A/N: It's gonna be darker (and also a little bit more dramatic and wordy) than most chapters so just warning you. I enjoyed writing this, though. Like I really felt the hopelessness and meaninglessness and all that crazy shit. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I loved writing it. Couldn't update for a while because of health reasons but here I am agaiiin!
Also, I just found out I just reached 2000 views as I write the first draft so I'm super happy and super inspired and will definitely finish this really really soon so reviews please please please oh please
Chapter 22: Creation and Destruction
Krystof Kinneas
The sound of shattering glass was still fresh upon the ears of Krystof Kinneas, even as he was running to the Quad with Elaine, Louie, and Celine. The commander decided Carlos isn't fit to fight yet. Krys glanced upon the brown-haired girl beside him, remembering the events that took place just minutes before.
He remembered Celine's broken scream echoing and grey feathers covering his vision. She had just cast a spell upon the soldier. The room grew to a halt. Slowly, Krys decided to look down from the window and saw the soldier still falling. It was a slow spell. Whether it was intentional or not, they will never know. Celine rushed to the same window as her wings started to retract. Upon realizing what was about to happen, she raised her arm to cast another spell in a futile attempt to save the stranger.
Krys saw Celine wince from his periphery, while he tried to pull focus from the vision of the soldier hitting the metal shell of the Garden. The two turned away from the window, eyes wide in shock.
As they raced to the Quad, the abrupt sound of bones cracking played itself on repeat within the tunneling walls of his ears. He discerned the guy was still young, probably in his early twenties or late teens.
This is what the war creates – scared children pretending to be heroes, broken symphonies of death ringing through the canals of the ear, and the metallic smell of bullets and blood mixed with visions blurred by black smoke. The road to absolute power was a long and winding one, disguising itself as a stairway to peace. Its path lined with skeletons and gunpowder. And it has no end.
They had reached the entrance to the Quad when Krys stopped in his tracks, eyes full of liquid waiting for release. He hadn't noticed Celine stop as well. He only saw blurred visions of the two shapes running ahead in front of them as he held his knees in exasperation. The two were angry. He knew when he heard the footsteps through the chaos. They were heavy.
"Krys.." Celine said as she walked towards him, paying no attention to the battlefield around them. Louie and Elaine stopped running when they finally realized that the other two weren't running with them.
"Celine... This... I can't... I..." Krys was able to say before a lone teardrop fell from his eye.
"What's wrong?" Louie caught up to them. His voice was more cross than concerned. "We have to move or we'll be easy targets."
"We're all targets here, Louie. Nothing but... targets..." his voice shook under his breath.
"What? Kinneas what is going on?!" It was unclear if Louie had heard what he said. What was clear was the exhaustion and confusion in Krystof's tone.
"I... I... don't know." He said. "I just... keep on imagining the sound of that... that soldier's bones hitting the metal... and how he must be just like us... He was just like us, Louie. Like us."
"Look, Kinneas. If you're shaken up, you can go with Carlos to the basement for now. This is not the time for this." the young sorcerer's voice was a little more comforting than before, but it still had that stern commanding tone in it. Krys slowly nodded as he rose from his position.
As he lifted his head up, he reflexively brought out his gun and shot at the space between Louie and Celine. Act now, think later.
The trio in front of him turned and saw a G-soldier who wasn't wearing his helmet. A drop of blood running down his face, his open eyes were blank and an almost perfectly round hole in the middle of his forehead. He had his right arm raised and at the end of it was a gun pointed right at Celine's head. He fell to the ground, lifeless. His arm still outstretched towards the last thing he saw.
"Shit!" Louie exclaimed in shock. Krystof could swear he heard his bullet break open the soldier's skull. He froze as the other three started running to the Quad. He felt a force pulling at his right arm and snapped out of his stupor. Elaine was pulling him towards the Quad.
"Krystof come on!" he heard Elaine shout to him, as he started hearing the chaos inside the Garden once again. His feet started moving towards the Quad while his thoughts flew almost as fast as the bullet he just let loose.
Act now. Think later.
The four of them entered the Quad. Nobody seemed to notice their arrival because of the constant fighting that was taking place in the area. The echoes of metals clashing, spells being cast and guns being shot filled the air. They ran to the stage, where all the Galbadians are coming from. Krys hoped all the running would shake off the memory of that guy, because he knew he had more to get through.
Louie grabbed the gunblade that was attached to his hip, his eyes focused, determined and, above all else, mad. The sound of Celine's guns clicking meant it was time to get into position. The four peered through the edge of the Quad, where a view of the ocean reached their eyes.
