samaqi: Copy parts of Chapter 3 and 4 from "Succession of Witches".

Six months had passed.

Acma lay awake, unable to find rest, and made her way downstairs to the mailing room.

Nothing.

The conviction that he was dead had settled in her mind. But then, one day, Xu's real-time financial analytics dashboard showed activity related to his mission. Her hope soared. She waited for another month, but still, no letter arrived in her mailbox. Another month went by, and his bounty money continued to increase. Still, no letter.

A whole year had now passed.

"He's returning in a few days," Xu announced, breaking the news after assigning her to be more involved in S21's exams.

He was alive. And it became painfully clear, as clear as Balamb's blue sky, that he had silently abandoned her.

He made her life pathetic.

Timeth: Sorry, I can't help you tonight.

Timeth's message arrived, and Acma's brows furrowed. What could be more important than crafting their escape plan from Galbadia?

Six months ago, Timeth and Acma were summoned to Galbadia Garden. Locked in a dark room, they were instructed to assist in a major event known as G-day—an attack on Balamb Garden orchestrated by Elutia's puppets. The motive behind the attack was unclear, but Acma suspected Galbadia's desire to expand its influence, which had suffered after the Sorceress war. However, it wasn't the attack itself that concerned Acma the most, but rather the fate of Galbadia spies afterward. She knew that even if the operation succeeded, Galbadia would eliminate the spies to erase any evidence of their involvement. Acma was determined to prevent that from happening, but it required careful planning involving multiple parties.

Acma: Why?

She patiently waited for Timeth's response. What could be more important than helping her? After all, they had been trusted friends ever since their expulsion from the Galbadian research camp. Although Uhrik, Timeth's twin brother had been liberated, it was undeniably a common goal among them to librate all of their kind from Galbadia.

Timeth: Just catching up with Shrewdya. I'll help you after 2100.

Acma let out a sigh. After two years at Balamb, Timeth chose this moment to confess his feelings. Deciding not to lecture him on the importance of prioritizing business over personal matters, Acma reminded herself that Timeth was a smart boy who didn't need such admonishment.

Acma: Okay.

Despite her attempt to remain composed, her stress levels rose. The lives of many depended on her. She reached for a few stress relief pills she had secretly learned about from Quistis—something to help her cope in extremely demanding situations when juggling countless responsibilities. Taking a deep breath, she waited for the pills to take effect. Gradually, her mood improved. At least one of her backup plans was on track—the one involving Seifer Almasy.

Quistis' research lab.

"I'm working on assigning field exam proctors for S21," Quistis was typing on a spreadsheet in her laptop, then turned to Acma. "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?" Acma smiled, nodding with agreement.

"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." She tried to sound excited.

"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. "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, feigning a confident smile to cover her broken heart.

Saturday 1200, Balamb Garden 2F class room, after the written exam.

Keannu: "So, what is it?"

Raddie: "2!"

Keannu: "What? I thought the correct answer was 3, so I picked 2."

Raddie: "Uh-oh. Keannu, do you realize how easy it would be to intentionally fail a test? Just pick a random number next time. Not good, bro, you might end up having to attend the field exam this afternoon. Don't accidentally defeat Ifrit too!"

Keannu: "Dang. Worst-case scenario, I'll just run away and let the proctor handle the rest."

Raddie facepalmed at his friend's attempt to avoid the field exam, which would ultimately lead to the SeeD exam—a situation that was not part of Keannu's plan.

Acma assisted Instructor Aki in collecting the written tests from all the students while the renowned, perpetually grumpy instructor made an announcement, "Written exam results will be available in one hour. Those with combined scores over 500 will participate in the field exam from 1500 to 1700 today. Don't forget to collect your replica GF from your seat. We only have a few junction devices, so remember to pass it on to the next field test taker."

Raddie approached Acma as she was about to leave the classroom.

"Instructor Mirin!"

"Raddie, for the millionth time, don't jinx it!" Acma turned around, smiling.

"I saw the support list, you're not coming with me?"

"No, because we've been partners for quite a while," Acma replied, sounding a bit disappointed. "Be careful, Zyma might surprise you and test your reflexes by trying to break your hands out of nowhere, just because..." Acma raised her eyebrows as she mentioned her mentor.

"Wow, it must have been tough for you, partnering with him for so long," Raddie commented.

So she hates him, right? Why do their S20 classmates say otherwise? Raddie was puzzled.

"He's a skilled soldier, and you'll learn a lot from him. As for me... well, I can say that my bone density has definitely increased," Acma admitted with a deep sigh.

Wow, not a gentleman. No need to worry about him then.

"Anything else, Raddie?" Acma asked.

"Ah, nothing... I was wondering… if you'd like to have dinner after the field exam..."

"With Shrew, Timeth, and Keannu in the cafeteria? Of course, I'd love to. I'm also a field exam support, so I won't have to stay late to grade exams tonight. I'll be there," Acma quickly replied before Raddie even finished his question.

