Chapter 4 First Insight

Rinoa wandered helplessly around the palace. The morning sun shone brightly, throwing the gardens outside into a riot of colour. She wanted to walk outside but she couldn't find Quistis anywhere. She had grown so used to the Knight's presence that she wouldn't even consider walking outside without her. When Quistis was newly appointed, Rinoa had doubts about her too, but after seeing what Quistis could do, all thoughts vanished.

She sighed as she turned into yet another unfamiliar corridor. Eshtar Palace was so huge... she was about to consider screaming for help when a familiar figure came out of a room. She brightened. "Excuse me!"

Squall turned around and saw Rinoa approach him. She beamed. "You're Seifer's brother, right? So you're a prince?"

Squall nodded, but barely. Rinoa clapped her hands in joy. "Then did you see Quistis anywhere? My Knight?"

Squall blinked. This girl was moving too fast. "She might be in the Garden."

"Oh." Rinoa frowned again. "Can you show me where? Your palace is so huge, and your garden looks big too."

Squall did not answer, but bowed slightly. Courtesy dictated him to escort her, even if it would make him late.

As they walked through the lush gardens, Squall heard the distinct crack of a whip - the whip. "She's there." He indicated. Rinoa peeked around a bush and saw Quistis looking at her. "Oh phooey..." She giggled. "Quistis, I've been looking for you."

"I'm sorry, Princess, I wasn't aware I was needed." Quistis bowed and turned to Squall. "Prince Leonhart." She bowed.

Squall nodded. Rinoa grinned at Quistis. "I want to go to the city, Quistis. You just have to follow me!"

Quistis blinked. 'But I don't know the city... You might have to bring an escort - "

Rinoa looked beyond the horizon. The city of Eshtar gleamed and beckoned - it was so different from Galbadia.

"If you need to go to the city I can help," Squall said stiffly. Rinoa spun on her heels, missing the polite formality. "You will? Quistis!! Let's go!!" She grabbed her Knight's hand and practically dragged her away. Squall shook his head. He had never met a princess like that. Come to think of it, he had never met royalty of his rank before. But as the gentleman he was, he patiently escorted her around the city, pointing out the main attractions, the people. All the while he wondered what Quistis thought of it. She seemed to be looking around, and listening, but he wondered what she was thinking, really. Finally while Rinoa was examining the jewelry in a store window, he looked at her. "See anything you like, SeeD?"

He saw her frown lightly. "If you're mocking me, then I must say you're not being considerate."

"Irvine said you weren't bothered."

"If people don't bother me," She said plainly. "Besides, I have no use for such things. I'm a Knight."

Squall nodded. "You're the first Knight - female Knight I've encountered." He avoided saying the word 'blind' since he didn't think it was kind. Quistis laughed a little. "Gender doesn't matter, as long as we stay true to our oath and stay loyal to justice. I won't have SeeD Knights taking bribery." She said determinedly. The countless times she had to behead SeeDs to tried to turn to evil - it nearly shook her resolve, but being blind does have its perks.

"Squall, can we go back now?" Rinoa seems to have finished her shopping, and Quistis heard the rustle of a great many bags. "Here, princess," She reached out to take them but to her surprise Squall had got to them first. "We'd better hurry. It's getting dark."

They trudged up to the palace, Squall weighed down by heavy bags. Quistis wanted to take some but he refused. Rinoa happily took them again and bid her Knight good night.

Quistis walked down the corridor, aware at Squall was walking with her. Finally she stopped at her door.

"If you wish, we can finished what we begun yesterday," His voice was so low it was barely a whisper, but she heard. The nerve, she bristled. He was testing her; stretching her patience. She nodded slightly. "Yes, Commander."

The night wasn't as bright as it was yesterday, but there was enough light to throw the garden into an eerie shadow's playground. Squall breathed in the warm air, thinking of a night so many years ago - when his father often dueled with him so late at night. At the tender age of two Squall had been taught the art of war, and it has been his one calling; his one conviction to this day. He remembered when he had just mastered the gunblade, his father had taken him on one of his crusades; an island continent. It was a vague memory, but he remembered the screams, the blood, and Irvine whispering; "This is your calling, little lion. This is what you must learn an endure." Irvine was the only person besides his father who was close enough to the queen to tell him stories of her; the mother he never knew. Sometimes he wondered if the loneliness of not knowing a woman's love drove him to be the SeeD he was, but he dismissed it as idle thought. He hated doing or thinking anything that had no purpose. He was a prince, and the Commander of SeeD Knights. He had many other things to worry other than having a mother.

