Time off.

“Angelo?....stop…stop….”
Rinoa groggily pushed her dog aside. Surveying the training center she came to the conclusion that she couldn’t have been unconscious for more than an hour. Nothing seemed to have changed, and the Grats had been dead for a while. Clumsily getting to her feet she grabbed her head and assessed her health. 9000. She pulled out a small vial and drank the hi-potion.
“blech. So nasty.”
She made a small shudder as the potion entered her and healed her wounds. Looking at Angelo she saw him chewing on a Grats’ vine. She shooed him with a stiff “Angelo! “ He looked up and cantered off. She needed to get to squall quickly so she didn’t bother with the float spell. She broke into a run with Angelo in tow. As she crossed the two planks, they snapped in half and fell into the water. Feet dry on the other side a strange gleam caught her attention. She walked over to it and saw a long blade attached to a curved wooden pistol grip….
“Oh dear Hyne!”
She gasped, and her hands flew up to her mouth. She felt her heart skip a beat and seize with fear. “How could he? It’s not possible!” her mind was racing with all the possibilities. But then she noticed something strange. This gun blade was way smaller than squall’s. Picking it up and reading the engraving the word “Hyperion” appeared. Her heart started to slow down and her breathing stabilized. When she was calmed enough she studied the small silver blade.
“Hyperion...Hyperion. This is Seifer’s isn’t it? Is he here? Is he ok? How did he lose this? I better hang on to it.” She threw it over her shoulder and thought, “wait a minute” and flipped it over her hip where it promptly disappeared.
“I really want to know how that happens.” She said to no one in particular.
“come on angelo!” she shouted and kept running towards the secret area. As she approached the entrance to the secret area a man in a trench coat barred her way. He had a dark complexion and was wearing sunglasses and a beanie. His hands were in his pockets and he was staring off into space. He did not seem to notice her even though she was only 5 ft from him. She slowly approached him cocking back her weapon as she did so. He never moved an inch. He didn’t seem to be breathing. She aimed her weapon at him and shakily yelled “move!” He stayed put. She told him to move again, but his response was the same. “move or I’ll shoot!” She shouted with a tang of anger. At that his head violently whipped in her direction and he smiled.

“Really? You’ll shoot? Well isn’t that cute.” He waved his hand and her weapon went flying out of her hands. Angelo snarled and readied to strike. Hearing the dog the stranger snapped his fingers and the dog went limp. It made no sound as it collapsed onto the floor. “Angelo!” Rinoa screamed and ran to the dog. It was breathing; it looked like it was sleeping. It didn’t wake up no matter how hard she pushed him. She whirled on the man in the coat; pointing an accusatory finger she mouthed “you.” Feeling Siren’s power flowing through her body she cast treatment on Angelo with one hand and hurled Firaga at the man in the coat. Angelo didn’t stir and the man effortlessly avoided her fireballs.
She cast haste on herself and continued her barrage, raining fire and brimstone down on that strange man. With the concern he was showing, he might as well have been avoiding wet paper balls. What few shots landed didn’t seem to have an effect. Feeling her body grow weak she scooped up Angelo and cast flare. The blinding glare of that spell caused the stranger to shield his eyes and with her hasted speed, she ran with Angelo’s unconscious body towards the opposite side she came in. realizing where she was headed she ran faster hoping that her greatest fear wouldn’t come to light.
Resting against a fence she put down angelo and examined him. He was in a deep sleep, purely magical. It would wear off in a while. To be sure she cast treatment again, this time he opened his eyes but stayed on the floor. Rinoa smiled and pet him gently. He wagged his tail and lolled his tongue. She sat there on the floor petting her dog, her only companion in this descent into madness. She felt so tired she didn’t know what to do. She leaned against the fence harder and reached deep into her subconscious. Accessing the part of her brain where GF’s are stored she found leviathan and siren.
“hey guys. Are you ok?” she asked them.
Leviathan not being human hissed at siren who spoke with that beautiful voice only a siren could posses.
“yes Rinoa dear, we are fine. Im glad to see you are in good health as well. What do you require?”
“im not sure really. Im scared and very confused. That man, Who is he? Why is he here? How could he do what he did so easily?”
Siren was silent for a time, deep in ancient thought. Finally with a solemn serious tone she said. “There are magic’s older than us. They give their users powers beyond belief. But eventually they cause irreparable damage to the users mind and body. They cause madness, blood lust, insatiable appetites for violence. We thought they were locked away. Only Alexander and Eden know all the details…needless to say this man is a danger never before experienced.”
Rinoa was brought back from her meditative state by a cold nose against her neck.
“angelo! Im so glad youre all better.”
She embraced him hard, rubbing her face in his fur. As she did so a strange thought crossed her mind. As she layed unconscious he came to her rescue-but how did he get in?