Seifer-The Knight's Journey-Duelling knights
Seifer awoke, his eyes blazing as the lids lifted, to find himself alone. Although this relieved him it simultaneously worried him. It wasn't like Clare to just leave without any kind of explanation. Rising, Seifer walked straight to the bathroom for a shower, how he hated being unclean. Washing was something Seifer loved, having always taken great pride in his appearance, and religiously scrubbed his body completely clean. It also gave Seifer time to think, he rose early every day to do so, and as the steam rose and he washed his thoughts began to form.
At first these thoughts were largely junk, but as the process neared its end Seifer thought of the day a head, and the classes he would attend. He hoped Squall and Quistis would teach him well, now that he wanted to be taught, but also hoped they would allow scope for his own new techniques. There was no mockery he could do them at this point in his delicate position. Closing his eyes, Seifer tunes up his senses until they peak and the noises around him that were usually unnoticeable became obvious. The faint symphony of voices from Garden, a hint of a Ruby Dragon's snarl and-
"Student Announcement: Seifer Almasy, please make your way to the training centre. You have ten minutes".
Seifer growled inwardly, shut off the shower, and began to dry. Was it really necessary to announce that, Seifer snapped to himself. Pulling on his usual attire and picking up Titan from its resting place Seifer strode out of the Dormitory Block into the centre of the Garden. The flowing water, the voices and paths of many destinies soothed Seifer in their familiarity. One however, as he walked towards it, had changed. The Training Centre, although still with its bridge, now appeared to be an armoured compound with levels, as it had been extended down to B1 level. Seifer stopped for a moment reading the electronic message. The screen seemed to react to his touch, scanned his face, and almost instantly displayed his information.
Student Name: Seifer Almasy
Age: 18
Weapon: Gunblade Model Hyperion 5
Magic Level: 3
Rank: N/A
Level:100
Current GF Junctioned: None
Garden Activities: Disciplinary Committee Head
Training Facility Access: Monster Level 8…Monsters captured from the Island's Closest to Heaven and Hell post Lunar Cry. Extreme caution is advised.
Instructor(s): Quistis Trepe, Squall Leonheart
Login Successful
Seifer knew instantly such equipment could only have come from Esther, President Leguna Loire had made it Esther's business to fund the various Gardens giving them new technology and equipment to aid their ultimate mission. Although Trabia and Galbadia had been rebuilt and were now incredible Garden's in themselves President Loire favoured Balamb Garden the most due to its mobility. Trabia and Galbadia were both stationary now, but also because it was the most prominent Garden of the three. To add to Balamb Garden had been extended somewhat to accommodate the Raganorak. Although some of Esther's citizens were outraged by this astronomical spending in both time and money the vast majority supported the funding due to the Garden's aim in managing and disposing off Sorceress's but also because of SeeD's victory over Adel had earned Garden Esther's thanks. Seifer had, when this news first reached him, been surprised as to the President's commitments. Esther was now opening slowly, repairing its stations and those of FH thus once again becoming part of the world. Links with Galbadia and Trabia were also established by high speed rail, with Balamb Garden currently resting near the Seaside Station. After the events that had lead to the Second Sorceress War the world was now enjoying a period of peace, Galbadia became a true democracy and withdrew its troops from Timber following a meeting with Esther with both nations pledging to keep the peace of the new age. All seemed well, but now Seifer's mind refocused as he entered the elevator.
Within seconds he had reached Level 8 of the Training Centre, and there waiting for him dressed in his own usual attire, was Squall. The two nodded as a familiar antagonistic tension filled the air. Squall wasted no time.
"Seifer, today the board has decided that it would be wise to allow you a GF. You will not be fighting the monsters on this level today but instead will acquire the chosen GF, a prerequisite for the SeeD exam as you well know, and then we will spar. Do you have any questions regarding this exercise?"
Seifer was momentarily shocked, this stream of Instructor style dialogue was far from what he had expected from his old rival, but he wasn't fooled, it had been well rehearsed, Seifer laughed inwardly.
"What GF will I be acquiring and how will I go about this?"
"You will enter the Centre Ruins and will find and battle the Knight's GF Odin, we thought it appropriate for a number of reasons. You will have 20 minutes to accomplish this."
"So Odin was not destroyed after all…"
"Thankfully not, but the Zanetzuken sword is in the hands of a GF you will be reintroduced to later, Gilgamesh. However Odin has assured me that he has a blade and that he will be a challenge for you."
