A Shadow in Orario: 2

A Shadow in Orario: 2

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Splendid

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The more I looked at Orario… the less that I liked it.

“How the heck am I supposed to be the Eminence in Shadow here? Everything’s terrible!” I scratched my head, while looking over my personal information gathering on the setting. Just like wearing the right costume for the right scene, I knew that I had to be mindful of the environment to make my lines and appearances really hit. Looking cool is great. Looking right for the occasion is better. Too bad this place was being worked over really hard. “It’s like everything I try to do will make me the good guy!”

Orario was a dump.

Some parts of it worked at as advertised. Adventurers and their Familias worked with the Guild to extra resources from the Dungeon. They had their generic fights for territory and rivalled one another, which was perfectly fine. The problem was that loads of other people had their scummy, underhanded ways all over the city. Foreign countries were using the place as a tax-free, luxury zone in their casinos guarded by Level 4s. The slums in the city were breeding grounds for thieves and thugs, which was fine because they gave up their money when they died, but they had whole drug and human trafficking organizations going on, too!

If I fought against the Guild, things will topple too quickly for me to do anything stylishly.

If I stole from the casinos, I’ll look like a good guy, even if I steal money for myself.

If I beat up thugs and thieves from the slums, I’ll be an underground hero for fighting against criminal organizations!

“Aagghh, I wanna be an Eminence in Shadow! Not an edgy hero! That’s so lame!” I whined and moped and turned around and about on my bed. After a bit of grinding, I had enough Valis to afford to stay in a nice hotel. ‘Cid’ was living in a rundown apartment a few blocks over, but worked nights, so I just stayed in my nice room with room service. As of this moment, I couldn’t come up with a way to do what I wanted. “If I just get rid of them all overnight, that’ll just be a generic hero move, too. What if I take them over? No, that’s a generic villain move. Not an Eminence in Shadow.”

Some would say that I’m being too hard on myself.

But, for my own satisfaction, I had to hold myself to the highest of standards possible.

Anything less will just be boring, and I deserve the best for all the work I’ve put into becoming the Eminence in Shadow!

I thought about things for a little longer, before shaking my head.

“Well, if I can’t figure out what to do on the bigger scale, then I should look into the smaller things first.” Just like training with weights or figuring out a new skill, it’s best to start small if you want to make progress towards mastery or improvement. If I can’t figure out a way to subvert the institutions of this place, then I’ll need to look lower. Even an Eminence in Shadow must start small. They don’t just pop into existence with all their powers and allies, after all. That would be cool, actually. I should look into that. “Mhmm! Yep! Let’s make some rivals, unveil my true power, and make people look up to me in wonder!”

They’ve gotta say “who the hell was that!?,” “who does he think he is!?,” and “how is he so strong!?”

People might’ve already said those things about me in Midgar already, but there’s no reason at all for me not to practice and get better at it. My intentions to live up to at least 200 as a wealthy, former Eminence ins Shadow meant that I had more than a hundred and fifty years before my retirement. I needed practice, and I can’t disappoint anyone looking my way.

Truly, to be an Eminence in Shadow is a path of hardship, but the rewards are oh-so-sweet.

With all that out of the way… who can I beat up for good, but controversial reasons?

Since I can’t go after the human traffickers or foreign casinos without looking like a hero, they were out of the question for now.

Hm.

Wait?

Wasn’t there an entire Familia that made some sort of super-addictive wine that everyone tolerated because they also produced a non-addictive version?

Yeah.

Getting rid of a beloved luxury item, but also destroying a morally dubious organization sounded sweet!

They probably had loads of money for me, too!

…

Liliruca Arde blinked at the newspaper and then looked up at Bell.

“Someone… destroyed the whole Soma Familia?” It felt almost impossible. The whole Familia had persisted for a long time, despite all that it did to its own members, because Soma produced a form of Soma enjoyed all over the world. Even if some great Familia decided they were treating their members poorly, even other Gods would come to the Soma Familia’s aid because of the defective product that was cherished all over the world. She’d believed that the best that could happen would be that she’d be free from it completely and utterly. “How?”

“Someone who calls themselves ‘Shadow.’” Bell tilted his head and pointed out the particular paragraph in the paper. A letter of intent had been left behind and signed. A part of Liliruca thought it was crazy for someone to do such a thing. It was the same as signing a death warrant. However, in the back of her mind, if someone could destroy a whole Familia overnight… it could simply be a challenge to all who backed Soma. “Are you okay, Lili?”

“I… I don’t know. It feels… not true.” Everything. So much suffering, so much work, so much effort, and even risking her life to leave. The Familia took so much from her, and she’d done so many terrible things for them, but now the whole Familia was gone. The person who destroyed it, killing all its officers and capable Adventurers, was at large and taunting all who would’ve come to their aid. He called those who sought justice for Soma the unjust who would sacrifice innocents for luxury. Her heart squeezed at the words. She’d been a part of that. “I can’t believe that they’re gone and that someone was crazy and strong enough to do it and fight everyone who backed them.”

“Is that right?”

Liliruca almost leapt straight upward at the words she heard.

As usual, it was Cid, who was somehow carrying as much as she was in a massive bag with his plain face and lanky body and lack of God.

“H-hey, stop sneaking up on people like that! We can fire you, y’know!?”

“B-but, being sneaky is important for haulers! People will be annoyed if I’m loud and jangling everywhere!"

Something about the blank face and innocence of the black-haired boy rankled Liliruca. His clothes were now looking better, even if they were still cheap, and he had simple armor on. He’d started going into the Dungeon to help gather stuff, even without a Falna, and succeeding. It seemed crazy, but the simple, country boy was really making it rich just honestly working in Orario. She knew she shouldn’t be jealous, but his existence was like a slap to her face.

