The boisterous laughter and conversation of her fellow cadets was giving Elma a headache. She leaned into the closest thing she could find, which was Tyhlan's shoulder. The blonde girl started in surprise for a moment before relaxing, gazing contemplatively at the bright bonfire in front of them. The stars and moon shone down on the camp, and smoke from the fire unfurled, dissipating into the night sky. The training for the day was over, and Lucil's trainees sat around lazily, swapping stories and jokes. "I wonder how the captain is doing," Clasko murmured quietly, tugging at his bootlaces. Kehni scoffed at his side and shrugged, chuckling under his breath. "Ah, don't worry! A bunch of stupid Sinspawn aren't gonna take the captain down! Isn't that right, everyone?" The other cadets cheered in agreement, and Elma rubbed her temples, frowning in frustration. There was something she had forgotten the night before, but she couldn't think of it. Tyhlan glanced down at her, her wide blue eyes flickering worriedly. "You okay, Elma? Maybe you should head to bed, you know?" Elma glanced up into the other girl's swirled irises, and suddenly remembered what she had forgotten. She shot up abruptly, and ran off, mumbling an apology to the others under her breath. Tyhlan blinked in surprise, and Kehni shook his head in confusion, running his fingers through his hair. "What's up with her?" -------------- Elma searched around the area she and Tyhlan had been in the night before, to no avail. The sphere was no where to be found. She had no idea how her superiors would treat Tyhlan if they knew she was half Al Bhed, and after hearing the story the blonde girl had told her yesterday, she had no desire to find out. She sat down on a rock and slumped her shoulders. Some friend she was. At worst, Elma herself would probably be kicked out of the Knighthood for keeping the secret, and who knew what they would do to poor Tyhlan? "What am I gonna do?" "What do you mean?" another voice quietly asked. Elma glanced up quickly and noticed a tall, pale, dark-haired young woman standing a short distance away from her. By the look of her uniform, she was a rank above Elma, and she held the small sphere in one of her slender hands. "Do you mean this?" she remarked absently. She moved to flick the device on, but Elma lunged for it, trying in vain to wrench it from the woman's surprisingly strong grip. "Give it back!" The other girl pushed Elma away, straightening out her uniform shirt. "Don't be so pushy," she said. "All you have to do is ask." Elma bit the inside of her mouth, suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry. Can I have it back?" "What's on it?" the girl asked, glancing at it quizzically. "I mean, you seem to want it back very much; there has to be something important on it." Elma resisted the urge to tell the girl it was none of her business. "It's just something personal." "I see. Alright then." The girl threw the sphere to Elma, who caught it easily. "See you around then." "Elma!" Tyhlan and Clasko made their way to her, both out of breath. Tyhlan scuttled over to Elma's side first, barely sparing the newcomer a passing glance. "We were worried about you. Why'd you take off like that?" Clasko nodded in agreement. "You shouldn't run off like that, Elma," he admonished gently. "Remember what the captain said about fiends, that they can attack anywhere. And you don't have your sword either!" Elma nodded her head, trying not to laugh at Clasko's over protectiveness, and hid the sphere behind her back, moving to follow her fellow cadets back to the main camp. Clasko glanced over at the strange girl, and stopped in his tracks, nudging Elma's shoulder gently to get her attention. "Who's that?" "Huh? Oh...I...didn't ask her name." Elma frowned and turned toward the older girl. "Um, I'm Elma," she waved a hand to Clasko and Tyhlan in turn, "And these are my friends, Clasko and Tyhlan. What's your name?" "Reia." The girl muttered. Her gaze settled on Tyhlan. "A pleasure to meet you." She didn't move to glance at the others however, and stared intently at Tyhlan, until the blonde girl started to fidget. "Is there, um....something wrong?" Tyhlan asked, grinning warily. "You're just...very pretty," Reia remarked offhandedly. Her cool, light gray eyes flickered strangely for a moment. "You have unusual eyes. I don't think I've seen anything like it before." "Oh, er, um...thank you, I guess?" Tyhlan stammered, flushing in embarrassment. She grabbed Clasko and Elma and started to tug them along with her. "Nice meeting you! But we have to go and, uh, yeah..." When