Chapter Text
Shadows Over Earthland Chapter 1: Liminal
Cid stared lazily up through the forest canopy at the sky, wondering how he'd ended up here.
Today, Shadow Garden had launched a raid on another cult-aligned noble- Count Fra Ud. It was a resounding success, at first. Ud was far too confident, far too trusting in his resident mad scientist, who claimed to have successfully enhanced the beads of Diablos the cultists used.
After a, from Cid’s critical standpoint, completely unoriginal evil monologue about surpassing all human limitations, and how he’d be the next Knight of The Rounds, blah blah blah, ultimate power, blah blah blah- Cid had cut Ud down with a single strike. The other members of Shadow Garden had quickly destroyed the laboratory after salvaging anything worthwhile.
…And then the Crimson Order had shown up.
Really, there was no reason for them and Shadow Garden to come to blows today. The Order had been there to investigate Ud's supposed ties to the Cult- and Shadow Garden had already handled him.
It should have been a win-win… if not for Princess Iris's obsession with Shadow.
She had immediately ordered her forces to advance against Shadow Garden.
What a pain.
Outright destroying them was off the table. Killing not one, but two princesses- Alexia had been there as well- would cause far too much upheaval, by wiping out the royal line of succession. That wasn't a plotline Cid wanted to see play out- not yet, anyway.
Plus, Claire had been with them for some reason (he didn't remember her ever joining the order?) and he had no desire to strike down his own sister, regardless of how overbearing she could be.
So, after once again demonstrating to a fuming Iris that she was no match for him, Cid decided it was time for a stylish exit.
Eta had recently completed a new invention: a teleporter. It was based on her research into the Black Rose, the cult's artifact capable of opening doorways between dimensions.
It sounded incredibly cool- and like the perfect way for an eminence in shadow and his followers to make a dramatic exit after delivering a few ominous lines about ‘the eve of despair has not yet arrived… take hope while you still can.’
Yeah, that was good.
… or at least it would have been.
If the device hadn't exploded in a blinding flash of white light right after he’s said it.
Eta was brilliant, but her perpetually sleep-deprived mind was still capable of mistakes…
Yeah, I really should have made sure that device had been tested before we used it…
Sitting up, Cid tried to get his bearings. He didn't immediately recognize his surroundings beyond the fact that he was in a forest.
But something felt… off.
The magic in the air was different. It didn’t resonate the same way it did in Midgar or Oriana.
Which meant… there was a very real chance Cid had been flung into another world… again.
This time however, he was alone, despite other members of Shadow Garden being nearby when the device malfunctioned.
Meaning they'd likely been scattered across whatever this world was.
Well, I really didn't want a second ‘visiting another world’ scenario so soon… but as long as I stay out of the spotlight while I search for the others, it should be manageable.
Cid stood up, and as he began to contemplate which way to go… he felt it.
A surge of abnormal magic power.
And a lot of it.
To his great surprise, he physically saw it coming- a cloud of sinister, blackened magic racing toward him.
Everything in him screamed danger, so he launched himself skyward, just in time as the torrent roared through the space he had occupied seconds before.
When he descended back to the ground, he looked around. Everything was dead.
What had been a vibrant forest moments ago was now nothing but brittle brown grass and skeletal trees.
Okay… that was unexpected.
As he considered his next move, Cid heard a faint sound amidst the silence… it sounded like… someone crying.
Cid paused for a moment.
He briefly considered heading in the opposite direction. Whoever was responsible for this- or was connected to it- was clearly tied to something on a massive scale. Quite possibly…
…A main character- esque event.
Pass.
He hesitated.
Although…
A power capable of this level of destruction was… intriguing.
His curiosity won out, and he began walking toward the sound of the cries.
After walking for several minutes, Cid came across a young man who looked to be about the same age as him, dressed in scholarly robes, sobbing beneath a large, lifeless tree.
Cid stepped on a twig as he approached. The stranger’s head shot up in horror.
“No, stay back!” He cried. “You’ll-”
As if on cue, a surge of sinister black magic erupted from his body.
Cid's eyes widened slightly. That torrent of black magic… came from a single person?
He'd dealt with his fair share of magic overload- possession cases were Shadow Garden’s speciality, after all- but he'd never seen magic power explode from a person like this before.
And whatever the magic rushing toward him was, it was lethal.
Cid launched himself into the air, narrowly avoiding the rushing wave of destruction for the second time today.
The blast tore through the area beneath him.
When he descended back to earth, the robed man stared at him in disbelief.
“You- how did you-”
“I have good reflexes.” Cid said plainly.
The stranger continued to stare in disbelief.
Cid paid his look no mind. “Mind telling me what… that was about?”
The stranger let out a bitter scoff. “You saw what that power can do… and you still want to know more about it?”
“That is what I just said.” Cid said, unfazed.
“If you were smart, you'd get as far away from me as possible.”
