Shadow Farms

“Ugh, Ku” Head

“Fumu ..”

The place of the fight turned out to be deep within the dark passageway.

There were two Magic Swordmen fighting.

One of them is wearing a uniform and a short skirt that looks familiar – no doubt she is Alexia.

However, the other was a man wearing all-black clothes and a mask.

A strange situation? I would understand if Alexia was the one wearing black clothes and pretending to be Shadow Garden, but her position was reversed.

I climbed onto the roof of a nearby building, erased my presence, and watched their fight.

“Have given up. You can't win against me.”

The fight is in Alexia's favor. The all-black man was not weak, but he was no match for Alexia, after her recent great growth of strength.

The black-footed man gradually slashed apart bit by bit, and the bloodstains hit the ground.

With just one push, the fight would be over soon.

“Why did you kill an innocent man? Is this what you guys do ?”

“We are Shadow Garden..”.

Shadow Garden's.

The man in black was no longer wrong to say that.

“That's the only thing you say all the time. Is this the order of a man named Shadow?”

“We are Shadow Garden..”.

Said the man in black clothes.

Not wrong anymore.

This man in black was a villain who had pretended to be Shadow Garden.

I'm sorry, Alexia. It turns out you're innocent. I have now apologized to you in my heart.

In that case, why would this man pretend to be the Shadow Garden?

It's a natural question, but of course I already have an answer.

Since I am me, I can tell at a glance.

This .. is admiration.

He was someone who adored and admired Shadow Garden.

I can't deny that feeling.

Because this admiration was also the beginning of everything for me. Admiration after the power behind the shadows in movies and anime and manga, and then try to emulate them all. That was the beginning for me.

He also walked that path, and his target of admiration was the Shadow Garden.

Indeed, he was the first follower of Shadow Garden in this world.

A warm feeling appeared in my chest. I was so happy to see the path I was treading acknowledged by others.

Getting hot!

I found myself cheering for her.

But still, I can't forgive him. Wh why? Because I am also a power in the shadows. If I forgive someone who thinks the name of my organization is meaningless, then I will no longer be a force in the shadows.

Just as he is the power behind the shadows, I am also the power behind the shadows.

There is no room for mercy or compromise.

I hardened my heart and kept watching them fight.

“This is the end.”

With that, Alexia's sword caused the man's sword to be thrown away. But at that moment, I felt a new presence approaching.

 

⊕⊗⊕

 

“This is the end.”

Alexia threw her opponent's sword.

With ‘garan,’ the sword was thrown onto the stone pavement that was far away.

But at that moment.

“…!”

The sudden attack from behind forced Alexia to roll dodging.

He fended off the continued attack, then kicked his new opponent's body to take some distance.

Calming her slightly disordered breath, Alexia looked at the smuggler.

Two Magic Swordsmen had joined the fight. Both of them also wear black.

Seeing the first person take her sword, Alexia flicked her tongue.

So now they're three.

And none of them looked weak.

If it was just one, he could win.

If it was two, he would not lose.

But if it's three…

“To gang up a weak woman with three big men, how terrible.”

Hope they want to communicate.

“Oh, I have a great idea. How about we fight one on one three times? Sounds good?”

They slowly turned around to circle Alexia.

Alexia continued to readjust her position while making sure that her back was not on target.

“Oh, the moon is very beautiful tonight. Take a look behind you!”

He tried to restrain the enemy who tried to encircle him with just his eyes alone.

With small movements of the sword, the two sides tried to probe into each other.

“Come on, you didn't turn around? But I think it would be better if you turned around.”

Alexia smile.

Under the moonlight, her red eyes glittered.

“Because Nee-sama is behind you.”

“…!”

They fell into that trap.

Soon, Alexia moves.

His white sword aimed at the back of the enemy who was now unguarded.

“Death to you.”

Alexia whispered without actually saying it out loud.

The black-clothed man was slashed, and fresh blood danced in the air.

But it's too shallow.

One more attack, and he can hit …

Just then, a shock pierced Alexia's stomach.

“AGUHhh ..!“

Black boots had been embedded inside his stomach.

The voice of ‘ tray’ from some of his ribs cracked clearly.

Even while spewing blood, Alexia stuffed her sword into the black boots.

But the shoe was pulled at the last second, and his sword only touched the stone pavement.

