Disclaimer: hmm this cup of water is the only thing I own right now. ;-;
AN: I have miss placed the beta edits for chapter 3-5 and 9-11 So I'm going to do some intense searching and self-editing. Hopefully it won't be too painful to read.
-----
Nadia woke up in pain. She remembered vague flashes of last night. There had been screaming and she remembered exerting herself throwing things at Irvine. Her lips tingled feeling a warm shiver pass through her stomach. "Irvine." She remembering his heated kisses and roaming hands. She wasn't use to this feeling at all, and despite her headache, started looking for her stuffed bunny.
Sam and Reggie were both asleep on the couch slumped against each other. She could see her bag propped up by the door. If last night really was any testament on how today would play out, she would most definitely have to tell her parents about her 'adventure'. She slipped out of bed not quite remembering when she had fallen asleep there.
She did another survey of the room they were staying in. There was a spot on the wall making Nadia grimaced. "Those poor flowers." She whispered her eyes falling to the giant mess of television on the floor. Mentally she winced at what the bill would look like when the hotel staff saw the damage. Seeing that nothing else was broken she rummaged through her pack and found her bunny.
Hugging the bunny close, she thought of Irvine again. He had always been one of those unreachable idols that made her body quiver. In fact, if she hadn't read those pitiful romance novels she would have never known what the stirrings meant. Her books on mating noted the physical urgings, but only in passing. Who would have thought there was a bonus to mating other than the continuation of the species?
Eyeing her vest that was discarded on the floor and her open shirt, she frowned. Her mind went in endless circles thinking of last night. Irvine's fingers, Irvine's lips, Irvine's voice, they all sent shivers down her body that gathered between her legs. Shaking her head furiously she forced herself to think of something else.
"Nadia?" Reggie's sleepy voice questioned. She turned to her guards who were coming to. She didn't want to know details about last night. She would refuse them the right to speak of the matter.
"Reggie I want breakfast." She resisted the urge to ask to cook. Reggie and Sam had found that a topic of disagreement. As much pleasure as she got out of the idea of cooking, Reggie and Sam refused to let their Sorceress sink to such menial tasks.
"Don't kill Carbuncle there dear." Sam snickered as he stood up. She looked down at her hands taunt and white around her poor bunny's neck. She dropped the bunny in annoyance. She would not think about Irvine. "So about last night," Sam started.
Instantly her temper flared again and she grimaced. "We won't speak of last night." Reggie snapped to attention. She could see him forcing away the sleep lingering in his eyes.
"But at least allow us contact with your parents. Mister Kinneas took inappropriate actions against you last night, they need to know." Reggie said in a distraught voice. She could see both Reggie and Sam having issues with admitting to themselves their hero of the war was human.
"He did nothing I didn't provoke myself. My order of silence still stands. We'll be out of this place and home by night fall don't fret." She wished her skills of telekinesis were stronger. Maybe she could have actually fixed the television with a little magic and focused thinking. The thought clicked in her mind about what she could do with the rest of her day. "Get suited up we're going monster hunting!"
Garland sat staring at the footage of the hotel hallway. The sorceress's guards were standing by the door unmoving. The footage was the same for a good thirty minutes. Then all hell breaks loose. The illusions fade. Just like when they had almost hit that one girl last night. The normal men turn into White SeeD and seeing their illusions had faded they rush through the door. Several moments later a SeeD from the Galbadia garden named Irvine Kinneas is propelled through the door by one of the SeeDs.
Just as his guards had said, it was clear there was a sorceress in Dollet. Garland wasn't leaving until he had convinced her to stay in Galbadia territory with him.
"This is why we never took you before." Reggie said patting Nadia's back as she, yet again threw up. Sam resisted the urge to laugh at Nadia. She was trying so hard to be strong, but the monster blood and innards were too much for the girl. She had already empted out her stomach two fights ago. She was reduced to dry heaves now.
"I understand, but I must learn the elements. I can't properly cast fire yet." Nadia insisted daring to drink water from a bottle offered by Reggie.
