Balamb Garden. S20 classroom.
Acma struggled to focus on Instructor Aki's words, even though she occupied the front row. It had been a week since she became Zyma's mentee, yet he had made no effort to instruct her or even respond to her emails. In a brief encounter at the cafeteria, Xu casually mentioned that Acma's first field mission was approaching. Feeling that she had learned nothing since the transfer, she feared she would fail the mission.
She needed to talk to him. Luckily, he was in class today for some reason.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Acma glanced towards the back row to spot Zyma, but he was nowhere to be seen. Panicking, she rushed out of the classroom, internally cursing why Zyma could move like a ghost. She shouted his name and finally caught up with him.
"Senior Zyma..."
"No," he immediately replied without even listening to what Acma had to say. He didn't even look at her and continued walking.
"Excuse me?" She rolled her eyes as she jogged to keep up with him. "You are my mentor, and you have a responsibility checklist. Our first mission is in less than a week!"
"So?" he asked nonchalantly, continuing to walk.
"So? I'll die if you don't teach me anything."
"You'll pass," he feigned a friendly smile before returning to his cold expression.
"How?" she exclaimed.
This time, he abruptly stopped walking, causing her to crash into his back. He turned around as she apologized, and leaned in so close that their noses almost touched.
"Listen, kid. All you need to do is stock up on a bunch of Cures, Shells, and Protects. And if you can't junction yet... Here, consider these samples a welcome gift, pupil," he said, placing two potions into her hands. "Keep your HP above 0. That's all you need to do to pass your missions. Understood?"
Acma wasn't sure how to react to his demeaning gestures that clearly undermined her abilities.
"Why..."
"Ah, uh," Zyma raised his index finger close to her mouth, silencing her. "My one and only rule: don't ask questions. That's it. I suppose that lesson is enough for you to internalize for the next two weeks."
He turned his back and entered the elevator, smirking at Acma, who scoffed repeatedly at his dismissive treatment.
Balamb Garden's girls' dormitory. Acma's suite's kitchen.
"He's such a jerk!" Acma exclaimed to her new suite mate, Trepie #23, as she chewed on the delicious muffins freshly made by the girl.
"Oh, he's a good person deep down," Trepie #23 said. "I've known him for a long time. He will go out of his way to protect you. Don't worry about the mission."
"I don't think he's that nice. He talks as if he'll throw me under a tank at the first chance," Acma replied, her voice filled with suspicion. Then, a thought struck her. "Wait, were you in S18 with him? How come you're a staff member and he hasn't... graduated?"
"Ah, right," Trepie #23 explained. "There are a few solo SeeD candidates like Zyma. They go on different types of missions even before taking the SeeD exams. They're kind of exempt from the usual SeeD requirements."
Acma's curiosity was piqued. "What kind of missions?"
"One-shot," Trepie #23 replied. And when she sensed Acma's confusion, she clarified. "These are typically solo missions where only one mercenary is sent, instead of multiple squads. And unless the mission is successful, the mercenary may not return... alive."
Acma gasped in surprise. "That sounds... dangerous."
"And very well paid too," Trepie #23 nodded repeatedly. "We refer to solo operatives like Zyma as bounty hunters. Bottom line is, he's exceptionally skilled, a hundred times better than a fake SeeD like myself."
"Aw... don't say that. Every role is important, you're taking care of hundreds of kids here," Acma consoled Trepie #23. "But if he's that good, why is he taking classes again? Why doesn't he just go on… one-shot missions?"
"He still goes on missions, mostly off the record," Trepie #23 clarified. "I don't know what his deal is with Xu. Every solo case is different. But my guess is Zyma still needs to get certified by the SeeD exam to become an independent contractor, which means he could accept jobs from any Gardens or military institutions. Of course, Balamb takes a percentage from his payment, but these missions are kept secret."
"Like a way to pay back Garden's interest rate?" Acma asked.
