. R O A D . T O . D A M A S C U S .
. S A G A . O N E : T H E . A C A D E M Y .
Chapter Twelve: Nibelheim Reactor
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
Job 10:21, The Holy Bible
"You have a question." The older woman bluntly said as she busied around the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.
Sephiroth nodded, "Yeah."
"And you're stuck on how to ask the question. It's about Cloud." She turned around and faced him.
He nodded again, leaning against the wall across from her, "I just want to understand a little bit more... Megamiki and Madoshi, my mother mentioned that Cloud and I am the Son and the Daughter, the Queen and the King. I understand the Son and Daughter part, but not the rest; how does Megamiki and Madoshi comes into the picture, setting them free and all."
Freya chuckled and turned away from her dishwashing, they could hear Zack and Cloud shouting over a match of board game in the living room, "I regret one thing your mother left out in her message, the suffering that Megamiki and Madoshi had gone through, you and Cloud will too. But your fate along with their will end the same, you all will be set free. I'm sorry, I have a very little premonition ability, and I only see little of what will come. Your mother has the strongest ability and could see the whole future at will." She then busied herself at the sink, washing the dishes. "It's the Queen and King part that bothers you to the extent as well."
Sephiroth nodded as he helped her, handing the dishes from the table to her, "Yes. I can't see that happening because the whole planet has governing system and all that. The only country under monarchy rule is Wutai."
Freya nodded, "Yes. But things are changing, that is all I can tell you." She frowned and stared at the water in the sink, "The destruction of Nibelheim…the book only mentions that but my mother and her mother also foretold something about the beginning of destruction. They told me that the Dark Ruler will fall." She look up to Sephiroth who stared at her with wide eyes, "The prophecy in the book does not reveal everything, it was written by Valkyries ages ago and whatever was foretold recently was never added to the book, there are a lot of holes. But I assure you, in the end, everything will be good. I've told Cloud once long ago, bad situation is just a mere illusion of good situation."
Sephiroth frowned as he pondered her words. She smiled at him, "There is something else, and you wish to know."
"Yes, in the disk, my mother, Lucrecia, as much I know it was her, why did she conceal her identity with the name J.L.?"
Freya remained silent for a moment and sighed, "Its quiet simple. Who was your mother reincarnated from?"
Sephiroth froze and whispered, "Jenova… no… You're telling me that she is Jenova as well?"
Freya nodded, "Your mother was Jenova's child, if you recall from the tome, the story how Jenova gave birth to a child with different coloring?" He nodded, "Jenova is technically your grandmother however, your mother carries her soul in place of Jenova's body to escape the alien soul, and hence, you carry her gene but not her soul. In time to come, the alien soul will attempt to replace her body and you are her next victim. So, be careful, remember always, she must be destroyed, body, mind and soul in all before you and Cloud could proceed to make the rest of the legend come true. This is what Lucrecia wanted, purge this planet of this evil soul that now harbor in Jenova's body."
Sephiroth stood away from the beam he was leaning against, "You're telling me, Jenova is still out there, somewhere? And my mother too?"
"Jenova's body is, but your mother, Lucrecia has passed on, her soul is safe, hidden somewhere until the time comes. She refuses to pass on until everything falls into place."
"Sephiroth! We better go back and get some rest." Cloud called out from the living room, shaking the two out of stupor and dissipating the ominous feeling that Sephiroth was starting to harbor.
Freya smiled and cupped Sephiroth's face, boring her blue eyes into his green ones, "I forgive you, for what you will do." She whispered to Sephiroth and watched Cloud come into the kitchen and pulled the silver haired man out into the living room.
He frowned as he glanced over his shoulder, wondering what she could have meant.
Soon, Zack, Sephiroth and Cloud gave Freya thanks and farewell, returning to the Inn for the night. Freya stood at her doorway, watching the trio as they cross the square. She whispered to the night, "Your son came home, my friend. It has begun."
LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA
Midnight rolled around, Cloud rose from her bed and glanced around, finding Luke had returned from his watch and was sleeping in the next bed. Zack was gone, assuming that he had taken over the watch.
She exited the room and found Sephiroth standing in the hallway of the Inn, gazing out of the window in front of their rooms. There were a small table nearby, with several cups and a pot of hot water. She silently went to the table and poured herself a tea, noticing an untouched tea at the end of the table near Sephiroth.
Deciding to break the silent, "What's you looking at?" She whispered.
