[Third Person's PoV]
Shadow, the original Cid Kaguno, sat upon a makeshift throne, cloaked in shadows that seemed to writhe and breathe around him. Before him, the members of Shadow Garden knelt in reverent silence, each one a dark silhouette against the faint glow filtering through the room. Beyond the towering windows, a blood-red moon cast its ominous light across the landscape, as if heralding a coming storm.
Shadow gazed at the crimson orb, his eyes unfocused, appearing lost in thought. He finally spoke, his voice low and resonant, slicing through the silence. "Do you all feel it?" he asked, the words thick with foreboding.
The members of Shadow Garden exchanged puzzled glances before Beta dared to answer. "Feel what exactly, my lord?" she asked, a hint of confusion evident in her tone.
"A feeling of dread... a foreboding calm before the storm," Shadow murmured, leaning one arm against the throne, his gaze still locked on the moon. "The Blood Moon... it shines as an omen of what's to come."
Inwardly, Cid celebrated, his thoughts triumphant: 'Nailed it! The classic 'calm before the storm' cliché! I've always wanted to say that!'
Beta's eyes widened as she followed his gaze. "You're right, my lord! The Blood Moon... it's a dreadful sign," she gasped, her voice filled with awe and worry.
'As always, thanks for the support, Beta,' Cid thought, reveling in his followers' reactions.
Before Cid could continue his theatrics, his brows furrowed. A strange energy pulsed in the room, an anomaly he hadn't foreseen. His eyes narrowed as a small, swirling portal materialized between him and Beta, catching everyone off guard.
Weapons were drawn in an instant. Shadow Garden members sprang to defensive stances, blades gleaming in the moonlight, while Shadow himself remained seated, feigning a calm composure. Yet, his fingers tapped the armrest of his throne, betraying his intrigue.
From the portal tumbled a small figure—a tiny girl who landed clumsily on the stone floor, rolling before sitting up, rubbing her head. "Ouchie!" she exclaimed in a sweet, high-pitched voice.
"A... baby?" Alpha tilted her head, her confusion mirroring that of the others.
Cid's thoughts raced as he tilted his head in bewilderment, 'What kind of script is this?'
The little girl, unmistakably Celeste, blinked up at Shadow with wide, innocent eyes. A bright smile spread across her face as she reached her small arms toward him, eyes gleaming with recognition. "Dwddy!" she cried with pure joy.
Shadow blinked, his usual air of authority slipping for just a second. "Huh?" he muttered, his composed facade fracturing.
"WHAAAAAT?!" the members of Shadow Garden shouted in unison, their exclamations reverberating through the room.
Shadow rose from his throne, unsheathing his sword as he approached Celeste, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I will not be deceived by your innocent appearance, you... foul beast!" he declared, pointing the blade toward her, trying to mask his confusion.
"Dwddy?" Celeste's smile faltered, her still outstretched arms slowly lowering, her expression darkening as her eyes filled with tears. "Dwddy…" she whimpered, hurt by his rejection. Her tiny frame shook as she began to hiccup, her lips quivering.
Then came the wail. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Celeste cried, her sorrow-filled scream echoing throughout the chamber. The sheer force of her cry shattered the glass panes of the tall windows, sending shards scattering across the floor.
The members of Shadow Garden cringed, covering their ears against the piercing sound. Alpha reacted quickly, stepping forward and scooping Celeste into her arms, gently patting her back as she rocked the child soothingly. She shot Shadow a rare look of disapproval. "Shh, it's alright, little one... It's going to be okay," she murmured, her tone soft and comforting.
Celeste clung to Alpha, still sniffling as she buried her face in her shoulder. Inwardly, she thought, 'Daddy doesn't want me anymore... He doesn't love me now that he has other children!'
Alpha continued to rock her, glaring at Shadow with a silent command in her eyes: Fix this.
Shadow scratched his head, looking awkward and out of his depth. This was hardly what he had expected.
