Chapter 4.
"Fire!"
"Fira!"
"Firaga!"
Nothing happened.
She frowned when she looked down at her burned palms. The skin of her hands was red and covered with small, disgusting bubbles. She bit her lips and swallowed her screams and cries. She was Tifarette Lockhart, daughter of Shuyin Lockhart and Lenne Hewley, future lady of Nibelheim. She wouldn't cry for the small burnings. Tifa wiped her tears, inhaled deeply and murmured the formula of the fire spell again.
She felt how the heat of her spell touched and hurt her already burned skin again. She grimaced and stopped casting the spell. Little girl tried to cast cure on her burned areas, but failed again. The cool, healing breeze only touched her palms slightly and disappeared. She clenched her fingers and growled. She was Tifa Lockhart, daughter of the best summoner in the Gaia. She was bearing the blood of old Alexandria with her veins. She was supposed to be great mage and summoner and instead of that, she was a failure.
She glanced at her rival, who cast Blizzara flawlessly. Large spikes covered the fresh grass on the ground when emerald-eyed beauty clasped her hands and murmured the formula of freezing spell. The little lady of Nibelheim grimaced when she saw how her mother smiled proudly and patted on the Cetra's head. Her little heart clenched in her chest painfully and she felt how her eyes filled with the bitter tears again. This time she let her tears to flow on her cheeks freely. How she wanted to her mother smile at her like that. Tifa remembered how the princess of Gaia frowned when she tried to cast cure at first time. Her father assured them. He said that Tifa was still very young for this, but Lenne cut him off. She said that their daughter was the descendant of the legendary summoners of old Alexandria and if she couldn't cast a simple healing spell, then she was just a mere failure and nothing more.
"Tifa." Someone called her name and she turned around. She saw how her father frowned when he saw her burned hands. He stepped forward, knelt in front of her and examined her palms.
"You were doing this again." He stated quietly. The corners of her mouth twitched when she nodded silently. He'd cast Cure and started healing her harmed hands. When the skin of her palms healed and disgusting bubbles replaced with delicate pink skin, he looked at his daughter and sighed. "Your mother told you to stop trying to cast spells."
"Yes, she told me." She said in a small voice and glanced at her rival, who was training in casting Curaga. Shuyin placed his palm on her cheek and turned her head to look her in her eyes. Her soft chocolate-colored pupils were avoiding him. He bit his bottom lip and spoke:
"Then why are you resuming trying use magic? You're a clever girl, Tifa. You can see, that magic isn't your stuff."
Soft brown eyes flared.
"How you know that?" She spat. "You were the one, who told me that I could cast the spells in the future and that I could do anything with trainings. If I'll resume my trainings, then maybe..."
"Then maybe nothing, Tifa." He cut her off. "I don't know why, but you can't use the magic. You should face it." He felt how his heart dropped, when her eyes filled with tears again and he smiled proudly when she didn't let them flow on her cheeks again.
"I can't." She mumbled. "I'm the future lady of Nibelheim. How can I protect my people, if I can't cast a simple healing spell?" He grimaced when she repeated her mother's words. Those words were still hurting and torturing her. He remembered how angry he was, when Lenne said that. He knew that she wanted to protect her daughter from the meaningless trainings and harms, but her words caused opposite. Tifa bit her lip and mumbled. "How can I protect Nibelheim, if I'm weak, just a mere failure?"
He snorted.
"Don't listen to your mother." When he saw her surprised face, he chuckled. "Let me show you something." He straightened his spine and quietly murmured the formula of some spell. Suddenly Lenne gaped and wrapped her around her throat. He turned around and explained the woman's reaction to his confused daughter, who was standing petrified. "I had cast Silent on her. Now she can't use magic."
"She will burn you in the hellfire for this trick." Tifa spoke and he laughed. Little girl gave him confused expression. "Why you used this spell?"
"I showed you, that without their voice, mages are weak." He explained. "But warriors can resume fight even if they can't use their voice."
A dark eyebrow rose.
"Are you telling me that I can be a warrior?"
"Of course." The blond replied. "You can be the best warrior in Nibelheim and Gaia. The warrior princess." He chuckled and ruffled her silky brown hair. Then Shuyin extended his hand and smiled warmly. "Now, come with me, daughter of mine, I'll show you the true art of the war and fighting."
