Chapter III
Jeremiah and his comrades were waiting the time they would be led in the arena.
Instead of the dungeons of the coliseum, they were placed in a big cage outside of it,
where the people could go and see them from quite close before they battled, and
place bets on them.
Already a few had admired him, and commented on his skills, while someone had
placed a bet of 100.000 Gil on him that he'd kill at least 10 opponents. Jeremiah had
been sitting on the floor, at the corner of his cage, thinking. He didn't quite notice
Remus going near him, under his guard's watch, who stood a bit further.
"Psst!" he said to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah looked at the young boy. Remus was afraid the gladiator he had heard much
about would try to frighten him, but instead, when his eyes met Jeremiah's, the
gladiator smiled slightly, and his eyes had a calm, tranquil look. Remus nodded him
to go closer. After taking a look around, Jeremiah went closer to him.
"So, you are the one they call Jeremiah?" Remus asked.
Jeremiah nodded.
"Do you know who I am?" Remus asked.
Jeremiah held back a giggle and decided to play along with the child.
"I am afraid I do not recognize you my lord, since it is my first time here in the Imperial city of Deling. Please forgive me."
Remus smiled. "I am Remus Caraway, nephew of the Emperor."
Jeremiah then bowed his head, saying: "It is an honor to be confronting you, Remus."
Remus was glad Jeremiah spoke to him with his name. He felt the man recognized
him as an equal, something he longed for.
"I hear you're a very good fighter." Remus said, "But they told me you looked
different. I was told you were a giant with a huge sword that can wipe out 5 men at
once! And I discover you are not very older than me. I'm eight. What about you?"
"I'm just ten years older. And, I may not be as they describe me, but trust me, I'm not
someone you want to meet in battle."
"I wish I was like that."
"Perhaps you will. Dreams come true you know."
"When I become a warrior, I'm going to kill everyone that stands in my path!"
"That's not what a noble warrior does."
"What do you mean?"
"The one that wants to be a really great warrior has to learn to avoid battles that are
really unnecessary. The most powerful weapon one can have isn't a sword; it's his
intelligence. Ingenuity is the most powerful weapon. And the noble warrior fights for
good, not his own desires."
Remus thought about that. "Maybe you are right Jeremiah. My cousin says something
like that too."
Jeremiah had suspected something about Remus after he said his name, and his breath
was caught from his agony to be sure.
"Your cousin is right. What is his name?"
"It's not a boy, it's a girl." Remus said glowing from pride. "My cousin is Sorceress
Rinoa of Galbadia."
Jeremiah's heart made a leap in his chest when he heard those words. He looked at
Remus calmly, but his sight was begging.
"Tell me Remus, do you love your cousin?"
"Sure I do. She's my only real friend in the palace."
"D-do you want to help her Remus?"
"…You mean help her escape uncle Zelenick? He wants to marry her…but Rinny
doesn't want to…"
"Yes Remus."
"…I do but…w-who are you? Why do you want to help her?"
Jeremiah lifted a strand of hair over his forehead. Remus saw his scar, and his eyes
peeled open. Rinoa had told him about the only person she knew with such a scar.
"You're…you're…the one…You're the one Rinny calls out sometimes in her sleep.
You're…"
"Go on, say it Remus."
"You're the one they call Squall Leonhart…"
"Yes, I am. Remus, can you keep this a secret? Please, I beg you for Rinoa's well-
being."
Remus looked the young man across him. He felt admiration and somehow, a part of
his courage.
"I will. On my word of honor."
"Thank you Remus."
"…Under one condition."
Jeremiah gulped.
"One day, you will teach me how to use a Gunblade. I want to be your student."
Jeremiah sighed in relief. "That's a tough bargain, but a deal is a deal. When this is
over, I'll teach you everything." He tended his hand out of the cage.
Remus hesitated, but his small hand grasped the older man's hand.
"It's a deal. What should I do first?"
