Winhill Winhill is a town in " Final Fantasy VIII " . It is a quaint , pastoral village on the southwest end of the Galbadia n continent , west of the town of Timber . Somewhat isolated in comparison to other towns , Winhill has no direct road or rail connections and is cut off from the rest of the continent by mountains , making it accessible only by sea or air . The village is surrounded by open plains and rolling fields . Story . Winhill was founded by a group of peaceful people who embraced small - town life and scorned the presence of outsiders . Many of Winhill ' s young people found the quiet village life boring and left to seek excitement in Deling City . During the Sorceress War , most of the working men in town were sent off to join the war . The ones left in the village , according to Laguna , were women with children , old people , chocobos , dogs , and cats . As a result , monsters made their way into town and overran its streets , making it dangerous for children to play outside . At some point during this time , Esthar ian troops raided Winhill capturing young girls to bring to their leader , Sorceress Adel , as candidates for succession . Although the townspeople fought back , the troops succeeded in capturing several children . One child in particular , however , avoided their grasp : Ellone , a girl of two or three with the unique ability to send another person ' s consciousness back in time . When her parents refused to turn her over to Esthar , they were killed , but the girl escaped and was taken in by her next - door - neighbor , Raine . Following the Esthar raid , a team of Galbadian soldiers were appointed to stand guard at the town ' s entrance and keep a lookout for Esthar soldiers , but the team did little to address the town ' s growing monster problem . Soon after , a Galbadian soldier named Laguna Loire appeared in town , critically injured from a battle with Estharian troops in Centra Excavation Site . Like Ellone , Laguna is also taken in by Raine and was nursed back to health . To repay Raine and Winhill for its hospitality , Laguna served the town as a protector , running daily patrols to rid the area of monsters , mostly made up of Bite Bugs and Caterchipillars . Some time later , Estharian troops raided Winhill again , specifically in search of Ellone . This time , they succeeded in capturing her and whisked her away to Esthar . Laguna , now married to Raine , left for Esthar to rescue Ellone , leaving behind his pregnant wife . While he was gone , Raine gave birth to Laguna ' s son , Squall , but died soon after , and was buried on a hill just outside of town . Laguna found Ellone and sent her back to Winhill while he stayed behind in Esthar , but after Raine died both Ellone and Squall were sent to an orphan home and Laguna never learns of his son . Following the war ' s end , Winhill began to fall into disrepair . Most of its young people were lost in the war , while its orphaned children were sent to orphanages . Seventeen years later , the village is as peaceful and remote as ever . Two Balamb Garden drop outs who pose as SeeD members were hired to protect the town by a secret benefactor , implied to be Laguna . Raine ' s pub has a new owner , but Ellone ' s parents ' old house was never repaired and lies abandoned . This house used to be Ellone ' s family home , until her parents were gunned - down by Esthar troops ; bullet holes still riddle in the walls . Laguna stayed in the house between monster patrols and looking after Ellone . The town square is a place where children are often seen playing . There ' s a way out of town in this screen . Located next to the Winhill mansion , the pub was owned and ran by Raine before she died . She resided with Ellone , whom she had adopted after her parents ' death ; she also nursed a wounded Laguna Loire , who was then a stranger , back to health . Years after her death the premises is run by a woman , but some say Raine ' s spirit can still be felt within the pub , kept alive by her white flowers . The mansion dominates Winhill ' s main district . Home to many different occupants over the years , a mysterious force is rearranging items within its walls . Could it be a ghost or something else ? The mansion is only accessible with Squall ' s party ; Laguna cannot enter . The party can start the vase quest here . The road leads south from the town square and splits into two paths . The flower shop is a solitary store on the road through Winhill . It charters many types of flowers ; Raine had even given some of her well - admired white flowers for the shop to sell . The hillside offers a view on the town ' s flower fields , but locals down below warn passersby not to miss their step . The Flower Restaurant is also Winhill ' s hotel . Located in downtown Winhill the hotel features a quiet restaurant with a flower theme . The town ' s modern day monster hunters ( two ex - Garden students ) have board and keep here . Downtown Winhill harbors the Flower Restaurant and Winhill Store as well as a collection of houses and what seems to be a chapel . Most consider this to be the town ' s " front " . A portrait of downtown Winhill can be found within the Presidential Palace in Esthar . Location . Winhill is located to the west of Lallapalooza Canyon in the hard - to - reach south of Galbadia , and can only be reached once the player has control of the mobile Balamb Garden . Quests . Vase quest . Winhill is home to a minor sidequest , which rewards the player little in material sense , but allows them to learn more about Raine and the town itself . The quest becomes available once Balamb Garden becomes mobile . The player may initiate the quest by visiting the Winhill mansion and speaking with the owner . He confides to the party that his precious vase has gone missing and he fears ghosts may be responsible . The vase has been broken into four pieces , and it is up to Squall and company to locate them . The mansion owner rewards the party with a Holy Stone . Chocobo crossing . The chocobo crossing has a chicobo running back and forth . If the player runs into it , they kick the chicobo in the air . This is needed for the vase quest , but if the player keeps running into the bird they can get more items : A Phoenix Pinion ( although the screen will say it ' s a Phoenix Down ) , and a Gysahl Green . Once the player has harassed the chicobo enough , a mother chocobo will emerge and take the chicobo away . Close encounters . Winhill is also home to a strange event ; if the player lingers in the area directly outside the town known as Winhill Bluffs , the party may encounter a UFO abducting an unsuspecting cow . Triple Triad . Winhill uses the Centra region rules for the game , even if it is officially part of Galbadia . In Centra region the default rules are Same , Plus and Random . There are no rare cards to be won in Winhill . Shops . The shop in Winhill can also be used as Laguna ; in fact , Laguna ' s pool of gil is independent of the money the main party has , and thus the only use of Laguna ' s money is to use it in the shop , as the player can still get the items to the main inventory and use them as the main party . Musical themes . " Fragments of Memories " plays during Laguna ' s stay in Winhill . The section with the chocobo crossing features an 8 - bit version of the " Mods de Chocobo " theme . " Fisherman ' s Horizon " is used in all visits with the main party . A live recording of " Fragments of Memories " is included on the " " album . Other appearances . " Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call " . The fields of Winhill appear in a Field Music Sequence .