The First Step Towards Uncovering the Truth

[Estrella Divina]

Estrella fled through the forest, the glow of her burning city fading behind her. She ran and ran, with no end in sight. Through the trees, she kept her gaze forward, too scared to look back, fearing someone might be chasing her. It was nighttime. Her trusted bodyguard and knight didn't give her a chance to stay and fight. As the last princess and warrior of her fallen kingdom, she had no idea who had attacked them.


Guilt washed over her, realizing she had left her people behind. The knight and king had insisted it was no use for her to die as well. "I should have stayed and fought alongside them. Why did they force me to leave? Who did this to us?" she sighed deeply. Too exhausted to continue, she rested against a tree, pressing her forearm against her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

[Seifer Almasy]

With Fujin and Raijin at his side, Seifer Almasy trudged along a grimy road, searching for a trace of civilization, perhaps a village. He had no idea where he was or why he had been brought there. This world was entirely different from the one he knew. He demanded answers. Hearing his two comrades bicker about whose fault it was that they were no longer in their world, Seifer smirked. "Squall probably had something to do with it," he mused, deciding not to let it bother him.


It had been several years since he last faced his rival or anyone else from his world, having taken on mercenary jobs to survive. After being banished from Balamb, he had found his own way to endure and hone his skills.Older and less impulsive, Seifer Almasy still clung to his romantic dream. Years ago, his pursuit had been twisted and manipulated by sorceresses, but he had learned and grown from those experiences. His squad remained loyal, standing by his side. This time, he was determined to become a true knight.


"This new world has new possibilities, and I'm all for it," Seifer smirked arrogantly. Spotting a small town in the distance, he decided to find a place to crash for the night.


"Village," Fujin pointed out to Seifer.


"Hey, I think there's a town over there, ya know," Raijin pointed out to Seifer.


"We're going there, and you're coming with me. Move it!" Seifer barked pointing his gunblade Hyperion at it, his tone fierce and rebellious.

[Estrella Divina]

The darkness made it impossible to see in the heart of the woodland. She kept her backside against a tree, seeking to regain her strength. With her weapon in hand, she had no idea if anyone was following her. She was so concerned that she may lead the killer to another location. Before she could find another tribe to gather, she needed to make sure no one was following her.


If they destroyed her realm, it was because they sought to remove all of her people, including her. She was the last of her lineage, and she couldn't allow everyone else's sacrifices go to waste.Because the darkness made it difficult for her to travel and tiredness set in, she rested a little longer. It would be daytime soon, and she didn't want to get into a fight along the way. She decided it was safer to stay put, so she relocated herself to a position where no one could sneak up on her. She was well-hidden behind a tree, holding a rifle.


"Who did this and why?" She kept questioning herself, feeling as if her entire existence was collapsing around her. For the first time in her life, she felt alone.

[Seifer Almasy]

Seifer Almasy confidently led his crew toward the neighboring town, his gunblade safely stowed away. As they approached, the lights illuminated the night, revealing the presence of townsfolk still active. Upon reaching the town gate, two soldiers, appearing more like volunteers, approached with rifles in hand, barring their entry. It seemed the town was dealing with issues of thieves and monsters.


Seifer halted, unfazed by the sight of their weapons. He met their gaze with a steely confidence, fully aware that he could easily disarm them if they dared to challenge him.


"Problem?" Fujin's direct question prompted Seifer to take charge, raising his hand to signal silence.


"We're travelers seeking a place to rest for the night," he explained calmly to the two soldiers, hoping to diffuse any tension. Despite his outward composure, Seifer remained vigilant, ready to defend himself if the situation escalated. The soldiers exchanged a glance, one of them named Auron, his gaze assessing the travelers carefully.


Raijin bit back his words, fearing another kick from Fujin, but his readiness for battle was evident. Seifer remained composed, waiting for the soldiers to come to a decision. Suddenly, a voice broke the tension. The mayor approached, laying a reassuring hand on their shoulders. "They can come in. No harm intended. They can rest tonight," he declared.


The soldiers relaxed, grateful for the mayor's intervention. "Apologies, just following orders," Auron explained.


Seifer waved it off. "We'll be gone by dawn," he assured them brashly deciding it was best not to kill the two chicken wusses at the gate.


The mayor grinned at the trio of travelers. It was a rare occurrence to have visitors, and when they did, it often spelled trouble—thieves, monsters, and assorted headaches. Seifer scanned the buildings, mentally noting which ones needed tearing down.


"I'm Cedric Stormfield, mayor of this place. We've been dealing with a lot of trouble lately—thugs, thieves, you name it. We don't have much of a military presence, despite plenty of young ones eager to enlist. But we don't want untrained kids fighting. I'll take you to our tavern," he offered, leading the way. He decided to keep the town's other problems to himself, but there was something about the tall man and his comrades that instilled confidence in him, especially in the way he handled his two companions without flinching.


