Disclaimer: I don't anything Final Fantasy ;-; or in this story 'cept my OCs.
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"Look we've talked about this several time. There is no need for you to have a guardian force on you. Rinnie dear don't bother with the things they make people forget things." Squall said smiling warmly at his wife and Lady Sorceress. It was his job as her Knight to protect her and her playing around with his magics and weapons when she wasn't even going to fight was not a good idea. She eyed the tiny marbles of power tucked away in a small velvet box greedily. "No!" Came his sharp command again as he dragged her away from his desk.
It had been a year since the dreaded Ultimecia Affair as it was labeled in the Garden's Mission files. While Rinoa wasn't officially affiliated with any one nation as the only living sorceress she had her personal ties to Balamb Garden through Squall and Deling City by her father General Caraway those ties kept a forced peace. Anyone who argued with either Deling City or Balamb Garden as a whole, well it just didn't happen as they were in position of the only sorceress.
"Well, if you won't let me play with your battle toys maybe I can play with your personal toys," The eighteen year old sorceress grinned an evil twinkle in her eyes. Squall didn't even get a chance to make a smart remark to that as she promptly threw herself at him and they collided into the bed.
-
"It's not possible!" Squall shouted taking another turn around the examining table. Rinoa sat irritated on the cold metal table ready to kick her husband in the butt on his next pass. Doctor Kadowaki gave another sigh watching the irate brunette give a yelp as his wife swiftly kicked him.
"I assure you while all studies in the past have noted all sorceress barren you wife is pregnant. How I cannot explain only that I strongly urge you to be quiet about the matter and keep me in contact about her health at all times without actually coming here." Squall snapped into focus instantly.
"Aw why?" Rinoa pouted kicking her legs out in a bored manner.
Squall realized the utter important of Rinoa being pregnant. The least important fact being that they would soon be parents. "But if what also holds true about Sorceress' means my child will be normal, no powers at all."
"But then why can I have kids?" Rinoa pondered. She was still being educated in the ways of a sorceress by Edea Kramer when the woman had time to drop by the orphanage. She thought back for a bit and realize she had learned very little of being a sorceress even after a year of training. Granted she was better at wielding magic. However, Edea has promised her legal and politic things would come with being a sorceress; that part she didn't understand at all.
"Squall I understand that, but being as Rinoa is barren. Believe me I checked, she is now suddenly pregnant... Think about it, you don't get pears from an apple tree do you?" The Doctor said trying to make Squall understand that nothing should be left to chance in their situation.
"We can let anyone get the impression you are sick or otherwise Rinnie. Just leave it to me and everyone else we'll get it sorted out." He said looking down at his wife. She was so cute and bubbly; he truly loved her and wasn't going to let this situation bring a frown to her face.
She broke out into a massive smile, "You mean I get to tell Selphie?" He nodded with a laugh turning to the Doctor. Her was was so serious that Squall could only match it. Seeing that they were under a mutual agreement on the situation Doctor Kadowaki let them leave.
A mere thirty minutes later they had everyone assembled in Quistis's office. Zell, Rinoa, Squall, and Quistis were seated in chairs while media streamed images of Irvine, Ellone, and Selphie over the computer to them. "So what's the big deal Leonhart." Irvine initiated eyeing his friend curiously.
"I'm going to be short and to the point. Rinnie's pregnant." This drew startled gasps from all who heard. Squall waited for the shock and gibberish that followed to quiet before he started again. "I don't know how, all I'm concerned about is hiding it so people don't get the wrong ideas. We'll worry about if the kid is sorceress potential later."
Ellone nodded delicately, "I'll speak with Uncle and see if he knows anything. You can always trust him to be subtle." He gave a nod in agreement wondering how his father would react. He was almost sure the man would jump for joy, tell Kiros and Ward and be smashed and out cold at his desk before night fall. He wouldn't even try to bother contacting his father until tomorrow.
"I trust you've already made arrangements with Kadowaki to keep this hush hush right?" His former superior officer said absently pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose a bit. Irvine gave Quistis and playboy grin tipping his hat to her. Squall rolled his eyes, why were his friends so weird?
"Yes, I'm already working out a guard schedule already. I know I'm Rinnie's Knight but no one is going to believe my upped watch of her in these times of peace." He answered seeing his wife's annoyed glance.
