Chapter 18: Revolving Emotion
The morning chill in the air was stale, and the wind was subtle as Seifer walked silently around Fisherman's Horizon in the early moments of the morning. "Man, I wish I could sleep". Seifer thought to himself with hands in his pockets and cape flowing behind him. The town's hotel closed, a lone man sitting over on the boardwalk to the right with a fishing line floating in the water in hopes of catching something. Compared to the activity of craziness Seifer had witnessed stepping off the train, the town seemed almost non-existent with how serene the atmosphere was feeling. Seifer could hear the wind blow, the turbines spinning from their force, the water splashing against the town's structure. He felt lucky, almost hopeful that the past could remain where it was and forge a new path.
Seifer turned back and started making a beeline for the Garden, hiking up the metallic boardwalk and taking in the city's sights that were on offer. He gazed out upon the lonely house centred below, entranced by its state and not realising in his vision was a woman sitting on the edge in front of him looking down towards the centre of town. Seifer could hear the tears rolling down her cheeks as she sobbed to herself, turning her attention in Seifer's direction upon hearing the sound of his boots hitting the pavement behind her.
Ït's a lovely view, isn't it? It's better at night time." The woman began sniffling her nose and wiping away the wet drops falling down her cheeks.
Seifer stood silently behind her for a moment, trying to conjure up some decent response to say as he was unsure of what to say in reply. Instead, Seifer sat down beside her. "This is my first time visiting the town. I'm waiting for Squall's return, to be honest". Seifer kept his answer short as he took in the view, the sun slowly rising.
"Oh, so you are one of that SEED then?". The woman asked as she used her sleeve to wipe her eye dry. Her skin glowed slightly from the moisture.
"To be honest, I never passed the exam to become one". Seifer smirked as he continued to watch the sky, the clouds rolling by and the leaves dancing within the blowing breeze. Seifer relaxed, kicking his legs out into the air, laying his arms behind him. "So why all the tears?". He asked.
The woman turned in Seifer's direction and looked him in the eyes. "Have you ever done something in your life you would later regret? Something you thought was right at the time, but at a later stage, you felt a change and decided it was the wrong action!".
Seifer turned to catch her eyes, the ocean within washing around like a rough sea. "Too many to count, lady. Even as a young boy, I followed my dreams and saw them through to the end. I believed what I was doing was right, but when it all ended, and as time has passed, some of my actions were thoughtless.
The woman turned and focused again on the beautiful view taking shape in the sky. Her voice trembled as she rubbed her eyes. "Did people forgive you in the end? After all, you had done?.
Seifer thought about the question for a brief moment. His mind stuck on the thought of people's opinions and how they felt about him. "My closest friends did after a short time. They were loyal and stuck by me even after everything I had done. I honestly didn't deserve them as friends, to be truthful. So that you know, I don't usually talk like this with anyone." Seifer smiled and quietly laughed, moving his legs out into the air.
The woman giggled ever so slightly for the first time in their encounter. Seifer was never the type of guy to insert himself into other people's conflicts, but this conversation was the first time he had connected with someone on an emotional level. "What seems to be haunting to you?" Seifer asked.
The woman turned and looked at Seifer as she laid her hands in her lap. "I still remember the events like they had happened yesterday. My husband Dobe and I had joined a group of Esthar citizens after Esthar had begun turning into a war-based country. The group left Esthar and built what is now, as you know it, Fishermans Horizon".
Seifer was shocked upon learning the town history. "So this whole city was built by a group of people?"
"Yes, it was. Dobe was the station master. He made the train lines you see, connecting our home to Timber and the outskirts of Esthar. Upon the completion of the town, I fell pregnant with our first and only son. We named him Irvine. I remember his sweet little face". The woman reminisced of the only memory she could remember.
Seifer immediately thought of Irvine, the SEED who graduated from Galbadia Garden and became a Balamb Garden member. "So what happened to your son?". Seifer asked.
"During this time, Esthar began invading, causing havoc. It scared many people, and I did not want my son to grow up in the midst of all that. As you know, My husband and me, also the town, prefer to use words, not violence, to solve our problems. Thanks to the townspeople, they aided me and getting my son somewhere safe. But ever since that day, I blame myself for making that decision. I was trying to protect my child, but now, I believe it was wrong after all this time."
Before the woman could continue telling her tale of loss, Seifer could hear a males voice call out from the staircase below.
