The Calling
Irvine felt unsettled by Selphie's unusual silence. In the passenger's seat, her elbow comfortably lay on the space between the window, supporting her head that was captivated by the moving skies. Outside, the atmosphere slowly transitioned from day and melted into a lulling, early night. Stars painted the black hollow of the skies, a myriad of white eyes looking out, as if searching for the absent moon. The mercenaries were coming close to Deling City, the ever-present cover of night being a clear indicator. No one really knew why the whole of northern Galbadia was perpetually sheathed in a constant heavy cloud of night sky. There were only ten clear days out of the year in which Galbadians called the celebratory week and a half "First Light." People in Deling City thought the dark skies had something to do with the moon disappearing so long ago mixed with the heavy industrial smog. At least, that explanation was widely accepted as truth.
Kinneas stole another glance her way, wondering what was running through her mind. He was a little surprised by Selphie's behavior because it mainly seemed to stem from his unwillingness to inform her of the details of his missions. Didn't she understand that questioning a joint mission was sometimes prohibited because of the conflict it sometimes propagated? His orders specifically spelled out utmost secrecy, but Irvine honestly didn't see the harm in filling her in on all of the alternatives the two may be forced to take in the mission, and why the path he chose now was appropriate.
He'd been given an indirect order from Caraway as well, requesting to use optimal care when it came to one Rinoa Heartilly. She was the general's only daughter, who had joined a resistance faction that the media claimed was out of spite. Irvine had known she'd be in Caelum, following the reports of CHIC, and when he'd finally spotted her, Rinoa's safety had become his temporary priority. Upon letting his target slip from him, he had no choice but to find a hotel and wait there.
Telling Selphie those bits of information would at least quell her questioning nature.
"Say something, Tilmitt. I'm not a big fan of the car radio," Irvine decided to say.
Selphie was startled slightly by his interruption into her thoughts. She'd been listening intently to the hum of the car's motor.
"I thought this was a simple recon mission, Kinneas. Why are we headed to Deling City?"
Irvine grinned at her, relieved she hadn't completely lost faith in the mission. "Unfortunately," he answered, "it's the closest hotel we can get to regroup and wait for more leads." Irvine reached into his jacket and removed the metal plate, CHIC from his chest pocket. He turned it on and handed the device to Selphie. "I know what you really want to know is who's the girl we're chasing, and why we're chasing her."
Selphie nodded, again paying close attention to the description of the girl. It did little to answer her questions though.
"The girl is a threat to the nation, and just about the Hyne damned world," he said. "I really don't know why, but all I know is that the Galbadian military wants her back in their custody."
"So, she's a fugitive of the state?" Selphie asked, to which Irvine nodded. "And the stone you gave to the Chancellor, what was that all about?"
Irvine sighed, careful not to divulge too much. "It's a precious oar from the mines of Esthar. Smelt and refine those bad boys and you can make almost anything. But the real thrill is that those anything's will be supplemented with powerful magic. In exchange for that, Caelum agreed to hand over the girl without a fight, but, you know, the Chancellor broke his promise, and the girl escaped."
Selphie could only surmise that their actions to defend themselves against the Chancellor's magic and guards was the right thing to do. If the girl called Demilee was as dangerous as Irvine said, it made sense that Caelum would want to use her, especially if keeping Caelum's sovereignty was their priority.
"Of course," Selphie thought aloud. "So Caelum knew what she was capable of. . . . " She then turned to face Irvine. "You'd think those details were something I should know about. If I can't even know the crucial stuff, how successful do you think this mission will be?" she asked.
"But you're a SeeD, Selphie, you come from a Garden, like me. Of all things, we know that Gardens like their individual secrets."
The vehicle came to a slow stop, the soft golden glow of a city alive with activity floated on the dark outline of flat terrain. A few feet ahead, they'd hit heavy traffic, like always. "We wouldn't have been partnered up if my Headmaster and yours didn't have faith in our collective abilities," Kinneas finished.
"I hope you're right about that. . . ." Selphie appeared satisfied, but he couldn't be sure how permanent it was.
"You ever been to Deling City?" Irvine asked, feeling more at ease.
"Once, during my SeeD training."
"Only once? Then you haven't been to Deling. I'll show you the hot places!"
"That doesn't sound productive," Selphie smirked. Irvine laughed.
"Well—"
Two blinding yellow lights flashed onto the Tempest's rear view mirror, halting the vehicle and the traffic ahead. Irvine shifted his gear to neutral and pressed back into his seat.
