Chương 4: The Facade of Mediocrity
It was a warm, lazy afternoon in Midgar Academy, and the hallways buzzed with the usual chatter of students who had far more interest in gossip than in their studies. Midgar Academy was the most prestigious school in the kingdom, where only the brightest and wealthiest students were admitted—future politicians, military leaders, and nobles' children. But today, as with every other day, Cid Kageno moved quietly through the halls, completely unnoticed, just the way he liked it.
He was the perfect definition of a background character. His steps were silent, his presence unremarkable. His brown hair was perpetually messy, his uniform slightly disheveled, and his expression always one of mild disinterest. As far as anyone else was concerned, Cid Kageno was just another student—unmemorable, unremarkable, and, most importantly, unthreatening.
Perfect.
This was exactly how he had planned it.
---
Cid had learned early in his reincarnated life that one of the most valuable skills in this world of magic and intrigue wasn't necessarily raw power or even intelligence. It was invisibility. Not physical invisibility, but the ability to fade into the background, to be so completely unremarkable that no one would ever suspect you were anything more than what you appeared to be.
It wasn't enough to simply blend in. No, Cid had to embody mediocrity. He had to make everyone believe that he was just an ordinary boy from an ordinary family, someone who had no ambitions or skills worth paying attention to. If he was going to build his empire from the shadows, he needed everyone to look past him. To forget him.
And so, he began crafting his masterpiece—the perfect facade of a background character.
For the past few months, Cid had been refining this role, practicing every day, every hour. Every expression, every movement was calculated, each one designed to make him seem as boring as possible. He had learned to walk in a way that was neither too fast nor too slow. He spoke in a tone that was neither too soft nor too loud. He answered questions with just the right amount of vagueness, never drawing too much attention, never standing out.
---
At Midgar Academy, there were two kinds of students. There were the exceptional ones—the elites who excelled in magic, combat, and strategy. These students were revered by their peers, their every move watched closely by those around them. Then there were the ordinary students, the ones who barely scraped by, who failed to distinguish themselves in any meaningful way.
Cid placed himself firmly in the second category. He had quickly realized that being too good at something would only make him a target for attention. If he aced his exams or showed too much skill in magic, people would notice. They would start asking questions. They might even suspect that there was more to him than met the eye.
And that was the last thing he wanted.
So Cid intentionally held back during his classes. He made sure to score exactly average on his exams—never too high, never too low. He fumbled spells just enough to make it seem like he was struggling, but not enough to draw concern. In combat training, he was careful to always lose in a way that seemed realistic—just slow enough that it looked like he was trying, but without ever coming close to winning.
There was an art to failure, Cid had discovered. A balance that had to be struck. Too much incompetence, and people would pity you. Too much skill, and they would start to admire you. The key was to be just good enough that no one cared. And Cid had perfected that art.
---
It was lunchtime, and the academy cafeteria was packed with students. The din of conversation filled the air as groups of friends gathered around tables, laughing and sharing stories from their morning classes.
Cid sat alone at a corner table, quietly eating his lunch. He kept his head down, his gaze focused on his food, and his body language deliberately closed off. He didn't make eye contact with anyone, nor did he attempt to join any conversations. Just another unremarkable face in the crowd.
His sister, Claire Kageno, sat across the room with her own group of friends. She was everything he wasn't—bright, outgoing, and popular. As a prodigy in swordsmanship, Claire had already made a name for herself in the academy, and many of the other students looked up to her. Cid could feel her eyes occasionally drift toward him, as if checking in on her younger brother, but he pretended not to notice.
Being Claire Kageno's brother could have been a problem. Her reputation alone might have drawn attention to him, but Cid had made sure to cultivate an image of a lazy, uninterested sibling who simply couldn't live up to his sister's greatness. It had worked so far. No one expected anything from him. No one cared.
Which was exactly the way he wanted it.
As he finished his lunch, Cid leaned back in his seat, glancing around the room from the corner of his eye. Most of the students were preoccupied with their own conversations, oblivious to his presence. A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
They don't suspect a thing.
---
Of course, while Cid was perfecting his role as the academy's most forgettable student during the day, his nights were spent honing his true skills in secret. When the sun set and the academy grounds grew quiet, Cid would slip away to a secluded training area in the forest near the Kageno estate. There, under the cover of darkness, he would practice his magic, combat techniques, and shadow abilities.
He had to be careful not to reveal too much of his true strength. During the day, he was Cid Kageno—the bumbling, average student. But at night, he became the true version of himself, training in secret for the inevitable battles that lay ahead.
His shadow magic had grown significantly more refined in the past few months. At first, he had struggled to control it, but now he could summon and manipulate the shadows with ease. He practiced creating veils of darkness to conceal himself, slipping between the trees like a ghost. He even experimented with using the shadows offensively, shaping them into tendrils that could bind or strike down enemies.