"You want your daddy, don't you, little one?" Alpha said in a gentle tone. "He was just... surprised to see you, wasn't that right, Lord Shadow?"
"I'm not—"
"Isn't that right, Lord Shadow?" Alpha reiterated firmly.
"Ah... yes, yes," Shadow conceded, lowering his sword and clearing his throat. "It seems I... had a lapse in judgment."
Satisfied, Alpha handed Celeste over to him. Shadow hesitantly accepted the child, holding her at arm's length as he scrutinized her. Celeste gazed up at him with watery eyes, her nose runny, her face streaked with tears, giving him a heartbreakingly sad look.
'What... What kind of technique is this?' he thought, feeling a strange compulsion to dote on her. 'Why do I suddenly want to... comfort it?'
Reluctantly, he brought her closer, and she snuggled against his chest, her small hands gripping his coat tightly. Exhausted from her distress and the energy it had taken to travel here, Celeste's eyelids drooped. "Daddy…" she murmured softly before drifting into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Shadow's posture relaxed, and he carefully returned to his throne, cradling the sleeping child. Alpha watched him with an intent gaze. "My lord… who is this child? She claimed you as her father."
Shadow looked at the sleeping girl, brow furrowed in bewilderment. "I don't remember... fathering a child…" He muttered under his breath, inwardly panicking, 'I'M A FREAKING VIRGIN! And I'm broke! How am I supposed to afford child support?!'
Gamma leaned in, studying Celeste's features with an assessing eye. "But, my lord… she does bear a striking resemblance to you. There's no denying it."
Delta tilted her head, her gaze curious. "Did Bossu start a pack... without Delta knowing?"
Epsilon clapped her hands in excitement. "She's just so adorable! Look at her, sleeping so soundly. I wonder who the mother could be if Lord Shadow is indeed the father?"
"I CALL DIBS!" Several members of Shadow Garden raised their hands simultaneously, enthusiasm lighting up their faces.
Shadow hissed, "Shhhh!" He glanced down at Celeste, still slumbering in his arms. The group immediately silenced themselves, covering their mouths as he shot them a withering glare.
After a moment, Alpha's expression grew serious. "In all seriousness, my lord… who is her mother? Who could you have possibly…?"
A new voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant "Her mother... is known as Aurora…"
Everyone turned sharply, weapons raised once more as Celeste's shadow began to elongate and warp. The shadow darkened, pooling on the floor before rising slowly, taking the form of a towering knight clad in ancient armor, a massive sword at its side.
Shadow Garden members gripped their swords tightly, their eyes narrowed in caution. Shadow, however, remained seated, holding Celeste protectively.
"So," Shadow addressed the figure, his voice calm but sharp, "you must be the monstrous creature I sensed near this child."
The knight inclined his head respectfully. "Indeed. I am Igris, once known as the Blood Red Knight. I have been entrusted with the protection of the Young Monarch Princess."
'Holy shit! I didn't even know he was there! If he wanted to kill me I would have been dead, a long time ago' Cid's eyes sparkled with interest. 'Igris... What a perfect name. And... that entrance! He stepped out of her shadow! This guy is incredible—I need to learn that technique! Once I master the technique of stepping out of the shadows I'll truly be a Eminence in the Shadows'
Alpha glanced at Shadow with a newfound respect. "My lord... forgive me for doubting you. I should have known you'd never aim a weapon at a child. I underestimated you."
Beta's voice trembled slightly as she pieced things together. "Wait… did you say her mother is Aurora? The Witch of Ruins, Aurora?!"
Shadow looked down at the sleeping child in his arms, a reluctant smile forming as he muttered, "I see the resemblance now…"
Epsilon gasped, her eyes wide. "You... had a child with the Witch of Ruins?"
Before Igris could correct them, Shadow interrupted. "So," he addressed the knight with an air of acceptance, "I take it you're my daughter's protector, Sir Igris?" Shadow said, already fond of Celeste and claiming her as his daughter.
