count as being interesting? She was a little disappointed with her magic session earlier in the day. After Jessie gushed compliments about her Thunder spell, she had barely been able to get a spark going from any of his beads. After an hour of unproductive results, they called it a day. "I haven't seen you very much, even though you're new here." "Don't count on me being around a lot either," Skye said, retiring to her bunk. "I'll be graduating in a couple terms and I'll be needing all the time I can for the tests and field exams." She noted the crestfallen on Quistis' face, and Quistis' attempt to hide it. "But," she added. "I'll be here as much as I can. We are roommates after all; it seems only fair that we should get to know each other." A part of Quistis still remained melancholy; she knew Eugene would be graduating in a few months, and he was spending as much time as he could with her. At the very least Skye could make a more noticeable effort. Then again, this seemed very much Skye. Skye reclined on her covers, her hands laced behind her head as she put her feet up. "I can tell you're just dying to find out something new about me. Ask away." "Why do you want to join SeeD?" Quistis pounced on the opportunity instantly. It was a question she had been wondering of herself, even more after Sean was killed. Quistis knew that in her own case there hadn't been much say in the matter. She was ten at the time, and would have done whatever was asked of her. Now the question had become why stay at Balamb? The answer was one she found herself unable to answer. Skye shrugged. "The job has a lot of perks. Good pay, touring the world, meeting interesting people and then beat the stuffing out of them." The cadet laughed as she saw Quistis gawk at her. "Oh, come on, Quistis; I was joking. But that's what we're being trained to do here at the Gardens. SeeDs are meant to be weapons. Sure there's a whole 'family' atmosphere, but we're still studying to become A-class mercenaries. I s'pose I'm just here to enjoy life to the fullest--and it doesn't get any more interesting than with SeeD." Quistis remained a bit surprised. To have someone so laid-back as Skye talk coolly about 'seeing the world' and 'living life to the fullest' seemed so contradictory. She was impressed that Skye had such a lofty dream in the first place. Although, Skye seemed to only want to become a SeeD so that she could enjoy the perks alongside the missions. Excelling within the SeeD ranks looked to come in as a distant second. "What about you, Quistis?" she asked in return. "Why are you here?" Quistis studied her shoes, avoiding Skye's probing eyes. "I don't know. I'm not sure I ever knew." She turned her head when she heard Skye softly laughing. "Quistis," her roommate said. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact I'm glad you're asking yourself that--especially given your circumstances. You're not even a teenager and already so much is expected of you. You *should* be asking yourself why you're here at Balamb. "The SeeD's life is a lot more grueling than the cadet's life. If you go into it for all the wrong reasons, it will do more harm than good--to you and everyone else you come into contact with." Quistis didn't get any sleep that night. She lay in bed, staring up at the bunk above her and wrestling with her reasons to leave against her reasons to stay. The tide of emotions broke again, and somewhere in the darkness of the newborn morning she cried again. Perhaps for the first time since coming to Balamb, she realized the expectations and hopes that were being placed on her. That was why Xu and Sean had taken such active interest in her, just as Eugene, LeVar and Jessie were now. And Headmaster Cid surely played a part in all this. So many aspirations rested on such small shoulders. When the morning came, Quistis was awake. And still without an answer. A few days in passing found Eugene waiting for them in the sparring hall when Quistis and Skye arrived. "You brought a friend?" he asked, looking at Quistis inquisitively. Quistis blushed, suddenly at a lack for words. "You must be her new roommate, Skye," he said, extending his hand. The two cadets shook, and then he returned his attention to Quistis. "I took the liberty of getting both the Headmaster and Faculty to authorize this. That's why I needed the few days in between to make arrangements. "You're welcome to remain here too," he added to Skye. Skye shifted her hips in a way that accentuated the knife that hung from her belt, which was what she used for battle. Folding her arms across her chest she drawled, "That was my intention. I don't have anything else that demands my attention today." "Then you won't be disappointed," he replied with a smirk. Eugene walked over to one of the side rooms, where the weapons used for sparring were stored. Moments later he emerged from the storage room, a large scarlet cloth in his hands. He raised his hands, offering the item hidden beneath the wrapping to Quistis. She had not the slightest idea what awaited her, and she tried not to tear into unwrapping it like... like the child she knew she was. But the eagerness of her trembling hands