she was sure the girl was out of earshot, she pulled Elma close and whispered, "Where'd you find that one? She's creepy..." "I think so too," Clasko mumbled. Elma shrugged helplessly, but couldn't help but feel a small flicker of panic. The girl had mentioned Tyhlan's eyes...what if she told? "I guess she was kinda weird, huh?" she asked, hoping the other two couldn't hear the frantic edge in her voice. She would have to find that girl again tomorrow. There was...no way she could let anything bad happen, not after Tyhlan had confided in her. She would feel betrayed, all because of Elma's own carelessness. She wondered what the captain would say about the situation she had gotten herself into, and imagined her frowning at her in disapproval, just as she had at the beginning of her training when she had fallen behind to assist Clasko. She winced. "You alright, Elma?" Tyhlan asked. Elma bit her lip and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm just fine!" ---------------- The next day was a flurry of activity, and Elma was finding it difficult to slip away. Word had come in that the fighting at Mi'hen had ceased, and everyone was working hard to prepare for the wounded. White mages and alchemists had been called in to assist, and Elma had been scolded by a mage when she had tried to leave. "Don't you have work to do, girl?" he had said to her. "If you don't, go get supplies for me, understand?" She was now stuck getting medicinal supplies, and she groaned in frustration, angrily organizing the miscellaneous items. "What's that now girl? Calm down! No need to rush!" the mage said sharply. "What's your name?" he asked. "Elma," she responded, trying not to scream when a roll of gauze loosened. She set to work rolling it back up, grumbling under her breath. "So impatient," the man said, sighing. "You remind me of my daughter. She's quite the hellion. I bet you've got a good head on your shoulders though, not like mine. Doesn't want to study in the temples to follow the family line. Probably stealing, I know that's what she's doing. Doesn't even write anymore..." he frowned in disgust. "Stupid girl." He paused for a moment, and then finally introduced himself. "Where are my manners, I'm--" "Hey! Elma!" Tyhlan rushed into the tent, her face flushed from running. "Guess what?" Elma glanced up, startled. "W-what? What is it?" Tyhlan trotted over to her and helped her to her feet, dragging her to the tent's exit. "I'll show you! Come on!" The mage cleared his throat. "Young lady," he began, giving Elma a pointed look. Elma sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Sorry Tyhlan, but whatever it is has to wait. I have...work to do." "Huh? Oh, come on, old man! This is really important! Can you please let Elma come with me? We'll be back...hey, I'll even help if you let us go!" The man frowned, glancing at the two young women. "...Alright then," he said, after some hesitation, "but you better keep good on your promise, girl." "Right, sure! Come on, Elma!" --------------- After Tyhlan had dragged her back to the main camp, Elma finally decided to ask what the rush was all about. "What's the big deal, Tyhlan? Why are you pulling me around so fast?" Tyhlan grabbed Elma's shoulders and pointed her straight ahead. "Look who's back." Elma stared ahead, and her eyes widened in surprise. "Captain..." she whispered. Lucil was standing a short distance away, near a group of soldiers and chocobos, issuing orders and directing the wounded to mages. She looked exhausted however, her armor was splattered with dry blood, and scratches were etched across her face. When she noticed her two cadets, she smiled weakly and walked toward them, and Elma winced when she noticed she was limping. "Cadets," Lucil greeted evenly. The two girls saluted, but Elma couldn't help but ask about Lucil's injuries. "Are you alright, Captain?" "I'm quite alright, cadet," Lucil muttered, closing her eyes for a moment. "I could be a lot worse. Nothing a potion won't fix," she added, when she noticed Tyhlan glancing at her wounded leg. "And you two? Have you been faring well? The trainer, has he taught you anything?" "Uh, we're fine captain," Tyhlan answered, "but...with all due respect ma'am, you probably should go get your leg looked at. My mom told me once that you can lose limbs from Sinspawn poison. Err, we can help you to a tent, ma'am." "You , I suppose. I am rather tired," Lucil admitted, glancing from one girl to the other. Elma nodded quickly and turned. "You can follow me, captain. I was assisting a mage earlier; he can probably fix you up, good