She opened her eyes and stretched lazily. She was suffering because of those dreams. The kind smiles of his father and the soft brown eyes of her mother tortured her in her sleep. She was trying to get over the deaths of her parents, but it was still difficult for her. Her mental wound was still bleeding and her heart was still squeezing from the unbearable pain. But her father taught her to be a strong woman and she would do anything to not disappoint him. Even if it meant to wed the most hated man in her hate-list.
"But today everything is different," She told herself and smiled. Today she was going to spar with The Rebel Lord. She yawned and mentally admitted that he was the only great thing in this godforsaken castle.
He was watching her from the shadows of the ancient trees. She was wearing grayish-yellow hide pants (what's wrong with her and hide pants?) and green tunic. Her fingers curled around the tilt of a long, narrow sword. The corners of his mouth twitched. She was fighting with a bastard sword.
Her bastard sword was long and light, giving her opportunity to strike fast and fight from the long range. He knew that she was a martial artist and she was stronger than she looked. So, she can strike fast, hard and from the long range. He smirked. Nice thinking.
But she didn't know who she was fighting. Although Noctis disliked blond warrior, he should admit that Strife was a remarkable fighter.
Noctis saw how Tifa smirked deviously when she saw her opponent's weapon - a large, heavy buster sword. The corners of dark-haired male curled upward. She didn't know what was coming.
Buster sword was a very heavy weapon and no one could master it because of its weight. This weapon was very unpopular because its heaviness slowed its owner and the user was depended on the one, lucky blunt hit. However, Strife mastered it and he could use his sword's brutal strength swiftly. Noctis grinned. Tifa underestimated her opponent. It was her mistake.
Dark-haired woman attacked and Noctis admired her speed. But Cloud was faster. He dodged her blow and swiftly returned the attack. Tifa jumped back and took a second to rest her muscled and concentrate more strength in her forearms.
She smirked and her eyes started burning with new fire. She began dancing around her opponent, dodging his attack with the swift motions and seeking his weak spots. Noctis frowned. Because of those dodges Cloud soon would be tired (even thought his remarkable stamina, his sword still was heavy).
She used her sword's lightness, attacked him with her full power and then swiftly removed one hand from the tilt of her sword and punched him in his chest.
Noctis grimaced.
It was a low blow.
"You cheated." Cloud gasped and rubbed his chest. Tifa smirked and slightly slapped him on his arm.
"When you're in the fight, you should use everything to survive. Even if it is cheating." Her mouth twitched when she frowned. "You don't know if your opponent is an honorable man or not."
Cloud grimaced.
"Who taught you that?"
"Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, he was my teacher of swordsmanship." Cloud chuckled and she glanced at him with an interest. "What are laughing about?"
"I'm laughing about that word 'Honor', my mentor always used it before our trainings."
She giggled.
"Looks like your mentor was uncle Angeal."
"No." He scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "The name of my mentor is Zack."
Her jaw dropped on the grassy ground.
"What? Zack? My cousin? My Zack was your mentor? He taught you how to use a buster sword? So this is why you mastered that weapon. Only Zack and uncle Angeal can fight with the buster sword flawlessly." Her face broke into a wide grin. "I didn't know if you knew Zack, he's a great person."
"He definitely is." Cloud agreed and Noctis frowned. It was his time to break this lovely-dovey moment. He stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly. Tifa turned around and immediately grimaced at the sight of him.
"something's wrong, Your Highness?"
He shook his head and crossed his arms on his chest.
"Father is going to hunt today. He wants you to accompany him." Prince's blueberry-colored eyes traveled from Gaian woman's pretty face to Lucian's stone one. "And crow flew to us today, Lord Strife. Your mother sent a letter to you." His pale hand slipped into his black jacket and he revealed a small letter. Cloud quickly took it from the fingers of the prince of Lucis and broke the red wax seal. He opened the letter and quickly read it. His pale eyebrows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" The princess of Gaia asked. Noctis snorted when he saw her concerned eyes. She scowled at him.
"Mother's not feeling well. She wants me to meet the famous doctor of Gaia tonight and buy the medicine for her illness." The blond explained. Dark-haired prince frowned. Whatever the blond was selling, he didn't buy it. There was something fishy going on.
"Do you need me to accompany you?" Noctis smirked victoriously when Tifa gaped at him. The blond swiftly shook his head. Dark-haired male shrugged and turned at the brunette. "Father calls you, milady. He wants you to keep him company during the audience with the nobles. He also wants you to know that he's going to hunt tomorrow and he needs you to tag along."
