Chapter Eleven: Fury
Truth time had come.
I would conquer and win – I can feel it this time, victory!
Hyperion was polished and ready to perfection. This was it – I left my room at around eight in the evening when Gaia is likely to be training. I crept into the Training Centre, in case Gaia decided to carry out her target practice on unsuspecting students.
As I approached, I heard voices. Wyvern and Gaia like voices.
"I thought you were in Galbadia!" I heard Wyvern gasp. I saw the two standing in the entrance clearing, both with blazing eyes – well I assume Wyvern's were blazing, but she had her back to me.
Gaia looked ready to kill and began to step forward towards Wyvern. I came out of the shadows and approached the two, readying myself to break up a fight.
"Hey!" I shouted unhelpfully and the two looked at me – Gaia with an anger I've never seen before and Wyvern with fear.
"What's going on?" I continued, Hyperion resting on a shoulder, but I was readying her for action.
"She's the one..." was all Wyvern could whisper and I looked over to Gaia for an explanation.
Gaia looked scary. Terrifying. Her blue-grey eyes flamed eerily and her black hair seemed to sharpen into miniature Fervent blades.
"That is an Estharian spy!" her voice was raised. I have never heard Gaia shout. And I didn't really want to again. She was out for blood and the fierce, animosity of her tone made Wyvern give a tremble.
Wyvern looked pretty scared now, ex Fell Angel or not.
"You're not Gaia at all! You're..." Wyvern shivered horribly, "You're... Kaira. Kaira Firedrake, ex Galbadia sharpshooter militant! You..." a tear slid down her face, "you were the one who did this to me!" At this, Wyvern pointed to her back, her other hand gripped in a tight fist as furious tears formed.
A dark cloud of memories passed over Gaia, or Kaira's face.
"Maybe. Maybe I was Kaira once, but not anymore," Gaia finally decided.
Wyvern burst into fury. "You haven't changed! You're exactly as I remember you when you were at Garden for that first term! Spy hunting, it turned out! And you took it out on me! You took everyone I knew away and left me alone! And then, to finish me off, you scarred me in Timber!" she screamed, tears flowing freely. Her voice cracked across the Training Centre, causing a few monsters to stir and shift sleepily around in the bushes.
I stepped up to Wyvern, who was breaking down and held her tightly. She half collapsed into my arms sobbing, before shaking herself and pulling away.
"No..." she said to me, her breathing shallow with anger, "I got to sort this out for myself... the good old fashioned way, right Kaira?" and with that she expertly reached, without taking her eyes off Gaia-slash-Kaira, to her thighs where her two feather shaped blades with the ebony handles and the long chains with the small black wing charm hanging on the ends. Corona and Laudare – Wyvern's halo and blessing. She expertly twirled them around in her hands, before freezing in a fighting stance blades forward, ready.
Gaia-slash-Kaira nodded, "No magic," and swept her blade over her shoulder where it'd been slung and composed herself into her resolute fighting stance with a determined glare. This felt like a fight to the death.
They strafed, their eyes never leaving each other. I didn't know what to do – fight, stand and watch? Gaia had had enough and charged with an air of an unbreakable force. Wyvern flinched, but spun away from the impending attack and twisted around in her traditional tandem blade attack. Her back briefly faced Gaia as she went to do a 360 turn to put her weight behind Corona and Laudare but Gaia recovered her balance and used this opportunity to hurl her bodyweight into Fervent and strike Wyvern in the back.
"NO!" I yelled, readying Hyperion. My yell warned Wyvern and she dived into a forward roll – arms straight out to prevent a nasty accident with her weapons – before springing to her feet and swinging round and steadying herself.
"Don't help me," her eyes briefly caught mine, "If I'm struck down... then that's the way it's meant to be."
Gaia monopolised this and charged again, but seemed a little slower and more cautious. Wyvern didn't appear to notice this slight change in pace and paid for it. She tried to dive out of the way, but at her slightly slower speed she was able to redirect her blade in mid-attack. Fervent slashed across Wyvern's back. Thankfully it wasn't deep, but still blood began to seep down her exposed back. Wyvern was on all fours, but didn't scream. As if she could see behind her she's swept her leg around and tripped Gaia up before leaping up, spinning in midair and forcing Corona and Laudare down toward the prone Gaia. Gaia's eyes flashed in realisation and tried to roll away, but Laudare found its mark and sunk into Gaia's right arm, while Corona harmlessly marred the concrete and not flesh.
Gaia yelled in anger, not fear, but remained still.
I still had Hyperion waiting for the fight to get too deep. Some would say this was already enough, but I suppose my past fights had taught me better. I knew this wasn't done.
