A/N: Sorry. Another half year has passed between chapters. Why? Because life happens.

Changed how I did emphasis. Let me know what you think. Easier to read? Harder?

Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit, OCs are used with permission of their original authors.

Cheat Codes: On

Chapter 008

Access Game Script Cheat: On

Location: Cosmo Canyon, Cosmo Canyon Area

Date and Time: Aug 16, [ µ ] εуλ 2000, Mid Morning

Our trip to Cosmo Canyon has been a small adventure that I'd rather not repeat. From the ambush, to the mine collapse, to the Marlboro; the whole fiasco was just a giant load. I don't even know what it's a load of, but the lowest level of suck it could be is bullshit.

That's just the bare minimum.

I really do dread the next decade on this planet.

Climbing the dusty, winding road up to Cosmo Canyon, the sight of the observatory is a welcome sign. Both Maya and I are tired and in need of a good night's sleep. A bath would also be wonderful.

The guard doesn't stop us when we walk into red dirt town. He just nods and lets us through. I guess he was told to expect us.

Unfortunately for me, I'm now curious about the lifestyle of those in Cosmo Canyon. Nanaki's people are Native American-like, but the humans of Cosmo Canyon could really go either way. This is based off of their clothing, which seems to consist of leathers and hides. The style and colors are different though, as the leggings and shoes are tanned dark brown and many wear wristbands that are dyed red. Additionally, the stitching is finer, though that could just be due to having access to better materials.

The layout of the town is such that we have to pass the ever burning flame of the Cosmo Candle to reach the inn. It sits in the middle of a raised ring of packed earth, placed as close to the center of town as it can be. Considering the fact that the town itself is built into the peak of a mountain and half the buildings are caves carved out of said mountain, I'm not certain how exact the centering is.

Especially since the mountain peak has been made very plateau-like in the construction process. It isn't a very symmetrical shape. Actually, is really isn't symmetrical at all. Perhaps I should-

"No one likes you! Go away, you freak! Freak! You're a freak!" a group of boys' voices shout. I check my surroundings for them, just to make sure they aren't insulting me. After all, I don't know how Cosmo Canyon has been affected by the war and I look like a Wutaian.

I don't see them immediately, but I can hear the boys from around the large rocks. Somehow. The boys are on the other side of the Candle, hidden from the front of town by the large amount of stone that the town itself is built into.

I pass the tempting sign for Pub Scarlet, which is also the inn if I'm remembering correctly, to go check it out. Under normal circumstances I would ignore it, but Cosmo Canyon is far too important a place to let event flags go untripped. If nothing else, it may become important later.

Hooray for RPG logic.

"Kae," Maya tugs on my shirt quietly, "The inn is that way."

"I know, Maya. But... I thought I heard something back that way. Gotta make sure we won't be attacked in our sleep."

Rounding the corner, I see a group of six boys jeering at a... lizard person?

The lizard person is a child as well, though I can't tell the age exactly. In fact, I don't know if its a boy or girl. I can tell, however, that he or she is being bullied for being different.

That's just not cool.

"Hey boys," I say casually with a vaguely threating undertone, "Mind tellin' me what you think you're doin'?"

"Uh, nothing!" the one closest to me says, clearly lying.

"Uh huh. I don't believe you. Git," I nod back toward the Cosmo Candle.

They don't move.

"Or I'll tell Elder Bugenhagen and he'll tell your parents," I finish before they can say anything else.

The threat of parental involvement and a stern glare gets the boys to leave quickly.

As soon as they're gone, I turn to the remaining kid. Specifically, the humanoid lizard child. The kid has green scales and orange eyes, and looks sort of familiar.

"Hey kid, you got a name?" I ask, more surly than I intend. Then again, I'm hungry, tired, and have gritty red sand in places that sand should not be. I don't really know what I intend.

I really should have just ignored this whole deal and gone to bed.

"... Jethro," he says after a long moment. Probably because I'm a stranger and he was deciding how much to trust me. I mean, he doesn't look like he's been treated well.