"Exactly. Orphans like us end up in Garden, receiving education, shelter and training. These accrue as debts to Garden, which take years for a SeeD to pay back, assuming they survive the missions," Trepie #23 explained.
Acma nodded in understanding, though she wouldn't use the word 'debts'. She felt a deep sense of gratitude for the resources provided by Garden to orphans like herself. Talking to Trepie #23, who had gone through a similar experience of being an orphan and now served as an operational staff member at Balamb, filled Acma with a warm-hearted feeling.
"Okay, even if he's good and can kill all the monsters for my missions, how am I supposed to learn by just casting protection spells and staying in defense like he said?" Acma shifted the conversation back to the original problem.
"That's a very valid concern, Acma," Trepie #23 calmly advised, her voice filled with wisdom. "It's part of your job to handle tough teammates like that. Maybe he's not aware that you truly want to learn and not just check off your list of requirements. Take the time to get to know his style, ask him about his goals, and find ways to align your goals with his. You're smart, you'll figure something out."
"I guess..." Acma contemplated, her head spinning as Trepie #23 switched to full lecture mode.
For a young teenager like Acma, the concept of maturity could be very different from that of adults like Trepie #23. The age difference of a few years could have a substantial impact on their emotional and cognitive development.
"Promise me you won't let him get under your skin," Trepie #23 added, continuing to wash her dishes. "You've set a high bar for yourself to become a future squad leader. You'll have your own teammates to take care of while fulfilling your own duties and reporting to higher-ranking SeeDs. Dealing with unique individuals like Zyma will be a daily occurrence. I'm not saying you just need to get used to it; I'm saying you can take control of the situation and learn a few tricks to manage difficult people."
Acma hadn't fully grasped everything that Trepie #23 meant, but it seemed that dealing with difficult people like Zyma was a skill in its own right. And when it came to acquiring a new skill, Acma would never say no.
Winhill.
"Thunder!" Acma cast the spell, feeling excited as she struck the first blow against a caterpillar.
Just moments before the spell reached the creature, an annoying shuriken once again killed the worm.
"Not again! For Hyne's sake!" Acma screamed. "You did that on purpose this time, I'm sure of it. You won't let me land the final hit on any monster. How am I supposed to level up?"
"Sorry, kid. You just need to cast faster," Zyma smirked.
Acma took a deep breath, trying to calm herself internally. This was her first mission, patrolling in Winhill, and their objective was to eliminate as many monsters as possible. However, she believed that the number of final hits she made mattered greatly for her pre-SeeD rank. Instead of assisting Acma, her mentor seemed more interested in maximizing his own last hits and collecting dropped items from these low-level creatures.
"How can you call yourself a prodigy magic caster if you can't cast faster than a physical attack?" Zyma mocked.
"I'm not a prodigy, so stop playing mind games," Acma winced. "And it's like comparing apples to oranges. Both roles are necessary within a team."
"Yes, and the healing role is essential. Since I'm not a healer, it's obvious that you have to handle it. Now, get back and cast more Cures. We'll report the number of monsters to the Village Head at noon before lunch break."
Reluctantly, Acma followed Zyma's instructions and cast a Cure spell on herself. Zyma could easily dodge all the slow attacks from the caterpillars with his high Eva stats, so there was no need to heal him. Acma's small build made it difficult to evade most of the stings if she got caught by the caterpillars.
"Geez... It's burning hot in here. Why don't you ditch your Cadet uniform?" Zyma asked, observing sweat rolling down Acma's face under the scorching sun of the hottest month of the windy town.
"It's alright..." Acma muttered. "Better than getting scars from their stings."
Another hour passed, and all Acma could do was draw and cast Cures. Zyma made no effort to teach her anything new. Even the most mediocre instructors would feel obligated to share some knowledge, but not this jerk.