couldn't be hidden. A few loose flaps of crimson fabric revealed something she definitely wouldn't have guessed to expect. Skye whistled as she appraised the weapon. "You give all the girls you date one of these?" she idly remarked. In Eugene's hands was a long, iron ring chain. One end was a T-shaped gripping bar, and on the other end was a rather vicious-looking spearhead. Quistis' eyes widened. "Wh-what is it?" "This is called a rante ber gangedug. It's a chain whip," Eugene stated, handing it over to her. "Take it; feel the weight." It was surprisingly heavy, far heavier than the leather whip she was used to training with. Quistis let the spearhead drop to the ground, taking the rest of the chain links down with it. She definitely didn't want to lose control of this thing because of sweaty hands. "Certainly the bullwhip is a weapon to be reckoned with," Eugene explained. "However, this type of whip holds twice the potential for inflicting damage. You've become quite good with the whip, Quistis; we'd like to see what you can do with the rante." At that moment, Quistis was uncertain as to who the 'we' were. The Faculty, Headmaster Cid, or her trio of brothers? Or was it a conspiracy amongst all of them? Yet more than anything, she was beaming at the idea that someone felt confident enough in her skills to deliberately move her into a new level of combat. Ever since she started sparring with Xu and Sean, Quistis had remained uneasy. Fighting didn't seem to be in her blood--even though she was, her Shumi teacher said, excellent with the whip. "And for this," Eugene added, "you'll definitely want gloves. Your hands won't get pinched, and it'll give you the extra grip you need." He reached back and pulled out from his pockets a pair of black leather gloves. When Quistis tried them on it was like they had been custom-fit just for her. "Thank you," was all she could get out. "It's your call," Eugene told her. "You want to try the rante, or would you rather continue with the bullwhip?" Quistis frowned as she considered the options. On the one hand, she was becoming quite proficient with the bullwhip; classes were becoming tougher, but she was proving herself extremely adept with the weapon. For the rante ber gangedug, it would be like starting from the beginning all over again. This whip was heavier, and thusly a lot harder to twirl around. She doubted she could crack it like she always did the bullwhip. Silently she turned and took a deep breath, psyching herself up for making a test strike. The same principle would probably work with both types of whips. "Could you step back. Please?" she asked the older cadets. Both Skye and Eugene moved aside to give her the space needed to properly test the rante out. Quistis adjusted her grip on the handle and then shifted her body to give an initial twirl. What she wanted as a fast, decisive strike. Finding a target was irrelevant; she just wanted the feel of the weapon. The centrifugal pull was startlingly more than Quistis expected it to be, and she was yanked sideways. The precision strike she was hoping for went wild, the rante nearly torn from her grip. Skye easily dodged the flying spear tip, which carved a slender yet noticeable scratch across the floor. Hastily Quistis pulled her chain back, meekly coiling it. "S-Sorry," she stammered. Skye shrugged. "To be expected." "So... do you still want to try working with it?" Eugene ventured. "I don't like this handle," Quistis admitted, though with a fair degree of personal certainty. "This T-bar doesn't give me the mobility I want. If I can get it changed, that would help a lot." Skye turned to Eugene. "I'd say that's a big 'Yes'." "The Faculty can help rework that if you want," Eugene offered. But Quistis shook her head; her eyes still focused on the rante ber gangedug. She absently flicked the chain with her wrist, getting the feel for how much force she'd have to put behind the chain to get it moving. It was definitely heavier than the bullwhip, but nothing that felt too awkward for her. "I'd like to make the modifications myself," she stated. Both Skye and Eugene couldn't hold back their surprise. "Quistis," Skye said. "You're not a Weapons Smith." "Not personally modify it," Quistis corrected herself. "I want to draft up my own changes and then give it to a weapons maker in Balamb." Sean and Xu had shown her a few shops in their time. Xu had told her Sean's father was a Weapons Smith, and silently Quistis felt that no better tribute to Sean could be made than by reworking her own weapon to her own style. If only his family could be the ones to make the changes themselves... Eugene was impressed by how quickly she was taking a liking to her new toy. "I'm no expert," he admitted. "But I know a little about the rante. What specifically were you looking at?" Quistis raised the hand that was clenching the grip of the rante. "For starters, I liked the longer handle my bullwhip had. It gave me a lot more freedom to maneuver my whip; this T-bar looks like all my moves will be jerky ones." "It would be better if you shortened the chain a little," Skye added. This was the first time she seemed to show some form of genuine interest. "Quistis