The typically calm waters were ironically flooded with G-army ships. Each one had ramps similar to that one on G-Garden, only smaller. The G-army soldiers were being catapulted from the ships to the Garden. The children braced themselves as they saw a rider coming in on his army motorcycle. His silhouette covered the soft periwinkle glow of the sunrise sky.
"Check your junctions." their leader said calmly as he swung his blade with his right arm, grimacing in pain as he rotated his injured shoulder.
"Holy!" Elaine shouted. Bright white light jumped from her forehead to the incoming shadow, blinding him momentarily.
"Get away!" Celine cried out before jumping just in time. The military bike landed right where they were a moment ago, flipped and landed once more, making a screeching sound that would have been distracting if it wasn't so noisy where they were. The G-soldier that was on the vehicle was almost invisible since everything happened too fast. Smoke came out of the engine of the scrambler as it sat motionless along with the man who was lying there.
Louie lifted the thing with a flick of his left arm. It rolled over and revealed the entirety of its driver, still as death. Krys gulped and narrow lines formed at his forehead as he once again envisioned how this one's life ended. He stood still - as motionless as the man seemingly resting before them.
"Krys." Celine's soft voice snapped him out of his stupor. He blinked twice, once again hoping that quick motion will wash the recent memory away.
There was something really off about him. When they were back in Timber, shooting, wounding and probably killing G-soldiers, it didn't matter. He has changed. This is what the war creates – automatons, forcing thoughts of death to the hidden corners of their minds. People say peace will be the endgame of it all; never daring to say that what was happening was a war. But the truth is, no peace will be attained from war, only more wars, more battles for more power. Still, he had to push through, because it's kill or be killed in the battlefield.
"Look out!" he heard the brown-haired girl beside him shout, then two explosions, which pushed him back to reality again. He then saw two men in blue fall about five meters in front of him.
"Krys. Snap out of it." Celine had a soft calming voice that was nowhere near what Louie's sounded like. There was still panic in it, but she somehow knew or at the very least, understood at some level, how Krys was feeling. It made sense, since she was with him by the window when the young soldier died a slow (in every sense of the word) and painful death. Somehow, he wished she started to feel the same way. Although the lack of times she looked dazed proved otherwise.
"I'm sorry." was all he managed to say before he raised his arm and started shooting mindlessly.
Act now. Think later.
Each wave of recoil he fought back with his arm came with hopes of unsettling recent memories, until the next compression of the trigger kills that hope. It was recurring, almost torturous to Krys.
The smell of gunpowder still hung in the air when the sound of battles started to subside. The children felt the ocean breeze blow freely against their skin for the first time since they arrived. The ships still lingered afloat on the blue Centran waters. Krystof saw Louie slowly walk up to the ledge. As if figuring out what his leader was about to do, Krystof ran to Louie and pulled both of his shoulders.
"Stop!"
Louie turned sharply. For the first time that night, Krystof had a clear view of Louie's ice blue eyes. The reflection of the moonlight upon them were greater than normal and his eyebrows almost met.
"I told you to go back to Carlos if you can't take it." Their leader said under clenched teeth. There was an audible lump in his throat.
"What are you gonna do?" Krys retorted, his voice almost hostile.
Louie sharply turned back, taking no notice of Krys's question. He looked back at the scenery that would've been beautiful if it wasn't stained with ships of the enemy. As he raised both his arms and inhaled deeply, large white wings materialized from behind him. His feet started to steadily hover from the ground. The wings already had red and black protrusions and were steadily undulating when the winds picked up. The waters below started to stir until the sunrise seascape turned into a nightmarish vision of a maelstrom. In an instant, the metallic ships that floated on the surface disappeared under the waves. They were all gone.
The sorcerer still wasn't stopping, though.
Almost instinctively, Krys raised a gun pointed at Louie. He wasn't thinking anymore, and he just wanted him to stop.
Celine and Elaine were too spellbound and alarmed by what was happening that they failed to notice. That was until Krystof loaded his gun, which made a small clicking sound. The storm before them came to an abrupt, almost peaceful end as the sorcerer turned towards the owner of the gun, which sent the fusilier flying back and his gun falling to the floor.
"Louie, stop!" Celine exclaimed as she ran to Krystof, who fell from the impact of the spell. Seemingly affected by an external force, the sorcerer's wings stopped heaving and he froze in the air. Elaine turned to Celine.
"What did you do?!" asked the blonde cadet.