"…Can you deliver a message to Rinoa?"
"Yes."
"Tell her: the ring is too tight." He said with a smile and lifted his other hand. Rinoa's
ring was tightly resting around his ring finger. It was stuck there for good. No matter
how much he had tried, Jeremiah couldn't take it off. Maybe he didn't want to
anyway. "But, don't tell her that I'm Jeremiah the gladiator. Don't tell her where I
am, because your uncle wants me dead, and if Rinoa knows, she'll come see me –I
know her well, that's what she'll do- and he'll find me, and I'm dead meat. Got that
Remus?"
"Alright. I understand. You can trust me, I won't forget the message."
"Thank you Remus. Better go now, 'cause they'll have us in soon. Don't you miss the
show."
"Bye for now." Remus said and turned to leave. Then he looked back and said: "I'll
cheer for you." He said and dashed off.
"I'll be listening…" Jeremiah replied to himself.
~*~*~*~
"Awww…wasn't that nice…the kiddo helping our Master save Miss Rinoa! Wasn't
that nice!" Boko said.
"Indeed it was very brave of the young Remus. And he did play a big part in this
later." TK said.
~*~*~*~
Remus jogged hastily down the corridor to Rinoa's room. He had just come back
from the coliseum with Zelenick. His face was red with excitement. He didn't really
like the scenes he saw in the coliseum, but he was happy he could help Rinoa, and had
given his word of honor to a great warrior like Jeremiah.
Just as he reached the door, he tripped, fell and landed with a thump on the floor. He
paid no attention to the fall, like he would normally have done, but instead got up and
darted through the door, starting Rinoa who jumped up and turned to him.
"Good God, Remus what's up?" she said.
"I…I have news for you…" he said though pants.
"W-what?"
Remus carefully thought about what he'd say. "I have a message…" he looked around
to see if the coast was clear and then continued. "It's from Leonhart…"
Rinoa's hair stood on end. She leapt by him and grasped Remus from the shoulders.
"For God's sake Remus, please tell me what you mean! Is this a joke of yours or are
you true?"
"It's the truth Rinny."
"Where is he?!"
"I…I can't tell you that. Honestly, I can't…I gave my word of honor…"
"Then tell me, is he alright?! Is he ok?"
"Yeah, he's…fine."
"Thank you God…" Rinoa stammered. "What did he tell you!?"
"He said: the ring is too tight…"
At this point, Rinoa broke down to tears. Not sad, but happiness tears, and knelt down
and hugged Remus.
"He didn't forget me…he's WEARING the ring…and it's too tight on him…he's
here…he's going to save me…He's going to save Galbadia!" she thought through her
tears.
Remus hugged back his cousin.
"Remus…are you able to see him often? Can you contact with him?" Rinoa asked
with a low voice.
"I…I think I can."
"Then, I want you to tell him something."
"What?"
"Tell him that I can't forget him."
~*~*~*~
Irvine yawned once more. He and Zell had been hacking into federal files through a
computer, and looking for traces of Zelenick's criminal past for evidence.
"Nothin' so far." Zell said." Man, this guy is good." I wonder how long it took him to
clean up his garbage and empty the trash-bin."
"Probably no longer than two months, if we judge from the time it took him to
become from General Emperor. And to think he was Deling's nephew…" Irvine
replied.
"I wonder if Sir Caraway was any info to give us."
"That is, if Selphie and Quisty manage to get in touch with him."
"Yeah, I heard that the highlands where he was exiled are pretty harsh and the area is
watched. I hope he's ok."
"He's probably fine. Zelenick needs him to blackmail poor Rinoa."
"Man, I wish we could break Rinny outta there! It'd be so much easier."
"Yeah, and we'd have the whole Galbadian army on our tails. No thank you Zell."
"Ok, Ok…was just an idea…" Zell said. Then his eyes peeled open. "Oh shit! I got
somethin' here!" he said started typing like mad orders to the computer, as Irvine
squeezed near him to get a better look at the screen.
