Chapter 2: rose oriana
Fifteen-year-old Rose Oriana stares at the young man she knows as her fiancé.
Although her knowledge of political figures in Midgar is limited (a problem she sought to correct as she was to attend the Midgar Royal Spellblade Academy in three weeks time), she knows a fair bit about Cid Midgar. He is the nephew of Klaus Midgar and the son of the late Sofia Midgar. She knows nothing of his father other than that he is a commoner who disappeared sometime before his birth. Despite being born out of wedlock and bearing a commoner's blood, King Klaus recognized and legitimized him as a prince of the kingdom.
Rose knew nothing about Cid beyond what the public knew, though she did have a mental image of what he was like. She imagined a young man burdened by expectations and criticism for reasons beyond his control. She saw no flaws in having a commoner for a parent, an opinion the high society of nobility sadly does not share. Even nobles in Oriana were skeptical of the prince.
As she looks at him, Rose cannot help but feel drawn in by his crimson eyes. Appearance-wise, he is fairly handsome with midnight-black hair and a slender build. She immediately notices the worn-out black gloves he wears. How much time and effort has he put into mastering the sword, she wonders.
"Fiance?" Cid stammers in clear surprise, staring at her in shock before rounding on his uncle. "Your Majesty, this is too sudden. At least give me a notice in advance before dropping this on me!"
"I did," the king deadpans. "I reminded you just last week and even told your maid."
Cid blushes in clear embarrassment. Rose finds it oddly cute.
"Princess Rose will be staying here in Midgar Kingdom for her studies at the Spellsword Academy," King Klaus continues. "Naturally, you'll be using that time to get to know her. It goes without saying, but do try not to embarrass the Midgar name, much less yourself."
"I…" Cid sighs. "Very well. I believe Miss Rose would do better with someone other than this useless prince."
Why would you say something like that? Rose wants to say. Even if they met seconds ago, she cannot help but feel sorry for him. How much pressure has he endured to make such self-deprecating remarks?
The kings nods, satisfied with Cid's answer. "Good. Why not take Princess Rose to the garden? The day is still quite young, and the wind is just right."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Cid bows and leaves the study with Rose and Margaret. Once they are away from the king's study, he turns to her and bows his head. "I apologize for not introducing myself properly back there. My name is Cid Midgar. It's nice to meet you, Your Highness."
Rose smiles. "Please, Cid. Call me Rose."
Rose understands this marriage is simply out of convenience. Her father and King Klaus exchanged letters regularly, speaking of how they might strengthen their bonds and ties due to their long years of loyalty and comradery. A political marriage is not her father's first idea, but it was the most pragmatic and practical option. King Klaus legitimizing Cid as a member of the royal family was a boon for Oriana, and to a lesser extent, to Rose herself. Prior to learning about Cid, Rose learned her mother often argued with her father about setting her up with a noble by the name of Perv Asshat, even going so far as to arrange a marriage interview behind her father's back.
She tried to be civil and understanding, but her apparent suitor's behavior unsettled Rose immensely.
Cid Midgar is nothing like Perv Asshat, at least not a glance. She hopes that remains the case and her assumptions are not wrong.
Cid followed his uncle's suggestion and led Rose and Margaret to the gardens. Rose has no shame in admitting the gardens here are more beautiful than the one back home; hanging gardens nestled against white ornamental pillars and plants of varying colors and beauty line the stone steps leading up to the gazebo in the center. A beautiful maid waits for them, her strawberry-blonde hair flowing gently amid the cool breeze. Looking at her, Rose cannot help but feel self-conscious.
"Your Highness," the maid bows. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Victoria, granted the most auspicious honor of serving Prince Midgar."
Rose smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, miss Victoria. This is Margaret, my maid. She's been a close friend of mine since childhood."
"Greetings," Margaret curtsies.
It amazes Rose how efficient Victoria is. Margaret tries to help, but by that point the tea and plates are already set up. Slices of cake sit tantalizing in front of her with a freshly brewed cup of tea to cleanse their pallets. She takes a small sip of the tea and finds it incredibly delicious. She would have to know how Victoria made such an excellent cup of tea when she has the chance.
"I hope our marriage isn't of inconvenience to you, Cid," Rose begins. "If it is any consolation, my father did not tell me about it either until a few days ago when I told him I wished to enroll at the Spellsword Academy."
