Two weeks after the selection meeting and the letter, life was returning to normal except that final exams were just around the corner and students were busy studying and doing final projects. The library was always flooded with students as was the quad, which had become a favorite study spot for many students.
Selphie rubbed her eyes. "Studying really hurts your brain."
"Tell me about it," Rinoa said sarcastically, turning a page of her book.
"Oh man," Irvine groaned stretching his arms and standing to stretch his legs.
"I'm never going to know what all these GF's are and what abilities they can learn and blah, blah, blah," Rinoa said looking up from her book.
"I memorized all that last year, but I can't remember anything anymore," Selphie said.
"You're lucky you're already a SeeD," Rinoa said.
"Hey, I had to do all that at one point in my life. We all go through it," Selphie said.
"Well, you don't have those geniuses in your classes," Irvine complained.
"Sucks for you," Selphie sang.
"Thanks," Irvine said sarcastically.
"Hey guys," Zell greeted and took a seat next to Irvine.
"Hey, Zell," Rinoa said.
"Have you guys seen the papers?" Zell asked waving one in his hand.
"What?" Selphie asked curious.
"Seifer's just been made commanding officer of the Galbadian Army," he announced.
"WHAT?!?" Rinoa, Selphie, and Irvine said simultaneously.
"I'm not kidding," Zell said tossing the paper at his friends.
"That's not possible. It's only been two weeks," Irvine said in astonishment.
"I know. I didn't believe it either, but it was covered in the papers," Zell said.
"He was made commander just yesterday according to the article," Selphie said, her eyes fixed on the paper.
"That picture makes me want to puke," Irvine said. It was a shot of Seifer dressed handsomely in uniform receiving a metal that symbolized his position.
"What made him so qualified to jump to commander so quickly?" Rinoa asked trying to squeeze between Irvine and Selphie so she could see the paper.
"They say what finally proved him to be an 'outstanding military leader' was a mission annexing a town next to Timber for Galbadia. He took over lead of the mission when the original commander failed to even get to the town entrance," Zell explained.
"This isn't real," Rinoa said in disbelief.
"Has Squall seen this yet?" Irvine asked.
"And Quistis?" Selphie added.
"I don't know. I plan to show them if they don't already," Zell said.
"Wonder how they'll react," Irvine said.
"Probably the same way we're reacting. Utter surprise and disbelief," Rinoa said. She shook her head and leaned away from the paper.
"Wow, this is really weird," Selphie said.
"I find it kinda weird too," Zell said. "And sickening."
"Why don't you go show Squall and Quistis," Irvine suggested.
"Sure. I'll see you guys later," Zell said. He waved and walked off.
"Two weeks..." Rinoa was still shocked.
"Extremely tough to believe," Irvine said. "Extremely."
Zell pushed the button for the third floor in the elevator. The elevator arrived at the third floor with a welcoming ding. He headed to Squall's office down the hall and knocked on the door.
"It's open," Squall called.
"Yo, Squall," Zell greeted.
"What brings you in here?" Squall asked.
Zell tossed the paper on Squall's desk. "The news."
Squall looked at him questioningly. "What are you talking about?"
"Brace yourself. Seifer's been made commanding officer of the Galbadian Army," Zell said.
"Excuse me?" Squall said thinking he was not hearing correctly.
"You heard me. It's on the front page," Zell said pointing to the paper.
Squall looked down and picked up the paper, scanning for the article.
"I'll be damned..." Squall said.
"I showed Rinoa, Irvine, and Selphie. They couldn't believe their eyes either," Zell said.
"He was entered into Galbadia Garden just two weeks ago," Squall said.
"I know. We all know. It's a real shocker, isn't it?"
"Yeah..." Squall said.
"It was just yesterday. I dunno what he's up to now, but he's reached his goal, right? In just two weeks, none the less," Zell said.
Quistis burst into the office as Zell was finishing his sentence. "Did you see this?!?" she asked holding a paper in her hand.
Squall waved his copy at her. "We heard the news."
"I can't believe this. He was admitted into Galbadia Garden just two weeks ago and yesterday he was made commanding officer. This is ridiculous! Plus he needed to take an early entrance exam to get in now and that exam is no easy exam, and I heard he passed with flying colors. This is not possible," she said in frustration.
"He had to take an exam too?" Zell asked.
"Yes," she answered more calmly. "All students have to take the exam to get in earlier than the regular school year. He was accepted, but he was supposed to start in the fall with everyone else. He wanted to get started right away so he had to take the early entrance exam. The exam is extremely difficult. I don't know how he passed it so easily."
"I think something fishy is happening," Zell said.
"I know Seifer had wonderful potential, but he was no super genius and hero," Quistis said.
"And all he did was pass an exam and annex a little town for Galbadia to become commander. Hell, Squall defeated Ultimecia!" Zell said.
