It's a nightmare.

Their task was simple: use the Eye of Avarice to establish anti-magic field, take everyone hostage, and drain the magic from them. Everything was going well.

Until it wasn't.

Suddenly something interfered with their barrier, completely reversing its functions: they could no longer use magic and could feel their powers slowly being drained out, while students…

"Y-You bastards…"

Yes, students could feel the magic returning to them. Upon realizing the tables have turned, they quickly incapacitated their attackers. At this moment other black-clothed people started entering the building, however, contrary to the previous ones, that group was consisted entirely of women and seemed to be allies.

"Everyone," seemingly the leader spoke, "our mission is to rescue students who were taken hostage and dispose of the attackers. Please cooperate with us and follow us to the exit, after that you will be taken by Crimson Order. If there are any gravely injured, please speak now."

"W-We are saved…" someone spoke with relief.

"Uhm, excuse me, miss?…" a meek voice could be heard from the corner of classroom.

"Yes?" leader's eyes locked on that direction.

"C-Could you please help us? His chest is…"

"243, 289," upon receiving an order two women immediately dashed towards the injured and started applying first aid.

"T-Thank you very much!"

"That's our job," leader nodded, "Once you are ready, we will move. There are groups currently evacuating other classes, so be at ease."

"Y-You think you are getting out of here alive?!" one of the attackers tried to intimidate them.

There was just one problem.

"Hmph, if you want to bluff, you have to at least be able to see," woman smirked.

"What…?" students whispered amongst themselves.

"Lord Shadow knows everything. His abilities are unmatched. You think your Magic Absorption Field is something great? He-he…" a spark of obsession appeared in her eyes, "See for yourself how it denies your senses… Oh, wait, you can't. He took away your ability to see. Pity…"

She shook her head and slashed cult member's chest.

"Let's go. We made a deal with princess Iris, and we don't like to delay our job."

Sherry tried to calm down her heartbeat.

"Good thing someone actually interfered…" the knights stationed with her, Glen and Marco, sighed in relief.

Once their roles were reversed, it was a piece of cake to dispose of a man who tried to attack them. He said his name was Rex, and he was from Shadow Garden to take away the artifact she was studying.

The problem was…

"This sector is clear."

The real Shadow Garden members just arrived with a group of students and upon confirming that this place was protected went to the exit. They were also accompanied by Imperial Guards, so it was clear that whoever the attackers actually were, their goal was to smear the Shadow Garden's name.

Now Sherry had another thing to think about…

This artifact, Eye of Avarice, was connected to artifact she was studying as her research revealed. It was probably the reason behind the anti-magic field. However, it was easily blocked by, apparently, leader of Shadow Garden that everyone spoke of as "Lord Shadow".

The same Lord Shadow that as she heard from princesses was the reason behind that explosion two weeks earlier. Princess Iris insisted that no man can have this kind of power, so it should have been an artifact. However, even if it was an artifact, considering the amount of knowledge this mysterious leader possesses (as it was clear that to easily intercept Eye of Avarice you would need a lot of experience), he probably could create it himself, still making it a part of his own power.

"E-Excuse me, miss!" Sherry interjected.

"You are… Sherry Barnett. Do you need something?" one of the women nodded.

"U-Um, you rescue everyone here, right?"

"Correct, our goal is to evacuate the hostages. After we finish with that, Crimson Order will take over and apply medical treatment to everyone injured," she confirmed.

"Ah, have you seen my fat- U-Um, Assistant Principal Lutheran?"

The group froze.

"Come to think of it… We have not seen him at all, even though he was in the academy before the attack," Shadow Garden members exchanged glances.

Sherry heart sank. Group's leader took out some kind of a device.

"Lady Alpha, we have urgent news…"

"So that's how it is…" Alpha frowned.

"What is it?" Iris asked.

Elf took out some kind of a device that was emitting a strange sound. Princess could faintly hear voice from this device, and afterwards Alpha's expression soured.

"Assistant Principal Lutheran was not found by any group currently dispatched in academy. Either he evacuated through some kind of secret tunnel, or…" elf closed her eyes.

"That couldn't be. Assistant Principal was in this academy before I joined it," Iris denied.

"We have to consider all possibilities. It would be great if Lutheran simply escaped through safe passage, but I can't deny that it might be possible for him to be a Cult's member," Alpha calmly explained.

"This is some kind of insanity…" princess rubbed her head.

First, one of the most renowned knights of young generation turned out to be a traitor that kidnapped her sister. Now, even someone in such high position sacrificed the whole academy for… For what, even?! Who could she even trust?!

"I understand what you are going through, princess Iris," Alpha placed a hand on princess' shoulder, "but you should not drown in your feelings now. Your people need you. They need to realize that even though attack was sudden, they are still protected."

Iris sighed.

"You are right. I can pity myself later. Now, we need to save the students… Wait, is that?…"

"Hmm, the first group has returned," elf nodded.

A group of students was carefully escorted outside the building by women in black clothes.

"Lady Alpha, mission accomplished. What is our next goal?"

"Wait for everyone else. Once all hostages are evacuated, we are to clear this place of all hostiles," Alpha nodded at them.

"Understood," group's leader nodded back and turned to students, "please go after the Knights. They will apply any medical aid should you need it, otherwise you are free to go, though we advice you to stay here until we confirm the elimination of attackers."

"T-Thank you very much!" students bowed and went to the medical tents that were put by the Knights.

Iris sighed in relief. At the very least she confirmed that Shadow Garden was willing to cooperate with government as long as it saves the citizen. Even if they are illegal organisation, she can close her eyes on this…

Sherry tinkered with Eye of Avarice's key.