"What's going on?" Selphie asked, Deling City's lights ever closer.
"Clearance," he answered. "The new ambassador's heading out of the city, so security's being anal about everything."
It was the one thing Irvine hated about his hometown. When Galbadia wanted to make a big deal about something, they made a big deal about it. All month, the radio airwaves and cyberspace were buzzing with discussion over the mysterious new world ambassador President Deling had chosen in his quest to contain the violent civil war that was destroying Timber. Her identity would be revealed upon touchdown in Timber. For now, all people knew was that she was a sorceress, a being that Deling had once ordered his army exterminate throughout the whole Galbadian continent. Initially, Galbadians had rejected the alliance, fearing she'd only bring about another world war like Adel had in Esthar, and that President Deling would lose his nation to her. But if the new political venture between man and sorceress supported much needed social reform and the complete eradication of war, citizens were eager to accept. Timber's endless fighting suddenly became a concern to the Galbadian people through the new ambassador's campaign, but Irvine wasn't sure if Timberans would accept her. In their eyes, she was just another Galbadian ploy to gain control and oppress the people.
"Identification please," said a Galbadian officer of the military. He flashed a light into Irvine and Selphie's eyes.
The sharpshooter handed over CHIC, to which the officer scanned and confirmed.
"Who's the woman?"
"Joint mission, she's from Garden," Irvine answered.
The soldier nodded once then gestured for the vehicle to proceed.
"Sorry to bother, sir," he apologized.
Irvine continued down the single line of asphalt, meeting up again with traffic. As he passed over the large, brightly lit archway that welcomed them to Galbadia's capitol, he could already hear the noisy bustle of the city again. Trains sighed open, traffic horns blared, and moving people spoke loudly amongst each other. Selphie was captivated by the city's high energy. It was the direct opposite of Balamb.
"If Caraway's daughter is in the resistance faction, there's a high chance she's headed to Timber, right?" Selphie questioned, coming down from her excitement. "That city's full of factions."
"That's a high possibility, but those groups are never predictable," Irvine said. "Besides, she's out of immediate danger."
"Caraway must think we're babysitters or something," Selphie sighed.
"I guess he cares a lot for his daughter is all. SeeDs get tossed around like that."
To herself, Selphie said, "The Commander wouldn't like that one bit."
Again, Selphie laughed to herself.
Morning came quickly, but the Forest Owls had already been up before sunrise. If they wished to make it into Timber when security was a bit more relaxed, the group would have to at least arrive before noon. Kal had given the faction enough time to take a dip in the lake, eat a small meal prepared by Demileee, and to meet him by the Lanker train track. The path would take them directly to Timber, and since the APC was out, the faction had a half-hour walk ahead of them.
While waiting, Seifer kicked his foot to place one over the other, his head resting above his arms. Spread across the hood of Demilee's gas-less APC was his body, putting the obsolete vehicle to some kind of good use. While the rest of the owl-brains were off splashing around in the waters still, Seifer decided to leave to the clearing early, to get some morning thinking in before he'd go off and lend his protective services until the faction reached Timber. At least in their own territory, Seifer knew the group wouldn't get themselves captured or killed so easily.
But, the wellbeing of the faction didn't concern Almasy nearly as much as the girl called Demilee, or Autumn, or whatever her name was. Bright Eyes was a mystery to him, only because she possessed magical energies that matched a sorceress', yet she insisted that she wasn't. If she wasn't a sorceress, how was she able to harness such massive energy, toppling the Forest Owls' base and wiping out those pursuing Galbadians? Why had Caelum officials thrown her in jail, claiming she was a threat to them? And if she was a sorceress, why did she need the use of that mysterious black stone Seifer had found to melt the bars of her own cell and his? Yet, ever since their escape, Bright Eyes appeared to be normal—a weirdo with abnormal eyes—but normal by his standards.
Then, she'd been humming that familiar tune there in the prison, the same one his friend Fujin used to hum. His friend had disappeared over a year ago, and Seifer wanted answers. Fujin had had an apartment in the town of Balamb, a few miles outside of the academy they both once attended. Police officials had counted her disappearance as a possible kidnapping. Her residence had been trashed and the only piece of evidence left behind was a note with her handwriting, saying, "Find me before the end." The note was now in the possession of the police who stuck closely to their verdict of Fujin being taken by force.