~*~*~*~
Zelenick was in a bad mood. He had just returned from the coliseum, where he was
humiliated in front of all the Galbadian people. A gladiator had refused to salute him,
and had insulted his power, turning his back at him. His men told him they called him
Jeremiah, and was an ex criminal with physiological problems. Tedious had advised
him not to pay much attention, and sooner or later the young man would learn to
behave.
But, Zelenick had been impressed by his skills, and his cunism. Quite like me, he
thought to himself. He decided to study that unusual man, who showed no fear for the
ones in power, nor of death himself. The crowd had cried out his name, and even
young Remus had seemed mesmerized from him, cheering for him. He decided to
have a festival with gladiatories, just to see the one named Jeremiah, and put some
tests on him, so that he would learn to show some respect to the Emperor of Galbadia.
He went to Rinoa's quarters, and entered her room with a sure, proud stride, his
imperial cloak still on his shoulders, waving with every step.
Rinoa was sitting by the window, looking out. She seemed skeptical and the book she
had opened on her lap was the least she was interested in.
"Hello Rinoa." He said.
Rinoa turned to him, and looked at him. "Hello Nick. Remus told me you two went to
the coliseum today."
"Yes, we did. In fact, I'm going to have a gladiator festival in Dollet, and there will be
gladiatories every day, and you are to come with us to the coliseum."
"I don't want to. I'm not interested in massacres."
"Oh?" Zelenick sarcased. "I thought you were used to fighting?"
Rinoa got angry. "That has nothing to do with the gladiatories. I fought for the sake of
the world, and I fought with people that were there to support me. This is different."
Zelenick giggled. "Rinoa, Rinoa, Rinoa…" he said. "Still holding on to the past…that
past is now dead, it died with the death of your ex boyfriend, and the death of his
comrades. There's nothing alive from that past."
Rinoa's heart was filled with bitterness, anger and sorrow. She felt very cross and
hateful towards the man that stood before her. "You are the one who killed my past,
and is torturing my present."
"It's all for the sake of our future."
"I'm never going to share my future with you."
"But you will come to Dollet, and come with me to the coliseum for the future
gladiatories."
"I am not."
"Very well. Then I'll have to punish someone in your place. I'd hate to hurt you."
"Stop that! I hate you when you blackmail me! If that's your wish, so be it! I'll join
you tomorrow, but only for Remus' sake!" Rinoa shrieked.
Zelenick smiled, pleased that he had achieved his goal. He'd wanted to stay more with
Rinoa, but a footman came in the room, and reported that someone had stolen
information from the imperial files via computer. So Zelenick had to leave hastily,
cursing.
Rinoa looked at the ring she wore that was too big to wear on her ring finger, so she
wore it on her thumb. She cried.
~*~*~*~
Selphie and Quistis easily got through the harsh lands of the Galbadian highlands. The
mountain keep where General Caraway had been exiled now lay before them. The
two women passed through the gate, and entered the keep. There were few guards,
and they didn't mind them, because they were the last few loyal to Caraway. When
they confronted him, Caraway seemed to be the shadow of the man he was when they
had last seen him.
"Sir…" Selphie gasped.
"Thank you for coming forward. It's a real relief to know you're alive." He said.
"We all are Sir." Quistis said.
"Thank God…then Galbadia does have something to hope for. Tell me, how is
Rinoa? I haven't heard of her for quite long."
"She's in the palace Sir. Zelenick is trying to force her to marry him." Quistis said.
"That young bastard…we should have killed him when his uncle died…" Caraway
said.
"Sir, do you have any information with evidence of Zelenick's criminal past?"
Selphie asked.
"No, I'm afraid not. I know he used to be a criminal, but I have nothing to prove it.
But, there is someone that might have."
"Who is he? Where can we find him?!" Quistis asked full of agony.
