After everyone had left the room, Squall opened his laptop to review the questions that would be asked of him during the Timber Maniacs interview the next day. Xu had prepared some suggested answers for him, fearing that he might blank out and end up talking to himself.
Usually, Rinoa accompanied Squall to these interviews despite his aversion to crowds. Unlike him, Rinoa enjoyed spending time with her fans in her hometown. She would sign each kid's DVD cover of their show, "The Last Sorceress," a romantic sitcom in which Squall and Rinoa were the main characters. The show depicted them spending most of their time sitting in Balamb Garden's cafeteria and local pubs and shops in Balamb town, discussing love, magic, and occasionally encountering cheap, fake monster costumes. It was a minimal effort fantasy show offered by the film crew, which confused Squall as to why they continued to create more episodes and prolonged the shame he felt whenever he walked by a giant screen broadcasting the show to the whole town.
As Squall's eyes wandered off Xu's transcripts, he couldn't help but think of Rinoa. For the past few months, she had been having strange dreams in which an unknown voice called out to her from a distance. Initially, Squall thought it might be because of the stress and hard work she put into liberating Timber from the Galbadian government. It was a messy political fight that involved many Galbadian officers, including Head General Caraway, who happened to be Rinoa's father. Their relationship had improved after the war, but Caraway was not the type of person to mix his personal and political lives.
However, even after Timber gained independence, Rinoa's dreams persisted and became more frequent. Sometimes, Squall would catch Rinoa daydreaming, not responding to his calls for a few seconds as she seemed distracted by some voice. It scared him whenever he saw her in that state, as it reminded him of when she was possessed by Ultimecia and wandered mindlessly in Esthar's space station.
Being a knight came with many responsibilities, even during peacetime. Squall had written to Cid about Rinoa's recent symptoms and received a lot of mental support from his mentor. The passing down of Hyne's power over millions of years, mutating and imbuing different entities, had created more mysteries than answers.
Edea had once mentioned that the bond between a knight and a Sorceress was sacred, as a knight could help guide a Sorceress out of darkness or vice versa. After defeating Ultimecia, Squall had sensed unexplained changes within himself. Sometimes, he could feel his dormant Lionheart weapon calling to him, urging him to pick it up and seek out a fight. His Griever ring had disappeared during the final battle with Ultimecia, and it troubled him why Ultimecia could summon a Guardian Force with the exact symbol as his ring, something he had possessed since birth. When he asked Laguna about it, his father had no knowledge of the ring.
Squall had kept his unanswered questions to himself because the feeling didn't seem worrisome or urgent. However, now that both Edea and Rinoa were experiencing strange occurrences, Squall had a nagging feeling that the battle against dark magic had not truly ended.
He wondered if Seifer was also undergoing strange changes.
After returning from Ultimecia's castle, Squall was brought back by Rinoa to Edea's lighthouse and learned that Seifer had just left before the gang reached Edea's. Edea asked Squall to take care of Seifer, acknowledging that the healing process from being mentally possessed by a Sorceress for such a long time could take years. Despite being a true bully with other kids, Seifer still formed a strong bond with Edea due to her patience and unconditional love. This bond translated into that of a knight and sorceress, although Ultimecia showed no concern for Seifer's well-being. Squall verbally accepted Edea's request, though he was unsure if he and Seifer would ever meet again.
That day came more than a year after the war. Squall and Rinoa had just finished an interview in Timber and decided to visit a local pub. They recognized Seifer, Fujin, and Raijin sitting at a table. Rinoa hesitated to approach, as she had mentioned that she and Seifer had a brief history before he turned to the dark side. Moreover, Seifer was the one who had pushed her toward Adel's clutches in Esthar—a betrayal that was difficult to forgive.
"It's all right. He's no longer possessed," Squall reassured Rinoa, taking the lead as they walked over to the trio's table.
"How are you doing?" Squall asked Seifer, genuinely concerned. The memories of being bullied by Seifer as a child had faded long ago thanks to GF junctioning, but the more recent memories of their conflicts in Balamb Garden remained fresh. However, Squall was no longer the emotional teenager he once was. He had matured significantly and was not afraid to face his former nemesis head-on.
