The Eminence in Shadow – 31 – The Black Rose Blooms

Last week we got some majestic setup for the season-closing Oriana arc, but I didn’t know we’d get so much payoff right here and now! I am not complaining; this arc is moving, but doesn’t feel rushed and still allows for plenty of quieter funny moments like the sniping between Epsilon and Margaret.

It’s when he’s with Epsilon that the Black Rose comes up, but Cid thinks she’s simply talking about a Black Rose; the flower, because of course he freakin’ does. But now that he knows Rose is holding back for her mother’s sake, his main priority is freeing Queen Reina, which he hopes will free Rose to become the Tyrant.

What he finds instead is that when it comes to Reina and Perv, things have gone from a fantasy isekai to a soap opera. He believes if Rose learns the truth, it will enrage her sufficiently enough … to become the Tyrant. I loved Cid’s inverted face as he endured what is clearly his least favorite genre.

When Cid meets with Rose again, it’s as Shadow, whom Rose assumes is there to kill her. Instead, he asks her to follow him to the balcony outside Reina’s chambers. There, they not only overhear her and Perv getting it on, but discussing all of their schemes.

Reina admits to being the one who drugged her husband the king, all so she and Perv could be together. And once he marries Rose as a mere formality, they’ll “get rid” of her too so they can rule Oriana. Rose may well be enraged later, but in the moment, she is so disgusted she starts vomiting uncontrollably, then passes out.

Cutting through this devastatingly heartrending scene (considering what Rose is going through), Cid drops his Shadow voice to lay out his intentions directly, only Rose is out cold, so he gives a half-hearted apology.

With Rose at her absolute nadir, Cid tries one more thing to push her towards rebellion: he appears on her balcony as Cid playing Moonlight Sonata in front of the moon. Rose gives an exhausted, grim smile as she joins him outside, saying she’s killed her father, betrayed by her mother, betrayed Shadow Garden, and is hated by her subjects.

But she still smiles, because through it all, Cid has never been far from her side. Cid tells her he’s split the world into “things that matter” and “things that don’t”, because he had a dream that would be impossible if he didn’t. As scenes of their time together flash by, Rose takes this to mean he’s cast everything else in life aside apart from what matters to him most: her.

Cid goes on to say the world is “too bright”, that it makes it easy to see so much that one can lose sight of what matters. He believes the light of the moon to be the perfect level of illumination, making people look more closely at what matters. He then asks her what she sees in such a moonlit world, in a voice not too dissimilar form Shadow’s, and vanishes, leaving the Black Rose ring on the bench.

Turns out Cid wasn’t trying to give the ring to Rose. He didn’t even leave it there on purpose; it simply fell out of his pocket! But as he tells Epsilon back at the inn, he gave Rose “the key”. When he says “key”, he means the truth Rose needed to hear in order for her to rise in rebellion and become the Tyrant. But Epsilon thinks he’s talking about the key—the Black Rose—which explains why Garden hasn’t been able to find it.

Speaking of the Black Rose, Perv doesn’t open the box that no longer holds it until the day of his freakin’ wedding. I love how after his initial double take, he closes it, repeats the same villainous lines, and re-opens it more than once before completely flipping out. Cid would probably recognize the game too. And like Cid, Perv intends to fake it until he makes it (through the wedding) so he gets the seat at the Rounds Mordred promised.

As a gorgeous but focused Rose walks down the aisle to an organ arrangement of Moonlight Sonata (played by Cid of course) my first thought was How did her locks grow back so fast? But my second thought was just how awesomely she would blow up this wedding and Perv’s plans.

The thing is, Rose believes the ring is a wedding ring from Cid. I don’t think she knows its significance. As Reina tries to stay awake and Perv keeps rifling through his pockets, he says “I do,” and then when presented with the same question, she says “I do not.” It’s one of the most badass moments of the entire show.

Rose lists all of the terrible things she’s done, but is ready to look past those, as long as the kingdom knows the truth about Perv. She lists his misdeeds and pronounces him guilty. Refusing to give up on love, she puts the ring on her finger.

Then, to her surprise, it starts doing all kinds of weird stuff, like glowing, flashing, and finally projecting a kingdom-wide recording of her father the king. Addressing both her and his subjects and knowing he was nearing the edge of reason, he declares Perv Asshat to be the one responsible for destroying his mind, and declares Rose Oriana to be his one and only successor to the throne.

The king’s message ends with him saying he loves Rose, which brings tears to her eyes. When Perv starts bloviating, all of his allies in the court turn on him at once. Tearing off her extensions (she didn’t grow it back!) ripping her gown to reveal her sword, she points it at Perv and prepares to, I assume, take him into custody.

But then all of a sudden his head goes flying in a fountain of blood. Rose looks as shocked as everyone else (including Perv). When the head comes to a stop right in front of Reina, she doesn’t have any reaction until the split-second before her head is separated from her body.

