"Not good enough," A voice snapped from behind him. Seifer frowned but covered the frown with a customary sneer almost instantly. Seifer turned to regard the smallish man standing behind him, gnarled and bent over a walking stick, this man was his instructor. "Not even close to good enough, your technique is predictably good but you didn't even fire your gunblade. What is the point of having a gun attached to ones blade if one will not fire it?" The instructor demanded, glaring at his student.
"Whatever," Seifer shot back, "Didn't I kill the monster?" He wondered aloud, challenging his instructor to dispute it. The man stood there in silence for a moment, and Seifer soaked up the same details he had seen a thousand times already. The instructor was old, but his exact age was impossible to determine. He was bent over an ebony walking stick which sported a snake's head at the top, and two fire gems for eyes. He wore a slightly altered SeeD Instructor's uniform, as if to remind Seifer that he was not yet a SeeD.
"You did kill the beast," The instructor allowed, but instead of softening, his glare intensified and his demeanor became more infuriated. "But you did not kill it properly." The instructor's voice was precisely controlled, but his words could be nothing but disapproving.
"How can there be a proper way to kill?" Seifer wondered, for once with no answer of his own to supply. The instructor's face lit up in a harsh smile, one that failed to touch his eyes in the least, and somehow made him more threatening.
"Garden seeks to create the most effective fighting force on the planet, the SeeDs. Appearances are as important as actual ability in this business, boy. If you kill the monster with a single, overwhelming stroke, you may appear greater than you actually are. The gunblade is one of the most difficult to use weapons on the planet, if you are able to deliver that fatal strike which seemingly requires so much focus and effort while at the same time using your gunblade properly...think how much more impressive you should be." The instructor looked off into the sky for a moment before his hard gaze returned to Seifer once more.
"Furthermore, you must always appear to be at the absolute peak of competence. If you cannot use your gunblade properly, then you could easily be any one of a thousand amateurs, you will not be a SeeD." The instructor emphasized his words by slamming the end of his stick into the ground. There was a momentary pause, Seifer wasn't sure what reply he could make that wouldn't infuriate the man further, and the instructor seemed disinclined to speak further to his trainee.
"...I understand," Seifer said quietly, angry with the instructor's arrogant superiority, but at the same time unwilling to completely reject that which was being thrust at him. Perhaps in this harsh old man's teachings lay the answer to becoming a SeeD.
"Today there is nothing more. Get back to the Garden. Kill every monster you encounter using your gunblade properly," The instructor commanded. "We'll see how much progress you've made when we meet again tomorrow." And with that the instructor stumped off. This had been Seifer's first training session with the man, and he already got the impression that the instructor would not tolerate being spoken to until their next session.
"Damn him, leaving me to fight all the way back to Garden. I'm just a fucking trainee," Seifer muttered bitterly. Suddenly, without warning, he brightened. "Not that I can't handle it, hah!"
Three hours later, long past dark, Seifer stumbled through the entrance to the massive Balamb Garden. He was sure he'd been attacked by more monsters on his way back to the Garden that night than he'd seen in all his life before. The time he'd spent fighting his way back to the Garden had left him little time to think, but it had occurred to him that his old-man instructor must be much more than he appeared to have also gone back to Garden by himself.
As Seifer staggered towards the building proper, he saw a gang of students starting towards him. Probably a bunch of assholes looking to kick his ass. Just like always. Not wanting to get into a fight of any kind, Seifer tried to make it towards the checkpoint where the guard would be watching. Seifer wasn't sure whether the guard would stop the fight or not, but he felt his chances were better the closer he got to the building proper. In fact, if he could get inside, they wouldn't start a ruckus for sure, there were always Garden Faculty watching. He tried to speed up a little.
"Hey Seifer, what's happening?" One student called out, mockingly. Seifer didn't reply, choosing to conserve his strength to walk faster. He was almost to the checkpoint, only a few more precious steps and maybe the guard would stop them or something. His legs felt like lead, he was tired, he didn't want to go on...he would just give up, let them kick his ass, let things be like they always were...and then he was there, between the posts of the checkpoint.
