ONA
Description
Alpha is a central figure in the world of Kage-jitsu!, recognized as the first member and de facto leader of the clandestine organization Shadow Garden. As the first among the elite Seven Shades, she holds the position of commander-in-chief, a role that places her second only to the organization's founder, Shadow. Her character is defined by a blend of exceptional competence, profound loyalty, and a hidden depth of personal feeling.
In terms of background, Alpha is an elf of noble lineage, described as a descendant of the legendary hero Olivier. Her life took a tragic turn when she was afflicted by the demonic possession, a curse that twisted her body and led to her being cast out. While being transported by the church, she was kidnapped by bandits and held in an abandoned village. It was there she encountered Cid Kagenou, who was then posing as a stylish bandit slayer. Using him as a test subject for his magical experiments, Cid inadvertently cured Alpha of her possession, restoring her completely. In awe of her rescue and captivated by Cid's fabricated tales of a cult of Diablos, she pledged her life to him, becoming the first recruit in his game of shadowbroking.
Personality-wise, Alpha presents a composed, imperturbable, and highly intelligent exterior. She is a natural leader, capable of making decisive strategic decisions and commanding the respect of all Shadow Garden members. Her sense of responsibility is immense, and she treats her fellow members of the Seven Shades not just as comrades but as her own family. Beneath this formal and serious demeanor, however, lies a deep and unwavering admiration for Shadow. She holds an almost religious faith in his words and actions, often interpreting even his most mundane or accidental deeds as parts of a profound master plan. This devotion is coupled with a fierce protectiveness; she becomes unyielding towards anyone who threatens him or shows him inappropriate affection. Despite her many strengths, she struggles with feelings of inferiority, constantly striving to be less of a burden and to earn more of Shadow's trust.
Alpha's primary motivation is the complete eradication of the Cult of Diablos, the organization she believes is responsible for the demonic possession that plagues the world and which she was taught to oppose by Shadow. Her personal loyalty to Shadow is the engine that drives all her actions, as she works tirelessly to build the organization he envisioned, even when he is unaware of the scale of her efforts.
Within the story, Alpha serves as the true operational leader of Shadow Garden. While Shadow provides the overarching mythos and occasional intervention, Alpha is the one who manages the day-to-day operations, recruits and trains new members, and spearheads the organization's strategic initiatives. Under her direction, and in concert with Gamma, Shadow Garden grew from a small group into a powerful economic and military force, with the Mitsugoshi Company acting as its public front. The spin-off series Kage-Jitsu! highlights her role in managing the other Shades, often having to rein in their more eccentric personalities during meetings.
Key relationships are central to her character. Her bond with Cid Kagenou, known as Shadow, is the most significant. She holds a deep emotional dependency on him, and his temporary withdrawal during the Mitsugoshi incident caused her considerable psychological distress. Among the Seven Shades, she shares a particularly close history with Beta, who is not only her loyal subordinate but also a childhood friend. She views Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta as family, though she often has to manage their unique flaws, such as Delta's impulsiveness or Zeta's secretive agenda.
Development-wise, Alpha has undergone a transformation from a cursed, helpless victim into a powerful and confident leader. However, her development is not without its enduring struggles. Her sense of inadequacy before Shadow persists, and her absolute faith in him remains both her greatest strength and a potential vulnerability. The Kage-Jitsu! spin-off also reveals comedic sides to her development, such as her complete lack of artistic talent, evidenced by her bizarre piano playing and her unconventional fashion designs that feature strange animal patterns. Ironically, despite her poor fashion sense, she is a skilled knitter, and her prototype animal shirts were successfully remarketed as a children's clothing line for the Mitsugoshi Company.
Regarding notable abilities, Alpha is an exceptionally powerful and versatile combatant, widely considered the strongest member of Shadow Garden after Shadow himself. She possesses immense magical reserves and is highly proficient in swordsmanship, having learned and then refined techniques passed down from Cid. She is one of the few individuals capable of using purification magic to heal the possessed, a rare and invaluable skill. Her abilities also include martial arts, showing she can resort to brute force if necessary. Furthermore, she has demonstrated the ability to use vampire techniques such as Mistform, which allows her to disperse her body into an intangible fog and attack with crimson blades. Beyond combat, her greatest ability is her strategic and organizational intelligence, which she has used to masterfully build Shadow Garden into the formidable organization it is.