"Flo! Dear! Where have you been? I was so worried when I couldn't find you." The gentleman slowly walked up the bridge with his hands placed behind his back. "Oh, my back! Getting old certainly has limited perks". The gentleman says out loud.
Flo began rising off the ground. She smiled politely at Seifer. "Thank you" before walking over to the older gentleman falling into his arms. Flo was embraced in the older gentleman's arms as they walked down the path together back to the tiny little house in the centre.
Seifer watched them as they walked away, pondering over the story he had heard. "Is that what happened to me? Did my parents just give me away?". He thought to himself.
Seifer arrived back at the Garden in an eerie quiet atmosphere. " I guess it's still early. Nobody is awake yet." He walked past the classroom and peeked inside the doorway. "Can't imagine ever sitting in those seats again." His eyes scanned the room before entering, sitting down at one of the terminals. Pressing a button gave life to the screen as it flashed before his eyes, images of the directory flying across the screen as the menu lay over the display. Pressing buttons and moving through the menus, Seifer's attention quickly turned to the entrance where Quistis now stood watching.
"Now this feels like Deja Vu, doesn't it?" Quistis strolled over to the teacher's desk, sat down in a chair, and stared over into Seifer's direction. "Doesn't it feel just recently I was asking you not to injure your training partner as you sat in that very seat?". Quistis smiled, continuing to sort through paperwork and tapping keys on the keyboard in front of her.
''Instructor, I have a question for you". Seifer got up from his seat and slowly walked across the room, stopping at the other side of the teacher's desk. "Do you think we were all orphans when Matron took care of us all those years ago?" Seifer now questioned his past thanks to Flo's story, pondering if his parents had abandoned him.
"What makes you say that, Seifer? We were all in the same boat. None of us had parents, and Matron took care of us. Is there something on your mind?" Quistis looked up from the computer screen at Seifer, who was hands down on the desk, lost in thought. Seifer communicated the conversation he had been a part of earlier in the morning with Flo to Quistis in hopes it would pique her interest.
Quistis removed her glasses and placed them down on the table. She slowly yawned, quickly placing a hand over her mouth. "So you're saying she mentioned sending her child away and called her son "Irvine". Quistis asked, leaning over the desk.
"I'm serious, Instructor. What if we have parents out there we don't know to exist? Wouldn't you like to meet them if you had the chance?" Seifer straightened himself, yawning from a lack of sleep.
"It is possible, but Seifer, there is no information about our parents. We just found out that Squall has a father. So I guess in saying that, there is hope. The only people that would know anything is Cid and Edea. They are the ones that took care of us, mostly Edea as our Matron."
Quistis was interrupted by Zell, who was hanging in the doorway. "Yo Instructor, Squall is back and wants to see you. "I'll be right there, thank you," Quistis replies collecting her glasses heading for the bridge. "C'mon, Seifer. We can inform Squall of what's been happening and let him know about Dahlia".
Seifer followed Quistis into the hallway and entered the lift along with Zell as it ascended to the third floor stopping at the non-existent headmaster's office. Entering the office, this was the first time Seifer had seen this room since Balamb Garden became a mobile. The room was nearly identical to how Seifer remembered it, apart from the eyesore of an elevator erect in the centre of the room. The sound of motion rang out as the lift descended, and Squall walked off the moving platform. A not so pleased emotion hung across his face.
"Glad to see you back, Squall. How goes the repair of Esthar City? The lunar cry certainly left a lot of catastrophic damage, especially with all the giant monsters running wild on the outskirts." Quistis's face became full of life, happy to see her comrade return.
Squall was the leader of Balamb Garden, commanding and responsible for its students and staff's actions and welfare after Cid, who was leading before him, left to be with his wife. Squall was a striking young man with brown hair and light blue eyes, sporting a black leather bomber jacket over a white v-neck t-shirt combined with black pants, gloves and boots. Apart from Seifer, Squall was the only other person to have mastered using the gunblade weapon.
"Thanks, Quistis. President Laguna is fighting a losing battle over there. The monsters that fell from the moon are giant in numbers. He is asking for our help, but we don't have enough trained soldiers. I'm thinking of sending in some from Galbadia. They are better suited for battle." Squall finished his sentence and looked over towards Seifer. "What is he doing here!". Squall yells, drawing his gunblade. "I should strike you down now for all your stupidity has caused!".
Seifer draws his gunblade in defence, ready to guard against any incoming attack as Quistis stands between the gunblade fighters pulling Zell in between and forming a wall. "I hear Laguna is your father!". Seifer yells.