Seifer brushed off the town's issues as inconsequential. They'd be out of there by dawn, after all. "Atheria Haven," he muttered, eyeing the sign by the mayor's office. He recalled a smaller one at the entrance as well, but it held no sway over his plans.


"The tavern owner's name is Darius. He'll help you find some rooms and food if you're hungry. I have some business to tend to." Cedric left them at the foot of the tavern before heading to the town hall.

[Estrella Divina]

Estrella intended to spend the night beneath the tree. Yet, her restless body refused to settle into sleep. With her hand resting on her gun, she remained alert, scanning the forest for any lurking monsters or enemies.


"I'll depart at dawn. There must be a town nearby," she murmured to herself, retrieving her last ration from her pocket. It was a gift from her bodyguard, along with his military attire, aiding her escape from the inferno that consumed her kingdom. Trying to push aside the memories, she sighed, acknowledging the long journey ahead. "I'm alone," she whispered, the realization sinking in that no one else had survived or followed her.


She nibbled on her ration, feeling her hunger pains intensify. In the quiet of the night, every ache seemed magnified. Despite the darkness surrounding her, she couldn't resist stealing a glance at the sky, marveling at the beauty of the moon and stars peeking through the trees.


Despite her best efforts to remain awake, sleep overtook her. Unaware, she drifted into slumber, the ration slipping from her hand and landing softly on the ground as exhaustion claimed her.

[Seifer Almasy]

Seifer swaggered up to the front desk, his two comrades trailing behind him. As he reached the counter, he demanded two rooms. "Two rooms," he stated firmly, one for himself to be alone and the other for his companions. He preferred solitude to gather his thoughts and strategize his next move.


Accepting the keys, he passed one to Fujin, who nodded her thanks. Returning the gesture, he let them retire to their room before heading to his own. Ascending a staircase, he located his room and pushed the door open. Shedding his trench coat, he placed his Gunblade beside the bed and settled himself on the edge, ready to contemplate his next move.


After showering, Seifer returned to his room, flopping onto the bed with his hands clasped behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Who's behind all this?" he pondered, entertaining the thought that it might be Squall and his squad, finally deciding to rid themselves of him out of fear.


The one thing his rival squad had that he didn't was the opportunity to serve as someone's knight. But thoughts of Rinoa invaded his mind, and he quickly dismissed her, finding her presence both infuriating and bothersome. She had moved on from him all too easily, latching onto Squall. What she failed to grasp was that he was the superior one. Squall was nothing compared to him.


He couldn't help but notice the town's vulnerability, observing the dilapidated buildings and the feeble guards, barely out of their teens. A smirk played on his lips at the thought. If he desired to bring this town to its knees, not one of them possessed the strength to challenge him. His ego knew no bounds, matched only by his mastery of the Gunblade. He was prepared to do whatever it took to vanquish his adversaries, a conviction that solidified his belief in his superiority over Squall. Sure, Squall may have passed the SEED Test, but that didn't diminish Seifer's own leadership abilities or his capability to take charge. He completed missions effortlessly, finding them almost too easy for someone of his caliber.


Seifer's efforts to aid Rinoa had resulted in his banishment from Balamb Garden. But he felt no remorse for it, opting to forge his own path and leave his past behind. As he lounged on the bed, staring at the ceiling, a sense of restlessness crept over him. "This is dull," he grumbled inwardly, shifting onto his side. Drifting into sleep, several hours slipped away until a sudden loud noise shattered the silence. Outside, the panicked cries of the townsfolk echoed, calling for assistance.

[Estrella Divina]

She fell asleep against the tree. As she slept, memories of the past 12 hours resurfaced, filling her mind with images of flames and burning buildings. Trapped in her nightmare, she clutched the blades of grass with her hand. She couldn’t discern who was behind the attack, but she knew it was someone powerful. She remembered her knights and bodyguards speaking of an unstoppable monster. Who was it? Why did this happen? The forest night was calm and serene, despite being filled with monsters, but her nightmares were chaotic.


"Don't..." she mumbled in her sleep. Before she could see the shadowy figure in her dream, she jolted awake, frantically searching for any sign of the enemy. But there was no one—only her. Grasping her pistol, she exhaled deeply, reminding herself she needed to find a neighboring town for food and water.

[Seifer Almasy]

Atheria Haven was under siege by a gang of thieves. Seifer watched from the window as the bandits overwhelmed the townspeople, swiftly taking out the two inept guards at the gate. The thieves dumped their bodies unceremoniously, turning their weapons on the frightened citizens. The mayor, recalling the recent arrivals, rushed into the hotel and pounded frantically on Seifer's door.


