As it turned out, I did not have time.
I'm currently sitting on top of my dormitory, several stories above ground with my legs dangling over the side, whilst I peruse a Midgardian newspaper. It's a beautiful, pleasant evening. A nearby songbird fills the air with a merry tune, and there's a gentle, mellow breeze which leaves just the faintest feeling of warmth brushing against my skin. The sun is hanging just above the horizon, bathing the Academy buildings in warm hues and soft tones. If you ignore the faint wisps of smoke, still rising from the buildings which burned down, it looks rather picturesque.
I disregard the sensation of another person entering my dorm room beneath me—it's become a revolving door for several notable female students for the past hour.
While I look through the recent headlines, a couple things stick out to me. Gamma's organization, the Mitsugoshi Company, seems to be turning into quite the economic powerhouse, rapidly expanding its size and influence. I would congratulate her, but nearly everything the company produced was plucked from memories of my past life, without giving me any credit (or more importantly, payment).
And speaking of blatant plagiarism, there's an advertisement for a premier piano performance that catches my eye; those twintails look awfully familiar…
Moving on, there's an article from a concerned researcher about the sudden drop in the slime population, which no one appears to be taking seriously. And… There's an entire page devoted to a picture of me.
Well, an artist's rendition of my Shadow form, with a bounty listed below it that nearly makes me do a double take.
Hmmm… Could I turn myself in…?
No, that would ruin my reputation.
… But that is a lot of Zeni—
—I feel a familiar presence approaching me, at a rather fast pace. That did not take nearly as long as I hoped it would.
A few seconds later, Epsilon is kneeling right behind me.
"Master Shadow. The meeting is ready."
I rise to my feet, dropping the newspaper.
"Right on time." I turn to look at her, since it's been some time since I'd seen the teal-haired girl. My eyes rove over her slime suit, and the rather outrageous silhouette it suggested.
Well… She certainly doesn't look like a little girl anymore.
"Where's Nu?" I ask.
Epsilon rises to her feet, her expression serious. "She passed out as soon as she finished delivering your message to HQ. Alpha checked her, and decided to let her rest for a while.
She pushed herself to her limit."
Ah, I'm sure that's code for 'she just wanted to take a break from playing along with us'. Well, that's understandable.
"Wow. I'm impressed."
"Are you? You should tell her that, Master. We… We want to know when you are satisfied with us…"
Oh? I suppose when someone always does a good job, it can be easy to forget to thank them for it.
I give her a faint smile. "I'm always satisfied with you."
Epsilon puts her hand over her mouth, much like she did when she was younger, letting out a soft gasp.
"~Oh, I'm so happy to hear that, Master!" She beams at me, clutching her hands together.
"... But that doesn't mean any of you should stop striving for improvement."
She nods, dropping her hands. "Certainly, my lord. We must always work hard if we are to catch up to you."
Well… Good luck with that. It certainly wasn't impossible, but I had yet to encounter anyone in this world who understood the insurmountable power of the atom.
As she stands before me, Epsilon sticks her hands on her hips, jutting her chest out. It seems she's developed quite the taste for… Flair, shall I say? Still, I'm impressed by what she's managed to do with the slime suit. Epsilon was a gifted musician, and now it was clear she was also a talented sculptor. I know the reason behind the music (money), but I do wonder what has motivated her to be so dedicated to her appearance…
I stick my hand over my chin, thinking a few things over. It seems like the right time for some Shadow Wisdom.
"I am impressed by both your magical prowess, and your physicality, Epsilon. But there's something I must share with you," I address my loyal servant in front of me, whose eyes seem to glow brighter with every word.
"Sometimes being who you are is enough. Sometimes the person you were born as—that is the person you're meant to be."
There. That sounds sufficiently wise, while also vague enough to apply to nearly anything.
Epsilon reacts perfectly; the elf takes a step back, her eyes widening as if she has just been shown the secrets of the world.
"M-master! I–" She shakes her head, composing herself. "I understand, Master. I will reevaluate my priorities…"
"Magic can be a wonderful thing, Epsilon. It can reshape the world as you see fit." I give her a knowing look.
"But sometimes… Sometimes things are better left the way they are. There is a certain, undeniable beauty to be found in the purity of nature, no?"
Epsilon stares at me; her lips are slightly parted, but no words come forth. Her eyes are shining, as if they were beneath a shallow pool of clear, pristine mountain water, flowing like molded glass shaped from melted snow.
Maybe she'll get some confidence in her natural body type. I wouldn't directly tell her otherwise, but I didn't care for the idea that she was changing herself because she was unhappy with her true appearance.
Changing your looks for the sake of being cooler was perfectly fine in my book, of course.
After a sufficient amount of time to let my words soak in, I adopt my Shadow outfit. The slime molds over my body in an instant, the dark color of the suit feeling as natural as my human skin. I do take some inspiration from her, and pad my boots an extra half inch.
No, it's not the same.
I turn to address my companion, who is just putting away a handkerchief with a faint smile.
"It's time."
Epsilon bows her head, but doesn't move.
Oh… Is she waiting for me to move first?
"I'll let you take the lead."
I'd rather not admit the reason why.
"Oh! Yes Master!" She replies eagerly, before leaping off the building, faster than the human eye can follow.
I match her pace easily as we exit the city and head into the wilderness.
As we sprint through trembling trees and across fallen leaves, I notice a peculiar sound coming from the person beside me.