"So you are saying this little thing is the cause of all of this?…" Shadow Garden's brown-haired member nodded. "As our Lord said."

"U-Um, he already knew this would happen…?"

"I understand your feelings, Sherry Barnett," woman sighed, "however, we made all efforts to ensure nobody got any irreversible injuries in the process. I understand that you might not forgive us for letting it happen in the first place, however it was our best bet to bait out all the Cult's members in one place."

Sherry shrunk in sadness.

"And my father…"

"It is only a possibility, after all. He is probably safe with everyone else right now," woman's gaze warmed up as she placed her hand on Sherry's shoulder.

"M-m!" Sherry nodded hopefully.

Oh how she wishes that father is worriedly waiting for her right now outside. How she would run up to him and embrace in a strong familial hug.

Ah, she is finished with tinkering.

"Once we use it near Eye of Avarice, the magic field will be dispelled, correct?"

"Y-Yes…"

"Then we shall go. If you are willing, you can go with us."

"Y-Yes!"

And so they slowly moved. On the way Sherry saw other Shadow Garden's members slowly evacuating everyone and taking down the attackers.

She tinkered with key to detect where, exactly, the Eye of Avarice is located. The closer they are to it, the warmer key would become.

Her hopes slowly sank as she realized that key was located near Assistant Principal's office.

"…years of research, trying to return my power, and that's what I get in the end?! My plan was completely ruined by this Shadow Garden!" her hopes were crushed the moment she heard the voice behind the door.

It was the voice of her father.

"Hmm, and why, exactly would you do this?" is that… Cid?

"Cid Kagenou…" she could feel the hate in her father's voice, "I should have realized it back then. A mere student, escaping my view. Hmph, who would even believe that? No, you are… Shadow, aren't you?"

"Ho? It looks like someone in your ranks still has working brain?" she could hear the closing book.

"Ha-ha, who would have thought that as I was hiding in the Academy to enact my plan, someone else would take the same tactic against me. Well, you wanted to hear why?"

Sherry slid on the floor, listening to the reveal in despair.

"…Sherry's mother, Lukreia… A brilliant researcher! So brilliant that she was ostracized by everyone else. That's where I came. I supported her in hopes one day I would find a way to return to my peak. Yet once I found the solution, she refused me! That's why I killed her. First, her limbs. Then, her organs. I finished with her heart."

Sherry couldn't hold her tears anymore.

"However, her daughter remained. Sherry. She was blessed by the same brilliant mind her mother had, but was absolutely naive and inexperienced. I used her as a tool to finish Eye of Avarice… but you came and ruined everything!"

"So that's how it is…"

"You heard everything. Do you feel angry, Cid Kagenou? Do you pity this little girl?"

"Well, we can hear the answer from her personally. Sherry, it's about time you confront him yourself," she could hear his encouraging words.

Sherry felt herself calming down. Nothing remained but frozen wrath, eager to break free. She slowly stood up and pushed the door.

"…So you've heard everything," the usually loving face of her doting father was no more. Instead of him was an expression of an evil mastermind ready to sacrifice anyone and anything for his goals.

"You…" she gritted her teeth.

"Yes, I did all of this. You simply could never understand how it feels like to be powerless, to feel your strength melting away. If you did, you would understand me."

"How could you…" Sherry felt tears swelling up again.

"Resent me. Hate me. In the end, it changes nothing. If my goals were to be fulfilled… Pity…"

"I trusted you… I loved you!" she sobbed.

"Love… she loved me too… But seems like not that much," Lutheran shook his head, "else she would listen to me. If she listened, she would still be alive."

Sherry could no longer contain herself and jumped on him. However, even without magic, he was still experienced fighter and easily deflected her.

"…I hate you, I hate you, hateyouhateyouIHATEYOU!"

"Playtime is over, then," through the veil of her rage she could hear her Cid's voice.

"What?…"

One moment, Lutheran taunts her. Next moment, he lies on the ground, his limbs pinned with black daggers.

"Cid Kagenou!… Shadow!" he hatefully stared at the imposing figure, embraced by darkness itself.

"Sherry, if you can't do this… I understand. I will do it myself," she looked at the misty image of the man in black coat in front of her, "I intended to do it myself. I never wished for you to witness this."

"I…"

"Even if you kill me… You are compromised! Everyone thinks it's your group who did this! The whole world will hunt you down! No matter how powerful you are, you can't go against everyone!" Lutheran coughed.

"That's what you think," Shadow calmly retorted.

"What I think? That's a fact, Shadow. You can't do anything to change that."

"I don't need to change anything. From the start I placed myself beyond good and evil. The world praises me? So be it. The world hates me? Their mistake," his red eyes pierced through the crucified man, "Not to mention…" he looked at the window where students were escorted out by women in black.

"…N-No, impossible!"

"Not to mention, we have shown ourselves as saviours. Your plan was foiled. You couldn't accomplish anything, Lutheran," Shadow's mocking smile was easily seen by everyone in the room.

"…Ha-ha…" a girlish laugh was heard.

"…Sherry?"

And the next moment dagger pierced Lutheran's chest.

"Limbs… organs… and heart, right?" she stared at old man with a smile on her face.

"Kha-ha-ha…" Sherry saw blood leaving his mouth, "Even to the end… Lukreia's eyes were filled with warmth… but yours…" he looked at her, "I adore these… hateful…"

Sherry twisted the dagger as life left Lutheran's body, her empty eyes locked onto the dead body of her once beloved foster father.

She sobbed as she felt hands hugging her from behind.