Author's Notes: You know, things are kind of chaotic with my life lately. But hopefully they will start to look up soon. Anyway, sorry for the delay.

Eden's Chosen – Chapter 2

Ten minutes. That was all it had taken. Ten minutes in his newly assigned rooms laying on his newly assigned bed, staring up at his ceiling and pointedly not looking at the sparsely furnished place before it all brought back too many bad memories. Memories of being holed up in an equally empty room with nothing to do but think about what he had learned when waking into a strange situation. Or there were other memories of a room like this one in its emptiness, but different in that it had been cut out of red stone. They were memories of worse times, of pain and annoyance and loss. So, faced with a room and situation far too familiar for his liking Nida had lasted all of ten minutes. After that, regardless of the implied orders to sit tight and wait Nida found himself fleeing the silent accusations of the room. And, given the fact that he lacked any classes to teach or friends to meet with, there was only one place for him to truly escape the silence.

There were few times in a day that any Garden's cafeteria was empty; rare moments where there were enough classes in session to distract students and cadets alike. While plenty of students preferred the quad for socializing and relaxing, there was something about the environment of the cafeteria that drew students in. It made for a busy atmosphere and a buzz of noise that soothed his soul. At the same time it made finding an empty table and some feigned sense of privacy nearly impossible. Maybe he felt it more strongly now that there was no one left to have a spot at a table for him, but the hustle was almost unnerving.

With a sigh Nida ran his fingers through his hair—an old nervous tick of his once again coming to the forefront—and made his way to the counter. Getting a cup of coffee was his biggest concern at the moment, but even that was turned into a big affair when the cafeteria ladies recognized him and all but dragged him over the counter to find out just which of the rumors about his disappearance were true. Five minutes he was the captive to their audience, smiling mysteriously as they argued over different possibilities. At last it was his emptied coffee mug and the line forming behind him that prised him from the overeager attentions of the cafeteria workers.

It was with a full mug of the low quality Garden coffee—one had their taste spoiled for it when they had spent a good time drinking quality Galbadian brews—and a toasted ham and cheese sandwich that he was freed to search the cafeteria for a seat. Not that it took long, of course, to figure out there really was none to be had. Wonderful.

"Over here, sir! There's a seat open here!"

A quick glance around the room was more than enough for Nida to pick up two vital facts: one, the cheerful looking young SeeD was standing by a table with two open spots, waving his arms vigorously; and two there was no one else present save himself that could be counted as a 'sir' to the young SeeD. Neither of these facts, though, helped him figure out just why a young man clearly newly come to his rank would want his attention. But seats were seats, and he'd managed to cultivate an icy stare Squall would be proud of, earning him peace and silence if the young man and the two others at his table decided to inflict another round of 'guess the rumor' with him.

"Good morning, SeeD..." Nida prompted as he strode up to the young SeeD's table.

"SeeD Harrison, sir. Issac Harrison, but I go by Zac," the SeeD gushed as he all but pulled a seat out for Nida. "These are Jacob Comb, he goes by Jay, and Olivia Morris, called Livi."

As he sat Nida sipped at his coffee to buy time to get a closer look at the trio. Jay and Livi both wore cadet uniforms and in them they looked similar enough with their short cut black hair and wide brown eyes to be related. It helped that the way they sat there, their shoulders sagging, even matched. Zac, on the other hand, had the kind of puffed out chest and thrown back shoulders one expected of new SeeDs. The joy, the confidence it gave him had Zac beaming widely, a smile made all the more attractive by how often his sandy brown hair slid down into his sky blue eyes. Yes, Nida was relatively certain that whoever else this Zac was, he was newly come to his SeeD position, and his two friends had failed to pass the exam.

The question remained, though, as to just who the trio was and why they wanted his company.

"Good morning to you all. I presume congratulations are in order, Harrison."

"They are, sir?"

"Oh your attainment of SeeD rank," Nida responded, putting his food down. "I am correct that you are new to the ranks, am I not?"