Seifer didn't answer. He glanced at Rinoa, who stood a few steps behind Squall and couldn't hide her unease. Seifer waved his hand, indicating that there was nothing new to share, and took a long sip of his beer.
Realizing that he wouldn't get a response from Seifer, Squall turned his attention to Fujin and Raijin.
"I heard from Quistis that your transfer documents have been approved. When will you officially start at Galbadia Garden?"
"Pretty soon, ya know. We're pretty excited. We'll take the train from here and get there this week, ya know," Rajin replied. "By the way, thanks for taking care of the paperwork. We really appreciate it, man."
Fujin nodded and looked at Squall, saying, "GRATITUDE," while placing her hand over her heart.
"Anytime. If you ever want to come back, though," Squall glanced back at Seifer, "Balamb will always welcome you home." He noticed a subtle change in Seifer's expression. "Anyway, enjoy."
Squall turned around and signaled to Rinoa that he was done talking and that they should leave. Just as they were about to go, he heard Seifer call out.
"Squall," Seifer spoke to Squall for the first time since their last battle on opposite sides, "if you see Matron, tell her that I'm doing okay." Seifer picked up his beer again, trying to avoid eye contact with Squall, who nodded in acknowledgment.
That night, Squall wrote a letter to Edea, imagining her content smile knowing that all of her children were reclaiming their lives.
"Squall? Are you there?" A familiar voice emanated from the Teleradio, interrupting the commander's train of thought.
"Rinoa? Have you arrived in Esthar?" Squall moved his hand closer to his mouth as he spoke.
"I already had lunch with your dad. We're going to start some warm-up experiments this afternoon. I'll keep you posted," Rinoa replied, her voice filled with excitement.
"Don't push yourself too hard... I hope you're enjoying your stay."
"Roger! Ellone promised to show me around the city tomorrow. It's changed so much since we were last here. They've even built two more towns in addition to this complex of ten, as people from Fisherman's Horizon have returned to visit their relatives. I ran into Mr. Lierus, the pub owner from FH, on my way here. It already feels like home!"
Squall smiled as he imagined Rinoa cheerfully exploring Esthar after years of being confined to Balamb.
"Do you want me to deliver a message to your dad? He said you never replied to his voicemail," Rinoa asked.
"Um... yeah, please tell him his Turtapod was great," Squall responded after some consideration.
"... Did you actually try it?" Rinoa asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
"…"
"I knew it! You're being nice to him. Okay, I'll let him know that you enjoyed it and that you'd like to try another dish as well," Rinoa suggested, satisfied with Squall's progress. The teenage Squall would have simply thrown away Laguna's care package without a word.
"Thanks," Squall appreciated Rinoa's thoughtfulness. Reconnecting with his dad had been challenging when he turned 18, the age when most people leave their parents to embark on their own adventures. Squall and Laguna seemed to have everything backward, and there was no guidebook for their situation.
"That's it? Do you... miss me?" Rinoa playfully asked her usually taciturn boyfriend.
"Yeah... I've been feeling kind of lost since you left," Squall admitted.
"Aw... I miss you too. I'll be home as soon as the experiments are over, okay?" Rinoa realized that this was the first time they had been apart since the last sorceress war, and that she was not the only one feeling a sense of neediness in their relationship.
"Okay. If you're busy, I might come over as well to visit Laguna and Ellone."
"Sounds like a great plan!" Rinoa's voice perked up.
Someone knocked on the door. "Squall? Are you in there?"
"I have some work to do. Can you call me back when you have new findings from the experiments?"
"Okay, Squally. Love you!" Rinoa ended the call with a remote kiss, not waiting for Squall to say goodbye. It was her unique way of leaving him longing for her presence.
Squall smiled. He then opened the door to see two of his best comrades.
"Yo, Squall. I just got back. Care to join us for some tea?" a tall guy with long brown hair said, his arm wrapped around Selphie's waist.
"Sure." Squall nodded at Irvine. "Everything okay over there?"
"So-so. We can discuss it more in the cafeteria. I kind of ran away from work. There's so much to keep track of," Irvine said, taking off his hat and fanning himself to cool down. "Running a small school wasn't as easy as I thought. I regret letting you talk me into it." He turned to Selphie, who seemed happy with her boyfriend's preoccupation.