Hmm, is she out of breath already? It's been quite a while, so perhaps I should do some sparring with the Shadows again. I begin to imagine some training montages in my head to pass the time, as we cover many miles of ground in only a few minutes. Yes, there's some good opportunities there—a few sparring sessions with the wiser master, add a few dramatic, cliche lines…
Ahhh, the perfect recipe.
In no time at all, we pass safely through the misty forest, and arrive into an ancient city.
Alexiaville or something, I think it was called. I'd only been here once, to defeat a dragon, so I wasn't the most familiar with it—'twas a good thing I had someone to guide me to the right place.
Our run slows to a relaxed walk as soon as we enter the outskirts. It wouldn't be very cool if it seemed like I was in a hurry, afterall. As we progress through the varied buildings, some already restored with others still in progress, I see many, many different women performing various tasks.
Most of them appear to be elves, with some beastkin and humans intermixed among them. They're all young and beautiful, for some reason. In the distance, I can hear what sounds like mock fighting, while a vaguely familiar voice shouts out instructions.
"Impressive. Gamma and Alpha have really expanded their business," I absentmindedly say to Epsilon. She shoots me a strange look, before shaking her head and smiling again.
Ah, right. She always stays in character, doesn't she?
We walk up to the outer wall of the castle, and are greeted at the entrance-way by what appears to be two elves. One is blonde with a hidden eyepatch, the other with mismatched eyes and tan skin.
"Master… These two are my top subordinates!" Epsilon waves a hand at them, her voice ringing with pride. "This is Kai, and this is Omega."
I put my hand on my chin, pretending to inspect them closely for Epsilon's sake. Hmm, they seem to be shaking. Are they cold?
"Wearing stylish clothing is imperative," I say. The three around me lean forward. "But it is just as important to be comfortable in what you are wearing, especially in proportion to your environment."
There's a distinct silence in the air as three sets of eyes stare at me. The two subordinates nod enthusiastically at my words, their bodies not quivering quite as much as before.
"… Well, Lord Shadow?"
"They look good."
I can practically feel the radiance of Epsilon's smile, and the soft exhales from the two in front of me. I give them a nod, and then we continue on, the two following a short distance behind us.
As we enter the inner courtyard of the castle, there's the simultaneous snapping of many boots against the ground. Lined up on either side are dozens of armored warriors, their faces stoic as they stand at attention for our passage.
Ah, now I really feel like a VIP.
"Good work, Epsilon."
"T-thank you, My Lord!"
I note that their armor seems to be based off of something I told Eta years ago about
Kevlar… Hmm, I don't know how well that would fare against swords, but there are guns in this world, so maybe it balances out. After marching across the courtyard, we are standing in front of the massive doors to the inner castle. The tall building erupts into many towers high above us, dotted with a number of windows.
Though they are invisible, I can sense the enormous amount of defensive measures put into place. Hidden within the newly plastered walls, and beneath the stone at our feet. Idly, I wonder who their designer was; they seem to be rather… Ruthless.
A plainly dressed maid greets us at the door, wordlessly waving us in with a deep bow. I step through, almost pausing mid step as I pass the threshold from the bright outdoors into a world of luxury. From the red and gold threaded carpet, up to the high ceiling covered in frescoes depicting myself and the shadows as if we were religious figures, I am reminded of the lavish European palaces and opulent Catholic cathedrals I'd seen pictures of in my past life. Everywhere I look in the immaculately adorned entrance, there's either a famous painting, or a maid standing at attention as we pass into the main hall.
"Shadow Garden has truly come into its own," I say.
"Yes my lord; we strive everyday to live up to your expectations," Epsilon replies.
As we progress further down the hallway, I note the amount of powerful auras in the building. The air is thick with magic. They must be very confident in the security of this place, if they're letting their magic out so freely.
So then it must be fine if I let mine a little loose, right?
I release a tiny part of my power, letting it fill the castle with its invisible presence. Though I can still sense them, the other auras are utterly dwarfed by it.
Walking a step behind me, Epsilon suddenly trips, catching herself so quickly most people wouldn't have even noticed it. I glance at her out of the edge of my vision. She's biting the corner of her lip, repeatedly looking at me and then away for some reason. I look forward again and see that the rest of the maids in the hallway are all gasping, some looking like they're about to keel over. Hmm, they must have been standing for a while, to be that tired.
I must admit, I rather respect that level of dedication.
A few moments later, we're standing outside a room with double doors—which if my senses are correct, houses the rest of the Seven.
Epsilon, who seems a bit red in the face, turns towards me, bowing slightly. I notice that she already made some reductions to her slime suit.
"F-forgive me, my Lord. M-may I be permitted to enter first?"
Ah, she's good. Yes, as the secretive leader of a powerful organization, I should be the one everyone else is waiting on.
"Proceed."
She nods, quickly slipping through the doors with such speed it was as if she simply phased through them.
After waiting a few moments for dramatic effect, the doors burst open with a wave of my magic; I enter the room, striding purposefully forward as if I'd actually been there before. The doors slam shut behind me as I come to a sudden stop in the center of the room, letting my cape buffet behind me.
Dominating the center of the rather large room is a regal, utterly flawless looking table, made of a dark tinted wood, with seven empty chairs arranged on the sides, and an equally empty throne on the opposite end. On either side of the room, kneeling before me, are the Seven Shadows, who I haven't seen together in quite some time. Peculiarly, all of them are a bit out of breath. They seem to be hot—or something along those lines—judging by the flushed and sweaty appearance of what little skin is visible.