"His name is Christopher Jaxx, but they call him 'Serpent'. He's a paid assassin, and
rumor has it he was working with Zelenick. Serpent is now missing, and it's pure luck
I know his whereabouts. He's on the wrecks of 'Evening Star'; a ship Zelenick
ordered his army to sink because Serpent was on it. But somehow, Serpent survived
and swore his revenge. It's said that Serpent created a file with all of Zelenick's
crimes, with evidence, proof and all the things needed to get Zelenick down from the
throne. The thing is, only he knows where he's hidden it, only he knows the
passwords to access all the files." Caraway said.
"My God…" Selphie said.
"If only we could come in touch with him…" Quistis said.
"It won't be easy. He'll want to get off the wreck, and lot of cash"
"We'll get through to him, any way it takes." Selphie said.
"Yes. Sir, we'll have to go now, if we want to act quickly by notifying Squall."
Quistis added.
"I understand. Please, let me give you this." He said and took off his marriage ring.
"Give it to Rinoa if you can. Please."
"We'll try Sir. Thank you for your information. We owe you a lot." Quistis said.
"I owe you more. God with you."
~*~*~*~
"My God TK, this story really shows that human societies and lives are so
complicated. Every action has a reaction and nothing is a coincidence." Lotar said.
"Yeah, and this story is so exciting!!" Boko chirped.
"I'm glad you like it. Actually, there are many parts of it that the world doesn't know,
and will probably never know." Angelo said.
"Wow! Come on, tell us what happened with that Serpent guy." Boko urged TK.
~*~*~*~
Jeremiah opened his eyes. He was brought back to the present, back in Dollet's
coliseum. Zelenick had ordered Biggs' party to return to Dollet, because he would
spend some time there, and wanted to have the gladiator festival, and Dollet's
coliseum was much better than Deling's. The battle they had given the previous hours
was just one of the quarterfinals. The other guys had moved to Dollet, following him.
Quistis and Selphie had returned from Caraway, and Selphie had come to report to
him, again as a girl that was 'interested' in him. She too had been deeply surprised by
his change.
After Selphie had told him about Serpent, Jeremiah had decided this was the time to
act. Tomorrow he would perform before Zelenick himself, and Biggs had warned him
that he'd probably want to set tests to him, because according to Tedious, Jeremiah
had become a thorn on his side, something which pleased Jeremiah, since everything
went by his plan. Biggs also promised something Jeremiah never imagined he'd do:
he'd let Jeremiah out, to go and talk to Serpent in flesh, and try to get in touch with
Rinoa. Jeremiah asked him once more why he helped him so much, and Biggs had
replied:
"Kid, when one tries to save the world, everyone has to stick up to him. And after all,
I feel strange talking to you; it's like Zac is back from the dead…"
~*~*~*~
Jeremiah sat in his cage in front of the coliseum again, being observed and
commented by bypasses. His face was lit when he saw Remus going near.
"Hi…" he said.
"Hi Jeremiah." Remus said in a low voice.
"Came again? Did your uncle bring you here?"
The boy nodded. "I don't really like these, but I'm afraid to tell him."
"It's alright. No one likes them. And it's ok to be afraid sometimes. Even I get scared
some times."
"Maybe you're right. Oh, I have news. Uncle Zelenick made Rinoa come with us.
She's with him, and as far as I can tell, she's not happy at all."
"What?! He brought her here!?"
"Yeah."
"Oh shit…" he murmured. "Did you give her my message?"
"Yeah. She gave me a message for you…"
"W-what!?" he asked anxious.
"She said: she can't forget you."
"…" Jeremiah was happy. He looked at the ring he wore. It was so tight, it hurt him
sometimes but the pain was a reminder of his duty. He looked back at Remus and the
child thought he saw a tear run down Jeremiah's face.
"Thank you Remus. Tell her not to worry about me. She'll soon see me in person."
"What? You'll come to get her?"