What they failed to realize, or just simply overlooked, was that she was a militarily trained student of Garden, and that not just anyone could take her down. Seifer and his other friend, Raijin, decided they'd go their own way to find her, picking up clues where they came.
Balamb Garden had been Seifer's first stop. The troublemaker of Garden had, alas, returned to the only home he knew after two long years, looking for answers. Earning his SeeDship had no longer been a concern to the then twenty-two year old— and it still wasn't— and that was what had puzzled so many, even the Headmaster. Balamb Garden had once been alive because of Seifer. The unruly, bully Almasy and his posse of two, Fujin and Raijin. The one and only Disciplinary Committee, created by Cid to teach Seifer and his buddies some responsibility. His role as the badass was even completed with Leonhart as his rival and the local schoolgirls ogling them both any chance they got.
Seifer's ideas of grandeur, pursuing the goal of becoming a SeeD, protector of humanity, had ended when he left. He'd only been nineteen when Balamb became a place of departure for him, returning at twenty-two, unchanged with no real accomplishments. He wanted to break rules, to reach unfettered freedom and glory, to beat the law-abiding Squall a different way. Seifer didn't want to be a planted SeeD, stuck in a hole to grow. But, Balamb didn't need a derelict soldier either, Cid had said, the garden needed much more from him. But Seifer wasn't willing—young revolutionaries like himself wouldn't submit just like that—so he left, and he'd been happy. After all, it had always been about him, his loyal posse, and his chivalrous dream of being the ultimate hero, or knight. Everyone knew the components that made up the "troubled Almasy", but no one really understood him, that was why he, Raijin and Fujin were so close, and why Seifer refused to believe a member of his posse was dead.
Fujin's disappearance a year ago put Seifer and Raijin on a wild chase that yielded little to no results. All the information Seifer had gained in his journey was that Fujin was a descendant of a sorceress and that that could have been a factor in her unexplained disappearance. Now, with Bright Eyes, he felt a connection,. The song she hummed was Fujin's, there was no doubt. Coming to Caelum based on Galbadian intel hadn't been a total loss after all, and Seifer would follow the girl a little longer before questioning her; he didn't want to reveal himself so soon just yet. He'd wait it out, study her a bit.
Again, Seifer heard the girl humming, shrubs and broken twigs snapping under her boots that were too big for her feet as she came through the forest with Rinoa. It was bugging him that everyone was so chummy with her, eating the girl's food, carrying on conversations as if they hadn't been nearly killed by her. Seifer had allowed Bright Eyes to join him in escaping Caelum because it was necessary, now, she was just annoying.
"The seats inside are more comfortable, you know," Demilee said. She tossed a dandelion, whose feathery seeds had been blown away. The plant landed on Seifer's chest. He simply removed it, saying,
"This tank is useless, stop complaining."
Seeing as the two women were here to stay until the rest of the faction was ready to leave, Seifer lifted his head from its resting position. He noticed Rinoa's hair was wet from her dip into the lake. The burn on her neck was now just a scar, thanks to his healing magic. Seifer figured Demilee preferred the smut and residue of Caelum on her face and hands. There was no sign she'd been anywhere near the water.
"Seifer, will you be joining us into Timber?" Rinoa asked. "Everyone else is all ready with Kal."
"Yeah."
Seifer jumped from the APC, the rickety tank creaking. He walked around to grab his silver jacket and Hyperion from inside the truck. In Timber, he would have the opportunity to reconnoiter again, find out anything he could from the Galbadians about Fujin's disappearance. From there, Seifer would play it by ear, and if no results were showing up for too long, he'd eventually leave and start again somewhere else.
It'd be a laughing matter if people knew what Seifer had been up to for the past five years, especially people from Garden. Seeing Quistis in Caelum like that, a figure from his past, got him thinking a lot about too many things. He couldn't lie, however. He did wonder what those Garden pricks probably thought when Quistis ran back to tell them who she'd seen chained up by Caelum militia—if she'd even done that. He was again, unchanged and the same, with no real accomplishments. Regardless, Seifer had to remember his new role. He was playing detective, biding his time, looking in empty corners for excitement and purpose. It was true, at least to a certain extent—finding his friend, one who'd been with him since joining Garden, was his main objective, but his search was also a task that kept him going, kept him useful.
