Meanwhile in her own room, Quistis sat at the window watching the sun rise,
its pale orange glow reflecting off the glass of the buildings enhancing
the essence of the city.
Her mind was crackling with emotions aided by the presence of her Guardian
Force Quezacotl, the thunderbird.
She sighed softly, gently brushing her long blonde hair from her blue eyes, which were filled with a deep pain and sorrow. She dismissed her romantic feelings for Squall as sisterly love, abandoning any hope or desire of an intimate relationship once Rinoa came along and took him completely. And so she was left drained, hollow and depressed.
With watching the development of Meia's and Jayson's relationship she found the flame of jealousy rising in her. Some of the jealousy came from Meia getting Jayson, not that she overly wanted Jayson herself although there were some Squall-like qualities he possessed that drew her to him.
The main part of her jealousy was due to what they had and she didn't. She longed so badly to have someone special but it was so hard. Then there were the conflicted feelings of the day before where Jayson had groped her. There was the anger that he abused her, the knowledge that he wasn't to blame but also the excitation and pleasure of being touched that way and the shame of having those feelings.
Her fingers slowly traced the pale purple fingerprint bruises on her breast as she thought of Jayson again. She remembered when she had taken him on the Fire Cave test, how he barely said a word to her except to politely answer her questions. She was aware of his quiet confidence and determination as he set off through the cave at a slow pace even though he had chosen the ten-minute time limit.
Any monsters that tried to attack were taken out by him before she even realised it. She had taken Squall as her most promising student but Jayson surpassed him, but just like Squall he didn't seem to know how good he was and was modest and nonchalant about it. She had wondered why he had been overlooked and found that he rarely let anyone know how skilled he was and that other students and instructors looked down on him since he had generalised rather than specialised.
Her body tingled all over as her fingers continued to caress her breast of their own accord, opening her dressing gown further as they slowly slid down her pale, toned body. She closed her eyes still thinking about Jayson. She recalled the battle between the Gardens during the Sorceress Incident, Jayson had been in the group of students at the gate holding back the Galbadian soldiers and then was one of those that had covered Irvine, Zell, Selphie and herself as they made their way into Galbadia garden to look for Squall and Rinoa.
She remembered even then that he fought well and protected those in need even though he was injured. But what struck her the most was that he never killed any of the soldiers, only incapacitated them unlike the other students who saw it as a case of 'kill-or-be-killed'. Also unlike the others, there was no trace of anger, hatred or any other emotion in his features except a detached compassion.
Her fingers continued to touch and tease herself under their own control as her thoughts continued.
A knock at her door brought her back from her reverie and she realised that she was breathing heavily and her heart was pounding. She got up and pulled her gown around her, tying it, annoyed at being interrupted as she was aware she was in a state of high arousal and frustrated since she was unable to release her pent up sexual tension.
She walked over to the door and opened it allowing Kiros to step into the room.
'I apologise for disturbing you at this early hour but we need your help Quistis.' He told her.
Quistis shut the door behind him and replied 'With what?'
'Researching Spore. Our specialists have located some relevant texts but can't decipher them, and since we know you have some expertise at written languages I came to ask you to take a look.' Kiros informed her, glad his dark skin was hiding his blush as he'd caught a glimpse of her breasts as her gown opened slightly.
'I see. Well I'll get changed and come with you.' Quistis replied, unaware that her gown was slipping open further.
Kiros coughed and said 'Very well I'll wait outside for you.' He then went out the door wishing he hadn't worn such tight trousers but was glad Quistis hadn't noticed his discomfort.
Quistis slipped off her gown smiling to herself fully aware of Kiros' reaction. She dressed in her usual peach coloured dress and tied her long blonde hair into a bun and slipped on her reading glasses.
She headed out the door and found Kiros waiting for her in the corridor and noticed he was no longer in discomfort.
'So what have they found?' Quistis asked as they walked side by side to the library.
'An old text of myths compiled by some historian a century ago. It deals mostly with the Creation and contains passages of Centran hieroglyphs linked to this but even the writer of the text was unable to translate them.' Kiros informed.
'Then how did he know they were relevant to the Centran myths?' Quistis said after thinking for a moment.
'Well he found the hieroglyphs with newer Centran script as if more was added to the myth later.' Kiros answered turning into the Library.
'I see and what did the newer script say?' Quistis asked as she walked into the Library where two Esthar scholars in long white robes with tapering flared sleeves were poring over a number of books spread across a table.
The scholars looked up as they approached the table. 'Ah the Instructor.' One said his face boxed in by his hat of office.
The other scholar pushed a book towards her.
'This is the text we require your help with.' He told her pointing to a passage of angular symbols.
'Hmm.' Quistis muttered under her breath as she peered at the passage, the triangular symbols making no sense at first sight.
Then it all clicked into place and she remembered where she had seen such runes. 'These words were all over the Centran ruins we came across months ago.' She said.
