"I think we're nearly here now." Squall said to Rinoa. They were sitting in the library together, awaiting their arrival in Centra. Rinoa noticed that Squall had a thoughtful, almost troubled look on his face.
"What's up?" she asked.
"You think it's…" Squall began.
"Seifer." Rinoa finished, a slightly scared look on her face.
"Well," Squall said, rising from his chair. They were arriving in Centra now, "There's only one way to find out."
"I'm scared, Squall!" Rinoa said, looking up at him.
"It's going to be okay," Squall said, holding Rinoa in his arms, "Seifer won't hurt you. I won't let him". Rinoa looked up at Squall with teary eyes.
"I love you Squall." Rinoa said, laying her head on Squall's shoulder.
"I love you too," Squall said, the tears coming, "And I'll die before I let Seifer take you away from me." As Squall finished speaking, a male voice swept over the speakers. It belonged to Headmaster Cid.
"We have arrived in Centra," Headmaster Cid info
rmed, "Could those participating please leave Garden via the front gate and wait for me there."
"Sounds like he's finished." Squall said, as Rinoa stood up.
"Oh, and Squall? Could you and Rinoa please come to my office before you leave? I need to talk with you in private. That will be all." Headmaster Cid concluded.
"I wonder what he wants to talk with us about." Rinoa said, leaving the library with Squall.
"He thinks it's Seifer." Squall replied.
"How can you be so sure?" Rinoa asked.
"Rinoa," Squall began, "Things have been quiet for the last year. We haven't seen Seifer in that long. When trouble starts up again, what would you think of?" They stopped walking when they reached the lift. Rinoa looked at Squall. She was thinking of something that happened a couple of summers ago. The way Seifer had treated her.
And then the way he subjected her to a possible death. The way he had tried so many times to kill the man she loved. He had let her down.
"Don't kill him, Squall." Rinoa requested, although she knew how much Squall would want to.
"What!" Squall said, as if he didn't believe his ears.
"Please don't kill Seifer," Rinoa said again, "Let me get there first."
I have my powers now, he thought to himself, I have my powers, and they know nothing about it. Not what they are, where I got them from. Nothing. They always said that the best fom of attack was the element of surprise. Well, they can count on me for that. I'll show them.
"They'll definitely get a surprise when they find out the truth," he smiled, his blonde hair whipping around his forehead, "Who'd have thought it, Seifer Almasy – a sorcerer?"