"Wait," The guard called out from his post. "I need to see your student ID before I can let you pass." Seifer muttered, rummaging through the pockets of his trench coat in an effort to locate his ID. The students were gaining on him fast, but he found his ID and flashed it at the guard. He continued on his way down the path.
"Seifer, hold up a sec buddy, we just want to talk to you." Called the leader of the students again. Seifer didn't reply, he guessed that there were five or six of them, far too many for a trainee like himself to take on. Although he was sure he could have taken them after a good night's sleep and in the light of day.
"Seifer, wait up I said!" The leader said more insistently, and Seifer cast a glance over his shoulder to see that they were past the checkpoint and running to catch up with him. Cursing his lot in life, Seifer hurried towards the Garden, but there was no longer any chance of escape. The first blow came between his shoulders and he fell forward to the ground.
"You should wait up for your friends Seifer." Said the leader, one of the ones that Seifer had seen before. A real asshole. Seifer didn't really feel as if he could get up at all, he just lay there, willing to accept what was dished out.
"What's going on here?" Demanded a female voice from nearby. Everyone present recognized it, it was Xu, one of the highest-ranking members of SeeD at Balamb Garden. None of the aggressors wanted to be caught so they fled in a hurry. Seifer tried to struggle to his feet and found a reserve of strength that surprised him, allowing him to stand straight and tall as Xu came out to check on what was happening.
"Nothing, ma'am." Seifer said, doing his best to keep his voice even. Xu looked at him strangely, but he must not have looked as bad as he thought, for she moved on without further commentary. Eager to get inside where he could rest, Seifer headed directly for the entrance to the Garden, hoping that the gang of students had moved out of range. He had wondered for a second if he should have told Xu about the attack, but he had decided against it. The students could kick his ass a million times, but he would never go and cry to someone else for help. Never.
It took a week of exercises, but Seifer's gunblade technique had already started to improve enough to impress his instructor. He was sitting in his classroom, bored as hell, bored as always. He had found himself anticipating his sessions outside with his gunblade instructor more and more each day. He felt like those were his real training, that was where his skill could finally emerge. Today the instructor had said that they would integrate magic into fighting routines, something that Seifer was looking forward to.
"Seifer! Pay attention!" His classroom instructor, Instructor Kavlin, snapped. Seifer brought his eyes to the center to give the illusion of attention, but didn't really feel like listening to Kavlin blather on about the importance of remaining aloof from the locals. The combat was more important, the combat was the living, breathing part of SeeD. It was what made SeeD powerful, what made SeeD lucrative. Nothing else mattered.
"...and thus it is of the utmost importance that SeeD members remain detached from all non-SeeDs at all times..." Kavlin continued on his boring lecture. Seifer was sure that the man had another hour of hot air left in him...but the period was almost over, and afterwards it was time for his gunblade instruction.
"Alright, that looks like all the time we have for today," Kavlin said, winding down. "But I have one important announcement that concerns all of you. Your class rotation schedule means that each of you must complete a preliminary exam at the South Pass before you can attempt the Field Exam at the end of the week." That caught Seifer's attention alright, he had forgotten about the field exam. The South Pass was supposed to be brutally difficult, the hardest out of the possible preliminary exams. Seifer had heard that the Fire Cavern exam was the easiest, and the Dark Heart of the Wood exam only moderately challenging.
"...So are you our support for the South Pass exam?" Seifer asked, not bothering to raise his hand.
"That depends. If you specifically request another SeeD member for support, it may be possible to arrange that. In any other case, I am support." Kavlin said, and Seifer had to suppress a grimace. What a worthless man to have by your side in battle.
"Class dismissed," Kavlin said finally, much to Seifer's delight. "I expect your essays on the importance of aloofness in to me tomorrow morning before Homeroom." This time Seifer had to repress a full-fledged groan as he made his way out the door.