A lizard boy named Jethro... that sounds familiar. Where I have heard of that before? Oh, right. There's a self-insert fanfic with a lizardman Jethro. That's... probably not a coincidence.

I perform a Structural Analysis on him. I quickly decide this was a bad idea because my mind is flooded with information I can't use. I know approximately jack crap about 'Argonian' physiology, so I actually can't do a proper diagnosis.

Not that I could in the first place, since I'm not a qualified doctor.

Despite this guy being yet another Elder Scrolls reference in a Final Fantasy world, I decide that he's probably okay. His HP is at max and he isn't suffering any status effects or penalties to his ability scores. His strength score is pretty close to mine, though.

That's... both impressive and depressing. He's about as strong as the average civilian Gaian adult. As a child. When I had to spend six months training with Zangan to get slightly above that.

"Nice to meetcha. I'm Kae Lin Zheng," I extend my hand in greeting, shaking off any feelings of inadequacy. Thankfully, Jethro takes it and we shake. He's a little awkward about it, and that's sad for all sorts of reasons.

"Hi! I'm Maya!" the blonde eight year old steps out from behind me to offer her hand as well. The resulting handshake is even more awkward than the one he had with me. It lightens the mood, at least.

I almost ask about his last name and if he's ever heard of the planet Earth, but I don't because we just met and it would be rude to pry. Additionally, if he is a trans-reality being like myself, then he wouldn't tell me anything anyway. After all, I wasn't in the game. I would just be an NPC in his eyes.

Unless he read a Final Fantasy VII self-insert written by an alternate universe me.

"So, you got a place to call home, Jethro?" I ask instead of following that brain bending train of thought.

"Yeah," he replies cautiously.

"Awesome. Can you get there safely?"

Jethro just nods, so I decide to let him go without supervision. Is that irresponsible of me? Maybe. Probably. He's out of sight by the time my tired self thinks of this, though.

Welp, too late now. I have to watch over Maya, so no more running around today. ... I should probably ease my conscience before I sleep to avoid nightmares.

I make sure to watch the boys near the Cosmo Candle for a few minutes to ensure they don't follow the lizard boy home. Sometimes kids are tricky like that. Once ten minutes pass and nothing happens, I guide a yawning Maya to the inn so we can get some real sleep.

Finally.

Location: Shildra Inn, Cosmo Canyon

Date and Time: Aug 16, [ µ ] εуλ 2000, Late Evening

I wake up to find Maya using my stomach as a pillow. I don't remember us going to sleep in the same bed, so I'm pretty sure she did this while I was asleep. Seeing as she's still asleep and I'm still somewhat tired, I almost decide to just go back to sleep. However, I'm wearing far too much clothing for how hot it is in Cosmo Canyon. Additionally, I'm hungry.

Unfortunately, Maya isn't a heavy sleeper. My attempts to get out from under her without waking her fail. She blinks a few times to clear her vision and get a hold of her surroundings.

"Good morning, Kae~~!" she says, yawning widely in the middle of my name. I smile and chuckle, ruffling her hair. I think, if only for a moment, that she may actually be unlawfully adorable.

Ah! So cute!

"Good morning-" I return the greeting, but then I start coughing. Looks like it's one of those days where my allergies kick my ass. Which is a little odd, since I haven't had any allergies since I got here.

"Sorry about tha-" I try to say, but I start coughing again. It seems I can't stop. Thankfully I carry cough drops around out of habit.

"Are you okay?" Maya worries, getting off me as I turn so I can reach beside the bed for my bag.

Still coughing, I manage to pull out my box of cough drops with practiced ease. I quickly pop one in my mouth and tuck it between my cheek and teeth so it doesn't accidentally slip down my throat. As embarrassing as it is, that can happen when you're coughing hard and put something in your mouth.

I wait for my coughing to die down, and it does. Only because I start choking. On nothing.

