Disclaimer: Aw, hell, you already read it the first five billion times. FF8 property of
Square. My characters property of me. I make no profit from this. Blah, blah, blah. On with
the story. :)
Chapter 2: Unfamiliar Faces
Balamb Garden was not nearly as large as Galbadia Garden was, but at the same time it
held a feeling of grandness about it. It wasn't large in size, but it felt like it. Vira entered
her new home from the parking lot, walking along side Irvine and Zell. For some reason, it felt
more friendly and homey than Galbadia Garden had ever felt. Deep azure water ran under their
walkway, leaving a calming effect to the entire room. Students walked from place to place, not
all of them looking like they were in a rush to get somewhere. Calm. That was the best word to
describe Balamb Garden. It was calm. All the colors seemed to melt together in a patter that was
pleasing to the eyes. A place where it was easy to relax. It was the closest to a real home that
Vira had ever come across. But her face remained a mask of seriousness as the three continued
walking. From the parking lot the three made their way to the dorms, a few kids stopping to
salute as they passed by. One child even yelled out, "Good morning, Squall," mistaking Vira for
Squall. Not knowing who this Squall person was, Vira ignored the comment and soon even the
salutes, all of them melting away into the soothing backdrop of this Garden. Zell stopped in
front of the pathway for the dorms and looked at the two.
"I'm gonna go up to the third floor and tell Headmaster Cid you guys are here. They'll
call ya over the PA system when they need ya. Until then, why don't you put your stuff in your
rooms?" Zell suggested.
"Yeah," Irvine agreed, "I know where the dorms and our rooms should be so you just run
along to Headmaster Cid. We'll be fine, won't we Vira?"
"Yeah, sure." Was all they could get out of Vira.
Zell shrugged and looked at Vira, flashing her his trademark grin. "Well, until we meet
again." He bowed in an attempt to make her laugh. When he saw her stone mask still firmly set on
her face he gave up and ran in the direction of the elevator. Now Vira and Irvine were alone in
their new home.
"C'mon. Let's go put our stuff in our new rooms." Irvine said, walking towards the dorms.
Without replying, Vira followed, looking around the halls and inspecting the passers by
as she went. At the end of a long hall was her room, Irvine's being at the opposite end of the
dorms. He told Vira her room number and headed off to his own room, whistling a happy tune as he
went. Vira turned, walking towards her room.
The room itself was very small, but that didn't matter. Vira wouldn't be spending much
time there anyway. The bed was neatly made, soft looking dark blankets covering it. A bookshelf
nearby was a place where she could put any books she had, of which there were few. Then there was
a bedside table for an alarm clock, which she first put on the table. And underneath were drawers
where she could put her leasure clothes. Cream colored walls added to the amount of calmness the
entire establishment had. Light wood nighttable, white blinds for her window, light cream walls.
All of it was more warm and inviting than Galbadia Garden had been. Though Vira didn't care too
much about her surroundings, she was still glad the place had a better atmosphere for her to live
in, all she being used to was being cold and alone. There were even little hooks on the walls
where she could place her SeeD uniform, if needed. Vira sighed inwardly.
-I hope to Odin that Headmaster Cid does not want me to teach. He must know that I don't
like people, don't deal with people. He'll need me for missions, not to teach a bunch of kids
that'll never listen to me and call me the "Ice Bitch" or something like that. He has to know.
Maybe he'll just use me as an example. I never want to be a leader. Never. I can't.-
A slight sigh escaped Vira's soft lips, her face softening for the first time in a long
while. She knew she wasn't cut out to be a leader, of anyone. The only person she could rely on
was herself. People were unpredictable. They can cheat on you, betray you, hurt you, and even
kill you. Her parents had never been around to protect her, so who was there for her to rely on?