The culprit behind both beheadings is none other than Mordred, who was posing as the priest. Now that the Black Rose has a new master and is operational, he uses his little garage door opener doohickey to use the ring to “open the door” (but not to a garage).

Rose’s ring shoots another beam of light straight up into the sky, creating a portal through which the “Grand Ruler of the Fourth Realm” emerges: Archfiend Ragnarok, a colossal metal dragon. It unleashes its breath and destroys a good chunk of the capital. Reminder that this is the WMD Oriana used against their enemies as a last resort, and it really shouldn’t be in a big built-up city!

Rose is still trying to figure out what the hell is happening when Ragnarok seemingly tries to lash out and kill her; that was my assessment of its gesture, and that also explains why the dragon’s arm is swiftly cleaved off by Lord Shadow (revealing cables and tubes). Whatever else goes down here, he intends to keep protecting Rose, for whom he has such grand plans.

The Eminence in Shadow – 30 – Blunt Bangs’ Dream

Cid may have rushed to the Oriana capital to stop Rose’s ill-advised plan to marry Perv Asshat, but Shadow Garden actually beats him to the palace. As Lambda, Omega, and Chi discuss how 666’s judgment is in the hands of Lord Shadow, Epsilon just happens to appear just as Cid wishes to enter the palace. He now has a legitimate cover: as the famous pianist Lady Shiron’s secret apprentice, [Name Redacted].

This is how Cid, impressed by the lengths and breadths Epsilon will go to enhance her bosom (99% slime) meets Perv Asshat face-to-face, and he’s gotta respect the man’s dedication to the cookie-cutter villain role. He also notes that while the commonfolk have become downtrodden and cynical, these rich assholes are livin’ their best lives.

While Cid lacks a proper palace pass per the new security regs, Asshat allows him to stay, if he plays a song, confirming that he is indeed Shiron’s student. He whips out another lovely rendition of Moonlight Sonata (which may well be the only piece he knows).

A young maid is among those captivated by the Cid’s playing, while the rich folk are so engrossed in the music, they don’t realize Cid has sent out several slime tendrils to steal their jewelry, including a ring inside Perv’s pocket that we last saw Queen Reina retrieving from the ruins.

Cid is soon snatched away from Epsilon by the maid, who introduces herself as Margaret (voiced with her usual silkiness by Ueda Reina), who has no concept of personal space. That said, Cid learns that her bust is zero percent slime, but grows weary of her trying to “convert him to her religion”. Margaret happens to be Rose’s longtime maid, who now detests Rose after she assassinated the king.

While I initially thought Perv might have planted Margaret as a honey trap for Cid, she seems to be genuinely infatuated with him after hearing his piano. So much so that she tells him exactly where in the palace Rose is being held. Cid then comes afoul of a palace guard who has delusions of an unspoken romance with Margaret, when in reality she recoils and runs from his leering. In his exchange with this guard, Cid only says Sumimasen? over and over.

When Cid climbs up to the tower where Princess Rose is essentially being held prisoner, Rose is so goddamn happy to see him she runs into his arms. It’s a genuinely heartwarming reunion. Cid plays her concerned dear friend to the T, asking her what she means to accomplish by marrying Asshat.

Cid dramatically explains to her (all the while munching on cookies) how the two of them are the same: rejected by their peers, misunderstood, but always staying true to their chosen way of life (in her case, a fencer). But by pursuing this marriage, she’s “perverting” that way of life.

Cid isn’t putting on an act here, either: he truly believes everything Rose has done was building up to her becoming the Tyrant Queen, while Rose thinks he’s here to confess his love for her and dissuade her from going forward with her marriage to Asshat.

Cid makes clear he doesn’t judge her for stabbing her fiancé and killing her father, as he’s certain she had a very good reason for those things, but doesn’t understand why she’d undermine those actions by suddenly getting re-engaged to the fiancé she stabbed. Rose won’t, and likely can’t tell him the true reason, and instead draws away and begs him to forget about her.

Later, when the setting sun turns the sky blood red, we learn why she’s doing this, as Cid stuck around outside the window: Perv Asshat is holding her mother Queen Reina hostage, and not only is marrying him a condition of keeping Reina alive, but also being sufficiently “agreeable.” Ick.

Perv really buries himself in the despicable villain role here, choking Rose out before telling her to come with him so they can plan their wedding. Having absconded with her biscuits, Cid overhears this whole exchange. Now he knows the score, and he has a Plan B in mind.

That plan begins with him remaining undercover as Epsilon’s student. He stays at a spa hotel where Epsilon gives him a shoulder massage and an extremely eager 559 serves him fruit. Before he entered, 559 gives Epsilon her report on her failed mission to the ruins.

Epsilon says what happened was unfortunate but not 559’s fault; they should have taken greater care to ensure Rose and her mother didn’t come into contact at the ruins. We also learn that the ring Cid stole is called the Black Rose, and is essentially a last-resort WMD once used by Oriana to defeat its invaders.