'But can you decipher them?' one of the scholars asked politely.
'Maybe. Surely the later Centran text is derived from the original lexicon?' Quistis said mainly to herself.
'We assumed that too but there seems to be no similar structures corresponding to the newer text.' A scholar replied.
'Strange. So that suggests they had more than one language or they rearranged it into a totally new one.' Quistis said raising a delicate eyebrow.
Gazing at the script again a symbol caught her eye, it looked like a four bladed sword but what could it mean? It was followed a few symbols later by a strange spiky symbol.
'This is useless!' Quistis groaned exasperated.
'What is?' came a soft voice from the door.
They all spun round to see Jayson walking through the doorway.
'What are you doing here?' Quistis asked confused.
'I came to see if Kiros had found anything.' He replied. 'I take it what he has found isn't good.' He added.
'I don't know, we can't understand it. All I know is that I've seen it before at the Centran ruins when we found Odin.' Quistis replied collapsing into a chair.
'So we go to the ruins then?' Jayson said walking up to Quistis and gazing down at the text. 'Four swords and a key? What's that got to do with Spore?' he added.
'What!? You can read that?' Quistis asked amazed.
Jayson jumped. 'No that's just what these symbols look like.' He replied pointing to the two symbols that caught Quistis' eye earlier.
'You're right, they do.' She said looking again.
'Anyway if we're going to the ruins we'd better tell Squall.' She added.
'No. We'll leave him with Rinoa.' Jayson said turning. 'Kiros tell Laguna where we're going and then get equipped, you're coming too.' He said to him.
Kiros raised an eyebrow and gave Jayson a look.
'Please?' Jayson added and Kiros nodded, smiling as he left the room.
'Have you gone crazy?' Quistis yelled.
'What do you mean?' Jayson asked politely.
'Going on a mission without Squall! He's the commander!' Quistis snapped.
'Look, Squall's worrying about Rinoa and I don't really want to confront him over anything right now. If anything happens I'll take full responsibility. Besides surely you'll be there to keep an eye on me Instructor?' Jayson replied, his voice level.
Quistis growled angrily, something Jayson never expected to hear from her. 'Fine.' She relented. 'You'd better make sure I don't regret this.'
'I won't. Anyways I'd better go tell Meia before she wonders where I got to.' He told her.
'Oh?' Quistis said suggestively watching Jayson blush.
Jayson didn't reply and headed back to his room. Quistis sighed and glanced at the two scholars who were looking at her strangely.
'Well?' she asked.
'Nothing!' the scholars squeaked and started going through the books again.
She sighed softly, gently brushing her long blonde hair from her blue eyes, which were filled with a deep pain and sorrow. She dismissed her romantic feelings for Squall as sisterly love, abandoning any hope or desire of an intimate relationship once Rinoa came along and took him completely. And so she was left drained, hollow and depressed.
With watching the development of Meia's and Jayson's relationship she found the flame of jealousy rising in her. Some of the jealousy came from Meia getting Jayson, not that she overly wanted Jayson herself although there were some Squall-like qualities he possessed that drew her to him.
The main part of her jealousy was due to what they had and she didn't. She longed so badly to have someone special but it was so hard. Then there were the conflicted feelings of the day before where Jayson had groped her. There was the anger that he abused her, the knowledge that he wasn't to blame but also the excitation and pleasure of being touched that way and the shame of having those feelings.
Her fingers slowly traced the pale purple fingerprint bruises on her breast as she thought of Jayson again. She remembered when she had taken him on the Fire Cave test, how he barely said a word to her except to politely answer her questions. She was aware of his quiet confidence and determination as he set off through the cave at a slow pace even though he had chosen the ten-minute time limit.
Any monsters that tried to attack were taken out by him before she even realised it. She had taken Squall as her most promising student but Jayson surpassed him, but just like Squall he didn't seem to know how good he was and was modest and nonchalant about it. She had wondered why he had been overlooked and found that he rarely let anyone know how skilled he was and that other students and instructors looked down on him since he had generalised rather than specialised.
Her body tingled all over as her fingers continued to caress her breast of their own accord, opening her dressing gown further as they slowly slid down her pale, toned body. She closed her eyes still thinking about Jayson. She recalled the battle between the Gardens during the Sorceress Incident, Jayson had been in the group of students at the gate holding back the Galbadian soldiers and then was one of those that had covered Irvine, Zell, Selphie and herself as they made their way into Galbadia garden to look for Squall and Rinoa.
She remembered even then that he fought well and protected those in need even though he was injured. But what struck her the most was that he never killed any of the soldiers, only incapacitated them unlike the other students who saw it as a case of 'kill-or-be-killed'. Also unlike the others, there was no trace of anger, hatred or any other emotion in his features except a detached compassion.
Her fingers continued to touch and tease herself under their own control as her thoughts continued.
