Emerald Storms
Silverium
Squaresoft not Silver with the exception of Trianon.
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For four days Selphie was slowly starved in her cell. She watched bitterly as the food they gave her became less and less until it was a glass of water. Shivering with her dress wrapped around her she ached for food, for light, and for warmth. With her forehead lowered to her knees and her arms wrapped loosely around them she waited dimly for whenever the man would come back.
She had to wait two more days of weary defeat for that to happen. When he came back he looked cheerful, handsome, and utterly despicable. He had to help her walk out of her cell for she was too weak to do it herself. Selphie hated being in physical contact with him, she couldn't help her lack of strength though, and the support was necessary.
She was dropped into a chair and bound to it though the brunette knew she couldn't move if she wanted to. The man appraised her silently and then gently brushed his thumb over her lower lip,
"You look much prettier when you're healthy," He tilted his head gravely,
Selphie gave him a deadpan look and if she could have she would have tried to kick him through her many skirts. He smiled softly and then with a flourish of his presented the empty room for her.
"It's a hanger bay," He announced,
"I'm not stupid," Selphie said hoarsely, coughing to try and free up her voice,
"Of course you're not. You designed the engine of the Aries." The man grinned broadly, "We know, it's true, and guess what, you're going to make the engine here, OR you can tell us all the components and we can put it together,"
"No," Selphie smiled back, "Never. The ship is mine."
Her eyes had been dull and glassy but now they shone brightly, surprising the man. Her determination and will had just made a startling recovery. He sighed, knowing that wouldn't be easy.
"The ship will be ours. If you don't tell us now we'll torture the information out of you. Electric shocks, burning, suffocation, slow bleeding…whatever it takes,"
Selphie was chilled but she shook he head resolutely, "Your choice then doll."
This was a perfect moment for a knight in shining armour to rescue her. Unfortunately Selphie knew he'd never find her there.
Seifer paced back and forth. Pacing was becoming quite a habit for him and other agitated Balamb students. Quistis was watching more people walk back and forth than those simply walking to their daily destinations. As Seifer whirled around for lap nineteen a solid pale hand slammed into his chest. He was knocked back a step and his eyes flared wide as Quistis' berry-blue eyes bore into his own.
"Trepe?" He resisted the urge to snap, 'What the fuck?'
"Almasy, quit wearing the carpet down," Quistis raised her eyebrows and a tiny smile hovered on her face.
Seifer looked down at the hand on his chest. The fingers all perfectly manicured but not too long to cause trouble for her. He looked back up and opened his mouth before shutting it.
"Is it my turn for the test?"
"It is," Quistis nodded, leading Seifer away from the classroom he and several others breathlessly awaited in.
Quistis had a devil of a time convincing the Headmaster and Commander that Seifer was ready. She had begged, pleaded, done special favours, and finally she had coldly demanded it putting as much frost in her eyes to drop the temperature in Cid's office. Quistis might not have a high-place position in Balamb, but she could certainly rule over it when she needed to.
"Seifer, we can't let him take the test early Quistis, how do we know if we can trust him? It's against our code to let juniors take the test so early,"
"I don't give a damn if it's against the code. Seifer WILL take the test. I suggest you change your records to accommodate that." Quistis had ground out to Xu,
"Hyne. You know Quistis there are two women inside you. One is my friend, and the other…I don't know but she acts like queen of the world," Xu replied, her eyes dark and flat,
"And what has this character done Xu? Helped prevent the sorceress wars, saved SeeDs and juniors alike, graduated early—"
"I know your achievements Quistis." Xu had snapped, "Just don't graduate HIM early because this is a personal matter to you,"
"Do you doubt my ability to teach?" Fire and ice clashed in the sapphire blues of Trepe.
And that was her final card, because Xu headed to her computer and altered the schedule.
And then…
"Will Instructor Trepe please report to the headmaster's Chamber at once."
"You wished to see me?"
"Why is Seifer on the testing list?"
"I put him there."
"Why?"
"He is ready,"
"So where you, and we made you wait,"
"Headmaster Cid, I believe it would be strategic for Seifer Almasy to graduate, if he passes the final test, now,"
"We have enough problems to deal with Instructor Trepe, we cannot have a potential betrayal on our hands as well,"
"If you believed Seifer Almasy would betray us you would not have let him become a junior with a second chance, headmaster,"
"…"
Quistis sighed and walked briskly down the hallway beside Seifer. What a trial it had been, and what a trial was still to come. She soon placed Seifer in a room with three written exams, which he had six hours to complete. He was allowed one fifteen-minute break where she supplied him with food and drink and then she returned to her lone chair in the room and watched him.
Seifer felt perspiration bead on his forehead as he scribbled down answers while remaining ever so conscious of Trepe's sedate gaze. All her lectures, all the nights they spent studying surfaced to his mind and he would jot down every thought in the margin until his once-pristine exam was a mess of black ink.
The hours fell past like dead-weights and Seifer was amazed by how calm and unmoving Quistis was. A pretty portrait sitting on a chair, that was Instructor Trepe, and he was just the awed audience before her. He had always appreciated how much time and effort Quistis spent into making herself look gorgeous. When her and Seifer stood outside under the sun their hair was alight with fire. In the fading dawn their eyes still shone brilliantly. He was surprised no one had offered to make them marble statues to keep their deity-like good looks eternal. While Seifer had a rampart ego, Quistis' was coiled beneath the surface of her smooth skin.
