The Eminence In The Shadow 164 Where Is He?

"How sad, OWL. You're all but too late--"

"Kindly, shut up."

OWL turned to Maximilian.

"... You dare." Maximilian's tone raised in ferocity.

"You're of no concern now."

"Foolish. Shadow is finished, and the same fate awaits you next--"

"You don't seem to realize that you've been played."

"Played...?"

"Lord Shadow, please allow me a question."

OWL asked Shadow who was buried rubble.

"... You may."

Shadow answered after a pause.

Violet mana then blew away the debris, and Shadow slowly stood up.

"You! So you have that much power still--!"

Maximilian was half in a panic but in contrast, OWL was calmness itself.

"Sir, why do you not show your true power?"

"... I wished to fully judge the power of that man. For reference, as it were..."

"For reference… I understand now. I have one more thing I must ask."

OWL asked with a tinge of anger in her tone.

Shadow nodded his a.s.sent.

"What is the meaning of this…?"

OWL blew the snow at her feet away with her sword. The powdery white pulled away to reveal a black form.

This was-- the lump of slime that had taken the form of Cid Kageno.

"Please answer truthfully. Cid… where is Cid!?"

OWL roared as if to overpower the howl of the blizzard around them. Her voice contained fierce resolve.

"That voice..." Clara stared at OWL as it to ascertain something.

OWL's attention was wholly towards Shadow however.

Shadow took a moment before answering.

"Cid is safe..."

"But where is he?"

"... Must you know?"

"--!"

Shadow and OWL stared at one another for some time. A silent tension rising between them.

Then…

"You have saved my life, granted me power, and have shown me the path I must tread. I… do not want to doubt you. So I shall trust those words… But."

OWL paused her words to glare sharply at Shadow.

"If the words you said are false… If you've put Cid in danger… I will not forgive you!"

Shadow gave OWL as sidelong glance.

"I do not need your forgiveness. Regardless of what you may learn or think of me, my path shall not waver..."

OWL narrowed her eyes to that.

"Now… I shall return to the fight."

Shadow looked away from her, and silently drew his sword.

"I shall return to my mission as well."

OWL approached Clara.

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"Princess Clara. My charge is to deliver you to the Royalist base of operations."

"OWL, you… I heard say that our people had a secret plan, is that your role in all this?"

"I am not alone. We are currently aiding your faction. I had wanted to provide a proper explanation, but time is of the essence. Please follow me, this may be our last chance to leave the capital."

Clara stared at the hand OWL had offered.

"Are you… No, nevermind… Let us go, I will trust you."

"Your Highness, are you sure it's safe to trust her…?"

Her retainers were agitated.

"I am. After all, she should be much more..."

Clara's voice petered off on that line of thought.

"Then please follow after me. We will be heading underground and meet allies en route."

OWL hoisted Batt onto her back and headed for the camp gates.

"Halt. You will not pa.s.s me!"

Maximilian was about to charge at OWL.

Which was when a powerful bloodl.u.s.t a.s.sailed him to the core, halting him in place.

"What-- this is unreal--!?"

Maximilian jumped from his spot in a panic.

"-- But can you pa.s.s me?"

This bloodl.u.s.t that seemed to cause tremors in the earth-- was of course that of Shadow.

He had managed to arrest Maximilian to the spot with but a glare.

"Shadow--!!"

Maximilian glared back, rage building on his face. That was all he could do.

He could only watch in spite as OWL left the premises together with the Royalists.

And once the last of them, Zack, was also leaving, the bloodl.u.s.t became even more fierce.

"--!?"

Zack s.h.i.+vered and turned around.

Shadow was looking at him.

Zack was dripping in sweat and repeatedly nodded at the man in black.

A silent conversation seemed to take place.

Then, Zack left, ran away as fast as his feet could take him...