Chapter 38
The loud rapping noise on his door found it's way to Sifan Leonhart's eardrum. He threw away his sheet and waddled his way out of bed. Rubbing his eyes lazily, he opened the door.
Marlene stood large-eyed in front of him, "Hee haw! Seefoo in underwear!"
[Yikes!]
He slammed his door shut. He was indeed, in his underwear.
After a quick shower and change of dress, he opened the door but strangely found no one there.
[Hmm...maybe they're at the reception]
Sifan took his Phoenix gunblade holder and let it hang by it side as he walked down the stairs. Like he expected, Marlene was having a conversation with the receptionist while Trex was watching them.
All of a sudden, Sifan felt a couple of soft hands hug him from behind. He squeezed himself out of it and turned around.
Phillona beamed at him, "G' morning Seef...wow...you let Marlene see you in your underwear but we were together for two whole-"
"Cut it out..." Sifan snapped as Phillona giggled.
"Oookay..." Marlene said running over to Sifan, "Lichita hills bound submarine leaves in 10 minutes!"
Trex followed behind her, "Yeah man, better park our asses in that sub fast..."
Sifan nodded, "I'll need to pay for my stay the inn...you guys go ahead, I'll catch up..."
"I'll come with Seef..." Phillona said.
Trex and Marlene looked at each other and grinned happily.
[Hey, what the heck is that supposed to mean?]
They then scurried out of the inn as Sifan paid the inn money at the reception. He went back to his room and made sure he didn't leave anything. Phillona did the same. Soon, both of them proceeded outside the inn and headed to the dock.
"Aquadia was fun, huh?" Phillona said as they made their way across the street in the direction of the dock.
"Yeah well...if you bar the Gerard incident, me sleeping in prison, the omega caves torture, you trying to kill yourself, running into poachy...." Sifan said putting up his fingers one by one.
"Oh shut up..." Phillona said, her brown curtain-like hair blowing behind her, "Look at the bright side.... you saved my life from that iron giant, we got loads of money from materia hunting and.... I..."
"You...what?" Sifan said, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled at him, "Nothing..."
*******************
It was late afternoon when the submarine splashed out of the water in front of a snowy strip of land. Sifan waited as the sub's door slide open. A wooden ramp connected the place where the submarine was floating to the snowy ground ahead of them. The four of them followed in line and soon found themselves standing alone on the peninsular area of land, covered by white snow. Cool, chilly winds greeted them, as they walked away from the coast to a town visible at a distance.
"That's Lichita town." Marlene said as the four of them waddled through the snow.
"Yup...and right there..." Trex said, pointing to a small group of snow-covered hills behind the town, "Those hills are what they call Lichita hills..."
Phillona nodded, "Usually, there aren't many tourists because of the monster population..."
"Yeah..." Marlene said as Sifan walked on quietly, "Ever since a giant troll clubbed a skier to death, very few people come around..."
"I've seen a giant Troll..." Trex said, "They're like huge stone giants ya know...carrying clubs larger than them..."
Marlene giggled, "Yeah, something like that...."
Sifan shivered as a cold gust of wind blew through his brown locks of hair, "Yeah well...I am outta here once I meet Avatar and decide where to go...."
"Hey..." Marlene said, "Did you find a way to get back to your world?"
"No..." Sifan replied, "I think I am gonna be around for quiet some time, I guess..."
Sifan still didn't know why he had agreed with Lyris...why he had agreed he wouldn't try to return to his world.
Trex, Marlene and Phillona were involved with some chitter-chatter as Sifan thought about the past few days of his life.
[I can't believe what's happened... It's all like one big dream...]
Initially, he had felt insecure and troubled about his new world but as time went on, he had forgotten about it. As time went on, it didn't seem too strange. He felt like he was just living in the moment, going with the tide, not knowing when it would all come to an end. A part of him had accepted his new world eventually but what he still couldn't swallow was the PURPOSE of it all. Sifan remembered the bitter nightmare he had about Sephiroth and Cloud. That dream WAS the purpose, that dream WAS the reason. In other words, he was BROUGHT here for one reason and one reason only, and that is to face...Sephiroth.
