Cloud knew the moment Ifalna was in the longhouse. He sensed it, a familiarity. Almost as if he could sense his own mother.
He turned to see a woman with flowing dark brown hair and startling green eyes. These were different from Sephiroth and his siblings. Earthly and grounded instead of otherworldly.
Immediately the whole longhouse went quiet.
People made way for the lovely Seer. She approached nervously. With each step her eyes had the expression of a doe walking straight towards a wolf.
Maybe the mead was stronger than he thought. Cloud didn't know what to do. And before he knew it she was feet away. The smile was meant to be assuring, but Cloud wanted to bolt.
"Your hands?" She gestured for him to hold them out.
Cloud blinked. Was she one of those who had visions through touch? He vaguely recalled his mother telling him how a Seer learned they had the talent. They had tried various ways to see if he had the gift when he was younger.
Slowly he offered his hands out. Her delicate hands held his rough forge made ones. Immediately she closed her eyes. Cloud felt stupid that somehow he wasn't pulled into the vision with her.
"I see...this boy standing on top of the world next to Prince Sephiroth. The Promised Land is in sight." Ifalna began.
She gasped.
"A black wing springs out of Prince Sephiroth's right shoulder. He takes flight, at first to the Promised Land. Only, it disappears. He turns back to float in front of this boy, Cloud. Prince Sephiroth offers a hand."
Cloud felt panic rising. No, no this wasn't his vision. He didn't understand how she saw some identical pieces, but he knows there had been no Promised Land!
"Wait...the vision diverges. There's two outcomes. One of them Cloud takes Prince Sephiroth's hand. Together they reach the Promised Land."
Cheers all around.
"The other outcome is the boy has overcome by hate. His heart turned black from pain. He becomes the hand that delivers a final blow to Prince Sephiroth. And the prince falls."
Immediately there was shouting. Cloud tried to pull away. But the hands had a vice grip. He couldn't escape in his fight or flight mode.
Fingertips touches the mark on his hand. And it felt like ice piercing through his back. Cloud was too shocked to hold back his scream.
Familiar arms yanked him away from Ifalna. Cloud tried to curl and merge himself with the bigger body. Sephiroth held him upright.
Ifalna studied the pair. She knew what she felt. She knew the wound for what it was. And she stared at how protective the prince was over the blond who was on verge of a panic attack.
Sephiroth met her gaze and spelled promise of pain should she mention it. He knew what she felt. For he too felt the rush of pain that was impeding the connection that was already fragile.
"What happened?" Queen Jenova demanded.
"The boy saw his own death in the aftermath of Sephiroth's fall. His heart saw no reason to continue after succeeding the impossible." Ifalna lied through her teeth.
Some people cheered. Even though it wasn't as hearty as the one of them going to the Promised Land together. Cloud trembled as he processed, having already a guess what Sephiroth was doing.
"How do we avoid that violent path?" The queen asked, obviously disturbed.
"Allow him to be treated as an equal. The fact they stand together side by side, it is how they should be. This boy is the key for Prince Sephiroth to reach the Promised Land." Ifalna grew in confidence with this conviction.
"As what? Brothers? Lovers?" The queen had a guarded expression in her voice.
"It is up to them how they wish to be." The Seer was giving them the options instead of what was to be expected despite what she was seeing in front of her.
"...All right. My son. You can decide his fate." The queen didn't like this. But she had faith in the Seer.
Cloud felt that might be her undoing. Anything when it came to the Promised Land it seemed. Sephiroth steadied his body enough to stand on his own. The pain subsided and Cloud watched as Sephiroth reached for one of the many chests.
"In his village he was a blacksmith in training. He claimed to have made this." He pulled out the decorative and equally deadly axe.
Many came forward for a better look. Even the queen showed interest. Admiration grew even though minutes before they wished for his death from how he would be the hand to kill Sephiroth.
Cloud wasn't sure how he felt with what Ifalna saw. He had his doubts that she saw anything beyond the pair standing on the mountain overlooking the world.
However, if she was lying, then this left him in very good standing. People would wish to avoid displeasing him or hurting him from now on. In a way Ifalna was a blessing.
"I believe he would make an excellent addition among our blacksmiths." Sephiroth's voice spoke up over the murmurs.
"All right. Which one of the blacksmiths would like to train this boy?"
None come forward. Cloud felt his heart sink. Of course some would be nervous at the idea. Working a forge gave him the freedom to make weapons. To tamper with them. Ensure he could overtake them all.
