In the Royal Palace, on the courtyard where a wide expanse of free space was located, the sound of sword swinging can be heard. A beautiful girl with platinum silver hair and crimson eyes moved around the area, her blade trailing something that only she could see.

She could still remember that sight as if it was yesterday. The way that small girl calling herself Shadow fought and defeated Zenon with a sword style that was remarkably efficient. She was trying to replicate that, her ideal sword style that Shadow embodied.

While doing so, her mind was preoccupied by something that has been bothering her for some days now.

'Just where is Rose right now? Why hasn't she come back?'

Since they came back to Midgar, Rose was immediately summoned back to her country. She only heard that they wanted to check up on her after that sudden lockdown within the Holy City, though it was very weird that she didn't contact her after returning to her own country.

Alexia was feeling a bit frustrated lately. She was forced to do her own investigation because of Rose's absence. They both promised that together they would find out more about the hidden conflict happening behind the scenes, but with her gone, she could only do it herself.

She took another swing, and this time it felt a bit closer to what she had seen that time, though she was not concentrating enough to notice it as she let out a sigh. She threw the wooden training sword onto the wooden container on the side, while taking the towel propped on the wall there and used it to wipe herself.

"I can't… my mind's so distracted right now…" She looked at the skies where she could see the moon slightly obscured by the clouds before sighing. "I have to sleep soon…" She recalled about the school as she muttered.

She was just thinking of entering the castle when she heard a commotion in the distance. Feeling curious, she went to the side where the hallway to the entrance is located and she heard the shouts of the guards beyond the room.

"Leave this place! You're not allowed here!"

"Are you truly going to point your blade at me? You might come to regret it….!"

That voice sounded a bit familiar to her. Thinking that, she opened the door to see many of the royal guards surrounding a person.

"What is happening here?" With her question, one of them turned to her.

"Princess… this is nothing. We just caught someone sneaking around this place."

"I am not." Her attention was then taken by the woman who was surrounded. She could now see her through the gaps made by the encirclement as the royal guards also looked at Alexia.

"Oh….. you may leave her be, she is my guest." Recognizing that long dark hair and a body that seems to be sculpted by the gods, she quickly dismissed the others.

"... I understand…" The head of the royal guards nodded before raising his hand.

With that, the others sheathed their blades, giving some glances on the woman as they left them alone. Alexia sighed before looking up at the woman who was taller than her.

"So… what are you doing here, Crazy Lady?"

"It's Aurora. Also, you are the one who invited me." The Crazy Lady, or Aurora, now that she knew that, stated with that deep and mature sounding voice that she had.

"Aurora…? Meh, I'll just call you a Crazy Lady…!" Alexia shrugged her shoulders.

She couldn't help it. She wasn't able to see her in a serious light after she recalled all the ridiculous stuff she did in the Holy City. There was no way a sane person would actually do those things.

Seeing her frowning though made Alexia sigh.

"Okay fine…. So your name is Aurora huh…" She shook her head. "What are you doing here?"

"I told you. You invited me."

"But I only asked you to come to the War God Festival…." Alexia shook her head yet again with a sigh.

"I don't know when it is." Her blunt statement caused Alexia to freeze.

"... Really?" With Aurora's nod, she sighed once more. "Okay… I would like to receive you as a guest, but it is in the middle of the night…. oh right!" Alexia quickly recalled something. "I'm actually looking for someone to help me."

"So…?"

"Do you know anything about the Shadow Garden?" Her words caused Aurora to flinch for a moment, before seeing her golden eyes now intently gazing down at her.

"I heard of them. They are a formidable organization that fights against the Cult." She said before continuing. "I heard they have a very formidable leader. I'm very interested in meeting them."

She narrowed her eyes. "What are you going to do when you meet Shadow?"

"Shadow is it…?" Her golden eyes seemed to light up as her lips curled upwards a bit. "Why of course, I would like to face her! It is only befitting that I face the strongest of this era!" She said with a mirthful tone.

"... Yeah right, I'm sure you'd just flop." Alexia bluntly stated.

"Don't you know? I'm the Witch of Calamity."

Alexia rolled her eyes at that, hearing another nonsense from the woman.

"Whatever." She said "Anyway, it's really getting late so I'll just ask for your help tomorrow. For now, why don't you stay in one of our guest rooms?"

"Hmph. It is still uncertain whether I will help whatever ails you, but I'll gladly accept your offer to shelter me for now."

"Great…" Alexia stated, while feeling like something was going her way after all this time.

It was surprising to see the one who saved them on the Holy City visiting and even sneaking around the palace, though it was just the right timing. She has already told her big sister about Aurora, and while she couldn't really take her seriously, she admits that the woman is very strong.

She thought she might be able to help them in their investigation on both the Cult of Diablos and the Shadow Garden.

"..." She didn't know why Aurora was staring at her with an unimpressed look. She thought she was hiding the glee within her heart. She just ignored it and continued planning on what to do tomorrow.

"This is the only place where I can hide now…." Rose gasped as she sat on one of the large openings beneath the roots of the trees. Her surroundings were covered with the vast expanse of violet.

She has been on the run since the day she learned about being forcefully wed to a Duke she has no feelings for. Her father also acted very strangely, though her mother was very supportive and rather adamant of this decision.

She was very obedient at first, though a bit reluctant as she faced the duke. But one single night, as she took a walk on the dark hallways of their castle, she overheard her mother and that duke talking as if they were lovers, and hearing about their plan.

It sickened her, and made her feel so betrayed that without her noticing, she was already dressed up and running away from the capital. Her mind was a whirl, not knowing what was happening anymore.

"What do they mean by 'Black Rose'?"

She didn't hear everything. She only heard something about them trying to use the Black Rose and it somehow involved her marrying the Duke, and that her father seemed to have been drugged. That alone already made her very scared.

She felt so confused. It felt like her world crumbled after hearing this.

She curled up, sobbing softly as she tried to close her eyes.

Her eyes snapped wide open as she raised her head, then quickly propped her body up, hearing the sounds of footsteps getting closer to her.

"Do they already know where I am!?" She exclaimed in surprise as she pointed her sword to her front.

Though she blinked her eyes as the person revealed themselves. It was a small person wearing a black weathered coat that covered most of her features. Though her face could be somewhat seen, making her easily deduced to be a girl. The girl had dark colored hair, and glowing purple eyes.

"Who are you….?" She asked in wonder, and the girl simply stared at her, before speaking.

"Do you seek power?" The girl asked with her surprisingly mysterious and echoing voice.

Rose felt a bit intimidated as she felt the atmosphere becoming very heavy. There was a huge pressure within that inhuman gaze that the girl was directing her. Her throat became parched just by looking at the expression of the hooded person.

"... Y-yes…!" Instinctively, Rose answered with a gasp. "N-no…. I mean…"

"Very well." The girl nodded at her, before turning their back on her. "Follow me."

Though curious and dubious about this event, Rose still followed the girl, feeling uncertain whether what she was doing was right or wrong.

A/N

Here is the next chapter. I'll be sleeping now...

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