Sifan swallowed hard and an uneasy feeling settled into him. It dawned on him that he may not even make it back to balamb alive. He recalled every minute of his dream, or rather, nightmare. When he thought of the way Sephiroth had sent the masamune through his stomach, it made him shudder harder than ever. Sephiroth's bloodstained blade, his satisfied and evil smile, and the utter glare of terror in his fiery green, glowing eyes. And as he curled his lip from these thoughts, he didn't realize Phillona had been watching him. Trex and Marlene were too busy arguing with each other about something.
The cold, demoting and troubling thoughts of Sephiroth made Sifan feel very unpleasant when Phillona snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Seef..." she interrupted, "something wrong...?"
"Nah..." Sifan lied.
"You can tell me...." she said as Trex and Marlene continued their war of words.
"It's nothing..." he lied again. She saw through him easily. Sifan was a bad liar as far as Phillona was concerned.
"Just tell me if you're feeling uncomfortable thoughts, ok?" she said, tilting her head.
Sifan nodded half-heartedly.
Just then, Trex swung out his double-barrel shotgun from the inside of his jacket, "Heads up guys! Giant condor!"
The giant condor that had been circling around in the sky, decided to make a snack of the four teenagers. It was halfway down the air when Trex had spotted it. It's large wingspan cast a shadow on the four teenagers under it as it eyed Trex. It tried to swoop down on Trex but the black-haired boy jumped backwards, aimed his weapon and fired a deafening shot at the giant bird. A few feathers dropped to the ground as it screeched and landed with a thud a few feet in front of the party. It got on its feet and began surveying its opponents as to who would make a good meal.
Trex loaded his shotgun with another bullet as Marlene readied her staff and Phillona tightened her gloves. Sifan stood lazily for a while before shrugging and whisking out this gunblade.
The condor decided to have a go at Marlene. It rushed at her with a giant hop, beak positioned for a hard peck. She did a little backward hop of her own and gave a violent jab in between the eyes of the condor. The condor stood screeching with pain as Marlene turned to Sifan and signaled, "Sifan! Use my staff for a pedestal launch..."
Sifan nodded as Phillona caste a haste spell on Sifan. The condor was too busy recovering from the painful jab it had received in between its eyes. Sifan rushed to Marlene, holding his gunblade by his side. The haste spell increased his swiftness as Marlene crouched to the ground holding out her staff for Sifan. Sifan leapt on to her staff and Marlene immediately launched him into the air with a hard grunt. She managed it despite the fact that she felt him a little heavy. The projectile was pretty high and Sifan managed to rise into the air above the condor's head. The condor recovered fully from pierce it had received from Marlene, only to find Sifan land his gunblade right between its eyes again. Sifan added to the hurt by triggering his gunblade. The condor screeched painfully as its neck lashed backwards like a rubber band. Trex planted the finishing touch. He aimed right between the condor's eyes and fired two powerful shots from his double-barreled menace. The nerve bundle in between the condor's eyes was damaged beyond resistance. Realizing its attempt for an afternoon snack had proved too expensive, the condor let out a painful holler and dropped to the ground, dead.
Phillona and Marlene relaxed as Trex returned his gun to its holster inside his jacket. Sifan however, stood in front of the condor, eyeing the dead bird, gunblade still in hand. Sifan had destroyed the bird with Trex, Marlene and Phillona's help. A headache drilled through him when he realized that neither Phillona, Marlene nor Trex were going to be around when his gunblade meets the masamune.
*************************
Lichita town seemed like it had a very thin population. A few gray-walled cottages stood scattered around the snow-covered area that was constituted by the town. Among the cottages were Materia shops for traveling fighters, weapon sellers as well as Armor suppliers. The only thing that was dark against the white background of the snow was the smoke that was seeping out of the cottage chimneys. A few feet away from the line of shops were a few more small houses. At the end of the row of houses was a large cottage, which Sifan guessed to be the inn.
The party made their way towards the inn before stopping before a couple of old-aged men. Trex struck an immediate conversation with them as if he knew them while Marlene looked on. Phillona stood near her but she turned to Sifan and smiled. He half-heartedly smiled back and started to dig his pockets for money to pay at the inn.