Seifer nodded and Squall indicated to a door nearby, the one that led to the activated teleportion pad that had been excavated by Doctor Odine, who used the ruins as his new toy, in the Centre Ruins. Instantly he was surrounded by the ruined civilisation, the cold wind that blew over this dead place, the strange colour of the sky and ethereal lights that twinkled at random. Before him was the now famous statue of the Sorceress and her Knight, and a deep voice filled Seifer's head.
"I am Odin, come misguided knight and face thy true destiny. Our blades must clash once again if thou chooses to continue your jouney, I await you if thy choose battle with me, I curse thee if you flee."
Seifer wasted no time as he ran towards the steps leading upward, only to find himself cut off my a swarm of feared and hated Tonberry's. They looked at him with their glowing yellow eyes that gleamed mercilessly in the gloom.
"The old challenges and defences were surpassed by your rival Knight, therefore the Tonberry's will bar your path and test thy skill. Thou will face the swarm Knight Errant and should thou prevail you may continue onwards…"
Seifer raised Titan in his battle stance, preparing for the onslaught. Without any Junction he had to rely purely upon his own strength as he was currently unable to use any magic or items. It was a dire situation for anyone, even he and Squall could not do this alone.
"The Knight-Errant learns the lesson of companions, and they hear your call. Their entry here is permitted if you call upon them."
Not yet, Seifer thought, he had to try on his own first. The three Tonberry's moved as a unit, like a bizarre extermination squad as they moved forwards, their knives almost in striking range. Seifer sweated, this would require perfect timing if what he planned was to work. It was a technique that had been taught while he'd learned to access his limit without being critical. Cid's kind voice filled his mind.
"Seifer, to defeat multiple opponents flawlessly requires timing and skill. Dodge their attacks and unleash your limit and your victory is assured."
"The Knight-Errant remembers the advice of the Master…"
Seifer powered up, preparing to take them all on in one single hit. His limit's had improved so its should only require one limit to destroy these Tonberry's. They laughed at him, thinking him an easy target for not attacking yet. They moved, pulling their knives and bodies fully back so the force would gut him and likely leave him without a heart. Time seemed to slow as Seifer's eyes blazed, smiling faintly as their knives shot forwards with great speed, waited and at the last second leaped above their strikes. Their momentum left them incapable of stopping short and adjusting their strikes and their three Chef's Knives clashed together, sparking. Seifer landed directly upon the three blades, disarming the Tonberry's as their razor sharp knives were not capable, since their was no momentum, of slicing through his steel capped combat boots. They shrieked in outrage, eyes searching for their respective weapons, it seemed they weren't capable of advancing their thought beyond their single minded determination to stab in their rage. Had they been calmer they would have perhaps tried to use their lanterns. Seifer smiled, it had worked perfectly, now they would feel his wrath. As his energy peaked Seifer unleashed his favourite limit Bloodfest, slicing his enemies with the mark of the Firecross before it became a burning maw of energy that consumed them. They didn't have time to ooze their black blood, it bubbled within them as they burned, and as they shrieked in pain they are incinerated to nothing, exploding into fine dust before disappearing entirely. Seifer laughed quietly at the spectacular display of painful death he had witnessed and been the deliverer of.
"You may advance to the next area, but be warned. The enemies you find here also dwell within thyself."
Seifer did not hesitate as he climbed the stairs that led to the lift that would take him upwards. Waiting for him there however was a battle from the past that had formed from his own mind were Squall, Quistis and Zell stood before him. Seifer had thought such encounters as lies and myths but some swore that certain places on Earth allowed such manifestations from ones mind become real. These phantoms were weaker than their human counterparts but still prevented a threat as they mimicked their true selves perfectly.
The phantom Squall raised his Gunblade, at this point still the Revolver, as Zell and Quistis did the same moments after. Without words they charged. Never the less, the past echoed in Seifer's mind. No, he had thought, look at them coming at him like a swarm, they were the monsters. Ironic now that his thoughts had now become literal. Despite their weaker states, they were still a huge threat. Seifer knew that even the weakest memory of his, he struggled for a term, comrades would be a threat considering each child from the orphanage was an exceptional fighter and Seifer was without any Junction. Seifer breath stopped in realized horror, they were Junctioned which mean-
Suddenly Ifrit appeared before him in a display of strength, a great meteor rising up with him, only for Ifrit to slam it with all his might downwards into the Seifer. The meteor slammed into him, burning him as his used his Gunblade to slice it in two. He was however hurt by the attack as he felt burns rage upon his flesh. The pain was intense but his training kept him from feeling it just yet, Ifrit faded as suddenly as he appeared and his three opponents faded back in from the safety zone the GF had sent them to. Fear clenched Seifer's heart, that was only their opening move. Was this to be his end-bombarded by phantoms and GF's until he was beaten? No, Seifer thought he was a Sorceress's Knight, he couldn't lose. In desperation he shouted his thoughts aloud.
