AN: This update came faster. Time for Cid to have some fun. I have nothing else to say, lets go!

All of this new information was massive, and more was coming. Gamma, thanks to Nu's monitoring and Lord Shadow's advice, found Rex, First Child of the Cult, also known as the Game of Betrayal. They were still following all the new threads they found, but Gamma was pretty sure that Gettan, one of the prominent mercenaries hired by Mitsugoshi's rivals, was a Cult plant.

It would take time to confirm. She would hate to waste Lord Shadow's time with new leads, especially when she was only mostly sure. It was unfortunate that they haven't been able to intercept more messages Lutheran left for Rex, but it was one note, there would be more.

It would be a huge benefit to monitor the Cult's communication. The security at the Academy was, at best, a joke. It was incredibly simple to monitor Lutheran's office, and while the Cult clearly sabotaged the school's security for their nefarious purposes, Shadow Garden also benefited from that. It would take next to no effort to get into the office and read the notes without anyone finding out.

Gamma moved on from her work countering the Cult and onto purely business matters. Income was up and costs were down on everything except for the fresh fish and sushi. It seems the sushi sales took a big hit. A few competitors tried serving raw fish, and got some people sick. Unfortunately, the failures of the ignorant competitors were hurting Mitsugoshi. Hopefully the sushi sales recovered. It was delicious but if it stopped selling they might need to stop selling it. That would get in the way of her own time to enjoy it.

"Lady Gamma," A young elf with short blond hair in a bob cut, 333, marched up to her. "The Royal Midgar Academy has been taken over by the Cult."

Gamma leaned back into her chair. She was not expecting this. "Organize some teams, we need to figure out how many Cultists are deployed, and how to respond. Lord Shadow should have the situation under control.

This was awesome. The academy was being attacked by terrorists pretending to be Shadow Garden! It was probably the Cult. Not only that, but he was getting a chance to properly test out his fake death Mob-Fu. He even got to fall back with his arms out and legs together so it looked like he was on a cross, the perfect way to go down in a moment of sacrifice!

Should be able to last 10 minutes like this. He'd also be separate from the crowd, so he could properly enjoy this event.

Two of the Cultists stayed behind in the classroom, one in full armor and the other in black, a red vest and bandana. Really neither of them looked like they were even trying to disguise themselves as Shadow Garden.

"Wow, he was so dangerous. I'm so glad you changed deployment just to focus on this nobody. I'm sure the utter garbage we sent after the Crimson Crap has no risk of failing. Just a buncha Thirds against two people." Wait, what?

"I know what I saw, Cid Kagenou is a threat." This wasn't happening. How did he know anything? He hid things really well!

"So you're delusional?"

"I know what I saw." The only opportunity would have been that stupid tournament when he was testing his Mob-Fu. It was bad enough that he accidentally made himself into a determinator, it exposed him to someone.

"Well, it's a very scary corpse. Truly, your paranoia was completely justified. I am in awe." Cid really wanted the paranoid guy to listen to this one.

"Unless he's in pieces I won't believe he's dead." This jackass is ruining his fake death! He would have to get up to stop him, and with the stupid anti-magic nonsense he would need to make a really big pulse of magic to get his heart started again. Pounding his chest would be too slow. It would ruin a proper reveal!

Cid felt a spike in magic, the other man was charging at his boss's back! Was this a betrayal? Fantastic, he might still get a good reveal and this was really dramatic! Maybe he should go for a subtle awakening? He still had to get up, but with a betrayal he had more ways to play this!

The armored man turned to meet the traitor, his blade knocked out of his grasp. "You're doing this now?"

"You had to see this coming, I'm the Game of Betrayal." The traitor kicked the sword away and thrust at his boss.

This was beyond perfect. Cid started altering the flow of his magic, feeling it being pulled away toward the armored man. It was probably being pulled away by the Eye of Avarice. He started building magic around his heart, making a barrier around it. That wasn't being pulled away by the Eye. He could do this subtly.

"You don't even know how to use the Eye? What are you going to do if you even succeed?" The armored one asked. He seemed to be trying to get the Game off his game. From what he could feel he didn't seem to know how to fight unarmed.

"I'm not going to get a better chance than this. Besides, I know enough to turn off other's magic. Don't need much power against the powerless!" That was short-sighted. Sure, it was a well used opportunity, but it was just dumb to rely on something you don't understand. Way too much risk of it going in a way you weren't ready for.

Cid wanted to smile, he had enough magic around his heart, a perfect barrier. Contract. Expand. Contract. Expand. Contract. Expand.