Combat was another area where he had made considerable progress. In the academy's sparring sessions, Cid deliberately lost to his opponents, letting them believe he was a weak fighter. But in reality, he had been studying advanced sword techniques in secret, using his evenings to spar against invisible foes in the forest.
His movements had become fluid, precise. Each strike was calculated, each parry instinctive. He could feel the power coursing through his body, the magic enhancing his speed and strength. He was becoming exactly what he needed to be—an invisible force, a hidden master.
But no one could know. Not yet.
---
It was the end of the week, and the academy was holding its monthly practical exams—a chance for students to showcase their combat and magic abilities. Normally, Cid would treat these exams as an opportunity to further cement his facade of mediocrity. He would perform just well enough to pass, but never well enough to stand out.
But today was different. Today, Cid's instincts were telling him that something was off.
As the students gathered in the academy's training grounds, preparing for their exams, Cid noticed a group of nobles whispering to each other near the edge of the field. One of them, a tall, broad-shouldered boy named Marcus, had been watching Cid with a sneer ever since they had arrived. Marcus was known for being a bully, especially toward students he perceived as weak or beneath him.
Cid didn't like the look in Marcus's eyes. There was a glint of malice there, something that told him today wasn't going to go as smoothly as usual.
"Hey, Kageno!" Marcus called out, his voice dripping with condescension. "You ready to embarrass yourself again today?"
Several students nearby snickered, and Cid felt their eyes on him. Normally, he would let the insults slide, playing his role as the quiet, forgettable student. But today, something was different. Today, Cid felt a surge of frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He had worked so hard to maintain his facade, to be invisible, and yet here was Marcus, trying to drag him into the spotlight.
No. Not today.
Cid turned to face Marcus, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "I'm just here to do my best," he said, his voice calm and measured.
Marcus smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm sure you'll try. But let's be honest, Kageno. You're a nobody. A weakling. You don't belong here."
The other students chuckled, and Cid felt their derision like a weight on his shoulders. He could feel his hands clenching into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to relax. He couldn't afford to blow his cover now. Not in front of all these people.
But as Marcus continued to taunt him, Cid's mind raced. He needed to find a way to defuse the situation without drawing too much attention to himself. He needed to stay in control.
---
An idea struck him.
What if I lose… but not too obviously?
Cid had always been careful to lose convincingly, but maybe he could use this moment to further solidify his facade. If he played this right, Marcus would think he had humiliated him, and the other students would write him off as a complete weakling. No one would ever suspect the truth.
"Alright, Marcus," Cid said quietly, his voice barely audible. "Let's spar."
The students around them grew quiet, sensing that something was about to happen. Marcus's smirk widened, clearly eager for the chance to embarrass Cid in front of everyone.
The two of them moved to the center of the training grounds, drawing their wooden practice swords. Cid took a deep breath, centering himself. He wasn't going to win this fight, but he wasn't going to make it easy for Marcus either. He had to make it look real.
The instructor gave the signal, and Marcus lunged forward, his sword swinging toward Cid in a wide arc. Cid sidestepped the attack, his movements smooth and effortless. But just as he moved to counter, he hesitated, allowing Marcus to recover and press the attack.
Cid continued to dodge, letting Marcus's strikes glance off his defenses, all the while making it seem like he was barely keeping up. He could feel the eyes of the other students on him, watching as Marcus forced him back.
And then, with a quick feint, Cid allowed Marcus to land a solid hit on his side. The impact knocked him off balance, and he stumbled, falling to the ground with a grunt of pain.
The students erupted in laughter as Marcus stood over him, his chest puffed out in triumph.
"Knew it," Marcus sneered. "You're nothing, Kageno."
Cid lay on the ground for a moment, letting the laughter wash over him. Inside, he was calm. He had done exactly what he needed to do. He had lost—convincingly, but not pathetically. No one would suspect anything. No one would see through his facade.
As he got to his feet, brushing the dirt from his uniform, Cid allowed himself a small, secret smile.
Perfect.
---
The rest of the day passed without incident. The students moved on from the sparring match, their attention shifting to the next set of exams. Marcus, satisfied with his victory, paid Cid no further mind.
Cid returned to his usual routine, slipping back into the background, unnoticed and unremarkable. As he wandered through the academy's halls, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. His plan was working. His facade was holding up. No one suspected that he was anything more than an ordinary, average student.
But beneath that facade, Cid knew the truth. He was far from ordinary. He had power—power that no one could even begin to comprehend. And one day, when the time was right, he would reveal that power to the world.
But for now, he would remain in the shadows.
He would continue to play the role of Cid Kageno—the unremarkable student, the weakling who couldn't even win a simple sparring match. He would let the world believe that he was nothing more than a background character, all the while preparing for the day when he would step into the light.
One day, he thought, his eyes gleaming with determination. One day, they'll see who I really am.
But not yet.
For now, the facade would remain.
And from the shadows, he would watch.
Waiting.
Planning.
Until the time was right.
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