"You cast water like a pro though! That should be enough for you for now. We can properly train you when you get back to the garden." Sam insisted turning away as Nadia spit her water back up. Why had she chanced another look at the dead monster?
"You and I both know I'm never going back to the garden," She hissed, "and I cast water like a pro because it's my elemental. I want to master at least casting fire before I give up."
"Nonsense! We'll go back to the garden first thing when we get back to Balamb."
"No I won't," She shouted throwing the bottle at Sam, "my parents are the reason I am not with them now. I don't know why, but I can't be near mother. I had wondered why she never visited me physically. But they both love me. Mother wouldn't do that unless it was in my best interest. There must be something wrong with me being Sorceress spawn that keeps me from her."
Reggie frowned, so she had figured it out. Edea, Rinoa, and Squall had given them countless instructions to never lead her down this path of thinking and they had hoped she wouldn't figure it out on her own. It had been a losing battle. Nadia was too smart and too inexperienced to understand anything other than logic. Normal girls would have assumed the worst if they had even come to the conclusion. Was that why Nadia had planned this secretive visit? To act out against the pain she must feel for being abandoned physically by her mother.
"Okay I am ready for another fight." She insisted leaving them no room to continue broaching the subject.
Squall strolled into the hotel room with a package under his arm. He had decided to buy Nadia a new doll to go with her Carbuncle bunny. It was a little stuffed plushy of an ice queen. He hoped she would name it Shiva and keep with tradition. That was one thing he loved about his 'little' girl. She loved keeping things that related to her parents. If daddy had guardian forces she would have mini-guardian forces just like his.
He tapped the front desk with his knuckle to get the clerk's attention. "Oh I didn't fancy seeing you here until tomorrow." The clerk smiled her eyes beaming.
"I figured I would surprise my friends." He said swapping the box to the other arm. Rinoa had also enclosed her own gift in the box. More music spheres with hits by Julia Heartily and famous singers of the times. He watched curiously as the clerk's brow furrowed.
"I'm sorry… seems your friends checked out yesterday." She said eyes reading over the screen.
"There must be some mistake."
She shook her head somberly, "No, no mistake. Sampson, the primary card holder, checked out around noon yesterday in a hurry."
Squall didn't like the sound of that. Checked out in a hurry? Was Nadia in danger? He reached into his pocket pulling out his digital display. In less than five minute he had Selphie, Edea, Rinoa, and Zell on the phone. Quistis was off on a mission and Irvine didn't answer the call.
"Is something wrong?" Edea questioned seeing the disturbed look on Squall's face.
"I just got done talking the clerk at the Balamb hotel. Nadia and her SeeDs check out yesterday."
"I could try to find her through our link." Rinoa whispered knowing this was no option.
"There has to be a better way," Selphie broke in, "the restoration on the garden is done enough that I can go out and try to help find her."
"No need to rush these things- I can pull up her SeeDs spending history, we'll know where she is if she's buying things. Just a moment," Edea cut in trying to calm her worried children.
"This isn't good though, what if someone found out she's a sorceress. Do you know the political implications?" Zell said stating the obvious. Squall nodded he really didn't want anyone else, but them knowing Nadia was a sorceress. The other nations would clamor for her just to have bragging rights and safety from Rinoa who was directly linked by family to Balamb territory.
"Look here, I have the list up here. They spent gil at… how odd, the East Side Dollet Tavern and another transaction at the Sea Side Dollet Hotel."
"What is our daughter doing in Dollet!" Rinoa hissed her display trembling. She must have hit the counter it was sitting on.
"I don't know but I'm going over there to find out why." Squall said hotly.
"I'm coming with you!"
"No! You can't get near her." Squall frowned hating to say the thing that hurt Rinoa most.
"With proper shielding… she would be safe from me." Rinoa bit her lip.
"I'm sorry, no. Not until we know if she's in danger or not." He watched Zell and Selphie look away from the awkward moment. "I'll be heading to Dollet alone, less noticeable that way. I will keep in touch." He was answered with a round of nods.