"I...just... nothing. I did nothing." Celine responded; confusion and panic coloring her voice.
Suddenly, the sorcerer's wings retracted and he fell to the ground with a thud. Elaine rushed to him.
"What happened?" probed Louie, unaware of what he did to Krys.
"You turned around and pushed Krys with a spell when he pointed his gun at you." Elaine said almost calmly.
"What?!" the young Leonhart stood with shaking knees and turned to where Celine and Krys were.
"Krys, I..." Leonhart knelt by them. "I'm sorry I wasn't myself. I was, you know, was so mad and everything just happened so fast."
"It's fine, Louie. I'm sorry I pointed a gun at you. I'm just..." Krys sighed as he realized the first wave was over. "I'm really distracted today."
"I understand." Louie replied as he stood. White light suddenly surfaced from his forehead and landed on the three others, bathing them with the glow. The Quad was almost silent now, except for the continuous hissing sound of smoke and the occasional light chimes of healing spells popping out from the background. They had time to rest.
Louie looked out onto the sunrise, wondering how he slowly lost control as he gained power, and in an instant, exhausted it all. Celine stood.
"How are you?" she said to the man who was lost in thought in front of her. He turned abruptly, towards where the sound came from.
"Fine. I just... realized... I totally lost control. Last thing I heard was you, shouting at me." He said with a small, forced grin.
"Yeah. Sorry. Must've accidentally cast a spell."
"It's fine. You'll start having more of those." He then turned to Krystof, who was still sitting on the ground. He sat down. "And Krys. Thanks. If you weren't there to point that gun at my head I... I can't even imagine what would've happened."
Krys nodded.
"Look, I know it's hard." Their leader added. "I mean, I don't have nights when I hadn't thought of the lives I've ended. But we have to continue. For us, the time to think and the time to act are two totally different instances. You can't do both at the same time or you'll end up..."
"shooting your childhood friend?" Krys was finally smiling, although there was still distress in his eyes.
Louie snickered as well. "Yeah. Shooting your friend." He exhaled. "It's hard. I know. I mean, look around, Krys. All this death is on my shoulders because I'm the one they came here for. It's painful to even start to wonder. But it's pain we have to endure because we know we're fighting for peace. Real peace."
Silently, Krys nodded, seemingly accepting what his leader said. Louie rose and walked past him, giving him two pats on his shoulder before stopping just behind him. Krys turned slightly and saw Louie touch his own forehead. A red feather appeared on Louie's palm and he blew it away. It slowly got taken by the wind until it rose up to the clouds. Slowly, a red bird started to materialize in the center of the Quad. It was a phoenix chick.
"What's that, Leonhart?" asked Elaine who saw everything.
"Summoned a baby phoenix from a small phoenix pinion." Everyone in the Quad started to feel a little hot and then back to their original state. Unknowingly, their wounds were somehow healed by Louie. "It's because of me the Galbadians are here. It's the least I can do."
Suddenly, Krys heard a familiar female voice shoot from the Quad entrance. "Louie!"
"Auntie Quistis?" Krys stood up and looked around, searching for where the voice came from. They all saw Quistis Almasy's figure run up to them from the Quad entrance and stop just before them.
"Auntie Quistis. Why are you here?" asked the young Leonhart.
"Your mother needs you up in the roof."
"The roof?!" Krystof butted in.
"Yes, Kinneas. The roof. Where the machine guns are. An airstrike is about to happen so I suggest you all start healing yourselves, stock up on magic and check your junctions." Their stern instructor replied.
"Why do you need me on the roof, Auntie Q? I'm a gunblade, not a projectile."
"You are not going to be manning the machine guns. You are going to be using magic. Sorcery, not para-magic."
"What?! But I just had a self-control problem with my magic minutes ago, Auntie Q."
"I don't care, Leonhart. I just need you up in the roof where you can cast spells at the airstrike. That's an order." Quistis retorted forcefully.
Louie was silent for a few seconds, staring at his instructor's stony blue eyes, before opening his mouth to speak. "Affirmative, instructor."
"Let's go then." She replied before turning back around and adding to her orders "Oh and Branford and Kinneas, you two are going to be on the machine guns."
They reached the 2F balcony after walking through the aftermath that was in the lobby. Krystof realized this as he carefully held on to the cold metal railings, as well as his grasp on his thoughts. The rusting metal slabs attached to the wall of the balcony made it possible to reach the roof of the Garden. The winds blew fervently at their altitude. It made him sick. When they finally reached the top, the gusts hadn't subsided. He tried to focus on his feet, as they were standing on an incline. The sound of the strong Centran breeze upon the walls of his ears made it harder and harder to do so. He took in a deep breath and felt the air getting thinner. Still, intrusive thoughts didn't stop themselves from invading his mind. Faces, sounds, and scents were as powerful as the bullets within the barrel attached to his belt.
