VIII


"Take these," Selphie instructed, handing a box of pale-green flyers to one of the Festival Committee members. "Put them on the stand outside the Quad."

A flurry of activity had engulfed the Quad, with all of Selphie's committee members and recruits bustling to and fro, trying to get the decorations up and prepare everything for the Festival. This was the largest Festival Selphie had ever tried to orchestrate, and there was an air of anticipation and energy as the crews raced against time. People were coming and going hurriedly--there couldn't have been anyone other than the select group of people charged with decorating the tree who stayed in the Quad for longer than two minutes. However, Selphie's attention was continually drawn to the pair of people by the stage--sitting on the edge and watching the SeeDs who were swarming around the tree with ladders and poles, trying to decorate the monstrous evergreen.

Deciding to take a break, Selphie moved over and sat down beside Nida. Nida was holding a translucent globe, staring at his distorted reflection. Abruptly, Selphie waved a hand in front of his face.

"Are you all right?" she asked. Nida jumped.

"Hey!" he exclaimed as Selphie took the globe away from him.

"You've been staring at that thing for the last half hour," Selphie said. "If you've learned any of the great truths of the universe, I want to know them."

"Right," Nida said. "No, all I learned was that authority sucks." He sighed deeply. "Selphie, remember when you wanted to be on the Administrative Committee?"

"Yeah," Selphie said.

"If you were, you'd be taking sedatives now."

Selphie looked at him quizzically. "Is it that exciting?" she asked.

"No, our Headmaster is just that nice."

Selphie was about to respond when she was interrupted by a voice over the PA system. "Will the adjunct medical staff please report to the Infirmary? Repeat, will the adjunct medical staff please report to the infirmary."

Nida groaned. "Looks like I'm on call," he said. "Sounds urgent, too. Probably another Training Center accident or something."

Nida sprinted off, and Quistis shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said. "None of us are very happy right now."

Selphie scooted over, throwing an arm around Quistis's shoulders. "Cheer up," she said. "It can't be that bad!"

"We all got lectured pretty harshly by the Headmaster," Quistis said. "Nida was suspended from teaching temporarily. It seems like he's in for some pretty serious stress therapy."

"Oh," Selphie said, removing her arm. "She didn't mention The Incident, did she?"

"I keep hearing about this incident, but no one will tell me anything!" Quistis said. "What's going on?"

Selphie giggled. "Nida says it's the most embarrassing moment of his life. I like to tease him about it."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea right at the moment," Quistis said. "We're all pretty depressed."

"Oh," Selphie said. "What did she say to you?"

"Well...." Quistis coughed and glanced to the side, mumbling something. Selphie noticed with surprise that she was blushing.

"Never mind," she said, going against her first instinct and letting the matter drop.

There was silence for some time, Selphie wondering what she could do to help her friend. Suddenly, she jumped up.

"I know!" she said.

"What?" Quistis asked.

"I know what will cheer you up!" Selphie said, wagging a finger at her. "...a Christmas Present!"

"Hmm?" Quistis asked.

"It explains it on the fliers I'm circulating around Garden. See, you're supposed to get people you like presents, then you leave them under the tree and then...." she paused for a second for dramatic effect, "on Christmas Day, everyone gets to open theirs! It's symbolic of the gifts that the Three Wise Men gave to--"

"Three Wise Men?" Quistis asked. Selphie blinked at her, realizing that she was one of the few people around Garden who knew about the Christmas story--hence the reason for circulating the fliers.

"Come here," she said, offering Quistis a hand up. "I'll show you the fliers I designed. They explain everything!"

Reluctantly, Quistis got up and followed Selphie as she moved out into the hall. Selphie grabbed one of the fliers resting on the stand by the entrance, and handed it to Quistis. Quistis took it, hoping that reading it would at least get her mind off what she had been brooding about.

Considered the major holiday of the Centran religion, the paper started, Christmas was celebrated once a year on Duodecimo Die Post Idus (the twenty-fifth day) of December. When the Knighthood overthrew the Priesthood in a political power bid, precipitating the collapse of the Empire circa 80 years ago, the holiday was all but abolished. Despite this, it continues to be practiced by several groups around the world.

Christmas celebrates the birth of the Savior of the Centran religion, J. Christ. Throughout his life, the Savior wandered the country, working miracles and serving God. He was, next to God, the single most important person in the religion.

"Selphie?"

"Hmm?"

"You don't usually abbreviate the first names of major religious figures," Quistis pointed out. Selphie planted both hands on her hips.

"Okay, okay! Keep reading!"

On the day of his birth a star was said to have appeared over his birthplace, guiding three wise men to him. They gave him gifts. The tradition of giving gifts to loved ones remains today in the cultures that celebrate Christmas.

"'They gave him gifts' is a bit abrupt, Selphie," Quistis noted.

"You're not supposed to correct it!" Selphie complained. "It's the thought that counts!"

Quistis shrugged.

Christmas today is observed as a celebration of new life in the middle of a dead season, and the Christmas Tree is symbolic of that celebration. Because evergreens stayed green throughout the cold Winter months, they--

"Quistis," came a voice from down the hall. Quistis turned, dropping the flier as she saw Nida approaching. The SeeD's face was pale. Very pale.

"Are you all right?" Quistis said, rushing to him. "What happened?"

Nida shook his head. "It's Squall," he managed.

Dread began to knot in Quistis's stomach as Nida leaned against the railing, staring at the light reflecting off the water and onto the wall. He swallowed.

"Where's ValHalla?" he asked. Something about the tone of his voice made Quistis shiver.

"Why do you need her?" she asked.

Nida's eyes grew cold. "I need to tell her what she's done," he said.