"Why did you decide to enroll at our school, if you don't mind me asking?" Cid asks curiously. "Doesn't Oriana have a Spellsword school of its own?"
Margaret answers in her stead. "The Oriana Kingdom does not have a Spellsword Academy, per say. There is an academy for swordmasters, but the primary focus is swordsmanship first and foremost."
"And as sad as it is to admit, our magic academy's curriculum is lackluster in comparison to Velgata and Midgar's," Rose finishes with a sigh. "It mainly has to do with politics. Oriana's focus has always been our cultural arts. Until a century ago, we had no interest in the martial arts. That is why I wish to attend the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy. It's my hope that what I learn there will benefit my kingdom, and perhaps convince the council that we must 'get with the times', as the saying goes."
Cid nods in understanding. "That's admirable of you."
Rose beams. It seems she made a good first impression. That was a good step. "What of you, Cid?"
"Hm?"
"You will be attending the academy as well, won't you?" It only makes sense that he would join the academy. On top of all members of nobility with magical aptitude being required to enroll at age 15, it is an opportunity to forge friendships and allies. People who could support him.
Strangely, Cid didn't seem all that interested in the idea and shrugs in dismissal. "In two years, yeah. For now, I just enjoy what little freedom I have. Second Princess Alexia will be attending the same year as me, if I remember right. I think you two would make good friends. She needs someone in her corner, to be honest.."
"Oh?"
"She's been under a lot of pressure lately. People keep comparing her to her older sister."
Rose recalls what she knows about the princesses of Midgar.
Crown Princess Iris Midgar is considered a prodigy with a sword, a fact she proved when she claimed victory at the Bushin Festival and brought prestige to her kingdom. Said victory was said to be an overwhelming rout in her favor, in turn adding credence to her skills. Some believe she is even going on to create her own knightly order, which doesn't come off as a surprise. The knights of Midgar have always been well-known. One could only imagine what a knightly order led by the newly minted "Scarlet Princess" would be capable of.
Second Princess Alexia Midgar, on the other hand, is a lesser-known quantity. Rose knows she does not practice the Royal Bushin sword style like most of Midgar and is instead a student of the "common sword". In that respect, Rose feels a sense of kinship; once, she thought nothing of a sword style relying on one's ability, skill, and refinement. Then she had a chance encounter with a youth clad in black and bore witness to the "common sword" in its full splendor. To this day, the sight of that steel waltz captivates and enthralls her. Unfortunately, Princess Alexia's skills are frequently and unfavorably compared to her sister. Rose could only imagine what sort of pressure she's forced to endure simply because her sister is talented.
Rose takes Cid's suggestion to heart. While she does not know how Princess Alexia will react to her presence, much less that she is marrying her cousin, she at least hopes that they might become friends.
As the afternoon moves on, Rose notices a pattern with Cid. Anytime she asks him about his aspirations, he deflects and broaches another topic or offers a half-hearted answer she knows is a lie. It doesn't escape her notice that when he does, she sees sadness in his eyes. He must have dreams of his own, yet he doesn't share them with her. Does he think they are unobtainable otherwise? Does he believe she would laugh at him if he did? That last thing stings more than it should.
It's unfair, Rose thinks. To judge one simply because of their birth.
Resolve blossoms in her chest. Rose would do everything in her power to prove to Cid he has worth, that he has something worth acknowledging. The question now was how to show him that he has potential?
X x X x X x X x X
On the one hand, this arranged marriage blows. Any other guy would be swooning over the fact they have such a beautiful girl for a fiancé, much less one that has a stereotypical sweet princess attitude. Me? Not so much. I know it's kind of unfair, but it's an inconvenience for my plans to become an eminence. Being in an arranged marriage meant required meet-ups and dates, which would no doubt include stuff I really didn't want to do. I saw how miserable and lifeless my father was when mother dragged him along for a shopping trip.
On the other hand, this marriage was absolutely perfect for "Wallflower, Cid Midgar"! Think about it for a second here, friends. While I have zero idea whether same-sex marriage in this world is a thing, poor Rose being tasked with marrying me was the same as marrying a spare. That is exactly what my persona is in the grand scheme of things. Sure, I'm officially a prince, but my influence and political value was piss-poor compared to my cousins. I was the ideal choice for this kind of stuff.
