Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Square-Enix. No copyrights infringement intended.
A Shadow Is Cast
"It's just a painting," her father remarks, frowning when Rinoa grips to his coat.
It isn't, but Rinoa says nothing. On the canvas, a woman dressed in crimson strides across a burning city, magic sparkling in the tips of her fingers. Her face remains obscure in the shadows of her mask, but Rinoa knows she's smiling.
Crack of the flames and hush of crumbling buildings make a lovely symphony of their own, but it's the screams of the worms that make her tremble in delight.
Rinoa closes her eyes, but the heat of the fire doesn't fade from her cheeks.