“I’m not particularly concerned about my safety. I'll be fine.” Cid tilted his head slightly. “I’m more interested in what just happened with your magic."
The stranger hesitated, then sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.
At the very least, he quit crying.
“For daring to tread into the realm of life and death, I was cursed by the god Ankheseram,” the stranger explained. “Whenever I remember how much I care- about life, about those I love- I lose control of my magic.” He gestured weakly to the ruined forest around them. “And it results in… this.”
The stranger paused briefly before continuing. “However, when I become numb to it- when I forget the meaning of life- I can control this power completely.”
A curse? From an actual god? That's new.
“Wow. Sounds pretty bad.” Cid smirked. “But since you're not losing control right now, I take it you don't care for me very much?”
“You certainly are a quick study.” The stranger replied flatly.
Cid's smirk widened. “I pride myself on understanding things that interest me.” He regarded the stranger with newfound curiosity. “And I take it you've tried everything… yet nothing has freed you from it?”
“Mhm.” The stranger mumbled.
Cid nodded in understanding.
Ah, I see.
A protagonist burdened by a lethal curse that harms everything dear to him. And judging by the scale… This isn't just a minor incident.
No…This is a core narrative driver! A tragic hero, isolated from the world and those he cares for because of his affliction… awaiting a catalyst that will begin his redemption arc.
The gears in Cid's head began to turn.
As much as I’d prefer to avoid the spotlight… if I follow the main character on his quest for atonement, the key events of the story will inevitably unfold around him…
…and where there are major events… there’s a good chance my missing companions will surface as well.
A plan took shape.
So I, as a true eminence in shadow, will provide the hero the push he needs… while quietly observing the main events from his side as an unassuming supporter.
Yes…This is perfect!
Cid nodded. “Very well. In that case…”
The stranger frowned, looking up at him. To his surprise, Cid extended a hand toward him. “...What?”
“I'm going to lend you some of my power.” Cid explained.
The man's expression darkened. “I don't want power,” he spat. “I want release.”
Cid sighed. Typical dense protagonist nonsense.
Without ceremony, he grabbed the other man's hand.
The stranger’s eyes widened in alarm. “Wh-what are you doing?!”
Cid didn't bother answering. Instead, he focused his magic, channeling it into the man, as he'd done countless times before- purifying possession, stabilizing magic overload, correcting magic circuit distortions.
I've never dealt with a bona fide curse before, but it shouldn't be that different-
As if to answer his thoughts, he felt it. Something pushed back.
Cid's eyes sharpened.
The energy flowing through this guy wasn't just unusual, it was…
Ancient.
Twisted.
Malicious in a way that felt deliberate. Something with intent.
Almost like… something was watching him.
Cid paused for the briefest moment. Oh.
Now this is interesting.
The stranger struggled against his grip, clearly panicking. “Stop!”
Cid ignored him as a slow smile stretched across his face. Very well then… What was your name again? Anky Panky Sham?
Challenge accepted.
Cid's magic surged. The darkness inside the stranger met pressure.
He felt the curse react instantly- coiling, tightening, lashing out against him like a cornered beast.
It resisted. Fought. Pushed back, with violent, desperate force.
Cid pushed harder.
The ground beneath them trembled. The air grew heavy, thick with pressure as the two forces clashed inside the man’s body.
Then, Cid felt it- a fracture, like glass beginning to crack.
Cid gave one more push of magic… and then, it shattered. The resistance completely collapsed.
The stranger cried out, falling to the ground as Cid released him. His body convulsed violently for a moment, then went still.
The stranger slowly looked up at Cid, still breathing hard, eyes wide in disbelief. “What did you do?!”
Cid brushed himself off, calmly and casually. “I cured your curse.”
The stranger just stared at him, mouth slightly open.
After a brief pause, Cid added, “You're welcome.”
Finally, the stranger scoffed. “That's not possible.” His voice grew hoarse as he raised it. “Do you have any idea what you're saying?!”
Cid shrugged. “If you don't believe me, test it.”
The stranger’s expression darkened. “I can't just ‘test it’ at will.” He clenched his fists. “I have to actually care about life.”
Cid placed a hand over his heart and looked at the stranger with mock hurt. “You wound me.”
The stranger stared back at him, unamused. “What?”
“You just implied you don’t value my life!” Cid said, giving an exaggerated sniffle.
“I should destroy you.”
Cid chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. “Well, you can try, but you’ve already failed twice.” He tilted his head slightly. “But why not test it? There’s no one else around, and like you said, it's not like you care whether I live or die.”
The stranger hesitated. “Still-”
“Just think of someone you do care about.” Cid stated. His tone softened slightly as he said, “Surely, you have someone.”
The stranger went still. He let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting as if pulled into memories long buried. His expression wavered-pain, longing, something fragile surfacing after being concealed by a thin veneer of indifference.
