"Weren't you supposed to be working on your research? What were you doing in bed with Shadow-sama?" fuming Gamma was cute.
"Same… as you… proving my loyalty to our Lord…" Eta slowly waved her hands. "Also this is part of my research…"
"Oh yeah? Well then, dearest Eta, please do tell us in detail what, exactly, does your research cover?" frowning Alpha was cute too.
"M-m-m… I planned to use the two of you to test out how an intercourse between Lord Shadow and Shades would go… unfortunately, the mixtures were messed and instead you fell asleep so I decided to use myself… and Master Shadow denied that and cuddled me to sleep," pouting Eta was especially cute, if Cid was honest with himself.
It was morning, and Cid had to go back to Academy. Well, in truth, Cid just wanted to go to administration and ask for a week-long vacation, using him being wounded during the tournament as a reason, but that didn't stop Gamma from calling in some workers to dress him up. The workers were kinda overzealous, though, but Gamma revealed that he was actually named as a developer for Possession's cure, so it's probably was a gratitude from their side. To be honest, he still couldn't understand how nobody came up with a solution before him, because it is that simple! Just control the flow of magic in person's body and stabilize it, inject a bit of your magic if needed. Done! Cured! Alpha and Epsilon proved that by doing it themselves! Half of yeah after starting training with him! It's just so beyond him that nobody ever tried doing that… Well, it's kinda a given since this is a somewhat medieval world where Church has strong influence, and since they labeled Possession as something bad, nobody even tries to research it.
Right, Academy. He will take vacation and try to research his newly discovered Blood Magic a bit more. Apparently blood is a very good conductor for mana, even more so than the slime itself. There are only two issues:
1. The amount of blood in one's person body is limited compared to abundance of slimes.
2. It may be possible that he has such good control over his blood because it has the same origin as his mana, that being Cid himself; trying to use it on other people's blood may not yield the same result.
Now that he thinks of it, why didn't he try to emulate Elemental Magic? Yes, it's not even researched beyond making artifacts infused with Elemental power (he heard about them in history lessons, but never saw one himself though…), but who stops him? Technically mythril belongs to either Earth or Metal, right? And mythril has a whopping 50% magic conductivity! Yes, in his eyes it's complete shit, but that's only compared to slimes, which have 99% conductivity, but they are an exception, and without counting them mythril cements its place as number one magic conductor… Until he learned about blood, that is.
"Master Shadow… you seem to be in thought… Is something… bothering you?…" Eta tugged at his shirt as other worried Shades stared at him. Looks like he went really deep in thought…
"Oh, right, Eta, I just developed some theories about magic and I wanted you to help me with them," Cid turned to her.
"M-m-m? More… Shadow Wisdom?" she blinked at him.
"Yep, Shadow Wisdom," he agreed. Even though she somehow found out about his identity as an otherworlder (not even Alpha knew that… he shouldn't have slipped but oh well), she still seemed elated at the thought of studying principles of the world together with him. That kinda flattered him, "And don't forget to call Epsilon, too. Her abilities would ease the process a lot."
"Will do…" and victory sign.
"Master Shadow, I understand out of Shadow Garden, Eta and Epsilon are the most well-versed in precise magic control, however I wish to be present at your gathering too," Alpha interjected, frowning.
"Did I forbid any of you to come?" Cid stared at her.
"…N-No, you didn't," blonde elf deflated.
"Then just come, as long as it doesn't mess with your responsibilities," he shrugged.
"Hm… I think I can leave company's management to Nu for the time being… Production is going well… Additional supplies will arrive…" Gamma mumbled, seemingly calculating something.
"Right then, I shall call Beta and Zeta. Beta is currently at the Capital for the publishment of her new book as Natsume Kafka, while Zeta has just returned from reconnaissance mission."
'Oh, reconnaissance? Interesting, what exactly was she doing?'
"Alright, then wait for me in Mitsugoshi while I go and get that damned vacation at academy, then we'll use the whole week of it for training."
As he concluded his speech, Alpha's eyes glimmered.
"Oh, Master Shadow, are you going to allow us to watch your techniques just like when we, the Seven Shades, were first formed?" she inquired happily.
"Yeah, something like that. I am not yet sure about them myself, though, as they are basically on-paper stage, but eight of us should totally crack the code," Cid mused.
"Oh, Bossman, are we gonna do something fun? Yippie!" Delta jumped up from bed.
"Failure is not an option, not with your guidance, Master Shadow," Alpha smiled at him.
"I am not that much of a fighter compared to everyone else, but I'll help out as much as I can, Lord Shadow," Gamma stood behind her beloved Lord.
"M-m-m," Eta merely showed a second victory sign.
Claire Kagenou was suspicious. Very suspicious.
She has long known of the potential her little brother has. However, now she practically confirmed it! You see, there was simply no way for an average person to escape her; the heir of Kagenou family had unnaturally keen senses. However, her brother, who seemed absolutely mediocre and, moreover, bedridden, suddenly disappears from not only hers, but also three prodigy princesses' sights!