Jeremiah winked at the boy. "If I tell you it won't be a surprise…"
~*~*~*~
Later, Jeremiah entered the arena following the other gladiators. Today was an
important match, as the Emperor himself would be present. He wasn't nervous at all,
and longed to see his hated enemy. He gasped from wonder when he saw Rinoa. She
sat by Zelenick. She too had changed, but very little. She seemed sadder and lacked
that happy energy she emitted. He was dumfounded from her beauty. The wind
slightly blew on strands of her hair that flew by her face, and her hazel eyes gazed
sadly at the arena. She looked like an angel up there, in the light pink dress.
"Hey, Jerr! Wake up man!" Vermilion said and nudged him lightly.
"Ouch…sorry. But…she's up there."
"Forget about her now Jerr! For her own good! Don't you think Zelenick will guess
who you are if you keep starring at her!?"
Jeremiah nodded and with difficulty turned his back at both Rinoa and Zelenick.
~*~*~*~
"Look Rinoa! That's him! That's Jeremiah!" Remus said and pointed out the gladiator
to his cousin.
"I see him Remus." She said and looked at the man down in the arena.
She'd heard from Remus about him, and his skills, but didn't ream very impressed by
him. She almost giggled when Zelenick practically foamed with rage when Jeremiah
didn't even bother to look at them while the other gladiators hailed and saluted them.
"Well then, I guess he's got some guts." She thought.
"Sir…remember the people like him, you will have your chance to humiliate him
today…" Tedious reminded.
Zelenick nodded.
"Oh God…guide that boy's arm…" Tedious thought in worry.
During the battle Jeremiah let out himself and killed his opponents with ease, only
getting slightly injured on the leg. He cut in two his last opponent's head, and ended
the match. His party had won once more. Vermillion and Duke where not far from
him. During the last matches, Duke had really impressed Jeremiah. He was silent and
massive, and blew off whords of opponents on his own.
The Emperor didn't seem very pleased Jeremiah had survived, and again his fist got
tight and shook from rage as the young man ignored him. Jeremiah was following the
others to their cells where Biggs waited, when the Emperor rose and demanded
everyone's silence. The gladiators turned in a hurry to see why everyone went silent.
Jeremiah had a bad feeling about this.
"Jeremiah!" Zelenick shouted, and Jeremiah's hair stood on end. "Come before me!"
"Oh, shit…" Vermillion gulped.
"The rest, return to your cells at once!"
Jeremiah didn't lose his calm posture and walked before the Imperial booth. He stood
across Zelenick.
"Where's your respect gladiator!? Kneel before me!!"
"When you make something out of your Imperiality, I will."
The crowd cheered for him, and yelled. Jeremiah looked around, quite surprised from
the people's reaction and attitude toward him.
"You are very arrogant…but the people like you. I might as well put a little…test on
you." Zelenick said with a sadistic tone on his voice.
"What the fuck is he talking about?" Jeremiah thought.
"Oh shit! Oh fucking SHIT!" Biggs growled as he heard the Emperor's words. "The
kid has pissed him off."
Zelenick jerked out his arm and a side door of the arena opened. A big, really BIG
Iron Giant came through the door with a Grant Sword and walked heavily in the
arena. The crowd squirmed with exitement and anxiety at the same time. Could the
gladiator make it against that monster.
"Nick! Are you crazy!? You're killing him!" Rinoa said out loud.
"Uncle Zelenick! That's not fair; Jeremiah's tired from the previous battle and his
weapons are way too weak to match that thing!!" Remus cried out.
"Silence!" Zelenick yelled at them. "He's a gladiator! His job is to either kill or get
killed! Entertainment!"
Rinoa hugged Remus tighter, and looked at Zelenick with abysmal hate.
~*~*~*~
"Are they nuts?! Having one man dealing with an Iron Giant!? I've heard Master
Squall tell terrible stories about those things!!" Lotar said.
