Part Two
Aadeane sat in the library, looking over her book, the book she had taken out time and time again… "The history and lives of the sorceresses"
She loved this book. She could see her past, where she came from. It was a recent addition; recent enough to see her mother and Yanthè. It described her mother as a tyrant… if only they knew what made her so…
She looked around the library. Same crowd as usual… Iuka was waiting for Sarieba, but she'd never come, like every other day, but he'd still be waiting… Postos was studying for his SeeD written test, but he always failed… Leilana was watching him, that same lovelorn look in her eyes… and Rinoa was replacing the books others had left out, grateful to be part of society.
Aadeane smiled at her as Rinoa waved fondly. It was so good to have someone near her who could understand the pain of being a new sorceress. And one day soon they would go back to the orphanage and visit Matron, the only woman to ever survive the burden of power.
"You read that book a lot"
Rinoa came over to join her, looking over the pages. "You always read the same pages…"
Aadeane smiled again. "Yes, my mother…"
"…You miss her?"
Aadeane laughed "I spend my life wondering if I was insane when I heard her voice in my head… now I miss her talking to me."
"It's understandable. She was your mother."
"Rinn? What do you remember about your mother?"
Rinoa pursed her lips together. "She was nothing to do with our world. She was a singer… I took her name when she died…"
"Your mother was Julia Heartilly!"
"Yes, you've heard of her!"
"Of course! Eyes on me was so beautiful, no one's ever showed emotion like that…"
"Yes, but she was still of little importance…" Rinoa's voice trailed off into silence. Suddenly she perked up. "Lets go see Edea!"
"What? Now!?"
Rinoa dragged Aadeane out of the library. "Yes!! Squall said I had free use of the Ragnarok today, Selphie can fly us!"
Aadeane looked at her…. "Ok….!"
Edea waited in the garden of the orphanage. Cid was on the beach, watching the Ragnarok as it flew in. She had known they were coming. Cid laughed loudly with joy as the craft swooped over them. At that moment Edea realised how much she loved him.
"Darling!" she called out. "I'll go see who it is!"
She started walking towards the entrance. The two Sorceresses, barely women, so young, so naïve… at least Rinoa, the Angel Wing sorceress, had a knight. But she worried about the Odine child, the Raven Feather Sorceress… no knight… and she had the blood of Adel flowing through her. Edea understood the differences of power… in her lifetime she had inherited both Angel wing and Raven Feather… she knew the dangers that came with being the latter, more powerful breed, and she knew that Angel Wings were susceptible to being possessed by the powers of the stronger… Aadeane would be a dangerous threat.
"Edea!!!"
Rinoa ran to her. Edea held out her arms to the girl; she was like a daughter to her. Indeed, she had learned all her knowledge of sorcery from the older woman. Edea then noticed the Odine child standing modestly behind her, so alone, like always. Edea smile at her. "Come my child. You have many questions, I can tell."
Hours had past. Seifer was left standing on the 3f deck, waiting…
Where was she?
Surely she had got the intercom message? He had decided to follow Squalls plan. She wouldn't agree to it… she'd create a fuss and then he could leave it at that…
Still waiting….
Aadeane let Rinoa and Selphie go ahead as they entered the Garden. Something about what Matron had said had troubled her… What did she mean by sacrificing her own happiness for others? What would she sacrifice? How would she-
"Can Aadeane Olab come to the 3f deck. Please!"
…Seifer?
Selphie turned and smiled at her. "Uh-oh!!! Sounds like someone's been waiting!!!! Better get up there fast!"
Aadeane's throat tightened. Without saying a word she sped past Selphie and Rinoa towards the lift… something Edea had said…
"…come on…"
Why was the lift never there?
Waiting for lifts gave her time to think. And she hated thinking. Things always seemed wrong when she started thinking… about her mother, about her destiny, about her power…
About her love.
"Finally" She stepped alone into the lift and ascended to the 3rd floor.
She could feel it. The pain. Not physical, not like when she was in "O" lab. This was emotional, and the closer she got to him, the worse it became. What was he thinking? Why was he hurting?
Seifer could see her ascend in the lift. He was going to tell he straight, she'd say no, and he could leave Garden and go back to Winhill…..
He heard it stop. As he turned around he was greeted with her face.
"You sent for me?"
"Yes. We leave for Esthar now."