"Do you think Timber has changed at all? It's only been a couple of months, but that's enough time for anything to happen nowadays," Rinoa asked. She pulled a chunk of her damp hair back into a sloppy bun. Now that Seifer was fully equipped, the trio moved on to join Kal and the others. They followed along the tracks, Demilee trailing behind with her giant bookbag, picking up weeds that caught her eye.
"Is Timber you guys' home?" Demilee asked, now balancing herself on one of the sides of the metal tracks. Trains in the distance sounded their horns, scattering the birds. Bright Eyes took it all in.
". . . Yeah, it's become my home now," Rinoa answered, her voice had a bit of resentment in it. It was something none of the other members bothered to ask her. Everyone in the faction seemed to have a past they preferred to remain buried.
Demilee replied, "Then I understand why you want to protect it." She then ran up to pass Seifer, and began to walk backwards, arms behind her back. "And what about you, Mr. Soldier? What's bringing you to Timber?"
"Who knows? Maybe I'm running from something," he answered.
At Seifer's remark, Demilee shrugged her shoulders and continued her newfound hobby of collecting weeds. In good time, the group was before a split in the tracks, one headed south and the other north, where beyond, lay the city smog of Timber. Not too far ahead, the rest of the Forest Owls waited, with the exception of Watts. Since their escape, the team appeared to be more upbeat.
"We'll move out once Watts gets here, he should be on his way by now," Kal announced when Seifer, Rinoa, and Demilee were close enough. "We saw a few Galbadian APC's headed toward Timber, thought it'd be safe to get some intel first."
"Wasn't there some type of big event being planned this week?" Zone asked, to which Kal nodded.
"Yeah, some new bill's being introduced along with Galbadia's new ambassador," Kal answered.
"Sounds promising," Zone scoffed.
"In any case, all this week, security is going to be doubled. Fine timing to come back, eh?" the head of the Forest Owls jested. He straightened up. "The checkpoints will be an extra pain in the ass, but just stay calm. If we escaped Caelum, we can get pass some measly soldiers."
Watts's figure came running down the tracks at full speed, and when he was near enough, he lowered himself to huff and puff.
"Well," Seifer asked impatiently.
"Well, uh, there's definitely more security, sir! Galbadian security. And they're checking people for magic reserves now." After getting what he needed out, Watts relaxed and continued to catch his breath.
"All right people, it's planning time," Kal said.
He wouldn't risk his team's imprisonment by careless unpreparedness. The Galbadians would love to capture him, a known "terrorist" just to show that their occupation was justified and for the protection of the people from enemies that wished to disrupt peace. The lie was eaten up quick by citizens who didn't live in the City Square but in the surrounding areas, far from the bombings, shootings, and daily war between Galbadian soldiers and civilian factions.
"Well when you weasels quit playing strategists, I won't be there to back you up," Seifer announced. His silver trench coat flapped in the gentle Mandy ocean breeze, doing little to conceal the weapon at his waist.
"Dipping out when the going gets tough, huh?" Zone challenged. He came away from the group a bit, ready to start.
"Don't get all tough guy on me, asshole," Seifer taunted.
"Keep walking, the Forest Owls don't need you, asshole," Zone shot back. Angered, he clenched his fists, even more fired up that Seifer didn't seem to react. Kal sighed, but this time, it was Rinoa who spoke up.
"Seifer," she yelled, "what Zone is trying to say is don't do things alone." She floundered, but continued, "And you're apart of a team now, and—"
"This ain't no team, it's a damn joke—"
"Wrong, Seifer," Kal interjected. "It's a faction. I know you're not a man that belongs to anything, but at least have the respect of one that does. We fight for freedom. What the hell else are you fighting for?"
Seifer was silent, and instead of answering, he walked away, his feet guiding him to Timber. Faction or not, Seifer didn't need them as much as they needed him. He could take out Galbadian guards with ease and even welcome them running to tell their superiors. A fight was all he'd be looking for in the mean time. Plotting to tiptoe around the Galbadians didn't suit him, and for some reason, Seifer felt riled up.
"Wait!" Rinoa stormed over to Seifer, stopping him, and for the first time since meeting him, she looked at him with newfound anger. But Seifer could see past it. "Is this for good, Seifer?"
"What, the 'princess' is turning her back on me too?" Almasy asked, half-jokingly. Rinoa shook her head, a small smile lighting up her face again.
"If we are parting ways, before you do, pummeling those guards would give us enough time to slip in."