I was just going to suggest dinner for the two of us, but... oh well. Raddie exclaimed internally.

"Great!" Raddie feigned excitement.

"Good luck, partner!"

"Thanks… partner!" Raddie replied, sensing a slight surprise on her face, followed by her usual knowing smile.

Cute! Partner…

Saturday 1500, Balamb Garden's gate.

Shrewdya rushed towards the gate, feeling a surge of happiness upon passing the written test with flying colors. Despite answering one question incorrectly, she still felt satisfied with her performance.

Good enough. My score is still the highest — that's the only thing that matters. Shrewdya reassured herself, pushing aside any annoyance over the unanswered question.

"Ready?" Acma asked, indicating that she would be Shrewdya's support for the field exam.

"Yes," the girl nodded eagerly.

"Oh, don't junction yet... Well, I have an interesting choice for you. Ifrit, or a new GF?" Acma smiled proudly.

"What? There's another choice for the field exam?" Shrewdya was taken aback by the unexpected option.

Ifrit's Fire Cavern pit had been used for field exams for years. So much, that students had joked to convert it into a new secret area to make out after curfew.

"Just for the exceptional students. Are you up for the challenge?" Acma placed one hand over her hip.

So what is it, Shrew? This is an important exam that would determine if you'd make the SeeD candidate list. What are you gonna do?

A. Yes! Let's change things up and take on new challenges.

B. Nah... This is too important. I'd rather play it safe and fight Ifrit.

Shrewdya's default choice: A.

samaqi: I'll introduces choices like this throughout this fan fiction. I'd love to convert my work into a game some day :).

"I'm all up for new challenges! Which way are we going?" Shrewdya was unable to hide her excitement.

Saturday 1600, Fire Cavern.

"You… managed it?" Raddie looked concerned as his best friend emerged from the cavern.

"Yeah... I mean, I successfully ran away from Ifrit. Head Instructor Nida was kind enough not to pressure me to go back." Keannu grinned mischievously.

"Head Instructor Nida was your support just now? Where's Zyma the Great?"

"Nida told me he got stuck in Timber due to some train maintenance issues. He won't be here for a few more days."

"Oh..." Raddie was taken by surprise at the unexpected change. He had been mentally preparing himself to look sharp in front of his crush's former partner. "Alright then. Well, congratulations on securing your scholarship without having to face any missions. It's my turn now. Wish me luck."

"You know you don't need luck to pass this easy test, man. But sure, good luck anyway."

Keannu bid farewell to Raddie, and Raddie ventured into the fiery pit of the Ifrit GF as his proctor gestured for him to enter.

"Raddie, huh? I guess this will be too easy for you," Nida greeted him.

"Head Instructor Nida..." Raddie couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sight of Nida's slightly flashy, tight see-through gray shirt. It revealed his well-defined abs, and even his bellybutton and protruding nipples were on display. Nida was known for always wearing his uniform, even during battles. This was the first time Raddie had seen the usually respected instructor's physique, and it caused him to blush ever so slightly.

"I know… this outfit… headmaster's orders... That's why I'm hiding in here," Nida admitted, his own face turning a bit red. "Anyway, ready for some fun? I can't imagine spending the whole hour here, and I'd love to escape paperwork and let Instructor Trepe handle the grading."

"Sure, I'd love to help you relive the field action, Head Instructor Nida. What do you want me to do?" Raddie asked enthusiastically.

"Come, let's pop a few Bombs in a row and see who can endure the most of their kamikaze attacks."

"That sounds like fun! I never would have thought of that!"

"Thanks! It wasn't my original idea, though. It was Seifer Almasy's—the Sorceress Knight, if you remember him from class."

"Absolutely!" Raddie answered. Seifer Almasy — Acma's not-so-secret idol.

"Come, you know how to throw swords?" Nida waved for Raddie to follow him. "I'll go first. If your gunblade feels too heavy, you can use my katana, alright?" Nida tossed one of his katanas toward a distance as he finished speaking. "Bingo!"

Raddie sprinted towards where the katana had landed, curious to see what it had struck. To his surprise, it had knocked down a Bomb, and the creature slowly rose, hovering in mid-air, casting an angry glare at Raddie as if to say, "Not you humans again!" In an instant, it swelled in size, doubling its original proportions.

"Amazing!" Raddie exclaimed, impressed by the sudden transformation of the Bomb, which typically perished instantly after a single hit.

Saturday 1520, Balamb beach's coral reef.

"Are you doing okay?" Acma asked as they swam through the depths of Balamb beach.

"Yes," Shrewdya replied.