The two old men hurried away to a cottage as Trex spun around to Sifan, "Seefo my man...put that money away..."
Sifan looked up at Marlene, who was watching him with a smile on her face, "We're all gonna stay in Trex's grandpa's place, silly..."
"Oh..." Sifan said and thought about it for a while, "Well...uh...I'll stay at the inn...I don't wanna trouble anybody..."
Trex was stubborn, "Hey man! I don't care...there's room for four people there...so there aint gonna be any problem..."
"Exactly..." Sifan said, "You have room for only four...Avatar's the fifth one..."
"Oh shit..." Trex mumbled, "I forgot all about him..."
Sifan shrugged, "It wont be too nice if I leave Avatar out and stay with you guys..."
"Hey, we can make room for one mo-" Trex started when Sifan interrupted again, "It's ok Trex..."
"Fine..." Trex sighed, "But you'll join us for dinner right...?"
Sifan nodded.
"Great!" Marlene said, "We'll see you then..."
Marlene and Trex departed to Trex's grandpa's cottage at the far end of the small Lichita town.
[They shoulda called this place Lichita village...not Lichita town...]
Sifan saw Phillona stare at the snow-covered hills behind the cottages at the edge of Lichita town.
"Well..." he said to the brown-haired girl, "Aren't you going...?"
She smiled at him, "Can I know what you were thinking after we killed that condor...you were very silent..."
"It's none of your business..." he replied, nailing every word like his father.
"You're impossible..." she replied, "I'll see you at dinner.... Bye, handsome..."
She ran away in the direction where Sifan had seen Trex and Marlene head. He slowly waddled his way to the inn, the ice under his boots making a crushing noise with every step. Soon he found himself at the dusty reception of the Lichita inn.
The receptionist rolled his eyes and stared at Sifan, "you're name, kid?"
"Sifan..."
"Leonhart...?"
"Yes..."
The receptionist reached under his desk and pulled out a key, "Here...Mr. Avatar Fenis booked a room for you...he's out at the moment though..."
Sifan took the key and made his way up the stairs through the dusty, old-carpeted corridor. He opened his room door and stumbled inside. A medium-sized bed lay in the middle of the room. A rusty fan rotated above him and the floor looked like it hadn't been cleaned for ages. A square-shaped window with a broken pane stood at an end. Sifan locked the door behind him and walked over to the window. He lifted the window glass and looked outside. Sifan saw the town's exit leading to a pathway that seemed to run uphill towards the snowy slopes of Lichita hills.
Sifan walked back to his bed and plopped on it. He heard the broken springs under his bed tweak as he watched the rusty fan spin slowly, looking like it might fall on his face any minute.
[Maybe I should've stayed at Trex's grandpa's house....]
He shrugged away the thoughts and drifted off to sleep, hoping Avatar wouldn't pour any water on him to wake him up.
************************
The loud rattling on the door rudely awakened Sifan Leonhart. He lazily sat up and walked to the door and opened it. Avatar Fenis stood before him, his black hair tied into the same long ponytail. On his face was a very faint smile.
His smile was so faint that it made Sifan's grin look like that of a laughing clown.
"Hey..." was all Avatar mustered up.
"Come in, you idiot..." Sifan said making way for his best friend to come in.
"Nah..." Avatar replied nonchalantly, "I need sleep...I haven't slept in two days..."
Sifan heaved, "So...you've been spending sleepless nights trying to find your past...? Really, Avatar..."
Avatar nodded weakly.
"You don't look so great..." Sifan mumbled watching Avatar.
"I am fine..." he replied, "I'll see you later...I am going to sleep a bit..."
Sifan nodded. Avatar Fenis managed another pale smile and moved away to his own room. Sifan shrugged and headed back to his bed as the evening sun went down behind the hills outside Lichita town.
Avatar Fenis closed his room door and took his katana blade out of its sheath and glared at it. It did not glimmer in its silvery glow as it usually did. The reason was simple.... It was covered by human blood...
