"Well, that was fun," Seifer muttered, turning away from the dinosaur's corpse and wiping his sword clean of the blood clinging to its blade. He glanced at Squall's pale face, eyes narrowing slightly. "First time summoning a GF?"
Squall nodded. "I never needed assistance before."
"Hm…. This will be your first exam, right? I guess you've never had much of a challenge here. I used my first GF during my first exam."
Squall glanced at Seifer, puzzled. Why was Seifer bothering to explain? "Why can't you pass the exam?" Squall asked after a moment of debating with himself.
Seifer shrugged. "I don't follow orders. None of them know the true meaning of battle. It's not about thinking and following orders. It's all about reacting and instinct."
"Why not just do what you're supposed to so that you can pass? That's the point of the exam, not showing that you're better than the other SeeD's."
Seifer chuckled. "Does that really sound like something I would do? I prefer my way, and I am better than the rest of them."
A soft sigh escaped Squall's lips as he glanced down at his watch. "I have to go."
"Who's going with you to the Fire Cavern? Quistis?" Seifer asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
Squall nodded and was rewarded with amused laughter. "Better watch out. Monsters may not be the only threat to your body."
Heat rushed to Squall's face as understanding dawned on him. Seeing his discomfort, Seifer smirked and leaned toward him. "I hear she's pretty wild beneath all that perfected control. Might be too much for you."
"Whatever," Squall muttered, turning away.
"Aw…don't tell me you haven't…."
"That's none of your business," Squall interrupted, heading toward the exit. Behind him, Seifer chuckled. "So you are, huh?"
Squall froze at the soft murmur. Seifer stepped up to him, grinning broadly. "Hit a nerve, huh? It's nothing to be ashamed of… I mean, come on, there are lots of virgins your age. Although, I haven't been one in many years, that doesn't mean you are lacking in any areas."
"Go to Hell, Seifer. You always have to be an asshole, don't you?"
"What can I say? It's my personality," Seifer replied, throwing an arm around Squall's shoulders and resisting Squall's attempts to throw it off. "Let me give you some advice. Ignore everything Quistis says. She'll slow you down."
"Why do you care?"
"I don't really. I just look forward to showing you a real battle during the exam." Seifer shoved Squall back several steps and walked in front of him.
"Bastard," Squall whispered, watching Seifer disappear through the double doors. He started forward again, raising a hand to massage his throbbing forehead.
Quistis was waiting for him when he reached the outer gates. Her gaze swept over him. "Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Have you equipped…"
"I am ready," Squall repeated, crossing his arms over his chest.
Quistis nodded. "Fine, then. We'll be walking to the Fire Cavern, but I'm sure you won't mind handling any monsters we run across, will you?"
Not waiting for him the reply, she stepped through the gates and started off to the right. Within only a few minutes they were attacked by a flying monster. She stepped off to the side, watching as Squall fought the beast, efficiently killing it. Squall glanced at her, frowning slightly.
"You will make an excellent SeeD," she murmured, continuing across the grass field. Squall ignored her, instead moving ahead to confront the giant worm exploding from within the ground. "There is nothing more I can teach you."
"How long for Fire Cavern completion?" the faculty member asked, writing Squall's name down on his clipboard.
"You should take as long as you think you'll need, Squall. You won't lose many points for taking your time…" Quistis began.
"Twenty minutes," Squall interrupted. Quistis glanced at him but remained silent.
"Cadet Leonhart, twenty minutes. Good luck."
Squall drew his gun blade and entered the cavern. Quistis followed, allowing Squall to take the lead as they made their way through the darkness. "Squall, why did you choose such a limit? You don't know what to expect."
"I can handle it," Squall replied, casting a fire spell and lighting a torch on the cavern wall. He lifted it from its cradle and used the flames to frighten away the bats swarming at them. "Allow me…Looks like you're going to have your hands full," Quistis offered, taking the torch from him as lava rained down onto the ground in front of them and formed into three balls of flames. "Fire spirits," she murmured, stepping back. "If you don't destroy them completely, they can attack you after you kill them."
Squall nodded and quickly cast an ice spell, covering his gun blade with it as the three fire balls swooped down on him. He dodged quickly and swung his gun blade, ramming it through one of the fire balls and sending a second wave of ice forward to fill the open wound. The ice exploded within the spirit, swallowing its flames.
Squall leapt back as another fire ball sailed toward him and repeated the process until the remaining two fire balls were swallowed in ice. He stepped back and glanced at Quistis. She nodded approvingly. "Your instincts in battle are great. You can strategize while fighting, something many SeeD's never learn to do. Ifrite should be around this next corner. Whenever you are ready, proceed."
Squall turned, continuing forward without a hesitation. A large lake of fire lay around the bend. As they approached, something moved within the lava, parting it at its center. The fire GF bursts upward, roaring angrily. "Who dares disturb my sleep?"
Squall braced himself. "I seek your assistance."
Ifrite laughed mockingly. "A human seeks my assistance? You shall find death instead!"
The GF lifted a hand, and flames leapt to life in the air. Squall rushed forward, swinging his gun blade as fire rained down around him. A massive claw slammed into him, throwing him backwards. He slammed against the cavern wall and slid to the ground.
Squall forced himself up, ignoring the pain washing through him, and lifted his gun blade once more. Foolish human, a mortal can not tame a god, Shiva whispered through his mind. He hesitated, frowning. Summon me, and I shall break him for you. You will only succeed in killing yourself if you persist.
Then assist me, Shiva, Squall agreed.
The Ice GF swept through him and appeared before him, facing Ifrite. A wave of her arm brought an icy wall down in the fire GF as another wave of ice slammed into the other GF. Ifrite stumbled under the assault, falling partly to the ground. He lifted himself slowly.
"You have Shiva. I shall submit, human," Ifrite agreed, his spirit sweeping forward. Squall stumbled slightly as the fire GF's spirit rushed through his body, its warmth settling within his mind as Shiva's icy presence returned to its slumber. No mortal has ever had Shiva defend him, Ifrite murmured within his mind before fading into darkness.
Squall sheathed his gun blade and leaned against the cavern wall, his body aching. "Well done, Squall. I don't think anyone has ever completed their trial so quickly," Quistis said, coming to his side.
He pushed away from the wall and started back through the darkness.
Author's Note: Hope the story doesn't sound too weird. It's hard explaining what GF's are. LOL
