Into the Fire
*Author's Note* - SO sorry for the long wait! I hate that I haven't updated in a month. I hope you find this chapter worthwhile and I thank you for your continued patience and support.
I also sincerely apologize if this chapter isn't at all what you expected or hoped for. I had a bit of a writer's block, but I will definitely be back on my feet with the next one.
Rinoa awoke to the empty space that was her dorm. Seeing the darkness that coated her surroundings, she nearly started to drift off once more when a thought suddenly struck her. Opening her eyes again, she directed her attention to the clock.
6:00 AM
She closed her eyes wearily, dropping her head back onto the pillow. She didn't want to get up, couldn't stand the thought of facing another day in this hellhole. At least here, within the confines of this small room, she could relax.
Nevertheless, knowing the time now prevented her from falling back to sleep. Closing her eyes, she exhaled grudgingly before finally climbing out of bed.
Rinoa entered the living space to find Selphie gathering her things for the day. The friendly girl lifted her head and a bright smile formed on her face. "Hey, you're up! Good morning!"
Rinoa didn't respond, giving little more than a light smile towards her ever-cheerful roommate.
"I was just about to head over to the cafeteria for breakfast. Are you coming?" She was hopeful as she looked at Rinoa.
Considering the offer for a moment, Rinoa shook her head before replying tiredly. "Um…that's okay. You go on ahead."
If Selphie was upset by Rinoa's rejection, she showed no indication of such. Looking at the raven-haired girl, she shrugged casually. "Alright, well…if you don't come, I guess I'll see you later."
"Yeah…" Rinoa replied drearily.
Selphie smiled again before zipping up her bag and hurrying towards the door. Pulling it open, she glanced at Rinoa as she pointed happily at the table. "Oh! By the way, your uniform arrived. See ya'!" She closed the door, leaving Rinoa alone in the silence of their dormitory.
Rinoa stepped forward to find navy-blue attire with a yellow bow lying neatly on the table. She stared at the outfit, grimacing as she stroked the fabric of the shirt without much enthusiasm.
This marked it as official; she was now one of them.
She released a dejected sigh as her arm fell to her side. Running her hands through her hair wearily, she decided to get ready for her classes.
Rinoa was woken up by the sound of the ringing school bell. Disoriented by the loud chime, she sat at her study panel and looked around. Watching the students file out of class, she quickly recalled where she was and sat up in her seat. She didn't even remember falling asleep, nor could she recall what the instructor had been talking about when she had.
Hanging her head, she made her way towards the door.
"Ms. Heartilly?" An irritable voice pulled her back and she turned around, a bewildered look on her face. Instructor Aki stood behind his desk, staring back at her with impatient eyes. "Was I boring you?"
"…Sir?" Rinoa asked.
"I don't typically appreciate students dozing off during my class." Instructor Aki replied, crossly. "I am sorry if my lectures aren't worthy of your attention."
Rinoa dropped her head, closing her eyes as she exhaled under her breath in shame. She had been hoping the instructor hadn't noticed she had fallen asleep – but she had known it was unlikely. What exactly could she say in her defense? She had simply been tired and happened to nod off during class.
"I'm sorry, sir." She said regrettably. "It won't happen again."
Instructor Aki stared her down with the same intimidating look as the day before, and Rinoa did her best to hide any unease she felt as she looked back at him. "I won't allow anymore misconduct from you." He warned. "I would hate to have to send you to the Headmaster. But, I will if I must." He sat down, his eyes veering from her face. "Have a good day, Miss Heartilly - and be sure you get proper rest from now on, preferably in your dormitory." He gave a strict glance at her as he spoke those final words.
Now, having said all he needed to, he focused his attention on the papers sitting atop his desk as he prepared for his next class.
Seeing that their conversation was over, Rinoa gave him a light bow. It was only her second day at Balamb Garden, and she was already in hot water with the strictest instructor.
Heaving a breath, she turned towards the door again only to bump square into an oncoming student.
"Oh! Sorry." She lifted her head to give a proper apology and discovered that the person she had bumped into was none other than Squall. Rinoa's jaw gaped open, flustered from being so close to the mysterious boy. For the first time, she had a clear look at his face – so defined, and bearing such guarded, blue eyes.
Her heart started to race; her stomach fluttering endlessly as she fumbled for words. "…I-I'm really sorry." She glanced at the floor, trying to hide the grin that had formed on her face.