"Well well well…" Garland said clapping. He approached the trio. They were well worn out from hours of monster fighting. Garland was no fool. He wouldn't risk himself near a sorceress until he knew he could handle her. The little raven haired brat was a rookie, that much he could tell by her poor spell casting and weak form. Her guards were worn out picking up her slack. She was primed for the picking.
"You are a sorceress are you not? The magic you preformed is by no means Para-magic." He said with as warm a smile as he could muster.
"Yes, what's it to you." The little sorceress shot back her eyes flashing from red to purple. He wondered vaguely what she really looked like. She did have some talent, if she could keep up her illusions all the time, but apparently not much if she couldn't keep a consistent eye color. He remembered how they had scared the illusion right off of her and her companions when they had almost run her down.
"I am but a humble servant to the will of the sorceress." He said kneeling down. How much training did this one have to have White SeeDs, but no skill in casting. Perhaps a pampered princess discovered by one of the Gardens. Were they trying to hide the sorceresses now?
"As you should be. You'd be the first normal person I met that knows his place." She intoned seeming to finally find her own two feet and stand straight. Her guardians did as well though they look clearly beat.
"I was wondering if perhaps you would like some formal training on that magic of yours." He said suddenly struck by an idea. He could see her guardians stiffen at the mention. The sorceress herself seemed unphased by the comment.
"What do you have in mind?"
"Galbadia Garden, You'd be undertaking training to be a SeeD. You look grossly out of practice." Garland said trying to sound concerned. If he could keep her eating out of his palm in a year or two she would be his. His conquest for those who made Galbadia suffer could then begin.
He saw her eyes flash in glee, he had her. Her guardians still looked skeptical, but he could deal with them later. He was almost positive he didn't have to though. White SeeDs stood by their sorceress until the end so as long as she trusted him. They would not be an issue.
"I could get you enrolled and boarded there with special requirements before you even bat and eye." He said a small flick of his wrists towards her guardians.
"Deal!"
"Nothing. It's like they dropped off the face of the finical world." Edea sighed looking at the screen. Squall gave a curse clearly at wits end. He had been in Dollet for two weeks checking hotels, houses, and even stores. "Look Squall I know the reports have dropped off and so had the credit trail but that doesn't mean she isn't safe. I trust my SeeDs."
"You know even when you say it that way I can't think of how much bleaker it could get. I know the reports from the SeeDs said she was dabbling. If she learned the arts of illusions I'll never find her." He frowned, dropping to the bed in his hotel room.
"You're going to have to face it. She doesn't want to be found. If a sorceress wants someone to know where she is she can make the whole world know in a heartbeat." Edea snapped in annoyance. Squall really was so depressing sometimes.
"Am I that bad of a father that my daughter wants nothing to with me anymore?"
Edea left that questioned unanswered. What could she say? She knew so little of this new Nadia.
"Nadia, it's time to get up." Reggie said knocking on her wall. They shared the dorm room rather easily. Sam and Reggie had a bunk bed in their room. Nadia kept to herself in her half of the room. Nadia growled peeking through the window.
"Why am I getting up to early again?" She questioned kicking off her sheets.
Reggie frowned at her, "You agreed to be a Garden student. It's time you start acting like one. Get up before you miss your first class." She wanted to jump out of her bed and tackle him to the ground. He really was so bossy, she hadn't even been a full-time student for more then three days and he was already grinding her nerves. It wasn't her fault she was too tired to stay awake in introduction classes.
She waved him out of her room and began to change. She was annoyed she was only allowed three changes of clothes. Her illusions would only get her in trouble if she changed them often. It was a garden restriction on frivolous items. Less than one percent of the students were from well to do families and as such enforced their rules on them. The people in the gardens while stilling holding individually were decidedly similar. It seemed if you stuck out you were ridiculed.
A man of his word Garland had setup her identity as a one Kina Pital. Garland expressed interest that the name she had given him did not come up any databanks, but they had agreed to speak of the issue later. So Nadia dressed herself in a plain red halter top with simple black slacks. She was so very tired and ready to crawl back into bed but today was a weapon selection class.