A memory came back to him and he felt a dead weight settle in his heart. Maybe it was... seeing death in his face that made him this way. A fuzzy memory of a girl, a boy who later became his brother. But the memory of the girl was strong. Because she saved his life, and gave hers to Hyne. It was the act of substitution that kept him going; making him believe that it's only fair to save what you can. His mother died to give birth to him, didn't she? He should do what he can to ensure the life she gave to was not in vain...

Soft footsteps made his ears prickle as he recognized the familiar tread. From under an archway came the familiar figure of Quistis Trepe, her whip ready. She stood in the middle of the circular patio, waiting. He wondered if she could sense him - he was fascinated by her composure and her skills. He knew Irvine did not knight women; if he did then she must be one hell of an exception.

"How much can you see, Knight?" he finally asked softly. Just enough for the wind to carry his voice to her. He saw her cock her head to the side. "Enough to know how many ants are crawling on the pillar next to you, Commander." He blinked and realized there were ants. Hyne, she was sharp!

"Were you like this when you were born?"

"No. I was normal until I was three years old. A disaster in my village made me as I am today." Her voice was bitter as she remembered. That was why she was here. To find a way to avenge the deaths of so many...

Balamb. That was her home. She remembered being happy - she had a loving family and friends. One day changed all that. Two mighty armies declared Balamb to be their territory, and her village was destroyed in the struggle. Her village, which knew nothing wrong. They were defenseless, being simple peasants. But her one motive was seeking the one thing she knew Esthar took from her - her brother. Her twin. She had waited so long to find him, and now she was here, in the palace, she was not going to waste her opportunity.

"You seem to be lost in thought, Knight."

She blinked and realized he had moved and was circling her like a hyena. She unfurled her whip and let it crack once. "I'm ready."

They darted this way and that, weapons moving so fast it was a blur. Squall realized she had a slight advantage; she didn't light to 'see'. It made no difference whether she was fighting in pitch-black or blinding midday. She moved as sure as he remembered, her whip striking dangerously close. On her part, she had to marvel at his skill. Most people would have fallen by now, but he's still standing - and she could tell he wasn't even tired yet!

"Irvine was right when he said you're exceptional," Squall commented as he dodged a tricky whiplash. She smiled. "Thank you."

It was perhaps the first time he saw her smile - it caught him off guard. It was a move to be regretted, because in the next moment her whip cut into his arm, eliciting a yelp from the prince. He dropped his blade and grabbed his arm; it was bleeding profusely. Her eyes widened and she dropped her whip. "OH!" She ran over to him and gingerly touched the wound. It made him cringe. Whatever it was, it wasn't an ordinary wound. It stung unbearably. "Please, Commander, let me treat it... I'm sorry," She said miserably and rested her hand over the wound and sending an unidentifiable tingle up his arm. She took out a small vial and gently rubbed the contents into the wound. "It's an antidote," She explained. "My whip is made from Marlboro tentacles and is highly poisonous; it has to be treated before I can cure it." She sighed and said; "Curaga."

A cool blue light seeped from her fingers into the wound, and slowly Quistis feel it heal. But if only she was paying a little more attention, she would have noticed Squall staring at her, not at his wound. He silently admired the way the dim light made her shining hair glow, or her porcelain skin become fairer that it was. He was aware that his body was responding to her in a strange way, as if trying to make him go nearer, but his mind rebelled.

At last she finished and turned to him; and was startled to feel his face so close. "My Lord?"

Squall shook his head sharply to clear the stupid thoughts away. "Thank you. It seems we're even."

"I'm honored,' She laughed, a musical sound. "It will leave a scar, but I'm truly sorry about your leather jacket," She smiled. "Dragon hide?"

"A Ruby Dragon," he confirmed as she stepped away and bowed. "I take leave then. Good night, Prince Leonhart."

He nodded curtly and watched as she disappeared into the darkness. His skin still tingled, he noticed.