In terms of background, Alpha is an elf of noble lineage, described as a descendant of the legendary hero Olivier. Her life took a tragic turn when she was afflicted by the demonic possession, a curse that twisted her body and led to her being cast out. While being transported by the church, she was kidnapped by bandits and held in an abandoned village. It was there she encountered Cid Kagenou, who was then posing as a stylish bandit slayer. Using him as a test subject for his magical experiments, Cid inadvertently cured Alpha of her possession, restoring her completely. In awe of her rescue and captivated by Cid's fabricated tales of a cult of Diablos, she pledged her life to him, becoming the first recruit in his game of shadowbroking.
Personality-wise, Alpha presents a composed, imperturbable, and highly intelligent exterior. She is a natural leader, capable of making decisive strategic decisions and commanding the respect of all Shadow Garden members. Her sense of responsibility is immense, and she treats her fellow members of the Seven Shades not just as comrades but as her own family. Beneath this formal and serious demeanor, however, lies a deep and unwavering admiration for Shadow. She holds an almost religious faith in his words and actions, often interpreting even his most mundane or accidental deeds as parts of a profound master plan. This devotion is coupled with a fierce protectiveness; she becomes unyielding towards anyone who threatens him or shows him inappropriate affection. Despite her many strengths, she struggles with feelings of inferiority, constantly striving to be less of a burden and to earn more of Shadow's trust.
Alpha's primary motivation is the complete eradication of the Cult of Diablos, the organization she believes is responsible for the demonic possession that plagues the world and which she was taught to oppose by Shadow. Her personal loyalty to Shadow is the engine that drives all her actions, as she works tirelessly to build the organization he envisioned, even when he is unaware of the scale of her efforts.
Within the story, Alpha serves as the true operational leader of Shadow Garden. While Shadow provides the overarching mythos and occasional intervention, Alpha is the one who manages the day-to-day operations, recruits and trains new members, and spearheads the organization's strategic initiatives. Under her direction, and in concert with Gamma, Shadow Garden grew from a small group into a powerful economic and military force, with the Mitsugoshi Company acting as its public front. The spin-off series Kage-Jitsu! highlights her role in managing the other Shades, often having to rein in their more eccentric personalities during meetings.
Key relationships are central to her character. Her bond with Cid Kagenou, known as Shadow, is the most significant. She holds a deep emotional dependency on him, and his temporary withdrawal during the Mitsugoshi incident caused her considerable psychological distress. Among the Seven Shades, she shares a particularly close history with Beta, who is not only her loyal subordinate but also a childhood friend. She views Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta as family, though she often has to manage their unique flaws, such as Delta's impulsiveness or Zeta's secretive agenda.
Development-wise, Alpha has undergone a transformation from a cursed, helpless victim into a powerful and confident leader. However, her development is not without its enduring struggles. Her sense of inadequacy before Shadow persists, and her absolute faith in him remains both her greatest strength and a potential vulnerability. The Kage-Jitsu! spin-off also reveals comedic sides to her development, such as her complete lack of artistic talent, evidenced by her bizarre piano playing and her unconventional fashion designs that feature strange animal patterns. Ironically, despite her poor fashion sense, she is a skilled knitter, and her prototype animal shirts were successfully remarketed as a children's clothing line for the Mitsugoshi Company.
Regarding notable abilities, Alpha is an exceptionally powerful and versatile combatant, widely considered the strongest member of Shadow Garden after Shadow himself. She possesses immense magical reserves and is highly proficient in swordsmanship, having learned and then refined techniques passed down from Cid. She is one of the few individuals capable of using purification magic to heal the possessed, a rare and invaluable skill. Her abilities also include martial arts, showing she can resort to brute force if necessary. Furthermore, she has demonstrated the ability to use vampire techniques such as Mistform, which allows her to disperse her body into an intangible fog and attack with crimson blades. Beyond combat, her greatest ability is her strategic and organizational intelligence, which she has used to masterfully build Shadow Garden into the formidable organization it is.