"I assume Seifer's already been clued it without actually being told whats up." Zell said his eyes giving away his annoyance. Squall nodded again wondering when Seifer and Zell would get along.
"Well seems to me everything is really covered until Rinnie's given birth, then depending on the kid it could only get worse. Why do you need us before then?" Selphie wondered over a planning book at her desk. Night was already falling in Trabia Garden. It pained Squall to see Selphie on the screen. The girl was clearly worn out from the disaster efforts it was taking to rebuild Trabia Garden. The bags under her eyes were the least of his worries; she was starting to look a bit on the thin side. Maybe he could convince Rinoa to go over there and do some dirty work to help clean the place up.
"Not yet, I want you and Irvine to keep your ears and eyes open. If you hear any hint that someone knows Rinnie's pregnant I want you to tell me the next possible moment." There were nods of agreement. He really didn't want to put anything else on Selphie's plate but this was important.
"Well that being said I don't want to hear or see you guys for the next nine months unless it's over cards and beer." Squall smiled causing everyone to laugh.
-
"Alright Rinoa today we'll try to harness your power of telekinetics." Edea said as they stood in the rubble that was Trabia's recreational quad. The major parts of the garden that were necessary for everyday life had been reconstructed. Today Selphie was sitting relaxing on a picnic blanket under thread of death from Edea if she didn't polish off three sandwiches on her own. Rinoa was standing beside Selphie glancing at the diagram of how the quad should look.
Selphie liked that she was in safe company. Safe enough that at least Rinoa had dropped her illusions and her eight month belly was showing. Edea was coaching her again on how to handle large objects with finesse, which was what Rinoa ultimately lacked as a sorceress. Selphie loved her anyway even if her upbringing caused her to bumble into things make people laugh. But in the end after much blushing and confusion Rinoa always completed her original goal.
"Alright now try it." Edea said standing back absently looking at Selphie. Selphie squeaked taking a bite of her sandwich. Rinoa raised her arms and did a grand show of gathering her energy to lift some rubble out of the way of the future fountain. Her eyes began to glow her hair fluttering at the static of her magic disrupted the natural air. All in all the effect was awe inspiring. So awe inspiring that as she collapsed Selphie was still staring waiting for the rocks to lift.
"Edea it hurts!" Rinoa cried clutching her stomach. Edea a well trained mother of countless orphans dropped to Rinoa side and began to do medical checks that she had been trained in. She was glad she had spoke with Kadowaki about being a midwife should Rinoa go into labor at a bad time. The was no precedent to a sorceress with child so Edea was trying her best to figure out what could happen before it did. She had hoped that Rinoa using her powers wouldn't do anything but clearly it had, she could see that Rinoa's water had broken.
"Selphie dear you know what to do." She said tartly turning urging Rinoa to sit up. Nodding Selphie shot up and started to run in search of Squall. She felt like her food was going to come back up, when had she let herself go so much? She was a SeeD for Christ sake, this run across the damaged quad to the head office should be nothing for her. Her boots were clonking away as she reach the elevator to the Headmaster's office.
Bursting into the room Selphie saw Squall sitting in front of the headmaster's desk talking to him in idle conversation. "Rinoa! Water! Trouble!" She gasped painfully. Squall's eye widen in shock before he bolted out of his chair and into the elevator jabbing the button relentlessly. Selphie paused for a moment wondering why people did that the door wouldn't close any faster that way.
It was eight hours later after the entire garden had to be evacuated for fear of death. It was not every day that a sorceress gave birth and the resounding cry was that it never happened again. The library was now a tundra, while the lunchroom had been beset by a monsoon. No one even knew where the girl's resting quarters was, while the vortex kept people form going to the boy's wing. The headmaster had been locked in his room when the power went out to the top half of the garden and the quad had grown a jungle when no one was looking. To top off a day of mayhem the baby was a girl.
Squall was staring down at the little bundle of joy with pride and fear. What if she became a sorceress like her mother? Would she be good or bad? What was a sorceress like as a child? Edea would know that. Better question was how did a child react to being born a sorceress. Rinoa was already sleeping and Edea was staring quietly as Squall cooed his little girl into silence. "Squall we need to clean the baby." She whispered. He instantly broke from his revere, handing Edea the baby he walked out of the room.