He inhaled. Slowly. His heart was beating again. His body was screaming at him to simultaneously gasp and cough. If he spent more time without his heart beating he probably would need to cough. He dared to open his eyes. Armored guy was using magic to strengthen his armor, the same way you would do it with a sword. Simple trick, but most people aren't clever enough to do that. He did that with slime once.

It would take time to build up magic in a barrier around him to heal the wound on his chest. He didn't need much magic. He thinned it out. That was much faster for small amounts of magic, make it thread like. Actually, that worked great for healing. It used less magic than usual and it was fast. Practically could stitch his wound shut instantly. This would be worth looking into some more.

"You aren't as good as you think. At the very least your death changes nothing." Armor was taunting Game. Cid had a proper feel for everything. Neither of them were looking. It was time. He focused his magic, got his muscles properly enhanced and ready. Most importantly, he had magic flow through his eyes so the irises would turn red.

Cid got into position at full speed.

Gaunt lept back from that upstart Rex. The young fool stopped his relentless aggression. They both felt the magic surge from Cid. They turned away from each other, and looked to the front of the classroom. He was sitting in the teacher's chair, feet resting on the desk.

How did he get there without him noticing? He was dividing his attention between Rex and Cid, it was the only reason that fool was keeping up with him. He could have sworn that he last saw Cid on the floor less than a second ago. More than that, where did his wound go? The wound was big, it wasn't possible to heal an injury like that without at least an hour of magic healing.

He was right. Gaunt KNEW Cid was a threat. "Don't stop fighting on my account." What was he supposed to do now?

"How are yo-" Gaunt took Cid's advice, and grabbed Rex while he was distracted. He slammed his steel helm into the fool's nose, and wrenched a sword out of his hand.

Gaunt let the fool recover enough to see his death coming before delivering a quick slice to the throat. It was precise, shallow enough that he didn't immediately die, deep enough that death was inevitable. "So… Who is your master? Someone like you must have a backer. I didn't already attract the attention of the Rounds, did I?" The way Cid could hide himself, the way he was able to so perfectly imitate death, there was no explanation beyond him being the elite, or serving the elite. Hopefully he was just a servant.

"And why would I answer that? All you need to know, Lutheran, is that you have attracted attention." He flinched, though it should have been obvious that Cid knew who he was.

He could use this. The Rounds were watching him, that much was obvious. They knew what he was doing, and clearly they approved if Cid wasn't stopping him. "Perhaps you would like… a closer look at my operation?"

"Just letting me in like that? I suppose you did just lose a named fool. He was just a bit better than a bunch of nameless seconds and thirds." Cid laughed it off. He wasn't treating this seriously. Then again, Gaunt didn't really know what Cid was capable of. At least with Rex he had some idea of what they could do. Cid was still mostly unknown.

"You've… disrupted my plans. Your presence made that imbecile spring his betrayal early. I need… capable help. The nameless hardly count for anything without proper direction from their betters." He hated speaking so… deferentially. Unfortunately Cid was unknown as far as his capabilities and position. He was, at the very least, in competition for a seat in the Rounds. Potentially, he already had a seat. Gaunt, unfortunately, didn't know everyone in the Rounds.

"I suppose I can play the role of some idiot following you. It'll give me a good view of how you handle things. For now, you can call me Panoptes." Was that his real name? Gaunt wasn't familiar with that title. It was a bit distracting watching him take Rex's shirt and vest

"For now, you can collect the artifact they are studying."

"Don't worry, I know where it is. I'll complete my Shadow Garden disguise and bring it to the auditorium." Gaunt flinched. "Don't tell me you're surprised I know you'll be with the student's in the auditorium? Lutheran, don't assume I don't know."

Cid smiled as he left the classroom, replacing his bloodied shirt with Rex's. Gaunt needed to figure out how to eliminate Cid, but he had no idea where to begin. For now, he should count himself lucky Cid was humoring him.

Nu was keeping her distance, observing the Crimson Order as their two members struggled against a group of Third Children. They were performing surprisingly well without magic. Sure Third Children had no skill behind them, but they had magic.

Her eyes focused on Glen, the Lion's Mane, as his sword broke. All that remained was barely a quarter of the blade. Fortunately for him, it seemed that he was deflecting instead of blocking, the Third Child's blade moving by Glen and leaving it exposed.

Nu was surprised that he took advantage of it overextending itself. Glen charged forward, slamming what remained of his sword into the Third's neck, swiftly prying its sword from its now limp grip, and shoving it into two of its compatriots.

She could admit, she was impressed. Even without magic Glen was more than able to hold his own against Thirds. More importantly he maintained a cool head when things went wrong and adapted quickly. Nu knew more than a few Numbers who wouldn't be able to adapt to a broken sword so quickly.

Not that any member of Shadow Garden had to deal with a sword breaking. The Slime suits took care of that.