"On the bright side, the girls from Trabia Garden seem more approachable, don't they?" Selphie winked.
"I wouldn't dare, sweetie!" Irvine put on a well-behaved face.
"Let's go." Squall interrupted their playful banter, wondering if he and Rinoa had ever sounded like that.
The three Legendary SeeDs walked down the hallway, receiving greetings from their students.
"Should we invite Quistis?" Squall asked, feeling strange that Selphie and Irvine hadn't mentioned her.
"We stopped by her lab already. She was working with Acma on something. She said she'll be able to join us shortly," Irvine replied.
Friday 1200, Balamb's research lab…
Quistis was waiting for Acma after texting her to come to the lab for an inquiry. The new accountant hired by Xu had discovered a somewhat significant discrepancy of some chemicals, which became an issue as Xu was trying to cut costs towards the end of the fiscal year.
Normally, no one cared about research labs. Quistis thought, feeling a bit uneasy as her sacred sanctuary was now under investigation.
Looking around her lab filled with chemicals and monster samples, Quistis tried to find something to occupy herself with before heading out for lunch with her gang, which included Irvine this time. He had recently become the Vice Headmaster at Trabia Garden, and no one needed to ask why he decided to take the role. Thanks to assistance from Esthar, Trabia Garden had undergone significant expansion, including the installation of the first simulation room. This new addition allowed students to train and participate in various monster encounters and mission simulations without having to travel to Balamb Garden.
Esthar's advancement in scientific discoveries and technology advancements never ceased to surprise Quistis. She was so much done with whipping and casting, burying herself in research papers and building lab equipments.
Esthar's advancement in scientific discoveries and technology never ceased to surprise Quistis. She had grown tired of the battles and magic, immersing herself in research papers and building laboratory equipment.
She had taken a break from junctioning for a while. Memories flooded back—both good and bad. They had changed her in many ways. At times, she wondered if she would be better off without her past. She glanced at her junction device, collecting dust on the shelf, contemplating whether she should put it on again. She asked herself to wait another day. Then another day. Almost two years later, she had come to accept that this was the real her.
But how had everyone else dealt with their pasts? Quistis had already asked each of her friends, and they all seemed to be doing okay, including Squall. There was only one person she couldn't know about.
Seifer.
Ever since he left the school, Quistis had constantly thought of him, feeling like she had failed to keep him on the right path. Even though years had passed, having a lab partner who was a big fan of Seifer kept him on her mind. Acma's notebooks were adorned with a red cross, a symbol Seifer had been fond of since his teenage years. It was a constant reminder of Quistis' rebellious student. Acma seemed to have a great interest in knights and sorcery, and although she tried to hide it, her borrowing history from the library gave her away. Nerdy girls and bad boys? Hyne! Selphie and Rinoa had influenced Quistis with that kind of romantic notion by forcing her to read romance.
Speaking of the devil... Quistis heard Acma's voice in the hallway, accompanied by a few Trepies.
Trepie #23: Acma! Where are you off to?
Acma: I'm heading to the lab. She requested my presence asap.
Trepie #23: Sounds important! We're all jealous of you.
Acma: Aw, it's not like anything I do here is significant. I spend my days killing lab rats while our adorable instructor does all the brilliant work. The way she handles test tubes, flasks, syringes, and carries out measurements... Good Hyne!
Trepie #23: Aww… so jealous. I could kill kittens and puppies to see her every day.
Acma: Well, we do have a Torama sample in the lab.
Trepie #23: Alright, I won't keep you from your duty any longer. But don't forget about the Trepie Triple Triad club next week. We need to win her card back from the Commander.
Acma: I'll distract him with some paperwork before our match.
Trepie #23: Great! Oh, and one more thing... Zyma is coming back tomorrow, right? I'm just wondering…
Acma: No need to explain. I'll entice that competitive guy to join us.
Trepie #23: Yes! That competitive spirit is exactly what we need. You're a true asset, Acma!
Quistis couldn't help but overhear their conversation. Trepies, including Acma, seemed to be everywhere in the garden. But to say Acma was merely a real asset would be an understatement. Acma had proven to be an excellent research assistant in her lab—meticulous, intelligent, organized, and humble. The young prodigy exceeded expectations without ever flaunting their abilities, surpassing even the most gifted individuals who either struggled with social interaction or lacked the ability to read people.