Seifer arrived at the appointed meeting place out in the plains beyond Balamb, he only had to fight a few monsters on his way out, and he had lately found that the monsters were easier for him to destroy. By using the untapped powers of the gunblade to his full advantage, he saved more strength for each new fight. Soon, he would be unbeatable, he was sure of it. His instructor was late.
"Damnit, made to wait still longer," Seifer muttered, driving his gunblade point-first into the ground.
"So punctual we are," Came the voice of his instructor, just coming into view over a small, nearby hill. "I'm surprised. Decided not to hang out with your friends after class? I wonder why."
"I don't have any friends," Seifer spat, "Combat is all that matters, and becoming the strongest SeeD ever to live. I don't need any friends. All I need is this, the knowledge of how to fight! I learned how to use my gunblade properly and already I feel a thousand times stronger, soon no one will be able to match me!"
"Hah! You're not that far yet, boy!" The instructor snapped. "True, your abilities are considerable and I would think you above your fellow candidates...but you are not where you want to be. Not yet. Today though, we will take you two steps further."
"Two steps?" Seifer wondered, for his instructor always spoke of learning as a long, drawn-out process with no definite beginning and never an ending. It was never to be made in definite steps, but as a gradual process.
"Today you will learn Magic integration in your fighting. And you will begin to prepare for the South Pass exam. I have decided that I will go with you to be your support, Kavlin has no idea how to handle a gunblade and therefore is a poor choice to lead you." The instructor sounded altogether derisive, which made Seifer wonder.
"I understand," Seifer said, even though he didn't really. His excitement soon covered his confusion though, excitement over the prospect of using Magic as a force in combat. Seifer had always been a huge fan of the Fira Magic he had seen some of the Instructors use.
"Magic," Seifer's instructor explained, "Is a tool. It's a powerful and dangerous tool, but it is still a tool. Treat it like you would any other tool, use it carefully and it will do exactly what it was designed to do." The instructor demonstrated by extending his hand, from which a tremendous, jagged thunderbolt lanced out and struck a nearby hill.
"Thundara," Seifer mused, fascinated by the raw destructive power he had just seen. The instructor nodded slowly.
"Thundara. Just one of a thousand such spells. Now, in order to acquire and cast spells you'll need a Guardian Force, which you don't have yet...but you will soon. Today we will simply discuss how to employ such a tactical advantage as Magic in combat."
"...I can't use it?" Seifer seemed crestfallen. The instructor was not impressed, he grunted and struck the ground with his walking stick.
"Does it matter? What matters is that you know how to use it effectively. Now, Magic takes time to cast, so unless you're a Mage, there's no reason to be using it all the time. Your gunblade is a more effective fallback. However, if you have an opening, you should always try and hit your opponent with that Magic. Why? Because it gives you a decisive advantage without sapping your combat strength." Seifer considered this for a moment, he pictured his opponent reeling from a particularly vicious gunblade strike, and himself raising a hand from which a fiery ball of destruction erupted, striking down his foe once more. The thought excited him, he wanted this power.
"There is also defensive and support magic. From what I know of your personality, you would not find this of particular value...but there is a spell that you would love, I think. It is called 'Haste', and as the name implies it speeds you up greatly. It's like being on a stimulant, only it has no harmful side-effects and the feeling of power isn't imagined." The instructor said, a vicious glint in his eye. Seifer was still silent. He wanted to use this power so very much. So very much.
It had been a brutal session after the peaceful discussion about Magic. Seifer's instructor had given him a test and then forced him to fight a grueling gauntlet of the strongest monsters in the area. Seifer had survived and come out stronger, but he was weary once more. He had endured the walk back to Balamb Garden again, but as opposed to the three hours it had taken him on his first day, it had taken him only two hours.
"Haha, soon I'll be the strongest SeeD of all, just think of how popular I could be with the ladies." Seifer mused to himself as he passed through the checkpoint without incident. He was paying so little attention that when he felt a heavy boot crashing into his side, he had no idea from where it had come.
