Chapter 2

"This will be all. Stay out of trouble any further, Alexia."

Iris finished the sermon to her Sister, fresh back of the mess that Lindwurm became. Why?

'The Church is compromissed or was from the start a major front for the Cult. If one big power is, then odds are all others are compromissed to varying degrees. Geez, thanks Master for these lessons...'

Drinking the refilled cup of tea, the Crimson princess reread the data Marie sent. Nothing concrete to pin Shadow Garden as either a threat or a better option to back. Either way, knowing things and her Father, Klaus would begin using she and Alexia as proxies to become contacts for both major groups in this behind the scenes war.

'And since these chain of issues where my Order lost face by failing to do its job while Shadow Gaden ran circles around everyone, I am sure he will throw me to the shadier group, Cult of Diabolos I suppose. Alexia after all, built some early ties to Shadow and his group.'

Facts were facts. Finishing her day's worth of paperwork, Iris went to relax and free her mind of so much thinking through Training. Stretching her body, she did the basics, running, exercises, training the basics of swordsmanship, meditating... The sun was already setting down when she went to take a Bath.

'The training clothes are pretty easy to move around, if only the regal Uniforms and my official work clothes were that easy to move around...'

Refreshed out of the Bath, something comes back from deep within memories. Pulling the Box kept in the most secret compartment she made for her Bedroom in the Palace, inside, that Gift from so long ago. It clung to her skin, comfortable despite such skintight design. Little in metal armoring, only in a few key areas, though her chest and stomach remained only protected by whatever this clothing was, she tested, nothing cut, punctured or tore it, even when chanelled with Mana for maximized Sharpness.

Putting it on, the feeling was like when she first tested it, then stored it to never be used again, her old self thought then and there. Now that she looked herself over the Body Mirror, with her matured Body, it... Made her feel sexy.

"Mike would agree, It is sexy on you, Ms. Iris."

Lilly comments. Entering with a cart with Diner and some soothing Tea for the night.

"Guess this was why he gifted it that day..."

The more she thought about letting him see her dressed like that, the less Iris felt opposed to wearing it. Even if it was the epitome of indecency for a Princess like her.

"Combat wise... It offers protection, and my Mobility won't be impacted at all..."

And now she was trying to convince herself it was okay to use it even around Public eyes.

"Ms. Iris, there's a great event to test yourself on all this."

The War Goddess Festival Tournament. She already held one Victory Title from the last one. Winning it again would help regain some of the honor lost from the streak of bad events her Order failed to handle. A number if Birds with one stone, talk about effective.

...

The First day of the Tournament had to be skipped, due to work, and help the Knights of Oriana track the King's daughter, Rose, their reasoning smelled of Bullshitz especially when it was from the Mouth of that Aide of the King, Perv Asshat (JP name: Doem Ketsuhat). Still, diplomacy was mandatory, so she conceded and did her work on that front. At least however, one of Marie's underlings attended that day and compilled a well done report about the candidates, with highlights to one Mundane Mann (JP: Jimina Senken).

The second day, Cid was in the VIP seats, clearly a minor interference by Alexia, who clearly provided Claire, a Competitor in the tournament, with a different VIP ticket for a guest of her choosing. The fights so far were nothing to take note, until Mundane Mann's match came. A one sided defeat of Goldoh, whose skills were at best, from Iris's view, half baked.

'Too minute, too precise, and too absurd. To shoot off a blast of Mana that dispelled the Lightning Dragon and blew his opponent unconscious... Who's under that guise?'

A no-name appearing and upsetting the entire competition wasn't an impossibility, just unlikely to a level most assume it to be not worth considering. Her Master's teaching however, make clear that there's many ways to avoid the Radar of even the most influential or widespread networks. But that it's either a level of isolation and dedication to extremes, or an Organization keeping a thight information control.

'The Cult clearly doesn't need nor want an agent to garner the fame of this Tournament... Shadow Garden? Or this is some multi faceted ploy of theirs to upset a Cult Operation...'

Glancing to Perv Asshat, her suspicions on him were high. But so far, nothing really telling how compromissed Oriana's upper echelons were.

'though that Perfume to hide the faint traces of drugs is a strong point for me.'

...

The only opponent to give Mundane some challenge, but the fight was short, just longer than the less than a Minute long average he set for the previous ones.

'Speed wise, the former spellblade isn't bad, but his Physical enhancement control is on Point, he is exceeding her speed wise with instantaneous bursts. Economic, and also stronger than keeping a constant enhancement.'