Wyvern gave a harsh laugh and stumbled to her knees next to Gaia, who still laid motionless, eyes fixed on Laudare through the side of her arm. It wasn't serious – I doubt anything important got sliced, but it must have hurt. Wyvern straddled Gaia to pin her down.
"Hah, who'd have thought you and your friend's attacks would have helped me later, hey Kaira? I didn't feel a thing; nerve damage you BITCH!" screamed Wyvern and smashed a fist into Gaia's nose. Now that did make Gaia yell in pain.
"AAARRGGH!!! YOU FUCKING BITCH!!!" Gaia howled and grabbed Laudare. With a grimace she ripped the blade from her flesh and chucked it hard at Wyvern. Wyvern dodged and her precious blade clattered to the side. She glanced at where it fell and Gaia took the opportunity to smack Wyvern as hard as she could at her turned head. She gave a surprised yell and Gaia shoved her off, clambering to her feet. It was a free flow of blood – Wyvern's like a red sheet down her back and Gaia's wrapping around her arm like a ruby snake. The two girls weren't going anywhere soon – this was going to continue to the final blow... and I had the feeling that the person who got that blow weren't gonna get up from it. This was raw hatred spilling over into a frenzied battle.
The two were back on their feet and began strafing once again, more focused than before. Wyvern was as concentrated as she could be, but I knew from past experience that Gaia was queen of focusing – her intensity now was unbelievable; she probably could set the Training Centre alight.
"This is it. Final round, Kaira. We're finishing this, now," the steeliness in Wyvern's voice was laden with heavy emotion. Gaia gave a slight stiff nod, not allowing her to lose sight of Wyvern. I noticed Wyvern hadn't picked Laudare up – it lay helpless on the concrete. Wyvern was in her fighting stance, but it was weakened without the defence Laudare provided and Gaia knew it. Her lips curled up unpleasantly as she lumbered Fervent onto her shoulder casually.
"Poor Wyvern, lost her protection already," she sneered before charging again, sword forward. Wyvern could do nothing but run away to the side. Gaia tried to turn and redirect the blow, but it went off course and Fervent pierced air while Wyvern twisted to face Gaia and slashed Corona across Gaia's back, who screeched in a mixture of pain and fury, and fell to the floor in agony.
From there, Gaia's eyes burned with unspeakable fury and her eyes began to glow devilishly, with red tints shining around her irises while her skin gained a ruby hue – perhaps some kind of temporary armour, I couldn't tell. She lifted Fervent and carved a symbol in the air – it looked like some kind of decorative C.
"Chandrakanan!" she screamed and from the tip of the blade exploded a fiery dragon, which made the air ripple with the intense flames as it snaked out of the blade and headed toward Wyvern, it's burnished crimson eyes watching her.
Wyvern took one look at the thing and backed off, her eyes wide with fear as the creature of flames squirmed through the air toward her. I could see her strength fading and she knew it. She heaved in a breath, then became calm.
"You don't scare me, Kaira," she said levelly and her tattooed shoulders began to shift and grow out of her skin while the dragon circled, it's flames losing their intensity as they stopping making ripples in the air around it before it went into a second attack. Wyvern's eyes shone an inhuman shade of turquoise as she sprinted unnaturally fast towards Laudare and picked it up before resuming her normal fighting stance as the black wings were ready and sprouted from her tattooed ones. They unfurled and shifted as if to test they worked before giving a forceful flap which lifted Wyvern up into the air and out of the path of the attacking Chandrakanan limit break with her own unique one.
The dragon turned like a snake in midair and Wyvern turned to look as it struck, only able to lift her blades defensively to protect herself from the dragon dashing itself against her. Thankfully it had begun to burn out the longer it took to hit her, so the damage wasn't as serious as it could have been.
She did scream and fall out of the sky, her wings charred and in pieces – black feathers forlornly fluttering to the ground along with her. She hit the ground with a thud, but didn't seem as concerned with the fall, instead with her scorched and damaged wings.
Wyvern delicately touched them and winced, then they folded up and returned to her shoulders, leaving her with a blackened front of her outfit from the dragon's revenge. Gaia seemed a little out of it by now – I think the Chandrakanan limit break took it out of her by her slightly glassy eyes. Even Fervent had been let go and was lying on the ground next to her.
Meanwhile, Wyvern had dropped Laudare once more after the explosion of flames and was gripping Corona tightly, her eyes focused on Gaia. Gaia appeared to pick up on this and snapped out of it, gripping Fervent once more. The two of them looked like they were preparing to face off one another again, but in the shapes their in, they're not even going to barely get to their feet.