"Did his highness want something else too or are you done?" Tifa asked rudely and snorted, biting her lips furiously. When the prince didn't answer, she bowed slightly. "Then I should leave you now, my prince. King Regis needs me."
She inhaled deeply and glanced at the nobles. Regis slapped his hand at his mouth and politely yawned. Noctis cleared his throat and announced:
"You can start audience, my lords."
The Silver General stepped forward at the prince's words and politely bowed. He coughed into his fist and spoke:
"Your Highness, I received very frightened news from my spies."
Regis straightened his spine and waved. Sephiroth smirked and continued:
"They told me that Lord Edgar is in Lucis now." Regis paled. "He's planning to start a rebellion." Tifa's ears perked and she hid her smile behind her palm.
"Rebellion?" Lady Brahne asked. "But how? Why?"
"I think you know the reasons, Lady Brahne." Sephiroth answered calmly. "Edgar says that he wants to free our country from the tyrant, but we all know the real reason behind this spectacle. Lord Figaro wants the revenge."
Now Tifa definitely was interested in this Edgar Figaro.
"So he's still angry because I stole Terra from him." Regis chuckled and the silver-haired general grimaced.
"Yes, my lord and also, my spies told me, that this Strife-brat is his nephew." His cat-like eyes narrowed. "I think we should arrest him."
"Why?" Kefka spoke calmly. "We must punish this innocent child because of his uncle's faults? Is this your justice, General?" His bright blue eyes pierced Crescent's green ones. "Then we can remember the mistakes of your father and punish you with most painful ways of torturing." He spat. Sephiroth gritted his teeth.
"Mind your tongue, jester, do you forget who you are?"
"Maybe I dress and act like a jester." Kefka answered cooly. "But I'm still a general like you, Sir Crescent and I'm saying that until we don't find the proofs, Strife is innocent and we should leave him alone."
"Kefka's right." Regis said. "We should leave Cloud alone. He's innocent. Yet. And he's a good friend of my fiancee. I don't want to leave her alone in the palace." Tifa felt how her blood boiled in her veins. Did that bastard refer Cloud as her pet or something like that? Her fingers curled into fist and she was ready to punch the crowned man in his face, but someone caught her hand. She raised her burning eyes and saw the calmness of dull blue. Noctis frowned and the grip on her wrist tightened. Regis continued carelessly. "Find Edgar and arrest him, but don't touch the brat." The color drained from Tifa's face and she struggled, tried to reach to Regis and punch him in his face. Hard. Regis clapped again. "This is enough for today, you're dismissed, Ladies and Gentlemen."
Cloud opened the door of the "Highwind" and stepped inside of it. At the voice of his footsteps, someone rushed from the other room. The oxygen drained from the young man's lungs when the older blond male embraced him tightly.
"Cloud, my dear nephew." He grinned cheekily. The older man pulled away and examined short male with a critical eye. "You look good in a black, long hair."
"Thanks, uncle." He mumbled. "But this is just a disguise." His uncle shrugged.
"Nah, long hair suits you. You know, I always wondered about your hair. I mean, everyone in your family has a long, fabulous, glorious hair and there you are, looking like a porcupine, which fell in the jar full with a yellow dye."
Cloud freed himself from the arms of his uncle and stared at him blankly.
"Why you asked me to meet you?"
"You know that I want a revenge." His uncle said casually. His eyes darkened. "And I want to free Lucis from Regis."
"And?" Cloud asked.
"And I need your help, Cloud." The long-haired blond pleaded. "You should tell me about everything what is happening in Lucis."
Young man sighed an closed his eyes.
"Regis is going to marry the princess of Gaia." He told his uncle. The older man leaned forward.
"Angeal has a daughter? I didn't know."
Cloud shook his head.
"She isn't Angeal's daughter." He stared at his uncle in his eyes. "She's Lockhart, uncle Edgar."
Edgar gaped at him, petrified.
"He's going to marry Shuyin's daughter?" The lord of Figaro laughed dryly. "Well, that man really can hold a grudge. Her father stole Lenne from him and now he's avenging by marrying Shuyin's daughter." Edgar shook his head. "Well, that's low." He grinned broadly. "Well, we should save the beautiful maiden. Is she beautiful?"
Cloud shrugged.
"She looks like Lenne."
"Then she's definitely a rare jewel." Edgar announced. "We should save her from the clutches of an old, evil man."
Young man groaned.
"What are you planning, uncle?"
The lord of Figaro smirked.
"Returning." Edgar smirked devilishly. "A return of the king of Figaro."