************************
The loud rapping noise on his door found it's way to Sifan Leonhart's eardrum. He threw away his sheet and waddled his way out of bed. Rubbing his eyes lazily, he opened the door.
Marlene stood large-eyed in front of him, "Hee haw! Seefoo in underwear!"
[Yikes!]
He slammed his door shut. He was indeed, in his underwear.
After a quick shower and change of dress, he opened the door but strangely found no one there.
[Hmm...maybe they're at the reception]
Sifan took his Phoenix gunblade holder and let it hang by it side as he walked down the stairs. Like he expected, Marlene was having a conversation with the receptionist while Trex was watching them.
All of a sudden, Sifan felt a couple of soft hands hug him from behind. He squeezed himself out of it and turned around.
Phillona beamed at him, "G' morning Seef...wow...you let Marlene see you in your underwear but we were together for two whole-"
"Cut it out..." Sifan snapped as Phillona giggled.
"Oookay..." Marlene said running over to Sifan, "Lichita hills bound submarine leaves in 10 minutes!"
Trex followed behind her, "Yeah man, better park our asses in that sub fast..."
Sifan nodded, "I'll need to pay for my stay the inn...you guys go ahead, I'll catch up..."
"I'll come with Seef..." Phillona said.
Trex and Marlene looked at each other and grinned happily.
[Hey, what the heck is that supposed to mean?]
They then scurried out of the inn as Sifan paid the inn money at the reception. He went back to his room and made sure he didn't leave anything. Phillona did the same. Soon, both of them proceeded outside the inn and headed to the dock.
"Aquadia was fun, huh?" Phillona said as they made their way across the street in the direction of the dock.
"Yeah well...if you bar the Gerard incident, me sleeping in prison, the omega caves torture, you trying to kill yourself, running into poachy...." Sifan said putting up his fingers one by one.
"Oh shut up..." Phillona said, her brown curtain-like hair blowing behind her, "Look at the bright side.... you saved my life from that iron giant, we got loads of money from materia hunting and.... I..."
"You...what?" Sifan said, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled at him, "Nothing..."
*******************
It was late afternoon when the submarine splashed out of the water in front of a snowy strip of land. Sifan waited as the sub's door slide open. A wooden ramp connected the place where the submarine was floating to the snowy ground ahead of them. The four of them followed in line and soon found themselves standing alone on the peninsular area of land, covered by white snow. Cool, chilly winds greeted them, as they walked away from the coast to a town visible at a distance.
"That's Lichita town." Marlene said as the four of them waddled through the snow.
"Yup...and right there..." Trex said, pointing to a small group of snow-covered hills behind the town, "Those hills are what they call Lichita hills..."
Phillona nodded, "Usually, there aren't many tourists because of the monster population..."
"Yeah..." Marlene said as Sifan walked on quietly, "Ever since a giant troll clubbed a skier to death, very few people come around..."
"I've seen a giant Troll..." Trex said, "They're like huge stone giants ya know...carrying clubs larger than them..."
Marlene giggled, "Yeah, something like that...."
Sifan shivered as a cold gust of wind blew through his brown locks of hair, "Yeah well...I am outta here once I meet Avatar and decide where to go...."
"Hey..." Marlene said, "Did you find a way to get back to your world?"
"No..." Sifan replied, "I think I am gonna be around for quiet some time, I guess..."
Sifan still didn't know why he had agreed with Lyris...why he had agreed he wouldn't try to return to his world.
Trex, Marlene and Phillona were involved with some chitter-chatter as Sifan thought about the past few days of his life.
[I can't believe what's happened... It's all like one big dream...]
Initially, he had felt insecure and troubled about his new world but as time went on, he had forgotten about it. As time went on, it didn't seem too strange. He felt like he was just living in the moment, going with the tide, not knowing when it would all come to an end. A part of him had accepted his new world eventually but what he still couldn't swallow was the PURPOSE of it all. Sifan remembered the bitter nightmare he had about Sephiroth and Cloud. That dream WAS the purpose, that dream WAS the reason. In other words, he was BROUGHT here for one reason and one reason only, and that is to face...Sephiroth.