Acma swiped her badge and entered the lab.
"Good afternoon, Instructor Trepe! Are you looking for me?"
"Hi, Acma! It's just a minor matter, but it's somewhat urgent. I apologize for contacting you during the weekend. Xu's new accountant approached me with some inquiries about a few chemicals that are running low in stock, particularly some rare amino acids."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Trepe. I completely forgot to report that. I know exactly what you're referring to. I was attempting to replicate the research paper on bio-mechanic cells from Esthar that you provided me. However, I must have misinterpreted the measurements. I ended up using ten times more materials than necessary. I did it twice because I thought I was doing something wrong the first time. And, well... I don't mean to make up an excuse, but we do need a new printer... if we're allowed to, of course."
Quistis crossed her arms and chuckled at her mentee's reason for wasting chemicals. Printers.
"I'm very sorry…" Acma continued.
"Oh no, no, no need to apologize, Acma," Quistis reassured, waving off the concern. "I didn't call you here to make you feel guilty about amino acid bottles. I simply want to ensure our balance sheet is accurate to satisfy Xu. She'll meet with investors soon, that's all."
Then, Quistis noticed a mud stain on Acma's boots. Balamb rarely experienced rain, so it was evident that Acma had been out again last night, likely in Galbadia, as Quistis had noticed the discarded train ticket in the trash can earlier.
"Although... well, I don't mean to pry, but you seem a little preoccupied lately. Anything new happening in your life?" Quistis inquired, attempting to maintain a friendly demeanor.
Acma appeared slightly startled by the question. "Um... Did I do something else wrong? I can fix it, Miss Trepe."
"No, no, Acma," Quistis reassured, gesturing with her hand. "Once again, I apologize if it sounded like an interrogation. I'm simply trying to understand my student better. I couldn't help but notice... well, you've been traveling quite a bit recently. Not that I require much assistance from you on weekends, so please don't misunderstand. But... are you seeing someone?"
Quistis could see Acma's eyebrows relax.
"Oh, that... um, actually, yes. I'm seeing someone at Galbadia Garden. We're just helping each other out with stuff. It's nothing serious, though. Could you..."
"Of course! I won't say a word. You deserve to have a life beyond Balamb Garden. Don't be like me!"
"Miss Trepe, everyone wants to be like you! You're just... more selective than the rest of us, for valid reasons, Miss Trepe. You deserve someone who is strong, handsome, tall... all the good attributes a man should have."
"And not being an asshole," Quistis chuckled, trying to stifle her laughter. She knew exactly whom Acma was referring to. It wasn't the first time Acma had casually suggested that Seifer could be a potential date for Quistis. "I'm flattered, though... By the way, if your guy happens to be at Galbadia Garden, do you ever run into Seifer and his posse?"
Acma nodded. "They seem to be doing fine, as far as I can tell."
"Good to know... By the way, change of topic. I'm working on assigning field exam proctors for S21. Since you and Raddie have teamed up for quite a few missions, I'd like to assign him a different proctor, just to have a fresh perspective on him. I'm sure he'll do well regardless."
"Yes, thanks for the heads up. I have no problem with that. Do you have anyone specific in mind?"
"I'm thinking of Zyma."
Quistis responded, noticing a sudden change in Acma's expression.
"It seems like he'll be here by 1300 tomorrow, a few hours before the field exam," Quistis continued. "Do you have any concerns about your previous mentor assisting your mentee?"
"Of course not. I think that should work. Zyma is a very strict mentor, and he'll assess Raddie better than I can." Acma quickly composed herself. "So, who will I be assisting then?"
"Shrewdya. You can show her the new GF if you want."
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Miss Trepe. I'd love to try something different than Fire Cavern."
"I'm glad you like the idea. I know how boring it can get, having assisted almost a hundred students through Fire Cavern myself," Quistis agreed.
And Seifer alone, three times.
"Anyway, I'm heading to the cafeteria with Squall, Selphie, and Irvine. Would you like to join us?" Quistis offered.
"Thank you for the invitation! I'd love to, but I need to catch up on work and other commitments. I'll see you Sunday morning if we're still planning to go to Trabia."