It was cold at first, but after 10 minutes, Shrewdya was completely adjusted to the underwater environment. Shrewdya's gaze shifted to the surrounding coral reef, a mesmerizing sight of color and life. The reef was teeming with a diverse array of marine creatures, their vibrant hues contrasting against the backdrop of the deep blue sea. Anemones swayed gently, their fronds providing shelter for baby Fastitocalon-F's. Schools of colorful fish darted in and out of the coral, creating a lively and dynamic scene.

"Good. I'm not, though. This water is too cold for me," Acma admitted. "Thank Hyne we're almost there." She pointed ahead, directing Shrewdya's attention to a dark and imposing rocky formation that resembled the entrance to an underwater cave.

Shrewdya followed Acma, passing through a thin magical barrier. Inside the cave, there was minimal water and enough air for them to breathe.

"Change your clothes," Acma commanded, her teeth audibly chattering from the cold.

Acma is so slender, she doesn't have much body fat to keep her warm, Shrewdya thought, silently grateful for her own taller stature and combat-ready physique, along with her proficient abilities in magic casting.

The two girls removed their scuba diving suits and donned their battle uniforms.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Acma smiled as they changed.

Shrewdya was not slow to catch on, realizing that this mission with Acma was a rare opportunity due to the limited number of female high-ranking SeeDs and instructors.

"It's so much more comfortable changing without the boys around, isn't it?" she remarked.

"Exactly." Acma nodded.

Shrewdya smiled, sharing the sentiment. Despite Acma's position as her associate instructor and higher authority, she felt a connection to her senior in that moment.

"Though Keannu and Raddie are my best bros, I still feel a bit... I don't know, they always laugh when we have to change next to each other. It helps, but also doesn't help at the same time..." Shrewdya elaborated.

"I understand what you're trying to say." Acma smiled. "What about Timeth?"

"Timeth? Well, he always sets up a blanket to create some space for the girls," Shrewdya blushed a bit when Acma mentioned Timeth. Does Acma know we had dinner last night at Ivarice?

"A real gentleman. He's been doing that since Trabia."

Shrewdya recalled what Timeth had told her about Acma and their time at Trabia.

"You don't do a lot of missions with Timeth since you two moved here?" Shrewdya asked.

"Yes and no, I still consult him often regarding battle moves. He's better at physics." Acma explained.

Shrewdya felt happy at Acma's compliment. "How's Raddie as a partner?" she asked curiously.

"He's really kind," Acma replied, nodding. "Exceptional when when he's not clumsy. He's not yet made any serious mistakes, though, so I can't exactly complain."

"Oh, I'll take some credit for that," Shrewdya chuckled. "I've lost count of how many times I've scolded him for forgetting to pack our equipment. He's come a long way since a year ago."

The girls shared a laugh at the thought of their funny friend.

"And... do you mind if I ask... how was Senior Zyma like when you two went on missions? I know you two were exceptional enough to go on real missions even before becoming SeeDs," Shrewdya asked, sensing a momentary pause in Acma's response.

"He's the opposite of gentle." Acma replied with a heavy tone. "Let's just say if I took this long to change, he would comment that there's not much to see, and coldly ask if I needed him to dress me up himself..."

Shrewdya gasped and rolled her eyes. "What a jerk!"

"Indeed… Well, I was really uncomfortable, but now I feel like it was somewhat a good thing for soldiers like us." Acma continued.

Shrewdya nodded in agreement. She understood where Acma was coming from, but it was difficult to put into words to describe the love hate dynamic between Acma and Zyma. Speculations among their S20 and S21 classmates were not entirely correct, but they were not entirely unfounded either, as this example showcased.

"This way..." Acma pointed to the pathway with water dripping along the way. "We'll encounter the GF right after the left turn. You can explore the right turn first to warm up and pick up items. There are two draw points over there, too. Since this is the first time we're conducting a field exam here, I won't impose a time limit. Are you ready?"

"Yes, as always."

She double-checked her junction one more time. She anticipated encountering sea monsters in this area, so junctioning Thundara with Elem-Atk and stocking Thunder spells would prove helpful.

"Ah, one more thing. You can choose how involved I'll be. This not only affects your SeeD rank, but also whether you can 'hang out' with this GF for a bit before returning it to the center for replication," Acma offered.

"I see… Let me think…" Shrewdya debated between the two choices.

So what is it, Shrew? With Acma's help, who is a master of Thunder spells, you'd breeze through this field exam. But where's the fun in that? Plus, if you earn this exam on your own, you can spend time with the new GF. What are you going to do?"

A. I'd love you to assist me. This is quite a new territory…

B. Sit back, Acma. I think I can do it myself.

Shrewdya's default choice: B.

samaqi: In my imaginary game (if I ever have time to build it), this choice affects a crucial event that occurs at the end of Act I (spoilers!).

Saturday 1605, Fire Cavern.

"Oh, right, everybody. Let's line up. We'll go through some safety rules before proceeding into the Fire Cavern, okay?" Quistis announced, addressing a group of prospective students and some parents eager for the field exam experience.