I suppose it's the sudden surprise of not being able to breathe, but I start to panic. In my panic, I foolishly try to loosen the invisible, non-existent thing around my throat that is making me choke. Just like in every story ever, it doesn't do jack.

"Kae!"

Maya attempts to be helpful by pulling me up, getting behind me, and performing the Heimlich maneuver. Unfortunately, all it does is hurt. I suppose that's to be expected when you apply any amount of SOLDIER strength directly to the diaphragm.

I manage to pry her off long enough to grab my notebook and pen from my bag. From my new position at the foot of the bed, I scrawl out a short message for the girl. It may have been a little sloppy, because it took Maya a full ten seconds to read the simple message of 'get Zangan.'

The door doesn't stay closed any longer than that. Maya rushes out screaming for Zangan and help. I think I may have heard a call for Jane in there somewhere, but she's outside by that point and the sound doesn't quite reach me.

Speaking of sounds not reaching me, the seemingly ever present background music has quieted to the point that I can barely hear it over my own choking. Even so, I'm able to tell that the inn's background music that I found to be easily ignored is replaced with the far more memorable drowning timer music from Sonic the Hedgehog. It should go without saying, not that I can say much of anything right now, that it doesn't really help me stay calm.

I'm choking to death and I don't know why.

My vision is starting to blur when that thought occurs to me. I'm not terribly pleased that this is what kills me. I survived a Golem, a SOLDIER ambush, a mine colapse, Zangan's training, Zangan's training... Zangan's training...

God dammit! Of all the stupid bullshit...!

I almost go on a rant, but I suppress desire. I've been out of air for a while now, and I'm only just now realizing this might count a 'status effect.' I reach for the Heal materia in my deck box, only to remember that it's on the nightstand.

I try to sit up, but my body feels so heavy and sluggish that I fail. I'm certain I can do it though, so I try again. Lack of air is making it all the harder to stay conscious now that I'm moving.

I succeed this time, pulling myself into a sitting position by leaning against the bed. I give myself five seconds of rest before attempting to raise my arm high enough to get my materia off the nightstand. My hand makes it up to the deckbox, but my fingers slip when I try to grab it and clumsily knock it over.

I decide to screw it and just knock the box off the nightstand. Towards myself, of course. It's kind of the point. That is, secure the box and potential magical healing. Which I have. Secured it, that is.

My vision is starting to fade in and out now, but I need to at least try to cure myself. I have the means, now the only issue is using it. I'm a little distracted trying to suppress my body's natural reactions to not being able to breathe, like choking, sluggishness, and loss of consciousness.

I could cast Cure3 when my body was half broken! I can cast Esuna now, dammit! I'm not going to die here! Not like this!

Mustering my will, I cast Esuna from my materia. For a moment, maybe half a moment, I feel relieved. Despite my increasingly hazy mind, I managed to cast Esuna and cure myself.

Except I didn't. I still can't breathe. Esuna didn't work.

Location: Shildra Inn, Cosmo Canyon

Date and Time: Aug ?, [ µ ] εуλ 2000, ?

I wake up to a punch in the gut. Not just anyone's punch. Zangan's punch, though I'm certain he held back or I'd not be waking up at all.

I roll onto my side, clutching past my stomach and gasping for air. It takes me a moment, but I realize that that means I can breathe again. I try to say something to the effect of, "Hooray! I'm alive!"

I'm not certain I succeeded, given that my attempt is occurring while I'm sucking down air.

Blinking past the tears of pain and spots in my eyes, I see a familiar combat boot. Following it up, I see a familiar orange-yellow dress. I also get a half-peek up the dress and see some very nice legs.

"I warned you," Zangan's grizzled voice reprimands me. I roll onto my back so I can see him. He's standing next to me, opposite of Jane. Maya is clinging to Jane's skirt.

Good job, Maya.

"Warned me? About what?" I ask once my voicebox agrees to function. I am honestly confused. He's warned me about a lot of things, and I don't remember doing any of them before I started suffocating.