In any case, our impromptu "date" is mostly successful I think. At the very least, Rose is happy and seems super-hyped about our next outing.
Out of curiosity, I look at Beta. "What do you think about all this?"
"I have no opinion on the matter, Lord Shadow. At the very least, I can say this is a brilliant move by King Klaus," Beta says neutrally.
Which I call bullshit, by the way. She was totally giving off jealous vibes toward Rose earlier, though I'm not really sure why. Beta could snag any guy she wanted with her looks. Hell, she even has admirers here at the palace! As a matter of fact, I had the pleasure of watching one poor shmuck confess to her…and got shot down in one second flat. If I remember right, he's the son of an archduke, which meant he was loaded. He wasn't bad-looking, either; if this was a shoujou anime or manga, he'd definitely be the male lead. The only reason I could think for Beta turning him down was that she was interested in women, or she had ridiculously high standards.
It seems like Beta at least doesn't care that I'm now engaged, so I guess it's fine…?
"Incidentally, Lord Shadow," Beta says. "It seems Princess Rose suffers from Possession."
"I noticed."
It's still in the early stages, so it shouldn't become too obvious anytime soon. By my estimate, her Possession shouldn't become much of a problem until two years pass, coincidentally when I enroll at the academy. I'll heal it anyway. I still vividly remember how Alpha looked when I found her. Possession isn't pretty, even in the early stages.
Beta looks at me curiously. "What will you do, Lord Shadow?"
"The hour has yet to arrive," I reply in true eminence fashion. "Let us wait and see how the bud blooms."
Eh, 3/10. It sounded cooler in my head. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
Beta escorts me back to my room. Inside, Alpha is waiting for me. "Lord Shadow," she bows in greeting. "I have a report."
Oh, cool. Are we expanding more of the lore? I have to admit, these girls are dedicated if nothing else. Alpha also seems to enjoy making the Cult of Diabolos sound more and more sinister, which I really appreciate since it just makes Shadow Garden seem like more of a big deal. It makes me feel like we're an actual shadowy organization. At this point, all we need now is a hero and we're all good!
"We recovered the documents from the research facility. Gamma and I are still going through them as we speak, but it seems they were very interested in Epsilon and her Possession."
I lean forward and fold my hands under my chin to mimic the classic "Gendo Ikari" pose. "Oh?"
"According to what we found, Epsilon's symptoms occurred at a much slower rate compared to most Possessed," Alpha says. "Normally, a Possessed in her state would have been little more than a lump of flesh with little to no awareness. However, her body managed to retain its original form. The Cult theorized it must have something to do with her magic; among the Possessed they've encountered, her magic power is by far the most potent they've seen."
"I see." So Claire basically has the trappings of a protagonist? Well, she's got the dark and troubled backstory down pat, so maybe Alpha's on to something here.
"It is a good thing we found her when we did, then," Beta muses. "If the Cult managed to keep their grubby paws on her…"
Alpha nods in agreement. "Indeed."
"Is that all?"
"There's more. Among the documents we recovered was a list of Possessed, as well as a series of locations scattered across the kingdom, many of which we already eliminated. I cross-referenced the list of Possessed with the documents we recovered from the last stronghold we raided. Included in the list are noble houses."
"Unsurprising," I say all mysterious and cool like. "For all the wealth and power they possess, even the greatest of nobles are fallible. The darkness' reach is vast as it is unforgiving."
Alpha looks at the ground sadly. "How very true, Lord Shadow." She shakes her head and gestures to one of the documents laid out on the table. "One of the names on the list caught my attention."
I look at the document. "Oho? How interesting."
Interesting in that I can't read a damn word. Seriously Alpha, why did you have to go and create some made-up ancient language? Would it kill you to use English? Or I dunno, Japanese?
"It would seem not even the Cult's allies are safe from their wicked misdeeds," Beta notes rather darkly. "Karen von Herzog, alias Shooting Star. A Named Child." She frowns and looks up at Alpha. "Hold on… Herzog… Why does the name Herzog sound familiar?"