"Whatever!" Squall says, arguing back in disagreement.
"You two listen here! Whatever happened in the past has already happened. We can't change it, and I'm sure we don't like it, but we need to address the problems at hand." Quistis became redfaced, yelling and throwing her arms upwards in the hope of getting the attention of the young men.
Squall withdrew his weapon, as did Seifer relieving some tension in the room and returning it to a calm nature. "One crisis everted". Quistis huffed as she placed her hands on her heart. "Squall, Seifer is not here to anger you. We have come here in search of some information.
As you know, I have been helping Martine at Galbadia Garden. Both Seifer and I have stumbled across some new Guardian Forces; one, in particular, is quite dangerous. It goes by the name of Lilith, one who claims to be the Guardian of darkness but can also possess a human body to use at its will. Lilith awoke an unknown guardian beneath Trabia Garden, which lead to the students abandoning their home. They are currently residing at Galbadia Garden."
"Where are Selphie and Irvine? Are they okay?". Squall asked out of concern.
"They are fine. Selphie and Irvine aided Seifer in battle at Trabia Garden. They discovered Lilith had possessed a woman named Dahlia. She was using her body to travel undetected and causing chaos. Dahlia says she is from Winhill and has been under her control for some time."
Squall crossed his arms and sunk deep within his thoughts while everyone else watched him become somewhat distant.
"So new Gfs, huh. Where is this Dahlia now?" Squall asked.
"Downstairs in the dorms. Dahlia was exhausted from the travel here." Seifer replied, getting impatient from how slow the conversation was progressing.
"Two things come to mind. First, this Dahlia is from Winhill. It might be a good time to revisit the town and search for any new information." Squall suggests.
"And the second thing to come to your mind, Squall?" Quistis asks, questioning Squalls distant nature.
"Dr Odine! Odine discovered the initial guardian forces and may know about the undiscovered ones you have encountered. It is a stretch, but he is very knowledgeable in that area of expertise."
"So this Odine guy. Where does he live?" Seifer asked.
"Dr Odine is a scientist that resides in Esthar," Quistis said, answering Seifer's question.
"A trip to Esthar will have to wait. The Ragnarok is undergoing repairs, and Esthar has closed off its borders due to increased attacks. I will ask Nida to set a course for Winhill. That way, you can check out Winhill while we wait for the Ragnarok." Squall concludes his sentence and returns up to the bridge after Nida called out his name.
After the briefing had concluded, Seifer went back to the dorms to inform Raijin, Fujin and Dahlia of the current plan. He found his friends gathered outside the dormitory entrance chatting amongst themselves, happy to see them all awake and ready for another day.
"Morning", Seifer yelled, running up to greet his friends and capturing the nearby students' attention. Raijin and Fujin waved back from afar as he closed in on their location. Dahlia smiled as she walked to meet him halfway. "Good morning Seifer. Did you sleep okay?" Dahlia asked as Seifer caught his breath. "Not as much as I liked. At least no nightmares." Seifer replied. "Guess what?". Seifer continued, Dahlia with question marks all over her face. "Time for Breakfast?" Raijin suggested. Fujin punched him in the side of the arm for giving a stupid response. "GEEZ". Fujin pouted.
"Squall suggested we take a trip and visit your home of Winhill!". Seifer announced.
Dahlia trembled slightly with her choice of words. "R-r-really?". "What about Lilith? Knowing that monster, that would be the first place you would find her!." Dahlia wore a worried expression across her face.
"Look, don't worry. We will protect you. We can't get to Esthar right now. So this is our next goal. To investigate and discover new information." Seifer tried his best to convince Dahlia of the events, but she showed how uncomfortable she felt with a sad expression as she backed away.
"Look, if it makes you feel any better, you can stay here while we head into Winhill." Seifer offered Dahlia the choice as he could see how she felt about the situation.
"Quad?" Fujin suggested.
"Yeah, Seifer! Weren't you going to show Dahlia the Quad?". Raijin asked.
"Dahlia, would you like to have a look around the Quad?" Seifer asked, smiling. "Sure". Dahlia responded.
Fujin and Raijin ran off ahead around the walkway and into the entrance leading to the Quad. Seifer led Dahlia through the open-spaced doorway as her eyes lit up, descending three flights of stairs joined together to make the upper part of the Quad. The staircase surrounded by foilage and greenery contrasted nicely with the tiny mote of water under the stairs. Students were alive with energy, filling the bottom space with activity as they skated around the area, staying clear of the other youngsters sitting on the wooden benches fighting over who was winning in their game of Triple Triad.