"I suppose I will." A voice spoke up.
Cloud turned. A man in his twenties approached. He had short black hair. In a rough kind of way he was handsome. Especially with the kindness in his dark eyes.
"You're a bit short. Means you got some growing to do. I can tell you lost muscle on the way here. I'll start you off easy until you get back into shape. Then I'll teach you how to make swords." The man proclaimed with an easy smile.
Cloud wanted to say he had some practice. But his village didn't prefer the weapons. It was always axes and shields. Cloud was pretty sure he had been the only one to wield two axes. If anything swords were for ceremonies.
"Then this boy shall train under Biggs." Sephiroth agreed with this option that presented itself.
"What of the two girls?" Someone spoke up as Angeal and Genesis emerged with their captives. Cloud felt the heat rise in his chest in their chosen attire.
The cloths on the top half barely covered their breasts. For Tifa, the top was more like decorations. For Jessie it was a purpose to show the budding chest. Their midsections were left bare. The bottoms were simple triangular cloths held together by thin wires positioned in a way to show off the shape of their hips.
Sensing his fury Biggs moved closer.
"Don't rush toward them." He whispered.
It took everything in Cloud not to.
"These are the best the village had to offer?" The queen sneered at them.
"One of them is the daughter of the jarl. The other one is a prodigy as a shieldsister." Angeal informed.
"Best of the village does have a right. They can either choose servitude like the rest of their village sisters. Or," The queen paused. "They can win their statuses as free people within Midgar by fighting and winning in the Ring."
"I choose the ring!" Tifa declared eagerly.
Many laughed. Cloud didn't like this. He turned to Biggs.
"How many win?" His voice was low.
"None, as of yet." Biggs was honest. His eyes spoke of empathy for the blond.
"And the other?" The queen tilted her head.
"I...I choose the ring." Jessie picked up on the reactions.
More cheers. Cloud paled.
"Then these two shall be tributes of the next Ring match in a few weeks time! May the Goddess grant them mercy." The queen announced.
The cheers were too much. Cloud felt the mead in his stomach turn sour. He had enough of vomiting on the voyage here. So the blond held it in.
As he stared at the girls, Tifa made eye contact. She was terrified. Cloud felt his heart tear from his chest. He recalled the reason he saw her as a sister more than a cousin.
He had fallen into a river as the ice melted. The current was strong. And he wasn't stronger. She was the only one to jump in after him and help him reach the surface.
He owed her a life debt.
"We should hit the hay. Wouldn't want to start the forge with a pounding headache." Biggs suggested. "Do you know where your living quarters will be?"
"I..." Cloud really didn't know.
"I have an extra bed. Being one of the best blacksmiths here in Midgar gives me the house with a forge right outside." Biggs offered.
Before Cloud could reply, he noticed the older blacksmith tense. The blond didn't have to turn around for he sensed Sephiroth's approach. The prince leaned enough to whisper into Cloud's ear. His breath ghosted over pale skin.
"You will be at my personal house. No one would dare try to hurt you there."
Cloud shivered. Even as he stared forward he knew that Sephiroth sent a death glare at Biggs. It was evident when the blacksmith nervously shifted his weight, and his brave face wasn't so brave with fear rising in his eyes.
"Zack, make sure he doesn't run off." Sephiroth turned to the younger warrior.
"Awe, I can't celebrate?" Zack laughed, meant he was jesting more than complaining.
"Feel free to bring some mead with you. Just be sure he doesn't trick you." Sephiroth made clear boundaries.
"I won't trick. I'm no deceiver." Cloud declared. The bite of his fury over the girls' could still be felt in his tone.
A shift in the air. Cloud felt it on his hand. The one with the dagger bite wound. It was almost fully healed. Did Ifalna's touch make it more sensitive? Did she open the bond that was steadily growing? He couldn't identify fully what the prince felt.
Although the connection was stronger, it was still muddled. Some strange interference. Or maybe it wasn't strange. All this time Cloud wasn't fully accepting of it. And he knew. All that mattered was he held his honor with what he had sworn, right?
"Then ensure nothing happens to him." Sephiroth corrected his statement. "I will relieve you of your services when I'm no longer needed here."
"Come on, Spike." Zack wrapped an arm around Cloud's shoulder. His other hand carried a wooden jug of mead the size of a babe learning to walk.
Cloud stiffly followed. The only reason he didn't protest was because of the promise of mead. All the while he felt Sephiroth's eyes on his back all the way until he exited the longhouse.