As she went through tedious list of safety items, she could tell many yawned at the flood of boring information and chose to sticked their eyes to more interesting spots: her waistline and bellybutton.

Please, no more Trepies, else I'm going to kill you, Xu.

"And that's the end of it. Any questions?" she asked, relieved that the torturous part for both her and the tourists was over.

No one in their right mind would ask questions after a safety procedures walkthrough.

"Good. I'll take that silence as a yes, assuming everyone remembers everything. Again, if you have any questions while inside the cavern, please let us know. My assistant, Timeth, who is also participating in the field exam today, and myself, Instructor Quistis Trepe, are more than happy to answer your questions," she said.

Quistis then turned to Timeth. "It's already 16:20. Why haven't Nida and Raddie come out yet?"

"I don't know. Is Head Instructor Nida inside? I thought Senior Zyma was supposed to support Raddie," Timeth asked.

"Zyma got stuck in Timber..."

A noise erupted from the depths of the cavern, grabbing Quistis' attention.

"What was that?"

Saturday 1615, Fire Cavern.

Nida and Raddie giggled at the sight of about thirty Bombs trapped inside a Shell.

"Head Instructor Nida, I didn't know taking a field exam could be this fun... It's like blowing up balloons and trapping them in a ball pit."

"Please, call me Nida. Just wait until we release the balloons and see them pop all around us..." Nida wiggled his eyebrows at Raddie. "Oh shoot, it's almost time for our slot. I'll release them now so you have enough time for Ifrit. Ready?"

"Oh yeah!" Raddie exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

Nida removed the Shell, and the enraged Bombs were set free, charging towards them in a swarm.

"Yeah, come here baby Bombs!" Nida embraced the flying monsters.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"+30 HP. +40 HP. So refreshing with Elem-Def," Nida exclaimed. "I love junctioning with GF, even though it comes with a bit of amnesia. Having fun, Raddie?"

Nida couldn't hear Raddie's reply over the sound of the exploding Bombs. He started to get nervous and used his katanas to clear the Bombs surrounding Raddie. Soon, Nida discovered Raddie lying on the ground, badly burned from the Bombs' self-destruct attacks.

"Oh my freaking Hyne! What…"

"Nida… I think… Keannu… I forget to get the junction device from him…"

"You think?" Nida rolled his eyes wide.

Raddie groaned, "Help, I have 200 HP left."

Before Nida could react, a familiar voice added to the cacophony of exploding Bombs.

"WHO DISTURBED MY SLEEP?"

The mighty Guardian Force, Ifrit, leaped up from the lava pit and fixed his eyes at the instructor-student pair.

"You have to be kidding me, Raddie!" Nida exclaimed, looking at his almost depleted Cures as he didn't expect to spend much for this easy field exam.

"WHO DISTURBED MY SLEEP? AGAIN?"

Another replica of Ifrit materialized alongside the previous Ifrit.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me... Keannu!" Nida gasped.

He quickly cast Cure and Shell on Raddie, then lifted his bulky student onto his shoulder and began running, using his katanas to fend off any Bombs that came too close. "For Hyne's sake, you're so heavy!"

"I'm so sorry, Nida!" Raddie apologized, fully aware of how he had messed up the field exam.

"You better call me 'Dada' if we get out of here alive!" the instructor shouted with frustration.

"Cure is working, I can run now!" said Raddie.

Nida set Raddie down as they continued running.

"Watch out!" Raddie yelled.

One Ifrit lunged towards Nida with its powerful claw. Nida instinctively used his katanas to block the attack.

"Run!" Nida shouted to Raddie.

Outside the cave…

"What was that?" Quistis peered into the cave, which suddenly erupted with flames. "Everyone, get down!" she exclaimed urgently.

In an instant, two figures emerged, followed by a swarm of Bombs poised to explode.

"Help!" both Raddie and Nida cried out.

As Timeth and the onlookers tried to comprehend the chaotic scene, one of the Bombs hurtled towards the crowd.

"Freeze!" Timeth instinctively halted the Bomb in its tracks, just in time to keep the ticking bomb inches away from a terrified high schooler. The student's jaw dropped in fear and shock, but no sound escaped his lips. "Instructor Trepe, I don't have my junction device with me yet!" Timeth said.

Right. "I got this." Quistis brandished her whip and shattered the frozen Bomb into pieces.

"There are more! And Ifrits!" Nida shouted. "I'm running low on magic."

"Ifrits? As in plural? You've got to be kidding me!" And Quistis quickly realized Nida wasn't joking as she saw the beasts stomping out. "Everyone, run!" Quistis commanded. "Mighty Guard! Shiva!"

Quistis cast her powerful protective magic on the crowd and summoned her GF companion. The elegant Ice Queen nodded in response to Quistis' command, pulling her arms back and arching her back before unleashing a devastating Diamond Dust attack on the swarm of Bombs and Ifrits.

