Chapter Fourteen: No Looking Back (Seifer)
Morning. Train to catch.
I rolled out of bed, thanking my stars that I had a dreamless sleep for once and hastily got washed and dressed. The determination was still there – I'm a bit of a one-minded dogmatic blockhead on these kind of things that I decide in a rage. Something inside dares me to go back on what I've said and that's it, I won't back down for anything, nothing.
With my stuff packed ready I left without so much a glare at the receptionist, who chirpily said goodbye and thank you ever so much for staying at the oh-so Lovely Balamb Hotel. I stomped over to the train station and waited for it to arrive with a definite air of impatience which looked like it was worrying the ticket guy by the way he kept eyeing me nervously. Eventually I had to shoot a narrowed glare at him which set him right – not one more look.
Finally at just past nine the train arrived and I gladly climbed aboard, muttering under my breath, "So long suckers," but my heart wasn't in it.
There were no suckers to say goodbye to... except maybe Ryden, the girl-stealing bastard with his prissy black hair and girl-magnet brown eyes.
The train pulled away and I made my way along the carriages to a secluded spot where I wouldn't be bothered. You know, by those people who like to be friendly and talk to you about where they're going and hours later they're explaining all about Little Timmy and Cousin Jim and you wished you'd just ignored them and not given them that little nod of fucking acknowledgement.
I sat in a corner, hunched up with a scowl to ward those bloody happy people off and spent a suitably consuming amount of time polishing Hyperion with an intense expression as I ran the rag along the blade lovingly.
Thankfully I was left alone for the whole journey and hours of polishing later and Deling City beckoned.
I got off and stretched in a masculine manner, swinging Hyperion around dangerously as the passengers filed out around me.
I had arrived.
All bow down to me!
I strolled out to the plaza as if I owned the place and glanced over to Caraway's mansion and had a few memories of poking around the place when I was with Rinoa before discarding the memory with a scowl and headed to the local hotel.
I swung my sword around lazily with a confident smirk as I walked to ward off anyone who felt the need to talk to me for one reason or another. As I crossed the street and walked into the Galbadia Hotel, I noticed her walking up the street. My eyebrows shot through the roof as a fit of emotions took over and I ran over to her, grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, hissing, "What are you doing here, Wyvern?!" too late before I realised it wasn't her at all.
I'm losing it!
"I – I'm not called Wyvern," the girl cried, yanked her shoulder out of my grasp and hurried off I guess in case I came after her.
What am I doing? I can't believe I just pulled a total stranger off the street... well, now I'm officially the bad boy again, so I suppose I was living up to my infamy.
With a glower, I turned on my heel and stomped into the hotel, demanded a room, snatched the key and headed straight to the bar.
"Gimme a Malboro shot, now," I growled, dumping my bag next to me and the barwoman made it up nervously as I took a barstool with an air of grumpiness.
"Uh, sir, don't you want dash of Ochu juice in that? Otherwise it'll be too strong, you see," the barwoman tried to reason and I leant forward menacingly.
"Look, I want to forget. That's why people come into bars, right? So give me a Malboro shot, now," I forced through gritted teeth and the woman jumped into action, placing the glass in front of me.
I grinned evilly at the dark green liquid then set my gaze on the barwoman, who was watching me and the glass with a horrified fascination.
Without taking my eyes off hers, I lifted the glass, raised it above me for a moment before downing it in one. The woman's mouth dropped open and I lowered my eyes to the empty glass I'd placed back on the bar.
It stung, no, it burned like I'd swallowed actual fire. I felt the fire travel down my throat, scorching the skin along the inside of my throat as it went down and settled in my stomach as a bonfire destroying my gut. I kept my mouth clamped shut throughout this and returned my gaze levelly at the woman, who raised her eyebrows in surprise before daintily lifting her hands and giving me a soft applause.
I relinquished my grip on my jaw and gave a smug smile.
"I'd like a large Ochu juice, please," I said hoarsely and the woman burst into laughter.
"Nice try, though, Mr. Hard Man," she gave me credit sarcastically and whipped up the beverage. I prayed that she'd make it before my stomach exploded.
She handed the juice over and I gulped it down as quick as I could and felt the welcome relief of the flames being extinguished.
"Ahh," I sighed, put the glass down and relaxed on the barstool, then looked up.
"It's not 'Mr. Hard Man," I frowned and the woman shrugged.
"Well, what is your name then?" she asked and I quickly had to think up an alias. Galbadia isn't very appreciative of the Sorceress Knight after Vinzer Deling getting killed and everything.
"Al Mason," I lied and the woman regarded me for a moment before extending a hand.
"Sera Jorge, nice to meet you," she smiled and I shook her hand. I could see where this was going – obviously the Malboro performance had caught her attention. More likely my unbelievably good looks and smouldering gaze, oh yeah...
"I'm going out with someone," I blurted and Sera's smile became fixed. Why the hell did I even say that – I don't even have a girlfriend! I just spoiled my own fun!
