"Duel"
The warriors ran at each other, the rain beating down hard on the rocky plain; their battlefield. Two gunblades clashed against each other, sparks flying. The blonde man pushed hard, throwing the young brunette away from him. The brunette landed on the ground with a thud.
Then his eyes widened as the blonde held out his hand. An orange aura surrounded his palm before a blast of Fire shot out, slamming into him. He barely had time to block the magic attack. The blonde walked forward mercilessly and raised his sword. The only thing the brunette could do was watch in horror as the blade swung down, sweeping across his face. The result was a long shallow cut across his nose.
Angered, he leapt to his feet and charged toward his opponent. He drug his sword upward, the tip dragging along the ground causing it to heat up before he swept it across the blonde's face, opposite the direction of his own cut. Then, with a feeling of satisfaction, he succumbed to the darkness.
The brunette awakened with a start. He was in a small room, lying on a bed. The infirmary physician, Dr. Kadowaki, leaned over him. A small window over him was open, allowing a light breeze to blow through, making the green curtain billow gently.
"Ah, so you're awake..." Dr. Kadowaki said.
She looked over him a bit. "Looks like your eyes are focusing. You should be fine. Could you say your name for me?"
The young man thought a bit. "Squall," he answered.
Dr. Kadowaki nodded. "How are you feeling now?"
Squall put his head in his hands. His forehead hurt a little, but he responded, "Okay, I guess."
Dr. Kadowaki nodded again. "I'll send someone for you then. Let's see, your instructor is..." she thought to herself a bit. Then she said, "Quistis. I'll call her now."
Dr. Kadowaki walked out of the room. Squall could hear her dialing the numbers on the phone. He leaned back, draping his arm across his face. He was trying to block out the sounds from the outside, but he could hear footsteps approaching. Perhaps it was Quistis.
The footsteps stopped out side of the examination window, on the left side of the room. He heard an unfamiliar voice say, "So Squall, we meet again."
He turned his head to see a brown headed girl. She was wearing a blue button up shirt, a white skirt, and had a green shawl draped across her arms. She smiled at him and walked off.
That was weird, Squall thought. He turned back over. Then he heard the automatic doors opening. He looked up. A tall blonde woman walked in. She wore an instructor's uniform. Her bangs hung down on either side to frame her face while the rest of her hair was flipped up in the back with a clip.
She walked over to the desk and then turned to look in the room. She put her hand on her hip and sighed. She walked into the room with her arms crossed.
"I knew it'd be either you or Seifer," she said. She turned around and went to walk. Then she stopped and turned back to Squall, "Well, come on."
Squall and Quistis walked along the walkway, leading from the Infirmary to the Main Hall of Balamb Garden. They were headed towards Quistis' classroom on the 2nd Floor. Quistis looked at Squall. She kept looking at him as they walked. Two students passed and waved at Quistis. She nodded at them and then resumed her watch of Squall.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"I'm just trying to understand my student is all," Quistis said, "What's on your mind?"
He looked at her. "Nothing," he said. Quistis had said it at the same time he did, as if she knew it were coming.
She thinks she knows me? He thought. He became a little frustrated at this. "I'm more complicated than you think," he said.
Quistis stopped walking and looked at him. A small smile played on her face. "So tell me Squall," she said, "tell me more about yourself."
He knew she had caught him on that. What was there that he could tell her?
"Whatever," he said, realizing she had mimicked him again. She shrugged and kept walking, laughing to herself a bit. The entered the Main Hall and approached the elevator.
Quistis stopped in front of the elevator. She turned to Squall. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"
He shrugged and she gave up. The rest of there trip resumed in silence. When the elevator doors opened Squall stormed out and Quistis looked after him with a sad look on her face. She followed her silent student into the classroom. He went to his seat and sat down, putting his head in his hands.
Quistis put him out of her mind, resuming her role as instructor. At least for the moment anyway.
"Attention class," she said, causing the classroom to become hushed. "It seems some rumors were flying around since yesterday." She paused a bit before continuing.
"Yes, the Field Exam for SeeD is today." A couple of people gasped and began to chatter. She waited a while for the to become quiet again. "Those participating should report to the Main Hallway in 1600 hours. That is all, dismissed."
The students went to leave. Seifer stood from his seat, his blonde hair making the cut on his nose stand out. "And Seifer," Quistis said. He looked up to her with a look of aggrivation on his face.
"Do NOT injure your partner while training," she said, "Be more careful from now on."
Seifer punched his desk angrily and charged out of the room. Quistis ignored him, being rather used to his rude behavior.
"Squall," Quistis said. He looked up from his desk. "Can I speak with you please?"
Squall got up from his desk and went to the front of the room. He got there, noticing absently the three students that lagged behind in the classroom. Obviously members of the Trepies, a group of fans dedicated to Quistis. He thought that was rather silly.
"Squall," Quistis said, drawing his attention back to her, "You have not completed the Pre-Field test required to participate in the SeeD Examination."
Squall crossed his arms and looked at the floor. I was going to, but Seifer... He thought.
"Hmm...Do you have a good excuse?" Qusitis asked.
He remained silent. Quistis shook her head. "We will begin the Pre-Feild Test in no less that one hour. Meet me by the Front Gate when you are ready. You can resume your studies at your desk until then."
With that, Quistis turned on her heel and walked out of the classroom. Shortly after, the three students followed after her. Squall turned with a tired look and headed back to his desk. He sat down with a plop and turned the power on his desktop monitor. It blinked in and he logged in to the Garden System.
The screen read out:
Login Confirmed: Squall Leonheart
Retrieving GF data for Squall...
GF data obtained. Registering GF's Shiva and Quezacotl.
After Squall obtained his GF's, or Guardian Forces, he exited the classroom. It was a Godsend that he had two Guardian Forces registered under his name. He would allow Quistis to junction one and he would take the other. This would help insure their safety in battle.
He rode the elevator down and walked out through the main hallway. She headed toward the Front Gate where Quistis awaited.