Finally the last half hour approached and Seifer signed the last question away to seal his fate. He stood up and nearly fell, as both his legs were sound asleep. If Quistis noticed the blunder she didn't show it at all. Her hand reached out to accept the exams and then she whisked away to be replaced by the eerie Instructor Elvelyn.
Unlike he had expected she merely warmed him up with a bit of light sparring to get the effects of sitting for so long out of his tired limbs. She fought him with a very plain long sword which surprised him, since he had thought she would be more for exotic weapons. When she finished practicing with him Trianon flipped her blue hair back behind her shoulders and sighed in fulfillment. She seemed to have caught his look of surprise as well.
"The blade itself is not important as long as it is well crafted. If one's agility, dexterity, endurance, and strength is up to speed, and their skill is superior, any foe will go down no matter the weapon of choice," She instructed calmly, "But this blade is, true enough, not what it seems."
She very gently tossed him the sword, which he caught on the flat of his hands. Seifer stared at the blade, trying to discern what was so special about it.
"Cast an ice spell on me," Trianon ordered swiftly, "I can counter, do not worry,"
Seifer held out his hand, the sword in the other, "Blizaga!"
The sword flashed blue and he could feel it grow colder, though not uncomfortably so. His eyes widened and Trianon nodded shortly. She retrieved the sword from him and Seifer was given the unpleasant sensation of his magic returning inside him, running up through his arms.
"It is a keying blade," Trianon announced, "Elemental magic can be filtered in for a greater attack, it can be also used as a runic blade, and absorb magic, but one must have that specific skill,"
Seifer nodded, still shocked. Oh, he had seen blades with fire magic inside them, but never a blade that could have anything the user willed it to. Trianon sheathed it and walked him down the hall where Quistis was waiting. The two women flanked Seifer and took him outside Balamb as Trianon kept talking.
"If you pass the next test, the mission, then you will be able to take Advanced Weapon Methodology with me. I have an assortment of weapons this school has yet to use, and I will be training students with all of them," Instructor Elvelyn nodded
"I've signed up for the class already," Instructor Trepe offered, "I saw in your personal database that you have a choke vine whip, I'm interested in it. Is it really a plant? I would think that would break in combat,"
Trianon grinned, a real smile she hardly ever showed, "The plant is alive, its root cluster contained in the hilt. It is a scaled plant, with thorns running its length and a poisonous barb at the end, I think you would be well-suited to it Instructor Trepe,"
"Where did you get all these weapons?" Seifer pressed,
"I found them."
Quistis and Seifer exchanged a discrete look of confusion and perplexity. Did she find them…or steal them? Buy them perhaps? Maybe there were gifts? Quistis shook her head slowly. With Selphie captured this was no time to wonder, but once the brunette was back Quistis was determined to figure out just who Trianon really was.
Thinking of Selphie made Quistis very sad. She missed her terribly, and they didn't even know if Selphie was okay! All of them had been doing their best to push the bad thoughts out of their mind, to concentrate on the research and try and to figure out where she might be. It was hopeless though.
"We have set up the Fire Cavern with a new twist in it." Quistis began, "Even Instructor Trianon and I do not know what is inside there waiting for you. Personality tests judging your weaknesses and strengths provided in the exams have been used to configure the ideal test for you. Good luck Almasy. Your goal is simply to get to the end, I believe your objectives will either be blatantly obvious or forthcoming,"
Seifer stared at her, unease creeping into his stomach, "Who designed the test?"
"A qualified team," was all Quistis replied with,
"Right then…"
Seifer looked at the entrance to the Cavern and then boldly walked inside. When he disappeared from sight Quistis sat down on a rock and rested her chin on her hand. She felt just as queasy as Seifer had looked when she told him she had no idea what was in store for him. She wanted Almasy to pass. Selphie said he could change, and Quistis felt that in Selphie's absence she had to prove her friend right. Her inner turmoil must have reflected itself on her face for Trianon knelt beside her and looked up with mild concern.
"Are you ill Instructor Trepe?"
"N-no, just uneasy," Quistis started, always shocked by the strange eyes of her co-worker.
Trianon nodded and stood up. Quistis quietly brought her porcelain mask over her face. She waited through the written exam, and so she could wait through this.
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Review Please.
Author's Corner:
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Shortey: Yeah…if I could study like Seifer….damn ;
Emrelle Elendal: Hm. You need to cheer up. Maybe this fic will take your mind off of whatever is making you sad. Feel better!!
Selphie108: Yeah! Some more in-depth looks at Squall
Elvi-Rose: Trianon is one of my favourite characters to write for, anywhere. She's just…really cool.
T.a.i.n.e.Dreamz: Scary, isn't it? A studying Seifer..
Fireflydreams: Yeah I'm picking on all the characters in this one. Bad me!
Aramaring: Sweet loving, eh? Hm. Could add some needed flare -
Elcyion Pitye: This will be a long one, sorry ;;
Thank you for reviewing! It really helps me write!
Author's Life Update:
I'm getting a midterm of 8 essays to do in one week. I'm also going to be in California from Wednesday night-Monday morning. SO I'm going to throw a few updates at you guys to keep you all entertained. Cheers!
Silverium