I'm the bad boy! I berated myself as Sera let go and backed off, still with the frozen smile.
"That's nice," she began, "um, that'll be fifty Gil," she added and I sighed, fishing out the coins from my trousers pocket. I handed them over with a small smile and she gave me a nod.
"Thanks," she said and I got up, leant down and picked my bag up.
"Well, see you around, Sera," I gave a wave and she returned it awkwardly.
I shook my head when I reached the foyer, kicking myself for coming out with that crap before punching the call button for the lift and waiting impatiently.
When it finally arrived, I had to share it with one of those tourists – like on the train – who wanted to tell me all about his trip.
"It's just great here, isn't it?" he grinned at me cheerfully and I glowered and grunted, which unfortunately he took for him to go on.
"I came here to have a look around at the monuments – you know, the new Sorceress one showing what happens to Sorceresses if they come here again and the memorial of ex-President Deling himself. The shops too, wow, they're just amazing-" the lift stopped at my floor and I gladly escaped the man's clutches.
"Well, hope see you about the place!" he cheerily called and I ignored him and heard the lift doors shut, thank Hyne.
I traipsed along the corridor to door sixty and pulled out the key. After an angry struggle with the unwilling door I finally got in and reached out a hand for the light switch. A minute of fumbling my hand brushed over it and the room lit up with soft lighting and a double bed. They didn't do any singles and I had to pay extra, didn't I?
I dumped my things next to the bed, stripped and had a shower, which calmed me a little after that tourist assault. I mechanically got out, dry and clean, and turned the light off and crashed into my bed with a howl. I gave the bed a kick, which only made the pain in my foot worse and climbed into bed more irate than before the damn shower.
A few more strings of curses and I settled down and closed my eyes, allowing the dark to wash over me and take me into sleep.
When I'm asleep though, alone in the dark, I'm vulnerable. There's no defence from dreams, or haunting memories from back at Balamb and Garden.
I wrestled with my mind for a while – forcing it to blank out as much as possible so I didn't have to think about anybody or anything.
... She's on my mind and if I so much as think of her for too long, I'm going to feel guilty. She should be alright now – she's got the Ryden guy.
I woke up screaming in a tangle of covers, like the real hard man I am. The dream came back, but was changed again and it got pretty ugly.
I was sitting on the beach – the sky was the stormiest it had ever been, the waves riding roughly onto the beach while the sky crackled with lightning and the thunder groaned, throwing rain down from the heavens. The shadowy lithe figure appeared down the coast and approached me through the downpour. But this time, it spoke...
"You need to know who I am before it's too late," it said and the shadows began to fall away. I watched in awe as this sheathe came off them and... she was standing there. I'm not sure if I can say her name without breaking down, or something equally sappy.
... Wyvern was there, smiling at me. She crouched so she was level with me and stared soulfully into my eyes, almost pleadingly.
"Listen, I'm not safe. You have to come back-" but she couldn't say anymore as a giant blade pierced her from nowhere, coming out of her stomach. She gasped as it was removed and she gripped her stomach as blood seeped into her already red top. Behind her were the skin of shadows she had discarded, gathered into a being holding the blade. Wyvern took my hand to get my attention back to her.
"It's alright... as long as you're with me. It won't happen," she assured me with a smile and fell back, dead. I couldn't believe it – I was in shock.
And then I screamed and the beach was gone.
I glanced around for a clock, but couldn't find one and got out of bed, rummaged in my bag, pulled out a pair of boxers and pulled them on as I entered the bathroom.
I threw a good amount of cold water over my face.
Was it real? What if she really is in danger? This is stupid – I don't have psychic goddamn powers! That sword though... it looked the spit of Gaia's Fervent. I splashed another load of cold water in my face to snap me out of it and took a deep breath.
Even across the damn sea and she's still affecting me! She's taking a hold on me I don't like in the least. And sinking low enough to say she's in danger – well that's just sick, dream or no. Maybe I'm just anxious about her and forced myself to have a stupid dream about her.
Question is, do I heed it – actually listen to someone and come back? See if she is in danger or not?
I stepped back and examined at my face, hand rubbing my morning stubble thoughtfully. I looked... worn to a frazzle, a wreck. My cool blue eyes seemed to be dead and hollow.
This is what happens when you leave your posse, Seifer.
I grinned and my teeth shone and reminded me of a shark grinning back.
I look like a monster.
I backed away and shook my head. Disbelief shivered across my face.
What am I doing? Abandoning someone and risking the chance they die – that's the act of a monster, a selfish man who vowed to change his ways and become a SeeD, and where am I now? In Deling City, blowing off my exams, because I allowed someone I got on with and someone I... felt about get hurt and I thought that some guy I knew nothing about could take better care of them than I could?
I breathed hard for a few moments before pulling myself together and dashing out of the bathroom. I pulled on my old clothes, grabbed my bag, Hyperion and ran out of the hotel.
What the hell was I thinking?! I've got an exam to sit, a girl to come back to and help and a friend in need!