Chapter 7


"So...how long was I out?" Cloud asked, shaking the last bit of dizziness out and clearing

his eyes.

Aeris eyes became alarmed, "Long enough. Syreen has already started on her path to world

domination!"

"Why does she want to take over the world?"

"It is out of bitterness. Syreen lived about 3000 years ago, like I said. She was one of

the most influential Ancients, and also one of the most aggressive. She wanted to expand our settlements

as far out as possible-"

"Why?"

"To enlighten the other people. She was kind at heart, really. But the society of the

Ancients was very introverted at the time. They were content to stay at home with their studying,

and leave the others alone. This of course, made them have little experience with the outside world,

leading to their downfall from JENOVA, but that's a diffrent story." Aeris took a deep breath and

pressed on. "Syreen was angered by her collegue's blind refusal. She had tremendous vision, and

could predict the downfall of the Ancients even at this early stage."

"What'd she do about it?"

"Nothing. The High Concil of the Ancients met at Alvacor-today's Icicle- and voted to

outcast her. She and her few followers moved out to a small island in the North-East sea, and

devoted themselves to the study of magic. This was Syreen's real talent. The Knights of the Round

Table materia, you know that?"

"Let me guess, she created it?"

"It was one of her FAILURES. She thought it was wanted it to be a permanent enchantment,

enslaving those warriors under the casters command. Her grave would hold the secret to this power,

but it is obviously under her control now."

"Great." Cloud thought for a moment, then asked a question which had been bothering him

for a while, "Why'd she pretend to be you?"

"I dunno. I guess she thought it would hurt you more if you thought I did it."

"Smart move. So what do we do about her? How can we stop her?"

"I don't have a clue. But still we must try."

Cloud nodded, paused in thought, and asked "Say, where are we anyway?"

"Here? Gongaga. Why?"

"No reason."

They both left at that, walking off into the jungle path.
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A dark caped figure left also, alarmed at this turn of events. (I thought I only had to

deal with Aeris alone... both of them could be trouble.) The first traces of fear played across her

face, but they quickly dissapeared. (What the hell, I can take both of those idiots on any day. I

wonder what to tell the others, though. They are weaker, they might not react as well.) With that,

she left also, setting off towards Junon in the dead of the night.