"Lying," he replies before I can really think on it.

"I... don't recall lying," I say cautiously, making sure I'm being honest before I finish my sentence. I also take this time to get off the floor and onto the bed. While I can sleep on the floor if need be, I'd rather not sit on it if I don't have to.

"Maya told me what happened. You said 'good morning' even though you knew it was evening. You know what they call intentally giving false information? Lying," the martial arts master grunts at me. It's pretty clear he's miffed that I didn't listen.

Now might be a bad time to mention that I'm not actually Sacaean.

"... What? That's... That's f-riggin' bullcrap!" I barely stop myself from swearing in front of a child, "That...! I don't even...! I...! Grahh!"

Lips pursed, I flip an imaginary table to my right. I then flip an imaginary table to my left. I take a calming breath because I really need one.

It would be bad luck for me to flip my shit more than three times in one day.

"Okay, you didn't say it would be this bad," I heatedly point out to Zangan.

I suppose I shouldn't really be mad. I nearly died against the Golem and I was fine with that. What's so different about this? He had warned me beforehand, after all.

Still, something about this whole thing makes me upset and I don't know why.

"You're a first generation Sacaean. Things are different," Zangan huffs. It's a huff that's familiar to me by now. The kind he does when refusing to admit that he doesn't or didn't know something.

"First gen?" I think aloud.

First gen implies that people in my situation became the first Sacaeans. Does this mean that all dimension hoppers are Sacaean? How... no, why would this happen?

"Bugenhagen will explain," Zangan interrupts my thinking before I can get too caught up in it. "If you can stand, let's go to his place. The sooner we finish the sooner we can begin training."

I'm not sure I like the sound of that. Of course I want to take up Tellah on his offer of the Advanced Draw, but I don't know what crazy things Zangan's going to put me through and call 'training.' It makes me nervous.

"All right, fine," I stand and follow him out the door. We exit the in, pass the Cosmo Candle and start climbing some stairs. It's after the first flight of them that I realize that Jane and Maya are coming as well.

Huh. I wonder why? Does this have something to do with them as well? Oh well. If it's any of my business, I'll hear about it.

We go into a cavern which is surprisingly well lit considering they only have a spotlight and wall lantern in here. We pass the Tiger Lily arms shop, go up more stairs, leave the cave, go up morestairs, enter a different cave that has some machinery in it, and climb a ladder. I'd have liked to take a look at the machines holding the door tot he Cave of the Gi shut, but Zangan looks like he's in a hurry.

If I didn't know Bugenhagen could levitate, I would wonder how the hell he gets his groceries.

Bugenhagen, Tellah, and Zangan are shooting each other meaningful glances within seconds of entering. Zangan strides over to join them around a wooden longtable, though he doesn't sit since there are only four stools. The one closest to Bugenhagen, and the refrigerator, is being taken up by a pre-teen girl with brown hair and green eyes.

I can already tell that this isn't going to be fun for me. Just a gut feeling, but I can usually trust my gut. Something about what I'm about to hear is going to make me sigh and bury my face in my hands.

Jane, Maya, and I take a seat. I sit myself at the opposite corner from the brown haired girl so I can have a clear view of the elders. Jane sits next to me for whatever reason, and Maya takes the other side. Then again, maybe Jane just thought the barrel to my left was more comfortable looking than the stools.

"So, mind tell me why you two were so late?" Jane asks casually. A single glance into her eyes- ha;goh aorhf F***! She's terrifying!- has me dripping in cold sweat. Not literally, but it definitely feels like the room's temperature dropped about sixty degrees.

"Mind telling me why there were SOLDIERs waiting to ambush us?" I avoid the question, sounding far more accusatory than I intend. Then again, I'm pretty irritated. Plus, trying to intimidate me for answers for things I couldn't help is really rude.

Jane frowns. She opens her mouth to respond to my provocation but is cut off by Zangan. The lady gives him a look similar to the one she gave me, but the old man ignores it.

