"Ugh, My Head..."

I followed the sounds of combat until I reached the depths of a dark back alley.

Two spellswords were trading blows.

One of them was Alexia, no doubt about it—she was rocking her usual school uniform and short skirt.

The other, however, was a man dressed head-to-toe in black, his face hidden behind a mask.

Something felt off. It would have made sense if Alexia—the one I suspected of impersonating Shadow Garden—was the one in black, but their roles were completely reversed.

I climbed onto a nearby roof, suppressed my Ki, and settled in to see how things would play out.

"Give it up already. You’re no match for me."

The fight was leaning heavily in Alexia’s favor. The man in black wasn't exactly a weakling, but he couldn't keep up with Alexia, whose skills had been skyrocketing lately.

Her blade shredded his black coat, and blood began to splatter across the cobblestones.

One more solid push and it would be game over.

"Why do you keep killing innocent people? Is this what you’re fighting for?"

"We... are Shadow Garden..."

Shadow Garden.

The man in black definitely just said that.

"That's all you've said from the start. Is this the will of the man called Shadow?"

"We... are Shadow Garden..." the man repeated.

Well, that settled it.

This guy in black was the culprit framing Shadow Garden.

My bad, Alexia. Turns out you were innocent after all. I offered her a silent "whoops" in my head.

But why was this guy pretending to be part of my organization?

It was a natural question, but I already knew the answer. In fact, I was probably the only one who could understand.

It was pure admiration.

He looked up to Shadow Garden... and to the Eminence in Shadow.

I couldn't exactly knock the guy for his feelings. After all, my entire life started because I admired the "eminence in shadow" archetype. My whole deal began by imitating and idolizing the mysterious masterminds in movies, anime, and manga.

He was just walking the same path, trying to mimic Shadow Garden.

That’s right—he was the world’s very first Shadow Garden Follower.

I felt a warm surge of emotion welling up in my chest. I was just so happy to know that the path I’d taken was the right one, and that someone out there had actually recognized it.

You can do it, buddy.

I almost wanted to cheer him on.

But alas, that was strictly forbidden. I am the Eminence in Shadow, after all. If I allowed someone to run around dragging my organization’s name through the mud, I’d be failing at my role.

He might be trying to play the part of an eminence in shadow, but I’m the real deal.

There’s no room for sentimentality or compromise in this business.

I steeled my heart and watched the two of them continue their dance.

"This is the end!"

Just as Alexia’s sword sent the Follower’s blade flying, I sensed a new presence closing in.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"This is the end!"

Alexia flicked her wrist, sending the man’s sword spinning away.

Clang.

The blade rang out as it bounced off the cobblestones.

In that heartbeat—

"...!"

Alexia threw herself into a roll, narrowly dodging a sudden slash from behind.

She blocked a follow-up strike by reflex and immediately kicked her new opponent in the gut to create some distance.

Catching her ragged breath, Alexia stared down her new enemies.

Two more spellswords had joined the fray. Both were dressed in black.

Alexia clicked her tongue as she saw the first man scramble to retrieve his sword.

Now it was three against one.

And these weren't just some thugs; they were experts.

She could handle one.

She could hold her own against two.

But three...

"Three-on-one against a delicate maiden? How tacky."

If only they were the chatting type.

"Tell you what, why don't we do three rounds of one-on-one? No?"

They began to slowly encircle her.

Alexia adjusted her stance, moving constantly to ensure no one could get a clean shot at her back.

"Oh, look behind you! The moon is just lovely tonight."

She used nothing but her gaze to check the enemy trying to flank her. She kept her sword moving in small, tight arcs as they all probed for an opening.

"What, you won't even look? You really should."

Alexia smiled.

Under the moonlight, her crimson eyes flashed with a predatory glint.

"Because my sister is standing right behind you."

"—!"

They bit.

Alexia moved instantly.

Her white blade carved through the back of the enemy who had been pathetic enough to actually look behind him.

Die.

She didn't say it aloud, but she sneered it in her mind.

She sliced through the black coat, sending a spray of fresh blood into the air.

But it was shallow.

She needed one more hit to finish him—

An impact suddenly tore through Alexia’s midsection.

"Agh...!"

A black boot buried itself in her side.

She heard the sickening crunch of her ribs snapping.