Seifer, already anticipating the situation, donned his long trench coat and opened the door. He didn't need to ask what was wrong; the panic in Cedric's eyes and the screams from outside made it clear. Cedric, panting heavily with his hands on his knees, pleaded, "Please, our townspeople need your help. You look like warriors."


Seifer considered for a moment, hearing the desperation in Cedric's voice. Deciding to leave Raijin and Fujin out of it since they were fast asleep, he nodded. "I'll handle it since you gave us a place to stay," he agreed, ready to return the favor and not because he cared. He was itching for a fight anyway. It had been dull since they arrived.

[Estrella Divina]

It was still dark outside, but she could sense dawn approaching. Rising to her feet, the fallen princess holstered her pistol and continued onward.

She moved through the forest, ready to face any monster or foe that crossed her path. Her mission was to find the nearest town where she could rest and regroup.

"Why did he send me this way?" she wondered, not understanding why her loyal knight had urged her north just before he died. He had given her his uniform; their knights weren't clad in traditional metal armor.



Her world was futuristic and modern, with black buildings and a beautiful skyline.It was a city-like kingdom that had been burned to ashes. Tearing at the thought, she shook her head to rid herself of the traumatic thoughts. If she wanted to survive and avenge her people, she had to continue forward.

[Seifer Almasy]

Seifer strolled casually to the scene where a group of six thieves had their weapons trained on the townspeople, demanding food, water, money, and other valuables. The cowards hid their faces behind masks. Noting their arsenal, he saw they mostly carried machine guns, but one thug stood out—a towering figure, around eight feet tall, wielding a massive axe. Seifer maneuvered through the crowd, keeping a low profile.

"Time to pay your taxes! Give us everything you got, or we'll kill you all!" the leader barked.



Mayor Cedric trailed Seifer, checking on his townspeople instead. Women were crying, and some men picked up weapons, ready to defend themselves. One of them shouted defiantly, "Hell no! We already paid you last week. I won't let you take anything else."

Rushing at the thieves, the leader coldly aimed his machine gun and fired, the rounds cutting the man down. The crowd screamed in horror as he fell dead. Seifer, irritated by the interruption, stepped forward, pushing through the crowd. This was his moment to take charge—exactly what he excelled at. He had been itching for a fight, and these scumbags were the perfect targets for his fury.

Holding his large Gunblade Hyperion to the side, Seifer smirked confidently. The townspeople stared at him with a mix of awe and fear. "Hey, don't go. You'll get shot down," one of them shouted.

Maintaining his smirk, Seifer waved off the concern. "These freaks are no threat to me. I'll give you one chance to turn around and walk away."



The leader of the thieves chuckled as he spotted Seifer stepping out from the crowd, weapon in hand. He wasn't familiar with a Gunblade. "Giving us a chance? Look at this guy—a hero. Heroes get shot down," the thief sneered, gesturing to the man they had just killed.

Seifer's smirk only grew more arrogant. He could see the thief was nothing but a useless fool.

[Estrella Divina]

Estrella walked along a long, winding dirt path. In the distance, she saw the sun beginning to rise. It was a new day, bringing her closer to discovering the truth about the monster who destroyed her kingdom. This determination kept her moving forward, even as she felt her world crumbling. Every part of her wanted to break down and cry, but she couldn't not yet. Strangely, there were no monsters in sight, which was unusual in the middle of the forest. Eventually, she exited the forest and saw only an open grass field ahead.


image upload

"Woah, what happened here?" she murmured, noticing several dead monsters on the roadside. They appeared to have been killed a few hours earlier, with gunshot wounds. Unsure, she kept her hand near her holster to prepare for a fight. There were no monsters nearby, but she kept moving forward, remaining vigilant.

"It looks like there was a group of them too," she thought, noticing motorcycle tracks and footsteps along the road. If a group had done this, she had to be ready for anything.

Estrella didn’t like seeing the monsters piled up in groups. It was even worse noticing that they had been stripped of their tusks and other valuable parts.

"Was it a group of thieves? Those are the worst." she wondered. Thieves were common throughout the land, especially in groups, and they couldn’t be trusted. She remembered how her kingdom's military dealt with them, either imprisoning them or casting them out. Her father had always told her to stay clear of them, recalling their violent nature. She'd heed his advice.

[Seifer Almasy]

The thief couldn't help but brag about himself, as typical for freaks like him. Taking a step forward, he jabbed a thumb into his chest, making a show of his name. "May I remind you that my name is Locke Shadowblade. These are my loyal subjects." His comrades bowed out of respect, almost mocking the townspeople for not doing the same. Laughing together, Seifer kept his Gunblade at his side, exuding arrogance and showing little concern for them as a threat. "I suggest you leave," he warned them.