Despite Trepie #23's advice on managing people, Acma found it challenging in practice. Zyma's style was... well, she couldn't find the right word to describe it. His goals were unclear, and it seemed like he only cared about his own time. Then she remembered that Xu had been Zyma's mentor, which meant that Zyma must have been a novice once, just like herself.
"What were your training goals when you were mentored by Miss Xu?" Acma asked.
Zyma stopped walking and turned back to Acma. "What do you know?"
"Nothing," Acma replied, surprised by his question. "You're my first official mentor. Is there something I'm supposed to do but I haven't?"
Zyma looked away and smirked, seeming to ponder something in his mind.
Acma held her breath. It was rare to see this annoying guy think about something for more than a fraction of a second. Whatever he was thinking, it'd better be about teaching her and not any tricks to annoy her.
"Okay... So you genuinely want to learn, not just pass the mission?" He sought confirmation.
"Of course, I want to learn. A small girl like me won't be top of my class without being a serious learner," she sensed a shift in his expression and decided to add some flattery. "I've heard a lot of good things about your abilities, Zyma the Great. I'm all ears. Please teach me whatever you think is suitable at my current level, sensei."
That's it. Take it. Accept my shower of kindness borrowed from Trepie #23. Acma smirked internally.
"Very well, pupil, I like your attitude," Zyma took a deep breath and nodded. "You know your abilities better than anyone. After lunch break, show me your physical attack with your lasso, then cast magics from low to high-level spells. I won't interfere. If you're the top of your class in Trabia, you should be able to handle three rounds without healing. Sound fair?"
Acma nodded with excitement. "Absolutely! Thank you very much!"
Balamb Garden. Xu's office.
"Did he indeed let you have last hits?" Xu rolled her eyes as she reviewed Acma's report from her patrol in Winhill.
"Ten out of thirty monsters, Miss Xu," Acma smiled. "We also kept the costs low by relying mostly on physical attacks. And as for me," she paused for dramatic effect, "I would draw and immediately cast Thunder to replenish my magic spells."
Xu nodded. "Very well, Cadet. Quistis was right about you. You truly are an asset. We're prepared to give you more responsibilities."
"More responsibilities? I'll gladly take them all," Acma's eyes widened. "I'll give it my all. Whatever you need me to do, Ma'am. Stepping out of my comfort zone is my way to learn…"
"Aye aye…" Xu cut her short and handed her a camera. "Here's your equipment, and you need to fill in this spreadsheet every day for the next two months. The location is..."
Acma examined the spreadsheet closely, and her jaw dropped in shock.
"Why us? We don't know anyone here," she exclaimed.
"Yes, and no one knows who you are. That's precisely why I chose you two. You're new, and that element of surprise can work to our advantage," Xu explained.
"Miss Xu... I don't understand half of these words," Acma confessed.
"Consider it part of the learning process, of growing up, Acma. Stepping out of your comfort zone, your own words! Besides, I don't have to worry about you siding with the offenders," Xu dismissed her concern. "Now, go ahead and give it a try. I have great faith in you."
"Um…"
"What else, Acma?" Xu's annoyance was evident in her voice this time.
"Ah, nothing. I'll start immediately today."
Acma left the office, shaking her head. The first month at Balamb Garden was nothing like what she had imagined.
Acma had almost asked Xu about the potential stipend for the off-hour gig she had just received, which would help compensate for the unexpected financial loss she had incurred during her patrolling mission in Winhill.
Despite being permitted by Zyma to handle all the monsters on her own in the afternoon, Acma's HP was significantly depleted by the end. She had exhausted all her Cures while focusing on casting Thunder and evading attacks. For a moment, she had thought Zyma was being kind, but no, it was all part of his evil plan. Seeing her low on health, he offered her Potions and X-Potions at doubled prices. He treated her like a customer in a difficult situation and squeezed her last Gils. Reluctantly handing over the money, she gathered her courage and asked him for any feedback. His response was curt.
"You are untrainable."
Gosh, she hated that jerk.