Edea was left in shock as the door swooshed closed behind him. The baby realizing her father was gone began to cry again. Edea tried to calm the infant as she began the proper cleansing procedures. She would have to ask Rinoa when she was well again to check the child for power. Edea could no longer do it herself without deep meditation. In fact it could only be done in highly magic saturated areas. She was essentially taking magic from around her and using her latent skills being a former Sorceress gave her to channel it. She mused about it how there had been changes in long held beliefs. In less than two decades the world had had two sorceresses and now had one with the power of three. A sorceress unlike all those before her had given birth as well as unlike all sorceress before had had died to relinquish their powers while she had not.
Looking down at the agitated bundle she smiled, "What secrets will you hold little one?"
-
"Nadia!" Rinoa scowled staring down at her little girl. She was trying to sneak out again. She was studying hard as she could to understand her sorceress powers more. Perhaps she should let her little girl out, it was too distracting. Her freedom came at the sound of knocking on her door. Zell entered in full SeeD regalia, he must have just come from official work.
Her little girl looked up at Zell pleading for some fun. He gave a snicker before looking up at Rinoa. She gave a curt nod looking down at her work. She was trying to take apart and put a watch back together. It was training Edea gave her to increase her precision. "Squall just wanted me to tell you he would be home late, more official business."
She waved her hand at Zell and Nadia using a bit of force to urge them to leave. Zell drew back from the force while Nadia looked as though she had been kicked and toppled straight into Zell's legs. Rinoa shut her eyes as her daughter began to whine. Zell seeing Rinoa's exhaustion frowned, he grabbed Nadia and ran. He knew the longer Squall was away from Rinoa the shorter her fuse got. He had been gone all week on Trabai business. He was due today at noon it was already five and Nadia was a needy baby. It was the combined effort of Quistis, Zell, and Edea that kept Rinoa from burning down Balamb Garden in a fit of rage.
It had been two months since she had delivery and already Nadia looked like a strong and healthy girl of three. No one questioned why she had blonde hair, fair skin, and icy blue eyes. Everyone knew Rinoa and Squall were exclusive. The odd physical appearance of her daughter had been attributed to being a sorceress's child. The official word was that Rinoa had adopted which was slowly dissolving under the fast growth of her daughter. In fact rumor had it Nadia was a golem experiment. But no one would say that to Rinoa's face.
Zell knew better and still wondered why their daughter looked a little like Squall and nothing like Rinoa. He like, the rest of the world, knew better then to question the all powerful woman. He finally felt they were far enough away from the temperamental sorceress so he put down Nadia down.
The little child had gotten heavier when he was running and he was almost afraid to look. The little girl rolled onto her butt looking up at Zell's with those shocking eyes of hers. He could see she had grown again, her hair had gotten longer and her face a bit rounder. He made a mental note that yet again she looked like a overstuff butterball. Not like it mattered the over fed look would fade by tomorrow. Rinoa's move to counter act the issue was always to dress her daughter in slightly over sized clothes with bigger sizes packed away.
Feeling a pang of hunger strike him he figured he would try another futile question. "Nadia are you hungry?" The child looked up at him shaking her head as he expected. Nadia had yet to eat a single morsel even as a rapidly growing child. Between Edea, Doctor Kadowaki, and President Laguna in Esthar there was already a good book of notes about Nadia. Some of those notes were mindless ranting from Laguna about how Nadia looked just like him. "Do you want to hang out with Uncle Zell, Mommy is very busy… I won't bore you will I?" He was rewarded with a smile and laughter.
Nadia was fighting the urge to scream. She wanted to throw this hard book out the window and watch the portable television for cartoons again. She knew her "childish" habits as her mother had called them would only get a swift mental slap from her mother. They were sitting in the Headmaster's office as they were making yet another trip to Trabia Garden. Five month and they visited Trabia garden at least three times each week, Nadia was always bored to tears being forced to go to the library and read.
Her mother and that mad Matron were always telling her to read books. She did as she was told, books upon books were piled up in her room downstairs but she really wanted new material. All the books she had been forced to read were practical books. She knew how to cook, clean, properly dress, sew, sing and dance in a classic fashion, and even how to breed from books. Would it kill her family to let her crack open a mystery or a romance book? Not that her imagination didn't supply enough random nonsense for her, but she wanted someone elses view of the world.
