Beneath his mask he was as calm as the ocean even as he prepared himself for the climax to come, his long-awaited final battle with the head of the terrorist group. The stage was set, his lines came to his tongue so easily and he flushed with anticipation.

But he was not yet Shadow in this moment and the first confrontation awaited, Cid Kagenou was not unstoppable, nor could he merely cut a swathe through the enemy ranks. But he was here for one final conversation with the terrorist Lutheran Barnett, and it wouldn't do for an Eminence in Shadow to ask questions of anyone, so even Cid had his role to play.

So perched on the windowsill looking in, the moon itself bearing down behind him as it's ethereal light cast his shadow into the room, even as the room itself was lit by a warmer red from the fire burning as the books inside burned. A dark blue and a light red, he paused to admire the contrast as Barnett sat on his desk watching in his ridiculous little disguise that wasn't fooling anyone.

"Why are you doing something like this, Lutheran Barnett?" He hoped for a worthwhile answer, and doubted he'd get one.

The figure clad in metal leaned back and watched him for a moment before ignoring his script entirely. "Your performance in the Bushin festival was quite something I must admit."

Internally he scoffed, but then he was not Shadow and right now he was only Cid Kagenou wearing an expression of confusion even as he asked the obvious question. "Even though I lost in the first round?" It had been the act of a mob, the place of being unseen and unnoticed beneath the gaze of those watching. It wasn't something the last boss was supposed to comment on.

"You lost yes but it was such a performance." The elderly voice was filled with mirth, "As a fight it was abysmal, but it was never a fight choosing to let each blow miss you by the lightest of margins against even the champion. Such a thing takes more skill than winning does and to see you put such effort in to show your drive even in the face of losing to keep your identity hidden."

The mask hung as their eyes met. "Cid Kagenou, or Shadow as you should be called truly a kindred spirit. A bumbling exterior designed to deflect notice even as we both plot our own path to reach for greatness. That is why, and I'm sure you must understand that feeling."

His dramatic reveal had been stolen; his identity revealed. Even as the room surged with power from the figure in the centre, but he was not to be outdone. For a moment the slime exterior of his suit came loose stretching out as the shadows drew long and seemed to be swallowing him whole. In the next he was truly there, Shadow, the Eminence himself come down to stand before mortals in all his glory even as his lines came to him. "I am Shadow the one who lurks in the shadows to hunt shadows. Know that you have seen into the abyss and thus I have seen into you for your end draws near."

"A splendid performance." The old man clapped openly even as his own magic unfurled. Not the tiny thing the man had held previously that had come in stops and starts but a second ocean in its own right unfurling as the magic of an entire school worth of knights wrapped around the old man. "But I have drunk of the blood of demons, and gazed into the dream of the ancient cataclysm itself so I know full well how deep the abyss can be."

An Ancient Cataclysm. The blood of demons. He was going to have to steal those lines at some point. Mentally he bumped the man up from minor terrorist leader to an A grade villain, if he had halfway decent combat skills he might even get to escape for more climatic duels later on.

With a bow the man pulled free his mask with a flourish worthy of the scene. "Did you like my own performance? Although the help was sorely lacking considering they've all been wiped out by your own associates."

It clicked in his mind, that Barnett also never let go of his delusions and this wasn't just his stage, that there were others like him looking for that one dramatic moment amidst the normality that ruled over the world. Shame he'd been reduced to hiring bandits to get his dream going.

Well, his help had been hired by Alpha, but he'd taught her how to hire good help meaning it was his best efforts teaching them to improve that had done all the work. "I have gifted them with the wisdom of the shadows themselves and armed them with the greatest of weapons. How can the flowers in my garden be compared to bandits casually picked up from the side of the road."

The man sighed wistfully. "There was a time when that was all it would take, and you could walk off into the wilderness and find some random bandits to get them to do your bidding whenever you wanted. Alas times change and they aren't quite as frequent in the current day."

Probably because he'd killed them all. It had been getting harder and harder to find bandits of any description when he went out hunting. At the time he hadn't thought about what impact it would have on those wanting to hire extras for their scenes, but it seemed it was pretty dire.

Maybe he could recommend Alpha's company to the man, she always seemed to be able to hire people on moment's notice for the dramatic reveal. Ah but then he would have ended up killing half of his own hired help and that would impact on his own dramatic reveals.

Barnett smiled softly. "But while my minions are lacking my strength is more than enough, that I alone am enough to turn the tide. Now at the moment of my ascension I stand as a God amongst men."