A knock at her door brought her back from her reverie and she realised that she was breathing heavily and her heart was pounding. She got up and pulled her gown around her, tying it, annoyed at being interrupted as she was aware she was in a state of high arousal and frustrated since she was unable to release her pent up sexual tension.
She walked over to the door and opened it allowing Kiros to step into the room.
'I apologise for disturbing you at this early hour but we need your help Quistis.' He told her.
Quistis shut the door behind him and replied 'With what?'
'Researching Spore. Our specialists have located some relevant texts but can't decipher them, and since we know you have some expertise at written languages I came to ask you to take a look.' Kiros informed her, glad his dark skin was hiding his blush as he'd caught a glimpse of her breasts as her gown opened slightly.
'I see. Well I'll get changed and come with you.' Quistis replied, unaware that her gown was slipping open further.
Kiros coughed and said 'Very well I'll wait outside for you.' He then went out the door wishing he hadn't worn such tight trousers but was glad Quistis hadn't noticed his discomfort.
Quistis slipped off her gown smiling to herself fully aware of Kiros' reaction. She dressed in her usual peach coloured dress and tied her long blonde hair into a bun and slipped on her reading glasses.
She headed out the door and found Kiros waiting for her in the corridor and noticed he was no longer in discomfort.
'So what have they found?' Quistis asked as they walked side by side to the library.
'An old text of myths compiled by some historian a century ago. It deals mostly with the Creation and contains passages of Centran hieroglyphs linked to this but even the writer of the text was unable to translate them.' Kiros informed.
'Then how did he know they were relevant to the Centran myths?' Quistis said after thinking for a moment.
'Well he found the hieroglyphs with newer Centran script as if more was added to the myth later.' Kiros answered turning into the Library.
'I see and what did the newer script say?' Quistis asked as she walked into the Library where two Esthar scholars in long white robes with tapering flared sleeves were poring over a number of books spread across a table.
The scholars looked up as they approached the table. 'Ah the Instructor.' One said his face boxed in by his hat of office.
The other scholar pushed a book towards her.
'This is the text we require your help with.' He told her pointing to a passage of angular symbols.
'Hmm.' Quistis muttered under her breath as she peered at the passage, the triangular symbols making no sense at first sight.
Then it all clicked into place and she remembered where she had seen such runes. 'These words were all over the Centran ruins we came across months ago.' She said.
'But can you decipher them?' one of the scholars asked politely.
'Maybe. Surely the later Centran text is derived from the original lexicon?' Quistis said mainly to herself.
'We assumed that too but there seems to be no similar structures corresponding to the newer text.' A scholar replied.
'Strange. So that suggests they had more than one language or they rearranged it into a totally new one.' Quistis said raising a delicate eyebrow.
Gazing at the script again a symbol caught her eye, it looked like a four bladed sword but what could it mean? It was followed a few symbols later by a strange spiky symbol.
'This is useless!' Quistis groaned exasperated.
'What is?' came a soft voice from the door.
They all spun round to see Jayson walking through the doorway.
'What are you doing here?' Quistis asked confused.
'I came to see if Kiros had found anything.' He replied. 'I take it what he has found isn't good.' He added.
'I don't know, we can't understand it. All I know is that I've seen it before at the Centran ruins when we found Odin.' Quistis replied collapsing into a chair.
'So we go to the ruins then?' Jayson said walking up to Quistis and gazing down at the text. 'Four swords and a key? What's that got to do with Spore?' he added.
'What!? You can read that?' Quistis asked amazed.
Jayson jumped. 'No that's just what these symbols look like.' He replied pointing to the two symbols that caught Quistis' eye earlier.
'You're right, they do.' She said looking again.
'Anyway if we're going to the ruins we'd better tell Squall.' She added.
'No. We'll leave him with Rinoa.' Jayson said turning. 'Kiros tell Laguna where we're going and then get equipped, you're coming too.' He said to him.
Kiros raised an eyebrow and gave Jayson a look.
'Please?' Jayson added and Kiros nodded, smiling as he left the room.
'Have you gone crazy?' Quistis yelled.
'What do you mean?' Jayson asked politely.
'Going on a mission without Squall! He's the commander!' Quistis snapped.
'Look, Squall's worrying about Rinoa and I don't really want to confront him over anything right now. If anything happens I'll take full responsibility. Besides surely you'll be there to keep an eye on me Instructor?' Jayson replied, his voice level.
Quistis growled angrily, something Jayson never expected to hear from her. 'Fine.' She relented. 'You'd better make sure I don't regret this.'
'I won't. Anyways I'd better go tell Meia before she wonders where I got to.' He told her.
'Oh?' Quistis said suggestively watching Jayson blush.
Jayson didn't reply and headed back to his room. Quistis sighed and glanced at the two scholars who were looking at her strangely.
'Well?' she asked.
'Nothing!' the scholars squeaked and started going through the books again.