She wanted fantasies that didn't revolve around sorceresses to be specific. When she slept she would always dream sad tales of a strong woman and the loss of her knight. Those dreams would bring her to tears the sight of the proud lady so destroyed by her lover's death that she killed herself and passed on her Witch Embodiment to a mere child. The other dreams scared her. Fragmented dreams of a giant woman bent on finding a successor, so much so she started a war for her actions. So bent on finding the next in line for her powers she wasted her life away instead of living it like the other sorceress had. Would it kill her mind to come up with a good story?
Her father's voice broke out of the intercom, "We're here Rinnie, let's go say hi to our friends!"
Nadia wanted to chew on her book and spit it out in response to that. However, she kept silent and followed her mother into the elevator. The sour looked on her mother's face ebbed for a bit, "Did you know your grandmother was a famous singer?" Curious as the why her mother was sharing 'useless' information with her she shook her head. "She was amazing. She wrote the song 'Eyes on me' you should listen to it sometime. I have a music sphere in my room."
To this Nadia smiled she did so miss sleeping in her mother's room in her arms. In fact she missed when her parents let her sleep in their bed at all. The dreams often made her cry and mere months ago she remembered her parents cooing at her. Between Squall and Rinoa they had erased all her fears in a tight hug and quick slumber. Now? She was lucky if her parents didn't shout at her to stop knocking on the door and go back to bed.
"What's the song about?" She really wasn't sure what else to say the divide between her parents was a weird and for the moment insurmountable. To be honest the more she read about how a person was to live a normal life she knew she was anything but normal. What could she do but try to meld in as they had encouraged her through books.
"Oh it was a love song about a man she loved who never returned from war. She missed him a lot but eventually she found love again through my father. Perhaps we'll take you to see your grandfather soon. We've been far too busy to restoring Trabia." Rinoa looked down at her daughter lovingly, "I'm sorry thing have been like that have I hope to have some real family time when all the restoring has been complete."
She gave a curt nod thanking the fates that the elevator was finally at the first level. Her father was waiting for them at the other side of the elevator doors with a stony face. His hand was resting carelessly on his gunblade, his posture relaxed but still Nadia felt a tension when he set eyes on her.
The quiet family traveled the short distance to the parking lot and rented out a hover car to reach the Trabia Garden. Not liking how the silence seemed like her fault she cracked open her book again and began to read on proper conduct in a high society setting. Why would she ever have to worry about which fork to use first and what not to say to insult a ranking official?
Nadia was only marginally thankful when Edea welcomed her with open arms. No sign of awkwardness no pause of shock at her latest growth spurt. "Dear you should go check out the garden library they have some nice books on loan from Balamb that you could read. I suggest checking out 'Essentials knowledge on Social Hierarchies.'" Edea ordered letting her go as quickly as she hugged her turning to her parents. Dejected Nadia did as she was told and left her parents and Edea to their relief efforts.
"I see she's grown again." Edea frowned looking directly at Squall and Rinoa. Rinoa gave an exhausted sigh collapsing against the hover car.
"Matron I don't know what to do! If this doesn't stop she's going to grow up, shrivel away, and die before we know what's going on!" Rinoa fretted feeling the tears well up in her eyes. Squall matched her worry with his stoic face and a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Edea wasn't sure what the reason was to Nadia's growth spurts, this had only been going on five months now and while she was trying to find the cause Squall and Rinoa refused to stop living their lives. They had it in their heads that whatever was aging Nadia would not stop and she would expire soon so they wanted her to live happy as much as possible. They couldn't even solve why the girl didn't even need food she was a living mystery.
Squall looked up at her pleading for answers that even she could not give. An idea struck her though it required Rinoa's agreement. "I know you said you could not read the sorceress power in her but perhaps I could scan her biology. I need you to channel the Witch Embodiment through me though. I don't have the strength to do it alone." Rinoa nodded hope lighting up her face.
"First we need to get settled, I know the effort you have to go through to focus outside magic Matron." Squall said an uncomfortable look in his eyes. Edea ignored the look, after all what could a man who hated a sorceress's powers do when he was married to one.