He blinked as the silence were broken and shifted and his body swayed slightly to her, acknowledging her presence. "The scenery," He replied and she joined him to the window, looking out to the dark landscape, illuminated by the near full moon. "I just feel nostalgia. Even though I was born here but I wasn't raised here, it still felt like I know this place."
Cloud smiled at him and stepped closer to him leaning her head on his broad chest, sipping her tea, "Yeah, I heard places do that to everyone, I suppose it is this place that calls to our Valkyries blood inside us. We are born with genetic memory of our foremothers."
His hand found her hair and stroked the golden strands, "Maybe you're right." They stared out of the window together, simply taking in the landscape of the wild Nibel grassland that rose to meet the jagged mountain range under the bright moonlight.
After a long silence, he sighed, breaking the stillness of peace, "Come, and let's hit the bed so we can get early start tomorrow." He broke away and gave a soft smile to her.
She nodded and hesitantly walked away from him to her door and paused there.
"I've hired a guide to the Mako reactor for tomorrow. I've heard that she's young, I hope she is reliable. Good night, koibito." He said, reaching his door and gave her a final nod before closing his door shut softly.
She smiled as she closed her door at last and climbed into bed, getting sleep before dawn.
Inside Sephiroth's bedroom, he sat at the bed, glancing at the small black boxed object in his hand. The feeling of foreboding was worse now since he had talked to Freya Strife. He couldn't understand why Freya needed to forgive him. He knew something was going to happen, and according to Freya, soon.
Standing up, he clenched the box in his hand with resolve and silently slipped from his room and into the next room. The Mako enchanted eyes of his told him that Luke and Cloud was sound asleep, he found her in the bed near the door and knelt beside her bed.
He watched her sleep for few minutes, simply memorizing the plane of her face, the shine of her golden hair in the dim moonlight from the window, making the strands appear soft silver.
Reaching out, he took her hand and stroked her fingers softly, feeling the softness of her skin on the back of her hand. He stood and left, leaving behind the empty black box on the night table.
Outside of the Inn, on the steps, Zack sat there, cradling the Buster Sword in his arms, he glanced around, yawning. His head turned to the windows on the second floors and his mind strayed to his two best friends.
He smiled, knowing Sephiroth's secret plan for the next night. The next day would mark their one year anniversary of dating. The general had planned to take her out to dinner and propose at the end.
Zack was ecstatic over the idea and encouraged him to go ahead with the plan. Surely, the aftermath would shock the entire ShinRa and probably the entire planet, because Sephiroth was known to be one of the most eligible bachelors and the most challenging one of them all.
He saw a shooting star streak across the midnight sky and sighed, wishing the best for his two best friends.
LKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOALKYASHODOA
Zack stood next to Luke outside the abandoned mansion before the path into Nibel Mountain. Sephiroth stood away from them, in conversation with two men from the town.
Cloud soon showed up, running toward them, out of breath and late. She reached to the General and puffed her breath, "Sorry." Then under her breath, "Somebody hid my boots."
Zack whistled as he noticed the blonde and the General gave him a glare. He had taken Cloud's boots when he had returned to bed, feeling in mood being a prankster.
Sephiroth tilted his head sideway, giving his friend a glare and turned back to Cloud, "Once the guide gets here, we are heading out."
She gave a nod and went to stand by Zack and gave him a hard whack on the head. Luke gave a puzzled look at them when Zack winced.
A man walked up to Sephiroth with a serious look on his face, he wasn't all too happy and Cloud recognized him as Tifa Lockhart's father. "Listen to me, Sephiroth." He received a glare from the General and brushed it aside, knowing no one would call him by his given name. "In case something happens…"
Sephiroth raised his hand, immediately causing the man to quiet, "Trust me."
A girl around Cloud's age arrived, wearing wide brimmed hat, white shirt with red short fringed jacket and red shorts. She turned to her father, patting him on the shoulder, "I'll be all right, Dad! I have them to watch out for me," she gestured to the Elite Soldiers and smiled to them, turning around, she clutched her hands behind her back, "I'm Tifa, nice to meet you!" She gave a wink to Zack.
Cloud frowned, recognizing the woman. "You're the guide?" She asked quietly and Tifa nodded.
"A female Soldier, that's unheard of." Tifa said, walking around Cloud, looking her over, "Well, I just happen to be the number one guide in this town."
Cloud nodded, supposing it was best to get along with her without causing any troubles. She glanced over to Zack and found him inquiring her look, knowing that Zack had recognized Tifa's name. She gave him a nod, letting him know he was right in guessing that this girl was the one relating to the Nibelheim gang back in Midgar.
