Edea rushed out of the orphanage and scooped up Selphie
in a big hug. Selphie hugged her back, this woman who was the closest
thing to a mother that she had. Edea had been beside herself with
worry since the news of Selphie's illness and seeing Selphie again helped
to put her troubled mind at ease.
When the two broke apart Edea said, "Selphie...
I don't know what to say. If you need anything you know I am there
for you."
Selphie smiled tearfully, "Actually I do have a
favor to ask of you. What can you tell me about my origins?
You know my parents and stuff..."
Edea's mouth widened into a delicate 'O' before she answered,
"Come inside all of you. I'll make some tea and we can talk."
She put her arm around Selphie and the two of them walked inside the front
door together. Rinoa, Squall and Irvine followed quickly at their
heels. The orphanage had been remodeled well in the months since
Edea and Cid had returned to it and was once again a cozy oceanside home
such as the way it had been in the past. The four SeeDs felt right
at home as Edea ushered them into the sitting room. Cid was sitting
by the fireplace, reading a newspaper and he nodded to them as they entered
the room. Cid had become a much calmer person since his recent retirement
and these days he was just content to sit around and read and to be at
home with his beloved Edea.
"Greetings..." Cid acknowledged the foursome.
"Hey Cid," Squall mumbled for all of them.
Going to visit Edea and Cid had not been his idea of the greatest weekend
but Rinoa had insisted he be there to support Selphie.
The four teenagers sat down at a large round table
in the back of the room. No one said anything as they were too busy
gazing at the room and trying to piece together some sort of semblance
from the highly decorated parlor to the plainer rooms that some of them
remembered from their childhood. Cid and Edea had obviously come
up in the world, especially if they were able to remodel the run-down orphanage
to such a great extent in so little time.
Edea bustled back in then, she kissed Cid lightly
on the cheek and joined the group at the table. She carried with
her a tray with a steaming hot pot of tea, a plate of cookies, teacups
and plates. She motioned for them to eat but no one moved to take
anything from the tray.
"Alright... where do I begin? A few months
before you were born a woman arrived at the orphanage. She was probably
about thirty or so... pregnant..." Edea paused.
Selphie burst in, "My mother?"
Edea nodded, "I'm getting to that. She was
married and had ten other children already. She said they were too
poor too afford you. Your father had died in the wars and it seemed
that everyone in their village was poor and ill. She wouldn't tell
me where she was from but I gathered it was from somewhere in the far north
just judging by the clothing she wore. I have no idea where though
because the only town I know of in the north is the Shumi Village and she
most certainly was not one of them. Her name was Emily Tilmitt but
that was all she would disclose about herself. She told me she was
absolutely certain you would be a girl; and that she wanted to name you
Selphie. I delivered you myself… When you were born she had
no desire to see or to hold you at all. She wanted me to take you away
from her sight. The next day she left even though I felt she
was not well enough to go. You were a pretty baby and I felt
certain she would have been proud of you. I have no idea where
you can find her now. Or if she's even still alive.
I've told you all I know."
Selphie walked over to the other side of the table
and hugged her beloved Matron, "Thank you. I'd like to try
and find her myself now."
"Of course you would," Suddenly Edea looked at Irvine
thoughtfully, "Young man, you have just as much right to know about your
origins as Selphie. Yet you haven't asked me anything
about them. Aren't you curious about how you came to be in my care."
"Not really Matron. I've gone this long
without knowing and I don't think I want to anyway. They might
have been horrible people and it would hurt more than help me to find them."
The young gunsman shrugged.
Selphie regarded his words carefully, "But Irvine,
my parents could have been terrible too and I still want to find them."
Edea smiled gently at Irvine and Selphie, "Selphie
your mother seemed like a caring and loving woman who wanted a better life
for you then the one she could have provided. And Irvine whenever
you're ready, I can tell you about your past."
"And what if I'm never ready?" He asked.
She looked him steadily in his eyes, "Then you're
never ready… It's not important. The important thing for all
four of you right now is that you take care of Selphie and help her in
anyway you can. Even you Rinoa. I know you were not one of
my orphanage children but I feel a significant kinship with you.
Perhaps it is because we are both sorceresses. Selphie, if you ever
need me for anything, please let me know. I wish I could cure you
but it seems that magic only heals the wounds and illness of battle.
And Irvine, if you too desire to know of your past, please let me know."
The foursome left Edea's house in a subdued mood
of sorts. Quietly they boarded the Raganarok and Squall took the
pilot's seat. Selphie had once been their main pilot but now with
her in the condition that she was in, no one would let her fly no matter
how much she begged them. All of them knew that she was in a severe
amount of pain no matter how vehemently she tried to deny it. So
Rinoa took Selphie into the lower portion of the Ragnarok and made her
lie down and sleep for the long flight back to Balamb Garden.