"Hey Seifer, how's it going buddy?" Came the mocking voice of the same student that had attacked him a week before. Seifer took a few steps back, his head full of an explosion of painful stars, he turned to face his opponent.
"What do you want?" Seifer asked, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm surprised you have the guts to fight without your gang," Seifer spat, but almost before the words were out of his mouth, he took a hit between the shoulder blades from behind. Apparently he had, in fact, brought along his friends. Seifer collapsed forward only to receive another hefty kick to the stomach which drove him to the ground, gasping for breath.
"What the hell are you doing?" Demanded a voice from nearby, and Seifer recognized the voice of his gunblade instructor. The students continued to kick him though, and made no motion of stopping. "I meant you, Seifer." The instructor snapped. "Get up, attack! Fight back!" he practically snarled.
Seifer didn't see a way to get up when he was being attacked on all sides, but a sudden opportunity presented itself. Reaching out desperately, he got a solid hold on one of his enemy's legs and pulled hard, tripping him up completely. Seizing the opportunity, Seifer tried to rise to his feet, only to take a heavy kick in the stomach. Spitting out blood and the last of his air, Seifer continued to rise all the same, drawing in a deep breath and throwing a punch at the face of one of his attackers.
"Gonna fight Seifer? Maybe you're not as much of a chicken-wuss as we thought." Remarked one of the students, going for Seifer from behind. Chicken-wuss? Seifer thought to himself, outraged. I'm not the one who needs a gang to jump people. A thought which stirred up an incredible rage deep inside of him. Without thinking, Seifer drew his gunblade, and drove it through the student's stomach. His mouth working, but no sound coming out, the student looked down at the blade which protruded from his midriff and the blood that was already starting to seep out around the wound.
"Get the fuck out of my life," Seifer snarled a primal snarl and kicked the student off of his blade, then wiped the crimson stains off on the student's uniform. He savagely kicked the body aside and sheathed his gunblade...to the sound of soft applause. He turned to see his instructor clapping.
"You've just taken the first real step towards becoming a SeeD," His instructor assured him. "Oh, and don't worry about the repercussions, you acted in self-defense." And with that, the old man was gone, leaving Seifer to ponder the first act of killing another human being he had ever performed. It would not be the last.
“My name is Seifer Almasy. I am a SeeD Candidate. I am the next in line to attempt the South Pass Preliminary Examination. My support is Instructor Sandavol, Gunblade Master of Balamb Garden.” That was the first time in Seifer’s entire life that he’d spoken his own name with any degree of pride. Today was special, today was different, today he was alive for the first time, alive and ready to fight for the chance to become a SeeD.
“I am Instructor Sandavol, Gunblade Master of Balamb Garden. I confirm that I am the support of Seifer Almasy for this preliminary examination.” The instructor said, his voice ringing loud and clear above the billowing winds of snow. Two Garden Faculty at the entrance to the pass glanced briefly at one another and then turned back to Seifer and his instructor.
“Select your time limit. The less time you allot yourself, the higher you may score.” One of the Faculty said, pouring pomp and ceremony into every word. Sandavol seemed impatient, so Seifer decided at once.
“The lowest limit. I don’t care what it is, I won’t need any more than that.” Seifer said confidently. The Garden Faculty looked at each other once again, for longer this time, and then turned back to Seifer and Sandavol once more.
“You have ten minutes starting now.” One of them announced, moving to the side to allow Seifer and his instructor through. Seifer took a moment to analyze the route he would be taking before heading up the South Pass. It was a relatively low-elevation pass, but it was bitterly cold and with strong winds that blew snow everywhere. The route was short, but Seifer had heard that the monsters in this area were particularly savage.
“Alright, let’s go!” Seifer shouted, his voice carrying into the wind. He started up the pass at a good clip, hoping that Sandavol could follow him. The route wasn’t as bad as Seifer had first expected and he made good progress through the deep snow, but he was already starting to get cold and he was afraid it would impair his ability to fight. He cast a glance over his shoulder and immediately saw that Sandavol was making his way just as fast as Seifer and seemed to be having less trouble with the cold.
