Chapter 8: First Assignment

Mattius2k04: Alright! Soon, the characters from VIII will start playing larger and larger roles, so if you're a VIII fan, you'll be happier soon.

Tidus sped down the halls, thinking the same thought over and over. Late!!!

He veered around a corner, barely keeping his footing. Most of the students were in class, but some of the faculty and a few students were still around. He didn't have to worry too much about hitting them, and that was a godsend. His feet stuttered as he tripped forwards, but he regained his footing quickly, and ran off again. He eventually made it to the class, panting, and a little slicked from sweat. It had been a tight squeeze to get everything ready, which he had promptly failed. The shower, breakfast, and the rest of the process of getting ready had taken too long.

Tidus stopped to catch his breath, wiping sweat off of his forehead. He eventually straightened back up, ruffling his hair and clothes, and opened the door quietly. Thankfully, the students had just settled down, and the teacher had just begun calling out names.

"Well, well, well," spoke the teacher. She was an attractive woman, a couple years past twenty. She was wearing a pinkish suit, with glasses, blonde hair that reached down in the front, but done up in the back. She had piercing blue eyes, which Tidus noticed, that seemed to pierce into his very soul. He recognized the woman as Quistis Trepe, one of the more popular teachers in garden. She had her own little band of groupies and fans, which she seemed to get embarrassed when asked about. "We have a late student. Name, please?"

Professional, just like I've heard. Tidus thought. He spoke to her. "Uh, name's Tidus. Sorry for being late." As he said this, he did a small bow, and looked around to find a seat.

Yuna waved to him, and had loyally saved a spot for him. Tidus glanced up, and with a grateful smile, began to make his way towards her, right until Quistis stopped him.

"I'm not quite finished." Scolded Quistis, her arms folded. "I need to make sure you will not do this again." She gave Tidus a stern look.

"Okay, well, I promise I won't." Answered Tidus.

"Okay then, please remember that, and sit down." Spoke Quistis, a little gentler.

Tidus felt himself go red as the class chuckled at him. He kept his head down, making his way up the small set of stairs to where Yuna sat. Moving over, he got in, and started unpacking his things.

"What took you so long?" Yuna whispered.

"N-nothing, just getting ready, woke up late, that's all." Answered Tidus, grabbing his things and tossing them haphazardly on the desk. He looked up to make sure Quistis wasn't watching them, and spoke to Yuna. "Um, exactly, how strict is she?"

"She's alright," Yuna answered, "really strict, so make sure you're not late, okay?"

Tidus nodded in response, before they both concentrated on the teacher. Quistis Trepe, huh? Tidus thought to himself. She's supposed to be some kind of expert on monsters. Heard she wrote a book, right..? Oh, what was it.? Tidus strained his mind, but snapped back to his senses as the teacher started the lecture on the difference between fiends and monsters/creatures. Oh good, I never knew this!

"Now," loudly spoke Quistis, "I understand many of you do not know the difference between a fiend and a monster, also known as creature and vice versa. Can anyone explain?" One student shot up his hand, and Quistis pointed to him.

"Strength and speed. A fiend is stronger-" But he was cut off.

"Incorrect, but you're on the right track." Quistis replied. "A fiend is a monster made out of the souls of one or more dead creatures, mostly humans. A fiend and a monster are almost exactly alike, but fiends tend to take on more unnatural appearances, such as ghosts, behemoths, or other monstrosities. Monsters, or creatures as they are also known, are more docile, and are mostly canine or feline, or at least of a more natural, peaceful appearance."

Tidus was floored by Quistis' knowledge on the monsters and fiends. She continued her lecture.

"Now, a fiend is made up of souls, right? Well, when a human, or, rarely, an animal, dies from an unnatural cause, they can quite easily begin to resent those still alive. Now, in our world, if the hatred, or other emotion, is strong enough, the soul can gather other souls and materialize into a being. It is completely possible for a fiend to take on the image and strength of the thing it was in life, although this is extremely rare. The only known cause of revivification in this sense is because of a different emotion than hate, perhaps love, or another more peaceful emotion, which binds the creature to life. These types of fiends have the ability to be more docile, though they can too be angered quickly. Fiends are quite common, because even once a fiend is killed, it can re- materialize. And as long as the fiend still hates other living things, it can live forever. There are many normal fiends over a hundred years old. These older, more ancient fiends are capable of an "oversoul" type metamorphosis. In this state, the hatred of a fiend has become especially powerful, and more souls have gathered to it. In this situation, a fiend is ten times more powerful than before. Entire forces of troops have been eliminated in the past by these monsters." Quistis explained.

A student raised her hand, and asked the question "How can you tell once a fiend has, um, gone into oversoul?"