Igris gave a solemn nod. "The name is Igris, And that I am. I am sworn to safeguard the Young Monarch Princess, as per my oath."
'This Igris is just so... dope,' Cid thought, his grin widening.
[Third Person's PoV]
Alpha stepped forward, her voice calm but laced with urgency. "If I may speak out of turn," she interjected, her gaze flicking between the two figures at the center of their discussion. "You referred to her as the Monarch Princess… may I ask why?"
Igris, standing with a casual yet deliberate stance, kept his hand resting lightly on his sword hilt. "Simply put, that is exactly what she is—a Monarch Princess. The daughter of the Shadow Monarch. One day, she will grow into a Monarch Queen in her own right."
A sly smile curved onto Shadow's face. "The Shadow Monarch, huh?" he mused, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Never been called that before… I think I like it—"
His words were cut short as Igris blurred into motion, appearing mere inches before him. The air shivered with deadly intent. Portions of the stone wall lay cleaved alongside the grand throne, and Igris's blade was poised, its edge a hair's breadth from Shadow's neck. His dark eyes locked onto Shadow's, cold and unyielding, the very aura around him exuding a lethal chill.
"Let's set one thing straight," Igris intoned, his voice a deadly whisper. "It appears we've had a grave misunderstanding."
Shadow's eyes narrowed, glinting briefly with a crimson hue. He didn't flinch, didn't recoil; instead, he held Igris's gaze, his tone dropping into a deadly calm. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the room like frost.
In a fluid motion, members of Shadow Garden had drawn their weapons, closing in with fierce resolve. Alpha and her comrades appeared around the throne, their blades aimed unerringly at Igris, ready to strike on command.
"This is your third offense," Igris murmured, his eyes narrowing beneath the shadow of his helmet. "Commit another, and I promise you won't live to complete it. You are fortunate you're dealing with me and not *Him*. Otherwise, your existence would have ended with your first offense."
Alpha's voice was sharp, steady. "If I may ask… what offenses has our lord committed?" Her tone was edged with a coldness that spoke of her loyalty and distrust in equal measure.
Delta, barely restraining a low growl, was tensed like a coiled spring. Her gaze was fixed on Igris, her body poised. "Just say the word," she muttered, her voice vibrating with barely contained aggression.
Igris's voice held a steely edge. "First offense—he dared to point his weapon at the Monarch Princess. That alone is a crime punishable by death. Second offense—making the Monarch Princess shed tears. Third offense… thinking he is *Him*."
Beta's eyes narrowed as she analyzed his words, suspicion flickering across her face. "And who is this 'Him' you keep speaking of?"
Igris's gaze remained locked on Shadow. "The *true* Shadow Monarch," he stated, his tone resolute. "You may wear his face, bear his name, and gather the same loyal followers, but you… you are *not* Him."
Shadow's eyes flashed, his voice now a chilling challenge. "Listen here, Blood Red Knight… Do you think you can come into my domain and dare to threaten me?" His words rang with unyielding defiance. "I know nothing of this being you speak of. There can only be one me. I am the true, the only Shadow. Whoever this so-called Shadow Monarch is, he's clearly an imposter. A pretender. A Fake."
Igris's expression was unreadable as he withdrew his sword sheathed on the ground as he was stepping back from the throne. Without another word, he bent down, lifting Celeste from Shadow's lap. Gently, he wrapped her in his cape, shielding her from the tension that had gripped the room. He carried her to Alpha, placing her safely in her care. "Look after her," he instructed quietly.
Alpha took Celeste, confusion flickering in her eyes. She barely had a chance to respond before Igris vanished from her side, reappearing an instant later with his sword gripped tightly in hand, already in mid-swing.