A loud whirring noise woke Krystof up one more time. He looked towards where it came from and saw metallic tubes slowly emerge from under the shell of the Garden. In a few seconds, the tip became a whole machine gun, packed with multiple cylinders and a long strand of bullets hanging from its sides. Behind it, stood a platform. Krystof realized this is where he was supposed to be standing.
Slowly, Krys positioned himself behind the massive silver machinery. Its blue glass panels and mismatched buttons suggest that it was a rushed addition done by the hands from Fisherman's Horizon. It was ironic how pacifists seem to know a lot about machines of war. As he slowly stepped onto the platform, Krystof took a moment to remember the war-free lives at FH and thought it nice to live there, even just to take a momentary rest from all the battles. Still, a country seemingly free from strife is a sitting duck in a world drowning in turmoil. This has been proven by the fact that FH has easily crumbled under the combined forces of Galbadia and Esthar, all because they refused to side with them.
"Kinneas! Turn it on!" Krystof heard the voice of Quistis from behind him. He hadn't even noticed that he was standing on the platform, legs shaking from the cold. With that, he pressed a transparent blue button right in the middle of the control board. He heard the machine come to life. A few sharp clinks were heard under the chilly but serene air before a transparent target panel shot up from the board, right in front of Krystof's face and a slow lull settled in his ears. He looked around and saw Celine Branford manning the machine gun a couple of meters to his right and Instructor Quistis the one behind him.
There was peace for a moment. The sun had risen all the way up and the sky was bathed in bright white light. In an instant, a loud explosion was heard, followed by the barely visible silhouette of a jet streaking across the sky and the trail of white smoke that glowed bright in the early morning sun. Two more jets made their own sonic booms before appearing and disappearing before their eyes.
"They're scanning the area! Man your stations. Sorcerers prepare." Quistis commanded as she held on to the handles of the machine gun. Krystof saw Louie from his periphery. The raven-haired sorcerer took in a deep breath and brushed the hair out of his right eye before the same white wings with red and black protrusions pushed out from his back. Behind the sorcerer was another pair of white wings, belonging to his mother.
Krys saw a blue light seemingly surround him and assumed it was a Protect spell cast by Rinoa. Looking around, he noticed the others had Protect as well.
"Barrier!" he heard Quistis say as another green light seemed to wrap itself around his body. "Load up the guns!" she commanded once more as the first jet returned and started firing at the Garden.
The Protect and Barrier spells seem to work as no bullets hit the SeeDs on the roof while they continued to target the jets that pass by. Their ears filled with the sound of metal hitting metal as one by one, the silver weapons fell along with the men operating them. Krystof tried hard not to think of the pain they have suffered as their jets crashed. He looked to his right, and saw Louie seemingly out of breath. His feet were above the ground and his eyes were red with anger. Krys saw Louie raise his arms, which caused an incoming plane to fall apart. It was a surprise to them when the flyer fell right in front of the sorcerer.
The pilot wasn't moving. His helmet was punctured by a slab of metal. Krys saw that he wasn't breathing, and judged that the metal slab probably went through his helmet and damaged his skull.
There was silence once more. The airstrike was done and the Gardens can now rest.
Despite this, Louie was still above ground, staring intently at the body before him. Sensing what the sorcerer was about to do, Krys jumped from the metallic platform and stood in between the dead aviator and the mad magus.
"What are you doing, Leonhart?!" Krystof almost shouted, as if amplifying his voice will smack some sense into the sorcerer.
"What are you doing, Kinneas?!" the sorcerer returned the question. He was looking intently at Krys. No, not at Krys, through him.
"He's dead, Louie! This is wrong." the gunner shouted again. From the periphery, he can see the Celine climbing off her platform to watch the scene.
"Who are you to tell me what's right and what's wrong, Kinneas?!" exclaimed the sorcerer. "You've killed too! You've probably killed just as much as I have! Now you tell me that it is wrong to exact revenge? Hypocrite."
Krys felt blood rush up his cheeks at the insult, as he slowly felt heat surged up to his neck and head.
Louie continued. "I keep telling you, Kinneas. This is not the time to think. This is the time to act."