“Of course, the old dude is as tough as nails,” Seifer muttered. He hoped that they could reach the Guardian Force site soon, they were already running down the clock and he wasn’t quite sure how powerful a Guardian Force might prove to be.
“The Guardian Force battle will be more difficult than any you have fought so far, but it will be no trouble for you and I.” Sandavol said from behind him, as if the old instructor had read his trainee’s mind. Seifer was already confident of victory when he heard a bloodthirsty roar and a trio of monsters approached them through the snow.
“Glacial Eyes, no problem,” Seifer sneered and then realized that he was up to his knees in snow. Sandavol laughed from behind him.
“High-level ones, and we’re fighting in snow. Yet you must attack. So do it.” The instructor said in his quiet but clear tones which somehow carried perfectly through the wind.
“Damnit, aren’t you going to help?” Seifer demanded, making a somewhat inexpert swing with his gunblade which completely missed the Glacial Eye.
“What was that?” Sandavol mocked. Seifer felt a fire begin to burn inside of him, he wasn’t going to be mocked, he wasn’t going to give his instructor anything to mock. He lunged forward, somehow agile despite the heavy snowfall and drove his gunblade through the center of the first monster, simultaneously depressing the trigger and delivering a devastating gunshot wound. The creature collapsed around his blade, dying already.
“Good!” Sandavol said, making a sudden move with his walking stick. A fireball of tremendous proportions shot from the tip and blasted a second Glacial Eye into oblivion. Seifer barely noticed, already advancing on the last Glacial Eye. The Eye made an unexpected maneuver and lunged at Seifer, a spike of ice on its tale driving into his shoulder. Seifer snarled rather than cried out in pain, a feral snarl of rage. Striking with unprecedented force, Seifer slashed the Glacial Eye, pulling the trigger in mid-arc, and blasting the Glacial Eye into oblivion.
“Good, very good.” Sandavol said, already moving past Seifer at a fast clip. Seifer hurried to catch up, somewhat impressed with his own skill.
It took them only a minute more to reach the end of the route, and they did so without further approach of monsters. Apparently the stories Seifer had heard about the high monster content and strength of the creatures were highly exaggerated.
“So where’s this Guardian Force?” Seifer wondered aloud, hoping that Sandavol might know something he didn’t.
“Around,” Sandavol shrugged. “Just wait.”
They didn’t have to wait long before what appeared to be a woman made of ice began to descend from above, directly between them.
“So, you wish to challenge me,” She said, her voice as cold as ice and clearly making it a statement, never a question. Seifer nodded, drawing his gunblade, but Sandavol made no move whatsoever.
“Shiva, the Ice Queen,” Sandavol said finally. “No trouble for a fighter such as yourself,” He told Seifer, which seemed to annoy Shiva greatly. She let out a cry and threw her arms out at Seifer and a wave of ice streaked towards him, knocking him off his feet and into the snow. Sandavol acted first, bringing up his staff and leveling it at Shiva, a huge fireball erupting from the tip and smashing into her. She let out a cry of pain, but then she made a whipping motion at the instructor, and a formerly invisible whip of ice lashed out at him. Sandavol was caught off guard, not able to see it very well, and was struck in the head. He collapsed backwards into the snow.
“Damn,” Seifer cursed loudly, regaining his feet, “She’s no pushover…” He muttered, contemplating his next move. He didn’t have long to think, as she lashed out at him with the whip next. Seifer dodged backwards and made a wild swing with his gunblade, hoping to cut the whip off. He missed, and felt the whip wrap around his foot and trip him up, he fell forward into the snow.
