Laguna arrived in Fisherman’s Horizon
around noon. His mind was preoccupied
with Esthar’s condition and his friends, Kiros and Ward. He quickly left the Train Station and headed
toward the docks. Zell was there,
waiting to escort him to the Garden.
“Yo,
Pres’ Laguna! Over here!”
Laguna
noticed the familiar voice and smiled.
He walked over to Zell and the two headed up the lift.
“Zell,
how ya been?”
The
lift stopped at the top and they got off.
“Fine…c’mon!” Zell began to walk further out into the
docks. “Squall’s expecting you.”
He
and Zell boarded Balamb Garden and Laguna went straight to Squall’s
office. Zell headed to the
cafeteria…for some hot dogs.
Laguna
entered the office and was greeted kindly by Squall. He sat down and explained Esthar’s condition and the resistance
movement that is happening. That is
when Xu entered, with a dark, hooded figure.
“Sir,
I apologize for the interruption, but this person wanted to speak to you. Apparently it is urgent.”
Squall
looked at the hooded figure and nodded.
“Alright…thank
you Xu.”
Xu
walked out and shut the doors behind her.
The
dark, hooded figure stepped forward and began to pull back the hood. The person’s hands were small and feminine,
with an intricate bracelet upon each wrist.
The hood fell back to reveal the face of a young woman, her forehead
emblazoned with a gold sun and a silver moon.
Her hair was long and dark, streaked with gold, and her eyes were sea
green in color, highlighted by silver specks.
She stood before them and spoke.
“I
am here to help fight against Adel.”
Squall
looked at her and shook his head.
“I’m
sorry, this is professional business. I
cannot risk any amateurs out on the battle field.”
The
mysterious woman looked at him with a stoic gaze.
“I
assure you that I am no amateur.
Besides, my skills may be needed.”
Laguna
looked at her and thought for a moment.
‹She
looks like a Cetra…I’ve seen pictures of that extinct race of people in old
books…›
“Are
you a Cetra?”
The
woman looked at Laguna with surprise, but then she nodded.
“Yes. I am the last of them…and to answer your
unspoken question, Squall…” The Cetra looked up at the young headmaster again,
“I am a SeeD. I worked on Edea’s ship
eight years ago.”
Squall
sat back and sorted though his jumbled thoughts.
“What
brings you here then?”
“Like
I said, I wish to help you fight Adel.
Her presence is what alerted me in the first place.”
A
silence descended upon the room like a heavy blanket, only to be disrupted by
the office door, opening. Edea and
Ellone walked into the office.
“Uncle
Laguna!”
Ellone
rushed over to the Estharian president and gave him a hug.
“I’m
glad to see that you are safe Elle.”
Laguna
gave Ellone a warm smile. Ellone then
turned around and her eyes fell upon the female Cetra.
“Uncle…who
is she?” Ellone whispered.
Laguna
quietly answered Ellone.
“She
is a SeeD…and a Cetra at that.”
Edea
approached the mysterious woman and began conversing with her. After a few moments, Squall decided to
speak.
“Matron…is
she a SeeD?”
Edea
turned and smiled at Squall.
“Yes. She is the best SeeD that I have ever
seen. She needed very little training
in fighting and magic. She was already
strong in both areas.”
Squall
looked back at the Cetra. He quickly
came to a decision, but there was one more essential question for the sake of
battle strategy.
“What
are your strengths in battle?”
“I
special in magic, especially Ultima, Meteor, and Melt-down. I work well with summons and I have every
GF.”
“What
of your weapon?”
“I
am an expert wielder of a Gunblade.”
Squall
then thought about the information given.
«Another
Gunblade specialist…and a strong magic user.
Ultima and Meteor are forbidden magic…and the GFs will be useful. The battle may be hard…but the Cetra were
always slightly stronger than the sorceresses.»
“Alright…you
may help. Since you are a strong magic
user and a good fighter according to Matron…you will be going to Esthar with
the others and me.”
“I
would be honored to fight alongside the Liberi Fatali.”
“Liberi
Fatali?” Ellone asked, perplexed.
“The
Fated Children…as was foretold many years ago.”
The
Cetra’s long black cloak vanished, revealing a black outfit and a sheathed
Gunblade. The intricate bracelets
disappeared, each revealing a shiny red gem under both wrists. It was a battle outfit that was given to the
Cetra warriors. The gems allow the
wearer to amplify magic attacks and cast multiple summons.
“My
name is Celestia and I am ready when you and the others are, Squall.”