"He's dead. You can achieve nothing more if you do to him what you're about to do. Stop this nonsense, Louie! You're letting your anger control you! This isn't you!"
"Oh but this is me, Krystof. This is the Sorcerer that will end this war. And to end this war no enemy shall ever taste glory. Even in death" He was gritting his teeth and his chest was rising and falling rapidly. One can almost hear a deep roar that came with every exhale. "Step aside, Kinneas."
Silence. Quistis and Rinoa didn't know what to do. Tears were running down Rinoa's cheeks as he witnessed his son utter sentences she couldn't bear to hear.
"No." retorted Krys. Louie's eyes was almost fuming with anger.
"So be it." the sorcerer was able to mutter before he heard a click from his left. He turned and sweeped his left arm towards where it came from.
When he saw Celine plummet to the balcony, his eyes changed and his feet touched the ground again.
Krystof saw his instructor run back to the metal bars that functioned as steps to check on the girl. Rinoa ran to her son, tears still upon her eyes.
"Mom?" the gunner turned around and saw Louie right in front of him. His eyelids were heavy and he looked pale even under the warm glow of the sun. That was until the wings behind the sorcerer receded and he collapsed.
They did it. They had survived. This bittersweet realization hit Krystof Kinneas as soon as he woke up to see the next day. Yesterday was a blur. Celine and Louie were rushed to the infirmary right after the scene in the rooftop. The former ended up unconscious for a couple of hours, but had no broken bones, while the latter simply collapsed from fatigue and stress.
Krys went with them that day, and then got out after some of his wounds were treated. Thankfully, the dormitories were spared.
Krys didn't want to get out of his dorm. The sight of the Garden in shambles made him want to cry, throw up, and run, all at the same time. Garden was the home he always knew. Sure, they had a house back in Galbadia, but Krystof mostly grew up in B-Garden. He could still remember running around the halls with Louie, Carlos and Dash, making a hell of a lot of noise, and getting in trouble with the Instructors and the Garden Faculty.
He took a deep breath as he walked towards the door that opens to reality.
This is what the war destroys – homes – warm childhood memories of laughter, the sound of running water from the spitting fishes, the smell of freshly-cooked hotdogs in the cafeteria.
Now, all he smells are gunpowder and blood, all he hears are the sounds of bullets and bones, all he sees are wounds and death. The worst part of it was the fact that he knew that this was only the beginning.
Krys felt a sinking feeling at the bottom of his chest as he walked through the lobby. The smell of wood burning hasn't disappeared even though the black smoke that permeated the place from yesterday was gone. It made him sick. He mostly looked at the floors while walking, trying to avoid making eye contact with anyone. His gloved hands felt cold, but his neck was warm, almost burning. He felt his cheeks get warm as well while he approached the metal railing on the stairs to the elevator. Clear fluid started flowing from his eyes. He had to stop walking since his vision was now blurred, and he knew he couldn't take it anymore. He sat on the first step, took a deep breath, and looked up.
For the first time, he saw the aftermath pretty clearly, with all the smoke gone. The fountain has stopped and the water was far from clear. But the floors were shining again and the people, SeeDs and students, were all smiling and laughing with each other as they helped rebuild their home. The war may have badly damaged it, but Garden still felt like home.
That's just it, isn't it? Your home can be reduced to a piece of stone and it still would feel the same. No amount of war, blood or gunpowder can ever change that feeling we all long for. Everyone, even the Galbadians who attacked, is only doing so to protect that one single feeling.
With a seemingly newfound conviction, Krystof Kinnes stood up and turned towards the elevator. He was already running late for a meeting with the commanders of each Garden, the Headmasters and the students involved in the war, which includes him. When he left the dorms, he was contemplating about skipping the meeting. Now, he knew he had to go. He knew what he had to say.
He was surprised to see the meeting room almost intact. Except for a couple of bullet holes on the windows and the chairs, and the missing plush double-doors, it was still okay. Everyone he expected to see was there, along with other people he didn't expect to see. Squall Leonhart and Seifer Almasy, the commanders of Balamb and Galbadia Gardens respectively, sat in front of the window. He saw unfamiliar faces as well. A big hulky dark-skinned man sat beside a slender whit-haired woman on the table.
"You're late." Squall said as he saw Krys walking in. Surrounding the table was the original orphanage gang, excluding Zell and his wife. Louie was standing on the far right, holding a mug of what was obviously, coffee. Carlos had his feet up on the couch, evidently feeling better after being rescued. His blonde hair was now slicked back.
