The day wore on and everything seemed to go back to normal, but Lina was careful to keep a close watch on her hands at all times in case they became transparent again. She felt weaker and more tired than ever. Her students kept asking her during class if she was doing alright--afraid that she might be sick or deathly ill as her pale visage could have told anyone. She would just smile and shake her head lightly, fighting off tears when looking up at Zell's empty seat in the back of the classroom. At night, she slept uneasily, feeling a familiar rush of cold pain all over her body.
Knowing as you are, from a different time and place, I am concerned for your well being. Have you fallen in love? Is this the case? In all of my teachings, I have not prepared you for anything like this, but I warn you--you must be careful. If the one you give your heart to does not at any point give equal in return, your life force could be in great peril!
But what did it mean? If the on you give your heart to does not at any point give equal in return, your life force could be in great peril! She still loved Zell. More than anything--but what was this strange force that'd completely enraptured him and taken his consciousness away from him. Whatever it was seemed to be eating away at her also.
The next morning, Sadie took Zell out again--but this time for a walk along the beach shores by Bluemoon Bay. Sadie finally had him under her grasp and she reassured herself that she wouldn't let go of him--no, not in a million years.
Lina woke up with a racked pain searing up her side. She instinctively looked down at herself and screamed in horror. Her body was going completely transparent. She tried to call for help, but found that the thin sheets were now crushing her, compressing her lungs and limiting her breath. She took in as much air as her lungs would let in then wiggled herself free from the heavy blankets. She had never imagined that the day would come when her own blankets could suffocate her.
She opened the door in a rush and ran for the hallway. She saw Seifer leaning against the wall on the other side of the hallway and in a frustrated rush, she charged towards him and knocked right into him. He did not fall back from the blow--in fact, he hadn't even felt it. He looked around him--nope, nothing but walls, but he was so certain, he'd seen just a glimpse of something pass right by. He was quiet for only a minute then turned around to see Lina kneeling on the floor on her knees in a pleading sort of way. "Lina! What the hell is up with you? Are you alright?"
Seifer leaned down and picked her up--she was impossibly light, almost as if she wasn't there at all.
"Seifer... I...I think...I'm disappearing," she looked up at him with tears in her eyes, but those tears only leaked past her cheeks and onto his sleeve. He was shocked, appalled, amazed, awed--just about everything at once. Through the thin traces of her arms he could see the intricate designs on the tile floor. What was this phenomenon?
At that point, Sadie reached over for Zell's hand.
Lina screamed, clasping her forehead in her palms like the world's agony had been inflicted on her. Seifer, not exactly knowing what to do, quickly ran her back into her room and laid her down on the bed, careful to pull the sheets aside. "I think you need rest," he told her and she looked up at him with her sad eyes--a gesture so innocent he felt like a criminal.
"Seifer... this is the only time you've ever been nice to me... Thank you," Lina smiled weakly. He couldn't think of anything in response, but to smile back--maybe, if she saw one smiling face, she would feel somewhat better--just one supportive gesture. She closed her eyes and Seifer immediately frowned. Somehow, he felt guilty.