"Karen von Herzog is a member of a noble house," the blonde elf explains. "She was famed for being one of Velgata's Seven Spellblades, as well as the heir of house Herzog. Theirs is a long and ancient story dating back to the empire's fledgling days, though it would appear House Herzog became affiliated with the Cult at some point. While I do not know the details, the members of House Herzog were slaughtered overnight half a year ago and Karen went missing. Officially, she is their primary suspect."
In translation: House Herzog was slaughtered, its heir apparent up and vanished, and the Empire thinks she did it when in reality she was captured by bandits and now suffers from Possession.
I admit, I'm a little curious to know whether Alpha's mixing in real history with our game of pretend. If she is, I'm a little impressed by how thorough she is.
Beta and Alpha look at me expectantly. "Lord Shadow. What are your orders?"
Taking what I've learned of Karen von Herzog into account, I decide to give them my best. Alpha's got me inspired, so the least I can do is put in some extra effort. "You wish to know whether we should reach out for this forsaken child, no?" The girls nod seriously. I respond in turn. "Then do as you will. Yesterday's enemy is tomorrow's friend, as they say. If this girl has lost her way, then we need only to guide her to the correct path."
"Yes, My Lord!!"
I've said this before, but holy shit, they are really into this!
X x X x X x X x X
Alpha decides they will raid the facility where Karen von Herzog is kept under the cover of night. By then, most of the palace will be in bed asleep. It is at this time Beta speaks with the rest of Shadow Garden in regards to the most recent development with Shadow.
"You have heard the news by now, yes? Lord Shadow is engaged to the princess of the Oriana Kingdom."
Their reactions are to be expected. Alpha's cool façade breaks for but a moment, Gamma looks conflicted, and Delta is…well, Delta.
"Does that mean Delta can become a concubine now?!"
Gamma flicks her fellow therianthrope in the forehead. "Don't be stupid, Delta. It's an arranged marriage. It means it was set up by the king. They aren't actually in love." She pauses and looks critically at Beta. "Are they?"
"Princess Oriana has expressed some interest in Lord Shadow, but that seems to be the extent of it," Beta replies coolly.
Truthfully, Beta is fuming. She understands it is a political marriage, but it is marriage nonetheless. She lost count how many dreams she's had where she is dressed all in white and approaching an altar where her beloved prince waits, dressed in a beautiful white tuxedo. Recalling the dream alone is enough to make her feel flushed and reignite the raging jealousy she managed to subdue in the princess' presence.
It's so unfair!
The thought is shared among three of the four girls. Delta genuinely could not care whether Shadow married another woman so long as she was at his side, either in a official capacity or as a concubine. The mere idea Beta would share Shadow with another woman nearly sent her flying into a rage.
"This does present a unique opportunity, however," Alpha says suddenly, drawing everyone's eyes on her. "I intended to bring this up when we had more members, but now is as good a time as any. Lord Shadow likely already expects this of us, but we should consider expanding our operations into Velgata and Oriana as well."
"That's pretty obvious," Gamma scoffs. "The Cult has its fingers pretty much everywhere. This Karen girl proved to us their influence even extends as far as the empire. Wouldn't surprise if they have power in the unmapped continents, too."
"It is a possibility, but we should focus our efforts here." Alpha looks at Beta in the eye. "Once we have sufficient numbers, I propose we scatter across the continent and expand Shadow Garden."
Beta's eyes widen, as does Gamma's. She knows they cannot remain in the Midgar Kingdom as they are now. They're strong, yes, but nowhere near as powerful as Shadow. Beta doubts they ever will be. How could mere children like them stand up to the Goddess' Beatrix's messiah, after all? Shadow is special, and Shadow Garden as a whole pales in comparison. She understands they must get stronger, that Shadow Garden must be stronger if they are to combat the Cult of Diabolos on a grander scale. The four of them are not enough.
Even so, the idea that Beta must part from Shadow creates a horrible sadness in her chest. Ever since the day Alpha and Shadow saved her life, the palace has been her home the last three years. Words could not express the rapturous joy in her chest to be at Shadow's side as his humble maid. Near him, she felt whole. Stronger. He was her light in the darkest times. She understands the necessity of getting stronger and increasing their numbers, but the thought of leaving Shadow behind leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
The sour look on Gamma's face implies she shares Beta's thoughts. "I guess it is nearly that time, huh? Even so, how are we going to save the Possessed? You and Lord Shadow are the only ones who can cure Possession. The rest of us can't."