That fact alone spurred her on through the halls and the long walk to her classroom. There she found her current Instructor Zan. He always looked like he had constipation, not that she would say so. She had learned quickly that berating an instructor in Galbadia didn't have the same effect as in Balamb. In Balamb they laughed, patted her head, and let her on her way. Here in Galbadia they screamed at you and made you do twenty push-ups.
There were ten other students in the class today; however they were decidedly shorter and younger looking then Nadia. She felt grossly out of place, as the only poor fool too slow and stupid to be let into a garden at the proper age. However, she countered her depression with a strong sense of pride that the president of their nearby city had personally got her in. She had friends in high places unlike these orphaned brats.
Instructor Zan started out strong today, belting out attendance in a husky voice. What was it about voices that drove Nadia jelly limbed and mush brained. She shook away the thought realizing she was getting gushy over Instructor Zan. The man was missing one eye from a battle during the Sorceress Ultimecia incident. "Pital, Kina." She waved an arm in recognition and continued to fight against his smooth voice.
"Pital… get up here that wasn't roll call." Zan hissed pointing at the other young children standing at his desk. She blushed profusely dashing out of her chair to stand at attention. "As you see we have all the basic weapons that we train students under. Today we're going to select the weapons you will be training with for the rest of time here in the garden."
Nadia eyed the weapons curiously. She ruled out the sword, knuckles, and gun as too barbaric for her tastes. In fact all, but the dagger seemed too heavy, outdated, or bulky to impress her. She watched her class mates pick weapons up off the table. Some even requested use of the spares as it seemed swords were popular. When all her classmates had picked she saw the lonely dagger still begging for attention on the table and reached for it.
"Are you happy with your sloppy seconds Pital? You didn't make a rush for a weapon." He said eyeing her carefully.
"I was waiting to see if anyone else would pick it." She snapped back her knuckles turning white around the hilt.
"Glad to see you have some determination. Now drop and give me twenty I won't take lip from the likes of you." He snarled back. Nadia frowned and promptly got to her knees. She knew to refuse would make her punishment worse. She didn't like it when the instructors screamed at her, but her classmates seemed fine with her doing pushups.
Her Instructor broke into his lesson of the day as she continued her punishment. She was so terribly slow, her arms burning from the effort of lifting her weight. She didn't even want to see the look on her classmates' faces. They most certainly were jeering. "Going too slow Pital… do you want me to push you?" Her instructor insisted putting a foot to her back and pressing down hard. She collapsed under the weight her tears springing forth.
"No sir." She cried.
"Are you crying? What kind of cadet are you? Twenty more push-ups on top of that and this foot doesn't come off until you stop crying."
"Nadia are you alright!" Sam said dropping the magazine he was reading when she slipped into the room. Her face was red and her eyes were blood shot. "What happened to you?" He said bringing her into a hug.
"I was too slow… I got my dagger though." She said in a monotone voice flashing the training weapon. Sam saw how unhappy she was at the sight of the dagger. He pondered trying to talk her out of her desire to study at Galbadia Garden.
"You should go to bed. Your next class isn't for another hour and its just theory." Sam said urging her gently into her dorm room. She nodded mechanically and headed for her bed.
Reggie was standing in the doorway, "She was out before her head even hit the pillow you know." Sam nodded. "Do you think this was a good idea?" Sam shook his head. "But we're going to follow her until she changes her mind right?" Another nod. "Being White SeeD is hard work."
Sam dropped a blanket over Nadia's sleeping form before turning back to Reggie. "You know I'm almost glad we never got to guard Edea while she was a sorceress. Watching Nadia is hard enough, but if I had to stand beside Edea as she mentally fought off Ultimecia… I couldn't do it."
"I agree with you. I am thankful every day we have a Sorceress who doesn't abuse herself as bad as the ones in the history books did."