"They have Shiva?" The fire GFs exclaimed altogether. "Very well."

"Oh please!" Quistis facepalmed. Someone got to fix this glitch.

The Bombs shattered into ice fragments, but the GFs proved to be formidable. They lunged towards Shiva, intent on attacking her. However, Quistis instantly recalled Shiva to her consciousness, unwilling to let her fragile GF bear the brunt of the assault.

"Filthy human," Ifrits growled, redirecting their attention to the nearest target—Quistis.

"Freeze!"

Timeth quickly slowed down the charging horns of the Ifrit closer to him as they were both headed straight for Quistis at lightning speed. The legendary SeeD, in turn, leaped backward to create some distance between her and the mighty GFs.

"Blizzaga!" Quistis cast her most deadly ice magic at the approaching opponent.

She quickly cast another spell on the other Ifrit who had just escaped Timeth's time freeze. Upon her return from the second Sorceress War, Quistis discovered that her magic cooldown for low-level spells had become negligible, and she could even cast some blue magics in full health.

As the GFs were temporarily frozen, Nida, Timeth, and Raddie assisted with more physical attacks.

"Those without junction, step back!" commanded Quistis as the GFs melted the ice.

Timeth and Raddie retreated in front of the crowd, who were safely covered by Quistis' Mighty Guard. Some even took the opportunity to capture pictures and videos of the intense battle unfolding before them.

"Where's your junction?" Timeth questioned Raddie.

"Keannu forgot to give it to me. And I, uh, forgot to take it..." Raddie explained sheepishly.

Timeth rolled his eyes, struggling to comprehend their level of clumsiness. "Alright, step back. I'll freeze Ifrit if he tries to jump over here."

"Last hit!" Quistis leaped skillfully to dodge one Ifrit's attack and swiftly swung her Save the Queen weapon at the GF's head, landing a powerful blow. He let out a deafening roar and dropped to his knees.

"Very well. I shall join you," He uttered his final words before disappearing in a dramatic fashion. His figure fragmented into a shower of colorful, shimmering fragments that ascended into the air and vanished.

Hyne. I've supported too many field exams, I even memorized Ifrit's HP. Quistis thought as she landed gracefully.

The other Ifrit observed the fate of his companion and let out a similar rumbling growl…

"Very well…"

Quistis immediately interrupted the GF. "Shh, shh, go back there, wait for the next student!"

The mighty creature mumbled something before retreating back into his fiery pit.

Quistis then surveyed the aftermath of the not-so-intense battle.

Tourists lay scattered on the ground, holding up their cameras, their faces filled with awe. Timeth and Raddie stood in a defensive stance in front of them, ensuring their safety. And then there was Nida...

"Nida… what is it?" Quistis inquired, noticing something peculiar about the handsome instructor.

"Raddie—that clumsy boy—he forgot to take the junction from his friend when we changed shifts," Nida sighed, shaking his head.

"No, I mean... this," Quistis pointed to Nida's snug-fitting shirt, which accentuated his muscles and abs that seemed incongruous with his baby face. The fires from the exploding Bombs had scorched the shirt, leaving it tattered and revealing even more of his skin than it had initially covered.

Nida lowered his gaze in embarrassment. "You know who's behind this..."

"Oh…"

Quistis couldn't suppress a genuine burst of laughter, a sound that had been absent from her life for quite some time.

She was certain that the tourists had undoubtedly witnessed quite a show that day.

Saturday 1540, Balamb - Rinaul Coast.

Shrewdya had gathered all the possible magic spells from the right passage, encountering some relatively easy Fastitocalon-F and Octaphaneas (a new kind of monsters) along the way. Now, they were back at the intersection.

"Ready for the new GF?" Acma asked.

"Yeah," Shrewdya replied, making some final adjustments to her junction with the new magics.

"Good. I'll stay out of the fight. Just let me know when you need me," Acma said, casting a Hero pod on herself. "Oh, and if you need to change your junction during battle, make sure to find a good hiding spot. Junction changes take effect every minute."

"Okay." Shrewdya nodded, watching as Acma faded from sight. I've never needed to change my junction in the middle of a fight though. Why is she reminding me of that?

"Let's go." Acma whispered.

They ventured into the left passage, encountering no monsters along the way. The passage grew darker and darker, causing Shrewdya to feel an eerie sensation. She disliked darkness.

"Fire!" Shrewdya cast a fragment of the Fire spell on a bundle of dry seaweed, creating some light to illuminate their surroundings.

With Acma invisible and the dim light, Shrewdya didn't bother trying to discern her proctor's reaction to her first independent action. "Forgiveness rather than permission," Xu's usual words echoed in her mind when it came to pre-battle setups that made cadets more comfortable.

Acma and Shrewdya kept going. Finally, the sound of heavy breathing reached Shrewdya's ears. They had found it.

