They say that when Hyne forsook the Garden, it was the first three steps that damned the world. The first was for betrayal--to step far from the tools he had cast away; tools that had cut the hand of their wielder. The second was for trickery--the lie that began the great wars of the world. The third was for escape--to slip beyond the curtains of the Time and forget them.

Hyne was the only god of the world, and his second godly act was to destroy. His white flame burned the fated children, for the life he had given was as easily taken away. From the sparks of this heat came the Sorcery.

And we called the fire Holy.

-

Quistis rarely had to look around to guess who entered a room when a door was opened. There were enough telltale signatures to let her identify any one of her comrades easily--a witty quip in greeting would come from Irvine, an excited "Hey, guys!" would always proceed Selphie, and so on.

When the door to the Esthar Palace Tea Room opened to admit only silence and heavy footfalls, she hardly hesitated before smiling and tossing off a genial "Hello, Squall."

Rinoa, sitting across from her, glanced up and smiled. "How did it go?" she asked.

Squall stalked quietly to her side of the room, settling down in a chair near hers. "...he agreed," he said simply.

Rinoa smiled, laying a hand on his elbow. His gaze flickered to her for a moment, and then returned to Quistis.

"We need to line up a team," he said. Quistis nodded.

"Dr. Odine and Colonel Chale have their men assigned already," she said. "As for our SeeDs, I think Nida and Maiser would be good choices. Usher would be a natural choice to supervise--"

"Nida is out," Squall responded. "He's been assigned to the Tear's Point team."

"Well, what about Draka? He and Usher have worked together several times before, and Maiser will be a good supplement--"

"It would be best to send two people on this mission," Squall stated flatly. "A more flexible team. ...and I'd like you to supervise, Quistis."

Quistis snapped her mouth shut on her next suggestion, and frowned. "You would like me to work under Seifer's command," she said.

"Technically, Seifer is directing the mission. He'll have no real authority over you." Squall gestured vaguely with one hand. "I need you to keep an eye on him."

(Of course. He needs me.) It was hard to refuse Squall when he used language that strong--and, it seemed, he was beginning to realize it. Sometimes, Quistis wondered if Rinoa's influence on him was really all that positive. "Who'll be my support?"

"Maiser and Usher are both competent SeeDs," he responded. "...I wouldn't recommend Draka."

"Fine. Maiser." Quistis swiped the glasses off the bridge of her nose, cleaning them on the hem of her jacket. "I don't think this is a good idea at all, Squall."

Squall shrugged. "Laguna insists that we can trust Seifer," he said. "Naturally, you'll have to assess that for yourself."

Quistis let out a dry chuckle. "But you don't trust him."

Squall shrugged again. "...it's best not to."

Quistis stood up, replacing her glasses. "Well," she said. "I'm going to file the assignment with Xu. I'll see both of you later."

Squall nodded civilly, and Quistis stepped out. Rinoa glanced over, obviously glad that official business was done. "...you really won't forgive him, will you?"

Squall looked at her with the same patience it had taken him three months to develop. "It's not a matter of forgiving him," he answered.

"He hasn't done anything since... since it all ended."

Squall exhaled softly, glancing down at the carpet. "He hasn't had a chance to. ...Xu wanted him back at Garden so that we could monitor him. Since he refused that, Esthar's been taking care of it for us. Laguna trusts him enough to send him on this. All we can do is make sure nothing--"

"--goes wrong?" Rinoa sighed. "I think you're wrong, Squall. I think this really is about forgiveness. No one can forgive him for what he's done."

Squall glanced sharply at her, and she could almost hear the unspoken "Should we?" at the tip of his tongue. Leaning in, she looked earnestly into his eyes.

"It wasn't his fault," she said. "I would know. Ultimecia, she--" She suppressed a shudder. "You don't know how it feels."

Squall stood up, gently removing his arm from under her hand. "I understand," he said. "But if Ultimecia really controlled him, he might still be susceptible. Sending him into the Crystal Pillar is a bad way to test that theory." He made an offhand gesture. "It's not a matter of forgiving him. It's a matter of trusting him, and we can't. ...I'm sorry."

Rinoa's eyebrows raised, ever-so-slightly. "I don't think it's me you need to apologize to, Squall," she said.

Squall frowned. "...I have to go," he said.

Rinoa nodded. "I'll see you at dinner," she guessed.

"...yeah," Squall agreed. "I'll see you."

With that, he stepped out the door.