"Sounds good! And don't forget, you promised to show me around Trabia town."
"We'll figure it out, don't worry, Miss Trepe. Trabia is my territory," Acma said, a confident smile spreading across her face.
Quistis bid Acma farewell and made her way to the cafeteria. Her mind wandered to Seifer, the last image of him standing hesitantly in front of Balamb Garden's gate, not wanting to come inside, just to retrieve the recommendation letter and transcript from Quistis a couple of months ago. It was only a few weeks after their encounter at Fisherman's Horizon. Had Quistis' words changed his mind? She wasn't sure, but she had a feeling that he would show up again, like he always did.
Quistis walked into the cafeteria and spotted her friends in the corner.
"Sorry, I had to run a few experiments — biosamples can't wait. And Xu's accounting tasks are just getting harder and harder," Quistis explained, taking a seat at the table.
"You always work so hard, Quisty," Selphie remarked. "What about the task that Rinoa and I gave you last week?"
"Which task?" Quistis asked, giving them a quizzical look.
"Reply to my buddy's text," Irvine chimed in. "He said he hasn't heard from you yet."
"Oh, that." Quistis showed an awkward smile. "I'm sorry, I've been caught up with work recently."
"Winter break is coming, surely you can't use any more excuses then." Selphie wrinkled her nose playfully.
"I won't, I promise. Thank you both..." Quistis said, changing the topic. "How are things in Trabia?" She knew Squall had no interest in hearing more about her dating life.
Irvine and Selphie explained their vision to turn Trabia into a combat and military training school, focusing less on fighting sorcery and monsters as the trend of sorceresses was dying out. They also mentioned the increase in tribal activities and illegal trafficking, which had led to more SeeD contracts involving settling disputes among tribes and political powers.
"Quistis! Thank Hyne, I went to the lab but couldn't find you... you usually have lunch there," Xu rushed towards Quistis, trying to catch her breath.
"Anything urgent?" Quistis asked.
"Very. The field exam is tomorrow, and you'll be leading one in front of a group of Balamb tourists. I just received a call from the largest tour guide company, and they're considering adding Balamb Garden to their tour. If tomorrow's show goes well, it could become a recurring event."
Great, first Squall gets involved in show business, and now I'm going on a tour as well. Quistis thought.
"Xu... the field exam isn't a magic show - no pun intended. We fight real monsters and GFs there. Don't you think the reliability issues outweigh the benefits?" Quistis frowned at the idea. "And why me?"
"Oh, Quistis. What harm can it be? All the monsters in Fire Cavern and the simulation version of Ifrit have been beaten thousands of times. I bet they would all drop to dead immediately at the sight of a human. And why you…" Xu hesitated for a moment before speaking in a softer tone, "these tourists come from a boarding school with many wealthy kids who are surely very fond of attractive instructors."
"Let me guess, it's a male-only boarding school?"
"Uh-huh."
"Xu!" Quistis almost yelled.
"I know, Quisty." Xu pleaded. "I know I sound petty now, but for me, for the garden, for the hope that this school can continue, could you please put on a good show? Maybe wear your previous fighting clothes? It's only one hour, or maybe thirty minutes if you go fast. Bring Timeth with you — that kid is well-behaved, and his abilities are jaw-dropping. You won't need to do much. Pretty please!"
Quistis rested her head on her knuckles and sighed.
"Fine... but only this time. You owe me a lot, Xu. Both literally and figuratively."
"Thank you, I know I can count on you," said Xu, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm doing all of this for us, anyway."
"I know, Xu. I'm... anything I can help with. Just please, don't objectify me like this next time. Let us all take turns, okay?"
"For sure. This is the first time, so I chose you because you present well in front of a crowd." Xu glanced at Squall, who returned the gaze with a quizzical expression. "If this goes well, we'll rotate among us."
"Alright. Xu. Just make sure you ask us first before accepting any more gigs like these."
"Will do!"
Xu replied almost immediately and hurried off to attend to another task. However, having known Xu for many years, Quistis couldn't help but feel that Xu would rather ask for forgiveness than for permission.
Poor Nida.
Friday 1900, Balamb town.
Timeth and Shrewdya arrived at Ivarice restaurant.
