Chapter Two: Tifa Lockhart: An Imperial in the Making
The letter of acceptance sat heavy in her bag as Tifa found herself walking the long worn path back to her home. When the messenger dropped off their monthly letters and packages, Tifa wasn't expecting anything special - a trinket from a cousin who lived in the Captial - but with the bracelet came a letter written personally by General Angeal in response to her interest in the upcoming Berserker Trials - an event that tested the physical and mental prowess of aspiring soldiers who wanted to enter that special unit. He had been pleasantly surprised for it wasn't often that a female wanted to enter the Berserker Unit and had accepted her for the trials with a stern warning that he would pull her or anyone out if he deemed it too dangerous.
Tifa, in her disbelief at her acceptance, wanted to tell her Father. She wanted to see the pride shine in his eyes and that warm smile that would pull at his lips when she accomplished a feat. However, she was wary about giving him the news due to his growing irritation with Cloud and his acceptance to the Minerva Trials.
His acceptance had the entire village abuzz with excitement at the possibility of him becoming the new Vessal of Minerva and putting their village in the sight of the King and High Priestess. It should have been a time of celebration, but her Father had been less than pleased with the news.
The last thing he wanted was strangers entering the village and prodding and poking where they didn't belong. So, Tifa understood that particular thought, but not to be proud of Cloud? If he were to become the Vessal of Minerva, the blessing his mother would receive would be bountiful. She would never have to worry about food or clothing.
In exchange, her son would never touch these shores again and he would provide this entire world with the guidance of Minerva. The world would be at ease and Claudia Strife would be without a son. It was an eye for an eye in the truest sense of the word and Tifa felt a swift twist of sympathy for the woman. She couldn't imagine losing a child in such a manner, but the world would be better off for it, right?
"Tifa?"
The sound of her name forced a look over her shoulder and she found herself staring at one Claudia Strife who greeted her with a small smile, her arms full of fruit.
"Claudia?" Tifa stepped forward, grabbing two of the baskets in the woman's overloaded arms. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Claudia returned, a look of relief to be free of a little of her burden. "How are you?"
"Fine and you?"
"As well as I can be all things considered." Claudia looked sad before that small smile reappeared. "It's a little bit of an adjustment. It will be harder still to send him off knowing that I won't see him again."
"...We can always ask the King if the new Vessel would be partial to visits a couple of times a year?" Tifa lowered her gaze when Claudia gave her a bemused smile.
"I take that you've received good news?" Claudia reached over with a now free hand at the letter in Tifa's hand.
"Oh?" Tifa tightened her hand on the paper. "Yes, but it's going to cause a bit of trouble."
Claudia was quiet for a moment, her mind wandering back to Cloud's words and a smile pulled at her lips in reassurance.
"I'm sure that whatever news you have to bear will be met with celebration." Claudia reached out and placed a warm on Tifa's wrist. "You have my blessings and I'm sure that you have Minerva's as well."
Warmed at the praise, Tifa's lips pulled into a small smile. Claudia had always been kind to her, especially after her mother's death, so it was much of a surprise that she would still be supportive of her choices.
"I was accepted into the Berserker Unit - or rather, the trials to enter," Tifa confessed softly. "I'm honored that General Hewely personally wrote my acceptance, but I'm afraid that my Father won't be as accepting."
"No," Claudia admitted, sympathy lacing her words. Jason was and was always going to be overprotective of his daughter. A fact that the village had come to terms with and one that Tifa was no longer content to allow.
"I offer my congratulations," Claudia murmured, stepping forward to wrap Tifa in a one-armed hug. "Do you wish for me to be there when you tell him?"
"No." Tifa denied. "This is something that I have to do on my own, but thank you for the offer and for being in my corner."
Claudia's worried face melted into one of warmth. "You have always been a friend to my son, Tifa, and I am grateful for it. I will always be in your corner."
"Thank you." Tifa's throat tightened at Claudia's words. She blinked back her tears and decided it would be best to change the subject. "How is Cloud doing? I haven't had the chance to speak with him since the announcement."
"He's been sequestered away to the temple." Claudia looked a touch displeased at the confession. "The Order of Minerva sent word that they will be here in two weeks to retrieve him and our priest and priestess are in an uproar." Claudia's lips twitched as if she found a particular memory amusing. "Cloud confessed to me that if he has to say the Prayer of the Goddess one more time then he's going to be devout himself to Bahamut and Bahamut alone."
A snort escaped Tifa's mouth before she could stop it and the action was enough to send them into a spiral of hysterical laughter that rose into the air and dissipated the solemn air that seemed cloaked over the village since Cloud's announcement.
"He would dedicate himself to the skies and live among the clouds." Claudia's smothered chuckles only sent Tifa into another spiral of laughter. "My poor child would pray to earn a pair of wings."