That Lord Shadow met with 666 and didn’t punish her, and whatever he has planned is beyond their understanding. All they can do for now is support their Lord. Speaking of lords, Asshat has a video call with his ostensible boss Lord Mordred, assuring him he has the “Black Rose” (apparently unaware it’s not in the box).

But in truth, Perv intends to use the Black Rose to seize power for himself. We also learn that in addition to being engaged to Rose, he may have brainwashed Queen Reina to be, shall we say, more “pliable,” which, again, is pretty par for the course for a guy named Perv Asshat.

This was mainly setup, but filled with lots of great dramatic and comedic moments, often occurring at the exact same time. I was deeply invested in Cid and Rose’s talk even as I laughed at him scarfing down those cookies. Margaret made for a fun guest star, and most importantly Cid is no longer in the dark about why Rose got engaged. I’m looking forward to seeing how his Plan B unfolds.

 

The Eminence in Shadow – 29 – Cid the Fixer

Cid’s “Journey of Self-Discovery” brings him to the war-ravaged First Castle Town, and as fortune would have it, he ends up staying at an inn opened by Maria, the prostitute he saved in the Lawless City. It’s here where Cid thinks out loud and is totally misinterpreted by Maria for the first time.

She agrees with him that “things can’t go on like this”, even though he’s talking about his so-far aimless quest to determine what kind of Eminence in Shadow he needs to be while she’s talking about the desperate situation in the town.

While last week was all about the Seven Shadows, this week focuses on 664, 665, and Rose, who are not only in First Castle Town doing recon, but staying at the same inn as Cid. Naturally he doesn’t recognize two of the lowest-ranked Garden members.

He and Rose don’t cross paths, as she’s up in her room with the same basic dilemma as Cid: she’s not sure what to do now, but things can’t go on the way they have. Joining Garden wasn’t the cure-all she thought it would be.

To make matters worse, when she and her fellow 660s meet with the distinguished 559, while they’re the only two on-Seven Shadows who derive their power directly from Lord Shadow, 559 tells 666 she’s weak. The last thing poor Rose needs is people reinforcing her delusions!

Unfortunately, that’s not the only blow 666/Rose endures this week. 559 leads them to ruins where the Cult is operating, and Rose is shocked to find her own mother the Queen appears to be cooperating with them to unlock a Sanctuary-type lock.

559, who seems more than a little eager for a fight, swoops in and prepares to assassinate the queen, but it isn’t a Cult officer who blocks her strike—it’s Rose. Whatever is going on here, and whatever oaths she made with Shadow Garden, she’s not just going to let this bitch kill her mom. I can’t blame her!

Back in Midgar, Nu gives a detailed report to Gamma about 559 and Rose, whom Gamma is willing to give up to the Cult for now. Her main concern is Mordred, AKA the Knight Beyond Men, who is controlling the Oriana Kingdom from the shadows with Asshat as his public-facing partner.

Gamma is content to not only allow Asshat and Mordred to make the first move, but give Rose to them, because she believes everything is unfolding according to the will of their Lord Shadow. Princess Rose is where she is because that’s where Shadow wants her. To what end? That’s for Shadow to know and Gamma & Co. to find out.

Of course, this is all a complete fantasy! Cid is, as always, making shit up as he goes along. As he continues his stay at Maria’s inn, he reads up on the current deteriorating civil and political situation in Oriana, notes how that’s a perfect situation for an Eminence to intervene, and learns from a headline that Princess Rose has returned to the capital.

“Maybe I should help with that,” Cid thinks out loud, “that” being the crowning of a new ruler in Oriana. Maria thinks he’s talking about breakfast, and says she’s fine making it on her own. He goes over in his head his role as “fixer”, guiding the new ruler of his choosing to victory.

He then thinks back to his heart-to-heart with Rose and considers that perhaps she looked so determined to do anything because she actually did seek the throne, and killed her father to pave the way for that outcome. He can respect hustle, and vows to help Rose become the next ruler.

“Yes, it’s delectable,” he says out loud of his plan, and Maria thinks he’s talking about his drink. I love their dynamic so much. As far as she’s concerned, they’re on the same wavelength, but they’re not even using the same radio equipment.

When some bandits burst in to “procure” what little money and supplies Maria still has for “the war effort,” and even propose she pay them with her body (talk about dropping the pretense!) Cid steps in … and proceeds to act like a complete weakling, allowing them to beat the crap out of them.

Even so, Maria thanks him for rescuing her, mentioning that in her former life as a prostitute she had to deal with their sort every day. She came so close to giving up so many times, but never did. She believes that defiance in the face of despair is what brought Shadow to her room, and led to her deliverance.

Cid proceeds to quickly run through all the adventures he went on while trying to execute the “Birth of Tyrant Rose” plan, including infiltrating a prison, staging a break, joining the volunteer army and winning a great victory without getting the credit for it. As he puts it, a fixer “is supposed to, like, stand out by not standing out when standing out,” which reminds me of my favorite fortune cookie fortune: “Show-off always shown up in showdown.”