Locke stopped laughing and turned towards him, somewhat bothered by his arrogance. "Don't you hear well? We're about to mow down this whole town and you're telling us to leave? Not a chance. We're here for our goods," he reminded, his friends laughing. "Get a load of this guy," they jeered, finding the trench coat man quite annoying. Aiming their weapons at Seifer, they planned to take him out like the ones they had already killed.

In the background, the mayor observed the scene. "He is surprisingly calm. He must be some kind of soldier or mercenary," he thought. Seifer ran a hand through his hair, keeping a smirk on his face. Raising his Gunblade and resting it on his shoulder, he prepared to strike.

Seifer didn't even bother getting serious in his stance. These clowns were no threat to him. Spotting an opening, the gunblade specialist aimed his hand at the group and fired a red fireball, setting one of them ablaze. The thief on fire fell to the ground attempting to put out the flames, but the others were too distracted. As their screams of agony filled the air, Seifer closed the distance with a swift lunge, swinging his gunblade and pulling the trigger. The resulting vibration sent a shockwave, knocking the others to the ground. With a single-handed swing, he sliced Locke's arm clean off. Before Locke could even register what had happened, the townspeople looked on in awe. The mayor was utterly blown away.

[Estrella Divina]

Estrella grew wary of her situation. She continued walking with her hand on her pistol, ready to fight if necessary. In the distance, along the hills, she finally spotted a town. "My luck is starting to change," she remarked with a half-tired smile. There wasn't much to smile about these days. It would take her a few hours to reach the town, but she had finally found a place to rest and recuperate.

As she walked, there were no monsters to fight—the group of thieves had taken care of them. However, she did see a group of Chocobos running in the distance. She loved Chocobos. Waving at them, they ran past her, paying little mind. "I'd like to ride a one day," she said, trying to stay optimistic.

[Seifer Almasy]

Mayor Cedric watched, almost applauding at the sight. The thieves were handled swiftly. As the group of freaks fumbled around to extinguish the flames, Seifer aimed the sharp end of his gunblade at the leader's neck, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and menace.

"What was your name again? Locke? Surrender, or I'll make sure I aim for your head next."

None of Locke's comrades stuck around, and a few of them couldn't, having been burned alive. Locke grimaced in agony, clutching what was left of his arm.

"How could you do this to me, you bastard!" he yelled, humiliated by how quickly their whole group was defeated by one man with a gunblade. "I'll make sure you pay for this," he vowed.

Seifer drew his blade, its glinting edge a menacing promise of swift justice to anyone foolish enough to oppose him. With a graceful flourish, he held it aloft, his stance exuding a lethal combination of confidence and aggression. Those who dared to challenge him would soon learn the folly of their defiance, as Seifer stood ready to unleash the full force of his wrath upon them.

Seifer, finding it almost amusing, grinned with a dangerous charm. "Is that a no?" He prepared to chop off another limb, the intensity in his eyes making it clear he wouldn't hesitate.

Mayor Cedric approached me, his gratitude evident as he thanked us for coming to their aid. "We can banish him," he declared, his words met with applause from the townsfolk. "Thank you, sir," they chorused, relief washing over them like a tidal wave.

Amidst the jubilation, one spirited kid couldn't contain his excitement. "That was so badass. I want to be like that guy. He's cool!" His exclamation brought a rare moment of joy to the somber atmosphere, and he couldn't help but smirk at the flattery.

But as he looked upon the defeated foe, he felt a twinge of pity. He was a pathetic fool, unworthy of my blade. With a dismissive gesture, I let the remaining fighters take him away. "It was too easy," He remarked, casting a glance at Mayor Cedric and the townspeople. They had gotten their spectacle, and he had indulged them.

The Mayor's gaze lingered on Locke as he was dragged away by the police soldiers, a grim satisfaction coloring his expression. Shifting his attention to me, he offered another round of gratitude. "That was some fighting. Are you some kind of soldier? I could use that kind of muscle around here. We get too many of those kinds of thieves around these parts," he remarked, his tone a blend of admiration and desperation.

His recommendation hung in the air, a subtle invitation for me  to join his cause. But Seifer was no mere hired muscle, to be used at the whim of others. He met his gaze with a cool stare, weighing my options carefully before responding.

[Estrella Divina]

Estrella was nearing the village, watching as it slowly came into view. She guessed she would arrive by afternoon or evening and counted the hours as they passed. Her journey had been long, leaving behind her burned kingdom, dear friends, and family. Her feet ached, and her body bore cuts and bruises, clear signs of her struggle to survive. Thankfully, brave knights had protected her from greater harm. She didn't know who was responsible for the attack, only that they were formidable. Whether she could face them alone was uncertain.

Estrella was a skilled sharpshooter, but she doubted if her weapon would be strong enough. As she walked, she noticed more slain monsters by the roadside.

"Those thieves really are a menace," she murmured, hoping they wouldn't be in the village ahead.