Alexia spat a mouthful of blood and swung her sword at the leg, but the attacker pulled back just in time, leaving her blade to strike the cobblestones.

Her rhythm was broken.

Alexia spat out another glob of blood and wiped her mouth, staining her hand crimson.

Two of them had fallen for the bluff, but the third hadn't. That was the bastard who had kicked her and ruined her finishing blow.

Alexia glared at them with pure venom.

It was still three against one.

In fact, the situation had gotten worse. Two were unharmed, and while the third was heavily wounded, he still had his sword. She couldn't ignore him.

Meanwhile, her ribs were shattered, and pieces of bone were currently stabbing into her lungs.

I’m going to die, she thought.

She had no choice.

Alexia reached into her uniform pocket and pulled out a Red Pill. It was a drug she’d managed to sneak away before the Arson Incident.

She hated the idea of showing off such an "ugly" sword, but it was better than being dead.

She brought the pill to her lips.

I’ve always been good under pressure, she prayed as she prepared to swallow it.

In that instant—

Jet-black darkness descended from the sky.

Like an owl soaring through the night, he landed without a single sound.

The jet-black blade cut one of the men in half in a single motion, making a flower of blood bloom in the alley.

The choking, metallic scent of blood filled the air.

The Jet-black Man... Shadow... flicked his blade, clearing the gore. A single, horizontal line of red was painted across the wall.

"Fools who dare impersonate the name of Shadow Garden..."

Shadow.

The strongest being in existence, the man who had shown Alexia the "perfected sword" she could never forget.

Was he... an enemy?

No, Shadow and the men in black seemed to be at odds.

"You shall atone for your sins with your lives."

The moment Shadow spoke, the men in black made their move.

The decision was instantaneous.

They kicked off the cobblestones and the walls, scrambling onto the rooftops to flee.

"Foolish..."

Shadow gave chase.

"W-Wait...!"

Alexia’s voice actually made him stop.

Shadow turned slowly and looked her dead in the eye.

Alexia’s sword rattled in her hand. She knew she was being an idiot.

"I am Alexia Midgar. Princess of this kingdom."

Shadow simply stared at her.

If he felt like it, her life would be harvested in a heartbeat.

"Tell me what you’re after. Why do you use that power, who are you fighting, and... do you intend to turn your fangs against this country?"

Shadow turned his back to her.

"Do not get involved. You would be happier knowing nothing."

"...! Wait! If you’re saying you’re an enemy...!"

"And what would you do if I were?"

A wave of pure bloodlust slammed into Alexia.

Her instincts shriveled in the face of a being she knew she could never defeat.

But humans were defined by their ability to resist instinct.

"I’ll fight you. You’d eventually kill my sister, and I won't allow that."

Shadow’s coat billowed behind him.

"I can understand your sword style. I might not be able to do it now, but one day, I will surely—"

"You think you can kill me?"

Leaving those words hanging in the air, Shadow vanished into the darkness.

Alexia whispered to the empty night.

"Yeah... I do."

Silence returned to the alley.

Left alone, Alexia slumped down, clutching her stomach.

The sword slipped from her trembling hand and clattered to the ground.

She knew she’d been reckless.

But recently, Alexia had finally realized why she swung her sword in the first place. She knew what those few, precious things were that she actually cared about.

Her one and only sister, and her one and only friend.

She had decided she would protect them, and that was enough.

"This is bad..."

Her consciousness was fading.

She knew that passing out in a back alley like this was a recipe for disaster. She tried to use the wall to haul herself up.

Then—

"Alexia... Alexia!"

A voice was calling her name from the distance.

"S-Sister... over here!"

"Alexia!!"

Footsteps thundered toward her.

Something soft caught her as her body finally gave out.

"Alexia! How could you be so reckless...!"

"Sister..."

Alexia buried her face in Iris's chest.

"You’re going to tell me exactly what happened here later. Consider yourself warned."

"...Yes, ma'am."

"And you can start by telling me what these are."

"Eh...?"

Alexia looked down. The Red Pills were scattered all over the cobblestones. She must have dropped them when she fell.

"S-Sister, I’ve never seen those before in my life."

"Quiet."

"I'm serious! I have no idea!"

"I’m not hearing it."

"Ugh, my head..."

Alexia decided to just "faint" and leave the rest for future her to deal with.