Sifan swallowed hard and an uneasy feeling settled into him. It dawned on him that he may not even make it back to balamb alive. He recalled every minute of his dream, or rather, nightmare. When he thought of the way Sephiroth had sent the masamune through his stomach, it made him shudder harder than ever. Sephiroth's bloodstained blade, his satisfied and evil smile, and the utter glare of terror in his fiery green, glowing eyes. And as he curled his lip from these thoughts, he didn't realize Phillona had been watching him. Trex and Marlene were too busy arguing with each other about something.
The cold, demoting and troubling thoughts of Sephiroth made Sifan feel very unpleasant when Phillona snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Seef..." she interrupted, "something wrong...?"
"Nah..." Sifan lied.
"You can tell me...." she said as Trex and Marlene continued their war of words.
"It's nothing..." he lied again. She saw through him easily. Sifan was a bad liar as far as Phillona was concerned.
"Just tell me if you're feeling uncomfortable thoughts, ok?" she said, tilting her head.
Sifan nodded half-heartedly.
Just then, Trex swung out his double-barrel shotgun from the inside of his jacket, "Heads up guys! Giant condor!"
The giant condor that had been circling around in the sky, decided to make a snack of the four teenagers. It was halfway down the air when Trex had spotted it. It's large wingspan cast a shadow on the four teenagers under it as it eyed Trex. It tried to swoop down on Trex but the black-haired boy jumped backwards, aimed his weapon and fired a deafening shot at the giant bird. A few feathers dropped to the ground as it screeched and landed with a thud a few feet in front of the party. It got on its feet and began surveying its opponents as to who would make a good meal.
Trex loaded his shotgun with another bullet as Marlene readied her staff and Phillona tightened her gloves. Sifan stood lazily for a while before shrugging and whisking out this gunblade.
The condor decided to have a go at Marlene. It rushed at her with a giant hop, beak positioned for a hard peck. She did a little backward hop of her own and gave a violent jab in between the eyes of the condor. The condor stood screeching with pain as Marlene turned to Sifan and signaled, "Sifan! Use my staff for a pedestal launch..."
Sifan nodded as Phillona caste a haste spell on Sifan. The condor was too busy recovering from the painful jab it had received in between its eyes. Sifan rushed to Marlene, holding his gunblade by his side. The haste spell increased his swiftness as Marlene crouched to the ground holding out her staff for Sifan. Sifan leapt on to her staff and Marlene immediately launched him into the air with a hard grunt. She managed it despite the fact that she felt him a little heavy. The projectile was pretty high and Sifan managed to rise into the air above the condor's head. The condor recovered fully from pierce it had received from Marlene, only to find Sifan land his gunblade right between its eyes again. Sifan added to the hurt by triggering his gunblade. The condor screeched painfully as its neck lashed backwards like a rubber band. Trex planted the finishing touch. He aimed right between the condor's eyes and fired two powerful shots from his double-barreled menace. The nerve bundle in between the condor's eyes was damaged beyond resistance. Realizing its attempt for an afternoon snack had proved too expensive, the condor let out a painful holler and dropped to the ground, dead.
Phillona and Marlene relaxed as Trex returned his gun to its holster inside his jacket. Sifan however, stood in front of the condor, eyeing the dead bird, gunblade still in hand. Sifan had destroyed the bird with Trex, Marlene and Phillona's help. A headache drilled through him when he realized that neither Phillona, Marlene nor Trex were going to be around when his gunblade meets the masamune.
*************************
Lichita town seemed like it had a very thin population. A few gray-walled cottages stood scattered around the snow-covered area that was constituted by the town. Among the cottages were Materia shops for traveling fighters, weapon sellers as well as Armor suppliers. The only thing that was dark against the white background of the snow was the smoke that was seeping out of the cottage chimneys. A few feet away from the line of shops were a few more small houses. At the end of the row of houses was a large cottage, which Sifan guessed to be the inn.
The party made their way towards the inn before stopping before a couple of old-aged men. Trex struck an immediate conversation with them as if he knew them while Marlene looked on. Phillona stood near her but she turned to Sifan and smiled. He half-heartedly smiled back and started to dig his pockets for money to pay at the inn.