No one. You want to be strong, you have to fight for youself and damn anyone who gets in your
way. That was a statement that Vira had come to live by. Still, she felt sometimes that she was
missing something. Late at night a knawing pain in her stomach and an inner voice she could never
hush telling her that something was wrong. Teasing her, mocking her, telling her she will never
be happy and never be what everyone else was. It whispered in her ears as her pain in her stomach
would get to become a stabbing pain. There was some part of her mind that Vira could never get
to; a locked sanctuary within her mind she knew was there, but never had the key to get into. She
knew the voice that would haunt her at night, and the stabbing pain in her stomach had something
to do with it. Something she had forgotten, something she knew she should remember. Damaged
memories of days long forgotten, locked in some prision inside her mind. Could that be it? Was it
something about her parents? About where she grew up? Vira did not know. All she knew was that
this inner voice was not her. Her voice never sounded like ice and all the freezing winds that
Shiva could ever blow. This voice was ice, the coldest kind imaginable. Cold, unyeliding, icy.
It could not be hers. There was no possible way. For once, Vira become so engrossed in her own
thoughts, she almost didn't hear the PA announcement calling her to the bridge. Shaking the
cold shroud that had covered her in the attempt to access the deep reseces of her mind, Vira
ran off as fast as she could to the bridge, wherever that was.
"Who's the new person who came with Irvine?" asked Rinoa Heartilly, one arm looped around
Squall Leonhart's right arm. The three were waiting on the bridge for Irvine and Vira to arrive.
Headmaster Cid Kramer stood towards the back, humming happily to himself and enjoying the
beautiful morning. Selphie Tilmitt stood towards the left of the bridge, jumping excitedly up and
down to a slightly annoyed Quistis. Quistis did care about Selphie, and thought of her as a great
friend, but sometimes her happy-go-lucky, optimistic attitude was too much even for the ever-calm
Quistis Trepe.
Zell's eyes looked like they had travelled off into a far off land for a brief moment,
thinking about this new arrival, then back to the planet and room which he was in. "Vira Eronwil.
She's from Deling City, or at least that's what she told me. Which in the end, wasn't much. She
uses the Kamagunblades."
Squall's attention was finally caught and reeled in as a fish would be to a harbor.
"Kamagunblades? I didn't know anyone actually used those. Heard they went into obscurity years
ago." A stray tressle of his shining brown hair fell over his face, over his scar, which Rinoa
then gently pushed back into place, smiling with deep affection and love.
"She uses them. Only person left on the planet, I guess. She said she's been using them
all her life so she wouldn't know if anything else is hard to use." Zell ran a hand through his
golden blonde hair, still struck by the memory of this new girl. "You're gonna like her, Squall.
I know that's for sure, man."
"Why is that?" he asked, not sounding as interested as he actually was.
As Zell was about to utter the strange resemblance of Vira to his friend Squall, Irvine
and Vira made their entrance on the bridge, rising up from the elevator. The two stepped off and
looked around, trying to get their bearings with where everyone was. Immediately, Vira saluted,
just to the entire group. With a big smile, Cid walked over to the two and said, "It's so great
to see the first two of our new exchange students! Welcome back, Irvine. It's great to see you
again."
In a show of respect, Irvine removed his hat, placing it on his heart and bowing
slightly. "It's great to see you again, sir. I am so pleased that you guys chose to bring me on
board. How is Matron?" Vira turned her head to Irvine when she heard this question.
-Who the hell is Matron?-
"Edea?" Cid started, "Oh, she's very good. Opened up her orphanage again. She always
wants to help the children of the world. She's very happy. Anyway, we figured it was about time
we got you over here. It seemed like the right thing to do."
-Edea...wow. The sorceress that was gonna set up shop in Galbadia Garden. I'm glad I was
out on a mission when that whole thing happened. Don't know why Kinneas just called her Matron,
though.-
Cid then looked over to Vira, who was still saluting at him. Through his shining glasses
he looked at her, inspecting her throughoughly. Nodding and smiling in an approving manner, Cid
asked, "At ease. So, are you Vira Eronwil that I've heard so much about?"
Vira untesnsed her body and let her hand fall down a little. "Yes, sir. I am Vira
Eronwil, though I don't know what you could have heard of me."
At this Cid laughed lightly. "My dear, your headmaster has told me all about the strange
weapon you weild and all the successful missions you've been on. He told me that you are the best
fighter the entire Galbadia Garden has."
"I wouldn't know if I'm the best, sir. I just do what I know." Vira replied.