"GRAB A NEW ONE!" Glen shouted at Marco, he rushed to the young knight now wielding what was mostly a hilt, cutting down the Third attacking him.

It left the Lion's Mane's back exposed, and one of two remaining Thirds capitalized on it. A quick slash and Glen's back now had a deep slash from his right shoulder to his left cheek. It was all up to Marco, using the new sword he picked up.

"Enjoying the show?" Nu held back her natural urge to jump at the surprise.

"Lord Shadow!" She wasn't able to show deference properly right now, and her focus was divided.

"How is your magic?" Shadow was looking down at Marco facing off with two Third Children.

"It is difficult to hold, to mold. I can barely use the slime suit." It was shameful, one magic seal and she could barely use the most important tool of Shadow Garden.

"Let's see. We still have some time." Lord Shadow grabbed her hands, and Nu felt her stomach flip. "Don't brute force it, there are two effective ways to work past the Eye of Avarice draining your magic, create a thin barrier of magic around yourself, or make your magic threadlike."

It was a gift to just feel Lord Shadow's magic, to experience its flow. Nu closed her eyes as she felt the threads of his magic, as it condensed into a thin barrier. All she had to do was copy his moves. It didn't need to be perfect like him, just good enough that she could handle any threat.

Marco took a deep breath. There were two left, in all black with masks covering their faces. He didn't like his odds. He couldn't use his magic, yet these Shadow Garden goons still had it. The one on the left pulled back, readying a massive swing.

Thankfully they were little more than raw power. As the man swung Marco stepped back, out of reach. The man on the right charged past his compatriot and thrust at Marco, just what he needed. With a twist of his sword he parried the thrust, it harmlessly passed by his hips. Marco pushed forward, his pommel nailing the man in the nose.

Before he could slash at the man his partner prepared another massive swing, forcing Marco to retreat again. He needed a decisive move, something to get rid of one of them. He needed to make a move or die.

The man was making another big swing as his partner was getting up. Those big swings always left him open, relying on his partner to cover him. His partner wasn't ready. Marco poorly parried the swing, breaking his sword again. He couldn't miss this chance. His foe was open, and he still had enough of a sword to make this work. He thrust what was left of his blade, felt it dig into the man's belly, and Marco pulled it up, disemboweling the man.

He tried to pull back, to get the broken blade out of the man he disemboweled. It was well and truly stuck. Marco started pushing the man away as the tip of a sword came out of the man's neck. Marco wrenched the body, diverting the tip of the blade away from his face and into his shoulder.

Marco yelped as the tip punched through to the other side. He fell back, the body pinning him down. He needed to think of something. The sword was pulled from his shoulder, and he felt the weight of the man above him. Marco tried to shift, to push the body pinning him down.

He was going to die.

Marco put all of his strength into trying to move the body pinning him down, his shoulder screaming in protest. He couldn't get the body away from him. The last Shadow Garden fighter was probably holding him down. Marco clenched his eyes shut. He may have no chance, but he was going to try. He would get out.

Marco felt a spray of blood over him.

He opened his eyes and saw the man who was poised to kill him fall, headless. The weight on him lessened, and he shoved the body off him. Marco looked up and saw a man in a hooded black coat with gold accents and some purple. His face was covered by a small mask, his eyes crimson. By his side was a woman in matching black and gold, wearing a mask.

She seemed familiar, but he didn't dare say her name. Nicoletta was dead. "Who are you?"

"I am Shadow. We are Shadow Garden. We who lurk in the shadows in order to hunt the shadows." The man said, shaking his free hand, slight threads coming off his fingers.

"Why kill your friend?" Glen was trying to get up, but the deep cut across his back was hampering him.

"The blind don't even know the sides." Shadow was chuckling at that.

Marco struggled to his feet. He had to keep moving. He kept his grip on what was left of the sword he used. It was barely better than being unarmed. "Why help us?" Marco asked the pair.

"You should be grateful." She snapped. She sounded like her too. But it was impossible, Nicoletta was dead. They had a funeral. He mourned her. This couldn't be her.

"It serves my purposes." Shadow kept shaking his hand, the threads getting longer.

Then he thrust his hand towards Marco, the threads charging at him. Marco brought his sword up to block, completely forgetting that it was mostly gone. The threads went into his shoulder, and he dropped what was left of his weapon.

The pain was gone.

He felt where the wound was. It was gone. It wasn't possible. A hole was stabbed into him, that wasn't something you healed in a literal instant. Also, if he wasn't friends with those attacking the school, why could he still use magic?

Marco gathered his wits and glanced around for a proper weapon. There were plenty of the other Shadow Garden he and Glen killed, and they all used swords. He grabbed the closest sword and rushed into position by the doorway to Sherry's lab. He still had a duty to protect Sherry.