still needs to build up the weight needed to throw it around properly. You can extend the reach of the chain as time goes on." "I'd be inclined to agree," Eugene said with a nod. "So, do you want the rante?" Quistis beamed. "Yes," she answered happily. Eugene breathed a sigh of relief; the rante ber gangedug had been Cid's idea. He could only reassure himself through some kind of silent chant that the Headmaster, as always, knew what he was doing. With any luck, the change of weapon would give Quistis a change of mind when it came time to fight monsters again. Anything to ensure Sean's death wouldn't prevent her from becoming a SeeD. The next few months passed by, finding the snow of winter melted by the rains of spring. Quistis kept up her sessions with LeVar, Eugene and Jessie. With Eugene's final tests to become a SeeD very close, she saw less and less of him. However, the other two guys made a point of covering for him in his absence. Today marked the first in a number of weeks since she had been able to be with all three of them at once. She was glad to be in their company--but the reason for their gathering made Quistis more than just a little uneasy. "Are you up for this?" Eugene asked as they stood in front of a large set of doors. It was her first time in the Training Center since Sean's death. She knew that she'd have to return at some point, but it seemed too soon. Bravely, she fought off the urge to bolt back the way they came. "I'm ready," she said with more confidence than she was feeling. Her knuckles wrapped tighter around the elongated handle of her rante ber gangedug; the weight and shine of the chain gave her some sort of comfort. Even if the power she felt with it in her hands was a delusion, it was a welcome one. Anything to keep her mind off the last time she was in here. Eugene simply nodded and led them in. His parasol sat on his shoulder, ready for use. His weapon was one of the most unique she'd seen. It appeared to be a simple bamboo parasol--except that much of it was made of metal. As a result it offered a wide variety of combat options. Opening it for a shield to duck behind was merely one of its uses. Quistis was quick to realize the devastating potential Eugene's weapon had. Next in line was Quistis with the tip of her rante ber gangedug hanging loosely from her left hand. It was a weapon she still didn't feel overly confident with. In the time training with it, she was discovering the many differences between a bullwhip and a chain whip. The bullwhip was great for snapping; it was more fluid. It was also heavier and a bit longer than the weapon she held now. The rante stiffened when used because of the weighted tip and centrifugal force. The idea, when using the rante, was to strike the enemy in an unarmored spot where the tip could tear into the flesh. Anything else just made for a hell of a nasty welt. Another technique that she was hesitant to practice was releasing the whip to entangle the enemy. She would never even think of throwing her old whip, but it was a skill she was expected to know and practice with the rante ber gangedug. The knife on her belt would become all the more important should she lose the whip during battle. She needed to practice more with both weapons, that was for certain. On the plus side, everything had gone smoothly for her requested modifications. Eugene made good use of any connections he could find. And her Faculty trainer had made a point of having two spare whips of the same modifications, to be used as Quistis' personal back-ups should her primary one get damaged. Jessie was sauntering besides her, whistling cheerfully to himself as they entered the Training Centre. "I'm just here to cover your butts," was his reason for being there. While Jessie didn't bother going in armed (given his present company), he did have a pouch full of spell beads and a few Guardian Forces. LeVar brought up the rear of their party with his halberd at the ready. He was the one who encouraged her to become familiar with the entire whip family after learning of her choice to switch to the rante. It was advice that he practiced himself. He was comfortable with a weapon as basic as a bo, as well as most of the polearm family--and expanding some into throwing spears. The weapon he carried was designed so that he could change the head to be a variety of blades, prongs, or axes. From her studies, Quistis knew that LeVar's current choice of blade was of a more classical nature. The cutting edge looked like it could easily slice through whatever it touched. "You feel that?" Jessie said quietly to Quistis as they walked along something that could have been called a path. "Your heart's pumping in your chest, every nerve is alive and on edge, and somehow you can almost sense where things are?" "That's because you're using a Scan bead, you dolt," LeVar cut in. Jessie gave his roommate an unimpressed look. "I'm talking about the adrenaline rush, you uncultured swine." He took a deep breath of air, savouring it. "Isn't it great to be alive?" "We won't be for much longer if you two idiots keep this up," Eugene hissed. "I don't exactly like giving our position away to every