Even now, face to face, Squall still refused to acknowledge her in any way. Without sparing her a single glance, he proceeded to step around Rinoa and approached Instructor Aki's desk.
Ignored.
Her cheeks heated up as her delight vanished in an instant. Embarrassed, she made a beeline for the door.
"Ah! Mr. Leonhart. Just the person I wanted to see." Those words reached Rinoa's ears, and she couldn't resist stealing another glance. As she passed over the threshold of the door, she caught a glimpse of Squall one last time before he disappeared from sight.
Her feet thumped hard against the ground as she dashed across the field, her eyes locked keenly on the monster ahead. The plant-like creature shot a mass of poison in the Instructor's direction - but her keen senses kept the woman one step ahead, and she swiftly performed a diving roll to avoid the toxin.
She rapidly closed the gap and raised her sword to strike. The vicious creature stretched its long vines towards her and grabbed hold of the weapon, cutting off the attack. She fought hard to escape its grasp, but the Grat ultimately gained the upper hand after yanking the sword from hers. The weapon tumbled through the air before landing a few feet behind the creature.
Despite being at a disadvantage, the Instructor retained her composure in the midst of battle. She braced herself for the Grat's next attack and watched closely as its vines reached for her once more. The thick vegetation grabbed hold of the woman and hoisted her into the air.
Just as the creature would have devoured her, it was suddenly engulfed in flames, forcing it to quickly release her and she fell towards the monster. Just before hitting the ground, the woman caught herself and sprung forward to retrieve her lost weapon.
No sooner had she regained the sword, a massive crystal formed around the creature, freezing it in a matter of seconds and leaving it incapacitated. The Instructor acted immediately: jumping into the air, she came down on the creature violently and unleashed a strong, vertical slash that shattered the ice, and the frozen adversary.
Returning to a standing position, she withdrew her weapon before walking over to the four cadets that stood watching. Very much impressed by their Instructor's skills, the small class applauded her display; their action was only met with a cool nod before she raised her hand for them to cease.
"What you just saw will be the kind of thing you will be learning in this class." She stated. "I will teach you the basics of combat, in and out, and how to conduct the proper strategy based on the type of enemy and their movement in battle. It will be your job to employ the knowledge you acquire here when you face off against our monsters on your own."
Rinoa's heart thumped in her chest, and her stomach dropped. She had never been much of a fighter in the physical sense of the word – so the thought of engaging in an actual battle left her rather perturbed, and she shifted her stance nervously.
The Instructor gave a brief glance towards a steel door a few yards behind her. "Through these doors, you will find our Training Grounds, where your lesson will begin." She turned her attention to the cadets again. "Keep in mind that the monsters running loose in the area are very real, and very dangerous. Failure to exercise the utmost caution will result in serious consequences, even fatal."
Fearful, Rinoa swallowed hard at those words. Never before had she truly pondered death, and now she was going to come face to face with it? She couldn't believe the staff here would so knowingly – nay, willingly allow their students to endanger themselves in such a way. She was supposed to be safe here! How was endangering her life safe?
"Knowing your enemy alone is not enough. You must take everything into account in times of battle." The Instructor's eyes scrolled down the short line of cadets as she spoke. "Get a feel for your surroundings, know your own limitations, and consider all options profoundly. This tactic will prove invaluable when you are on the field, especially for those of you who wish to become a member of SeeD."
Rinoa only felt more nervous every time the Instructor spoke. There was so much to take in, so much to consider; she had no experience in this kind of thing. The only knowledge she held came from her father: the atrocities of war, occupation of towns and cities, rankings in the military – nothing that would help her here. She was an army brat – yet, knew nothing of how it actually worked. It was almost embarrassing.
The Instructor stood firm as she eyed each cadet closely. "Before we can begin your lesson today, I need to make sure everyone is properly equipped. Draw."
On cue, each cadet unsheathed their weapons and held them for the Instructor to see. Rinoa stood quietly at the end of the line, staring at the ground. Her heart rate increasing, she waited for the Instructor to approach as the woman strode along the line of cadets.
"Your weapon, cadet." Rinoa saw someone standing before her, and lifted her head to face the Instructor. The blond woman stared back at her, waiting with an impatient look.
Rinoa could feel the other cadets watching her and hesitated; clearing her throat, she avoided the Instructor's gaze. Though reluctant to speak up, she decided to brave it out. "I don't have one…"
The Instructor frowned in disapproval at her words. As if to scrutinize her, she looked Rinoa up and down before holding out a sword. "Use this for now."
