Chapter 8: Overpowered

Cedgerick and his brother Vicks were still reeling from the sudden quake as they helped each other off the ground. Looking over at Seifer and Seifer returning the gaze, Vicks walked over to him and asked him what may have caused the sudden disturbance.

"Not sure, rookies, but a new path awaits". Seifer announced. Pointing his gun-blade out towards the distance

As Seifer and Vicks ran out along the new path, Cedge yelled out, displeased about being left behind. As their boots hit the ground, they became wet and muddy due to the colder climate. They ascended the mountain. Seifer was racing ahead. Vicks was right behind him, making sure to keep up. He was distracted when he came to a statue that resembled a horse. Large in size, the figure halted his actions. Cedgerick finally caught up to them, bent over with his hands on his knees.

"Too many steps to climb". Cedge said. Breathing in a sigh of relief, the other two had stopped.

Looking up at the statue, Cedge joined his brother in, examining what was in front of them as Seifer walked away, peering around a corner.

"Nice piece of art, don't you think, bro?". Vicks asked.

Cedge started wiping off the frost and dirt covering the statue with his hands when he discovered a passage written below the monument.

"Hey Vicks, it says: here lies the spiritual summoning place of the great guardian Ixion". Cedge recited.

"I've read about this in books. It's a legend that states a guardian that uses the power of lightning and thunder, protects an icy mountain range". Cedge continued.

"I've never heard of it before". Vicks replied with a doubtful tone.

"Well, you wouldn't. You've never picked up a book in your life". Cedge responded with sarcasm.

"Hey rookies, stop gawking, let's go. This place is like a maze". Seifer was peering around the corner, waving his empty hand.

The brothers turned and headed towards Seifer as they noticed he had stopped, peering down at the impassable path.

"It looks like the mountain has cascaded. Looks like we are going to have to climb over this rubble. You guys coming or what?". Seifer, with his typical ignorant attitude, starts climbing and ascending. Vicks not letting Seifer get too much of a lead matches his speed and climbs alongside him.

"So training to become a Seed, huh! Good luck with that!". Seifer tried to start up a conversation with his party member.

"Why do you say that? Is it wrong to try and make a difference in the world?". Vicks gave an honest reply which drew out a definite answer from Seifer.

"What do I know. I followed my dreams and became a knight to the sorceress. After that all ended, I realised the path I was following wasn't the right one. Now all I have is my friends and peaceful life. It's not much, but it's all I have". Seifer explained.

"Would you become a SEED if you ever got the chance again?". Vicks question instilled some thought within the young man's mind.

Seifer became lost in his thoughts as he continued to climb to the top. Reaching the summit, Seifer could see down below the views of the whole continent. Vicks finally reached the top, pulling up Cedge, who was struggling behind them.

"That certainly was a workout, hey Seifer?". Vicks shot a smirk towards Seifer, but Seifer was deep in his thoughts.

"We sure are up high. Look, you can see the crater where Balamb Garden used to be. And Ifrits Cave is just over there". Excited with the view, Vicks had to cover his brother's mouth, trying to stop him from being too loud.

"Calm down. You're too loud". Vicks says as he silences his brother.

"I'm sorry, my voice is just loud". Cedge replies angrily.

Seifer chimed into the conversation. "Yeh, so is your personality. It Reminds me of someone else I know".

Seifer and Vicks stopped to take in the view and admire the scenery from above. Cedge had turned around and noticed an altar in the distance with a small set of stairs. Intrigued by the monument, he walked closer for a better look, the wind blowing faster as his party members ran to join him. The party traversed the frosted stone path as the wind could felt on their skin, giving them goosebumps. Cedge was startled by a pair of dark spheres in the distance just appearing in from him, Seifer having to blink twice to realise it wasn't his mind playing tricks.

The spheres floated above the altar, surrounded by dark energy, flowing around the dimly lit figure as it stepped out of the shadows and down the steps.

"Did you enjoy the lightning show, gentleman? It lit up the sky. Such a beautiful sight". Dhalia waltzed across the field, her hips swaying like a melodic song.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?". Seifer asked.

"Who am I, you ask? Well, now that depends on the day." Dhalia responds, laughing loudly.

"Why are you here?". Vicks yells out, pushing his little brother behind him.

"If you must know, I discovered an untapped guardian residing in these mountains. What better idea than to summon it and release it upon your pitiful town".

Laughing hysterically, she continued. "And if you must know, this poor soul is Dhalia but me I am the guardian of the darkness! I am Lilith. I decided to possess this useless body. Such a magnificent host if I do say so. It helps me stick around and traverse the world. But now that you are here, I cannot let you leave".

Dhalia's body began to rise into the darkened sky as she began to conjure up a spell.

"We'll just see about that". Seifer screamed out as he readied his weapon.

"You ready, rookies? This battle is no Seed, Balamb exam! This battle is life or death!" Seifer yelled.

As the brothers readied themselves, weapons in hand, Dhalia started her assault with a bio spell. Poisonous blobs of green magic flying through the air, barely missing Seifer and getting reflected by Cedge.

"Reflectra", the young mage calls out as a magical barrier surrounded him and his brother blocking the enemies attack.

"My, My, aren't we skill-full. But your weak spells won't help you for long!" Dhalia shouted through the void of the battlefield.

Seifer glowed with magical energy dodging the previous attack, conjuring his most powerful fire-based spell, "Firaga". He sent it racing through the air, exploding on impact, watching as the magic hit its mark. Dahlia appeared unscathed, walking straight out from the smoke and floated closer to the party. Still wearing a smile on her face, she was now surrounded by dark shaped needles floating around her existence as she began to fling them effortlessly.