Strange… Anyway, I cast my gaze across the room, acknowledging my followers from right to left: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta.
"Rise, my Seven Shadows," I command. They obey as one, standing up and looking at me.
Ah… So cool!
I realize now that my magic is making the room a bit stuffy, so I reign it back in. There's the sound of a simultaneous sigh of relief, which must be because they were tired of kneeling.
With some subtle magical wind blowing my cape, I stride across the room and take the kingly chair at the head of the table, sitting down in it. The others follow my lead and take their own seats, expectant gazes turned towards me. Well, all except three.
Zeta faces me with visible resolve, falling back down to one knee as she looks to the floor.
"Master Shadow… Forgive me. As the one responsible for intelligence and surveillance, it is my failure for allowing the Academy attack to take place."
Epsilon abruptly joins the beastkin with her own kowtowing, bowing all the way down with her forehead on her hands.
"No my lord, this is my burden and my responsibility. Please, punish me as you see fit."
Before I can even finish my next thought, Gamma abruptly follows their lead as she half-falls, half-kneels into an awkward bow next to my chair.
"No, my lord. As the Shadow residing in the capital, it is my responsibility. Please… I await your judgment."
… Where was this coming from? When have I ever punished them?
It looks like Alpha is about to stand up as well, but I fix her in place with my gaze, giving her the slightest shake of my head. She nods, though the lines on her face are still drawn into a faint frown.
Hmm… Maybe they misinterpreted my reason for calling this meeting. Well, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you don't need to go that far.
I turn slightly in my chair, resisting the urge to pat the head of dark blue hair just out of my reach.
"You responded just as I expected of you, Gamma. You may take your seat."
I look to the other two, letting another moment pass for dramatic effect.
"Epsilon. Zeta. You simply had no part to play in this act. You may return to your seats."
The three of them hesitate for but a moment, before smoothly standing and sliding into their chairs. Well, one of them not quite so smoothly.
I draw a deep, audible breath as everyone's eyes are glued to mine.
"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen. The school attack was according to my design. Our enemies do not know how to respond to us, so they lash out impulsively, without strategy."
I cast an intentional glance at my three troubled subordinates.
"This is why there was no warning. In the future, you must expect the unexpected."
There's silence, except for the sound of Beta furiously scribbling in her notebook.
"Master… Your wisdom never ceases to amaze me," Gamma comments in a daze.
"Hah. Told'ya the boss wasn't angry," Delta mutters towards Zeta, before adding a barely audible jab.
"Stupid cat."
"I heard that, Delta." Zeta snaps, her voice threaded with danger.
Oh, these two. Well, you know what they say about cats and dogs. Hey, I wonder if…
Nah, nevermind. If It didn't work with Rose and Alexia, it's unlikely to work here.
"Delta."
I give her a stern look.
"Behave."
Suddenly, all that's visible from her chair is a pair of fluffy ears poking above the table. I shake my head, before addressing the rest of my followers.
"Alas, my Seven Shades, I have assembled you today… With grave news."
I stand, smacking my palm against the table. The sudden noise makes everyone jolt.
"My Cid persona… Has failed."
Amidst a sea of gasps and shocked faces, Alpha immediately stands up, knocking her chair over, followed almost instantaneously by Zeta.
"Say the word, Shadow. We will deal with whatever has occurred."
"Master, if we move quickly, we can still salvage the operation!"
I stare mournfully at them, while inwardly I'm grinning like a madman.
"No… It is too late." I shake my head slowly. "The forces arrayed against us… Are insurmountable."
"... Master?" Eta questions, her head tilted to the side.
"I have fallen prey… To the whims of women."
That… Provokes a very different reaction than what I was expecting. Now nearly everyone is standing, and radiating absolutely murderous intent.
The chandelier above us starts to vibrate.
I raise my hand, projecting calm.
"Peace, my Shadows. This is not the end. I knew this day would come."
"Shadow…" Alpha's voice sounds noticeably strained. "Can you… Clarify what you meant about 'the whims of women'?"
They're still hung up on that? Well, I guess I'll just have to say it.
"Cid was meant to fade in the background, unnoticed as he moved in the shadows. But ever since I've started at the academy, more and more women have… Noticed me. The princesses, my nagging sister, the researcher, even people I've never spoken to have started approaching me as if I'm suddenly a… Main character."
With contemplative looks, the shadows slowly sink back into their seats, the enormous amount of magical power which had built in the room fading away to nothing. Inwardly, I let out a sigh of relief.
Now Beta addresses me, putting down her pen and notebook. "Well… We could always simply eliminate everyone who is bothering you, my lord."
I stare at her.
Beta begins to fidget in her seat. A few beads of sweat start to fall down her face.
Alpha speaks up for her. "Shadow, please forgive Beta's impertinence. She spoke without thinking."
"It's fine." I wave it off.
There's the sound of several breaths being released at once. I look around the room, but it seems no one else has any ideas about my tragic failure. I sigh, lowering myself back into my comfy chair.
There's some silent conversations going on, judging by the eye contact between certain members, but I couldn't possibly fathom what they're about. Finally, my favorite tall elf leans forward in her chair as she begins to speak.
"Lord Shadow…" Gamma starts, "perhaps this is not such a bad thing?"
"Hmmm, Gamma may be right, my lord," Epsilon says. "Your Cid disguise has served its purpose; it is long overdue that the world sees the full glory of your magnificence."