They have live piano music? What a place! Shrewdya to herself, discreetly glancing around the arches of the restaurant. The restaurant's ancient French style, influenced by Delling City, was something she had never expected to find in Balamb.
The waitress brought out the menu for the couple to look at. Shrewdya quickly scanned the offerings and counted the number of zeroes next to each entree.
Why are you torturing yourself, Timeth? I would have been just as happy with cafeteria food. She exclaimed inside.
"They have quite a selection here. I never feel this appreciated with all the etiquette courses we had to endure." Timeth opened.
"Are you talking about the ones taught by Instructor Aki? He used a stick to hit my hands because I didn't hold a fork right. I wouldn't be surprised if he made that up."
Timeth nodded, saying, "I think we all believed those classes were meant to test our patience. Although, to his credit, I did learn a lot about wine tasting. It's mouth-opening, no pun intended."
Shrewdya chuckled, about to suggest that Timeth choose a wine, but she stopped herself. Two poor students didn't need to get ripped off this way.
"What do you think about trying a Malbec? It has flavors of dark fruits like blackberry and plum, among weird things like tobacco as I recall," he suggested.
"Sure, I'll follow your lead," she agreed, willing to trust his judgment.
Timeth continued, "They say that if you associate a memory with different senses, it stays with you longer."
"I'm enjoying the scene in front of me," he confessed, his gaze fixed on her whose eyes widening in surprise.
Cheesy, cheesy. Stop smiling like a psycho, Shrew! This normally never works on you. What is going on?
"Straight from the book." She burst into laughters and grabbed her water to take a small sip, unable to maintain the eye contact any longer.
"I don't dare to improvise that, haha. Did it sound weird?"
"That… would definitely work on an average teenager. But no, not with the mercenary type."
"Too bad… they're more interesting…"
Timeth was about to ask her something, but their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the waitress. The waitress smiled warmly at the couple after they placed the orders.
"Fugu? Isn't that the poisonous fish?" Timeth questioned.
"It can be if it's not prepared correctly."
"You're bold. Not that I'm surprised, but I suppose cafeteria food wouldn't bring out that side of you."
"If you take Dr. Kadowaki's biology classes, all the food would look like anatomy samples."
Timeth raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do they? What's your favorite finding?"
"Well, undeniably… uni shirako." Shrewdya tried to hide her mischievous smile.
"What is it?"
Shrewdya hesitated, contemplating whether or not to tell him. Eventually, she decided, "I don't want to tell you. It's not appropriate at all in this context."
"Tell me."
"No," she shook her head in protest.
"Okay... You're making it way more memorable than it should be. I've heard the name, I can search for it in the library once we get back. Uni shirako."
"Timeth... Please don't. I just want to save your appetite. And I also don't want you to think I'm a weirdo like Raddie and Keannu."
Timeth laughed aloud this time. "Sorry... I can't help but imagine Raddie sitting in front of me." he reassured her.
"Oh gosh. But at least he won't bring up uni shirako."
"I'll think of him when I look up that word in the library tonight."
"Yes, please do. I feel much better now." Shrewdya chuckled.
They paused briefly to try the wine that the waitress had brought to the table.
Timeth changed the topic, asking, "So... monster anatomy, checked. What about human anatomy? You've followed Dr. Kadowaki for years. Have you ever treated any patients with different anatomies? I know certain tribes have unique traits due to genetic mutations."
Shrewdya nodded and replied, "I know what you're talking about. I'm no expert in genetics, but as healers, we need to have a basic understanding of human anatomy. It's also crucial to know the regions we'll be deployed to, so we can anticipate the major tribes we'll encounter. For example, some tribes from the Island closest to Heaven have hearts slightly shifted to the right instead of the left. We have to place electrodes in the opposite positions to obtain accurate EKG signals. Speaking of EKGs, can you believe that most anatomy books only cover the positioning for males? There's very little information about females. It's a real struggle to apply it in practice when treating female soldiers, and that really bothers me."
Timeth nodded in agreement. "I would love to see more effort put into conducting research and spreading knowledge across our population, not just for the sake of standardized textbooks. Understanding female anatomy is essential. And the same goes for children, right? Since they aren't represented in the military, doctors have less experience treating children, and there's a lack of research and publications. It's a chicken and egg problem."