"Kae Lin, just explain. We all would like to know what happened to you after the SOLDIER ambush. And Jane, please calm yourself. Kae is suffering from bad Chi. He isn't quite himself right now."

I almost object to not being in my right mind, but the logical part of me realizes that he's probably right. He hasn't been wrong so far, even when I've ignored him. Plus, 'bad' Chi usually entails an excess of emotion. I'm kind of in the mood to pick a fight, but is it the normal mood or one created by 'bad' Chi?

"... Fine. We got lost in the mines," I recount grouchily, "Fought some SOLDIERs. Fight made the mine collapse. Escaped, ended up in the Mushroom Forest. Marlboro happened, but we got away. Now we're here."

Tellah frowns. He opens his mouth to ask for more information but is cut off by Zangan. The archmage shoots him a rather pointed look, but the old monster ignores it.

"Thank you, Kae. Now, I'm going to heal you by purifying and rebalancing your Chi. We'll explain everything after that."

My temper flares for some reason, but at the moment I don't particularly care. I briefly try to wrestle it down, realizing that I'm being completely irrational. I give up shortly after, impatience overruling logic.

"I'd rather you tell me what's going on first," I let my temper speak for me. "Unless you've got something to hide?"

Bugenhagen frowns. He opens his mouth to reprimand me, but Zangan cuts him off. The village elder gives the old man in a red cape a stern glance, but it is ignored.

I'm starting to notice a pattern here.

"Bugenhagen will do most of explaining anyway so we can do both at the same time. Now sit still, keep quiet, and save your questions for afterward."

I open my mouth to object since I'll never remember all my questions, but-

"If you can't remember, take notes. That's why you have notebooks in your bag. Now quit delaying," Zangan frowns. I almost power through and make some complaint anyway. Fortunately, an instinctual fear of being punched into trees grants me enough clarity to keep my stupid mouth shut.

I grab a pencil and notepad from my bag as suggested.

Zangan walks behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders. I don't feel any different, but maybe it takes time. If there is something wrong with me in the first place.

"Well then," Bugenhagen coughs to get our attention, "Let's begin.

More than two thousand years ago, there were many civilized species. Three of these civilizations looked remarkably like each other. These were the Lemurians, the Cetra, and the Humans."

The note taking begins.

"The Cetra, mostly known as 'Ancients' these days, were a nomadic people with a strong connection to the Planet, also known as Gaia or Mother Earth. They were well known for being able to listen to, speak with, and channel the Lifestream of the Planet. It was one of their defining features. Their skill in magic was unparalleled, and they often sent spellswords known as Jedi Knights out to help those who could not help themselves."

I give up taking notes. I mean, when Jedi are introduced into the setting like that, what the hell am I supposed to do? There's no way I can write quickly enough to get all my questions down.

"The Lemurians lived atop their floating ocean cities, each one a citadel of refined and elegant culture. They had a strong connection to Sister Ocean, and it is said that the mighty Leviathan was their guardian. Though the people of the land knew them best for their water magic, their magical ability was not anything extraordinary. No, it was their capacity for sneaky maneuvering both in battle and in politics that put them above the rest."

I wonder if I should watch out for the Submariner or Aquaman, then. Depending on what kind of Lemuria it is there may be an Atlantis. Knowing this Planet, it'll become a problem eventually if there is.

"The Cetra, the nomads who spoke to the Planet. The Lemurians, the shadows who lived in the deep. The two of them did not necessarily hate each other, but rarely did a century pass without a war between the two. In many an era, there would be two or three comparatively minor wars. The major ones were often the marking of an era's end."

Are the Lemurians this world's equivilant of Sith then? Not quite as bad if neither side hates the other, I suppose. Why are they always fighting then?

"No one knows why they fought, and so frequently. The most popular theory is Holy War, as the Lemurians worshiped the Sister Ocean and the Cetra worshiped Mother Earth. In the end, I suppose it really doesn't matter. War has never been a good thing."

