Loveless

Part 3

In the end, the redhead really did take her to the First and Second Class SOLDIER training room.
The moment Eloise stepped inside, she froze. The place looked nothing like the modest halls she'd trained in before. Here, everything felt sharper—clean chrome, humming machinery, mako-powered panels glowing beneath the floor. A space designed for the best and most accurate training.

Sephiroth and Angeal were already waiting. Both men frowned when they noticed Eloise lingering awkwardly behind the redhead.

"What is she doing here, Genesis?" Sephiroth asked.

So that was his name.

Genesis finally released her arm. Eloise rubbed the spot—he had held her with enough force to keep her from even thinking about running.

Genesis, meanwhile, only smirked and sauntered toward Sephiroth with a spark of mischief in his eyes.

"I heard she's your new protégée. Interesting, isn't it?"

Sephiroth didn't react—not visibly—but Eloise felt his gaze on her. 

"That doesn't concern you," he said. "But yes. She is."

Eloise swallowed hard. Angeal watched her too, his expression gentler but no less intent. The air around the three Firsts crackled with tension.

Genesis stepped aside just long enough to grab Eloise by the shoulder and push her forward.

"Have you seen her fight yet, Sephiroth?"

Her heart plummeted. She stared at her hands, wishing she could disappear but Genesis didn't care.

"Well then," he continued, "let's see it now. Let's find out what's so intriguing about this little newbie."

Angeal opened his mouth to protest then stopped when Sephiroth stepped forward, silent but authoritative.

With a resigned sigh, Angeal pulled out a small device and tapped a few buttons. The room shifted. Metal plates moved like machinery in a dream. In seconds, they weren't in a training hall anymore—they were standing on a wide metal cannon jutting out over a mako reactor. Green light rose from below, casting ghostly shadows over all of them.

Eloise stared in awe. She had never seen anything like this.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess..." Genesis began to recite, settling elegantly on a crate nearby.

Angeal leaned against it. Sephiroth stood at the edge of the cannon, the wind of the simulation blowing through his silver hair.

Eloise stayed close to Angeal, feeling suddenly very small.

"Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest—"

"LOVELESS. Act I." Sephiroth finished, turning toward them.

Of course he knew it. Genesis must have read it dozens of times.

Genesis smiled proudly. He hopped down, slipping the red book back into his coat.

"You remembered."

"Hard not to," Sephiroth muttered, tapping his temple. "You've hammered it into my head."

Then he unsheathed the Masamune with a single smooth motion.

Eloise's breath caught. The others responded instantly—Genesis drew his rapier, flames flickering faintly along its polished edge, and Angeal lifted his massive sword with calm precision.

Eloise had nothing. No sword, no real preparation—just adrenaline.

"Coming, puppy?" Genesis taunted.

"I don't have a sword!"

Genesis stared at her flatly, unimpressed. Heat flushed her cheeks. She scanned the area and spotted a metal rod. Not ideal—but it was something.

She lunged and Sephiroth countered without effort, pushing her away like she weighed nothing. She tried again but had the same result. Genesis watched her with amused, mocking interest.

Her pride burned. She wanted to earn her place but Sephiroth read her like a book. He blocked, pivoted, pushed—always three steps ahead. When Genesis and Angeal leapt into the fray, the whole fight erupted like lightning.

Steel clashed. Sparks flew. The cannon trembled under their feet.

"Is that the best you can do?" Sephiroth grinned as he pushed Angeal back.

Eloise stepped away, wide-eyed, her heart pounding. Genesis's expression had changed—his amusement replaced by a sharp, simmering anger.

"Angeal, stay back," Genesis snapped, stepping forward.

"Is he insane?" Eloise muttered.

Genesis's rapier ignited fully now, engulfed in fire.

"The world needs a new hero."

Sephiroth scoffed. "Come and try."

The explosion of power that followed shook the entire simulation. Genesis hurled fire—dozens of fireballs streaking across the air. Sephiroth dodged each one with impossible speed, slicing through others, the Masamune cutting fire itself in half.

When Genesis began forming a massive fireball, Angeal lunged in.

"Stop! You'll destroy us all!"

Genesis struck him—fire bursting from his palm—sending Angeal flying. Eloise gasped, hands trembling as electricity crawled beneath her skin. Stress, fear, adrenaline—they were triggering something she couldn't control.

The fight escalated. Genesis and Sephiroth clashed mid-air, steel ringing like thunder. Pieces of the metal cannon split and fell into the mako below. Fire, blue light, shrapnel—chaos everywhere.

Eloise felt herself unravelling inside. It might have been fear or it might have been disappointment that against all her efforts, she was still small compared to these three legends.

Then Angeal threw himself between Sephiroth and Genesis.

"Enough!"

Their blades slammed against his weapons, halting the fight in a single violent moment.

And then Genesis faltered. His rapier hit Angeal's sword, but Sephiroth's strike clipped the hilt of the Buster Sword. The impact sent a sharp fragment of metal slicing into Genesis's shoulder.

"Genesis!" Angeal shouted, fear breaking through his calm façade.

The simulation flickered, then melted away entirely as red emergency lights flashed.

Genesis staggered to his feet, breath ragged.

"Just... a scrape." He winced. "I'll be fine."

He picked up his sword, though his balance wavered. On his way out, he glanced at Eloise—face twisting with frustration. She wasn't supposed to see that loss of control between Firsts.

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises," he murmured, quoting again, "nothing shall forestall my return."

But Eloise barely heard him. A harsh buzzing filled her ears. The unstable energy inside her—those frightening sparks—pulsed harder. Her vision blurred. She stumbled toward Sephiroth, clutching her chest.

"It... hurts..." she whispered. "It hurts so much."

"Are you alright?" Angeal reached to steady her but the moment he touched her, electricity surged from her skin, shocking him violently. He jerked back.

"Eloise," Sephiroth said, stepping toward her, concern finally in his voice.

But it was too late. Her body convulsed and then she screamed.

Lightning exploded outward in a violent wave, striking every direction—arcs of blue energy cracking against the training room walls, scorching the floor.

And when the light finally faded Eloise collapsed.