She wondered as she watched Tifa bounced toward the path that led them directly into the mountain, instructing things to Sephiroth who also took lead. Wondering how the girl came from falling and getting hurt in the mountain a long time ago to this tour guide. She was cheerful and had hint of bouncy personality, always seeming to smile at everyone, even at Sephiroth's stoic expression.
Sephiroth stopped and turned to Cloud and Zack, "Let's go." Luke was already ahead with Tifa. But they were stopped by another man, with the camera, pleading to have a picture.
Suddenly, the man turned to Tifa, pleading to her to ask and then Tifa turned to Cloud, "You there, you think your boss will let him take pictures?"
Feeling stumped, she shot Sephiroth a look. Sephiroth rolled his eyes and nodded, "Be quick about it." He moved to stand and to his distaste, Tifa took his arm and held on, smiling broadly to the camera. Cloud smirked and stood beside him while Zack and Luke came behind the two women.
After the snapshot, Tifa bustled around and placed the four Soldiers together alone in line, another picture were taken. Zack then gave Luke a look, asking him silently to step out of the next shot. He moved around and the three of them stood there, somber and serious. The entire time, Sephiroth stood there casually, almost bored out of his mind, thinking it was a waste of time.
The light flashed. "Great, thank you!" The man called out to them and went up to Cloud and Tifa. "I'll give each of you a copy once I get it developed!"
Tifa then soon then lead them up the twisting paths of Mt. Nibel. Sephiroth followed behind her while Zack, Cloud and Luke trailed behind, discussing about the mission and what's to be expected.
As soon they reached a bridge that spiraled over a gap between two jagged towers of mountain, they crossed perilously knowing it was an ancient bridge. Tifa took lead with Sephiroth on her tail, Cloud and Zack followed behind and Luke shaking with fear of height behind them all. As soon Tifa reached the end of the bridge, she turned and gasped as the rope snapped, sending the bridge into violent shake.
They all grabbed hold of the rope that didn't snap. Tifa screamed as she slid down toward Sephiroth. He grabbed the woman and glanced behind himself and saw Zack and Cloud hanging on the other end of the bridge, he saw that Luke had taken the free fall down into the dark chasm of the crude mountain.
Zack and Cloud swung toward the solid ledge on the opposite side and landed safety. She brushed her uniform down and sighed in relief, "I think they landed somewhere around the ledge." She said as she pointed to the path that led them around to a flatter area.
Sure enough, they found Sephiroth and Tifa standing there, checking over to see if they had lost anything. Only Tifa lost her brimmed hat.
The General looked up to find Cloud coming toward them, he asked, "Sorano, are you okay?" He gave a quick look over and saw she was only merely starched from the rocks.
"I'm fine." She nodded.
Tifa watched the interchange between the General and the female, noticing that the man did indeed have emotions, only toward the blond haired woman. She couldn't help but find this Sorano very, very familiar and she couldn't put her finger on why. She glanced around and recognized where they were, they were at the bottom of the desired cavern. "We were to enter the top part of the cave above from the bridge," She pointed to the hole that gaped to the two pegs that held the bridge. "But these cave mouths along the side of the mountain are intertwined, just like an ant farm. General, one of your men is missing."
He nodded, regaining his stoic composure, "It may sound cold, but we've got no time to search for him. We can't go back now, so we must go on. We'll stay closer from here." But he knew that Luke didn't make it. He had fallen to his death; there were no hope for him, knowing that Nibel had swallowed him up.
They all gathered together and went up the twisting path into the cave. The cave was eerily beautiful inside; the stones glowed crystalline with green and aqua light. They traveled in awe.
"What is this?" Cloud asked as she touched the wall of the cave and gasped as she found them to be soft to touch, yet almost surreal, the color shifted under her warm hand, almost as if it reacted to her touch.
Tifa smiled and replied, "A mysterious colored cave, and the townspeople believe this to be part of the lifestream."
"It is Mako inside this rock; the mountain is especially abundant in it. That's why the Mako Reactor was built here." Sephiroth explained and took the lead to the exit of the cave. Soon, they all found themselves into the center of the mountain, an ominous but beautiful area flatted out like a bowl with a rock protruding in the center, almost like an altar.
However, instead of normal rocks, there were shimmering colors of rainbow all around them, the sun reflected though the jagged spires of the mountain above them. The rock in the center spewed the colors out, like a fountain, appearing in liquid state but to the touch, it wasn't liquid or gas or solid of the matter it just flowed and spread around them as they stood there.