Okay, this has gone on long enough.
"STOP!" I roared. Wyvern froze and Gaia remained on the floor. Gaia slowly climbed to her feet painstakingly slowly to help lessen the pain in her back, but sank to her knees silently. Her top was torn straight across and completely bloody while her Fervent lay on the floor again, much like Laudare. I pointed Hyperion between the two of them.
"Wyvern, put Corona down," I said slowly between gritted teeth. Wyvern looked scared now – of me. She delicately laid Corona down, keeping her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Gaia.
"Kaira deserves it," she whispered softly. I sighed and shook my head, "No, no she doesn't, Wyvern. No-one does. Do you think you deserved it?"
Wyvern sunk to her knees, sombre and subdued.
"No," she whimpered and began to cry. She crawled over to Gaia and gently laid her hands over Gaia's back to stem the bleeding.
Gaia gasped, swung round and screamed, "FIRAGA!" at the top of her voice. Wyvern gasped and began to roll away, but she was not going to avoid it. My eyes widened and a thought popped into my head as the torrent of flames gathered in Gaia's hand directed at Wyvern.
"REFLECT!" I bellowed at Wyvern. The spell began to take effect as a green sheen flashed in front of Wyvern's terrified form. The spell fired out of Gaia's hand, now beyond her control. She realised what had happened and began to try and dive away, but it was too late. Wyvern was sitting on the ground – her legs straight out and her arms rose to protect her head. The spell rebounded from my reflect spell in a clash of sparking green against vivid orange and sped towards Gaia and I felt terrible about what was about to happen.
She shrieked so loud when her skin was scorched by her own magic. Her hands shook as the flames curled away into nothingness – she was beaten. It had hit her back and side full force, blistering her badly and she fell forward face down to the floor.
Wyvern sat in shock at the aftermath and unsteadily rose to her feet. She swayed, but stayed up and stumbled over to me. I was shaken by the whole ordeal – me, actually shaken. I slowly walked over to Gaia's crumpled form and crouched to get a look at her and check she was alive. Wyvern's eyes were glazed over. She was slipping into shock by the look of it. I leant near to Gaia's slack mouth. I heaved a sigh of relief – she was still breathing. I turned to Wyvern and gave her a shake.
"Come on, Wyvern, you have to snap out of it. She's fine – you're – you're fine." I tried to comfort her, and then noticed her now blood soaked back. Oh no, now that could be why she was in shock. I went to leave her, but her weakened hand clamped on my arm. Her eyes managed to fasten on mine. We shared a timeless moment – her turquoise eyes mesmerised me.
"Seif..." she whispered and her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell backwards. I put my arms behind her and gently lowered her to the ground and she opened her eyes again, but they were glazed again. This wasn't looking good at all.
I stood and ran to an emergency phone near the Training Centre entrance. I frantically grabbed it and it automatically connected to the Infirmary.
"Dr. Kadowaki here," Dr. K's voice sounded dull; bad line, I guess. I thanked my stars she was in.
"Dr. K! There's an emergency in the Training Centre. Wyvern's in shock and Gaia... she's in a bad way," I hastily through the tale. Dr. K sprang into action. "I'm on my way," and the phone went dead.
I hurried back to the two. It was grim; Wyvern had fell back unconscious and Gaia remained where she was. I dashed to Wyvern and sat her up shouting sharply, "Wyvern! Come on – wake up!" I shook her as hard as I dared, but she didn't wake up. She was breathing fine. I laid her back down and turned Gaia over onto her back. She too, was unconscious, but breathing, so I left her down. I started casting Curaga on the two.
"Double!... Dispel... Curaga... Curaga... Curaga..." I monotonously cast. The wounds began healing on the two, but they'd both taken pretty heavy blood losses. You can't put blood back in with Curaga. I knelt next to Wyvern and pulled her into my arms and cradled her softly.
"Please Wyvern... don't do this. Stay," I whispered. I heard running footsteps and Kadowaki appeared with a SeeD carrying medical equipment.
"I'm here, Seifer. This is – well, introduce yourself, boy." Kadowaki wasn't messing with any shit today – she was on the case. She went to go to Wyvern, but I shook my head.
"Gaia is much worse off – she took a huge slash in the back and a Firaga reflected back on herself," I explained, still keeping Wyvern closely coddled to me. Kadowaki nodded sharply and went to Gaia.
Meanwhile, the guy put the gear down between the two patients and knelt next to me. He glanced at my protectiveness over Wyvern, before looking to me.