Dahlia left Seifer's side and ran over to the students playing cards. "Oh, wow. How do you play?" Dahlia seemed interested in the game as the excitement in the air had piqued her interest.
"You can't play unless you have your deck of cards". A young boy explained.
"Hey Dahlia. You can borrow mine!". Raijin shouted, handing his deck of cards over to her. "Want me to show you how to play?" Raijin asked.
Dahlia smiled in his direction before turning her attention to Seifer. "Would you mind showing me?". Dahlia asked Seifer in hopes he would agree. "Sure. But be warned, I'm a little rusty on my card skills". Seifer announced, smiling back. With Raijin's deck of cards in her hands, Dahlia held them out in front of her and looked at the young boy. " Would you mind showing me how to play?" She asked. "Sure, of course. My name is Jet." Jet smiled as he laid the mat for the cards.
"I'm Dahlia. It's my first time visiting the Garden." She announced.
"Nice to meet ya". Jet replied. "Okay, to start, we both need to draw five cards and lay them down flat. This game, we are going to use no rules, okay?".
Seifer helped Dahlia with the cards and picked out five for her to use for the game. "Hope these are lucky, Raijin". Seifer announced with a smirk on his face. "Hey, I have some good cards in my deck," Raijin replied.
Jet flipped a coin and chose the tail side to land face up. Landing heads side up, Jet had to be the first to lay down a card. "Aww, man!". Jet expressed disappointment allowing Dahlia to have the start advantage. Jet turned his first card revealing an 'Anacondaur' card and placing it in the top left corner of the board. "It's your turn now". Jet announced. Dahlia picked up the first card from her pile, which revealed to be a cactuar card. "Dahlia put that under Jet's card". Raijin announced. "Are you sure?" Dahlia asked. "Hey, no cheating!" Jet screamed. "C'mon, kid, it's her first time." Seifer expressed.
Jet turned over his next card which revealed to be a unique 'Mini-Mog' card. He placed it next to his first card nervously. "Oh man. I love this card". Jet declared. "It's your turn again, Dahlia." Dahlia turned her next card over, revealing the fiery bomb card and placing it next to her first card. "This is fun". She smiled. "Your turn, Jet." Reaching for his pile, his next card was the 'SAM08G' card which he placed nervously under Dahlia's cactuar card.
As the small audience watched on, they were waiting for Dahlia's next move. Her hand reaching for the shrunken pile of cards exposed a 'Forbidden' card. Not wanting any help from the boys watching on, she placed it down next to Jet's previous card. "I think I'm getting the hang of this. It's all about the numbers". Dahlia continued to show some newfound happiness as she waited for her opponents move. Jet looked like he was sweating, and his face had become all wrinkled as he pulled out his next card. "Oh, it's a 'Thrustaevis'". Jet said as he placed it in the bottom right corner. "Only two cards to go. I need a strong card". Jet continued.
Dahlia shuffled the two remaining cards in her hand. "Which one should I pick, Seifer? Left or right?". She asked. "Hmm. Always go right". Seifer said in a stern answer. "If I lose, this is your fault". Dahlia replied. She turned the card over, revealing the 'Glacial Eye' and placing it down on top of Jet's previous card. "The last one belongs to you, Jet. Let's see what you have?". Dahlias expressed. "Dahlia, you are winning by 1 point. If Jet's card isn't strong enough, you get to take one of his," Raijin explained.
Jet's hand shook painfully, worried about what could be his last effort to draw up this game. "Oh, man. I don't wanna lose". Jet expressed sadly. Turning his final remaining card and placing it down in the last spot, his final card, the 'Funguar', was not strong enough to turn any of the other cards placed. "Congrats Dahlia. You won your first game". Seifer yelled. "Wow. Are you sure?". Dahlia asked with uncertainty. "I'm sorry". Dahlia said to Jet. The young boy was looking down from defeat. "It's okay. Here you take the Mog card. It's my favourite card". Jet said, handing Dahlia the card. "Oh wow. Thank you". Dahlia said.
As the game concluded, Dahlia looked over at Seifer and thanked him for his help in her victory. He returned her a smile as Raijin looked on. "What about me? You used my cards!". Raijin yelled. "Thank you, Raijin. That was fun. We should play another game sometime". Dahlia expressed as she handed back the unused card from the game. Raijin turned it around. "Hey, your last card was the 'Tonberry'. You sure had a good hand." Dahlia's face went pale as the card reminded her of a memory she soon would like to forget.