damn monster in the Training Centre." Quistis readily agreed with that. The first monster they encountered was a lone Grat. Eugene invited her to make the first move. She twirled the whip above her head briefly to build up some force before snapping it forward. The pointed tip dug into the thick skin of the Grat's torso. Her aim was off; she was trying for the flesh between the two halves of its maw. The Grat protested the roughing up by swinging its long limbs at her. Eugene jumped between her and the Grat with his parasol open to block the attack. Its limbs pounded against the metal flaps harmlessly. Jessie turned to LeVar. "Ladies first," he said with a grin, gesturing to the Grat. "And men before mice," LeVar retorted, stepping forward. He held the halberd above his head with his hands spread apart along the shaft. The weapon arced down into the Grat with the axe blade digging deep into the monster. He twisted the pole to shred the innards of the Grat into a gory mess. The monster fell to its side, dead, before he withdrew his weapon. A slick coating of blood covered the head. Quistis swallowed down the bile at the back of her throat. This wasn't the first monster she'd watched die, but it was certainly the most graphic. LeVar noticed her pale look. "You've never fought with anyone who uses a sword, have you?" She shook her head in the negative. "Get used to it," He motioned at the Grat carcass with the halberd. "Swords leave the enemy looking anything but neat." "So," Jessie spoke up. "Who's up for dinner?" LeVar rolled his eyes as he swung his halberd around to a position where the blade was lowered to the ground. "It never ceases to amaze me just how tactlessly you can crack a joke." "Life is a game we all play," Jessie advocated, placing a hand on Quistis' shoulder. "The rules may be made up as we go along, but that still doesn't deny the fact that we're all playing it." "If life, as you say, is indeed a game," LeVar countered. "Then it's a complicated one not to be made light of." "That doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy it," Jessie said. Eugene swung around the edge of the group, his eyes constantly scanning the trees and rocks for any other predators that might be bidding their time. "Cut the chatter; you might give our position away to something far worse than a Grat," he told the other two cadets as he closed his parasol. Quistis felt her body chill; Eugene was careful enough around her not to say what such a monster was, but she knew well enough. A T-Rexaur. Stabbing memories of Sean's death returned, of his limbs hanging out from the savage, blood-soaked jaws. Quistis momentarily closed her eyes and did her best to force back the terror creeping into her system. She became aware of LeVar and Jessie flanking her on both sides. "Don't worry," LeVar said quietly. "Just concentrate on what you're here to learn. Leave the worrying to us." Their next encounter was a lot more eventful. They didn't run into a single Grat, or even two or three Grats. They ran into a nest. Jessie, LeVar and Eugene immediately formed a circle, their backs to each other. Quistis became a part of the circle, but her entire body was tensing up to the point of being frozen in place. She had never seen so many monsters in one place, and they were all worked into a frenzy. Jessie already had a number of spell beads slipped between his fingertips. "I wasn't expecting this when I woke up this morning," he muttered. "They look rather pissed, guys." "I count ten, maybe twelve of them," LeVar said, brandishing his halberd. "Mostly adults, a few juveniles. The nest itself looks to be on my right." Quistis' gaze darted over to the direction LeVar had indicated, and noted that the majority of the Grats were clustered around that area. The others were working to surround them. A lone Grat shrieked and charged. Quistis didn't scream, but backed away as she saw it head right for her. The Grat didn't get very far; LeVar rammed his blade right into its maw with no hesitation and very little difficulty. "Make that ten, maybe eleven," he glibly corrected himself. "We can handle it," Eugene stated, loud enough to snap any of them out of a panic. "Widen the circle, people; I don't want any of them getting any closer than we can help it, but we'll need the space if we want to use our weapons without killing each other. LeVar, Quistis you two have the range weapons, so you're on primary offense. Any of those things attacks, and I want you to be the first ones to counterattack if you can. Jessie!" "Already on it!" Jessie cut in. "Casting a Confuse as we speak. If you guys can buy me more time, I can throw some Bio into the mix." "Don't get too carried away, Jessie," LeVar said, shaking his weapon free of the Grat's blood. "We may need you to smack us out of a Sleep spell." Eugene grimaced, his parasol shifting from one moving Graf to another. There seemed like too many targets to properly focus on. "I have a GF that can clear us a way out." "Save it as a last-ditch. None of us know any Limit attacks, but we still need the fighting experience," LeVar countered. Another Grat charged, this time heading straight for Eugene. Eugene