"Mako fountain, in its purest sense, I am rather surprised the ShinRa hadn't discovered this area." Sephiroth noted.
Cloud stepped up to the fountain and allowed her hand to skim the surface while Tifa touched it and studied it in awe. "It is a protected area." She whispered, "It is a special place for the Valkyries… I believe." Her blue eyes gazed over, the colors reflected in her iris.
Zack noticed this and saw Sephiroth also had gone into trance and he knew immediately that the two of them were aware of their heritage; the entire place seemed to call to them. Tifa did not notice the entire time, her focus was on the rock, studying it in amazement.
Suddenly, Cloud and Sephiroth snapped out of their trance and glanced at each other, giving knowing look. They looked resigned as well. Cloud whispered, loud enough for all to hear, "It's a holy ground, their praying area." She said bowing her head and her eyes closed in respect.
Tifa stepped away from the fountain rock; Cloud had finished her short prayer and regained her composure of a Soldier. The woman smiled at them, unknown of the event that transpired between the three of them, she asked, "If the Mako Reactor continues to suck up the energy, this fountain will dry up too…"
Sephiroth nodded as he walked around the fountain, "The reactor is created to make energy and Materias, when you condense Mako Energy, Materia is produced. It is very rare to be able to see Materia in its natural state." He pointed to the fountain. "Worry not; we're here to stop the Reactor. This will remain untouched."
Cloud thought back to her studies and then asked, "By the way… why is it that when you use Materia, you can also use magic too?" Asking referring to the elemental power from the Materia they were supplied.
Sephiroth gave her a quizzical look, "You're in Soldier and don't even now that?"
She gave a sheepish smile, "I guess I didn't pay attention in class that day."
He shook his head, "The knowledge and wisdom of the planet is held in the Materia seeing it is made from Mako, the planet's life blood. Anyone with the gene of the planet has access to this knowledge can freely use the power of the Land and the Planet. That knowledge interacts between us and the planet calling up magic… or so they say."
Tifa sighed as she skimmed her hand across the fountain. "What do that mean?" She asked curious.
Cloud shrugged, "In simplest term, anyone who has the gene of the planet can control the power… that means basically everyone since they're all descendant of the Valkyries and Cetera over the last two thousands of years." Tifa paled at the word Valkyries and frowned, ready to protest but Sephiroth interrupted her.
"You're correct." Sephiroth said curtly.
"Magic… a mysterious power…" Zack murmured as Cloud smiled, watching the color dance. Sephiroth laughs softly, earning an odd look from the other three.
"Did I day something funny?" Zack asked, confused.
"A man once told me never to use an unscientific term, such as mysterious power. It shouldn't even be called 'magic'! I still remember how angry he was." Sephiroth smiled, amused at the memory.
"Who was that?" Zack queried, suspecting he knew the answer.
"Hojo," Sephiroth said and saw Tifa's confused look, "Scientist of ShinRa, an inexperienced man assigned to take over the work of a great scientist, Dr. Gast." His brow knotted, "He is a walking mass of complexes."
"A Mako fountain… so this is where the knowledge of the Ancients is." Tifa said, unaware of the scathing look from Cloud who muttered under her breath, "Not the Ancient, it's the Valkyries."
The four of them continued out of narrow path of the ancient ground of Valkyries. They soon found their destination and walked up the path that led them to the reactor. As soon they got there, Sephiroth had assigned Zack to remain behind with Tifa, not trusting the young woman. Tifa had protested and wanted to explore the reactor. Sephiroth had informed that only authorized people are allowed in. She stomped her foot and threw a small fit, giving amusement for Zack to watch.
The reactor wasn't large but it still loomed ominously before them against the mountain's side, the area around them was flat and large, there were several deep glowing green Mako pool surrounding the reactor.
Sephiroth and Cloud made their way up the steep rusted steps and into the reactor, everything seemed normal as they glanced around, chains, pulley, tanks and bits. It was long abandoned, running on its own. They had to find the source of the leak and shut the part off in the area. They were to come back the next day to shut the entire reactor down temporarily until the ShinRa sent a crew to fix the place. Sephiroth suspected that the ShinRa wouldn't bother to bring the reactor back to power anytime soon.
They made their way around the reactor and figured the leak must had been coming from the room below where they stood and the only way down was to cross a plank and climb down thick chains. After they reached to the bottom, they stood in awe and puzzlement.
"What is this place, it is not in any other reactors." Cloud said as she surveyed rows of pods twice the size of a man and in between was a staircase toward to the top of the pods and a metal door at the end.