Flustered, Rinoa slowly reached for the weapon and carefully removed it from the woman's hands. For a sword of its size, it bore an unusually light weight. While the blade looked brand new, the handle was discolored from its constant use; it had obviously seen much carnage in the past.
Rinoa examined the weapon closely. Uncertainty abound within her, she looked back at the Instructor. "…I don't really know how to use this."
"You'll learn." The Instructor replied, bearing little sympathy with her response.
Rinoa cast another doubtful glance at the sword and the Instructor walked away, seeming rather displeased by their exchange. Sensing her discontentment, Rinoa sighed under her breath before lowering the weapon to her side. This moment now marked two in one day…and it was still only morning.
"Alright." The Instructor addressed the cadets. "I will be watching how you perform during today's session. Fight to the best of your ability, but remain vigilant." Her eyes scanned over the cadets as she spoke. "Remember: every action you take will determine the outcome of your fight. Form a strategy beforehand, and be quick to think in times of trouble. Valor is not only having the strength to fight - it is also having the strength to accept when a situation is more than you can handle. The decision to flee takes wisdom and good judgment - it is not cowardice."
The cadets stared back at her strongly, nodding their heads in understanding.
Seeing that they were now set, the Instructor gave a nod of consent before turning towards the doors behind her. "Here we go." She headed into the Training Grounds with the cadets following closely behind.
Rinoa watched for a moment as her classmates moved further away, unwittingly leaving her behind. Her heart still loud inside her chest, she took a deep breath.
"…I can do this." She thought, reaching for the pendant around her neck. Clutching it between her fingers, she soon found the needed courage and swallowed her doubts. Though still reluctant to go along, she forced herself to take a step forward.
Gunshots rang through the air as a boy with jet-black hair fired multiple shots at a Grat from his pistol. With the assistance of two other cadets, the battle ended in a matter of moments.
Rinoa stared at her sword with a feeling of inadequacy. They had already encountered several monsters within the confines of the Training Center, and she had not once lifted her weapon; her classmates had taken them all down before she even had a chance to act. From the occasional glances she had snuck at the Instructor, Rinoa could tell the woman was rather unimpressed by her performance so far, and it had only made things more unnerving for her.
She felt so worthless.
Reeling in her insecurities, she placed her blame on the situation. Aside from wielding a weapon that she had no idea how to use, she also lacked any combat experience and didn't assume the same mindset as her classmates for this kind of situation. How could she possibly be expected to keep up with them?
She needed another chance.
Her opportunity came when two more Grats confronted them. The monstrous vegetation roared at the party, vines wriggling all around, snapping like deadly whips.
Rinoa's looked at the sword in her hands. Determined to prove herself, she soon cast her doubts aside and readied herself to fight.
No sooner had she prepared, the other cadets took to action once again. Rinoa watched as they fought, stunned by their speed and proficiency. They exhibited such outstanding ability and valor in battle, employing astonishing teamwork in order to defeat the vile creatures.
Coordinating their attacks, the two male cadets briefly double-teamed one of the Grats. Firing three rapid shots, the gunman debilitated the foe and quickly followed-up with a powerful blizzaga spell, freezing it in a crystal prison. Using their Instructor's tactic, the other boy rushed the incapacitated foe and defeated it with a single thrust of his weapon.
Likely an attempt to even the odds, the remaining Grat suddenly stretched its vines and grabbed hold of the female cadet. She fought to break free, but her efforts proved useless against the creature's tremendous grip. Lifting her into the air, the Grat prepared to finish her off while she remained powerless to resist.
If she was going to do this, it had to be now.
Rinoa broke into the fight, swinging her sword at a vertical angle. She slashed the vines of the monstrous plant and managed to save the cadet from her gruesome fate. The Grat unleashed a deafening cry, its hacked vines waving madly in the air.
Rinoa was quick to act. The Grat burst into flames, its body scorched in an instant.
Seeing her chance, the female cadet hurled her knife at the creature, piercing its charred frame and ending the battle.
Rinoa stared at the lifeless monstrosity, her heart pounding from the adrenaline coursing through her. It was an odd sensation: though vexed by the thought of having taken a life, she couldn't contain an essence of triumph. She wasn't quite able to put it into words, but this battle had given her a feeling of confidence and relief.
She felt…alive; empowered even.
