The Eminence of Not-Shadow

Chapter 14 - The Resting Ground of All Who Enter, Family or Foe (Part II)

[Alpha POV]

Discussion regarding what we could do to save Beta went underway while Eta was working on the note. Many plans were discussed, but at the end of the day, we don't know where to look. Many of the Numbers we have around each city has not detected any figures resembling Not-Shadow or his helpers. Not in Midgar nor Orianna. We sent scouts around Alexandria and within the forest to see if there was any evidence of a base or unusual activity, but it led nowhere.

So, we had no choice but to continue other projects and plans to briefly pass the time in one of our conference rooms. When I mean 'we', it was just me, Gamma, and Epsilon for the most part. Zeta and Delta couldn't tolerate each other anymore again and decided to fight outside to let go some stress. Well, I told them that, and I guess they agreed so. They were only gone for a few moments before Zeta returned and looked over some papers with us as if nothing happened.

"That dog has not learned any new tricks, so it got boring after a bit."

Zeta simply said as she placed the paper on the table and picked a different one.

We then hear a window break nearby with Delta entering the room, landing close to Zeta.

"Tricks? That stupid cat also had nothing new either! I win this time!"

Delta proudly said, ignoring how she entered this room.

I put some of the papers down from my hand, before rising from my chair.

"Delta?"

I simply said.

"Y-yes?"

"Who will repair that broken window?"

"...n-not m-me?"

I point to the door.

"Go find Eta and ask if she finished decoding. Otherwise..."

"No food at night for a week."

"Eeep! Delta will go now!"

Delta jumps through the broken window, heading towards Eta's lab.

"..."

"Should I..."

"No, Eta can repair it when she arrives here."

-----

"Delta brought Eta with a cart!"

Delta happily says, this time using the door to enter the room with the cart.

Eta then enters, holding one note in each hand.

"I decoded it very quickly...it is the code that... Shadow used a while back."

Eta then hands the decoded note to me.

Hello Shadow Garden, if you have successfully decoded this message, then the following will be the location of where I have captured the princess. Hurry before its too late!

Princess...

P.S There will also be cake.

...cake?

"Well at least we now know where they are, but..."

I pause and give the note to the others to read.

As they read it, I pin a map onto a board and circle the area.

"The location should not exist anymore."

"That is where Shadow-sama..."

"Yes, that is where the Sanctuary was at one point. Before it was reduced to nothing."