Cid’s wanderings through the bombed out town bring him to the hideout of the bandits who robbed Maria. He learns they picked the side of the cult, and talk about a legendary treasure in the mountains. One of the bandits continues to talk about how they should have their way with the girl at the inn before getting out of there.

It’s only when this bandit doesn’t get a reply that he realizes all of his mates have been gruesomely slaughtered by Cid. He recites to them the only law of Lawless City: The strongest guy is always right. That makes him right.

That very night, Maria is going through her books and concludes that she’ll have to start selling her body to make ends meet. But she hears a bump from behind her door, and when she opens it, finds a huge bag of gold coins on the ground. Whether Cid intended it or not, she happens to catch a momentary glimpse of Shadow.

I love how he’s reflected in her green eye. Maria, realizing the same person who saved her in the Lawless City is continuing to watch over her, will most certainly never give up. I don’t know if she’ll ever join the Garden, but she’d make a valuable addition with her steadfast determination and tolerance for unpleasantness.

By the time we check back in on 559, we learn she’s been fighting the Cult officers for three days and three nights. 665 and 664 lie nearby, defeated and bloodied, while 559 herself is missing and arm and is low on magic, blood, and time.

Her haughty Cult opponent begins to describe how he’ll torture her before she dies, but we get another cool reflection of Shadow, the yellow full moon behind him, in 559’s eyes. Her grim expression turns to pure giddiness at her lord’s arrival, her arm is immediately regrown, and she slashes the Cult guy so definitively he explodes in a cloud of blood and viscera.

The first thing Cid wants to know is where the ruins are, because he wants treasure. Instead, 559 reports 666’s defection. Cid doesn’t get it, wondering if that’s an Employee ID number or something. When 559 recommends 666 be immediately executed for her betrayal, 664 and 665 protest, as 666 was only protecting her mother.

As 559, 664, and 665 continue to bicker, Cid isn’t really paying attention. He checks a newspaper that happens to fall into his hands with an article about Princess Rose planning to marry Perv Asshat. Because this doesn’t fit the plan to seize power he thought Rose was implementing, he becomes enraged, and promises that Rose Oriana’s “betrayal will be punished.”

Like Maria, 559 misinterprets these words to mean he agrees with her recommendation. But as he flies off towards Oriana, Cid is actually pissed that his latest plan to become a really good Eminence in Shadow is being undermined by Rose suddenly deciding to get married.

If there’s one thing me and Cid agree on, it’s that such a marriage can’t happen. He’s going to ensure Rose becomes Oriana’s next ruler, all while standing out by not standing out when standing out.

The Eminence in Shadow – 20 (Fin) – Just Getting Started

Before she knew it, Princess Iris, who not only believed she was the strongest fighter in her kingdom, but needed to believe it, was beaten. Mundane Mann’s sword lingered at her throat. He could have taken her life ay any moment, and she knew it. Not taking her life, showing mercy, isn’t what enrages Iris.

It’s when Mann lowers his sword, without even asking if she yields, because something else has gotten his attention. He thinks so little of her as his opponent he can not only turn away, but leave the battlefield. Of course, it’s so Cid can stop Rose from getting herself killed, then face off against an even stronger opponent in Beatrix.

Cid and Beatrix cross blades so quickly as they guide through the rainy sky, they almost look like fireworks. But soon the two-person dance gains a third partner. Iris isn’t done with Shadow; not by a long shot. Unfortunately for her and Beatrix, he is simply in another league when it comes to speed, strength, and precision. He even fights them with his beloved crowbars!

Meanwhile, Rose is free, but asks herself in a dark alley, what now? Alpha appears to give her two options: try to save her kingdom by going it alone, which will almost surely end in failure and death…or join Shadow Garden and prove both she and Oriana are worth saving.

Of all the women Cid has dueled with, Annerose definitely gets off the easiest; she’s a picture of tranquility as Iris and Beatrix throw everything they have at Shadow in the background. Bon Voyage, Annerose!

It takes some sustained futility for Iris and Beatrix to finally agree to work together, which consists of Iris using one of her flashier fire attacks with her enchanted mithril sword—the use of which she earlier agreed is underhanded, but she has no choice.

She aims to stop Shadow even if it costs her her life, but even her best attack doesn’t even hit, nor does Beatrix’s, which she executes after charging up with a cool display of whirling geometric shapes. Iris ends up face down on the ground, and Beatrix soon joins her, Shadow stomping them both into submission.

When Iris tells Shadow that their attack has only been stalling for time, the entire Knight’s Order has mustered, and there’s nowhere for him to run, Cid breaks out his loudest, most drawn-out, supervillainous (excuse me: supereminancious) laugh yet. Run? Run where? Why?