held his ground and opened his parasol as the monster's limbs pounded away. However he didn't remain on the defensive for long. Quistis jumped as she saw a large, slender blade pop out from the top of the parasol. Eugene quickly rammed the blade into the Grat's thrashing maw and then raked it downwards, spilling a pool of innards at their feet. That didn't appear to go over too well with the remaining Grats, who suddenly charged en masse. Whatever adrenaline wasn't already in Quistis' system rushed, making her blood hot. The next few minutes became a blur. Survival instinct kicked in and she was barely aware of any fear or training as she raised her rante and let the nearest Grat get sliced by her spear tip. Monsters and weapons and blood were everywhere, the air thickly saturated with the heat of battle. Quistis felt her muscles pumping as she raked the rante's chain down on anything that got too close to her. More than anything she didn't want to lose her rante, and to be left with just a knife. "Dumbass!" Jessie exclaimed, forced to throw a makeshift Blizzard attack as an adult Grat came too close for comfort. "This isn't a fight, it's a free-for-all!" Quistis twirled her rante around, before giving a swift, downward yank to the handle. The spear point grazed the intended Grat, but also ricocheted off the ground and bounced back into the air. Eugene let out a surprised shout as the tip grazed his shoulder blade. That sent Quistis into near hysterics. She turned her attention to Eugene, desperately trying to say something of an apology. "I'm fine, keep fighting!" he snapped, pointing at the Grat now right in front of Quistis. She didn't have the time or chance to attack. Quistis threw her rante in front of her, the monster's mouth clashing right into the chain. The weight of the Grat sent her tumbling over backwards, its thorn-like teeth being barely held at bay by her chain. Quistis screamed, closing her eyes and looking away from the Grat. Moments later Jessie tore a sizeable chunk out from the Grat's backside with a Fira spell. "You're lucky the thing didn't have the chance to spray you with its sleeping gas," he remarked as he helped her back onto her feet before attending to the opening in their defenses. LeVar was swinging his halberd in every direction possible, the blade a blur of steel cutting into creature. But he made a point of staying as close to the others as he could. A stray tendril cuffed him across the back of the head. He stumbled ahead, dropping to his knees. All too quickly Quistis saw what was happening. The Grats were trying to divide them! "Don't split up!" she cried out, shuffling over to LeVar's aide. The last thing she wanted was to be witness to another death. She knew that she wouldn't be able to handle it if the tragedy repeated itself. Jessie cast another poisonous Bio spell on the surviving Grats as Quistis and Eugene finished the monsters off. While her attacks weren't the best, Quistis was visibly holding her own--so long as it was against one Grat at a time. Eugene was taking great care to ensure that if anyone got stuck with multiple targets, it was himself. Out of the corner of her eye, Quistis saw that Eugene's open parasol had an added feature--namely the poisoned needles extending around the edge. He spun the umbrella, slashing while attempting to poison the Grat. LeVar staggered back to his feet, a little groggy from getting a lungful of gas, and resumed his fighting as well. Between the four of them, the last Grats were taken out quicker than before. The last one was left for Quistis to handle alone. It did a lot of thrashing around, and Quistis didn't have the strength or ability to fatally wound it. At the very least she got some experience in using her rante. She managed--though more by accident--to snag one of the Grat's limbs with her chain. Quistis desperately tried to hold the infuriated monster at bay as it tried to squirm free. Eugene nodded to LeVar, who finished the Grat off with a decisive slash across the front. The Training Centre seemed eerily silent in the aftermath. The four SeeD cadets regrouped, appraising each other. Pretty much everyone was splattered with Grat gore. LeVar and Eugene had the most on them, with Quistis coming in a close third. Jessie, who for the most part was busy running defense, had a few stray bits on himself. With a deep sigh, of both relief and exhaustion, Eugene turned to the others. "I think we've had enough training for today. Unless anyone else would care to remain?" "A nice, hot shower seems in order," LeVar replied. "Followed by something at the Cafeteria." Still being mindful of any other monsters around (no doubt the entire Centre was wide awake after the noise those Grats had made), they worked their way towards the exit. Quistis was kept in the middle, with LeVar in the lead this time and Eugene bringing up the rear. "I don't ever want to be stuck in a melee again," Jessie groaned, picking a piece of Grat off his shirt. "These stains'll never wash out!" Eugene made a face as he shook his parasol free of any gore. "You think that's bad? I won't be able to use this for a week while it gets cleaned." Quistis couldn't