"Seifer." The headmaster cleared his throat. "I, ah, called you up here because – I, ah, wanted to congratulate you."

Seifer shifted his weight. It felt wrong not to have Hyperion out and in his hand – Ultimecia had encouraged it. Garden thought it was dangerous.

Didn't scowl and managed an even "Thank you, sir." Sir. A fat man who didn't even have the guts to stand up with his wife, his Sorceress. Couldn't even stand up to her.

Cid took off his glasses and wiped at them a bit with his shirt. Examined them in the light, poked at them some more and put them back on.

"Anything else?" and he couldn't quite manage to keep the scorn out of his voice.

Cid looked over at him and why the hell did he look so sad? "I, uh," and he cleared his throat again, "I had something I wanted to give to you." Something to – oh Hyne, if it was some friendly advice or a goddamn potion --

Cid reached into his vest pocket and brought out a small envelope. Wet his lips and looked like he was on the verge of saying something before he shook his head slightly and held it out.

He had to reach out to get it. Turned it over – just a white envelope, nothing written on it. The hell was going on here? Did he write a letter, Dear Seifer, please don't try to kill us again? Thanks, the Admin? He snorted.

"It's – ah, it's a card." A card? Didn't know they made cards for situations like this. "Your card, actually," and he motioned with his hands. Looked like he was trying to throw something away, or swat a fly away or something. This was the man in charge of training mercenaries? No wonder Ultimecia hadn't trusted him. Fricken incompetent.

"I – Edea and I thought it would be appropriate. We both like to play and we'd sometimes commission a card." He turned his head, studied his office walls carefully. "She always thought you'd go far. The card – " and he looked back at Seifer and smiled, smiled a tight, painful smile – "It inspired her to go find you."

(Come with me to a place of no return)

He could feel the edges of the card – his card – digging into his hand and had to resist the urge to crush it. She always thought you'd go far.

(worthless child)

"Oh," and it seemed hard to get out. Stared at Cid – Edea's husband (her Knight) – turned, and left.