Chapter 9
Alexia
Sherry is pretty bad at stealth. If I hadn't been here leading her she would have stumbled into the first terrorist we saw.
Speaking of the terrorists, I have serious doubts that they are who they claim to be. First of all, this just wasn't how they operated. While Solaris certainly didn't seem to like me, she didn't kill me when she had the chance. Garden of Eden just isn't the type of organisation to condone such meaningless slaughter against innocents.
Secondly, that guy earlier didn't even know their name. Unless it's being run as a shockingly loose ship, members of an organisation should know what it is they've signed up for.
I hear someone approaching ahead and grab Sherry's arm, pulling her into a nearby classroom to wait until they pass. We both crouch next to the wall trying to control our breathing.
"W-we are Garden of Eden?"
"We a-are G-G-Garden of Ed-Eden!"
Most of the terrorists that have passed us repeat the same phrase. It's suspiciously similar to what they were sprouting the night they attacked me in that alleyway. Just more evidence for my theory that these aren't who they say they are.
Though I haven't quite figured out why their sentence quality seems to be so… lacking like this.
After they pass I gesture for my companion to follow and we exit into the hall. "So they were after that artefact, any clue why?" I whisper to her.
She thinks for a moment, then nods, her light pink hair swaying as she does. "I might have an idea of what this could be, but I'd need to reach my father's office to confirm."
I let out a long suffering sigh. "Okay, more sneaking across the school then." Hopefully if we figure out what this thing is and why they want it we can turn this situation around on them. Onwards to the vice principal's office it is.
"Hey! Stop right there you two!"
The voice calling out from behind brings me to a halt. With rising horror I slowly glance back.
Three of the terrorists have turned the corner and spotted us. Fortunately they aren't that Game of Betrayal guy. Not sure where he disappeared to. That said, they've already seen us, and we're limited in places to run. On one side there are only classrooms and the other offers windows looking out into a courtyard. We wouldn't survive the drop. The only escape route would be running in a straight line down the hallway.
"I thought I heard something. Lucky me, I get to make an example of two foolish students."
I can't outrun them and I can't fight due to my stupid injury... Dammit! There's got to be a way I can bring this situation to my advantage.
"Sherry, get to the vice principal's office," I whisper.
"But-"
"Don't worry, I have a plan. But you still need to confirm why they want that device."
"I'm sorry!" With her head down in tears, the pink girl runs down the hallway.
"Hey!" The shouting terrorist marched forward and roughly grabbed my arm. "Where is your friend running off to? Tell her to come back!"
I shrugged. "She's not my friend, she left me behind to escape herself, remember? And before you do anything, you should know I'm Princess Alexia. Your boss won't be thankful if you deprive him of a valuable hostage."
He scowls, fist clenched. "Fine, Princess. I'm taking you to Sir Gaunt myself." I file that name away for future reference since it might be useful.
He looks at his two companions. "You two, go after the one that fled."
"We are Garden of Eden!" They respond in unison and start running.
The one closest to me immediately stumbles and falls. I quickly move my leg back hoping that the man grabbing me didn't just see me trip his subordinate. Unfortunately the other continues down the hall unimpeded.
Goddessspeed Sherry, hopefully I gave you enough of a headstart to hide.
"Useless Thirds," the terrorist mutters, shaking his head while his subordinate whom I presume is one of these 'Thirds' climbs off the ground. He tightens his grip to the point it hurts and yanks me forwards. "Now, I'm taking you-"
"Unhand her at once you cretin!"
"Huh?"
We both turn and I watch in confusion as a blond blob of hair darts towards us, weapon drawn.
The terrorist has a look of amusement as he prepares his own sword to block with rather lazy form. "A student? Haven't you realised you can't use ma-"
The blond student brings her weapon down on the terrorists guard and somehow it has enough strength to send it out of his hand and clattering to the floor.
While he stares at his hand in confusion the Third is preparing to defend his boss by attacking the blond student's back. Thinking quickly I shove him towards the windows. He stumbles to the side, colliding with one of the windows. With the sound of shattering glass he falls through it into the courtyard below.
"WEAREGARDENOFEDEN!!!
Meanwhile my rescuer finishes off her opponent by hitting his head with the flat of her blade, knocking him out.
Still… Why do I keep on getting rescued by blond women? Would it kill Poochie to be the one to save me next time?!
Sighing irritatedly, I look at my saviour for the first time. "Thanks for the assist." Is that Rose Oriana? How did she get free?
Rose looked at me with evident panic in her eyes.
"Have you seen Cid?"
"No, I assumed he was captured just like everyone else. I take it that he's gotten into trouble again, just how did he manage to avoid capture?"
"I was escaping with him and his girlfriend when we got separated. I went looking for him in one direction and she went in the other. Hopefully she found him..."
Oh okay.
…
Hold on just a minute!
"Wait… back up a bit. Cid has a new girlfriend??? Who is the bi- lucky girl?"
"Oh, I'm not sure, she was a girl with big glasses and brown hair tied in a bun though."
"That! - Sounds probably wonderful. Good for him I guess," I say with perfect dignity and poise.
Who the hell is that!? Doesn't she know it's rude to move into another girl's territory so shortly after a breakup? I have to feel a little sorry for her, she's so obviously a rebound girl. Poochie and my relationship lasted a month so she'll probably be gone after only a few days. Still, the nerve of that vixen! She and I are going to have words, just so that I can get the reality of her situation through to her. Once this terrorist situation is all over, of course.
Anyway, the terrorists. We've got bigger issues to focus on.
"Sherry needs help as well. Come on!"