"So, you're using me?" Rinoa didn't feel threatened by Seifer, she never did, but his lopsided grin and eyes that only seemed to see a battlefield in any situation intimidated her. The way Seifer made Rinoa feel wasn't necessarily a bad thing to her, in fact, it may have been the very thing that attracted her to him. If there was anything she learned about Seifer, it was that he always liked a good fight. He was also a wild dog she couldn't keep.
"It'll be my little thank you for sticking around this long," Rinoa answered. She extended her hand to his. "Deal?" He laughed and pushed on.
"Finally, some appreciation," he said back.
A little agitated by Seifer's ego, the faction pressed onward, talking amongst themselves of what they'd do upon arrival. Kal and Rinoa wanted to get back to headquarters. Elise, Vinny and Zone had to see about acquiring a new mobile base, while Watts wanted to do what he was good at—gathering information on the new ambassador. With Galbadia tightening their security and oppression over Timber, each Faction within was probably antsy to do some rightful damage, or at least boil up a nice plan for active members to execute.
As the group neared Timber's entrance, the land ascended onto another hill, making way to herald the iron archway whose golden sign had the word "Timber" inscribed on it. Two Galbadian sentries stood watch over the entryway, immediately catching sight of the faction headed their way.
Spiraling and coiling up into the atmosphere were giant snakes of black smoke, the familiar smell of coal and other products of factories burning into the air. The faction could now make out the outline of Timber's cityscape, a sea of marble buildings and streets made blue by its gunmetal reinforcement. Brick houses with billowing chimneys and apartment buildings sat high on hills that encased the City Square, where the largest construction in Timber was seated. Timber's only television station flashed friendly beams of purple, pink, and yellow lights into the sky, alluring possible tourists.
To be in the company of so many people was suspicious, but the faction figured that if Seifer could knock the soldiers out cold, they could immediately disperse and mix in with the bustling flow of human traffic. It was a less smooth way to go about things, but Rinoa kind of liked the excitement of it.
Seifer just wanted to release some built up anger, its source, he couldn't quite put a finger on. Taking a trip down memory lane was never a good idea, but sometimes it couldn't be helped, and now, he was in a sour mood and in need of a good drink.
"All right," came the bored, routine command of one of the soldiers, "hold it right there, you all. Single file." As the other held the group at gunpoint, the other removed from his arsenal of searching equipment a rectangular band that could detect magic, along with a bin of discarded items that proved too dangerous to be let into the city.
Seifer was first. Hands up, he stepped forward. The guard slammed his gloved hands into Seifer's shoulders, and that made him angry.
"You son of a bitch," Seifer said calmly. He reached and twisted the soldier's arm so that he screamed in pain and was forced to face the opposite direction. Before the other sentry could react, Seifer slammed his partner into the armed Galbadian. The two fell easily, and that pissed Seifer off. Instead of leaving them as they were, he knocked the two unconscious with his fists.
Easy work.
Onlookers backed away immediately, alerting other patrolling soldiers, but by the time the path to the incident was cleared, the Forest Owls had already dispersed.
Ellone came awake with discomfort, finding the sudden pressure of the ship pulling her into a certain direction. The shift meant that the vessel was slowing down to dock. Confused, the woman pulled the light sheets from her body and slowly rose from the wooden bed. Some of the children had followed her below deck into the dim-lit cabin to nap, having tired themselves out after listening to Ellone's endless tales. They lay scattered on the floor, undisturbed by the groaning wood and sway of the ocean, nor by the sudden lift in humid temperature.
Sleepily, Ellone maneuvered her way through the slumbering children, careful not to wake them. She managed to escape to the deck undetected to find Daris in his usual sentinel position. He looked so stiff and out of place against the clear, spring skies, watching over those he was sworn to protect.
Today, the deck was not bathed in the orange, hazy glow of Esthar's surrounding oceans, instead, the horizon was animated, alive with such beautiful, pristine blue. There was no indication where land met sky, only a deep cerulean canvas, complete with an off-center white sun. Even the wind, saltier and stronger in potency, combed through Ellone's hair with high vitality. Her spirits were immediately buoyed by the change in weather, warmed by the blue atmosphere. She felt at home and as though rolling green grass was only a step away.
When Captain Daris found Ellone looking around in wonderment, he smiled, finally relieved that her childlike glow was beginning to return.
"Did the ship wake you, Ellone?" he asked.
"For good reason," she breathed out. ". . . Where are we?"
Beyond the prow of the White SeeD Ship, Ellone couldn't find an answer to her question. All she saw was ocean, sky, and sun.