Nadia was bubbling inside. She was utterly alone in the library. No one to make sure she read her appointed materials, that in itself was free rein to misbehave. She docked her digital display into the master table in the library. Frantically before someone caught her she began to download book upon digital book. First she hit the favorites list of the local students getting ten books from there before she hit up the top ten romance novels and four mystery novels. She felt jubilation shaking her very core at the idea she was doing what she wasn't suppose to and getting her own personal pleasure out of it.
"What should I get next!" She giggled frantically her hands shaking from the sheer effort not to scream. She could learn so much as long as Edea or Rinoa did not get a hold of her digital display and see undesired reading materials. She downloaded an encyclopedia on the human body, while she knew breeding she had never seen a naked man and her interest was without end. Guilt nipped at her sudden freedom, appeasing the nagging feeling she began to pick books books on subjects she was ordered to read. Downloading books on the current structure of military and political affairs she saw some interesting subjects. She found some highlighted book on passing stations she had heard about. Knights, Sorceresses, Guardian Forces, she even went so far as to download battle strategy books she had seen in her father's collection.
A beep from her digital display warning her she was running low on space caused the determination to fade. She would have enough reading for months to come, she hoped. She did have immense amounts of free time. Pulling the display free she looked for the most inviting chair in the room. The deep green plush couch called her and so she answered. Nestling herself in the chair she found herself sinking three inches deep and seeing that still no one was there she kicked her boots up to fill the couch.
Still feeling as though someone would walk in at any moment she tried to find a slightly relevant book but still interesting by her standards. Flicking fingers and surveying the list she found one title of particular interest. 'The Proper Rules of Etiquette of a Sorceress.' Her toes curled in anticipation.
Personal Note,
To whom ever finds themselves reading this book for practical application, may Hyne have mercy on your soul. To those reading this book as research material, may you rot in hell. To all those who happened upon this book move along now this concerns people of more importance then you.
Sincerely,
Duchess Leda
Nadia scoffed at such a welcoming message but it was clearly a self publish parts labels as entries from a diary.
Chapter One:
Those unfamiliar with the Witch Embodiment I either find deplorably ignorant of the state of political affairs, or perhaps farm hands on some lord or lady's land who could care less that you be educated to read and write.
In short the Witch Embodiment is an all encompassing force that leaves the host forever changed. Some changes that are to be expected when imbued with the Witch Embodiment that the host is as far as history goes, female. I believe there has only been a mere 2-4 male sorceresses and perhaps those were female at one point and no longer resemble as much. However, I digress. Changes to be found in the hosts of the Witch Embodiment will find themselves sterile. Regardless of having lived twenty years of one's life without the force and having bore children they will be unable to once the force has claimed the body. Studies have proven that the sheer power the force inflicts upon the host wipes clean the genetic information found in the basic host. The host while still holding the features they had at possession could eventually fall victim to side effects, those of which could be; having no have finger prints, carry infertile eggs, insanity, perhaps even lose features if possessing a weak host. While these are noted side effects I am certain many more have still to be discovered.
Nadia was in shock that such a 'force' could exist. However her mother was prime example. She could remember just before she began to remember things her mother would coo over her crib. The joy so written on her face she had thought the wings towering over her mother's happy face were figments of her imagination. Perhaps true happiness caused wings to sprout from her mother. She searched her memory again for the last time she had seen her mother sprout wings, she couldn't recall any. In fact recently she remembered her mother screaming in a fit of rage over something or another that she had done or said that had caused her to shoot lightning bolts form her hands.
The memory made her cringe. Pushing the thought aside she thought to get back to her reading but was stopped by an immense urge to be sick. Dropping her digital display she attempted to climb out of the couch to find a bathroom but could not. She felt smothered by a force sucking the very air from her lungs. Trying to overcome it she gave a gasp and felt it rushing into her. She felt like she was on fire, her lungs crying out for water and air to ease the pain. Fingers clawed at the arm rest vainly trying to get a hold of something to force her from this painful area. Just went she felt like she would explode from the force trying to drown her she toppled out of the couch. Her head connected with the table in front of her drawing a squeak from her abused form. The strength had been pushed out of her unwilling to try to fight to move she lay there shivering and in some instances heaving when there was nothing in her system to push out.
Edea snapped back into her body with a shriek. Rinoa shot from her chair breaking the connection she had formed with Squall's dear matron. "Matron!" Squall shouted rushing to grasp the woman by her shoulders before she could slip out of her chair.