"Yeah, and this was no small one; we're talking about a tone of iron and muscles. No
kidding!" Angelo commented.
"Anyway, what matters is that since Master Squall is alive today, that means we got
through that battle. So, on with the story!!" Lotar said.
"Hey, you talk more politely furball, or I'll cut the story here and send you two off to
bed from now!"
"No, no, no! Shut up Lotar!" Boko said.
~*~*~*~
Jeremiah backstepped in awe. He was in deep trouble. The Iron Giant moved towards
him.
"Look out Jerr!" Vermillion cried out from behing the gate door that led to the
dungeons and where Jeremiah's comrades had gathered to see him. Vermillion and
Duke had actually squashed Wedge who watched full of agony.
Jeremiah was scared now, and wasn't ashamed to admit to himself. He walked around
the Iron Giant looking at it, as it faced it, it's armor screeching with every move. Then
it jerked its sword, and Jeremiah only jumped aside in time to feel it shaving his hair.
"Crap…" he thought. The Iron Giant continued the blows, and Jeremiah could only
dodge them.
A side strike scratched Jeremiah's side, cutting his belt, and his sword case.
"Fuck!!" he thought as he was now without weapons.
Remus was dangerously leaning on the booth's edge, his eyes peeled out from agony.
"He's got no chance now!!" Remus gasped seeeing Jeremiah lose his sword.
Jeremiah thought: "Shit, it's now or never. This may be the last thing I'll in my life,
but what the hell, let's go to hell glad we did some major damage!!"
He looked at the arena around him with quick glimpse. The Iron Giant didn't leave
Jeremiah from it's sight, and followed his every move. During a moment when they
faced each other, Jeremiah drew the dagger from his hip belt, and tossed at the Iron
Giant, praying it his it's target: the only part of the Iron Giant that was exposed, it's
eyes.
The two opponents saw the whole sequence in slow motion, and the crowd went silent
as if the sound had been suddenly turned off. Jeremiah only heard his breath and his
heart beating. The Iron Giant didn't even feel the dagger coming, and plunging into
it's eye. It dropped its sword, roared out in pain, and brought its hands to it's face. It
pulled the dagger, and a crimson fountain of blood bumped out of it's socket. Jeremiah
took advantage of the situation and quick as a hawk dashed by a dead gladiator,
grabbed a spear that was plunged in the corpse and running up to thr knelt Iron Giant
stabbed it the other eye with a cry of thriamph. The pushed all his weight on the spear,
which went through the socket, across the cranium and sprouted out of the other side
piercing the armor.
The crowd jumped up all together and at the Imperial booth Remus screamed out in
joy and Rinoa's face lighted up with admiration. Jeremiah jumped back as the heavy,
iron body fell to the ground with an earth-shacking thud.
"Je-re-mi-ah! Je-re-mi-ah!" The crowd roared with joy.
"Yeah!!! He did it! He did it!" Vermillion howled as the guard opened the door and
he, Duke and their comrades ran through the arena and jumped on him to congratulate
him, hug him and hit his back.
"Yo, you did you dungbag!" Vermillion giggled as Jeremiah was been sandwiched by
the others, and squashed in Duke's arms who hugged with a big grin on his dirty face.
Zelenick shook his head with displeasure. He stood up again as the storm of
congratulations over Jeremiah subsided. Imedietly everyone hushed. Jeremiah looked
up at Zelenck from in his helmet.
"Excellent battle Jeremiah." Zelenick said.
"Thank you your majesty." Jeremiah replied. He pronounced ' your majesty' with a
slightly ironic tone.
"You've enticed my curiosity, I'd want to see the face of the person who face an Iron
Giant with only a dagger. Remove your helmet!"
Remus let an illegible sound-something between gasp and hic-up, and Rinoa looked at
him surprised. Remus was afraid his uncle would recognise Jeremiah as Squall
Leonhart.