“Pathetic human,” Shiva hissed, but was immediately surprised to see Seifer on his feet again, charging at her with his gunblade. She laughed and a shield of ice began to form in front of her, but Seifer swing his gunblade with the same tremendous force he had unleashed before, shattering the ice barrier. He continued his relentless charge forward, driving his sword into Shiva’s unprotected body. This time there was no cry of pain, just a calm expression on her face as she put her hand in front of Seifer’s face and unleashed a blast of icy energy directly into him. Seifer fell back, breathing hard and aching all over from the effects of her potent magic.
She rose up, levitating in the air, and another wave of ice rushed at Seifer, running him back down into the snow even as he tried to muster the energy to leap over the ice. He was hurt, and he knew it, but somehow he felt more powerful than ever, more determined to destroy this foe. He rose painfully to his feet and glared at the Guardian Force.
“What are you going to do now, human?” She asked calmly, completely unafraid. Seifer felt his rage rise inside of him and he let out a primal bellow.
“ARRRGGH!!” He roared, dashing at her, flames starting to flicker on the surface of his blade. There was no logical explanation, he had had only limited contact with Guardian Forces and supposedly lacked the ability to use magic in battle, yet his gunblade blazed with an incredible fury.
“Wh…what is this?” Shiva wondered aloud, fear finally entering her voice. Seifer had already reached her though, it was too late for any defense, he executed a cross-slash with his fiery sword, searing the Ice Queen’s skin. Not stopping for anything, Seifer drew back and slammed his gunblade up to the hilt in Shiva’s stomach. The Ice Queen looked stricken, flames were boiling inside of her. She collapsed forward, and Seifer withdrew his blade.
“You’re done,” Seifer said confidently, “Give it up.”
“I…cannot believe…that I lost…to a human…” She said, her voice growing faint. As she fell forward into the snow, Seifer threw back his head and laughed in triumph, feeling more alive than he had ever felt before. It was his very pinnacle, standing there on that snowy mountain, his instructor just coming around behind him. He didn’t care about the time limit, or his wounds, or anything else, just the feeling of absolute power.
Seifer was the first student in the history of Balamb Garden to complete the South Pass exam in the 10-minute time limit. It filled him with pride and joy to have such a success under his belt. Finally, Seifer Almasy was better than the rest at something. He was on his way to becoming the strongest fighter ever to live, the strongest of all SeeDs. In the aftermath of the exam, he had finally met some friends, two trainees called Fujin and Raijin.
It was the happiest time of his life, secure in the knowledge that he had done something to elevate himself above all the rest. Plus with his friends, he had found other things to do with his life besides training relentlessly with his gunblade. He had almost totally forgotten about the Field Exam by the time the end of the week came, in Instructor Kavlin’s Homeroom.
“Today is the big day,” Seifer’s classroom instructor announced dryly, somehow managing to take all the interest out of a Field Exam. “SeeD has been asked to beat back a wave of powerful monsters currently attacking the city of Brettonia. If these monsters are not stopped soon, the city will be destroyed. The amount paid to us is truly a pittance, so only the candidates will be going. However, you are still expected to uphold the SeeD tradition of excellence in battle at all times. Any failure on your part will result in failing the year and being forced to re-take all classes and exams, and re-taking the Field Exam. Any severe failure on your part may be grounds for expulsion from Garden. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!” The class shouted, but Seifer tried to make his reply sound as dry as the teacher. There was no way in hell you could possibly drain all the energy from an ominous speech like that, yet Kavlin had somehow done it.
“You will head to Balamb on board a standard vehicle which you will requisition from the Quad. You will be split into teams of four, Seifer you will be the team leader of your row…” And that was where Seifer’s attention span cut off. The three other students in his row were able enough students, but Seifer had never seen them in practice. He considered his appointment and the glory he would get from bringing victory until Kavlin finished talking and all the students began to file out of the classroom. Seifer felt it was his personal duty to take up the rear, and took his time leaving. After all, there was no need to rush into combat, just a need to win it.