"I've hurt her somehow!" The elder woman cried shaking fiercely.
Rinoa looked at Squall in shock, "Matron sent her to the Library! Go get her I will watch her." Her husband gave a short nod before taking hold of his gunblade and rushing out of the room.
Squall sent up a silent pray to whoever was listening, he was very thankfully the library was a very short sprint away. He was also thankful Edea had just chosen a meeting room and not a dorm room upstairs to conduct the magical test in. All he really took in of his surroundings was the gray silver walls of metal before he was at the library door. He slammed his hand into the reader almost sure he had broke it from the pain he was feeling. The door was moving at its typical slow pace but he was having none of it. He slipped through the door when the hole was big enough getting a warning from the security system.
He saw Nadia convulsing as another tremor of dry heaves shook her. She was bleeding from a rather straight line across her forehead. Sourly he noted her clothes were tight on her, she had grown again. Kneeling down he carefully shook her trying to get her attention. "Nadia, honey!" He hissed getting a sharp strike to the face. Her hand was grasping for something in her urgency. He shook off his momentary daze and reached for her hand with his own.
"Papa it hurts," she whined for the moment shivering, waiting for the next spam of heaves to strike her. Her grasp on his hand was unbreakable so he pulled her close to him hugging her. He held her firm as another round over took her. He felt the tingling on his skin of expelled magic much like when he was done casting a water spell.
He stroked her hair rocking her with his body. He wondered if he had ever done that to her, she had grown up so fast that he wondered if she got enough love and affection to please her. Unable to remember a time when he had rocked her like this he guessed probably not. Well he was going to change that so she didn't feel she was unwanted. "It's okay Nadie, just relax it will be over shortly. Then we can go have some ice cream in the cafeteria." This brought a smile to his daughter's face. She was clearly trying to stop crying even through all the pain. He had to credit himself for remembering that while she didn't need to eat to live, Nadia loved sweets as a flavor sensation only.
The door swooshed slowly open again signaling the entrance of Edea. She crept carefully towards Nadia and Squall. Seeing the girl draped in Squall's arms was slightly pudgy and had a more mature face Edea gave a regretful sigh. "Tonight we need to talk Squall." She intoned, he waved her away.
Rinoa watched with a small quiet grin as Squall tucked Nadia into their bed. Their daughter was dressed up in her pajamas with little moons and stars on it. She remembered when they had gotten them a week ago; Nadia had refused anything simple she merely focused on the childish looking pajamas. Her husband seemed content with how they daughter was fast dosing off. "Okay." He whispered slipping out of the room.
Edea was waiting for them in kitchen. Squall taking up a position right across from her gave a frown. "What did you need to tell me?" Edea had already told Rinoa what was wrong. She really couldn't believe it but Edea assured her that it was.
With a somber look Edea gathered her composure, "Well what we were afraid of is true. When I was checking Nadia today she came into her Witch Embodiment. It was dormant before so Rinoa never noticed it. She's been self sustaining as a person because she's been feeding off Rinoa's Witch Embodiment, though I'm not certain if by choice.
"It seemed as if the energy I was using to scan her decided to enter her. I couldn't control it once it got started the only thing I could do to stop it from saturating her anymore was to break the connection. I've already warned Rinoa against casting around her, I believe the connection as mother and daughter they share is what is causing the reaction. There is so much more we still don't know… I think it might be best to get her as far away from Rinoa as possible. We don't know the limit of their connection."
Squall frowned. His wife and his daughter couldn't be near each other? Was it part of the magics of the world that refused to let sorceress's have off spring, was this why? He looked at his wife seeing her pain expression. He wondered how she really felt knowing that she was essentially bad for her child's health. "I see, well I'll call up the others tomorrow and see what we can do."
Chapter Five
Having diligently covered proper etiquette and effects of those hosting the Witch Embodiment it is time to address the mutual shared skills of the force. All Sorceresses have some mastery over the basic elements of the world; fire, water, earth, air, force, light, dark, time, and even space. Each sorceress will have an extra fine affinity to one specific element, for instance I have an affinity to magic that falls under Force.