The rush came and he danced on the edge of the blade, endlessly out of reach as each swing flickered at the edge of his reach. Lutheran was fast yes, stronger than anyone even as the magic within him flittered in stops and starts. "You're struggling to contain it and so your reach exceeds your grasp old man."

"It does." Magic poured out until the sword in his hand glowed red, an unstable torrent of power bleeding free of the blade itself until it carved a greater blade torn free of its limits. It swung and he dodged for real even as the blade trailed off through the wall behind him.

His own blade advanced an endlessly regenerating mass of slime sharpened to a point. The tiniest flicker pushing the blade aside from his body even as each clash tore his own blade to shreds. In the next it reformed the perfect slime blade flowing back into place as his magic pulled it back from the brink to meet the next arc of power once more.

And what a scene it was as the building crumbled down around them, each swing tearing out gouges of the walls as the top floor collapsed, and then the next floor as well as they descended.

"A living creature turned into a blade that follows the will? You have such potential if only you would join us in the darkness. A shadow hesitating on the edge of the abyss between darkness and light and yet one more step and you could be like us and become truly immortal."

To have the chance he threw himself into his role. "All you have done is let the darkness control you, I am no puppet to be pulled along by the strings of a demon nor will I debase myself with your pitiful trinkets."

A smirk greeted his answer and he preened because his lines had been delivered perfectly. "You think you can tame the darkness yourself? Countless young heroes have said it, declared that they would take upon themselves a fragment of a demon's power without being changed. The result is always the same and in time you will know it as well." Damn he took notes because that was a good speech, a real villainous moment right there as Lutheran was bathed in an incandescent glow from his blade.

But he would not be outdone. His own violet magic coming loose as he prepared his ultimate attack for the climax of a battle. "Countless heroes have fallen?" He laughed. "Yet still their voices murmur in the darkness as those brought low by your wicked schemes stand once more. I will bear all of the darkness and carry it on until your schemes have been cast down."

Power surged endlessly on the tip of his blade, dyeing the world blue around him as the two flows of magic seemed to clash in the centre. Lutherans mad grin, his own smile. The devastation and ruins of the building around them as the entire school seemed to have been torn apart by their clash.

"Come bring your strongest blow that I might show you the difference in our power." He felt cool just saying the words.

Lutheran had a double grip on his sword, even as the artifact on his chest burst out everything. All of the magic drained from an entire school worth of knights held in one place drawn forth into a single terrifying blow that burned like the sun. It was not enough.

"Atomic Slash." Power rippled through the world, a single dividing line tearing open the horizon leaving a trail of devastation in its path, an endless line carving earth and heaven asunder under the weight of his own unstoppable will. If it had been at full power nothing would have been able to withstand his blow.

At only thirty percent the chance of survival was still minimal because he had strength beyond anyone else in the world. But Lutheran had proved himself worthy his form barely deflecting it as he disappeared into the distance and his anticipation only grew.

He pulled back his own power staring out at the world around him. Standing as a solitary figure amidst the destruction, the mastermind surrounded by all the kingdoms forces. He waited in place because it was too good to pass up so he could be seen, and all would know he had caused it. Would it be best if Alexia turned up, the princess staring at the devastation unknowing it was her classmate who had managed it. Or a random bystander not knowing that the last boss stood amidst their ranks.

After a few moments he heard footsteps crashing down behind him and turned, spreading his arms wide as he welcomed the audience to the stage. A fiery girl with red hair cascading down her back leading the charge. "The knights finally arrive too late to accomplish anything."

The lady at the front burned even as a handful of other knights spread out to surround him. "Do you think you can get away with this right in front of my eyes?"

He took a moment to meet her gaze, there was a fire in the eyes of this hero but nothing else. "Can you catch the shadows themselves?"

She swung the flames racing for him fire surging up towards him for a moment and he advanced past the blaze. The next swing flickering upwards as he parried with his own blade the tip tracing the edge of her neck. The next moment he was flickering past having broken their cordon and settled down to look back at her.

"A flame to burn away the darkness even as the shadows stand ever outside your reach. Hero of the flame know that today I have purged the darkness lurking in the shadows of your kingdom. You are not yet strong enough to burn back the darkness, but if you temper it well perhaps you can become a proper hero. I will be watching your future with interest."


He settled down onto a rooftop to watch over the cleanup operation on Lutherans scene.

