Deep in the Imperial Palace, a high general of the Emperor's was practicing her magic in the generals' courtyard. Spell after spell crashed against the training dummy as the fearsome Rune Magitek Knight held her hands out to further elevate her spells' power.

A particularly harsh Blizzara incantation froze the entire dummy over, and Celes sighed before stepping over to it to take it down and replace it with a different dummy, but not before hearing the arrival of another entering the courtyard.

"Can I help you?" General Celes questioned icily, her strict and merciless demeanor showing. She didn't turn around.