Cid Kageno was just an ordinary kid. There was nothing particularly outstanding about him. He had no talent. Academically speaking, he was simply average. He was utterly harmless and an absolute nobody—destined for a bleak, unremarkable life.
Or so it seemed...
What people never realized was just how grand his dreams were. His aspirations ran deep, deeper than anyone could ever imagine. They were the flame that kept him going, the only thing that mattered. He could sacrifice everything that wasn't important—all for this one goal.
To be The Eminence in Shadow was all he ever needed to be.
The odd thing about it was that this dream was born from childish fantasies. Just like every other kid who once dreamed of becoming a hero, Cid was no different. But what made him stand out—what made him unique—was that he never let that dream die. He clung to it. He nurtured it. He aimed to fulfill it, to become the very hero he once idolized as a child.
So, in the simplest terms, although Cid did age physically, he never truly grew up. He was still a child at heart—yet oddly mature in the strangest ways.
Meanwhile, Shin Luceris had once shared that same passion for heroism. Back when he was still young, he too wanted to be a savior. But like most people, that dream faded into the background over time, buried beneath the weight of reality. Occasionally, it reignited—but each time, doubt would creep back in.
What if he never got powers?
What if all the training he'd done was pointless in the end?
Shin came to understand that there was no real point in trying to be a hero. As righteous as he tried to be, the world was far too cruel for ideals like that. Over the years, it became clear: the world didn't need heroes.
It was already too far gone. Beyond redemption.
If the fate of humanity were to be judged, and the one passing the sentence truly wanted to save them—then he simply couldn't. There were no redeeming qualities to fight for.
This world was ruthless. Unforgiving. Cold. Shin had long wished to escape it. So many times, he had dreamed of living in a world just a little better than the one he was stuck in.
Anime became his escape. A window into something brighter. And yet, it also reignited that buried passion—the urge to be someone better. A hero, perhaps. But he no longer sought righteousness.
He simply wanted to survive.
Then maybe—just maybe—he could help someone else along the way.
Charity starts at home, they say. Change begins within. If Shin truly wanted to make a difference, then he'd have to start by improving himself. No shortcuts.
Still, that dream—whatever was left of it—was never pursued. Not seriously, anyway.
He'd realized it was too late.
Even if he had started early, what difference would it have made? If the world were ever to be struck by an apocalyptic force, reducing everything to star dust, then all he could do was watch.
Hell—he hadn't even been able to stop his own death. Kidnapped and tortured at the age of fifteen.
That was reality.
"Dying at the tender age of fifteen… quite unlucky," a dark-skinned boy said quietly as he stood in front of a dimly lit store. His black irises were sharp, encased by a pale golden outline that shimmered faintly in the light. His hair was spiky, messy, with red-dyed tips and cut in a vintage, rugged style.
He looked around with idle curiosity before chuckling to himself.
"Cid Kageno probably won't show up. After all, invisible characters don't respond calmly to sudden attention."
"What makes you say that?" came a voice from behind—bleak, bored, and utterly uninterested.
My eyes nearly popped out of my sockets. Turning around with a faint smile, I replied, "Oh, nothing. I just thought you were picky with making friends. You seem… indifferent."
"Is that a problem?" he asked, a slight drop of amusement in his otherwise flat tone.
Shaking my head, I responded, "No. As people who somehow blend in with the background, I expected no less."
Shin turned to watch the bustling street. People moved like bubbles in boiling water—random and unpredictable. The population had surged recently. The city was no longer still.
The dark-skinned boy turned his gaze to the other boy beside him—black-haired and quiet. "Which game do you wanna play?"
"I don't know. What do you wanna do?" came the dry reply, emotionless as always.
On the surface, Shin remained calm. But internally, he was performing a metaphorical mic drop. The game he was about to propose had a fifty-fifty chance of success. That was just his assumption—Cid was… different. Unorthodox.
But Shin had one major bargaining chip.
"I thought letting you choose would be better, y'know. I was going to suggest training…" I paused, eyes drifting skyward. "But since we aren't talented, it would be a waste… wouldn't it?"
Cid froze. For a second, there was complete silence. Then a subtle smile tugged at his lips. Though he had always aspired to be The Eminence in Shadow—a hidden force lurking behind the curtain—sometimes, it was better to hide in plain sight.
Besides, Shin seemed pretty normal, physically strong even. From just the brief handshake when they met yesterday, Cid could tell this boy had trained his entire life. Just like him.
And Shin… he wasn't well known. Cid had never heard of him. Perhaps others knew who he was, but none ever tried to speak to him. No connections. No gossip. No presence.
That alone made him interesting.
'This background character wannabe… He has the makings of a protagonist. But he chooses to remain hidden. Weak-looking. Unnoticed. He has taste...'
Cid nodded to himself and began walking away.
"I guess we could train together. Still need to be away from public eyes if we want to keep our secrets," he muttered under his breath.
Shin raised a brow at that, trying to decipher the implication in those words. As realization set in, confusion quickly followed, and he moved to walk beside him.
"What do you mean, secrets?"
"You're not as weak as you pretend to be," Cid said, glancing at him.
Although there was nothing overtly dangerous about the boy, there was something... off. Something hidden.
Shin chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head, closing his eyes with a goofy grin. "You noticed...?"
"Yup."
After that, silence. But it wasn't awkward. It was the type of silence that needed no explanation. Quiet, but comfortable.
Still, one question lingered.
Turning to Shin, Cid noticed the boy with his hands tucked into his pockets. Something about that image felt familiar.
'Reminds me of myself...'
After a brief pause, he broke the silence.
"So... why do you want to train? And why hide your strength?"
Shin tilted his head at the question, an eyebrow raised in surprise. It was sudden, but not unwelcome. He took a moment to mull over his answer, all while weaving between passersby.
"It's simple," he began calmly. "I just don't want attention. I believe the shadows hold more truth than the light. Under the light, people hide their flaws. But in darkness, there's no need to pretend."
His tone was firm. Honest.
Cid found himself intrigued. Most people fail to realize that light doesn't reveal all. People often keep their worst habits hidden—right there in the dark.
"Life under the sun is an illusion. But beneath the shadows, more is revealed. If I can become the light within the shadows... then I can hunt the darkness."
Shin came to a halt.
So did Cid—who had been listening silently the whole time.
And for once, he smiled.