Today had been slow.

There was only one occupant of the infirmary today; a strange girl who had collapsed outside of the Garden day before yesterday. She had not awakened since.

Though she had not been school nurse for very long, Quistis was very serious about her work. As she had always been willing to help people, this had turned out to be her calling, and her passion. She had dabbled in it before, but never anything permanent. After the Second Sorceress War, however, there had been unexpectedly few job opportunities. Of course, Quistis had been offered higher ranking and a chance to go back to being an instructor, but she had known that it was not for her anymore.

Looking at her patient, Quistis could not help but feel a cruel stab of jealousy. She'd do anything for hair that red. Grinning to herself, Quistis retreated back behind her desk and put her head in her hands.

Not too much happened anymore in the Garden, save the everyday accidents and sicknesses that the students came down with. But that was normal; what Quistis wouldn't give to have some excitement again! Deep down, she silently wished that the war wasn't over, terrible though it had been. Quistis wanted something more, other than take care of sick students and broken arms. There had to be someone out there that needed correcting and a good ass-kicking.

Well, there was a cult of people out there who claimed they were sorceresses, but none of them had actually proven it. It was pretty unlikely, as it were. More likely, they were fanatics, based around bringing back the sorceress of old. They were not the first, and most likely would not be the last.

Still, if they did, somehow, Quistis and the others may actually have a fight! Quistis felt the familiar surge of expectation in her blood once more and smiled. If only...

Quistis's daydream was broken by the automatic door sliding open and the Headmaster entering, followed by Squall, Irvine, and another member of the foreign affairs committee that Quistis knew by appearance but not by name.

"Headmaster." Quistis rose to her feet and saluted," Can I help you?"

In his typical way, Cid did not acknowledge her right away. Instead, he went to the stranger. She was still unconscious. Headmaster Cid surveyed her with a calm expression, but Quistis could sense worry underneath it.

He stood up straight and turned to Squall, Irvine and the committee member.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

It was Squall who replied," The informant assured me. That's her, I'm positive."

The Headmaster did not seem convinced as he looked back to the girl. Disbelief washed over his face. Quistis looked around for a moment, to each person's face, and then asked," May I ask what is going on her? This girl is my patient, she needs her rest."

Squall turned to Quistis. She could see the pain in his eyes; Quistis had been the first one that Squall told that Rinoa was leaving, and she had been the one to comfort him as best he would let her. They had grown closer in the past year. Quistis had the sneaking suspicion that she was the only person Squall would talk to.

"This "girl" is one of the newly awakened sorceresses. An anonymous informant sent a letter telling us that she was extremely dangerous and should be handed over to the Galbadian government." Squall answered, keeping his voice hard.

"A Sorceress?" Quistis questioned. She understood why Headmaster Cid had been skeptical; as she looked at the girl, Quistis couldn't help but think that she was frail and weak, too skinny and degenerated to be a Sorceress. Nice hair? Sure, but a Sorceress? That was unlikely. And besides, Quistis had detected no strong magic sense about her in all of her tests, as she pointed out to the others.

Irvine spoke up this time," Sorceresses have their own defenses. Not being able to detect what they are by tests is one of them, I've heard."

Headmaster Cid shook his head," This is all on speculation; we can't imprison this girl on a whim."

Squall seemed determined, however," The letter stated that she could cause direct damage to the academy and its students. It's my job to see that this place is secure. Are you asking me to step away from my job, Headmaster?"

"And it is my job to see to the welfare of students of all gardens, and, this insignia, tattooed on her wrist. Do you know what that is for?" Cid asked, looking around at the others, "Trabia Garden. I have a duty to protect this girl, from enemies foreign or domestic, understand?" The Headmaster commanded.

Squall nodded.

"What's her name?" Cid asked.

Squall turned on his heel and began to walk out as he replied, "The letter only referred to her as 'the Cry of the Wind'."