help but stare at the unique weapon in the older cadet's hands. "I never knew a weapon like that existed," she said. "Thank the Weapons Guild, Quistis," Eugene replied. "They're the geniuses who come up with these things. Weapons Smiths also play a big part in revamping original works. This metal parasol used to just have the poisoned spikes, but about a year ago I managed to get an upgrade." She already knew what he meant. "The retractable blade from the tip." Eugene nodded. "That's one of them. I've also got a blade, about the same length, hidden at the base of the parasol. If I twist the shaft just right, I can fight with both a small sword and a shield." "And should all those tricks fail, he can simply club his opposition," Jessie quipped. Eugene shrugged, and lightly bopped Jessie on the head. "Can't argue with that tactic." Jessie grinned, throwing a friendly arm around LeVar. "Think of the Cafeteria stories we'll spin tonight!" "After we all take a much-needed shower, I hope," LeVar said, grinning himself. "You did well, Quistis. Thanks for watching out for me." She blushed a little, meekly shuffling towards the exit with the others. Quistis didn't feel as jovial as the older cadets were. No doubt Eugene and the others were used to this sort of thing. Fighting and killing another living creature was still very new to her. And the intensity of that had been overwhelming, with attacks coming in from all sides. Quistis suddenly doubted the former pride she took in her combat skills. She looked up as she felt a warm hand coming to rest on her shoulder. Eugene was looking down at her, a proud smile on his face. "Well done, Quistis. Well done." Admittedly she didn't feel like this battle was a grand success. It was the training more than anything else that had taken control--that and pure survival instinct. She knew her techniques hadn't been developed enough to cover her friends. For the most part she had been powerless, out of control. And to add to it, she had accidentally nicked Eugene with her rante. Yet he said nothing about it, and when Quistis tried to apologize, he cut her off. "It happens, Quistis. For what it's worth, I'm glad you were there by our side." If there was anyone who kept his cool in that fight, it had been Eugene. As they walked out of the Training Centre, Quistis silently resolved to follow his lead. As it turned out, most of the stories told at the Cafeteria that evening had Quistis as a primary player. For as much as Quistis shyly detracted from the probing questions, Jessie made it his mission to talk about how she rescued LeVar from certain doom. And LeVar accepted the jesting from this with good grace for once. When asked, Eugene seemed to downplay her role in the fight to a more realistic level. "She's got the potential," he said. "Give her a few years, and this will be kid's play for her." He said nothing about the scar on his shoulder, though he did quietly consult Doctor Kadowaki about it. Before the night was out, the Trepies had managed to score significant points for Quistis' popularity. At the very least, more and more cadets were now curious about just who Quistis was. A month in passing saw Quistis' life returning more and more to the way it used to be under Sean and Xu's tutelage. Only now those two 'elder sibling' figures had been replaced by three brother surrogates. She was still working on the rante ber gangedug, developing her skill in aiming and throwing it. Eugene couldn't help but smile whenever he watched her fight to get yanked off her feet from the centrifugal force generated by the weight and speed of the chain. But at least she was learning how to hold her ground. In a year she would probably reach the mastery level she had with the bullwhip. Happily she was starting to work on weapons sparring, which took the pressure off Eugene to always be there to train with her. His own time was growing precious as his graduation neared. Currently his schedule consisted of a weekly meeting with LeVar and Jessie. Luckily enough--though not necessarily for them--the two guys were roommates. Jessie was lounging on his top bunk, and LeVar was busy scribbling down some notes when Eugene entered. "You look rather happy today, Fearless Leader," Jessie remarked as he turned his head and watched Eugene walk into the dorm room. "Played with your Limit again?" Eugene nodded. Having discovered it only a week prior (thanks to Cid and his conveniently 'missing' whistle), he was still taking on injuries to refine it a little better. It was very satisfying to clobber an attacker like that. "Pull up a chair," Jessie offered, pointing to the relative direction of his own unused desk chair. "Let the weekly Quistis report begin." Eugene sat down and wheeled his chair closer to the other two cadets. He began by outlining her progress with the rante. Grappling and weight training were only just beginning for her, but he expressed his high hopes. "What about your areas?" he asked afterwards. "Academics isn't a problem," LeVar said with a large degree of certainty in his voice. "Not only is she rivaling us older bookworms, but she's hoarding all our Triple Triad cards. I swear she's only showing