Marco watched as Shadow walked over to Glen. He did nothing to stop the man. He wasn't sure what his purpose was, but it seemed that whatever his purposes were it involved them staying alive. The threads went to Glen's back, and in seconds it was stitched back together. It was like he was never attacked. Healing did not work this quickly. Or with anything other than direct contact.

The threads he saw coming from Shadow's fingers was pure magic, unaffected by whatever was preventing the use of magic. It didn't make sense. The idea of controlling magic like that didn't fit anything he had ever heard of. He didn't have a concept of how to control magic to cause such a reaction.

Shadow approached the lab. "I can't let you enter."

"We are grateful for the aid, but we have our duty." Glen was back on his feet, sword in hand.

Shadow ignored them, and kept walking toward the lab Marco was guarding. He knew he couldn't stop him, but he had his duty. Sherry was probably still in the lab.

He didn't want to do this. Shadow kept approaching.

He swung at the man who saved him. His sword passed through Shadow like he was just a shadow, and he disappeared.

Then he saw her flying at him. The girl who couldn't be Nicoletta had a look of fury on her he could never have imagined. He was frozen at the sight of her fury. She slammed into him, flung him into the lab and pinned him to a bookshelf, her hand on his throat. A sword grew out of her and was pointed between his eyes. "How dare you."

"Relax Nu, he's not even an obstacle." He couldn't breath, but he saw Shadow. Somehow he was already in the lab with three books. When did he even pick them up? He tossed the books on Sherry's desk, and Marco could hear the poor girl squeak in surprise. "Take this."

She turned away from him, blocking a strike from Glen with the ease of batting away an annoying bug. She then proceeded to throw him like a ragdoll at Glen, making them a tangled pair of limbs trying to separate. "Do not strike at Lord Shadow."

She was really good, and she was able to use magic. Who was this Nu/Nicoletta? She walked over to them, and looked down at him. He couldn't help but think of the first time he saw Nicoletta.

It had been years ago when he was a first year student, as he was arriving at the Marquez estate. She had been standing on a balcony looking down as he arrived with his family. It was the night of Lady Shiron's debut, he still gloated about witnessing the pianist's first public appearance, the first time anyone heard her play. They went to it together.

This was Nicoletta.

He was too stunned to do anything as Shadow left the room, Nicoletta leaving with him.

Rose was sitting in the auditorium. Everyone was herded in here. They were murdering anyone who resisted, leaving the bodies where they lay.

Just like Cid. Probably still alone in class.

She took a deep breath, she could mourn. Later. His courage, his determination, his self sacrifice. His love. She had to live up to it. Still, she wasn't sure what she could do. At her last count, watching everyone in the auditorium alone were 50 members of this "Shadow Garden." She knew there were more coming and going, but she couldn't get a count on them. They all looked identical in their black uniforms.

Then there was their leader, she heard them refer to him as "Sir Gaunt." She could tell just from the way he moved, he had skill. He never dropped his guard. It was unsettling to see someone so clearly strong pacing and nervous. She was close enough to barely hear him if he wasn't trying to keep quiet.

The main door to the auditorium slammed open, and another man entered. He was wearing the same standard black hooded coat and mask. He walked in, relaxed, like it was any other day. Gaunt's attention was completely dedicated to the man. She could tell, he saw this new man as a threat. He was dressed the same as the rest of the Shadow Garden force, only differentiated by the relaxed way he carried himself.

The man walked up to Gaunt, and the pair talked. She couldn't hear them. The man seemed relaxed, uncaring even. Gaunt on the other hand seemed incensed. "Panoptes! That!" He visibly had to calm himself down. So the man was named Panoptes?

Panoptes laughed, a mad, insane laugh. "This is a test! We need to see if you're good! You want to be a Round, don't you?" Rose didn't know what they were talking about, all she had were bits and pieces of information.

The doors to the auditorium opened again, and more students were led in with their hands behind their backs. Rose felt a pit form in his stomach when she saw the student at the front of the group. The knights would have been hesitant to charge in before, but now.

Rose knew she was important. She's a Princess, a foreign Princess but still. The Knight Order would hesitate to attack, but would ultimately go in full force for her. But if she were a Midgar Princess the Knight Order would either be too eager to go in or too cautious, especially as it was nominally led by a Princess of Midgar.

They had Princess Alexia.

AN: So yeah, the next chapter is starting with Cid's perspective as he enters the auditorium to talk with Gaunt or maybe Sherry's. I will say one of the problems with going to different character's perspectives is that I want to do the same scene like 5 times to see all of their perspectives, but I like limiting the eyes of a scene to one character.

Anyway, I'll keep working on the next chapter.

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