Krys did a salute. "Apologies, commander." He said before walking towards the couch and nudging Carlos's feet, causing the blonde SeeD to scowl before sitting upright, giving the brown-haired SeeD space to sit.
"Why aren't we starting?" Krys heard Louie speak softly where he was standing.
"We're waiting for one more person." His father/commander replied, in a tone that was colder than his.
"Who?"
"Me." They all turned to the doors to see where the voice came from. It was their Matron, all dressed in black, as expected. Her long black hair framed her fair plain face. Krys felt a wave of nostalgia hit him at the sight of his so-called grandmother.
"Nice of you to join us, Sorceress Kramer." Xu stood and was about to salute her when she heard her speak.
"Please, Xu. Edea is just fine." She walked to one of the empty chairs, greeting everyone with a warm smile before sitting down.
"Let's begin." Edea spoke. The first part of the meeting was a haze. They had discussed how many casualties, fatalities, and injuries they had. Krys grew sick at the mention of the number being less than expected, as if it brings back the loves of those few they lost. But he chose to stay quiet. They also discussed repairs and reinforcements needed, relocation plans over the next few days, and SeeD exam matters. Krystof, Louie and Carlos grew bored after a while. That was until they started talking about plans
"I think we should strike back once we have enough SeeDs, ya know?" Krys heard the dark-skinned man talk.
"REVENGE." Added the white-haired lady.
"Why are you two here again?" asked Quistis, who seemed annoyed at the overly simple idea.
"Relax, hun. I invited them. Thought we might need a few more experienced fighters." Quistis raised an eyebrow at Seifer's statment before he added. "And they protected Carlos during the attack, so.."
"Stop, Quistis." Irvine intruded. "Seifer's right, we need all the help we can get. And I think a planned attack should be in order. An eye for an eye."
"Oh so we can lose more people?!" Rinoa was getting angry. Her hand clutched the wooden panel at the edge of the table a little to hard. Squall noticed this and reached out to her arm. He was still silent.
"No, Rinoa. We won't lose more people. We attack only when we are sure that we can win."
"For what, Kinneas? For revenge? Then we're no better!"
"Calm down, Rinoa. I'm just saying – an attack by us is an option. And it's not just for revenge. This is so we can show those they captured, including Zell and Sophie by the way, that we can be there for them. That there's hope."
"Bullcrap."
The room was silent. Irvine turned to see his son, Krystof Kinneas, standing.
"What was that, Krystof?!" Selphie stood as well.
"I said." Krystof took in a large volume of air. "Bullcrap, mom."
"You don't talk to your father like than, Krystof." Irvine rushed out of his seat to get nearer to his son but he was immediately stopped by an unseen force. It forced him to sit down.
"Let him speak." Louie's hands were on his sides, but his eyes were on Irvine. The spell was from him. "Krys."
Krys was calm now, his voice returning to its usual tone. "I think an attack should be our last option. Battles like this bring fear and destruction that is unnecessary. Besides, we may out-skill them, but they definitely outnumber us. An attack just for the purpose of revenge is pointless. They'll get what's coming to them without our help."
"What's your idea, then, Kinneas?" Seifer seemed interested and annoyed at the same time.
"Peace talks." His words drew out a couple of chuckles from the room, which prompted him to add more. "I'm not saying it's a risk-free action. But it's better than losing life. Peace talks on neutral ground could lead to negotiations, which mean we could achieve peace without any more casualties."
"What about Zell?"
"Well, you know I haven't really thought of a complete plan just yet. I mean, that's on you. But I'm just saying. An attack right now, or even when we think we're ready, is not going to be ending this war. We all want this to end. And I think this is one way." With that he sat right back down. He glanced at Matron, who was smiling a small smile.
"I think it makes sense." Said Matron. "You could learn a little something from your son, Irvine."
"Who will we send, then?" Squall asked. The look on his face told everyone that he was really considering the idea.
"Me." Edea answered.
"What?! No, Matron. You're a sorceres—" Quistis stood at Edea's request.
"Yes I know that. I'm willing to try, Quistis. This is a war on sorceresses, and who better to send to Esthar than me?"
It was true. Krys gulped as he realized he just put his Matron's life in danger. They talked a little bit more about their plans, until the meeting came to an end.
Krys felt an odd combination of relief and pressure. Calmly, he walked down the halls of his home, convincing himself that the rewards from his idea outweigh the losses. He knew what was at risk with his plan, but he also knew that if he sat and said nothing, this destruction wouldn't end, even if the battles stopped. And he wanted, almost itched, for it to end ever since it began.