Tears welled in his eyes. He tensed, squeezing them shut, waiting for the surge. For destruction. For death.
But nothing came.
No explosion of magic. No loss of control. No death.
The stranger's eyes snapped open, widening in shock. “It's… gone?” His voice trembled as he looked up at Cid. “You- you actually-?”
“Yep, sure did.”
The stranger narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?”
Cid shrugged again. “Just someone passing by.”
The stranger scoffed. “As if. There's no way someone who just happened to be ‘passing by’ could undo a curse I haven't been able to unravel for centuries.”
Cid paused. “...Centuries?”
The stranger sighed. “Yes. The worst part of that curse was it rendered me unable to die. I was cursed to wander the earth with my affliction… forever.”
“Why didn't you lead with that?!” Cid shouted, catching the stranger by surprise.
The stranger flinched, caught completely off-guard. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“That's a critical detail!” Cid ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “You're telling me you just wasted immortality?!”
The stranger stared at him, a mixture of disbelief and anger flashing across his face. “Wasted?! It was a curse! I've been alive for centuries now, unable to die, unable to care or everything around me would perish!”
Cid crossed his arms, frowning thoughtfully. “Well, I think I'm pretty good at controlling my emotions.”
He paused before admitting, “Though constantly having to check whether you value life or not would be a hassle.” He paused again. “Yeah, never mind. I'll pass on that after all.”
The stranger didn't seem to know what to say to that.
“Anyway,” Cid continued, pointing at the stranger, “you can repay me another way.”
The stranger narrowed his eyes. “...Repay you?”
“Yes,” Cid said. “By allowing me to accompany you.” He smiled. “I'll observe your journey.”
“...Journey?” The stranger questioned.
“Yeah,” Cid said casually, “your epic quest for redemption and all that.”
The stranger's expression darkened. “There is no path to redemption for me.” He said quietly. “Only one thing remains.”
He looked at Cid intently. “Kill me.”
Cid's smile slowly faded. He took several steps toward the stranger, who braced himself for his death…
…Only for his head to be snapped to the side when Cid smacked him, hard, across the face.
Cid lowered his hand, expression flat and unimpressed, as the stranger slowly turned his head to face him again, with significantly wider eyes.
This is unacceptable. The protagonist doesn’t roll over and die before his story even begins! Looks like I need to give him some ‘wisdom of the shadows’ to get him back on course.
Cid exhaled softly, then spoke again- his voice calm, yet carrying an unmistakable weight. “I have shown you that fate can be defied. Yet you still wish to die?” He shook his head. “Death is not salvation. Or atonement. It is merely the absence of consequence.”
His gaze sharpened on the stranger. “Death will offer no escape- especially for someone like you, clearly running from whatever tragedies your curse has caused.”
“You speak as if your sins have already been judged. As though your story has already reached its conclusion.” A faint smile spread across Cid’s face. “But I see something different.”
His voice lowered, quieter, yet heavier. “A man who has been abandoned by fate… and now stands at the edge of a path that was never meant to exist. So if you truly wish to atone… then live.”
The stranger’s gaze fell, but Cid pressed on. “Live with the weight of what you’ve done. What it’s caused… and to change what comes next.”
Cid’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Or do you truly intend to abandon this miracle, simply because you did not expect it?”
Cid saw his words strike the stranger, clenching his fists at his sides. He smiled, pleased with himself. Yeah, that was good. And now, for the final blow. This will absolutely work on a sad, mopey, protagonist like him!
“Think of those who you cared about. Those you loved. If they were here now… what would they ask of you?”
The stranger trembled slightly. “They would,” His voice faltered, “tell me to live.”
Cid nodded, satisfied. Knew it. “Good. Now then,” a small smile formed on his face, “Let's begin your story.” He extended a hand to the stranger.
Hesitation lingered in the stranger's eyes, but slowly, he reached up and took Cid's hand. As Cid pulled him to his feet, the stranger said, “If we're going to travel together… I think I should at least know your name… Mr. Passerby.”
Cid froze. I can't believe this. In my awe of being swept to another world and seeing such strange magic, I missed my dramatic introduction window. Man, that wasn't very eminence in shadowy of me at all. He paused. Well, whatever. Guess I am playing the role of unassuming supporter, for now…
He extended his hand again. “Cid Kagenou.”
Slowly, the stranger reached out his hand and shook Cid's. “Zeref Dragneel.” He said hesitantly.
Cid considered the name. Hmmmm. Sounds vaguely heroic. Definitely works for a protagonist's name.
He barely noticed that Zeref was staring at him, scrutinizing his reaction. He didn't know what that was about, so he just nodded.
“Well then, Zeref, let's not waste any more time here. This is the day your story truly begins.”
Zeref looked even more bewildered than before, but he didn't say anything as Cid turned and began making his way out of the dead forest, slowly following behind him.