"Laid-back temperament and warm, just as its people." Daris came beside Ellone, his grin growing wider. "We're headed toward the isle of Balamb. It is our destination."
Already, her excitement could not be concealed and Daris was reminded of the gentle woman who had been placed under his charge. She'd been so innocent, and curious of him at first, eager to learn what his life at sea entailed, despite the grim meaning behind their companionship. She was to be kept safe, sheltered away from a world that wished to exploit her and her powerful mind.
"This is where my uncle wants me?" Ellone asked, finding the constant warm breeze a small bother as it tousled through her hair.
"For now. Yes."
Other crewmen in the same white, overall uniform as Daris came forth, toting their swords and unfamiliar weaponry. Behind them, Ellone could now make out a murky, rugged bump in the horizon.
"Captain, the ship is inbound and ready to dock," said Lyndan. Her long, red curls seemed unruly as they refused to be concealed within the attached headpiece of her uniform.
To be among civilians again, people she didn't know, and to lie in a bed that didn't sway aroused new vigor within Ellone. For months, she'd been traveling on a ship with orphaned children, seemingly with no direction, her path just as wide as the water she plied through. Though their arrival to Balamb may only be for a few short days, all Ellone wanted was to remove herself from the ship for however long Daris would allot to her.
"Stand back!" commanded Daris.
He protectively shoved an arm before Ellone, backing away. Something large and aquatic viciously snarled and bit at the air, wiggling its way up from the water and onto the ship. It convulsed and snapped its scaly orange tail, its fiendish yellow eyes like beads buried within the massive, rock-like exoskeleton.
"A fasticolon!" cried Lyndan, blinking away splashing water. She unsheathed her thin, silver sword. Ellone continued stepping the opposite way, finding herself still new to battling monsters that sometimes crawled onto the ship. This one, she'd never seen before, but something about it reminded her of energy in its purest form. She suddenly felt a primitive calm rush through her, cool and earnest.
"Wait . . ." Ellone quietly said.
The fiend seemed to swim through the air currents, propelling water from its body as its teeth, appearing like rows of daggers, took hold of Lyndan's sword, crunching away. More White SeeD came bearing their weapons, summoning fiery spells and plunging bullets and rapiers into the beast. Before long, the fasticolon plummeted to the floor of the vessel and the threat was dissolved.
Ellone sighed, realizing she'd been holding her breath. Lyndan kicked the creature to be sure that it was dead. Ellone flinched suddenly, sensing an infant wave of energy within the creature again. Daris tried to keep Ellone from the fiend, but she insisted. She took a seat beside the carcass, running her hands atop the black wounds of the creature. In its blood, she could see blue energy waver and flatten at her presence. It held the same warmth as the energy that lay nestled within her subconscious each time she tried to connect, the one whose name came to her as a complete mystery. E and N, the energy had revealed to her.
With little warning, the blue energy streamed from the creature's blood, as if distilling itself into a pure compound. Ellone watched with the rest of the ship's crew as the energy grew, morphing into an unaltered, fervid light. Then, all of it pushed through the salty air and beat into Ellone's chest. She quivered violently and then fell back at the contact, catching the very blurred sound of Daris' yells. Her vision became black, but Ellone could still feel the wind of Balamb, was still aware of her surroundings. At the moment, all she could focus on was what her mind was seeing: an awesome body of energy—aquatic and ethereal nearly shrouding the darkness itself. An otherworldly breath flew from the shapeless creature like white mist, its large, silhouette frame rising and falling with the ocean upon which it seemed to hail.
Ellone felt its welcome.
"Mortal," its voice burbled like water, "I've come to you, a great distance I have traveled on this physical plane. Seek the Half-child. I lend you the spirit of Darmis. Do not succumb to terrestrial urges. . . ."
Ellone's breath escaped out of her in short spurts, bubbles of water escaping her lips. Before her, the creature had receded, entering her being and taking root inside of her subconscious. Now, she could feel the energy breathing, reminding her of its request. Then she saw the blue of the sky again, the sudden blackness clearing. Quickly, Daris came to help her stand.
"What on earth was that?" Lyndan asked. She looked around her, as if the creature had also invited her into Ellone's mind.
"A Guardian Force," Ellone unsteadily answered. "It was trapped within that fiend."
"Are you all right?" Daris asked, to which Ellone nodded. "What exactly does it want?"