The room glowed reddish from the light and each pods had windows that glowed greenish blue. Sephiroth took the staircase to the top and frowned as he glanced on the plate above the door engraved, 'Jenova.'
Cloud soon joined him and gasped, "This is…" She recognized the name. "Jenova… Why would she be here?" She attempted the door and found it locked. "It won't open."
Sephiroth went back down the stairs, checking each row of pods, "This is Nibel Mountain, home of the Valkyries… Jenova once was one of them… I know Hojo had something to do with her but, what is going on here?" He asked and stood before a pod, it was large and capable of holding something the size of man. "There, the valve is broken here, leaking Mako." He frowned at the pod, figuring that the valve and pipe had been feeding Mako into the pods. He glanced around, trying to make clear of senses.
Cloud made her way down the steps and to the cranks.
"Close the valve, right there." He pointed to one of the cranks and she moved to turn it until the hissing stopped, indicating the flow of Mako had stopped.
Sephiroth remained before the pod and wondered, "Why did it break?" He reached up and then peered into the green glowing window, his eyes widened, "… Now I see, Hojo." He whispered, "But, even doing this will never put you on the same level as Professor Gast." He turned to Cloud, "This is a system that condense and freezes the Mako energy. That is, when it is working correctly. What does Mako energy become when it is further condensed?"
Not sure where he was going, Cloud answered, "Oh yeah, it becomes a Materia."
Sephiroth sighed, "Right, normally. But Hojo put something else in there. Take a look."
She nodded and looked into the window of the nearest pod. She gasped as she stared into the green swirling Mako, a deformed figure of a man; he was twisted and mutated into some kind of monster. It was a horrid sight; she fell back down on her rump, shocked, "What is this?" She spat with disgust.
"Normal members of Soldier are humans that had been showered with Mako. They're different, but still human." He explained and Cloud understood because all of the Soldiers were required to take Mako injections. "But, what are they?" He gestured to the rest of the pods in the room. "They've been exposed to a higher degree of Mako, far more than normal."
"Some kind of monster?"
"Exactly, and it is Hojo of ShinRa that produced these monsters. Mutated living organisms produced by Mako energy. That's what the monster really are."
Cloud thought of what he had told her, "Normal members of Soldiers? You mean you are different?" She asked, knowing of his history with Hojo, and innumerable of Mako shots he had over the years.
He winced and covered his head with his hands and shook.
"Hey… Sephiroth?" She reached out to him, surprised by his strange actions.
Shaking his head, "No… no… was I?" He asked and withdrew his Masamune and struck the pods with anger, "Was I created this way too?" He ran over to the other and stuck it, "Am I the same as all these monsters?"
Cloud gasped at his violent outburst, "Sephiroth!"
"You saw it! All of them were human…" He cried in outrage and quietly stood still, his Masamune lowered to his side.
She shook her head, reaching to him, "Human, no way! They once were, but whatever their humanity is left, they're dead. You're alive… you're not a monster…"
He sighed, "I've always felt since I was young… that I was different from the others. Special, in some way," then he shook his head regrettably. "But… not like this…:
"Sephiroth, you and I are different from the others, different from Zack. We're Valkyries; we're here for a reason. Remember? We're to stop Jenova. She is here, in there."
He looked up at the door, "Yes, you're right. It is the Planet we have to save from this madness."
One of the pods started to shake, it shook violently, the pipes and wires broke free from it, electric shocks sparked. Something screamed inhumanly and the monster shook around inside. The pod flipped over it side and burst open, the monster screamed once more and flumped back down, dying.
Cloud gasped, seeing the monster in its true form. No, it couldn't be. She looked up to her love and then buried her head into his chest. "You're not a monster. You're a kind soul, I love you… never, never think that way." She whispered.
He felt her warm tears on his chest and drew his free hand to hold her against him as he watched the monster die. It was too much for them to comprehend in one day. He glanced up to the door and felt something stirred inside his chest, something beyond the door was calling to him and he dread what he would find in there.
"It is shut for now, let's go back. The Mako flow to the pods had stopped, they'll die eventually." He said as he led Cloud out.
As they reached outside, they appeared pale and shaken to Zack and Tifa. They walked past in silence, apart but close for comfort.
"What happened?" Zack asked as he caught up to them.
"Later." Cloud replied and they spent the rest of their trip back to Nibelheim in silence.
After they reached Nibelheim, Tifa had returned home sullen, miffed that she didn't get much information out of the Soldiers. Sephiroth had retreated into his room and locked the door, leaving Zack to watch Cloud cry herself into her pillow, muttering about Mako, monsters and other things.
