Battle of Darkness

CLARA ORIANA

I stood there, squinting at the closed gates of the Royal Capital from a distance.

The sky was a miserable shade of gray, providing a bleak backdrop for my pink-blonde hair as it whipped around in the wind. I suppose I looked the part—Clara Oriana, the tragic princess of the Oriana Kingdom, standing in the center of a brewing storm.

"Our forces have successfully laid siege to the capital, Lady Clara. Nobles from every corner of the country are flocking to our banner as we speak. Honestly, the moment they’re all accounted for, I’d say we launch a general offensive and get this over with."

The voice belonged to the elderly man standing behind me.

"I appreciate it, Marquis Grant," I said, my eyes still glued to those distant gates. "It’s only because you rallied the troops that we’ve even made it this far."

"You’re too kind, my lady. But let’s be real—I couldn't have herded these cats on my own. This is all thanks to your influence."

"My influence, huh...?"

I let the words trail off into the wind.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked.

"I’m a royal on paper, and that’s about it. I haven't actually done anything. I don’t know anything. I can't even wrap my head around..."

"Ah. You're thinking about that mysterious group that busted you out of the detention center, aren't you?"

"It’s my sister. Rose is the one behind this. She’s acting for the sake of the kingdom."

The Marquis’s face stiffened. "Regarding Lady Rose... it might be for the best if we don't make a habit of mentioning her."

"And why not? Everything—literally everything—started the day she stabbed my father. Everyone wants to paint her as the villain, but Father was acting completely bizarre before it happened. She knew something. I know she did."

"She’s a patricide, Clara. No matter how you spin the 'why,' the 'what' remains the same. She killed her father."

"But if we don't understand the why, we don't understand anything! Why did my father lose his mind? Why did she have to kill him? How did the Doem Faction grab so much power so fast? How did I get out of that cell? Why did an entire army just 'happen' to show up for me? We've surrounded the castle without even breaking a sweat. Doesn't any of this seem... I don't know, weird to you?"

"Well..."

"Marquis Grant, be honest. Doesn't it feel like this entire stage has been set for us by someone else?"

Grant looked up at the gray sky, his expression turning grim.

"...Shortly after I decided to dive into the wonderful world of politics, my grandfather gave me a piece of advice. He told me there’s a 'Darkness' in this world that you should never, ever go near."

His voice had gone quiet, almost a whisper.

"Darkness?"

"A great shadow that’s been pulling the strings of the world since ancient times. I have no clue what it actually is. I took my grandfather’s advice to heart and never went looking for answers. But in all my years in politics... I’ve felt its weight. Rigged trials, unfair demotions, records being 'corrected' out of nowhere, people vanishing... and then there are the 'accidental' deaths. Anyone who tried to shine a light on the darkness was snuffed out."

"So, what is it? A cult? A secret society?"

"Like I said, I don't know. I was too busy being terrified. A colleague I worked with yesterday would die in a carriage accident today. Then, like clockwork, his entire family’s manor would burn to the ground. Every trace of their existence, gone. I have a wife and kids, Clara. So... I learned how to look the other way."

He sounded like he was confessing his sins to a priest.

"When Lady Rose’s incident happened, I felt that pressure again, heavier than ever. It was so intense I hauled tail back to my territory and went into hiding before anyone else could."

"But you’re here now. You gathered an army and stood up."

"Because I realized the darkness wasn't alone. There are two of them. One is backing the Doem Faction, and the other is..."

Grant looked behind us. I followed his gaze, but there was nothing there but the endless, empty gray sky.

"I’m just a pawn," he continued. "Two massive shadows are duking it out, and one of them decided to move the 'Marquis Grant' piece across the board. That’s all this is. But hey, even a pawn has its own pride. I have past mistakes to atone for... and a dear friend’s death to avenge."

"Marquis..."

I looked up at him as he white-knuckled his fists.

"I guess it takes a darkness to kill a darkness," I muttered. "Maybe that’s fine. If they’re both shadows, they’ll never be able to step out into the light anyway."

"They say 'only light can banish darkness,' but that’s an old story. Right now, I just want the truth. I want to know what’s actually happening behind the scenes of this war."

I stared straight at him, trying to project more confidence than I felt.

"I suppose my own light was a bit too dim for that task," Grant said with a small, tired smile.

"But the Volunteer Army is gathering under your light, Lady Clara. We’ve even got a group rumored to be chosen by the legendary 'Black Rose.' All these little lights are starting to add up."

"Wait, the 'Black Rose' is here?"

"Indeed. They’re led by a very... enthusiastic young man named Goldoh Kinmekki. Who knows? If these lights keep growing, maybe they’ll actually take down the darkness one day. But that’s probably a long way off."

Grant offered his arm to escort me back toward our camp.

"For now, let’s just play our parts on this staged-managed map and aim for the best possible outcome. I suspect the answers you’re looking for are waiting at the finish line."

"Right... and I’m sure my sister will be waiting there, too."

We walked back together, two small figures heading into the heart of a game we didn't even know the rules to.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The spin-off 4-panel manga The Eminence in Shadow! Shadow Gaiden is officially hitting the pages of Comp Ace starting in the September issue (on sale July 26th)!

Get ready for a hilarious look at Shadow Garden and Cid’s merry band of misfits. Even better? It’s being drawn by Seta U-sensei, the same legend who handled the Overlord 4-panel manga! Don’t miss it!