Seifer's attention was turned away by the loud music that began filling the air over at the stage. The band had started their morning practise, and the tune sounded like an old Irish Jig that could move your body. Beautiful notes blown from a flute drifted through the air as strings of a guitar and violin played out to add to the melodic sounds. Seifer and Dahlia headed over to see the sounds coming from the students of the Garden dancing and playing instruments on stage.
Seifer and Dahlia witnessed multiple SEEDS tap dancing before the stage as the music flowed. Grabbing his attention, Seifer noticed that Selphie was drawing a bow ever so swiftly across the violin strings. Next to her, Irvine strummed on a brown country guitar and Instructor Quistis swaying as she blew into a flute on stage, emitting lots of energy as they gave their performance. "Wow. When did these people learn how to play an Instrument?". Seifer thought to himself. "And when did Selphie and Irvine arrive?"
A round of applause gave out from the crowd in attendance as the performance came to an end. The performers gave a bow of thanks to all departing the stage. Quistis, noticing Seifer in the crowd, makes her way over to him, waving as she closes in. "Hey, you two. Did you like the performance? It's in preparation for our new Garden Festival". Following right behind the Instructor, Selphie was pulling Irvine by the hand.
"Oh my god! Irvine, look, it's Dahlia. Hi, I'm Selphie, and this is Irvine." Selphie bubbled with excitement introducing herself. "Hi. I see you already know my name. It's nice to meet you both." Dahlia smiled back as she chatted amongst the group of people. "Did you enjoy the performance? I'm so excited. You should join the committee?". Selphie offered. "Selphie is gung ho about the festival. She recruits people who have a passion for organising and putting it together," Irvine explains. Dahlia hesitates with an answer as she turns to Seifer, who was speaking to Raijin and Fujin. "It's getting a little loud. Do you think we could head somewhere quiet?". Seifer replies, "sure," as the pair leave the crowd and make their way back to the entrance.
"Thanks, Seifer", Dahlia expressed, "It was getting loud, and I couldn't hear myself think. So is that all of the Garden then?". Dahlia asked. "Only the Infirmary is left just passed here, would you like me to show you?". Seifer offered, pointing in its direction. "I would like to head back to the Library if you don't mind. I want to read some books while I'm here." Dahlia expressed. "Sure. Did you want me to accompany you?" Seifer asks. "If you don't mind, I would like to explore on my own for a little while." Dahlia throws Seifer a smile awaiting his response. "O-Oh, okay. How about we meet at the cafeteria later on?" "Sure, Seifer. That sounds nice."
Dahlia waves goodbye to Seifer and leaves him as she heads off towards the library. "Hope she will be okay". He thinks to himself. "Of course she will be. She is safe here". Seifer tries to reinsure his doubts as he stands idle in the same spot Dahlia had left him. "What now?". He thought to himself. "I have nothing planned until we arrive at Winhill." Seifer started to move in the direction back to his dorm when a familiar face makes him break inside.
"Rinoa!" "Seifer!" It had been what felt like an eternity since Seifer and Rinoa had set eyes on each other. In what was once a whirlwind summer romance, Rinoa held mixed emotions towards Seifer for his reckless actions during the battle of Ultimecia and for sacrificing her for his ideals.
Rinoa was a young woman who sported black shoulder-length hair and had earthy brown coloured eyes. Her blue sleeveless sweater with an angel wing imprint on the back flowed low behind her black tank top, shorts and steel boots.
Seifer could see her silver chain dangling around her neck, which featured a lions ring that looked identical to that of his rival Squall.
"I can't believe Squall let you back in here," Rinoa shouted, her voice echoing through the area as she clenched her fists against her hips.
"You have every right to be angry, and I don't expect any kindness from you". Seifer responded in a sombre tone.
"Fine! I will never forgive you for what you did!". Rinoa replied, brushing past Seifer's body and heading towards the elevator.
For a brief moment, Seifer stood shocked. He was processing his emotions and feeling nothing but cold. "What did I expect? My actions put her in danger. I tossed her to the sorceress. I was responsible for whatever happened to her." Seifer, lost in his thoughts, had not realised that he had been walking towards the dorms on autopilot. Arriving back in his room, he collapsed onto his bed and faded into darkness as his eyes closed.