Alpha dropped to one knee head bowed as she spoke. "One of the enemies was able to escape from our cordon Lord Shadow, the leader of the terrorists even while injured managed to break through despite our best efforts. I accept full responsibility so."

"Enough." He motioned for her to rise. "The enemy this time was truly powerful, one of the cults best that was even able to match me briefly, the fact that he escaped your cordon is no fault of your own."

However rather than relaxing Alpha seemed to tremble. "One of the Rounds was capable of matching you, my Lord?"

The Rounds. The words had a lovely tinge to them that far surpassed calling him head bandit or terrorist leader, she really did go all in on her role to keep in character. But how many rounds should there be?

Four demon kings sounded like it was too low a number, eight so there was one for him and one for each of the seven shadows? No that would constrain his image of the act too much and imply he felt their organisation was complete. Twelve was a good number just a tad larger than his own forces but still manageable with a little effort.

"Yes, one of the twelve rounds appeared to maintain their control over the flow of ancient superweapons such as the eye seen in the current battle. But we are stronger and have driven him back even if he was able to escape. It was always inevitable that we would begin to peel back the façade of their darkness and tear their nefarious deeds out into the open, so it is that we have struck a blow to their core leadership for the first time."

Alpha nodded bowing her head reverently as she returned to character. "My lord, should we attempt to pursue him?"

She seemed nervous at the end, and really hadn't they already kept her actors on scene for most of the night? Lutheran needed to have a chance to bide his time if he wanted to come back stronger than ever, to truly give him the challenge he desired. "They have done enough for tonight; it is better to regroup rather than have your troops overextend themselves."

She sighed in relief, even as there was something else beneath it. He was right and the acting company were already being pushed to their limits to attend as much as possible for something like this. Well, it was only natural that they had lives beyond his game, and he had already had such a wonderful night. "Come we must prepare for the battles will only get more serious from here on out. Soon the entire kingdom will be ablaze."

Alpha nodded along. "Should we begin to take over the kingdom in its entirety? We have a plan in motion for if the King works for the Cult himself but hadn't managed to infiltrate to that extent yet."

He thought about it, his very own kingdom to play shadow games with. He'd leave the king in place just so he had someone to do all the boring paperwork and then he'd use his control over the knights to create a true adversary. They couldn't use his colour scheme but a contrast to match his, the red to his blue. "The Crimson Order." Wait there was already a knight order with that name wasn't there. Ah well it was only a game, so it wasn't like Alpha was going to turn around and actually take over the kingdom.

Alpha paused as though to say something before stopping herself. "My lord if you can see a place for them in your plans I will see to it. The cult will be sure to come though if we act openly."

He smirked, letting a glimpse of his own power come to the fore. "When that time comes, I alone will be enough to turn the tide." He turned away revelling in this absolute feeling like a true Eminence in Shadow.

The sound of his footsteps echoing in the darkness as he vanished from sight his role complete.

He would have to thank Lutheran next time they met because those had been some good lines he'd picked up. It really was the best to have a proper villain to play off against, someone who truly appreciated the dramatic. He'd been stuck in a rut with bandits for far too long so now that he'd found an actual villain to take centre stage there were so many more scenes he could contemplate.

Perhaps with a bit of work he could even contact Lutheran in his attempt to organise a proper evil organisation to oppose him. Nothing serious so as not to ruin the surprise that would be in store, but just enough that he would know like all men of culture to name it the Cult of Diablos.

Then once they were annihilated and he could preside over the wreckage he would have that perfect moment of suspense and wonder as it was shown to be a real organisation. He could only imagine the look on the Seven Shadows faces as they were forced to wonder if he'd known it was real all along.


The two of them stood across from one another in the daylight once more. He in his most moblike glory as Cid Kagenou and her the protagonist soon to go on to greater things Sherry Barnett. He envisaged it as the last meeting before she went away, and he could return to his normal life.

"Cid we need to talk because…" She looked away unable to meet his gaze. "A lot happened yesterday, didn't it?"

He nodded along and followed her off a way off where they could be alone from any eavesdroppers except Nu, who was casually looking down on them from the nearby rooftop. Still it was as good as they were going to get so he waited for her to start.

"Cid can you ignite a bit of magic on the tip of your finger?"

Well even he could do something as simple as that as Cid Kagenou, and so with a flourish he pulled the slightest trace of magic free and ignited it on his hand. A paltry trick worthy of a mob style character.