I start moving in the direction Sherry went without looking to see if Rose will follow. Fortunately I can hear her footsteps running after me. She quickly overtakes me. Between this and her surprising strength just before… can she still use magic? That would explain how she remained uncaptured.
Hopefully they aren't too far ahead.
Soon, I see Sherry with a male figure, causing me to tense. Only… that's not a terrorist.
"Poochie?"
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Cid
Well the fight and subsequent team up with Rex was fun. That's probably enough Eminence in Shadowing for today unless a really good opportunity pops up. Overstaying my welcome just reduces the Eminence aspect after all. Show off just enough to grab everyone's attention and then vanish mysteriously so people are left wondering about me long after the situation is resolved, that's the game!
It was even better that I was able to pretend there was some unseen goal I achieved by showing off. If everything goes right they'll be frantically scrambling to figure out what I was after.
So yeah, back to my mob character role for a while. Should I sneak into the auditorium and pretend I was captured along with everyone else? Or join a main character so I can appear in the background while they do some cool scenes? I've already planted the seeds that I'm guiding Rose to some greater purpose, so continuing that plotline can be fun.
Still, I wonder what Lutheran is up to? Knowing him he wouldn't miss an opportunity like this to set something of his own up, should be pretty entertaining too.
While I'm pondering it I spot a familiar looking pink mess running through the halls. Guess Sherry didn't go quietly with the other students after all. Good for her.
Though it seems one of the terrorists is currently closing in on her. And closing in. Leave my friend alone you creep, it's bad to harass girls!
I make a pistol figure with my hand and cover it with a slingshot made of slime. With just a short firing motion, a small globulet flies forward at high speed. It goes right through the temple of the terrorist and sends him through the door of a nearby classroom.
"Boom! Headshot!"
Hmmm, I should probably help Sherry, shouldn't I? Besides her being my friend, I'm sure Lutheran wouldn't want his daughter to get captured by this lot.
Guess I found a character to help. Hopefully she's not involved in anything too major.
I dart in through a window and tap her shoulder to get her attention.
She squeeks and jumps an impressive height, before turning around with a look of horror.
That horror turns to relief when she sees me.
"Cid!? What are you doing here, and where's the terrorist that was chasing me?"
"Uh… there was no one chasing you," I try to convince her.
She lets out a short sigh of relief. "Guess I lost him, phewph".
"Why are you out here instead of hiding?"
Her face turns serious. "I need to get to father's office. I might be the key to solving this entire situation."
Ahh, good old Lutheran. I knew he wouldn't let me down. Looks like he recruited Sherry into this plotline which is a nice touch as well.
It's then that some familiar magical signatures get close to us. Dammit, I should have paid more attention to who was nearby. Maybe they'll just ignore us?
No such luck.
"Poochie?"
Alexia and Rose come to a stop as they see us. Alexia has a look of bafflement. Rose beams with happiness for some reason.
"Cid. I'm so glad to see you unharmed. Your actions were incredibly brave, but please do not take such a risk again."
Dammit. Three main characters was not what I was after. Looks like I just stumbled into the main plot.
Or… this could prove to be exactly what I need. Surely with the two princesses and Sherry, my own involvement will seem trivial… right? So long as I'm careful I can use them as background character camouflage to remain undetected by plot relevance.
All I have to do is just continue with my previous plan. Guide them to solving the plot while making sure to be seen doing as little as possible to contribute.
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Solaris
I've been running for the past hour to get here as quickly as I could, ever since receiving the news of what happened.
On a nearby rooftop my subordinates have gathered. Without hesitation, I land amongst them.
"Lady Solaris!" The numbers gasp, dropping to their knees.
"There's no need for that, continue as you were." I scan the group and spot Gamma as well as Zeta. They both look like they've been hit by a truck, covered in still healing bruises and their mana levels low.
"Gamma, Zeta, what happened to you two?"
It's Gamma that responds. "I'm sorry Lady Solaris, we infiltrated the school and encountered Shadow. We assumed that with the two of us he could be defeated, but he was too much for us..."
Slowly I nod. "Well, at least you both made it out alive. I'm not losing any of you, and that's more important than winning every single fight." I give them some of my mana to refill part of their depleted reserves and heal their wounds. "As soon as this situation is dealt with you'll be giving a report on the encounter so we can figure out where things went wrong. Now, what's the situation in my school and more importantly, is Cid okay?"
They glance at each other.
"The students aren't being harmed and instead taken to the auditorium. We presume that your brother has been taken there too since the Cult has no reason to harm him. However, we haven't been able to get close enough to observe the students. And…"
I feel my heart leap into my throat at their hesitation. "What!?" I ask frantically. Oh God, if he's been hurt while I wasn't there to protect him I'll be just as bad as Akira. No-nononononononono… I refuse to fail Cid the way Akira failed me!
"Nu was spotted in the halls a short while ago. If your brother was taken, then for whatever reason she decided against getting captured with him."
Okay that could have numerous explanations. Though few of them are good. Most… are bad. "Does she require assistance?"
"The Numbers are keeping an eye on her from outside the range of the Cults artefact. She's been using her training to avoid the patrols of Second and Third Children. We've been ready to rush in and assist if required, but it hasn't been necessary so we decided to hold back."
I nod. "That's the correct approach. Things could go poorly if you had encountered Shadow again in your injured states. But I'm here now. We won't lose!"
All around me the members of the Garden of Eden stand a little straighter at my words. A determination fills their eyes.
We won't lose the school to the Cultist scum on my watch, that's for certain.
Hang on Cid, Big Sis is coming to save you!