She stared off, while Zell continued his card game with another Garden cadet. The time was playing on her. Since their recovery from the battle at Caraways mansion, against the sorceress Elynia, there had been a lack of things to do. Now that what was left of there group were all SeeDs, all they could do is wait around for their next mission.

It had been a relief to find the Headmaster at Caraways mansion tied and locked up. They had been glad to find him. Garden was back to normal, with a small lack of SeeDs, and without Xu. It was calm in the Garden, and to quiet for the liking of Zell, to incomplete for Squall, to unemotional for Quistis.

Squall had recovered amazingly fast from some of the wounds he had, though, he was still bandaged from wounds still healing. He had gone melancholic. Quistis could tell by looking at him that he related everything around him with death. He never said so, though. In fact, since the battle, he hadn't said a word.

Zell felt lost, almost. There was no Selphie, Irvine, or Rinoa. He kept complaining about being "stuck with the serious people." He had said it on numerous occasions but always backed off when Quistis was around.

She felt sympathy for him, even if she was one of the "serious" people he talked about. He was one of the not-down-to-earth types, and everyone in their group, even remotely, like him was gone now. He had taken to the library lately, though, and he seemed to be much more entertained than, Quistis or Squall. Lately, Squall stayed in the Training Center or his dormitory.

She sighed and looked out at the fields of the small island of Balamb.

{ I understand... }

'What?' Quistis froze. The voice had been quiet, and truthful and it had come from within her. 'What was that?' She wondered.

{ ...There will be many losses ... The end of your journey isn't anywhere near you. You must simply put the past behind you. Mourn the deaths of your friends, but live life to its fullest while you can... Some aren't as lucky as to survive battling two sorceresses... You and your friend have a great achievement. }

'Who are you?' Quistis closed her eyes and focused on the voice, 'I don't understand...'

{ You mustn't waste your life on grief! You will always be sad for there loss, but you must concentrate on other things! ... You know who I am, Quistis... I mean you no harm, this time. I regret what I've done.. My sincerest apologies, I cannot express my own sorrow. } The voice stopped in a rush with the feeling of sadness. { I would understand, if you choose to shut me out of your mind, but I only speak for your welfare. I shouldn't be forgiven, I understand if you hate me... I understand.}

Quistis was frozen, 'Elynia...' a cold chill ran up her spine, 'What do you want?'

{ I ask nothing, I only give. I've given you my power to do as you please, I've given you my advice to avoid the sorrow within you. }

'....' Quistis took a deep breath, 'I have no reason to listen to a thing you say, and I may have your powers but I will never use them.'

{ I know your kind well. Your curiosity will get the best of you. I should hope you don't try to act as I or Ultimecia... You can't realize how wrong you were until its all over... }

'I'm not nearly as dumb as that! I have no intention on anything of that sort.'

{ I like you, Quistis. Your stubborn, but wise enough to get away with it. }

'I am not stubborn, witch!'

{Now, there's no need for that. Calling me a witch? Now you simply sound like a child. Another reason I like you, your amusing. }

'Why am I even listening to you?' Quistis sighed and stared out across the island to the sea not far away, letting the wind blow against her irritated face, 'You've done this to me, and now you tell me to just get over it! Maybe I'll simply grieve forever.'

{ And that you will, and regret it, if you continue this child like attitude of yours-' }

'Well, at least I have something left of my childhood.' Quistis's frown deepened, she couldn't remember the orphanage well, it was all getting hazier by the day.

{ Sorrow of your childhood.. It's behind you when you when you think not of it, and on better things. That is how you must look at the recent deaths of your friends, as the past. It will always be there, and in this eternal ocean of life, you may never get over it. But you must not-no-you CANNOT base your very existence on it! }

'Why do you bother? You killed them! I have lost three friends because of you, and now I'm stuck with you in my mind until I die?'

{ I did not kill Caraway's daughter- }

'You're a horrible liar, you know?'

{ She died to help your friend Squall.. She let go. It was such a Nobel thing she did, but I cannot help there. I meant not for her death. It was an opposite to my plan, I only needed to use her body. }

'And now are you going to control what I do?' The blond SeeD rolled her eyes.

{ No.. It is not in my power. I am simply, say... a second conscience to you? Though, I understand if you don't listen ... but it's at your own fault.}

Quistis frowned deeply realizing it was hopeless. If she would be stuck like this for the rest of her life, than she might as well drop the coldness towards Elynia, even if she was responsible for the deaths of Selphie, Irvine, and Rinoa. 'I can try.'