No, Shadow is staying right where he is, because playtime is over. Cid really chews into the clichés here, and just generally has an absolute blast—literally, as he covers the capital in an eerie purple dome, then unleashes I AM ATOMIC as the ultimate battle-ending coup-de-grace.

But—and this is key—this I AM ATOMIC is totally benign; just a glorified puff of smoke that allows him to withdraw of his own accord. When Beatrix and Iris come to, the rain is gone, the sky is clear and blue, and a rainbow arches over them. Beatrix is her usual stoic self, but Iris starts blubbering like a child. I’ll say this for Shadow, he brings out a side of Iris no one else can!

Speaking of women he negatively affected, remember Sherry Barnett? I do! And she makes a quick cameo in the ending minutes of the episode that serve as an epilogue. She’s itching to fight and kill him, while Asshat get scolded by his Cult superior, trying to frame his failure as a positive since it resulted in the destabilization of Oriana.

As for Cid Kagenou, he continues to not be killed by his sister, and is back on the train to the temporary buildings where dark knight academy classes take place until Gamma’s conglomerate rebuilds the academy. The Seven Shades are hard at work both in the shadows and in broad daylight, doing what must be done.

Rose wisely decides to join Shadow Garden, but learns that it won’t be a picnic. After walking dozens of miles, she and Alpha reach the Garden’s secluded headquarters, ancient city of Alexandria, which gives off some serious Nazarick vibes.

There, Alpha hands Rose of to Lambda, who tells her her life and identity up to that point are over and meaningless. With one swipe, Rose’s clothes—and more distressingly, her beloved burger wrapper—are torn to shreds. But before long, “Number 666”, as she has been re-named, will likely have a sleek slime suit of her own—and renewed purpose.

The Eminence in Shadow appropriately and perfectly concludes with its namesake character, once again playing Moonlight Sonata in a dark, dramaticaly lit room filled with drifting feathers. It is only the latest of many carefully-orchestrated “set pieces” Cid is not only fond of, but lives for.

With his army and background influence growing and his enemies sharpening their swords, there’s a ton that could be done in a theoretical second season. If and when that season becomes a reality, I’ll be right there, parked in my comfy Ikea chair, ready to watch Cid act like a endearing goofball and a breathless badass simultaneously. But for now, Eminence goes out on the highest of notes.

The Eminence in Shadow – 19 – Fear Is the Mind-Killer

Prior to her match with Mundane Mann, Iris practices her swordsmanship alone in the dark rain, all the while remembering all the times she was praised and admired throughout her life for her strength and ability. She has been both fueled and burdened by the collective wishes of the people of Midgar: as long as they have her, everything will be fine. She intends to maintain that narrative by beating Mann.

Little does she know that the real Mundane Mann is Claire’s mundane little brother, who happens to know his stuff when it comes to countering the bitterness of coffee. When her honored guest War Goddess Beatrix, the Legentary Swordmaster, arrives, Cid relishes a chance to be a background character, as he and other NPCs visually frame the Beatrix and Iris.

Lord Asshat doesn’t even notice Cid is sitting beside Iris until he shuffles of to the restrooms. He’s too busy helpfully letting us in on his, or rather Diabolos’, plan to use the drugged King of Oriana to assassinate the King of Midgar, throwing both kingdoms into chaos so the cult can swoop in and reign. Beatrix, who has shown she has keen insights, says both Asshat and the king “stink” as they pass by. They do stink!

Asshat is confident Rose will return with her drill tails between her legs out of love for her father. His marriage to her will give his rule legitimacy, while her possessed condition will also make her a prime subject for the cult’s experiments. Only one problem: Rose has been cured of her curse. As she sneaks into the arena, she encounters Diabolos corpses everywhere, along with Shadow Garden. They tell her to move forward “fulfill her mission”, unaware Cid didn’t give her one, confident she’d make the right choices.

I’m glad we got some time inside Iris’ head earlier to show that she isn’t this invincible warrior, like her subjects even her sister believe but someone full of insecurities and fears. It lends necessary context to her duel with Mundane Mann, which is more psychological than anything else. Just a slight movement from Mann causes her to hallucinate that he’s lopped off her head, her arm, or leg.

Ultimately, while she has the potential to be far more than she is, Iris could not unlock that potential against Mann. She still has a long way to go. And as I suspected, unlike Annerose, who took her defeat in stride but thanked Mann for showing her how far she had yet to go, Iris’ loss is devastating as it not only shatters where she thought she was (at or near the top of the pile) but what the people thought of her.

But if Mundane Mann is assassinating Iris’ reputation in the arena, it’s Rose who does the actual assassinating. When she arrives at the boxes where her father and Asshat are, she gives a beautiful and heartbreaking speech about following her own path, even if it means making one more mistake. It even rouses the king into a moment of lucidity, in which he forgives her all her sins.