"Exactly," Shrewdya affirmed. "Is it strange if I ask you about your... Well, the last time I assisted Dr. Kadowaki during our annual physical exam, I noticed she skipped most of the usual procedures for you. Were there any... unusual effects caused by your time-freezing ability?"
"Yes, that was the reason. Well, sort of. Basically, they're unsure if placing magnetic and electrical wires around me could affect my ability. You know, time and space, electromagnetism. Ellone and the Esthar research staff strongly advised that only they should handle any devices near me. Fortunately, I haven't become their lab rat yet. They're still working on experiments with Ellone. And now Sorceress Rinoa."
"That makes sense," Shrewdya nodded. "Well, you've probably been asked this many times, and feel free not to answer, but how did it happen? How did you first discover your ability?" Shrewdya took another sip of wine.
"I haven't shared this with many people. But I came prepared knowing you might ask."
"I swear I didn't plan to, it just happened…"
"Yes, uni shirako brought us to this point," he remarked.
Startled, Shrewdya choked on her wine and coughed.
"Oh, no! I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Is that too inappropriate?"
Still recovering from her laughter, Shrewdya replied, "Yes. I mean yes, I'm fine. No... as long as you remember to associate that food with Raddie." She let out another burst of laughter, unable to contain herself. "But please don't tell him. He'd kill me."
"Okay… As part of my apology, I'm going to tell you how I discovered my ability."
"Okay," Shrewdya paused what she was doing and gave Timeth her undivided attention. She was surprised to find him more talkative than she had expected.
"When I was about five years old, I was running around a hill and accidentally tripped, falling from a height of about 20 feet," Timeth explained.
"You froze yourself?"
"No, I can't do that, not even now. As I was falling, I desperately tried to grab onto anything within reach to stop my fall. But nothing could hold me back, and I landed on my back, breaking a few bones," Timeth continued.
"Oh no..." Shrewdya expressed her concern, empathizing with the pain he must have endured.
"I was lying there, eyes wide open, feeling every ounce of pain in my body. Even the slightest movement was excruciating. It hurt so much that I couldn't even scream for help," Timeth said, taking a bite of his food and gesturing for Shrewdya to eat as well.
"What happened next?" Shrewdya inquired, using her knife to cut through her dish.
"There was a large rock, about twice my size, that was also falling from the top of the hill. I may have grabbed a root on my way and the rock fell out."
"You froze the rock then?" Shrewdya asked, trying to understand the details.
"No, I wish I could do that. It was me who froze. I took another blow to my abdomen, which resulted in broken bones and internal organ damage," Timeth clarified.
"Oh Hyne... Timeth, that sounds absolutely terrible… How did you recover from such injuries?"
"I passed out. When I woke up, I found myself in a horrifying situation. Doctors were surrounding me, holding a saw. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it looked terrifying. And the sound. And that's when it happened—I froze whatever in front of me and prevented the spinning saw from touching me," Timeth recounted.
Shrewdya gasped.
"I see… The doctors must have been shocked... Uh… I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that at such a young age. How long did it take you to recover?" Shrewdya asked, her empathy evident in her voice.
"Quite a while. I developed a fear of hospitals and couldn't stay in our infirmary for long."
"It must have been truly traumatizing. I'm… Thank you for sharing this with me. It's not easy… both before and after the incident, I guess."
Timeth looked into Shrewdya's eyes, seeing her genuine concern.
"I feel so relieved sharing this silly story with you. Thank you for listening." Timeth said, a smile appeared on his face—a smile that she had never seen before. "On the bright side, that near-death experience helped me understand how the intensity of a crisis affects my ability, much like with any Limit Breaks. Although it's quite challenging to train or replicate situations where flying objects hit my face," he added, trying to inject some humor into the conversation.
"Flying objects? You should come to my shooting gun class and sub for our training dolls."
"I did see them. Urgh… but didn't Raddie try that before? When he was first assigned to be a Squad leader?"
"Yeah, he insisted on being there and asked us to fire rubble bullets at him so he could test out his reflexes."
"He's quite… um… well."
"Dumb?" Shrewdya finished Timeth's sentence.
"Well... haha... I'm going to say brave and unusual. Given his many options, he chooses to stay at Garden. But I'm glad he's here. I don't see anyone else better suited to lead our class."