"Then we simply need to establish a forward base," Alpha responds. "Someplace we can convene at a moment's notice. The capital is out of the question until we remove the Cult's influence here entirely."
"What are we talking about?"
Gamma looks at Delta in exasperation. "We're talking about finding a place where we can meet up at a moment's notice and bring Possessed in need of healing there. Pay attention, kid."
"Delta knows a place!" the wolf beastkin grins.
Everyone stares at her. "…what?"
X x X x X x X x X
Beta isn't at the palace, meaning the rest of Shadow Garden is doing their own thing. I was tempted to go and join them, but sadly the opportunity was taken from me before I even had a choice.
"Remind me why I'm here again?" I deadpan despite knowing the answer.
It's a surreal sight to behold, I'm sure. The sight of the useless prince being dragged through the halls by the collar of his shirt like a dog by his second-eldest cousin.
Much like other girls I'm acquainted with, Alexia Midgar is a stunning beauty. Unlike Iris who inherited their father's red hair, Alexia's hair was platinum silver and worn in a pigtail style. If Iris was a tomboy, Alexia was the proper girly-type of princess.
"In two years, we'll be studying at the Spellsword Academy," Alexia says without even looking in my direction. Two training swords sit at her hip. "And I, for one, want to get ahead of the competition. We can't settle for mediocrity."
"You can't settle for mediocrity," I retort. "I'm perfectly fine where I am, thank you."
This isn't the first time Alexia dragged me into a training session. Whenever she's in the mood, she hunts me down like some kind of bloodhound and drags my ass to the courtyard so we can brush up on our skills. Most of the time, I'm convinced she's just blowing off steam and using me as her punching bag. I pretend I'm getting my ass kicked, of course. It wouldn't look well if the wallflower prince was stronger than the princesses, nevermind how Alexia would take her loss. My cousin has a fragile ego, you see, and the nobles of the court really don't help. I remember seeing her expression when a pair of nobles witnessed her spar with Iris one time, not bothering to hush their voices as they criticized her technique.
Personally, I disagree. Alexia is okay in my book, if only because she actually puts work into mastering her swordplay. Seriously, nothing infuriates me more than idiots relying on brute force, raw power, or gimmicks to get ahead in battle. Sure, I understand the appeal, but you gotta use your brain! Show off a little, be tactical.
Despite my protests, Alexia isn't listening. Not that I expect her too. She's awfully stubborn, as you can plainly see. I suppose I'll have to play ragdoll again, today.
Like always, our spars end in Alexia's victory. If there is one downside to pretending to be a weakling, it is the temptation to reveal your strength and play your opponent for a fool. Alexia was giving it her all, but I saw her sword moving in slow motion while counting at least ten different ways I could counter and slice off her arm. I do none of that, of course. All it'd earn me is scorn and maybe a one-way trip out of the palace. No way in hell am I giving up my luxury!
"You're improving," Alexia says with a slight smile. "Your stance could still use a little work."
She's saying this to be nice, of course. I make it a point to put as little effort into my swordplay as possible. "If you say so," I say with a shrug. "I'm still crap compared to you." A strange expression flickers across my cousin's face. It disappears the second it shows up, replaced by a small smile.
"Have more faith in yourself. A prince should have more confidence!" She pauses. A cheshire-like grin common on the faces of all big sisters preparing to torture their little siblings touches her lips. "Especially one who's getting hitched. Congratulations, by the way."
"You mean Miss Rose?" It shouldn't surprise me that word already got around the castle. The servants really do love to gossip. "No offense to her, but I'm not husband material."
The expression appears again, lasting a little longer. It almost looks like frustration, which is a little confusing. What was she frustrated about? Was she jealous that I was getting married, maybe? I could have sworn she had a marriage proposal in the works as well. What was his name again? Zenon or something?
"How is everything with you?" I change the subject. "You seem tense. Did you and Princess Iris have another fight?"
"One of these days, I'm going to make you call us by name without titles," Alexia swears. "And no, nothing like that. Big Sister has been busy is all with the Spellsword Graduation Ceremony is all."