Jeremiah gulped, but if he refused, he'd get in deeper shit. His face had quite changed,
but his trademark, the scar, couldn't change not even in a thousand years. His sight
fell on his arm. It was stained with blood, sweat and dust. Jeremiah undid the buckle
under his chin, and took the helmet off as Vermillion and Duke watched him,
breathless. Before looking up, Jeremiah pretended to wipe his forehead with his dirty
arm, and the dirt covered his forehead, hiding the scar. Vermillion sighed in relief.
Zelenick looked down at the man carefully. He could identify him. Remus was about
to sigh in relief, but he got a grip of himself. Rinoa couldn't recognise him, and his
fear subsided. Jeremiah looked up at Zelenick, and stared at him through the eyes
without fear.
~*~*~*~
"It was a turn of luck that Zelenick didn't recognise Master Squall" TK commented.
"You can say that again." Boko said.
"What happened after that?" Lotar asked.
"Well, Zelenick didn't need their 'services' any more, so he let them all return to their
cells. That's when Master Squall contacted the others and after he heard about
Serpent, prepared his next move. Zelenick was going to throw a party, a 'ball
masque', meaning a party where everyone had to be disguised." Angelo said.
"Hah! A party? When his kingdom is about to fall apart?!" Lotar sarcased.
"That's actually a good point of you Lotar. Tedious seemed naïve and hypochondriac,
but actually he was very, very clever. He kept from Zelenick many serious problems
Master and his comrades created." TK praised the Moomba.
"Thank you. Now go on."
"Well, Tedious provided Master with an invitation, and Biggs let him out, covering
him. Master got a costume, and he managed to get in the 'Dollet Palas', Zelenick's
summer palace."
"TK, I have a question…" Boko said.
"Yes?"
"What costume was Master Squall wearing?"
~*~*~*~
Rinoa was wondering through Zelenick's guest looking happy as he had ordered her.
She smiled and greeted the people and listened with interest to their copliments and
comments, and in general tried to look cheerful. Inside of her, she was screaming.
"I hate all of this."
She had noticed Zelenick kept a persistent eye on her, and a shiver ran up her spine.
He was dressed as a knight, to her great annoyance, while she had wore a long
Bordeaux dress with white lace on the ends, and her hair was lovely falling on her
white shoulders.
She wandered around until the waltz music began, when she quietly withdrew herself
a bit further, until a few guests asked her to dance. Although she didn't want to dance,
she didn't want to anger Zelenick, and so she accepted.
The man had entered the hall silently, without much notice from most guests. But
those who did notice him were impressed by him and by his three companions and
wondered who they were.
Some said they were noblemen who wanted to show off by creating an aura of mystery.
Others claimed they were part of a show Zelenick had arranged. Nothing was sure.
There was a tall, charming man with green eyes dressed as a Galbadian soldier, a
shorter man dressed as Death, and a third guy of medium hight dressed as Robin
Hood. The one that appeared to be the leader was medium height, but his posture and
appearance were the most impressive on him.
He wore black clothes and a long black jacket that reached his black boots in length.
His hands were covered with black gloves. He also wore a black plaster mask (Like
the ones found in Venice) over his face that let his chin and mouth uncovered, and
had a short brown beard.
Many wondered what was his disguise was, or who he was. Some girls looked at him
charmed and began giggling softly and looking at him, hoping to attract his
attention. The four men wandered through the crowd, politely talking, although
refusing amusingly to remove their face covers. The guy dressed as Death quietly
scolded the Galbadian soldier, when he saw his talking to a girl.
The man in black moved quietly behind Zelenick and startled him when he tapped his
shoulder with a very royal style "Excuse me your majesty…"
Zelenick turned to him. He didn't bother to lift his costume's face cover either.
"Greetings your Majesty." The man had a deep yet young voice.
"Greetings. Welcome to the party." Zelenick replied, trying to guess this man's
identity.
"I have been wanting to meet you, Sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Leonard
De Guardo, I represent the President of Estar, Sir."
