Then one of them is knocked down by an explosion, flames lick his skin, only to die out the next second. There's no time to duck for the sharp edge of the sword coming down towards him A blade, not much unlike his own, leaves a deep cut running up his forehead. But his blood has barely hit the ground before he swings his gunblade at the opponent, giving him a mirrored wound. The two rivals are now marked for life, marked with the scars that will be.
Never again will either of them be able to see themselves in the mirror without remembering this day, a constant reminder of their hatred for one and other.
This is the story of Seifer Alamsy and Squall Leonhart, so much alike still one will come out as a hero and the ohter will be feared as a villain. But when did this happen? And why? They could have been like brothers. Their story streches far into the past but I will begin my analysis some time after they have both entered Garden. If you want to know what happened before that then you can read The First Years.
Here's how I see it. They entered Balamb Garden at a very young age, probably around six. I wouldn't think they had used any weapons before that. So how come both Seifer and Squall came to be gunbladers, and the only two no less? Supposedly their rivalry started at the orphanage, they chose the same weapon because that was a way to take their dislike for each other to the next step. Since they were the only students with gunblades they would have to practice together and that would give them a chance to take out their feelings for one and other in a physical way which they hadn't been allowed to do before.
However, Seifer must have been the better fighter of the two of them, he use only one hand to strike with the blade while Squall has to use both his hands. And also, he did the SeeD exams long before Squall did and I don't think it was because he was a better student, it's more likely it was because of his fighting skills.
*****
Their rivalry was probably kept on the same level for the next years. Seifer found friends of his own, Fujin and Raijin. I suppose Squall did so too although it's never mentioned in the game, I mean he didn't meet Zell until the SeeD field exam, I hardly think he was friends with his instructor, Quistis, and the others we don't meet until later in the game. Except for Selphie then but she's new at Balamb so they can't have been friends either. Poor little Squall, I almost feel sorry for him.
So Seifer is busy with his posse, the Disciplinary Committee, and Squall is busy with whatever he's doing. But they are still in the same class, and as the only two gunbladers they still has to practice with each other. On these occasions all their hatred stirs up again and the sparrings probably gets a bit more violent than alowed. And it's during one of these sparring sessions the two of them ends up decorated with scars running across their faces.
*****
But they have more incommon than their childhoods, their weapons and their scars. Rinoa Heartilly, Seifer met her a summer and we can only guess what happened then. Yepp, it's up to you, romantic summer evenings by the sea or wild hot nights at some inn. Oops, sorry, where did that come from.
Anyway, Rinoa doesn't seem to be quite sure about her feelings for Seifer throughout the game but it doesn't stop her from throwing herself at poor Squall at every opportunity she gets. ( Rinoa is definately not one of my favorite characters ) But that is not what we are supposed to talk about now.
The point is, she is one more thing the two rivals have in common, but let's move on to the next thing now, I'm getting bored here, so I can imagine how you poor readers must feel.
*****
No, I think I'll just conclude this right here. Seifer and Squall hates each other, still they are very much alike. Seifer became a sorceress' knight, Squall would have done the same thing for Rinoa. Circumstances just made Squall the knight in shining armor and Seifer was dubbed the evil knight. That sucks and it's not fair
Hey, I never claimed to be a psyhcologist, now, did I?