Now under attack, Vicks, with his magical gun in hand, starting running forward, firing away at his enemy, dodging the oncoming flying bits of magic. As he shot rapidly, Dahlia put up a shield that made his shots ineffective.

"You call that an attack. Here is one that will keep you grounded."—Dahlia began glowing as she summoned the power of the earth.

"Quake". Dhalia screamed.

Seifer dug his sword into the ground for support as the ground began to shake out of control. Cedge summoned a spell of his own.

"Float". Cedge yelled as he pointed his staff in Vicks direction.

Vicks becoming light as a feather, rose off the ground missing the attack by seconds.

"You pesky mage. You are inferior to my skills. Darkga". Dhalia yells.

Now shrouded in darkness, falling to the ground, the little mage suffocating from the black energy swirling his existence. Vicks was retreating to his brother, screaming out his name. "Cedge, hang on!".

As Vicks ran back to assist, his brother Dahlia gave chase.

"Never turn your back in combat, boy". Dhalia stated.

Dahlia's lifeless body collapsed to the ground as Lilith's existence arrived onto the battlefield. Like a ghost hovering over its prey, she descended upon her enemies. She extended her razor-sharp claws, piercing Vicks from behind. Vicks screams out in pain as the monster extracted its claws, letting out a horrific shriek and vanishing. Seifer pulling his gun-blade out of the ground lunges towards Lilith. Flinging fire spells towards her as she dodges them. Letting out an angry scream, Seifer recklessly starts swinging his blade. Each attack evaded effortlessly.

"Is that all you got, puny human". Lilith continued grinning as if she was enjoying the battle.

"I must say this has been fun, but it's time to end it. Dark Scythe!". Lilith called.

The air around the battlefield grew thin, and darkness enveloped Seifer's surrounding. Lilith appeared in front of Seifer with a great scythe in her hand, smashing the ground in front of him, knocking him unconscious.

With the final attack complete, Lilith reverts to Dahlias physical form. She evaporates into nothingness, leaving the party defeated on top of the icy cold mountain to fade away.

The darkness around Cedge ceased as he got up and looked around. "Brother". He yelled.

Vicks laid on the ground grasping his wound, trying to stop the injury from increasing as he had difficulty trying to breathe.

"I'll be okay. Just a flesh wound. What about him? What about Seifer?". Vicks said, trying to talk.

Cedge left his brother and ran over to Seifer.

"Vicks, he's breathing, just unconscious". Cedge yelled.

Cedge held his staff over Seifer's crumbled body. A light started radiating out and into Seifer.

"Life". Cedge yells as Seifer's hands started to move again.

"Be careful. That monster knocked you unconscious". The young mage said. Are you okay? Can you get up?" He continued.

Seifer slowly turned on his side and looked up towards Cedge.

"What hit me". Seifer asked. He was lifting his hand to his head and checking to see if anything was bleeding.

Seifer was breathing deeply, lifting himself with the support of his blade.

"I'm going to assume if this was our exam, we failed. Right?". Cedge asked.

"Kid! We just got our asses handed to us by a possessed lady and a Guardian Force!"

Saying nothing in reply, Seifer and Cedge made their way over to Vicks to offer their support. Lifting Vicks off the ground and aiding each other, they made their way back down the mountain. Seifer held his ribs as he assisted Vicks with his shoulder. Vicks kept up the pressure on his injured back as his younger sibling gave his support on the other side.

It was a slow, cold journey back down the mountain. The party struggled through the rubble as they made their way through the train station and back into town. As soon as they saw the hotel's lights, Vicks collapsed onto the ground, blood staining the concrete beneath.

"Brother! Seifer, quick help me get him up and into the hotel". Cedge pleaded.

They carried him through the main entrance, the doors swinging rapidly open and taking him upstairs into their hotel room.

Seifer was lost in thought as he helped Cedge lay his brother down onto his bed. He blamed himself for what happened. It was his responsibility to take care of these two, yet he felt like he failed to captain the team.

With the door still open, Dotti and Cyrus ran in.

"You're back! What happened?" Cyrus ran in first, Dotti closely behind.

"Excuse me, we need a doctor. My brother is bleeding". Cedge exclaimed.

Dotti walked on over to the bed and pulled Cedge away.

"Don't worry, young one, give me some time and ill patch him up. He needs some rest now. The second one tonight, Miss Trepe, is in the other room resting a battle injury." Dotti explained.

Seifer's raised his head, his eyes filled with sorrow and shame.

"What happened to Quistis?". . Sheed in a quiet tone.

"A big battle happened outside in the docks. Fujin and Raijin battled some glowing horse creature with Quistis! Unfortunately, Quistis received some damage in the fight, but you don't need to worry. She needs a good nights rest". Dotti continued.

Dotti did her best to mend Vicks injury and calm down the younger Cedge. Once aid was complete, Dotti and Cyrus started to leave.

"Fujin and Raijin should be back home. I think it's time everyone called it a night". Cyrus revealed.

With his head held down, Seifer walked out the door after them and descended the stairs. Being so late, Seifer arrived home and went straight to his room, closing the door behind him softly. He took off his coat and sat on his bed, so many thoughts running through his head. Lost in his conscience, Seifer had many questions but no answers. Slowly losing sight in front of him, he allowed himself to fall into sleep.