—The Spellsword Graduation Ceremony, as its name implies, is a graduation ceremony held in the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy. They call it a "ceremony", but really, it's more accurate to call it an academic schoolyard tournament among the graduating classes as they show off everything they've learned. Iris, who graduates this year, is in charge of orchestrating the event since she's Class Valedictorian and Student Council President. As if she needs anymore accomplishments to her name. That girl has got to have a trophy room with how often she kicks ass.
…hm? Wait a second. Tournament? Why does that ring a bell…? Oh, right! I almost forgot.
"Isn't there a tournament today?" I recall.
Alexia nods. "The Founding Festival. It's not as grand as the Bushin Festival, but it's still one of the bigger events in the kingdom. Why do you ask?"
"Princess Iris asked me if I wanted to go with her. I don't have anything better to do today, so I might as well see what the fuss is about. Did you want come as well?"
To my surprise, Alexia shakes her head. "I'll pass."
"Really?" Oi oi, my dear cousin, are you feeling alright? Usually she would jump at the chance to spend more time with her big sister. What's the big deal? "Is something wrong?"
"Not really. It's just…" Alexia sighs. "It's her new sword instructor. Sir Adist."
I raise an eyebrow. "What's wrong with him?"
"That slimy smile he puts on around others and sister. It's fake."
X x X x X x X x X
Why do you keep doing this to yourself?
Cid is strong. He's stronger than her and she knows it. If he wanted to, he could beat her. Each time they spar, he always holds back and purposefully screws up. She knows this because she's seen him practice with a sword before when no one was looking. His skill with the "common sword" is so far beyond her it may as well be a canyon.
And yet Cid downplays and hides his strength. He pretends to be a coward.
Alexia hates liars.
It's an inevitable outlook when one grows up in a royal family, much less nobility. The royal court is a viper's nest and everyone has a motive hiding behind veiled words of praise or adulation. They pretend they are charitable and charismatic when they are anything but. There was a time when nobles praised Alexia when she chose to pick up a sword, thinking she was the same as her sister. By age thirteen, Iris Midgar was labeled a prodigy. When she claimed victory at the Bushin Festival, they named her Midgar's "Scarlet Princess".
When Alexia showed her skills, the nobles stopped smiling.
The lack of recognition and blatant deception was sickening to the point Alexia no longer trusts the nobles in her father's court, much less the scions of other noble houses. They will only sing your praises when you do something that interests or benefits them. They deemed her a failure because she wasn't like Iris. It was a savage blow to her pride, not to mention an insult to all her hard work. Alexia knows she will never compare to Iris, and she's fine with being second-best, but it hurts to hear people criticize her "common sword".
When Alexia was seven, she realized her cousin Cid Midgar was a liar too.
In the beginning, she avoided Cid when she saw other children her age and the nobles of the royal court scorn him. She didn't understand what it meant to be a bastard child at that time, something that remains her greatest regret to this day. She did not even consider Cid to be true family even though his mother was her father's sister. The only point of resemblance was that they all shared the Midgar family's red eyes. Unlike other children, however, Alexia did not torment or mock Cid, the reason being that Iris took it upon herself to shield their cousin from the bullying.
It was shameful how her sister recognized Cid's value long before she ever did.
When she was nine, Alexia ventured out of her room one night for the purpose of raiding the kitchens. Every child had a mischievous phase, and a princess is no exception. Her plan was forgotten, however, when she saw Cid roaming the halls and followed him out of curiosity. He was deep in thought about something and mumbling under his breath, but she was too far away to hear. She followed him all the way to the garden, which elicited no small amount of confusion. She didn't understand why Cid went there of all places and with a sword no less. It was not one a training sword as it glistened in the moonlight and bore a sharp edge.
Then she watched what could only be described as a waltz of steel.
The "common sword" is not an official swordstyle like the Bunshin or Royal Bunshin. It is the people's sword in that it is a swordstyle relying on personal skill, ability, and training. Alexia leans toward this swordstyle because of its simplicity and how its usefulness is determined by someone who dedicates their whole being into the craft. Her "common sword" could never compare to Iris' Bunshin, something she realized and understood when she watched her sister take up a sword and battle an unseen foe. She realizes how wide the gap is, and for a moment, wonders whether the "common sword" will ever be enough.