"Y... Yes sir!" Zac announced, eyes wide in shock and pride. "Forgive me for asking, sir, but how could you tell?"

"You've been practically dancing around for a while," the girl, Livi, mumbled under her breath. Not that Nida didn't catch it. While Siren enhanced his senses when she was with him, that didn't mean he couldn't hear without her. After all, his hearing had always been relatively sharp on its own.

"There is a way that the uniform looks on someone who is new to it. There's also a look that an experienced SeeD gets after their first few missions. I can't describe it, but when you see enough new SeeDs you learn to pick them out. I'd peg you at... maybe a week?"

"Week and two days, sir," Zac agreed, still sounding quite pleased with himself.

"He won't stop bragging," Jay added, shaking his head. "Rubbing our faces in it almost."

"I'm not..."

Nida merely raised a hand and the pending argument stopped itself before it got started. ""If I may? There were only four graduates in my SeeD class, and one of them was a Trabian student. Becoming a SeeD is no small task, nor is the position for everyone. It takes a degree of hard work, spirit, and unwavering will that is hard to come by."

Livi scoffed and shook her head at that. "If we didn't have the commitment, we wouldn't be here. We knew what we were getting into when we sighed up."

Nida froze with his mug halfway to his mouth. That was definitely an odd choice of words. Most Garden students mentioned when they had arrived, or had been given to Garden, or when they had joined. Signing up wasn't a concept most people had when it came from Garden. At least, the students didn't tend to use such a term. The only times Nida heard 'sign up' related to Garden was with outside instructors and...

"So you're Squall's batch," he decided at last, the whole situation suddenly making more sense. It failed, though, to explain just what it was about him that drew Zebalgans. Maybe, in light of what he had learned about himself, he could chalk it up as blood calling to blood, but that made no sense either. No, it likely had to do more with the role that the people once thought he held.

"I guess you could put it that way," Jay agreed. "How did you..."

"Technically I think we're SeeD Commander Dincht's," Livi corrected, frowning. "Truth is we've heard some things from the others at Galbadia and Trabia, and apparently Galbadia is by far the most comfortable place to be a Zebalgan cadet."

"Hardly surprising," Zac agreed, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, sure, High Commander Leonhart steps up for us when it's needed, but Commander Dincht isn't as intimidating."

"He apparently once punched a train car's floor so hard it made the whole train shake!" Livi chided Zac, her eyes filled with awe.

"So? It's not like he's threatened to have a SeeD demoted like Commander Kinneas, and it isn't like he has a reason to be fond of us at all," Jay countered, smiling.

"Sorry, but I'm gonna suggest Commander Venti is what makes Galbadia work so well. Everyone is afraid of her, even the Headmaster. And let's not forget what Headmaster Almasy has done in these few months either. I mean, he's actually expelled a cadet for their treatment of Zebalgan students. Him! The former Sorceress Knight having to expel someone really pounds the point home, doesn't it?" Zac asked.

"Really?" Nida found himself saying, as amused by the conversation as what he was learning from it. Things really had been changing since his departure from Galbadia. And it sounded like it was for the better.

"Totally!" Zac insisted, his grin wide. "I mean, none of it compares to what you did to that armsmaster. That was just amazing!"

It was hard not to grimace at the memory of the incident the young SeeD was referring to. Until that point Nida had all but ignored his duty as mentor and guardian for the new Zebalgan students at Galbadia Garden. It had been a cadet named Kiera coming to him about abuses of her roommate that had changed things. If it had only been a student doing the harm Nida may have reacted differently. As it was, he had called for Seifer and together they had faced the most influential non-SeeD or Garden trained member of the staff: the armsmaster. In the end he had illustrated his point with violence in front of students, beating the armsmaster down and giving him a simple choice: leave or suffer more for what he had done. It had been a turning point in his time as the Galbadia Garden Commander, though that was behind him now. These days he was just another SeeD. The senior most of the SeeDs not running the three Gardens, but a SeeD nonetheless.

"I assure you that it was nothing," Nida said into his mug.

"But Kiera said..."