Nadia woke with a start an hour later. Her training dagger was on her desk as well as a note from Sam and Reggie saying that they had gone to explore the garden. She still felt horrid from her experience in her weapons course, but as Reggie said she looked forwarded to her lecture class. If it was one think she could excel at, it was written theory and history.
She gathered the books she knew she would need and reached for her pack. Her Carbuncle bunny was still in there lonely and forgotten. Reaching for the limp doll she chewed her lip. She wanted to take it with her, but if the instructors found out what would they do? He was not a requirement for the class and some of her classes were still a mystery. What if her lecture instructor was like Instructor Zan?
She threw Carbuncle on the bed and stuffed her pack quickly before she could reach for him again. Slinging the pack over her shoulder she straightened her clothes and made towards her next class.
"Are you lost?" Someone said to her as she slipped into the doorway of her assigned class.
"What do you mean?" She looked up at the taller male. He was a rather strong looking fellow with a large sword hanging from his back. Was he a gunblade master like her father or just a regular swordsman?
"The class fixing to meet in that room is, well… a toddler class. Are you lost?" She pulled out her class schedule and gave it to him. He stared at a moment before a hysterical laugh broke free. "You mean to tell me you are really taking Introduction to Battle Theory and Practice?" She gave a nod wondering why it was so funny. "You must really be backwards. Here I thought you were just late but to be taking that class? Chocobo for brain is what you are. Have fun moron."
He shoved her schedule back into her hands as he slipped by her. She felt her face burning with embarrassment as she took a seat. She was early and saw that the prior class was still lingering in social conversation. She watched them all with calculating stares. She saw three teen girls lost in gossip. One was sitting on top of a desk keeping eye contact with the other two. She eyed their posture curious as to why they didn't stand straight. One girl was leaning against the desks behind her book clutched in her hands. The other was putting all her weight on one foot.
'What does this tell me about them?' She thought trying to use some of the information she had read from prior books. The girl leaning back was either subservient or unable to stand straight for some reason, whether it was weight or physical incapacity. Being that they were students in a school for mercenaries she assumed she was very subservient. The one sitting on the desk was comfortable enough in her position to care whether she was showing her friends the proper respect of standing up or not. She must be popular as was the other girl who doesn't care to give the sitting girl the respect to stand straight.
She laid her head down on the desk in her arms and continued to people watch.
"Miss Patil!" The shout roused her from her sleep. She jerked up pushing her pack off the desk. She tried to blink the blurry vision away. Her finished cleared to the sight of her Instructor charging up the middle of the isle to her. When had she decided it was good to sit in the back? Her instructor would already be mad. Making her climb steps to get to her wouldn't make it any better.
"Yes?" She answered wiping the drool from her chin.
"I asked you in accordance to the Galbadia Dueling Codes of 164 what is the proper way to declare a duel?" Her instructor hissed. Nadia felt awful, she didn't even know who her instructor was. The initials on the paper meant nothing to her but she did know the instructors answer.
"Duelist A, otherwise known as the Offending party, must file an official declaration of intent to duel. While Duelist B, Offended party, must file a full explanation of the offending incident. If either is found lacking proper cause the Duel will be revoked thus leaving any murder resolving from a duel a punishable crime." She wondered vaguely why the instructor was picking information from the middle of the book, let alone one that cross referenced a law book she had only off handedly picked up.
Her instructor stared at her looking surprised. "How did you know that?" She could see all her class mates, again younger and much shorter in stature then her. Some were flipping through pages trying to find the mentioned material.
"I read the books before hand." She admitted. She had been admitted to the garden last week with nothing to do until her class cycle began. She had kept the boredom at bay reading the study materials.
"Liar. Summarize the proper steps to become a SeeD." Her instructor snapped sharply.
Nadia liked this now. Her instructor looked irritated, why should she, she had answered the question correctly. And now asking such a broad question like that? Nadia could get the question wrong if she forgot something, but she knew she wouldn't.