as new!" "Yeah," Tyhlan agreed, and then groaned, shaking her head. "Ah, geez, we still have to help that guy, don't we? Me and my big mouth..." Elma shrugged helplessly. "It's no big deal. He's not really that bad." "Yeah, I guess..." Lucil glanced from one girl to the other in slight confusion. "I beg your pardon?" "Uh, nothing captain," Tyhlan said quickly. "We should get you to that mage!" ----------------- The two girls, Lucil realized, got along quite well. That girl, Tyhlan...she had only seen blonde hair on occasion, but the young lady's eyes were off...no matter. Not many mainlanders had that particular hair color. She was most likely an Al Bhed. She seemed to be the more aggressive of the two, weaving through battle formations with a seamless, sharp power. She'd be a good warrior soon enough, a fine Knight, Al Bhed or no. Her name meant dancer; Lucil pushed that information in the back of her head. It had to account for something, but she wouldn't pry. She knew better than anyone how deeply people held their secrets. The other...Elma, was a bit different. Dark where Tyhlan was fair, and quieter, a bit more serious. Their closeness had, for a moment, led Lucil to believe that their relationship was a bit more personal than she first thought, but watching them now, Tyhlan whispering something while Elma cast nervous, uneasy smiles over her shoulder, made Lucil think differently. She had never been one for companionship herself, preferring instead to find her comfort in solitude, but the two girls moved with each other well, they complimented each other in a way that made Lucil a bit envious. She would have to put them together in training procedure from now on. They worked off one another, one would start a conversation, and the other would move into it seamlessly, until they were either both laughing or smiling. Elma was different, something unusual in the ranks. Young, for a Knight. The shorter haircut framed her face well, and she was a good fighter, an excellent student. Her eyes were bright, but solemn, at times, serious. She recalled the sphere the girl had sent her with warmth. She was so uneasy, and innocent, and... "Are you alright, captain?" Tyhlan's voice broke her reverie. Both of the young women stared at her, Tyhlan curiously, Elma worriedly. She nodded. "I'm quite alright, cadet," she murmured. "No need to worry. Carry on." Tyhlan seemed satisfied with that, but Elma still glanced over her shoulder from time to time. The girl was so intent on checking on Lucil, that she tripped over her feet. Lucil moved, ready to grab her, but Tyhlan was already there, gripping her arm tightly, and helping her back up. "Geez, watch where you're going, Elma!" the blonde joked good-naturedly, grinning brightly and shaking her head. Elma flushed and glanced down, mumbling under her breath. Lucil frowned, noticing her hand was still caught grasping in mid-air, and dropped it quickly, hoping neither girl noticed. They reached the mage without any trouble, and Elma performed the prayer, but Tyhlan only turned her head away. Elma whispered something in a low hiss to the other girl, but she did not budge. Her eyes were cold, and dark with anger. Lucil took this all in, and did not ask any questions. She performed the prayer to Elma, even as her sore arms protested, and saluted Tyhlan. The girl's eyes flickered curiously, but she gave Lucil a watery grin and returned the salute. They were good girls, Lucil thought. She was lucky to have them both in her squad. Before she entered the tent, she noted the way Tyhlan's posture slowly relaxed, saw Elma murmur comforting words, and smiled, weakly. They were good for each other too. She hoped Yevon would be with them both, for as long as they traversed the realm of the living. ------------------- A/N: I'd like to give thanks to the absolutely beautiful song, Valse De La Lune, from Wolf's Rain for helping me finish this chapter. I thought I had hit a wall. God bless Yoko Kanno. We'll be back to Elma and her worrying next chapter. Elma's so cute. Lucil returns! Lucil's my favorite; I enjoy writing her lines. Chapters come easier with her around. She should have been gone longer, but this IS an Elma/Lucil fic. =P Catch the reference to a previous Final Fantasy in this chapter, and you get a chocobo plushie. On a humorous note, a friend of mine noted that Elma has a 'slight Southern accent' in the American version of X, and I immediately got a mental image of Elma and Lucil fighting those "damn Yankees" in the Civil War. I'm weird, I know.
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