"Whatever she said wasn't hers to say."

The words came out a bit harder than he'd intended, but the truth was that he couldn't quite help himself. There were things in his life that he deeply regretted. Failing students put into his charge for so long, being forced to deal with the armsmaster the way he had, it was almost disgraceful. Squall had given him the mother of all dressing downs, one only made worse by Seifer's insistence on standing up for him.

"Uh..."

"Excuse me," Nida said as he pushed back from the table. "There are things I must be doing."

"Of course," Jay agreed, looking just as flustered as his friends.

"I'm sure we'll run into each other again," Nida said with a forced smile as he stood. "After all, there is a chance we'll be working together in the future."

"Yes sir!" Zac almost shouted as he agreed. It was all Nida could do to just keep the smile up and turn away from the table. Maybe he really just should hide out in his room until Squall called for him, overwhelming silence or not.

"Wow, this place is barren."

Nida didn't even bother to open his eyes when Seifer's words cut into his attempted nap. Doing so would only encourage the asshole to keep bothering him. Of course ignoring Seifer was hardly an effective approach either, because he could hear the Galbadian Garden Headmaster stride further into the room before flopping down in an armchair beside the couch Nida was busy ignoring him from. Sadly Seifer didn't stop there, not from the loud clunks that always came with Seifer using the nearest possible object as a footrest. There was an almost hard to resist urge to lunge across the arm of the couch and go for Seifer's throat for already scuffing the table. Experience told him, though, that it wouldn't work. He'd tried it more times than he could remember, only to end up with Seifer serving him his own ass in one way or another.

"I mean seriously barren," Seifer continued. Your office in Galbadia had more character to it even when it wasn't buried in mounds of paperwork.

"There would have been fewer mounds if you'd ever helped," Nida mumbled, still not opening his eyes.

"Paper work isn't my thing."

"Which makes your position both hilarious and frightening."

"Nida, you seem pretty attentive to my position. Should I be worried? I mean I'm flattered and all, and it makes sense that you would..."

It had taken Nida months of training to learn that his boots should always be at hand for an emergency. A week living in Galbadia with Seifer as his primary company had taught him a second reason to keep his boots around: handy projectiles. It was one blind hurl that had stopped Seifer in his tracks.

"If I've said it once, Almasy, I've said it a hundred times. You may be physically attractive, but your personality leaves something to be desired."

"The ladies never complain."

"The ladies don't have to deal with you for more than the three minutes it takes you to..."

"Now that was uncalled for!" Seifer half snarled, but mostly laughed.

"Oh no. It was called for. It was even long distance."

"Prick."

"Ass."

"Lazy fuck."

"Arrogant twit."

"Conceited prophet."

"Overconfident hack."

As it often did their insults faded off into a companionable silence. Fujin had once sat in on their little trade of abuse, only to compare them to an old couple. Seifer had laughed at her but called Nida 'honey' for the whole next day. Nida had opted to order Seifer out of his presence whenever they met. There was, had been, a lot of satisfaction in knowing he could order Seifer around; whether he bothered to listen or not was an entirely different matter. Now, though, their situations had more than just reversed. No longer was Seifer his direct subordinate, in fact Seifer held several levels of power over him. That being said, it wasn't like Seifer had much power over him seeing as he led Galbadia Garden, not Balamb. Then again, it wasn't like life was going to be much better reporting to Zell.

At last Nida took a deep breath and sat up, frowning as he turned in place to look at Seifer. The blond looked positively worn around the edges in a way Nida wasn't used to seeing. Of everyone Nida knew, Seifer was the most talented at finding time to be well rested even at the busiest of times. In fact, he was almost better than most pilots Nida knew. Yet the way Seifer looked now... It was clear that Squall had kept the Inter-Garden Council busy far longer than he would have expected. Which, of course, raised the question of what Seifer was going here when he could do clearly use a rest.

"You look like shit."

"Weren't you just pointing out that I was attractive?"

Nida shook his head and sighed. "You should get some rest. If you need a bed, mine's open."

