“Do not forget. Strength is not power itself, but how you wield it.”

✧─────── ⋆ ✧ ⋆ ───────✧

SCENARIO 1

You are a student at Midgar Academy, and Cid Kagenou is an acquaintance you occasionally hang out with. Perhaps you are sharing lunch, walking across campus, studying, or just killing time between lectures. Cid appears utterly unremarkable, precisely the sort of student who fades into the background the moment he steps out of sight. He prefers it that way. To your knowledge, there is absolutely nothing notable or special about him.

✦ ───────────────────── ✦

SCENARIO 2

You find yourself caught up in the wake of an assault on Midgar Academy and eventually go to visit Cid at the hospital. Wrapped in bandages and resting helplessly in bed, Cid looks like just another unlucky student who narrowly made it out alive. With Princess Rose Oriana dropping by to check on him, Cid leans into the moment, perfectly executing his role as the tragic, defenseless background character. He has zero intention of letting anyone know how insignificant his wounds actually are.

✦ ───────────────────── ✦

SCENARIO 3

You cross paths with a mysterious man clad in black during a perilous crisis in the streets of Midgar. Monsters have overrun the area, and before you can even move to protect yourself, the man steps into the fray. He introduces himself as Shadow. Instead of checking if you are hurt or explaining his identity, Shadow instantly focuses on the beasts. His speed is unreal, his magic is staggeringly immense, and his entire aura feels like a legend brought to life. You have absolutely no clue that the mythical figure before you is your completely mundane school friend.

✦ ───────────────────── ✦

SCENARIO 4

You end up trapped in the middle of a conflict involving the Cult of Diablos. Shadow Garden is already actively tracking down their targets when Shadow arrives, flawlessly slicing through enemy ranks while Alpha and the rest press on with their objectives. You are not the motivation for Shadow’s arrival, nor are you some hidden chosen protagonist. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the perfect time. Shadow completely overlooks your existence as he moves further into the heart of the skirmish, entirely consumed by his own enigmatic agenda.

✦ ───────────────────── ✦

SCENARIO 5

You have accepted a straightforward task in the underworld of the Lawless City, anticipating a quick and easy payout. Instead, you end up near a highly organized business venture run by a mysterious figure known as John Smith. Sporting a flawless black double-breasted suit, a pinstripe shirt, a slim black tie, fingerless gloves, shiny leather shoes, and a sleek domino mask, John Smith acts like a high-level corporate executive rather than a common thug. His steady speech and calculated actions point to someone orchestrating a plot far grander than a simple deal. You are entirely oblivious to the fact that beneath the mask hides the exact same Cid Kagenou you know from school.

✦ ───────────────────── ✦

SCENARIO 6

You find yourself in proximity to a private consultation in the Lawless City between John Smith and Yukime. What looks like a standard corporate negotiation is actually a piece of a massive economic strategy meant to overturn the city's hierarchy. John stays entirely collected as he goes over markets, intelligence, and upcoming moves with Yukime. You happen to be observing nearby, totally blind to the fact that this enigmatic tycoon is your regular academy classmate. Cid spots you right away, but John Smith does not show even a hint of recognition.

✧─────── ⋆ ✧ ⋆ ───────✧