This, of course, makes her weep, because it means there’s nothing holding her back from Doing What Must Be Done…nothing but her own fear. She lunges at Asshat, who uses the king as a shield (as she likely suspected). His last words are used to tell Rose he loves her. Asshat has now lost the weapon he aimed to use against Midgar, and when Rose puts her blade to her own neck, is about to lose his future wife—and the cult’s newest research subject.

That’s when Mundane Mann crashes through the window to stop Rose, asking her if this is really the choice she’s made. He transforms into Shadow and switches his voice to Shadow Mode, but it’s a third identity Rose immediately recognizes: that of the Stylish Bandit Slayer Rose watched from a shack where she’d been bound by said bandits.

If anything were to return a smile to Rose’s face, it would be the arrival of Cid/Shadow/Stylish Bandit Slayer. And the third one is most definitely her favorite, since he’s the one who inspired her to become a fencer to begin with. In that regard, Cid was influencing the geopolitical landscape of this world before he was even aware of it!

When Rose tells Shadow how she had despaired and tried to take her life because while she had the power to fight, it was still difficult to do so, and the consequences of any actions she might take terrified her. Shadow tells her to raise her head, saying her fight has not yet ended. Rose gets the picture and flees. After defeating all of Asshat’s cult bodyguards, he holds a sword to Asshat’s neck. He calls for backup, but Shadow Garden has taken out all of it.

The only one who answers Asshat’s call for help…is Beatrix. Now, I’m not under any illusions that she gives two shits about Perv Asshat, or either of the two kingdoms he’s planning to screw over. She’s not taking Asshat’s side, and may well not even know what that side is.

No, War Goddess Beatrix answered the call, because after watching how Mundane Man / Shadow defeated Iris, she wants to cross blades with the man herself. She’s a legendary swordmaster, after all—other than finding her niece, finding a strong and worthy opponent and fighting them is all that matters.

The Eminence in Shadow – 18 – Absolute Confidence

As her forced smile at his front door suggested, Claire is not here on a friendly visit. She’s there to choke Cid out on his bed for breaking every one of his promises thus far to hang out with her. She presents an extremely exclusive box ticket to the Bushin Festival, and he’d better be there to watch her fight and win, or he’s a dead little brother.

The ticket gives Cid access to a section where only royalty and nobles sit, including Princess Iris, who is seated right next to him. Cid has succeeded thus far as a background character insomuch as Iris only knows him because he’s Claire’s brother, and Alexia’s friend (though Cid disputes that label). Iris’ lickspittles also look down on Cid as an unexceptional irrelevancy just how he likes it!

While heading to the dressing room for his next match, Cid once again encounters the ethereal Lady Beatrix, who like him has a MgRonald bag. Unlike him, it’s filled with burgers, not his Mundane Mann disguise. While she’s apparently here to find her niece (i.e. Alpha), she’s also powerful wild card in a tinderbox of conflicting political interests.

Speaking of which, Perv Asshat helps himself to Cid’s seat while he’s gone, and Hayami Show does his usual good work making even idle chitchat sound incredibly menacing. When he asks who Iris thinks will win the next match: Annerose or Mundane Mann, she gives Mann one thing: his eyes have the look of absolute confidence, like he sees the path of total victory.

Obviously, we knew Cid was going to mop the floor with Annerose, it was just a matter of how he’d do it and how fast. She actually hangs in there longer than any previous opponent, even with his weighted armguards off. She tries to beat his speed with hers, but finds out his speed is far greater than she imagined. When she tries to get him to charge her so she can counterattack, he simply counters her counter.

After that barnburner of a fight, Iris excuses herself from Perv’s charming presence in order to prepare for her match. Perv tells his attendant to find out everything he can about Mundane Mann, since could well represent an unchecked and troublesome threat to his (and Diabolos’) plans for world domination. Ironically, he rules out Mann’s possible affiliation with Shadow Garden, siting its all-female composition and the lack of any motive for Garden to intervene at the Festival.

This reasoning fails to take into the account that while the Garden may not have any reason to participate, its leader does, since it’s his opportunity to be a more public Eminence in Shadow, and show off moves Lord Shadow never would (since he’s in the shadows). But as Mundane Mann he’s snagged one more admirer in Annerose, who accepts her defeat and thanks him for showing her heights she never knew, which she will now aspire to attain herself.

If Annerose has any other designs on Mr. Mann, she’ll have to get in line. Now that she’s cured of the Curse, Rose prepares to do what must be done to save her kingdom and her people from Asshat’s treachery. She still holds the wrapper of the MgRonald burger Cid gave her as a token of what she now knows to be a doomed love and impossible future with him.

With just two episodes remaining, and Rose, Iris, Beatrix, and however many of the Shades show up later in play, the Bushin Festival final is sure to be one for the ages. I just hope that Perv Asshat is put in his place, the poor king is freed from his mind prison, and Mundane Mann shows Iris what true strength is before peace-ing out!

