Fairy Tail : The Eminence in the shadows

Night had fallen, Shadow stood in the center of a room in the rented house at the edge of the city of Crocus. Around him, crates of the furniture belonging to the collection of the Shadow formed a chaotic heap. He began unpacking them one by one, his movements precise and deliberate.

First came a dark wooden desk, ornately carved with serpentine patterns. Shadow ran a hand along its edge and nodded. "Perfect. An Eminence needs a desk befitting his intellect."

Next, he uncovered a collection of tapestries and draped them over the walls. Each depicted ancient battles, forbidden magic, and scenes of shadows consuming the light. He stepped back, tilting his head as he admired his work. "The atmosphere must reflect the weight of my existence. Good."

From another crate, he retrieved a black velvet chair studded with silver accents. He placed it at the head of the room, adjusting its position until it exuded the perfect balance of power and mystery.

Finally, Shadow opened the last chest, revealing an ancient tome bound in cracked leather. He placed it carefully on the desk, then lit a single lantern, its dim light casting flickering shadows across the room.

He surveyed the space, satisfaction evident in the faint smirk tugging at his lips. This was no ordinary study—it was the sanctum of the Eminence in Shadow.

"Now," he murmured to himself, "it begins."

---

The room was steeped in a serene yet ominous atmosphere. The decor was an elegant mix of ancient grandeur and subtle menace—dark, polished wood, velvet drapes swaying in the soft breeze from an open window, and faint glimmers of silver accents that caught the light just enough to hint at hidden power.

At the center of it all sat Shadow. He reclined casually in a high-backed chair, one leg crossed over the other, his hands resting lightly on the armrests. The wind teased at his dark hair, and his half-closed eyes seemed lost in a distant, unknowable thought. To the untrained eye, he appeared as nothing more than a comically contemplative child in an opulent setting, but the very air around him carried a weight, a presence that could make even the bravest hesitate.

The door creaked open, and Alpha stepped in. Her usual composure faltered for a moment as she took in the room that has changed so much from just hours ago. She paused just inside, her emerald eyes widening slightly.

"This…" Alpha whispered, almost to herself. "This is…"

Shadow tilted his head slightly, acknowledging her presence but saying nothing. The corners of his mouth curled into the faintest of smiles.

Alpha stepped further into the room, her boots stepping softly against the polished floor. "Shadow-sama, now that we have a temporary base in the city of Crocus as per as your plans, can you tell me more about our enemies ? "

"Hm…" Tapping his chin, Cid thought about what to say and what not to say, the time being 774, the protagonist Natsu still living 400 years ago.

"First of all Acnologia, the dragon of the apocalypse. 400 years ago, with his dragon slaying magic, he destroyed completely the dragon race, making it go nearly extinct, apart from some that went into hiding. He bathed so much into dragon blood that he transformed into a dragon, and inherited their longevity, making him still alive today. His motives are pure destruction, as to why he is waiting for the so-called dragon king festival to take definitive action against Ishgar, I don't really know"

Ultear was shocked listening to this story. Dragons exist ? And a human being became a dragon ? If it didn't come from her savior Shadow-sama, and she didn't see him annihilate Deliora with such a powerful magic, she would never have believed such things !

"Then come the black mage Zeref. His forces are the most complicated, as is his personality. Cursed by the god of life and death Ankseram for trying to pry into the secrets of life and wanting to revive his dead brother, he became immortal and a source of plague for all the life that he hold dear, driving him insane. So, tired of this world, he tried to kill himself by creating demons upon demons. Unfortunately, none of them were strong enough. As a result, he is now building an empire in the west for fun and to use it to destroy his natal continent : Ishgar"

"But what about END Shadow-sama, you said he was one of the 3 plagues of this world, was he not strong enough to destroy Zeref ? " inquired Ultear

"END : Etherious Natsu Dragneel – Zeref little brother. He has not yet awakened in this era, but I have a hunch that he will be part of the Dragon King Festival in some years"

Ultear steadied herself with the wall, completely shocked by all those revelations that changed her perception of life. To think that so many things were happening behind the scenes. And to think such a being aware of everything like Shadow existed…

Gathering her spirit thanks to her immense admiration and belief in this man, and finding a newfound determination, Ultear spoke "Shadow-sama, we should now focus on growing our forces in the dark. The enemies we face are far-reaching and organized. If we are to oppose them, we will need a headquarters and enough troops to stand against their power."

Shadow leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the armrest and his chin on his hand. His gaze, thoughtful, settled on Alpha.

"You are right Alpha," he said, "That will be your first mission : finding those who are worthy to receive the knowledge of the shadow—those who possess the potential to wield true strength. Those who are ready to go against the biggest forces in this world and who are willing to stake their life for humanity ! "

Alpha nodded, her expression determined. "Yes, Shadow-sama. I will not fail you. I will recruit only the finest, the most talented individuals who can serve our cause."

Shadow's eyes glimmered with a faint hint of amusement. "Good. But before we build an army, there is something important to be done. Alpha, you must learn how to use your magic power and how to fight. You are the first Shadow of Shadow Garden, you will have heavy responsibilities in the future. To fullfill them, you will need great strength"

Alpha's breath caught, her admiration evident in the way her eyes softened. "Shadow-sama… I will not disappoint you. I will become the blade you need."

Shadow turned to the window, the breeze lifting his hair as he gazed into the distance. "Alpha, we have between 1 and 2 decades to prepare for the Dragon King Festival. It will come by the time we are in our late twenties. So don't worry too much. Take a good rest, we will begin training tommorow at dawn"

Alpha bowed deeply before turning and leaving the room. As the door closed softly behind her, Shadow stood alone once more, the wind ruffling through the curtains. His gaze lingered on the horizon.

'Kuuuhu ! It's so fun to play the Eminence in the Shadows that knows everything ! Unfortunately, I am still in a child body : against demons who do not differentiate between a tiny human or a bigger tiny human, playing Shadow is cool, but with humans, nobody but a child will take a child seriously. Let's just wait some years to grow up and accumulate more power before making my grand debut !'