"I don't know what to do about this. I definitely think there's something wrong, but there's nothing we can do right now. I think we'll have to wait for something to happen, but I think I can contact him or someone from the Galbadian Army to get some information," Squall said.
"I think I'm going to go burn this paper," Quistis said walking out the door.
"Want me to go burn yours with her?" Zell asked.
"No, I'm going to read it again and maybe find something. I need it for the details if I'm going to make that phone call anyway," Squall said. "You can burn it afterwards."
"Okay buddy. I'll see you later," Zell said. "Got much studying to do."
"Bye," Squall said as Zell headed for the door.
"Hey, don't stress too much over it. Seifer will show his ugly head at some point. I can feel it," Zell said.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Squall said.
************************************************************************
"Why bother with small towns when you can have the major cities? Balamb, Esthar all with much power and control. These small towns merely add land. Don't get me wrong, land is good, but power and control is better," Jonathan Deling said.
Jonathan Deling was the late President Deling's son. Since the death of President Deling, Jonathan took his father's place in office. He was young, very young for a president of a major city. He was just 19, but he's proved to be a capable president. He had resolved most of the governmental prblems in Galbadia and had returned relative peace in the capital, but there was still unrest. But Deling had a solution to that. He was tired of the petty people trying to stick their noses into governmental business and ruining the stable government.
"I believe we're wasting much time and energy on collecting the small towns. Making a massive attack on a city like Esthar and adding it to the empire would be much more fulfilling," he continued.
"Power you say," Seifer said.
"Yes, power. What good is land when there is no power or force to lead the people of the land and keep them under control," Jonathan said.
"A problem I see with your plan is the control part. If you really plan to take over the amount of land and the amount of cities you've outlined, I don't believe people will accept the rule without resistance. People all over the globe are ruled by different forms of government and are used to that rule. If you change that suddenly, chaos will result. Not even our entire army of men could keep all those people at bay," Seifer said.
"Are you trying to suggest something, Commander?" Jonathan asked.
"You say you need power to control the people. Power in the highest form," Seifer continued.
"Yes. And you don't believe we already have that?" Jonathan asked.
Seifer leaned forward in his chair. "Don't get me wrong, Mr.President. We have a great amount of power right now, but it won't be enough in the future. The empire will collapse if we don't find either more leaders or one extremely powerful leader."
"Of course sharing too much power with too many leaders would result in some kind of trouble sooner or later," Jonathan said.
"Exactly. So what option do you have left?" Seifer asked.
"An extreme ruler. But where do you find that?" Jonathan asked.
Seifer leaned back and grinned. "I have just the ruler."
The others in the room stared at Seifer in confusion.
"She will be more powerful than any person could ever imagine. Power beyond imagination amazing. But she is loyal to those who serve her and those who are on the same side as her. She can strike fear into people if they try to oppose our government and she can be an angel if people learn to accept her and our rule. She has the ability to grant us anything peace, war, happiness, fear, whatever," Seifer explained.
"Who is this?" Jonathan asked eager to know.
"A sorceress," Seifer answered.
"Out of the question," Jonathan said immediately.
"I am aware that you don't believe in a sorceress's rule because one killed your father. But that was different. The sorceress then wanted to control all time and space. This sorceress is good and will help us. She's attracted to the idea of ruling an empire in this planet with us, not controlling anything else. All she asks for is acceptance in a world where sorceresses are feared and shunned. She wants to prove to them that that is wrong," Seifer explained.
"How do you know she won't take complete control eventually?" Jonathan asked angrily.
"How do we know that any of us here are not planning to take complete control eventually?" Seifer countered.
"Sorceresses cannot be trusted," Jonathan said. "That's that."
"If you want your empire to survive and be successful, you have no other choice. It's happened before in history. Absolute rulers fight war after war to gain control of as much land as they can to build an awesome empire, but they always fail because they cannot control so many people at once," Seifer continued to argue.
"So where is this sorceress?" Jonathan asked.
"In my head," Seifer answered.
"Excuse me?" Jonathan asked in disbelief.
A sudden flash of red light engulfed the room. It shot out in all directions from Seifer's body. The others in the room cried out as the light swallowed them for a few seconds. Then the light disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Are we agreed about the sorceress?" Seifer asked.
"Yes right. Embark on a mission immediately to locate this sorceress. The sooner we have her, the sooner we can proceed with our plans," Jonathan said.
"Good. Thank you Mr. President," Seifer said politely.
"No, thank you for helping us today and giving your suggestions and opinions," Jonathan said.
"I should go now and draw out a plan with the army," Seifer said getting up. "Thank you gentlemen."
Seifer got up to leave and other military men in the room followed him out. Seifer smiled to himself. The fun was just beginning.