It is quite a simple matter for a sorceress to find her elemental affinity and many other things by meditation. Meditation by looking in can tell a Sorceress more things than a simple scan. Where as a meditation by looking out can gift the sorceress the future, an eye on events far away, or perhaps even enlightenment with a passing spirit. Meditation should be practiced lightly as a proper meditation leaves a sorceress completely open to outside attacks. I strongly suggest meditation only if a proper and able knight is at hand.
"Trabia is out we all know that." Selphie insisted breaking Nadia from her reading. She was sitting in the head master's chair as Cid had gone outside to Trabia to assist in restoring the Quad some more. Her father sat at the front of the desk talking to the computer screen. She personally had seen his friends at least once so seeing them again on the screen meant nothing but she like hearing them speak.
"Galbadia is still suffering from the reform, I could take her on but I wouldn't suggest it." Irvine's voice piped in. Nadia felt her insides melt, Irvine was a looker, and she absolutely loved hearing him talk. She still couldn't fathom why thoughts of him caused her body to react this way, but she tossed it aside as something she still had not learned from a book.
His home town however left her mind going over books on the recent reform Galbadia had gone through. With their President dead and their army in disarray at the fall of Sorceress Edea power the country was awash with civil disputes and political disaster as those in charge tried to appoint a new leader. President Garland had become the new elected president and in a short one and half years had already restored order to the collapsing structure that was Galbadia. Nadia wondered vaguely if her parents would ever pull strings so she could see such a great man.
"Well Irvine can't take her, Selphie can't take her because Rinoa is always over there, and Quistus really can't take her as she lives in the Garden with you guys. I guess next thing is for her to come and live with for in Balamb for a while since I'm on leave for my wedding anyway. We can address a better living arrangement later. Perhaps even try to talk Matron into full time opening the orphanage again." Nadia saw the hope flash in her parents' eyes at Zell's last comment. She really didn't understand why her parents were suddenly letting her out of their sights but she didn't mind. A small vacation and she would be back by their side.
"If that's the case reconstruction of the Orphanage should be put into effect." Rinoa chimed seemingly reading Squall's mind.
Edea shook her head clearly the bearer of bad news. "If it were that simple then I would do it. But where would I get the funding for this? We're not looking at Trabia costs but it's still a lot of money to restore that building. Did anyone forget it's from the former civilization in Centra? It's not your average house."
Ignoring her crestfallen parents Nadia interjected, "Why use the old building, can't you find a new bigger one. I'm sure there are plenty of children still looking for homes after Sorceress Ultimecia affair. In fact I've read the books the number of homeless children in Balamb and Galbadia providence has doubled since last year. Granted you won't be able to run it like your old establishment you would need help and other people to watch the children with you but… it's certainly doable." The idea had been put forth before in a small circular in the garden. Not that she was going to say her idea was borrowed if it kept her parents happy.
She wondered what Zell's home life was like. She knew he was fixing to get married to some librarian girl on the first floor of the garden so he had taken leave to go home. He was making plans to buy a house in Balamb so he and his future wife had a place to go to off duty. She wondered vaguely how hard it was to plan a wedding keeping the groom, the bride, and all parents involved happy.
"Cid and I have accumulated enough privately to attempt that, what a good idea. I'll start looking into it Nadia. You wouldn't mind staying with us on and off right?" Edea questioned hoping the child didn't pick up that this was probably a permanent arrangement. She looked up at Edea with a warm smile already sporting a new style. Why she had insisted dressing similar to Quistis no one knew but she was wearing a blue version of Quistus revealing top and a short skirt of the same material. Rinoa had vetoed the mini skirt Nadia had wanted she had let her have the knee high black boots. Rolling her eyes she mused why all the girls loved the boots. They had most certainly not been in fashion in any circle when Edea had been growing up.
"It's settled then! I want to stay and catch up guys but I have to go, I'm teaching a beginners shooting class in about ten minutes." Irvine must have waved to everyone watching the screen for everyone waved and nothing more was send from his end. Nadia already missed his voice but Zell had just as good as one which had just the same effect on her.
"Alright I have to go the wedding planner will be here shortly so just let me know when you get into town. I'll be waiting." Zell in a similar fashion dismissed himself.
"I'm glad to see you are better Selphie," Quistus said to her friend with a smile. Nadia turned back to her digital display flipping to a different book. What did friendly formalities matter to her? She had no friends. She had no life outside her parents and their close company, what didn't involved her didn't matter.