She looked away eyes returning to the floor as she fell into a temporary silence. "You know Cid my… Lutheran could do that too, he said it was an example of supreme control that marked one as a true exemplar. The two of you are similar like that aren't you?"

He blinked idly looking at the tiny light in his hand. It wasn't in the least bit impressive, "Ah well it's the best I can do there are all sorts of tricks for if you're magic skill is greater than mine, but I've worked hard for it." He hadn't worked hard for it, but a mob might have, and his act was perfect.

"They can't, because when a normal knight does it, they release magic all over their hand and only ignite it on their finger. To release it on only a finger while restraining everything else was something only he could do." She fell into a contemplative silence. Even as he examined his finger even more precisely trying to figure out if it was a trick. Had anyone else noticed that little difference, had his whole cover been blown from the beginning.

No, he was pretty sure he was succeeding at being a mob, he had the most moblike friends that could exist and there was nothing abnormal about his everyday life. He'd even managed to get rid of his princess girlfriend so his return to mob status was already a fact.

She spoke again. "Cid… Shadow you could see through his deceptions from the beginning, that's why you got close to me isn't it?"

Did everyone know his identity right now? He frowned even as he kept his face hidden. He wasn't even sure why she'd ended up approaching him, because that had been her choice hadn't it? He'd never even met Lutheran before that. But rather than embarrass himself and admit he had forgotten something there had to be a cooler choice available to him. "Though his darkness was as plain as day, I recognised he had failed to lead you astray. It is your pure heart and unwavering persistence in the cause of good that saw me drawn to you."

She had been the perfect heroine for Lutherans scheme, a pure hearted girl standing up for what was right even as she was unaware that her father had been the true villain all along. It had a certain ring to it.

She thought for a while hiding her face. "Yesterday… It was the second time I had ever seen his swordsmanship when he duelled you and still the shape of that blade is one I will never forget. The first time was the day my mother died, and I could never forget the blade that killed her."

A tragic backstory he knew he'd picked her right when he called her a heroine. "You do not forgive him for her death?" Killing your wife for a scene seemed really dedicated in the end. Could he kill one of the Seven Shadows if it came down to it? Could he hurt them all for the sake of his role? The latter at least was pretty likely.

But she'd continued talking through his musing and he hadn't paid any attention. "Everything in my life since then has been a lie… I guess I'm only good at being used by other people."

That wasn't so bad in his mind either, everything in his life was also a lie just it was one that he'd made up himself. All she needed to do was fully embrace her role and run with it. Soon she too could step forward as a proper hero and carve her name into the history books as her father's nemesis only at the critical moment when all hope seemed lost for a shadowed swordsman to turn up and save her. Even as he conveniently turned out to be her old friend who had been watching over her from the beginning.

Or even becoming a villain like her father delving deep into the root of forbidden knowledge only to be stopped by a shadowy stranger who had once been her boyfriend long ago.

She was fiddling with her fingers at this point but that was okay. "Cid you're planning to fight Lutheran again in the future." He nodded easily enough in response because he had a nemesis, and he wasn't going to waste a plot hook like that if he could help it. "Can I… can you take me with you so at least if I'm getting used it'll be for the right reasons. I want to avenge my mother's death."

It hit him like a truck, except this time he wasn't about to die. The hero had found her resolve to become stronger and here he was, the secretive yet suspiciously powerful mentor figure hiding in plain sight. Everyone had known he existed but only to the chosen one would he grant his arcane secrets as they delved into the truths of the world.

There were so many scenes he could do, he could have a training montage for her, he could give obscure koans only he knew the true answer to and perhaps most importantly of all. It was all the setup for his surprisingly realistic fake death scene at the climax to drive her on for her own hero's journey.

"The shadows contain limitless wisdom and there are many who would be your guide on the path through them. If you would pledge your service to Shadow Garden, you will never find yourself short of comrades and we will help you on your quest."

First, he would introduce her to the other members of Shadow Garden. They'd understand his intentions perfectly and within time she would have the chance to change. The line between truth and lie blurring as they really became her friends. He had it all worked out.


The mist swirled around the room as six of the seven gathered amidst the darkness. Each the most devoted and loyal servants of their Lord trained by his hand and gifted with the wisdom of the shadows themselves. Garbed in black for perhaps the most important meeting Shadow Garden had ever had since their Lord had revealed the existence of the Cult to them in those early days.

At the head of the table Alpha spoke, "One of the twelve rounds did battle with our lord at the recent crisis in Midgar and was able to match him in single combat, even if only for a moment it proves once again that the Cult is more powerful than we are prepared for."

