Chapter 33:

Tylor stood in the Infirmary to keep Squall company. Rinoa had gone into a coma after the battle. Dr. Kadowaki had done multiple tests on her but everything came out negative. She said that Rinoa was perfectly health and that she had no idea what caused her to go into a coma. Every since they returned to Balamb Garden, Squall hadn’t left her side.

The P.A. turned on and it was Quistis’ voice. “Squall, Tylor, can you hear me? Head to Edea’s house at once. The Sorceress Edea… Matron is back at the orphanage.”

Tylor looked back to Squall and said, “Come on, we have to go.” Squall nodded and got out of his chair. Together they walked out of the Infirmary and down the hall. Squall had always been a quiet person. It hardly seemed possible, but walking with him down the hall, he seemed deadly silent. Tylor put a hand on his shoulder and asked, “You holding up all right?”

Squall pushed Tylor’s hand away. “I don’t want to talk about it.” They walked the rest of the way in silence.

The orphanage was little more than a broken down building. Half of the building was missing and the decorative pillars had begun to collapse. At one time Edea’s house would have been white, but time had taken its toll on the now grey orphanage.

The inside of the house was just as bad. Half of the wall had collapsed, showing the vast ocean over the horizon. All sorts of rubble littered the floor so that whenever they took a step they had to be careful not to step on something that could puncture their foot.

Cid walked in through what used to be the back door before the wall had fallen down. “…Many thanks for your hard work.” He started laughing softly. “Are you angry with me? I don’t blame you. All I do is talk big, but in times of trouble, I run away. I was in a no-win situation… Your defeat would be the end of you. Your victory would mean losing my wife. I just couldn’t bear… to face either outcome. I don’t care about myself… But… please forgive Edea…” He turned and said, “She’s waiting for you all.” They followed Cid out the back entrance.

Edea was gazing out into the ocean when they approached. She turned to face them. “My children… Please forgive me…” Her face looked different. The look in her eyes was soft, like the warmth of a mother’s eyes when looking at her children. In a way, that’s probably what they all believed, that Edea was their mother. “I raised you as my own, yet still, I…”

Squall took a step forward. “We feel the same way.”

Zell: “We fought you, too, knowing you were out Matron.”

Irvine: “Matron…”

Quistis: “It was the only choice we had left.”

Selphie: “We’re sorry…”

Edea nodded. “You are SeeDs. You cannot back out of battle, I know. You were magnificent.” She smiled when she looked at Tylor. “You must be Tylor.” He nodded. “Cid has told me all about you. You’ve done so much for Balamb Garden.”

“It’s the only home I have.” Tylor said, voice soft and solemn.

“Don’t give up. I’m sure you will find your answers.” She turned to face everyone now. “However, it is not over yet. At anytime, I may…” She shook her head. “I have been possessed all this time. I was at the mercy of Sorceress Ultimecia. She is a sorceress from the future, many generations ahead of our time. Ultimecia’s objective is to find Ellone. She is after Ellone’s mysterious power. I knew Ellone very well. Ultimecia is a very fearful sorceress. Her heart is filled with anger and hate. There was no way I was going to let Ultimecia get a hold of Ellone. The only thing I could do was to surrender my soul to Ultimecia and lose control of my mind. That was the only way I could save Ellone. And the end result… Well, you all know. The sorceress that appeared in Galbadia was in fact Ultimecia… inside my shell… She has yet to achieve her goal. I believe she may use my body again to carry out her plans. I plan to make a stand this time, but… if that does not work… I may have to face you in battle once again. I ask for your support, young SeeDs.” Edea closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was thinking. “Have you all heard of Sorceress Adel before?”

Zell said, “She was the ruler of Esthar during the Sorceress War. No one knows of her whereabouts… That’s what I learned.”

Edea nodded. “The Galbadians must have thought I was the sorceress who received Adel’s powers. However, that is not the case. I received the powers of the previous sorceress at the age of 5.”

“I don’t quite understand…” Irvine said.

“I believe Sorceress Adel is still alive, and that Ultimecia released my body in order to use the body of Adel. Sorceress Adel is the type who will not hesitate to use her powers for her own selfish desires. Should Ultimecia from the future bequeath her anger and hatred unto Adel, their power would be unimaginable…”

Squall began to walk away. Zell called out to him. “Squall, I’m sure Matron has much more to say!”

Squall shook his head and turned back to Edea. “Matron, do you know what’s wrong with Rinoa?”

“Rinoa is the girl in light blue? I remember vaguely… What happened to her?”

Squall sighed and put his hand on his forehead. Tylor answered for him. “Rinoa was with use when we fought you. Something happened after the battle and now she’s in a coma.”

Edea shook her head slowly. “Forgive me. I don’t think I can be of any help.”

“…It’s all right,” Squall said.

“Squall, I understand how you feel,” Cid said. “But you are in a position of leadership. The other students at Garden have a right to know about the outcome of the battle and what’s to come. Take whatever information you can get here, back to Garden. Remember, it wasn’t just Rinoa. Everyone fought.”

“I understand… But…”

“But, but, but… That isn’t something a leader should say.”

Squall sighed and punched the wall.

Tylor sighed, there was nothing he could do to help Squall with what he was going through. “Please continue, Matron.”

“Ultimecia’s objective is to find Ellone. Ellone’s mysterious power… Sending one’s consciousness back into the past.”

“So, Ultimecia wants to use Ellone’s power, right?” Quistis asked.

“I get it,” Selphie said, “Ultimecia wants to send her consciousness from this period further into the past.”

“What’s she going to do in the past?” Irvine asked.

“Time compression,” Edea said.

“Time compression?”

“It’s time magic. Past, present, and future get compressed.”

“What’s going to happen to the world?” Zell asked, “Why do something like that?”

“I can’t even imagine a world where time is compressed!” Selphie said.

Zell turned to Squall. “Yo, Squall!” He had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.

“You’re not even listening!” Selphie said.

Squall turned and said, “So basically, all we have to do is prevent Ultimecia from getting a hold of Ellone.”

“Yes, but…” Quistis said.

“We’re going back to Garden. We have to let everyone know.”

“Hey, we’re worried about Rinoa too, y’know?” Irvine said.

Squall lashed out his arm at the air. “Then why don’t you…!?” He shook his head. “Forget it.” They all followed Squall out of the orphanage.

Tylor was almost in the back entrance when Edea called out to him. “Tylor, a moment if you will.”

Tylor turned and face Edea and Cid. “Yes?”

“While Ultimecia was in control of my body I learned things about her and her past. Do you know a woman named Elena?”

Tylor was silent for a moment. “…Yes.”

“A long time ago, Elena and Ultimecia were once the same person. In order to gain power she split herself into two people. Ultimecia is the incarnation of the darkness of her previous self, while Elena is the incarnation of light. I’m afraid I don’t know much more than that. I hope this information helps in some way.”

Tylor looked at the ground for a moment. Elena and Ultimecia were once the same person. Tylor was supposedly Elena’s knight while Xemnas was Ultimecia’s. Was it the same with Tylor and Xemnas? Were they once a single being, too? The more he thought about it, the more it made his head hurt.

He shook his head and said, “Thank you.” He left before she could say anything else. The information did answer some of Tylor’s questions, but they brought up even more unanswered questions.