"Is it sleeping?" Shrewdya whispered.

"Maybe." Acma replied.

Shrewdya knew when Acma wanted her mentees to take the lead. Acma was quite good fit for an instructor position, knowing when to press the students' limit and when to step in. Unlike Instructor Trepe, Acma was not overly doting, and unlike Headmaster Xu, she wasn't careless either.

"Fire!" Shrewdya whispered, further illuminating the area while the creature was still indulged in its sleep.

As more light revealed the deep blue scales of the sleeping creature, Shrewdya took a few seconds to assess it.

"It... it looks more like a dragon," Shrewdya gasped, realizing that the creature didn't resemble a sea monster as she had expected.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Acma whispered with pride.

Suddenly, the creature's deep red eyes snapped open, and it swiftly unfurled its massive wings, filling the space.

"WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLEEP? FACE MY WRATH FOR SEEKING THY SEALED POWER!"

In an instant, the dragon released a powerful blast of fire towards Shrewdya.

Fire? No, Flare. Shit…

"Need help?" Acma asked as Shrewdya leaped and maneuvered to avoid the dragon's fiery onslaught.

Shrewdya didn't have a moment to spare for a response.

"Wall!" she summoned a massive structure to shield herself from the creature's attacks, simultaneously casting Shell and Protect on herself. Utilizing this brief respite, she adjusted her junction and reconsidered her strategy.

Blizzara to Elem-Atk. Dragon's anatomy… Heart.

"Not yet!" Shrewdya finally replied to Acma, just as the imposing Wall structure began to fade away.

Good thing I brought a gunblade.

"Cure! Blizzara!" Shrewdya cast the healing spell on herself and leapt toward where she believed the dragon was waiting, unleashing a blizzard spell upon it.

Boom!

She landed the first blow on the creature, aiming for its heart, but its formidable armors prevented her training gunblade from piercing through. Swiftly, she triggered the revolver to open a wound and pushed the gunblade forward, intensifying her opportune assault. Then, she delivered a powerful kick to the dragon's chest, propelling herself back to the ground.

Acma was astonished to see that Shrewdya had left the gunblade lodged between the dragon's scales.

"Thundara!" Shrewdya yelled, directing the lightning spell toward the embedded gunblade.

The gunblade, crafted from highly conductive material, conducted the shock to the creature.

Take it, baby.

The dragon emitted a piercing cry as it experienced the jolt following the icy spell.

"Smart! That was amazing!" Acma exclaimed.

"Thanks!"

Shrewdya allowed herself a small smirk but remained vigilant. According to her earlier analysis with Scan, she still had a long way to go before she could defeat this formidable creature.

[…]

samaqi: I'll skip this fighting scene for now. I have some good ideas on Shrewdya's special abilities and strategies, but need more time to flesh them all out. They're not too important for now, so let's keep going with the main story.

The dragon's essence dissipated upon Shrewdya's final strike.

"FINE. I SHALL UNITE WITH YOU."

The creature uttered its parting words before vanishing into Shrewdya's consciousness.

"Great job! I'm incredibly impressed," Acma exclaimed, materializing from the fading Hero spell. "I never imagined it could be defeated in such a manner. It took you 30 minutes, longer than it took me and Nida, but I'm not confident I could have finished it within that time frame on my own."

"Thank you! And… it's a her." Shrewdya smiled.

"Oh… good to know. So does she have a name? What would you like to call her?" Acma inquired.

"Tiamat... Her name is Tiamat," Shrewdya replied, gently caressing her first conquered Guardian Force in her thoughts.

The pair swam back to Balamb Beach.

"It's getting quite late, and there isn't enough sunlight for another run. I'll take the next student to Ifrit," Acma stated. "You can hold onto your junction device for now. I'll provide a new one for the next student."

"Thanks!" Shrewdya expressed her gratitude. "Um… Acma..."

"Go ahead."

"I… I've been wondering if I can take a lead or mid-level position in the next mission. I don't think I'm quite ready for that, but some real-world practice would be nice." Shrewdya explained.

Acma nodded.

Acma nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. Based on your performance today, I believe it's a reasonable next step. I'll inform the Garden Committee of your preference. And remember, you don't have to wait until you're 100% qualified to apply for a new position. That's a valuable lesson I've learned from our esteemed female Legendary SeeDs. We will support you, just as I have been supported. Do you recall what I always tell all of you?"

Shrewdya felt a surge of joy and support from her accomplished female mentor.

"If you don't ask for it, you're unlikely to get it." Shrewdya replied.

"That's the spirit," Acma said, placing her hand gently on Shrewdya's shoulder. "You'll go far, and one day, I might even fear facing you in battle."

As the two girls exchanged mutual respect, they noticed a commotion as people hurriedly running in and out of Balamb.