As one the six of them shared glances. The thought of another being on the same level as Lord Shadow hard to comprehend. But they had all pledged themselves to his cause and even in the face of danger they would not stray from the mission he'd given to them.

"Delta will get stronger." She nodded in place and then collapsed backwards into her seat relaxing. But the other five paid her no mind it was already likely the greatest contribution she would make.

Alpha paused. "With the strength of our opponent Lord Shadow ordered me to pull back our forces, we know he has headed towards the Sanctuary and it seems Shadow has already begun making preparations to head there himself to take care of it."

Beta pouted. "Are we cancelling our own raid on the sanctuary? It was my chance to spend time with Lord Shadow."

Alpha paused because it was true that Lindwurm was outside their normal operating area. It was a cult stronghold and that was even more reason to expect another member of the Rounds to appear. Twelve combatants that could make even her Lord fight all out.

"We're going." The door opened at the voice even as Zeta the last of the Seven Shadows returned. "If we cannot be there when there is danger then what use do we have."

"Zeta welcome back." Alpha eyed her younger sister at the words. Ideally they wouldn't be sacrificing any of their members and Shadow had never asked her to push any of them beyond their limits.

But more than that like her sister she wanted to support him. Even if it meant danger, she wanted to stand beside him when he needed it. "We will be cautious but ready to assist. I take it you intend to join this mission as well then Zeta?"

"Of course."

They fell into planning revised roles for the one day of the year the Sanctuary would be open to them all. Schemes and possibilities materialising as they tore through the problem with everything at their disposal. Until she had something complete enough to work, and flexible enough to adapt depending on what they might find. "Is there anything else of importance to bring up?"

"Use this." A small rectangular device appeared on the table in front of them as Eta rose from her slumped position in her seat. At the confused looks she elaborated. "It captures paintings of an object you point it at, you point and click and then V." She raised her fingers for victory.

Alpha considered the object. "That will make it faster to collect copies of all the data we need, thank you we'll be sure to put it to good use."

Eta shook her head. "Want pictures of Shadow for reference material. His stance, his form when he's fighting. The way he controls his magic when going all out."

Beta took over where she left off. "His sleeping form, his charismatic smile, his all-knowing glance."

And Epsilon. "The way he enters the scene, the dashing unveiling of his cloak and his back when he leaves."

The two of them smiled in unison. "We'll be sure to bring back everything you could ever need."

Eta smiled at the two of them and made a v with each hand then returned to her head resting on the table.

"Then you know your roles so prepare yourselves." She smiled as four members left, each knowing their assigned task. And then turned to the two who were left.

"I guess I'll hold the fort as the strongest sword." Gamma smiled at her from her seat. "You can leave looking after Mitsugoshi to me."

But they were the oldest of friends and she could see through her strained smile. "I'll speak to Zeta because she didn't mean it like that, I do need you here as someone I can rely on." She rested a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Especially as Lord Shadow has recently wrested control of the Cults dominance of the lost artifacts and we'll need to arrange something to work through it. Eta how well is the research division doing on that?"

Eta paused half opening her eyes from her slumped position in her seat. "The design ethos for many of the more ancient artifacts differs greatly from the wisdom Lord Shadow imparted on me. While I've made some attempts at looking into them myself without a specialist in the field we're starting from scratch."

It was an esoteric field in the first place. And with recruitment they were reliant on the possessed which didn't tend towards anyone old enough to have invested into such a project. "We'll get back to you on that but for the moment all I ask is you do what you can."

The chances of them acquiring such a figure in the near future were practically zero so they would have to make do with what they had.


AN: I have tried writing in something actually currently airing. Ah well, most stuff in this fandom heads towards Cid becoming more aware of what is actually going on.

This one… ah Cid has found other people who also want to act out their overly serious roleplay. I'm amping up the power of the Cult to deal with that.

Will see how it goes.

Dearest Husk: Chapter one has both Lutheran surviving, Shadow ordering Alpha to begin infiltration of the Crimson Order, Sherry joining Shadow Garden and the explicit confirmation that Shadow Garden is bringing more people to Lindwurm. I mean you're still getting a Lindwurm arc but yes it intends to be more than just a canon rehash.

I mean if you want canon as is, the real work is better written than my own.

So while I want to capture the feel of EIS I do intend to diverge and play various pieces my own way.

Was chapter one not diverging fast enough for you? Sorry not sure what else to say to it as a question.