"And you must know fighting a great deal. I want you to continue your training here. Set
an example for the other students to follow. We already have some of the best examples of
fighters I have ever seen, and one that weilds the most unused weapon on the planet is definitely
something to look up to." Cid explained, jovially.
Vira raised an eyebrow slightly. "You just want me to train here? No teaching?"
Again Cid laughed, his whole body seeming as happy as he was. "No. Right now we're in no
need of teachers. Besides, you're a SeeD, you belong in the field and in the training center.
You'll be a part of our A team. Why don't you meet them right now? They're all here."
Cid suddenly grabbed Vira's arm leading her to first Quistis and Selphie. Seeing Irvine,
Selphie lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and giggling as a little schoolgirl would.
At this display of affection, Cid coughed a little. Selphie's emerald eyes turned a shade more
blue in her disappointment for a second, but back to her bright emerald self. She put her arms
around Irvine and stood there instead, waiting for an introduction. "Vira Eronwil, this is
Selphie Tilmitt."
"Hi!" She giggled out, a giant grin almost overpowering all other aspects of her face.
It was clear that Selphie was the optimistic type to Vira. Not her kinda person. Another person
she wouldn't get along with.
"Hi." Vira replied, monotonously.
In response to Vira's unenthusiastic reply, Selphie just shrugged lightly and smiled
again. Cid then motioned his hand over to Quistis and announced, "Quistis Trepe, Vira Eronwil."
Quistis smiled pleasantly and put her hand out to shake Vira's. This time Vira actually
shook back, though her face still remained uninterested. "Hello. Welcome to Balamb Garden. I'm
sure you'll like it here." Quistis said.
"Yeah. Sure." Vira answered.
Cid then turned in Squall and Rinoa's direction, leaving Selphie looking at Quistis with
the look 'Doesn't she remind you of someone?' In response to Selphie's look, Quistis just shook
her head slightly and shrugged. Cid stopped in front of Squall and Rinoa, the two still having
their arms looped around another. Grinning, Cid motioned towards Squall. "This is Squall Leonhart.
He headed the battle against Sorceress Ultimecia and headed into the future to fight her. He's
been one of the best SeeD's we've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Squall, Vira Eronwil."
Vira looked at Squall and nodded, Squall doing the same in return. "Hello." He added.
She replied with, "Hey." and then looked at Rinoa, expecting to be introduced to her
next. She was right.
"And this is Rinoa Heartilly. She was incredibly helpful during the battle with Ultimecia.
She now lives here in Balamb Garden. Rinoa, meet Vira Eronwil." Cid finally said.
At this introduction, Rinoa smiled pleasantly and nodded as Squall had. "Hi. I'm sure
you'll like it here. Balamb Garden has been the most friendly place I've ever been to. You'll
fit right in in no time."
"Yeah, I'm sure I will." Vira nodded back at Rinoa, sans the pleasant smile.
Cid scratched his head in thought, talking to himself. "You've been introduced to Irvine
before, and Zell when he picked you two up...so I guess that's everyone. Vira, you have been to
you're room already, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good, good." Cid smiled approvingly. "Well, then. You can have the rest of the day to
get aquainted with the place. I'll have someone go with you as a tour guide."
Immediately Zell rushed over to Cid, talking quickly and excitedly. "I offer to be the
tour guide, sir. I'll show her all the places in Garden that she'll need to know to get around
here."
"All right, Zell. You'll be Vira's tour guide then." Cid said, already on to the next
order of business in his mind. "Now, Squall, we need to talk about something..."
"C'mon," Zell started, "I'll show you around the place."
Looking still uninterested Vira just replied, "Okay. Whatever."
Not taking this as a rejection, Zell bounced happily to the elevator, waiting for Vira
to get onto it. Once she had, they decended, Zell ready to finally make Vira smile.
Author's comments: Well, that's it for chapter 2. Chapter 3 will mostly consist of Zell
showing Vira around the school, both of them running into the ever-arrogant Seifer. Don't worry,
Vira's not going to fall for Squall or anything. I know he's paired perfectly with Rinoa. Let
me know what you guys thought of this chapter and any other suggestions you might have. Thanks.
:)
