The Eminence in Shadow

Cid Kagenou - also known as Shadow - was a master of stealth action, a shadowy strategist who didn't need the spotlight to pull the strings. Esdeath, on the other hand, was the epitome of icy strength - a general who valued brutal offensiveness and ruthless domination.

Initially, their meeting was an accident - or, as many would say, an inevitable clash between two powers. Esdeath was called upon to investigate a mysterious shadow that had defeated entire battalions without a trace. Fascinated by the power that Cid was discreetly displaying, instead of attacking immediately - she watched. In time, she began to understand that his strength lay not in brutality but in precision.

Cid, on the other hand, saw Esdeath as more than just a ferocious fighter - he saw her as a person with a clear purpose, although she lacked... subtlety. Instead of fighting her, Cid suggested a game - not a battle, but chess. She was to be the attack - the queen who destroys everything in her path. He - the defence, the tower hidden in the shadows, planning every move before the opponent has time to move a pawn.

At first, Esdeath treated it like a game. But the more games they played, the more she began to see the beauty in his style - how he quietly and methodically built a fortress through which her offensives could not penetrate. In turn, he began to appreciate the strength of her determination and the sheer, ferocious will to fight that perfectly balanced his cool logic.

Over time, it wasn't just chess that became their common language. They began to understand each other on a deeper level. Their playing styles began to merge - she learned precision, he the courage to take risks. Together, they formed an unbeatable duo. On the battlefield - Esdeath went forward like a hurricane and Cid secured every move, eliminating threats before they appeared.

Their affection did not explode violently. It built up slowly - like a game in which neither of them wanted to expose the king too soon.

Finally, after one of their long games, when Cid moved a pawn and left the way open to his king, Esdeath looked at him and realised: he trusts her. And against her nature - she did not attack. Instead, she reached across the chessboard and gently touched his hand.

‘I've finally found a partner who doesn't run away when I look into his eyes,’ she said.

Cid smiled slightly. ‘And I've found someone who can understand heart strategy.’

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)