The Wandering Soul Knows No Rest [Sephiroth X OC]

PART THREE

It had been a taxing sparring session with Sephiroth, who offered to gauge her abilities within the first class SOLDIER rank. Celeste knew one way or another, that this would have to happen.

"I see." Sephiroth retracted his masamune, patting his clothing to rid the dust. Remarkable progress indeed, the silver-haired man thought to himself. At this rate, she exceeds Angeal... perhaps even Genesis...

Sephiroth furrowed his brows slightly at the thought, while smiling smally. He chuckled lowly, so low in fact that Celeste almost felt the vibrations in her chest. "Great job indeed." He continued.

Celeste took a few steps forward until there remained negligible space between the pair. She was utterly shocked at the acknowledgement from him. She bowed. "The smirk on your face says otherwise?" Celeste spoke teasingly.

"Hm." Sephiroth looked the other way, and he hadn't missed how Celeste closed the space between them. Oddly, it made him grow uncomfortable. "Just thinking of old friends."

"I'd be willing to wager... Genesis and Angeal?" Celeste perked.

Sephiroth met her eyes deeply, and it sparked an unusual feeling in his chest. Almost some sort of territoriality. He decided to ignore it for now. Her eyes were a deep black, almost as dark as coal, and they seemed like endless swirls of... nothingness. It intrigued him, her eyes were the opposite to his - which were a feline green that struck fear into hearts.

Sephiroth snapped out of his line of thinking and nodded. "How'd you know?" He began to walk to the exit, with Celeste almost too eagerly following behind.

"Well, you trio are hard to miss that's for sure." Celeste answered.

The comment earned a small smile hidden under Sephiroth's silver locks. They would spend a lot of time together; Genesis, Angeal and him.

"May I offer one piece of parting advice to you?" Sephiroth stopped his tracks to look at Celeste once more before departing.

Celeste listened with earnestness, nodding, "Absolutely."

"There is more to life than just fighting." Sephiroth's expression dropped to that of solemness - an odd look she'd never seen the General express before. It threw her off.

Celeste looked up at him. "My oh my, that coming from the General no less?"

"Which should make it all the more serious." Sephiroth spoke. "I will see you soon."

Sephiroth departed ways from Celeste, onto the Shinra manor to investigate a matter that had been troubling his mind for a number of months now: his origins.

----

Celeste was in the SOLDIER cafeteria grounds. Sephiroth had extended an awfully warm welcome to Celeste so that she could meet the other first class SOLDIERS over lunch. She was slightly nervous out of anticipation; Genesis and Angeal had been in leagues of their own indeed, with Sephiroth no less. Oddly, Celeste had almost thought it was odd for Sephiroth to be so forthcoming and friendly with her, but she didn't object. Heck, she began to enjoy the brooding man's company.

She looked around the cafeteria, and she noticed that a few eyes had been landing on her.

Where are they? Where could they be? She looked around until she found the General's silver-locks. As soon as she walked to him, they locked eyes and he raised a hand. Her heart beat slightly faster.

"Sephiroth." She bowed slightly.

"Celeste." Sephiroth had a soft expression on his face. "Angeal, Genesis." He gestured to them, and they offered Celeste a respectful nod.