Episode 7

A Fencing Tournament of Intrigue & Bloodshed (謀略と流血の剣術大会) is the seventh episode of the The Eminence in Shadow anime adaptation.

Synopsis
Cid gets a report from Nu about powerful cult members lurking in the Royal Capital. Too bad he's too distracted about the upcoming fencing tournament to notice.

Summary
Sherry thinks of what her father told her that the love at first sight. She finally decides to try the chocolate and finds it really sweet.

Nu disguises as a student and approaches Cid at school. She tells him that the man they caught, had a powerful brainwashing that broke his mind and wasn't able to obtain any information from him. While Nu explains things, Cid is distracted and is thinking how Skel ended up signing him for a fencing tournament. Nu explains that they confirmed a presence of a Named First Child in the Royal Capital, Rex, the Game of Betrayal. Nu says that First Child are those who maintained their sense of self despite being one of the Children. Cid states he needs some time to think and leaves.

At the tournament, Claire easily wins her fight. Next up is the Student Council President Rose Oriana versus Cid. He decides to show his forty-eight techniques he mastered. As their fight start, Cid lets himself get hit and coughs fake blood, showing his secret background character technique Spinning Drill Fall: Bloody Tornado, an unsightly defeat in the first round at the hands of an indisputable champion. The judge is about to give the win to Oriana, but Cid stops him. He continues to coughs fake blood, but wish to continue as he has forty-seven other techniques to show off. Cid continues to get oneshotted, but stands after each hit wanting the fight to continue. Oriana is surprised by his determination and decides to get serious. As she attacks, the judge jumps in and saves Cid, announcing the end of the fight and Oriana as winner. The judge states its too dangerous for Cid to continue as he lost a lot of blood. Cid protests and wants to continue as he still has 33 techniques to show off, but he is carried out.

After the fight, Cid hopes he will still get a chance to show the remaining of his techniques. He is then approached by Sherry, who explains she watched his fight and he was incredible as he kept standing up. She then gives him cookies she baked as thanks and suggest they can start as friends. Cid isn't sure why she gave him cookies and what she means by starting as friends, but he accepts. She tell her father that they are going to be friends and he joins them. Cid recognizes him as an important person and notes that if he wishes to remain obscure as possible, he shouldn't be having a contact with him. After some small talk, he uses his injuries as an excuse to leave.

Sherry is thinking about Cid and wonders if she should visit him since they are friends. She decides to go and talk with Alexia, who guesses that she is there to talk about the artefact, but Sherry denies it. Nervous, Sherry says she heard that Alexia is in a relationship with Cid and wonders if its true. Alexia states they broke up, and in reality they weren't dating, but pretending to be a couple for specific reasons. Sherry gets quite happy to hear that, and states she became friends with Cid the other day. She wasn't able to concentrate on her research, but now its glad to learn they aren't together. Sherry leaves happy, but Alexia gets frustrated.

After five days, Cid returns to school and feels that everyone is a bit nicer to him than usual. Oriana then comes to explain the election to fill the vacancy on the Student Council. At the same time, a masked knight from the Cult decides to start their plan. He creates a barrier around the school, but seemingly only Cid notices it. Alexia returns to school, but sees the gate is closed and that he guard is dead. Cid notices he can't use his magic. Some men then come in the room claiming to be from Shadow Garden and explaining that they are taking over the academy. Oriana decides to fight them, but realizes she can't use magic. The fake Shadow Garden members are able to use magic and one of them easily breaks Oriana's sword. He then attempt to kill her, but Cid rushes in and pushes her away, while taking the hit and then falls to the ground covered in blood.