The cadet calmly approached the defeated monster and plucked her knife from its corpse. After a careful examination, she placed the weapon back in its holster and turned towards Rinoa. "Thank you." Her gratitude lacked any real emotion, but just the recognition was enough to induce a light smile from the raven-haired girl.
The Instructor stepped forward. "Okay. Good work, cadets. I think we have time for one more before class is over."
Suddenly a deafening roar came from beyond the bushes, nailing their feet where they stood. It was much more powerful, more threatening than anything they had fought up till now, its feet shaking the foundation with each step it took.
Another mad roar boomed through the air, this one sounding much closer than the last, and they all turned their heads to meet with a colossal beast. A T-Rexaur stood ahead of them, towering over the group with its massive size. Its skin glistened under the sunlight that poured in through the glass roof, exposing every rigid muscle in its body and only adding to its intimidating appearance.
The gigantic lizard raised its nose into the air, seemingly trying to catch a whiff of their scent amongst the forested space. Looking toward them again, it gave a hostile snarl, swinging its tail back and forth vehemently.
The sight of the thing left them petrified, the cadets frozen with fear as they stared up at it.
"Do not engage!" The Instructor ordered. "Fall back, cadets! Hurry, to the doors!" The students followed without question, dashing through the area towards the exit as fast as their feet could carry them.
Standing in complete consternation, Rinoa failed to comply with the Instructor's command. Her eyes fixed on the lizard, she proceeded to back up carefully.
Her mind preoccupied, she tripped, dropping her weapon as she tumbled to the ground. The abrupt movement instantly alerted the mighty beast, and it stormed towards her with wide strides. Rinoa watched in horror as the creature approached, unable to move from its thunderous stomps that pinned her to the ground.
The T-Rexaur loomed over her, casting a massive shadow on the fearful girl. It leered down at her, pursing its eyes before unleashing another frightening roar in her face.
Helpless, she watched in sheer terror as the monster reared its head. Rinoa thought she felt her heart stop as she caught sight of its razor-sharp teeth; so thick, so strong, ready to tear her into pieces.
Her death imminent, she turned her head away, squeezing her eyes shut as she braced for the end.
This was it.
This was where she was going to die.
Yet, it seemed death was not willing to take her just yet. Interjecting at the last moment, the Instructor jumped between them and quickly cast a protect spell, shielding them both from the clutches of the beast's maw. Stunned by the unexpected resistance, the T-Rexaur released an enraged wail.
With the monster briefly distracted, the Instructor took the chance to assist Rinoa. "Let's go!" She quickly helped the frightened girl to her feet, and together they made haste towards the exit.
They heard another loud roar resound through the area, and the booming footsteps let them know the beast was on the move again. They kept dashing for the doors, struggling to retain their balance from the enormous tremors as the T-Rexaur pursued them relentlessly.
Rinoa's heart raced frantically as she kept her eyes bolted on the doorway. The Instructor urged her to keep moving, neither daring to look back as they continued their mad dash to escape.
The magnitude of the quakes increased as they drew closer to the doors, and Rinoa soon felt the heat of the lizard's breath on the back of her neck. Consumed with fear, her skin went pale, and she felt her legs nearly cave beneath her. She closed her eyes, praying hard that they would make it out of this experience alive.
The T-Rexaur lowered its head as it closed in, ready to grab them in its monstrous jaw. Just as it was about to get a hold of Rinoa, the Instructor pulled her through the exit, both women narrowly avoiding their gruesome end as the carnivore was quickly sealed behind the doors.
Concerned about their condition, the alarmed cadets quickly gathered around as the Instructor rose to her feet. "Are you alright, cadet?" She held her hand on her hip, and there was a tone of disappointment in her voice as she looked at Rinoa.
Rinoa gave no response, fighting to catch her breath from the terrifying encounter. It was the first near-death experience of her life, and just the thought what might have happened had she not gotten out of there filled her with apprehension. She couldn't think, couldn't speak; her desire to return home had now only strengthened further with this latest incident. At least there were no hungry beasts threatening to devour her back home.
She sat down and inspected her knee to find some blood seeping from a cut. She covered the injury with her hand in attempt to stop the red fluid. The sight of red mixed with the dominant fear within her began to make her feel lightheaded, and she wanted to just pass out.
"Come on. I'll take you to the Infirmary." The Instructor helped Rinoa to her feet. After checking the girl's condition, she then turned towards the other students as they made their way out. "Class dismissed."
Think it's hard to picture Rinoa with a sword? Check her out in Monty Oum's "Dead Fantasy".