Chapter Eleven
The Witch Embodiment is a rather double edged sword as I have detailed. Suffice to say death is not a freedom for a Sorceress. In fact one cannot even die until the Witch Embodiment has been passed on. Those who are not sorceresses cannot fathom the difference between a Sorceress Candidate and a normal human. It is more of a feeling when the presence of someone able to channel the Witch Embodiment. As I have mentioned before those unable to handle the Witch Embodiment merely fizzle out and die, or worse yet become mindless shells that follow whatever strong magic direction is near the vessel at a given time. So being a candidate verses being a human is very important.
I cannot stress this to the poor souls hosting the Witch Embodiment at any given time. They must have a 'spare' nearby to ease their passing into death. For the sake of those insignificant people who fear and hunt sorceresses down a suitable candidate must be at hand. It is the responsibility of a Sorceress to find that able body and spare the world a mindless magic drone. While some sorceresses deem it beyond the point to waste effort into wasting time to find a future host, perhaps consulting history would change minds of those foolish brats.
Everyone is familiar with the only noted instance of the Lunar Cry. During that time all known hosts of the Witch Embodiment were dead. Ironically enough poisoned to death at a monthly brunch the hosts had agreed to share. All three hosts were political leaders of prominent branches of the Dollet and Esthar empires. It was through the work that those three did to keep the peace that nothing catastrophic went wrong. Pity that they were murdered so easily, it's an insult to the power a host of the Witch Embodiment holds.
It was during those ten long years without their leading power and direction that the people of Centra, blind and ignorant of the purpose of the Crystal Pillar moved it in proper alignment and the Lunar Cry began. Had the sorceresses deemed it in their best interest to find their future hosts for their Witch Embodiment, they would have been able to leave them trained and ready to take control.
A word of warning to those hosting the Witch Embodiment: You cannot die with it, even if you are within an inch of death. The Witch Embodiment will fuel your living until which time you find the nearest person with a speck of ability to host the Witch Embodiment. It is not something you must leave to chance. A host with the Witch Embodiment is so pivotal in the grand scheme of things.
It is even speculated that the hosts of the Witch Embodiment are much like the yin and yang of humanity. Always as either oppose forces, or combining powers for the greater good. And sometimes even in the case of Sorceress Kuja and Sorceress Talvia the greater evil- how they saw fit that war and plague were part of the grand design I will not question.
Nadia was sitting in the library mere hours before her departure to Balamb pondering. She had finished 'The Proper Rules of Etiquette of a Sorceress' and she found herself rather curious. The author has been Duchess Leda. She had tracked down the name to a minor Dukedom in Dollet, however, there was no listing of a sorceress during or near the published time of the book. She wondered how far she could get with just the library information on hand.
Pausing to rethink her strategy she pulled up a list of known sorceresses at the time. Sorceress Spera, who was noted to have kept to herself, wandered the world seeking information on Centra ruins and the former way of life. However, Sorceress Adel took control of Esthar by force to aid in her search for a candidate for the Witch Embodiment and at the same time draw Spera out to speak with her. Ultimately near her goal she was captured and detained by her own country.
Nadia was curious as to why if Leda was a sorceress at the time she was not mentioned. Unless what didn't seem to be true. 'Adel is Leda… and Adel was never truly a citizen of Esthar. Maybe Leda being a royal person of Dollet found it in her best interest to conquer her home nation's enemies.' The thought did make sense but at the same time why the secrecy? Why could Dollet not know of its Duchess's plans, perhaps they did not support her way doing things. That could explain the name change, and if what she wrote was true her intentions warped her beyond recognition.
Then something else clicked that Nadia had not be prepared for. Leda was Adel who was always searching for an heir to ease her fear of a death unending. The woman in her dreams looked like the Adel in the pictures. Only hosts of the Witch Embodiments shared the memories of those before them. She staggered back falling into her chair. She had Adel's memories so she must, by the facts given to her, also be a sorceress. It was not a shared skill between mother and daughter. There was only one copy, one memory until the force deemed it unnecessary to remember, which happened about one every sorceress generation.
If she were really a sorceress she needed to find the book on how to be one. Urging the paralyzing shock away she began to search for the proper material thankful that her parents were too preoccupied two days in a row to monitor her digital display.