Zelenick looked at him for a moment, then his face lit up. "Ah, yes! Your President
notified me he would send an Ambassador."
"Yes, I am the one, and the three men with me are my escort. President Laguna hopes
you excuse his absence Sir, but there is a terrible economic problem in Estar these
days, and he need to be there."
"Oh yes…I've been informed by my advisors about the crisis. Please, inform your
President that Galbadia is always willing to help if we can."
"We appreciate your offer Sir…" the man replied and bowed. Then he let Zelenick
occupy himself with some other guests, and mixed with the crowd, going to his
companions and whispering something to them.
"Now what? We leave?" The one dressed as Robin Hood asked.
"No, not yet." The man in black replied.
~*~*~*~
"This is getting spookier." Boko said.
"Let me guess. The Death guy is Zell, the Galbadian soldier one is Irvine, the one
dressed as Robin Hood is Vermillion and the man in black is of course our master!!"
Lotar exclaimed.
"Yes, but I think I told you not to interrupt me!!" TK said and a s spark flew off him
from his fury.
Lotar crouched. "S-sorry…"
~*~*~*~
Rinoa had just got rid of her last dance parnter, and withdrew herself to a corner,
when the man dressed in black came quietly up to her, starteling her as well.
"Could I have this dance, oh beautiful lady?"
Rinoa looked up to him. His blue eyes behind the black mask were two sapphires
shining in the darkness of his mystery. Her mouth half drooped from surprise and
enchantment. She nodded. She placed her hand in his. He gently held it, and led her to
the dance floor as the lights became dim like fire torches and Sting's remixed 'Desert
Rose' started to play.
All the other dancers stepped back and let the man and Rinoa dance, not waltz, but a
dance popular among the young lovers, called Eternowaltz. They followed the tune,
starting from facing each other, then according to the music walking in a circle
slowly, side to side, clockwise, and then him holding her like in waltz and they
danced, swirling a bit faster with calm movements.
The crowd was starring at them.
I dream of rain eleyele
I dream of God, he's in the desert sand…
I wake in pain eleyele…
Then, he moved behind her, his back to her and back to her again, like in waltz, but
with a more rhythmic movement. She swirled once and faced him as he embraced her
waist and she leaned back and he was following her movement, breathing over her
neck softly.
…it's fire birds, eleyele
I realise that nothing's as it seems
I dream of rain, eleyele
I dream of God, he's in the desert sand
I wake in pain, eleyele
I dream of love is tired through my head…
I close my eyes to the rare perfume
It's the sweet intoxication of the world…
Rinoa danced around him, waving her arms over her head as she made a full circle
around him and when the tune slowed down, they held each other's waist with one
hand and the other extended out, moved around in a circle twice.
And then, he back stepped and supporting on his left hand made a backflip, causing
the crowd to gasp. The danced again together, Rinoa smiling with the man's dancing
and his mysterious smile. The song was reaching an end and the tune went very
slowly.
"Who are you?" she whispered to him.
"A Dark Mage."
"What is your name?"
"… Asmodeus…" he whispered in her ear, so lightly, Rinoa shivered. The song was
over, and the crowd clapped the two dancers who bowed politely. As the man let go
of Rinoa's hand, she felt a limp on his ring finger.
Zelenick had seen the dance, and wasn't very pleased of it. He didn't mind his
loyalists dancing with Rinoa, but a stranger!? That was too much. After the lights got
brighter, neither Zelenick, nor Rinoa could find the four men. Not even anyone else.
They had just vanquished.
The four men sped off in the car. Squall was strangely silent. Vermillion, who was
driving, asked Zell to ask him what was wrong.
"Yo Squall…what's up?"
"…"
"Come on man! Cut the silence crap!" Irvine said.
"It's Rinoa…"
"What's with the gal?" Vermillion asked.
Squall took off the mask from his face. His eyes were full of tears. "I miss her."
