Living another Way
Chapter 1-Introduction
One morning within Balamb Garden, as students and staff moved about to and from classes, Headmaster Cid was stuck in his office currently doing paperwork. He was sick of doing it, a never-ending pile that continued to grow, threatening to drown his desk.
Ultemecia had been destroyed for about one year now and the world was still adapting. Esthar was still recovering from the Lunar Cry and still requested help from SeeD to deal with the left-over monster nests that kept spawning every now and again. Galabadia still was working underground trying to think of new ideas of overthrowing Balamb Garden. It never ended, regardless of there being a threat from a sorceress or not.
At least Edea was free. Now that was a person that Headmaster Cid missed dearly. He wished more than anything to have her again by his side but she was currently on the White SeeD ship, location unknown. But even if he could be beside her again, that would mean finding a suitable person to take over from him.
Quistis Trepe was the first person that came to mind but she had been recently re-installed as an instructor (to her disappointment). The only other suitable person he thought of was Squall Leonhart, though he'd been made Commander and now overlooks the SeeDs and Cid thought it'd be a little unfair on him. So in the end he decided to stay put.
Headmaster Cid leant back in his chair slightly and opened the bottom drawer of his desk. He picked out a photo of Edea that he kept to look at when he needed and noticed something strange. Underneath all the loose sheets of paper and other miscellaneous items he saw a slender file.
Curious he thought, he didn't remember the file being there last time. He picked it up from the drawer, placed it on his desk and noticed it looked a little dusty. He opened the file and started looking through its contents. A map of the world, followed by some sheets of paper with faded writing and a photograph.
Cid picked up the photograph and stared at it for quite some time. He felt his cheeks flush a dull red slightly as he looked at it, as if he'd finally remembered something he'd forgotten about. Placing the photo down under the other papers he glanced to the map, to a certain cave and said to himself "I wonder, are you still in there, even after all this time..."
He removed a bottle from the same drawer, as if seeing that photograph had brought on a sudden urge to drink. H e placed a glass on the desk, opened the bottle and poured a small amount of amber liquid in the glass. Downing it in one shot, he refilled it with another and then another. He flicked on the PA system and simply said "Squall Leonhart could you come to my office...that's Squall leonhart to my office."
He had specified Squall as knew that he was the right person for the mission, or so it felt.