"... Even if they may not deserve it," Beta adds quietly.
Suddenly, Delta bolts upright in her seat, her tail pointed straight into the air. "Everyone, I figured it out!"
"Please, enlighten us," Zeta snipes.
Delta turns to her, enthusiasm overriding any sense of mockery. "Yes-yes, they're just more women for bossman's harem!"
She looks to me. "You're gonna make a harem, right boss?"
…
I… Have no idea how to respond to that, so I just give her a slight nod, hoping that will satisfy her.
"Yay!" Delta smiles toothily with her eyes closed.
Seems it did.
"... I was wondering when you were going to get around to that," Zeta mutters.
"Oh, I'm so happy!" Epsilon exclaims, clasping her hands together. Across from her, Eta draws herself up, filling her lungs as she sets her purple eyes on me, spotting a rare blush.
"Master… When you begin your procreation… I would like to observe…"
There's a definite note of silence in the room.
"… For research," the elf adds, almost as an afterthought. There's a rather concerning look on her face at the present moment.
Hmm. I think it might be a bit too soon for those kinds of activities, Eta.
"Oh please, take me first, Master Shadow!" Beta declares, her chest moving significantly due to her enthusiasm.
In response to her words, there's a low growling noise, much akin to the rumble of a wolf echoing through the room. I strain my hearing, surprised to find that it seems to be coming from Alpha.
Interesting. Is she part beastkin too?
Well, anyway. This conversation has rapidly fallen into 'uncool' territory. I think I've got an answer, even if it wasn't the one I was looking for.
"It is wise to plan for the future. However, we must not let it distract us from the present moment. I will not be taking anyone… Today."
I survey the table, noting the large degree of enthusiasm everyone showed for that particular topic. Well, almost everyone.
Gamma looks a little down, for some reason. I'll have to look into that.
But for the meantime, I raise my voice again, everyone's eager eyes upon me.
"Thank you, my Shadows. I know exactly what must be done, and so it shall be."
I have no idea what I'm going to do. I suppose I'll sleep on it, and go from there. As for my star cast of supporting characters, I think I should offer them a reward, especially after all the trouble I put them through today. Perhaps some more healing magic…?
No, that's really just for show. I suppose I could use the classic 'one favor' thing.
Hopefully they would be reasonable requests… Well, If I needed more money, I could always just go back to mooching off of Alexia.
Speaking of… If I were to 'date' her and Rose at the same time, I could double my earnings. Hmm…
I notice that everyone is still staring at me, anxiously waiting for the rest of my declaration.
Oh. Whoops.
"My loyal servants… I have decided."
There's a notable tension in the room. These seats are rather squeaky, judging by the noise everyone is suddenly making in them.
"You have performed well. And so, I will reward you." I turn and look at each of them.
"You may name any one wish of me, and I will see it granted. Through this, you will see the true extent of my power."
There's a wave of gasps through the room. Even the maids standing in the corner, unnoticed until now, react strongly. Ah, Alpha really outdid herself with hiring such professional actors.
"Master! I wish for you to start your harem very soon! Like, this week soon!" Epsilon cries out, barely able to stay still in her chair with the enthusiasm suddenly bursting out of her.
"I second that!" Beta nods furiously, the braid in her hair flying up and down.
Hey…
"Well, Master? Surely such an easy request should be no trouble for you," Alpha says to me, her voice utterly devoid of humor.
But I've known her for long enough, and I can see the barest hint of a smirk at the corner of her lips.
Why, you… Eh, fine. If it makes them happy, I'll do it. It's not like I'll exactly be suffering because of it anyway.
I guess I'm just going to have to commit to it.
"Alright Epsilon, Beta," I smile generously at them. "As you wish it, so too shall I grant it."
My words have… Quite the instantaneous effect on the room. I won't describe the sounds my Shadows are making, as they seem a bit… Inappropriate for civilized company.
I give them a moment to compose themselves again, coming down from… Whatever it was that they just experienced. Honestly, I'm surprised to see that even Eta possesses that side to her.
After the noise dies down, our resident feline reclines in her chair, putting her hands behind her head as she smirks. "There are those who said this day would never come… What have they to say now?"
Zeta! Quit stealing my lines!
"Does anyone else know what they'd like to wish for?" I ask the room at large, not wanting to give them time to soak in her awesome sounding words.
Alpha and Gamma look contemplative, while Delta just stares at me, an eerily calm expression on her face.
"Zeta? Eta?"
"I… Need some time to think it over, Master." Zeta says with an intense look of concentration.
"And I… As well, Master," Eta breaths out. "I will not waste this… Extraordinary opportunity…"
… I'm starting to get a little worried. I overhear Beta and Alpha whispering about something; the words 'Shadow' and 'schedule' are the only things I catch.
I feel the sudden urge to make myself scarce, so I raise my voice over the table.
"Well, my Shadows, I have pressing matters calling for my delicate touch. When you decide, you know what to do."
I actually don't have anything pressing, but they don't need to know that.
"Understood, Master," everyone responds with. Well, some of them used 'my lord' instead of Master. Really, I don't understand their preference, but either title is cool enough for me.
Just as I am about to stand up and make my escape, Alpha addresses the other shades.
"Since we're all here, we may as well have our weekly meeting. Does everyone have everything they need?"
There's a chorus of agreements, as some of the maids come over and place various books and documents in front of Gamma, Beta, and Alpha.