“H-hey, calm down. Lili, please remember that Cid-san went out of his way to save time for us today. Cid-san, I’m sorry. Lili’s just feeling at a loss today. She, uhhh, knew people in the Soma Familia.”

“O-oh, I’m sorry for your loss. T-that dastardly Shadow-guy is really mysterious and mean, isn’t he?”

Lili found herself speaking before she could catch herself.

“No. He’s doing the right thing, even if everyone thinks he’s wrong.” Cid seemed to stand a bit straighter from his hunched-over position at that. Good. The newbie was paying attention. It was the least he could do. “Some Familias need to go down, even if they’re technically doing the correct thing in Orario, that doesn’t mean that they’re right.”

“Lili… lots of people died…” Bell spoke up softly and Liliruca wilted at his words. He was innocent, she knew that, but he was right. She shouldn’t look down on the way he saw things. He saw them that way because he hadn’t been ruined by Orario. And, she was going to do her best to keep him that way. “This Shadow could’ve just beat them, if he had that much power.”

Lilruca struggled with what she wanted to say next, but once more she spoke with her heart.

“So did a lot of the people that the Soma Familia killed, Bell-kun. I know that you mean well, but they’re really, really terrible people.”

Bell’s look of surprise at her words and how he bit his lower lip in consternation made her heart ache.

In the corner of her vision, she thought she saw Cid pump his fist for some reason, but when she looked the young man just blinked at her and gave a wave with an obviously empty mind.

She sighed.

If only everyone could be as lucky and plan as Cid.

…

Alpha moved forward with a frown.

By her calculations, in the time it took for her to gather the Seven Shades for a meeting, Shadow had been in the other world for a month.

“Gamma, report.”

“Shadow-sama has finished reconnaissance on the region and is currently testing the so-called gods of the world. Recently, he has vanquished a Familia beneath the god called ‘Soma’ who was producing an illicit, mind-controlling substance.” Gamma had a small smile on her face, even though a bandage was on her nose from her most recent trip. One of her attendants was wiping up blood coming from her nostril from just behind her chair. “The so-called god did nothing against him. I believe that Shadow-sama is currently gauging the whole otherworld of their strength.”

“As expected of Shadow-sama, even with all his strength, he’s making sure to be cautious against the unknown!” Beta spoke at a fast pace and was rapidly scribbling on her book as she spoke. Alpha could only hope that she was writing notes, since she was the sole member of the Seven Shades that had previously been to another world. The place called ‘Japan’ from which they currently had a guest. “Though the previous world had nothing that could hope to defeat him, the similarities between his ability to bestow us power and purge curses from us is quite similar to the abilities of a god!”

“Eh? So, are these gods strong, if they can do the same as boss?” Delta sat on her haunches at the long, circular table. Though everyone acknowledged that Alpha was the first amongst equals due to her ability and strength, second only to Shadow, the Seven Shades were technically a council that ruled over Shadow Garden as equals. “Can I fight them to make sure?”

“Oi, Delta, if Shadow-sama is being careful, so should you.” Zeta growled from across the table. She’d returned from a voyage from the frontier in a jungle, so she was clad for jungle exploration in khaki shorts and shirt and a pair of binoculars hung from her neck. “Calm down a bit and pay attention. Alpha-sama has plans, obviously.”

“Research is important.” Eta yawned as she spoke, still covering her slime suit with her lab coat. Her head swayed from side to side and almost fell forward. Epsilon caught her before her face made contact with the desk. “G’night.”

“My subordinates are with Gamma’s right now to make a staggered line of communication with Shadow-sama.” Epsilon made a point of showing off her figure, making a pose and aiming it at Beta, which made the bespectacled Elf pause in her writing. Alpha watched it with a sigh. Her report was perfect, but her attitude… “He hides himself very well, so contact is sporadic, but recently they made contact with him. He placed himself in a hotel where the guests names are not kept on record, but has other hiding places, as well as another identity that is researching unnoticed as a simple young man.”

“I see, Shadow-sama is working very hard and so we must at least try to match his step. Prepare a plan to accelerate our current project in the other world. We must at least be able to provide him with support, should he request it and in any capacity.” Alpha’s words received resolute nods from everyone at the table. As she should, because they all owed their lives and chance at vengeance for what was done to them to Shadow. A part of her wanted to be there, but to do so would have Shadow Garden exposed to potential counter-attack, even if Cid could emerge from the portal ‘instantly’ the moment they sent a messenger in with time being much faster in the other world. “Delta, all your current assignments will be placed under Zeta. Zeta, you will be on the attack and have your current projects postponed. Gamma, focus on our economic arm and make sure that we can provide Shadow-sama with as much resources as possible. Everyone else, prioritize all projects towards helping Shadow-sama.”

“““““Yes!”””””

They all bowed their heads in assent, before rising to do what they needed. They had their own commands and projects, and Alpha knew that they were more than capable of organizing everything n their own.
Save for Delta, who stayed behind, as she realized all she had was given to Zeta.

“Hm? What will I be doing, then?”

Alpha wondered if she was being foolish, or even betraying Cid’s trust in her, if she gave the current order. However, in another world and surrounded by creatures that could potentially be as strong as him, Alpha didn’t want to take any chances with Cid’s life.

“Delta, you’ll be going in and be the first on the scene, if Shadow-sama needs any reinforcements. Unless he calls for you, though, you’ll remain within the Dungeon with our other assets.”

“Oh, I get to be with the boss! This is the best assignment!”

In truth, Alpha wished she could be there instead, but for now… Delta would have to do.

Her strength was needed in this world, where the Cult remained, and so she would have to stay.

Until the Cult was eradicated completely, the life she wished for remained far away.