The Eminence in Shadow – 17 – Moonlight Oriana

While sneaking away from his sister (by again flying out a window), Cid notices Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata being played in a concert hall. It’s Epsilon at the keys. Like Gamma and Beta, she’s using knowledge from Cid’s world to advance her position in this one. He doesn’t mind, and even compliments her figure, because he loves the Moonlight Sonata. And why the hell wouldn’t he? It’s the perfect theme song for Shadow.

He asks Epsilon about Rose’s whereabouts, but all she knows is that she is in the underground labyrinth. That’s all Cid needs to know. Alexia is already leading Beta down there, the former by now completely unconvinced that “Natsume” is a weakling. Alexia doesn’t know how fortunate she is that Beta is capable, because they’re heading into a totally unknown and potentially fatal situation.

When an exhausted and bloodied Rose catches her breath, we finally see what she encountered when she met with her father and Lord Perv. The king was clearly not in his right mind, and he and all of the assembled nobles and courtiers were under Perv’s control. Rose lashed out with violence, but now regrets that decision as a princess shouldn’t be so reckless and shortsighted (though considering that’s Alexia to a T, maybe they should?)

The nasty wound on Rose’s chest wasn’t caused by her pursuers; rather it is the early effects of possession; before long she’ll be consumed like Alpha & Co. were before they were freed from their curses by Cid. Just as Cid wishes he could have been there to see Rose go all “rock-n-roll”, Rose wishes she could get rid of Perv and his ilk, marry Cid, and live happily ever after. Now she’s not even sure how much longer she’ll live, period.

Throughout her monologue, which is spoken aloud, I kept thinking Cid would emerge from the shadows to tell her he still believes in her, still has her back. Of course that’s ridiculous; Cid would never act like that. Instead of emerging from the shadows, he appears before her in disguise as Shadow, playing Moonlight Sonata on the piano he borrowed from the concert hall. A gorgeous moonlike light suffuses the hall, and thousands of white feathers fall, all adding to the theatricality. Cid is killin’ it here.

Once the sonata ends, he stands up and asks Rose if she’s going to give up or keep going. Rose isn’t sure how. Shadow tells her he’ll give her the power to do anything and everything she needs and wants to do. With few other options, Rose accepts, and Shadow not only extracts the curse, but imbues her with power comparable to the Seven Shades.

Shadow doesn’t stick around, leaving a single black feather on the piano keys, because he doesn’t have to. Diabolos assassins arrive, but the newly supercharged Rose turns them all into red mist with a single slash of her sword. With this power, perhaps she truly can save her father, her kingdom, and all the other nations threatened by the Cult.

When she encounters Alexia and Beta, the former demands to know what’s going on, but Rose won’t tell her. She doesn’t want Alexia to get dragged into it, and telling her will do that. Alexia won’t take no for an answer, and starts a fight with Rose. While she fights better than Rose expected, she’s obviously no match for her.

Rose leaves an unconscious Alexia with Beta, who doesn’t offer any resistance and even expresses her support for Rose’s future ventures. Their alliance may now be shattered, but Beta suspects they’ll meet again. Beta is hardly one to question Lord Shadow’s actions—if he bestowed upon Rose the same power as her and the other Shades, he must’ve had a good reason.

The Eminence in Shadow – 16 – Gesundheit!

With one third of their alliance suddenly a fugitive, Alexia and Beta ponder what do do about it. Alexia wants to get at it, but Beta warns caution. At this point in their frenemy-ship Alexia can tell Beta is putting on an act, and doesn’t like how Beta is keeping stuff from her. But in the end, Beta is looking out for the headstrong Alexia, not just as a friend, but as Lord Shadow’s Number Two.

While Cid departs from the arena as himself in order to get into character for his match, an elf woman passes by him, and can smell elf on him. She asks if he knows any, particularly one that looks a lot like her. Her name is Beatrix, and she is Alpha’s aunt. But Cid isn’t about to tell a stranger about Alpha’s whereabouts. While likely no match for her niece, Beatrix can handle herself with a sword, but Cid puts on a weak, normal guy act that she buys.

Two warriors who don’t quite buy Mundane Mann’s act are Annerose and Quinton, who compare notes. Quinton admits he hasn’t been able to actually see what Mann is doing to win his battles, only that he knows he’s doing something. Annerose can see, but only for a scant moment.

For instance, in Mann’s fight against the Unbeaten Legend Goldy Gilded, he cracks his neck to avoid a fatal blow and throwing the strutting golden peacock into a rage, promising Mann will never get another chance to beat him. He charges at him again with his ultimate Golden Dragon Sword attack, but Mann sneezes and Goldy is knocked out by his own momentum.

Annerose can’t quite believe what she’s seeing, but also can’t dismiss Mann’s moves as mere luck or coincidence. That said, her running commentary to Quinton is so farfetched that he storms off not believing any of it, and looking forward to his fight with Mann. Left alone, Annerose finally cuts loose a bit, cracking her neck and sneezing in rhythm before realizing she’s practically surrounded by spectators, blushes and flees.