Normally, I wouldn't even spare a glance for this sort of inevitably boring business type meeting. But, for whatever reason, I've yet to sit in on one. I place my hand on my chin, as if heavily weighing a significant choice.
"I shall stay for this meeting."
I am curious to see how Gamma and the rest have been turning my knowledge into such massive profits.
Alpha drops the binder she was holding, her wide eyes on me.
"... Of course, Master Shadow." She glances at everyone else, and I notice there's a sudden change in the atmosphere. Ah, I suppose they'll still try to put on a show for me, even if it's just going to be going over ledgers and sales or whatever it is they do here.
With that, Beta starts carefully reading the highlights from the last meeting, including the assignments everyone was supposed to complete. Huh, it seems they really are going to keep acting for me.
"Oh!"
With a sudden yell, Delta abruptly stands up, rushing over towards my chair as she interrupts the Second Shadow.
"Delta knows what her wish is!"
I hold up my hand, and by some miracle she stops just short of crashing into me.
"What is thy wish, my loyal servant?"
"Delta wants to sit on Bossman's lap!"
I can hear Zeta sigh in the background.
"... That's your wish? Are you sure?"
"Of course!" She replies without hesitation.
I regard her for a moment, before I pat my thigh with my hand.
"Delta, come."
With a single bound she leaps through the air, somehow landing softly in my lap. Her bushy tail curls around me as she settles in. I'm glad I'm wearing my slime suit; otherwise her fur would feel quite ticklish against my skin. I almost feel bad for Zeta, but there's no room for a cat and a dog on the same lap.
I run my hand through her hair, and then start absentmindedly stroking her fluffy ear as I motion for Beta to continue.
The silver-haired elf looks slightly constipated now. Ah, she's having bathroom troubles too? How unfortunate.
I'll slip her some advice about that later.
The meeting continues, as the other shadows report success on their missions, some of which are surprising in their creativity. They're almost… Too unusual to be made up…
Stray thoughts begin to enter my mind, causing me to figuratively swat them away due to their absurdity. I place both my hands on my dog's ears, attempting to distract myself with their softness.
Delta turns to me, shifting her hips on my lap as she does so.
"Delta can't wait until you start breeding us, Master." Her voice is quiet and husky as she whispers, her breath hot against my ear.
"We're gonna make so many strong babies!"
… Delta. Seriously.
I can feel the perspiration forming on my forehead. Somewhere else, I can feel something stirring.
I sigh quietly to myself. Even with my enormous power, I still ultimately possess the body of a teenager. I redirect my focus to the meeting, ignoring the strange feelings her words brought upon me.
But… As the meeting drags on, there's an even greater feeling that's beginning to rise within me.
They're… Not talking about business. Well, Gamma does report on her company and its plans, but that's only for a few minutes before they move on to the other reports. Reports that are entirely about the Cult of Diablos, and Shadow Gardens' attempts to thwart them and build its power-base at the same time.
Infiltrations, sabotage, assassinations, an endless slew of details that match perfectly with what little outside news I've heard of. Everything is so complicated, intricate, and interconnected.
It's… Too much to just be made up. The things they're talking about…
It's… Real?
There's something growing in my chest. A distinct discomfort that isn't matched even by a sword through my ribcage.
What… What is this feeling?
"So warm," Delta mutters as she leans back into my chest.
My whole body is warm.
But especially my face.
I… I'm having trouble understanding what's happening right now. My mind is racing as fast as my heart is beating, but any semblance of logic or sense has fled me.
In no time at all, the meeting is adjourned. The other shadows talk amongst themselves quietly, some of them standing up as if to leave, but they all keep stealing glances at me.
I have a headache. Delta pats my leg, before strutting off.
I–When did she get off my lap?
When did… When did they…
I can't even form coherent thoughts. I take a deep, shaky breath, willing my magic back under control. It had been temperamental before, but now it was nothing short of a raging storm.
I need to figure this out.
The cult of Diablos… Was real.
The cult… Shadow Garden… All the things we had done…
All the things the Seven had done for me…
It's all real.
It always was.
This whole time.
Every single moment.
All those reports Beta fed to me, that I'd steadily ignored. The operations, the messages, those looks of determination and devotion that were too perfect to be real. I thought I had obtained the power that I'd always sought, along with the closest possible reality of the position that I so desperately craved.
Yet, unbeknownst to me, this facade that I had built was filled with more truth than I ever dared believe. The girls that I saved and raised from misery and decay had built something truly incredible, something that I should have had absolute knowledge of. Instead I was off living in infantile fantasies, when I should have been—
—Here. Right here, where I'm finally sitting now. But no, my mind was in the clouds, dreaming of fantasy and failing to see reality. I hadn't a clue what was really going on. My ultimate dream was there right in front of me, and I was too foolish, too deluded to see it.
My throat burns. I taste ash on my tongue.
After all this…
Could I even call myself the Eminence in Shadow anymore…?
I was used to feeling out of the loop at times, but this was on a whole nother level. This was a secret that no one could ever discover.
Otherwise it would invalidate everything I've worked towards.
In the distance, or maybe somewhere near, I can hear something. Like the steady beat of a massive drum, echoing deep within a mountain, thundering through abandoned mineshafts and striking terror into whatever unfortunate souls were ensnared by its booming thrall.
This noise is… My heartbeat.
Around me, there's a flurry of silent and nonverbal conversations, and everyone quickly departs the room.
I am left staring at the wall, staring at nothing, staring at the truth that I lived as a lie.