"I'm Ryden Fords. I'm training as a med student," he gave a small smile before firmly prying Wyvern away from me and laying her down. He checked her over carefully before turning to Dr. K.
"She's definitely in shock. She's going to need bringing in," he called to the busy Kadowaki. Kadowaki had wrapped a bandage tightly around where Gaia had been struck. Looks like the Curaga hadn't helped too much.
"Same with this one; Get the stretchers, Fords," she commanded. This Ryden got up and left Wyvern, rummaged in a bag and pulled out two folded up stretchers. I divided my looks between Wyvern and Dr. Kadowaki's progress on Gaia. Dr. K's brow was furrowed as she got some kind of cream and began putting over the charred flesh. Ryden unfolded the stretchers and took them over to Kadowaki, who was still working on Gaia, but took the briefest glance at Ryden.
"Good boy; now put Miss Kohl on it – I'm still dealing with Ferndrake and then you and Seifer are going to take her to the Infirmary," Kadowaki explained to Ryden as she wiped her hands on her white coat. Ryden gave me a sideways look as if to size me up, but quickly went to attending Wyvern.
"Hey, can you help me help Kohl onto the stretcher?" he asked, taking her shoulders into his hands.
I didn't like him touching her, but gave a nod.
"It's Wyvern. Kohl's her surname," I corrected him as I picked her legs up.
"Sorry. Um, let's shift her now," he sheepishly replied. I coolly moved her over and together we shifted the stretcher up and out of the Training Centre. As we carefully walked along with Wyvern lying motionlessly Ryden peered at her in a way I didn't like.
"What happened back there?" he asked with a frown – as if I had done it or something. I glared at him. "They fought and didn't want me to chip in. So I waited until I thought it had gone far enough and tried to stop them," I said a little irately, speeding up a little. Ryden let it drop as we got to the Infirmary and I did what Ryden instructed, putting her on an infirmary bed.
Ryden ran a hand through his hair and turned to go, but twisted his head round to say, "Stay here while I help Dr. Kadowaki," and left me alone with Wyvern.
I gazed at her and felt guilty I'd let her do this to herself. Her beautiful eyes were hidden under her lids and her face had the same pallor from when I'd pulled her out of the water. Seems ages ago now... I noticed her hair was splayed out around her face with her lovely dark blond with her russet streaks, so I brushed it gently into place. Why did I let her do this?
I didn't like this Ryden guy – especially the way he keeps glancing at Wyvern. Him with his pretty boy floppy black hair and the brown eyes I suppose all the girls are meant to fall for. Huh, probably a player...
I gave a small jump at the realisation I was describing me before I became the Sorceress Knight. It made my skin crawl slightly, thinking that. That Ryden guy probably is a perfectly nice person. Nicer than I'd ever been. It made me realise how inadequate a person I was, I mean why do I have some kind of right to take possession over Wyvern like that? The Ryden guy was probably more qualified than I could ever be to look after Wyvern and not just in the medical capacity. I kicked myself for thinking like that and forced myself to think about other things, like the problem at hand.
Ryden and Kadowaki came in with Gaia, who still didn't look great, and put her on the next bed.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, Seifer," Kadowaki said seriously and with a heavy sigh, I walked out. I strolled over to the cafeteria and ate by himself. The kids all eyed me suspiciously, but left me alone.
I didn't want to leave the cafeteria – there was nowhere I wanted to go. I felt sick that I'd allowed the fight to get that far – But I'd seen battles before, right? I knew when it had to stop. Hah, I was sneering at my own advice.
I stood suddenly and a few nearby kids paused or swayed a little away from me.
"Will you give me a break?!" I lashed out at their pathetic terrified faces and stormed out with a growl. I left Garden and headed to the Fire Cave in a rage with myself.
When I arrived, no-one was there taking their tests, so I forced my way in past the two Garden Faculty and slashed up every creature I could find until I bled and sweat out my anger.
After a few hours I left, beaten down into a calmer state, left empty and only accompanied by pain. A few poisoned cut graced my arms along with some gashes that were to be expected when you fight unprepared. But they were unprepared, weren't they? That's why they're in the Infirmary – why Wyvern's in there with that Ryden guy... I hissed to myself as I slogged my way back to the main entrance, cutting up anything in my path.
When I got back, I tried to enter the Infirmary again but Dr. Kadowaki insisted I didn't see either of them until tomorrow. I held my tongue – I had a few choice words ready, but I knew I wouldn't be allowed to see Wyvern at all if I pushed that far, so I slouched back to my dorm and after a long while of tormenting myself I managed to fall asleep.