Calling Gaia Mother Earth has been done since forever ago because it is mostly of the Earth element. Why, then, did the Lemurians call the oceans Sister Ocean instead of Sister Water? Why not Mother Ocean, or Sister Sea? That would have at least rolled off the tongue better. Then again, they probably had their own language. Maybe it sounded better in whatever that was.

"Then there were the humans. Just as they are today, the normal human was weak. Though each individual has amazing potential, few ever tapped into it fully. Most never had the time. The on and off wars between the Cetran Jedi and the Lemurian Sith would wipe out any caught in the crossfire."

I resist the urge to sigh and rub my temples.

So the Lemurians are Sith. Wonderful. Well, this planet's screwed. I better prep my palate for those Dark Side cookies. Better than what Jenova's cooked up.

"About two-thousand fifty years ago, the fourth civilization came to be. Arriving from the sky in an armada of metal vessels, the people of Sacae landed in what is now the Midgar Area. They were extremely varied, and often spoke differing languages from each other. Still, they had all banded together for their trip here."

I see where this is going. Here's where the Sacaeans enter history. Now I only have to wait for the revelation that they're from another reality.

"They were looking for a new world to call home. Their old one had been warred on until all the soil in the world was covered in bone, the seas were the coppery red of blood, and the clouds in the sky were made of ash. They claimed to have only barely escaped the one they called 'The Enemy.'"

I listen carefully now. After all, if the original Sacaeans were fleeing from Earth, my Earth, to other realities in order to escape this foe, then any information about it could be useful.

"Seeking to take advantage of these newcomers and their strange technologies, Lemuria extended their hand in an offer to help. Seeking to prevent these unknown people from being taken advantage of, the Cetra also extended their hand. For the next fifty years, the people of Sacae played both sides in order to secure themselves. During this time, they had to deal with their own structure of government and culture at the same time as dealing with the native powers. Suffice to say, they were vulnerable."

That makes sense to me. From what Zangan's taught me about the various Sacaean tribes, most of them are named after and have a culture reminiscent of Earth countries. I guess that would make me from the United States tribe, or maybe the American tribe. I'll have to ask him.

"Still, it was the longest lasting peace that anyone could remember. No one could find reason to destroy it. The Cetra Spoke with Mother Earth and were told that the Sacaeans belonged to Father Sky as they belonged to her. The Lemurians read the ocean shadows and found much the same.

Trade flourished, populations boomed, and there were many good times all around. Lemurians and the Cetra even entered a ceasefire agreement. After fifty years of hardship, the Sacaeans were finally able to relax into their new life.

Then The Enemy came. Forcing herself through the fires lit by Father Sky's wrath, the Sorceress crashed her crude vessel into the Grand Temple of the Cetra. Those that survived were subjected to her mind magics to believe her one of them. Using her powers of copying, she even transformed herself to better hide amongst them."

That's probably Jenova. So they thought she was a sorceress, huh? Well, alien mind control would probably seem like that.

"The Sorceress tricked the Cetra and used them to wage war on the Lemurian Sith, the only ones who knew enough about deception to see through her falsehoods. For thirty days and thirty nights, it was a war that had been waged countless times over the course of the Planet's history. Then the Sorceress joined the battle.

Two sets of feathered wings, one as pure as fresh snow and the other like polished ebony, burst forth from her back as she called upon her heritage as a Sorceress. Commanding powerful magics surpassing even that of the Cetra, the Sorceress flew from sea to sea, destroying all the Lemurian strongholds she could find. With her specialization as a Sorceress being mind magic, the number that remained hidden hit zero within the week."

That sounds a lot like the wings on Sephiroth's final form in the game.

"Their cities sank, they were stranded on the western continent and unable to stop She-Who-was-the-Calamity-from-the-Skies. It is said that the Wutaian people are descended from a mix of human and Lemurian blood. However, this remains unconfirmed."

So she just left the Lemurians there after defeating them? I suppose that makes sense. It was the Cetra who called upon the Planet to seal her away in the end. She just needed the Lemurians out of the way so that she could take care of the Cetra without exposing herself.