Anticipating Igris's attack, Shadow had his own blade ready, but Igris's strike was like a bolt of thunder. The impact sent him hurtling backward, shattering through the wall in a storm of debris. As he spun through the air, Shadow managed to twist mid-flight, landing with a skidding slide across the ground floor. When he looked down at his hands, they were trembling from the sheer force of the blow. An appreciative grin spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Will I finally get to go all out?" he murmured, a glint of exhilaration flashing in his gaze as he exposed his canines in a feral smile.
Through the dust and rubble, Shadow spotted two glowing red eyes piercing through the haze, their menace palpable. Igris's form emerged, shadowed and imposing, his every step echoing with intent. And then he lunged, transforming into a streak of darkness.
Shadow shifted to the side, Igris's blurred form flashing just past his face, static electricity crackling along his skin as the knight's sword swung down, a lightning bolt unleashed with brutal precision. The ground trembled underfoot, splitting wide as Igris's sword cut deep, carving a jagged fissure across the ground.
Igris's expression remained impassive as he extended an arm with lightning speed, his fingers closing around Shadow's face before he could react. In a single, fluid motion, he slammed Shadow into the ground, the impact sending fractures spiraling outward.
Shadow snarled, his grip tightening around Igris's armored wrist. Channeling mana into his limbs, he delivered a powerful double-kick, launching Igris over his head. Igris twisted mid-air, landing effortlessly, his feet hitting the ground with controlled precision.
Shadow scrambled back up, rubbing the back of his neck with a smirk. With a low, focused breath, he conjured an obsidian blade from his own slime, its surface glistening with a dark, venomous sheen.
Neither wasted another second. With a burst of speed, they hurtled towards each other, swords flashing. Their movements were a flurry, a tempest of strikes and parries, too swift for the untrained eye to follow. Sparks erupted as their blades collided, the air charged with raw, crackling energy.
They both suddenly stopped mid fight, circling each other, sizing up their opponent before clashing once more in a fierce crescendo.
Each step, each swing sent waves of force through the ground beneath them, as they fought, the two figures moving like twin shadows locked in an unending duel.
The fierce battle between Igris and Shadow raged on, with each clash growing more intense and primal. Igris maintained an air of calm dominance, his movements precise and unyielding. Shadow, on the other hand, fought with wild, feral energy, his smirk widening with each hit he received, his eyes blazing with exhilaration despite the growing bruises and cuts marking his body. Blood now trickled down his cheek, staining his dark armor, but he seemed almost to relish it.
Igris's expression, as ever, was unreadable, betraying nothing as he advanced with his sword raised, each strike backed by a power that shook the very ground they stood on. Shadow struggled to match his strength, and though he fought back with skill and speed, Igris always seemed one step ahead, his every move both calculated and relentless.
With a grunt, Shadow launched another attack, his blade arcing toward Igris with lethal intent. But Igris sidestepped, twisting his sword to parry with ease, and in a fluid motion, he brought the flat of his blade crashing against Shadow's side. Shadow staggered, his body reeling from the sheer force, before he righted himself, eyes gleaming defiantly.
Panting slightly, Shadow wiped the blood from his lip, his defiant grin never faltering. "You're the first being that has managed to take blood from my being without me willing it," he muttered with admiration, "You have my respects, Igris!"
"Keep it, I have no need for it" Igris said as raised his sword in response. He watched as Shadow steadied himself, his gaze unwavering, before lunging forward again, his movements swift and seamless, almost as if he were gliding through shadows. Their swords clashed once more, a chaotic symphony of blades against blades, sparks flying with each deadly strike.
This time, however, Shadow managed to break through Igris's defense, his blade grazing Igris's armor, leaving a thin line of damage. Igris paused, glancing briefly at the mark, before his gaze returned to Shadow with a glint of something almost akin to acknowledgment. He gave a barely perceptible nod, a silent acknowledgment of Shadow's skill, but that was all he was getting.
And so they continued, pushing each other to the very brink. The air around them crackled with energy, the ground splitting and trembling beneath their feet. Both warriors seemed to lose themselves in the clash.
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GOT IT