"Quite a good question." Quistis commented. "Normal fiends take on a relatively normal appearance. But when a fiend enters oversoul, it glows a different colour, and may use spells or physical abilities not characterized by its' genus. It will change colour quite rapidly, and unlike other, younger, normal fiends, pyreflies will hover and fly around it." Yuna raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Yuna?"

"Well, um," Yuna blushed, looking down. Inhaling deeply, she looked back up. "You say that a fiend can return, even after it is dead, right?" Quistis nodded in confirmation. "Well, how can we ensure it can not return?"

"Also a good question." Quistis replied. "Well, there is always the possibility that the fiend is not strong enough to return anymore to the mortal world. In this case, it goes to the Farplane, the realm where the dead may rest in peace. However, a fiend can be made sure to be sent to this Farplane right after it is defeated once as a fiend. First of all, it may uncover an emotion, a peaceful emotion, because when a human is said to die, it is said that they are overcome with emotions, some good, some bad. Bad is where the fiend comes from. Good is where the soul may rest."

"What. kind of good?" Yuna questioned once more.

"Peace." Quistis explained. "Some fiends consider themselves cursed, they resent their present bodies, and when they are killed, they may find themselves at peace, and do not fight back when they are taken to the farplane."

"What is the other way?" Yuna asked.

I did not mention another way. Smart girl, indeed. Quistis thought, surprisingly not-sarcastically. "Well, a summoner may perform the Sending. He or she performs an intricate dance. The souls of the slain are immediately put to rest after this. You must do this within a small time limit before the dead can become fiends."

Tidus had listened with great care to this lecture, and a page and a half was already covered in quick notes. As the class progressed, he found himself mesmerized by the lecture on fiends. Eventually, the class got even more excited as Quistis announced a project.

"I know it is very early, but I think this class is intelligent enough to pull it off." Quistis commented. "You are all to collect data on no less then five fiends or monsters, and bring it in by next month. You may do any form of notes, whether they are battle weaknesses, habitations, or diet. Anything is allowed, but each fiend or monster must have at least a page of information." Half the class groaned, but the other seemed to be excited. "One more thing." Quistis shouted over the growing noise of excited chatter. "You must have a partner."

"Hey!" Yuna and Tidus blurted out, simultaneously, turning to face each other at the same time. They also spoke the same next words. "Let's be partners!"

"This project's gonna kick ass!" Tidus exclaimed once he saw Wakka laying lazily on his bed, reading a magazine on weapons.

"What project? That monster one?" Wakka asked, laying the book down. "The teacher's pretty hot, eh??" Wakka laughed.

"That's all you think about!" Tidus laughed, kicking the sofa with his foot.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Wakka pointed out. "What about Yuna, eh?" Wakka narrowed his eyes, laughing. "Burn!"

"That's not a burn, you moron!" Tidus giggled.

"Of course it. well, whatever man, I still gotcha!" Wakka defended himself.

"Hey, how's it going with Lulu?" Tidus commented.

"Great, well, I got her to be my partner in the class." Wakka informed.

"Whoa, what did you have to do to make her do that?" Tidus laughed. "Threaten her with your gunblade 'skills'?" Tidus joked. "Just kiddin', no need to get up and hurt me!"

"Too late for that!" Wakka yelled. He stomped to his feet, scaring Tidus away into his room. Laughing hard, Wakka sat back down.

"I bet you're both gonna kiss!" Rikku teased.

"No we're not!" Yuna denied.

"Yeah? Well I bet you already have!" Rikku laughed, issuing a series of pokes to Yuna's stomach, tickling her severely. "I know your weakspot, girl!"

"Stop that, stop!" Yuna laughed, trying desperately to defend herself from Rikku's assault. "Stop!" She pushed Rikku away, laughing so hard tears were coming from her eyes. "You know my weaknesses!"

"You betcha!" Rikku replied. "And I'm gonna tell Tidus!"

"Don't you dare!" Yuna giggled. "He's just like you, I'll die from laughing!"

"I bet!" Rikku replied. It took the two girls a whole five minutes to calm down.

"So, who'd you get for your partner?" Yuna asked.

"Paine!" Rikku replied. Yuna gave her an odd stare, then her eyes widened in shock.

"Are you alright? What 'pain'?" Yuna asked, standing closer and inspecting Rikku's shoulders.

"Not pain, pain!" Rikku laughed, shoving Yuna away. "Paine! She's a girl in my class. She's a tough girl, I bet we'll kick fiend ass."

"Ah, I see." Yuna replied. She was wondering again about how she could get Tidus to come over (at this, she inwardly *nudge, nudge* and *wink winked* herself.) to help with the project. She never liked projects too much, always thought they were too repetitive, but when a cute guy is coming over, it gets a lot better, right?