"Ah, Squall, Rinoa," Headmaster Cid greeted as the two young adults entered his office, "I thought you would never come."
"Is this about the exam?" Squall asked.
"Well, Squall," Headmaster Cid began, pacing in the room, " I have confirmation of who is behind all this mess."
"Is it Seifer?" Rinoa asked.
"Yes. But there is something new about him. Something that will be very difficult to deal with," Headmaster Cid took a breath, "Seifer Almasy is no longer known as Seifer Almasy. Seifer is…"
"What?" Rinoa and Squall pressed.
"A sorcerer." The headmaster finished.
"Does anyone else know?" Squall asked.
"Just you two. And it'll stay that way. Until he dies.
"How can we not tell anyone!" Squall shouted, outraged, with raw anger showing in his eyes, "People need to know! They need to prepare themselves for that bastard of a person! I don't believe you want four of our best to walk to their deaths at the hands of that fuc-"
"Squall!" Rinoa shouted, "Stop it! Calm down! Look, I know how you feel about Seifer, but shouting isn't going to help. However," she turned to Headmaster Cid, "I do agree with Squall on this. People have the right to know what Seifer really is."
"Fine," Headmaster Cid said, "I will tell the rest when we are at the front gate. Now let's get going."
Zell, Selphie Quistis and Irvine turned as Squall, Rinoa and Headmaster Cid walked towards them.
"Right," Zell began, "Who's ass do we get to kick this time?" He was shadow boxing, as he usually did when he got the chance.
"About that," Headmaster Cid began, "I know who is behind the Galbadian invasion of this area, but I'll warn you now, he's a lot more powerful than you might think."
"Who is it?" Irvine asked.
"It's Seifer." Squall informed, secretly dreading the look on Zell's face.
"That…BASTARD!" Zell screamed, not thinking before he spoke.
"Zell," Squall said, "that isn't the whole of it. Seifer is a sorcerer." A look of shock spread across Zell's face. The others took it in their stride. They had learned not to be surprised by Seifer. Zell, however, had hated Seifer since day one, but Seifer had always managed to get one up on him.
"What the Hell?" Zell yelled, shaking with rage.
"ZELL! SHUT UP!" Squall shouted, as loud as his voice could go.
"What are we gonna do then?" a less than bubbly Selphie asked. She and the others noticed the rage in Zell's ice-blue eyes. Headmaster Cid stepped forward and began to speak.
"First," the headmaster began, "We will review our mission. Quistis, Irvine and Selphie will take care of the Galbadian soldiers while Squall, Zell and Rinoa try to find out Seifer's plans-"
"OH…YEAH!" Zell shouted, punching the air, "I AM GONNA KICK SEIFER'S ASS!"
"-As I was saying," Headmaster Cid continued, "For the majority of the mission, Zell, Team A will not be fighting. They will be speaking with Seifer, as he and I have agreed.
"However, if Seifer proposes it, Team A will battle. If he does not, then Team A will serve as backup for Team B after accomplishing their part in the mission.
"Team A, Team B, I bid you farewell. Do a good job! I hope you all come back with smiles on your faces!" With those final words, the headmaster returned to Garden.
"Now that I can, " Selphie said, " I wanna say this is a beautiful city!"
"It's a smaller Esthar." Rinoa said.
"Forget the city," Irvine said, "We should concentrate on the mission."
"He's right," Squall said, "The quicker we do our job, the quicker we get back."
"I guess we should go first," Quistis suggested, getting a firm grip on her weapon, "to clear the path a little for you guys." She finished, tilting her head towards Squall.
"Okay," Squall said to Quistis, " Best of luck." Squall and his team watched as Quistis, Irvine and Selphie walked into their first battle with the Galbadians.