"Ma Dincht! Ma Smailes! Where are you going?" Shrewdya asked as she spotted them on Raddie's family's Jeep.

"Raddie and his proctor were injured during the field exam! Hop in! We'll give you a ride!" Ma Smailes exclaimed.

"Oh, Hyne! We're coming!" Shrewdya gasped, sensing the shock mirrored on Acma's face.

Hurt? By a replica Ifrit? How?

Saturday 1900, Balamb Garden's Infirmary.

"I need to talk to the headmaster! This is unacceptable! How could a simulated creature do this to you? You're not lying about your grades, are you?" Ma Smailes, a petite woman in her early fifties, scolded her son.

"It's not like that... I just overlooked one thing. It's nobody's fault, seriously. Even Sean passed the test without really trying!" Raddie replied.

"Oh, my dear boy, don't push yourself too hard. Sean took his field exam much later than you... if you want, you can always retake classes..." Ma Smailes suggested.

"No, Mom. I'm always in top ten of the class. Can someone please back me up here?" Raddie turned to his friend for support.

"I think it's a brilliant idea, Ma Smailes. S22 would be a better fit for Raddie," Shrewdya chimed in, coming to the fake rescue. "I'll support him for next year's field exam. You can trust me with his life."

"Cocky!" Raddie retorted, which triggered laughter from Shrewdya.

"Oh, kids... Why on Earth do you all want to pursue this career? There are no more evil sorceresses out there." Ma Smailes exclaimed. "Alright, I'm going to talk to your headmaster anyway. See if there's anything we can do to help the school. Take care, all of you, especially you, my boy. Come home if you need anything, okay?" She pointed at her son before leaving.

"Bye, ma!" Raddie waved.

"I'm really sorry, bro. It's my fault, but yours, too," Keannu whined after Ma Smailes left. "You were the one going into the pit, so you shoulda remembered to ask me for the junction!"

"Thanks for your comforting words," Raddie hissed back. "It could happen to anyone."

"It seems to happen more often with you than anyone else!" Shrewdya intervened, stepping between her two best friends.

"Aye aye, says the mighty SeeD who just claimed a GF for herself," Raddie remarked, glancing at Shrewdya's victorious face.

"Hey, I earned it. Single-handedly. I didn't even need my proctor to babysit me because I remembered my junction. And I even changed it during the battle against a gigantic dragon!" Shrewdya retorted, raising her arms high and pretending to be a dragon in a playful manner.

Raddie shook his head and let out a sigh. He couldn't come up with a comeback for Shrewdya, so he turned to Timeth, who had remained silent after bringing him to the infirmary.

"Keep your girl in check, Timeth!"

"Wh…" Shrewdya rolled her eyes and blushed.

"Great job, Shrewdya. We are proud of you." Timeth said in his usual calm and kind voice.

"Thanks," Shrewdya replied, subtly turning her head to glance at Timeth, not daring to meet his eyes. Memories of their date night at Ivarice lingered in her mind, and they hadn't had a chance to talk alone about what would come next. "Did you take your field exam?"

"No, I was supposed to go after Raddie," Timeth replied.

Lovebirds. Pity me, falling the field exam. How do I face her… Raddie thought. "Where's Acma?" he asked.

"She had to submit the grading report. She said she'll come visit you right away," Shrewdya informed him. "She was quite shocked hearing the news. And hey, she finally met your mom for the first time."

"Alright, you guys go have lunch," Raddie commanded.

"I see what you're doing, bro," Keannu wiggled his eyebrows. "Let's go, let's give him some alone time with his teacher."

"Aw..." Shrewdya responded with a mischievous smile.

"Go, go, go!" Raddie hissed, as his friends left the room, playfully teasing him along the way.

Just as Raddie lay down on his bed, contemplating how he would respond to Acma's question about failing his field exam, he caught whispers coming from the adjacent room.

"What a show you put on! Everyone was stunned. I'm sure the enrollment rate from paying students will skyrocket next year."

"Is that all you care about? Look at me! You dragged me into this field exam at the last possible moment and made me wear this shirt. Half of it was burned thanks to your clumsy students. Not only did the tourists see me, but the entire town of Balamb saw me. I feel so exposed…"

"I think it's kind of hot... Come on, let me make it up to you..."

Raddie's face turned bright red as he heard more inaudible sounds coming from where his proctor was supposed to be resting.

"Raddie! Are you okay?" The door to his room opened, and Acma walked in. "Sorry, I had to run a few errands before I could come visit you."

"ACMA! GOOD TO SEE YOU. I THOUGHT I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT!" Raddie yelled, trying to drown out the sounds coming from the other room.

Acma widened her eyes in surprise at Raddie's sudden loud volume. "Okay... um, I wanted to check on you, but it seems like you're... fine, yelling like that," she replied, clearly confused.

"I'M SORRY. I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE ALIVE!" Raddie continued, his voice still elevated.

