Chapter 27: The Truth and Nothing But
Sephiroth found it difficult to speak with Rydia thereafter. He dared not expose her so even during their practice sessions after supper he wouldn't ask her about her heritage just in case someone was up in the observatory above the gym.
After much thought, Sephiroth also decided that no mater what he could never keep his promise to Cassandra. Rydia was no fool. And if he did keep his promise questions that only the truth could satisfy would be asked, and with the truth would come Rydia's anger. Anger, that even with good intentions, would only wind her up in Hojo's clutches. Sephiroth vowed that he would never allow Cassandra's fate to befall her daughter, not so long as there was still breath in his body.
So it wasn't until nearly two weeks later that Sephiroth was finally provided with the opportunity to ask the questions that he had so sorely wanted to ask.
Weird weather was the cause of the opportunity, and when the electricity in the school went out with a clap of thunder, the class cheered. After an hour the Dean announced that classes would be cancelled for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the blizzard like conditions kept the students within the safety of the Academy. With just enough emergency power to guide students down the darkened hallways, most flocked to the library, cafeteria or gym.
Jess went with most of the girls to the library, while Zack and Reno joined those within the nearly pitch black gym for a game of Medic.
Sephiroth and Rydia on the other hand kept to themselves and sat within the entrance of the Academy, watching through the large glass windows as the gale force winds whipped snow about the courtyard.
Trying to peer past the swirling white snow up to the white clouds, Sephiroth tried to glimpse a sight of the lightning. As yet another drum roll of thunder shook the school, Sephiroth gave up his fruitless searching.
"Odd," he remarked.
Rydia nodded and giving up on her own search, she leaned back against the wall behind her.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" He asked, looking over at his friend.
"No," she answered, her hand drifting down to pet the sleeping feline that rested on the floor between them.
Thereafter they remained silent, watching the storm as Sephiroth determined how best to word the questions he so wanted to ask.
Finally deciding on an appropriate way of broaching the subject, Sephiroth began. "So, I suppose who ever wrote the text books didn't know what he was talking about, eh?"
"Huh?" Rydia looked over at him, her eyes narrowed in confusion. After a moment of meaningful staring Rydia got the hint and replied, "Oh, that." as she returned her gaze to the swirling snow. "I was hoping you forgot about that."
"Yeah, well..." Sephiroth paused a moment and leaned his head back against the wall, his eyes still on his friend. "That was a little hard to forget."
"Sorry," she murmured apologetically. "I've been trained better than to just act on impulse."
Sephiroth smiled knowingly. "But," he continued, "at least everything makes sense now."
"What do you mean?" Rydia asked, a little suspicious and just a little shocked that she had messed up other times.
Sephiroth grinned, "Well for starters, you get upset when anyone speaks badly of the Dracos. Secondly, who else but a Draco would know so much about herb lore, since it goes hand in hand with magic. Thirdly, materia never glows when you use it. You try to hide it within your hands, and I'm sure no one else has noticed," Sephiroth amended when a look of fear crossed Rydia's features.
"What I don't get," Sephiroth pressed his lips together in thought as he continued. "Is why the chocobos get so upset when you're around."
Throughout Sephiroth's observations, Rydia had sat stock still, her hand had even stopped its petting of Ash and now was held suspended over the cat, but as Sephiroth questioned about the chocobos, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"The chocobo's are stupid; they trust their noses rather than their eyes." Rydia explained sourly. "We Dracos smell a bit like the dragons, thus the chocobo's believe that because we smell like them therefore we must be them. And seeing as how dragons eat chocobos..."
Sephiroth nodded in understanding, allowing Rydia to refrain from finishing her sentence. After a short pause wherein Sephiroth reached down a gloved hand and stroked Ash, he asked, "So how have you been settling them down then?"
Rydia chuckled, "I've been using my telepathy." Then seemingly considering something, she studied Sephiroth for a moment, before continuing. "Wow. I really am good."
Sephiroth lifted a silver eyebrow quizzically, confused by her statement.
His confusion though only lead to Rydia's confusion, for she frowned deeply. "You mean you don't know?"
Mirroring her frown, Sephiroth questioned, "Know what?"
Rydia sighed and relaxing back against the wall, stared back out into the storm. "Huh." she murmured, ignoring his question.
Giving her only a minute, Sephiroth repeated his question, a bit of the annoyance and frustration that he felt at being kept in the dark, creeping into his voice.
Slowly Rydia turned to face him once more, a red gleam enveloping her eyes as she studied him intently. Finally she spoke, ever so slowly. "You are telepathic."
The words hit Sephiroth like a strike, for now many more things made sense.
"I thought you knew, what with your firewall and all. Maybe it was something your mother gave you before she died." Rydia continued to speak, but Sephiroth paid her as much attention as he would have Hojo.
So that's how Cassandra was protecting me. All this time and I never knew! Sephiroth thought, but even as he thought of Cassandra he recalled Hojo's words only weeks' prior, "Eventually her barriers will break." Dread filled Sephiroth's stomach as he grasped the severity of his helplessness.
"Teach me!" he ordered.
Unfazed by his sudden aggressiveness, Rydia nodded solemnly. "Yes." She spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "To be untrained... is so very dangerous. Your lucky your mother's firewall has lasted this long, for without it, another telepath could have just taken over and used you as nothing more than a puppet."
Sephiroth nodded, feeling suddenly drained. Yes, his imagination had already concluded what Rydia's words had only enforced. Cassandra - Rydia's mother had protected him and given him a great gift, as if he had been her child. Returning his gaze to the storm, he thanked the gods and vowed to always honour the memory of the woman that had stood before him in the face of evil.
Pain of mind is worse than pain of body. Latin Proverb
Author's Notes: I hope that explained a bit more, if not let me know. Oh, yes and about the storm… I know most of you are going, 'that doesn't happen!' It does actually! Two years ago in May we had what was called a Thunder Snow, it was the weirdest thing too. Also for those that don't know what Medic is, it's a game involving two very big leather clad balls called 'Medicine Balls'. Each team gets one Medicine ball and is allowed to construct some walls or barriers with some large mats. Each team also has one Medic. Each medic gets a scooter to ride around on. Each team hurls the medicine balls across the room at the other side, if a teammate is hit… the medic is called and the medic has to successfully retrieve the 'wounded' teammate and return them to the 'hospital', where the teammate has to wait a certain amount of time before returning to the game. If the medic is hit… game over… if all the players of a team are wiped out… game over. This game is played in a nearly dark gym and is terribly much fun (especially when the opposing side has a few players where fancy light-up runners – he he)
finalfantasyswordsman77: Sorry, Masamune won't be around for many chapters yet. But I promise when it does come it'll be sooo sweet! Did I ever mention that I love swords to?
ebonyflame85: Yes, if you go back to chapter 15, it says why Rydia has to be cautious about her appearance around humans. Which also explains why she would turn on Sephiroth. People do funny things when survival becomes an issue. As for Advent Children… ya the characterization wasn't the best, but I look at it a different way. Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo were remnants of Sephiroth; therefore they were different parts of his personality and training. So if you think of it that way, it actually gives you a better idea of what Sephiroth was really like.
Scitzo and Psyco: Well if you read back in chapter 5 and 26 it does explain a bit. Anyway, the Cetra are just building off something that was already started and then taking credit for it (I hate people like that!) and they also enslaved the Draco's and were directly responsible for sending the Dragons into madness. I'll explain better in another chapter further down the line.
