A fever took to Cloud. He didn't know how long he was sick. All he could vaguely remember was his mother insisting he drink down some soups or water. One time it was medicine to break the fever.
He heard whispers of a name constantly. Repeating over and over. Strangely Cloud couldn't always remember what the name was. Perhaps that was why the name was repetitive in his ears.
The medicine must have done the trick when he awoke. For once Cloud felt as if the fog had lifted on his mind. He was more attune with his surroundings.
He heard his mother's humming. The same tune she always sang during his childhood. Immediately his body relaxed. Briefly Cloud wondered why he should be so anxious in the first place. But given his visions and fever he supposed it was the reason for it.
"Ma...?" Cloud called out, finding his voice hoarse.
In an instant she was at his side. Water was brought to him, and Cloud sat up to hold the cup on his own as he drank. He felt his mother's hand checking his face. It was still hot to the touch.
The fever hadn't fully gone. But it was receding. Cloud sensed her relief. He wondered how long he had been sick for. It was rare of him to be ill.
"I told the jarl of your visions. He seemed disturbed as I was. I insisted that we move the village, but he wouldn't budge. That man is as stubborn as a boulder in a storm." The Seer sighed.
"What...what did my vision mean?" Cloud had an idea. But he didn't want it to be that.
"A change is coming by the hands of the man in your vision. And this change is the destruction of this village. But from the ashes you rise. You rise with the man despite the destruction he had caused."
"What? So you're saying I get along with the man who murders and burns my home?" Cloud glared.
"It is the fate already sewn into the fabric of destiny." His mother sighed.
"And I refuse!" Cloud tossed the cup. Some of the water spilled. Neither of them paid the mess any mind. "I would rather die with the rest of the village!"
"Stormcloud! Do not utter such words!" She snapped. "Should the Gods grant it, someone will take your place! You were chosen for a reason, my son. If it means you live then I encourage it."
Cloud stared. He knew the story behind his birth. He knew how she felt with the cursed blessing of their gift of life. This was one of the few topics that set the fury within her eyes. She had refused him to become a fisherman or a shieldbrother.
He fought and he fought for the latter. Only to give in and take up blacksmithing. He hated not fighting. But by making the weapons it meant Cloud was close to the action. And it helped him gain strength enough that he could give the best shieldbrother or sister a run of their money if he was tested.
"If it even comes true." Cloud huffed. He had some doubts. Why did it take so long for his inherited talents to show?
"There is a reason for everything. If anything you will hold an advantage having two very important skills and talents."
"Yeah, yeah." Cloud turned to lay back down. His back to her in means he was done talking about this.
If they weren't family anyone else would have been found offense of his action. But Cloud never let anyone get too close to him to see his vulnerability. His mother learned long ago to stop feeling a way when he did this.
She left him to continue whatever she was doing. In a village with youngsters practicing their weapons, accidents always happen. Rarely had anyone tasted real battle in a long time. And it made the village relax a bit too much.
Eventually Cloud found sleep.
He awoke to the screams. Then shortly after the horn bellowed deeply. The song of a raid. Cloud was on his feet in a matter of seconds. He raced outside with his mother. They both grabbed their respective axes.
When it was a matter of protecting the village everyone old enough had the right to fight. It was better to die with honor than to run away like a coward.
Cloud stayed by his mother's side. Although he still felt feverish, he wasn't going to leave her. He wielded his twin axes with a flurry that eventually drew attention.
They were surrounded after they had taken down a number of men. Cloud tensed as he stood back to back with his mother. He glared heatedly at the raiders. A tall and very muscular man studied them both with growing respect and curiosity.
"I believe she is the village Seer." The man identified. "He must be her son."
"A Seer? Even out here in this quint little place?" A baritone voice made Cloud's blood freeze.
Slowly he turned. The owner of the voice was tall. His armor black with bits of silver. Long silver hair flowing down his back. And piercing green eyes staring into his very soul.
Cloud trembled. A mix of fear, bloodlust and growing hatred. As the village lit up in flames around them the light revealed his dark emotions in his eyes. And strangely the man seemed as equally transfixed by him.
"Mustn't be a very good Seer to not have visions of us." A redhead smirked, breaking the silence.
"My son did! He dreamed of the silver demon." His mother panicked.
"Mother!" Cloud hissed.
"Tell me about the vision, boy." The man approached, circling them.
Cloud glared defiantly. His mother elbowed his side harshly. Finding his voice he spoke.
"The village was burning. I stood in the middle. In the distance I see a man with black armor and long silver hair."
"That could just be you saying what you already see." The man accused.
"Tell them of the second half!" The Seer insisted.
"...Together we climbed a mountain path. It was tall, taller than any mountain I know. It seemed endless. I was following behind the man. Until we reached the top. We stood on top of the world side by side." Cloud left small details out.
For some reason the part about the wing, the offered hand, it was a secret Cloud wasn't willing to share with everyone listening in. He left out the beckoning to make it seem like he followed willingly. It sounded better for the ears of the enemies in his mind.
"What else aren't you telling me?" The man noticed.
Cloud stubbornly remained quiet. He focused on those eyes that somehow drowned out the screams, the sounds of battle. It was as if the world went still.
"A name! My son said a name over and over in his sleep!" The Seer gave the insight.