He was no longer at his maai.

Alexia bled in her mouth with ‘peh‘, then wiped her mouth.

Back then, two people had succeeded him in deceiving, but one person had not. It was he who kicked her in the stomach and disturbed her giving a final attack.

Alexia looked at the three with hatred in her eyes.

But the situation is worsening. Two of the enemies were unharmed, one was heavily injured but was still able to swing his sword. None of them can be ignored.

Instead, he now had several broken ribs, at least one of which had penetrated the lungs.

“I'll be killed,” thought Alexia.

That's why there's no other way.

Alexia took out a red pill from the chest pocket of her uniform. It was a medicine he had secretly taken even before the incidences of arson.

It was against his will to swing that terrifying sword, but it was still better than dying.

He brought the pill closer to his lips.

While reassuring himself by saying to himself, “I am the type who can do things well even without prior practice,” he tried to swallow the medicine.

But at that moment.

Something black came down from the sky.

Noiseless, as if like a crow flying through the night.

In the same motion, a pitch-black blade split one of the men, causing red flowers to bloom at night.

The smell of blood filling the alley.

The man in pitch black swung his sword to remove the blood. With a splash, a horizontal red line is drawn on the surrounding wall.

“You fools who dare to use the name Shadow Garden.”.

Shadowless.

The strongest person Alexia could never forget, he who had displayed his refined sword form.

He is the enemy of these people…?

It seemed that he was not in league with these black people.

“The sin ... will use your life in return.”

As Shadow spoke, the rest of the people dressed in black moved.

It was a split-second decision.

They kicked stone pavements, kicked walls, and climbed onto the roof, aiming to run.

But.

“How stupid ..”

Shadow is after them.

“T-, wait a minute ..!”

Alexia's voice caused Shadow to stop.

He slowly turned around, then looked at Alexia.

His sword rang out.

That what she did was sheer stupidity .. Alexia was very conscious.

“My name is Alexia Midgar. I am a princess of this country.”

Shadow just kept silent and kept staring at Alexia.

If she wants to, she can take Alexia's life before she even knows that it happened.

“Tell me what your purpose is. What are you using your power for, what are you fighting against, and... do you intend to use your fangs against this country?”

Shadow turned.

“Do not get involved. You better not know.”

“…! Waitaminute! If you really are our enemy...!”

“What would you do if I were your enemy?”

The aura killed him was directed at Alexia.

He instinctively shrank backwards in the face of this existence that he knew he would definitely not be able to win against him.

However, to go against one's instincts is what it means to be human.

“I will fight. You will definitely kill my sister. And I can't let that happen.”

The only voice from Shadow was the flutter of his coat.

“I, I understand your sword. Even if it's not possible now, one day, I.”.

“You're gonna kill me?”

Letting the question hang in the air, Shadow disappeared into the shadows.

Alexia whispered in the darkness.

“Ya, I will..”

The silence of the night has returned.

Now alone, Alexia fell to her knees holding onto her stomach.

His sword fell from his trembling hands.

He did something stupid. He knows this well.

However, Alexia recently finally understood. Why did he swing his sword, what was precious to him, and what he really wanted to protect.

It was only for one person who was none other than his sister, and another who was his friend.

Alexia has decided to protect them both only.

“This... very bad..”.

Awareness fades.

If she fainted in an alley like this, Alexia knew that nothing good would happen to her.

Somehow, he managed to rely on the wall to stand.

At that moment.

“... Alexia .. Alexia!”

He heard his name being called from far away.

“Ne-, Nee-sama .. Nee-sama, here!”

“Alexia... !!”

Footsteps approach quickly.

Something soft enveloped and restrained Alexia's pale body.

“Alexia, why are you going alone..!”.

“Nee-sama..”.

Alexia buried her head in her sister's chest.

“Later, I will tell you in detail what happened. Prepare yourself.”

“...Good.”

“And also, you will also tell me what this is about.”

“Eh ..?”

With a glance, he saw a red pill scattered over the stone pavement. Dropped in there by someone.

“Ne-, Nee-sama, I don't know anything ..”

“Diam.”

“Really, I really don't ta-..”

“I will not forgive you.”

“Ugh, my head ..”

Alexia chose to let herself pass out.

 

⊕⊗⊕