Chapter Seven
--Author's note--
Some people have told me they were confused by the hopping back and forth, and a universal law of the 'net is 'for every person who tells you something, 10 more couldn't be arsed'.
The 'flashbacks' to 2000 years ago are Gilgamesh's memories. We are the only ones who see these, not Squall, or anyone else.
Apologies to all those who thought this was blindingly obvious, but like I say, there's probably a fair number who were wondering this.
--End Author's note--
"It can't be." Squall said, his hand grasping his gunblade till his knuckles were white.
Seifer smirked even more. "It is, puberty boy. Get used to it."
"But…it can't be."
Seifer sighed, and the smirk slid off his face. "I've got no more idea of why than you Squall. All I know is that where I felt Ultimecia, I feel Rinoa. I've got no choice."
Squall looked closely at Seifer. Just then, Seifer had sounded like he had before he had been chosen. Now he looked, he could see other similarities. The fire in his eyes, so full of devotion to the cause his sorceress had given him, was gone. The air of arrogance and barely concealed rage at the world around him was there for the first time since that fateful day in Timber. Could it be that the old Seifer was back?
***
Seoman watched as Gilgamesh went back into Balamb with the other two nights. He hadn't anticipated them. Three against one were not good odds. Snarling slightly, he turned and disappeared. His new mistress would not be pleased.
***
Cid paced up and down behind his desk. Edea was sitting to one side, reading a book. Squall kept his expression neutral and waited for Cid to come back to the point.
"He wants to be…re-enrolled?" Cid said in a voice filled with anger.
Squall decided he'd best keep his answers as short as possible, then maybe he could get out before the headmaster exploded. "Yes Sir."
"And he said his bond was…transferred."
"Yes Sir."
"Do you believe that?!"
"I'm not sure sir."
Cid calmed down a little. "You're not sure?"
Squall shrugged. "I've only lived with this bond for a few weeks. To be honest, sir, I was hoping you or matron might know."
Edea laid down her book carefully. "Well, Squall, the bond between sorceress and knight is still not fully understood. We do know it's a very precarious balance, and is based on an emotional link between Sorceress and Knight."
Squall felt like someone had just hit him square in the face. "So, if Seifer had loved Rinoa at some time in the past, would that be enough to create a link?"
Gilgamesh shook his head. He had been asked up here to sort out the details of his contract, but when the matter of Seifer had come up, he had opted to stay. "It would be enough to create the potential for one. The actual bonding is a very odd thing. It has a lot to do with the transition of power, and a lot to do with the successor theory. It depends mostly on how much of Hyne's body is in the world. The unearthing of Eden and the killing of the Weapons threw the whole balance."
"We're going to Esthar anyway." Edea said. "Maybe Odine will know more."
Cid had been staring glumly at the desk. "If you're okay with it, I'll re-enroll him. There's a genius there, especially for tactics. If we can shape it, he may end up as great as you, Squall." He looked up "Are you okay with it?"
"I'm okay." Squall said, wondering even as he said it if he was.
"Good." Cid paused. "You realise that if he is Rinoa's Knight, you'll have to have him at Esthar?"
"I'm not sure whether that would be a good idea Sir." Squall said blandly. "Seifer might object to serving under me."
"That's another good reason then. It'll be his first lesson. But if you two end up scarring each other again, or worse…." He left it hanging. Cid was a good-natured man, and didn't like threatening anyone. However, long ago he had found people could fill in the blanks themselves, better than he could ever hope to do. Squall swallowed.
"Understood sir."
"Very good. You're dismissed, Master Squall. And you too, if you don't mind Mister Gilgamesh."
"Not at all. It's been a pleasure meeting you Garden Master Cid."
The two left, and after the door closed Cid said to himself "I hope they don't kill each other…"
--Author's note--
Some people have told me they were confused by the hopping back and forth, and a universal law of the 'net is 'for every person who tells you something, 10 more couldn't be arsed'.
The 'flashbacks' to 2000 years ago are Gilgamesh's memories. We are the only ones who see these, not Squall, or anyone else.
Apologies to all those who thought this was blindingly obvious, but like I say, there's probably a fair number who were wondering this.
--End Author's note--
"It can't be." Squall said, his hand grasping his gunblade till his knuckles were white.
Seifer smirked even more. "It is, puberty boy. Get used to it."
"But…it can't be."
Seifer sighed, and the smirk slid off his face. "I've got no more idea of why than you Squall. All I know is that where I felt Ultimecia, I feel Rinoa. I've got no choice."
Squall looked closely at Seifer. Just then, Seifer had sounded like he had before he had been chosen. Now he looked, he could see other similarities. The fire in his eyes, so full of devotion to the cause his sorceress had given him, was gone. The air of arrogance and barely concealed rage at the world around him was there for the first time since that fateful day in Timber. Could it be that the old Seifer was back?
***
Seoman watched as Gilgamesh went back into Balamb with the other two nights. He hadn't anticipated them. Three against one were not good odds. Snarling slightly, he turned and disappeared. His new mistress would not be pleased.
***
Cid paced up and down behind his desk. Edea was sitting to one side, reading a book. Squall kept his expression neutral and waited for Cid to come back to the point.
"He wants to be…re-enrolled?" Cid said in a voice filled with anger.
Squall decided he'd best keep his answers as short as possible, then maybe he could get out before the headmaster exploded. "Yes Sir."
"And he said his bond was…transferred."
"Yes Sir."
"Do you believe that?!"
"I'm not sure sir."
Cid calmed down a little. "You're not sure?"
Squall shrugged. "I've only lived with this bond for a few weeks. To be honest, sir, I was hoping you or matron might know."
Edea laid down her book carefully. "Well, Squall, the bond between sorceress and knight is still not fully understood. We do know it's a very precarious balance, and is based on an emotional link between Sorceress and Knight."
Squall felt like someone had just hit him square in the face. "So, if Seifer had loved Rinoa at some time in the past, would that be enough to create a link?"
Gilgamesh shook his head. He had been asked up here to sort out the details of his contract, but when the matter of Seifer had come up, he had opted to stay. "It would be enough to create the potential for one. The actual bonding is a very odd thing. It has a lot to do with the transition of power, and a lot to do with the successor theory. It depends mostly on how much of Hyne's body is in the world. The unearthing of Eden and the killing of the Weapons threw the whole balance."
"We're going to Esthar anyway." Edea said. "Maybe Odine will know more."
Cid had been staring glumly at the desk. "If you're okay with it, I'll re-enroll him. There's a genius there, especially for tactics. If we can shape it, he may end up as great as you, Squall." He looked up "Are you okay with it?"
"I'm okay." Squall said, wondering even as he said it if he was.
"Good." Cid paused. "You realise that if he is Rinoa's Knight, you'll have to have him at Esthar?"
"I'm not sure whether that would be a good idea Sir." Squall said blandly. "Seifer might object to serving under me."
"That's another good reason then. It'll be his first lesson. But if you two end up scarring each other again, or worse…." He left it hanging. Cid was a good-natured man, and didn't like threatening anyone. However, long ago he had found people could fill in the blanks themselves, better than he could ever hope to do. Squall swallowed.
"Understood sir."
"Very good. You're dismissed, Master Squall. And you too, if you don't mind Mister Gilgamesh."
"Not at all. It's been a pleasure meeting you Garden Master Cid."
The two left, and after the door closed Cid said to himself "I hope they don't kill each other…"
