The Mission
It was still too early then when Aya heard thunderous knocks on the door. She hasn't got a full eight-hour sleep since she began being a SeeD and got crammed up with all those mission requests. She pretended not to hear them, to force the person away. At the fifteenth knock, it was obvious that the person isn't going to give up. With that, Aya stood up and opened the door.
"AYA!!! Good morning!!!"
Obviously it was Selphie. She is the only person that can be energetic at this time of the day. Who wouldn't be? It was just six o' clock in the morning.
"It's much too early for your practical jokes…I'm trying to rest here…" Aya said as she yawned. She tried to close the door but Selphie held it back. Aya put an arm on her waist and smirked at Selphie.
"Come on, wake up sleeping beauty! We've got a new mission!" Selphie said with enthusiasm. Maria put her palm at her forehead, a sign of despair perhaps.
"It's of short notice…." Aya said sleepily at her. It was uncertain if she was sleepy or just plain hopeless. She briefly fixed her hair by letting her hand over her long purplish-black hair. She then looked back at Selphie. " Or maybe you just forgot to tell me earlier?"
Selphie grinned. She took looked sideways as if though avoiding Aya's glance. Aya sighed hopelessly.
"Alright, it's my fault. I forgot to tell you yesterday. But anyway, we're to assemble at the front gate after thirty minutes. Briefing will be done there. That's all." Selphie hurriedly told her.
Aya raised an eyebrow at her. After thirty minutes? Surely, she wasn't ready for this. Imagine someone telling you that you have a mission thirty minutes before the actual thing. Nice. But hell, this isn't the first time that this thing happened. On their first mission, the situation was worse. It was five minutes that time. Aya could only sigh. When will the garden ever give mission requests on time?
"Alright, I'm going. See you later." Aya's voice was getting sleepier every moment. She thought that the next thing that could happen is for her to fall asleep standing. She felt the urge to get ready for the (usually boring) briefing.
"Okay, bye!" Selphie said as waved goodbye at her. Aya hurriedly closed the doors shut.
Another mission. These word kept pummeling itself into Aya's mind. She thought that it was so unfair, the other SeeDs had nothing to do while the go risk their lives doing a mission. Are they the only reliable SeeDs out there? They have Xu and Nida and that guy over the library who keeps finding that girl with the pigtail…Aren't they good enough? She expected the usual party will be sent again. Her, Selphie, Zell, Irvine and Squall. And Rinoa perhaps. Rinoa isn't even a SeeD but she helps out most of the time. She was beginning to think that the SeeD uniform is no more than a reflection of one's academic achievement in the garden.
But I'm a SeeD. I'm not supposed to complain.
This was the principle that she learned from Squall. She found it useful, as it made the missions easier to endure. She kept this in mind as she got herself ready for the mission. This principle can be compared to self-ordained ignorance but she had no other choice. Besides, she trusts the garden. They wouldn't send them for any reason aside from protecting the weak.
As soon as she got ready, she took the double bands of gold rings that hung beside her bed. It was her partner for it accompanied her in every mission that she took. It was her weapon, the Saturn Circle.
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Zell loudly yawned while waiting at the front gate. He would usually be the last to arrive and now he was feeling the same amount of boredom that each one of them had to endure while waiting for him. He looked sleepily at his digital watch which read six thirty-one. Aya was one minute late.
"She's one minute late..."
"Right, speak for yourself, Mr. Time conscious." Irvine sarcastically commented his statement.
Footsteps can be heard from afar. Aya was running hurriedly toward the front gate.
"I'm sorry that I'm late. My apologies." Aya bowed down slightly in front of them.
"Apology accepted Ms. Aya. I have heard that you were told only of this mission just a while ago." The headmaster confirmed. Aya slightly nodded her head, telling a mental note that they need not bother about her case.
"So, you are gathered here for the briefing of your new mission." The headmaster began," I know that I am already asking too much of you but please bear with me. This is a very delicate mission so I am sending the best among all of the SeeDs. And that is you. On to the mission. The six of you are to go to Trabia."
"I can show you the way there!" Selphie interrupted
"I'm sorry but you are not to go to Trabia garden. Instead, you will go to a fortress hidden in a snowfield. Your objective is to rescue a girl named Yukime. She is a sorceress that has been kept over the fortress since her childhood. Rumors say that she can control the forces of nature and control it according to her will. You will identify her with this." He handed them some photos that were given to them by their client. Irvine hurriedly got one of them and stared intently into it.
"Wow...she's pretty.." He said as he continued to stare at the picture. True enough, one can say that she was beautiful. She had long blue hair and eyes. She had snow white complexion and her stature was good enough. But what's so "sad" about the picture is that it was taken outside of the fortress. It showed her standing over the window , that was enclosed in strips of paper that were charms perhaps. She was looking grave.
"Kept here since her childhood? By whom?" Aya asked concerned.
"Details of her captors are unknown. But I am warning you, this group is rather powerful. Having put up a large fortress covertly hidden for a long time, I assume that they are strong. Always be ready in case of "hostile" treatment." Cid said briefly and concisely as the group attentively listened to his words.
Squall seemed indifferent even through the headmaster's words. He had that usual scowl on his face as he listened to him. His face betrayed no emotions.
"What are we to do with her after we have taken her here?" Squall asked in his usual cold monotonous voice.
"She is to stay under our custody until the threats are gone. Therefore she is your client until she is truly safe." Cid said in an in-a-matter-of-fact tone.
Squall sighed at his words. First, there was Rinoa. According to their contract, Rinoa is their client until Timber's independence from Galbadia. Presently, Timber is still under Galbadian occupation. Now, here comes another client. Now, their contract lasts until all the threats in her life is gone. When will that end? Squall thought. A thought entered into Squall's mind. He'll probably die even before she is "truly safe".
"Good luck. You may go now."
The SeeDs saluted at the headmaster at the same time. The headmaster gave them a nod of confirmation.