"You don't think you'd ever want to take the lead? I mean, you can freeze objects and assess the environment pretty well," Shrewdya asked, genuinely curious.
"I guess... I'm the opposite of brave," Timeth admitted with a slight shrug.
"And the opposite of dumb, I can relate," Shrewdya quipped, causing Timeth to chuckle.
"What about you then? This morning, you mentioned enjoying being a watcher. But have you ever wanted to become a leader?"
"Actually... I'd love to try. I've observed Raddie and Keannue in battles for quite a while. They aim fine, but they don't target the weak points efficiently," Shrewdya explained, a hint of ambition in her voice.
"How so?"
"Well... this is specifically about the initial moves in combat. I can't speak for all the qualities a leader should have, but in terms of efficiently disabling enemies, I think I can do better. The problem is that books and instructions only tell us about the enemy's weakest points, whether they're human or monsters. And they learn to hide those weak points very well. Even monsters evolve over time with armors and horns to protect themselves. But I feel like I have an advantage with anatomy. I can finish off monsters faster with fewer, yet more critical hits... if I can ever swing a gunblade," Shrewdya explained.
"Hold on... First off, I'm completely convinced that you can deliver critical hits. But what about the gunblade? Just because you haven't trained seriously with it doesn't mean you can't," Timeth encouraged, offering his support.
"Thanks... well, it's notoriously difficult to handle. The professional ones are heavy as hell. And for why, well, a gunblade can slice, poke, and the revolver can vibrate or fire bullets to hit an enemy's centra points, dispersing their magic reservoir or bursting their blood vessels. It's like a Swiss knife, you can do pretty much anything with it, if you know what you're doing, of course. Right now, I'm taking a sword craftsmanship class with Instructor Nida. It's a less intimidating version, and I'm enjoying it so far. We'll see..."
"That's the spirit! So, once you finish a few classes and feel comfortable handling the gunblade, will you try to take the lead?" Timeth asked, genuinely curious about her plans.
Shrewdya paused at Timeth's question.
"I never really thought about it. But now that you ask... I think waiting until I've completed all the theory to practice in real life might be too late. You know what? I'll ask to be in the lead position for the next field exam," she declared, "I don't want to just talk and never take action. That's the worst way to spend one's life."
"I really admire you... Maybe I'll follow your lead once you get there," Timeth responded, raising his glass.
"To the future dumb club!" Shrewdya raised her wine glass, and Timeth touched his glass against hers. They both laughed, toasting to their shared aspirations.
The sound of a famous song filled the room as the pianist began to play slower melodies, signaling that the night was drawing to a close.
"Waltz for the Moon?" Timeth asked, recognizing the familiar melody.
"I love it."
Timeth turned to Shrewdya and suggested, "Do you want to end the night with some dance practice?"
"Sure."
As they took each other's hands for the first time, they swayed to the rhythm of the music. Timeth remained silent, completely engrossed in the melody. Shrewdya had more questions for him as the most unusual day in her life was about to end, but she didn't want to disturb his moment of peace.
"I love this… being here." Timeth finally spoke when the song came to an end.
"Timeth…" Shrewdya began, her voice gentle yet inquisitive.
"Yeah?"
"Why are you doing all of this?"
Timeth was taken aback by her question, caught off guard. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before replying, his calm demeanor returning. "I have not just one, but many reasons," he said, leaving it at that.
Shrewdya sensed that he wouldn't elaborate further, but she respected his boundaries. "Sure you do. Whenever you're ready, just tell me. You sound like you're going somewhere far away. SeeDs do come back once in a while, don't they?"
"They do… I'm sorry for burdening you with all of this emo. I'm not a brave guy despite the look, am I?" Timeth confessed, his voice tinged with self-doubt.
Shrewdya shook her head softly. "That's not the point. I'm here for you, and you can tell me anything. I may not have all the answers to your problems, but two heads are better than one, right? I'm happy to be your teammate forever, no matter where you go," she reassured him, her words filled with sincerity.
"Thank you, Shrewdya. That means a lot to me."
"Call me Shrew," she suggested, a warm smile spreading across her face. She nestled back into his arms, finding comfort in their embrace.