"Fujin, Raijin! Give me you aid!"
To his surprise they appeared beside him, their weapons ready.
"Squall told us to be prepared, Odin teleported us ya know."
"Raijin focus…HELP. SEIFER!"
In times of battle Fujin's language became that of how it had been when he had first met her, only with those she truly trusted did she speak openly and normally.
"Okay Posse…lets take these fakers down!"
Glancing to each other the Posse smiled, it was just like old times. They charged, Fujin using her Pinewheel as a sword and launched a devastating combo upon Quistis, Rajin using his immense strength to drive back Zell, who was no longer in range to use his fists. The battle slowed to a dream like pace as Seifer and Squall charged at each other, Seifer's horizontal slash hitting across Squall's chest as blood spurted from the deep wound. Squalls own downward hack faltered as he fell backward. Together the Posse had defeated the past as their enemies faded back into where they belonged, in the Posses's memories.
"Your friends aid you Knight-Errant, but the next duel is for you and you alone. They may aid you no longer."
"Like we have to do as Odin says ya know, we'll guard your exit Seifer!"
Seifer looked at Rajin for a moment, then smiled as he received a kick from Fujin.
"Raijin, wait for Seifer's decision."
"Rajin, Fujin wait here for me. Hopefully I won't be long."
"We won't wish you luck Seifer, we know you don't need it ya know." Rajin beamed happily. Fujin turned her head and nodded.
"Ten minutes is more than enough Seifer, we believe in you."
Seifer stepped forwards onto the elevator as the winds swept about him. The doorway to his destiny lay ahead and Seifer climbed upwards, beginning to feel himself tire. Finally the entrance he sought gaped before him. Hesitating for a second, Seifer stepped into the throne room of the Centre ruins, long ago a Sorceress would have sat here with Odin by her side, before he had become a GF. Perhaps Shiva was the sorceress, or Siren Seifer mused. Their before him stood Odin, his horse absent for once, tall and proud as Seifer remembered him. Odin's glowing red eyes examined Seifer, summoning fear once again into Seifer's heart.
"So you have arrived at last. You thought thy feeble technique could slay an immortal, yet here I stand. Now we duel, face my wrath for your arrogance! Only if thou art a true Sorceress Knight as you claim can you defeat me."
Seifer said nothing, raising his Gunblade in a salute, Odin raised his own sword. It was a strange weapon, a flame bladed Zweihander. The two circled for a moment before lunging at each other, Odin slicing horizontally as Seifer blocked almost reeling at Odin's immense strength that allowed him to use the large sword so effectively. Seifer backed off, his back to the wall, before charging at Odin with a downwards diagonal strike and triggering. To Seifer's surprise the vibration from the Gunblade was stopped and slowed and no explosion occurred.
"My blade's design thwarts thee Knight Errant; surely you can do better than a mere trigger…"
Odin's taunt enraged Seifer and the GF knew it. Running furiously at Odin, Seifer attempted a one-handed Renzozuken. Although it lacked the power of Squall's ultimate attack, the flurry of fast one handed strikes were executed flawlessly driving Odin back as he blocked each swing. Odin's eyes glowed red as though filled with Hells own fires before Seifer felt a psychic wave slam into him, breaking his Renzozuken, and knocking him down.
"Renzozuken Reverse," said Odin emotionlessly.
Seifer was unable to rise, he had reached his own physical limit, and now his body almost gave up. Exhaustion and aches flooded his bones and muscles as the burns from his encounter with Ifrit flared with new fury. Odin mercilessly raised his blade, preparing to finish Seifer off.
"Do you wish to beg for mercy Knight Errant, for I shall grant it if thou seeks it."
"No….no," Seifer mumbled focusing his energy one last time as Odin strode forward, readying Seifer's honourable end. Seifer's eyes ignited, gleaming with unfathomable fire, "No Mercy!"
A burst of fire formed from sheer will blasted Odin backwards as Seifer built up energy in his blade, preparing to unleash his dearest limit. Although not his favourite, it was his first and most trustworthy technique. Throwing the charged energy off the blade, the energy formed into a wheel off deadly energy as it flew towards Odin, going through him with an explosion as the GF was finally struck down. Odin's eyes widened as his step faltered, his hand covering the wound and the other loosely held his blade.
"You have bested me and are truly a Sorceress Knight. I will aid thee in thy quest for thy unfulfilled dream."
With that Odin faded away, Seifer slowly rose and walked towards the entrance where Fujin, Raijin and the cold, lifeless winds of the Centre Ruins awaited them. It was time to leave this long destroyed place at last.