Iris was sure now. Mundane was either Shadow hinself disguised, or one of their Agents disguised with such quality that even hiding one's true Gender was no problem for them. Neither inspired Iris hope to have Midgar catch up to them. If the Cult itself was being overwhelmed despite their massive power and assets to have equally if not stronger people to fight Shadow Garden, it would be futile to try playing catchup only now.

'Improving myself however, is possible... If Master decides to stop by again, that's...'

She knew more than enough that all she would need to do was add some extra training time, especially the regimen he taught her to increase her Mana. And her being willing to take the other improvements it brings.

'A size or two more... Shut it, Iris.'

Throwing it for after the Goddess of War tournament, Iris go ready herself, the fight Annerose provided was decent learning material, and also a chance to see if the former Spellblade is willing to work for her Crimson order, or do some oddjob for her if not.

...

'The venue is packed, Mundane Mann or not, this is a popular event of Midgar after all. Time to get some action.'

Unlike the other times, Mundane arrived punctually, coming from the competitor's entrance as soon his name was called. No one was cheering him, for obvious reasons. Iris had focused very much on keeping pace to him when Annerose fought him, so she knew why no one would be excited to see his fight.

'Too fast, and concealled behind too much absurdity. No one feels he is anything but lucky. Because no one has seen how absurd those extreme heights of skill and/or power are.'

Iris once saw her Master spar with his comrade in mercenary work, and Cousin, Miller, her not as trained and dedicated self of them couldn't make sense of anything either of them were doing. When they reenacted the fight at a slower, step by step breakdown, most of it was truly just the two fooling over each other, yet snuck within all that fooling around, they were jabbing their weapons at each other to Kill. Only those at such levels can do that much playing around. So her question stood in the air, is Mundane Shadow or someone related to Master?

"Before we start, mind telling me what brings you to the Tournament?"

She asks, idle talk bedore the Judge starts the match.

"Looking for something, haven't found yet, maybe you will give me that."

"I see. Hope you find your shadow someday."

"Likewise."

She had changed from her usual Clothes, to a Cloak. Taking it off, aside the belt for her Sword sheath, she was wearing only the Combat Bodysuit Master gifted long ago. Red in color, with Silver details, and some Black Anodized Metal plates in the foot, backhands and legs.

"Quite the looks, Princess."

Mundane whistles and comments.

"Just taking this for a field test."

He didn't draw his sword, Iris also only kept her hand on the handle.

The moment the Bell rang, she felt it.

'Killing Intent, focused and concentrated... Master trained me in worse than this much!'

With swift motions, the Crimsom Princess drew her sword, into a Quickdraw slash that left a white shine of the slash arc. Mundane evaded, and sent his attack. The blades clashed, sparks came of the collision, the ground under Iris heeled shoes of her suit became small craters, testament of how much power was behind that attack of her foe.

With this, their fight just began.

...

Like Blurs koving around the arena, Red and Black appeared but for instants a normal human vision could see before their duel of speed and wits returned to full speed. While his sword looked bad, it was a combat worn Mythril blade, though disguised to look like slightly bellow average Steel, it was free of any really dangerous damage that could cause it to shatter with the way he and Iris were clashing their blades.

Hers was well maintained and Polished, a silvery sheen almost uncharacteristic of your average Mythril blade, because she spent a good amount of her own riches of years saving pieces of the Monthly allowance sourced from the Royal Family funds to each Princess, the Blade was a Master Craft commissioned to one of Master's trusted personnel, a blacksmith whose skill level was in the single digits of equal peers, as he was one of the few skilled to work not just with Adamantite, but the even Rarer Pure Orichalcum ore. Her blade was a Mythril Orichalcum alloy. The ratio carefully set to make her blade have a staggering 97% Mana conductivity, without harming the Blade's durability and natural sharpness.

The dark colored sword and White silver blade became the most anyone could see aside the momentaneous Blurs of the two contestants.

At an exact five minute mark of the duel start, each did their move.

Iris landed in the arena, sent back from an extra strong strike of his sword, not wasting time nor momentum, he spun around, further adding centripetal force to his next strike, the speed turned his weapon into a dark like an abyss trail, a blade of a reaper almost.

Timing her block, Iris with her right knee closer to the ground, did a last decimal of a second shift of her position, so minute you jeeded to be her or Mundane, to know how important it became. The blade missed her, cutting some strands of hair only, and impacted the angled blade of hers, the amount of power behind his attack was immense, even he wouldn't be able to easily halt it without a fatal delay happening after stopping it, the sword now got railroaded by her own sword into hitting the arena ground full force. With the flexibility of a Cat and the spring like force of a snake, Iris jumped off her pose, straight into putting her blade next to his neck.

"I surrender."

