**usual disclaimers apply**


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A MAGICIAN'S CURSE
by Yumemi

~Chapter 23~

"Hello!" Rinoa said cheerily as she reappeared in the picnic table.
Everybody greeted her wih the same cheeryness that she greeted them
except for the ever silent Yukino and Squall of course. She then
returned to her seat beside Ellone and resumed talking with her.

Squall sat eating in silent surprise. Usually, Rinoa would tease him
for not greeting her and they'd end up having a tickling match. *maybe
she's just excited to see the others* he thought, taking a glance at
Rinoa. Then, something hit him. Rinoa seemed different to him.... as if
she was not Rinoa. "nah, that's stupid!" he muttered.

"did you say something to me Squall?" Rinoa asked.

Squall looked up and saw her brown eyes staring deep into his. It
made him feel hollow. *odd..* he thought. "no, no...its nothing."

Rinoa shrugged her shoulders. "okay...but you better not stay locked
up inside you!" she smiled.

He smiled back.


Meanwhile, Saehri, who was hiding atop the tree they were all perched
under, felt something odd and she looked down. Everything seemed normal.
They were all smiling and laughing and talking and all...but, something
was definately wrong. She felt it in her bones and there was no mistaking
it.

But what was it?

She kept her guard up just incase this evil force would pop up and do
some harm.

...

The day went on and nothing came up. Saehri watched as they cleaned
and fixed up things and packed everything up and left. Saehri once
again cast an invisibility spell on her and summoned her Flight Card
and sprouted wings on her back and followed after them.

All throughout her flight she felt the evil presence before her.

*Before me?* she thought, *how could the evil be before me?* she held
the thought for a while and landed herself beside a tree as Laguna's
group parted with Squall's. Still, nothing happened. Could the evil
had shape-shifted and disguised itself? It was a horrible thought and
if that was the problem, complications would surely arrise.

"I'll find out when we get back to Balamb..." she whispered to herself
and took flight once again as Squall and the others went inside the Ragnarok
and took off as well.

"I'll screen you out.."


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to be continued...