As for Princess Rose stabbing her husband-to-be Perv Asshat, when Princess Iris visits the lord, he seems perfectly fine. Meanwhile, Rose’s father the kind looks very much not fine.

The heavy implication here is that Perv has him on some kind of drugs and/or under some kind of brainwashing or hypnosis. In any case, Lord Perv does not seem like a savory guy, and certainly not someone I’d want someone as awesome as Rose to marry!

Speaking of awesome, Annerose confronts Mann after he easily handles Quinton, to tell him that she’s “seen his evervy move” and warn him that those same moves won’t work against her. She may be several orders of magnitude stronger than Quinton or Goldy, but she’s no Mundane Mann. Still, I love how she basically bluffs in order to try to get something from her next opponent (she has no idea about his true ability).

And it works, kinda! Cid removes his armguards and when he drops them on the ground they’re so heavy they make craters in the concrete. In the funniest moment of the episode, Annerose counterattacks with an adorable neck crack and self-satisfied smile—both of which are met by Cid simply shuffling away. I love how in addition to being stoic as hell, she’s also a delightful goofball. She should have sneezed too!

The fact Perv is uninjured and also seemingly controlling her father tell me that Rose is on the run because she tried and failed to stop Perv from whatever he’s scheming, and Perv framed her for assault, a crime for which even a princess can be severely punished.

As such, she’s on the run. It also tracks that Rose wouldn’t want to burden Alexia and Beta—possibly her first and only friends—with her personal issues, but she should know better. Hopefully she doesn’t have to suffer this ordeal alone for much longer.

The Eminence in Shadow – 15 – Riding the Wave

One thing that keeps me coming back to Eminence is that it’s just plain fun as hell watching Cid having fun. And with the Sanctuary arc all wrapped up and the Bushin Festival gearing up, he’s having a ton of fun this week in particular.

It’s also fun watching his idea of fun, which isn’t just to sign up for the festival and obliterate everyone. Nah, there’s an order to this, and he wants to build up some mystique. Gamma gives him a new face and identity for this purpose: the on-the-nose “Mundane Mann”.

Between his weak look, wan complexion, poor posture, he becomes an immediate target for stronger fighters to warn him off the festival, starting with the very polite and to-the-point Annerose, one of the favorites to win it all. She tells Cid to back out now to avoid permanent harm.

Cid asks her to kindly not judge a book by its cover, but when a much larger Quinton picks a fight, Cid exercises discipline and doesn’t show his hand. He lets the guy wail on him, which is free marketing for how unlikely a champion this Mundane Mann guy is.

Annerose asks Quinton to stop lest she step in, and apologizes to “Mundane” for letting things get so out of hand. She says it’s better for him to get his ass beat now than enter the Bushin Festival and suffer even greater pain from certain defeat.

But when Cid simply hops back up and strolls away, Annerose is confused; even after being beaten on by that guy for that long, he doesn’t seem hurt at all! It’s a subtle but very effective strategy by Cid to get Annerose thinking maybe there is something to this weakling.

Since Bushin is held in Rose’s hometown, she and Cid end up bumping into each other at a fountain, after Cid has a thorough chat with Skel regarding betting over “Tuna King” burgers. Rose reports that she, Beta (in her alias as Natsume Kafka) and Alexia have become fast friends.

She also says she has a prior engagement: her father is going to introduce her to her fiancé Perv Asshat (what a name). She’s not looking forward to it. But she’s determined to live her live as a dark knight, something she’s always wanted to be since she watched a younger cid fighting those brigands years ago. That’s right: Rose met and fell for Cid far earlier than she realizes—and she wouldn’t be the knight she is without him!

The next day, the preliminary matches begin, and Cid tags along with Skel as the latter continues to bore him with his betting strategies. Skel does end up attracting another fighter, Goldy Gilded, the Ever-Victorious Golden Dragon (Skel murders the name many times.)

Goldy tells Skel that he assesses fighters and assigns a “power level” to each of them. Cid slips away to take a dump, and moments later Mundane Mann arrives. Goldy doesn’t think much of Mundane, giving him a scant 33 versus over 1,300 for his opponent.

And yet, in the blink of an eye, Mundane’s opponent is out cold on the ground and Mundane is the winner, which means he’ll be Goldy’s next opponent. Goldy is confident, and Annerose is intrigued by what she (and likely no one else) saw—Mundane delivering a devastating double punch to the loser’s chin. All of this is just what Cid wants to create more anti-hype with a tinge of mystique.

The next morning, however, Cid’s fun looks destined to be curbed, as Skel bursts in with a newspaper article alleging that Rose stabbed her fiancé and ran off. I don’t think that’s what Cid meant when he suggested that she “relax”! I know Cid is pretty indifferent towards most people, but maybe it’s different with Rose? Will he try to track Rose down in time to make his match with Goldy?