Acma furrowed her eyebrows. "What's with this attitude of yours? Did something hit your head?"

Raddie made a face, attempting to signal to Acma that something was happening in the adjacent room.

"What is it, Raddie?" Acma approached him, and he motioned for her to put her ear against the wall.

"Adult, adult, adult," Raddie whispered.

Acma's face flushed with both embarrassment and anger. "Is that... your proctor? I thought he was injured," she exclaimed.

Raddie nodded, signaling for Acma to keep her voice down. "Clearly, thirty Bombs are not enough to keep him from… actions..."

"But… already? What a jerk!" Acma couldn't seem to handle the situation well. "With whom?"

"I don't know. I can't make out the details from that... kind of noise," Raddie looked away.

"Unbelievable…" Acma snorted.

The noises from the other room continued.

"Um… I don't think my yelling helped. They're… probably louder than me," Raddie said, blushing. "Do you still want to go to the cafeteria as planned?"

"Yes, please," Acma emphasized the words, clearly still bothered by the situation. "Let's get out of here. This is... quite inappropriate."

Raddie was puzzled as to why Nida's affair would anger Acma this much, but he didn't want to drag on this sensitive topic.

"I'm sorry... for letting you down. It was my mistake for not taking the junction," Raddie explained as he got up from his bed.

"No need to apologize, Raddie. I just spoke to some Garden Committee members, and they're aware of your track record. We're willing to make an exception, especially since we're receiving an influx of SeeD requests," Acma explained, trying to swallow her shock. "If... your proctor has any objections, let me know."

"Thank you..." Raddie wasn't sure why she emphasized the word 'proctor.' "I'm happy to redo the exam, but if everyone is comfortable with me skipping it, that would be great."

As they stepped outside, they saw a figure emerging from the adjacent room.

"Miss... Xu?" Both Raddie and Acma froze at the sight of the headmaster, who was adjusting her hair and clothes.

"Um... I... uh... just needed him for some paperwork," Xu stammered. "Give me the complete report on my desk by 1000 tomorrow!" She spoke to the closing door, pretending to discuss business with the one inside. "Well, I have to get back to work. I mean, I was working... anyway." She suddenly turned to Raddie. "Raddie... quite clumsy of you. Be more careful next time, okay?" She stammered a bit more before hastily running away.

"Sorry, Miss Xu... There won't be another mistake like this," Raddie said as Xu ran away, rolling his eyes back to Acma. "Shoot... this is going to make the news..."

Acma breathed heavily, seemingly internalizing the news in a weirdly angry way. Her cheeks were as red as her eyes.

"Shall we?" Raddie asked.

"Yeah? Oh… you go ahead." Acma said, "I'll come shortly, just want to catch up with him."

"Okay… I'll see you there."

Nida struggled to put on his uniform as Xu stepped out of the room. Suddenly, the door slid open, and a furious female voice entered.

"Screwing your former instructor, huh? I didn't know your taste in women had changed..."

Nida was taken aback by the figure entering the room, who, in turn, looked quite shocked to see him.

"Um... Acma, hi. What did you say?" Nida asked.

"Oh... wait..." Acma looked around the room and then back at the main office. "Where's… I thought... I'm looking for... were you here the whole time?" She stammered.

"Yes, thanks to your forgetful students," Nida replied, furrowing his eyebrows. "Are you looking for someone?"

Acma suddenly relaxed her eyebrows.

"You were… Raddie's support in today's field exam?"

"Yes," Nida sighed. "And Keannu's, unfortunately."

"But I thought... Zyma was supposed to assist them?" Acma asked, seeking confirmation.

"Oh, Zyma... he's not able to make it. There're some train problems in Timber," Nida explained.

"Oh..." Acma smiled awkwardly, realizing her mistake, and let out a relieved sigh.

Acma excused herself and almost ran as fast as she could, leaving Nida, the head instructor, puzzled and contemplating her accusation.

"Taste of women? What's wrong with her?" Nida thought.

Balamb Garden. Cafeteria.

Acma reached Raddie's table in the cafeteria.

"Where are the others?" she asked, looking at the table with two trays of food.

"They finished dinner already," Raddie replied. "Take a seat."

"Oh…"

Raddie couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed by her disappointment. "Um... anything wrong?"

"No, no," Acma quickly replied. "It's just..." She smiled. "I just realized we haven't..."

Before Acma could find the right words…

"Acma!" Selphie called out from the cafeteria entrance. "Want to join the discussion for the next mission?"

"Coming!" Acma acknowledged Selphie. "I'm sorry, Raddie..."

"No problem. Go!" Raddie tried to force a smile.

"Thanks... I'll see you later." Acma grabbed her tray and quickly walked towards Selphie. "I'll pay you next time!" she called back to Raddie before leaving the cafeteria.

Raddie let out a sigh.

Every time…