Jay managed to catch the last available lift from the dorm building to Esthar Garden proper; the massive chimes were already beginning to ring as he and the other students got off and dashed to their respective classrooms. Tycho, sitting in the back of the room grinned and threw Jay a thumbs-up as he hurried in. Ignoring him, Jay slid into his seat just as the soft, mechanical voice announced the beginning of the day's classes.

As usual, their instructor, Mr. Chang, arrived instantly after the end of the announcement. Good morning, students, he said impassively. His gaze automatically fell on Tycho. Mr. DaLannen, I see you have again chosen to ignore the Garden dress code?

What? My uniform? Tycho asked innocently. It's not my fault. My chicobo ate it. This drew muffled laughs from many of the other students. Jaysen just rolled his eyes.

I'll see that you are supplied with a new one, Chang said coldly. Oh, and should your...chicobo cause any more trouble, it — and you — will be disciplined accordingly. Tycho just smiled winningly, and the instructor turned his attention to the whole class. Today is the written test for SeeD candidates. No notes or study materials will be permitted, and there will be no talking until the end of the test. I suggest you give this your best effort, ladies and gentlemen. There will be no opportunity for retakes.

With that, the students, in unison, activated their study panels, which had been automatically keyed to the test. Jaysen then shut out the outside world, and focused all his energies on the screen before him.

Question 1: The downfall of the Galbadian Republic can be primarily attributed to its loss of what major conflict?

That's easy, Jaysen thought. The Timber Revolution. He reached out to enter the answer, then stopped himself. Although Galbaida was in big trouble even before then. Ever since Vinzer Deling was killed at the start of....

The Third Sorceress War, he answered.

Question 2: List the six Gardens in order of establishment.

Balamb, Jay entered immediately, then paused. Technically, Galbadia Garden would have been established next, but that Garden did not exist any more. It was now called Monterosa Garden, so should he put that down? But it had not been established as Monterosa Garden until after the next Garden had been founded. So where should he put it? Or should he mention both, even though they were the same institution. These tests were notorious for their hideous technicality.

Balamb, Galbadia (Monterosa), Trabia, Esthar, Centra, and Grandidi, he finished. Oh, well; he could afford to miss one question. Probably.

Again, the question disappeared, without confirmation or denial. Question 3: Explain the motivation for the mercenary nature of SeeD. (Short answer)

No way, Jaysen thought. This is way too easy. Every SeeD knows that we train to defeat the Sorceress. There has to be some kind of a trick to this.

But he couldn't find any.

SeeDs are sent around the world to recieve training so that they may be able to defeat the Sorceress, and raise money for the continued operation of Garden, he entered.

Question 4: The nation of Trabia was rebuilt two hundred years after it was wiped out by a Lunar Cry. Explain the flaw in this statement, and how may it be corrected. (Short Answer)

Jaysen frowned. It wants one answer for this? He stared blankly at the screen, then something occurred to him.

This statement should refer to the nation of Centra, he typed. The Trabia Lunar Cry occurred several hundred years before the establishment of any nation there.

Question 5: Historical accounts of the SeeDs who defeated the Sorceress Ultimecia did not reveal their names until after their deaths. Explain why. (Short answer)

Jay stared at the question for several heartbeats. Once again, the answer seemed so obvious that he was convinced that it had to be a trick of some sort. But he had absolutely no idea what it was.

What the hell, he decided, and typed, Because their fame would have inhibited them on undercover missions.

Question 6: The Esthar scientist Dr. Odine developed a mental discipline preventing long-term memory loss in human GF hosts. Explain in detail this process, and any side effects which may occur, and the necessity for such a complex process as opposed to various alternatives. (Essay)

Jay sighed. It was going to be a long period.


By the time he left the classroom, Jay was ready to go back to his room and collapse again. The test had indeed lasted for what had seemed like an eternity, and by the time he had been released, the sun had stretched halfway across the sky. But his hunger overrode his fatigue, and he found himself riding the lift down to the cafeteria.

The food court was located in the exact center of the concourse that made up the first floor of the main building. Eating tables were arranged in a circle around it, and the area was separated by a rail from the rest of the concourse. There were also vending machines built into each of the six pillars that outlined the railing. Since half the students in the Garden were already in line, Jay headed for the vending machines on the far side of the room. He couldn't remember the last time he had actually managed to get food from the lunch counter.

A trio of girls were sitting at one of the tables in front of the machines. Jay recognized them instantly as Kailie Loren — hands down the smartest student in Garden — and her two friends, Jiri and Hahn. The three were always together, and they never seemed to move from that table during lunch hour, nor could Jay ever make it to the cafeteria before them. Tycho had claimed he would write his final essay on the phenomenon, and Jay was not certain he had been joking.

...But I couldn't believe some of the questions on that exam! Jiri was saying. I mean, some of that stuff we didn't even cover in class!

It was in the reading, said Hahn, the tallest of the three.

I know, but we could have at least had a review! What was up with that?

Remember what Chang said? Kailie spoke up, absently brushing a lock of dark brown hair out of her face. In life, you will receive no reviews. Consider yourselves lucky I am even showing you the questions.' She made a very close approximation of the instructor's voice.

He never said that! said Jiri, grinning. Besides, you're probably going to get another two hundred percent, like on that History test!

It was a hundred and twelve! Kailie exclaimed defensively. And it was an easy bonus!

Jay quietly made his way past toward the vending machines; but Hahn, spotting him, called, Hey, Jay! How do you think you did on the test?

Turning, Jay shrugged. Okay, I suppose; though I basically guessed on the last three. I don't suppose any of you know how Squall Leonhart destroyed the Black Widow in in Dollet?

Kailie raised an eyebrow. He didn't. Quistis Trepe did, with the machinegun on the transport when it chased him back to Lapin Beach.

Jay winced. Students needed to score a ninety-five percent or higher to pass the test, so he couldn't afford too many wrong answers.

Jiri exclaimed. NO ONE knows that! Kailie's gonna make the rest of us look bad!

So I did the reading! Kailie exclaimed. What's wrong with that?!

What did you put down, Jaysen? Hahn asked.

Jay took a step away, busying himself with one of the vending machines.

Jiri called. What did you say?

I said.... Jay trailed off.

The three girls watched him expectantly.

I said he tricked it into jumping off the bridge, okay?

The three girls burst into laughter. Wow, that's worse than me, said Hahn. I just said that he used Eden on it.

He didn't get Eden until he found Ultima Weapon at the Battleship Island facility, Kailie pointed out.

Jiri forced between bursts of laughter.

Stealing the moment to escape without further ridicule, Jay made his way out of the cafeteria. He knew of a perfect spot in the courtyard which had little traffic but offered a good view over the campus; and made his way there. The grey-walled buildings of Esthar Garden spread out before him, and everywhere beige-white uniformed students could be seen, outside or through the multitude of tinted windows. The giant glass ring that was suspended over the Garden proper seemed to glow as it reflected a rainbow of sunlight across the courtyard. The Garden at noon was a sight many newcomers found dazzling, though Jay had been around it so long it was perfectly normal.

His thoughts kept drifting to those three girls; much as they did after any of their brief conversations. Whenever they talked, they were on friendly terms, but they didn't talk often. And he had most always been the one to start the conversation. After a while, he had just given up. They said hi' in the hallways and sometimes talked, but Jay always felt like he was intruding.

So he always ended up here, eating lunch alone.

A hovercraft was setting down on the landing pad at the end of the walkway, probably bringing supplies from Esthar. Jay watched the streamlined, silver craft for a moment, then turned his attention to his lunch.