The two old men hurried away to a cottage as Trex spun around to Sifan, "Seefo my man...put that money away..."
Sifan looked up at Marlene, who was watching him with a smile on her face, "We're all gonna stay in Trex's grandpa's place, silly..."
"Oh..." Sifan said and thought about it for a while, "Well...uh...I'll stay at the inn...I don't wanna trouble anybody..."
Trex was stubborn, "Hey man! I don't care...there's room for four people there...so there aint gonna be any problem..."
"Exactly..." Sifan said, "You have room for only four...Avatar's the fifth one..."
"Oh shit..." Trex mumbled, "I forgot all about him..."
Sifan shrugged, "It wont be too nice if I leave Avatar out and stay with you guys..."
"Hey, we can make room for one mo-" Trex started when Sifan interrupted again, "It's ok Trex..."
"Fine..." Trex sighed, "But you'll join us for dinner right...?"
Sifan nodded.
"Great!" Marlene said, "We'll see you then..."
Marlene and Trex departed to Trex's grandpa's cottage at the far end of the small Lichita town.
[They shoulda called this place Lichita village...not Lichita town...]
Sifan saw Phillona stare at the snow-covered hills behind the cottages at the edge of Lichita town.
"Well..." he said to the brown-haired girl, "Aren't you going...?"
She smiled at him, "Can I know what you were thinking after we killed that condor...you were very silent..."
"It's none of your business..." he replied, nailing every word like his father.
"You're impossible..." she replied, "I'll see you at dinner.... Bye, handsome..."
She ran away in the direction where Sifan had seen Trex and Marlene head. He slowly waddled his way to the inn, the ice under his boots making a crushing noise with every step. Soon he found himself at the dusty reception of the Lichita inn.
The receptionist rolled his eyes and stared at Sifan, "you're name, kid?"
"Sifan..."
"Leonhart...?"
"Yes..."
The receptionist reached under his desk and pulled out a key, "Here...Mr. Avatar Fenis booked a room for you...he's out at the moment though..."
Sifan took the key and made his way up the stairs through the dusty, old-carpeted corridor. He opened his room door and stumbled inside. A medium-sized bed lay in the middle of the room. A rusty fan rotated above him and the floor looked like it hadn't been cleaned for ages. A square-shaped window with a broken pane stood at an end. Sifan locked the door behind him and walked over to the window. He lifted the window glass and looked outside. Sifan saw the town's exit leading to a pathway that seemed to run uphill towards the snowy slopes of Lichita hills.
Sifan walked back to his bed and plopped on it. He heard the broken springs under his bed tweak as he watched the rusty fan spin slowly, looking like it might fall on his face any minute.
[Maybe I should've stayed at Trex's grandpa's house....]
He shrugged away the thoughts and drifted off to sleep, hoping Avatar wouldn't pour any water on him to wake him up.
************************
The loud rattling on the door rudely awakened Sifan Leonhart. He lazily sat up and walked to the door and opened it. Avatar Fenis stood before him, his black hair tied into the same long ponytail. On his face was a very faint smile.
His smile was so faint that it made Sifan's grin look like that of a laughing clown.
"Hey..." was all Avatar mustered up.
"Come in, you idiot..." Sifan said making way for his best friend to come in.
"Nah..." Avatar replied nonchalantly, "I need sleep...I haven't slept in two days..."
Sifan heaved, "So...you've been spending sleepless nights trying to find your past...? Really, Avatar..."
Avatar nodded weakly.
"You don't look so great..." Sifan mumbled watching Avatar.
"I am fine..." he replied, "I'll see you later...I am going to sleep a bit..."
Sifan nodded. Avatar Fenis managed another pale smile and moved away to his own room. Sifan shrugged and headed back to his bed as the evening sun went down behind the hills outside Lichita town.
Avatar Fenis closed his room door and took his katana blade out of its sheath and glared at it. It did not glimmer in its silvery glow as it usually did. The reason was simple.... It was covered by human blood...
************************