up now to win more cards, and not just to study with us." Jessie laughed, his head and shoulders hanging off the side of his upper bunk. "Like you would ever be a challenge for her in Triple Triad, LeVar. A kitten could beat you." Eugene marveled at how for once, LeVar didn't give a scathing retort to Jessie's prodding. However that awe was soon destroyed as LeVar swiveled around in his chair, grappled onto Jessie's shoulders, and yanked his roomie off the bunk. With a resounding 'Thud!' Jessie toppled in a heap onto the floor. But the impact seemed to do little to damage him. "Mental note," he groaned. "Do not shine on LeVar when you're hanging off a bunk." Eugene shot LeVar a very dark look; that could have ended in Jessie cracking his neck if he landed wrong. LeVar just shrugged. "It's not the first time I've done it to him. He'll live." With more of a weary sigh than a laugh, Jessie picked himself off the floor and dragged himself onto LeVar's lower bunk. "Besides, this does wonders for building up my resistance to impacts." "Perhaps we should switch to a less physically painful subject," Eugene said, turning to the other cadet in the group. "How is she doing in magic." Jessie stretched his arms against the headboard. "Still not so good, I'm afraid to say. I don't get it either; the first time I took her out training she obliterated half a boulder on her first try. As a result, Cid 'encouraged' me to go find some other place to practice doing offensive magic. But she hasn't been able to duplicate that blast of power since." He opened up one of his hands and started absently playing with a Float bead. Eugene smirked when he saw Jessie slowly start to levitate in the bunk. Jessie's family lived in an area where Thrustaevis frequently roamed. From them a Float spell could easily be drawn. As a result, Jessie had a small stash he kept for training... or implementing his usual pranks. Every break, Jessie would come back to the Garden armed with a handful of Float beads and way too many ideas on how to get into trouble. "It's not like I haven't tried everything," Jessie added. "I've racked my brain and even taught a few unorthodox lessons, but she's still needs a lot of work. "Maybe she has a magic power of a different sort," LeVar suggested. "If she has an atypical magic skill, that would make it harder for anyone to figure out how to draw that energy out from her." "That still doesn't explain her first explosive display," Jessie countered. LeVar closed his book and set it aside. Even though Jessie was still staring upwards, he took the time to stare directly at his friend. "It would if it was her first discovery of a higher and more intensive magic than mere Cures and Scans, Jessie. That sort of casting isn't exactly focused at all, and no particular technique is really given. You built up your teaching based on what you saw the first time around; it appears Quistis' style of casting isn't following the norm." Eugene noted that LeVar was wisely not taking the time to rib Jessie's tutoring efforts. When it came to Quistis, it was something they all took seriously. A blockade for one of them meant a blockade for them all. Quistis' insecurities about one thing had a way of manifesting itself into other parts of her Garden life. "So what you're saying is she's not good with base magic?" Eugene asked. "Oh, she's got the vitality," Jessie said, still staring up at the ceiling. "Endurance and tenacity are two things she excels at--but right now they're only serving to frustrate us both. She keeps on trying but without the results from her first attempt." "She could very well have a high ability to wield magic," LeVar countered. "But if it's not like the magic any of us are used to dealing with, we can't help her find it. Sadly she'll have to find out how to use her magic herself." Jessie still remained skeptical. "Forgive me, LeVar, but for as much brains as she's got, I don't think an eleven year-old would be able to successfully create her own technique for spell casting." Eugene scowled as he thought everything over. In either case, he saw one distinct problem that would no doubt rear its ugly head in the future. If Quistis had this much trouble with magic now, how much harder would it be for her to discover her Limit--which was one of the hardest magics to use. Scholastically, Quistis was damn near rivaling them. LeVar was rather smug in reporting her progress in his study group--and the fact that a few other study groups were wondering if they could 'borrow' her in order to tackle some of the nastier questions in the text. In terms of weapons and grappling, she was moving along as much as could be expected for a girl her age. She had taken a very swift liking to the rante ber gangedug, and was putting on some added muscle weight from her fitness training. This magic problem was the only real obstacle. And pretty soon, he wouldn't be around to help make sure she solved it. It was an hour before the Library closed for the evening. Eugene strolled between the tall shelves of books looking for the person who asked to meet him here at this hour. SeeD Kei was at the end of an aisle flipping through a book when he found