"Whose name did you speak?" The redhead tilted his head. Even now he was curious of the details.
Cloud panicked. He couldn't remember. The name was escaping him. And the more he panicked the harder it became to breathe.
"You must remember! The fever muddled your memory! You have to remember Stormcloud!"
Cloud closed his eyes. He was escaping the reality of the situation at hand. The sounds around him were being drowned out. Distant as if he were far out to sea. His trembling body relaxed as he focused.
And then he heard it.
"Sephiroth." He opened his eyes to come face to face to the silver haired man. Cloud had to lift his head up to meet the man's gaze.
Surprise among the men who surrounded them. Even the silver haired warrior blinked. Recognition. And suddenly Cloud felt his heart sink. That was this man's name.
"Bind the boy. Kill the mother. She is of no use to us." Sephiroth turned his back to leave. A costly mistake.
With a roar Cloud lunged with a swing of his axe. In a flash the redhead lunged to intervene. Cloud heard his mother's cry. But he paid her no mind. All that mattered was proving he didn't have to go with them.
The redhead blocked near the hilt of his red sword. Cloud exhaled angrily that he ruined his strike. And he used that to fuel his attacks. The redhead was surprised by his strength as he backed up.
Each swing became faster. Cloud knew he had an advantage. And for the most part the sword met every hit to block. Until there was an opening.
Cloud took it. He swung his axe for the throw. He felt the weight of it leaving his hand. It hit its mark on the redhead's left shoulder. He let out a surprised cry more than pained.
"You little bitch!" The redhead hissed.
Cloud tried to take advantage once again. But before he could swing again a hand grasped his wrist. Suddenly the blond was twirled around. He was so caught off guard his hand let go of the axe still in his possession.
Another hand lifted at Cloud's throat.
But he didn't pay it any mind. His focus was on his mother. She was turned to face him, arms held behind her back. Tears streamed down her face.
"Give me one good reason why I should let him live." Sephiroth tightened his grip on Cloud's throat.
"Because you need him! You're destined for greatness beyond this world! If you kill him, you won't achieve it." She huffed, part in panic part in the confidence that she knew she spoke truth.
"I won't have someone who attacked my back and wound one of my best warriors." The grip tightened more.
Cloud refused to make a cry. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. As his vision blurred Cloud closed his eyes.
"Then bind him with a blood pact."
The hand went still. Cloud couldn't even garble out a no. The hand released on his throat and he gasped desperately for air.
"You're finding every means possible for his survival. I almost admire it. But will will honor it?" Sephiroth wondered, waiting for Cloud's response.
He opened his eyes to meet his mother's. She was pleading with him silently. As he trembled at the notion of even doing such an act, he found his voice.
"Yes. I'll honor it." Cloud gave in.
"Zack, your dagger." Sephiroth held out his hand.
A young man closer to Cloud's age approached. This must be one of his first raids with how nervous he was. Still he had the grace of a crow handing over a shiny object to a dear friend.
"Someone hold him. But offer up his left arm." Sephiroth instructed.
Since Zack was already close at hand he volunteered. Cloud didn't have the want to fight anymore as one hand gripped his right arm and the other lifted up his left.
"Just relax." Zack whispered softly into an ear. Cloud hated that someone now was showing him kindness in this whole mess.
Sephiroth moved to be in view. He didn't stand in the way of mother and son. It was easy to understand he wanted the Seer to witness the binding fully before she was to be killed.
He removed his glove of the right hand. Then he gripped the dagger tightly. Blood glistened in the light. When it was enough, Sephiroth wiped the blade before placing it into Cloud's hand.
Sephiroth's left hand forced the blond to close his hand in a tight fist. The pain was sharp. And Cloud winced. He managed to keep his throat from making any noise.
The pressure on his hand lifted. And Cloud let the dagger fall to the ground. His obvious displeasure of this whole ordeal. Sephiroth then did something a little more intimate than just placing his hand over Cloud's.
Their fingers were interwoven. Palms pressed against each other. Cloud stared at their hands in growing confusion. This was too intimate. Too personal.
"Do you swear fealty to me? To never raise your weapon against me or my men?"
"I swear." Cloud lifted his gaze to Sephiroth's.
He was bound. If he were to ever break it then Cloud knew of the consequences. A pain worse than death. A wish for death in order to find peace.
Once Sephiroth knew that Cloud wasn't deceiving, he pulled his hand away. As if it was just a second thought he turned to face the Seer. And his sword pierced through her chest.
Cloud couldn't even scream. Instead his legs gave out. He fell just as her body did. He found it difficult to breathe. Once again he was reminded of his stubborn fever when he felt a wave of dizziness.
Zack whispered softly in his ear. But Cloud didn't listen. His brain couldn't focus now that his spirit was broken.
His hands were being bound behind his back. Cloud didn't care. He didn't even care enough to get up and walk. So Zack lifted him up and carried him over his shoulder.
Cloud was placed on one of the longships. He curled up into a tight ball. He didn't even have the heart to glare at Zack when he ran a hand through his blond spikes in a comforting manner.
Somehow, either from exhaustion or the fever was on verge of coming back full swing, Cloud closed his eyes. Sleep claimed him despite the terror just feet away. And to his relief he dreamed of no strange dreams.