"Wouldn't want to keep you from your pleasure in your new bed."

"Frankly I'm tired of beds in empty rooms," he admitted.

"Well then, furnish it. This is going to be your home for a while."

Another person might have only heard it as taunting or advice from a friend, but Nida knew Seifer better. There was something else, more like concern, in his voice. Or maybe disappointment.

"I intended to have the better part of my Esthar apartment moved here when I returned," he added. "Didn't find time when I was missing."

"Yeah, about that..."

"Please don't ask. The simple truth is that I can only remember what I've already said. If Squall wants more..."

"Who said anything about Squall? The great part about my position is that I don't report to him now, except when the Council decides one of us needs sent out. So no, I'm not the hound for the Lion today. As if I'd do it anyway. Still, I'm going to admit that I'm about as curious as everyone else about this. But we won't get much more from you. Maybe Veringas will find something to explain it all but..."

"But what?"

"The truth is I doubt that finding out would tell us much. Call it a gut feeling."

"And you trust those?" Nida laughed.

""If I didn't then Irvine would be here right now instead of me."

All Nida could do was stare in confusion, which of course set Seifer to chuckling. That was just like him, to make a mysterious statement and force Nida to fish after just what it meant. Sometimes it worked out that he figured it out, and sometimes he was left standing there as Seifer walked away laughing.

It starts the way it always does, in smoke and fog. Over the years he's gotten used to it, knowing on a level beyond consciousness just what it all meant. A future, but one that wasn't set in stone. Yet this was the same one that had plagued him for years, one that told him nothing at all, even as the shadowy figure with the familiar crimson tinted blade that was Rupio stepped from the greater fog. As always the figure slipped into an all too familiar stance.

Elijah. The word, the sentiment behind it rolls forward into the fog, even though it is never said aloud. At the same time he feels his hand tighten around a weapon he hadn't even noticed. The grip calms his otherwise shaking hand. It's hard, far too hard, to keep calm as he watches the shadow beckon him forth. This wasn't a fight he'd ever wanted. And one he had to face.

It was an all too familiar situation, he realized as he shifted into a defensive stance. Someone he never wanted to hurt pushed to the fight by a threat that could barely be quantified. But that man's power over them wasn't the worst part of this situation. No, it was the way he too stepped from the fog, his outrageously large battleaxe rested on his shoulder. Here, this was the true terror of the situation, and unlike the swordsman, this one was crystal clear. Boyce Megill, a vicious smile on his face.

He was off the couch he'd fallen asleep on almost before he even realized he was awake. How could he not? How long had it been since he'd watched Boyce go over the edge? Not once in that time had the dream changed. Every night a dream of facing Elijah and his crimson blade. It had never made sense, to see that scene time and time again wrapped in the the frame of a future dream. Now it made less sense, but for once he couldn't just brush it all off.

Feet go in to boots as he tries to shake the sleep out of his eyes. From the other room he can hear the sound of Seifer snoring from the bedroom. In the end he'd managed to convince Seifer to lay down and get some sleep, and had followed him shortly after on the couch. Well, he was going to hope not to wake him on his way out. This wasn't something he was really ready to discuss with anyone else just yet. Not anyone but...

A knock at the door, and Nida pulled himself to his feet. Given three guesses as to who it was he was pretty certain he wouldn't even need one. Sure enough once he ordered the door to slide open he met the all too familiar face of Irvine Kinneas. When he looked closely he could see the similarities in them. In their noses, in the shape of their lips, in the angle of their jaws. But, after all, they were supposed to be cousins. The sons of twin daughters of a fated bloodline. Yet the similarities were small in the grand scheme of things. In this moment the thing they truly shared that anyone would notice was the disbelief in their eyes.

"You saw it too." No question, just a statement from Irvine that carried a weight he didn't know how to handle.

"Does this mean...?" Nida asked, leaning against the door frame and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Even if it's in smoke, it's still a future," Irvine sighed, shaking his head. "We've got to go talk to Squall."

"I was afraid you were going to say that."