her. Eugene didn't know much about the SeeD. He knew that she graduated in the last class and that she had quite a reputation for her prowess with a katana. She was also known for having a scathing sense of humor that was punctuated by her temper. One didn't screw with SeeD Kei without running the risk of being burned for it later. Kei noticed him as soon as he started down the aisle to join her. She didn't waste time with pleasantries by getting right to the subject of their discussion. "Why are you taking such an interesting in Quistis?" Kei idly flipped through a book. "Is it because of your oath?" He considered his answer carefully before giving it. "Partially," he admitted, leaning against the nearby shelf. "I owe it to Sean. He loved the kid. He saw so much potential in her. I want to see his dream realized." Kei smirked with bemusement. "Sentimental fool." He jutted his chin out at her. "Don't call me a fool." He didn't need to be criticized by her for doing what was right. They were all on equal ground here in the Garden. "I never said I wasn't a fool myself," Kei closed the book before replacing it and drawing out another one. "Cid's up to something. He's entirely too smug as of late." Her blunt statement took Eugene aback. She wasn't confronting him, more like consulting him. "I've noticed," Eugene agreed with a slight nod. "Any idea what?" "It involves Quistis. That much I'm certain of. And if it involves her, then it likely involves you as well," the SeeD reasoned. "Ahhh... and is that why you asked me to meet you here tonight?" "Let's just say that I'm testing the waters," she didn't look up from the book she was thumbing though. She wasn't affecting the act of nonchalance very well. The actions were to deceive him into thinking she was bored, but he could tell that she was intently focused on what he had to say. Eugene shrugged. "I've been forthright with my intentions; Quistis Trepe will graduate from Balamb Garden as a SeeD." "Shouldn't you be concerned with your own graduation?" Kei arched an eyebrow at his bold statement. "I'll graduate, don't you worry about that." Kei snorted. "You tell Quistis not to go it alone, but you don't practice what you preach." "What are you implying?" he asked indignantly. "We're a team! I've got LeVar and Jessie to back me up. They've been slowly replacing me so I can work on my own exams." "Rogues, the lot of you," Kei replaced the book and drew out another one. Then she paused to smile. "Just like me when I was growing up. This'll be fun." Her eyes slid over to meet his. "I want in. As a SeeD, I can offer things to her that you can't yet. I can take the burden off of you when you need to focus on your studies." "You want in?" He tried to wipe the stupidified look off his face. "Why?" Kei rocked back on her feet before addressing him directly for the first time since they began speaking. "You owe it to Sean. Let's just say that I owe it to Xu." 'Owe it to Xu?' Eugene asked himself. 'Why would Kei owe it to Xu?' He racked his brain for possible reasons. Garden rumor had it that Kei escorted Xu during the graduation ball, but that could be explained away. Sean wasn't there--Eugene paused to shove away the thought of *why* he wasn't available--and Kei was a lesbian. 'A lesbian with the reputation for being a perfect gentleman on such occasions,' he reminded himself. They could have gotten together for the night in a platonic sense. But hadn't he seen them hugging each other after Sean's memorial? "Xu doesn't fish from the same side of the pond like you do," he said thoughtfully. Instantly he regretted having been so blunt, and braced himself for a retaliatory cuff on the head. "'Fish from the same side of the pond'...?" Kei cocked her head to one side in confusion before what he meant dawned on her. "Idiot!" She snapped closed the book in her hand. "She's my cousin, not my lover!" "Your... cousin?" Eugene's relief about not getting hammered was replaced by utter surprise. He did a double take and a hasty mental comparison. They were about the same heights with Kei having the advantage, he guessed. Their hair was different; Kei's was jet black while Xu was a dark brunette. Then again, he could sense some similarities in their personalities and outlook on things with Kei being the concentrate, extreme version. Maybe the idea of them being related wasn't that outrageous after all? "Yes, my cousin, and it'd be in your best interest to keep that tidbit of information to yourself," Kei glared at him. "Hey, if that's how you want it." He put his hands up. "Don't see why you'd hide it." "Why doesn't concern you. What does concern you is Quistis. Get me up to speed on what you all are doing with her." Kei slid the book back onto the shelf and gave him her undivided attention. "Well, this is what we're thinking," he began. The rest of the hour before closing was spent discussing ways to encourage Quistis to grow in new directions. If she was going to be the mascot of Balamb Garden as Sean envisioned, they'd need to do some prep work. Kei also had a few suggestions of her own. One of which left Eugene very uneasy. ---- Please visit our website at http://www.centragarden.net