Then add to this the fact that he seemingly never learns from their sparrings, remaining at roughly the same level, yet she always drastically improves each time after such experience. Also worth noting that during their sparrings she could frequently feel death's hand… And now recounting that, it was exactly at the moments she was really opened to his attacks! Yet he never attacked and simply allowed her to beat him up! That's really suspicious, if you ask her.
And battle against princess Rose only further proved that! Because during their fights he never really showed that much endurance and was out after first serious injury, yet now he took almost thirty attacks from an opponent that even she was not sure would win against? Color her surprised, now!
And so she came up with a plan: she catches him and forces to spill the beans. Yep, as simple as that. Either he confirms it all verbally or does his disappearing trick again and it would confirm her suspicions, too. "Win-win", as he says!
But there was one problem: he was not at the dorm. She waited for the whole day after finishing Bushin (second place, by the way: she only lost to Rose), yet he didn't come back. After a whole night of stalki- watching she arrived at a conclusion that things were even more off than they seemed to be.
Claire then decided to camp Academy in hopes that he would appear… and it worked! He went directly to administration, though, and once she saw him coming out, she could see a vacation notice in his hands. And at this moment some hus- some female student (grrrrrr) came up to him and they walked together to the exit! What about princess Alexia, then?!
After some time they stopped and that hus- student turned her head around… and stared directly at Claire! She then asked Cid about something, he nodded to her, and they continued walking. That left Claire even more convinced that Cid was in some really dangerous game, as students of that caliber would surely be known to society!…
Unless they hid themselves deliberately.
That was an eye-opening moment for her. She finally connected all the dots that seemingly did not make sense in the past!
She remembered as Cid, back then a mere one year old child, easily saved her multiple times, be it a vase falling over or herself tripping on something. As things went on, his curious gaze was directed at everything at once, especially magic and swordsmanship. However, upon touching the latter exactly one time, his expression twisted in confusion for a moment… and after that he practically never practiced it ever again unless she enforced a sparring session on him, where he would only use the most basic moves. Now the magic, however… his magic was stable.
Now, don't get her wrong, she heard myths about what happens to males that develop Possession, which first sign is magic instability, and of course was very happy for Cid, but his magic was too stable! No person's magic would ever remain that stagnant for a long time!
And speaking of Possession: years ago she got an initial form of Possession, showing in form of black spots on her body. Yet then Cid (on his own!) took her out for a training and shown her some things he called "stretches" while continuously moving his hand around her body… and all signs of Possession were gone! Of course, she simply thought that it was a temporary method, but what if?…
What if Cid actually developed a cure for Possession?
But that didn't explain why wouldn't he present it to society, then. Surely achievement of that level would elevate his status and status of his family to unimaginable heights and forever embed his name in the annals of history, right? Unless… Unless there was something else at play?…
Hold on, Church! Church banned any and all experimentation on Possessed, and all but enforced giving them to it! Of course, a monetary compensation was given in exchange for Possessed, but still, why would they do it? Why not just hunt them down and kill on the spot instead? It would save the time and money wasted on transportation, after all. But if Church had their own agenda at it, that would be a different story.
Of course, Cid would not be able to fight an organization of such caliber… Alone. However, what if he administered the product of his genius to other Possessed out of pity, and upon receiving a cure former Possessed decided that such a divine gift should not go to waste? That would explain why he sometimes seemingly disappears; that's just him going on discussion on how to save more people! And that's why she noticed that her brother upon reaching teenage years seemingly stopped growing in power: in truth he didn't, but had to remain hidden as the only one who ever created a cure against Possession! If he was to be found out, they would surely execute him!
Now she may have a theory… Cid, her beloved little brother, in his genius (which she never doubted!) discovered a cure for Possession. After using it first time the former Possessed realized they could finally live properly again and begged for him to help them in saving everyone else (because how can it be any other way?), to which he, in his kindness (even if he looks like a cold stone she knows he is actually a big softie!), agreed. Since then he had to hide his true power (because if enemies find out who he actually is they would target his family, which is very bad for his double-life!) which made her the heir instead. Then, when she was kidnapped, he and his friends were actually the ones who saved her! It had to be them! But he couldn't show himself to her, so he simply released her from restraints!
…As she continued theorizing, she noticed that Cid and that absolutely-not-suspicious student both went into Mitsugoshi store.
…Which opened up two years ago, exactly at the time she went to the Capital! There's no way all of this is a mere coincidence! Even after that her smart cookie of a brother found a way to protect his beloved big sister while simultaneously having a way to get more funds for the future! That's how it is! And that week-long vacation? Why, that's simply them covering up their operation on saving more Possessed! Come to think of it, this student is somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it…
Alright, that's it! Once he returns back, she would confront him! Then she would persuade him to tell everything about what he has done! And then she would help him out! Because big sister should always protect her little brother!
Especially now that she remembers that Possessed are all women, and they would surely set their sights on her amazing brother! She couldn't allow that! Never!