Elynia emitted a feeling of warmth and happiness. { Now, go pass on the word to the others. That little hardheaded kid- }

'Zell?' Quistis stifled a small laugh.

{ Yeah, that's the one. He seems to be doing ok, but your friend Squall ... Do something about him, please? }

'You sound desperate?' She paused to ponder Elynia's words.

{ You're driving me insane with this unending stream of worries about him! It's always, 'Is he feeling ok?' or ' Will he ever get over this tragic event?' and even 'Should I do something to help him?' Just tell him to move on.... }

This time Quistis laughed, and rose from the bench. "I'll see you later, Zell." She began to head towards the central complex of the large garden.

Zell looked up from his card game with Nida, "Eh? Ok, see you later."

She headed off to find Squall.

Squall leaned against a rock in the training center, sick of fighting Grats. He rested his gunblade across his knees and sighed as he leaned back. With nothing left to do, he was called to begin thinking.. again.

Selphie and Irvine seemed to be in half the memories he bothered to keep. But Rinoa.. only in a few. He hadn't known Rinoa that long, but he had enjoyed knowing her, more than he thought. Now that she wasn't around, everything would go back to normal? It was reasonable. He hadn't know any of them before the day he had become a SeeD. Or had he?

No matter how much he had been around Selphie and Irvine, since he had known them, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had known them before. The past days had been quiet. Too quiet. Dreamless sleep, at night, and keeping his mouth shut during the day. It was beyond all boredom he had ever experienced. There was no Selphie to run around talking about upcoming festivals and ceremonies, and there was no Irvine chasing after any of the female students.

There was also no Rinoa to cheer anyone up. It was just as it was before.. 'But it isn't!' There was no Seifer, no classes, just this. He found himself anxious for his next mission, whatever it was.

The sound of footsteps broke him out of his trance. Quistis sat beside him leaning against the rock, as well. "Bored?"

Squall just glanced at her and began to tap his fingers on his gunblade.

"Listen, Squall.. Don't become too melancholic, there is nothing we can do about it, now." She removed her glasses, which she had rarely wore since her demotion from an Instructor. She hardened her stare, hoping for a response.

Squall sighed and ran his gloved fingers along the smooth surface of his weapon.

"You can't waste your life on it, it's in the past, there is nothing we can do about it now. It's a long time until our lives are over, and you have to find something else to do, than sit around and think, you'll drive everyone crazy!" She kept her stare, though he only looked at his gunblade.

He gave no response.

Quistis reached out and took his hand, hoping he would at least look at her, it worked. "Elynia.. she's not going to let me live unless you at least begin talking again." She frowned and opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

�-Squall Leonhart, Quistis Trepe, and Zell Dincht, report to Headmaster Cid in the 3rd floor office immediately- I repeat...-�

Squall was up in a flash, and was walking away. The blond SeeD stared after him, hoping he had at least understood what she had said. He caught her off guard when he turned around, "Well, are you coming, or do we have to carry you?"

She smiled, "And if I'm carried, they might drop me and I'll die." She said making a joke.

Squall rolled his eyes and kept walking, her close behind. The entered the hall way and met Zell near the elevator. They entered the office to find Cid with a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry about what happened to Selphie, Irvine, and Caraway's daughter-"

"Rinoa." Squall corrected the man quickly and took his place, looking casually expressionless.

Quistis chuckled, to herself.

"Yes, Ms. Heartilly. I would understand if you three are not up to another mission-"

"Yes we are!" Zell jumped, "So, what do we have to do?"

Cid smiled, "Well..." He began his explanation of their new mission, though Quistis was drawn away by the voice in her mind. Elynia.

{ Look at them... You can tell they're glad for the new mission. You reached your friend, Squall. Can't you tell? } The voice was soft, { This eternal existence is only beginning. }

Quistis frowned, 'I don't understand, why you keep talking about 'eternal existence' and such. Is there something coming?'

{ Life ... it lasts much longer than you think. To long for you to think this is the end. Live everyday like it's the last, but never think it so... }

'Yes,' The blond SeeD waited for the answer.

{ It's an everlasting end, this life you live. It will go on for much longer than you could imagine. The end is nowhere near; this is only another starting point. }

A smile danced on Quistis's lips, watching Zell excited about something to do, and Squall looking relieved of some unwelcomed thinking. Everything would go on, not as well as before, but it could always get better. 'We do have all the time we need...' she thought, 'After all... Even for those with short lives it will always be an everlasting end.'