"Poor thing." Tifa agreed taking a deep breath to breathe through the cramps earned through their laughter. "Shall we steal him away for a little bit? I'm sure the priest won't mind if it's you, Claudia."
"I wouldn't count on it," Claudia grumbled, urging Tifa to follow her through the semi-crowded streets of their village and towards the temple where Cloud needed a desperate rescue. It was only as they approached the steps that it finally clicked for Tifa that Claudia knew of her acceptance before she spoke of it causing her to freeze before the first stair and earning Claudia's concern.
"Tifa-"
"You know?" Tifa breathed, interrupting her softly. "Or, rather, Cloud knew that I would get accepted."
"He did," Claudia acknowledged, finding no reason to lie to her or hide the truth. "He was vague about it, but I know enough about Cloud's visions to discern truth from lie."
"He did not tell me."
Claudia frowned in disappointment. "You know that he's not to speak of it. At all. it's a blessing that he tells us at all."
"Ah." Tifa felt properly chastised. She knew that Cloud's gift was the jewel of their chapter of the Order of Minerva and while she was never jealous of the attention Cloud garnered, she always did wonder what it was like to see what was beyond to see accomplishments and failure, life and death. She held the questions back, always careful of her words.
Until now.
"What is it like for him?" Tifa lowered her voice to a whisper. "What is it like for him to see all?"
"It's a blessing and a curse," Claudia admitted with a tight smile. "He bears the burden of seeing what Minerva has in store for our people. It will be worse still should he emerge victorious in the Minerva Trials and stand beside the King." Claudia shivered at the thought. "It is possible that she will use him as a true vessel."
"I never thought of that as a possibility." Tifa couldn't imagine what Cloud would go through as the Vessel of Minerva. She knew that She spoke through him as a clairvoyant, or in a more recent turn of events, as a Seer, but to use him to walk among them? To see the world through Cloud's eyes?
And what of Cloud? What would happen to his soul during such a transition? Would it simply vanish or would they merge into one?
"It was always a possibility that he took in stride," Claudia confessed. "The moment that he began telling me about his visions it had become an inevitability."
"Claudia." Tifa swallowed, the implication clear between them. "I-"
"You don't need to say anything, sweetheart." Claudia placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. "We've both come to terms with it."
And Tifa could do nothing but give a short, but solemn nod.
The rest of the walk home was silent, each in their thoughts and Tifa couldn't bear to break the silence. She didn't realize how much of a burden was on Cloud's shoulders. She had always seen him as a person whom the High Priest loved and adored because of the visions that Minerva shared. She didn't realize the vow of silence he was forced to take by the Order and his mother.
She didn't know anything-
But, with her invitation tucked into her satchel, she would have a chance to get to know Cloud and the burden that the Goddess gave him.
A burden, hopefully, that they would share.
"No." The response was harsh and firm and Tifa met with a twisted frown and the dropping of her stomach. She knew the rejection would come, but she didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did.
"I have accepted the invitation and I'll be leaving the same day as Cloud." She met her Father's gaze, for the first time, unafraid of the anger that had been directed towards her for so long. "It would do my heart good if you joined me."
"You can't-" Joesph looked angered, shocked even, before his face settled into one of resignation. "This is the wrong time, Tifa. With the Order and Cloud? I can't have you leaving as well. You can try again next year."
"And what happens when that time arrives and you find another excuse?" The words were out of Tifa's mouth before she could stop them, but she made no move to take them back. She continued. "It was never my dream to inherit the title of Chief. I have told you this when I was a child and the following summers."
"Did you honestly expect me to take the word of a child seriously?" Joseph looked befuddled and it only incensed Tifa further. Her Father had always been protective of her and she had always been understanding considering the loss of her mother, but Tifa knew that her mother wouldn't stop her from achieving her dreams. She would be worried, of course, but she would step aside and allow her to walk her path.
"I cannot remain here for the rest of my life." Tifa swallowed against the lump in her throat as her Father's face became closed off. "This is not my path."
"It is the safest path." Joseph reasoned. "Cloud-"
"Cloud." Tifa cut in swiftly. "Cloud has seen my path. And if he sees my path, then it is ordained by the Goddess and she will not be swayed." Tifa approached her Father, laying her hand over his own, and gave him a tight squeeze. "Please understand that I do this not to hurt you, but to find my way in this world." Her hand squeezed his tighter. "A world that is quickly changing."
"It goes too fast," Joesph uttered, a slump in his shoulders, and a sign to Tifa that he was begrudgingly realizing that he couldn't stop his daughter from leaving. "You will be safe? And have the necessary lodgings?"
"The Crown takes care of all lodgings for new participants." Tifa recited as if she had memorized the lines dozens of times.
"You will be careful?" Joseph turned to her with a soft smile, the same one he always wore when her mother was alive, and caused her heart to twist. "And you will return home an Imperial Berserker?"
"Yes," Tifa's lips spread into a wide bright grin. "I will!"