Chapter 4: The New Arrivals

As the sun turned into an early night, the train station's horn blew its last call as the final train of the day had arrived before its closure. Exiting the train were two young recruits from Balamb Garden. Vicks and Cedge, brothers, sent to Balamb via train to complete their trial of Ifrits Cavern.

Vicks was the older of the two. Sporting spiked up hazel brown hair, his attire contained an army green shirt and olive Khaki coloured quarter pants. He accessorised with sturdy brown boots, white and blue gloves and a brown belt around his waist which had a pouch attached to his left hip to hold various items. Vicks was training to be a magical pistol user who entered battle with a gun-type weapon that utilised many different elemental and status-crafted bullets that came in handy for many situations.

Cedge, being the younger brother, had short peach blonde hair, dressed in a grey shirt with a long dark blue thin coat over the top. He also preferred his long blue military pants and a pair of black boots when he had to fight. His favourite item to have with him was his scarf, which he had received from their mother before passing away a short time ago. Cedge found it challenging to train with weapons. He excelled very well in learning the arts of magic, so he decided to develop his physical training using a staff. That way, he could harness the power of the weapon and concentrate his abilities through that.

"I hope you grabbed everything, Vicks". Cedge Shouted back to his brother. "

You always forget something. It's so annoying." He continued.

"Would you stop whining for a moment?". Vicks replied, angered by his brother.

"My whining wouldn't exist if you were more organised. I mean, how hard is it?". Cedge said as he argued with his brother.

"Alright, alright, geez, let it go. Can we go to the hotel and rest for the night?". Vicks Pleaded.

The brothers came out of the station entrance and followed a path until they hit an intersection.

"That's the entrance down there to the left, so the hotel is over this way". Whispered Cedge.

They got to the hotel entrance and pushed open the double doors. The owner and his wife were there to greet them.

"Oh hello, darlings, what can I do for you this fine evening," asked Dotti, the hotel owners wife.

"Hello, we are here to stay at the hotel for a couple of days". Cedge announced.

"Oh yes, are you from out of town, boys ?". Dotti replied.

"Yes, we are from Balamb Garden. We are here for a trial exam". Cedge added.

"Oh, I see. Well, here you go, boys, the last room available. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.". Dotti said as she opened up the drawer to give the students the key.

"Thank you very much. We will ask if any help is necessary. Enjoy your night". Concluded Cedge as he retrieved the key.

The boys headed to the left of the entrance and up the spiralled stairs to reach the second floor. Up the stairs was a corridor stretching a short distance with four doors split along two sides. Along the walls and in between the doors, lamps lit up the space giving it plenty of light to see.

"Which room is ours, Vicks". Cedge asked his brother.

"Room 03". Vicks replied.

Vicks inserted the key and turned the lock, opening the door. Before he and his brother could enter the room, they interacted with a young woman attempting to open her room on the opposite side.

"Oh, hello boys, are you two staying the night also,". The woman asked.

"Yes, we are! We are here for a seed exam trial. Tomorrow, we are going to Ifrits Cave.". Cedge explained.

"Oh my, so you are from Balamb Garden? I'm Instructor Quistis Trepe". Quistis replied.

"It's nice to meet you, boys". Quistis continued.

"It's nice to meet you, Instructor". Vicks replied, extending out his hand.

Quistis shook Vicks' hand and continued to converse with the boys.

"Well, it is nice to meet you guys. It's been a while since I've been on an actual trial exam. I always made the boys nervous when I accompanied them, but only one of them wasn't bothered by me. I certainly miss those days". Quistis went on talking as she remembered memories of her past.

The boys expressed a shocked look on their faces as they continued chatting with the Instructor. She gave them tips on what to expect and how to handle themselves when entering battle.

"Thank you very much for your advice, but I must say it is getting late. If you don't mind, we would like to retire. Have a pleasant night Miss Trepe." Said Cedge as he walked into the hotel room, waving his hand.

As Quistis disappeared into her room, Vicks followed his brother into their room and put down his valuables. They then proceeded to lay down on their beds to rest. The room was small but enough for them to utilise while they were there to stay. The room was covered in a light blue colour with patterns all around the walls. Filling up the room were two single beds, a desk in the far corner, multiple bright coloured plants and a balcony with a view of the ocean outside surrounding the town.


Dahlia laid in her single bed, gazing up at the ceiling, thinking about her next move. She gazed around the room at the black stemmed roses that filled her view, sitting on top of a small dining table. An old antique-inspired desk with an attaching mirror stood beside her door as Dahlia decided to look at her reflection. She let out a small laugh realising that reflecting in the mirror's view was Lilith's appearance bringing light to her successful possession of the human body.

"This body has suited me perfectly". Lilith declared as she raised her human hands and flipped them from back to front, admiring the difference between her own and the human she had taken over.

Dahlia moved across the room, her hips moving side to side as she opened up the wardrobe.

"I think it's time for a different outfit". Dahlia thought to herself.

She pulled a dark purple dress off a coat hanger and hung it over the door of the wardrobe. Slipping out of the silver gown, she flung it across the room.

"Hmm, far too bright for my liking, she whispered to herself, tilting her head to the side. She reached out and pulled the dark dress off the door of the wardrobe, and dressed slowly.

"That looks better. More suited for one belonging to the darkness". Dahlia cackled.

She peered back into the wardrobe and could see a book lying face down on the furniture piece's floor. She flicked her hand at it, and as the book floated off the ground, it landed in her hand. She turned the book around to reveal its title, 'History of Balamb'. She swayed back over to the table in the centre of the room and sat down on a chair. She seemed intrigued as she opened the book, flicking many pages over until a chapter caught her attention that divulged into the Guardians that inhabited the island of Balamb. As she continued reading, Dahlia came to another section of the book entitled "Gaulg Mountains". This section described the history of the rocky range, pictures showing its structure, why the mountain was no longer in use and the home of a rumoured but unfound Guardian of the Mountain, Ixion.

"Hahahaha, this is what I have been searching for all this time! More power! Another powerful Guardian is what I need!" Shrieked Lilith as her eyes glowed a dark shade!

"It's time to be on my way!" She declared.