Seifer didn’t talk the whole way to their destination. He was overwhelmed with barely restrained excitement, although he managed to look cool in front of his subordinates. Subordinates, he was already thinking of his fellow candidates that way, absolutely certain that he would become a SeeD. A few hours after departure, the ship finally beached, but this time Seifer was the first one out, his gunblade in hand and ready to fight.
“Alright boys,” Seifer said, not really caring that one of his teammates was a girl. “Let’s go!” He shouted, dashing off down the beach towards the town. It was a small town, no wonder they hadn’t been able to pay SeeD’s full asking price. Seifer felt that he was as good as any SeeD though, and began to actively search for monsters.
“I don’t see anything Seifer,” One of his teammates complained. Seifer glared daggers at the offending subordinate before resuming his own search. After a few moments, Seifer was wondering if there were any monsters at all.
“…I don’t see anything either,” He admitted finally, sighing heavily. “What the hell is going on here?” Seifer was already moving off towards the town, determined to discover what had happened. His teammates followed, seeming a little reluctant to approach the town, there was some air of oppression that hung over all of them. Seifer could feel it too, but he chose to ignore it, determined to become SeeD at any price.
The team entered the town, Seifer disregarding the fact that none of the other teams were anywhere nearby. He looked around, but saw no signs of life.
“Anyone alive here?” He shouted, moving through the center street of the town. His teammates followed, extremely nervously. Without warning, monsters began to flood out from behind buildings all over the town. Seifer cursed and readied his blade, charging to meet the first of the monsters and hacking them apart with expertly honed skills. He forgot about his teammates in the heat of battle, completely intent on killing every monster that moved.
“Seifer, help!” Shouted one of his comrades, bringing Seifer’s attention to the three who were fighting a desperate battle against a small army of monsters. Seifer cursed again, much louder, as he was struck from behind by something that felt like a huge nail jamming into his back. Seifer staggered forward and then turned and dispatched the offending monster with a single thrust of his gunblade. He started towards his teammates, but he was already bleeding heavily and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.
“Seifer!” One last cry for help, and then an agonized scream as the first of his teammates went down. Seifer’s mind fogged, he vaguely saw other teams entering the town from the corner of his eyes, but he took another hit to his shoulder and felt his legs getting heavier. A monster appeared in his vision, and suddenly his head cleared completely, and he became focused on the battle once more.
“DIE!” Seifer roared, swinging his gunblade in a deadly arc. The monster was clever though, and leaped aside. Seifer roared again and swing low this time, the monster leaped over his blade, but Seifer halted in mid-arc and brought it up through the monster from below, pressing the trigger and blowing the monster away. Fighting like a demon with his newly-regained strength, Seifer cleaved three more monsters before taking another hit, an incredibly hard fist slamming into his back.
“DIE!!!” Seifer bellowed once more, swinging around, fire blazing on his sword like it had when he had fought Shiva. The blade seared the monster and ripped it apart all at once. Seifer wasn’t finished yet, he used his momentum to carry him forward and impale another monster on the flaming gunblade. Just like when he had fought Shiva. Shiva, Seifer suddenly realized, he had forgotten to junction. He had to laugh at himself then, in the middle of the heated battle, he was going to die because he had made a beginner’s mistake, the kind of thing Kavlin would always drone on about, the kind of thing Seifer had never listened to him lecture about. His strength starting to fail, Seifer attacked desperately, cleaving another monster apart before collapsing to his knees, coughing up blood. He slumped forward onto the ground and remembered no more.
When Seifer awoke in the infirmary at Balamb Garden, he didn’t care who had saved him. He didn’t care why, or how. He didn’t even care that he hurt like hell and would be confined to bed for weeks. The only thing that bothered Seifer was his failure, he was sure that he hadn’t become a SeeD, not after the horrible failure at Brettonia. The doctor had told him that monsters in the ocean had caused a tidal wave of incredible size…the town had been wiped off the face of the planet, and everyone had been killed. All three of his former squad mates were dead. Seifer had failed.
“But I am alive,” Seifer said thoughtfully, “I have failed once. But I will NEVER fail again.”