After several hours of trying to calm his best friend down, he finally got the whole story and was shocked. He went and banged on the General's door, demanding that he should be out and be with Cloud. But the silver haired man ignored and remained locked in his bedroom.
Exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally worn out, Cloud fell asleep. Zack paced the hallway, worried and suspecting something was truly wrong. He sighed and retreated to the bedroom and sat on Cloud's bed, watching her sleep. Soon, he noticed something on Cloud's finger, a ring.
He reached out and silently slipped the ring off her finger, studying it closer, he found it was a beautiful white gold ring, simple with green Materia chipped stone in the center, flanked with tiny clear diamonds. Inside the band, he peered closer and found an inscription, 'My beautiful angel of my heart, Sephiroth.'
Slipping it back on her finger, he suspected Sephiroth had given it to her sometime the night before and knew the plan wasn't going to happen. He made a resolve that he would remind Sephiroth about the ring and knock him to senses. He looked up to the wall that separated the two lovers; he could hear the other man pacing back and forth in the other room.
The next day, the sun shone into the bedroom. Cloud rose from her bed and decided to not change her clothes, seeing that she was still in the clothes she wore the day before. She went to search for Sephiroth and didn't find him in his room. She went down the inn and searched, and met with Zack outside. "Where is Sephiroth?" She asked.
Zack stood with his arms crossed across his chest; he tilted his head to the end of the town, "Several of the people said they saw him go to the Mansion. I suppose we should go and find him and get this damned mission over with. The farther away we get from here, the better you two be."
She nodded her agreement and two of them went to the old mansion and entered, searching for their missing friend. They searched every room in the place and met back in the main hall way an hour later.
"There's no sign of Sephiroth, but I swear he went into this room…" He turned and guided her to a room on the second floor to the west wing. He gestured into a small study room.
She stepped in and glanced around and noted there were faded footprints in the thin dust on the floor ending at a wall. She reached out and touched the wall; it clicked and moved, revealing a hidden doorway. They both peered into the doorway and found a staircase spiraling down into the darkness.
"I'm going down." She stepped and with burst of energy, she ran down with anticipation, worry and fearful all the same time not because of the environment, but because of Sephiroth, she reached to the bottom and found herself into an underground cavern.
She found him in a hidden lab, deep below the mansion. He was pacing around, reading a book, almost possessed.
"… An organism that was apparently dead was found in a two thousand year old geological stratum." He murmured as he read from the book. "Professor Gast named that organism, Jenova because…"
She gasped. "Sephiroth, what are you on about?" Something stirred inside, something so evil that they should not bother with it.
"Jenova was the last person to have this alien virus, the soul of the alien that came here by the meteor… They killed her... it makes all senses." He looked up from the book. "Cloud, Jenova is dead but this virus is keeping her body alive, we have to destroy it."
She nodded, "Come on…" She reached out to him, gesturing to the door.
He went back to the book, "Jenova confirmed to be an Ancient… No, this is wrong, she was a Valkyries… Ancients are the Cetra." He flipped the pages, frowning, still pacing back and forth in the room, "Jenova Project approved. The use of Mako Reactor One approved for use…" He then turned into the hallway lined with shelves of book. He stopped midway and looked up, ignoring Cloud. "Is this just a coincidence? Jenova, Lucrecia… now me. I can't have the virus in me…" He muttered.
"Sephiroth…" She whispered as she saw his head bow down in distress, his voice laced with sadness and anger.
"Professor Gast… why didn't you tell me anything? Why did you die?"
She swallowed silently, there was so much to Sephiroth's hidden past and she could feel that he had so much pain and confusion. She wanted to comfort him but couldn't because he had built a wall between them so suddenly. She went to him and reached out to him.
Before she could touch him, his cold voice stopped her, sending icy chill down her spine, "Let me be alone." There was nothing she could do but leave him alone as he wished. He was possessed by something.
He didn't come out of the Mansion but remained reading all the books that were in the hidden lab, forgetting about everything else, so intent to find more information about his past that the secret lab provided. Cloud found a room in the mansion and stayed there, waiting for time to pass.
She hoped Sephiroth would snap out of his madness. The empty feeling became heavy and heavier as the time went on. Finally several hours later, she got out of the bed, deciding to check on him again. Zack had left the mansion hours ago to assure the people in Nibelheim that things would be okay.
w w w . y a s h o d o a . c o m / r o a d t o d a m a s c u s