"Then she turned upon the Cetra. Hidden as one of them, the Calamity got close to the Cetran leadership and assassinated them. She would then take on the forms of the fallen to get close enough to their loved ones. She once more used her mind magics to spark rebellion and civil war. While the Cetra warred with themselves, the Calamity spread among them the Virus. Combined, the entire race was nearly destroyed from within."

Huh. That's a little more detail than normal.

"The Sacaen people, remembering the aid that the Cetra had brought them, rallied themselves and any human allies they could find against the Sorceress. Allowing their regrets at being unable to save the Lemurians to fuel their indignation, they marched off to war with The Enemy once more.

Though the fighting was fierce, together they laid the Sorceress low. As she was powerful even among Sorceresses, the remaining Cetra sealed her away, just in case she had some method of returning. The fight was finally over. However, the cost in lives was high. If steps were not taken, then the Cetra would most certainly die out. Seeing as most of their technologies had been destroyed by the Calamity, the Sacaean people offered to provide for them in exchange for knowledge.

And so it was, the joining of the All-Seeing Father Sky and Great Mother Gaia."

The room is silent for a minute as everyone ponders on what they've been told. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm finally starting to get what Zangan meant by 'first generation Sacaean.' Although there wasn't any mention of inter-reality travel, Father Sky clearly has the ability to take those not born of Gaia and make them his own. Since the first known group this happened to appeared in the Plains of Sacae, they're called Sacaean.

I suppose this means I really am Sacaean. Huh.

"Did you change the way you speak just for this old tale?" Zangan fails to suppress a snicker.

"Ho ho ho~! I did! Did you like it?" Bugenhagen replies cheerily.

"There's something to be said for showmanship and proper presentation," I add with a small smile.

"You're back to normal," Jane observes. I glance at her with furrowed brow, thinking on the matter. I realize that my inexplicable bad mood had cleared, and now that it has I can see that it wasn't quite normal. It seemed like just one of my bad moods before, but it felt... off once I take a step back and look at it.

"Almost," Zangan says, hands still on my shoulders. "Give it a few more minutes."

Curious, I slow and deepen my breathing. I focus inwards to check on the state of my Mana like I was taught to. Although my Mana isn't dense enough to have physical form, some of the sensations sensing it gives are similar to those understood by the physical body, such as heat or tingles.

Even so, the sensations aren't actually sensed by my physical body. It isn't an experience I know how to properly explain, but the sensing is done by the spiritual meta-body. My intention is to see if using that "spirit sense" will enable me to see what Zangan is doing to my Chi to make it less 'bad.'

I get nothing, unfortunately. Maybe when I'm more skilled. I know that the powerful can sense energy being gathered, regardless of type.

"The story was interesting and all, but what does it have to do with me?" the brown haired girl asks. It startles me slightly since I had forgotten she was there.

"And us?" Jane butts in. "Tellah said that would need to hear this 'explanation,' but not what for."

I think they're probably one of the races mentioned in the lore. It's what makes sense to me, that's all. If you're going to bother with showmanship for a story, it's probably to set up a dramatic reveal of some significance to the listener. It's done all the time in books and movies.

Then again, maybe basing my expectations on fiction is a bad idea. On the other hand, I'm living on a fictional planet. It could have some merit.

"First, Maya Schrodinger, your mother was a Sacaean," Tellah reveals, "This means you are also Sacaean. It is entirely your business who you tell, but for the sake of those hiding from Shinra I ask that you keep quiet."

"Got it," Maya nods. She turns to me and gives me a bright smile, "Kae! We're the same!"

"So I've heard," I return the smile wryly.

"Second, Astrid Cray," the elder mage continues, speaking this time to the other child in the room, "The will of the Planet has spent the last two thousand years purifying the power of the Sorceress left over from the Calamity's demise. Normally it would have to be passed on to another woman at the time of the Sorceress' death or become lost. However, the Planet managed to get it and has passed it on to you. You are the Planet's first Sorceress."

