"We've arrived at Balamb" Squall informed the rest of the Garden "New pupils can either go explore the town or stay in the Garden, all your personal items are in your dormitories, good day"

Dominic moved his bag further up his shoulder before he started to walk towards the elevator which took him down to the bottom floor. He had been in Squall's group who had all been stood in the headmaster's old office as they travelled to Balamb. Dominic was seventeen and had long, dark brown hair. He had chosen to wear dark blue jeans and a shirt on the day he was admitted to Balamb Garden. His light blue eyes surveyed the control panel in the elevator one he had found the first floor button he pressed it with one of his long slender fingers. The elevator pinged shut and it began to move slowly downwards. Dominic disembarked the elevator on the first floor and walked around until he reached the dormitory. A quick check told him that his roommate, whoever that may be, was not there yet. Dominic went into his own room and closed the door which he then locked. Dominic unpacked his clothes and put them away in the cupboard. After that he sat down on his bed and looked around at his new room.

Dominic was an orphan but he knew who his parents were and he had met one of them, the other was deceased. He leant over and picked up a large black suitcase. Inside there was a long black coat which had a red interior and a long black sword which was in a black cloth sheath. Dominic got to his feet and put the coat on a hanger which he then hung on the back of his door. The black coat had an emblem carved into its lapel. Dominic eyed the symbol before picking up the sword and hanging it next to the coat.

Once he was settled Dominic left his room again and went to the training area. As he arrived some SeeD's were leaving.

"The place is closed sorry" said one of the SeeD's "We're just going for lunch then we'll be back, you can go in then"

"Why is it closed?" Dominic asked

"Some of the T-Rexaurs have had offspring" said another SeeD "So they are incredibly protective of their young, it's too dangerous for anyone to be in there when there are no SeeD patrolling"

"Okay then" said Dominic who went and sat on a nearby bench.

The SeeD nodded to him and walked away towards the canteen whilst talking about T-Rexaur. Once they were gone Dominic got to his feet and walked into the training area.

Squall watched from his office as a new pupil spoke to two SeeD's outside the training area. Squall knew about the T-Rexaur and so knew what they were talking about. Squall cursed as he saw the pupil walk into the training area unarmed. Squall turned and ran to the elevator.

Dominic clenched his fists before opening them again with a cracking noise. He walked through the steel doors into the training area. The water trickled by noisily which masked the other, more quiet, noises in the training area. Dominic walked calmly across the small bridges, waiting for an attack. Nothing seemed to occupy that area of the training ground and so Dominic put his hands in his pockets and continued to walk into the next area. Even in the next area there was nothing to fight and so Dominic climbed up onto a large tree that had fallen over. He thought that if he just waited maybe he would see something to fight. A crunching noise drew his attention but when he turned to look it was only Squall.

"You do know about the T-Rexaur, don't you?" Squall asked him. Dominic nodded

"Yes" he said "But I have beaten T-Rexaur before"

"What about one's with children?" Squall asked him.

"I never hung around to ask" Dominic said. Squall laughed slightly and climbed up to sit next to Dominic

"Good answer" Squall said "So who are you?"

"Dominic" said Dominic shaking Squall's gloved hand "I'm guessing you're not going to tell me off?"

"Right" said Squall

"Why not?" Dominic asked "I thought Garden was admired for its discipline routines"

"Galbadia Garden maybe" said Squall "But you remind me a little of me, I used to think I could defeat anything"

"What about now?" Dominic asked

"I don't know" said Squall "Come on, let's get you out of here until the SeeD come back"

The two of them dropped down and began to walk when the log behind them exploded. Squall whirled around and withdrew his gun blade. A T-Rexaur straightened up; it was much bigger than any dinosaur Squall had faced before.

"Damn" said Squall "You got a weapon?"

"Just my fists" said Dominic raising his arms for combat.

"No offence but T-Rexaur are pretty durable" said Squall "Just stay back and let me deal with it"

"Them" said Dominic

"What?" Squall asked turning to face Dominic.

"Them" said Dominic "There's two" he pointed to the second, massive, dinosaur who was stomping towards them. The first one attacked and tried swiping Squall and Dominic. Squall tried to block but he was too slow; thankfully Dominic was not. The dinosaur's massive tail hit a powerful magic barrier which startled Squall as the lightning crackled loudly. The dinosaurs stomped around them and every now and then a T-Rexaur would charge at the barrier but would get knocked backwards by the energy. The two massive fiends seemed to give up and walked away. Cautiously Dominic lowered the barrier.

"Come on" said Squall dragging Dominic by the sleeve towards the clear exit. Far behind them the T-Rexaurs watched them leave.

Squall and Dominic walked down the path into the Garden silently

"That was impressive magic back there" said Squall to Dominic "A lot more powerful than anything I've seen from someone your age"

"It wasn't a very good barrier, it had its flaws" admitted Dominic

"It survived four direct attacks from an angry T-Rexaur, a usual barrier would have folded after the first" said Squall "You are a whole different league from your classmates"

"Maybe" said Dominic "But right now I don't want to be special I just want to get along"

"Alright" said Squall "I'll keep this incident between me and my close friends; you sure you don't want special lessons from a friend of mine? I'm sure she would be very happy to help"

"No" said Dominic "Maybe if I get into SeeD"

"Okay then" said Squall "See you tomorrow"

Squall and Dominic went their separate ways. Squall was wondering how a young man could have so much power. Dominic on the other hand was wondering if Squall really would keep it between him and his close friends.