Oh, wait. Someone stayed here with me.
In fact, I am left with my first real friend in this world. Though I know she's in here, I feel as if I am utterly alone. My heart continues to thunder as the fury of revelation refuses to abate its grasp on me.
I want to laugh, I want to scream; I want to tear something apart.
I feel… Stupid.
Huh? Oh, there's also an earthquake happening at the same time. Weird.
Alpha kneels down in front of me, firmly taking my hand in her own. Her eyes are bright, and filled with a fire I've never seen. Behind her, the chandelier crashes to the floor.
"Cid… I can see that something has upset you."
She squeezes my hand. It's… Not an unpleasant feeling.
It feels warm.
Around us, the room has stopped shaking.
"You asked us for our wishes. Well, I would say my wish is for you to rely on us more. We are instruments of your will. There is nothing we can not overcome by your order. But…"
Alpha blinks, her face covered by her lengthy hair as she glances down.
"I know you insist on carrying the burden yourself. So I won't ask for that."
Deep blue eyes find mine again. Her gaze is so fierce it feels as if I'm staring directly at the sun.
"So instead, I want you to tell me what's bothering you. That is my wish."
… Damn.
"Alpha… Do you think I am perfect?"
The elf takes a moment before responding. She's still leaning in front of me, grasping my hand.
"I think you are the closest to perfection that a person is capable of being."
That's… Well, that's a clever answer, I suppose.
"Even I am capable of making mistakes. Would you believe me, if I said I'd just discovered a major one?"
"Yes," the blonde replies without hesitation.
Hey. You don't need to respond that quickly…
I narrow my eyes at her, but she seems unfazed.
"Well, I did. I made an… Error in judgment, you could say." I wave my hand, reattaching the chandelier to the ceiling with some superficial magic.
"I was under a… Misunderstanding about something. While listening to your meeting, I was made aware of it, though its impact was so great it took me some time to fully comprehend it."
As I explain myself to her, Alpha's eyes are wide and her expression is deathly serious as she follows my every word.
"... I understand, Cid. Thank you for telling me. If I can help you in any way, please, tell me."
Her hand is still holding mine, and now she's rubbing small, comforting circles over it with her thumb.
"Alpha…"
Looking into her eyes, I know she deserves far better than what I've given her.
"You have already helped me more than you can know."
She instantly opens her mouth to protest, but I stop her by shaking my head.
"You have led Shadow Garden in my stead, and you have done exactly as I wanted. But now…"
My gaze trails to the side, as the weight of this moment truly dawns on me. I look back at her, my voice finally returning to its usual deep tone as Shadow.
"Now I will honor your desires, my first Shadow. I will be taking on my full role as the Master of Garden, and bring all of you along with me."
Alpha's breath hitches, and her grip on my hand grows very tight. She releases a breathy sigh, her blue eyes blinking at me.
"I am… I'm so happy Cid. Truly, you are everything to me. If you need anything, I will be at your side in an instant."
Her words sink into me, like potent rays of sunshine soaking into my skin.
I know, now, that she is completely serious.
Well… That's something else I'll have to think about later. For now, I give her a nod, and she slowly brings my hand up to her face, giving it a soft kiss, before quickly standing up.
Alpha takes a step back and is about to turn away, when something appears to cross her mind.
She looks at me with an unreadable expression.
"And another thing for your consideration, Shadow. There are seven days in the week, just as there are Seven Shadows at your service. I trust you know what this means."
"Of course."
… Of course, I have no idea what she's talking about. Oh, wait…
Oh dear. Perhaps my days of freedom are nearing their end. Well, that can wait for when I can actually deal with it.
My mind is still unbalanced, and there's a distinct annoyance in my torso; some strange tightness that's wrapping around my ribcage like a snake intent on suffocating its prey.
My First Shadow makes her way to the door, her hand reaching for the handle.
"Alpha…"
She pauses, looking back.
"Thank you," I murmur.
She smiles again, and the pressure in my chest feels ever so slightly lighter. Then the elf is gone, leaving me alone with my turbulent thoughts.
Seconds, minutes, perhaps hours pass. But I'm no closer to wrapping my head around it. Well, sitting around isn't helping matters.
With some reluctance, and a certain amount of forced concentration, I leave the room in a daze.
My steps feel sluggish, and lethargic, droning on and on and on, as I wander down the seemingly infinite hall. Some of the maids cautiously approach me, but they all turn away, hastily bowing and apologizing upon seeing my demeanor.
Vivid, warm colors from the sunset outside filter through the windows, making everything appear almost as if it were glowing with a heavenly yellow light.
It gives the impression of a being in a dream. Which, thanks to the clouds brimming in my mind, feels appropriate.
I hear a hushed conversation, and find my feet dragging myself towards it. Out of curiosity, or… Something else, I do not know.
I approach two elves, the taller of whom I instantly recognize.
Gamma, her dark blueish hair falling nearly all the way to the floor, turns to face me, beaming happily. The person she was talking to bows and disappears.
As I walk over to her, my thoughts dwell on her role in Shadow Garden.
Gamma was one of those who always thought rather lowly of herself. Given her distinct lack of combat prowess, it was hard for her to be confident when she was among the likes of Alpha, Delta, and Zeta. I had to show her that there was more to being a shadow than just fighting strength. Her intellect and ingenuity were impressive in their own right; she simply needed to see that in herself.
It was by my words and advice that she built her multi-billion Zeni company. Ahhh, now I remember…
I remember when she pledged her life, and the entire company to me. I thought it was all just for show.