That... that sounds a lot like the Sorceresses from Final Fantasy VIII. Is that what Jenova is in this reality? A Sorceress? ... Well, now I know we've officially left the canon timeline.

Also, wasn't Astrid another self-insert? I don't remember if she was an SI or an OC. It's been forever since I read Welcome to Gaia. Maybe it's someone different? It's possible. The people of Gaia have some really out there names.

"I will be teaching you and Kae Lin magic for the duration of our stay. Just remember that what you are can never reach Shinra's ears, or else they may haul you away for experimentation," Tellah warns.

"Would they?" Maya asks me a little too loudly.

"Hm?" I respond, a little surprised by the question.

"Would they really experiment on us?"

"Yes," I inform her without hesitation. "They would experiment on you until it killed you. Then they'd experiment on your corpse. If they could capture it, I'm certain they'd experiment on your soul as well."

Judging from her facial expression, it seems Maya isn't yet able to understand just how horrifying such a fate would could be. Truthfully, I'm relieved. I'd rather not have any more traumatized eight year olds in the world. Then again, maybe she only understands the trauma of the battlefield? I don't know, and I'm not certain I want to.

Astrid, on the other hand, understands a lot better. Her face pales and her eyes widen. There's a stiffness in her jaw that betrays her fear.

"Ho ho ho~ It's good to be cautious, but as long as we're around there's nothing to worry about. Just focus on getting stronger so you can protect yourself when we're not," Bugenhagen reassures the Sorceress child. "We've been talking for a long time. Come along, let's get you to bed."

"I'm not tired!" Astrid protests. She yawns immediately after.

"Ho ho ho~ Seems like your body disagrees," Bugenhagen humors her. "Why don't you listen to it for now? You have to be up bright and early for magic training."

The green eyed girl grumbles the entire way, but she leaves with Bugenhagen.

"So you're still learning yourself, huh?" Jane quips at me once they're gone, having realized why I turned Maya's request down back in Little Twister.

"Magic? Always," I grin. Some part of that is because it's the truth, but most if it is because I don't want to lose face with Maya. It's a silly reason, all things considered.

"So, why were there SOLDIERs in the canyon again?" the girl we were just talking about asks. "I know they wanted to kill Zangan, but how did they find us?"

"That's... a good point," I acknowledge. "Also, still wondering why we split up the way we did. It seems horribly irresponsible to send the child and the inexperienced one with the one Shinra wants dead so bad that they'll waste literal tons of explosives for the sole purpose of boxing him in."

"It isn't like I intended to put you in danger," Zangan grumbles. "I thought that passage was still safe, and by the time we found out otherwise we'd already split up."

"You make it sound like they're keeping watch for you all over Cosmo Canyon," I frown.

"They aren't. It's just that the war makes it a lot easier for them to monitor my movements," Zangan slaps me on the back and stands. "Done."

"Thanks. Sorry for the trouble," I apologize sincerely.

"Just don't let it happen again," he squeezes my shoulder lightly to let me know he's accepted my apology. "Shinra is in Cosmo Canyon a lot these days, weeding out Wutai cells and other Anti-Shinra groups. Cosmo Canyon is neutral in the war, but its land is perfect for hiding in. Of all those at Shinra, Lightning knows the way I think best. If she got a posting out here, which it seems she did, she'd definitely take the chance to do me harm."

"How long until she finds you here?" Jane asks in a business-like manner.

"They won't. Tellah set up an illusion around the town so that I'm invisible if I go outside."

That's really cool! I want to know how to do that!

"Enthusiastic, huh?" Zangan says, having noticed my desire to learn more magic. He smiles.

It's a frightening smile.

"Don't worry," the old monster lets words of ill omen fall from his lips, "Tomorrow we continue your training."

I almost whimper.

He's going to punch me into the rocks, I just know it. What I wouldn't give for some trees.