Ellone hesitated, then turned back to the carcass of the fiend Daris and his men had defeated. "I can't be sure," she quietly answered. "Leviathan is its name."
Once, when she was thirteen, Ellone had stumbled outside of her Uncle's manor to run along the winding, plexi-glass streets of Esthar. She'd found a Guardian Force inside the dying body of a fiend, and with little effort drew the energy. It was a skill that only militarily trained professionals could perform, but she'd done it with no trouble. Her Uncle insisted that she keep the GF so that it would protect her, and she had tried to.
"That's odd, for a GF to take residence inside of a lowly fasticolon. . . ." Daris commented.
Only, if Daris knew that the Guardian Force seemed to be searching for Ellone, he probably would have found it even more absurd. Guardian Forces were primitive, instinctual beasts. Leviathan had taken residency inside of the Fasticolon for necessity, it seemed, traveling along to come into contact with her—a rational, willful decision it had made. But most people who didn't have any real connection to such beasts believed that behaving outside of instinct was impossible or highly unlikely. Any creature that could be trained to submit and obey didn't deserve to be thought of as independent thinkers, but Ellone begged to differ. Leviathan, this new Guardian Force seemed to act outside of the very animalistic calling that separated it from humans. What it meant eluded Ellone, but it did have a similar aura to that of the E and N being she always tried to make contact with. For now, Leviathan was her only clue.
"To the left!" barked the rest of the crewmen.
Two heavy anchors were thrown out into the sea, plunging deep. The ship croaked and groaned, coming beside other docking commercial vessels. Ellone quickly came to the edge of the White SeeD ship, bowing over the railing while ignoring Daris' warning. A wide smile spread across her face again when she saw the white cement of a paved road a short distance from the port. It curved and hugged a circular stalwart of a building, and that was when Ellone knew they'd reached a city.
Overhead, seagulls wailed and flapped their wings as if to attract the congregation of vessels coming and going.
"Are we allowed to leave the ship this time?" cried one child. Another jumped and squirmed for Daris' attention so that he could answer the young child's continual questions.
"What in Balamb?" Ellone asked Daris, calming some of the children's excitement. They danced around the two, singing and laughing.
"Well," Daris began, but then stopped. He looked to the port city, saw a few uniformed men waiting amongst each other. They were Cid's SeeDs. "This is your Uncle's wish."
"Do you mean this is permanent?" Ellone backed away a bit, unsure of the new development. She'd never thought of the possibility that her leave from Esthar would mean she could never return.
"As permanent as your safety is. We will leave the moment things become unstable," Daris answered strongly.
Ellone pulled back her hair, staying her hands, but the moment she let go, the dark strands reassembled above her shoulders. "I still don't understand. . . ." Daris nodded, as if to silence her coming questions.
"No more worries, Ellone, the answers will come." She smiled at the reassuring prospect and succumbed again to her impatience.
The White SeeD vessel finally stopped sliding along the waters and stayed its long, slender body along the white boardwalk at which it was stationed. The ship's large sails, formed in the fashion of a great creature's webbed wings mechanically folded inward, aligning with its wooden mast. Everything was still, but the sighing ocean, the children, and the people crowding the dock. Ellone spotted a lone young man in some kind of school uniform seated at the farthest edge, playing a soft tune on his guitar. The sound traveled to her despite the clamor of moving cargo and conversation.
"Captain Daris!" came a harsh summon.
Both Ellone and Daris stepped to the front of the vessel. A young man with an unusual tribal tattoo that lined the whole side of his face, looked up at her. His dark green gaze became a curious one, but he was still guarded nonetheless. When the mysterious man received Daris' attention, he brought a hand up to the side of his face so that only his brass knuckles could be seen. Daris returned the crisp gesture with his hand and Ellone immediately realized that the blonde was a SeeD. However, he was dressed differently from the White SeeD, darker and with a suit overcoat.
The man pounded his chest, and the force he used made Ellone flinch.
"Dincht, at your service! Balamb welcomes you!"
Author's Note: Again, thank you Jade for sticking through! I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far! (I'm sorry it took me sooo long to update, that's totally unfair!) I hope I kind of answered your question as to why Seifer does what he does! All of the gang's been introduced (finally!) so now, in the upcoming chapters, a huuuuuuge chunk of plot will be revealed, at least the parts concerning Ellone, Cid, and Demilee! I also want to note that almost all of the main characters have questions and a sense of confusion about a lot of things, which is intended to evoke curiosity in the reader... Til next time!