This whole time…
I thought she was making a profit off me, without sharing any of it. But no…
That wasn't the case at all.
A heavy weight settles in the bottom of my chest. I can feel the grip on my magic loosen ever so slightly.
There's a tremor in the hallway, as Gamma stops smiling.
"L-lord Shadow!?"
She rushes towards me, the alarm on her face quickly morphing into panic as she inevitably trips over herself.
She flies through the air, her face crashing into my torso. I reach out and catch her arms before she falls to the floor, holding her up. She's rather light, though maybe my sense of weight isn't that accurate anymore. I set her on her feet, making sure she's not going to fall again before I let her go.
She nods at me hastily, before grasping one of my arms, apparently unaware that she's doing it.
"Shadow, are you alright?"
I batter down my magical aura as I look to the side, lowering my voice.
"I… Have just discovered a terrible truth."
She gulps audibly, her arms falling to the side. But despite her outward hesitance, there's something far stronger shining in her eyes.
"I see… If there's anything you need, my lord, you only have to ask. I am here for you, always," Gamma pledges, her hand placed over her chest. She beams at me again; but all I can do is look at her.
I look at her for a long time.
A trickle of blood begins to leak from her nose, which I notice is injured.
I pull out my standardized mob-handkerchief, wiping away the blood which was just above her lips. I let out a bit of healing magic as I do so, causing the elf to exhale rather breathily as her face is bathed in violet light. I don't want to smear her face, so I'm careful as I apply the piece of cloth. Her hand reaches up to stop me, pausing just before she makes contact.
"M-master… Please, don't use your handkerchief on me…"
"Gamma."
"...Yes, my lord?"
"It's fine."
She nods, though her face is still contorted in a frown.
My task done, I take a step back. Yet another maid appears by my side, so I hand them the stained 'kerchief. I think over the fateful meeting we had, and something that I had noticed.
"Have you decided on your wish?"
"Yes, my lord…" Gamma places a hand over her chest, drawing a deep breath. "I wish… For you to consider including me in your harem."
"Gamma…"
Her violet eyes glance down at the floor, followed by her head tilting downwards.
I shake my head. "Of course you'll be included. You are my Third Shadow, are you not?"
"Yes…"
Hmm. I see.
"Gamma. I do not judge you, or any of the Shadows, by combat ability, or beauty, or even intelligence."
I put my finger under her chin, lifting it upwards.
"I judge you by your heart. And I know yours is more than worthy."
Gamma's mouth hangs open in disbelief, so I keep going.
"My loyal Shadow, you've done so much for me. So much that I haven't appreciated, there's so much that I misunderstood, I–"
I take a deep, steadying breath, surprised at my own forthcomingness. Judging by Gamma's expression, so is she.
I pat her cheek, before letting my arm drop to the side.
"Do you… Understand, Gamma?"
She looks at me for a moment without saying anything. Something sparkles in the faint light, as it trails down her cheek.
"I–I Understand. Thank you, Shadow. Truly. I… Get caught up in my head sometimes, and forget your immeasurable wisdom and guidance. I cannot put into words what you mean to me, but I hope I will be able to someday."
Hmm… It seems I really neglected my followers, if I was so blind to their true feelings.
There's another thought for later.
I survey the woman before me, satisfied with her current state. Well, except for one thing: my eyes are drawn to her high-heeled shoes.
They may not be the culprit, but they certainly aren't doing her any favors.
"You might want to ditch the high heels, Gamma. It's not like you need them anyway."
As she absorbs my words, She looks… Disappointed, or confused maybe?
It's not a great look on her.
"You look good without them," I clarify.
She takes a shaky step back in response, before composing herself and smiling warmly at me. With those rosy cheeks, it's a much better look on her.
"Thank you, my lord."
"... That's a nice smile," I say quietly.
As my words sink into her, Gamma adopts a dopey expression and her eyes are glazed over, so I turn and leave her standing in the hallway, trusting that she won't fall if she's standing still, even if she's swaying a bit.
That conversation was a bit more… Revealing than I'd like. Hopefully my image as a shadow-broker wasn't ruined…
Though, I suppose if I am to take up my role and include them in my… 'harem', I'll have to be a lot more open than I used to be. Tch, I suppose becoming that sort of protagonist was inevitable, considering I was reborn into another world…
I continue to roam around the castle, taking some time to collect my thoughts. My magic is still simmering just below the surface, for some reason. I've never had any real issues controlling it up til now…
I hear sluggish steps behind me.
Ah, Eta. My lovely psycho-scientist.
"Master…"
I stop and turn around to face her. By now, the sun has long since set outside. The two of us are bathed in the light of the orange-tinted lamps which fill the corridor; grandiose, gold accented green wallpaper lines both sides, the architecture in this part of the castle just as grand as the rest.
Eta's purple eyes roam over me. I have no idea what she's looking for, but it appears that she finds it, as she nods silently to herself.
"Master… It's been a long time… Since you have shared… The Shadow Wisdom with me…"
I put my hand to my chin.
"Yes it has, hasn't it?" I look at her face more closely. Her eyes are bloodshot and her back is slouched, as if she can barely maintain the energy to stand.
"Let's fix that."
I walk over and open the closest door to me, entering a small sitting room. I can hear Eta shuffle in behind me, slamming the door shut with a swipe from her slime suit.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"Oh… Yes, Master…"
I sit down on a small couch, gesturing for her to sit next to me.