Releasing the hand off his weapon, the Judge who saw the situation, signaled the match end. The arena erupted into Cheers. Only the few Shadow Garden members watching the scene grasped more than crude entertainment off that fight.

Shaking hands, Iris and Mundane were about to leave the arena, when Rose came out of the access path for contestants.

...

With an almost surreal lack of hesitation, Rose commited Patricide and Regicise in one go. She killed her own Father. As if to add more of a spin to this already messed up scenario, Mundane Mann shed the disguise, revealing to be Shadow.

'Great... Now I have to try and arrest the guy whose power is enough to cause City vaporizing explosions... Geez, thank you, dad...'

Beatrix jumped to the fray, to fight him alongside Iris. Even if the duel just before revealed her to be a match, Iris prefered to tackle problems like Shadow with leeway for how to approach, a Tag team against him with Beatrix was a welcome option one to start things.

"Hoh? Scared to fight me solo?"

"Nah, just pragmatic. Totally up to it if you won't cast your trademark Mass destruction move."

"You are too kind, Princess."

They three exchsnged blows, holding her power to not cause friendly fire truly was a chore, letting Shadow play them. Chasing him through the City was making her feel that those Tag sessions Master had her do with him weren't just to screw around.

'Urban zones might be a tad different, but the concept stays. Footing is just the basics.'

Sending air slashes by enhancing her body and charging mana onto the blade to blow his footholds preemptively were foiled as he fired back, it became almost a Shootout, if Magical air slashes from swords counted as firearms, kinda. The clouds closed the sky, then rain started falling, by the time Shadow decided to end the chase within the Royal Palace, a downpour was in full force. And despite being in the Palace, he chose the Garden area, in an open court deep within the Core of the Palace as his last stop.

"Truly too Kind, Princess Iris."

"You still didn't tell me if you will refrain from blowing even a tenth of the Capital."

A tenth would borderline mean the Palace plus the Garrison just by the outer defensive wall of said Palace.

"So .. what if... I..."

She felt it, a shift in his Mana.

'Father, fuck you and your brilliant idea to play spectator while you throw me and Alexia to become proxies to those two groups.'

A charge in Mana, deciding she ain't taking the risk. Iris released all restraints, her Aura became a deep Crimson red, and her sclera tinted a navy blue while her red eyes shone.

"Hoh? You are challenging me instead of running away?"

"Can't fucking do my damned be Job if i don't."

"Then stay as long as you want!"

The two clashed their Mana blasts, or so was Shadow's impression. Around the entire Castle, suddenly all Ambient and released by people Mana disappeared, including Shadow's and Iris's.

"This is..."

"Anti-Magicules, I flipped my Mana into it just before firing it. Neaty trick to deny everyone Magic."

Iris just bashed Shadow's face with the pommel of her sword, she still had pure physical strength for it to send him sliding five meters through the now ruined grass of the Garden.

Shadow swiftly left. Iris just let him go. For several reasons.

'Not the size of Master's Damocles, but a fine Excalibur. Also... Alexia wouldn't be happy to know her crush is Shadow... And he left the Royal Palace streaking naked like an Exhibitionist.'

Deciding to flip her Father the bird, she would just report having stopped Shadow from blowing the Palace, and nothing else. As Beateix had been knock out of the chase just before entering the Castle anyways. So no one aside her saw anything of value.

...

X-X-X-X

"Hm? So she mastered it?"

A comically supersized bag on his back, a Handsome man, vibrant red hair, short and wild in style. Dressed with Orichalcum and Titanium Alloy light metal armor, he walked down the main street, empty due to the wild chase he saw Iris and Shadow go at each other. With him, Marie.

"Not yet, it is about 95% to what you would call mastery. She still suffers Mana sickness from doing it."

Surprise to no one, being the Epicenter of a Mana erasing energy blast tends to make Mana rich individuals feel the backlash of losing their entire supply in one go. But given she was closing in, Mike was sure the worst she would have is either a day or two of feeling like doing nothing, or being too Horny to even do anything but stay in bed.

"I suppose she will also add more Mana improvement training, Dad."

"Totally wasn't convinced because of the extra tit and ass size, right?"

"Indeed, indeed."

If she debuted that Bodysuit he gifted ages ago, his return, gift included, wouldn't be much a problem. He hoped. He was bad at not causing women to fall head over heels for him. Poor Iris was one such victim.

"Given the age she developed the crush, dad, some might be putting you on blast for grooming."

"Shush, Marie, you as my daughter wanted into my pants since Birth."

"Corrupted Lovecraftian Eldritch being, remember?"

"Keep at that and I will NTR you for Lilly, again."

Marie shut her mouth real quick at that threat.