"Those interested in becoming SeeDs must first fall within the age of fifteen to nineteen years old. They must pass a written exam and meet Headmaster approval before they are considered SeeD Candidates. After considerable time studying students must then pass the field exam which is assessed on Conduct, Judgment, Attack, Spirit, and Attitude. That is not to say there are not pre-requisites put forth by a peculiar Garden but the Field Exam is the only written official one. Other minor requirements to becoming a SeeD are proper education in a weapon of choice, training in proper fighting styles, as well as following the code of SeeD mercenaries before hand to prove one is SeeD material."
Her instructor fumed her skin flushed red up to her hair line. "Why are you in my class? Get out!" She hissed. Nadia was taken by surprise at that order.
"But I'm supposed to be here. This is Introduction to Battle Theory and Practice isn't it?"
"I said get out! I will not tolerate students like you in my class. Out!" Her instructor shouted. Nadia gave a squeak diving under her desk to retrieve her fallen pack and promptly ran out of the class room.
Sam and Reggie were surprised when the door opened up. "What are you doing back so soon?"
Nadia dragged her feet in dropping her bag as she walked. "I got kicked out of class."
"What did you do?" Sam watched Reggie get up and wrap his arms around their ward. She looked dazed and confused.
"I answered the questions right. I don't know why she was upset that I answered the questions right!" She whined suddenly breaking into tears again. Sam sighed, he knew this had been a bad idea from the start, but Nadia wanted to learn how to use her magic more. Why she had willingly gone to Galbadia garden he didn't know. This garden was the least likely to train magic, but it was also the farthest away from her mother and father. Was this another form of acting out?
"Shh, don't fret about it I'm sure something good happened." Sam snorted, how Reggie was going to find a silver lining in this he didn't know. "There is no use dwelling on what happened. Here I'll let you cook if it will make you feel better."
Nadia's head shot up all the sadness and confusion gone from her face. "Really?" Reggie nodded waving her into the small kitchen. Sam snickered; frozen food and a microwave didn't count as cooking. But Nadia hadn't even used those in her life. He watched her prance around the small 'kitchen' popping open the freezer and pulling a box free. She read the instructions quickly and did as ordered.
He watched her stare at the box making lazy circles in the microwave and couldn't help but laugh. She was such a spoiled brat perhaps the garden was the right medicine for her after all.
There was a sharp knock at the door. Nadia has already gone through three frozen boxes. Sam and Reggie had to tell her no more. Even as she went to the door to answer it she eyed the refrigerator. "No!" Sam said sharply. She gave a sigh pushing the activation button for the door.
"Irvine!" Nadia hissed staggering back.
"Don't think I've had that effect on women before." He muttered clearly not amused. Sam was already up and standing beside Nadia ready to gut the man with his bare hands.
Reggie exited his room noticing Irvine at the door. "What brings you here?" He was holding a stack of papers a look of distaste on his face.
"I'm here under headmaster orders. Apparently she caused a ruckus in her one of her lecture classes." Irvine didn't miss their knowing looks, "And her instructor gave a direct request to the headmaster to test her out. I'm here to administer the papers and the notes and make sure she doesn't cheat."
Nadia took the papers from Irvine greedily. Dropping the pile on the table she took the first one. It was a note from her instructor.
To SeeD Candidate Patil:
You behavior in my class was unacceptable. First you sleep through my class, then you answer the questions as though I bore you. Word to the wise, learn respect for your superiors. You won't get anywhere sassing people like you did today.
I've requested that you be tested out of my class as you clearly don't have anything to learn from me. If the headmaster accepts my request you will have to complete all the tests I give in my class. I expect you who answered two questions with an answer fit for my advanced classes will have no problem with this.
Good luck. I don't want to have to see you in my class again.
Instructor Shawn
Nadia realized this was the first time she even had seen the instructor's name. What kind of student didn't even know that? She mentally shook off her shame and began on the next note.
To SeeD Candidate Patil:
I've received a request from your Introduction to Battle Theory and Practice instructor. While I did not ask for details I'm sure you should be punished for whatever actions you took, but I find your case particularly interesting. You were let in by will of President Garland alone. I doubt you would have passed my candidate screening. I am giving permission for Instructor Shawn to test you out of her class and whatever measures she takes you had better pass. If you fail President Garland will know and your punishment will be severe.
