Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the FF8 characters. Squaresoft does. So Yeah…=P
~*~ Rose Cross ~*~
~*~ Chapter 5 ~*~
Seifer looked at the file folder and wondered why it was doing here. He wondered if Quistis knew that her personal file was hidden between all this other stuff. He knew he shouldn't look through her file, but when was he ever one to do what is right? He took a quick glance at the sleeping woman on his shoulder and proceeded to read her file.
In the file Seifer found pictures of a younger Quistis. She was probably about 15 in the picture he thought. She was wearing her SeeD uniform, and on her face was a small smile. He continued to scan through the file and found her SeeD exam score and her instructor license. Attached to the license were the reasons why her license was taken away. It stated that she lacked leadership skills. She wasn't firm with her students, and wasn't able to control her students. The list continued on with a few more lines, but Seifer already knew those reason were probably related to him. Another attachment he found attached to the license was apparently a re-issuance of the license, but apparently Quistis had rejected the offer, and now the license was lying dormant in this file.
Seifer was read to push the file aside, until he saw a piece of paper that was yellow around the edges. It was at least ten years old, he thought to himself. The aged piece of paper was a hand written letter addressed to Edea. Behind the first piece of paper was another letter written again to Edea, and the letter was written in the same hand as the first.
Dearest Edea,
I regret that my writing to you this time is from the result of desperation. Galbadia has fallen in to the influence of a powerful sorceress, Ultimecia, and in order for the sorceress to increase her power she must kill all people have sorceress linage in their blood. As you know like you and I, people who have sorceress ancestry are able to cast spells and perform magic. Even though I have kept my ancestry a secret, somehow Ultimecia is able to sense our powers. Myself and General Trepe, my husband have been trying to find a plan to escape, but Captain Almasy has some how lost his mind and is killing all who are born with a sorceress lineage. I do not know what possessed him, but I feel that it must be Ultimecia's doing. And I know it won't be long before he will be sent to come after my daughter and me.
As I write this letter, we are quickly gathering our valuables, and my husband is quickly thinking of a plan for us to depart safely and go into hiding. But I did not mean to write you to tell you of my sorrows. Instead I am writing to ask of you a favor that I will be forever indebted to you. Edea, my dear friend, I want you to take my daughter, Quistis, and love her as your own. For I fear that neither General Trepe nor I will live long enough to have the privilege to continue loving her. It pains my very being to have to abandon my daughter at so young an age of five, but I feel it is the best for her. And I trust you will love her as I do. Please do not refuse my request. This is the only thing I well beg of you.
We shall arrive in Centra in the next two days to leave Quistis into your care. Thank you my dear friend.
Love,
Cassandra Trepe
Captain Almasy? Seifer thought. Was there a possibility that this Captain was his father? With this information embedded in his memory, he continued reading the letters.
Dearest Edea,
I regret that I am unable to deliver this letter and my daughter to you personally. It has been nearly four days since we departed from Deling City, and we are nowhere close to Centra. Now my husband is injured in a recent battle against Almasy, and our journey is becoming more perilous as we continue. I fear our next encounter with Almasy may be our last.
This messenger I send you is my most trusted friend and soldier, Ivan. I have asked him bring Quistis safely to you. Again I thank you and regret not being able to see you one last time.
One more thing, this Rose Cross necklace, I want you to keep it safe for Quistis. When she is older, I want you to give it to her. Hopefully this necklace would lead her to her destiny. Hopefully.
Love,
Cassandra Trepe
Attached to the letter was a small envelope addressed to Quistis Trepe in beautiful and elegant handwriting. Inside the envelope there was a necklace with a silver rose pendent. Each petal of the rose bloom was meticulously made in detail. The two leaves of the rose were spread out like silver wings, and the silver stem of the rose coiled downward in a spiral like fashion. As Seifer observed the necklace the clasp of the necklace was broken.
Even though the pendent was tarnished from years of neglect, the pendent was in mint condition. As Seifer felt the smooth detailed surface of the rose, he noticed that the coiling of the rose stem looked as if it was meant to coil around something. But what that something was Seifer could not figure out.
Seifer put the Rose Cross pendent back in its envelope and put the file away. Then he looked over at the sleeping woman on his shoulder and noticed a tear slipping down her cheek.
A/N: Sorry I should've posted this up sooner, but wasn't too happy with it earlier. Now that I reread it, it seems okay now. Must be the drugs I took for my cold. Just wanted to thank those of you who have been following this story so far. Thank you so much! You guys are what keeps me writing this story, while I should be studying. =) I honestly have no idea where I'm going with this story… hopefully something will come up. =) Thanks.