Then she saw Cid's "common sword" and saw the summit of hard work and dedication. His every swing, every slash, every move is precisely calculated and with purpose, not a shred of wasted movement. It is not the swordplay of an amateur, but the work of a master artisan who spent decades, if not centuries perfecting his craft.
Cid Midgar is a liar, and Alexia didn't understand why he lies.
The nobles mock and jeer him, finding almost every possible excuse to put him down. They do not realize the boy they speak so harshly of is stronger than her, stronger than Iris. All it would take is a single showing of his strength, and the cruel words would cease. Were she in his position, Alexia would put the nobles in their place. Instead, her cousin does nothing and endures.
At that point, Alexia started watching her cousin more carefully. She saw how he barely put effort into his studies, how he held himself back in training sessions, how he went out of his way not to do or say anything that would bring further scrutiny and attention on him. It isn't until Alexia is twelve she finally realized why Cid lies about who he is. She recalls the incident vividly; the son of a local duke challenged Cid to a spar, no doubt to belittle and make Cid look bad. Cid half-heartedly accepted the challenge, distracted about something. The spar ends not in the duke's son's victory, but in Cid's. Alexia thought such a showing would have changed the noble's tunes.
"Arrogant brat. He should learn his place."
The words were so cold and scathing, Alexia nearly drew steel.
It was at that moment she understood why Cid pretended to be weak. He lies because it changes nothing. He could be the strongest Spellsword in the world, and the nobles wouldn't care. He could become one of the Empire's Seven Spellblades, and the nobles wouldn't care. He could become king, and they still wouldn't care. No matter what Cid does, he will forever be disdained. Simply because he was born out of wedlock, because his father is a commoner.
Alexia hates liars. She hates that Cid has to lie.
They'll see you for who you are, Alexia swore in her heart.
As the second princess of Midgar, her value and power was lesser compared to her sister and her father. Even so, she was a princess. All she needed was more power, more time to prove herself. The Spellsword Academy was the perfect way to achieve those goals. It would not be months or a year before she could make any meaningful change. It would take decades before her efforts could truly take shape. That was fine.
Alexia refused to allow her dear cousin stay a liar and be denied.
X x X x X x X x X
The Founding Festival takes place in the amphitheater normally used for the Bushin Festival. Marketing for the event is surprisingly tame compared to the bi-annual tournament, but it makes sense since this is an entirely local event limited to the kingdom. The carriage rolls to a stop just short of the main entrance. Unsurprisingly, Iris is waiting for us, her sword instructor hanging close by like a shadow.
"Cid, you came!" Iris beams when she sees me. "And you must be Princess Rose Oriana, right? It's a pleasure to meet you."
Since I might as well play the part of the dutiful husband-to-be, I invited Rose to come with. She accepted on the spot and was really excited to see what all the fuss was about.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Princess Iris," Rose curtsies.
Iris laughs. "Please, just call me Iris! We'll be family soon enough. This is my instructor, Sir Jack S. Adist."
The knight doesn't offer a vocal greeting and instead nods his head in acknowledgment. Che! Favoritism I tell ya! The only guy he shows any real respect to is Iris. Maybe Alexia has a point. This guy is really shifty. I always thought he was just an asshole, but maybe she's on to something after all…
"Have the festivities already begun?" Rose inquires. The roars of the stadium are loud enough to wake the dead. "Everyone sounds excited."
"No, it's just a showcase. An appetizer before the real fun begins," Iris says. "Zenon Griffey of the Royal Bushin style is showing off his skills. His way of promoting the Royal Bunshin."
"If I recall, you use the Royal Bunshin style as well, right?"
The red-haired princess chuckles. "Not quite. It took me quite a bit of time, but I learned how to mix the Bushin and Royal Bushin swordstyles to create my own swordplay. It was difficult work, but in my opinion, the effort is worth it. We should hurry, though. If we linger any longer, the VIP seats will fill out in no time. Would you mind telling me about Oriana in the meantime? I've always wanted to visit your kingdom, but I can never quite find the time."
As we make our way into the amphitheater, I instantly feel several manga signatures. I wouldn't think much of them if they were the contestants of this event, but these guys were trying to hide their power.
"Ho? A carnival of shadows, is it?" I silently muse. "This should be entertaining."
…eh. 4/10.