This is not Trabia or Balamb garden. We do not pamper and baby our Cadets; we train them to be soldiers. A case like yours will be met with resistance. Don't expect the students to praise you for getting in on word of the President. In fact you had better be prepared to be ostracized and the butt of many jokes.
I hope you understand your situation and that an incident like this does not happen again.
Headmaster Martine
Sam watched her put down her papers run to her room returning just as fast with a pen, pencil, and her Carbuncle bunny tucked under her arm. "You just have to watch that I don't cheat right?" She questioned her hands already absently petting Carbuncle. Irvine nodded taking a seat across from her at the table.
Nadia had her pencil at the ready as she began to read the questions. The questions didn't require extensive thought. It was a simple process of reading the question and searching her memory for the proper response. She had figured it was a by the book class, but she hadn't figured she wouldn't even need to attend to pass. She paused for a moment feeling Irvine's eyes on her hands. Looking up she saw his distracted look. What was he thinking about that he hadn't even realized she had stopped writing?
The moment passed and Irvine was looking up at her. "What?" She shrugged not sure what to say. He glared for a moment before whispering, "Don't you use that witch craft on me again. Do you test like normal people do."
Nadia was taken aback by that. Irvine implied she was trying to cast on him so she could cheat? Why would she do that, more over she didn't even have the proper skills, or practice to enforce mind control. She had read in books that Sorceress Ultemcia channeling former Sorceress Edea's power could control minds, but only if the will was weak enough. Although, being that illusions were a trick to convince the mind of other things she perhaps could master mind control.
Forcing enough attention to continue filling out her tests she mused on. That was a thing she had spoken with Sam and Reggie. They fully encouraged her to tests the limits of her power. However, it was a stipulation that it could not directly affect someone else's actions or thoughts. She had expressed interest in trying to bind her illusions to an object as she was in a school of soldiers. Her chances of getting knock unconscious had increased. She was rather annoyed at herself for that lack of skill. She could keep her illusions up in a sleeping and awake state, but intense emotional shock or being knocked unconscious cut off her power supply to her illusions. It had already happen thrice and Sam insisted she fix it to never happen again.
She completed the first test handing it to a skeptical Irvine. She again refocused her thoughts on him. Did he think that 'incident' at the hotel was her bewitching him? Perhaps it had been. Nadia could remember a distinct lack of being able to harness her powers properly that night. She had been drunk on top of having a mild head trauma. She could have inadvertently used her powers in a way she normally couldn't. That was another area of thought she had expressed to Sam and Reggie in Balamb. Was her power directly limited to what she thought she could do?
She adamantly wished there was a school for sorceress's somewhere. The literature by former sorceresses was sparse. The most educational book had been by Sorceress Adel. Ironic enough that she had learned so much from such a twisted individual, she was now surpassing her skills in theory. If only she had more practice she was certain she would eventually equal Adel's skills in practical use.
She handed Irvine the next test. Eyeing that this was the final normal test and she would take the class final test next she channeled a bit more focus to the tests. She was annoyed that Irvine had thought of her so poorly. Did his friendship with her parents give her no leeway in her mistakes? Though if what he said were true, she had cast magic on him against his will. That in itself was a personal insult. Not that she wanted to ride her parents curtails forever. She was use to the power being Squall's daughter, to those who knew, gave her.
She had had free reign of Balamb Garden, training center excluded. She had gotten whatever she wanted on a whim from Headmaster Cid and Edea. Here she was just new cadet Patil. Granted she still had the power of someone else's name to get what she wanted, it was different. In Balamb people were proud she was Squall and Rinoa's daughter. Here in Galbadia it was a different matter entirely. These people felt she had not earned her place. They had no problem letting her know.