Eta plops down, sinking into the cushions as her shoulder brushes mine. She's staring at me, blinking through half-lidded eyes with an expression that's a strange mix of adoration and obsession.
It's a bit concerning; but some of the things that she used to say when she was younger were more than a bit concerning, so I supposes there's been some improvement there.
Now that she's had a steady job, and plenty of people to work with, it seems like she's gotten a lot better. Although she still is a bit… Abnormal, she seems to have adopted a moral compass of some kind, to my relief.
I do, after all, bear some amount of responsibility for her, and I'd rather she live a life that's more on the light side of things than the dark. Knowing what I know now, that my Shadows are using their power to influence the world, I can't help but feel it's my job to make sure their actions don't reflect poorly on me.
Not because I'd feel bad or anything.
"Have you… Recovered, Master?" Eta questions me. I tilt my head at her.
She blinks, before speaking again. "I only mean that… You seemed greatly upset earlier… Alpha said it wasn't because of us…" A rare glint of concern graces her eyes, as her voice grows uncertain.
"... But was it?"
I shake my head. "Alpha was right. I discovered a terrible secret which greatly unsettled me, but I've figured out how to deal with it."
Eta beams at me, and it's a beautiful sight. "Of course you have, Master." She blinks again, and sways slightly in the air, even though she's sitting down.
"I know you're tired, Eta. Here," I pat my thigh. "Lay down and rest, and I will share more of my wisdom with you."
Eta instantly falls on top of me, her head cushioned by my thighs as her body relaxes completely, like a lightbulb switched off. I rest my hand on her violet hair, stroking it gently.
In the future, I'll have to make sure she's sleeping regularly. But for now, this'll do.
"Listen, and listen well, Eta. For what I am about to tell you might be among the most powerful tools from Shadow Wisdom yet…"
I begin to tell her a story, which leads to a specific device that I remember from my original world; one that I haven't seen yet in this one. I speak softly, in tandem with my petting of her silken hair, feeling quite relaxed as I do so.
Soon, I can hear the elf snoring softly, lulled to sleep by my description of the other-worldly construct known as a 'skateboard'.
I made it sound cool, of course.
My work done, I let myself relax into the comfortable couch, the dim light in the room reflecting my waning level of energy. I feel incredibly tired, a feeling which is almost alien to me. The weight of this day, filled with so much that even my mind can barely handle, finally begins to settle upon my shoulders, dragging me towards sleep.
But I resist, for the moment. There's a few thoughts that I need to finish first. So much has changed, as I've come to realize that my ultimate dream had already come true, and I wasn't even aware of it.
Now that I knew the truth, I really could become a true Eminence in Shadow; fighting against a secret, evil organization in the darkness. Now that I was living the life I'd always wanted, I could spend some time on other things, which I would have considered far less important otherwise.
But in the meanwhile, since the cult is real, I need to start treating certain things a lot more seriously. Both for my image, and for the apparently very real threat that they possess.
I already have a list of new assignments for the shadows starting to form in my thoughts.
An image of a pink haired girl with a massive cowlick flickers in my mind, her expression one of blissful innocence.
Innocence which I had played no small part in utterly shattering. I'll have her monitored, and if there's any traces of the cult getting involved with her, I'll step in; otherwise, I'm curious to see where her path will lead her.
I'll need some insiders in the major powers in this country and the surrounding areas, both as a bulwark against the cult, and because it makes me even more cool. Fortunately, I already have several inroads in that regard. Swaying Alexia and Rose won't be a problem, for similar reasons, but Alexia's sister… I'll need to come up with a plan for that. If Iris won't even listen to her sister about the cult, then I may need to use some less subtle methods to make her see the true threat in her kingdom.
As for my Cid persona… Well, it seems my time masquerading as a mob has ended. Fortunately, I have another technique I can use, one that I have yet to test out: Shadow Technique no. 3, hiding in plain sight.
This method involves showing some of my true power, while also not going out of my way to stick out or to blend in.
Who knows, maybe all those women who're interested in me will lose that interest when I stop being a complete pushover. Hey, maybe if she sees that I can actually handle myself in a fight, Claire will stop being so… Persistent with me.
Ah, it'd be nice to wake up without having to worry about my sister breathing down my neck (quite literally, in some cases).
As for my Shadows… No, my friends have sacrificed everything for my vision. They had made my dream into reality, devoting their entire lives toward my goals. In truth, I owed them more than I could have possibly imagined.
If spending more time with them makes them happy, then I'll gladly do it. Even if it's romantically, though I hope they aren't going to be that forward yet…
I hope the coming change does not seem too abrupt to those around me, because I have no intention of living like I was.
The time of playing in the sandbox of pale imitations has ended.
I will embrace my role, as I always should have, and destroy the cult, and any who profess to manipulate the world to their unseemly desires. I will make this world my own, I will be the mastermind behind everything, and nothing will stop me.
But, for the moment… I think I'll sleep.
I let my eyes fall shut, my head sinking into the cushion behind my back. My magic has finally settled down, and all I can feel is a pervasive, pleasant feeling of peace. I can both hear and feel the soft, shallow breaths of the elf on my lap; the noise fills me with an undeniable sense of ease.
All the tension and stress of today releases from my body, as the last few conscious thoughts fade from my mind before I fall into a deep slumber.
Tomorrow… Tomorrow will be a new day for Shadow Garden.
And it will be a very new day for me.