*It started innocently. It started with healing someone.*

*She had cured an elderly man, nearly dead, wounded by an astray Galbadian bullet.*

*"Hopeless", they had said. ("Not for me!")*

*It was then, when she realized what good she could do. What powers she held.*

*How easy it was suddenly...*

The raven haired sorceress stood at the window in the Timber Mayor Residence, watching the people down below. She was almost, but not quite, contented. It was a rather quiet day, like it should be. People going about their daily work. Occasionally guards were patrolling the streets, wearing grey now instead of blue.

Everything was calm indeed. At least, it looked like it on the surface, but she knew better than that. Underneath, trouble was still brewing, just like it had over the last 23 years.

But she was confident. Soon every disturbance would be evened out. In a way it was her town, after all.

Timber. The town, she had taken under her protective wings. The town, which had been scattered into dozens of factions. The town, she had reunited.

*She had always cared for others, for the people of Timber. Perhaps, even a little bit too much.*

*And now, when things didn't go the way she wanted ...*

*... ("But only then. Promised!") she added a little bit pressure.*

*to convince people they did wrong. ("Can't they see?")*

*Ridding herself of potential cause for uproars. Clearing out a nest of trouble makers. ("To help other people, really!")*

After Galbadia had first lost its president, its sorceress and then its dictator, chaos reigned. Political battles for the Galbadian leadership followed. Everyone fought about filling the power vacuum.

It should have been the ideal chance for Timber gain sovereignty, to uncouple from the regime. But everything went downhill from there. When the common foe had disappeared. When resistance factions, formerly operating in silent coexistence, started going against each other.

That is, until she came.

They were like unruly children. And like one would do with a child, she gave them what they needed. Discipline and a strict hand. ("... and saved them. For sure!")

The sorceress shifted her gaze. From her viewpoint she could see the Timber Maniacs building. Publisher of a wide assortment of magazines, that were read over the whole world. Occasionally telling the stories (she dictated) about her kind-hearted and righteous leadership. They were the only source of information for the citizens of Timber, now that 'Anarchist Monthly' ("Telling lies!") did not exist anymore.

A clock chimed nearby, bringing her mind back to the business matters at hand. And inevitably towards the one person, who had supported her along her way (fulfilling a contract) and helped accomplishing her wishes. Soon, she would send him for another task. Nothing he hadn't done before. This time, it was the removal of a woman, suspected of smuggling weapons into her town and keeping resistance members hidden (like herself often enough). She would order, and he would obey, no hesitation and no questions asked. At least not anymore.

She glanced over to her left, where her dark haired knight was standing (not looking at her).

The man who had kept his promise.

Who stood by her side.

("At the other end of the room.")