Remembering Instructor Zan's foot pushing down on her back was a stiff reminder how low she was here. She knew in the rules what he had done was acceptable under Instructor Punishment rights. He had caused no lasting physical damage and had a justified reason to do what he had done. If she petitioned against it people would just laugh at her.
She finished the final test and as before handed it to Irvine. He was silent the whole time merely staring at her. "Irvine." She muttered afraid to look him in the eyes.
"It's Kinneas." He interrupted standing up.
"I'm sorry," She muttered. She had never really been on that awful last name basis with anyone, it was unusual. "Whatever I, or my powers did that night I'm sorry." She whispered Carbuncle in a vice grip as she spoke, "I would never do that to someone against their will."
"I had expected Rinoa to raise you better than that." He insisted. She could see he was trying to get away, but partly interested in what she was talking about.
"I was drunk- I hit my head- so many things went wrong that night. I don't want you think badly of me or the way I was raised. Mom doesn't even know I have sorceress powers! I didn't find out until recently. Oh please don't tell them where I am!" Pouting for a moment she tilted her head in thought. "How did you know it was me?"
He snickered, "Only an idiot would use the same alias twice in the same region. Kina is a rather unique name… I'm surprise you did that." His mirth gave way to a serious frown. "Your parents don't know where you are?"
She threw carbuncle to the ground and clutched at Irvine's jacket. "Kinneas please don't tell them! I know they must be worried about me, but now that I got myself into this mess I want to get out of it on my own."
"Do you hate your parents that much?" She cringed when she heard the regret in his voice.
"No that's not it! I-"
He cut her off pushing her away. "Whatever that's your business. Don't get in trouble like this again. I don't fancy being turned into a common messenger every time I go to see the Headmaster." She tried to stop him, but he slipped away and out her door.
Sam and Reggie sensing it was safe entered the room again. Reggie put a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was surprised when she brushed it off. "Do my actions shout rebel, parent hater, and ungrateful bitch? Am I being selfish?"
Sam wanted to scream yes, but instead he opted for the option that kept him in the Witch's good graces. "Only those who don't know you, people who understand you understand your intent."
Irvine's digital display beeped as he was in the elevator going to the Headmaster's office. Instructor Shawn would be there waiting for the results. Waiting to either fail Nadia, or with the Headmaster's assistance place her in the proper class. He fished his little multipurpose computer out of his pocket.
'Incoming call from Squall Leonhart' flashed across the screen. With a sigh Irvine answered.
"Irvine! I have been trying to get in contact with you." Squall sighed with relief. Irvine could see the pub he had found Nadia in behind Squall. "I wanted to know if you have heard or seen anything about Nadia. She's gone missing and I can't find her anywhere!"
Irvine shook his head feeling his heart drop. He really didn't want to lie to his friend, but there were more important things on the line then their friendship. "No I can't say I have, I'll keep my ears to the ground and my eyes open though. I'm sure she's okay."
"Why does everyone keep saying that? She's just a child!" Squall hissed shaking his display as if it would affect Irvine. "She doesn't know any better! I don't think people realize how little she knows! Book smarts don't mean anything. You can't live practically from books alone. She doesn't even know not to accept candy from strangers!"
Irvine frowned, "Do you really think there is going to be someone strolling around offering candy to little kids?"
"You're not taking me seriously Irvine. My kid is out there somewhere, she might be fine, or she could be scared out of her wits!" Squall looked clearly distressed.
Irvine feeling his plight offered the only advice he could think of that would keep him safe. "Ellone can't help?"
Relief washed across Squall's face. "Why didn't I think of it? Thank you Irvine! I have to go now I have to talk to Ellone, but thank you! Take care, man." Before Irvine could say anything his display went blank and the elevator doors slid open. Instructor Shawn was sitting in one chair with a stony face and Headmaster Martine was surveying some papers nonchalantly.
"The papers you wanted?" He said handing the tests over. Shawn waved him away and Irvine accepted. All he wanted to do was go back to his room, crawl under the sheets of his bed, and think about what he had done. Maybe it would be that easy, but knowing his luck something would stop him on the way and give him trouble.